Battle for Brokentail

"ShadowClan and WindClan! They're coming to invade our camp!"

— Brackenpaw warning ThunderClan of the imminent attack in Forest of Secrets, page 201

Battle for Brokentail
General information
Book:	Forest of Secrets, The Prophecies Begin (volume 2)
Date:	Newleaf, lasts less than one day
Place:	ThunderClan's camp in the forest territories
Outcome:	ThunderClan victory
Combatants
ThunderClan
WindClan, ShadowClan
Leaders
Fireheart Tigerclaw
Tallstar Nightstar
Strength
Brackenpaw Darkstripe Mousefur Bluestar Whitestorm Dustpelt Willowpelt Runningwind Sandstorm Longtail
ShadowClan: Cinderfur Deadfoot Stumpytail WindClan: Wetfoot Onewhisker Morningflower Unnamed WindClan warrior
Chronology
Preceded by:	Battle for WindClan
Concurrent:	Tyranny of Brokenstar, Tigerclaw's betrayal
Followed by:	Floods in RiverClan

The battle for Brokentail was a battle that took place during Forest of Secrets in ThunderClan's camp, when WindClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan found out ThunderClan was sheltering Brokentail.

Summary

Premise

After launching an attack on ThunderClan, Brokentail is taken prisoner by ThunderClan. It is revealed at a Gathering that ThunderClan has sheltered the former ShadowClan leader. Nightstar and Tallstar threaten to kill him if ThunderClan does not, while Crookedstar remains impartial. Bluestar refuses to kill Brokentail, as he is blind and no longer a threat, prompting WindClan and ShadowClan to launch a joint attack on ThunderClan.

Overview

Brackenpaw is the first cat to realize WindClan and ShadowClan are invading, and warns Fireheart of the oncoming danger. WindClan and ShadowClan ambush the ThunderClan camp, and Tigerclaw lets out another warning as the battle begins. Several WindClan and ShadowClan cats battle with the ThunderClan cats as they fight their way towards Brokentail's den. Bluestar and other ThunderClan warriors return to camp, turning the battle in ThunderClan's favor as the additional forces drive the invading Clans away.

Description

Brokenstar's imprisonment

"It doesn't concern the other Clans. Brokentail is ThunderClan's responsibility now."

―Bluestar to Whitestorm ^{Forest of Secrets, page 15}

Brokentail is blinded while attacking ThunderClan, rendering him no longer a threat.

After attacking ThunderClan and subsequently being defeated, Bluestar decides to hold Brokenstar prisoner, and stripped him of his leader name. She decides to not reveal this at the following Gathering, citing that the information does not concern the other Clans. Tigerclaw is not pleased with her decision, but Bluestar insists that no ThunderClan cat mention the former rogue leader.

While he is held prisoner in ThunderClan, despite Bluestar's mercy, Brokentail is tormented by the Clan's kits while warriors, such as Darkstripe, do nothing to prevent it. In contrast, Brokentail's mother, Yellowfang, cares for her son, making up for the moons of his life where she could not. Brokentail remains unresponsive to her affections, however. Fireheart later notices Tigerclaw speaking with Brokentail. Tigerclaw's compassion surprises Fireheart, calling into question whether or not Redtail's death and Cinderpaw's accident were truly accidental.

Discovery

"We'll let them pass. I want ThunderClan cats at the Gathering."

―Nightstar's ominous warning ^{Forest of Secrets, page 184}

Nightstar furiously reveals to the other Clans that ThunderClan is sheltering Brokentail

After the river floods, ThunderClan is forced to cross into ShadowClan territory to attend the Gathering. They are met with ShadowClan's own Gathering patrol, who escort them the remainder of the way to Fourtrees after Nightstar requests their presence. The moment the Gathering begins, Nightstar begins to remind the Clans of Brokenstar's heinous crimes, and announces that ThunderClan is sheltering the former ShadowClan leader.

Tallstar furiously asks Bluestar if the news is true, and the ThunderClan leader steps forward. She asks Nightstar how he came upon the information, concerned about a potential spy, before he reveals that his warriors heard the news at last moon's Gathering. Fireheart recalls seeing Swiftpaw talking to other apprentices and realizes the young tom is the likely source of the information. Bluestar admits to sheltering the former leader, and Tallstar calls her a traitor. Crookedstar asks Bluestar for her reasonings, and she explains that Brokentail is blind and helpless. Tensions rise, and WindClan and ShadowClan give ThunderClan an ultimatum: kill Brokentail, or be attacked.

