Darkstripe

"This is not my Clan. Not any longer. ThunderClan is led by a kittypet, and there's nothing left to fight for. I feel no loyalty to ThunderClan. In the whole forest, the only cat worth following is Tigerstar."

— Darkstripe before being banished from ThunderClan in The Darkest Hour, page 117

Darkstripe
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	The Place of No Stars
Past:	ThunderClan (exiled) TigerClan Rogue
Biographical information
Cause of death:	Killed by Graystripe
Names
Apprentice:	Unknown
Warrior:	Darkstripe
Rogue:	Darkstripe
Dark Forest resident:	Darkstripe
Education
Mentor:	Tigerstar
Apprentices:	Longtail, Dustpelt, Ferncloud
Book appearances
Living	The Prophecies Begin, Tigerclaw's Fury, Battles of the Clans, Code of the Clans
Living	The Prophecies Begin, Tigerclaw's Fury, Battles of the Clans, Code of the Clans
Dead	Sunset, Fading Echoes, Night Whispers, The Forgotten Warrior, The Last Hope
Dead	Sunset, Fading Echoes, Night Whispers, The Forgotten Warrior, The Last Hope

Darkstripe is a large, lean, sleek, and thin-furred dark gray tabby tom with black stripes and yellow eyes.

Darkstripe was a former ThunderClan warrior who served under Bluestar's and Firestar's leaderships in the forest territories. He was apprenticed to Tigerstar, and mentored Longtail, Dustpelt, and Ferncloud. Darkstripe was a staunch supporter of Tigerstar, eventually joining him in TigerClan after being exiled for poisoning Sorrelkit with deathberries. He assisted in killing Stonefur with Blackfoot under Tigerstar's orders. During the battle against BloodClan, Darkstripe was killed by Graystripe and descended to the Dark Forest. He helped train many cats in preparation for the Great Battle; however, after their defeat, he returned to the Dark Forest.

History

Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!

The Prophecies Begin

Darkstripe: "You're mine, kittypet. It's time for you to die."

Firestar: "So now you're fighting on the side of Tigerstar's murderer? Have you no loyalty?"

^{The Darkest Hour}

When a former kittypet, Firepaw, is accepted into ThunderClan, Darkstripe is less than enthusiastic. He shares this opinion with Dustpaw, who is apprenticed to him after the death of his former mentor, Redtail. Darkstripe and Longtail are assigned to guard Bluestar by Tigerclaw after the camp is attacked by ShadowClan. He further spreads rumors, along with Tigerclaw and Longtail, about Ravenpaw being a traitor.

When Tigerclaw is exiled for attempting to kill Bluestar, Darkstripe declines to follow his friend, having finding out that Tigerclaw plotted with Brokentail without telling him. Despite staying, his faith in ThunderClan weakens, even more when Fireheart is appointed as the new deputy, but Darkstripe is chosen by Fireheart to mentor Fernpaw in a display of trust. However, this wavers after Darkstripe takes Bramblekit and Tawnykit to visit their father, now the ShadowClan leader, in secret. He further spreads news of the Clan to Tigerstar, and when Darkstripe attempts to kill Sorrelkit with deathberries after she finds him meeting with Blackfoot, the ShadowClan deputy, he is exiled by Firestar.

Darkstripe joins TigerClan, Tigerstar's union of ShadowClan and RiverClan. He is ordered by Tigerstar to kill Stonefur, the half-Clan son of Bluestar. However, he is unable to overpower the RiverClan warrior and must be assisted by Blackfoot. When Tigerstar is killed by Scourge, Darkstripe refuses to fight with LionClan in the battle against BloodClan. Instead, he attempts to kill Firestar, but Graystripe slays the dark tabby warrior.

The New Prophecy

Darkstripe: "...Why is it always dark here? Where is the moon?...I thought we would be hunting across the sky with our warrior ancestors, and watching over our Clanmates."

Tigerstar: "That is not the way for us. But I don't need starlight to follow my path. If StarClan think they can forget about us, they're wrong."

^Sunset

Darkstripe encounters Tigerstar in the Dark Forest, explaining to his friend how he was unsuccessful in finding a way out. He requests to travel with Tigerstar, but is denied, as the deceased ShadowClan leader insists they must walk alone.

Omen of the Stars

Cloudtail: "Darkstripe! I'm not surprised to see you're with the Dark Forest traitors."

Darkstripe: "So you believe in StarClan now?"

^{The Last Hope}

Darkstripe trains in the Dark Forest alongside the other Dark Forest warriors and Clan recruits; however, he is not highly valued. During the Great Battle, Darkstripe ambushes Cloudtail and Dovewing, fighting alongside Sparrowfeather and later against Sorreltail. However, he retreats to the Dark Forest when the battle is lost.

