The Ultimate Guide/ThunderClan

Below contains in-depth information for the ThunderClan chapter of The Ultimate Guide. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Summary/Cats Described
Below is a list of the ThunderClan cats that are mentioned in The Ultimate Guide along with the descriptions given on their pages in a summarized version.


 * Bluestar was a proud and committed warrior as the leader of ThunderClan before Firestar. Her life was filled with tragedy as a young warrior, Bluefur. During a raid on WindClan, her mother was killed, and her sister, Snowfur, was killed on the Thunderpath. Divided from her Clanmates by her grief, Bluefur fell for Oakheart, a RiverClan warrior. But Bluefur realized she could not be loyal to ThunderClan if her heart lay elsewhere, therefore their relationship ended. Bluefur didn't realize that she was expecting Oakheart's kits. Bluefur gave up her kits in order to become deputy of ThunderClan instead of Thistleclaw, whom she thought would destroy ThunderClan. Oakheart raised Mistyfoot and Stonefur in his own Clan. Bluefur told her Clan that the kits had been stolen by a badger, and she became deputy, than leader. As an apprentice, Bluestar received a prophecy from the medicine cat at the time, Goosefeather: "You will blaze through the forest like fire; only water can destroy you." During her leadership, Bluestar turned to a kittypet named Rusty to rescue her Clan. Her deputy, Tigerclaw continued to rage against ThunderClan, even after taking over ShadowClan. Bluestar led a pack of dogs, whom Tigerstar had sent to destroy the ThunderClan camp, over the gorge, losing her ninth life in water, just as Goosefeather had foretold. StarClan was merciful enough to allow Mistyfoot and Stonefur to find their mother, and Bluestar's final moments were spent making peace with them before joining her lost kit, Mosskit, in StarClan.


 * When Bluekit was born, Pinestar was leader of ThunderClan. Though protective of his prey and borders, Pinestar preferred to show strength via patrols and words instead of actual conflict to solve issues. A calm, fair-minded leader, Pinestar fought with RiverClan over Sunningrocks, and was confident in his deputy, Sunfall's abilities to organize the Clan. When Goosefeather interpreted that a sign he found was a warning that WindClan would destroy ThunderClan, Pinestar took action. While his warriors were eager to invade WindClan and teach them a lesson, Pinestar knew this would cost several wounds and even death. Pinestar lead the attack, and it was as bloody as he had feared, resulting in Bluepaw's mother, Moonflower's death at the claws of the cold-hearted WindClan medicine cat, Hawkheart. The battle was lost, and Pinestar became uncomfortable in the life of a Clan cat. He roamed beyond his Clan's borders, observing the easy lives of the kittypets in Twolegplace. He befriended a kittypet named Jake, who was interested in Clan life and had travelled with Talltail of WindClan. Pinestar became more and more intrigued by the life of a kittypet, but was found out by a ThunderClan apprentice, Lionpaw. Pinestar lied that he had fought with a kittypet and masqueraded himself as one to get through unchallenged. But another RiverClan invasion over Sunningrocks caused Pinestar to decide to resort to kittypet life. Reluctantly leaving his mate, Leopardfoot and his kits, including Tigerkit, behind, he appointed Sunfall as leader after him and left. Pinestar believed he served his Clan well and deserved peace.


 * During Pinestar's leadership, Goosefeather and Featherwhisker were the medicine cats of ThunderClan, with Goosefeather being better known for his laziness and sour temper. He took interest in Bluefur and her sister, Snowfur, as they were his littermate, Moonflower's kits. Goosefeather interpreted signs in a dark way, and in the end, his prophecy led to a war with WindClan and Moonflower's death. Goosefeather took the flattened fur on a vole as a sign that warned them about this battle. Pinestar was left with no option but to attack first. A second omen-a shred of catmint on a vole's flank-was taken by Goosefeather as a sign to attack the heart of the WindClan camp and destroy their herb supply. This led to the deaths and defeat of the ThunderClan warriors. Goosefeather insisted his interpretations were correct. Soon after the battle, a branch fell, struck by lightning, between Bluepaw and a fox. Rain extinguished the fire, saving Bluepaw and the woods. Goosefeather came up with the prophecy that Bluepaw would "blaze through the forest like fire, defeated only by water" from this. Bluepaw didn't believe him. ThunderClan turned to Featherwhisker more than his mentor. Goosefeather believed ThunderClan was going to be destroyed. Featherwhisker took over as the main medicine cat. Goosefeather didn't like being around Tigerkit, and urged Bluefur to become deputy instead of Thistleclaw. He shaped ThunderClan's future by setting Bluefur on the path to her destiny. But she was glad to have Featherwhisker as her medicine cat by the time she received her leader name and nine lives from StarClan.


 * Firestar started out life as a kittypet named Rusty, and lived with Twolegs for his first six moons. He got his fascination with the forest and wild cats from his father Jake. An encounter with a ThunderClan apprentice named Graypaw led to meeting Bluestar, who saw a chance that Rusty may be the center of a prophecy: "Fire alone will save our Clan." The ginger cat became one of ThunderClan's most trusted warriors, and later, Bluestar's deputy. But he was in a never ending feud with Tigerclaw, the former deputy exiled from ThunderClan when Fireheart discovered his plan to murder their leader. Firepaw's closest friends had been Graypaw, Ravenpaw, and the former ThunderClan medicine cat, Spottedleaf. After a ShadowClan raid led to Spottedleaf's death, he grew close to a feisty, russet-furred ThunderClan she-cat named Sandstorm, and after Firestar became leader, she gave birth to his kits, Leafkit and Squirrelkit. Firestar led the Clans through The Great Journey from the forest to the lake and helped all four Clans settle in their homes. His faith in StarClan helped him overcome many challenges, including illnesses, drought, Twoleg disturbances, and border clashes. Save for one lost to illness, he gave all nine lives for his Clan-most importantly of all, his last life, lost during the battle with the Dark Forest. Lightning marked the moment Firestar joined his warrior ancestors-not by blood, but heritage, honor, and tradition.


