Fernshade

"You knew what the cats from the Dark Forest were doing. There was no need for Firestar to challenge Blackstar over that worthless stretch of grass. Did you want cats to die?"

— Fernshade arguing with Yellowfang in Night Whispers, page 2

Fernshade
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	StarClan
Past:	ShadowClan
Names
Kit:	Fernkit
Apprentice:	Fernpaw
Warrior:	Fernshade
Queen:	Fernshade
StarClan resident:	Fernshade
Kin
Mother:	Hollyflower
Father:	Blizzardwing
Brothers:	Flintfang, Blackstar
Half-sister:	Dawncloud
Half-brothers:	Mosspaw, Volewhisper
Mate:	Wolfstep
Son:	Badgerfang
Book appearances
Living	Yellowfang's Secret, Onestar's Confession, Tigerclaw's Fury, Blackfoot's Reckoning, Code of the Clans
Living	Yellowfang's Secret, Onestar's Confession, Tigerclaw's Fury, Blackfoot's Reckoning, Code of the Clans
Dead	Night Whispers
Dead	Night Whispers

Fernshade is a slender tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes.

Fernshade was a ShadowClan warrior under Raggedstar’s, Brokenstar’s, and Nightstar’s leaderships in the forest territories. She was born as Fernkit under Cedarstar’s leadership to Hollyflower and Blizzardwing, along with Flintfang and Blackstar. However, the identity of their father was kept a secret since Blizzardwing was already mates with Featherstorm. She was apprenticed as Fernpaw. Fernpaw later became a warrior, taking on the name of Fernshade, and had Wolfstep's kit, Badgerkit. Many seasons later, Fernshade was seen in StarClan to welcome Russetfur after the ginger deputy’s death.

History

In the Omen of the Stars arc

Night Whispers

"Not every cat breaks the warrior code!"

―Fernshade meowing angrily ^{Night Whispers, page 3}

In StarClan, she, Yellowfang, Sagewhisker, Bluestar, and several other cats are talking about the death of the ShadowClan deputy, Russetfur, during a battle between her Clan and ThunderClan over a grassy clearing. Fernshade is quite upset over Russetfur's death, constantly stating that ShadowClan had suffered the most because of this. She blames Yellowfang for not sending a sign to ThunderClan about the Dark Forest's intentions. Fernshade then leaves to lead Russetfur to StarClan. When Flametail sits by the Moonpool and speaks with Sagewhisker and Palefoot, he names the StarClan cats he sees. He lists Fernshade among them.

In the Super Editions

Yellowfang's Secret

Fernpaw is born to Hollyflower of ShadowClan, along with her brothers Flintpaw and Blackpaw. The three, along with Nightpaw, Clawpaw, and their mentors, charge past Yellowfang and Cloudpelt. A few days later, she helps clean out bedding with the other apprentices, and ends up joining in the wrestling after Nightpaw and Flintpaw start. Hollyflower ends it, threatening to tell their mentors to not have them do any battle training, and they all scurry off to gather the displaced moss.

Brightflower mentions to Yellowfang that Nutwhisker has been spending a lot of time with Fernpaw recently, even though she isn't his apprentice, saying it would be wonderful for them to have kits. She tells Brokenpaw he will be made a warrior soon, when Tangleburr tells him that she doesn't think Raggedstar will want him to be a warrior so he could be his deputy. Fernshade tells Brokentail that the hunting patrol was attacked by rats. When Brokentail tells the Clan the plan he came up with to get rid of the rats, she says it may be worth a try. She goes with the patrol to hold back the rats so that they may see the other cats killing their denmates.

As Yellowfang walks out of Raggedstar's den, Fernshade bounds up to her, and announces she is going to have Wolfstep's kits. She admits it is isn't the best time to have them, and she's a bit old to be having her first litter, but continues on saying the Clan needs new blood. Yellowfang takes her to the medicine den, and Runningnose has her lie down so he can check on her kits. He tells them to grow big and strong, and Fernshade purrs that they would be fine with the two cats to look after them. Yellowfang gives her burnet leaves, and Runningnose tells her to come back for more and to eat as much as possible for her kits, and leaves soon after.

When Fernshade goes into labor and gives birth to her kit, it's noted that the kit is stubborn and is having trouble coming out. When she finishes the birth, Fernshade begins licking him, and names him Badgerkit when Yellowfang observes that his face is striped. She presses her muzzle into her mate's fur when he comes in, saying that their son's name is Badgerkit.

When Yellowfang asks the kits why they're outside the camp, they reply that Brokenstar let them out to give Fernshade some peace and quiet. She walks beside Yellowfang after the Gathering where her son was announced as a new ShadowClan apprentice. She looks fondly at her eager son, saying she'd never thought she'd have given birth to him, and how he was going to be a true ShadowClan warrior, and how proud of him she is. After the battle against WindClan, Flintfang goes to inform her that her son died in the battle.

