Dodge

"Do you think I've forgiven you for what you did to us? No. I've often thought of gathering my cats and traveling upstream to give you another taste of our claws. But then...well, wasn't it lucky that Darktail and his rogues turned up to do the job for me?"

— Dodge taunting Leafstar and Hawkwing in Hawkwing's Journey, page 257

Dodge
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	Dodge's group
Biographical information
Cause of death:	Killed by Hawkwing
Names
Leader:	Dodge
Rogue:	Dodge
Dodge's group leader position
Succeeded by:	Harley
Book appearances
Living	SkyClan's Destiny, Hawkwing's Journey
Living	SkyClan's Destiny, Hawkwing's Journey

Dodge is a huge, muscular, dark brown tabby tom with a flat, scarred face, and a shredded ear. He has a deep scar going from his neck to halfway down his flank, and yellow eyes.

Dodge was a rogue leader of his group that resided in the Twolegplace downstream from SkyClan's old territory. He ran his group with fear and was ready to fight anyone or anything that could get in his way. Dodge started causing trouble for Stick and his group, but after an unfortunate battle amongst his group, Stick's group, and SkyClan, Dodge was defeated, and reluctantly respected his side of the Twolegplace. Moons later, Dodge began causing trouble again, and directed Darktail the way to SkyClan, wanting revenge on the Clan for so long. An exiled SkyClan passed through the Twolegplace, and he captured their apprentice, Curlypaw, angering the Clan. SkyClan came for her aid, but Dodge tried to make a deal with them to drive out Stick, and when Leafstar refused, Hawkwing challenged him to a fight and won, killing Dodge. After his death, Harley established himself as leader, and promised peace among the groups in the Twolegplace.

History

In the Super Editions

SkyClan's Destiny

Dodge: "Coward! You come skulking into my camp like rats—"

Stick: "At least I came myself. Not like you, Dodge, getting Twolegs to do your dirty work."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 447}

Dodge attempts to steal prey from Coal and Percy, accompanied by Skipper and Misha, two of his many followers, and Stick notes to Shorty that they shouldn't be there. Dodge stands stiff-legged, with his back arched, growling at them, and Stick wonders where his daughter, Red, is. Dodge, Misha, and Skipper have Cora and Percy trapped against a fence, trying to take the little prey that the two cats had. Coal protests that it took them the entire night to get it, and Stick asks Dodge if he's too idle to hunt prey. Dodge replies that they have an agreement, that sunrise belongs to him. Soon he and Dodge are having an argument about prey, and he orders Misha to attack Percy, who loses an eye during the assault. This causes a fight, and Dodge fights Stick until a Twoleg lets their dogs out and throws things at them, chasing Dodge and his followers away.

Stick worries about his daughter, Red, who is missing, but Cora says that with any luck, Dodge has fought enough for one day. Stick leaves Cora to take care of the injured Percy, and he leaps onto a shed and looks over his home. He knows every puddle, hiding place and mice nest, but it had changed since Dodge and his followers had arrived; every rooftop and alleyway hid an enemy, enemies who would rather fight then hunt, who enjoyed inflicting fear and pain. Later, Stick climbs a pile of Twoleg debris to search for rats, but all he finds is stale scents and droppings. Cora says that some other cats must have cleared them out already, and Stick automatically thinks that it's Dodge. Cora says that they can't be sure, but Stick says that he knows it's Dodge, and that he only wants them to starve.

Some time after, Percy wakes up, yelling that Dodge and Misha are coming, but Snowy soothes him, saying that he just had a bad dream. Cora yawns and says to Stick that he's afraid that he'll lose his other eye. Stick thinks that they'll have to do something about Dodge, and he notes that the cold weather and Dodge taking their prey would mean that they had to hunt harder if they are to get enough to eat with Dodge claiming more and more hunting time for his cats. Stick then hears a noise, and Red goes to investigate. Stick tries to go with her, and she angrily says that she's not stupid, and that she knows to stay out Dodge's way. But as she heads down the alley, he sees a shadow and thinks that one of Dodge's cats are lying in wait for her. Just then, Twolegs run into the alley, shrieking. Stick and his friends run for their lives, but then Stick finds Red with one of Dodge's cats, Harley. He begins to fight him, but Red stops him, as she loves Harley. Stick realizes that she knew about the Twoleg attack and left them there, but she says that he would never believe a warning from one of Dodge's cats.

