I HAVE ASC#4 THUNDER! THUNDER SPOILER THREAD

Well, for his leg injury, first of all, it's an otter bite, and otter bites are supposedly REALLY nasty. Bad enough to take human fingers off. Secondly, the latest chapter mentioned that his injury actually got WORSE because of the dog/pool incident. So it just seems like a buildup to...something.

It'd be neat to see him just get broken to bits and end up rebuilding himself so that he's got a proper character arc handled well.

It’s been 4 days since Nightheart left and ThunderClan (except Sunbeam) has accepted his disappearance. Myrtlebloom, Sparkpelt and Finchlight continue to be nice to her.

Squirrelstar, Ivypool and Brambleclaw return from the meeting with Tree and Squirrelstar tells them Tigerstar has agreed to not increase the number of ShadowClan cats in RiverClan and agrees that they are only there temporarily until RiverClan has a solid leader. She tells them Tigerstar is convinced that RiverClan will fall without ShadowClan presence and that if one Clan falls, all of them will. Lionblaze points out none of the other Clans fell when ShadowClan did under Rowanstar. Sparkpelt suggests to take in some RiverClan cats themselves like they did when ShadowClan fell but Squirrelstar tells them Splashtail wouldn’t allow it as he wants RiverClan to decide their own future. Sparkpelt is surprised Splashtail is speaking for RiverClan given how he is a very young cat. Finchlight asks about why not Icewing instead, and Squirrelstar tells her Icewing and Mallownose were present with Splashtail at the meeting but Splashtail and Mallownose did most of the talking. Sunbeam frowns and remembers how Mallownose in particular had been resentful of ShadowClan’s presence. Ivypool says Splashtail claimed to have only showed up because Havenpelt is expecting Sneezecloud’s kits and wants problems sorted out before their birth. Lionblaze remarks how Tigerstar enjoys causing trouble and many cats agree with him, causing Sunbeam to get ruffled as she thinks they are being unfair to Tigerstar. Finchlight and Sparkpelt ask Sunbeam for advice on how to change Tigerstar’s mind and Sunbeam suggests taking to Dovewing.

Ivypool and Sunbeam meet Dovewing and Sparrowtail at the halfbridge. Things quickly go south when Ivypool tells Dovewing the reason why she arranged this meeting. Ivypool asks Dovewing if there is any chance Tigerstar might change his mind about RiverClan. Dovewing sharply and with an irritable flick of her tail points out that’s what a mediator is for. Ivypool understands her sisters reaction and apologizes, explaining that she thought Dovewing could give them a better idea as to why Tigerstar is so determined to control RiverClan. Outrage sparks in Dovewing’s eyes and she says Tigerstar is not controlling them and is helping them and that RiverClan got themselves into this mess by not being honest from the start. Ivypool begs her to talk to Tigerstar but Dovewing says she isn’t a leader or deputy and won’t exploit her relationship with Tigerstar to make him change his mind and won’t betray her Clan or mate, even though she doesn’t want to let her kin down. Ivypool tells her she isn’t asking her to betray any cat and asks her to explain to Tigerstar how much is at stake, but Dovewing tells her that Tigerstar is no fool and neither is she and won’t let Ivypool manipulate her into manipulating him. Sparrowtail suggests to Dovewing to leave, alarming Sunbeam, as her father hadn’t spoken to her since she left ShadowClan, but Sparrowtail meets her gaze and his eyes round with apology. Ivypool requests to talk to Dovewing alone and they go out of earshot. Sparrowtail is very confused why Sunbeam left ShadowClan no matter how much she tries to explain. Sunbeam tells him if she stayed in ShadowClan, she’d have been sent to the RiverClan camp again, which felt wrong. Sparrowtail eagerly tells her that if that’s what is troubling her, she can come home as if Berryheart’s plan works, she will never have to go to RiverClan. Sunbeam asks him what he means by “Berryheart’s plan” and how her mother can change anything. But Sparrowtail doesn’t answer and Ivypool and Dovewing return, seeming to have made peace, their muzzles touching. They say their goodbyes and Ivypool tells Sunbeam that Dovewing wouldn’t budge, but Sunbeam isn’t listening, as she is only thinking about Spartowtail’s words: “…Berryheart’s plan…”

nightheart's got some nerve calling anyone annoying when he's, well, him lol. I still haven't finished river because he was too annoying to read about. also I haven't posted in spoiler tags in forever so hopefully I'm even remembering the type of coding here at all lmao

Finally Sunbeam and Sparrowtail interact! I was actually considering that the editors forgot he was her father. In River he actually seemed to dislike how Berryheart was treating Fringewhisker, but that's all we saw of him until now. I honestly think he just misses his daughter, and that's maybe why he's starting to agree with Berryheart, even if reluctantly.

