I have Ivypool's Heart!

Strike Slash leads the she-cats to a spot surrounded by bramble thicket, ordering them to wait there. Neither Clan cat is happy, though Icewing says to just give them time. Ivypool worries that Tumble, Stalk, and their kits won't be able to grow up in a proper home otherwise. As they gaze around the camp, a single kit with green eyes comes over to them and says she's Hop Scratch. She asks where they came from, why their pelts are funny colors, and if they're kits too. To Ivypool's surprise, Hop Scratch is almost as big as them. Icewing mews that they came from a long ways away, and there's many cats with their pelt color. Ivypool introduces themselve, but Hop thinks they have funny names. She asks them to play with her, but the she-cats decline. Hop sadly mews her littermate died, and there's not other kits around. Icewing and Ivypool elect to tell her stories instead.

Hop Scratch's mother and greets them, introducing herself as Claw Stretch. Hop excitedly says they're telling her stories. Claw says she's heard of Clan cats, but never met one, asking to listen as well. Icewing says she's more than welcome to. Gradually, two or three other wildcats drift over to listen to Ivypool and Icewing. They're surprised when they talk about freeing Tumble and Stalk, and laugh upon hearing how the Clan cats helped them escape. After this, they're asked to join them for some prey. Icewing goes, but Ivypool and Claw Stretch talk about losing kits, and Claw offers her sympathies, since losing a kit of her own was the hardest thing she went through. Ivypool mentions how Bristlefrost died and now her spirit is gone forever.

Claw mews she doesn't intend to be disrespectful, but how Ivypool describe's the afterlives isn't how she sees it. When a cat dies, they go to an afterlife as the Clan cats do. But when the cat in the afterlife is forgotten by all cats, they return to the elements and spread out into the world, so ultimately nothing is really lost. She asks Ivypool if perhaps she can sense that Bristlefrost is still around, even if she can't be seen. Ivypool desperately wishes it could be true, but it feels wrong. It's Claw Stretch's belief, not hers, and it's difficult to imagine it being the same for the Clan cats. Ivypool witnessed with her own eyes that if someone dies in the Dark Forest, then they're gone forever.

But as she thinks, she looks upwards and sees a patch of the sky that resembles Bristlefrost's blue-green eyes. For a moment, the faintest sense of hope enters her heart, and she desperately wants to believe it's true, but can't find it to be so. She wonders if perhaps Claw Stretch is right, or Ivypool is so desperate she'll believe anything. What Claw said aligns with what Stalk told her earlier, but Ivypool still isn't sure.

The three elders approach Ivypool, and Icewing hurries back to her side. Prowl issues a cold stare, and declares they do not believe the Clan cats. Icewing stares at her in disbelief. Ivypool protests they met Galestar and showed the StormClan symbol. Hunt Growl sniffs and says that won't win them over considering the Clans abandoned Galestar. Spring Claw says they know they're lying because they mentioned rescuing other wildcats, and they know for a fact there aren't any wildcats. Ivypool protests that they're being truthful and can prove it. Icewing asks why they think she and Ivypool are lying. Icewing tells them to consult the ancestors if they're really doubtful. Prowl Sleek has a look of longing in her eyes, but meows that there's no need to bother the ancestors, and their decision is final. Hunt adds they're probably in league with the foxes that have been bothering them the past moon.

Ivypool, enraged, screams at them for being so shortsighted and says Clan cats are honorable and would never be in league with foxes. Icewing snaps that they left their Clans and risked their lives to help them. Hunt is about to retort, but Prowl raises her tail and he stays quiet. Prowl says it doesn't matter, and they refuse to accept their story. Spring rakes the she-cats with a malevolent gaze, and barks at the wildcats to drive them out.

Prowl hisses they won't do that to the thieves and liars, but tells Ivypool and Icewing to be gone by morning.

