ShadowClan-WindClan conflict

"The border skirmishes between ShadowClan and its neighbor WindClan had grown more and more violent in recent moons, with warriors from both sides darting across the Thunderpath on raids. Neither Clan was short of food, and it wasn't as if WindClan had developed a taste for frogs or ShadowClan had gained the swiftness needed to catch rabbits. It was nothing but mouse-brained pride that made each Clan refuse to be the first to stop. A WindClan warrior died last moon, and a ShadowClan she-cat had been lamed and would never be able to hunt or fight for her Clan again."

— Mossheart about the constant battles between the two Clans in Code of the Clans, page 133

ShadowClan-WindClan conflict
General information
Book:	Tallstar's Revenge to Fire and Ice
Date:	Greenleaf to leaf-fall; approximately seven years
Place:	The forest territories
Outcome:	WindClan is exiled ShadowClan goes through a leadership crisis after Brokenstar's exile
Combatants
ShadowClan
WindClan
Leaders
Cedarstar Raggedstar Brokenstar
Heatherstar Tallstar
Commanders
Stonetooth Cloudpelt Blackfoot
Reedfeather Deadfoot
Death and losses
Spottedpaw Cloudpelt Badgerfang Swampkit Blossomkit
Unnamed WindClan warrior Two unnamed WindClan cats Brackenwing Shrewclaw Brushpaw Stoneclaw
Chronology
Preceded by:	The Great Hunger
Concurrent:	Journey to find Sparrow, Raid on WindClan, Battle for Sunningrocks, Battle for Sunningrocks, Tyranny of Brokenstar, Battle for ShadowClan
Followed by:	Journey to bring back WindClan

The ShadowClan-WindClan conflict was an extended period of conflict between ShadowClan and WindClan when the two Clans repeatedly fought against each other due to accusations of prey-stealing, attempting to gain more territory, vengeance for deaths, and pride. This was the longest period of continued conflict documented in the series. It eventually resulted in WindClan's exile during Brokenstar's reign.

Summary

Premise

Smoketalon: "If I ever catch that mangy WindClan cat who did it, I'll rip out his throat."

Mossheart: "Then his Clan will lose a warrior and swear vengeance on ShadowClan, and it will go on forever. Back and forth, shedding blood on one side of the border or the other, until the stars grow old."

^{Code of the Clans, pages 132-133}

Though it is unclear when the tensions began, as Windstar and Shadowstar had friendly relations between their Clans, conflict between ShadowClan and WindClan has existed since the time of Hazelstar and Blizzardstar, where Daisytail, Hawkfoot, and Oakleaf stopped a battle between their Clans over prey-stealing. This confrontation resulted in the creation of the fifth law to the warrior code: kits must be six moons old to become an apprentice. Many moons later, ShadowClan's medicine cat Mossheart grew tired of the constant bloodshed between her Clan and WindClan. She and Swiftfoot, WindClan's medicine cat, gathered the other medicine cats to meet at the Moonstone in hopes that StarClan could stop the endless fighting. Spottedpaw, an apprentice who was killed in the earlier skirmish, visited Mossheart's dreams and encouraged her that despite the duties that warriors have to defend their borders, there is no need for unnecessary death. The medicine cats convinced their leaders to add the fourteenth law to the warrior code: an honorable warrior does not need to kill others to win their battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or in self-defense. Despite these additions, extensive conflict between the two Clans escalated during the time of Heatherstar's and Tallstar's leaderships of WindClan and Cedarstar's, Raggedstar's, and Brokenstar's leaderships of ShadowClan.

Overview

Nightpelt: "How long will this continue, do you think?"

Yellowfang: "Until every cat is dead, either here or in WindClan."

^{Yellowfang's Secret, page 472}

Battles between the two Clans escalated when Twolegs built a tunnel between their territories underneath the Thunderpath, providing both Clans easy and safe access to invade. Both Cedarstar and Heatherstar allowed their warriors to invade the other Clan using the Thunderpath tunnel, resulting in prey-stealing and accusations between the two groups. At one point, ShadowClan threatened to eventually drive WindClan from their home, and Talltail wondered if ShadowClan's attacks stem from hatred. Brokentail used the longstanding rivalry with WindClan to accuse WindClan of killing Raggedstar when their patrol was ambushed. Brokenstar led his Clan on a path of vengeance towards WindClan for Raggedstar's death, and he was supported by ShadowClan's strongest warriors. After countless raids on WindClan, ShadowClan successfully drove WindClan away from their camp. Following Brokenstar's defeat, WindClan is eventually returned home after living near a Thunderpath nest for two moons.

