Plan to get rid of Slash

"You'll learn quickly enough the price you've paid for defying me."

— Slash to the early settlers in Path of Stars, page 268

Plan to get rid of Slash
General information
Book:	Path of Stars, Riverstar's Home
Date:	Leaf-bare to greenleaf
Place:	The forest territories, Cats of the Park
Outcome:	Slash leaves the forest and takes over the park Riverstar helps the Cats of the Park to defeat Slash
Combatants
Clear Sky's camp Wind Runner's camp Thunder's camp Tall Shadow's camp River Ripple's camp Cats of the Park
Slash's group
Leaders
Clear Sky Wind Runner Thunder Tall Shadow River Ripple/Riverstar
Slash
Strength
Gray Wing Lightning Tail Leaf Reed Fern See more Leaf Cloud Spots Lightning Tail Gray Wing Wind Runner Gorse Fur Slate Dust Muzzle Reed Minnow Spotted Fur Moth Flight Riverstar Arc Finch Hopper Scooby Dart Drizzle Squirrel Moth Magda
Swallow Snake Ginger tom Tortoiseshell she-cat See more Five rogues Slash Two rogues Orange tom Tortoiseshell she-cat Splinter Beetle Black tom Slash Beetle Ember Broad-shouldered tom Snake Gray tabby Snail Tortoiseshell she-cat Gray-and-white rogue Two toms Tabby tom Black rogue
Death and losses
Riverstar's second life
Slash
Chronology
Preceded by:	One Eye's oppression
Concurrent:	Founding of the Clans, Journey to the Cats of the Park
Followed by:	Battle for RiverClan

The plan to get rid of Slash was a series of battles involving the early settlers and Slash's group which took place in Path of Stars and Riverstar's Home.

Summary

Premise

"Cats like Slash and One Eye aren't happy until they have everything!"

―Thorn's frustration about the lack of peace ^{Path of Stars, page 8}

Soon after defeating One Eye, the cats living in the forest territories encounter yet another dangerous rogue in the form of Slash. Gray Wing overhears Slash ordering Fern around and expressing his desire to hurt the early settlers, causing Gray Wing to grow paranoid. He soon confronts Fern and learns how Slash uses fear and threats in order to force his subordinates to obey him. For a while, Fern manages to divert Slash's attention away from the forest, but he soon returns with newfound vengeance: he kidnaps Star Flower and uses her as a bargaining chip, thus forcing the groups into action.

Overview

"Remember, if you don't share your prey, Star Flower will die."

―Slash's demands ^{Path of Stars, page 49}

A dangerous rogue named Slash becomes a nuisance for the early settlers. He controls his band of cats through fear and commands one of them—Fern—to stalk them and extract information that he can then use against them. He kidnaps Star Flower, Clear Sky's pregnant mate, and demands a steady supply of prey given to him on a daily basis in exchange. The five groups of the forest refuse and resist Slash despite the continuous terror he and his rogues pose. After abandoning some of his weaker campmates, he kidnaps one of Gray Wing's kits but promptly disappears upon the plan's failure. Slash's reign of terror only ends seasons later, when Riverstar helps the Cats of the Park to reclaim their home, ultimately ending in his death.

Description

Rescuing Star Flower

"You fool. Do you think we have no hearts?"

―Wind Runner to Clear Sky regarding his mate and unborn kits ^{Path of Stars, page 52}

When a distressed Clear Sky pleads for the other leaders' cooperation and assistance, Gray Wing secretly comes up with a plan to free an imprisoned Star Flower without actually bowing to Slash. Tall Shadow, River Ripple, Wind Runner, and Thunder meet Slash at the four trees and feign indifference towards Star Flower's fate, much to Clear Sky's dismay; meanwhile, Gray Wing works together with Fern and a few other cats to find the rogues' camp. With Slash away from camp and making demands about prey, Gray Wing, alongside Lightning Tail, Leaf, and Reed manages to free Star Flower. Within the safety of Tall Shadow's camp, she gives birth to her and Clear Sky's kits.

