Harley

"Do you want to live like this, always fighting and killing? There's enough prey in this Twolegplace for every cat. We should stay on our side of the border and let Stick and his cats stay on theirs."

— Harley to the rogues of the Twolegplace in Hawkwing's Journey, page 265

Harley
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	Dodge's group
Names
Rogue:	Harley
Leader:	Harley
Kin
Mate:	Red
Dodge's group leader position
Preceded by:	Dodge
Book appearances
Living	SkyClan's Destiny, Hawkwing's Journey
Living	SkyClan's Destiny, Hawkwing's Journey

Harley is a gray-and-brown tabby tom with green eyes.

Harley is a rogue in Dodge's group that lived in the outskirts of the Twolegplace near SkyClan's old territory, where he took over leadership after Dodge's death. He was in love with another rogue named Red; however, her father, Stick, an enemy to Dodge's group, expressed his resentment of their relationship. As Harley and Red spent more time together in his group, it left Stick heartbroken, and in rage during a battle, Stick tried to attack Harley, but instead, he killed Red, who had leaped to protect her mate. Harley was devastated over Red's death and held a bitter grudge against Stick. When SkyClan's deputy, Hawkwing, killed Dodge to protect his apprentice, Harley took on leadership role of the rogue group. Afterwards, Harley released Curlypaw back to the Clan, and wanted peace between his group and Stick's group within the Twolegplace.

History

In the Super Editions

SkyClan's Destiny

Harley: "No cat stole Red. Do you think so little of her? She came of her own accord."

Red: "No, I came because of you—because I love you. No cat can make me leave."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, pages 454-455}

As Stick secretly follows his daughter, Red, into an alley after wanting to come with her to investigate something, he notices a flash of gray-brown fur in the direction that Red is heading. He realizes that one of Dodge's cats is lying and waiting for Red. As Twolegs attack Stick's group of cats, Stick is worried for his daughter's safety, wondering where she has gone afterwards. Stick follows his daughter deeper down an alley near Twoleg dens, and he thinks that the strange cat following Red has hurt her, as he sees a bigger figure close to a smaller figure, which is Red. Stick then jumps out of hiding, but then Red protests, asking what he is doing. As Harley was about to pounce, Red stops her mate, claiming that she knew Stick did not trust her. As Stick says that he thought Red was in danger, Harley tells Stick that Red wasn't, and says that he would never let anything happen to her.

Harley reveals that he knew about the Twolegs and came to keep Red safe, but Stick, who is enraged, demands to know why he wasn't informed. After arguing with Red some more, Stick tells Harley that Red is all his, but seems to regret this. Later on, Stick thinks that he couldn't tell the others about Red's betrayal, and he thinks that Red must have told Harley where they sleep and helped Dodge plan the Twoleg raid.

Stick goes to his former mate, Velvet, for advice about Red. He says that he thinks that Red may be attached to Harley, though not by name, calling him one of Dodge's cats. Velvet tells her former mate that Red is in love with Harley, and that is why she left, not because she is betraying Stick's cats. Stick can't get grasp that Red has feelings for a cat in his rival's group.

After meeting with Velvet in the Twolegplace, Shorty and Stick slowly sneak into Dodge's camp, wanting to spy on Red and Harley. They see Red carrying the body of a squirrel next to Harley as they came into sight of Stick and Shorty. He sees that Red seems to be nervous, but Harley encourages Red, which makes Stick angry. The two lovers step across the stream stepping stones, and Skipper and Misha distrust the other rogue cat, but Harley tells them that she caught a squirrel, defending her.

Later, SkyClan follow Stick and his cats into the Twolegplace to get ready and fight with Dodge's group. Snowy tells Shorty that Red is always seen with Harley, and Leafstar realizes that Stick has a personal grudge against Harley, as she notices Stick spatting out Harley's name, telling her that Harley must have tricked Red, or threatened her. Stick says that Harley needs to be taught a lesson.

In the midst of the battle between between Dodge's group and SkyClan alongside Stick's group, Harley and Red appear, astonished at the sight of everything. Stick gets into an argument with Red and Harley, and Stick growls that Red is stolen, though Harley tells him that no cat stole Red, as she came on her own accord. Angry, Stick attacks Harley, wanting to kill him, but instead, Red leaps in the way of her mate, taking the fatal death blow from her father. The wound on her neck sends her to an almost immediate death.

