Redtail's Debt

Redtail's Debt is the thirteenth novella attributed by HarperCollins.
==Dedication==
:Special thanks to Clarissa Hutton
==Blurb==
:A ThunderClan warrior who dared to stand in the way of the ambitious cat who would become Tigerstar.
==Detailed plot description==
:Redpaw works alongside his sister in ThunderClan camp on apprentice duties, complaining that Frostpaw and Brindlepaw do not have to do them, as they would be warriors soon. The young tom is also upset at the fact that Sparrowpelt hadn't let him come on a hunting patrol to Sunningrocks. Redpaw recalls that the area is considered off-limits due to Sunstar's word, as he mentions himself to be quite the hunter. Willowpaw teases him as Sparrowpelt's patrol returns to camp and rushes to Sunstar's den to alert them of RiverClan crossing the border. 
:Redpaw watches as Sunstar gathers his senior and most trusted warriors to discuss what to do when Tigerclaw declares that they should attack RiverClan camp to teach them a lesson once and for all. Sunstar agrees with the dark tabby and plans to take two patrols to attack the rival Clan, assigning Tigerclaw to lead a patrol consisting of the apprentices and their mentors. Redpaw becomes both excited and worried at the prospect of the impending battle.
:As ThunderClan prepares themselves for the battle, Redpaw is given advice from White-eye who tells him to be careful. As he leaves the queen when Sparrowpelt arrives, Tigerclaw approaches him and gives him some reassuring advice about the battle. The tabby explains to the apprentice that hesitation will not make RiverClan respect ThunderClan. Redpaw questions the young warrior's recklessness but admires his bravery nonetheless. Soon, Bluefur calls for the patrol to gather and they leave camp, waiting at the Twoleg bridge near the river. 
:The patrol goes to cross the bridge, but a hawk swoops them. Scared, Redpaw panics and freezes on the spot as the hawk swoops down for him. Tigerclaw manages to attack the hawk as Sparrowpelt carries Redpaw to safety. Once the hawk leaves, the patrol regroups and praises Tigerclaw for his bravery. Redpaw feels embarrassed at the whole situation but thanks the tabby warrior nonetheless, telling him that he owes him everything. Redpaw and Willowpaw stay back as the warriors leave to aid the other patrol, however, they are too late and the ThunderClan cats are all forced to retreat back to camp. Redpaw blames himself and is disheartened by the entire day. As they walk back to camp, Tigerclaw reassures the younger cat, promising to stand up for him and tells him that every cat does dumb things as apprentices.
:Moons later, Redpaw and Willowpaw earn their warrior names. Redtail listens as his Clanmates' cheer his new name and his gaze turns to Tigerclaw and remembers the incident with the hawk. He also recalls the events of the past six moons, noting that Tawnyspots had retired as the Clan's deputy and that Bluefur had taken his place following the disappearance of her kits. The tortoiseshell tom approaches Tigerclaw, having the confidence that he could confront that tabby, but as he reaches him the words are lost. Tigerclaw offers that the pair of them hunt and so they do. 
:The duo reaches the Fourtrees border where they witness a WindClan apprentice, Sorrelpaw, kill a rabbit that had crossed onto ThunderClan territory. Tigerclaw threatens her as she realizes her mentor is not behind her. He orders Redtail to teach the apprentice a lesson, however, the tom is apprehensive and tries to reason with the tabby. Tigerclaw instead insults Redtail, striking a nerve in the younger warrior who decides to act on the tabby's orders. As he attacks Sorrelpaw, her mentor, Stagleap, arrives and calls the two ThunderClan toms bullies and holds himself back from fighting them both. Instead, he opts to take Sorrelpaw back to camp to treat her injuries and tells them both that Heatherstar will hear about what had happened.
:Redtail and Tigerclaw return to ThunderClan camp as the guilt begins to hit him for his actions. Tigerclaw takes them both to Sunstar's den to report what had happened. Redtail worries about what Tigerclaw might say but is taken aback when the tabby tells a completely different series of events to Sunstar about what had happened. Tigerclaw makes it out that the WindClan cats that they had encountered purposefully trespassed to insult ThunderClan. This angers Sunstar who decides to bring up the matter at the Gathering that night. The two warriors agree with their leader, but Redtail feels as though Tigerclaw wanted a less peaceful resolution. 
:At the Gathering, Redtail seeks out Sorrelpaw but notices that she is not there and hopes that her injuries were not serious. The leaders begin speaking and Sunstar announces both Redtail and Willowpelt as new warriors and mentions the border conflict with WindClan. Heatherstar speaks up about it, stating that mistakes happen, especially with apprentices and that they should put the conflict behind them. However, Sunstar threatens them that if respect was shown they wouldn't have a reason to fight. Tensions become uneasy below the leaders as both ShadowClan and RiverClan take their leave. Redtail takes this as a chance to speak to Stagleap, asking about Sorrelpaw. The WindClan warrior tells him that she is fine and begins to lecture him about his actions. Redtail once again feels guilty and voices his fear about the brewing conflict. The toms agree to speak with their Clan leaders to try and convince them both that the fight is pointless. 
