Tuesday, June 11, 2019

thunder rising: part five

Gray Wing wakes up in his den with Turtle Tail and the kits. He realizes now that the reason why she left with Bumble was because he drove her away and is happy that she returned. He goes to hunt and the kits ask to come along so he lets them. He catches a rabbit but again cannot breathe. Scared, the kits climb on him. He tries to gently push them off but accidentally hurts them. The kits are upset and he apologizes. Pebble Heart listens to Gray Wing's chest and gives him a juniper berry to eat. Gray Wing's breathing clears right up and he is shocked. Pebble Heart admits that he has been paying attention to Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt. Gray Wing is surprised and immediately thinks of Stoneteller. He asks Pebble Heart if he has dreams. The young kit quickly denies it and Gray Wing realizes he is lying. Gray Wing drops the matter and they return to camp. Turtle Tail finds them and immediately realizes something is wrong. The kits blurt out what happened and Turtle Tail becomes angry. She sends the kits back to camp and confronts Gray Wing - upset both with his breathing problems and that he pushed the kits away. Dogs arrive and they climb a tree. A Twoleg shows up right away and takes the dogs away. They climb down and head back to camp, their fight over. Gray Wing thanks her for keeping his secret but she informs him that she promised no such thing.

Back at camp Gray Wing tells everyone about the dogs. He then checks on Moon Shadow, but the cat does not look good. He still isn't healing properly. Gray Wing goes to his den and sleeps. He wakes up to find Pebble Heart curled next to him, dreaming. He holds the kit until he wakes up. He asks after his dreams and Pebble Heart tells him of a cave with a star in it. This is a happy dream that he has all the time. Gray Wing tells him of Stoneteller and how she has dreams too. Then Pebble Heart tells him of a bad dream he has, of cats getting into a big fight and how Clear Sky is there. This dream clearly upsets Pebble Heart. Gray Wing asks him to keep his dreams between them for now. They leave the den to discover that Moon Shadow has finally died. Gray Wing puts Jagged Peak in charge of the kits so the rest of them can take care of Moon Shadow. Wind Runner and Gorse Fur see them and join them in burying Moon Shadow. The cats head back to camp where they find out that Owl Eyes is missing. Gray Wing is furious with Jagged Peak. Sparrow Fur admits that her brother went hunting. Gray Wing divides the cats up into groups (including Wind Runner and Gorse Fur) and gives them all jobs. He takes Tall Shadow and Jackdaw's Cry with him to search.

Gray Wing's group tracks Owl Eyes' scent but they find it overlaid with dog. Worried they push ahead and find Owl Eyes safe. He has caught a vile and is proud of himself. Gray Wing is having a hard time breathing again and a storm breaks out. He has everyone shelter in a burrow but then the entrance caves in. Gray Wing feels he is failing his group as a leader but Jackdaw's Cry assures him it is no big deal. They follow the underground path, figuring there must be another exit. They reach a center cavern that smells similar to fox. It has many paths leading away. From one of them emerges a badger. Gray Wing leads the cats down another path. Behind him he can hear a cat getting attacked followed by the badger getting injured. When they exit the tunnel Gray Wing is upset to see that it was Owl Eyes who was attacked. His kit is fine, but he is bleeding. They reach the camp and Turtle Tail is upset that Owl Eyes has been hurt. She blames Gray Wing, which Gray Wing feels is unfair. He struggles to breathe and Turtle Tail announces to everyone that Gray Wing cannot be their leader when he is still so injured. He passes out.

Thunder, Frost (who still isn't healing from the fire), and Petal are patrolling their territory when they come across Bumble. Thunder is shocked to see her - especially how thin she looks. Bumble informs them that she is no longer a kittypet. Petal and Frost chase her out of their territory. They resume their patrol and Petal and Frost discuss the upcoming meeting and what it could be about. Frost thinks Clear Sky wants to expand their territory but Petal thinks he wants to give more cats responsibility. The two cats dismissively discuss their clanmates strengths and weaknesses and Thunder is shocked by how cold their attitudes are. He says something but Petal comments that he doesn't have to worry about these things because as Clear Sky's son he will move straight to the top. As they move along Thunder spots Wind. He pretends he doesn't see her but Frost spots her and attacks her. Thunder feels torn between helping Wind, who has never been anything but nice to him, and helping Frost, who is in his group. Wind breaks free and leaves. Petal and Frost are upset with him for not attacking Wind. Thunder decides not to answer their questions so they drop the matter, disgusted with him. Back at the camp Clear Sky announces they will expand their territory. After his speech he pulls Thunder aside. Thunder asks him why they have to expand when the forest is recovering just fine from the fire. Clear Sky is annoyed with Thunder for questioning him and refusing to see his logic. He tells Thunder that he will get to go on the patrol and will make the first new mark.

Poor Thunder. So torn between the rogues (who have been kind to him and the group he is supposed to be loyal to. Though, it is worth noting, that he hasn't changed his ways or started to attack the rogues and he continuously challenges his father, no matter how much that angers Clear Sky.

As for Gray Wing, his leadership while solid, is shaky. I do feel that Turtle Tail is a bit too critical of him, but he cannot breathe correctly and I have a feeling this problem isn't going to go away. I do wish he would hurry up and invite Wind Runner and Gorse Fur to the group already. Though I imagine that once they join they will become WindClan.

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