Birchstar (RC)

"RiverClan says the same. We should have never driven you out. I felt compassion for you, but I did nothing—and that makes my actions worse. I am sorry."

— Birchstar apologizing to Cloudstar in Firestar's Quest, page 492

Birchstar (RC)
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	StarClan
Past:	RiverClan
Names
Leader:	Birchstar
StarClan resident:	Birchstar
Book appearances
Living	Cloudstar's Journey, Firestar's Quest
Living	Cloudstar's Journey, Firestar's Quest
Dead	Firestar's Quest
Dead	Firestar's Quest

Birchstar is a light brown tabby she-cat.

Birchstar was an ancient RiverClan leader in the forest territories. Her deputy and medicine cat were Sloefur and Icewhisker respectively. During the destruction of the SkyClan forest territory, she politely refused Cloudstar's plea to give territory, stating that SkyClan can't catch fish, and the river was low. In StarClan, she regretted her actions, and gave a life to Leafstar with the gift of sympathy and understanding, to use for the weakest in SkyClan, and for all the others who need help and protection.

History

In the Super Editions

Firestar's Quest

"I'd like to help, I really would. But the river is very low and it's harder than ever to catch enough fish. Besides, SkyClan cats don't know how to fish."

―Birchstar saying RiverClan couldn't help Cloudstar ^{Firestar's Quest, page 4}

Birchstar is an ancient RiverClan leader. Birchstar is politely talking with Redstar, ThunderClan's leader, before a Gathering. She questions Cloudstar on why he brought his whole Clan to the Gathering, and Cloudstar reveals that SkyClan's home has been destroyed by Twolegs. When Cloudstar asks for help, Birchstar states that she would like to help SkyClan, but that the river is very low, and that it is harder than ever to catch any fish. She also says that SkyClan does not know how to catch fish.

Much later, Birchstar appears during Leafstar's leadership ceremony with the other leaders at the time of SkyClan's departure: Redstar of ThunderClan, Swiftstar of WindClan, and Dawnstar of ShadowClan. Firestar notes that she looks like Heavystep from RiverClan and a bit like Clovertail. She tells Cloudstar that RiverClan feels the same as ThunderClan, admitting that they should never have driven SkyClan out. Birchstar admits that she felt compassion for SkyClan, but did nothing and says that it makes her actions worse, and she is sorry. Birchstar gives Leafstar a life for sympathy and understanding, to use for the weakest in SkyClan, and for all the others who need help and protection.

When she talks to Firestar with the other leaders, she admits that there should always have been five Clans in the forest. She stands close to the other leaders, Skywatcher, Spottedleaf, and Leafstar's mother for the rest of the leadership ceremony.

Bramblestar's Storm

Although unnamed, Birchstar is mentioned by Firestar, when the old ThunderClan leader is talking to Bramblestar about SkyClan. He says that the leaders of ThunderClan, WindClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan had to deal with the consequences of their actions after being responsible for driving out SkyClan. Firestar goes on to tell Bramblestar that each of these leaders had come to visit Leafstar during her leadership ceremony, and in turn, gave her a life. Firestar says that this served as not only an apology, but a reminder that one Clan is not able to survive alone.

In the Novellas

Cloudstar's Journey

When Cloudstar and the entire whole of SkyClan come to the gathering to beg for territory, Birchstar says that she would like to help, but the river was low in RiverClan, and that SkyClan did not know how to fish anyway.

In the Field Guides

The Ultimate Guide

Although not mentioned by name, it is mentioned on Cloudstar's and Skywatcher's page that when Twolegs started to destroy SkyClan territory, Cloudstar looked to his rival Clans to help him and his Clan survive. Instead, Birchstar and the other leaders protested that sharing territory would be impossible, that SkyClan could not catch different prey, and that if there were only four Great Oaks in the hollow, perhaps there were only meant to be four Clans.

Character pixels

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. Leader Version StarClan Version

Ceremonies

Lives granted

The following is a list of gifts Birchstar has granted during nine lives ceremonies:

Lives granted
Gift Receiver Sympathy and understanding Leafstar

Leader info

Leader info
Deputies Name From To Sloefur Before Cloudstar's Journey Before Goosefeather's Curse Medicine cats Name From To Icewhisker Before Cloudstar's Journey Before Goosefeather's Curse

Appearances

• Cloudstar's Journey
• Firestar's Quest (First appearance)
• Bramblestar's Storm (Mentioned only)
• The Ultimate Guide (Mentioned only)

Trivia

Interesting facts

• She has been noted to look very similar to Heavystep and Clovertail.

Mistakes

• Her name was misspelled as Birch-star.

Continuity

The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.

• On Vicky's Facebook, Birchstar has blue eyes.

Quotes

"There should have always been five Clans in the forest."

―Birchstar to Firestar at Leafdapple's leader ceremony ^{Firestar's Quest, page 494}