Fireheart helpfully narrates that he's been visiting Princess nearly every day since he saw her, skipping patrols, hunting and training his apprentice. Couple of things: how on earth has he not been caught yet, why visit her at all, and how stupid is this mother hubbard?
Like, was he not just angsting in the last chapter that he feels bad about not being Clanborn and knowing that he has to work twice as hard to get approval from his Clan because of his blood? And now he's doing exactly what he's been fighting against - abandoning his chores and harsher life to take a walk down memory lane. It's been repeatedly stated that cats cannot be kittypets and warriors at the same time. They have to commit to one life or another. The fact that Fireheart of all people is the one to forget this rule so conveniently is staggering.
I mean, discounting all the risks he's taking - Tigerclaw is looking for a reason to get him exiled, after all - this is a major blow to everything he's done to get himself to this point. He's had to fight tooth and nail for just a little bit of respect...
Well, okay, no he hasn't, but you get what I mean. Outsider loyalty is a fragile thing. Clan life is centered completely around the "unite or die" mentality (it's in their origin story, for rut's sake). Every single cat is expected to use everything they've got at their disposal for the community, and if they don't want to commit, they're out. This pressure is double on cats brought in from the outside, especially kittypets.
My point here is that Fireheart should be well aware of what he's risking just to visit someone who didn't even know he existed when they first met. He has nothing to gain and everything to lose. He ought to know this by heart since it was ingrained into him as an apprentice. And he's doing something extremely stupid despite this.
I'm disappointed and frustrated, Fireheart. But especially disappointed.
Well, anyway, our idiot hero goes with his friend and their apprentices out to Sunningrocks to hunt. Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw ask about Redtail's death, which is surprising that it's even relevant. I mean, plotwise, it is, but as far as everyone else is concerned, the case is closed. It should be pretty much over and done with by now. No one except Graystripe, Fireheart, and an outsider know and recognize the truth of the matter, so it should be relevant to them only. By now, this is practically ancient history for cats born way after the event.
The four head to the river and Graystripe falls under the ice, but luckily ends up where the water's moving. A pretty, sleek grey tabby shows up and rescues him, and here's where we meet Silverstream, the fittingly named, soon-to-be love interest of Graystripe. She has a slightly flirtatious and totally stupid conversation with Graystripe before shooing them off her territory. I can see Graystripe being interested in her solely because she saved his life, because that does happen and we did just see this happen with Sandpaw-
Wait, again? Are you telling me that within the same book, several chapters apart, two characters get saved and suddenly become interested in their saviors? Really? Erin Hunter, don't tell me that you're already running out of ideas.
Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw quickly come up with an excuse for Graystripe to avoid admitting he had been saved by a rival Clan cat. Quick thinking on their part, and a smooth way to shift the blame from Cinderpaw. I'd say they remind me of Dipper and Mabel, but they're cats and not written as well.
Tigerclaw tries to interrogate them, but Cinderpaw's quicker on the draw and saves their bacon. For some reason, Fireheart is disturbed at this and at her trust in Tigerclaw. I'm more wanting to pick on the worry about her lying, because they had literally just been talking about telling a different story than what actually happened, but it's such a minor thing and this is getting pretty long, so I'll just get to the rest of the chapter.
Dude, shut up. You've been alternating between angsting about your blood and skipping your duties to visit your blood. You don't get to talk. Plus, Tigerclaw just brought up two completely valid points and you immediately make it all about you.
AND THERE HE GOES AGAIN.
Though, honestly, he better be caught for this. This is just getting stupid.
Well, Fireheart takes Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw out for some assessment, and it's noted that the two are quite skilled already. There really isn't much to say about this - seems like Fireheart's amazing Hero Skills(tm) passed on to his apprentice, is all. Cinderpaw asks about Fireheart's old life, and Fireheart waves her off.
Can't wait for more of this obnoxious crap.
Up next: Chapter Thirteen.
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