| "Battles are just a very small part of our lives. A true warrior has more love in her heart than hatred. Love for her Clanmates, for the forest that shelters her, for the prey that feeds us all." |
| — Featherwhisker to Spottedpaw about being a warrior in Spottedleaf's Heart, chapter 7 |
Featherwhisker is a smooth[7] and thick-furred,[8] pale[1] silver-gray[9] tom with bright amber eyes, long whiskers, and a sweeping, plumy tail.[1]
Featherwhisker was a ThunderClan medicine cat who served under Pinestar's, Sunstar's, and Bluestar's leaderships in the forest territories. He was born as Featherkit to Larksong and Flamenose alongside his brother, Sunkit. He was apprenticed to Goosefeather as Featherpaw and soon earned his full name of Featherwhisker. He was a well-respected and competent medicine cat, and he gradually took over as the lead medicine cat as Goosefeather grew lazier. Featherwhisker implied that he knew the true father of Bluefur's kits. After Goosefeather retired, Featherwhisker succeeded him as ThunderClan's sole medicine cat, taking Spottedleaf on as his own apprentice. By putting his patients before himself, Featherwhisker died due to greencough.
History[]
In the Super Editions[]
Moth Flight's Vision[]
- Featherwhisker appears in Moth Flight's dream of the Moonstone. He escorts Bluefur to receive her nine lives, and curls up to sleep after she touches her nose to the stone.
Yellowfang's Secret[]
- Featherpaw is the new ThunderClan medicine cat apprentice, joining his mentor, Goosefeather, at a half-moon meeting at the Moonstone. He meets another young medicine cat apprentice, Bramblepaw. After his ceremony, he shares dreams with StarClan for the first time. He is happily greeted by Mallowfur, but the meeting is cut short by Molepelt, an old ShadowClan medicine cat. Molepelt says that his Clan once did a great wrong, and the time has come for a storm of violence to sweep the forest. Featherpaw is confused, but Molepelt's apprentice, Hollowbelly, appears and argues with his former mentor. Featherpaw is told not to share what he has learned; he promises not to, and Hollowbelly urges him to go. Featherpaw gazes after them and scrambles out from the holly bush, wondering what the message means.
- Later, when Raggedpelt tells Yellowfang about the Gathering that night, he says that Featherwhisker was asking odd questions about how the Clan was doing. At another Gathering after Yellowfang becomes a medicine cat apprentice, Featherwhisker regards her with wariness. He asks if everything is fine, as some of her Clanmates are scarred. She is annoyed at the question, and Featherwhisker leaves when Pinestar announces the beginning of the Gathering. When Yellowfang goes to a half-moon meeting to become a full medicine cat, Featherwhisker regards her with the same wariness he always displayed. He tells her that her Clan must be pleased, and also asks Yellowfang if transferring from the life of a warrior to a medicine cat is difficult. At the half-moon meeting after Yellowfang has kits, Featherwhisker remarks that it is good to hear that her Clan is well, and asks if everything else is going alright. Yellowfang tries to avoid Featherwhisker's probing questions.
- At another Gathering after Runningpaw becomes a medicine cat apprentice, Featherwhisker says that Goosefeather is ill. Before Runningpaw receives his medicine cat name, Featherwhisker says that Goosefeather died, but there is a kit who already shows interest in herbs. Some time after Runningnose's ceremony, Yellowfang realizes that she had forgotten it was the half-moon, and is relieved to have caught up to Featherwhisker and the other medicine cats. He says that at the next meeting, he should have Spottedpaw as his apprentice. When they encounter Barley, Featherwhisker declines his offer of mice, saying that they do not have time. At the Moonstone, Yellowfang receives an omen of fighting kits, and he nudges her awake, asking if she is okay. Yellowfang ignores him and urgently exclaims that she has to go back to camp.
Crookedstar's Promise[]
- He is mentioned by Mudfur, who tells his mentor, Brambleberry, after meeting the other medicine cats at a Gathering, that he liked Featherwhisker.
Bluestar's Prophecy[]
- "Thistleclaw will teach them how to be a fierce warrior. But who will teach him that softness and strength can exist together? And that loyalty to the Clan comes from the heart, not through teeth and claws?"
