I HAVE ASC#4 THUNDER! THUNDER SPOILER THREAD

Frostpaw knows horrible shit is going on in RiverClan, huh? So does she know exactly who murdered Reedwhisker? Or does she just have an idea of how bad things really are? Does she just know that RiverClan is causing it's own problems?

Dang, poor Waffle humans suck!!

Imagine basil.kat reading that part

Waffle sounds adorable and he deserves all the happiness in the world! And I'm assuming Wasp might be the other cat to follow Nightheart home, though I won't be surprised if Bee goes back with him and Frostpaw as well.

I just though of this, but what if Bee is supposed to be RC's next leader? Probably not, but that would be hilarious. He keeps dreaming of walking along a frozen river with cats he doesn't recognize watching him curiously. That or just a medicine cat.

I hope this spoiler tag works I'm on mobile

1. I really like that Frostpaw got spayed (as a plot point. Rip to her dreams of bearing kits). I wonder if they'll touch on that more or if it's just a one and done "now fans won't ever bug us for Frostpaw kits" thing.

2. Meditation is a cool concept and I'm excited to see how that Clans use that. Heal your inner selves bitches before fighting and wars.

3. This is a stupid passing thought but... bee x frostpaw?

I honestly can’t believe they delayed the leader ceremony just for a chapter, oh well. Seems like a cop out though. On the other hand, it happened! Yay! Not too thrilled about Squirrelstar happening while Brambleclaw is still alive but also interested, I wonder how Squirrel will manage to lead the Clan. I’m so glad that Bramble retired, he really needs this rest.
It seems kind of weird for Nightheart and Frostpaw to leave so suddenly, especially while the others are at the Moonpool. I feel really bad for Sunbeam, having to stay at ThunderClan by herself. I like that Sparkpelt and Finchlight are being friendly to her though.
Saying Squirrelstar and Brambleclaw feels so weird to me, I have always thought of them as Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, it will probably take a while for me to get used to saying that. I specifically remember at the start of this year feeling like it was still 2022, it took a while to get used to saying 2023 as well.

Neutering was mentioned even as far back as the very first book and Henry, Smudge, and I think Purdy were all mentioned as having been to the Cutter, but this is the first time we've actually seen it be somewhat explored, and with a main character no less.

who the hell did this to Waffle I am going to smack them so hard they’ll jump right into the river they through their cat in

I feel bad for Sunbeam, Nightheart has been gone for so long

also, med cat bee confirmed? /hj

I really love how kind they are being to her, it really would help, especially with Nightheart away and so much uncertainty at the moment for her.

Splashtail when he gets caught in the act:

Sunbeam is familiarizing herself with ThunderClan territory as her final trial will involve navigating through the territory. Finchlight finds her and tells her she has good news - she has just returned from the meeting on the island and the mediation is going well. Tigerstar had agreed to send fewer warriors on each patrol. Finchlight admits that she was only supposed to escort Squirrelstar but she and Spireclaw sneaked over the bridge and hid in the grass to listen. Tigerstar has agreed to take most of his cats out of RiverClan but he’ll do it slowly, one at a time, until there’s only one or two left to keep an eye on them. To Sunbeam, it sounds like Tigerstar was playing for time rather than truly agreeing to withdraw. She asks why Tigerstar is saying he will leave now when he was so determined to stay before and Finchlight tells her the leaders are appointing someone to temporarily head RiverClan. Sunbeam immediately believes it to be Icewing but Finchlight tells her the chosen leader is Duskfur. Sunbeam points out that Duskfur is an elder now and Finchlight says that’s the point as an elder will be less hotheaded. Tigerstar likes Duskfur and RiverClan approved. Sunbeam remembers the younger RiverClan warriors bristling with resentment at the Gathering and asks about them, and Finchlight tells her that Splashtail will be acting deputy and can speak for the younger warriors. Sunbeam feels uneasy as only a moon ago, Splashtail had plotted with Berryheart/conspired behind their leaders’ backs. When she asks why Tigerstar let Splashtail be acting deputy, Finchlight tells her Tigerstar knows how much of an influence Splashtail has on the younger warriors and giving him a voice will diffuse tension. Sunbeam is surprised Splashtail agreed to be part of any compromise and doesn’t trust him as he changes his mind too easily. Before Finchlight leaves, she introduces the huge oak Sunbeam was looking at as the Ancient Oak, which is supposed to be the oldest tree in the forest and no ThunderClan cat will starve as long as it stands.

