| "I'd never seen a bird that big, but Birchface was fearless — and so quiet, I couldn't hear him over the breeze in the leaves!" |
| — Rabbitfur to Petalkit and Larchkit in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 3 |
Birchface is a dark brown, almost black, tabby tom.[3]
Birchface was a ThunderClan warrior under Oakstar's leadership in the forest territories. During a battle with RiverClan that turned deadly, Birchface was indirectly killed by Appledusk, a RiverClan warrior, when he fell into the river. His apprentice, Flowerpaw tried to save him, but both cats drowned. Both his father Oakstar and his sister Frecklewish were devastated. After his death, Mapleshade became pregnant, and ThunderClan believed Birchface was the father. Mapleshade did not initially deny this, gaining her the favor of Birchface's kin. The truth later came out, and it was revealed that their father was Appledusk, the cat who was indirectly responsible for Birchface's death.
Quick Answers
Who was Birchface's apprentice in ThunderClan?
Birchface's apprentice was Flowerpaw. When Birchface fell into the river during a battle at Sunningrocks, Flowerpaw's attempted to rescue him. However, both cats drowned.
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How did Birchface die during the battle with RiverClan?
During a deadly battle with RiverClan, Birchface was struck by a blow from Appledusk that he fell from Sunningrocks into the river. Despite the brave rescue attempt by his apprentice, Flowerpaw, both cats tragically drowned.
Provided by: Community
Who were Birchface's parents and siblings?
Birchface's father was Oakstar, the ThunderClan leader. His littermate was Frecklewish. His younger half-brother was Pinestar.
Provided by: Community
Why did ThunderClan believe Birchface was the father of Mapleshade's kittens?
Mapleshade allowed ThunderClan to assume Birchface fathered her kittens. The actual father was Appledusk, a RiverClan warrior.
Provided by: Community
History[]
In the Novellas[]
Mapleshade's Vengeance[]
- "I thought I would never be happy again after Birchface was killed in that terrible battle. But now I can help you to raise his kits, teach them that their father was a true ThunderClan hero, watch them take his place in the Clan... I hope Birchface can see us."
- ―Frecklewish, still very distraught over the loss of her brother Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 1
- Birchface is mentioned during a Gathering, by one of RiverClan's warriors, Rainfall. When Mapleshade runs into Rainfall, she remembers the battle at Sunningrocks. Rainfall hisses to remember what happened to Birchface and his apprentice, Flowerpaw. Mapleshade stumbles as she recalls what happened to the son of Oakstar, ThunderClan's leader; the dark tabby was struck by Appledusk so hard, that he had fallen from the very top of Sunningrocks, and down to the river below. Seeing this, his apprentice, Flowerpaw, jumped in after him in an attempt to save him. Flowerpaw's efforts were for naught, however, as both mentor and apprentice are killed by the water, as the current was too strong. Both cats were found down alongside a calmer patch of the water, near ThunderClan's shores, as if they were trying to find a way home.
- Mapleshade later confronts Appledusk, saying that out of all the cats he could have killed, it had to be the son of her leader. Appledusk growls, saying that it was an accident, and how he never meant for Birchface to fall in the river. Mapleshade mews to Appledusk that ThunderClan sees the incident differently, and the entire Clan blames Appledusk for the deaths of both Birchface and Flowerpaw.
- After the Gathering, Mapleshade announces that she is expecting kits. Beetail, ThunderClan's deputy, informs Frecklewish, who asks Mapleshade if they are Birchface's kits, asking if her brother is going to live on through Mapleshade's unborn kits. Unable to answer, Mapleshade just stares at Frecklewish, and the golden she-cat takes that as a confirmation. She thanks Mapleshade, and offers to help raise the kits, and to teach the kits about what a true ThunderClan hero is. Frecklewish confides in Mapleshade, telling the ginger-and-white expecting mother that she still misses Birchface, and that she wonders if her brother can see his Clan.
- After Mapleshade gives birth to her kits, Oakstar appears. When Mapleshade introduces her three kits to him, she introduces him as their leader. Oakstar reminds Mapleshade that not only is he their leader, but he is also the kits' grandfather, as Birchface was his kin as well. Gazing at the kits with emotion, Oakstar wonders if Birchface can see them from StarClan. Mapleshade assures Oakstar that Birchface is watching, and Oakstar praises his son, calling him a great warrior, and that ThunderClan is blessed to have his blood running through the veins of young kits. Frecklewish comments that she can see Birchface in each of the kits, and instead of commenting on their coloring like Mapleshade expects, Oakstar asks if she has named the kits. Mapleshade introduces them as Larchkit, Petalkit, and Patchkit, saying that she thinks each kit should be their own cat, instead of an echo of warriors who have gone before. Frecklewish agrees to the queen's decision.