Resistance and consequence

«Slash would stir up more trouble, [Thunder] was sure of that. He just wondered when it would begin.»

—Thunder's thoughts ^{Path of Stars, page 87}

Slash jeopardizes the groups' safety and health during the harshest of seasons

Although Slash's initial plan of forcing the early settlers to provide for him had failed, he continues to antagonize all the groups in the forest. His rogues steal prey from Thunder, Clear Sky, and Wind Runner's cats, worsening an already difficult leaf-bare. Gray Wing's conversation with Fern reveals that Slash does not plan on stopping until he drives everyone out from what he considers to be his land. Moreover, even though his way of leading consists of bloodthirst and brutality, the rogues in his group are unlikely to switch sides out of sheer terror.

With all groups starving and injured from the skirmishes that Slash's group have been starting, the five leaders meet at the four trees to discuss the vicious rogues. Reluctantly and out of necessity, they decide to teach one another battle moves, in hopes of protecting themselves and simultaneously countering Slash's unfair ways. Thunder and Lightning Tail later spy on the rogue camp and attempt to extract useful information. There, Fern's claims are only confirmed: Slash treats his campmates with cruelty, hoarding meals mostly for himself and letting the others go hungry. Despite Thunder's warning that Slash plans an attack on the moor, Wind Runner's hunting patrol is viciously ambushed, with the unsuccessful intent of killing her then and there.

Thunder and Lightning Tail continue their secret trips to the rogue camp. They discover that a few of Slash's cats have begun to break away from his control by leaving without a word, while the others keep suffering under his rule. As Slash actively puts his cats at risk by forcing them to train violently, dogs ambush their camp, seemingly led by Red. With Frog heavily injured and Beech killed, Thunder and Lightning Tail manage to convince the majority of Slash's followers to stop listening to their cruel leader, who, in turn, abandons his former campmates. The rogues eventually disperse into the mountain cats' different groups, sparking controversy and distrust, fuelled further when Bee and Ember decide to return to Slash.

Kidnapping Black Ear

"Slate and the kits!"

―Wind Runner realizing Slash's next move ^{Path of Stars, page 269}

Slash shifts the blame of his rogues' abandonment onto Gray Wing and decides to make him suffer for it now. An attack on Wind Runner's camp leaves Spotted Fur and Slate heavily injured; they had fought to keep themselves and Slate's kits safe, but Slash has kidnapped Black Ear. Thunder, Wind Runner, and a couple of their cats pursue the rogues, and they quickly find the trail scent that Swallow had left behind while guarding the abducted kit. Clear Sky joins the rescue party after they collectively fight off a fox, and soon enough, they find Slash's cats making a run for it with Black Ear over the Thunderpath. As Swallow trips, Clear Sky rushes in to save Black Ear from an incoming monster, forcing Slash and his followers to continue fleeing empty-pawed.

A desperate request

Main article: Journey to the Cats of the Park (RH)

"I'm not asking you to come home for good. Just to show us how to get rid of Slash."

―Arc asking for Riverstar's help ^{Riverstar's Home, page 312}

Many moons pass, and the groups living in the forest territories become Clans before Slash's name is uttered again thanks to Riverstar's mentor, Arc, traveling to RiverClan and seeking assistance. Evidently, after Slash had met failure after failure against the mountain cats, he had moved on with his rogues and now controls other cats; Riverstar's old home, the Cats of the Park, are the victims this time. Hesitant to abandon his cats, Riverstar pursues StarClan's guidance and initially decides against traveling with Arc. It is only on the morning of Arc's departure that Riverstar announces he will be coming with and appoints Night as the temporary leader—and his successor, should he not return. Drizzle soon joins Riverstar and Arc on their journey, and the three of them head towards the park to deal with Slash once and for all.

