Tallstar's Revenge/Chapter 44

==Chapter description==
:Talltail is relaxing in camp, enjoying the sunlight. Meanwhile, Hopkit is with Hawkheart, as the older tom is picking out fleas. Although the young kit has recovered from his fever, the nursery is too cramped for him to move back in with his siblings. Hopkit asks Hawkheart if he can become a medicine cat while the tom reprimands him for moving around too much. The medicine cat says they don't need any more medicine cats, and also points out that Hopkit is too fidgety for the job. He asks how he can be a warrior with his limp paw, and Hawkheart points out that he can limp on it, therefore he can walk on it, and therefore he can hunt with it. The kit is still skeptical about his fighting skills, so the older tom says he can always talk his enemies to death, because he's good at arguing. At this statement, Hopkit argues that he's not good at arguing. Talltail wonders if Hawkheart is mellowing due to old age, but suspects that Hopkit is the one to mellow the old medicine cat.
:He sees Barkface and asks if Dawnstripe is okay. His friend says she's fine, but he worries about Reedfeather's shoulder, as the deputy hurt it again and isn't very young. Talltail looks across the Meeting Hollow to where Reedfeather is, and thinks to himself that the tom has served WindClan loyally for many moons, but will never survive long enough to be leader. Palebird walks into camp, interrupting his thoughts. She drops the mouse off for her kits as Talltail asks if hunting is good, and she says it is very good. He thinks that she's become more cheerful now that she's left the camp. Her mate asks if she's brought anything for him, to which she fondly retorts that he should catch his own prey. When asked if he misses the tunnels, Palebird says she and Woollytail both miss it, but at least they don't have to worry about cave-ins. He then asks about Ryestalk, and she says that she's grieving, but they'll all be happy to see her and Shrewclaw's kits.
:Guilt wells up in the tom and he mentions that he wishes he could've saved his rival. His mother replies that they can't save everyone. While he agrees, he also adds that he can try, before asking to speak with Heatherstar. He also lets Reedfeather hear what he has to say. Talltail asks to be Hopkit's mentor, and although Heatherstar has her doubts, he points out that Pigeonkit and Sorrelkit also have things holding them back. However, everyone overcome those flaws, and flaws can make cats who they are. Reedfeather agrees that he was made to be a warrior, and Heatherstar agrees. She calls a Clan meeting, and both Pigeonkit and Sorrelkit are excited. Sorrelkit asks about her brother, and Meadowslip says that he can't be a warrior like them. Talltail overhears and is annoyed, as they all seem to have given up on Hopkit.
:Heatherstar begins the ceremony, assigning Pigeonpaw to Doespring and Sorrelpaw to Stagleap. Then she calls up Hopkit, who is surprised. She renames him Deadpaw, which horrifies his mother, who exclaims that she can't name her son after what's wrong with him. He doesn't mind, and says that the rest of him is still alive. His father adds that it can trick others into thinking he's weak, but that Deadpaw will show them he's not. Heatherstar finishes the ceremony by giving Hopkit Talltail as a mentor. The black tom is esctatic that Talltail is his mentor, and the Clan cheers out the new apprentices' names. As he looks out over the moor, he wishes his friend could see him now, a true warrior.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
fr:La vengeance d'Étoile Filante/Chapitre 44
Category:Tallstar's Revenge
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Super Edition arc