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Cinderpelt and Firestar?

There have been many battles over this case, and I have decided to end it once and for all. My views on why Cinderpelt loves Firestar.

1. Why not?

Before I start with the evidence, I just want to say to all non-believers: Why not?
ApprenticeXMentor... Isn't that just cute? Although many of you say that medicine cats can't fall it love, and that Cinderpelt is a dedicated medicine cat, your arguement is weak. Erin Hunter is just the sort of person to stir up this kind of intensive storyline. After all, she made Spottedleaf and Firestar fall in love with each other. She made Leafpool and Crowfeather happen. She made Yellowfang love Raggedstar. Isn't Spottedleaf a dedicated medicine cat? Isn't Leafpool? Isn't Yellowfang? So why not?

2. Rising Storm

Our very first clue comes in Rising Storm. As we know, this is the bigbig book where Fireheart and Sandstorm's relationship starts to blossom.
Many will argue that CINDERPELT was the one to tell Fireheart about Sandstorm's feelings. But look at the way Erin Hunter wrote it:

    "'You talk about her as if she were still alive,' murmured Cinderpelt, closing her eyes. 'Why can't you let her rest with StarClan?'...
    'What's wrong with remembering Spottedleaf?' Fireheart protested.
    'Because while you're dreaming about her, there's another cat - a living one - right under your nose whom you should be thinking about instead.' " - Rising Storm, pg. 154

Although it is supposed to refer to Sandstorm, the "living one" may refer to Cinderpelt also. It may serve as a double meaning. After all, at that time, Cinderpelt and Fireheart were great friends. Cinderpelt may be afraid that just coming up and saying "I love you!" to Fireheart may cause their friendship to break, which will make things even worse, so she inserts her feelings as a subtle message.
Which is why, immediately after Cinderpelt tells Fireheart about Sandstorm, she ends the conversation adruptly. She does not wish to speak more, as she does want Fireheart too. She just said Sandstorm because she panicked when Fireheart asked her who is was.

That's our biggest clue in the book. There is also another one before that:

    "He [Fireheart] tried to catch her eye, but Cinderpelt wouldn't look at him." - Rising Storm, Pg. 53

At first glance, there is nothing much to this sentence, but look at Erin Hunter's choice of word: wouldn't. Why didn't she just say "but Cinderpelt didn't look at him"? Because Cinderpelt was ashamed. She had just received a scolding from her mentor, Yellowfang, so she does not dare to look at Fireheart in the eye. She's embarrased because Yellowfang just scolded her right in front of Fireheart.

3. Dangerous Path

In the beginning, we don't have have evidence, but then we have our first clue:

    "He [ Fireheart ] jumped as an irritated yowling sounded from behind him. 'Fireheart, are you going to be all day?'
    Glancing around, he saw that Sandstorm was waiting or him at the entrance to the burned fern tunnel. 'I've got to go,' he said to Cinderpelt.
    'But-'
    ...Cinderpelt's ears twitched in annoyance. "  - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 39

Although it isn't strong, it's still a clue.

After that encounter, Cinderpelt isn't mentioned much, except for her medicine cat duties. But soon, less than 20 pages later, we get another hint:

    "[ Cinderpelt: ]' Assuming you can spare the time from Sandstorm.'"    - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 53

Even Fireheart starts to feel something after Cinderpelt's words:

    "Fireheart felt uncomfortable. 'I don't know what you mean.'"  - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 53

There aren't much anymore, although Cinderpelt starts to spend more time with Fireheart, as a friend, or at least in Fireheart's point of view. Soon, we have something else:

    "Fireheart glanced admiringly at Sandstorm...
    He was roused from his thoughts when he heard Cinderpelt clearing her throat..."  - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 101

Immediately after that episode, we have our biggest clue:

    "Both she-cats [ Cinderpelt and Sandstorm ] were being very polite to each other, but somehow Fireheart felt it wouldn't take much for them to unsheathe their claws...
     ...Fireheart felt completely baffled by the tension that chilled the air.
    'Good.' Cinderpelt gave him a curt nod, and Fireheart felt her blue gaze trained on his back all the way across the clearing."   - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 104

If you don't guess the score after this, you must be mouse-brained.
After this, there is one more, but it's not very obvious:

    "Cinderpelt's voice was strained as she moved closer to Fireheart and pressed herself against him." - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 221

You might not think there is anything odd about this sentence, but look at Erin Hunter's choice of word: "strained".
Why would Cinderpelt's voice be strained? It's not because of the dog pack, which was their conversation topic. We have evidence because of what she says to Bluestar later on:

    "'No!' Cinderpelt faced her leader. "StarClan did not send the pack. Our ancestors care for us, and they would never disrupt the lie of the forest or destroy a whole Clan for a single grudge. Bluestar, you must believe this.'" - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 225

Isn't it strange that Cinderpelt's voice isn't "strained" as she's talking to "her leader", but it is when she is to Fireheart, even though they are talking about the same thing? Cinderpelt even manages to keep her cool with Bluestar after she names Brightpaw Lostface. The only reason is that she is embarrased at what she did, "mov[ing] closer to Fireheart and press[ing] herself against him."

