Crookedstar's Promise/Chapter 20

==Chapter description==
:Leaf-bare has given way to warmer weather, and Crookedjaw looks up at the four great oaks to see thick foliage covering the sky. He follows his Clanmates into the crowd of cats waiting for the Gathering to start. Owlfur and Brightsky join a group of ThunderClan warriors, and Crookedjaw hears Adderfang boast about his Clan's apprentices. He watches as Brambleberry joins the medicine cats at the foot of the Great Rock and greets Goosefeather's apprentice, Featherpaw. Ottersplash asks Patchpelt if his sister Leopardfoot has kitted yet. Seeing Otterplash's round belly, Crookedjaw asks Oakheart why she-cats always put off going to the nursery until the last minute. Oakheart shrugs, and Rainflower pads up to her sons and asks if they've ever thought that maybe she-cats like serving their Clan and being a warrior. Oakheart says that he's just glad he doesn't have to sleep in the nursery. Crookedjaw sees Poppydawn and greets her, asking if Sweetpaw, Thistlepaw, and Rosepaw are there. Poppydawn says that Thistlepaw got in trouble with Smallear again, and her mate Windflight adds that Rosepaw and Sweetpaw stayed behind to cheer him up. 
:Tanglewhisker trots past, calling to Mumblefoot while Birdflight hurries after him. Oakheart asks Crookedjaw what it's like to finally be a warrior at a Gathering, and Crookedjaw replies that it feels great. Willowpaw breaks away from a knot of apprentices to talk to Crookedjaw, and Rainflower beckons Oakheart over to meet Talltail. Crookedjaw spots Bluepaw and remembers the last time he saw her at the battle for Sunningrocks. He pads up to her and tells her she fought well, and she notifies him of her new warrior status as Bluefur. Crookedjaw responds in kind, telling her that he's Crookedjaw now. Crookedjaw feels a prick of guilt for RiverClan's plan to take back Sunningrocks, but pushes it away.
:Pinestar calls from the Great Rock for the Gathering to begin. The Clans crowd around the rock, and Pinestar steps back to allow Cedarstar to speak. When the ShadowClan leader says that kittypets have crossed ShadowClan's borders, Pinestar steps up and announces that ThunderClan is increasing patrols along its borders while glaring at Hailstar. Raggedpelt and Hawkheart say that neither ShadowClan nor WindClan has crossed ThunderClan's borders, and Hailstar gets defensive. Pinestar just shrugs nonchalantly. Crookedjaw asks Pinestar why he's accusing the Clans when they were taking about kittypets, and Oakheart begins arguing with Adderfang. Heatherstar shouts for them to stop and says that kittypets don't cross WindClan's borders. Hailstar steps up and announces Crookedjaw's warrior name, after which the Gathering breaks up.
:Crookedjaw discusses Pinestar's plans with his Clanmates before they head back to camp. When they arrive, Petaldust asks if they've seen Voleclaw and Beetlenose. Hailstar says they haven't and sends Owlfur and Shellheart to fetch them. Brambleberry pushes through the entrance and dashes to the nursery, where Echomist tells her that Shimmerpelt has started kitting. Lakeshine says that Shimmerpelt needs water, and Willowpaw dashes off of to get some. Brightsky joins her, and together they carry dripping bundles of moss to the nursery. Crookedjaw asks what they should do, but Timberfur says that all they can do is wait. Shellheart, Voleclaw, Beetlenose and Owlfur arrive back at camp, and Shellheart says that they made it to Fourtrees and back without meeting anyone.
:As the she-cats work to deliver the kits, Crookedjaw bickers with Beetlenose. Willowpaw joins in, and Beetlenose teases her, saying that she just wants to have kits with Crookedjaw. Before she can respond, Lakeshine announces that Shimmerpelt has given birth to two kits, a tom and a she-kit. Willowpaw races into the nursery, and Crookedjaw follows. Inside, Piketooth crouches beside his mate while Frogkit and Sunkit peer excitedly at the newborns. Shimmerpelt murmurs that their names are Blackkit and Skykit. Crookedjaw wonders if he'll have his own kits one day, but thinks that Mapleshade would say to put his Clan first.
:Crookedjaw curls up in his nest, wondering what Mapleshade will say about him and Willowpaw. He thinks that even if he has to put the Clan first, he can still have kits, as Clans need kits to become warriors. He shivers with indignation at Mapleshade, and Oakheart asks him if he's okay. Crookedjaw says he's fine and falls asleep. He wakes without dreaming of Mapleshade, causing him to purr happily. Oakheart asks if he was dreaming about Willowpaw, and Crookedjaw replies that he didn't dream at all. He pads out of the den to see Shellheart organizing patrols in the clearing. The deputy tells Crookedjaw to take Oakheart, Mudfur, Brightsky and Voleclaw upstream to the Twoleg bridge to check for WindClan scent. As Crookedjaw heads out, Shellheart reminds him to check for the dog that's been straying from its Twoleg fence recently.
:Crookedjaw fetches Oakheart from the warriors den, and they join the rest of the patrol at the entrance to camp. Brightsky asks if Graypaw can come with them, and Crookedjaw gives his permission before leading the patrol out of camp. Crookedjaw soon glimpses the Twoleg bridge, and he asks the patrol if any of them can scent any Twolegs. The patrol says they can't, so Crookedjaw stealthily leads them to the bridge, where they check for any scents. Graypaw bounds across the bridge with reckless abandon, and the patrol jokes about foolish apprentices before realizing that there are Twoleg kits on the other side of the bridge. The kits notice Graypaw, and Brightsky dashes up to her as the patrol yowls at her to run. The apprentice doesn't move, so Crookedjaw charges forward, hissing at the Twoleg kits. Brightsky scoops up her apprentice and runs, and Crookedjaw struggles out of a Twoleg's grasp and follows her. He calls to his patrol as he leaps off the bridge and races downstream.
:The cries of the Twoleg kits fade, and Crookedjaw halts to catch his breath. Graypaw keeps running and dives into the river to swim her way home. Brightsky tells Crookedjaw not to worry as Graypaw is a strong swimmer. As the patrol slowly recovers from their ordeal, Crookedjaw looks up to see Graypaw leading Hailstar and Echomist toward them. Hailstar says that Graypaw told them what happened, and Fallowtail thanks Crookedjaw for saving her kit. Crookedjaw mutters that she could have done more to save herself as they pad into camp, where the whole Clan seems to be waiting for them. Troutclaw complains about the Twolegs, and Hailstar says that it's just the way it is. Echomist suggests shrinking their borders, but Whitefang angrily spits that they're not scared of Twolegs. Crookedjaw thinks that he's not afraid of anything that threatens his Clan.
==Characters==
===Major===
*Crookedjaw
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Trivia==
*This chapter aligns with chapter seventeen of Bluestar's Prophecy.
==Notes and references==
fr:La promesse de l'Élu/Chapitre 20
Category:Crookedstar's Promise
Category:Super Edition arc
Category:Chapter subpages