This really does seem like they're setting up Icewing to be either leader or deputy. With her age, I would hope it would be the latter; I wouldn't protest an older cat being deputy to offer stability to whoever the new leader is, and then dying before they become leader themselves.

If they aren't setting her up to be important post-Splashtail, I'm not sure why they are suddenly giving her all this character development and repeatedly mentioning how wise and likeable she is. Especially the meditation bit.

Icewing eyes Ivypool, perhaps thinking there's still a chance to save RiverClan. But they look back at the elders and see they've clearly returned and the ancestors are gone. Ivypool asks why they left when they just said they had something to tell them. Prowl Sleek says they must travel to the ancestor's land. Icewing, annoyed, asks them to just tell them. Prowl Sleek blinks and says the information was not shared with them. Ivypool and Icewing are uncertain, as they're not medicine cats and don't know how to enter the afterlife without Whistlepaw. Spring Claw assures them they'll help them. Ivypool doesn't like the idea of travelling all the way back to the Star Tree, but Hunt Growl says there's other ways of doing it.

The elders head back onto the path, and after some travelling, the cats enter a small clearing with a huge hollow log. Prowl Sleek instructs Ivypool and Icewing to go inside. Icewing mutters to just do it. The two enter, and Ivypool tries to clear her mind even with the cramped space. She thinks of her family in ThunderClan, and after hardly any time passes, both she-cats find themselves in a forest, much like the one earlier with Whistlepaw and Rootspring. The she-cats follow a trail in the forest, and upon reaching the edge of some water, they meet Galestar. The two issue a greeting, and Galestar says the two are always welcome on her territory. Galestar explains that ever since she met them, she's been thinking of the past and reliving the pain of being abandoned by Stripestar and StormClan, and asks the two what she can do to ease the pain. Icewing mews she should face it and accept that it happened.

Galestar asks how she's supposed to do that, as all the cats involved are long dead and StormClan doesn't exist anymore. Ivypool declares they need to travel to StarClan and find Stripestar. Galestar says no cat can do that, as it's impossible. Icewing asks if she's even tried. Ivypool says if they can find Stripestar, then perhaps Galestar can find out the truth and get closure. Galestar isn't sure what to say. Ivypool continues, saying Stripestar vanished from StarClan because no cat remembers him, but Galestar remembers him, and she can bring him back along with the memories of StormClan. At the very least, Galestar can get answers. Ivypool isn't sure how to get to StarClan, but Galestar says it's actually quite easy through the River of Spirits: a river that connects all the afterlives together, no matter the culture. Galestar also says that they're the cats who came to help her, and so must be allowed into StarClan.

Icewing is still hesitant, though says it's for the sake of the Clans. She mews if River Ripple hadn't been brave enough to travel down a river, then RiverClan wouldn't exist. Ivypool thinks of the river of blood prophecy, and agrees. Eagerly, Galestar bounds to the edge of the water and hops on a log, and tells them it's time to go.

As Galestar speaks her accusation, Tallstar murmurs they're reappearing because they're being remembered. Windstar points out Whitebreeze (gray-and-white she-cat) and Swiftwing (black tom). Riverstar gestures to a plump ginger tom as Rosebush, who was always argumentative. As the others become fully formed StarClan cats, Ivypool sees a brown tabby tom with amber eyes materialize, and Galestar hisses it's Stripestar. Ivypool asks where he's been, and Stripestar says he's been kind of everywhere: part of the wind, the grass, the trees, and everything. He wasn't watching them as StarClan cats usually do, but he was there. Ivypool wonders if it means Bristlefrost is truly one with the elements as well, and if it proves the wildcats right. She wants to tell Icewing perhaps it means Bristlefrost and Beetlewhisker aren't truly gone, but Icewing is watching Stripestar with glowing eyes, perhaps reaching the same realization.

