Blood and Bone

***Spoiler Warning:** Plot and/or ending details follow.*

***Blood and Bone*** is the third book in the series *Bravelands*. It was released on October 2, 2018.

## Synopsis

*An elephant entrusted with a powerful gift.*
*A lion treading a dangerous path.*
*A baboon trapped by the truth.*
*A great evil has risen—and it will only be defeated if predator, prey, and scavenger can unite as one.*
*A great evil* *has risen. A murderer now leads the animals of the plains. As the elephant Sky leads her herd in a desperate search for Bravelands rightful leader, the baboon Thorn is forced to flee his old troop, and the lion Fearless, once their friend, is led astray by a tyrant.*
*The balance of Bravelands is about to shatter—unless predator, prey, and scavenger unite as one.*

## Detailed Plot Summary

In the prologue, Windrider is flying with her flock in an attempt to reach the swallows to let them know that the Great Spirit has returned. She catches up to them and tells them the good news, but the swallows' leader, Quickwing, retorts that the Great Spirit has abandoned them and he informs Windrider that they're leaving Bravelands. She is unable to stop them, so she decides that she and her flock must rest, and as she is about to settle on the Lightning Tree, it is suddenly struck by lightning and is set ablaze. Windrider and her flock flee and she realizes that it was an omen. Sky is running through the forest and witnesses Fearless about to kill Thorn, but before he can sink his teeth into his throat, Sky charges into his side and flings him off Thorn. She then curls her trunk around Thorn and carries him away to somewhere safe and asks why Fearless tried to kill him, and Thorn reveals to her all the crimes Stinger has committed, and explains that Fearless blames him for Stinger's actions due the latter misleading the lion cub. Sky then informs Thorn of her mission to find the next Great Parent.
Thorn and Sky eventually part ways and Sky along with Silverhorn and Rock return to the Striders. There, she reveals her most recent news such as Moon's death and how Stinger was involved in their fallen Matriarch's death, along with his usurping her role as Great Parent.
Rain Strider, the eldest daughter and successor of the previous matriarch is enraged by this, and gathers the rest of her family to confront Stinger and avenge Great Mother, much to Sky's dismay.
Meanwhile Thorn finds Nut who explained that the reason why he failed to protect the Starleaf was because he was outmatched by the Strongbranches. These Strongbranches then return to confront the two Baboons. Thorn covers himself and Nut in animal dung to mask their scent; That way, the duo is able to avoid detection and decide to flee to the Leopard Forest, since it's the last place Stinger would look for them due to the prevalence of Leopards (which are known to eat Baboons).
Meanwhile, The Strider's go to confront Stinger however Sky's fears come true when Stinger also turns public opinion against she and her family. This results in Rain Strider's death causing Comet to become the next Matriarch despite not having enough experience. Comets age and inexperience is a concern for Sky due to the fact the Comet didn't receive enough guidance from Rain while she was still alive.
Fearless regains conscious back at Stinger's hollow. Fearless is ashamed for not killing Thorn since the latter was supposedly a heartless killer. Stinger reassures Fearless that Thorn's survival was not Fearless fault but Sky's for her intervention. Stinger then reveals that the Strider's have confronted him about being a fraud. Stinger however lies that the Strider's have no idea what they were talking about due to supposedly being driven mad by grief. Fearless believes Stinger's deception without question due to the former's age and inexperience along with his naive trust. While Fearless is walking around Brightforest's camp, he encounters Mud who laments over their former friends "Betrayal" Fearless mentally notes that despite Thorn's supposed wickedness, ending the monkey's life was still grim work. After meeting up with Stinger again, the Crownleaf tasks Fearless with a new mission; Form a pride. Stinger claims that Fearless must overcome his age and inexperience to lead his own pride so he'll have extra protection.
Fearless leaves Baboon Island to form his own pride. Before seeking out other lions, Fearless heads towards Titanpride in order to rescue his sister. While rescuing Valor, the cubs cover is blown by Ruthless. Despite this however, Fearless and Valor manage to escape Titan. While traveling, Valor suggests that they seek out Loyal. Fearless disagrees with that idea as their mother revealed that he was an oathbreaker before she died. But Valor says that it no longer matters if Loyal's an oathbreaker. However Valor agrees to accompany her brother to seek any cubs that escaped Dauntlesspride.

## Gallery

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