I HAVE ONESTAR’S CONFESSION!

Based on what I've read so far, I'm not sure. Sorrelshine had more than one kit in the same litter, but Whitetail is the only one named in the timeskip. Seeing as to how she broke down over Runningbrook's death, they could be sisters. It's just not stated.

R.I.P. Stagleap. :c Him wanting to die was not what I was expecting. I wonder how Wrenflight died.

Unless this changes later on or I missed something from earlier chapters, I'm actually glad they're not making Mudclaw out to be worse than he actually was just to make Onewhisker look better and this is coming from someone who doesn't even like him. Again, feeling bad for Smoke here—regardless of what she does in the future, no parent should have to outlive their child. And the fact that no one is surprised Squirrelpaw went along is honestly pretty funny. She was that much of a troublemaker, huh?

There's a few things that annoy me.

I'm on the fence about the pacing, I just didn't expect the story to time skip that much, however I'm not saying I didn't expect one at all. I did think we'd at least see some key moments first, like Onewhisker and Firestar's first meeting, or Onewhisker's relationship with other cats, but I guess not.

Nightcloud not getting any family confirmations peeves me off, maybe one day. We also didn't get any significant Gorsepaw bonding moments, which feels like a very obviously missed opportunity as well.

The WhiteOneSmoke triangle is annoying. Reading the summaries on how Onewhisker handles any of that situation really does make him out to be a more cowardly Appledusk 2.0 and it's gross. There's a lot of things that could be said about his relationship with either she-cat.

I think the problem with OneWhite is the power dynamic, and then going as far as to note that she's "older" now so he can think of her in that way, is a weird way to try and justify that narrative. I'm not saying all Mentor/Apprentice situations fall under that narrative though, because some of them aren't this bad. But some are still creepy, for example, Dust was kinda weird about how eager he was to try and train both Fern and Ash BECAUSE he liked Fern. So I can see why some find OneWhite uncomfortable, regardless of them being consenting adults, simply because the narrative is trying to justify Onewhisker liking his former apprentice.

One the other hand the obvious issue with OneSmoke, is how neglectful and cowardly he played their relationship. Interest between them was built on a false image of Onewhisker being glorified in the eyes of kittpets since he was an apprentice. One that stayed since he got older, and he constantly ran back to the kittypets as a "source of comfort" to avoid responsibilities while in WindClan. But now it's the other way around, and he's avoiding his responsibilities with the kittypets. He, whether intentionally or unintentionally, played with Smoke's feelings, got her pregnant, and then essentially abandoned her when she needed him the most.

And he confirms that part of the reason he refuses to take her into WindClan, let alone their only surviving kit, is because he's ashamed of their relationship. Ashamed of what he's done, and is scared of Whitetail finding out about the truth. He didn't exactly seem to cover his tracks well either, since Tornear and Mudclaw were both suspicious of his relationship with Smoke, and even Stagleap knew before passing away. That's a huge yikes. Just how much time did he spend running off to be with kittypets over helping his own clan.

WindClan is weak and prey is even more scarce. Onewhisker wonders what is wrong with Firestar: if he wants to leave why doesn’t he leave, they would go with him. Tornear reminds him that ThunderClan has a paw in every cat’s business. Onewhisker suggests that WindClan join the Tribe. They suddenly see Twoleg monsters and noises coming from the camp. They race back and see the camp, full of big monsters, destroyed. Cats were fleeing in every direction. While the other cats escape, Onewhisker stays behind to make sure everyone has escaped. He hears Owlpaw’s terrified mewling and helps him escape from a collapsed tunnel. Every cat has escaped. They find shelter near the ThunderClan border. Tallstar says that its time to ask ThunderClan for prey, as Firestar is sympathetic to them. Onewhisker is worried how Firestar will react. ThunderClan has been driven out of their home to Sunningrocks so they go there. Squirrelpaw bounds down to meet Crowpaw, Brambleclaw joins. Onewhisker get embarrassed by he and his Clan’s weak appearance when they climb the rocks to join ThunderClan and angered at how ThunderClan was better fed. Tallstar reaches Firestar’s rock, collapses and begs for help.

