Gorseclaw (TC)

This article is about Gorseclaw from ThunderClan; you may be looking for either Gorseclaw from RiverClan, or Gorseclaw from WindClan.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

"These are your children. Though they were too small to make the journey with SkyClan, and grew up in ThunderClan instead, Spottedpelt and Gorseclaw have chosen to walk these skies with me in honor of their SkyClan ancestors."

— Birdflight reuniting her kits with Cloudstar in Firestar's Quest, page 496

Gorseclaw is a broad-shouldered,^[4] dark^[3] tabby tom with amber eyes.^[4]

Gorseclaw was an ancient member of ThunderClan. He was born to Birdflight and Cloudstar as Gorsekit in SkyClan’s home in the forest territories, along with his littermate, Spottedkit. When SkyClan’s territory was destroyed by Twolegs, and the other Clan leaders refused to give SkyClan any of their territory, Gorsekit, Spottedkit, and Birdflight were accepted into ThunderClan as the kits were too young. Gorsekit grew up in ThunderClan and received the name of Gorseclaw, later ascending to StarClan. Gorseclaw, Spottedpelt, and Birdflight were finally reunited with Cloudstar at Leafstar's leadership ceremony when Firestar revived SkyClan.

History

In the Super Editions

Firestar's Quest

"Gorseclaw was a broad-shouldered tabby tom with glowing amber eyes; Firestar's belly churned at the likeness to his old enemy, Tigerstar. Birdflight had said the two cats had grown up in Firestar's own Clan. Did that mean that SkyClan's blood ran in ThunderClan? Were Spottedleaf and Tigerstar both descended from Cloudstar?"

—Firestar's thoughts on Gorseclaw ^{Firestar's Quest, pages 496-497}

When SkyClan is banished from the forest territory, Birdflight is worried that he and her other kit wouldn't survive their exile. When Kestrelwing, the ThunderClan medicine cat, invites Birdflight and her kits to join ThunderClan, she agrees. Gorseclaw, now a StarClan member, later appears with SkyClan's warrior ancestors during Leafdapple’s leader ceremony with Spottedpelt and Birdflight, finally reunited with their father, Cloudstar. Firestar notes that he looks extremely similar to Tigerstar.

SkyClan's Destiny

Gorseclaw is briefly mentioned when Leafstar sees the ancestors of SkyClan at a Gathering. Gorseclaw is seen with his family, Cloudstar, Birdflight, and Spottedpelt. Birdflight touches noses with him and his sister.

In the Novellas

Cloudstar's Journey

He is first seen when he and his sister are born to Birdflight and Cloudstar, the current leader of SkyClan. When SkyClan are driven out, he and his sister are deemed too young to make the journey to find a new territory. With much protesting, his father Cloudstar eventually agrees to let them stay behind, and he, his sister, and his mother are invited to join ThunderClan by their current medicine cat, Kestrelwing.

In the Field Guides

Battles of the Clans

Fawnstep has a vision of SkyClan leaving the forest, and she mentions to Cloudstar that she saw him giving his kits to ThunderClan.

The Ultimate Guide

Although not mentioned by name, it is mentioned on Cloudstar and Skywatcher's page that when SkyClan had to leave the forest to find a new home, Birdflight had to stay behind with their newborn kits, Spottedkit and Gorsekit.