| "I don't believe what I'm seeing. You're no warrior. You're surely no warrior of RiverClan! Leopardstar is going to hear about this." |
| — Heavystep snarling at Feathertail after she protects Ferncloud in A Shadow in RiverClan, pages 46-47 |
Heavystep is a big[11] and thickset,[9] broad-shouldered[12] brown[13] tabby tom[9] with yellow eyes.[13]
Heavystep was a RiverClan elder under Crookedstar's and Leopardstar's leaderships in the forest and lake territories. He was born as Heavykit to Lilystem alongside his sister, Shadekit. As an apprentice, Heavypaw was mentored by Blackclaw, and after becoming a warrior, Heavystep mentored Dawnflower and Stonestream. He participated on the Great Journey, and shortly after reaching their new home, Heavystep retired as an elder. He died from greencough and ascended to StarClan, reuniting with his former Clanmates during the battle against the Dark Forest.
History[]
In The Prophecies Begin arc[]
Fire and Ice[]
- Heavypaw is a RiverClan apprentice being mentored by Blackclaw.
Forest of Secrets[]
- Heavypaw, though not named, appears coming out of RiverClan's camp behind Blackclaw and Silverstream. Fireheart guesses that the smaller cat must have been Blackclaw's apprentice, and Graystripe murmurs that they must be on a hunting patrol. Blackclaw and Heavypaw take the lead of the patrol before Silverstream leaves the patrol to talk to Graystripe.
A Dangerous Path[]
- He is now a warrior named Heavystep with his first apprentice, Dawnpaw.
The Darkest Hour[]
- Heavystep is spotted in the clearing near the Bonehill during a TigerClan meeting, being one of the few RiverClan warriors who is present.
In The New Prophecy arc[]
Midnight[]
- His apprentice Dawnpaw has become a warrior, taking on the name Dawnflower.
Dawn[]
- Heavystep now has another apprentice, Stonepaw.
Starlight[]
- Heavystep: "Speak up—we can't hear you."
- Mudclaw: "And you won't, if you can't keep quiet. Listen to what our leader has to say."
- Starlight, page 244
- As each of the four Clans leave to find their new territory, Mousefur says good-bye to Heavystep. She gives his ear a quick lick and tells him to go safely, and she will see him at Gatherings. Heavystep tells her good-bye and watches her go. Heavystep then nods to Brambleclaw and disappears behind the trees to where RiverClan is meeting.
- Later, during a Gathering, Heavystep interrupts the Clan leaders, requesting them to speak up, as cats cannot hear them. Mudclaw rudely retorts back, and Heavystep shoots a baleful glare at him, but keeps quiet.
Twilight[]
- Heavystep is now an elder with his apprentice, Stonepaw, becoming a warrior, taking on the name Stonestream. When Leafpaw is on her way to the RiverClan camp, she notices Heavystep and Hawkfrost carrying Ivytail to her resting place. Later that day, Mothwing reports that Heavystep has fallen ill, pointing him out curled up on the bank after being given yarrow. Leafpaw speculates that he may have picked up the poison from carrying out Ivytail. After a bit, Heavystep returns to the elders' den, like the rest of the remaining cats who have been poisoned.
Sunset[]
- During a Gathering, Leopardstar announces that Heavystep died due to an outbreak of greencough, causing the cats in the clearing to murmur in sympathy. After the leaders announced their news, Leafpool blames herself for Heavystep's death, due to her not passing on Mudfur's message of catmint. Leafpool finds Mothwing and gives her condolences for Heavystep's death. Later, when Leafpool and Willowpaw go to find catmint, Willowpaw comments that she wishes that they had some when Heavystep had greencough.
In the Power of Three arc[]
Dark River[]
- When Hollypaw leaves the island, Heavystep flattens his ears in disapproval.
