I HAVE ASC#4 THUNDER! THUNDER SPOILER THREAD

LMAO Tigerstar appointed Duskfur as temporary RiverClan leader because "he likes her"? I call bs on that or rather that she likes him back lol.

Also, I'm pretty sure she either won't be in that role for long (Hi Splashtail) and either get killed or is just a puppet leader if she is in cahoots with Splashtail and the other conspiracists anyways.

Also, good on Sunbeam for standing up for herself against Cherryfall and Berryheart, you go girl!

Only 4 more chapters left in this book which means shit is about to go down quick with Berryheart since she's already mentioned to be exiled and ill in the Wind blurb.

berryheart says she would never harm her "shadowclan clanmates" ... the first thing that came to my head reading that was she might attack dovewing, tigerstar's formerly thunderclan mate not sure what would even be gained by that but we know from wind's blurb that whatever shes about to do is bad enough to be exiled

i like cherryfall! seeing sunbeam stand up for herself was nice. also everyone calling tigerstar out for his weird obsession w riverclan was nice, but i can *somewhat* understand why he wanted to keep his clan there.

So Duskfur retired and is now leader because Tigerstar likes her? No because she's qualified or something? Can't say I'm surprised. Though, this means that Frostpaw's mother (Curlfeather), uncle (Owlnose), great-grandmother (Icewing), and now her other grandmother (Duskfur) have been leaders of RiverClan now! At this rate, Podlight is going to end up replacing Mothwing as the medicine cat or become leader himself. Or Brackenfur. Though given Wind's blurb, Duskfur is going to be a very short lived leader since Splashtail takes over. 

Also, good for Sunbeam! I always found her kind of bland, but I'm liking her much more now. I'm glad she's finding her place in ThunderClan.

And I think we know how Splashtail takes control of RiverClan. They've mentioned in previous books that he's decisive and popular. Guess he's overthrowing Duskfur by force? Or even a vote.

I'm so happy Sunbeam stood up against both cherryfall and her parents. I don't think they put in all this work for her to leave again. Interesting choice of temp leader and deputy. Tigerstar finally leaving RC, be it slowly is good but we know shit still about to go down.

Poor Frostpaw, losing her mother and grandmother in the span of a season. But yeah, Splashtail definitely has something to do with that. Same with Curlfeather. 

I always thought it was a misguided attempt to help his Clan (we saw how angry he was when Tigerstar took over) but this guy is really climbing through the ranks quickly. I hope it's not dull like he just wanted to be deputy or something. 

I hope Sunbeam stays in ThunderClan regardless of whatever happens with her and Nightheart. It is relieving to actually see have a social life other than Guy She Is Attracted To. Hopefully it can actually last this time :')

Frostpaw is still struggling to take in everything she’s learned, as a lot of it she never suspected. She is grateful StarClan had send Nightheart as he had become a true friend. Frostpaw isn’t sure she deserves the park cats’ - who have brought her lots of food - kindness as she was a fool to believe Splashtail liked her and even talked him into becoming mates with her one day.

They eat and Frostpaw tells Nightheart she has a better understanding of what the qualities of a leader should be by watching Scruff, even though he wasn’t a leader he was the oldest and the park cats trusted his experience. She tells Nightheart she doesn’t like what RiverClan, or any of the Clans have become after seeing the Park cats and the Clans should learn to take care of and be kind to each other. She tells Nightheart that RiverClan used to live that way during Riverstar’s time and they used to meditate every day and welcomed outsiders. Frostpaw wants RiverClan to have a leader who will make the Clan something new, different and better.

Frostpaw admits there still is something she hadn’t learned yet - Riverstar hasn’t told her as he frightened to tell her and she is frightened to hear of - but believes she is ready to hear it now and tonight will be her last meditation in the park. As she mediates, visions come to her: Splashtail attacking Reedwhisker and peering over the edge to watch him plummet to his death, Splashtail being kind, friendly and thoughtful while walking with her to the Moonpool, Splashtail creeping through the shadows, eyes dark, planting a curled feather where Frostpaw would find it and looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching, Curlfeather urging her to trust no cat, Splashtail raking his claws across her throat. Riverstar apologizes and tells her there is more to show her and asks if she is ready. She hesitates but says she is ready as she needs to know everything.