As Red is dying, Harley mournfully begs her to stay with him, and reminds the dying she-cat of the kits they had planned to have, strong ginger she-cats, like her. Stick says that it would never have happened, and Dodge tells Stick that if he harms Harley, he will have to answer to him. The gray-and-brown tabby is shown to be extremely sorrowful when his mate dies, letting out a groan and burying his head in Red's fur.

Hawkwing's Journey

"I hope Harley can establish himself as leader. He would do a better job of it than Dodge, that's for sure."

―Sparrowpelt to Hawkwing about Harley ^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 266}

While SkyClan, Stick, and his rogues are planning how to get Curlypaw back from Dodge's rogues, Harley appears from the same alleyway Bellaleaf had come from just before. Stick snarls at him, telling him he isn't welcome, even though Hawkwing thinks he doesn't look any happier being there than Stick does. Harley goes on to say that he has a message from Dodge to Leafstar, not for Stick. Leafstar asks what message he has for her, and Harley replies that Dodge has Curlypaw and wants to talk about the situation. He adds that the rogue leader wants to meet with the entire Clan.

Stick comments that they would be flea-brained to just walk into Dodge's territory like that, but Harley ignores him. With a dip of his head to Leafstar, he informs her that she has his word that no SkyClan cat will be harmed until the meeting is finished. Stick asks him what his word is worth, but Harley responds that it is not an offer being extended to him and there will be trouble if Stick or his cats set paw on Dodge's territory. Leafstar agrees to his proposition, as she cannot abandon Curlypaw, and asks him to show them the way to Dodge. Harley leads the way back down the alley with SkyClan on his paws, leading them further into the Twolegplace, until he stops at a decrepit Twoleg nest.

There, Dodge explains how if SkyClan helps him drive out Stick and his cats, he will give them Curlypaw, unharmed. SkyClan refuses to agree to this, and Dodge's rogues start to surround them, ready to attack, until Harley springs onto a pile of tumbled stones near the edge of the pit. He protests to his leader that it is wrong, as he promised the SkyClan cats that they would be unharmed until the meeting was over. Dodge growls back that it is over.

However, Hawkwing makes a deal with Dodge where they would fight; if the former wins, Curlypaw would be returned safe, but if the rogue leader wins, SkyClan would fight Stick's cats. In the end, Hawkwing kills Dodge and wins, but some of Dodge's cats bound toward the SkyClan cats to attack. From the top of the pile of stones, Harley yowls at them to stop, and the attacking cats halt. The rogue continues that Dodge made a bargain and lost, so they must honor it. A ginger-and-white tom questions if they would let the Clan leave like that, but Harley retorts to Skipper that the rogues will do just that. He raises his head to address all the cats and asks if they want to live a life of constant fighting and killing. The tabby points out that there is enough prey in the Twolegplace for every cat, and he suggests staying on their side of the border. The rogues let out yowls of agreement, and although some look unhappy about Harley's words, none argue any farther. Sparrowpelt tells Hawkwing that he hopes Harley can establish himself as a leader and notes that the rogue would certainly do better than Dodge.

Harley orders to bring up the prisoner, and once Curlypaw is reunited with her Clan, Leafstar thanks him and requests that a cat show them the way out of there. Shorty appears behind the ruined wall and offers to do that, but Harley challenges what he is doing there. The brown tom replies that he is following his friends to know what is going on and demands if Harley wouldn't do the same. A glimmer of amusement appears in the latter's eyes, and he admits that he would, then orders them all to get out of his territory.

Character pixels

Main images

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

Alternate images

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

Personality

Harley: "Stop! Dodge made a bargain, and he lost. Now we must honor it. SkyClan must be allowed to leave, unharmed."

Skipper: "Just like that?"

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 265}

Despite being part of a rogue group, Harley is less hostile towards the Clan cats than other rogues. Harley went as far as opposing his leader, Dodge, for a promise he made to Leafstar and SkyClan while his group held Curlypaw prisoner, and he protected SkyClan when Dodge's cats wanted to attack them, establishing himself as leader of the group.

Harley falls in love with Stick's daughter, Red, vowing to never let anything happen to her, and protects her against Twolegs. Though Stick thought that Red betrayed his group to Dodge by being with Harley, Velvet, his former mate, states that Red has feelings for Harley, who lives with a different set of rules. Harley loves Red, but was devastated over her death, mourning her deeply. He holds a grudge against Stick for his role in his mate's death; however, he wants peace for his group and Stick's group despite their past experiences.

Relationships

Red

"Red—stay with me. Remember the kits we were going to have...tough little ginger she-cats, just like you? Remember how we planned our life?"