Galestar is angry, and says Stripestar deserved the Dark Forest. Ivypool wonders if the two will fight even in the sacred hunting grounds, but Stripestar insists he didn't willingly abandon her. He still loves her, and would not have done anything to harm her or their kits. He explains that he had to lead the other StormClan cats to safety or else they all would have died. Some of Galestar's hostility dies away, and Stripestar continues, saying that as soon as the storm ended, he went out to search for them, but they could never be found, and so he believed them to have been dead. For the rest of his life he mourned them. Galestar grumbles she didn't die, much to his surprise, and Galestar explains the wildcats found her and took her in. She found a new mate and had new kits. Stripestar is hurt, but he clearly makes an effort to push the feeling away. He says it's hard to know she moved on from him when he was still grieving, and it's painful to know his kits grew up and he couldn't see it happen. He says that nobody in StormClan could bear the thought that she died, and everyone suffered for it. More wispy shapes of former StormClan cats appear, murmuring apologies to Galestar.

Thunderstar asks how they could have forgotten such an important era of Clan history. Windstar suggests everyone simply wanted to forge, StarClan included. Thunderstar mews that he thinks there's more to StormClan's history than what's being said. Ivypool and Icewing conclude StormClan needs to be brought back to StarClan. Icewing asks if their wisdom is what's needed to save RiverClan. Nobody says anything, until Stripestar mews he hopes it will be needed to save all the Clans. Ivypool asks what happened to all the Clans while they were gone. Icewing asks Riverstar if Whistlepaw's vision of the red river has come true. Riverstar looks at her with warmth and wisdom, and says she needs to remember all she's learned. StarClan's hunting grounds grows dark and fades away, leaving Ivypool to ask what happened to the Clans back home.

Rootspring and Dovewing had set out at dawn to hunt before they all leave. Ivypool and Icewing explain to the wildcats that since the debt was repaid, they need to hurry home. Both she-cats were worried about their Clans, and the wildcats listen with tension. Ivypool hopes they're not too late. After Rootspring and Dovewing return with prey, they all share one last meal before parting ways. Rootspring is saying goodbye to the kits, and Ivypool thinks he'll make a good father. Prowl leads the way downriver, but Tumble and Stalk thank the Clan cats again for their help and very much wish to see the Clan cats again. Ivypool says she hopes so too. Prowl calls the wildcats over, and Tumble and Stalk leave with their kits. Some dread fills Ivypool's stomach, knowing that now she and her friends have to face what's going on at the Clans. But she knows that she has cats like Fernsong, Flipclaw, and Thriftear to help her. And now that she's deputy, she has the Clan to consider. Icewing urges them to get going, and she begins leading them up the hill back towards the lake territories. Ivypool takes a last glance at the cave she found for Stalk Purr to give birth. She thinks of the wildcat belief that Bristlefrost was in the earth, air, and water. She wants to believe it's true, but isn't sure if she can. She murmurs to herself that she'll always remember this place, and the friends she made along the way.

The Clan cats make good time travelling through the hills. They made a temporary den among bushes at a cliff to rest for the night. When she falls asleep, Ivypool wakes up in the Dark Forest. She hears yowls and screeches from the bottom of the slope, spotting Bristlefrost fighting grimly against the hordes of Dark Forest cats. Ivypool charges down the slope, hurling herself at Bristlefrost's side, but when she reaches her, the spirits disappear, leaving only Bristlefrost at her mother's side. Purring, Bristlefrost says Ivypool never lost her, and she only needs to look for her.

Ivypool wakes up, the pale light of morning peaking through the bushes. She longs to see her daughter again, but rises out of her nest and slides out of the bushes until she reaches the bank of a stream. It reminds her of the place she and Rootspring met to remember Bristlefrost. As she thinks about him, Rootspring pads up to her and mews he dreamed of Bristlefrost. She was just like she was when she was alive, and she was safe, happy, and at peace. Ivypool mews she had a dream about her too, and says perhaps the wildcats are right about Bristlefrost being all around them, even if she's not in StarClan.

