Bramblestar’s Storm

“We will begin training at once, so we can be ready,” he finished curtly, and jumped down from the mudpile.

His paws had scarcely touched the ground when Daisy pushed her way through the crowd of cats. “I chose to stay with ThunderClan because I trusted that my kits and I would be kept safe,” she told him, her normally gentle voice deepened to a growl. “I thought I could trust you, too, Bramblestar. Why do we need to face danger again so soon?”

Before Bramblestar could reply, Jessy skirted the nearest group of cats to stand at his side. “You’re a Clan cat through and through,” she told Daisy with a respectful nod of her head. “You’ve had courage to survive in the past, and you’ll survive again.”

Daisy twitched her ears, as if she wasn’t sure if she should be offended by a kittypet telling her how to behave. “But that doesn’t mean we have to go looking for trouble,” she protested.

“Sooner or later, trouble will come to you,” Jessy meowed. “I’ve learned that much about living in a Clan! Bramblestar’s right to deal with the badgers now, before they try to take over ThunderClan territory.”

Daisy was silent for a moment. At last she raised her eyes to gaze directly at Bramblestar. “You’re our Clan leader,” she mewed. “I trust you. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Thank you, Daisy.” Bramblestar dipped his head. “No warrior should enjoy going into battle. But sometimes we have no other option. Thanks, Jessy,” he added when Daisy had walked away. “You said exactly the right thing.” He let out a long sigh. “I wish I felt as certain about this as my Clanmates think I am,” he confessed. “Would Firestar have done this? Probably not,” he answered his own question. “He had no kin in ShadowClan. Oh, for StarClan’s sake, why does this have to be so difficult?”

“Well, you can’t change your mind now,” Jessy pointed out.

Murmuring agreement, Bramblestar turned toward the rest of his Clanmates. They were clustered around Squirrelflight, who was organizing them into groups to train for the battle.

“I don’t see why we’re doing this,” Mousewhisker grumbled. “The badgers are ShadowClan’s problem.”

“And I’m your problem,” Squirrelflight flashed back at him. “So just get on with it.”

She continued quietly dividing up the groups. Bramblestar noticed that she was choosing cats who had taken part in the battle against the badgers in the hollow, so many seasons ago, to lead the training. Graystripe, Brackenfur, and Cloudtail gathered younger warriors around them, and Squirrelflight led another group herself, including all three kittypets.

“Remember that some of us have fought badgers before,” she reminded them when the groups were ready. “We know what works and what doesn’t. The badgers are a lot bigger and stronger than you, so you should focus on what you do better than them: moving swiftly, darting in to strike, and getting out of range before they can retaliate. Work in pairs, with one of you distracting the badger while the other gets a blow in. And don’t forget that you can jump onto their backs. It’s far harder for them to throw you off than it would be for another cat.”

Bramblestar joined Brackenfur’s group, with Ivypool, Snowpaw, Poppyfrost, and Lilypaw. Brackenfur took a pace back, prepared to give up the leadership to Bramblestar, but Bramblestar shook his head and gestured with his tail to tell Brackenfur to go on.

Brackenfur led his group up toward the ridge until they found a clearing. “Right,” he meowed. “We’ll start with the move Squirrelflight mentioned, leaping onto the badger’s back. It’s a good tactic, because up there the badger can’t get at you. Snowpaw, do you want to start? I’ll be the badger.”

While Snowpaw faced up to Brackenfur, Bramblestar spotted a gap between the trees and padded over to gaze across into ShadowClan’s territory. I wonder what’s happening over there? What are the badgers doing? Is Rowanstar able to deal with them after all?

Turning back into the clearing, he saw that Snowpaw and Lilypaw were having trouble learning the move. They should have been able to use their speed to spring up and balance on the badger’s shoulder, to claw its fur, or even topple it off its paws. But they couldn’t stay on Brackenfur’s back for more than a couple of heartbeats before they fell off. Their waving legs and exposed bellies made them vulnerable before they could scramble upright again. Even though Lilypaw was older and more experienced, she was so small that she had the same difficulties as Snowpaw.

“I’d have eaten you both by now,” Brackenfur meowed frustratedly.

Bramblestar was about to offer his help when Ivypool stepped forward. “Listen,” she hissed. “The badgers are going to tear you apart if you don’t shape up. When you leap, dig your claws in hard. Bite down on their neck, and if you can get close enough, rip their eyelids and claw out their eyes.”