Floods in RiverClan

"The river had burst its banks. It streamed through the camp, so high now that it almost reached the elders' den. The other dens were awash, and her Clanmates were dashing here and there, grabbing hold of willow stems and bundles of reeds that were floating in the river. The apprentices' den had been torn apart. The reed wall had been breached, and nests were spinning toward the gap, where the current sucked one out, then another, and swept them into open water."

— Leopardfur's thoughts during the flood in Leopardstar's Honor, page 337

Floods in RiverClan
General information
Book	Forest of Secrets, Leopardstar's Honor
Timeframe	Late leaf-bare
Event	Severe river flooding in the forest territories
Place	The forest territories
Outcome	RiverClan rebuilds their camp with the nursery next to the elders' den Crookedstar offers ThunderClan passage through their territory Crookedstar and Leopardfur disagree about the Clans helping each other
Participants
Key characters	Crookedstar, Leopardfur, Fireheart, Graystripe
Affiliations involved	RiverClan
Chronology
Preceded by:	Battle for WindClan
Followed by:	ShadowClan's Great Sickness

The floods in RiverClan were severe river flooding that took place in Forest of Secrets and Leopardstar's Honor. It resulted from the newleaf thaw and days of heavy rainfall that damaged RiverClan's camp and resulted in four deaths. RiverClan was already recovering from sickness and poisoned river prey, and they relied on the kindness from Fireheart and Graystripe for fresh-kill. The flooding also impacted ThunderClan's territory and prevented them from accessing the Gathering without RiverClan's help.

Summary

Premise

Crowfur: "And do you remember the thaw that leaf-bare? The river in the gorge rose nearly as far as the badger sets."

Patchpelt: "I remember it well. ThunderClan couldn't cross the stream to come here for the Gathering."

^{Forest of Secrets, page 18}

During a difficult leaf-bare, Crowfur, a WindClan elder, recalled how the current season reminded him of the leaf-bare when Bluestar lost her kits. The river was frozen for three moons, and as newleaf approached, it flooded the river, causing cats to drown and others to starve from the lack of prey. The elders hope that the current leaf-bare won't be as bad as that one. The river frequently flooded RiverClan's camp, and RiverClan warriors crafted their dens to float so they can be salvaged later. As newleaf drew nearer and the weather warmed, a sickness struck RiverClan, killing Tanglewhisker and leaving Sedgecreek, Shadepelt, and Mallowtail weak. In addition, discarded Twoleg rubbish in the river poisoned the fish, killing Birdsong and poisoning Heavystep and Mallowtail. RiverClan avoided catching river prey until they could dislodge the Twoleg rubbish from the reeds. Heavy rainfall continued to plague the Clans for several days, resulting in the river slowly rising.

Overview

Darkstripe: "It doesn't sound that dangerous to us. We have plenty of territory left for prey. Let RiverClan worry about the floods."

Bluestar: "Silence! The water could easily spread here before we know it. Something like this is bigger than Clan rivalry. I don't want to hear that any RiverClan cats have died from these floods."

^{Forest of Secrets, page 117}

Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, knew how a serious flood could impact all the Clans

Heavy rainfall continues to fall for several days, resulting in the river becoming dangerous. RiverClan is only able to catch land prey due to the poisoned river and is still recovering from the harsh leaf-bare, so Frogleap suggests hunting upstream from the Twoleg rubbish. While the hunting patrol is successful, Frogleap drowns after the storm causes a tree branch to fall and hit him. The night after his vigil, the river rapidly floods and breaches the camp. During the hasty evacuation to higher ground off of the island, two of Mistyfoot's kits—Perchkit and Pikekit—wash away in the flood. Mosspelt's three kits—Dawnkit, Woodkit, and Robinkit—are also swept away, and Crookedstar leaps in to save them. However, Woodkit and Robinkit drown and Crookedstar loses a life. Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, worries about the flood's impact on her own Clan. Fireheart and Graystripe scope out the flooded Sunningrocks where they find Pikekit and Perchkit. After rescuing the kits and bringing them back to their Clan, the two ThunderClan cats offer to hunt for RiverClan while they recover. However, they are caught and punished by Bluestar a quarter-moon later. Despite this, Crookedstar allows ThunderClan to safely travel through his territory after the Gathering when theirs is flooded as thanks for ThunderClan's help, though Leopardfur harbors some resentment for the enemy Clan's assistance.

Description

The floodwaters

«[Leopardfur] couldn't pry her eyes from the raging river, wishing it would give back the cat who'd known her best.»

—Leopardfur's thoughts about Frogleap's death ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 326}

A flood decimated RiverClan's camp.