In the Super Editions[]
Leopardstar's Honor[]
- Heavykit is born to Lilystem alongside his sister Shadekit. When Mosskit and Emberkit help Whitepaw clear out the elders' den, Heavykit complains to his mother why he can't help. Heavykit and his sister are later apprenticed as Heavypaw with Blackclaw as his mentor. Heavypaw and Shadepaw hunt for minnows underneath the thin ice covering the river. Blackclaw later plans to teach his apprentice how to hunt in the white-water rapids near the gorge. When Leopardfur's patrol brings back a large salmon stolen from a Twoleg, Heavypaw and Shadepaw are in awe of their catch, though Crookedstar warns the apprentices to not attempt their technique.
- After WindClan's exile, Leopardfur leads a patrol to the moor and brings Blackclaw, Heavypaw, Frogleap, Whiteclaw, Beetlenose, and Sedgecreek. Beetlenose and Blackclaw gently tease Heavypaw about his worries about hawks. The patrol encounters a ShadowClan patrol and together they chase Stagleap, Pigeonflight, and Sorrelshine away.
- Heavypaw eventually earns his warrior name of Heavystep. He and Blackclaw report fresh ThunderClan scent near Sunningrocks to Leopardfur. Wanting to keep RiverClan safe after Whiteclaw's death, Leopardfur request the pair to find more evidence first, though Blackclaw sharply confronts Leopardfur's desire to protect RiverClan. Later, Heavystep participates in a battle on WindClan's camp with ShadowClan and RiverClan uniting to drive WindClan away. However, ThunderClan arrives to help WindClan and RiverClan and ShadowClan flee.
- Heavystep later falls ill to poisoned river prey. Though Heavystep and Mallowtail survive, Birdsong dies. Leopardfur believes ThunderClan poisoned them, though RiverClan later learns Twolegs dumped their rubbish near the river. After Frogleap's death, Heavystep questions how his Clanmate died. Following the flood, Crookedstar orders Heavystep, Reedtail, and Skyheart to hunt upslope. When a fire breaks out in ThunderClan's territory, Leopardfur calls for Heavystep to help ThunderClan across the river. Heavystep is given Dawnpaw to mentor. After Tigerstar's death, Leopardfur spots Heavystep demonstrating a move to Dawnpaw.
Firestar's Quest[]
- "[Birchstar] reminded Firestar of the RiverClan warrior Heavystep, and she had the look of Clovertail too."
- ―Firestar comparing Birchstar to Heavystep and Clovertail Firestar's Quest, page 492
Graystripe's Vow[]
- In the past, while Graystripe is hesitating to step in the water near RiverClan's camp, Heavystep splashes through the reeds, telling him that he'll fetch Leopardstar. The brown tabby then goes off to do so.
In the Novellas[]
Mothwing's Secret[]
- Blackclaw fell into thick mud while returning from a hunting patrol, and Heavystep rushes into camp for help. Leopardstar orders Heavystep to hold onto her legs while she crawls towards Blackclaw and successfully rescues him. Later, Heavystep rushes out of the warriors' den when Leopardstar calls a Clan meeting, announcing StarClan sent a sign approving of Mothwing's training. Following the Great Journey, Heavystep became an elder, but died due to greencough. Mothwing mourns not being able to save him, but Willowpaw reassures that she did her best. During the battle against the Dark Forest, Heavystep appears as a StarClan spirit to join the fight. Stonestream, his former apprentice, bows his head in respect at Heavystep.
In the Stand-Alone Graphic Novels[]
A Shadow in RiverClan[]
- "Yeah? Well, maybe I do want to fight about it! I haven't torn into a ThunderClan hide in moons! Come on, Blackclaw! We're going to teach this puny little cat a lesson. Make sure she thinks hard before she trespasses and steals our prey again!"
- ―Heavystep about Ferncloud A Shadow in RiverClan, page 45
- Later, he hunts with Sasha and Feathertail. When a fox attacks the camp, Heavystep helps fight it off. When Leopardstar suggests sending a patrol to drive out the fox, Heavystep asks which cats will go on the patrol. In newleaf, he hunts with Feathertail and Hawkfrost, later confronting ThunderClan cats trespassing and chases them away.