But that is the last clue we have in Dangerous Path. The book draws to an end, and the Darkest Hour is arriving...

4. The Darkest Hour

There aren't many hints in Darkest Hour, as the plot is focused mainly on Fireheart becoming the fire that would save his Clan.  But before the thick of the action, namely the battle with BloodClan, there are one or two hints dropped carefully inside the book.
We have our first hint when Fireheart is going to the Moonstone to receive his nine lives and his leader name:

    "Sandstorm's green eyes shone as she gazed into Fireheart's.
    ...'Fireheart, come on!' Cinderpelt called from where she was waiting at the entrance to the gorse tunnel. 'We have to reach Highstones by nightfall--and remember I can't move as fast as you.' - The Darkest Hour, Pg. 37

But it is not what it seems. They reach Mothermouth when "the sun was sliding down the sky". That's way before nightfall. We think that Cinderpelt was more frustrated about Sandstorm than reaching the Moonstone on time. After that, not much happens. But then, we have a clue:

    "[ Sandstorm: ]'You're closer to Cinderpelt now than anyone else.'" - The Darkest Hour, Pg. 71

But Sandstorm knows just as well as every other cat in the forest that Cinderpelt is a medicine cat, forbidden to fall in love. Although Fireheart dismisses this, there may be more that meets the eye. After all, in love issues, we all know that tomcats are pathetically pathetic. Fireheart needs Cinderpelt to tell him about Sandstorm before he figures out the score. Also, Cloudtail is really mousebrained when he completely ignores Brightheart to work with Daisy. But Sandstorm is a she-cat. She knows exactly how Cinderpelt feels. After all, if you see the above quote under "2. A Dangerous Path", "both she-cats were being polite to each other" and that their claws were both unsheathed. So there.

After this, the heat of battle starts to arise, and all romance disappears except or when the newly-named Firestar tells Sandstorm that he loves her. But that is not all. We now have the New Prophecy to await us.

5. Twilight

I was too lazy to check before Twilight, but let me just say a few words.

When the New Prophecy comes, all the main characters in the original series are shelved: you now see firestar, sandstorm, graystripe, cinderpelt, etc. in a new light. Now that they're shelved, we are very unlikely to pick up signals, but Cinderpelt still plays a main-ish role: as Leafpool's mentor and ThunderClan's medicine cat for 4 - 5 books.

So, why did I look at Twilight? Because Twilight is the big book where Leafpool and Crowfeather's relationship takes a big hike upwards. Cinderpelt, sensing this, will remember her own young and foolish days were she was in love with Leafpool's father. Although her secrets are quite well buried, her time to time tantrums tell as much. We get out first hint after Leafpool finds herself missing Crowfeather:

    "Leafpool narrowed her eyes. Her Clanmates had only just left the clearing. Was Cinderpelt deliberately keeping her away from Crowfeather?" - Twilight, Pg. 89

The answer is simple: Yes, absolutely! This is because Cinderpelt wants to prevent Leafpool from making the same mistake that she did so long ago.
But this is brushed under the carpet, only to be picked up again much later in the book, when Cinderpelt catches Leafpool and Crowfeather together:

    "'Leafpool!' Cinderpelts tone hardened as she lashed her tail. 'Crowfeather belongs to a different Clan, but that's only the beginning. You're a medicine cat. You can't fall in love. Not with Crowfeather, not any cat. You have always known that.'
    ...'It's not fair!' she [Leafpool ] meowed. 'I've got feelings too, just like any other cat.'
    ...Every word she [Cinderpelt ] spoke tore into Leafpool like a badger's fangs. Fury surged inside her. 'You can't possibly understand!' she spat. 'You've never been in love!'
    Cinderpelt's blue gaze rested on her, unspoken thoughts flickering like minnows in her eyes." - Twilight, Pg. 246

What are these "unspoken thoughts"? There are no explanations for this, except for one: That Cinderpelt is thinking about the cat she loved, and possibly still loves: Firestar. But it doesn't stop here.

