Brokenstar

"When I lead ShadowClan, I'll be better than either of them, he promised himself. [...] Whatever he did, he wouldn't make Tigerstar's or Brokenstar's mistakes." This article contains major spoilers for the recently released, Blackfoot's Reckoning. Please proceed at your own discretion.

"StarClan will do nothing to stop me, old cat. I have made their Clan glorious! Let them try!"

— Brokenstar taunting Yellowfang in Yellowfang's Secret, page 476

Brokenstar
The pixel artwork represents an interpretation of the character based upon canon material.
Affiliations
Current:	None
Past:	The Place of No Stars ShadowClan (exiled) ThunderClan (prisoner) Rogue
Biographical information
Age:	Approx. 62 moons (5.1 years) at death
Cause of death:	Fed deathberries by Yellowfang
Spirit death:	Killed by Yellowfang in battle
Names
Kit:	Brokenkit
Apprentice:	Brokenpaw
Warrior:	Brokentail
Deputy:	Brokentail
Leader:	Brokenstar
Elder:	Brokentail
Rogue:	Brokenstar
Dark Forest resident:	Brokenstar
Kin
Mother:	Yellowfang
Father:	Raggedstar
Foster mother:	Lizardstripe
Sisters:	Hopekit, Wishkit
Foster brothers:	Deerfoot, Runningnose
Foster sister:	Tangleburr
Education
Mentor:	Nightstar
Apprentices:	Stumpytail, Mosspaw, Volepaw
Dark Forest apprentices:	Tigerstar, Blossomfall
Deputy position
Preceded by:	Cloudpelt
Succeeded by:	Blackfoot
Leader position
Preceded by:	Raggedstar
Succeeded by:	Nightstar
Book appearances
Living	Yellowfang's Secret, Into the Wild, Fire and Ice, Forest of Secrets, Blackfoot's Reckoning
Living	Yellowfang's Secret, Into the Wild, Fire and Ice, Forest of Secrets, Blackfoot's Reckoning
Dead	Sunset, Omen of the Stars
Dead	Sunset, Omen of the Stars

Brokenstar is a matted, dark brown tabby tom with a broad, flat face, a bent tail, and orange eyes.

Brokenstar was a ShadowClan leader in the forest territories and a member of the Dark Forest. He was born as Brokenkit to Yellowfang and Raggedstar alongside his sisters, Hopekit and Wishkit, though only he survived. He was surrendered by his mother and given to Lizardstripe, who neglected him, and gained foster siblings in Tanglekit, Runningkit, and Deerkit, who often teased him. He was apprenticed as Brokenpaw to Nightstar; however, he often disobeyed his mentor and sought training from Raggedpelt. After becoming a warrior early, Brokentail mentored Stumpytail and became deputy once Cloudpelt died. Brokentail then murdered Raggedstar, ripping away all nine lives, lying that WindClan killed him, and became leader as Brokenstar.

He trained kits too early, mentoring Mosspaw and Volepaw, though both apprentices died due to his ruthless training sessions. He exiled Yellowfang after killing Marigoldkit and Mintkit, pinning the blame on the medicine cat, and he drove out WindClan from their territory. However, with the help of the exiled elders, ThunderClan, and Yellowfang, Brokenstar was driven out from his Clan, along with many of his followers, becoming rogues. He attacked ThunderClan, but was blinded by Yellowfang and taken prisoner, being demoted to an elder and changing his name back to Brokentail. After being fed deathberries, he descended to the Dark Forest, where he trained living warriors to aid their schemes. During the Great Battle, Brokenstar killed Ferncloud, and thereafter, he was killed by Yellowfang for a second time, fading away forever.

History

Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!

The Prophecies Begin

"Don't waste your time, apprentice! I've shared dreams with StarClan. You will have to kill me nine times over before I join them. Do you really think you're strong enough to do that?"

