Ashfur (TC)

Ashfur is a pale gray tom, with dark gray flecks, and dark blue eyes.

Into the Wild

 * Ashkit is first seen as a newborn kit born to the ThunderClan queen Brindleface. He is one of four kits, one of them being a she-cat named Fernkit. The other kits' names are not mentioned in this book, but they are described as three pale gray kits with darker flecks, and one pale gray tom.

Fire and Ice

 * It is mentioned that one of Ashkit's littermates died not long after his/her birth, despite being a healthy kit. Fireheart brings his kittypet nephew, Cloudkit, to ThunderClan, hoping that the young cat might be raised in the Clan, and eventually become a warrior. Ashkit, his sister Fernkit and Cloudkit go out of the camp during a storm to catch prey for the Clan. It is said that Cloudkit caught a vole and left Ashkit and Fernkit. Ashkit's other unnamed littermate died of greencough the night before Cloudkit's arrival. Brindleface adopts Cloudkit, making him Ashkit's adopted younger brother.

Forest of Secrets

 * Ashkit and Fernkit are still in the nursery with Brindleface. His adopted brother, Cloudkit, becomes an apprentice to Fireheart- taking the name Cloudpaw- despite being younger than Ashkit and Fernkit.

Rising Storm

 * In Rising Storm, Ashkit and Fernkit become apprentices at around eight moons. As the new deputy, Bluestar tells Fireheart to chose their mentors. Fireheart picks Dustpelt, in the hopes that he will be less irritable, and Darkstripe at Yellowfang's recomendation. Ashpaw was made Dustpelt's apprentice, though Fireheart never chose which cat should mentor him. He and Cloudpaw showed a strong friendship, possibly because they were raised as brothers. When Cloudpaw started taking food from Twolegs, Ashpaw knew about it, but, out of loyalty to his friend, told no one. Later, after Fireheart learned that Cloudpaw had been "kidnapped" by the Twolegs, he tells Ashpaw, which causes the young apprentice to turn very frantic, and upset.

A Dangerous Path

 * In A Dangerous Path, Bluestar makes Cloudpaw a warrior (Cloudtail), but refuses to make the other apprentices warriors, due to her recent paranoia, and "war" with StarClan. Angry with her reluctance to trust him, and refusal to make him a warrior, Swiftpaw, a young ThunderClan apprentice, declares to the other apprentices that they should all try to find out what was stealing ThunderClan's prey; then, Bluestar would have to make them warriors. Thornpaw, another apprentice who was denied the chance to become a warrior, Ashpaw, and Fernpaw, politely decline Swiftpaw's offer, but Brightpaw, Thornpaw's sister, accepts. Later, after the two (Brightpaw and Swiftpaw) go missing, Ashpaw convinces his sister, Fernpaw, to tell Fireheart where they had gone.


 * After uncovering the trail of rabbits, Fireheart and Cloudtail dicovered that Ashpaw's mother, Brindleface, was killed by Tigerstar, who had wanted to give a pack of fierce dogs a taste for cat blood. Ashpaw, Fernpaw and Brindelface's adopted son Cloudtail carried out her burial. Furious, and much grieved, Ashpaw and Fernpaw ask Fireheart if they could help lead the dogs to the gorge; Fireheart agrees, and the two young apprentices lead the dogs to the next cat "in line", after Mousefur.

The Darkest Hour

 * When Firestar first comes back with his nine lives from StarClan, Ashpaw is the first cat to welcome him back.


 * Later, during the battle with BloodClan, Ashpaw, and the other apprentices, take down Bone, the BloodClan deputy. Ashpaw is the apprentice who utters the victorious cry, after the powerful cat is taken down.

Firestar's Quest

 * In Firestar's Quest, Ashpaw appears as a young warrior (Ashfur). He has a very minor role in this book, only being mentioned a few times; but he makes friends with Brambleclaw, a newly-named ThunderClan warrior, and a main character in the New Prophecy Series.


