Battle against Splashtail

"Fight! If you're going to die anyway, you may as well die as heroes! Don't back down! StarClan won't protect you! It hasn't protected you for moons! They've watched you suffer humiliation after humiliation! This is your chance for revenge! Give your last drop of blood for your Clan!"

— Splashtail to his cats in Star, page 183

Battle against Splashtail
General information
Book:	Star
Date:	Leaf-bare
Place:	RiverClan's camp
Outcome:	RiverClan rebels victory; Splashtail is killed Fognose and Breezeheart are exiled Icewing is chosen as RiverClan's new leader
Combatants
RiverClan
ShadowClan WindClan ThunderClan SkyClan RiverClan
Leaders
Splashtail
Tigerstar Harestar Squirrelstar Leafstar Owlnose
Commanders
Cloverfoot Crowfeather Hawkwing
Strength
Gorseclaw Mallownose Minnowtail Sneezecloud Breezeheart Fognose Brackenpelt Shimmerpelt Mistslime
Hopwhisker Blazefire Sunbeam Nightcloud Emberfoot Sparkpelt Shellfur Twigbranch Finchlight Nightheart Violetshine Needleclaw Graysludge Minnowtail (defected) Tigerstar and Crowfeather's patrol Frostpaw Whorlpelt Gullswoop Stonewing Lightleap Heathertail Brindlewing Songleap
Chronology
Preceded by:	Journey to the Cats of the Park
Concurrent:	RiverClan's leader succession crisis, Journey to find the wildcats

The battle against Splashtail was a battle that took place in Star in RiverClan's camp when ShadowClan, ThunderClan, WindClan, SkyClan, and some RiverClan cats fought against Splashtail and his cruel regime over RiverClan.

Summary

Premise

Curlfeather: "We both know I should be RiverClan's leader, if only you hadn't been so greedy and killed me."

Splashtail: "I did it for RiverClan!"

^{Star, pages 3-4}

Curlfeather and Splashtail plotted together to kill Reedwhisker, with Curlfeather anticipating that Mistystar will name her deputy. However, Splashtail wanted power for himself. During a hunting patrol, Splashtail ambushed Reedwhisker and threw this body in the gorge, though Mistystar unexpected died in camp on the same day. Curlfeather manipulated her daughter Frostpaw that she had a connection with StarClan, leading Splashtail to fake a sign signifying that Curlfeather should be their new leader. However, Splashtail led dogs to the moor to kill Curlfeather. While Frostpaw struggled to pick their new leader, Splashtail continued to gain power in his Clan by becoming Owlnose's deputy and vocally speaking out against Tigerstar and ShadowClan's occupation, even gaining allies in ShadowClan. Eventually, Podlight claimed Splashtail as RiverClan's true leader, and Splashtail lied about receiving nine lives from StarClan. While scheming to keep his cats in line, Curlfeather's spirit began to haunt him.

Overview

"Splashstar has convinced them that if we don't control the other Clans, the other Clans will control us. He told them that Tigerstar's occupation was only the start. It was just an excuse to make RiverClan part of ShadowClan. He said that the other Clans let him do it because they want to be rid of RiverClan too. New borders will give them extra land."

―Havenpelt about Splashtail's reign ^{Star, page 125}

After killing his deputy for speaking out against him and ordering the deaths of those who defy him, Splashtail began coercing his Clanmates to fight ruthlessly for him by holding his younger littermates as hostages. Many of his warriors abided his orders out of fear. Splashtail began to prioritize constant battle training over hunting, and he turned the nursery into a prison. He began to order his warriors to capture the other Clans' kits to hold them hostage, even going as far as to target ShadowClan's nursery during a raid on their camp. After tricking Tigerstar and his strongest warriors to the island, Splashtail and his warriors ruthlessly assaulted ShadowClan's camp in retribution for their prior occupation of RiverClan. WindClan, ThunderClan, and SkyClan rescued ShadowClan the following morning, and some RiverClan warriors agreed to help defeat Splashtail. However, Splashtail escaped the camp with Floatkit, though Frostpaw managed to kill him, ending his reign forever.

Description

Splashtail's siege

"It's for your own good. You'll see, in time. Once I'm leader of both RiverClan and ShadowClan, everyone will be happier."

―Splashtail echoing Tigerstar's words ^{Star, page 77}

Using his younger littermates as hostages, Splashtail coerces his warriors to attack ShadowClan or else the kits will be killed. The morning after Harelight's death, Berryheart and Brackenpelt fake injuries and convince Tigerstar and ShadowClan that RiverClan has overthrown Splashtail. They bet ShadowClan for help, and Tigerstar leads Puddleshine, Stonewing, Lightleap, Gullswoop, Whorlpelt, and Frostpaw to help RiverClan. Gorseclaw claims that Splashtail fled to the island. As ShadowClan crosses the tree-bridge, RiverClan's warriors erupt from below the lake surface and confine them on the island. With Tigerstar and his strongest warriors trapped on the island, Splashtail leads Berryheart, Hollowspring, Sparrowtail, Minnowtail, Nightsky, Lizardtail, Mallownose, Shimmerpelt, Mistslime, Breezeheart, Graysludge, and Podlight to attack ShadowClan's camp in retribution for their prior takeover of RiverClan. The RiverClan warriors violate the warrior code by aiming to steal Cinnamontail's four kits and attacking Oakfur, the elder. RiverClan's vicious assault on ShadowClan overwhelms them, and Splashtail claims victory over ShadowClan. Nightheart sneaks Duskfur and Mothwing out of ShadowClan's camp.