As she speaks, a white stag appears at the other side of the bank. It picks it's way from the undergrowth and lowers it's head to drink, looking glorious in the morning sunbeams. Ivypool freezes, figuring it's kin to the deer she sees at the lake, but it's so different despite being so similar. The stag lifts it's head and looks at her, and for a moment, it reminds Ivypool of Bristlefrost's calm, contented gaze. She realizes that the stag isn't a threat; she can draw a breath and admire it's beauty. After another long look at the cats, the stag turns away and disappears into the trees.

Ivypool breath gets caught in her throat. She thinks wholeheartedly and without a doubt, that the wildcats are right. Bristlefrost was not lost, she is everywhere even if she can't be seen. Seeing the stag was a gift to her and Rootspring that somewhere, Bristlefrost was still there and something of her survived.

Rootspring mews that Bristlefrost must be here with them, looking less stressed. Ivypool purrs a relief, feeling like the journey had actually helped her grieve and find her purpose, though not in the way she imagined. She and Icewing restored the memory of StormClan to StarClan, but Ivypool knows she won't ever see her daughter again. The void in Ivypool's heart has been filled with understanding of the world, and enriched by the vast beauty. All the places where Bristlefrost can be. Rootspring mews he realizes he has to move on and change. Ivypool asks if he'll find a mate. Rootspring waits several heartbeats, and replies at last that he thinks he will. Caring for the wildcats showed him he wants a family, though he doesn't know who the mother will be. Ivypool suggests Wrenflight. Rootsrping shakes his head, saying Wrenflight is an attractive she-cat but she's kind of a mouse brain. He says the cat he chooses can never replace Bristlefrost, but must instead be worthy of her.

Ivypool thinks it's an incredible burden for a she-cat to bear, but knows Rootspring would choose the best. Ivypool says it breaks her heart knowing that Rootspring and Bristlefrost won't be together, she wants him to move on too. They both need to look forward, not back. Rootspring meows it's perhaps best for them to take a break from the meetings at the lake. Ivypool says they'll still see each other at gatherings, and Rootspring happily mews they'll always be friends. The thought of gatherings makes Ivypool think of the Clans again. She isn't sure what turmoil awaits them back home, but she wants to see her family again. She knows she can be the strong depuuty, and perhaps even leader one day, of ThunderClan. She knows Bristlefrost isn't truly gone, and that means everything to her.

Bristlefrost is here, and at the lake, and everywhere around them. Ivypool knows her daughter would be cheering her on as the Clan cats return home, ready to face whatever is waiting for them.

Overall I think this was really good! The last time we had an Ivypool perspective was back in OotS so it was refreshing to see a matured and developed version of the character. I'm not a parent myself, but I really cannot imagine the pain of outliving your child, let alone knowing said child is effectively wiped from existence and you won't ever see them again. Ivypool's grief and struggle to move on felt very raw and realistic. She could connect with Dovewing over losing a child, but Rowankit was in StarClan. She can connect with Icewing over knowing your kit is gone forever, but Icewing has majorly moved on. She can connect with Rootspring over Bristlefrost specifically, but Root and Bristle were in love, and Bristle was Ivypool's daughter so it's not quite the same understanding of grief, in a way? 

The main focus relationship of Ivypool's was Bristlefrost, but the small bits of her relationships with Dovewing, Fernsong, Flipclaw, and Thriftear were good as well. Ivypool also rekindling with Dovewing as good. I also appreciated her and Icewing bonding over knowing they'll never see one of their kits again. In the text at least, the two of them had good chemistry and bounced off each other very well. The weakest relationship was with Whistlepaw simply because the others could relate to Ivypool's situation, while Whistlepaw really couldn't. The five Clan cats were pretty strong and consistent throughout though, and I liked seeing Icewing and Whistlepaw fleshed out more as characters. Many characters such as the main five, Tumble, Stalk, Slate, Beach, and the wildcats were really good.