After the Twoleg attack, Stick says that it's Dodge's fault. Shorty asks what he means, and he explains about Misha and Skipper attacking a Twoleg's rabbit. He thinks that Dodge arranged the attack in vengeance. Stick and his friends decide to try and plan an attack, and they decide to look for where Dodge lives. They set off in different directions, and Stick and Shorty go together. Stick seems distracted, and Shorty asks him what's wrong. He admits that he thinks that Red has betrayed them to Dodge, but Shorty says that she wouldn't do that. Stick then spots a she-cat, one of Dodge's followers. He interrogates the cat, named Onion, about where Dodge lives, and even goes as far as to threaten to kill her. Onion, very scared, stammers that Dodge and his group of rogues live in boxes by a river. Stick yearns to sink his claws into her flesh, but Shorty tells him to let her go. Stick heads in the direction of the stream, but Shorty stops him, saying that he couldn't go alone. Shorty asks if this is about Red, and he says that Dodge can't steal her away.

While with Misha and Skipper in his camp, Stick and Shorty notice him talking to Red and Harley. Stick is furious and thinks that Red is telling Dodge information about them. He turns to get his friends for an attack, but Shorty says that they couldn't do it alone. Shorty says that they could ask for help from the cats who they had met previously that live downriver in the forest, Firestar and Sandstorm. Instead, the group found SkyClan, and Stick asks Leafstar for help to fight Dodge.

When facing Dodge, Stick and him taunt each other, but then they attack each other fiercely, starting the battle between the groups and SkyClan. Red and Harley, who were out of camp, come in the midst of battle, astonished. He licks his wounds when the fighting stops, and Stick argues with his daughter. After Stick tries to fight Harley, he accidentally rips open Red's throat instead when she defends her mate, and Dodge dares Stick not to touch a hair on Harley, with Stick threatening to kill the rogue leader. Leafstar demands the battle to end, and she reprimands both toms, stating that there is enough around in the Twolegplace for the both of them, and if they continue fighting to the death, they will lose what they love. Dodge is reluctant to do so, but in the end, peace is established within the Twolegplace once more, and the groups and SkyClan leave to their respected territories.

Hawkwing's Journey

Dodge: "I was expecting a visit from you."

Leafstar: "What do you mean?"

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 256}

Leafstar mentions Dodge as SkyClan enters the Twolegplace, after being driven out of the gorge by Darktail and his rogues. She explains that SkyClan had first battled Dodge in the area, and that everyone should move through it quickly. Hawkwing begins to think about the stories of the battle, and what he knows about the dangerous tom.

When SkyClan runs into Shorty, the tom begins to lead them to their home for the night. On the way there, Hawkwing mentions the cats that were watching them as they entered the Twolegplace, possibly being Dodge's cats. When arriving to Shorty's home, Hawkwing remarks that some of the cats look the same age as him and Pebbleshine, and could not be old enough to have fought in the battle against Dodge.

Later on, when Leafstar, Sparrowpelt, Shorty, and Stick are conversing, Stick mentions that Dodge used to keep to his side of the border, but is beginning to put up fights more often. Leafstar suggests that the group scent-mark the border, but Stick disagrees. Hawkwing, settling down with Pebbleshine beside Sparrowpelt, asks why Leafstar and Stick have anger towards each other. Sparrowpelt tells more about the history of the battle, and how Stick wanted Leafstar to kill Dodge in the end, but she had refused, and only gave him a warning. Pebbleshine remarks that Dodge wasn't listening to that warning anymore.

Bellaleaf suddenly emerges from the alleyway, frantically stating that Curlypaw had been taken. While Hawkwing wants to search for her, Stick comments that Dodge's cats probably took Curlypaw, and that there wouldn't be a way to help her. Angry, SkyClan searches for their apprentice, accompanied by Snowy, Shorty, and a reluctant Stick. Soon after, Harley approaches the SkyClan cats and Stick with a message from Dodge. Harley tells Leafstar that the dangerous rogue has Curlypaw and wants to meet all of SkyClan to discuss the situation. Stick disapproves, saying that the Clan cats would be flea-brained to go into Dodge's territory. Harley promises that none of them would be harmed, and Stick says his word means nothing. Harley claims that the situation is not Stick's affair, and he cannot enter Dodge's territory.

