Battle for WindClan (TPB)

"ShadowClan and RiverClan! They're attacking our camp! We're outnumbered and fighting for our lives. Tallstar refuses to be driven off this time. You must help or my Clan will be wiped out!"

— Onewhisker to ThunderClan in Fire and Ice, page 299

Battle for WindClan
General information
Book:	Fire and Ice, Leopardstar's Honor, The Prophecies Begin (volume 1)
Date:	Leaf-bare
Place:	WindClan's camp
Outcome:	WindClan and ThunderClan victory
Combatants
WindClan ThunderClan
ShadowClan RiverClan
Leaders
Tallstar Tigerclaw
Crookedstar Nightstar
Strength
Morningflower Onewhisker Stagleap Deadfoot Every WindClan cat in camp Whitestorm Darkstripe Mousefur Longtail Dustpelt Fireheart Graystripe Runningwind Sandstorm Willowpelt
Leopardfur Stonefur Heavystep Skyheart Silverstream Blackclaw Lakeshine Wetfoot Littlecloud Cinderfur Stumpytail
Death and losses
Unnamed WindClan elder
Chronology
Preceded by:	Journey to bring back WindClan
Followed by:	Floods in RiverClan

The battle for WindClan was a battle that took place in Fire and Ice and Leopardstar's Honor in WindClan's camp when ShadowClan and RiverClan joined together to attempt to drive out WindClan again.

Summary

Premise

Crookedstar: "I'm beginning to believe that ThunderClan brought WindClan back to start a war."

Nightstar: "They've been planning to move against us all along. They just needed WindClan's support."

^{Leopardstar's Honor, pages 281-282}

WindClan was previously driven out from their home by Brokenstar, the former leader of ShadowClan, with both RiverClan and ShadowClan utilizing their former hunting grounds. However, Bluestar of ThunderClan insisted that WindClan must return to their home, and she tasked Fireheart and Graystripe to find and bring back WindClan. After locating WindClan in a maze of Thunderpaths and bringing them back to their camp, a confrontation ensued at the gorge when RiverClan caught Deadfoot, Onewhisker, Fireheart, and Graystripe on their territory. The battle resulted in a stalemate, and the death of Whiteclaw. Two moons later, Bluestar and Crookedstar argued about trespassing on Sunningrocks during a Gathering, which, unbeknownst to them, was caused by Graystripe and Silverstream meeting up in secret. As a result of ThunderClan's accusations, Nightstar and Crookedstar agreed that ThunderClan was looking to start a war, and the two Clans must strike first.

Overview

"There's no time to waste. It's as we feared —ShadowClan and RiverClan have joined together, and now they're attacking the WindClan camp. We must help them."

―Bluestar about helping WindClan ^{Fire and Ice, page 300}

RiverClan and ShadowClan attack WindClan's camp in the early dawn, and their combined numbers easily overpower WindClan. Every WindClan cat is forced to fight to defend their camp. At one point, Onewhisker slips away to fetch help from ThunderClan, with Tigerclaw leading a patrol to help. ThunderClan's two battle patrols turns the tide of the battle, ensuring WindClan's right to defend their camp.

Description

Assault on WindClan's camp

Crookedstar: "You should never have returned home."

Nightstar: "ThunderClan is using you. Once they've used your warriors to take our land, they'll turn on you too."

^{Leopardstar's Honor, pages 284-285}

In the early dawn, RiverClan and ShadowClan attack WindClan's camp and easily defeat the newly reunited Clan, still weak from their exile. Every WindClan cat, from apprentices to elders, participates in the fight. During the battle, Onewhisker slips away to fetch help from ThunderClan. WindClan is vastly outnumbered, and a fresh patrol of RiverClan and ShadowClan warriors waits along the camp walls.

With WindClan pinned between their dens, Crookedstar and Nightstar attempt to convince Tallstar to take his Clan and leave again. Tallstar confers with his warriors quietly until they detect Onewhisker's returning scent. Tallstar uses this moment to attack Crookedstar and WindClan resumes the fight as ThunderClan streams into the camp clearing.

