Crookedstar's Promise/Chapter 26

==Chapter description==
:Leaf-fall has arrived, and while Crookedjaw is enjoying playing with the nearly five-moon old kits, he wishes someone else would take over play duty. Skykit, Sunkit, and the others eagerly ask to learn fighting moves, though Lakeshine puts in that they might get hurt. Leopardkit, Mudfur's only surviving kit, begs Crookedjaw to teach them a battle move, flashing her big eyes in hopes of winning him over. However, Shimmerpelt shoos her adoptive daughter away since Mudfur would be horrified if he returned and found her fighting. Crookedjaw recalls how the entire Clan dotes on Leopardkit, but he knows better than to cross Mudfur. He attempts to spring the kits on Oakheart, but his brother is just about to leave on a patrol with Whitefang and Petaldust.
:Fortunately for Crookedjaw, the kits' fathers—Timberfur, Cedarpelt, and Piketooth—along with Willowbreeze, return from a hunting patrol, and the kits eagerly jump at the fresh fish. Willowbreeze is pleased she's rescued Crookedjaw from the kits, and when she leans in to nuzzle him he ducks away in embarrassment, knowing they have an audience in the camp. They instead go on a walk, and Crookedjaw reflects how he and Willowbreeze have grown closer since he'd rescued her from the Twoleg. The pair climb an alder tree, though Crookedjaw falls from the top branch in his excitement to race. He manages to catch himself on the last branch, and Willowbreeze frets over him. He tries to explain that nothing bad will happen to him since he's destined to be RiverClan's leader one day, but he prevents himself from telling her about Mapleshade. He and Willowbreeze confess their love for each other. Crookedjaw thinks he can hear Mapleshade's voice warning him about getting too close with Willowbreeze, but he resolves himself that he can be mates with her since Hailstar has a mate and kits.
:A dog barks nearby, and Crookedjaw hares after it. He quickly locates Whitefang and Petaldust chasing a small white dog, and helps them veer it away from camp and to its Twoleg. After the three warriors catch their breath, Crookedjaw asks where his brother is, and Petaldust explains he went to investigate ThunderClan warriors at Sunningrocks. Worried, Crookedjaw goes to look for him and spots his brother emerging from the river. Oakheart explains he just chased off one warrior, and his littermate detects Bluefur's scent on him, asking if it was her. Oakheart remarks that he just chased her off without a fight, though when Crookedjaw mentions the dog, Oakheart darts off in a panic towards the others. The twisted-jaw warrior is confused about his brother's odd behavior, but he pushes those thoughts aside as he leaves to find Willowbreeze.
==Characters==
===Major===
*Crookedjaw
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Trivia==
*This chapter aligns with chapter twenty-six of Bluestar's Prophecy.
==Notes and references==
fr:La promesse de l'Élu/Chapitre 26
Category:Crookedstar's Promise
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Super Edition arc