Suddenly, Tawnypelt appears and yowls that Twolegs are attacking their camp. ThunderClan and WindClan go and help ShadowClan, Brambleclaw going to persuade RiverClan for help. When Tallstar tells Firestar he will help, Firestar and the others refuse. Tornear tells him he is on his last life but Tallstar refuses and says he will not miss the battle. When the patrols reach Fourtrees, Mistyfoot and her patrol join them. Firestar leads them into ShadowClan territory and lets out a ferocious battle cry. Deep inside the territory, they see the monsters nearly at the camp, tearing down the land, the debris falling down onto the cats. Firestar finds a route untouched by the Twolegs and has them take that route. Firestar divides them into patrols and has Onewhisker and Tallstar defend the escape route Tawnypelt just told him about that will allow them to reach the tunnels under the Thunderpath. Onewhisker feels offended that he was given the easiest, least dangerous task out of them all before realizing how stupid he was being. ShadowClan soon escapes and Onewhisker guides them to the escape route. Onewhisker carries a ShadowClan kit through through most of the route until it is safe. Tallstar has to get all authoritative with four ShadowClan cats going the wrong way to get them to go the right way. Tawnypelt realizes that Tallpoppy and her three kits are still missing. Onewhisker finds them, her kits scrambling in all directions, not obeying their mother. Tallpoppy, Tawnypelt and Onewhisker each manage to grab a kit, but Onewhisker gets hit by something slamming into his side as he rescues the third kit, he sees a falling tree. He and the kit are now trapped but still alive. Brambleclaw rescues them. As Onewhisker gets out, he realizes Firestar is missing. He realizes what happened – Firestar thrust himself between Onewhisker and the tree. Onewhisker wants to stay and find Firestar, but Brambleclaw has him get the others to the Thunderpath. They all reach safety. Onewhsiker tells Tallstar Firestar saved him for joining StarClan.

Onewhisker is focused on the mouth of the tunnel, wondering where Firestar and ThunderClan are. He finds it hard to accept he might never see Firestar again, the cat who proved so triumphantly that a kittypet can become a warrior, the cat Onewhisker thought of as his friend. Leafpaw and Firestar burst into the open. Firestar asks how everyone is doing. Onewhisker is relieved – that was Firestar: always so concerned about other cats – so maybe that means Firestar isn’t too badly hurt, he hopefully thinks.

All the Clans/patrols who helped ShadowClan go to Sunningrocks and guide/help each other, Onewhisker notes its like they aren’t separate Clans anymore and is comforted by that. He adds that especially now that Firestar is with them, the Clans might have hope.

They rest for some time. Mistyfoot then approaches Firestar about needing to make a decision about leaving the forest. Blackstar joins them. Tallstar and Tornear are asleep so Onewhisker joins Firestar and Mistyfoot too. Mistyfoot tells Firestar that RiverClan will leave the forest with the other Clans, relieving Onewhisker. Firestar tells him to let Tallstar know RiverClan and ThunderClan will travel to their new home with WindClan. He asks Blackstar if they will join them. After hesitating and Firestar hissing at him, Blackstar agrees. Firestar announces to all the cats they will leave at dawn.

Okay, looks like we're seeing the start of Onewhisker's resentment, however brief (and understandable in this case) it is right now. Interesting that he thought WindClan should join the Tribe, too.

He's quite the mess. He debates becoming a kittpet, constantly runs from his problems, and even thinks of joining WindClan to the tribe...I'm finding it very hard to see any of the leadership qualities Tallstar apparently saw in him. When so far he's just shown to be cowardly, relieved he's not in a higher position, and is now showing starts of his growing resentment towards Firestar and their friendship. It makes what he did to Firestar later on even more... distasteful.

Onewhisker making empty promises. How lovely. I honestly feel bad for Smoke and Darkkit/tail. Teaching her son to hate the Clans was not right of Smoke but I understand he anger at Onestar completely. She deserved better.

Also, on a side note, looks like Smoke did name Darktail in the traditional Clan naming way. I wonder if she ever called him Darkpaw.