Description

Early fights

Heatherstar: "Why did you attack us? Why?"

Stonetooth: "Why shouldn't we? We could hunt on these moors just as well as you."

^{Tallstar's Revenge, pages 176-177}

A large ShadowClan patrol led by Stonetooth, ShadowClan's deputy, attacks WindClan's camp in greenleaf with intentions on driving WindClan out. Despite the tunnelers being away, WindClan manages to maintain their group with the help of the greenleaf visitors, though ShadowClan's warriors taunt WindClan for relying on rogues to help them. As Heatherstar confronts Stonetooth, the ShadowClan deputy promises WindClan will be driven out eventually. After ShadowClan flees, Brackenwing dies from her wounds and Tallpaw blames himself for not reporting ShadowClan's scent earlier.

Several moons later in leaf-bare, ShadowClan drenches their scent markers at Fourtrees border with WindClan though Heatherstar refuses to act irrationally at their attempt to provoke WindClan. Later, ShadowClan steals rabbits from WindClan using the tunnel underneath the Thunderpath. However, Talltail, Dawnstripe, Aspenfall, and Plumclaw are ambushed by a ShadowClan patrol led by Cedarstar before they can report the prey-stealing. Aspenfall arrives with reinforcements and Shrewclaw is bent on killing Cedarstar in revenge for his mother's death. Newtspeck attacks Shrewclaw before he can kill her leader, leaving Shrewclaw mortally wounded. ShadowClan retreats as WindClan despairs over Shrewclaw's death, leaving Talltail wondering if ShadowClan really hated WindClan to kill over stolen prey.

Brokenstar leading his Clanmates to their camp after successfully driving out WindClan

In ShadowClan, their kits are encouraged to pretend they are fighting WindClan warriors. Later in leaf-bare, Yellowpaw and Foxpaw detect WindClan scent on their territory from the Thunderpath tunnel and evidence of WindClan stealing a pigeon. After reporting this to Brightflower and Blizzardwing, Stonetooth leads a battle patrol to confront WindClan though wishes to given them an opportunity explain themselves first. Stonetooth leads Brightflower, Crowtail, Brackenfoot, Deerleap, Raggedpaw, Scorchpaw, Yellowpaw, Nutpaw, and Rowanpaw into WindClan territory. They encounter Reedfeather, WindClan's deputy, and his patrol waiting for them. Stonetooth challenges Reedfeather for the stolen pigeon, though the WindClan deputy dismisses his claims until Stonetooth threatens a battle. A fight ensues and ShadowClan quickly defeats the WindClan warriors. Cedarstar names Raggedpaw a warrior due to his battle prowess in the fight.

During the next leaf-bare, Heatherstar reports detecting ShadowClan scent on their territory, though Raggedpelt believes it to be a ruse. The following morning, Archeye, Yellowfang, Wolfstep, and Amberleaf detect fresh WindClan scent on their territory. They encounter Dawnstripe leading a patrol into their territory in retaliation for ShadowClan scent on their land. A battle ensues with the WindClan patrol threatening ShadowClan to stay off their territory. Years later, under Raggedstar's leadership, Brokentail claims he found dead rabbit with WindClan scent on ShadowClan's side of the tunnel. He convinces his father to launch a counterattack on WindClan for prey stealing, though Yellowfang suspects Brokentail isn't telling the truth about the rabbit. Raggedstar leads Cloudpelt, Brokentail, Stumpytail, Flintfang, and Scorchwind to attack WindClan in their territory. However, WindClan's warriors fight fiercely to defend their territory and force Raggedstar to call a retreat. Cloudpelt is fatally injured during the right and later dies from his wounds.