Field Guides

This section summarizes Darkstripe's significant appearances in the Field Guides. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!

Longtail: "We killed her...."

Darkstripe: "We did not! Greencough killed her. She was old and weak. We are the important cats; we should eat first. Do you want to do what's best for your Clan?"

^{Code of the Clans}

In Code of the Clans, Darkstripe and Longtail are assigned to a hunting patrol during a very harsh leaf-bare. Longtail catches a squirrel, and Darkstripe, instead of leaving the prey for the elders, eats the squirrel and convinces Longtail to join him. When they return to camp, they find that the elder, Poppydawn, has died because she did not have the strength to fight off her sickness.

Character pixels

Main images

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. Apprentice Version Warrior Version Rogue Version Dark Forest Resident Version

Alternate images

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. Alternative Warrior Version Alternative Dark Forest Resident Version Alternative Dark Forest Resident Version Alternative Dark Forest Resident Version

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery Darkstripe in A Shadow in RiverClan Darkstripe in A Shadow in RiverClan Darkstripe's icon on the Warriors family tree

Killed victims

This list shows the victims Darkstripe has killed:

• Stonefur (Alongside Blackstar)

Personality and Relationships

Main article: Darkstripe/PR

Darkstripe is bitter and cowardly. He is loyal to Tigerstar, and despises Firestar for his kittypet heritage. For more of Darkstripe's personality and relationships, click here!

Appearances

• Redtail's Debt
• Into the Wild (First appearance)
• Fire and Ice
• Forest of Secrets
• Tigerclaw's Fury
• Rising Storm
• A Dangerous Path
• The Darkest Hour †
• A Shadow in RiverClan (Flashback only)
• Moonrise (Mentioned only)
• Sunset
• Fading Echoes
• Night Whispers
• The Forgotten Warrior
• The Last Hope
• Secrets of the Clans (Mentioned only) (Retconned)
• Code of the Clans
• Battles of the Clans
• The Ultimate Guide (Mentioned only)

Trivia

Author statements

• Cherith's favorite death to write was Darkstripe's.

Mistakes

• Darkstripe has been mistakenly described as black, a black tabby, black-and-silver, and with silver stripes.
• He has been mistakenly described with amber eyes and with pale blue eyes.
• Bluestar mentions that Dustpaw will be his first apprentice in Into the Wild, but in Fire and Ice it is revealed that Longtail was his apprentice before Dustpaw.

Continuity

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

• On the Warriors website family tree, Darkstripe is listed as Willowpelt's son. Through Willowpelt, his half-siblings are Graystripe, Rainwhisker, Sootfur, and Sorreltail.
• In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, Darkstripe does not appear on Tigerstar's apprentice list, despite it being mentioned that he had mentored him in Into the Wild. Lionheart mentions Darkstripe, Tigerstar, Brokenstar and Clawface as cats in the Dark Forest.

Quotes

"Lucky your collar snapped when it did. Longtail is a young warrior, but I can't imagine him being beaten by a kittypet!"

―Darkstripe to Firepaw after his fight with Longtail ^{Into the Wild}

"Traitors and kittypets! Is there no decent cat left in this Clan?"

―Darkstripe after Cloudpaw's apprentice ceremony ^{Forest of Secrets}

"I trusted you, Tigerclaw. I thought you were the finest warrior in the forest. But you plotted with that... that tyrant and you said nothing to me. And now you expect me to come with you?"

―Darkstripe to Tigerclaw when he is exiled ^{Forest of Secrets}

See more

Firestar: "Cats of ThunderClan. I've called you together so that you can witness what Darkstripe has to say. You all heard what happened to Sorrelkit yesterday. She's awake now, and Cinderpelt says she'll be fine. I've talked to her and she confirms what Graystripe said. Darkstripe did feed her the deathberries. So, Darkstripe. What have you to say for yourself?"

Darkstripe: "She's lying, or she made a mistake. Kits never listen to what any cat says. She obviously didn't hear me properly when I told her not to eat them."

^{The Darkest Hour}

"You can't leave this forest. I know-I've tried. But however far I walk, the trees never end, and there's no light anywhere."

―Darkstripe to Tigerstar about the Dark Forest ^Sunset

Darkstripe: "Hawkfrost can match any warrior. There aren’t many cats with such skill and strength."

Tigerstar: "Quiet, Darkstripe! Hawkfrost knows his own strengths."

^{Fading Echoes}

External links

• Creating an Antagonist on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Stand Together or Fall Divided on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Asking a Great Deal on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)