Riverstar tells her to be strong and shows her the reed bed of RiverClan territory. Splashtail, talking to another cat hidden in the shadow of the reeds, says “They’re organizing a search party. If they find Reedwhisker’s body they might figure out who killed him.” Sounding scared, Splashtail asks, “Should I go and move it? I might be able to hide it.” The cat who is hidden replies, “Don’t do anything”, which Frostpaw recognizes, her mouth going dry. The other cat pads into the moonlight and stops a muzzle length from Splashtail. Frostpaw knows this other cat’s pelt more than her own - the slender frame, the amber eyes, the feathery tufts on the ends of the ears, the narrow forehead, the small sharp ears. Frostpaw prays that she is in a nightmare and none of this is true. The other cat speaks again, “It’s all going to be fine. Just trust me.” Frostpaw silently begs her to please just stop talking. The other cat is Curlfeather. Curlfeather, with a voice so smooth she could have been telling nursery stories, says “I’ll come up with an explanation. It’ll sound reasonable. I’ll just say his death was an accident, and Frostpaw will believe it. She always does.” Frostpaw tries to flee but is frozen in the vision. She didn’t want to know this, she didn’t want to know anything. Curlfeather continues talking, “She believed it when I told her she was a medicine cat. She’ll believe this too, and the others will believe her”. Splashtail asks, “What if they don’t? You know what she’s like. She’ll dither and panic and start asking mouse-brained questions. The whole plan could fall apart”. Curlfeather snaps, “You’re the one who’s panicking and asking mouse-brained questions. It’s not going to fall apart. I won’t let it. I’m going to be leader and you’ll be deputy, just as we planned. Splashtail warily eyes her and asks, “How do I know you won’t turn on me?”. Curlfeather replies, “You don’t. You’ll have to trust me. Stop acting like a kit and just do whatever I tell you”, leaving the area with a growl. Splashtail under his breath snarls, “I’m no kit. Stop treating me like one or it’ll be me who turns on you”. The vision fades. Horror consumed Frostpaw’s body. She now understands why her visions hadn’t been real. She wasn’t supposed to be a medicine cat. Back then she had no connection with StarClan, and yet Curlfeather had encouraged her to believe it was true simply to use her. She wanted to be leader, and Frostpaw was just a way of making it happening. Frostpaw realizes it must have been Curlfeather who planted the curled feather too. Frostpaw now knows Curlfeather was manipulating her, like Splashtail did, and wonders if she ever even loved her. Riverstar calls her name and asks if she is okay. Frostpaw responds by openly realizing that this is why she didn’t see Curlfeather in StarClan. Riverstar, eyes showing sympathy, confirms that Curlfeather is in the Dark Forest. Frostpaw knows her mother deserves it, but hearing this still hurt. Riverstar tells her that Curlfeather knew the consequences of her actions and it was a price she was willing to pay. Frostpaw is shocked, replying with “….even if it meant never seeing me again? Did she ever care for me at all?” Riverstar tells her to remember how her last act in life was to save Frostpaw.

Frostpaw chooses to not let all this information crush her as she is no longer the cat Curlfeather and Splashtail had deceived and was instead the cat who would put things right. She would make amends for everything Curlfeather had done. Curlfeather had told her to trust no cat, but that wasn’t because no cat was trustworthy. It was because Curlfeather wasn’t trustworthy. The warning was the closest thing her mother could get to admitting her betrayal. But Curlfeather was dead, Splashtail was alive and Frostpaw would have to face him. She new everything she needed to choose a new leader and it was time to go home.

Heck yes we were right! Evil Curlfeather believers for the win!

Warrior Cats is crazy in that even when you know exactly what’s going to happen, you’re shocked by how things play out. What a wild ride.

*hugs Frostpaw* It's going to be okay, baby! Curlfeather, you monster! And here I was hoping it wouldn't be true! But I'd be lying if I said this wasn't entertaining.