Path of Stars/Chapter 10

"Taking you as a mate was the only smart decision he ever made. Why don’t you get smart, Violet, and let me take his place? You would not go hungry if you were a leader’s mate."

— Slash bribing Violet to be his mate in Path of Stars, page 138

Path of Stars
Chapter number:	10 (of 24)
Page numbers:	123-143
Point of View:	Thunder
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter ten of Path of Stars. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 10 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 123-143

Chapter description

Lightning Tail comments how the place seems bigger when there’s light, and asks why Clear Sky called a meeting so close to the last one. Thunder sees his father and Star Flower, wondering how they had left their kits in camp. Wind Runner asks Clear Sky why he called this meeting, and the gray tom tells them the rogues have stolen lots of their prey. River Ripple explains that to defeat them, they must fight better than foxes. Lightning Tail excitedly brings up to Thunder about the thunder-and-lightning move, and Wind Runner asks to show her. Thunder tells River Ripple, Shattered Ice and Gorse Fur to pursue him as he caught an imaginary pigeon, and he races forwards, giving enough time for Lightning Tail to be in position. Lightning Tail dashed past Shattered Ice, surprising the gray and white tom, but he had already reached Gorse Fur, kicking his spine. Thunder tackles River Ripple, and they praise the toms. Gorse Fur tells Wind Runner this is similar to their hunting move on rabbits. Gorse Fur circles around Thunder and breaks him apart from the rest of the group, and he feels Wind Runner’s paw slam into his cheek. He runs after the moor cat but sees Gorse Fur chase him, and eventually he runs out of breath, giving up.

Gorse Fur tells everyone they must train to run fast, but Star Flower tells them it’s not enough. She tells the cats they must learn how the rogues fight, and reminds them she is One Eye’s daughter. She offers to show the move but Clear Sky worries about her, due to her recent kitting. The queen shrugs it off and tells Thunder to attack her, which the ginger tom is hesitant to do. Thunder plans to slash her muzzle but before that, he feels Star Flower’s paws push against his shoulder, feeling numb all over. Star Flower backs away and asks if he is ok, and Clear Sky apologizes. Wind Runner asks Star Flower about what she did and the golden tabby demonstrates it to her. Thunder asks to try the move on Lightning Tail, and buckles his leg. Lightning Tail seems approving of the battle move and Star Flower tells Thunder to try it on her. Thunder is at first reluctant and prepares to slam his paw onto her shoulder, but Star Flower sends him flying away with her flank. As Thunder wobbles, the golden she-cat swipes his muzzle, and the ginger tom praises her. River Ripple offers to show a move used to catch fish, and tries it on Tall Shadow. Before the black she-cat could touch River Ripple, the silver tom dives beneath Tall Shadow, thumping her up. Jagged Peak tells the cats they must train to fight with three paws, in case one of them is injured. Clear Sky steps in and dismisses everyone, telling the leaders to share the moves learnt with their campmates.

Thunder tells Lightning Tail they are going to the rogue camp, and tells the black tom if they are caught, they will offer Slash prey. He smells a mouse and Lightning Tail crouches and springs up, giving the mouse the killing bite. Thunder considers bringing the mouse back to Clover and Thistle, but insists on seeing the rogue camp first, and heads for the pines. As he nears the marshes, he remembered what Gray Wing said: a ring of tall grass. Thunder tells Lightning Tail to hide in the reeds and after a while, the black tom spots a dark gray she-cat staring down at a small starling, with Slash. The rogue leader calls her Violet and tells her she is a bad hunter, telling her she is lucky she has some prey. Slash tells Violet if she becomes his mate, then she wouldn’t have to ever go hungry but she refuses. Slash’s bribe angers Thunder. The ginger tom sees Slash calling out to a tom named Splinter and tells the rogue to choose his pick, and tosses a warm rabbit to Beetle. Slash calls to Frog and throws a fat thrush to him, asking if he is hungry. Frog nods but Slash throws the thrush back into the prey pile, telling the mottled tom he should have brought more prey from the moor today. Frog protests but Slash scratches the gray tom’s muzzle, and gives him a tiny wren. The mottled gray tom hesitates but takes it to the reeds, and Thunder recognizes Fern, who cleans the wound. Thunder sees Slash, Splinter and Beetle come towards them and Lightning Tail urges him to go, but the ginger tom refuses. Slash explains to Splinter and Beetle he still gives them food to eat to keep them here, so they can attack the moor cats. Thunder feels fear wash over him and watches Slash, Splinter and Beetle fall asleep. He gestures Lightning Tail to follow him and hears voices from Slash’s rogues, wondering if they are rebelling. Thunder feels his gaze lock with Violet’s and think she is beautiful, and promises he will get her away from the rogues one day.

Characters

Major

• Thunder
• Lightning Tail

Minor

• Clear Sky
• Star Flower
• Windstar
• Gorse Fur
• Tall Shadow
• Jagged Peak
• River Ripple
• Shattered Ice
• Slash
• Violet
• Splinter
• Beetle
• Frog
• Fern

Mentioned

• Dew Petal (Unnamed)
• Flower Foot (Unnamed)
• Tiny Branch (Unnamed)
• Gray Wing
• One Eye
• Thistle
• Clover
• Rain