The First Battle/Chapter 17

==Chapter description==
:As Thunder glances over his shoulder, he sees Gray Wing pacing, and at each turn the latter kept looking toward the nest where Rainswept Flower was nestling Turtle Tail's kits. Owl Eyes was staring off into the distance while Sparrow Fur washed his ear, and Pebble Heart watched Gray Wing, his gaze unmoving. Thunder is surprised at this, for he notes Pebble Heart looks like he's lived longer than Tall Shadow. When Tall Shadow asks him if he's ready, he replies yes as she adds that Gray Wing will do the talking.
:Thunder starts to worry about how Gray Wing has sympathy for his brother, then pushes the thought away and asks Tall Shadow when they would leave. The black she-cat looks around the clearing where a half-eaten thrush lay between Shattered Ice and Hawk Swoop, and where Cloud Spots was showing Frost the prey-heap. Wind Runner looked cozy in the nest her mate had built her, refusing to stay in the other gloomy bramble den.She had once said that kits needed warmth and sunshine, and now Sparrow Fur hadn't even bothered to help Wind Runner with her kits since Turtle Tail's death.
:Tall Shadow announces that some cats should stay in camp, and Gorse Fur adds that some cats should stay in camp, as Dappled Pelt says that Clear Sky can't be trusted. When the black she-cat is unsure what Clear Sky is planning, she calls forward Gray Wing, who murmurs a goodbye to Owl Eyes and his siblings. Pebble Heart calls to Gray Wing that danger lies in the hollow before he leaves, and Thunder starts to wonder what the young kit meant by that. Gray Wing calls to the latter over his shoulder, Thunder quickly follows him and Tall Shadow. On the way he asks if gray tom if he knew what Pebble Heart's dream meant, but Gray Wing says no, and Thunder is confused. As he didn't answer the three climb up a grassy slope, and asks which way they were going.
:Gray Wing replies they were heading toward the sunhigh slope because Clear Sky would feel comfortable with it, but Thunder growls at this, but Tall Shadow turns to them and insists she'll go first, since she'll be better hidden because of her pelt. Thunder asks if they should come as she leaves, but Gray Wing dismisses this and says she'll be fine. The ginger tom then remembers Pebble Heart's words, and asks Gray Wing again if he knew what they meant, but he didn't respond. He asks again, and this time the gray tom says that Pebble Heart has unique dreams. He mentions Stoneteller, and Thunder begins to think the young kit has a connection with the ancients, but Gray Wing says he's unsure. The latter shrugs and continues that Pebble Heart's dreams were important, and that he might be special.
:After a long pause, Gray Wing adds that the young cat dreamed of death, but he wasn't expecting it to be Turtle Tail's death. After another pause, he changes the subject, racing ahead. Thunder is frustrated and is about to ask another question when Gray Wing stops where Tall Shadow was pacing. He saw Clear Sky approach from a distance with his confident stance, and hoped this would make him easier to negotiate with.
:Tall Shadow then tells him that Clear Sky wasn't alone, and Thunder realizes by the fumble of scents, old and new, that she was right. Tall Shadow squints and said that she could only see Clear Sky. They ponder if it's a trap until Clear Sky calls to Gray Wing, telling him to come out and talk, like the latter wanted them to. Thunder then hopes Pebble Heart's dreams are wrong.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
==Notes and references==
de:Der erste Kampf/Kapitel 17
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:The First Battle
Category:Dawn of the Clans arc