Lost Stars/Chapter 9

==Chapter description==
:Bristlepaw stalks through the snowy forest, recalling her mentor's instructions as she searches for prey. However, she doesn't find anything, and she exclaims in frustration. Rosepetal assures her that she isn't doing anything wrong, only having bad luck during a very harsh season. Bristlepaw wants to keep trying, upset that she hasn't caught anything in the half-moon since her failed assessment, but Rosepetal convinces her to return to camp as night falls. Thriftpaw and Flippaw excitedly run up to her, proud to announce that Thriftpaw caught two mice, and Hollytuft caught a vole after Flippaw barely missed it. Bristlepaw wants to be happy for them, but is upset she was unable to catch anything herself.
:She sees Bramblestar and Squirrelflight speaking with Jayfeather and Alderheart, and walks closer to overhear them. Jayfeather explains ho the medicine cats have lost contact with StarClan, and Alderheart expresses concern that they will stray from their destinies if they are unable to reach StarClan for too long. Bristlepaw blithely remarks to her littermates that they ought to be more concerned about the prey shortage than this trouble with StarClan, but Jayfeather overhears her. He scolds her, telling her she lacks the wisdom to understand the gravity of the situation, and Bristlepaw is mortified to have been heard by Jayfeather, who she thinks is the scariest cat she knows, as well as their Clan leader. She apologizes, deeply embarrassed, as her Clanmates gather to look worriedly at her and Jayfeather continues to berate her. Bramblestar steps forward to calm Jayfeather, though the leader stares reproachfully at Bristlepaw. She and her siblings apologize once more, and Bramblestar tells them they will attend that night's Gathering in order to learn more about the importance of StarClan. Bristlepaw is excited, and promises to be on her best behavior as Jayfeather scoffs that they're almost being rewarded.
:As they walk through bitter cold to the Gathering, Bristlepaw looks at the cold and distant stars and wonders why StarClan has stopped speaking with them, questioning if they have done something to anger StarClan. She thinks about what cats she will meet at the Gathering, wondering if Rootpaw might be there and hoping he's okay. ThunderClan is the last to arrive in the clearing, and they mingle with the other Clans as Bristlepaw goes to speak with some young WindClan warriors she had met at a previous Gathering. She is intercepted by Rootpaw, who excitedly bounces up to her and thanks her for saving his life, asking if she's been made a warrior now. Bristlefrost winces as she thinks of her failed assessment and tells him that she's still an apprentice. He describes his successful hunt from a few days prior, where he caught a large crow, and expresses his love for hunting, to Bristlepaw's frustration. She snaps at him when he offers to bring prey to ThunderClan if they need some, and immediately feels guilty, but can't find the words to apologize.
:Tigerstar begins the Gathering, and Rootpaw rejoins his Clanmates before Bristlepaw can say anything to him, and she tries to assuage her feelings of guilt by telling herself it wasn't her fault he said something foolish. She is also frustrated to see he's still hanging out with Kitepaw and Turtlepaw. Tigerstar, Mistystar, and Harestar all express struggles with the harsh leaf-bare, and Tigerstar begins to remind them that they kept their territory when the borders were rearranged to make room for SkyClan. Crowfeather angrily cuts him off, and Mistystar and Bramblestar defend the decisions they made regarding the new borders, stating that they were working well before this harsh season. Harestar expresses worry that this is the worst leaf-bare any cat can remember, and Jayfeather puts in that it's the longest the Clans have gone without contact from StarClan, which worries many of the older warriors. Bristlepaw realizes the problem is more serious than she had thought, and regrets her flippant words back in camp.
:Harestar announces two new WindClan apprentices, Woodpaw and Applepaw, and cats call their names as their parents, Breezepelt and Heathertail, look on happily. Mistystar announces Curlfeather's new litter of kits, and Bristlepaw thinks about how hard the prey shortage must be for mothers with younger kits, like Sorrelstripe and Sparkpelt, and feels guilty for only thinking of how it affected her own warrior assessment. Leafstar announces that things seem to have been less difficult in SkyClan than for the other Clans, due to their sheltered territory, and seems hesitant to spark resentment among the others. Tigerstar sarcastically remarks on how lucky they've been, and Leafstar tells him they shouldn't start arguing again, as the borders were agreed upon by all Clans. Jayfeather reminds everyone of the biggest issue at hand: their lack of communication with StarClan, and Crowfeather questions why they've been cut off and when the connection will return. The RiverClan elder, Mosspelt, tells them not to worry, as StarClan is only gone due to the frozen Moonpool, but newleaf will return as it always has. Cats begin to argue, and Bristlepaw worries a fight will break out, but Tigerstar calls out and interrupts them. He announces that one cat can still communicate with StarClan, and ushers Shadowpaw forward, stating he has received a message.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Lost Stars
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:The Broken Code arc