―Brokenstar to Firepaw during the battle between ThunderClan and ShadowClan

Brokenstar's death

Brokenstar is the leader of ShadowClan. Under his leadership, ShadowClan drives fear into every Clan. He and his Clan chase out WindClan for their territory and pressure RiverClan and ThunderClan for theirs. He is also notorious for apprenticing kits before they are six moons old and sending them to be killed in battle. He sends Clawface to ThunderClan, to steal Frostfur's kits to fuel Brokenstar's army, murdering Spottedleaf, ThunderClan's only medicine cat. Firepaw, Graypaw, and Yellowfang, ShadowClan's former medicine cat, hurry to rescue them. Yellowfang recruits ShadowClan elders who were ousted by their leader, and together with a ThunderClan patrol, drive Brokenstar and his followers out of the Clan.

The exiled rogue and his followers launch an attack on ThunderClan in revenge, but they are defeated, and Brokenstar is blinded by Yellowfang. He is kept prisoner in ThunderClan, demoted to Brokentail as an elder. The other Clans insist ThunderClan should get rid Brokentail for he is a dangerous cat. Even as a blind and injured prisoner, Brokentail plots with Tigerclaw and takes part in a battle when Tigerclaw leads Brokentail's rogues to attack ThunderClan's camp in an attempt to kill Bluestar. Eventually, Brokentail is tricked into eating deathberries by his biological mother, Yellowfang, who reveals her identity to him at last. He doesn't believe her, but loses his last life in death.

Omen of the Stars

"You will all stay here. You will all be loyal to me. Or I will kill every one of you. [...] Say nothing to any cat. You will fight alongside us. And if I hear any one of you spreading rumors and lies among your Dark Forest Clanmates, you will suffer beyond anything you have ever known."

―Brokenstar threatening the Dark Forest trainees

Brokenstar becomes one of the unofficial leaders of the Dark Forest, alongside Tigerstar and Mapleshade, organizing the Great Battle. He assists Breezepelt in attempting to kill Poppyfrost and Jayfeather, but are driven back by Honeyfern, a StarClan cat. During this time, he mentors Tigerheart and Blossomfall within the Place of No Stars. He runs into Spottedleaf, Jayfeather, and Yellowfang in the Dark Forest and mocks them as they try to find information about the future conflict.

To test Ivypaw's loyalty, he demands her to kill Flametail, who had recently joined StarClan and got lost wandering into the Dark Forest. He continues to doubt Ivypool's loyalty and has her kill Antpelt's spirit. When Beetlewhisker refuses to train anymore and threatens to leave the Dark Forest, Brokenstar kills him before the RiverClan cat can encourage the others to do so, with him saying that is what happens if anyone tries to leave the Dark Forest. During the Great Battle, he murders Ferncloud while raiding the nursery. Afterwards, Yellowfang kills him a second time and wipes out his existence. After Brokenstar's second death, the Dark Forest cats flee in fear, giving the Clans the victory.

Super Editions

This section summarizes Brokenstar's significant Super Editions appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!

"ShadowClan is stronger than ever. We have been challenged on each border, but have won in every battle! Let all Clans know that we will tolerate no trespassing, no prey-stealing, no dishonor."

―Brokenstar at a Gathering

In Yellowfang's Secret, Brokenkit is born to Yellowfang and Raggedpelt, alongside two sisters, Hopekit and Wishkit. He was the only one who survived out of the litter. He was named after the bend in his tail, as well as the feeling Yellowfang felt in her heart at the time of his birth. He is the only surviving kit of his litter and is surrendered by his biological mother and fostered by the only queen in the nursery, Lizardstripe. The young kit suffers emotional neglect from Lizardstripe and is constantly bullied by his foster siblings, Tanglekit, Deerkit, and Runningkit. He is also spoiled by his father, Raggedpelt, who later becomes leader.

