Gorsepaw (WC)

"Firestar had carried Gorsepaw, then a tiny kit, back across the Thunderpath. All of that was wasted now, thanks to Tigerstar."

— Narration in The Darkest Hour, page 208

Gorsepaw (WC)
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	StarClan
Past:	WindClan
Biographical information
Age:	Approx. 16 moons (1.33 year(s)) old at death
Cause of death:	Killed by Tigerstar
Names
Kit:	Unknown
Apprentice:	Gorsepaw
StarClan resident:	Gorsepaw
Kin
Mother:	Morningflower
Father:	Cloudrunner
Siblings:	Storkkit, Quailkit
Education
Mentor:	Onestar
Book appearances
Living	Leopardstar's Honor, Onestar's Confession, Fire and Ice, Rising Storm, A Dangerous Path, The Darkest Hour, Blackfoot's Reckoning
Living	Leopardstar's Honor, Onestar's Confession, Fire and Ice, Rising Storm, A Dangerous Path, The Darkest Hour, Blackfoot's Reckoning
Dead	Onestar's Confession, The Darkest Hour
Dead	Onestar's Confession, The Darkest Hour

Gorsepaw is a small, lean, brown tabby tom with short, thick fur.

Gorsepaw was a WindClan apprentice under Tallstar's leadership in the forest territories. He was born to Cloudrunner and Morningflower alongside Storkkit and Quailkit after WindClan was exiled by Brokenstar and ShadowClan. When Fireheart and Graystripe brought WindClan back home, Fireheart carried the young kit. He soon became an apprentice named Gorsepaw with his uncle, Onewhisker, as his mentor. He and Fireheart maintained their bond, and Fireheart later persuaded Gorsepaw to fetch Onewhisker to stop an unnecessary battle between their Clans. However, when TigerClan attacked WindClan's camp, Tigerstar killed Gorsepaw to send a message to Firestar. Gorsepaw joined StarClan, and his mother avenged his death in the battle against BloodClan. Gorsepaw later gave Onestar a life for compassion.

History

In the The Prophecies Begin arc

Fire and Ice

He is a newborn WindClan kit living with his mother, Morningflower, and his Clan while they are living in exile after being chased out of their territory by ShadowClan. Fireheart and Graystripe, two young ThunderClan warriors, convince Tallstar to lead WindClan back to their camp. He is too young to walk on his own, and has to be carried the whole way. Fireheart sees Morningflower is having trouble carrying him because of how exhausted she was, and takes him on instead. Morningflower is seen blinking gratefully at Fireheart. When WindClan travels back into their camp, he and Morningflower are the first to re-enter the camp.

Rising Storm

«Fireheart remembered the tiny wet bundle of fur he had helped to carry through the rain, out of Twoleg territory and back to WindClan's home. He followed Onewhisker's gaze across the clearing to a young brown tom. Although small like the rest of his Clan, the apprentice's muscles were already lean and well developed beneath his short, thick fur.»

—Fireheart's thoughts about Gorsepaw ^{Rising Storm, page 311}

Onewhisker tells Fireheart that Morningflower's kit had been made an apprentice, now Gorsepaw, and that this was his first Gathering. Fireheart spots Gorsepaw and notices that, even though he has not been training long, his muscles were well-developed under his pelt like the other apprentices.

A Dangerous Path

Onewhisker: "Hi. Do you remember who this is? This is Morningflower's kit. He's my apprentice now—Gorsepaw. Isn't he big?"

Fireheart: "Morningflower's kit, of course! I saw you at the last Gathering."

^{A Dangerous Path, pages 106-107}

Fireheart sees Onewhisker at another Gathering, who formally introduces him to Gorsepaw, and Fireheart remembers seeing him before. Gorsepaw shyly tells Fireheart that Morningflower told him about how he had carried him. Fireheart teasingly says he was glad he would not have to carry Gorsepaw now, and that if he grew any more, he would have to join LionClan. Gorsepaw purrs happily in response.

Gorsepaw is out hunting with his mentor and Mudclaw, carrying a rabbit, when Fireheart calls him over into the bracken, begging him to keep quiet. Fireheart wanted to speak with Tallstar to stop a battle between ThunderClan and WindClan from happening because Bluestar had mistakenly accused WindClan of stealing prey. He tells Gorsepaw to let Onewhisker know he was here, but not Mudclaw. When Gorsepaw looks hesitant, Fireheart says it was important for both of their Clans, and he had to trust him. Gorsepaw sees how desperate Fireheart is, and goes to fetch Onewhisker.

When Bluestar and Tallstar lead patrols to talk with each other, Fireheart spots Gorsepaw standing behind his Clan leader, along with Onewhisker and Morningflower. Fireheart sadly thinks of how he did not want to fight them. They do not, however, since Bluestar and Tallstar settled their differences, choosing not to fight the opposing Clan.

The Darkest Hour

"Tigerstar killed him. He pinned him down in the center of the clearing, with his warriors around him so none of us could get close enough to stop him. He...he said he was going to kill him so the rest of us would know what to expect if we refused to join him."

―Onewhisker bitterly recalling Gorsepaw's death ^{The Darkest Hour, page 207}

Fireheart, now Firestar, the new leader of ThunderClan, sees Gorsepaw and Onewhisker settling down around the Great Rock to speak with Sandstorm.

