A Forest Divided/Chapter 3

==Chapter description==
:Thunder frowns as Jagged Peak and Tall Shadow jumps off a rock, wondering what Gray Wing was talking about when he said 'cast stones.' He murmurs to himself, asking how. Dappled Pelt nudges him and tells him that they've done it before, when Clear Sky went to set up his own camp in the forest, and when they were leaving the mountains. Gray Wing digs up a few pebbles and Jagged Peak puts them into a pile, while Tall Shadow digs wide holes in the snow. Pebble Heart and Cloud Spots emerge from the gorse, where they were treating Clear Sky.
:Sparrow Fur and Owl Eyes pad toward the others, and Dappled Pelt tells them that they are casting stones. Owl Eyes asks on what, and Dappled Pelt responds that they are deciding where each cat will live. Sparrow Fur asks why they are doing it now. Thunder tells them that they shared a dream with the spirit cats, and that they told them to spread like the blazing star. Tall Shadow calls to Thunder and tells him to help her clear out a patch. Thunder bounds over and digs until the circle is three tail-lengths wide and soil is showing underneath. 
:Tall Shadow traces three loops in the circle and tells every cat that they must take a stone and place it in the loop that symbolizes the place they want to live. When Shattered Ice asks which circle is which, Lightning Tail pads past Thunder and puts a heather sprig in one circle, and two in the other circle. Tall Shadow thanks him and says that the circle without heather is Clear Sky's camp, the circle with one sprig is the pine forest, and the circle with two sprigs represents the moor. Dappled Pelt asks about the river, and Lightning Tail tells her that is River Ripple's territory. Gray Wing says that River Ripple must be included in their paths, since the spirit cats gave him a dream as well. Tall Shadow agrees and draws a fourth circle, so Lightning Tail drops three sprigs of heather into it. Thunder tips his head and asks about the fifth petal. Gray Wing noses past Jagged Peak and stops at the edge of the patch of earth and tells them that there's also Wind Runner's group. Tall Shadow asks if she should trace a circle for Wind Runner's group. Shattered Ice tells her that she should, since she's one of the five petals. Gray Wing argues that they shouldn't, because Wind Runner left for a reason, mentioning that she did not want any of them joining her. Pebble Heart says that someone should get her and that she should be part of this, but Gray Wing tells him gently that one day she will be.
:Sparrow Fur is weaving excitedly between Pebble Heart and Owl Eyes, asking if they could really choose wherever they wanted. Gray Wing tells her of course they can, and says that Turtle Tail told him to follow their hearts. Thunder feels his tail tremble, remembering that Storm had told him that too. He sorrowfully glances across the clearing, remembering playing kit games with Acorn Fur and Lightning Tail while Hawk Swoop watched them, and wonders if he could really leave. Clear Sky pushes past Jagged Peak, and says that their hearts belong together. Thunder feels a tug of pity for his father, thinking that he has not seen him so desperate. Shattered Ice snorts and asks if he expects everyone to believe him, saying that Clear Sky's heart had only led toward power, and that he wanted to be their only leader. Clear Sky tells him to do what he wants, and Jagged Peak nudges the pile of pebbles with his paws, urging them to start. 
:Tall Shadow takes the first stone and drops it into the pine forest circle with one heather sprig. Jagged Peak does the same. Thunder asks him if he too wanted to go to the pine forest, but Jagged Peak doesn't answer and looks at Holly and their kits. Holly pads forward with Eagle Feather, Dew Nose, and Storm Pelt, dropping her stone into the pine forest as well, saying that the pines will protect her and Jagged Peak's kits from the weather. Eagle Feather scrambles toward them and protests that he likes the moor. Holly licks his ears, telling him that he will like the pine forest too, and that there are many places to play hide and seek there. Thunder wonders if he should live with Jagged Peak and Tall Shadow. He watches Gray Wing drop a stone into the pine forest circle as well, causing Thunder to be bewildered, thinking that he could never live in shadow with pinesap tainting every piece of prey. His heart grows heavier as he watches Mouse Ear, Mud Paws, and Pebble Heart drop their stones beside Gray Wing's, and wonders if every cat would choose the pine forest.
:He sees Dappled Pelt drop her stone into the river circle. Clear Sky leaps to his paws and tells her that she's a cat, not a fish. Dappled Pelt says that they are choosing what they want. Thunder watches Shattered Ice also drop his stone into the river circle. Lightning Tail grasps a stone between his jaws, as Thunder watches, chest tightening. Lightning Tail looks at Thunder, then drops his stone into Clear Sky's circle, causing Clear Sky to prick his ears with interest. Thunder realizes that Lightning Tail would choose the forest, since his littermate was there as well. After Lightning Tail, Sparrow Fur also drops her stone into Clear Sky's circle. Thunder sees Gray Wing straighten and asks Sparrow Fur if, she is sure. Sparrow Fur replies that she likes the trees, and she always wanted to taste squirrel, but trails off. Thunder sees grief in Gray Wing's eyes, but Gray Wing says that she must follow her heart. Owl Eyes and Cloud Spots drop their stones into Clear Sky's pile as well. Pebble Heart asks how he could manage by himself without anyone to guide him, but Cloud Spots reassures him that he knows the herbs, and that he'll be fine. 
:Clear Sky asks Thunder where he will put his stone. Thunder glances around, wondering if he should go to the river with Dappled Pelt, or to the pine forest with Gray Wing. He drops his stone in Clear Sky's circle, deciding that his father needs him. Clear Sky thanks him, and Thunder decides that he's made the right decision, since Clear Sky is not the ruthless leader he had once been. Mouse Ear weaves around Tall Shadow, betting that the pine forest has more prey than the moor. Dappled Pelt asks Shattered Ice if he thinks River Ripple will teach them how to swim. Sparrow Fur shudders and asks her if she really wants to get her paws wet. Dappled Pelt replies that she wants to learn how to swim, and Shattered Ice adds that it couldn't be any harder than tunneling. Lightning Tail snorts and jokingly says that he always knew that Shattered Ice was mouse-brained. Thunder looks at Jagged Peak and asks if he's happy that they were splitting the group. Jagged Peak meets his gaze and tells him that it is what the spirit cats wanted, that things change, and that some of them are used to adapting.
:Clear Sky brushes past Thunder and says that five cats are enough for now, and Thunder asks if he still wants them all. Clear Sky replies that he doesn't, but Fluttering Bird did. The light gray tom lifts his tail and tells everyone to get ready to leave. Gray Wing is sitting alone, his eyes dark with grief. Thunder tells Clear Sky that he has to say goodbye to Gray Wing. He pads over to the dark gray tom, telling him that he will watch over Sparrow Fur and Owl Eyes. Gray Wing tells Thunder that it's like losing Turtle Tail all over again, but he isn't ready to leave Tall Shadow, and that Pebble Heart still needs him, though he couldn't bear to be separated from the other kits. Thunder comforts Gray Wing and says that they're not kits anymore, and that he would know where they are and visit them anytime. Gray Wing protests that it won't be the same. Thunder's heart twists as he knows that it will never be the same again and hopes that they are doing the right thing.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Dawn of the Clans arc
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:A Forest Divided