- Mapleshade tells Frecklewish to inform Appledusk of the birth of her kits, and the golden she-cat asks why, clearly still blaming the brown tom for the death of her brother. Although hesitant, she and Oakstar agree once Mapleshade says that it is a chance to brag about ThunderClan being stronger than ever with the addition of three new kits. Oakstar says that thanks to Birchface, they have been given three more warriors to defend what is rightfully theirs. Although Mapleshade says that the warrior code says to show mercy, Frecklewish hisses that Appledusk did not show any mercy to Birchface and Flowerpaw - although Mapleshade thinks to herself that Birchface fell in the water, and Flowerpaw should have never gone after him.
- Two moons later, Birchface is again mentioned, this time by a ThunderClan elder by the name of Rabbitfur. As the old cat is teaching Larchkit and Petalkit how to pounce, the elder remarks that Birchface managed to pounce without flattening any cats. Rabbitfur continues to praise Birchface, telling Petalkit and Larchkit that their father was fearless. Mapleshade, upon hearing this, takes her kits outside into the forest for a walk. After this incident, Rabbitfur goes to Ravenwing, ThunderClan's medicine cat, who confronts Mapleshade about the father of her kits, and comes to the conclusion that the dark tabby is not their father, but instead, it is Appledusk. Oakstar soon finds out about this, and exiles Mapleshade and her kits - furious that the murderer of his son fathered these kits, and even more furious that Mapleshade lied about Birchface being their father.
Goosefeather's Curse[]
- Goosefeather receives a vision of of Mapleshade and Frecklewish confronting each other. Frecklewish accuses Mapleshade of betraying her brother.
Pinestar's Choice[]
- On Pinepaw's first day as an apprentice, Oakstar praises his son, before his eyes cloud with sorrow as he states he will not lose another son to RiverClan. Pinepaw thinks that he had never known his half-brother, and that all he knows is that he had died in a battle against RiverClan.
Character pixels[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.  Kit Version  Warrior Version  StarClan Version |
Official art[]
|
Please do not edit this gallery.  Birchface's icon on the Warriors family tree |
Kin[]
Members[]
Father:
Sister:
- Frecklewish:[2] Deceased, verified the Place of No Stars member
Half-brother:
See more
Half-nephew:
Half-nieces:
Half-grandnephews:
- Brambleclaw:[6] Living (As of Hidden Moon)
- Hawkfrost:[7] Deceased, no residence
- Tadpole:[8] Deceased, residence unknown
Half-grandnieces:
Half-great-grandnephews:
- Tigerstar:[9] Living (As of Hidden Moon)
- Flametail:[9] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Alderheart:[10] Living (As of Hidden Moon)
- Juniperkit:[11] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Half-great-grandnieces:
Tree[]
| Unknown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oakstar ♂ | Sweetbriar ♀ | Fallowsong ♀ | See more | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frecklewish ♀ | Birchface ♂ | Pinestar ♂ | Heronwing ♂ | Rabbitleap ♂ | Poppydawn ♀ | Windflight ♂ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nightkit ♀ | Tigerstar ♂ | Mistkit ♀ | Rosetail ♀ | Thistleclaw ♂ | Sweetpaw ♀ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tadpole ♂ | Mothwing ♀ | Hawkfrost ♂ | Brambleclaw ♂ | Tawnypelt ♀ | Whitestorm ♂ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| See more | See more | See more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Mapleshade's Vengeance (First appearance; mentioned only) †
- Pinestar's Choice (Mentioned only)
- Goosefeather's Curse (Mentioned only)
Quotes[]
- Mapleshade: "If only you hadn't killed Birchface. Of all the cats to lose in the battle, it had to be Oakstar's son!"
- Appledusk: "It was an accident. I never meant for him to fall in the river."
- Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 1
- "My son was a great warrior. The Clan is honored if his spirit lives on through his kits."
- ―Oakstar to Mapleshade about her newborn kits Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 3
- "You should be very proud of who your father was. I remember the time we were stalking a pheasant over by Twolegplace. I'd never seen a bird that big, but Birchface was fearless— and so quiet, I couldn't hear him over the breeze in the leaves!"
- ―Rabbitfur to Patchkit about Birchface Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 3
Trivia[]
Continuity[]
The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.
- On Vicky's Facebook, Birchface and Frecklewish's mother was Shinecloud, a sand-colored she-cat with darker and lighter patches, bright blue eyes, and a bushy tail. Before Mapleshade's Vengeance, Shinecloud loved to climb trees, but one day slipped off a tree, breaking her neck as she fell down. She went to StarClan.[13] Birchface is also described with amber eyes.[14]
External links[]
The Forest Map: ThunderClan on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)- Does Frecklewish really belong in the Dark Forest? on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only) (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 1
- ↑ Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 2
- ↑ Revealed in Pinestar's Choice, chapter 1
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 266
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Revealed in Rising Storm, pages 19-20
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Revealed in Moonrise, page 258
- ↑ Revealed in Return to the Clans, page 2
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Revealed in Dark River, pages 20-21
- ↑ Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, page 10
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, page 9
- ↑ Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, page 8
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
