Tricking the foxes

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"If my plan doesn't work, we could just hide in the den. […] But if it does work, we'll get rid of the foxes, and Fog's cats. And with Fog's cats gone, if we keep a low profile for a while, the Twolegs will think they've gotten rid of us and stop leaving traps.

— Tigerheart explaining his plan in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 265

Tricking the foxes
General information
Book:	Tigerheart's Shadow
Date:	Leaf-bare; less than a day
Place:	The city
Outcome:	The foxes are successfully trapped Fog and her rogues return to their own camp The guardian cats reinforce their claim over their home
Combatants
The guardian cats
Five foxes
Strength
Tigerheart Fierce Cobweb Ant Tuna Mittens Rascal Pipsqueak Dotty Cinnamon Peanut Blaze Boots Bracken Spire
Three large foxes Two smaller foxes
Chronology
Preceded by:	The Kin's campaign
Concurrent:	Watermint shortage, Fire, Fall of ShadowClan, Battle for the stolen kits
Followed by:	Journey from the city

Tricking the foxes was an event where the guardian cats drove out foxes from the city, which took place in Tigerheart's Shadow.

Summary

Premise

Tigerheart: "The guardian cats?"

Dovewing: "These cats here. They take care of one another. And of strangers who need help or healing. You see? My dream was right. I was meant to come here. Our kits will be safe."

^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 140}

When Dovewing expresses her desire to flee the Clans in order to give birth to her and Tigerheart's kits in a much safer environment, Tigerheart is initially hesitant. He agonizes over whether he should stay in ShadowClan, feeling responsible as its deputy, or go with his mate and protect his family. Tigerheart only changes his mind in the wake of a conversation with Ivypool; he had hoped that convincing Ivypool to talk with her sister would sway Dovewing's conviction, but the attempt fails, ending with Ivypool expressing clear scorn towards Tigerheart and his half-Clan relationship. This leads to him realizing that he does not want to prioritize the crumbling ShadowClan over his mate. With Clan matters slowing him down, Tigerheart is unable to meet up with Dovewing in time—she had already left by the time he arrives to their spot, so he ends up staying behind, concluding that Puddleshine's vision indicates Tigerheart's importance in holding ShadowClan together.

Tigerheart tries his best to focus on his Clan, though he constantly worries about Dovewing's whereabouts and safety. After openly disagreeing with his father, Rowanstar, in front of SkyClan and being told not to intercept Rowanstar's leadership, Tigerheart grows unsure of his place. He learns of another vision from Puddleshine and mistakenly believes that he is the reason Rowanstar has been unable to gain proper control over ShadowClan. Now fully committed to Dovewing, he leaves the Clans and follows her trail, finally arriving at the guardian cats' camp. There, he sees how pleased Dovewing looks, surrounded by cats who take care of one another. As a result, when the guardian cats explain that a fox has been blocking important herbs that they use for healing, Tigerheart decides to help.

Overview

Coming Soon

Description

The first encounter

"I could be bait. […] I know my thoughts wander and I often seem lost. But I'm no fool. These foxes need to go. That herb patch is important. I'm fast on my paws, and I trust you to protect me."

―Spire volunteering to drive out the foxes ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 164}

Fierce, Cobweb, Cinnamon, and Ant lead Tigerheart to the outskirts of the Twoleg dens where the herb patch is located. They pass the Thunderpath via an underground tunnel so that Tigerheart can investigate further, while the guardian cats examine the willow herbs and feverfew. They discuss how they will have to collect the herbs before leaf-bare arrives, so Tigerheart asks them to show him around some more and find out whether the fox has already dug a den for itself. They encounter a dog-fox and are forced to engage in a fight with it. Tigerheart corrects the guardian cats' combat, but when the situation is just about to turn in their favor, a vixen—the first fox's mate—joins the battle. The group of cats flee from the territorial foxes, now knowing that it is only a matter of time until fox cubs swarm the herb patch.

The next two days are anxiety-inducing. The weather gets colder, threatening the precious herbs, and Tigerheart struggles with convincing the guardian cats about fighting the foxes. Some of them are eager to drive the foxes out, while others insist that they are healers instead of fighters. Tigerheart attempts to use Clan logic and emphasize the importance of territory; although that idea gets shot down fast, Fierce sees sense in protecting their stores in order to continue helping others. The guardian cats agree to begin training with Tigerheart. A plan begins to form: Spire will act as bait so that the others can ambush the foxes, increasing the cats' chances at success.

Troublesome competition

"They may be happy now, but what if Fog and her friends decide they want a warmer den and invade the gathering place? There are sick cats there who can't defend themselves! Just because the guardian cats chased off a couple of foxes, it doesn't mean they're ready for a full battle over territory."

―Tigerheart about Fog and the guardian cats ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 208}

Coming Soon

The second and final round

Fog: "It would be nice to keep my pelt. I'm not risking it fighting foxes. Can't you see? He's trying to trick us. He wants us gone, and he's willing to do anything to get rid of us, even if it means feeding us to foxes."

Tuna: "It sounds like a good plan."

^{Tigerheart's Shadow, pages 260-261}

Coming Soon

Aftermath

"Don't come back. From now on, this is guardian-cat territory, and we're ready to defend our borders."

―Fierce establishing boundaries ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 280}

Coming Soon

Characters

Tigerheart

Coming Soon

Fog

«[Tigerheart had] expected a city cat to only care about himself. But then he remembered Fog. She might have behaved like a rogue, but she'd stayed loyal to her group, hadn't she? And he could still remember her wail of grief as she'd watched the Twoleg carry her brother away. Perhaps all cats were warriors at heart.»

—Tigerheart thinking about Fog ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 311}

Coming Soon

Quotes

"Fighting foxes is one thing; driving them away for good is another."

―Tigerheart ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 149}

See also

• Tigerheart's Shadow
  • Tigerheart's Shadow Cliffnotes