Rising Storm

Rising Storm is the fourth book in the Original arc. The cat depicted on the left of the cover is Cloudpaw.

Dedication

 * To Denise - this is as close to a song as I could get

The Blurb

 * Fire Alone Can Save Our Clan...


 * Fireheart's traitorous enemy Tigerclaw has been vanquished and exiled from ThunderClan, but Fireheart can't shake the feeling that he's lurking out there in the forest, waiting for the chance to strike.


 * That's not the only problem facing the young ThunderClan deputy in these blazing summer months, as he struggles to handle ominous omens, a disrespectful apprentice with a shocking secret, and a devastated Clan leader who is a shell of her former self.


 * Meanwhile, the forest gets hotter and hotter... and everyone braces for the coming storm...

The Praise

 * "Hunter once again tells a good, suspenseful adventure story that urges readers onward, and teens may find their own journey toward adulthood echoed in the protagonist's struggles and self-doubts. Although background from earlier books may be useful, this can be read on its own; a handy list of characters at the beginning of the book will help readers keep track of Hunter's large cast."
 * - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)


 * "Certain to please any young reader who has ever wondered what dreams of grandeur may haunt the family cat."
 * - Publishers Weekly

Detailed Plot Summary

 * In the prologue, Runningnose, the ShadowClan medicine cat, is tending to ShadowClan's leader, Nightstar, who is gravely ill. A severe and unknown illness has spread through the Clan, affecting many cats as well as Nightstar. Runningnose is worried when he hears the terrifying screech of an owl, as owls are an omen of death. Runningnose searches the night sky for Silverpelt, but when he sees the swath of stars is covered with clouds, he wonders if their warrior ancestors have abandoned them. The clouds then shift to reveal a single star, sending a frail beam of light through the den. Runingnose raises his head, giving silent thanks to StarClan. He hears spirits whispering to him and telling him of a glorious future for ShadowClan. The owl then flies over the den roof, covering the star and plunging the den into blackness. Runningnose hears cats outside fretting about the owl, wondering if it has taken any kits and why it had flown so close to the camp. Runningnose emerges from his den to tell his Clanmates not to worry, as StarClan has spoken to him of a promising future for their Clan.


 * Fireheart is the new deputy of ThunderClan, but the exiled Tigerclaw still haunts his dreams. ThunderClan is still shocked by Tigerclaw's disloyalty, and many warriors are badly injured after the battle with the rogues. The elders are worried about the illegitmate deputy ceremony and agree that Fireheart's deputyship will be a dark time for the Clan. Bluestar has become paranoid and aloof, the trust she once held in her Clanmates having been damaged by Tigerclaw's betrayal. Because she refuses to perform the required leader duties, Fireheart is left in charge of organizing patrols and appointing mentors.


 * Bluestar attempts to visit the Moonstone to seek advice from StarClan, but a WindClan patrol does not let her pass due to WindClan's hostility towards ThunderClan for sheltering Brokentail. As a result, Bluestar slips into further paranoia, concluding that StarClan is refusing to help ThunderClan.


 * Soon, ShadowClan scents are found on ThunderClan territory. Two ShadowClan warriors, Littlecloud and Whitethroat, both reeking with sickness, stumble to the ThunderClan camp asking for herbs. Yellowfang immediately recognizes the illness and sends the two cats away to prevent ThunderClan from being infected. Not long after, Fireheart finds Cinderpelt treating the ShadowClan warriors in secret. He makes her promise to send them away once they have recovered.


 * Fireheart continues to bear with his disrespectful nephew and apprentice Cloudpaw, who does not care for the Warrior Code and frequently visits Twolegplace for food. Cloudpaw is eventually caught by a Twoleg, and he is taken away in a monster. The Clan cats assume Cloudpaw has willingly chosen to return to his kittypet life. Later, Ravenpaw comes to ThunderClan and announces that he saw a white cat locked in a Twoleg nest close to his territory. Fireheart and Sandstorm conclude that it must be Cloudpaw and, along with Ravenpaw, go to rescue him. Cloudpaw portrays deep remorse for his actions and expresses his wish to remain in ThunderClan, which Bluestar allows. Meanwhile, during the moons of green-leaf, the bond between Sandstorm and Fireheart continues to flourish.