RiverClan's plan to remove the Twoleg rubbish is delayed by heavy rainfall. Leopardfur is convinced by Mudfur and Frogleap to hunt upstream of the rubbish despite the heavy wind and rapid current. While the RiverClan patrol manages to catch a plentiful pile of fish in the rapid water, Frogleap is killed when the wind breaks a branch from a nearby tree and it strikes him. During Frogleap's vigil, the rain continues to fall and the river slowly rises around the edges of the camp.

Later that night following Frogleap's vigil, the river quickly floods RiverClan's camp, and nearly reaches the elders' den, which is at the high end of the camp on top of a slope. Leopardfur calls for an evacuation towards the elders' den and orders the warriors to save the nursery. However, two of Mistyfoot's kits—Perchkit and Pikekit—float away in the strong swell on top of their buoyant nest. As the strong waves continue to batter RiverClan's camp, it reaches the elders' den, and the RiverClan deputy orders everyone to flee the camp towards higher ground. The RiverClan cats flee their island home by crossing the opposite channel, which is narrower. However, Dawnkit, Woodkit, and Robinkit are swept away from their mother's back when Mosspelt crosses the channel and a wave crashes into them. Crookedstar dives into the flood after them and disappears. In the morning, Leopardfur, Mudfur, and Stonefur discover Crookedstar's body with the three kits. While the RiverClan cats can revive Dawnkit and Crookedstar recovers from losing a life, Woodkit and Robinkit are already gone.

In ThunderClan, Tigerclaw orders Fireheart to mark the RiverClan border since the thick snow has finally melted. However, Fireheart, Graystripe, Runningwind, and Sandstorm are shocked to see the riverbank flooded and Sunningrocks barely poking from the surface. After reporting this to Bluestar, the ThunderClan leader insists the RiverClan floods impact all the Clans due to scarce prey and dangerous conditions, and she orders her deputy Tigerclaw to scope out the extent of the flood.

The missing kits

Leopardfur: "What are you doing with them? Were you trying to steal them?"

Fireheart: "Don't be such a mouse-brain. Why would we nearly drown ourselves to steal RiverClan kits?"

^{Leopardstar's Honor, pages 349-350}

Two of Mistyfoot's kits, Perchkit and Pikekit, went missing during the flash flood

The kits' father, Blackclaw, was fiercely determined to find his missing sons

In the afternoon, RiverClan focuses on constructing a makeshift camp on the slope above the island with their home still flooded. Crookedstar orders hunting patrols and for Leopardfur, Blackclaw, and Stonefur to search for Pikekit and Perchkit. Meanwhile, Graystripe worries about his RiverClan mate Silverstream, and he and Fireheart offer to scout the flood around Sunningrocks to search for her. The two ThunderClan warriors discover Perchkit and Pikekit trapped on their nest caught against Sunningrocks. After rescuing the two kits from the swollen river, Fireheart and Graystripe decide to bring the two kits back to RiverClan by crossing a fallen tree over the river. Leopardfur, Stonefur, and Blackclaw angrily confront them by the bank and take them to Crookedstar. While some warriors are still hostile towards the two toms, Crookedstar and Mistyfoot are thankful. After some prodding, Fireheart and Graystripe learn of the poisoned fish and offer to hunt for RiverClan until the floods dissipate. Each morning, Fireheart and Graystripe bring forest prey to RiverClan to supply their own pitiful fresh-kill pile, though some RiverClan cats are skeptical of their kindness. Their ruse lasts a quarter-moon until Cloudkit follows them to the river and reports to Tigerclaw. While Bluestar understand their intentions, she punishes them for breaking the warrior code by assigning them apprentice duties.

The Gathering truce

"Nightstar is wrong. At a time like this, all cats should help one another. I can offer you a way home. To get here, we crossed the river by the Twoleg bridge. If you go that way, you can travel through our territory and cross back lower down—there's a dead tree caught up by the stepping stones."

―Crookedstar to Bluestar after the Gathering ^{Forest of Secrets, page 196}

Nightstar refused to let ThunderClan pass through his territory from the Gathering after he learned they were harboring Brokenstar

With the Gathering drawing nearer, Whitestorm reports that the shallow stream that crossed through the forest to the Thunderpath and divided the Clan from Fourtrees was flooded. Tigerclaw leads a patrol a few days later to check on it, though it's still flooded. The ThunderClan deputy orders Fireheart to check out a narrow branch to try to cross the swollen flood, though he falls in and nearly drowns until Longtail saves him. On the night of the Gathering and with the stream still flooded, Bluestar leads her warriors along the Thunderpath and ShadowClan's territory to reach Fourtrees. However, they are confronted by Nightstar and his cats for trespassing, though the ShadowClan cats escort them to Fourtrees. At the Gathering, Nightstar reveals that ThunderClan has been harboring Brokenstar, the treacherous former leader of ShadowClan. Though Bluestar defends her choice, WindClan and ShadowClan swear retribution. Nightstar refuses to allow ThunderClan passage through his territory to return home, but Crookedstar offers for ThunderClan to travel with them as thanks for sharing prey.