He becomes an apprentice and is mentored by Nightpelt, but often refuses to listen to his mentor, who is frail and sickly, and instigates fights with other cats, including those of his own Clan. He is promoted to a warrior as Brokentail early and becomes the deputy after Cloudpelt dies in battle, despite his young age. He is given his own apprentice, Stumpypaw, whom he trains vigorously. Yellowfang finally makes Raggedstar see the truth in their son that his violent and aggressive nature that will ruin the Clan, but Brokentail proceeds to murder his own father to become the leader of ShadowClan, taking the name Brokenstar. He names Blackfoot his deputy despite the fact Blackfoot never had an apprentice. Then, he announces that warriors will only train for battle, and that hunting is of little importance. Brokenstar apprentices kits before the age of six moons and forces them to train for battle, including his own apprentices Mosspaw and Volepaw, and banishes the elders from the "safety" of the camp. He exiles his biological mother, Yellowfang, after accusing her of killing Marigoldkit and Mintkit, most likely because he saw her as a threat to his reign as well.

Novellas

This section summarizes Brokenstar's significant Novellas appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!

"Can I be better than Brokenstar and Tigerstar were? He wanted to be. But with a pain that cut deep into his bones, he knew that he couldn’t be sure. I never even wondered until now if their decisions were right. What does that say about me?"

―Blackfoot reflecting on how he served Brokenstar and Tigerstar

In Blackfoot's Reckoning, Blackpaw befriends the young Brokenkit, feeling pity for the kit's ostracization from other Clan members as well as not knowing who his mother is. Although Brokenkit refuses to believe in the value of friendship, he does form a close relationship with the older cat. When Brokentail becomes deputy, and eventually leader, Blackfoot continues to be one of his biggest supporters, with Brokenstar making the white tom his deputy. Although Blackfoot internally wonders if Brokenstar's choices are the right ones, he stands with Brokenstar, telling himself that he is following his leader, just as the warrior code dictates. Blackfoot continues to serve Brokenstar until the ShadowClan leader is captured by ThunderClan, and is crestfallen when he learns his friend was killed by them after Tigerclaw's betrayal.

During his nine lives ceremony, Blackfoot learns the truth behind Brokenstar's actions, and realizing that his friend only cared about his own power, and didn't care what he had to do to achieve it. Blackfoot promises to be a better leader than him, and acknowledges he was wrong to follow Brokenstar.

Detailed description

Brokenstar is a lean, massive, scarred, dark brown tabby tom with orange eyes. He has unusually long, thick, patchy, matted, and ragged fur, a long spine, broad shoulders, a scarred, broad, flat face, and torn ears. His tail is bent in the middle like a broken branch.

Character pixels

Main images

The pixel artwork is an interpretation based upon canon material. Kit Version Apprentice Version Warrior Version Deputy Version Leader Version Rogue Version Elder Version Dark Forest Resident Version

Alternate images

The pixel artwork is an interpretation based upon canon material. Alternate Elder Version Alternate Dark Forest Resident Version

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery Brokenstar in Yellowfang's Secret Brokenstar on the cover of Enter the Clans Brokenstar in The Ultimate Guide Brokenstar's icon on the Warriors family tree

Killed victims

This list shows the victims Brokenstar has killed:

• Raggedstar (All lives)
• Mosspaw (Indirectly caused)
• Volepaw (Caused)
• Badgerfang (Indirectly caused)
• Swampkit (Indirectly caused)
• Blossomkit (Indirectly caused)
• Marigoldkit
• Mintkit
• Antpelt (Spirit; indirect; his orders)
• Beetlewhisker
• Ferncloud

Ceremonies

Brokenpaw's apprentice ceremony
Cedarstar: Nightpelt, you are an intelligent and dedicated warrior. I know that you will do your best to pass on these qualities to Brokenpaw. Everyone: Brokenpaw! Brokenpaw! Reference: Yellowfang's Secret, page 354

Brokentail's warrior ceremony

Raggedstar: I am proud of my Clan. You are all I could have hoped for as a leader. With warriors like these, I could fight any battle! And there will be a new warrior today. Brokenpaw, step forward. Nightpelt: Raggedstar, Brokenpaw hasn't completed his final assessments yet. Raggedstar: I know a cat who is ready to be a warrior when I see one. I, Raggedstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Brokenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your own life? Brokenpaw: I do. Raggedstar: Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Brokenpaw, from this moment you will be known as Brokentail - but let no cat see this as a sign of weakness. You are one of the strongest cats I have ever known, and I look forward to fighting alongside you! StarClan honors your courage and your fighting skills, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan. Everyone: Brokentail! Brokentail! Reference: Yellowfang's Secret, pages 382-383