    "'It's easy for you,' Leafpool went on bitterly. 'You've never wanted anything else.'
    The medicine cat flexed her claws, and her neck fur began to rise. 'How do you know what I want?' There was the hint of a snarl in her voice. 'How do you know what hopes I gave up to follow to path StarClan laid down for me?'
    Leafpool flinched. She had never seen Cinderpelt this angry.
    ...Cinderpelt's eyes flashed and she launched herself at Leafpool, claws out."  - Twilight, Pg. 246-7

Hold on a second, something doesn't add up. Claws out? Cinderpelt is gentle and kind. Would she use claws to discipline her apprentice? Yes, because Leafpool's words struck her harder than any badger fang. "How do you know what I want?" Leafpool doesn't know a thing about her mentor's history. Cinderpelt feels unfair and misjudged when Leafpool argues with her about a topic every medicine cat finds jumpy: love.

6. But...

Although I have included loads and loads of points on why it is true, many of you non-believers will still try to argue. Therefore, i have created a column here to answer all your arguements.

1. Fireheart never loved Cinderpelt!

Precisely! That's my point! Fireheart never loved Cinderpelt, but Cinderpelt loved Fireheart dearly. It's called one-sided love, my friend.

2. Cinderpelt's a med cat so she can't fall in love...

As I said, Erin Hunter made Spottedleaf and Firestar fall in love with each other. She made Leafpool and Crowfeather happen. She made Yellowfang love Raggedstar. Isn't Spottedleaf a dedicated medicine cat? Isn't Leafpool? Isn't Yellowfang? So why can't Cinderpelt fall in love too?

3. Fireheart's waaaaaaaaaaay too old for Cinderpelt.

Although Fireheart may be a lot olden than Cinderpelt, so what? There have been many cases of cats taking mates that are a lot older/younger than he/she is.

EXAMPLES: 1. Ferncloud and Dustpelt (They have like... 7 kits?!)
                   2. Sorreltail and Brackenfur

INCIDENTALLY, Sorreltail is the mother of Cinderpelt's reincarnated self. Isn't it a coincidence? Perhaps Erin Hunter planned it that way, because Sorreltail fell in love with a cat much older than her, just like Cinderpelt ))

~ End ~

:) (Smile) — Description
Cinderpelt and Firestar?

There have been many battles over this case, and I have decided to end it once and for all. My views on why Cinderpelt loves Firestar.

1. Why not?

Before I start with the evidence, I just want to say to all non-believers: Why not?
ApprenticeXMentor... Isn't that just cute? Although many of you say that medicine cats can't fall it love, and that Cinderpelt is a dedicated medicine cat, your arguement is weak. Erin Hunter is just the sort of person to stir up this kind of intensive storyline. After all, she made Spottedleaf and Firestar fall in love with each other. She made Leafpool and Crowfeather happen. She made Yellowfang love Raggedstar. Isn't Spottedleaf a dedicated medicine cat? Isn't Leafpool? Isn't Yellowfang? So why not?

2. Rising Storm

Our very first clue comes in Rising Storm. As we know, this is the bigbig book where Fireheart and Sandstorm's relationship starts to blossom.
Many will argue that CINDERPELT was the one to tell Fireheart about Sandstorm's feelings. But look at the way Erin Hunter wrote it:

    "'You talk about her as if she were still alive,' murmured Cinderpelt, closing her eyes. 'Why can't you let her rest with StarClan?'...
    'What's wrong with remembering Spottedleaf?' Fireheart protested.
    'Because while you're dreaming about her, there's another cat - a living one - right under your nose whom you should be thinking about instead.' " - Rising Storm, pg. 154

Although it is supposed to refer to Sandstorm, the "living one" may refer to Cinderpelt also. It may serve as a double meaning. After all, at that time, Cinderpelt and Fireheart were great friends. Cinderpelt may be afraid that just coming up and saying "I love you!" to Fireheart may cause their friendship to break, which will make things even worse, so she inserts her feelings as a subtle message.
Which is why, immediately after Cinderpelt tells Fireheart about Sandstorm, she ends the conversation adruptly. She does not wish to speak more, as she does want Fireheart too. She just said Sandstorm because she panicked when Fireheart asked her who is was.

That's our biggest clue in the book. There is also another one before that:

    "He [Fireheart] tried to catch her eye, but Cinderpelt wouldn't look at him." - Rising Storm, Pg. 53

At first glance, there is nothing much to this sentence, but look at Erin Hunter's choice of word: wouldn't. Why didn't she just say "but Cinderpelt didn't look at him"? Because Cinderpelt was ashamed. She had just received a scolding from her mentor, Yellowfang, so she does not dare to look at Fireheart in the eye. She's embarrased because Yellowfang just scolded her right in front of Fireheart.