Her final trial begins with a clue. Ivypool tells her to find the place that has an apprentice between two elders. She figures out she has to go to a sapling flanked by two large oaks, where Lionblaze is waiting. He gives her the next clue - to find a place where there are no Twolegs. Sunbeam works out it’s the Abandoned Twoleg Den, where Jayfeather is waiting. He tells her to follow the scent of thyme until there are no more plant scents at all. She eventually picks up a fragrant smell among the decaying smell of the nest and follows it to the lake, where to her dismay, Cherryfall is waiting. Cherryfall complains that her that her third trial is supposed to be harder, not easier than the others, as she is meant to be proving she’s good enough to be a ThunderClan warrior not an apprentice. For the clue, Cherryfall tells her that she has to go back to where she moved the rock. Sunbeam notices how this isn’t a clue at all, it’s an order, and Cherryfall’s eyes glitter with satisfaction. Sunbeam is sure Cherryfall is sending her the wrong way and doubles back when out of sight. When trying to figure out another important location in ThunderClan territory, she remembers Finchlight telling her about the Ancient Oak and decides to go there. Sparkpelt eventually turns up there and congratulates her for passing the trial and asks if Cherryfall’s clue was hard. Sunbeam decides not to tell her that Cherryfall gave her the wrong clue and simply tells her that the clue was a bit tricky. They go to tell Ivypool about her passing the trial. Sunbeam decides to not tattle on Cherryfall. Ivypool, Lionblaze, Jayfeather and Cherryfall are waiting for her at the camp. All of them except Cherryfall, whose pelt instead ruffles with annoyance, congratulate her. Squirrelstar holds the ceremony to welcome her as an official member of ThunderClan and Sunbeam confirms this is what she wants. While the Clan calls out her name, Cherryfall angrily stalks toward the warriors den. Sunbeam can’t let Cherryfall nearly sabotaging her chances of joining ThunderClan (or future attempts to) slide and she pads after her into the den. Sunbeam tells her it’s a shame her plan didn’t work and suggests that it would be easier if they get along. Cherryfall says it would only be easier for Sunbeam. Sunbeam replies, “Easier for both of us. I’ve had some experience with difficult cats. They don’t scare me. You don’t scare me. And you’re not going to push me out of ThunderClan, not when I’ve worked so hard to get here. You can waste your time and energy trying to make my life difficult. But it’ll be harder on you than me, because I don’t get pushed around easily. Squirrelstar wants me here. And Ivypool. And a lot of other warriors. So be careful how hard you push, because I might just push back.” Cherryfall clearly didn’t expect Sunbeam to stand up for herself and takes a step back, ears twitching nervously. She leaves, proud of standing up for herself and learning to find her own four paws here without Nightheart. Brackenfur and Cloudtail blink at her warmly.

Cherryfall brings a mouse to Sunbeam after hunting, telling her she deserves it and hunted well, nodding curtly before padding away. Sunbeam recalls how Cherryfall had been treating her like a Clanmate all morning and had even let her make the kill on a rabbit. Sunbeam knows that standing up to Cherryfall had been the right choice.

Squirrelstar and Sunbeam discuss Nightheart’s whereabouts and to distract her, Squirrelstar has Sunbeam accompany her to the mediation meeting with Bayshine and Alderheart. Oatclaw, Violetshine, Bellaleaf, Lizardtail, Owlnose, Berryheart and Scorchfur are there. Berryheart looks up at and eventually heads towards her and Sunbeam is determined to not hide from her. They talk privately and Berryheart tries to persuade her to come home and asserts that ThunderClan prey can’t agree with her as she looks skinny. Sunbeam tells her to shut up and listen for a change, as all she does is ask questions but doesn’t even wait for an answer and doesn’t listen to what her daughter has to say. This causes Berryheart to rage about Nightheart and accuses him of lying to everyone about wanting to be a ShadowClan warrior just to steal Sunbeam. Sunbeam says she chose to leave and couldn’t stay in a Clan she disagreed with as meddling in RiverClan was wrong. Berryheart’s new softens, saying that that’s one thing they agree on. The conversation smoothens and they discuss things possibly going back to normal. Much to her own surprise, Sunbeam defends Tigerstar, who is no longer her leader, while Berryheart accuses her leader. Berryheart doesn’t think things will ever get back to normal as Tigerstar will keep dragging them into fights. She accuses Tigerstar for forgetting who his real Clanmates are and says she has a plan to remind Tigerstar where his loyalties lie. Berryheart refuses to tell Sunbeam what the plan is as she is no longer a ShadowClan cat. Sunbeam tells her to make sure no cat gets hurt and Berryheart tells her she would never harm her ShadowClan Clanmates. Sunbeam silently replies that’s because she is too busy harming her kin. Sunbeam is afraid she might harm cats outside ShadowClan.

The meeting ends. Tigerstar has agreed to withdraw one extra warrior. When she gets the chance on the way back, Sunbeam tells Squirrelstar that Berryheart might have a plan to try to stop Tigerstar. Squirrelstar declares that if a ShadowClan warrior starts stirring up trouble it could push them back but telling Tigerstar exactly who is plotting against him could make him act rashly. Squirrelstar tells Sunbeam that she will tell Tigerstar to keep an eye on his Clan. Sunbeam is relieved but worry comes back to her as she wonders what her mothers big plan could be.