Thunder Rising/Chapter 10

"Don't worry. This doesn't have to end badly."

— Cloud Spots to Moon Shadow in Thunder Rising, page 129

Thunder Rising
Chapter number:	10 (of 27)
Page numbers:	123-132
Point of View:	Gray Wing
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 10 (of 27)

Page Numbers: 123-132

Chapter description

Gray Wing wakes to the smell of smoke. He leaps to his paws and begins yowling to alert his campmates about the fire. Suddenly thinking of his brother, and knowing that he and his denmates are somewhere near the fire, he runs across the moor. He looks over his shoulder to see Thunder, Tall Shadow, Jackdaw's Cry, Rainswept Flower, Cloud Spots, and Dappled Pelt following him.

The group heads into the forest, where they find a Twoleg thing. The cats conclude that this Twoleg thing is what started the fire. The cats crouch down as a branch explode in a shower of sparks, igniting new fires that surround the group. He races towards the flames that block their path, searching for a opening through the fire, but every time he sees one, it closes up on him. He hears cats yowling for him to get back, but Gray Wing insist that they have to help his brother. Thunder suggests that they could jump over the flames. Gray Wing examines the flames, trying to work if he would reach the other side.

Gray Wing sees a cat leaping across the fire from the other side, and realizes that this is Moon Shadow. Moon Shadow's paws get caught in the fire, and he lands hard on the ground. Flames reach Moon Shadow's pelt and tail, and Gray Wing, Thunder, and Tall Shadow races to aid the cat, trying to put out the flames. After they extinguish the fire, Gray Wing sees an area of angry red skin on Moon Shadow's side. Cloud Spots tells Dappled Pelt to come with him to find healing herbs and they vanish. Still worried about his brother, Gray Wing straightens up and races towards the barrier of flame. He prepares to jump across the flames, when Thunder crashes into him and holds him down. Gray Wing hisses to him to let go, and Jackdaw's Cry tells him that there's nothing he can do.

Gray Wing urgently asks Moon Shadow if Clear Sky was with him, and if he's safe, but Gray Wing realizes that the injured tom is too hurt to understand his question. Tall Shadow reassures Moon Shadow that Cloud Spots will come back soon with herbs that would make him better. Gray Wing fills with hope when he sees Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt carrying a bunch of leaves in their jaws, but his hope fades when he realizes that they are carrying bunches of leaves and weeds. Cloud Spots looks helpless, and says that the fire has left so little herbs for them. Gray Wing attempts to cheer the medicine cat, saying that the bundles are bound to do something. The cats place the leaves on Moon Shadow's burnt patches in attempt to stop the bleeding, but Moon Shadow was bleeding too much. To Gray Wing's surprise, Moon Shadow gets up and says determinedly that he will walk.

Gray Wing feels a wave of heat rush through him, making him turn towards the fire. Gray Wing sees in horror as he realizes that the group had been too busy helping Moon Shadow that they forgot the fire around them. He sees the other cats panicking, trying to find an opening to escape the fire. Gray Wing thinks about his brother again, feeling helpless, knowing that his brother was somewhere in the fire, and knows that he can't do anything to help him.

Characters

Major

• Gray Wing

Minor

• Hawk Swoop
• Acorn Fur
• Lightning Tail
• Jackdaw's Cry
• Rainswept Flower
• Turtle Tail
• Owl Eyes (unnamed)
• Pebble Heart (unnamed)
• Sparrow Fur (unnamed)
• Jagged Peak
• Thunder
• Tall Shadow
• Cloud Spots
• Dappled Pelt
• Moon Shadow

Mentioned

• Clear Sky

Important events

• The forest catches on fire.
• Moon Shadow escapes the fire being badly burnt.