SkyClan-WindClan conflict

"You fought for nothing. Why didn't you let me go home? I could have spoken to Wind Runner. I could have told her what you said about Willow Tail and Red Claw. You could have settled this with words. [...] You need to make peace. This must end here."

— Moth Flight to Clear Sky and Wind Runner about the battle in Moth Flight's Vision, page 398

SkyClan-WindClan conflict
General information
Book:	Moth Flight's Vision
Date:	Newleaf to greenleaf
Place:	The forest territories
Outcome:	Stalemate; Willow Tail apologizes for causing the war Moth Flight takes Wind Runner to the Moonstone where she receives her nine lives
Combatants
SkyClan
WindClan
Leaders
Clear Sky
Wind Runner
Strength
Red Claw Star Flower Nettle Blossom Sparrow Fur Birch Quick Water Alder Thorn
Willow Tail Slate Fern Leaf Jagged Peak Dust Muzzle Gorse Fur Swift Minnow Holly Storm Pelt
Death and losses
Micah Tiny Branch
Willow Tail Windstar's first life
Chronology
Preceded by:	Founding of the Clans
Followed by:	Battle for Quick Water

The SkyClan-WindClan conflict was a period of conflict between SkyClan and WindClan when the two Clans fought against each other due to prior tensions between the Clan leaders and accusations of prey stealing. This was the first major strife between the Clans since their founding a moon prior.

Summary

Premise

"Then why did he lead the dogs right into the camp?"

―Willow about Red ^{Path of Stars, page 169}

Willow Tail and Red Claw, formerly known as Willow and Red, originally lived with Slash and his group. Slash's reign over the group was cruel and harsh, and he and his allies frequently tortured them under the guise of training. Beech, a friend of Willow, was a victim of Slash's games. During one of these sessions, Red streaks into camp with three dogs chasing him, leading the large creatures straight into camp. The group attempts to fight off the dogs, though they kill Beech, Stone, and break Frog's spine. Frog eventually dies from his injuries, and Willow gravely grieves the loss of her brother and her friend Beech. Thunder and Lightning Tail liberate some of Slash's cats, and they join the five groups, with Willow joining Wind Runner's group and Red joining Clear Sky's. Originally, Wind Runner refuses to trust Willow, but Wind Runner grows to trust her after she helps rescue Black Ear from Slash. Likewise, Clear Sky grows distrustful of Red when he learns he's from Slash's group, though he successfully demonstrates his loyalty to Clear Sky. In addition, Wind Runner and Clear Sky developed bitter opinions of each other when the latter began enforcing borders.

Overview

«She didn't understand why there had to be lines scratched between the Clans. Borders just seemed to make everyone suspicious of each other. What if there was a harsh leafbare or a dry greenleaf? Would one Clan let another starve or go thirsty rather than share their hunting lands?»

—Moth Flight's thoughts about borders ^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 23}

Fueled by her distrust of Red Claw and his continued trespasses on WindClan territory, Willow Tail begins to stage prey bones on WindClan's land and accuses SkyClan of prey-stealing. The tensions between the two former campmates fuels the conflict between WindClan and SkyClan, with both Wind Runner and Clear Sky believing their respective Clanmates. Wind Runner and Clear Sky already distrust each other from moons of conflict before the groups formed Clans, and accuse the other of prey-stealing. Clear Sky grows tired of Moth Flight, WindClan's medicine cat, continuously trespassing on his territory to gather herbs, and a confrontation between Willow Tail and Red Claw on Clear Sky's orders results in the death of Micah, SkyClan's medicine cat. Willow Tail's schemes continue for three moons, and Wind Runner, believing her Clanmate that SkyClan is prey-stealing, begins to send hunting patrols to steal prey from SkyClan. At a Gathering, Wind Runner calls for the other Clans to abandon SkyClan for their heinous actions. Tiny Branch, Clear Sky's son, dies from a fox attack despite the medicine cats' best attempts. Clear Sky learns that Wind Runner originally prevented Moth Flight from arriving soon, and he keeps Moth Flight prisoner in his camp so Wind Runner can apologize for prey-stealing; Clear Sky learns from Red Claw that Willow Tail might be lying about the prey-stealing as the result of her vendetta against Red Claw. WindClan attacks SkyClan's camp, resulting in Clear Sky gravely injuring Wind Runner and killing Willow Tail. Before she dies, Willow Tail reveals she staged the prey bones to punish Red Claw. Moth Flight encourages the two leaders to find peace.

