Crowfeather x Feathertail
FeatherCrow / CrowFeather
The second book of The New Prophecy, Moonrise, is very much considered Feathertail's book, and a key part of the plot in it is her budding relationship with the WindClan apprentice Crowpaw. Feathertail seems to be the only one who can get beyond Crowpaw's defensive and prickly exterior and touch his heart, and in the mid of the story they decide that they will find a way to be together, despite knowing the dangers they will face.
But it is not to be so - the relationship was a set up for tragedy, when Feathertail sacrifices herself to save Crowpaw and the tribe. She dies, but saves everyone, a sacrifice that no one, especially Crowpaw, will ever forget. To honor her memory, Crowpaw makes a request from Tallstar that his warrior name be Crowfeather, and this is the name he receives.
FAN VIEW AND SPECULATION
The relationship that was the star of Feathertail's character up until her death was met by two sides of fans. For some it did not connect, and they were annoyed by the sappiness of the tragedy at the end, and it blended into steady flow of cross-clan pairings throughout The New Prophecy.
Others however, immensely enjoyed it, and found the story especially heart-wrenching. Even further controversy over the legitimacy of the pairing's supposed "true love" stems from Crowpaw's decision to take Leafpool and Nightcloud as mates, as well as the opinions of the authors: "Feathertail is important to him too, but she was his first love, and kind of like a high school crush, whereas he could have been happy forever with Leafpool. Sigh." - Victoria Holmes
"EVIDENCE" AND "SUBTEXT"
"And what does it matter to WindClan?" Squirrelflight fired up in defense of her clanmate. "I'd have thought you'd be delighted if Feathertail's brother weren't here to keep an eye on you."
Moonrise, page 175
After Stormfur's capture by the Tribe, Squirrelpaw makes this stinging comment - indicating that she had noticed the way that Crowpaw was growing attached to Feathertail, and the way that Stormfur noticed as well, and was wary of their relationship. This quote will also be referred to later on in this page.
He paused as if he wanted to say something more, then without a word bounded down the slope after the two ThunderClan cats. Feathertail followed, her mind buzzing with feelings for Crowpaw as well as her fears for her brother. She approached the pool and gazed down into its blue depths. She and Crowpaw had plenty of time to figure out what they would do when they got back to the forest. She tried to push away the tiny, persistent voice that kept telling her that cats from different Clans couldn't be together without causing a whole heap of trouble."
Moonrise, page 185
There is not really much to say on this quote, it easily speaks for itself. While Stormfur is captured, we get a swift glimpse at the world from Feathertail's point of view, as well as a direct confrontation with her feelings for Crowpaw. Note the foreshadowing that they can not be together, which comes true when Feathertail dies.
"I shouldn't ask this, but . . . will you still see me when we get back home?" [Crowfeather] glanced down at his paws and added, "I want to be loyal to my Clan, but . . . there's never been another cat like you, Feathertail."
Moonrise, page 185 - 186
Another self-explaintory quote, this time Crowpaw confronts Feathertail by asking her outright if they can be together, even when they return to the four Clans, were Clan rivalries and the warrior code demand they be separated. Unlike his later romance, Crowpaw is still very loyal to his Clan here, and like Feathertail, struggles with the idea of a cross-clan relationship.
"Feathertail's pelt tingled with happiness and excitement. She touched his muzzle with her nose, sensing the uncertainty that made it hard for him to believe she could like him enough to cross Clan boundaries for him. "I know how you feel. We'll have to wait and see. It might not be so bad. With everything that's happening in the forest, the Clans will have to come together."
Moonrise, page 186
This is much like the quote above, explaining Feathertail's own struggle with her feelings for a cat from WindClan.
"His eyes were shining; Feathertail wished their companions could see this side of him, eager and enthusiastic, instead of the defensive, difficult face he chose to show them."
Moonrise, page 186
Just a quick quote of not too much importance - but relaying the key point that Feathertail was alone in her ability to make Crowpaw show her this side of him - eager and enthusiastic as she puts it - instead of the other side he shows all his other companions.
[Crowfeather] was standing so close to Feathertail that their fur touched. There seemed to be some unspoken connection between them, and Stormfur had wondered what had happened while he'd been held prisoner in the cave.
Moonrise, page 214
Stormfur isn't the only one who's wondering what happened . . . Does he mean that conversation from the past few quotes, or were they doing something else we never saw while, referring to the first quote, "Stormfur wasn't here to keep an eye on Crowpaw" =p? Maybe if she hadn't died, Feathertail would have bared Crowpaw's kits eventually.
The sheen on [Brook's] tabby fur, the glow in her eyes, her speed and skill, stayed with [Stormfur] even though he had escaped from the cave. Was that how Crowpaw and Feathertail felt about eachother?
Moonrise, page 234 (ERROR!)
Hardly of much importance, but this is about the moment when Stormfur realizes how much Crowpaw means to his sister, and begins perhaps to accept it a little more when he compares their feelings to his own for Brook (who he eventually falls in love with).
Beside him, he heard Feathertail whisper, "Crowpaw." She gave Stormfur a long look, filled with love and sorrow, her blue eyes glowing in the moonlight. "I can hear the voices clearly now," she murmured. "This is for me to do."
Moonrise, page 269
Feathertail whispers the name of her love before sacrificing herself - and though her sorrowful eyes are undoubtedly filled with love for her brother, they are also we know, filled with another kind of love for Crowpaw.
[Feathertail's] eyes focused on Crowpaw, and Stormfur saw in them a lifetime of love for the difficult young apprentice, enough to sweep away their Clans' rivalries forever. "Think you have nine lives, do you?" she whispered. "I saved you once . . . Don't make me save you again."
Moonrise, page 271
This quote is a bit confusing - enough love to sweep away their Clans' rivalries forever? It seems unlikely that the Erins mean that if Feathertail had survived then RiverClan and WindClan wouldn't mind their relationship because Feathertail obviously felt that strongly. However, the final crowxfeather quote in this book is particularly crushing and meaningful.
Crowpaw stared across the wind-ruffled gorse without replying. His ears twitched as if he was straining to hear Feathertail's voice on the breeze.
Dawn, page 6 - 7
Just a sad quote, the first we see of the remnants of Crowpaw's sorrow in Dawn, as he returns home, listening for the voice of Feathertail even on his own land.
"I would like to choose my own warrior name. If it is alright, I wish to be known as Crowfeather." Crowpaw spoke so quietly, his voice was almost lost in the pounding water. "I wish to keep alive the memory of . . . of a cat who did not return from the first journey."
There was a long pause; then Tallstar announced, "A noble request. Very well. I name you Crowfeather. May StarClan protect you and accept you as a WindClan warrior in life as well as after."
Dawn, page 316
The best remembered quote from this collection, Tallstar benevolently accepts Crowpaw's request for his name, but it's still not obvious whether his Clan discovered the way he fell in love with a RiverClan she-cat. It does seem odd that Crowpaw would name himself after Feathertail, even if she was a noble warrior who did not return on the journey, and Tallstar's acceptance of this request may indicate that he knows what really happened.
[Crowfeather] gazed past them at the waterfall, turned silver by the light of the moon. "I will sit my vigil tonight by Feathertail's grave."
Dawn, page 317
The final CrowxFeather quote until the Leafpool fiasco, when the newly named Crowfeather decides to honor the ceremony vigil by guarding Feathertail's grave is a fitting end to a dead end romance that tore his heart apart. There are more quotes concerning this pairing, but they are more about LeafxCrow then this pairing, and will be added eventually.