Ivypool's arc specifically was really well done. Coming to terms that she needs to move on and while it's sad that she'll never see Bristlefrost again, she does have those who matter to her in ThunderClan and accepting that Bristlefrost is dead. Obviously she'll take the chance that Bristlefrost is part of the elements now, but even if it's not true, she'll do what it takes to remember her daughter. Also caught between the quest and her own personal issues tied together nicely. I'm not sure if I'd call it PTSD or trauma, but the one dream sequence of Ivypool in the Dark Forest and facing Flametail and Brokenstar makes it seem like there might be some unresolved issues there. But it was only there once and never brought up again, so it's anyone's guess. 

I know some people will argue the development of more afterlives and how they're all connected is a retcon of sorts, but personally I disagree. It's established that what we already know is effectively only what the Clans themselves know, and there's different groups and cultures who have different interpretations of what comes after death. Like real world societies and cultures, there's similiarities between them but they differ in various ways, which I think is really cool. It's not so much saying what was established earlier is no longer canon, but rather it's what the Clans themselves know and there's different cultures of these cats that offer different understandings and building upon these different groups such as the wildcats, Tribe, Sisters, and Clans. It does seem like there's some sort of common factor or external force based on the River of Spirits connecting all the afterlives though. 

IMO the book leaves it a bit ambiguous as to whether spirits such as Bristlefrost or Beetlewhisker are truly "with the elements" or simply gone. As I said above, I wouldn't say it's retconning so much as it is offering alternative ways of thinking. At the same time though, I think it opens up interesting questions about what specifically happens when everyone across the living world and afterlives forget about something or someone. It seems they pass onto the elements as per the wildcats, but StormClan cats such as Stripestar were able to be brought back when cats learned of him. Was the white stag truly Bristlefrost visiting Ivypool and Rootspring? What about characters like Spottedleaf or Snowtuft who were killed as spirits? Are they also one with the elements?

I did quite like the wildcats and learning about their culture and ways of life. Tumble and Stalk were alright characters, and several of the other wildcats like Prowl Sleek and Strike Slash grew on me. StormClan I'm...unsure on. To me it makes sense that at one point some Clans would try to merge and try something new and fail, having it all lost to history since this happens all the time in the real world. Especially when the Clans keep their history through oral tradition and details can become skewed over time. Like, SkyClan leaving the forest was, what, 20 years before Firestar came into the picture? And none of the living cats knew what it was. Windstar also says perhaps StarClan wanted to forget about the whole StormClan drama, hence why nobody save for the founders knew about it, but feels a little contrived. 

This might just be me, but I also didn't care much for Galestar or Stripestar. Cool story, but I really wasn't invested in it as much as I was other things. Others have mentioned it, and while it could be because it's "new", it feels a little fanfiction-like? Perhaps in time that will change. 

I'd love to learn more about how it formed and the divisions it caused since Galestar mentions it caused severe backlash. Like there was enough to cause the whole giant Clan to leave, but enough cats from there still existed and went back to form ThunderClan and WindClan. Unless I missed it, we also don't know what happened to StormClan? We know Galestar's descendants live on in the modern wildcats, but what about the other cats led by Stripestar? What happened to them? Did they return to the Clans, or just splinter off and disband like SkyClan did? 

Pacing could have been improved though. There's several scenes where, for example, the cats decide to hunt, but run into a problem that prevents it. Then wash-rinse-repeat for a couple other chapters. Or them running away from twolegs. I know they're in uncertain and foreign territories, but it felt a bit overused. A couple chapters could have used a little more plot (for lack of a better word) and felt like mostly filler just to move from point A to point B. 

Overall though, a solid 8/10. Has some issues, but it was really good to revisit Ivypool's character and learn more about the lore developments. I love learning about different cultures and while they have differences, there's some notable similarities between them (eg. Anglo-Saxons vs Vikings) so that was really cool to read about.