Description

Early tensions and deceptions

Willow Tail: "Listen, I don't want you on WindClan land. You'll bring trouble. You always do!"

Red Claw: "You're not WindClan's leader. Or SkyClan's. You can't tell me what to do."

^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 22}

Willow Tail confronts Red Claw for sunbathing a few tail-lengths into WindClan territory, though Spotted Fur and Moth Flight encourage him to leave without a fight. Willow Tail is distrustful of Red Claw due to their shared history, and Wind Runner allows Willow Tail to make sure he returns to his own territory. Slate discovers rabbit bones on WindClan's border with SkyClan, though unbeknownst to the Clans, Willow Tail begins staging prey bones and blaming them on SkyClan out of revenge against Red Claw. At the Gathering, Willow Tail accuses Red Claw of stealing prey, much to Wind Runner's ire. Wind Runner defends her Clanmate by bringing up Slate's discovery of rabbit bones, and Red Claw and Willow Tail continue to throw insults at each other. Before they can fight, Moth Flight and Micah arrive with news from the spirit cats. Tensions continue to remain high between the two Clans, and Wind Runner is displeased when SkyClan's medicine cat Micah visits abruptly to see Moth Flight.

While Moth Flight and Micah fetch sap for Rocky's cough, Clear Sky confronts Moth Flight for trespassing on his territory. Moth Flight attempts to reason that she needs the sap to cure Rocky, though he casts aside her intentions. The two verbally argue until Clear Sky scratches her muzzle. Red Claw arrives and Clear Sky orders him to stop Micah from fetching the sap. Willow Tail arrives to help Moth Flight and she and Red Claw fight in the tree. Micah attempts to stop them but the tree branch falls and Micah is crushed to death. Both SkyClan and WindClan help bury his body out of respect.

Raids on SkyClan

"SkyClan cats don't hunt on other Clans' land. Not like WindClan. We found Jagged Peak's fur caught on a bramble this morning. And fresh-kill blood less than a tail-length away."

―Sparrow Fur about WindClan prey-stealing ^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 338}

For the next three moons, SkyClan is accused of raiding the moor for rabbits as a result of Willow Tail's actions, though Clear Sky denies any SkyClan involvement. In retaliation, Wind Runner begins to send hunting patrols on SkyClan's land after Willow Tail, Fern Leaf, and Jagged Peak catch Red Claw's scent on their land and more prey bones, though Moth Flight is skeptical of Willow Tail's claims. Wind Runner insists she trusts her Clanmate. Meanwhile, Acorn Fur meets Moth Flight on WindClan's land to teach her how to be a medicine cat, though Clear Sky stops her from leaving the camp once he finds out. He prevents any other Clan cat from crossing his border, including medicine cats from traveling to the Twolegplace to gather catmint.

While on their way to the next Gathering, SkyClan is attacked by a fox. At four trees, Wind Runner calls for the other Clans to abandon SkyClan for not showing up and their continued hunting conflicts. Sparrow Fur frantically arrives, bringing news of a fox attack and requesting help from the medicine cats since Tiny Branch is gravely injured. Wind Runner and a few others attempt to stop Moth Flight from helping. Despite the medicine cats' best attempts, Tiny Branch dies. While Moth Flight is sorry that she couldn't come sooner, Sparrow Fur reveals that Wind Runner prevented her from coming. When Slate develops redcough, Moth Flight and Spotted Fur return to SkyClan's territory to fetch tree sap. They encounter Willow Tail by the border and ask her to keep watch until they return. Spotted Fur and Moth Flight are caught by a SkyClan patrol and taken to their camp for questioning. While Clear Sky is grateful for Moth Flight for attempting to save his son, he has Moth Flight and Spotted Fur kept prisoner in their camp until Wind Runner apologizes for prey-stealing. The SkyClan leader explains how Red Claw had told him that Willow Tail has been lying about the prey-stealing for moons due to previous grudges between the two of them. Moth Flight and Spotted Fur are dubious about his explanation, but fear that Wind Runner will start a war.

