Battle in the tunnels

"Never! Not until I've destroyed everything the Clans stand for. Many seasons ago, I knew another of your Clans, far away in a gorge. They scorned me, too; they told me I wasn't good enough to be one of their precious warriors! So I vowed to prove to all of you that the warrior code means nothing. In the end, you will kill one another for reasons that aren't worth so much as a mousetail."

— Sol to Hollyleaf about his quest for revenge on Clans in The Forgotten Warrior, page 313

Battle in the tunnels
General information
Book:	The Forgotten Warrior
Date:	Greenleaf; lasts one morning
Place:	The tunnels
Outcome:	ThunderClan victory Sol is never seen again
Combatants
ThunderClan
WindClan
Leaders
Brambleclaw Hollyleaf Brackenfur
Sol
Strength
Hollyleaf's patrol Dovewing Berrynose Cinderheart Mousewhisker Ivypool Sandstorm Brambleclaw's patrol Brackenfur's patrol
Breezepelt Whiskernose Weaselfur Harespring Heathertail Furzepelt Owlwhisker Unnamed WindClan cats
Chronology
Preceded by:	Ravenpaw's journey
Followed by:	The Great Battle

The battle in the tunnels was a battle that took place in The Forgotten Warrior when Sol tricked WindClan into attacking ThunderClan through the tunnels.

Summary

Premise

Graystripe: "Onestar, do you remember when you were Firestar's friend, back in the old forest? How can we have come so far from that time? We don't need to be enemies."

Onestar: "Your Clan makes it impossible to be anything else."

^{The Forgotten Warrior, pages 135-136}

Following ThunderClan's help in defeating Mudclaw and his rebellion, Onestar sharply breaks his friendship with Firestar, creating a divide between their Clans. Tensions remain high between the two Clans for many moons as Onestar pushes himself away from Firestar's shadow. A WindClan patrol confronts Ivypool and Birchfall washing their paws in the stream that marks their border and a battle is only prevented when Sorreltail intervenes. Onestar brings up this instance at the Gathering, along with noting that a ThunderClan cat has been trespassing on their territory. However, WindClan's warriors fail to identify the cat. Both Firestar and Onestar suspect a battle is imminent between their Clans.

Sol grew up with stories about the Clans from his mother and joined SkyClan when he learned they lived near his Twoleg nest. However, Sol lacked the skills necessary to be a warrior, and he was eventually exiled when he kidnapped Leafstar's kits in an attempt to prove himself to her. Sol vowed his revenge on the Clans. Sol met Midnight, an omniscient badger by the sun-drown-place, who gave him knowledge about the Clans. Sol used this knowledge to manipulate the Clans by predicting the eclipse. He manipulated Blackstar and ShadowClan into turning away from StarClan, until he was exiled by Blackstar. Sol later attempted to trick the Three to destroy ShadowClan before he left the Clans' territories. Sol swore his revenge that he would one day return to defeat the Clans that wronged him.

Thought to be dead, Hollyleaf lives in the tunnels with Fallen Leaves for many moons during her self-exile. She occasionally spies on her Clanmates and helps them by providing herbs. She later helps Blossomfall and Ivypool escape the tunnels and rescues Molepaw and Cherrypaw from a fox.

Overview

"We will meet the WindClan cats in the tunnels. We won't let them set a single paw in ThunderClan territory. As far as I know, WindClan hasn't trained to fight in the tunnels. ThunderClan will have the advantage!"

