Thunder Rising/Chapter 22

"That's it! Look at Gray Wing! Can you see how he can barely sit upright? Can you all hear the breath rattling in his chest? He's ill-seriously ill. Am I the only cat with eyes in my head? If Gray Wing won't face up to the truth, I will. He needs time to recover. He can't lead this group of cats anymore. He can't..."

— Turtle Tail about Gray Wing's injuries. in Thunder Rising, page 243

Thunder Rising
Chapter number:	22 (of 27)
Page numbers:	234-243
Point of View:	Gray Wing
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 22 (of 27)

Page Numbers: 234-243

Chapter description

Gray Wing leads a patrol to the edge of the hollow to try to pick up the kit's scent. He picks up Owl Eyes' scent and leads the way. As they head across the moor, the dog scent overpowers the kit's. Gray Wing finds a dot of blood from one of the branches on a gorse branch and fears it might be Owl Eyes'. They lose the scent, but after going through some gorse bushes, Tall Shadow picks it up again. It leads towards the forest, and Gray Wing wonders if Clear Sky would protect Owl Eyes if he is in danger. The patrol heads into a valley, and Gray Wing finds Owl Eyes, who is tossing a vole in the air.

Gray Wing is scolding Owl Eyes when it starts to rain. He and the other cats head into a rabbit burrow to shelter from the rain, but the entrance collapses, trapping the cats. They travel deeper into the tunnel and find an open space where they can stand. Gray Wing notices there are many different tunnels leading out into the open. Owl Eyes complains about the smell of dry leaves and bracken on the cave floor, but Jackdaw's Cry tells him it was his fault for running away from camp. They are about to get into an argument when Gray Wing interrupts them, telling them they must decide which tunnel would be the best way out. He leads the cats to the nearest tunnel and sees a black-furred creature with a white stripe, which Tall Shadow explains is a badger.

As the badger rears up in front of them, Gray Wing orders the others to run. He checks to see if Owl Eyes is following him before jumping into the nearest tunnel and hears a screech of pain behind him. He keeps going, finding a way out of the tunnel, and uses the last of his strength to push himself out into the open. Gray Wing realizes they have come out close to the edge of the forest. He checks to see if the others are following him before he jumps into a tree. The badger rears out of the tunnels, searching for them, and finally retreats back into the tunnels. Gray Wing notices a scratch on one of Owl Eyes' back legs, realizing it had been him screeching in the tunnel. Owl Eyes says he is fine, but his teeth are chattering.

When they head back to camp, Rainswept Flower spots them and calls out to the other cats. Turtle Tail races to Gray Wing and Owl Eyes and starts scolding Owl Eyes, and Turtle Tail noses her son back into the hollow. Pebble Heart and Sparrow Fur rush over to Owl Eyes. The dark gray tabby tom notices the wound on Owl Eyes' leg and begins licking it vigorously. He tells Owl Eyes that it will help keep infection out. Owl Eyes asks how he knows that, and Pebble Heart replies that Cloud Spots is teaching him about herbs. Pebble Heart says that Cloud Spots will take him herb-gathering with him and Dappled Pelt.

Gray Wing notices Turtle Tail giving him a hard stare and asks how he could have allowed this to happen. Gray Wing indignantly replies that he left camp to look for Owl Eyes. While arguing, his chest tightens, and he can hardly breathe. Turtle Tail angrily tells everyone that Gray Wing is seriously ill and cannot be leader anymore. Gray Wing faints as his mate is giving the speech.

Characters

Major

• Gray Wing

Minor

• Rainswept Flower
• Jagged Peak
• Owl Eyes
• Tall Shadow
• Jackdaw's Cry
• Pebble Heart
• Sparrow Fur

Mentioned

• Clear Sky
• Shaded Moss
• Stoneteller
• Cloud Spots
• Dappled Pelt