I have Sky!

Scoot over Brightheart and Cloudtail, Squirrel and Bramble are moving in soon

Poor Owlnose, indeed! And hey, I was wondering if Splashtail would be leader or deputy! Looks like I was right! But I guess we're getting another Nightstar, then? But then this opens up an entirely new can of worms considering who came both before and after him, unless we take this to mean that StarClan actually learned their lesson from the last time they gave a cat who wasn't ready nine lives.

Without spoiling too much, he's alive by the end of the book but he's between a rock and a hard place. I feel very bad for him and the poor guy is being forced to do things he doesn't want to do. Underrated MVP of the book so far, imo.

Poor Owlnose. I guess he really wasn't the right "not obvious" choice. And Splashtail is now deputy. He also doesn't have an apprentice. Owlnose just picked a cat he liked.

I am glad that we're getting more focus on a background RC cat, though. Owlnose is a really cute name.

Hmmm...Bramble's mental state here seems to be similar to Bluestar's after Tigerclaw attacked her. His time of being leader might be ending soon this arc. 

Just checked on the Event Timeline and Owlnose is at least 4 years old. Splashtail is around 1.

About Nightheart, I can tell that he's about to go through some major development. He's young and foolish; while his feelings towards Firestar and his legacy are justified, he's making bad decisions and snapping at cats who don't deserve to be snapped at. It's obvious he's going through a lot (just like any teenager).

There are a lot of scenes where he's reminded that there are cats who still like him/support him (Alderheart, Sunbeam, and Bramblestar), but he always goes back to thinking that he's always alone or that nobody supports him. I believe that this is the beginning of his development - it just has to stick in his brain that nobody in his life wants to see him as just another Firestar! They all want the best for him, just like any of their other Clanmates.

I generally like Nightheart and I think he has a lot of potential. He's quite frustrating and can be irritating, but I'm predicting that by the end of the story, he'll be a totally different and more mature cat than before.

As Frostpaw and Owlnose trek onto the Moonpool, Owlnose asks nervously if it'll hurt. Frostpaw admits she doesn't know, but it might. Owlnose looks worried and he knows they're approaching the place where Curlfeather died, which Frostpaw tries to block out. Frostpaw realizes that she doesn't know what will happen to him when Owlnose asks. Despite this, she feels confident that she chose the right cat, and tells him he'll see his ancestors. Owlnose lights up, and asks if he'll see his kin. Frostpaw is glad to see him enthusiastic, and assures him they'll give him a life, along with important cats from the past.

As they reach the Moonpool, Owlnose breathes that he thinks it's a bad idea considering he skipped deputyship and doesn't feel qualified. Frostpaw says it's what StarClan wants. Owlnose isn't convinced, admitting it feels wrong when he hasn't been a deputy or even old enough to be a senior warrior. Frostpaw insists they need to try. She says if he'd like, she can talk to them first, but she knows he's as a good as any cat. Owlnose, hurt, asks what she means by that. Frostpaw feels shameful, and says she meant better than any cat. Owlnose doesn't look convinced. He keeps asking questions about the process, but Frostpaw drowns him out as she tries to talk to StarClan at the Moonpool's water. She gets no response.

She wakes, and admits that StarClan didn't talk to her. However, she internally wishes at least Curlfeather could give her guidance. Owlnose looks uncertain, but sighs he should at least try. Owlnose settles down and begins praying to StarClan. Frostpaw begins to feel anxious, knowing that Curlfeather died the last time this happened and isn't willing to lose any more of her family. Yet, Curlfeather's last words ring in her head constantly. She knows how much she misses Curlfeather, but then sees Owlnose trudging back up the slope, but sees he looks shrunken beneath his pelt and wonders if the same thing had happened to him like with Harestar (whatever this means?) Frostpaw cheerfully asks how it went. Owlnose murmurs they didn't show. Nobody was there, and nobody spoke to him. He looks defeated, and Frostpaw feels her mouth go dry.

Owlnose and Frostpaw head back to the camp, but Frostpaw refuses to believe she's wrong. She thinks that Owlnose had never led anything more than a patrol until yesterday, and he just needs more confidence. As they enter the camp, they spot Duskfur organizing the patrols. Frostpaw bitterly thinks that if only her grandmother had shown this incentive beforehand, but then asks if that would influence her decision. She wonders if the connection between StarClan is broken again, like with what happened with Ashfur. Shimmerpelt notices them, and asks how it went. Owlnose only gazes at them, obviously unsure what to say. Before he can explain, everyone begins cheering Owlstar, and they all tell him that they're glad he's their leader and how they've been preparing for him, which further breaks Owlnose, and even more so when someone asks if he saw Mistystar.