―Firestar to his warriors ^{The Forgotten Warrior, pages 303-304}

Sol used the tensions between WindClan and ThunderClan to his advantage to destroy the Clans. He gained support from some of ThunderClan by claiming to rescue Cherrypaw and Molepaw from a fox. While he encouraged ThunderClan's younger warriors that they must attack WindClan, Sol was also visiting WindClan and drawing support from their younger warriors as well, feeding both sides of the conflict. Believing an attack is imminent, Hollyleaf, now back in ThunderClan, instructs her Clanmates how to fight in the tunnels she lived in for many moons. Eventually, Sol instructs some of WindClan's warriors to attack ThunderClan through the tunnels that sprawl underneath their territories. However, Onestar and Ashfoot are excluded from Sol's plans, as Sol only gained a following with WindClan's younger warriors. ThunderClan's patrols meet them head-on in the tunnels and quickly gain the upper hand thanks to Hollyleaf's training. Hollyleaf confronts Sol and spares his life according to the warrior code. Sol vows he'll return once again.

Description

Sol's return

"So good to meet old friends. There's always such a warm welcome in ThunderClan."

―Sol's sarcasm about returning to ThunderClan ^{The Forgotten Warrior, page 93}

Sol manipulated the tensions between Onestar (pictured) and Firestar to conspire a plot to destroy the Clans

After some time, Sol returns to the lake territories, seeking revenge on the Clans. After Molepaw and Cherrypaw are saved from a fox by an unknown cat, Jayfeather wonders if his sister Hollyleaf has returned since he and Lionblaze couldn't find her body in the tunnels. Lionblaze discovers Sol sheltering in the land just beyond the ThunderClan and WindClan border and takes him back to ThunderClan's camp. Sol takes credit for saving Molepaw and Cherrypaw from the fox and Firestar warily grants him permission to stay the night as thanks. During his stay in ThunderClan, Dovewing detects him heading towards the WindClan border but doesn't think much about it. Sol continues to stay in ThunderClan's camp for a while, much to some of the others' dismay, though he also claims to briefly visit ShadowClan "for old time's sake." Firestar hopes that Sol will leave ThunderClan if he's not encouraged to stay. Onestar leads a patrol to their border to confront ThunderClan about harboring Sol. While Lionblaze and Graystripe insist WindClan cannot question Firestar's decision, ThunderClan is now forced to align themselves with Sol to preserve their honor. Despite some of the senior warriors' grudges, Sol is popular with the younger warriors and apprentices. Unbeknownst to ThunderClan, Sol visits WindClan and encourages some of their warriors to attack ThunderClan.

Hollyleaf's return

Ivypool: "Yes, we do. But how do we know you won't lead us farther in?"

Hollyleaf: "Because I'm a ThunderClan cat like you. My name is Hollyleaf."

^{The Forgotten Warrior, pages 162-163}

Hollyleaf's experience in the tunnels provided ThunderClan an advantage in the battle

Dovewing spies on Sol encouraging Blossomfall, Hazeltail, Mousewhisker, and Rosepetal that they must attack WindClan first without Firestar's permission. She worries how Sol might be manipulating the younger warriors into a conflict with WindClan. However, the four warriors lie that they haven't seen Sol when Dovewing and Ivypool confront them. Convinced that Sol is up to something, Dovewing and Ivypool discover Sol's scent near the tunnel entrance at the top of the hollow. Realizing he must have gone into the tunnels, the two sisters follow his scent and overhear Sol promising to help WindClan attack ThunderClan through the tunnels. Hollyleaf, who was originally thought to be dead, helps them escape the tunnels. Lionblaze takes the three of them back to ThunderClan's camp. Dovewing tells Firestar about Sol's plot with WindClan, though Firestar decides to order extra patrols due to ThunderClan's inexperience in the tunnels. In WindClan, Onestar also orders the same for his warriors, though is also unaware of Sol's plot.

Training in the tunnels

"Listen to everything I tell you, because it could save your life."

―Hollyleaf to ThunderClan about training in the tunnels ^{The Forgotten Warrior, page 252}

A few sunrises after Sol disappears from ThunderClan's camp, Firestar announces to the Clan that Sol has betrayed them and is leading WindClan on to attack ThunderClan. Brambleclaw suggests blocking some of the tunnel entrances, but Hollyleaf steps in with her experience and knowledge of the tunnels, eventually agreeing to train ThunderClan how to fight in the tunnels. Hollyleaf takes Brackenfur, Thornclaw, Toadstep, Brightheart, Ivypool, and Dovewing into the tunnels first, demonstrating how to fight in tight spaces, using the darkness to their advantage, and how to use their senses to navigate the tunnels.

