The First Battle/Chapter 12

==Chapter description==
:Reflecting on Clear Sky's refusal to help, Thunder helps Lightning Tail search for scents. Lightning Tail picks up the scent of a rogue she-cat, who greets them from a tree, having been watching them. Thunder asks her about Tom and the kits, but she just introduces herself as Swift. She finally says that she has seen them, and he explains that the kits were stolen. She remarks that the kits had seemed happy and asks questions. Thunder loses his patience and asks if she knew where they had gone, and she gives them directions. They reach the river, where Lightning Tail finds Turtle Tail's scent, though they are confused as to how the kits had crossed. They find crossing stones, but Lightning Tail slips and falls into the river. As Thunder is wondering how to save him, he sees River Ripple swimming for his friend. Thunder leaps to the shore while River Ripple saves Lightning Tail, helping him pull Lightning Tail from the water.
:River Ripple manages to make Lightning Tail cough up the water, and they thank him. Thunder explains that they are searching for Turtle Tail and the kits, and he asks River Ripple to help, to which he agrees. The three cats head toward Twolegplace, and as River Ripple leads them along, Thunder checks on Lightning Tail and feels doubt that Turtle Tail and the kits headed this way. River Ripple leads them up to a monster and tells them that they will check the Twoleg nests along the Thunderpath. Thunder hears a slam from the monster, and River Ripple tells them to flee as the monster comes to life. They stop when the monster leaves. As Thunder and River Ripple are talking about avoiding the monsters, Lightning Tail draws their attention to the Thunderpath, where they see Turtle Tail's body.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
*Thunder, Lightning Tail, and River Ripple search for Tom and the kits.
===Deaths===
*Turtle Tail: killed by a monster
==Notes and references==
Category:The First Battle
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Dawn of the Clans arc