In the Novellas

Tigerclaw's Fury

"We have been sick from the rats before, Runningnose hasn't slept for a quarter moon, trying to find enough herbs for us all."

―Fernshade about ShadowClan's sickness ^{Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 3}

Tigerclaw sees Fernshade, Deerfoot, and Boulder come into his view. When Fernshade pads to speak up, Tigerclaw considers her older than he remembers, as her fur is clumped and patched, and one of her eyes is stuck shut with a yellow ooze. Fernshade explains that the Clan had been struck ill by the rats previous times, but it wasn't nearly as devastating as the current one. She adds that Runningnose hadn't slept for a quarter moon, as he was trying to search for herbs for all the cats. Tangleburr then rests her nose against Fernshade's flank, and offers to hunt for her. Once they leave, Fernshade wishes for StarClan to light their path.

When Tigerclaw calls for Blackfoot, the latter is seen speaking with Fernshade. When Mowgli and Snag are about to be renamed, Fernshade dryly remarks that they could cope with the new cats. As she speaks to Rowanberry, Fernshade remarks that the following night would be the Gathering, and inquires if Runningnose had told her what he was to say to the other Clans.

Blackfoot's Reckoning

When Brokenstar calls Badgerkit up to become an apprentice, Fernshade looks at Blackfoot with wide, stricken eyes. Wolfstep is with her, pressed tightly up against her side. After Badgerpaw's ceremony, Fernshade pulls her littermates aside and confronts them. She asks if there both crazy, and Flintfang swears he will protect him. Fernshade voices her worries about him being only barely three moons old. Fernshade hisses at Blackfoot that he is just a kit, and should be in the nursery. She pressured them to agree with her that he is too young. Fernshade then sighs, her tail drooping.

Later, when Tigerclaw comes to the camp with his rogues and prey, Fernshade is seen curled up against Wolfstep. When Blackfoot approaches, Fernshade and greets Blackfoot, asking if he is okay. Blackfoot quickly grabs a fat frog for Fernshade. Fernshade comments that the first sign of the sickness was when the rats started dying.

In the Field Guides

Code of the Clans

Although not formally appearing, Fernshade is mentioned by her son, Badgerpaw. As the young cat lay dying from wounds given to him by a WindClan warrior, Badgerpaw says that he hopes Brokenstar and Fernshade are proud of him. Flintfang promises the young apprentice that his mother would be proud of him, although the older ShadowClan cat has no idea how he's going to tell Fernshade that her kit was killed in battle because he was forced to fight when he was too small and weak to handle it.

Character pixels

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

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery Fernshade's icon on the Warriors family tree

Kin

Members

Mate:

Wolfstep: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Son:

Badgerfang: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Mother:

Hollyflower: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Father:

Blizzardwing: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Brothers:

Flintfang: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Blackstar: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-brothers:

Mosspaw: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Volewhisper: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-sister:

Dawncloud: Deceased, verified StarClan member

See more

Half-niece:

Blossomkit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-nieces/nephews:

Swampkit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Unnamed kits: Status unknown

Tree

See more

Featherstorm ♀

Blizzardwing ♂

Hollyflower ♀

See more

Finchflight ♂

Dawncloud ♀

Mosspaw ♂

Volewhisper ♂

Flintfang ♂

Blackstar ♂

Fernshade ♀

Wolfstep ♂

Swampkit

Blossomkit ♀

Badgerfang ♂

    = Tom

    = She-cat

    = Gender unknown

Appearances

• Yellowfang's Secret
• Onestar's Confession (Allegiance only)
• Tigerclaw's Fury
• Blackfoot's Reckoning (Flashback only)
• Night Whispers
• Code of the Clans (First appearance; mentioned only)

Trivia

Mistakes

• She is mistakenly said to be Russetfur's mentor.

Continuity

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

• In Su Susann's "Missing Kits" on Vicky's Facebook, after Badgerfang's death, Wolfstep and Fernshade had another litter of Whitewater and Ivytail. Russetfur mentored Fernshade.
• In the Chinese full-color version of Into the Woods, Fernshade and Boulder greet Sasha when she arrives in ShadowClan's camp.

Quotes

Fernshade: "Tomorrow is the night of the Gathering. Has Runningnose told you what he’s going to tell the other Clans?"

Russetfur: "I don’t think he’ll need to tell them anything. It’s going to be pretty obvious that Nightstar has died and we don’t have a leader."

^{Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 10}

Fernshade: "The whole of StarClan has been talking. Every cat thinks you should have stopped it."

Yellowfang: "The battle between ThunderClan and ShadowClan? Do you think I have that much power, Fernshade?"

^{Night Whispers, pages 1-2}

External links

• Exclusive! Onestar's Confession: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)