Battle for the farm

The battle for the farm was a battle that took place in The Heart of a Warrior and the full-color Ravenpaw's Path compilation at Barley's farm when Ravenpaw, Barley, and a ThunderClan patrol led by Firestar fought remnants of BloodClan for control of the farm.
==Summary==
===Premise===
:In leaf-bare, Barley and Ravenpaw welcome Willie and his friends into their farm as Willie's mate Minty is close to giving birth. The rogues stay at the farm until Minty's four kits, Snowflake, Icicle, Cloudy, and Sniff, are strong enough to walk. While Ravenpaw enjoys spending time with the kits, Barley is suspicious of their guests. Willie and his family leave the farm a quarter moon later. A fire destroys part of the barn and Ravenpaw and Barley rescue the two dogs from the blaze. Not long after, Willie and his cats return to the farm and kill numerous chicks in the chicken coop. The Twoleg believes Ravenpaw and Barley out killed the chicks and chases them out. Willie and his cats chase them away as they intend to move into the farm since Scourge's death has resulted in too many cats aiming for BloodClan's leadership.
:Ravenpaw and Barley turn to ThunderClan for help. While Ravenpaw's Clanmates warmly greet him, ThunderClan is suffering under constant raids from BloodClan. With the help of Barley and his sister Violet, Firestar leads a patrol to attack BloodClan's hideout in the Twolegplace. The patrol defeats BloodClan and Barley and Violet chase their brothers Snake and Ice away. Firestar promises Ravenpaw that he'll lead a patrol to their farm after his warriors have rested.
===Overview===
:Firestar leads his warriors to take back the farm for Ravenpaw and Barley. The ThunderClan leader plans for his patrol to sneak up on the BloodClan cats in the barn at night, but to their surprise the once friendly chickens loudly squawk at the passing cats. The Clan cats are forced to retreat after struggling in the dark barn and they realize they are vastly outnumbered with numerous BloodClan cats seeking shelter in the barn. Still determined to reclaim the farm, Brackenfur and Bramblepaw release the chickens to create a distraction while the remaining cats climb through the rafters. They surround Willie and his cats outside the barn, but several reinforcements arrive and corner the Clan cats. The two dogs break free from their chains and attack the BloodClan cats, leading to a quick victory for Ravenpaw and his allies. 
==Description==
===The plan===
:Three days after their attack in the Twolegplace, Firestar leads Barley, Ravenpaw, Graystripe, Cloudtail, Brightheart, Brackenfur, and Bramblepaw to the farm. When they arrive, Barley notes that the Twolegs must have repaired the damage to the barn's roof since the fire. Firestar makes camp at the abandoned cowshed on the far side of the farm, and he, Graystripe, Barley, and Ravenpaw scout the farm. They spot Willie and Snapper terrorizing the two dogs and the chickens. After scoping around, Firestar strategizes a plan: they'll attack the barn at nightfall and use the advantage of surprise. Barley and Ravenpaw also surmise the chickens and the dogs won't cause them any trouble.
===The first attack===
:At nightfall, Firestar leads his patrol to the barn. However, the chickens angrily squawk at the cats when they pass, and Ravenpaw surmises that Snapper terrorized them so much that they fear all cats. Their element of surprise ruined, Firestar's prepared to call a retreat with all the noise, but Snapper spots them. The ThunderClan leader calls for his cats to attack instead. The fighting Clan cats struggle in the darkness. However, they are forced to retreat when they realize several BloodClan cats have followed them to the farm and the Twoleg opens the barn doors to chase the cats out. While Barley frets about having to face his brothers again, Ravenpaw urges the others that the farm belongs to them. Firestar, Graystripe, and Ravenpaw brainstorm a new plan the next day and notice Snapper and Pounce leaving the barn in a hurry.
===The heart of a warrior===
:The next night, Brackenfur and Bramblepaw free the chickens to create a distraction while Firestar leads the rest of the cats on top of the barn. However, Ravenpaw and Barley realize their usual entrance through a gap in the roof has been repaired since the fire, so the two friends break through the tiling to create a new gap. Firestar and the others attack from the hay bales while Bramblepaw and Brackenfur open the barn doors to flood the Twoleg nest with moonlight. The ThunderClan warriors chase the BloodClan cats out of the barn into a nearby clearing, quickly surrounding them. However, Snapper and Pounce return with several reinforcements and quickly outnumber the Clan cats. The fighting also alerts the dogs who bark aggressively at the battling cats. Willie and his cats prepare to kill Ravenpaw and his friends when the dogs break free of their chains and attack Willie and his cats. Ravenpaw believes the dogs are repaying their gratitude for saving their lives from the fire and join in on the fight. With the dogs' help, Ravenpaw and his allies chase away the BloodClan cats with Ravenpaw threatening Willie to never return. Barley also prevents the dogs from chasing away his brothers.