3. Dangerous Path

In the beginning, we don't have have evidence, but then we have our first clue:

    "He [ Fireheart ] jumped as an irritated yowling sounded from behind him. 'Fireheart, are you going to be all day?'
    Glancing around, he saw that Sandstorm was waiting or him at the entrance to the burned fern tunnel. 'I've got to go,' he said to Cinderpelt.
    'But-'
    ...Cinderpelt's ears twitched in annoyance. "  - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 39

Although it isn't strong, it's still a clue.

After that encounter, Cinderpelt isn't mentioned much, except for her medicine cat duties. But soon, less than 20 pages later, we get another hint:

    "[ Cinderpelt: ]' Assuming you can spare the time from Sandstorm.'"    - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 53

Even Fireheart starts to feel something after Cinderpelt's words:

    "Fireheart felt uncomfortable. 'I don't know what you mean.'"  - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 53

There aren't much anymore, although Cinderpelt starts to spend more time with Fireheart, as a friend, or at least in Fireheart's point of view. Soon, we have something else:

    "Fireheart glanced admiringly at Sandstorm...
    He was roused from his thoughts when he heard Cinderpelt clearing her throat..."  - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 101

Immediately after that episode, we have our biggest clue:

    "Both she-cats [ Cinderpelt and Sandstorm ] were being very polite to each other, but somehow Fireheart felt it wouldn't take much for them to unsheathe their claws...
     ...Fireheart felt completely baffled by the tension that chilled the air.
    'Good.' Cinderpelt gave him a curt nod, and Fireheart felt her blue gaze trained on his back all the way across the clearing."   - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 104

If you don't guess the score after this, you must be mouse-brained.
After this, there is one more, but it's not very obvious:

    "Cinderpelt's voice was strained as she moved closer to Fireheart and pressed herself against him." - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 221

You might not think there is anything odd about this sentence, but look at Erin Hunter's choice of word: "strained".
Why would Cinderpelt's voice be strained? It's not because of the dog pack, which was their conversation topic. We have evidence because of what she says to Bluestar later on:

    "'No!' Cinderpelt faced her leader. "StarClan did not send the pack. Our ancestors care for us, and they would never disrupt the lie of the forest or destroy a whole Clan for a single grudge. Bluestar, you must believe this.'" - A Dangerous Path, Pg. 225

Isn't it strange that Cinderpelt's voice isn't "strained" as she's talking to "her leader", but it is when she is to Fireheart, even though they are talking about the same thing? Cinderpelt even manages to keep her cool with Bluestar after she names Brightpaw Lostface. The only reason is that she is embarrased at what she did, "mov[ing] closer to Fireheart and press[ing] herself against him."

But that is the last clue we have in Dangerous Path. The book draws to an end, and the Darkest Hour is arriving...

4. The Darkest Hour

There aren't many hints in Darkest Hour, as the plot is focused mainly on Fireheart becoming the fire that would save his Clan.  But before the thick of the action, namely the battle with BloodClan, there are one or two hints dropped carefully inside the book.
We have our first hint when Fireheart is going to the Moonstone to receive his nine lives and his leader name:

    "Sandstorm's green eyes shone as she gazed into Fireheart's.
    ...'Fireheart, come on!' Cinderpelt called from where she was waiting at the entrance to the gorse tunnel. 'We have to reach Highstones by nightfall--and remember I can't move as fast as you.' - The Darkest Hour, Pg. 37

But it is not what it seems. They reach Mothermouth when "the sun was sliding down the sky". That's way before nightfall. We think that Cinderpelt was more frustrated about Sandstorm than reaching the Moonstone on time. After that, not much happens. But then, we have a clue:

    "[ Sandstorm: ]'You're closer to Cinderpelt now than anyone else.'" - The Darkest Hour, Pg. 71

But Sandstorm knows just as well as every other cat in the forest that Cinderpelt is a medicine cat, forbidden to fall in love. Although Fireheart dismisses this, there may be more that meets the eye. After all, in love issues, we all know that tomcats are pathetically pathetic. Fireheart needs Cinderpelt to tell him about Sandstorm before he figures out the score. Also, Cloudtail is really mousebrained when he completely ignores Brightheart to work with Daisy. But Sandstorm is a she-cat. She knows exactly how Cinderpelt feels. After all, if you see the above quote under "2. A Dangerous Path", "both she-cats were being polite to each other" and that their claws were both unsheathed. So there.