:ThunderClan return to their camp and Sunstar calls a meeting. He repeats what had happened at the Gathering and tells his Clan that they are to fight and has Bluefur organize a patrol to take to WindClan. Redtail feels doubtful and voices these, but Tigerclaw tells him that they are doing what a warrior should do - defend their Clan. The following day, Bluefur leads the patrol to WindClan territory and they charge the enemy Clan's camp. Redtail and the other ThunderClan warriors begin destroying WindClan's camp as a WindClan patrol led by Stagleap arrives to drive them off. Bluefur and Talltail fight and Redtail watches as the black-and-white tom slashes at her throat. The tortoiseshell tom rushes over to help her and calls for a retreat. Tigerclaw questions him, but, the other ThunderClan cats leave and help carry their injured deputy to safety. 
:They regroup at Fourtrees and Tigerclaw calls the patrol cowards. Redtail confronts him and the two argue, ending with Tigerclaw stating that Redtail has brought shame on ThunderClan for his actions. As they return to camp, Redtail realizes, as Tigerclaw compliments him on pretending to care about Bluefur and reminds him of his life debt, that he is seeing the tabby's true nature. The younger tom pushes away from the tabby and tells him that his loyalty belongs to ThunderClan and not him.
:More moons pass as Bluefur becomes ThunderClan's leader following Sunstar's death and Redtail is appointed as her deputy. Tigerclaw questions Redtail's authority and the tortoiseshell tom notes that not much had changed between them. He recalls that things had gotten worse since ThunderClan had lost Sunningrocks to RiverClan for the first time since Bluestar became leader. As Redtail heads to Bluestar's den to make his daily report, he overhears Tigerclaw convincing Bluestar to let him take a patrol to Sunningrocks to remark the border. The tortoiseshell tom confronts Tigerclaw as he leaves the den, telling that he is not going to stop him but would like to be a part of the patrol.
:The next day, Redtail, Tigerclaw, and Ravenpaw head to Sunningrocks to remark the border. As they walk there, Redtail is concerned by what Tigerclaw is teaching Ravenpaw and tells the young cat that there is more to being a warrior than just fighting. Reaching Sunningrocks, they are able to begin scent marking before they run into a patrol led by Oakheart. A fight breaks out, caused by Tigerclaw, as the tabby attacks a nearby RiverClan warrior who is shocked at the action. Redtail tells Ravenpaw to run as the fight breaks out, but, the apprentice backchats him and remains to fight. Oakheart goes to attack Tigerclaw, but, Redtail launches himself between the two and struggles with the larger tom. Redtail, after the RiverClan deputy threatens to kill Ravenpaw, kills him instead with a bite to the throat. The tortoiseshell tom looks on in shock as Oakheart's body falls to the ground in a heap.
:The fighting continues around Redtail as he realizes what had done and that Tigerclaw is also the blame. The deputy orders Ravenpaw to retreat and is pleased to see him listen a second time as he then snaps at Tigerclaw as he continues to fight. The remaining RiverClan warriors leave and the tortoiseshell tom feels himself relax a little. However, he then feels a sharp pain rip across his throat and he thinks that the RiverClan cats had returned. Instead, he is faced with Tigerclaw staring down at him. Confused, Redtail asks why and Tigerclaw explains that ThunderClan needed a better deputy. He goes on to say that he should have let the hawk attack him all those moons ago. Redtail feels himself fade away as his life debt is recalled by Tigerclaw.
:Redtail awakes to see Sunstar, who explains to him that he is there to take him to StarClan. On their way, they pass by a pond and Redtail recalls that StarClan cats retain their appearance from when they were the happiest in their lives. He notes that he does not look much younger and that only his eyes were brighter. He reflects on his life and in a jolt remembers Tigerclaw and the threat he posed to ThunderClan. He asks to be sent back to warn the Clan, but Sunstar tells him that it does not work that way. Instead, the two toms peer into the pond and Redtail is shown ThunderClan camp. He sees all of his Clanmates and Tigerclaw, the sight alone angering him.
:He then notices a strange fiery orange cat who he does not recognize. Sunstar explains that his name would be Firepaw and Redtail wonders if he was what the prophecy Spottedleaf had told him about meant. With a newfound warmth, Redtail understands that Firepaw would be ThunderClan's future, not Tigerclaw.
==Trivia==
===Mistakes===
*Redtail kills Oakheart with a bite to the throat in the book, while The Prophecies Begin explains that Oakheart was killed by a rockfall during their battle.
*A compiled list of the errors present in Redtail's Debt can be found here.
==Publication history==
*Redtail's Debt (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 9 April 2019
*Redtail's Debt (EN), HarperCollins (eBook), 9 April 2019
*Roodstaarts schuld (NL), Pelckmans (paperback), 10 July 2020, translated by Ans van der GraaffRevealed on amazon.nl
==Gallery==
===US covers===
NO-13.jpg|English Language EditionReleased in North America & United Kingdom
===Foreign covers===
NO-13-NL.jpg|Dutch Language EditionReleased in Belgium
==External links==
* 
==Notes and references==
de:Rotschweifs Schuldfi:Redtail's Debtfr:Redtail's Debtnl:Roodstaarts schuldpl:Dług Rudego Ogonaru:Долг Ярохвоста
Category:Novellas
Category:Books
Category:Redtail's Debt
Category:Path of a Warrior