 * Later, Ashfur appears on patrol with Sootpaw, Thornclaw, and Willowpelt; the four run into Firestar, after his night at Smudge's. On the same patrol, Ashfur fights against a badger, which had previously killed Willowpelt, badly injuring his shoulder.

Midnight

 * At the beginning of Midnight, Ashfur is seen going out on patrol with Brambleclaw, and Thornclaw. Squirrelpaw is caught following the patrol, and after a bit of scolding, is ordered home; angry, and upset, she begs Thornclaw to let her join them, and he eventually gives in. Later, the four cats run into a dangerous badger, and are forced to return to camp early, so they can alert Firestar.

Moonrise

 * Ashfur begins to show aggression as ThunderClan becomes more deprived of food, and the Twolegs begin to take over more of their territory.

Dawn

 * When Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw return from their long journey, Ashfur greets Squirrelpaw by reaching out to touch her muzzle with his, and purring, "You came back!", suggesting that he had feelings for the ginger apprentice before she had gone.

Starlight

 * In Starlight, it becomes apparent that Ashfur is in love with Squirrelpaw (now Squirrelflight); he's always trying to defend her from Brambleclaw and any other dangers or threats, acting rather overprotective and possessive. This annoys Squirrelflight, who says she can take care of herself.

Twilight

 * Ashfur becomes Birchpaw's mentor, much to Brambleclaw's frustration; he wanted to mentor Birchpaw so he could become deputy.


 * Later, during the badger attack, Birchpaw is badly injured, and is forced to flee with his mother, Ferncloud. Ashfur himself, does his best to defend Squirrelflight from the attacking badgers, which annoys and angers her.

Sunset

 * After losing Squirrelflight to Brambleclaw, Ashfur is hurt and becomes extremely angry with both cats. He openly shows his mistrust of Brambleclaw, mainly due to Brambleclaw's father being Tigerstar, the murderous traitor, who killed Ashfur's mother, Brindleface.


 * Later, when Firestar appoints Brambleclaw deputy (Leafpool had had a sign from StarClan, that had said that Brambleclaw should be ThunderClan's new deputy), Ashfur announces his cruel suspicions....he says he wonders why Leafpool had said Brambleclaw should be the new deputy; after all, her sister, Squirrelflight, was Brambleclaw's mate. At this, Squirrelflight becomes outraged, and Leafpool becomes utterly shocked, but no one (except, maybe Spiderleg, who looks around uncomfortably) takes notice of Ashfur, and instead, congratulates Brambleclaw.


 * Ashfur ends up ignoring Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight for the rest of Sunset; he even ignores them when Squirrelflight tries to explain to him that she still wants to have him as a friend.


 * Later, before Brambleclaw goes to meet Hawkfrost for the final time, Ashfur says he's planning to give Birchpaw an assesment; nothing out of the ordinary. But, not long after, Ashfur comes to Leafpool and Squirrelflight, saying he had seen Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost with Firestar, who was stuck in a fox trap. Ashfur couldn't have taken on Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost, so he had come back for help; after he tells them this, Leafpool and Squirrelflight follow his fear-scent trail to where Firestar was trapped, but arrived just after Hawkfrost is killed.

The Sight

 * In The Sight, Graystripe, ThunderClan's former deputy, returns, along with his new mate, Millie. Some cats think that Brambleclaw should step down, and let Graystripe return to his old position, but, much to his Clanmates' surprise, Ashfur disagrees, saying Brambleclaw should stay where he is and was the first to start cheering for Brambleclaw. Ashfur becomes Lionpaw's mentor, starting a difficult relationship. Later, when Ashfur returns from a patrol, he complains about ShadowClan, saying, "Some cats always try to take what another cat has." This statement makes Squirrelflight flinch, as if he is referring to the way Brambleclaw "took Squirrelflight away from him" in Sunset.

Dark River

 * Ashfur becomes annoyed with his apprentice, Lionpaw, during a training session, and leaves the young cat to learn the badger defense move (one of the hardest fighting techniques) on his own. After awhile, Ashfur returns, and is surprised to see that Lionpaw has already mastered the move, even adding an extra kick at the end. Lionpaw claims to have made it up on his own, but in reality, Tigerstar had taught it to him.

