The next day Tall Shadow announces to everyone that she is stepping down as leader and appoints Gray Wing to take her place. After her announcement Clear Sky tells everyone they are returning to the forest now that it is safe. He thanks Jagged Peak for everything he has done for his group but the injured cat refuses to acknowledge Clear Sky's words. Gray Wing goes to speak with Clear Sky, but they do not part well thanks to Clear Sky's mocking attitude towards their group and the leadership they have. He also informs Gray Wing that he is taking Thunder. Gray Wing goes to tell his nephew goodbye and Thunder insists he will never forget everything that Gray Wing did for him. Gray Wing tells the young cat to say goodbye to Hawk Swoop. He doesn't overhear what is said but he can tells Hawk Swoop and her kits are upset. Thunder is upset to be leaving so soon but Clear Sky tells him they don't have time to be sentimental. The group leaves without Moon Shadow and Gray Wing bitterly reflects on how it is because Moon Shadow is injured and therefore worthless to Clear Sky. He watches his brother and nephew leave, wondering when he will see Thunder again.
Gray Wing heads out of the camp. He wants to be alone and the open air feels good in his lungs, which still hurt. He worries about Thunder and ponders Clear Sky's coldness. Turtle Tail finds him and they curl up together and fall asleep. Rainswept Flower and the kits find them, waking them up. She comments that she is glad Gray Wing figures out what was obvious to the rest of them. The kits excitedly ask if he is going to move in with them.
Thunder wakes up in a hostile camp. Some of the cats are hostile to him but there is a general feeling of tension in the air that isn't just about him. Clear Sky takes Thunder and Leaf with him for the morning patrol. Leaf is clearly antagonistic towards Thunder but Clear Sky acts oblivious to this and continuously complements Thunder, making things worse. Leaf spots prey but Clear Sky declares that Thunder should catch it. Thunder misses, annoying Clear Sky. He takes off telling the two cats to finish hunting. Leaf implies to Thunder that he is being groomed to be leader after Clear Sky. This upsets Thunder, who insists he doesn't want that, but Leaf doesn't believe him. After hunting they return to the camp and Clear Sky excessively praises Thunder and ignores Leaf's catch. Thunder feels that things are more complicated here then they were on the moor.
Clear Sky takes Thunder into the woods to practice jumping from tree to tree. Thunder is worried to do it since this is the exact way Jagged Peak was injured and the trees still haven't healed from the fire. Clear Sky pushes Thunder, feeling that the young cat is too afraid. He tells at Thunder to go faster and be braver, causing the cat to become determined to prove himself to his father. A branch snaps and he falls from the tree and Clear Sky gets angry, calling Thunder reckless. Thunder becomes angry because he feels that no matter what he does Clear Sky is dissatisfied. They exchange words, with Clear Sky feeling that Thunder isn't paying attention. Later Thunder goes out hunting and sees River Ripple with another cat. He knows Clear Sky would not want them on his territory but decides to do nothing since River Ripple helped them during the fire. But a third cat spots Thunder and chases him. They get into a fight and Thunder pins the other cat down. River Ripple and the second cat approach but before Thunder can say anything Clear Sky appears. He and River Ripple exchange hostile words, with River Ripple telling Clear Sky that he can't keep doing this to other cats. Thunder tries to inject himself into the conversation but Clear Sky shuts him down. The rogues leave and Clear Sky congratulates Thunder for expanding their territory. Thunder is upset, his good mood gone. He cannot believe his father was acting like such a bully and even wouldn't let Thunder speak. He begins to regret leaving Gray Wing.
Gray Wing plays with the kits when they accidentally hurt him and he cannot breathe. The kits worry about their father but Cloud Spots assures everyone that Gray Wing will eventually be fine - he just needs to rest. Gray Wing worries that Cloud Spots is wrong and that he won't get better. Gray Wing wakes up to commotion in the camp. He leaves his den and finds Lightning Tail, who tells him that Wind and Gorse are getting renamed. Wind is named Wind Runner and Gorse is named Gorse Fur. Gray Wing hopes that this will help the mountain cats accept the rogues, since he still has plans to invite them to their group. Lightning Tail sighs and Gray Wing asks him what is wrong. Lightning Tail answers him, but it leads to a fight between them over Clear Sky. Lightning Tail feels that they need strong cats to led them and help them against Clear Sky and Gray Wing feels hurt that he just took over as leader and a cat is already talking about replacing him. Gray Wing decides he has to make an announcement, so he jumps up onto the rock next to Tall Shadow. He speaks of Wind Runner and Gorse Fur's new names, but then turns the speech to Clear Sky. He reminds everyone that when Clear Sky took Thunder he said that sentiment meant nothing, but he feels Clear Sky is wrong - sentiment means everything. He ends his speech with asking the cats if they are behind him. They call out that they are. He goes over to Lightning Tail and tells him that is what real leadership is. Lightning Tail agrees and their fight ends.
I have to say, Clear Sky is such an awful leader, father, and cat in general. He mocks Gray Wing becoming leader, he mocks Jagged Peak for his injury, he isn't appreciative of anything Gray Wing's group did for them, he places Thunder's life in danger then criticizes Thunder for being in a dangerous situation, and he publically humiliates Thunder in front of River Ripple. How is it that cats still follow him?!? I was shocked that Thunder was taken in by Gray Wing, but I am glad to see it has only taken a few weeks to make him realize what a mistake he has made.
I do have to say that as hard as Gray Wing is trying, he too is not a very good leader. He is calm enough, but he doesn't respond well to criticism and he has a hard time giving the cats he cares about space. But I would rather follow Gray Wing than Clear Sky, of that I am sure. I wonder if Thunder will return to his uncle or if he will stay with his father?
On a final note I feel that I've read a story about Thunder and Lightning Tail. The problem with reading so many Warriors books is I can't remember if it was a novella or an excerpt from one of the clan books. When I finish this book I think I am going to go back and find that story and skim over it. I remember so much of Firestar's journey even though that was so many books ago, but when you read a short story on cats who are just a vague concept to you it doesn't really stick as much.
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