The final battle

"I'm a water rat, remember? A cat who can ride rivers. I can come back to life when I'm dead. I live where and when I choose. Even the mountain cats couldn't drive me out. Who are you?"

―Riverstar using Slash's lack of faith as intimidation ^{Riverstar's Home, page 391}

Finch pushes Slash away from her father, indirectly killing the rogue leader

Once Riverstar, Drizzle, and Arc make it to the park cats' camp and survey the situation, they quickly come up with a plan to save their friends from Slash. After taking a risk by slipping away, Stoat, Squirrel, and Finch reveal how Slash's battle-hardened rogues outnumber the park cats. Riverstar, on top of deciding that they will have to win over some of the rogues by offering them protection from Slash, trains the park cats in combat.

The battle begins after just two days, sparked by Riverstar's arrival at the rogue camp. Despite having the element of surprise, the park cats are quickly overwhelmed by the vicious rogues, not helped by the fact that Bee, Splinter, and Swallow hang back and refuse to engage in order to side with the winning party. Riverstar attempts to target Slash but fails to do so in time; the rogue leader threatens the elderly Owl's life, and, after rushing in to free Owl from Slash's grip, Riverstar is swarmed by rogues and loses a life on the battlefield. The rogues grow too frightened to keep fighting thanks to Riverstar taking advantage of Slash's lack of knowledge about StarClan's ability to bring leaders back from the dead. By claiming that he can come back to life whenever he wishes, Riverstar strikes fear into Slash, who is unable to keep control of his own cats. He once again puts Owl's life at risk as a last-ditch effort, but when Finch fights to save her father, Slash falls off a cliff and subsequently drowns.

Aftermath

Main article: Battle for RiverClan (RH)

"We stopped fearing [Slash] moons ago."

―Star Flower ^{Riverstar's Home, page 479}

Now free of Slash, the park cats return to a normal life and begin thriving once more as the season turns to leaf-fall, strengthened by two former rogues—Sparrow and Grub—becoming additional members. Meanwhile, Riverstar stalls returning to his Clan; though he initially blames the swollen state of the river, which would make the journey back difficult, he soon realizes that his growing affection for Finch is the true reason for his hesitation. Drizzle grows more and more impatient with Riverstar and reasons that the park will be fine without him now that they have started acting like a true Clan. After a close encounter with Twolegs, Riverstar accepts that he cannot risk never returning to his Clanmates back at home. Finch, who has become Riverstar's mate at this point, declines leaving the park to make the journey back to RiverClan but changes her mind at the last second and tags along with Riverstar and Drizzle.

Riverstar's decision to leave RiverClan had caused trouble to stir between the Clans, which he is forced to face upon his return. Skystar had begun trespassing, claiming that RiverClan is not a true Clan without its leader, and even cited a tree that had fallen and created a bridge between the two territories as a sign from StarClan itself. Riverstar asserts himself during the following Gathering and reveals his reasons for leaving as well as Slash's demise, though the majority of the Clans remain indifferent to these news. Riverstar warns Skystar to back off one last time and engages in a battle, from which RiverClan emerges victorious, proving its strength by reclaiming its rightful land.

Characters

Slash

Slash is the leader of a rogue group

Cruel and hungry for power, Slash intimidates other cats into submission and forces them to do his bidding. He forgoes any care whatsoever towards his cats, with the exception of those who are strong enough to gain his respect, and finds enjoyment in acting maliciously towards those who defy him. Slash considers the forest territories to be his land, something that the mountain cats had taken from him upon their arrival. He places the blame on Gray Wing specifically for some of the rogues' departure from the group.

Always greedy, Slash settles elsewhere after his plans get foiled, once again taking over another group's territory and making them suffer. He loses control of his rogue band only when faced against the powers of StarClan, and he meets his demise the very same way he has lived: by attempting to turn things into his favor with threats of violence and death.

