Claws of Thunder takes up the story a few months after Ninelives defeated Warrod the Cur and drove the Mangies back into the desert. Now both Katzers and Mangies are being affected by terrifying extremes of weather, and its up to Ninelives and his crew to track down the cause. On their perilous journey into the unknown they encounter mutant animals, river monsters and marauding Mangy warriors. Finally Ninelives goes hand-to-hand with the ruthless Gizzard the Merciless, with the future of the Katzers hanging in the balance.