I have Sky!

I feel bad for Owlnose reading through the summary for this chapter but am glad he rejected the position at the end and that he also realized alongside Frostpaw that the other two cats meant to lead RiverClan before him died before they could take on the position (RIP to Reedwhisker and Curlfeather again). Also, Frostpaw questioning if she has feelings regarding Splashtail is cute but hopefully will not resurface. Although it has been a while since we had medicine cat x warrior from the same Clan romance. But that most recent one (RaggedYellow) did not even end well.

Owlnose deciding not to go through with it might actually save his life.

Okay, I was wondering if Frostpaw was going to have a crush on Splashtail! Cute, but even better for her for having her priorities straight! And I really hope Owlnose survives the next book!

Starting to dislike Mothwing's approach. She is being really stubborn and unhelpful. I understand where she is coming from but great StarClan!

it's even worse when you remember splashtail and frostpaw are COUSINS

Berryheart is as frustrating as she is entertaining! I'm really loving her as an antagonist so far! And yeah, looks like I was right about her not wanting history to repeat itself, she just happens to be taking it too far.

Oh, they are? I didn't even bother to check if they were related. Although this wouldn't be the first time cousins (or rather second cousins after checking) got together in this series. But then again, I'm doubting they actually will get together and it instead just remains a fleeting questioning of feelings/crush on Frostpaw's part. Hopefully...

- Nightheart sneaks around the camp in the early morning, but is caught by Squirrelflight who jokingly asks if he wants to be put on apprentice duties. Nightheart mutters he wanted to be part of an early patrol. Squirrelflight then gets distracted talking to Alderheart and Birchfall, and Nightheart sneaks into the warriors' den to wake Bayshine up. Bayshine has his doubts about their secret mission. Nightheart is glad that Bramblestar trusts him, but Bayshine is uneasy about venturing into enemy territory where they could be caught and made prisoner. Bayshine feels Bramblestar isn't in his right mind considering Squirrelflight has been taking on more of his duties and Bramblestar himself hardly leaves camp. Nightheart insists it's for the good of all the Clans to figure out what Tigerstar is planning. Bayshine concedes and asks to at least do it at night. Nightheart agrees.

- As night falls, Nightheart thinks how great it is he'd blend in with the darkness, though Bayshine wouldn't with his golden pelt. He sees Bayshine looking guilty, and then Squirrelflight walking towards him, and realizes Bayshine told her about the mission. Squirrelflight asks Nightheart about what Bramblestar asked him to do, and Bramblestar scrambles down from the highledge and asks why she's bothering Nightheart. Squirrelflight says it's a terrible idea to send their most inexperienced warriors to ShadowClan. Bramblestar says he needs to know what Tigerstar is plotting. Squirrelflight says she'd rather ask him herself as to not risk the lives of Bayshine and Nightheart. Nightheart insists they won't get caught. Bramblestar says it'd just be two young toms going off to see their friend, which makes Nightheart angry and he thinks that Bramblestar doesn't actually believe in him, and just someone who isn't a threat.

- Squirrelflight says it's dangerous and she won't allow it. Bramblestar says it's his call. Squirrelflight argues she'll go herself and it's for the good of the Clan. Bramblestar snorts that she probably thought that way when she undermined him and talked to Crowfeather. Nightheart wants to shrink beneath his pelt as Bramblestar and Squirrelflight explode into an argument. Squirrelflight says they shouldn't be arguing in the Clan, and Bramblestar asks why not. Squirrelflight tells Nightheart he won't be going, but then thanks Bayshine for telling her about it. She then goes back to her den. Bramblestar once more seems defeated, and begrudgingly follows Squirrelflight.

- Bayshine tries to explain to Nightheart that it felt wrong to obey Bramblestar when he's like this, but Nightheart stalks off to the fresh-kill pile. He thinks that no cat believes in him, but then decides to just go himself. He then thinks that he wants to move to ShadowClan and become mates with Sunbeam since she clearly values him. He justifies it that Bramblestar didn't order him to stay, and he won't listen to Squirrelflight because she's not his leader. As everyone goes to bed, Nightheart sneaks out to the ShadowClan border.

- Nightheart meets Blazefire at the border. Blazefire is suspicious, but goes and gets Sunbeam. When she arrives, Nightheart talks about how nobody in ThunderClan appreciates him. Sunbeam says she thinks he's a true warrior, and talks about her problems with Berryheart and how Blazefire and Lightleap treat her like nothing happened. She talks about how hard a time Fringewhisker is having in ShadowClan, despite Spireclaw's attempts to help her. Nightheart talks about joining ShadowClan, and Sunbeam said she would like that. The older warriors are stuck in the past. Nightheart decides to get back to ThunderClan, but he then asks what Tigerstar's plans are for RiverClan, mentioning potential invasion. Sunbeam says she doesn't know and doubts Tigerstar would invade.

- Sunbeam asks if she's stupid for being jealous of Lightleap and Blazefire. Nightheart says she isn't, and he feels like Bayshine doesn't trust him either and he considered Bayshine his best friend. A ShadowClan patrol then rustles in the bushes, and Nightheart leaves. They say their goodbyes and as Nightheart races through the forest, he realizes he should leave ThunderClan and be with the cat who believed in him, and they obviously belong together.

I can't believe they're nuking SquirrelXBramble in this sort of way, especially after all Squirrelflight did for him last arc. It's uncomfortable to read.

Saw some of this discourse on twitter so I'm clarifying that when the younger generations say "gray-pelts", it's referencing the older/senior warriors, not cats who have swapped Clans nor a slur towards them.