―Harley to Red as she is dying ^{SkyClan's Destiny, pages 455-456}

As Red began to sneak away with Harley, she fell in love with him, and Harley told Stick that he vows to protect Red. Velvet, Stick's former mate and Red's mother, noted that Red has feelings for him, and that doesn't mean that she is abandoning Stick for Harley. When they came into Dodge's camp together, Harley encouraged Red, and praised her catch of a squirrel, defending her against his friends. She and Harley have become mates and seem happy in Dodge's camp, as noted by Leafstar when she observes the pair. After Stick tried to attack Harley for taking his daughter, Red leaped in the way and took the blow that was meant for her mate. She ends up dying, which devastated both Harley and Stick. Harley deeply mourned Red's death.

Stick

"Harley. His name is Harley. And he must have tricked Red, or threatened her, if she's still with him. He needs to be taught a lesson!"

―Stick to SkyClan about Harley and Red ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 435}

From the very start, ever since Stick first saw Harley with his daughter, Red, Stick held a personal grudge against Harley. Leafstar also noted this since Stick wanted to teach Harley a lesson for taking Red away from him. As Leafstar sees that Harley and Red were mates, flanking each other in Dodge's camp, she notes that Stick stiffened at the sight of Harley and Red, a low growling appearing in his throat. When Stick accidentally killed Red, Harley was bitter and angry with him afterwards. Even when Stick brings SkyClan to the Twolegplace to look for Curlypaw, it is noted upon his meeting with Harley that both rogues still have a bitter grudge against each other.

Dodge

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 group of rogue cats that lived in the Twolegplace near Stick's group. Dodge defended Harley against Stick during their battle after Stick was angry with Red and Harley. Though loyal to the rogue leader, Harley opposed his leader when Dodge planned to attack SkyClan, as he promised SkyClan that no cat would be harmed during their meeting with Dodge, even their own apprentice, Curlypaw. After Dodge's death, Harley took over leadership of Dodge's group, wanting peace among his cats and Stick's group. Sparrowpelt noted to Hawkwing that he hoped Harley will be a better leader to the group than Dodge ever was.

Leafstar and SkyClan

Leafstar: "I have to trust Harley. We cannot abandon Curlypaw."

Waspwhisker: "But what if you're wrong?"

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 253}

While SkyClan was trying to scout the Twolegplace and find their missing apprentice, Curlypaw, Harley encountered them, stating that Dodge had a message for them, and promised none of them would be harmed by Dodge or his cats. He kept his promise as he opposed Dodge, who wanted to attack them, but Harley told his leader that he promised no SkyClan cat would be harmed until their meeting was over. After Dodge's death, Harley honored Dodge's bargain with Hawkwing, and returned Curlypaw to SkyClan, taking up leadership role of Dodge's group. Ever since then, SkyClan was harm-free from Dodge's group, just as Harley had promised.

Kin

Members

Mate:

Red: Deceased, residence unknown

Tree

Stick ♂

Velvet ♀

Red ♀

Harley ♂

    = Tom

    = She-cat

    = Gender unknown

Appearances

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

Trivia

Mistakes

• Harley has been mistakenly called gray-brown and gray-black.
• Despite appearing in Hawkwing's Journey, Harley is not listed in the allegiances.

Quotes

Red: "Harley, don't! […] I knew you didn't trust me! You followed me to spy on me!"

Stick: "I didn't! I thought you were in danger."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, pages 248-249}

See more

Velvet: "Have they stolen her?"

Stick: "Not exactly. But I think that Red has...become...attached to one of Dodge's cats."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 393}

"Stick has a personal grudge against this cat."

―Leafstar's thoughts on Stick wanting to teach Harley a lesson ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 435}

"Touch one hair on Harley's pelt and you'll answer to me."

―Dodge defending Harley from Stick ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 456}

«Leafstar turned, gesturing with her tail towards Red's body. The dying she-cat had her glazed eyes fixed on Harley; after a couple more heartbeats she gave a faint quiver and lay still, her paws and tail limp. Harley let out a groan from deep in his throat and buried his face in her fur.»

—Harley mourning Red's death ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 457}

Stick: "Harley! You're not welcome here!"

Harley: "I've brought a message from Dodge. Not for you, Stick, but for Leafstar."

^{Hawkwing's Journey, pages 252-253}

Harley: "Bring up the prisoner."

Leafstar: "Thank you. Now will some cat show us the way out of here?"

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 266}