- ―Featherwhisker to Bluefur about Thistleclaw Bluestar's Prophecy, page 362
- In the elders' den, Larksong hopefully asks him if he brought mouse bile, as Mumblefoot has another tick. Weedwhisker complains that there are not enough apprentices to keep them fed, and Featherwhisker reminds him that Patchkit and Leopardkit are starting their training soon, and another pair are on their way, indicating Bluekit and Snowkit. As the elders greet them, Featherwhisker jokingly comments that they were trying to make a nest in the leader's den. Bluekit starts to object, but Larksong tells her not to pay any attention to the medicine cat's teasing, as he does it to everyone. Featherwhisker corrects that he is still an apprentice, and Mumblefoot says that Goosefeather is really just lying around. He says that his mentor was gathering comfrey, and the brown elder snorts and says he saw Goosefeather sunning himself. Featherwhisker defends his mentor, and he tells the two kits that Mumblefoot and Goosefeather have never agreed on anything. When Mumblefoot complains that Patchkit and Leopardkit have too much free time, Featherwhisker offers to talk to Swiftbreeze about taking them herb-gathering. Bluekit's eyes grow wide at the mention of going into the forest, and he nods, saying that they will not be far from the camp. He leads the sisters back to the nursery on Larksong's suggestion, as Snowkit is barely awake.
- While Bluekit and Snowkit are waiting to meet their father Stormtail, Bluekit sees Featherwhisker padding over to Mumblefoot and Larksong carrying a ball of moss, which she guesses has something unpleasant-smelling on it since the tom is wrinkling his nose. After Snowkit accidentally eats poppy seeds from the medicine den, Swiftbreeze mentions that it was too bad Featherwhisker was not there, as he would have kept an eye on them. It is later mentioned that Goosefeather is somewhat lazy, and Featherwhisker has to do most of the work in while his mentor lies in the sun, claiming to be collecting herbs. Later, Featherwhisker unofficially takes over even though Goosefeather has not formally retired, due to his mentor's failing mental health. After many cats require treatment, Dappletail comments that they are lucky to have Featherwhisker, but no one speaks up for Goosefeather; Featherwhisker does not insult nor defend his mentor.
- Featherwhisker accompanies Sunfall to the Moonstone for his leadership ceremony after Pinestar leaves the Clan to become a kittypet. When Spottedpaw is apprenticed to Thrushpelt, she is always helping Featherwhisker instead of doing her apprentice duties. Once Goosefeather formally retires, making Featherwhisker the head medicine cat, Spottedpaw begs Sunstar to let her switch from being a warrior to a medicine cat. When Bluefur is giving birth, Featherwhisker shows Spottedpaw how to feel for contractions. He tells his apprentice that some queens are crankier than others. Bluefur snaps that he would be cranky too if he had been kitting since dawn. He helps Bluefur in getting the kits to breathe, and gives her herbs. When Bluefur picks out the names for the kits, he notices how she does not let the father pick any names, and chuckles that she was always determined. Bluefur notices a glimmer in Featherwhisker's eyes, and thinks that although he had been a good friend, it is her secret to keep as to who the father is.
- When Sunstar dies, he takes Bluefur to the Moonstone to receive her nine lives and new name. Later, he is said to have died during a greencough epidemic, a sickness that also took one of Bluestar's lives. Spottedleaf then becomes ThunderClan's sole medicine cat.
In the Novellas[]
Pinestar's Choice[]
- Larksong tells Featherkit and Sunkit to not eat too quickly, as they may get a bellyache if they do. She also tells them that Flamenose caught the squirrel just for them and they need to thank their father after they have finished eating.
Goosefeather's Curse[]
- Larksong gives birth to one tom. Cloudberry draws the bundle towards her, and tells Goosefeather to clean the newborn. The old medicine cat then reassures Larksong she has a beautiful son. Goosefeather licks at the kit's fur while the queen gives birth to another tom. The kit Goosefeather is taking care of starts wriggling, and the medicine cat comments that he thinks the kit is hungry. Cloudberry instructs him to move the kit to Larksong's belly, and the kit instinctively noses his way to his mother's belly to suckle while the medicine cats watch in awe. Goosefeather rests his paw on the kit, and he suddenly receives a vision about the kit growing up to be a medicine cat. He wants to tell Doestar as they are truly special kits, but Cloudberry insists for the kits to grow up normal without the burden of knowing their future. She then says to leave the kits alone and report to the Clan, calling the new ThunderClan members perfect little bundles.
