Summary

In Chapter 16, Sundew and the others struggle to understand and begin to demand answers. Hawthorn thought they knew the entire story. Hawthorn asks them not to judge, saying “Fifty years of carrying this guilt has really been a lot” (159). He then tells them more history leading up to the Tree Wars. Queen Wasp had just inherited the crown and believed the LeafWings would be weakened if she destroyed all the trees. She continued to destroy trees despite the LeafWings asking her to stop. She then said the Book of Clearsight called for uniting the three tribes under her rule. The LeafWings tried to negotiate, then Hawthorn decided to use the breath-of-evil plant. From his voice, Sundew can tell he believes he was justified. Queen Sequoia knew he planned to give some of the plant to Queen Wasp, and did not object. He initially...