The attack

Hollyleaf: "I would gladly kill you. But the warrior code tells us to show mercy to a defeated enemy. I will let you escape once and for all, if you promise never to come back and trouble the Clans again."

Sol: "I cannot make that promise."

^{The Forgotten Warrior, page 314}

A few days after the Gathering with leaf-fall approaching, Dovewing detects Sol encouraging WindClan's warriors to attack. With Dovewing's power and Hollyleaf's familiarity with the tunnels, ThunderClan sends out three patrols to meet WindClan in the tunnels: one to the tunnel entrance at the top of the hollow, another by the abandoned Twoleg nest, and another by the lake. Brambleclaw plans to push WindClan back to the main tunnel with the underground river where there's more room to fight. Meanwhile, Firestar stays behind to guard the camp with the remaining warriors.

Hollyleaf leads Dovewing, Cinderheart, Ivypool, Mousewhisker, Sandstorm, and Berrynose to the tunnel entrance at the top of the camp. Dovewing detects the WindClan patrol growing frustrated with the sealed entrances. The ThunderClan patrol confronts them in the tunnel and pushes them back towards the cavern with the river. All three ThunderClan patrols meet up in the large cavern and attack the WindClan cats; Ivypool and Dovewing notice that Onestar and Ashfoot are absent, realizing their attackers are the ones Sol managed to manipulate. Realizing they are outnumbered, WindClan flees though Sol attempts to rally them to fight. Hollyleaf pins Sol down but lets him go per the warrior code, though promises to kill him he if he returns. Sol vows he'll have his revenge and disappears into the tunnels.

Characters

Hollyleaf

"There's nothing to be scared of. The dark can't hurt you, just because you can't see. And you have other senses, remember? I'll walk with you. I've lived for moons down here, and nothing bad has happened to me."

―Hollyleaf comforting Thornclaw in the tunnels ^{The Forgotten Warrior, page 256}

Hollyleaf originally lived in ThunderClan, but went into self-exile after revealing the truth of her parentage at a Gathering. While ThunderClan thought her to be dead, Hollyleaf survived and lived in the tunnels with her friend Fallen Leaves. She became an expert in navigating the dark tunnels, but felt compelled to help her Clanmates. However, she feared returning to her home since she killed Ashfur. Eventually, Hollyleaf rejoined her Clan when she discovered Sol plotting with WindClan to attack ThunderClan. Hollyleaf's reunion with her Clan was shaky, but she regained their trust by offering to teach them about the tunnels. Hollyleaf instructed her Clanmates how to navigate the tunnels and how to fight in the confined spaces. Her techniques provided ThunderClan the cunning edge to defeat WindClan in battle.

Sol

"This is your chance for true glory! Onestar may want peace, but that is a sign of weakness! Attack ThunderClan through the tunnels, and victory will be easy over those moues-munching idiots!"

―Sol to WindClan's warriors ^{Hollyleaf's Story, chapter 10}

After being exiled from SkyClan, Sol vowed revenge on the Clans

Still relenting on achieving his revenge on the Clans, Sol returned to the lake territories. He took credit for saving Molepaw and Cherrypaw from a fox to gain ThunderClan's trust. While he stayed in ThunderClan, Sol used the tensions between ThunderClan and WindClan by encouraging the younger warriors to start a war between their Clans. His plans were foiled when Hollyleaf began training her Clanmates how to fight in the tunnels. Hollyleaf spared his life according to the warrior code, but Sol vowed to return.

Trivia

Mistakes

• Weaselfur is mistakenly called Weaselfoot.

See also

• The Forgotten Warrior
  • The Forgotten Warrior/Cliffnotes
• Hollyleaf's Story
  • Hollyleaf's Story/Cliffnotes