An unnecessary war

Wind Runner: "You went too far this time. You took my kit hostage."

Clear Sky: "And you let my kit die."

^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 393}

Just as Moth Flight predicted, Wind Runner leads a battle patrol to attack SkyClan's camp. The camp erupts into battle despite Moth Flight's attempts to call for it to stop. Blossom attacks Moth Flight for attempting to heal her injured Clanmates until Jagged Peak pins Blossom down. Wind Runner and Clear Sky confront each other, with Clear Sky slashing a large gash on Wind Runner's throat and causing her to trip over a root, breaking her hind paw. With Wind Runner down, the battle slowly stops. Clear Sky turns his attention on Willow Tail and slashes her eyes, blinding her and leaving her for Red Claw. Red Claw confronts Willow Tail for lying, and the blind she-cat insists she did it because Red Claw led dogs into Slash's camp that resulted in Beech being killed. Red Claw confesses he was scared when he accidentally led the dogs back to their camp. Willow Tail also admits to staging prey bones and accusing SkyClan of prey-stealing. Moth Flight makes Clear Sky and Wind Runner realize the fight was fruitless. The other medicine cats arrive and help treat the injured, though Willow Tail dies. The also medicine cats restraighten Wind Runner's broken hind paw.

Aftermath

Moth Flight: "Any cat can follow a moth."

Gray Wing: "Few cats would understand which moth will lead their Clan to safety."

^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 440}

Wind Runner's condition worsens after the battle. With guidance from the moth and her dreams, Moth Flight brings Wind Runner to the Moonstone in hopes StarClan might heal her. Gray Wing greets Moth Flight and Wind Runner and he and others grant the WindClan leader eight additional lives. Several of Wind Runner's kin and friends participate in the ceremony, and Willow Tail, now in StarClan, apologizes for lying. After receiving her eighth life from Half Moon, Wind Runner collapses and dies from her wounds. However, she rises again anew with her new life granted by StarClan, and the StarClan cats hail her by her new name Windstar. Moth Flight shares this news of StarClan's gift with the other Clans, and the rest of the Clan leaders receive their nine lives and leader names.

Characters

Willow Tail

"The only scrawny vermin on our territory lately is you!"

―Willow Tail to Red Claw ^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 121}

Willow Tail falsified evidence of SkyClan stealing prey because of her grudge against Red Claw

Willow Tail, originally known as Willow, is a member of WindClan. She and her brother Frog were formerly a part of Slash's group and lived in terror under his rule. She was also close with her friend Beech. After Red accidentally led dogs into camp, Beech was killed and Frog eventually succumbed to his injuries. Willow joined Wind Runner's group and it took time for Wind Runner to trust her. Willow was renamed Willow Tail and she became a contributing member of the group. However, Willow Tail maintained her grudge against Red Claw for leading dogs to Slash's camp and killing her friend and brother. As a result, Willow Tail began staging prey bones on WindClan's land and accusing SkyClan of stealing prey for moons. Wind Runner believed her Clanmate, and began sending patrols to steal prey from SkyClan. The conflict rises to a battle in SkyClan's camp, and Clear Sky kills Willow Tail. Before she dies, Willow Tail reveals her lies. Willow Tail went to StarClan and asked Wind Runner for forgiveness.

Red Claw

"They were chasing me. I was young and dumb. I ran into a pack of dogs, and when they started chasing me, I ran back to the one place I'd always felt safe. I thought until I got there, nothing could hurt me. It wasn't until the dogs attacked that I realized what I'd done."