Graypaw, standing beside Breezeheart, asks if he can Mistpaw can get their warrior names. Mothwing cuts through the crowd and demands to know what happened, switching between Frostpaw and Owlnose. Frostpaw admits nothing did, as StarClan wasn't there. Shimmerpelt gasps that StarClan has abandoned them. Fognose asks why they'd leave them leaderless. Minnowtail frowns, and says it's perhaps of such an inexperienced warrior leading the Clan, catching the eye of Duskfur. Duskfur shifts her paws and StarClan must want them to choose again. Splashtail disagrees, as it must be a test to see if they're certain. Mistpaw, Graypaw, Breezeheart, and Brackenpelt all agree Owlnose needs more time to show his leadership qualities.

Duskfur grunts it seems obvious to her that Owlnose isn't the right choice. Shimmerpelt says silence means the wrong answer. Fognose asks if anybody remembers Nightstar, and how he was never a true leader because he wasn't given his nine lives. Splashtail snarls that this is different considering Mistystar is dead, unlike Brokenstar at the time. Duskfur hisses it means nothing, and Owlnose is just an ordinary warrior. Frostpaw hopes Owlnose will defend himself, but unfortunately he seems to agree with Duskfur. Mothwing mutters that StarClan's absence was unexpected, to which Duskfur chimes in obviously, but Mothwing ignores her and says that she believes in Frostpaw, and she also believes in Owlnose. Breezeheart and Brackenpelt mew agreement.

Harelight, at the back of the crowd, mews encouragingly that Onewhisker had to wait to become Onestar. Breezeheart says that StarClan still gave him nine lives for it too. Owlnose brightens up, and begins to show a bit more confidence in himself with others' support. Mothwing then says Owlnose will need a deputy, which then suddenly makes all his confidence go away. Frostpaw wonders who he will choose, while Owlnose looks anxiously across the crowd of cats. Mothwing says again he needs a deputy. Owlnose says he'd like to think about it for a day or two, but Mothwing says it's no good, he needs one now. Owlnose then mews Splashtail.

Sneezecloud echoes Splashtail's name in sheer surprise. Splashtail is taken back. Duskfur snorts that he's far too young for that kind of responsibility. Frostpaw says he's strong and brave, which makes Splashtail puff out his chest. Shimmerpelt sniffs that while it's true, he's hardly more than a kit himself and little experience, and no apprentice. Minnowtail is simply shocked, and asks why they're having two severely inexperienced cats lead the Clan. Splashtail looks hurt, and Frostpaw feels bad for him as he hadn't asked to be dragged into this. Owlnose looks at Minnowtail and says he chose him because he works with him. Minnowtail exclaims that he needs a deputy that will make up for his weaknessess, not because they compliment each other's positive traits. Frostpaw meows that Splashtail is very decisive, a quality that Owlnose lacks. Breezeheart and Harelight agree with Frostpaw.

Minnowtail grunts that Splashtail hasn't had an apprentice. Mothwing snorts that they haven't had kits in moons, and they're just going to have to overlook that requirement. Duskfur asks why, and if the warrior code is just a list of suggestions. Mothwing flattens her ears and says of course not, but right now they need a leader and deputy, and this is what they'll go with. Graypaw pricks his ears and asks since they have that now, can they get their warrior names. Mothwing doesn't answer, but to everyone's surprise, Owlnose cuts the silence and says that when he has his nine lives, the first thing he'll do his make Mistpaw and Graypaw warriors.

Duskfur, still glowering, asks what they tell the other Clans. Mothwing says the truth, that Mistystar and Reedwhisker died and Owlnose and Splashtail are their replacements, and RiverClan business is not their concern. Shimmerpelt corrects her, saying they'd have to use Owlstar, not Owlnose, but clearly disapproves of it. Mothwing hisses that it seems she'd rather tell everyone StarClan didn't show up for his leadership ceremony, which shuts Shimmerpelt up. Splashtail says they can't appear vulnerable and the other Clans need to believe Owlstar has StarClan's blessing, and he belives Owlstar can do it. No cat speaks, but uncertainty fills the air. It's then interuppted by Nightsky announcing Tawnypelt is here. Tawnypelt explains that Tigerstar is calling an emergency gathering to talk about the catmint shortage. Frostpaw says Alderheart brought some to them here, and asks how they're doing in ShadowClan. Tawnypelt doesn't meet her gaze and says Rowankit passed. Owlnose and Mothwing offer their condolences, but Tawnypelt says they can offer it to Tigerstar and Dovewing. As she leaves, she pointedly looks at Mothwing, and says she sure hopes she'll see them there.

RiverClan is left in shock, and Frostpaw hopes they're ready to make a huge lie in front of the other four Clans.

Only death so far is Rowankit. I skimmed the RiverClan plotline because that's the most interesting to me so I do know how that one ends. Can't say anything about Sunbeam or Nightheart yet though. 

blazefire and lightleap officially get together

THE SOUND I JUST MADE OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOD

Poor Owlnose. Splashtail is pretty young and isn't the cat I would expect as deputy. We'll see what happens later on in the book. We now have a third Owlstar.