I HAVE ASC#4 THUNDER! THUNDER SPOILER THREAD

Obviously Splashtail is up to something suspicious and definitely ain't a good guy but I feel it's worthy mentioning that this is likely filtered through Frostpaw's eyes, that being a traumatised young teenager. Splashtail has shown her kindness and she's opened up to him with her vulnerabilities and uncertainties. He's basically her only friend if we count out Graypaw and Mistpaw. To her, of course Splashtail wouldn't try to attack her! But as the audience, we know better. Especially with him taking a leading role in the conspiracies to out ShadowClan from RiverClan. 

There’s a reason the phrase “Love is blind” exists. Feelings can override rational thought for sure. At least she’s taking advantage of the fact her attacker thinks she’s dead.

Honestly I like it. This is REALLY in character for her. She's probably the most gullible and naive protagonist we've had. She has her own autonomy and makes her own decisions, but is clearly a people pleaser, especially with Splashtail and Curlfeather. After her trauma in the first book, she latched onto Splashtail, the only cat besides her siblings who she believed looked out for her and her foremost, before anything, a role previously taken up by her mother. She isn't really in love with Splashtail. I don't think she ever really was. She used the idea of being with him as a coping mechanism, a light in the sea of problems. Remember that her first romantic feelings toward Splashtail are during her breakdown at the Moonpool. She frets that she can't communicate with StarClan, and then rejoices that then she could be a normal cat. That she could have kits with Splashtail and name one after her mother. She thinks of the cats she loves the most. And he took advantage of her infatuation with him, it seems. Of course Splashtail couldn't have done anything wrong, just like Curlfeather couldn't have! Now that Curlfeather is gone, she has latched onto Splashtail, and he is the one she can't afford to lose now. He is her protector now, her safe space, and she won't allow anyone to convince her otherwise.

Idk how accurate this is, but I love Frostpaw so much I had to write a whole paragraph lol. This is my interpretation and though the intention probably isn't as deep as this, I find this so interesting and the idea makes me love Frostpaw even more and be even more excited for what's to come. 

Alderheart wakes Nightheart up, as it is morning. Squirrelflight and Bramblestar's gazes are dark. When Nightheart asks, they inform him that StarClan didnt come as clouds covered the moon due to a storm.

They head back to camp. Nightheart wants to ask Alderheart if StarClan covered the moons of purpose to stop Bramblestar and Squirrelflight from reaching them but doesnt dare ask. He sees Bramblestar looking miserable and guesses he is wondering the same thing. They take the forest trail home to avoid the rain and as they reach the cover of the trees, Bramblestar points out that they are going the wrong way. Squirrelflight adamantly assures him they are going the right way, but Nightheart isnt sure as the path didnt look familiar. Bramblestar grumbles that they should be heading for the Sky Oak, Squirrelflight replying that they are heading for the Sky Oak. Bramblestar questions her "..across SkyClan territory", but Squirrelflight replies that SkyClan territory is over on the other side but Bramblestar says they crossed the SkyClan border moments ago. Squirrelflight says she didnt smell any markers, Bramblestar irritably responding thats because the rain washed it away. Squirrelflight growls and asks him if he thinks she doesnt know her own territory and Bramblestar replies by telling her she has always been stubborn and agrees to continue going this way but tells her not to say he didnt warn her. Squirrelflight glares at him and tells him he always thinks he knows best and hopes he doesnt question every decision she makes when she is leader. Although Nightheart agrees with Bramblestar he doesnt want to get involved in their bickering.

Alderheart tells them to be quiet as he can hear something, which turns out to be a SkyClan patrol - Rootspring, Needleclaw and Cloudmist. Squirrelflight asks what they are doing here and a surprised Rootspring tells her they are patrolling and retorts by asking what they are doing here. Squirrelflight says they are going back to camp, Rootspring asks, "Who's camp...this path leads to the SkyClan camp". Bramblestar tells her, "I told you so" but Squirrelflight shuts him up and apologizes to Rootspring. The SkyClan cats, amused, tell her its easy to lose your way in this storm. Squirrelflight, annoyed, stiffly tells them it wont happen again. She turns away but Rootspring stops her, shrewdly pointing out ThunderClan doesnt usually come this way as their richest hunting is closer to the lake. Alderheart tells him they went to consult StarClan to see if Nightheart's mate, Sunbeam can stay. Rootspring asks the outcome and Alderheart confirms that StarClan said they could stay. Nightheart doesnt like how his return to ThunderClan and relationship with Sunbeam are things needed to consult StarClan about, even if its a lie. Rootspring is pleased and Nightheart remembers how he and Bristlefrost fought against Ashfur and how, to keep Bristlefrosts' memory alive, it was Rootspring who fought for the code to be changed to allow mates from other Clans getting together.