The attack

"Stop them! They want Brokentail!"

―Fireheart rallying his Clanmates

Tallstar and Nightstar led their Clanmates into battle against ThunderClan

With Graystripe off with Silverstream, Fireheart brings Brackenpaw out of camp for a hunting lesson. Almost immediately after splitting off, Brackenpaw darts back to Fireheart and frantically explains that ShadowClan and WindClan are on their territory. Fireheart quickly sends him back to camp to warn Bluestar and Tigerclaw while he slinks through the forest to track the intruders. While he watches the large patrol approach his Clan, Fireheart recalls how ShadowClan and WindClan had been enemies not long ago, but now were allies against ThunderClan.

Fireheart, Tigerclaw, and the rest of ThunderClan work to dispel the invaders, but ShadowClan and WindClan manage to push through the wall and into ThunderClan's camp. Despite breaking through and attempting to locate and kill Brokentail, the ThunderClan cats hold their ground. Bluestar's patrol returns to camp, turning the battle in their favor, and ThunderClan manages to drive WindClan and ShadowClan away.

Aftermath

"You brought this on us! You made us keep Brokentail here, and now we've been torn to pieces defending him. How long before one of us is killed for his sake?"

―Darkstripe, furious with Bluestar in the aftermath of ShadowClan and WindClan's attack ^{Forest of Secrets, page 209}

ThunderClan managed to drive ShadowClan and WindClan away

When the battle ends, the ThunderClan cats gather around Bluestar, victorious yet injured. Darkstripe and a few other warriors are angry at Bluestar's continued insistence that protecting Brokentail was the right thing to do. Yellowfang and Cinderpaw treat the injured, and Graystripe returns to camp, bewildered. Tigerclaw confronts him, suspicious towards the gray tom, before stalking away to have his own injuries seen to.

Yellowfang thanks Bluestar for protecting Brokentail, though does not reveal the fact that the two are kin. She goes on to apologize for the damage he has done, while Graystripe apologizes to Fireheart for his being away. Fireheart explains how Brackenpaw had been the one to initially scent the intruders, recommending that he become a warrior. Together, Fireheart and Graystripe convince Bluestar, and she performs Brackenpaw's warrior ceremony, naming him Brackenfur.

Characters

Fireheart

"Hang on! I was here today when the cats attacked. And it's not Graystripe's fault that he wasn't."

―Fireheart to Tigerclaw about Graystripe ^{Forest of Secrets, chapter 21}

Fireheart fought against WindClan and ShadowClan to defend Brokentail

In the aftermath of the Gathering, Fireheart and Onewhisker briefly chat, before Tigerclaw runs the WindClan tom off. He is surprised by Tigerclaw's hostility when speaking about Brokentail, as the two had been sharing tongues not long before. He and Brackenpaw encounter the invading forces while on patrol, and immediately sends the apprentice back to camp for reinforcements. He is able to identify several of the members of the joint patrol, including Cinderfur, Deadfoot, and Stumpytail, and mournfully recalls their recent journey and the friendships that are now strained. At Tigerclaw's cry, he runs back to camp and joins the battle.

During the battle, Fireheart finds himself facing Morningflower, the WindClan queen he befriended during the journey. While he is initially angry, he recalls helping her with her kit during the quest. Unable to bring himself to attack her, he ends up letting Morningflower go, watching her flee into the crowd as Stumpytail slams into him. He worries over Bluestar's whereabouts and safety, knowing Tigerclaw would become leader if she lost her last life. When Nightstar, Onewhisker, and Tallstar attempt to push through to Brokentail's den, he launches himself at the ShadowClan leader, grappling with him until the invading force is overwhelmed and fleeing the camp.

Fireheart once again covers for Graystripe in the aftermath, and suggests that Graystripe tells Bluestar that Brackenpaw is ready to become a full warrior. Together, the two toms pitch their idea, explaining how Brackenpaw proved himself an invaluable asset, and congratulate the newly named Brackenfur after the ceremony.

