Thunder and Shadow/Chapter 14

"Even if [Violetpaw] is loyal to ShadowClan . . . you still let the others live at the edge of your territory, despite the fact that they are murderers. Half your apprentices left to join them. It just proves what I've always thought: ShadowClan cats are no better than rogues. You will not gather herbs on my land."

— Onestar denying ShadowClan lungwort in Thunder and Shadow, page 232

Thunder and Shadow
Chapter number:	14 (of 24)
Page numbers:	217-233
Point of View:	Violetpaw
Chronology

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

Chapter Number: 14 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 217-233

Chapter description

Violetpaw has settled back into the routine of Clan life, doing as much as she can to be helpful around camp. She feels guilt over abandoning Needletail and also for refusing to go with Twigpaw to find their mother, choosing to focus on her work to avoid these feelings. She watches as Puddleshine, who recently earned his medicine cat name, emerges from the medicine den with a worried expression. She asks the young tom what the issue is, knowing that Wasptail and Oakfur are currently sick with an unknown illness. Puddleshine explains that he has tried every herb he has learned about, but none of them are working. Violetpaw offers to gather more for him, but the medicine cat is panicking. She recommends that Puddleshine speak to Rowanstar, suggesting that the leader may have come across the illness in the past and could know how Littlecloud treated it.

Puddleshine enters Rowanstar's den along with Violetpaw, and informs his leader that he does not know how to heal the two sick cats. Rowanstar tells Puddleshine to just use catmint to treat greencough. The medicine cat replies that he already tried catmint, and he does not recognize the sickness. Rowanstar again dismisses Puddleshine's concerns. Violetpaw suggests bringing Leafpool back to ShadowClan for additional expertise, which Rowanstar swiftly rejects, refusing to grovel to ThunderClan. Dejected, Puddleshine resorts to treating them with the herbs in his store.

Violetpaw and Dawnpelt return to camp with herbs they have collected, when they notice cats gathered around Rowanstar's den. Tawnypelt informs them that Rowanstar is seriously ill, and Scorchfur comments that the leader sounds like their two sick Clanmates, causing Crowfrost to order Violetpaw to find Puddleshine. Violetpaw is about to fill in the medicine cat on the terrible news when he stares off into the distance, unaware of his surroundings. He suddenly snaps back and excitedly heads to Crowfrost, revealing to the deputy that he has received his first vision from StarClan. Runningnose has told him that the name of the illness is yellowcough. Furthermore, a cure exists for it on the moor: an herb called lungwort. Puddleshine insists on going there himself as only he knows what the plant looks like. Crowfrost assigns Tigerheart, Scorchfur, and Violetpaw to accompany the medicine cat. Tigerheart offers to lead the patrol as he knows the fastest route.

As they pass through ThunderClan territory, they are halted by Dovewing and Twigpaw. Tigerheart informs them of the illness afflicting ShadowClan. Violetpaw tries to get Twigpaw's attention and apologize, but her sister ignores her. When they finally reach the moor, the ShadowClan patrol is accosted by hostile WindClan cats. Tigerheart tells them that they are here to gather herbs on an urgent mission, but Crowfeather insists on taking them to see Onestar.

Violetpaw notices tension within the WindClan camp and wonders what is going on, growing nervous as she sees Onestar's harsh gaze. He is furious when he sees Violetpaw with the ShadowClan patrol, demanding to know what she is doing in WindClan land. The leader declares that she is a rogue who has shared a camp with the same cats who killed Furzepelt. Tigerheart prepares to defend Violetpaw as WindClan warriors press in around them on all sides. Before they can attack, however, Tigerheart states that Violetpaw has rejoined ShadowClan, only slightly appeasing Onestar, who allows the dark tabby to talk about the yellowcough illness and the cure found on WindClan territory.

Onestar refuses to let them gather the herb on his land. Tigerheart replies that he cannot let his Clanmates die, but Onestar compares the entirety of ShadowClan to the Kin due to their failure to drive the rogues away from their territory, once again denying ShadowClan access to lungwort. Kestrelflight appeals on behalf of Puddleshine and his role as a medicine cat, but Onestar orders for the ShadowClan cats leave the camp immediately, and that a patrol will be chasing them with his permission to rip their fur off. Tigerheart beseeches Onestar one last time, humbling himself, but Onestar screams at him. The ShadowClan patrol sprints from the camp, with Scorchfur running behind Violetpaw to protect her.

Characters

Major

• Violetpaw

Minor

• Puddleshine
• Rowanstar
• Dawnpelt
• Scorchfur
• Crowfrost
• Tawnypelt
• Tigerheart
• Wasptail
• Oakfur
• Dovewing
• Twigpaw
• Crowfeather
• Breezepelt
• Leaftail
• Onestar
• Kestrelflight

Mentioned

• Leafpool
• Rain (Unnamed)
• Nettle (Unnamed)
• Raven (Unnamed)
• Roach (Unnamed)
• Silt (Unnamed)
• Sleekwhisker (Unnamed)
• Juniperclaw (Unnamed)
• Beenose (Unnamed)
• Cloverfoot (Unnamed)
• Berryheart (Unnamed)
• Needletail
• Darktail
• Kinkfur
• Ratscar
• Snowbird
• Spikefur
• Pinenose
• Yarrowleaf
• Strikestone
• Violetpaw and Twigpaw's mother
• Littlecloud
• Runningnose
• Furzepelt

Important events

• Puddleshine has earned his full medicine cat name, and Leafpool has returned to ThunderClan.
• Wasptail, Oakfur, and Rowanstar come down with yellowcough.
• Puddleshine receives his first vision from StarClan; Runningnose tells him the name of the illness afflicting his Clanmates and which herb to use to cure it.
• Onestar denies ShadowClan access to lungwort because they have not driven the rogues away from the edge of their territory.

Errors

• The stream that separates ThunderClan territory from WindClan territory is mistakenly described as separating WindClan territory from ShadowClan territory.

Trivia

• This chapter aligns with chapter twenty-seven of Onestar's Confession.