Cats who died

• Frogleap
• Crookedstar (one life)
• Woodkit
• Robinkit

Aftermath

"But remember, RiverClan is only part of the Clans, and the Clans are only part of the forest. Fresh dangers face us all, brought by every season, every change in the weather. The Clans must defend themselves, but they must defend each other too. When we're faced with flood or fire, all we have is each other."

―Crookedstar's dying words to Leopardfur ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 417}

Crookedstar sheltered ThunderClan after their camp was destroyed by a forest fire as gratitude.

Two days after the Gathering, WindClan and ShadowClan attack ThunderClan's camp in retribution for sheltering Brokentail. In addition, the floodwaters recede by the day, and the floods fully dissipate the day after Silverstream's death. However, newleaf brings little precipitation, causing the forest to dry up after two moons of insufficient rainfall. RiverClan continues to rebuild its camp for several days after the flood and eventually move back home. They also rebuild the nursery next to the elders' den to prevent it from sweeping away from another flood. When a fire strikes in ThunderClan's territory, Crookedstar allows ThunderClan to seek shelter in their camp until the storm extinguishes the flames.

On his deathbed, Crookedstar tells Leopardfur that the Clans must still be united when danger looms, such as the floods and the fire in ThunderClan. Leopardfur, however, disagrees with that paradigm. When she becomes leader, Leopardstar decides that her Clan needs to take back Sunningrocks to secure more hunting grounds since they've been too reliant on the river, which was previously frozen, poisoned, and flooded. Her determination to keep her Clan from going hungry again is one of her reasonings to join forces with Tigerstar to form TigerClan.

Characters

Leopardfur

«Leopardfur had found herself increasingly thankful for the prey Graystripe and Fireheart brought from the ThunderClan forest. But the more thankful she felt, the more resentful she became. It was humiliating to be so dependent on another Clan.»

—Leopardfur's thoughts about relying on ThunderClan for prey ^{Leopardstar's Honor, pages 356-357}

Leopardfur, stubborn and prideful, resented being indebted to ThunderClan

Leopardfur was RiverClan's deputy, second-in-command to Crookedstar. She was fiercely dedicated to keeping her Clanmates safe from sickness, poisoned prey, and the flood. The golden spotted she-cat was deeply impacted by Frogleap's death, and she blamed herself for losing so many kits during the flood. However, her quick thinking and resolve secured the safety of the rest of her Clanmates. While Leopardfur had ambition to be leader soon, she realized she was not ready after witnessing her Clan's devastation following the flood. Accepting that she had more to learn from Crookedstar, Leopardfur followed her leader's advice to maintain a comforting yet firm presence to help her Clanmates grieve. The RiverClan deputy and her patrol found Fireheart and Graystripe with Mistyfoot's missing kits, and she detested being indebted to the Clan who killed Whitefang, Sunfish, and Whiteclaw when the two warriors offered to hunt for the Clan. However, Leopardfur agreed with Crookedstar's reasoning that RiverClan needed prey, though she despised being dependent on them. As the dawn of her own leadership arrived following Crookedstar's death, Leopardstar believed RiverClan was too reliant on the river for prey and sought to reclaim Sunningrocks from ThunderClan, having no sympathy for the Clan that gave them prey. She also used the flood's destruction as part of her reasoning to join TigerClan with Tigerstar.

Crookedstar

"Don't make the Clan's loss your loss. Let them do the grieving while you keep them safe."

―Crookedstar's advice to Leopardfur following the flood ^{Leopardstar's Honor, pages 347-348}

Crookedstar attempted to rescue Mosspelt's kits from the flood, though only Dawnkit survived

Crookedstar was the leader of RiverClan. The once strong tom was losing his strength when the flood swept through his camp, though Crookedstar insisted on being the last to evacuate the camp to ensure his Clanmates left safely. When Dawnkit, Woodkit, and Robinkit were swept away, Crookedstar did not hesitate to dive after them, though it costed him one of his nine lives. His new life rejuvenated him, and he encouraged his deputy to process her grief for her Clan. When Fireheart and Graystripe found Mistyfoot's missing kits, Crookedstar believed their story. He initially refused their offer to catch prey for the Clan until Graypool spoke up in disagreement. The RiverClan leader believed if the two ThunderClan cats were foolish enough to break the warrior code to help RiverClan, then it was RiverClan's gain and ThunderClan's loss. In thanks, Crookedstar allowed ThunderClan passage home from the Gathering through RiverClan territory when Nightstar refused. The twisted-jaw leader realized that the Clans were stronger when they helped each other through adversity, a belief that he attempted to pass on to his deputy before he joined StarClan.