The SkyClan warriors are still in the mood to chat and ask what they think about Tigerstar. Squirrelflight say's she made herself clear at the last Gathering and asks if Leafstar is still determined to get ShadowClan out of RiverClan. She listens to the other cats povs but is still certain Tigerstar should let RiverClan sort out their own problems. Bramblestar says that right now, Tigerstar could be the only thing holding RiverClan together, but Squirrelflight tells him to have more faith in RiverClan. Nightheart brings up another solution, wondering why no one else brought it up before as this had been at the back of his mind since the Clans started quarreling about it - to ask the mediator, Tree, to settle this. Everyone thinks thats a great idea and the SkyClan leaves, promising to bring it up to Leafstar.

Squirrelflight suggests the sky could clear up by the afternoon and since its a long way from camp, to try going to the Moonpool again. She asks Nightheart to go back to camp and report what happened. Nightheart hesitates but Bramblestar winks and tells him the Clan's newest recruit will be pleased to see him. Squirrelflight nudges Bramblestar and asks him why else she is sending Nightheart back as they used to beg to be on the same patrol themselves when they were younger. Bramblestar teases her how she couldnt stand to be without him for a moment and Squirrelflight retorts by saying he was the one who waited for her at the camp entrance. Alderheart purrs at Nightheart and tells him that would be him and Sunbeam in a few moons. Nightheart knows he is teasing, but the thought excites him and he runs back to camp.

He runs into Plumstone and Dewnose at the camp and after being assured that Sunbeam is fine, tells them what happened at the Moonpool. Plumstone and Dewnose still block his way and he wonders if something is wrong. They reveal that they resent him for being chosen to accompany the leader and deputy to the Moonpool right after leaving his Clan. Nightheart understands their resentment and assures them that Squirrelflight might be making up for being hard on him over his warrior assessments and also wants to give him a chance to prove himself. They let Nightheart pass and he reunites with Sunbeam while telling the rest of the Clan what happened at the Moonpool. The Clan begins murmuring nervously among themselves. When Sunbeam tells Nightheart how everyone especially Myrtlebloom, Sparkpelt and Finchlight was nice to him, causing Nightheart to get irritated due to the latter two being hard on him when he became a warrior. Sunbeam assures him that they are really trying to make up for their previous behavior and when Sparkpelt and Finchlight appear and compliment them as a couple, Nightheart knows they indeed are trying. But then they ask Nightheart if he has seen Frostpaw when he was out. Nightheart takes a moment to place the name as the RiverClan medicine cat apprentice, Sunbeam correcting him that she is now a warrior-apprentice, and asks why he would have seen her. Sparkpelt tells him that Owlnose and Splashtail stopped by at dawn telling them Frostpaw was missing and that they are searching for her.

Ivypool appears and tells Sunbeam she planned out her first trial and asks if she is ready. Sunbeam replies with a yes and Ivypool tells her they will get started straight away.

Finally, someone acknowledges Tree as a resource. Also neat to speak with Rootspring again!

That isn’t a rejection yet. StarClan only appear when the moonlight is on the pool/stone. That’s been the mechanic since the beginning. If they were to outright reject her they would just tell her like they did Nightstar.

Nahh, if someone told me my relationship was going to be like Bramblestar’s and Squirrelflight’s, I’d be rethinking my relationship 💀

What was the point of choosing Nightheart to go to the moonpool if he was just gonna get sent back lol? What’s up with this Erins??

I’m excited to see Sunbeam’s trials though!

StarClan really not interfering with leaderships this arc, are they? Assuming this rather convenient storm is them after all. Poor Bramblestar. I am pleased on how Alderheart and Nightheart are getting along though! Nice to see some uncle-nephew relationships.

Also! They finally remembered Tree and that disputes like this are literally his job! They should have gotten him earlier, but better late than never I suppose.

Literally that's what I've been saying. What was the point of Nightheart being there if nothing was going to happen?

They just needed him to be a camera again so we can be reminded of Bramblestar and Squirrelflight's super healthy relationship... oh wait...

I know, and something is definitely going to happen. However, I was hoping Nightheart would witness it and we could get Sunbeam as ThunderClan camp’s point of view with everyone worrying that they haven’t returned yet. Oh well, I guess we’ll have to wait.