Bluestar

"I never thought it would be easy, Darkstripe. But we must do what we believe is right."

―Bluestar to Darkstripe in the aftermath of the battle ^{Forest of Secrets, page 209}

Bluestar's decision to shelter Brokentail inadvertently led to WindClan and ShadowClan's attack

Bluestar's decision to shelter Brokentail after he attacked ThunderClan's camp is met with fury from WindClan and ShadowClan. She defends herself and her actions, explaining to the other cats at the Gathering that Brokentail is blind and no longer a threat. Despite Nightstar and Tallstar insisting that he be driven into the forest or outright killed, Bluestar cites the warrior code and reminds them that they should show compassion to a defeated enemy. She tries to appeal to Tallstar by reminding him that ThunderClan risked their own to bring WindClan home, and adds that if she had him killed, they would be no better than he is.

When ShadowClan and WindClan threaten ThunderClan, Bluestar remains steadfast in her beliefs. During the battle, she defends the entrance to camp before being attacked by Wetfoot, and manages to drive him away. She calls for her warriors to fall back and defend the camp, fighting alongside her Clan until the intruders fled. After the battle, she defends her actions once more, and is thanked by Yellowfang for her honor and compassion. Recognizing the value Brackenpaw's actions brought during the attack, Bluestar performs his warrior ceremony, naming him Brackenfur.

Tallstar and Nightstar

"I dare. You are nothing but a traitor to the warrior code, if you are willing to give shelter to that... that heap of fox dung!"

―Tallstar to Bluestar at the Gathering ^{Forest of Secrets, chapter 19}

Tallstar and Nightstar are furious with Bluestar

Nightstar escorts ThunderClan to the Gathering, citing that he wants ThunderClan present. Almost immediately upon arrival, he announces that ThunderClan is sheltering Brokenstar, much to the confusion and fury of the other Clans. Bluestar asks if ShadowClan is spying on ThunderClan and he reveals that his warriors heard ThunderClan apprentices gossiping over the matter. Tallstar calls Bluestar a traitor, infuriated as his Clan is continuing to recover from Brokenstar's attack. Both WindClan and ShadowClan act with hostility towards the present members of ThunderClan, and a fight nearly breaks out before StarClan briefly covers the moon.

When Bluestar explains that Brokentail is no longer a threat, Nightstar furiously insists that no death would be too cruel for a cat like him. Tallstar is initially shocked at the venom coming from the ShadowClan leader, and explains to Bluestar that he will never forgive Brokenstar. Tallstar's anger reignites when Bluestar asks the Clans to have compassion for the defeated, feeling that she has insinuated that ThunderClan owns WindClan and is owed their unquestioning loyalty. Both Tallstar and Nightstar threaten ThunderClan.

A few days later, Tallstar and Nightstar lead a joint attack on ThunderClan's camp, intent on killing Brokentail. The two leaders invade ThunderClan territory, eventually managing to push through the camp walls in a desperate bid to murder the tyrant. ThunderClan manages to defeat the invading forces, and Tallstar and Nightstar flee the camp.

Quotes

Whitestorm: "Bluestar, what are you going to say about Brokentail? Will you tell the other Clans that we're sheltering him?"

Bluestar: "I will say nothing. It doesn't concern the other Clans. Brokentail is ThunderClan's responsibility now."

^{Forest of Secrets, chapter 1}

Bluestar: "Brokentail is blind. He is an old, defeated cat. He is no danger, not anymore. Would you have him starve to death in the forest?"

Nightstar: "Yes! No death is too cruel for him! (to Tallstar) Will you forgive the cat who drove you out?"

^{Forest of Secrets, pages 192-193}

Errors

• Bluestar and Whitestorm are seen entering the battle twice: once before the enemy Clans invade ThunderClan's camp, and again as the battle begins to end.

See also

• Tyranny of Brokenstar
• Tigerclaw's betrayal

• Yellowfang's Secret
  • Yellowfang's Secret/Cliffnotes
• Forest of Secrets
  • Forest of Secrets/Cliffnotes
• The Prophecies Begin (volume 2)
  • The Prophecies Begin (volume 2)/Cliffnotes