- The two kits, Featherkit and Sunkit, grow into strong little kits, taking any chance they can to nip Goosefeather's tail when he is not watching or bite newly made nests with their teeth. Larksong makes the kits go into the camp as soon as their eyes open so the other queens can have some peace. The kits totter, their fur fluffed against the cold. They pounce on an ivy tendril with ferocious squeaks. Goosefeather comments that Sunkit is stronger than Featherkit, and Cloudberry warns him to be careful as she does not want the kits to hear. She says that he sees their future every time he looks at them and starts arguing about how special all kits are.
Spottedleaf's Heart[]
- "Warriors face many challenges, but the warrior code protects them, Spottedpaw. No cat should ever be killed, even in the heat of battle. We fight to defend our borders, not maim the cats on the other side. [...] Battles are just a very small part of our lives. A true warrior has more love in her heart than hatred. Love for her Clanmates, for the forest that shelters her, for the prey that feeds us all."
- ―Featherwhisker to Spottedpaw Spottedleaf's Heart, chapter 7
- Later, when Spottedpaw falls from a tree, Tigerpaw goes to get Featherwhisker. He comes quickly and gives her some comfrey after she is transported to the medicine den. Featherwhisker wakes Spottedpaw when she is unconsciously tearing her nest apart. They have a conversation about Spottedpaw's training, and Featherwhisker gives her herbs to sort. While she is organizing the herbs, they discuss Featherwhisker's duty as a medicine cat, and Spottedpaw expresses fascination at his role and ability to memorize herbs. Once Spottedpaw finishes, Featherwhisker gives her dock leaves to roll, and they continue talking. Two days later, when Featherwhisker has left to gather herbs, Spottedpaw goes on a walk with Thistleclaw without the medicine cat's knowledge. They talk about how Spottedpaw has been helping Featherwhisker, and she helps him again later.
- When Thistleclaw shows Spottedpaw the omens that they will be together, Spottedpaw mentions that Featherwhisker would not see it the same way. The tom expresses a negative opinion of Featherwhisker. After Spottedpaw comes back from the Dark Forest in her dreams, Featherwhisker asks if she is alright, but she does not want to tell the medicine cat about Thistleclaw training in the Dark Forest. He notes that she escaped from battle training the day before, and adds that the warrior code will protect them all.
- Spottedpaw sees Stormtail and thinks he is sick, and she asks if he wants to see Featherwhisker. After Stormtail declines and the patrol leaves, Spottedpaw tells the medicine cat. Before Featherwhisker can get Stormtail, White-eye comes in with a thorn in her eye. Featherwhisker has to treat it, giving Spottedpaw the task of fetching Stormtail. Thrushpelt stops her, but Spottedpaw explains she must do something for Featherwhisker. Once she encounters the patrol, she explains that Featherwhisker sent her to get Stormtail. The blue-gray tom is found unconscious and is immediately taken to Featherwhisker's den. He lays the sick tom down, and says that he has the thirsting sickness, which cannot be cured; he can only alleviate the symptoms. Thrushpelt walks over to Spottedpaw, and notes how much she enjoys helping Featherwhisker, and urges her to consider becoming the medicine cat apprentice.
- Following Spottedpaw's second visit to the Place of No Stars, during which she decided she would come a medicine cat, she goes to Featherwhisker and asks to become his apprentice. After Tigerclaw's and Whitestorm's warrior ceremonies, Featherwhisker tells Spottedpaw to empty the herb store and mentions that White-eye had kits and Bluefur is expecting. Later, Featherwhisker is present at Bluefur's kitting, and he teases the queen about how she is not letting the father decide on any of her kits' names. Spottedpaw begins to realize that perhaps Thrushpelt is not the father based upon Featherwhisker's expression.