Agreeing to go with Harley, the SkyClan cats travel through the Twolegplace until they arrive at Dodge's camp. Dodge begins to talk with Leafstar, and he declares that he was expecting her, mentioning their previous meeting when she had told him to keep to his side of the border. Dodge then proceeds to state that he assisted Darktail in finding SkyClan and bickers with the SkyClan cats. When Leafstar asks why he has taken Curlypaw, he attempts to make a deal with her: if SkyClan fights for him and chases Stick out of Twolegplace, he will return Curlypaw to them.

Dodge threatens SkyClan, stating that they can either fight for him, or against his group. Hawkwing accuses Dodge of being a coward and then proclaims that they should fight. He states that if he wins, all of SkyClan will remain unharmed; if Dodge wins, SkyClan will fight along with Dodge. The two cats quarrel, and then begin their fight. Hawkwing and Dodge lunge and strike at each other for some time, until Hawkwing eventually slices his claws through Dodge angrily, killing him and ending the brawl. While Hawkwing is surrounded by his Clanmates to celebrate his win, Dodge's rogues become furious. Before the two groups can fight, Harley intervenes and points out that Dodge made a bargain and lost. He says that they must honor that loss. Dodge's group eventually allows SkyClan to leave, and Harley establishes himself as leader of the group following Dodge's death.

Character pixels

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

Personality

"If you can't keep to the rules, I'll force you to."

―Dodge threatening Stick ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 110}

Dodge is a rogue leader, who is not afraid to push other cats' limits, and he breaks off promises, especially to Stick and his group. He controls his group to be mean to outsiders such as Stick's group, kittypets, and SkyClan. Dodge is also clever, using it to his advantage against Stick, and uses Twolegs to do his dirty work against Stick. He is not the one to back down from fighting, but he reluctantly agrees to stop fighting when Leafstar spoke out against him and Stick. Dodge holds a grudge against Leafstar for the recent battle with Stick's group and directs Darktail to SkyClan as a revenge. He doesn't care for the well-being of Curlypaw, who is a young apprentice, holding her captive, and threatening to kill her. He let his anger get the best of him, thinking he could win a fight with Hawkwing, but is ultimately killed by Hawkwing.

Relationships

Stick and his group

"Right. The time has come for Dodge to leave this place! He has stolen too much from us!"

―Stick before the battle with Dodge ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 442}

Dodge's main rival was Stick and his group on the other side of the Twolegplace, often competing for prey. He threatened Stick and ordered Misha to tear out Percy's eye, making him lose it completely. Stick then decided that he was done with Dodge's threats. Stick also openly blamed Dodge for the Twoleg raid on their camp, though it was unknown if Dodge was part of it, and he thought that his daughter, Red, was assisting Dodge against his own group. Dodge eventually became a personal problem to Stick, making the brown tom paranoid. Dodge didn't mind Red, Harley's mate and Stick's daughter, joining his group; however, Stick thought he was using her for information about his group.. After searching for Firestar, Stick and his cats joined SkyClan, but taught their cats about the Twolegplace, and with some pressure, Stick revealed to Leafstar that he needed help fighting off Dodge's gang.

Before the battle, Stick was determined to drive out Dodge, wanting him killed. The two faced each other in battle, attacking each other. After Red's death, Dodge did not want to back down from fighting, though Leafstar reprimanded him about the hostility between Stick's and his groups in the Twolegplace. Dodge reluctantly agreed to keep on his side of the border.

When Dodge's group took SkyClan's apprentice captive, Stick refused to help rescue her, though some of his other cats wanted to help. Stick annoyingly led SkyClan and his cats through the Twolegplace to Dodge's camp, until they met Harley. Harley told them that Dodge promised no one would get hurt, though it felt like a threat.

Harley

Harley: "Dodge, this is wrong. I gave these cats my word that they would be unharmed until the meeting was over."

Dodge: "It is over. But I'll give their so-called leader one more chance. What is it to be? Fight for us, or against us? There's no other choice."

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 259}

Harley was part of Dodge's gang, and he protected him when Stick threatened the gray-and-brown tabby tom. He even allowed Harley's mate, Red, to join his group. Harley followed his leader's orders, wanting Leafstar and SkyClan to follow him into the Twolegplace when Dodge stole their apprentice, Curlypaw. However, when Dodge refused to keep his promise, Harley opposed him, though Dodge ignored him. After Dodge's death, Harley succeeded him as leader of his group, becoming a better leader than Dodge would be.