After Mudclaw's patrol finds evidence of ShadowClan stealing prey on their territory again, Tallstar orders double patrols. While marking the Fourtrees border, Onewhisker, Ashfoot, Mudclaw, and Brushpaw discover Amberleaf, Scorchwind, and Finchflight feasting on a rabbit in their territory. The ShadowClan cats insist the rabbit ran from ShadowClan's land into WindClan's, thus they still have claim over it. The WindClan patrol finds their explanation ridiculous and Mudclaw attacks first. The ShadowClan cats quickly flee though Finchflight mortally wounds Brushpaw, who later dies from his wounds.

WindClan's exile

Main article: Tyranny of Brokenstar

"ShadowClan needs your territory. We gave you the chance to share your hunting grounds, but it's too late now. This is your one warning. If even a single WindClan cat is here tomorrow, we'll kill you all. You know you aren't strong enough to defend your Clan against us."

―Brokenstar to Tallstar ^{Blackfoot's Reckoning, page 293}

Nightpelt exploring WindClan's territory after their exile

Brokentail claims that WindClan ambushed his night patrol and Raggedstar was killed. However, Brokentail killed his father to become leader and he instead blamed WindClan. After Brokenstar receives his nine lives, he vows vengeance on WindClan for the death of his father, rallying his Clanmates to have their revenge after Raggedstar's death by WindClan's claws. Brokenstar leads ShadowClan to only focus on destroying WindClan, naming kits before they are six moons of age and forcing them to participate in battles. His Clan prioritizes fighting over hunting, with several raids being led into WindClan to antagonize them and steal their prey. These battles and raids on their patrols and into their camp last from leaf-fall to newleaf. In newleaf, Brokenstar alleges to have detected WindClan scent on their territory and leads a battle patrol to attack them at dawn. Yellowfang and Nightpelt watch the fight from across the Thunderpath. ShadowClan's warriors attack WindClan's camp until WindClan retreats, but Badgerfang is killed.

Eventually, ShadowClan plots to drive WindClan out from their territory so they can claim the land themselves for their growing Clan. Brokenstar and his deputy Blackfoot arrange a meeting with Tallstar and Deadfoot at the Thunderpath, planning on distracting them while ShadowClan warriors attack their camp. Brokenstar and Blackfoot follow Tallstar and Deadfoot to their camp where ShadowClan's warriors are already mercilessly attacking every cat. Brokenstar demands to Tallstar to leave the moor for good or face a massacre in the morning. WindClan eventually flees their territory and ShadowClan claims it as their own. With WindClan gone, Brokenstar demands the other Clans to share their territory with ShadowClan. Only RiverClan agrees. Meanwhile, WindClan, in their exile, travels for one moon and settles near a nest of Thunderpaths.

Aftermath

"The forest needs four Clans. Just as we have Fourtrees, and four seasons, StarClan has given us four Clans. We must find WindClan as soon as possible and bring them home."

―Bluestar about saving WindClan ^{Fire and Ice, page 28}

Following WindClan's exile and Brokenstar's defeat, ShadowClan's new leader Nightpelt and RiverClan's leader Crookedstar agree to share WindClan's former land to hunt. A joint RiverClan-ShadowClan patrol chase away Stagleap, Sorrelshine, and Pigeonflight, three stragglers when WindClan fled from Brokenstar. However, Bluestar of ThunderClan believes WindClan must be returned. She tasks two of her warriors, Fireheart and Graystripe, to find WindClan and return them home. They locate WindClan living near a nest of Thunderpaths, and bring news of Brokenstar's defeat. Fireheart and Graystripe journey with WindClan on their way home. While sheltering at Barley's farm, Barkface interprets red clouds as a sign of an unnecessary death. WindClan gleefully returns to their camp after two moons of exile, and Tallstar expresses his gratitude to Fireheart and Graystripe. While journeying back home, Fireheart, Graystripe, Deadfoot, and Onewhisker are attacked by a RiverClan patrol near the gorge, and it results in Whiteclaw falling to his death in the falls. The temporary friendship between WindClan and ThunderClan is short-lived when WindClan discovers ThunderClan is sheltering Brokentail as a prisoner.

Quotes

"Spare no one!"