After this, the heat of battle starts to arise, and all romance disappears except or when the newly-named Firestar tells Sandstorm that he loves her. But that is not all. We now have the New Prophecy to await us.

5. Twilight

I was too lazy to check before Twilight, but let me just say a few words.

When the New Prophecy comes, all the main characters in the original series are shelved: you now see firestar, sandstorm, graystripe, cinderpelt, etc. in a new light. Now that they're shelved, we are very unlikely to pick up signals, but Cinderpelt still plays a main-ish role: as Leafpool's mentor and ThunderClan's medicine cat for 4 - 5 books.

So, why did I look at Twilight? Because Twilight is the big book where Leafpool and Crowfeather's relationship takes a big hike upwards. Cinderpelt, sensing this, will remember her own young and foolish days were she was in love with Leafpool's father. Although her secrets are quite well buried, her time to time tantrums tell as much. We get out first hint after Leafpool finds herself missing Crowfeather:

    "Leafpool narrowed her eyes. Her Clanmates had only just left the clearing. Was Cinderpelt deliberately keeping her away from Crowfeather?" - Twilight, Pg. 89

The answer is simple: Yes, absolutely! This is because Cinderpelt wants to prevent Leafpool from making the same mistake that she did so long ago.
But this is brushed under the carpet, only to be picked up again much later in the book, when Cinderpelt catches Leafpool and Crowfeather together:

    "'Leafpool!' Cinderpelts tone hardened as she lashed her tail. 'Crowfeather belongs to a different Clan, but that's only the beginning. You're a medicine cat. You can't fall in love. Not with Crowfeather, not any cat. You have always known that.'
    ...'It's not fair!' she [Leafpool ] meowed. 'I've got feelings too, just like any other cat.'
    ...Every word she [Cinderpelt ] spoke tore into Leafpool like a badger's fangs. Fury surged inside her. 'You can't possibly understand!' she spat. 'You've never been in love!'
    Cinderpelt's blue gaze rested on her, unspoken thoughts flickering like minnows in her eyes." - Twilight, Pg. 246

What are these "unspoken thoughts"? There are no explanations for this, except for one: That Cinderpelt is thinking about the cat she loved, and possibly still loves: Firestar. But it doesn't stop here.

    "'It's easy for you,' Leafpool went on bitterly. 'You've never wanted anything else.'
    The medicine cat flexed her claws, and her neck fur began to rise. 'How do you know what I want?' There was the hint of a snarl in her voice. 'How do you know what hopes I gave up to follow to path StarClan laid down for me?'
    Leafpool flinched. She had never seen Cinderpelt this angry.
    ...Cinderpelt's eyes flashed and she launched herself at Leafpool, claws out."  - Twilight, Pg. 246-7

Hold on a second, something doesn't add up. Claws out? Cinderpelt is gentle and kind. Would she use claws to discipline her apprentice? Yes, because Leafpool's words struck her harder than any badger fang. "How do you know what I want?" Leafpool doesn't know a thing about her mentor's history. Cinderpelt feels unfair and misjudged when Leafpool argues with her about a topic every medicine cat finds jumpy: love.

6. But...

Although I have included loads and loads of points on why it is true, many of you non-believers will still try to argue. Therefore, i have created a column here to answer all your arguements.

1. Fireheart never loved Cinderpelt!

Precisely! That's my point! Fireheart never loved Cinderpelt, but Cinderpelt loved Fireheart dearly. It's called one-sided love, my friend.

2. Cinderpelt's a med cat so she can't fall in love...

As I said, Erin Hunter made Spottedleaf and Firestar fall in love with each other. She made Leafpool and Crowfeather happen. She made Yellowfang love Raggedstar. Isn't Spottedleaf a dedicated medicine cat? Isn't Leafpool? Isn't Yellowfang? So why can't Cinderpelt fall in love too?

3. Fireheart's waaaaaaaaaaay too old for Cinderpelt.

Although Fireheart may be a lot olden than Cinderpelt, so what? There have been many cases of cats taking mates that are a lot older/younger than he/she is.

EXAMPLES: 1. Ferncloud and Dustpelt (They have like... 7 kits?!)
                   2. Sorreltail and Brackenfur

INCIDENTALLY, Sorreltail is the mother of Cinderpelt's reincarnated self. Isn't it a coincidence? Perhaps Erin Hunter planned it that way, because Sorreltail fell in love with a cat much older than her, just like Cinderpelt ))

~ End ~