The First Battle/Chapter 18

==Chapter description==
:As they head toward the four trees, Gray Wing and Tall Shadow try to reassure Thunder that Clear Sky will not attack. At the four trees, Thunder sees Clear Sky's cats in the shadows and quietly challenges them to show themselves. They reach the rock and join Clear Sky at the top. Tension rises between Thunder and Clear Sky until Clear Sky sneers at him about being Gray Wing's cat, and Thunder snaps that he would not be cruel like him. Tall Shadow breaks them up and Gray Wing apologizes for Thunder, infuriating the young tom. Gray Wing tries to remind Clear Sky of how it felt to be united and of the rogues he is allied with, but Clear Sky remains unconvinced, and Thunder grows angry again at the mention of Fox. Tall Shadow again calms Thunder, and she begins to speak as Clear Sky's cats finally emerge to listen. She tells them that the land does not belong to them and does not serve them, and so they should not treat it like prey to share amongst themselves and should respect it.
:Initially, Tall Shadow's speech seems to be convincing Clear Sky and his cats, but then Jackdaw's Cry catches a bat. Jackdaw's Cry reveals that Clear Sky has been starving him, and Thunder, horrified, reminds Clear Sky that he had said that he never wanted to watch another cat starve. Clear Sky turns on him and accuses him of disloyalty and betrayal to both him and Gray Wing. Gray Wing tries to defend Thunder, but Clear Sky further accuses him of planning a battle and, after admonishing Thunder, orders his cats to attack. Instantly, Clear Sky and his cats leap upon Tall Shadow, and Jackdaw's Cry tries to help her. Thunder says that they need to get the two on the rock, and he and Gray Wing rush to help them. Thunder sees Fircone lunge for Tall Shadow and warns her, and she fends him off. Snake attacks Thunder and Thunder manages to grab him by the scruff, but Clear Sky hauls him back and taunts him for thinking that the battle could have been stopped. He pushes Clear Sky off and follows Gray Wing and Tall Shadow to the rock, and at the top, he knocks Snake off as the rogue attempts to reach him.
:Clear Sky taunts the trapped cats, and Thunder devises a plan to escape back to camp and get help by climbing on the tree branches. Gray Wing calls to Clear Sky's cats to distract them and put their attention on their leader, and Thunder jumps into the tree. Thunder proceeds to a branch that overhangs the slope, but he moves too far forward and the branch snaps, sending him to the ground. Clear Sky's cats realize he has gone, and Nettle spots him fleeing toward the moor. Snake, Petal, and other cats pursue Thunder, and he realizes that Snake will catch him before he reaches camp. He remembers the tunnels that Gray Wing had shown him and decides to hide there, hoping the forest cats will not follow. Following the tunnel, he wonders how Clear Sky could have betrayed them and swears that he will make Clear Sky pay.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:The First Battle
Category:Dawn of the Clans arc
Category:Chapter subpages