Battles of the Clans/RiverClan: Strong in the Water

:Below contains in-depth information for RiverClan: Strong in the Water of Battles of the Clans. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.
==Chapter description==
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:Reedwhisker, the deputy of RiverClan, greets Onestar and the two kittypets. He explains that RiverClan's strength in battle lies within the water. The river provides them with shelter, prey, and protection from enemies. RiverClan warriors' pelts are thick and glossy to help them swim, and they use their strong legs and tails to navigate easily through the water. Reedwhisker explains that his Clan is feared in close combat due to their lightning reflexes from fishing. Warriors lure their enemies into the water, where their pelts become soggy and heavy while RiverClan's warriors remain light and nimble. Reedwhisker warns the kittypets to be wary of the other Clans' accusations, for they fear RiverClan with the water as their ally.
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:Mistystar supervises a battle training session with four apprentices: Rushpaw, Tanglepaw, Pikepaw, and Duckpaw. She encourages the apprentices into the water, though Rushpaw complains that the water is too cold. Pikepaw and Tanglepaw admonish Rushpaw's complaints, and Mistystar explains how they're going to pretend the stream is the lake to cross into the other Clans' territories. She leads them into the water, gracefully swimming with the current. The apprentices follow her, and Mistystar guides them out of the stream, instructing the apprentices to keep quiet as they exit from the water. Rushpaw yelps when she stubs her toe, and Tanglepaw and Duckpaw mock their littermate for ruining their training session. Mistystar scolds them, but the RiverClan leader wonders if Rushpaw needs to return to the nursery since her legs are very short and her attitude towards training was lackluster. 
:Changing tactics, the blue-gray she-cat pretends to be an enemy patrol, and Mistystar orders the apprentices to pretend to surprise her upstream. Tanglepwa takes the lead into the stream, though Rushpaw complains about being left behind. Duckpaw swims alongside her, though Tanglepaw reminds them to be quiet. He guides his denmates towards the shallows by the willows. Tanglepaw hears Mistystar nearby, and he instructs the other apprentices to be quiet as they leave the stream. Duckpaw accidentally splashes Rushpaw, causing the smaller apprentice to sputter. Mistystar hears them, but the RiverClan leader is distracted by Rushpaw slipping on the stones and her tail splashing the water. With Mistystar distracted, Tanglepaw, Duckpaw, Pikepaw, and Rushpaw charge Mistystar, passing their test. Mistystar compliments Rushpaw's accidental technique by splashing water in the distance to create a decoy, coining it the Rushpaw Splash.
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:Hailstar asks StarClan if what he is about to do is wrong, but his warrior ancestors are silent. Resolved with his duties as Clan leader, Hailstar wakes up Timberfur, Ottersplash, Owlfur, and Rippleclaw from the warriors' den and informs them of his plan to rescue Willowkit and Graykit from WindClan. Owlfur and Ottersplash are shocked, since Hailstar had willingly let their father Reedfeather take Willowkit and Graykit with him, but Hailstar knows that their mother Fallowtail has suffered enough. Hailstar leads his warriors across the Twoleg bridge and up the gorge towards WindClan territory. They use the cover of the night to sneak across WindClan's camp.
:When they near WindClan's camp, Hailstar orders Timberfur and Rippleclaw to deal with the guards while he, Owlfur, and Ottersplash sneak into the nursery. The queens begin shrieking, and Dawnstripe recognizes Hailstar. Owlfur and Ottersplash corner the queens while Hailstar grabs Willowkit and Graykit. Heatherstar and Reedfeather confront Hailstar in the camp clearing for taking the kits, but Hailstar insists that he has changed his mind. Timberfur and Rippleclaw threaten the guards while Hailstar and the others flea towards the river. Reedfeather's patrol pursues them, and Hailstar pins down the WindClan deputy in the river as a battle ensues. Suddenly, Owlfur yowls for Hailstar to stop since Reedfeather is drowning. Hailstar realizes with horror that his warrior is right. Owlfur manages to resuscitate Reedfeather, though one of his warriors remarks if the kits are even worth it. Hailstar acknowleges that they are. Seasons later, Fallowtail asks for her daughters to be named Willowbreeze and Graypool after their heritage, and Hailstar realizes that part of her still loves Reedfeather.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Trivia==
*"Hailstar Speaks: The Lost Kits" aligns with chapter 15 of Crookedstar's Promise.
==Notes and references==
Category:Battles of the Clans
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Field Guides