 * Brokentail's rogues, led by Tigerclaw, attack a ThunderClan patrol near the Thunderpath. When Fireheart leads a patrol to investigate, they discover Runningwind's body with Whitethroat standing over him in shock. Mistakingly believeing Whitethroat has killed Runningwind, Fireheart attacks Whitethroat and chases him onto the Thunderpath, where Whitethroat is killed by a monster. Tigerclaw, with the rogues, suddenly appears and attacks Fireheart, promising to destroy ThunderClan. A RiverClan patrol comprised of Graystripe, Leopardfur, Blackclaw, and Webfoot appears to help ThunderClan. Afterwards, Fireheart informs ThunderClan that Tigerclaw is out for revenge, and he ensures the camp is safely guarded day and night.


 * Meanwhile, the forest is becoming hotter and drier as green-leaf goes on, and eventually a fire sweeps through ThunderClan territory. The cats evacuate the camp and head for the river. When they discover that Halftail, Patchpelt and Bramblekit are missing, Fireheart and Yellowfang return to the camp in search for them. Fireheart rescues Patchpelt and Bramblekit, but when Yellowfang and Halftail are trapped by a burning tree, Fireheart is forced to leave them. The cats cross the river to be safe from the fire, and Crookedstar allows them to shelter in RiverClan territory. When the fire has diminished, Fireheart and Graystripe go to inspect what is left of the ThunderClan camp. They find the forest blackened and charred with no undergrowth or prey. In the camp, Fireheart finds Yellowfang barely clinging to life. Before she dies, she confesses to Fireheart that Brokentail was her son and that she has killed him. ThunderClan returns to their own territory, and the warriors soon get to work trying to rebuild their destroyed camp.


 * Bluestar refuses to attend the next Gathering, leaving Fireheart to lead the ThunderClan cats. To the shock of Fireheart and all of ThunderClan, both Nightstar and Cinderfur, ShadowClan's deputy, have died from ShadowClan's illness, and Tigerclaw, now Tigerstar, has become the new leader of ShadowClan.

Publication History

 * Rising Storm (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 4 January 2004
 * Rising Storm (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 1 January 2005
 * Бушующая стихия (RU), OLMA Media Group (hardcover), 12 May 2005, translated by Veronica Maximova
 * Rising Storm (EN), HarperCollins Children (paperback), 2006
 * Bão Nổi (VI), Da Nang (unknown binding), December 2006, translated by Huong Lan
 * 폭풍전야 (KR), Kyobo (unknown binding) 5 February 2007, translated by Kim Yi Seon
 * Avant la tempête (FR), Pocket Jeunesse (paperback), 15 March 2007, translated by Aude Carlier
 * ファイヤハートの挑戦 (JP), Komine Shoten (hardcover), 15 June 2007, translated by Yukako Takabayashi
 * 風暴將臨 (ZH), Morning Star (unknown binding), 15 November 2008, translated by Gao Mei
 * 风起云涌 (ZH), China Children's Publishing (paperback), 1 January 2009, unknown translator
 * ファイヤハートの挑戦 (JP), Komine Shoten (hardcover), 20 May 2009, translated by Yukako Takabayashi
 * Vor dem Sturm (DE), Verlagsgruppe Beltz (hardcover), August 2009, translated by Klaus Weimann
 * Rising Storm (EN), HarperCollins (e-book), 13 October 2009
 * Vor dem Sturm (DE), Verlagsgruppe Beltz (audiobook), November 2009, translated by Klaus Weimann, narrated by Marlen Diekhoff
 * Kyla audra (LT), Garnelis (unknown binding), 2010, translated by Danguole Žalytė
 * Myrsky nousee (FI), Art House (hardcover), September 2010, translated by Vesa-Matti Paija
 * Voor de storm (NL), Fantoom (hardcover), 27 November 2010, translated by Huberte Vriesendorp
 * Uvejret kommer (DK) Sohn (hardcover), 11 May 2012, translated by Gabriela Lundbye
 * Prima della tempesta (IT), Sonda (hardcover), 10 October 2012, translator unknown