When ThunderClan goes to help WindClan when they are attacked by TigerClan, Firestar sees Morningflower crouched over a dead cat with a torn tabby pelt, yowling her grief. To his horror, Firestar realizes it is Gorsepaw. Bitterly, Onewhisker tells Firestar of how Tigerstar pinned him down in the center of the clearing, with all his warriors around him so nobody could stop him, stating that he was killing Gorsepaw to show every cat what would happen to them if they refused to join him any longer. Firestar remembers how he had carried Gorsepaw across the Thunderpath, and thinks of how that was all wasted now, thanks to Tigerstar.

Gorsepaw is seen newly among the ranks of StarClan, along with Stonefur, the RiverClan deputy, who was killed by Darkstripe and Blackfoot for being half-Clan.

During the battle with BloodClan, Morningflower is seen chanting his name as she fights, taking out her grief on her enemies. After the battle was won, Firestar sees that Morningflower had avenged her son's death at last.

In the Super Editions

Leopardstar's Honor

Leopardstar sees Tigerstar pinning Gorsepaw to the ground as Tallstar calls for him to be let go, as he is only an apprentice. The golden she-cat watches as Tigerstar whispers something to the apprentice before slashing his claws across his neck, killing the young cat. The dark tabby proceeds to use Gorsepaw as an example, threatening Tallstar and leaving a message for WindClan and for ThunderClan to meet at Fourtrees to join TigerClan.

Onestar's Confession

When Onewhisker encounters Firestar while hunting, he mentions how Tigerstar murdered his apprentice Gorsepaw to frighten WindClan, and Firestar replies that he would have been a good warrior. Moons later, Gorsepaw gives Onestar a life for compassion, and the two cats are glad to see each other again.

In the Novellas

Blackfoot's Reckoning

Blackfoot reflects that, due to Tigerstar's hatred for Firestar, ShadowClan's conflict with ThunderClan had been personal.

Character pixels

Main images

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

Alternate images

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

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery. Gorsepaw (WC) in The Prophecies Begin, volume 1 Gorsepaw (WC)'s icon on the Warriors family tree

Ceremonies

Lives granted

The following is a list of gifts Gorsepaw (WC) has granted during nine lives ceremonies:

Lives granted
Gift Receiver Compassion Onestar

Kin

Members

Father:

Cloudrunner: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Mother:

Morningflower: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Siblings:

Storkkit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Quailkit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

See more

Aunt:

Ashfoot: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Uncle:

Onestar: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-aunts:

Rabbitear: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Doespring: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Ryestalk: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-uncles:

Bristlebark: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Flytail: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-great-uncle:

Tallstar: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-great-aunt:

Finchkit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Grandmother:

Wrenflight: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Grandfather:

Stagleap: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-grandmothers:

Palebird: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Mistmouse: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-grandfathers:

Woollytail: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Hareflight: Deceased, verified StarClan member

First cousins:

Darktail: Deceased, no residence

Smoke's kits: Deceased, residence unknown

Crowfeather: Living (As of The Elders' Quest)

Eaglekit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Hillkit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Downkit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Heathertail: Living (As of The Elders' Quest)

Galekit: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Tree

Windstar ♀

Gorsestar ♂

See more

Moth Flight ♀

Micah ♂

Blue Whisker ♀

Bubbling Stream ♀

Honey Pelt ♂

Spider Paw ♂

Three kits

Missing Generations

Mistmouse ♀

Hareflight ♂

Woollytail ♂

Palebird ♀

Sandgorse ♂

Ryestalk ♀

Doespring ♀

Stagleap ♂

Wrenflight ♀

Bristlebark ♂

Flytail ♂

Rabbitear ♀

Tallstar ♂

Finchkit ♀

Mudclaw ♂

Tornear ♂

Cloudrunner ♂

Morningflower ♀

Ashfoot ♀

Deadfoot ♂

Smoke ♀

Onestar ♂

Whitetail ♀

Storkkit

Quailkit

Gorsepaw ♂

Downkit

Hillkit

Crowfeather ♂

Eaglekit

Darktail ♂

Unnamed kits

Lionblaze ♂

Hollyleaf ♀

Jayfeather ♂

Two kits

Breezepelt ♂

Heathertail ♀

Galekit ♀

See more

See more

    = Tom

    = She-cat

    = Gender unknown

Appearances

• Leopardstar's Honor †
• Onestar's Confession
• Fire and Ice (First appearance)
• Rising Storm
• A Dangerous Path
• The Darkest Hour †
• Blackfoot's Reckoning (Indirect mention only)
• The Prophecies Begin, volume 1
• The Prophecies Begin, volume 2 (Indirect mention only)

Trivia

Interesting facts

• Kate confirmed that Gorsepaw's father is not Tallstar.

Mistakes

• He has mistakenly been called a ginger-and-white tabby.
• He has mistakenly been listed as a very pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes.
• In The Prophecies Begin, volume 1, he is depicted as a brown-and-white kit.

Continuity

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

• The names of Gorsepaw's father and littermates were first revealed on Vicky's Facebook. He was also described as a ginger-and-white tabby tom with bright amber eyes.

Quotes

«Firestar could not help wondering if Tigerstar had deliberately chosen Gorsepaw because he knew of Firestar's bond with the young apprentice.»

—Firestar's thoughts ^{The Darkest Hour, page 208}

External links

• More powerful than hatred on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)

Fan content

• The Darkest Hour Scenes Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Our favorite Morningflower and Gorsepaw artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)

Notes and references

Author references