Winds of Change[]
- During the Clans' first Gathering at their new home, Heavystep interrupts Onewhisker's attempts to speak by calling that he can't hear him and several others grin in amusement. Mudclaw snaps at Heavystep; while he is not a fan of Onewhisker, Mudclaw refuses to have the other Clans mock WindClan.
In the Field Guides[]
The Ultimate Guide[]
- After the death of Heavystep, Leafpool and Feathertail visit Willowshine in a dream.
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  Elder Version  StarClan Version |
Official art[]
|
Please do not edit this gallery |
Kin[]
Members[]
Mother:
Brother:
- Unnamed gray tom:[14] Status unknown
Sister:
Tree[]
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Leopardstar's Honor
- Fire and Ice (First appearance; allegiance only)
- Forest of Secrets
- Rising Storm (Allegiance only)
- Tigerclaw's Fury (Allegiance only)
- A Dangerous Path (Allegiance only)
- The Darkest Hour
- Blackfoot's Reckoning (Allegiance only)
- A Shadow in RiverClan
- Firestar's Quest (Mentioned only)
- Graystripe's Vow
- Mothwing's Secret
- Midnight (Allegiance only)
- Moonrise (Allegiance only)
- Dawn (Allegiance only)
- Starlight
- Winds of Change
- Twilight
- Sunset † (Mentioned only)
- The Sight (Allegiance only)
- Dark River
- Outcast (Allegiance only)
- Long Shadows (Allegiance only)
- Sunrise (Allegiance only)
- Hollyleaf's Story (Allegiance only)
- The Ultimate Guide (Indirect mention only)
Trivia[]
Interesting facts[]
- Heavystep retired almost immediately after becoming a warrior due to kidney disease.[15]
- Heavystep has been noted to look like Birchstar and Clovertail.[16]
- Vicky secretly wants to write a Super Edition about him in which he receives nine lives for a very special reason.[17]
- Heavystep is confirmed to be the angry brown tabby Feathertail fights in A Shadow in RiverClan by James Barry.[blog 1]
Mistakes[]
- Heavystep has died twice; once in Sunset[18] and once between Sunrise and The Fourth Apprentice.[19]
- His appearance in Dark River was later replaced by Swallowtail in the reprinted version.[20]
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, Heavystep and Vixentail were mates and their daughters were Graymist and Otterheart.[21]
Quotes[]
- Blackclaw: "Watch out for hawks. With WindClan gone, they'll be used to having the moor to themselves. They might mistake you for a meal."
- Heavypaw: "Really?"
- Leopardstar's Honor, page 231
- "Mousebile. Heavystep insisted I sorted out his ticks before I did anything else this morning."
- ―Mothwing to Leafpaw Starlight, page 143
External links[]
- Stand Together or Fall Divided on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Nothing But Stories on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Exclusive! Graystripe's Vow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Five things to know about Warriors fans on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Fan content[]
- Warrior of the Week Gallery #22 - Heavystep on the Warriors official website (Warrior of the Week #22) (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed in Mothwing's Secret, chapter 8
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 136
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 276
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Revealed in Fire and Ice, allegiances
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Revealed in Leopardstar's Honor, page 134
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Revealed in Sunset, page 150
- ↑ Revealed in Rising Storm, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in Twilight, allegiances
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Revealed in A Dangerous Path, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in Dawn, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in Twilight, page 167
- ↑ Revealed in Mothwing's Secret, chapter 2
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Revealed in A Shadow in RiverClan, page 38
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 416
- ↑ Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 4
- ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 492
- ↑ Welcome to the Warriors Hub on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed in Sunset, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in The Fourth Apprentice, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in the reprinted version of Dark River, chapter 16
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
Author references
- ↑ James Barry, June 17 2020. James confirms Heavystep is the tabby, revealed through an Instagram direct message.