ThunderClan's rescue

"You're right to be cautious, Patchpelt. But if ShadowClan and RiverClan have united, it is only a matter of time before they turn on us. It's better we fight now, with WindClan, than later, alone!"

―Tigerclaw's reasoning to help WindClan ^{Fire and Ice, page 300}

ThunderClan's deputy Tigerclaw leads the battle patrol to help WindClan

Onewhisker manages to convince ThunderClan to help after a desperate plea, and Bluestar and her deputy Tigerclaw agree to help. Yellowfang insists Bluestar should stay behind, which Fireheart privately suspects is because the ThunderClan leader is on her final life, leaving Tigerclaw and Whitestorm to lead two battle patrols to WindClan. On their way to WindClan's camp, Cloudkit and two of Brindleface's kits secretly follow the battle patrol out of camp, causing Fireheart to send Brackenpaw to take them home. They arrive at WindClan's camp as the blizzard sets in, and Tigerclaw orders Whitestorm to wait until he hears a battle cry.

ThunderClan's reinforcements evens the battle, and Tigerclaw's cry beckons Whitestorm's second patrol. In the midst of the writing pelts, Tigerclaw calls Fireheart's name, summoning the ginger warrior to his deputy's side. However, Leopardfur uses this moment to attack Fireheart in revenge for his role in Whiteclaw's death. Fireheart calls out Tigerclaw's name, though the ThunderClan deputy blatantly ignores him. Fireheart manages to free himself from Leopardfur's claws only to run into Silverstream, whom he spares due to Graystripe's look of horror. After Fireheart and Runningwind defeat Nightstar, the ShadowClan leader yowls for a retreat, leaving RiverClan to face WindClan and ThunderClan alone. Tigerclaw deals a devastating blow to Crookedstar's back, causing the RiverClan leader to call for a retreat.

Aftermath

«The ShadowClan leader emerged from the bracken and raced across a stretch of open ground. A band of cats streamed after him; Fireheart grew even more tense when he saw how many. Warriors from WindClan and ShadowClan bore down on his camp together; Fireheart saw Tallstar and Cinderfur, Deadfoot and Stumpytail, Wetfoot and Onewhisker, running side by side as if they were littermates. Not long ago, these cats had been fighting each other in the snowbound WindClan camp. Now they were united in their hatred of Brokentail and of ThunderClan for sheltering him.»

—Fireheart's thoughts about the attack ^{Forest of Secrets, page 203}

In the immediate aftermath, Darkstripe and Tigerclaw confront Fireheart for letting Silverstream go during the battle. Fireheart also realizes that Spottedleaf's warning about a warrior he cannot trust was referring to Tigerclaw, and that Ravenpaw must have been telling the truth about Redtail's death. WindClan's truce with ThunderClan is short-lived; after learning that ThunderClan is harboring Brokentail, WindClan and ShadowClan unite to attack ThunderClan, though ThunderClan succeeds in defending their camp.

Trivia

Mistakes

• In Leopardstar's Honor, Leopardfur sees Graystripe leading a second ThunderClan patrol to help WindClan. However, in Fire and Ice, it is Whitestorm who leads the second patrol.
• In Leopardstar's Honor, Leopardfur sees Fireheart fighting Nightstar alone. However, in Fire and Ice, Runningwind helps Fireheart defeat the ShadowClan leader.

Quotes

«Fireheart skidded to a halt, reeling at the sight that greeted him in the camp clearing. Last time he'd been here, in search of the scent trail that would lead them to the missing Clan, the place had been deserted and silent. Now the clearing swarmed with writhing, screeching, fighting cats. Onewhisker had been right—the WindClan cats were hopelessly outnumbered. A fresh party of ShadowClan and RiverClan warriors waited at the edge of the clearing, but WindClan could spare no backup group. The whole Clan was fighting, apprentices and elders, warriors and queens.»

—Fireheart's thoughts about the battle ^{Fire and Ice, page 305}

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}