Battle against the badgers (BS)

The battle against the badgers took place in Bramblestar's Storm, when ThunderClan helps ShadowClan fight badgers that are in their new post-storm hunting grounds. It fulfills the "when water meets blood" prophecy.

Premise

 * Rowanstar is ShadowClan's new leader, since Blackstar died in the Great Storm. Every Clan is struggling to deal with the aftermath, and most of ShadowClan's territory is underwater. Tawnypelt informs Bramblestar about her Clan's troubles with kittypets, requesting assistance against her leader's wishes. When Bramblestar formally offers to help, Rowanstar turns him down and gets angry with Tawnypelt for sharing their weaknesses. She defends that she'll always be willing to ask her brother for help, but the ThunderClan cats are sent away. Rowanstar struggles to keep his Clan moving forwards as they shelter in a temporary camp, with badgers threatening their new hunting grounds.

Overview

 * When Bramblestar goes to investigate badger scent, his patrol finds an abandoned battle scene soaked with blood. Tawnypelt spots ThunderClan cats and greets her brother, explaining what how much ShadowClan is suffering, and ask for help. Bramblestar meets Yellowfang in a dream, who tells him that blood can bring strength. Though the majority of his Clan disagrees, Bramblestar announces that ThunderClan will aid ShadowClan in defeating the badgers. ThunderClan starts to prepare, and he meets with Tawnypelt to learn when the attack will be, and promises to be there. Bramblestar rallies his Clan together, and goes to the battle scene, ordering his cats to attack. Rowanstar says they didn't ask for help, but Bramblestar retorts that they've got it. Bramblestar and Jessy are chased by a badger, and lure it to ShadowClan's border stream. They jump onto a sunken stump which keeps them above water, but the badger can't follow and gets swept downstream. Both return to the others, and he realizes that this battle has fulfilled the prophecy of water and blood. ShadowClan leaves, with Rowanstar thanking them for the help, but noting that they didn't ask for it.

A plea for help

 * When fresh badger scent has been found, Bramblestar goes to investigate. His patrol find an abandoned battle scene soaked with blood, and spot a ShadowClan patrol in the distance looking battered. Bramblestar concludes that this must've been where they fought and retreated. Tawnypelt spots ThunderClan cats and greets her brother, explaining what how much ShadowClan is suffering. She asks for help to fight the badgers, though her leader disagrees. Bramblestar's meets Yellowfang in a dream, who tells him that blood can bring strength.

Clan leader's word is law

 * Bramblestar calls a meeting with his deputy, medicine cats, and senior warriors, reporting the situation with the badgers. He goes once more to check on the badgers, and Squirrelflight pledges her support to the leader. Bramblestar calls a Clan meeting, announcing that ThunderClan will help ShadowClan with the badgers if they're not driven out in a quarter moon. Almost every cat disagrees, not seeing why fighting ShadowClan's battles is beneficial to the Clan. Squirrelflight and Jessy defend him, and Bramblestar struggles to stay calm and remind himself that a Clan leader's word is law. He insists that ThunderClan will fight, and doesn't leave room for argument.

Preparing to fight

 * Squirrelflight breaks up cats into battle practice patrols, and Bramblestar joins with Brackenfur. They work together to teach their apprentices how to fight effectively against badgers, using Ivypool's advice about ruthless fighting. He returns to camp to check on the other patrols, and learns they've done well. Two days later, the leader finds Tawnypelt while on patrol, and she informs him of ShadowClan's attack plan in a few days. Bramblestar promises they'll be there, and informs Squirrelflight of this.

Confronting the badgers

 * Bramblestar rallies his Clan together, and then sets out with his chosen cats to fight the badgers. They race to the clearing and find that ShadowClan has already begun to attack, and the ThunderClan leader orders his warriors to do the same. Rowanstar says they didn't ask for help, but Bramblestar retorts that they've got it. He sinks his claws into a badger, driving it away, and then turns to watch his Clanmates fight. The leader thinks they'll win, but spots Tawnypelt about to be killed by a badger. Squirrelflight rescues her, and Bramblestar leaps back into battle.

A purrfect strategy

 * Bramblestar and Jessy are chased by a badger, and race into the forest. The kittypet thinks she remembers a place where they can cross the stream, even though flooded. They lure the badger to ShadowClan's border stream, and jump onto a sunken stump which keeps them above water. However, the badger tries to follow, but lands in the water and gets swept downstream. They return to find Dustpelt dying, and Bramblestar says goodbye. He and Tawnypelt reunite, and he realizes that this battle has fulfilled the prophecy of water and blood. ShadowClan leaves, with Rowanstar thanking them for the help, but noting that they didn't ask for it.

Deaths as a result of the battle

 * Dustpelt