Outcast

 * In Outcast, during a training session, Lionpaw accuses Ashfur of not being "tough enough" on him; Ashfur is greatly angered at this remark, and soon, warrior and apprentice are in a real warriors battle. Ashfur acts as if it's real, unsheathing his claws, and scaring the nearby mentors, and apprentices. After the battle, when both are back at camp, Lionpaw's mentor praises him, saying he will be as good as his father (this may be a veiled insult, as Ashfur's dislike of Brambleclaw is well-known), and lets the young apprentice have first pick from the fresh-kill pile.


 * It is also mentioned, that Ashfur doesn't show the same warmth, and affection other mentors show their apprentices.

Eclipse

 * Ashfur continues to train his apprentice, Lionpaw, but near the end of the book, the golden apprentice earns his warrior name, Lionblaze.

Long Shadows

 * In Long Shadows, a huge fire starts near the ThunderClan camp, and all the ThunderClan cats are forced to flee. When Squirrelflight and her kits, Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze, are trying to escape, Ashfur blocks their escape route, which is a fallen tree branch. He tells Squirrelflight that he is furious and heartbroken from being passed over in favor of Brambleclaw, and had tried to punish her by conspiring with Hawkfrost, in hopes that Firestar would die, so that she would feel the emotional pain that he felt when he was rejected. Since that plan had failed, Ashfur says he will instead kill her kits. To this, Squirrelflight reveals an equally startling secret, proclaiming that Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze are not her kits. Ashfur lets them escape upon hearing this, but vows to take revenge in other ways. Later, armed with Squirrelflight's news, Ashfur plans to let it be known at the next Gathering. Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze all beg him not to, but he pays them no heed.


 * On the night of the Gathering, Ashfur and Squirrelflight disappear, and their Clanmates decide to leave without them. But before they can really leave, a mud-slathered Squirrelflight joins them, saying she had slipped into a stream. Not long after this, ThunderClan finds Ashfur's body in the stream bordering WindClan. His body is taken back to camp, and his clanmates mourn for him.


 * Later, Leafpool discovers that Ashfur hadn't drowned (as was previously thought), but was murdered. Due to the absence of other Clan's scents, it was believed that a ThunderClan cat was responsible for his death, though some thought WindClan was responsible.

Sunrise

 * Leafpool prepares Ashfur for burial when she finds a shocking surprise- tufts of his killer's fur in Ashfur's claws. She wraps the fur in a leaf and hides in her den where no one will find it. Later, she tells Hollyleaf that she knows that it was she (Hollyleaf), that killed Ashfur, because the tuft of fur had her scent. Only Leafpool, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze know who killed Ashfur. Firestar had asked Leafpool if she had met Ashfur in StarClan to ask him who is the cat that is responsible for his death.

Members
Mother:
 * Brindleface Deceased, Verified StarClan member

Grandmother:
 * Robinwing - Deceased, Suspected StarClan member

Sister:
 * Ferncloud Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Nephews:
 * Birchfall Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Foxleap Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Shrewpaw Deceased, Verified StarClan member
 * Spiderleg Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Nieces:
 * Hollykit Deceased. Verified StarClan member
 * Icecloud Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Larchkit Deceased, Verified StarClan member

Aunt:
 * Frostfur Deceased, Suspected StarClan member

Cousins:
 * Brightheart Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Thornclaw Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Cinderpelt Deceased, Reborn as Cinderheart
 * Brackenfur Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Grand-Nephew:
 * Toadstep Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Grand-Nieces:
 * Dovepaw Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Ivypaw Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Rosepetal Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Second Cousins:
 * Honeyfern Deceased, Verified StarClan member
 * Poppyfrost Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Cinderheart Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Molepaw Deceased, Suspected StarClan member
 * Whitewing Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)

Third Cousins:
 * Unnamed Tom, Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)
 * Unnamed She-cat, Living (As of The Fourth Apprentice)