Brokentail's deputy ceremony

Raggedstar: Cats of ShadowClan! We have lost Cloudpelt and we grieve for him. But the life of the Clan must continue. It is time to appoint a new deputy. I say these words before the body of Cloudpelt, and in the presence of the spirits of my ancestors, that they may hear and approve my choice. Brokentail will be the new deputy of ShadowClan. True, Brokentail is still younger than most of you, but ShadowClan has never had a braver or more skillful warrior. He is an example to us all, and it will be a great honor to lead the Clan with him. Reference: Yellowfang's Secret, page 416

Brokenstar's leader ceremony
Cedarstar: I give you a life to live by the warrior code. Remember it well, Brokentail, and let it be your guide. Wiser cats than you or I have lost their way without it. Stonetooth: I give you a life for duty. Remember what you owe your Clan as well as what your Clan owes to you. Dawnstar: I give you a life for honor. Honor is expected from all cats, but most of all, from a Clan leader. Use the honor of leadership carefully. Skinny gray tom: I give you a life for truth. Without it, kin is set against kin, Clan against Clan. Hold fast to truth in all your dealings and let it guide your words. Lizardfang: I give you a life for judgement. ShadowClan stands at a place where the path ahead divides. choose to follow the right path, for the good of your Clan. Brokentail's sister: I give you the life for love of kin. And as a Clan leader, remember that every Clan cat is your kin. Small brown tabby she-cat: I give you a life for clear sight. Brokentail, know yourself and your destiny, but know too that destiny can be changed if you choose the right path. Plump black-and-white tom: I give you a life for strength. This is the time you and your Clan will stand or fall. You need to be stronger than ever. Sagewhisker: Brokentail, I give you a life for compassion. Use it to shelter the weakest in your Clan, the kits and the elders and the sick. Use it to show mercy to your enemies and to choose the path your paw steps will follow. StarClan: Brokenstar! Brokenstar!
Reference: Yellowfang's Secret, pages 445-449

Leader info

Leader info

Nine Lives Life Given by Gift How it was lost Cedarstar Stonetooth Dawnstar Skinny gray tom Lizardfang Brokenstar's sister Small brown tabby she-cat Plump black-and-white tom Sagewhisker Living by the warrior code Duty Honor Truth Judgement Love of kin Clear sight Strength Compassion Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Killed by Yellowfang in Fire and Ice Died of wounds received in the battle against ThunderClan in Forest of Secrets Died from deathberry poisoning in Forest of Secrets Deputies Name From To Blackfoot Yellowfang's Secret Into the Wild Medicine cats Name From To Yellowfang Runningnose Yellowfang's Secret Yellowfang's Secret Yellowfang's Secret Into the Wild

Personality and traits

Brokenstar is the personification of pure evil, with no redeemable features. He is manipulative, cruel, arrogant, ruthless and egotistical, showing no remorse for his actions. When Brokenstar is made a warrior early, his vindictive nature becomes more apparent by his vigorous training of Stumpypaw. He punishes his apprentice because he was "too chatty" by making him hang from a tree branch by his teeth. Furthermore, Brokenstar makes his apprentice hunt and train relentlessly even though Stumpypaw is exhausted. As he grows older, his lust for power also grows, and he goes as far as to tell Yellowfang to give up on trying to save Cloudpelt due to his own desire to become deputy.

As leader, Brokenstar breaks many of the codes and bends the warrior code for his own benefit, such as making Blackfoot deputy and apprenticing kits too early. He even casts out the elders and makes them fend for themselves. He kills Marigoldkit and Mintkit, pinning it on Yellowfang, and exiles her, potentially due to her high ranking status as medicine cat. He orders Clawface to steal kits from ThunderClan due to their lack of apprentices. When his plot is discovered, ShadowClan casts him and his followers out.

