Erin Hunter - Warriors: Battles of the Clans

Brambleclaws Welcome

O nestar? Is something wrong? Who are your companions? Ah, a pair of curious kittypets. Welcome to ThunderClan. Our camp is on the other side of that row of thornbushes, sheltered by the cliffs of stone. Forgive me if I dont invite you in. I have only your word and Onestars that you havent come to learn more than we are willing to share.

You want to know about ThunderClans battle tactics? Well, look around. Notice the brambles and ferns crowding in on you, blocking your sight. We see them as opportunities for camouflage and causing confusion to the enemy when we pounce on them from every side. We have been trained to fight in these enclosed spaces, paw-to-paw, with nowhere for the trespassers to flee. We can spin on the tip of a tail, find strength in a strike where there is barely room to draw back our paws, leap from a standstill while our enemy is struggling to turn around.

Firestar has even started holding training sessions in the trees so we can leap from branch to branch like squirrels and drop onto our enemies heads while theyre still trying to find our trail on the ground.

The forest is a magnificent place to fight. This is where we hone our stalking skills, our ability to creep up on our prey unnoticed and pounce with one brutal, effective leap.

You want to know the best ThunderClan battle tactic? Best? Well, without giving away too much, let me just say that every ThunderClan apprentice loves to learn the Lightning Strike. Just like a bolt of lightning, it is straightforward, swift, and deadly. Its fitting that ThunderClan should be able to summon up a storm, dont you think?

Special Battle Tactic: Bumblepaw Learns the Lightning Strike

H ey! You guys! Wait till you hear what we did in training today! Bumblepaw burst through the thorns and raced across the sunbaked earth to the elderflower bush where ThunderClans elders slept. Two apprentices, Dovepaw and Ivypaw, were lying outside with Lionblaze and Purdy. The remains of a mouse and a thrush lay beside them, still warm and tempting, but Bumblepaw was too full of his news to leave room for any appetite.

Are you going to tell us, or are we supposed to guess? demanded Ivypaw.

Bumblepaw blinked. Mousewhisker and Thornclaw taught us the best thing ever! Its a kind of attack called a Lightning Strike, and its amazing! Theres no way we could lose a battle with this!

Lionblaze snorted. It takes more than one tactic to win a battle, he warned. But youre right: The Lightning Strike is good for chasing out trespassers because its fast and takes the enemy by surprise.

Just like lightning! Bumblepaw agreed. He noticed that Dovepaw and Ivypaw were looking blank. Its like this, he explained. You two sit over therehe gave them a nudge with his nose until they shuffled away from Lionblaze and Purdyand pretend youre invading my territory.

Are we enemies, too? asked Purdy, sounding amused.

No, youre trees that Im going to hide behind. First Im going to track the enemy patrol through the forest.

Dovepaw and Ivypaw watched wide-eyed as Bumblepaw crouched down behind the other cats and started to creep forward with his belly fur brushing the ground.

You look like youre stalking prey! Dovepaw gasped.

Bumblepaw popped his head above Purdys back. Thats exactly what Im doing. And you are my prey! He ducked down again and took another step. You should have seen Thornclaw showing us this move this morning. He was lower than a snakes belly! No cat would have seen him coming.

You should watch Sandstorm sometime, too, Lionblaze put in. She can track a mouse from the other side of the forest.

Bumblepaw frowned at him. Trees dont talk! he reminded the warrior. This is my demonstration.

Lionblaze flicked his tail against Bumblepaws shoulder. Sorry! he whispered.