Redtail's Debt[]
- Before the battle with RiverClan, Featherwhisker and Spottedpaw give their Clanmates herbs for strength, and he is standing beside his apprentice outside of the medicine den as she wishes her littermates luck. As Sunstar makes his report at a Gathering, he mentions that they had a bout of whitecough, which Featherwhisker and Spottedpaw successfully treated. Patchpelt mentions that he had once escorted Featherwhisker to WindClan's camp so he could speak with Barkface about medicine cat duties.
In the Field Guides[]
The Ultimate Guide[]
- Featherwhisker has his own page shared with Goosefeather, who were both medicine under Pinestar's leadership. When Goosefeather's mind wandered from the dedication and curiosity essential for medicine cats, ThunderClan turned more and more to Featherwhisker. He took over the responsibilities with a calm optimism that Goosefeather had lacked. Bluefur was glad to have to have Featherwhisker by her side for her leadership ceremony instead of Goosefeather.
Character pixels[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.  Kit Version  Medicine Cat Apprentice Version  Medicine Cat Version |
Official art[]
|
Please do not edit this gallery.  Featherwhisker in Secrets of the Clans  Featherwhisker in The Ultimate Guide |
Ceremonies[]
| Featherpaw's medicine cat apprentice ceremony | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
Kin[]
Members[]
Mother:
Father:
Brother:
Tree[]
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Moth Flight's Vision (Vision or Dream)
- Pinestar's Choice
- Goosefeather's Curse
- Tallstar's Revenge (Allegiances only)
- Yellowfang's Secret
- Crookedstar's Promise (Mentioned only)
- Bluestar's Prophecy †
- Leopardstar's Honor (Allegiances only)
- Spottedleaf's Heart
- Redtail's Debt
- Onestar's Confession (Allegiances only)
- Secrets of the Clans (First appearance; retconned)
- The Ultimate Guide
- The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition (Mentioned only)
Trivia[]
Interesting facts[]
- Featherwhisker and Sunstar are the first known brothers to serve as medicine cat and leader together.[11]
Mistakes[]
- Despite already having his full medicine cat name while Patchpelt and Leopardfoot are kits in Bluestar's Prophecy, he is still called Featherpaw at the beginning of Yellowfang's Secret, when Patchpelt and Leopardfoot are already apprentices.[4]
Continuity[]
The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.
- In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, Featherwhisker is listed as one of ThunderClan's significant medicine cats under Sunstar's leadership, who is his own brother. He was a gentle, kind, and compassionate medicine cat—qualities he passed down to his apprentice, Spottedleaf. He worked tirelessly to save his Clanmates during a greencough epidemic, which ultimately killed him. He is also described with long, feathery whiskers.[12]
Quotes[]
- "One kit's scent will smell like curiosity. Two kit's scents will smell like nosiness."
- ―Featherwhisker telling Bluekit and Snowkit to stay out of Pinestar's den Bluestar's Prophecy, page 21
- ""Don't take any notice of Featherwhisker...He teases all the cats. It's one of the privileges of being medicine cat.""
- ―Larksong to Bluekit and Snowkit Bluestar's Prophecy, pages 22-23
- "So you're not letting the father decide on any of the names? You always were determined, Bluefur."
- ―Featherwhisker to Bluefur about her kits Bluestar's Prophecy, page 466
- Spottedpaw: "But we won't always be fighting our Clanmates, will we? One day I'll be fighting a real enemy, and I'll have to use my claws and my teeth and everything I've learned just to survive..."
- Featherwhisker: "Warriors face many challenges, but the warrior code protects them, Spottedpaw. No cat should ever be killed, even in the heat of battle. We fight to defend our borders, not maim the cats on the other side."
- Spottedleaf's Heart, chapter 7
External links[]
Exclusive! Leopardstar's Honor: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances only)- Exclusive! Onestar's Confession: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances only)
Fan content[]
- Warrior of the week gallery #123 - Featherwhisker on Warriors official website (backup link) (Warrior of the Week #123)
- Our Favorite Fourtrees Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, allegiances
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 507
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 8
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, pages 22-23
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 463
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 332
- ↑ Revealed in Spottedleaf's Heart, chapter 1
- ↑ Revealed in Spottedleaf's Heart, chapter 4
- ↑ Revealed in Pinestar's Choice, chapter 4
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 314
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 25