However, even in death, Brokenstar remains hateful and plots to destroy the Clans with other Dark Forest cats. He helps his trainee Breezepelt try and kill Jayfeather and Poppyfrost, and orders Ivypool to kill Antpelt to test her loyalty. When fighting the Clans, he murders Ferncloud and showed no remorse over it. Due to his own cruel nature, Brokenstar is not used to the concept of failure or loss. Brokenstar has shown fear only twice in the series when he is initially blinded by Yellowfang, he is scared at the loss of his sight, and again when Yellowfang informs him that she has poisoned him, he begins to panic as he realizes he is dying.

Relationships

Raggedstar

"I've made a terrible mistake, haven't I? Our son wants to do nothing but lead ShadowClan into battle. I should never have made him deputy!"

―Raggedstar about his son

As an apprentice, Brokenstar disrespects Nightpelt, his appointed mentor, by seeking training from Raggedpelt, his father, who spoils him and believes he could do no wrong. When Raggedstar makes Brokenstar deputy, Brokenstar kills Raggedstar, one of the few cats who treated him with decency and his own father, to obtain ShadowClan's leadership.

Yellowfang

"I wished you'd been my son, but I could not have borne a cat like you. StarClan gave me Brokentail to teach me a lesson."

―Yellowfang to Fireheart

Yellowfang is ashamed of her son, and knows he is a punishment from StarClan. When Brokenstar attacks ThunderClan’s camp, he is stopped when Yellowfang blinds him. When ThunderClan shelters him, he conspires with Tigerclaw to try and take over ShadowClan. Yellowfang knows that since she brought him into this world, she must take him out, and she feeds him deathberries and he dies, going to the Place of No Stars. Yellowfang then kills Brokenstar again during the battle with the Dark Forest.

Lizardstripe

When Brokenstar is a kit, he is emotionally abused by his foster mother Lizardstripe, who never hesitates to remind him that he is not her biological kit. He is teased and bullied by his foster siblings, Deerfoot, Tangleburr, and Runningnose, though Runningnose stops when reprimanded by Yellowfang.^[source?]

Nightstar

Nightpelt: "There are no battles to fight at the moment, Brokenpaw. You'll have a chance to learn everything, but you need to go at the right pace. Don't be impatient."

Brokenpaw: "Coughing old fool!"

^{Yellowfang's Secret, page chapter 29}

Nightpelt was appointed as Brokenpaw's mentor to calm his battle hunger. However, Brokenpaw disrespected his mentor due to his illness, constantly pushing to have fighting prioritized in his training. Reluctantly, Nightpelt completed the unruly apprentice's training, despite the stress having a negative effect on his already bad health. In his retirement, Nightpelt watched in disgust as Brokenstar grew crueler, and was banished by his former apprentice with the other elders.

Family

Main article: Brokenstar/Family

Brokenstar's parents are Yellowfang and Raggedstar. His littermates are Hopekit and Wishkit. His foster mother is Lizardstripe. For more of Brokenstar's family, click here!

Appearances

• Yellowfang's Secret †
• Bluestar's Prophecy (Mentioned only)
• Into the Wild (First appearance)
• Fire and Ice
• Forest of Secrets †
• Tigerclaw's Fury (Mentioned only)
• Rising Storm (Mentioned only)
• A Dangerous Path (Mentioned only)
• The Darkest Hour (Mentioned only)
• Blackfoot's Reckoning (Flashback only)
• Midnight (Mentioned only)
• Moonrise (Mentioned only)
• Dawn (Mentioned only)
• Sunset (Mentioned only)
• Leafpool's Wish (Mentioned only)
• Sunrise (Mentioned only)
• The Fourth Apprentice
• Fading Echoes
• Night Whispers
• Sign of the Moon
• The Forgotten Warrior
• The Last Hope †
• Mothwing's Secret (Mentioned only)
• Dovewing's Silence (Mentioned only)
• Bramblestar's Storm (Mentioned only)
• Thunder and Shadow (Indirect mention only)
• River of Fire (Mentioned only)
• Squirrelflight's Hope (Indirect mention only)
• The Place of No Stars (Mentioned only)
• Secrets of the Clans (Retconned)
• Cats of the Clans
• Code of the Clans (Mentioned only)
• The Ultimate Guide

