Thunder and Shadow/Chapter 11

"Can't you sit still?"

— Jayfeather to Alderpaw in Thunder and Shadow page, 178

Thunder and Shadow
Chapter number:	11 (of 24)
Page numbers:	178-187
Point of View:	Alderpaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 11 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 178-187

Chapter description

Alderpaw and his mentor, Jayfeather, are at a Gathering. As Alderpaw fidgets beside Jayfeather, the blind gray tom hisses for Alderpaw to sit still. Bramblestar is padding between everyone, greeting old allies. Onestar is already sitting on the great oak, watching the Clans, as Mistystar talks with the deputies. Alderpaw sees Mistystar purr as his mother, Squirrelflight, nods towards a group of apprentices, who are showing off battle moves to each other. Alderpaw wishes he were with them, sharing Clan gossip. He wonders if he has to sit here, and be solemn and serious like Kestrelflight, Mothwing, and Willowshine, just because he was a medicine cat apprentice. He thinks that if he has to be an apprentice for any longer, he wonders if he can have any fun. He glances at his sister, Sparkpelt. He notes that it is her first Gathering as a warrior.

She sits beside Cherryfall, her chest puffed out with pride. Her green eyes sparkle as she gazes at other cats. Their father, Bramblestar, pads over to her side, and touches his muzzle fondly to her head. Alderpaw ignores the prickle of envy in his paws, knowing that he is proud of Sparkpelt too. He tastes the air for ShadowClan's scent. He notes that they're late. He wonders, eagerly if Needlepaw will come. Alderpaw also hopes that she wasn't still in trouble for letting Violetkit leaving camp. He adds to himself that maybe if he couldn't ask Needlepaw, he could ask Sleekpaw. Alderpaw stiffens as Mintfur, a RiverClan warrior jerks his gaze towards the edge of the clearing.

Alderpaw notes that the ShadowClan cats look battle-worn. Rowanstar has a cut above his eye, Crowfrost's pelt shows signs of scratches, and Wasptail is limping. He realizes that Needlepaw nor Sleekpaw are there. He thinks that maybe Strikepaw or Yarrowpaw can tell him. Alderpaw then catches sight of Leafpool. He bounds over to her, as he realizes that he can ask her. As he gets nearer to her, he realizes that her eyes are dark with worry. Puddlepaw pads behind her, tail down. Alderpaw asks them if something happened. Leafpool lowers her gaze, and pads past him, as she says that Rowanstar will share the news.

Anxiety flashes through him, as he asks if Violetkit is okay. Leafpool replies that she looked fine the last time she had seen her, as she sits by Mothwing, and then looks away. Alderpaw stares at her confused, as she asks her what she means. Jayfeather shooes the young tom back to his place, and orders him to sit down and be quiet. Rowanstar jumps on top of a branch next to Onestar. Onestar shoots him a hostile glance, and shuffles away from the ShadowClan leader. Bramblestar leaves Sparkpelt, and hurries to the oak. Mistystar heaves herself up on top of it. Everyone quiets down, as all the leaders take their place.

Bramblestar begins, saying that they have good weather, and that StarClan has blessed them. Rowanstar grunts dismissively, saying that ThunderClan always think they're blessed, even when they're starving in leaf-bare. Mistystar points out that it's not leaf-bare yet, and that they must be thankful that prey is still running well. Onestar sneers that prey is always running, or swimming, in Riverclan. Mistystar corrects him, saying that it's not if the river freezes. Alderpaw wonders why all the leaders are so prickly tonight. Rowanstar raises his head, and says that ShadowClan has two new warriors, Strikestone, and Yarrowleaf. The Clan cats cheer the name of the new ShadowClan warriors.

Mistystar raises her voice, and says that RiverClan also has new warriors, Shadepelt and Foxnose. Bramblestar adds that ThunderClan has a new warrior, Sparkpelt. The Clan cats cheer the name of all the new warriors. Sparkpelt looks around, and her pelt fluffs out in excitement. Alderpaw raises his voice, wanting to make sure that she heard him cheering. She catches his eye, and her gaze lights up happiness. Pride swells in Alderpaw's chest as he cheers louder. As Jayfeather remains silent, Alderpaw nudges him, and hisses in his mentor's ear that medicine cats are allowed to cheer. The gray tom asks why he should cheer, and adds that more warriors means more wounds, and more work for him.

Alderpaw glances at Leafpool, expecting her to chide Jayfeather for being gloomy, but the brown tabby she-cat is chanting, her expression blank. His cheer dies in his throat, as he gazes across the cheering cats. He realizes that Sleekpaw and Juniperpaw should be getting their warrior names too. He wonders if they failed the assessment. He scans the field, but there's no sign of the two apprentices. Alderpaw shifts uneasily, and looks towards Rowanstar as the Clans fall silent. Rowanstar gazes gravely at the Clans. He says that the rogues that attacked WindClan are living on the edge of their border, that they share with ThunderClan.

Brackenfur asks why they don't just chase them off. Breezepelt shows his teeth, and hisses that they're murderers. Crowfeather lifts his muzzle, and hisses that they should join forces and drive them away. Rowanstar adds that they asked to join ShadowClan, and brought gifts of prey, and that he turned them away. Oatclaw lashes his tail, and exclaims how dare they. Sparkpelt flattens her ears, and hisses that they could never be Clan cats. Rowanstar repeats that he turned them away, fur prickling along his spine. He adds that some of their apprentices chose to join the group of rogues. The Clans stare at him in shocked silence. He adds that they took Violetkit with them.

Mistystar jerks her muzzle towards him, and exclaims that they took the kit from the prophecy. Rowanstar scowls and says that they were wrong about the prophecy. He adds that Violetkit and Twigkit are just normal kits, and that Needlepaw found her. He adds that why wouldn't Needlepaw take her. Alderpaw freezes as he realizes that Needlepaw joined the rogues. Bramblestar is growling, and his angry gaze is fixed on Rowanstar. The amber eyed, tabby exclaims that he let a vulnerable kit join a group of rogues. He adds that he should have known Violetkit wouldn't have been safe in ShadowClan. Mothwing calls that they need to get her back. 

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