Star Flower and Clear Sky

Star Flower gets imprisoned in the rogue camp

Upon Slash's return to the forest after Fern had forced his attention elsewhere, Star Flower becomes his first victim. He surrounds her with his rogues, and, pregnant as she is, Star Flower is completely vulnerable against him. Clear Sky is unable to protect his mate out of fear that she will get injured in the process. Thanks to the friendship between Slash and One Eye, Star Flower had long ago promised to one day become Slash's mate, something that she does not agree with anymore in the present day.

Although Clear Sky is desperate for help when Slash successfully kidnaps Star Flower, he is quick to take advantage of the situation when River Ripple, then known as Riverstar, temporarily leaves RiverClan to deal with Slash at the park.

Thunder, Wind Runner, Tall Shadow, and River Ripple

Riverstar leads an attack on Slash and his rogues

The rest of the leaders of the forest oppose Slash and reject his demands, refusing to feed such a cruel rogue instead of their ever-growing groups, and even work together to fool Slash. Thunder is the most hesitant when it comes to aiding Clear Sky, as he not only struggles with seeing his father take on a protective role for someone else, but he also has to take care of his newly founded group of cats. In the end, all of them agree to meet with Slash at the four trees, using the rogue's distraction to buy Gray Wing some time in rescuing Star Flower.

River Ripple, later known as Riverstar, is the one who puts an end to Slash's tyranny. After Arc, his friend and former mentor, requests his help, Riverstar travels away from his Clan and towards his previous home, where he works together with the Cats of the Park to once again stop Slash.

Gray Wing

Gray Wing strategizes smartly against Slash

Gray Wing is the first one to meet Slash, overhearing him boss around Fern. He earns a tiny bit of Fern's trust after hunting for her, seeing as she is starving and vulnerable without Slash providing her with food. In turn, Fern manages to temporarily send Slash away from the forest territories when she lies about richer hunting grounds there. After Slash returns and captures Star Flower, Gray Wing is the one who leads the operation in which he frees her from the rogue camp while Slash is distracted at the four trees.

Despite this initial victory, Slash remains a constant threat, and Gray Wing's condition worsens considerably after Slash ambushes one of Wind Runner's patrols. Later on, Slash shifts his attention towards Gray Wing: the rogue leader blames him for the prior misfortunes. Too sick to even move, Gray Wing has to stay in camp when his son is kidnapped, relying on the other early settlers to rescue Black Ear. Slash's plans are foiled once more, and Black Ear returns to his father's side safely. Reunited with his family, Gray Wing spends his final moments naming the five groups Clans and giving them further purpose; despite his death, Gray Wing is ultimately the winner instead of Slash.

Quotes

Slash: "Don't be such a mouse-brain, Fern! Just do as I tell you! Watch and wait and report back to me."

Fern: "Why can't you come with me?"

^{A Forest Divided, page 63}

"None of you realize the danger you face. My rogues outnumber you. They are more savage than any of you can imagine. If you value your prey more than the lives of your kits and your campmates, then you are free to refuse me."

―Slash threatening the early settlers ^{Path of Stars, page 50}

"Slash's rogues had turned out to be not as many or as savage as Slash had warned. Indeed, they'd been little more than a ragtag group of unhappy strays, bullied into following him. Slash cared even less about them than they cared about him. He had abandoned them when the mountain cats had infiltrated his camp, disappearing with a pawful of followers into the forest, where he was still stealing prey and making a nuisance of himself."

―River Ripple reminisces about the past ^{Riverstar's Home, pages 272-273}

Arc: "I met a friend of yours recently."

Riverstar: "Not one you liked, by the sound of it."

^{Riverstar's Home, pages 308-309}

"Hope isn't enough when lives are at stake. Besides, you know Slash. You've faced him before. He will always sink lower than his enemy. It's how he wins so often. He's prepared to do what other cats would not."

―Gray Wing about Slash ^{Riverstar's Home, page 388}

See also

• Path of Stars
  • Path of Stars/Cliffnotes
• Riverstar's Home
  • Riverstar's Home/Cliffnotes