Leafstar and SkyClan

"Oh, I think you'll find I can. Of course, you could always try fighting your way out, but that young cat of yours will still be the first to die."

―Dodge mocking Leafstar ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 258}

Leafstar and SkyClan did not know of Dodge until Stick asked Leafstar for help to fight off Dodge's group. She agreed to help after being pressured by Sharpclaw, and Stick led them through the Twolegplace to Dodge's camp. After the ensuing battle, Dodge reluctantly backed down from fighting, at first refusing to, but Leafstar yowled at him and Stick to stop fighting and keep to their side of the borders.

Later on, Dodge took captive of SkyClan's apprentice, Curlypaw, and Leafstar and all of SkyClan was fumed by it. They were led by Stick to his camp, and Dodge mocked Leafstar and Hawkwing, stating that he gave Darktail directions to where SkyClan was, not ready to forgive them for their recent battle. SkyClan got their apprentice back after Hawkwing and Dodge made a deal to fight, and in the end, Dodge was killed by Hawkwing.

Hawkwing

Hawkwing: "You're just a coward. You keep your claws sheathed until you think you have the upper paw. But a real leader of cats steps up and leads even in the face of uncertainty. That is real bravery!"

Dodge: "Your 'bravery' won't save you in a real fight...And we can prove that to you right now!"

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 260}

Hawkwing knew Dodge from SkyClan's stories about their previous battle alongside Stick's group against Dodge and his group. After finding out that Dodge had taken Curlypaw captive as a revenge to SkyClan, Hawkwing fumed with fury, wanting to save her. Dodge also had told SkyClan that he directed Darktail towards SkyClan and this put Hawkwing into an even bigger rage. He sneered at the brown tabby, calling him a coward, and spitting that he wasn't a real leader. Dodge then challenged the dark gray tom to a fight. They made a deal with each other before their brawl, and Dodge overpowered Hawkwing at first, but Hawkwing felt more powerful, thinking of not wanting to lose to Dodge. After realizing that Dodge's size was slowing him down, Hawkwing vowed to himself not to die at the claws of Dodge. Without realizing, Hawkwing killed Dodge, and he was shocked at it at first, but SkyClan was happy to witness Hawkwing's victory.

Appearances

• SkyClan's Destiny (First appearance)
• Hawkwing's Journey †

Quotes

Stick: "Are you too idle to hunt now, Dodge?"

Dodge: "We have an agreement, remember? Sunrise belongs to us."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 110}

See more

Stick: "It's not the Twolegs. This is all Dodge's fault."

Shorty: "What do you mean?"

^{SkyClan's Destiny, pages 295-296}

"Dodge kept to his side of the border at first, but we've had a few skirmishes lately. I'm afraid he's up to his old tricks."

―Stick telling Leafstar of Dodge's tactics ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 249}

Leafstar: "Hawkwing, no. Did you send Darktail and his rogues to our camp?"

Dodge: "Not exactly. They passed through here a while back, looking for Clan cats. They would have found you anyway, but I might have helped them on their way a little."

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 257}

Leafstar: "So why are we here? Why have you taken one of my cats?"

Dodge: "I told you I expected you to come through here. So I made a plan. Now one of your cats is my prisoner. You can have [Curlypaw] back unharmed if you fight on my side this time, and help me drive Stick and his cats out of this Twolegplace for good. […] Well, do we have a deal?"

^{Hawkwing's Journey, pages 257-258}

«Dodge could have warned us, and then none of us would have trusted Darktail. But he didn't...I will not die at the claws of this vile cat!»

—Hawkwing thinking about Dodge ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 264}

«Pulling away, Hawkwing tottered to his paws and saw Dodge lying in front of him, a twitching heap of tabby fur. Blood still pumped from a gash in his throat. As Hawkwing gazed at him the last twitches faded and his eyes began to glaze over. He's dead! Hawkwing could hardly believe what he was seeing. I killed him without even knowing it.'»

—Hawkwing thoughts after he killed Dodge ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 264}

External links

Fan content

• Hawkwing's Journey Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Our favorite rogues artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)