==Aftermath==
:Hoot and Jumper beg their brother for them to stay with him, and while Firestar cautions against trusting their word, Ravenpaw allows the two brothers to stay. Barley and Ravenpaw try to return back to normal, but Hoot and Jumper purposefully drive a wedge between Barley and Ravenpaw by getting close with their brother. Hoot and Jumper even lie to Barley that Ravenpaw made them collect herbs and prey while he slept. When the two former BloodClan cats continue to bully Ravenpaw around and Barley does nothing, Ravenpaw wonders if he should leave the barn since he's no longer welcomed. Instead, Barley chooses to remain with Ravenpaw and he chases his brothers out of their farm. Barley and Ravenpaw reconcile, determined they have a right to live at the farm and are now as strong as a Clan. 
==Characters==
===Ravenpaw===
:Ravenpaw is a former ThunderClan apprentice who lives on the farm with his best friend Barley. After helping his former Clanmates defeat BloodClan in the Twolegplace, Ravenpaw is eager to reclaim his farm from Willie. After returning to the farm, Ravenpaw shares his knowledge of the farm with Firestar and Graystripe to formalize a plan to attack the rogues. However during their attack, the chickens angrily squawk at the passing cats and alert the rogues of their plan. After their first attempt results in failure, Ravenpaw recalls his own struggles against his former mentor Tigerclaw and insists he and Barley have a right to live at the farm. He is also mindful of Barley's conflicted feelings about fighting his own brothers. He, Firestar, and Graystripe formulize a new plan of attack. Their efforts are successful and Ravenpaw warns Willie to leave and never return. When BloodClan brings reinforcements and the two dogs break lose, Ravenpaw realizes the dogs are helping them as thanks for saving them during the fire. Ravenpaw chases Willie away and he vows to defend his territory to the death. He is grateful for Firestar and his Clanmates for aiding them in the fight.
===Firestar===
:Firestar is ThunderClan's leader and one of Ravenpaw's friends when they were apprentices. After Ravenpaw and Barley help ThunderClan defeat BloodClan in the Twolegplace, Firestar promises to help him reclaim the farm. Firestar selects some of his best and most trusted warriors to join him: his deputy Graystripe, Cloudtail, Brackenfur, Brightheart, and his apprentice Bramblepaw. Firestar believes his warriors' superior training and skills in battle, and the element of surprise will lead to a successful victory against the rogues. He formulates a plan to attack the barn at night but his plan falters when the chickens alert the rogues and the Clan cats learn that BloodClan also resides in the barn. Undeterred, Firestar orders two of his warriors to create a distraction with the chickens while he leads the others into the barn from the roof. The battle results in a success though Firestar does lose a life in the process. Firestar promises Ravenpaw that ThunderClan will always help him if he needed them.
===Willie===
:After chaos in the Twolegplace resulting from Scourge's death, Willie leads his cats to Barley's farm in hopes of commandeering it. His mate Minty gives birth to four kits. While his kits grow stronger, Willie scopes out the place in the meantime. A quarter-moon later, Willie and the other leave since the kits are strong enough. However, they linger in the area and chase Ravenpaw and Barley out after killing some baby chicks. Ravenpaw and Barley turn to ThunderClan for help while the remnants of BloodClan venture to the farm. Now knowing the Clan cats are around, Willie sends Snapper and Pounce to fetch reinforcements. Ravenpaw and his allies attack the following night but Willie's reinforcements arrive to help. Willie orders his cats to kill the Clan cats when the dogs break free and attack them. Before fleeing, the tabby swears he'll come back in revenge, but Ravenpaw vows to defend his territory with his life.
==Trivia==
===Author statements===
*According to Vicky, Firestar losing one of his nine lives during this battle was intended to be documented within the book but was edited out.
===Mistakes===
*Brambleclaw is mistakenly shown as Bramblepaw, despite gaining his warrior name in Firestar's Quest before Squirrelkit and Leafkit are born.
==See also==
*The Heart of a Warrior
**The Heart of a Warrior/Cliffnotes
*Ravenpaw's Path (book)
**Ravenpaw's Path (book)/Cliffnotes
==Notes and references==
fi:Taistelu maatilastapl:Bitwa o farmęfr:Bataille pour la ferme
Category:Battles
Category:Events
Category:The Heart of a Warrior
Category:Ravenpaw's Path