―Stonetooth during the fight in WindClan's camp ^{Tallstar's Revenge, page 172}

«This battle had been fought over rabbits—and now Shrewclaw was dead. Were ShadowClan's warriors so hungry they were willing to kill for stolen prey, or did their hatred for WindClan run deeper than he'd ever imagined?»

—Talltail about Shrewclaw's death in battle ^{Tallstar's Revenge, page 482}

Yelllowkit: "WindClan warriors! Do you agree that ShadowClan is the best of all the Clans? Or do you need to feel our claws in your fur to persuade you?"

Littlebird: "No, you're far too fierce for us. We don't want to fight."

^{Yellowfang's Secret, page 8}

"Back off, Talltail. We've done enough. That will teach these mangy cats not to trespass on WindClan territory."

―Dawnstripe to Talltail ^{Yellowfang's Secret, page 222}

"I will not rest until WindClan has been punished, and until ShadowClan is feared by every cat in the forest."

―Brokenstar ^{Yellowfang's Secret, page 450}

«We'll drive them out of the forest. We're going to destroy WindClan forever. It's what they deserve for trying to hurt ShadowClan.»

—Blackfoot during a fight ^{Blackfoot's Reckoning, page 281}

"How can WindClan have been driven out? ShadowClan is fierce, but WindClan is many. They have lived in the uplands for generations. Why have they been chased out now?"

―One-eye about WindClan's exile ^{Into the Wild, page 97}

Leopardfur: "What are you doing here?"

Stagleap: "This is our land. What are you doing here?"

^{Leopardstar's Honor, pages 235-236}

Trivia

Mistakes

• There are several inconsistencies with the battles between WindClan and ShadowClan depicted in Yellowfang's Secret and Tallstar's Revenge:
  • In the first battle with ShadowClan after Talltail returns to his Clan in leaf-bare in Tallstar's Revenge: WindClan finds evidence of ShadowClan killing rabbits. The battle is led by Cedarstar with Blizzardwing, Newtspeck, Raggedpaw, and a ginger tabby she-cat. ShadowClan instigates the attack by surprising WindClan from the tunnel, but ShadowClan retreats once reinforcements arrive by Reedfeather's patrol. The battle results in Shrewclaw's death.
  • In Yellowfang's Secret: ShadowClan attacks WindClan due to evidence of WindClan stealing a pigeon. Stonetooth leads the patrol with Brackenfoot, Crowtail, Raggedpaw, Scorchpaw, Deerleap, Yellowpaw, Nutpaw, Rowanpaw, and Brightflower. Stonetooth's patrol confronts Reedfeather's patrol and provides them an opportunity to explain themselves first. ShadowClan then attacks and WindClan quickly retreats. Raggedpaw is named a warrior for his bravery.
    • Both battles occur in leaf-bare and it is possible the battle in Tallstar's Revenge occurred prior to the one in Yellowfang's Secret. However, the battle in Yellowfang's Secret is noted to be Raggedpaw's first. If both battles are meant to be the same, then there are several contradictions on the instigation party, participants, and outcome of the fight.
  • Shrewclaw is later depicted as Shrewpaw in a fight against WindClan in Yellowfang's Secret, however this is supposedly long after he died. Redclaw is mistakenly mentioned as his mentor when it was Hareflight, and Talltail is shown as a warrior alongside Shrewpaw, though they received their warrior names at the same time.

Continuity

The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.

• On Su Susann's "Missing Kits" on Vicky's Facebook, Cloudrunner died protecting his pregnant mate, Morningflower, in the battle when Brokenstar forced WindClan out of their territory.

See also

• Tallstar's Revenge
  • Tallstar's Revenge/Cliffnotes
• Yellowfang's Secret
  • Yellowfang's Secret/Cliffnotes
• Leopardstar's Honor
  • Leopardstar's Honor/Cliffnotes
• Onestar's Confession
  • Onestar's Confession/Cliffnotes
• Exile from ShadowClan
  • Exile from ShadowClan/Cliffnotes
• Blackfoot's Reckoning
  • Blackfoot's Reckoning/Cliffnotes
• Into the Wild
  • Into the Wild/Cliffnotes
• Fire and Ice
  • Fire and Ice/Cliffnotes