Trivia

Main article: Brokenstar/Trivia

Did you know that Brokenstar's biggest fear is the lack of respect from other cats? For more trivia about Brokenstar, click here!

Quotes

"Why are you telling me this stuff? I'm not going to be a medicine cat! I'm going to be a warrior! Grrr! Watch me pounce!"

―Brokenkit to Yellowfang

"A friend is a cat you hang around because they make you happy. A Clanmate fights beside you to protect your territory, and hunts so that you all have food. If your Clanmate can't hunt or can't fight, then they're useless."

―Brokenpaw to Blackfoot about the concept of friends

"I've come to tell you not to waste your efforts with Cloudpelt. His time is over. He would never have been able to lead ShadowClan. There is only one cat who can do that after Raggedstar. I will be the next leader of ShadowClan."

―Brokentail when Yellowfang is attemping to treat Cloudpelt's wound

"Those kits were weak. They would have been no use to ShadowClan. If I hadn't killed them, some other warrior would have."

―Brokenstar

See more

Yellowfang: "I know you care for nothing, Brokentail. Not your own Clan, nor your honor, nor your own kin."

Brokentail: "I have no kin."

^{Forest of Secrets, page 293}

Brokenstar: "No cat stays in StarClan forever. They all fade in the end. Unless someone kills them first."

Ivypaw: "That's not true! This is where cats come for the rest of all the moons!"

^{Night Whispers, page 293}

Brokenstar: "Oh, you're a Dark Forest warrior, no doubt about that."

Ivypool: "So you'll tell me when the final battle will be? And let me fight alongside you?"

^{The Forgotten Warrior, page 227}

"Pride is not important. Power is important, and the willingness to use it."

―Brokenstar to Mapleshade

Brokenstar: "No cat leaves the Dark Forest unless I say so. Your loyalty is to us now."

Beetlwhisker: "My loyalty is to RiverClan, just as it has always been. You promised me that coming here would make me stronger for my Clanmates. It has, and I'm grateful, but you must have that I'd leave eventually."

^{The Last Hope, pages 159-160}

"I'm going to shred you till there's nothing left to join StarClan."

―Brokenstar facing off against Firestar before being killed

"Raggedstar always thought his son would make a great leader. He was blind to all of Brokentail's faults --his cunning, his ruthlessness, his violent nature."

―Yellowfang describing Brokenstar

External links

• Featured
• Book Specific
• Character Specific
• Themes and Concepts
• Merchandise and Website

• Warrior of the Week #84 - Brokenstar on the Warriors official website (Warrior of the Week #84) (backup link)
• The Cats of The Prophecies Begin on the Warriors official website (backup link)

Exclusive title and cover reveal! Upcoming 2022 Graphic Novel on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)

A bully with no brains on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)

Mudclaw's Rebellion on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)

• Leadership Among the Clans: An Overview on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• The Leaders Who Made Their Mark on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• The Warrior Code: An Outdated Relic? on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• Evil Lives Forever on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• Creating an Antagonist on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Stand Together or Fall Divided on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• Clan or Kin? on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• When Omens Are False on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• One Chance After Another on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• Asking a Great Deal on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• Too Much History on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Protect and defend on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• Missing the old days on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• Say little... on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• True warriors? on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• A matter of choice on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• A place of endless night on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Tabbies changing their stripes: Should the chance for redemption end at death? on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• The Forest Map: ThunderClan on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
• What matters most... on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)

• Which Warrior is Worthy? on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Which Warrior is Worthy - The Return on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• New March Challenge Announcement on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)