In order to coerce the other Clans to his will, Splashtail orders his followers to steal kits from the other Clans as hostages; Nightheart barters his life in exchange for Ridgekit and Duskkit, two SkyClan kits stolen by Sneezecloud and Fognose. In the morning, Splashtail claims ShadowClan as his own, threatening to harm Cinnamontail's kits if ShadowClan retaliates. However, Owlnose overhears Berryheart scheming with Yarrowleaf to overthrow Splashtail, resulting in her execution by Owlnose, Nightsky, and Lizardtail. Sunbeam's attempts to save her mother falter, and Berryheart takes a blow meant for her from Owlnose.

The Clans unite

Squirrelstar: "At least Splashtail has shown his true colors. We can stop stalking around him, hoping a true warrior lies beneath his fox-pelt. I just wish I hadn't given him the benefit of the doubt so often. It wouldn't have come to this."

Harestar: "We couldn't have moved against him without proof."

^{Star, page 147}

The night after RiverClan takes over ShadowClan, Frostpaw swims from the island to WindClan's shore to fetch help, though Harestar doesn't gather his warriors until the morning. He sends Heathertail, Brindlewing, and Songleap to rescue Tigerstar and his cats on the island, while he, Crowfeather, Nightcloud, Emberfoot, Woodsong, and Appleshine travel to ThunderClan's camp. Duskfur, Mothwing, Ridgekit, and Duskkit are already in ThunderClan's camp, and Squirrelstar agrees to move against Splashtail after hearing Frostpaw's testimony. They agree to rescue ShadowClan and gathering SkyClan to help. Frostpaw volunteers to lead a frontal assault patrol on RiverClan's camp through the river if Splashtail is not in ShadowClan's camp.

A joint-ThunderClan-SkyClan-WindClan patrol attacks ShadowClan's camp, and RiverClan's limited remaining warriors are quickly overwhelmed. ShadowClan calls for RiverClan to be driven out, though cats like Owlnose, Nightsky, and Graysludge insist they were following orders because Splashtail threatened Havenpelt's kits. Only Podlight stands up for Splashtail's promises in battle against Hawkwing. ThunderClan, SkyClan, WindClan, some of ShadowClan led by Cloverfoot, and Owlnose, Graysludge, and Minnowtail from RiverClan head to RiverClan's camp to finally defeat Splashtail.

Frostpaw's confrontation

"Did you think I couldn't hurt you?"

―Frostpaw to Splashtail ^{Star, page 194}

As Splashtail orders Nightheart's death, Owlnose abruptly arrives in camp and attempts to convince his Clanmates to rebel against Splashtail. However, Splashtail violently silences Owlnose and orders the hostages to be secured. When the other Clans arrive in RiverClan's camp, RiverClan's warriors are silently waiting for them. Splashtail is undaunted by Harestar's threats to leave the lake, and the brown tabby leader forces his warriors to fight by threatening Troutkit's life. Begrudgingly, RiverClan attacks the other Clan cats, including Minnowtail who strikes at Twigbranch and Violetshine. However, RiverClan's numbers are overwhelmed; after Splashtail defeats Owlnose, the RiverClan tyrant takes Floatkit and flees into the river, with Mallownose chasing after him. Fognose stops Mallownose to save her brother, though Frostpaw confronts Splashtail on the riverbank. She attacks, doing her best to stall Splashtail long enough for Floatkit to escape and for Tigerstar and Crowfeather's patrol to arrive from the stepping-stones. Relying on her warrior training and guidance from Harelight, Frostpaw manages to deliver a fatal blow to Splashtail, and the RiverClan tyrant dies.

Aftermath

"Splashtail would have killed any cat who stood between him and power. But Splashtail no longer concerns me. It is the cats standing before me who I care about. You were all used. Your actions and words were twisted by a skilled manipulator. He used your loyalty and courage against you. He threatened the vulnerable and exploited the weak. He made you believe that not supporting him would destroy the Clan when the opposite was true. We must forgive one another, and we must forgive ourselves."

―Icestar to RiverClan ^{Star, page 323}

Frostpaw suffers a serious wound on her neck from Splashtail, leaving her in a coma for over a half-moon. In her dreams, Frostpaw confronts her mother's spirit for her treachery, and later with Riverstar. Kestrelflight and Frecklewish receive a message from StarClan signifying that Frostpaw must survive or RiverClan will fade away forever. Meanwhile, RiverClan remains in limbo without a leader in the days after Splashtail's death. Fognose and Breezeheart are exiled for their adamant support of Splashtail. Several RiverClan cats decide to seek refuge in the other Clans, such as Lizardtail and Gorseclaw in ThunderClan, Graypaw and Mistpaw in SkyClan, and Nightsky in WindClan, though they eventually return to their Clan. Eventually Tree urges Frostpaw's ghost back to her body, where she is greeted by her Clanmates. Frostpaw is given her full name, Frostdawn, and she chooses Icewing to be RiverClan's new leader.

Quotes

"We're all one Clan now. Or hadn't you realized? This is the first dawn of your new lives as RiverClan warriors."

―Splashtail to ShadowClan ^{Star, page 129}

Podlight: "RiverClan will never crouch at the paws of the other Clans again! We are stronger than any of you. We'll crush any cat that threatens us."

Hawkwing: "Can't you see we're trying to help you?"

^{Star, pages 171-172}