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.”
Ivypool’s voice was low but powerful, and for a moment Bramblestar was shocked by her ruthless advice. Then he remembered the many moons that Ivypool had spent being trained in the Dark Forest. She had learned more savagery there than most warriors could imagine. Thornclaw, Blossomfall, and Birchfall must know how to fight like this, too, he thought. At least their experiences will be useful here.
When the apprentices tried the move again, Bramblestar could see the effects of Ivypool’s advice. They kept their balance, their claws digging into Brackenfur’s back. Lilypaw bent over Brackenfur’s shoulder until her ears almost brushed the grass and hooked his paws out from under him. As he fell onto his side, Snowpaw flexed his claws, aiming for Brackenfur’s eyes.
“Hey!” Brackenfur yowled. “Don’t do that for real!”
Snowpaw leaped back, giving Brackenfur the chance to haul himself back onto his paws. “Sorry,” he mewed. “I got carried away.”
“No harm done,” Brackenfur responded.
Ivypool gave an approving nod. “Much better. That was fierce.”
When his patrol returned to the camp, Bramblestar noticed that the atmosphere had improved. All the cats were discussing the battle practice, the younger warriors especially pleased with what they had learned. Even though Bramblestar figured they were still not thrilled about going into battle on behalf of another Clan, there was a new sense of purpose and pride in their skills.
“I think they’ll be okay,” Squirrelflight remarked, padding up to him where he sat at the foot of the mudpile.
“How did you get on with the kittypets?” Bramblestar asked.
“Frankie and Jessy did well,” Squirrelflight replied. “But Minty has no confidence at all.”
Bramblestar nodded. “She’s not bred to fight. And they’re kittypets: Can we even ask them to take part in this battle at all?”
“Jessy and Frankie are keen to join in,” Squirrelflight told him. “I can’t stop them.”
Daisy poked her head out of the tunnel; clearly she had overheard what they were discussing. “Minty could stay behind with me and the other cats who don’t fight,” she meowed. “You can’t risk the lives of your entire Clan. This isn’t the battle against the Dark Forest all over again.”
Bramblestar nodded. “Who else do you think should stay behind?”
“Enough warriors to defend the camp,” Daisy meowed. “Maybe Brackenfur and Spiderleg, for a start.” She gave her whiskers a twitch. “I’d ask Graystripe and Dustpelt, too, but it’s no use expecting those gray muzzles to listen to me!”
While she was speaking, Leafpool emerged from the bushes with a mouthful of chervil and padded up to Bramblestar. She set down her bundle of herbs and waited patiently for a chance to speak.
“Do you need something?” Bramblestar mewed.
“It’s about Cinderheart.” Leafpool looked troubled. “I think she should stay here in camp, too.”
Baffled, Bramblestar exchanged a glance with Squirrelflight. Was there a problem with Cinderheart that he didn’t know about? Squirrelflight shrugged. “Why do you think that?” Bramblestar prompted.
Leafpool hesitated. “I just don’t think you can expect Cinderheart to face badgers.”