Thunder (book)/Chapter 9

==Chapter description==
:While Sunbeam worries about Nightheart's absence while sulking in the warriors' den, Squirrelflight and Bramblestar return, now Squirrelstar and Brambleclaw. The Clan cheers Squirrelstar's name. Squirrelstar announces that she'll hold Ivypool's deputy ceremony later, and Brambleclaw will retire to the elders' den. Sunbeam asks where Nightheart is, but Alderheart explains that he was gone from the hollow when they woke up. Cherryfall and Lionblaze doubt his loyalty since Nightheart had only recently returned to ThunderClan, but Squirrelstar is insistent that he will return. Myrtlebloom reassures Sunbeam that her mate will come back. Suddenly feeling out of place, Sunbeam hides in the warriors' den when Squirrelstar arrives to comfort her. The new ThunderClan leader reveals that StarClan told her that Nightheart had to leave on an important mission though she is unsure where he went. Sparkpelt and Finchlight, who were searching for Sunbeam, are relieved to find her. They invite her to join them on a hunting patrol to busy her mind.
:At a special Gathering that night, Sparkpelt beckons her to a group of SkyClan cats and introduces her as Nightheart's mate. Rootspring warmly welcomes Sunbeam and introduces her to his father, Tree. ShadowClan arrives to the island, and Tree grumbles that the trouble has finally arrived. RiverClan arrives shortly after with a few ShadowClan warriors guarding them. Sunbeam decides to speak to her mother before the Gathering, but to her shock, Berryheart pointedly ignores her. Her brother Spireclaw insists that she'll come around eventually, but Sunbeam is too hurt to speak. She instead attempts to chat with Lightleap, but her former friend is not interested in talking. Sunbeam rejoins Finchlight as the Gathering begins.
:Squirrelstar announces her leadership to the other Clans and that Brambleclaw is now an elder. Harestar and Tigerstar seem wary, but Leafstar is pleased. Tawnypelt touches her brother's head and wishes him well earned peace. Before Tigerstar can argue, Splashtail interrupts with news of Frostpaw's disappearance a quarter-moon earlier. Berryheart grumbles that she would also run away if her dreams were fake, but Mothwing defends her former apprentice. Whistlepaw, the WindClan medicine cat apprentice, reveals that she found traces of Frostpaw's blood and fur on the moor, suspecting that a buzzard killed her. While Graypaw and Mistpaw grieve for their littermate, Leafstar questions Tigerstar why the one cat who could communicate with StarClan is missing. Tigerstar angrily insists that he wants peace in RiverClan. Squirrelstar adds that Sunbeam has passed her first trial, though Tigerstar questions the convenient change in ThunderClan's leadership when Brambleclaw had agreed with Tigerstar's plans in RiverClan. Squirrelstar instead suggests having Tree mediate to figure out a solution between RiverClan and ShadowClan. As the Gathering ends, Sunbeam worries for Nightheart again.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
*Squirrelstar returns with her nine lives. Brambleclaw steps down as an elder, and Ivypool becomes Squirrelstar's deputy.
*The Clans believe Frostpaw to be dead.
==Notes and references==
Category:Thunder (book)
Category:A Starless Clan arc
Category:Chapter subpages