What is with this family and justifying a conquest? Lightleap said this exact same thing in the previous book! Yes, RiverClan is a mess and they probably do need help, but Tigerstar is doing nothing to fix their problems! He's not trying to figure out how to resolve their crisis at all.



I'm actually not surprised Lionblaze doesn't like Tigerstar. They were at odds in TBC when Lionblaze was briefly leader. This is good consistency.

Seeing how Sparrowtail was describes as apologetic, I feel REALLY BAD for him. His whole family neess therapy.

Well, Splashtail's not being sus at all! Anyway, I love Sparkpelt and I'm not surprised everyone has given up on Nightheart already. And more Dovewing and Ivypool arguments. Yay... In all seriousness, I'm actually with Ivypool here! Tigerstar is the worst thing that's ever happened to Dovewing and it shows! I get wanting to be loyal to her Clan, but yikes! Also, poor Sparrowtail.

It's surreal seeing Dovewing being the callous one to Ivypool. Weird how life works. And here's the quote about the plan working... at least we see an interaction Sunbeam's father. I hope he doesn't get punished alongside Berryheart. I'm sure he and Spireclaw genuinely care about her, at least.

At least for me, Sparrowtail seems to be coming from a place of genuine concern and him just missing his kit. Unless it wasn't posted, his issue isn't that Sunbeam left for Nightheart, it's because she doesn't like the takeover of RiverClan, which he agrees with her on. 

Is anyone really surprised she's doubling down though? She's too much of a "Yes" wife to Tigertwo and just goes along with anything he says. Even if it's morally questionable, and irksome. She has no personality outside of him anymore, and it's getting ridiculous. If even Ivypool, of all cats, is trying to reach out with an olive branch of peace, and Dovewing is still trying to justify Tigertwo's actions, there's no hope for her. Arguably even Lightleap is more likable than her own mother right now.

It's giving Neville Longbottom in Sorcerer's Stone

The third stripe on the Thunderpath had come to an end and they ended up on a regular Thunderpath so they traveled across fields instead. They reach a river and are stuck as they can’t find any way across as the current is too strong. Frostpaw is sure they have to cross this river when Nightheart asks as the rising sun is on the other side.

Frostpaw complains why StarClan has to be so vague and wonders if they want her to fail. Nightheart has her confirm that Riverstar was indeed the founder of RiverClan and indeed spoke to her and tells her that if Riverstar was RiverClan’s founder, he wouldn’t want her to fail, making Frostpaw feel better. But Frostpaw continues to wish StarClan would be more help and continues to voice her doubts and Nightheart has to continue to try to make her feel better.

Riverstar comes to her in a dream and tells her she will know when they are nearly there. He tells her to cross the river and keep going until they reach the salmon-colored tree, where they will find cats who can help them. Frostpaw doesn’t know where they can find a blossom tree as it’s almost leaf-bare.

Frostpaw isn’t sure whether she should share her dream with Nightheart as she doesn’t want to raise false hopes when they most likely wouldn’t be able to find a salmon colored tree in this weather. She suggests they continue following the river. She then sees a kingfisher grab prey from the river and fly to the other side and she interprets it as a sign that they could and would cross the river

They have kingfisher in the area?! Dude, I low-key wish I lived there now. Though I still have no idea why StC wishes to be vague. Pretty meta with the series title, I guess, but...

Considering this is the same Dovewing who went against her mate's orders when he was against taking Shadowkit to the Tribe, yes and no. She's clearly not afraid of standing up to him if it means following her heart, and after spending seasons with ShadowClan at this point, it's only to be expected her views would change to fit in with that of her Clanmates... but StarClan does this not make it any less annoying! My point is, she took a turn for the worst.