 * Spottedleaf had been the medicine cat upon Rusty's arrival. She saw the same qualities in him as Bluestar: courage, spirit, unwavering loyalty to doing the right thing. She also saw him as a warm, sensitive cat who wasn't limited to his expectations of her role as medicine cat and who saw her as more than a friend. If Spottedleaf had been a few moons younger, a warrior apprentice, their relationship would have grown to something more. Unfortunately, Spottedleaf died before the two of them could express their feelings for one another, leaving her alone and frustrated in StarClan, missing him deeply. She did not release her hold on her connection with Fireheart, and guided him in his early days of leadership and frequently visited him in dreams. When the ThunderClan leader left to rebuild SkyClan, Spottedleaf understood his heart was now with Sandstorm. She understood she was a better choice, able to stay by Firestar's side, bear his kits, and share responsibility for the Clan. Spottedleaf grieved for a missed chance at a life that could never have been, but she continued to watch over Firstar and her former Clanmates as they left the forest to move to the lake and flourished in their new home. During the battle with the Dark Forest, Spottedleaf gave one last gift to Firestar by giving her life to save Sandstorm.


 * Graypaw's boldness and bravery allowed him to be the first to approach Rusty as an apprentice. This would lead him into trouble more than once-but this courage and generosity was what pushed him and Fireheart to hunt for prey for RiverClan when the river was poisoned and to travel a long way beyond the territories to rescue WindClan after they had been chased away by ShadowClan. Similar to Bluestar, Graystripe fell in love with a RiverClan cat: Silverstream, the daughter of Crookedstar. She died giving birth to his kits, Stormkit and Featherkit, and when ThunderClan did not treat these kits kindly like Graystripe had been hoping, he returned them to RiverClan. It hurt him to leave his Clan-and Fireheart-but he thought RiverClan was the only Clan in which his kits would be truly welcomed. His kits thrived, eventually becoming Stormfur and Feathertail, but Graystripe returned to ThunderClan upon realizing that was where his loyalties truly belonged. Twolegs set traps for cats in the way of the making of their new Thunderpath. Graystripe was captured when he tried to rescue others, and was taken to live with Twolegs. Although his Twolegs were kind enough, he yearned to return and find his Clan. He met a kitty pet named Millie, who loved him enough to go to the Clans at the lake with him. Graystripe was welcomed warmly like a returning hero, but had been Millie's determination that got them out of Twolegplace, and her encouragement that kept Graystripe going. Millie learned to fight and hunt as a warrior, but refused to take on a warrior name or be ashamed of her origins. This resulted in cats questioning her loyalty-though never when Graystripe was around.


 * When Rusty first came to ThunderClan, Sandpaw and Dustpaw tormented him. But he soon changed her, as she began to appreciate his courage and loyalty. He came to realize her importance to him as well, and Sandstorm's friendship and support helped give him the courage to go against BloodClan. Firestar was ready to save the forest from Scourge's reign and heard StarClan's prophecy that only he could do it. But Sandstorm was the one that made him believe he was right in fighting the cats from Twolegplace and that he could defeat them. Sandstorm was proud and committed, and she equally matched Firestar's courage on the quest to rebuild SkyClan. Sandstorm acted as a medicine cat to help them, and she matched Firestar in the battle against the rats blow for blow, despite having only one life to lose compared to his several. She was a great mother to Squirrelflight and Leafpool, and stuck by her daughters when the truth about Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather was revealed. Firestar respected her quick temper and strong sense of what was right. Next to his deputies and medicine cats, she was the one he turned to most frequently before making decisions. She spoke up for those who shied away from the traditional warrior lifestyle, mostly Daisy, who came to the lake from the Horseplace. Sandstorm defended the former loner's decision to stay in the nursery to help the other queens, instead of becoming a warrior. Although Sandstorm would have loved to have more kits, she understood that Firestar had enough demands from his Clan as leader. She shared his sense of responsibily to them, and never wished their lives could have been different.


 * Brightheart's face reminded every cat of the attack of Tigerstar's half-trained pack of dogs. But Brightheart remembered only when she saw her reflection-so she avoided drinking from anything except fast-flowing rivers. She tried to forget the experience and the flinches of those seeing her for the first time. Brightheart acted as a warrior and trained apprentices in specialized ways in case of their eyes being damaged. She had the beauty of courage, loyalty, an devotion, but didn't wish to see her own face. Brightheart's life went in the direction she dreamed of: She and Cloudtail had two litters of kits, and their daughter Whitewing had her own kits, Dovewing and Ivypool, who played a critical part in rescuing the Clans from the Dark Forest. Cloudtail never flinched, but he understood the feeling of difference, not because of his white pelt that older warriors scorned. Cloudtail was the son of Firestar's kittypet sister, Princess. She wanted him to be a ThunderClan warrior. Cloudpaw struggled at first; he went back to his life as a kittypet until StarClan-and Fireheart-gave him a second chance. Cloudtail made the journey to the lake, helped establish their new home, and risked his life to save his Clanmates from badgers, storms, illness-all without belief in StarClan. But he did believe in the war between good and evil, an fought as fiercely as any warrior against the Dark Forest. Loyalty to the warrior code and his Clanmates mattered more than anything else.