Fireheart and Graystripe

«But even as [Fireheart] made the offer, he knew that he was breaking the warrior code that demanded loyalty to his own Clan alone. Bluestar would be furious with him if she found out he was prepared to share ThunderClan's precious prey like this. But Fireheart couldn't bring himself to abandon another Clan in their need. Bluestar herself said our welfare depends on having four Clans in the forest, he reminded himself. Surely it's the will of StarClan.»

—Fireheart's thoughts about giving RiverClan prey ^{Forest of Secrets, page 134}

Fireheart and Graystripe broke the warrior code by providing prey for RiverClan

Fireheart and Graystripe were ThunderClan warriors under Bluestar's leadership. When the floods struck RiverClan, Graystripe longed to check on his mate Silverstream in RiverClan, so Fireheart convinced Tigerclaw to let them scout the flooding near Sunningrocks. The two friends discovered Mistyfoot's missing kits trapped near Sunningrocks, and they successfully rescued the kits after Fireheart nearly drowned. When they brought the two to RiverClan, Fireheart and Graystripe were angrily confronted by Leopardfur and her patrol and accused of stealing the kits. After informing Crookedstar what happened, Fireheart offered to hunt for RiverClan since they were suffering from lack of prey, believing Bluestar's statement that four Clans were needed in the forest. However, some RiverClan cats were skeptical of their kindness, and the pair were later punished with apprentice duties by Bluestar for breaking the warrior code. However, Fireheart's selflessness provided ThunderClan an ally in RiverClan for the later moons, and his decision to help RiverClan was later characterized by Bluestar as an example of his courage, loyalty, and fairness.

Quotes

«The river, on which they had always depended, had somehow poisoned her Clanmates.»

—Leopardfur's thoughts about the poisoned river prey ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 306}

"RiverClan warriors don't drown."

―Cedarpelt's disbelief at his son's death ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 329}

«As the night slowly gave way to dawn, [Leopardfur] gazed across the river. The gray light revealed a devastated camp, and her heart seemed to stop as she made out a gray shape on the bank downstream. It lay motionless on a stretch of mud. Reeds, crushed by the flood, were strewn around it.»

—Leopardfur's thoughts after the flood and seeing Crookedstar's body ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 342}

«In front of the cats, the land sloped gently down to the river—or what had been the river. Swelled by the melting snow, the fast-flowing water had burst the banks and risen until it lapped the grass barely a rabbit-length from Fireheart's paws. The tips of reeds just showed above it; farther upstream, the Sunningrocks were gray islands in the midst of a shimmering lake. The thaw had certainly come, but now the river was in full flood.»

—Fireheart about the flood ^{Forest of Secrets, page 114}

Blackclaw: "I want to go back out. I know we didn't find them this morning, but we can't give up. I should have swum after them as soon as they were washed away. Why didn't you tell me they were lost?"

Leopardfur: "What could you have done? The water was too fierce. Did you want Mistyfoot to lose you too?"

^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 346}

Crookedstar: "How did you come to have them?"

Fireheart: "We flew across the river and broke into your camp without anyone noticing."

^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 351}

«All of the RiverClan cats were wet through, and the fur clinging to their bodies showed they were skinner than ever. Fireheart had always thought of RiverClan cats as plump and sleek, wellfed on fish from the river. That was until Silverstream had told him that Twolegs had stayed by the river during greenleaf and stolen or scared away most of their prey. The Twolegs had left the forest now, during leaf-bare, but RiverClan had been unable to hunt when the river froze. And instead of bringing much-needed food, the thaw had driven them out of their camp completely.»

—Fireheart about the flood ^{Forest of Secrets, page 131-132}

Leopardfur: "Are you really going to let them hunt for us?"

Crookedstar: "If they're foolish enough to break the warrior code for another Clan, let them. You can't deny that we need help."

^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 354}

«RiverClan cats must never fear the river. It fed them and protected them from attack. It was their ally, not their enemy. But would Mosspelt ever believe that again? It had stolen her mate and two of her kits, and she barely left her nest now, except to fetch food for Dawnkit when she cried.»

—Leopardfur about the river flooding and Mosspelt's grief ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 356}

«RiverClan had become too dependent on the river since they'd lost Sunningrocks to ThunderClan. The flood had given her stark proof of that. If they were to make it through leaf-bare, they would need more land. Crookedstar was dead; there was no one to object. It was time to take Sunningrocks back.»

—Leopardstar's thoughts about the flood ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 427}

Trivia

Mistakes

• In Leopardstar's Honor, Fireheart and Graystripe continue to feed RiverClan following the Gathering, but in Forest of Secrets, the pair are discovered and punished by Bluestar before the Gathering.

See also

• Forest of Secrets
  • Forest of Secrets/Cliffnotes
• Leopardstar's Honor
  • Leopardstar's Honor/Cliffnotes