―Red Claw to Willow Tail about the dogs ^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 396}

Red Claw's mistake resulted in the deaths of three of his campmates

Like Willow Tail, Red Claw, originally known as Red, was a member of Slash's group. Red accidentally led three dogs into Slash's camp, resulting in the death of three of his campmates. Clear Sky was unaware of Red's history when he joined his group, but Red succeeded in earning Clear Sky's trust and was renamed Red Claw. Red Claw began trespassing on WindClan's land to sunbathe, much to Willow Tail's ire. The two continued to butt heads with each other, accusing the other of prey-stealing. His squabbles with Willow Tail fuels the conflict between their Clans and even results in Micah's death. Clear Sky believes Red Claw, especially once his Clanmate explains that Willow Tail might be falsifying evidence due to their prior history. After the battle in SkyClan's camp, Red Claw confronts Willow Tail for her lies, explaining that he didn't mean to lure the dogs into camp.

Wind Runner

"If Clear Sky catches you with one of his cats, who knows what he'll do? I've known him a long time. He's capable of more cruelty than you can imagine."

―Wind Runner about Clear Sky ^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 334}

Wind Runner believed Willow Tail and attacked SkyClan's camp

Wind Runner is the leader of WindClan. While originally distrusting of Willow Tail, she eventually earned her leader's trust. Due to prior interactions with Clear Sky, Wind Runner developed a negative opinion of him. When Willow Tail brought news of Red Tail trespassing, Wind Runner recalled her prior experiences with Clear Sky and ordered Willow Tail to ensure Red Claw returned to his territory. Wind Runner believes Willow Tail's word when she continues to find evidence of SkyClan stealing prey, and the Clan leader sends hunting patrols into their land in retaliation. When the conflict continues, Wind Runner calls for SkyClan to be cast aside by the other Clans, and she initially refuses for Moth Flight to help Clear Sky's son. Wind Runner leads an attack on SkyClan's camp when Clear Sky keeps her daughter and Spotted Fur hostage, though she and Clear Sky accept the battle is fruitless after Willow Tail confesses.

Clear Sky

"She has accused us of stealing prey. She has stolen prey herself. And why? She has listen to the word of a rogue and believed it over the word of a mountain cat. It's hardly surprising. Wind Runner was a rogue herself once."

―Clear Sky about Wind Runner ^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 379}

Clear Sky refusal to settle the conflict with words resulted in WindClan attacking his camp

Clear Sky is the leader of SkyClan. Similar with Wind Runner, Clear Sky tested Red's loyalty to him before gaining his trust. When Willow Tail accused Red Claw of prey-stealing, Clear Sky stood by his Clanmate. He began to grow tired of Moth Flight constantly trespassing to gather herbs, and ordered Red Claw to stop Micah from gathering sap for her. Red Claw and Willow Tail's fight in the tree resulted in Micah's death. When Acorn Fur began to seek education from Moth Flight, Clear Sky closed his borders and prevented her from leaving the camp to travel to WindClan. After Tiny Branch's death, Clear Sky believed Wind Runner's inaction led to his son's death. He also learned from Red Claw that Willow Tail might be lying about prey-stealing, so he keeps Moth Flight in his camp so Wind Runner can apologize in person. However, WindClan attacks SkyClan's camp, and Clear Sky severely injures Wind Runner and kills Willow Tail. Moth Flight convinces both of the Clan leaders to find peace.

Quotes

Clear Sky: "WindClan seems to think that borders only work one way!"

Moth Flight: "That's not true. It's SkyClan who's been stealing moor prey! I'm just a medicine cat. I only want to get sap to cure Rocky! As soon as Micah finds some bark, I'll take it and leave."

^{Moth Flight's Vision, page 243}

Red Claw: "Why did you have to lie?"

Willow Tail: "Don't you know?"

^{Moth Flight's Vision, pages 396-397}

See also

• Moth Flight's Vision
• Moth Flight's Vision/Cliffnotes