Post by Whispering Willow on Apr 15, 2024 15:39:54 GMT -5
So I'm in the process of reading Wind and one scene that I found very interesting was the final scene in chapter three, where Nightheart and Sunbeam are approached by a WindClan patrol led by Breezepelt:
I know a lot of people thought that Breezepelt's redemption in Crowfeather's Trial was rushed and unearned, and I think there are some problems with it as well, even though I enjoyed the book. But I think it's really nice to see this callback, and to see Breezepelt behaving kindly and being able to relate to another cat over their troubles with their parents. Part of me wonders if he would have been any different in Omen of the Stars if he had had a close cat with whom he could connect in this way. A cat who could have helped him realize that he didn't need Crowfeather's (or the Dark Forest's) approval in order to be a strong warrior. Much like how Crookedstar, with the support of his family and Clanmates, realized that he did not need Rainflower's love or approval, even if he desired it.
A big part of Sunbeam's arc is learning how to cope and live her own life in the face of her mother's hostile disapproval. Now, in Wind, she struggles over worrying about Berryheart's health despite that she has not treated Sunbeam well and has caused trouble for the Clans. I think it's neat that they had Breezepelt validate her feelings and reinforce her right to care for her kin if that's what she wants to do. It's a good way of showing how Breezepelt has learned and progressed, and now he can use his experiences to offer a little help to another cat in a bad family situation.
[...]
Sunbeam felt as sick as if she had swallowed crow-food and the lump was stuck somewhere in her chest. Until now she had at least thought her parents and her brother would be okay as long as they stayed together. "My mother is hurt?" she echoed.
Breezepelt gave her a close, narrow-eyed look. "Are you planning to check on them?" he asked. "Or is looking after kin outside the Clan against ThunderClan's rules?"
Sunbeam was aware of Nightheart close to her, bristling with anger, but she thought there might be another meaning to the WindClan tom's words. She saw a strange glint in his eyes and remembered hearing that when Breezepelt's mother, Nightcloud, disappeared and every cat believed she was dead, he had searched and searched until he found her.
Is he telling me this so that I can find my kin if I want to?
"Berryheart and my father and brother made their choice," she responded quietly, giving nothing away. "And they are quite capable of taking care of themselves. If they're having any trouble out there, they could always come back, but knowing my mother, they won't."
"Yeah." Breezepelt let out a snort, half annoyed, half amused. "Parents are the worst, right?"
Sunbeam reflected that since Breezepelt's father was Crowfeather, the prickly WindClan deputy, the black tom knew a thing or two about difficult parents. She didn't reply, only saying goodbye to the WindClan cats. Breezepelt gave a polite nod and led his patrol away along the stream.
Sunbeam felt as sick as if she had swallowed crow-food and the lump was stuck somewhere in her chest. Until now she had at least thought her parents and her brother would be okay as long as they stayed together. "My mother is hurt?" she echoed.
Breezepelt gave her a close, narrow-eyed look. "Are you planning to check on them?" he asked. "Or is looking after kin outside the Clan against ThunderClan's rules?"
Sunbeam was aware of Nightheart close to her, bristling with anger, but she thought there might be another meaning to the WindClan tom's words. She saw a strange glint in his eyes and remembered hearing that when Breezepelt's mother, Nightcloud, disappeared and every cat believed she was dead, he had searched and searched until he found her.
Is he telling me this so that I can find my kin if I want to?
"Berryheart and my father and brother made their choice," she responded quietly, giving nothing away. "And they are quite capable of taking care of themselves. If they're having any trouble out there, they could always come back, but knowing my mother, they won't."
"Yeah." Breezepelt let out a snort, half annoyed, half amused. "Parents are the worst, right?"
Sunbeam reflected that since Breezepelt's father was Crowfeather, the prickly WindClan deputy, the black tom knew a thing or two about difficult parents. She didn't reply, only saying goodbye to the WindClan cats. Breezepelt gave a polite nod and led his patrol away along the stream.
I know a lot of people thought that Breezepelt's redemption in Crowfeather's Trial was rushed and unearned, and I think there are some problems with it as well, even though I enjoyed the book. But I think it's really nice to see this callback, and to see Breezepelt behaving kindly and being able to relate to another cat over their troubles with their parents. Part of me wonders if he would have been any different in Omen of the Stars if he had had a close cat with whom he could connect in this way. A cat who could have helped him realize that he didn't need Crowfeather's (or the Dark Forest's) approval in order to be a strong warrior. Much like how Crookedstar, with the support of his family and Clanmates, realized that he did not need Rainflower's love or approval, even if he desired it.
A big part of Sunbeam's arc is learning how to cope and live her own life in the face of her mother's hostile disapproval. Now, in Wind, she struggles over worrying about Berryheart's health despite that she has not treated Sunbeam well and has caused trouble for the Clans. I think it's neat that they had Breezepelt validate her feelings and reinforce her right to care for her kin if that's what she wants to do. It's a good way of showing how Breezepelt has learned and progressed, and now he can use his experiences to offer a little help to another cat in a bad family situation.
