Honeyfern

"Please tell her that I miss her just as much as she misses me. And I will love her kits as if they were my own. Berrynose does love her. He's just scared of losing her as he lost me. I am watching over both of them."

— Honeyfern to Jayfeather about Poppyfrost in The Fourth Apprentice, page 243

Honeyfern
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	StarClan
Past:	ThunderClan
Biographical information
Age:	Approx. 20 moons (1.67 year(s)) old at death
Cause of death:	Bitten by a snake
Names
Kit:	Honeykit
Apprentice:	Honeypaw
Warrior:	Honeyfern
StarClan resident:	Honeyfern
Kin
Mother:	Sorreltail
Father:	Brackenfur
Sisters:	Poppyfrost, Cinderheart, Seedpaw, Lilyheart
Brother:	Molepaw
Education
Mentor:	Sandstorm
Book appearances
Living	Twilight, Leafpool's Wish, Sunset, Power of Three
Living	Twilight, Leafpool's Wish, Sunset, Power of Three
Dead	The Fourth Apprentice, The Last Hope
Dead	The Fourth Apprentice, The Last Hope

Honeyfern is a sleek, lithe, dappled, light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes.

Honeyfern was a ThunderClan warrior under Firestar's leadership in the lake territories. She was born as Honeykit to Sorreltail and Brackenfur along with her siblings Molekit, Poppykit, and Cinderkit while badgers were attacking ThunderClan's camp. She became an apprentice named Honeypaw with Sandstorm as her mentor. Shortly after being apprenticed, her brother Molepaw died to greencough. She and Poppypaw earned their warrior names, Honeyfern and Poppyfrost, and she and Berrynose grew closer, even talking about kits. Honeyfern saved Briarkit from a snake but was unfortunately bitten and died. She ascended to StarClan.

After her death, Poppyfrost and Berrynose became mates, and Honeyfern informed Poppyfrost from StarClan that she approved of their relationship. She participated in the Great Battle and fought alongside her sister.

History

In The New Prophecy arc

Twilight

She and her siblings are born during the badger attack ThunderClan's camp to Sorreltail and Brackenfur. Cinderpelt sacrifices her life when a badger enters the nursery. She and her siblings are the first kits to be born in the hollow.

Sunset

When Brambleclaw makes his way into the nursery, Sorreltail, Brackenfur, and the body of Cinderpelt are inside, with Sorreltail curled around her kits. The four kits burrow blindly into her fur, seeking warmth and their mother's milk. After Rainwhisker delivers the news of Sootfur's death, Sorreltail twists in a spasm of grief, dislodging her kits and causing them to mewl faintly in protest. Brackenfur calms her down, and the kits once again settle back into place.

In an attempt to distract the grieving queen, Brambleclaw asks if she has given the kits names yet. The tom is named Molekit, while the others are named Poppykit, Cinderkit, and Honeykit.

Deciding to visit Sorreltail, Leafpool makes her way into the nursery where Daisy is watching Berrykit, Hazelkit, and Mousekit playing. Their mother warns them to not disturb Sorreltail and her kits because of how tiny they are. Leafpool later gives borage to Sorreltail for her milk, and Brackenfur claims the four are worse than famished foxes in how much they need. In a dream with Spottedleaf to show where Cinderpelt's spirit has gone, the former medicine cat brings Leafpool to the nursery where Honeykit and her siblings are sleeping beside their mother.

In the Power of Three arc

The Sight

Honeykit is now an apprentice with the name of Honeypaw, with Sandstorm as her mentor. She and her sisters, Poppypaw and Cinderpaw, share tongues. Hollykit comments that they remind her of Sorreltail. Later, Honeypaw yowls an alarm when she scents two RiverClan cats, who turn out to be Mothwing, the RiverClan medicine cat, and Mothwing's apprentice, Willowpaw, who are looking for Leafpool. She is ashamed, though Sandstorm later remarks that Honeypaw had done the right thing, cheering the apprentice up. She later playfights with Poppypaw outside the apprentices' den.

On Jaypaw's second day as an apprentice, she is the only one still asleep. Jaypaw quickly leaves the den, commenting that he did not want her telling him about all of her exciting apprentice duties that day. On the night of the Gathering, Lionpaw thinks that it is odd Honeypaw and her siblings are not going with them, when Berrypaw, Hazelpaw, and Mousepaw are even though they are not Clanborn.

Honeypaw is on the dawn patrol the day after Graystripe and Millie come back. She is said to be clustered around the two cats when Leafpool and Hollypaw come to check on them. Yet again, Honeypaw is on the dawn patrol with her mentor and Graystripe when Hollypaw quits her training as a medicine cat and becomes a warrior apprentice. On the night of the second Gathering, Honeypaw is talking to Cinderpaw, Lionpaw, and Hollypaw. When Cinderpaw asks if Blackstar will mention the border skirmish, Honeypaw says that ShadowClan never speaks of their losses. She then crosses the tree bridge right after Sandstorm, Firestar, and Squirrelflight.

Dark River

Honeypaw is on a dawn patrol with Sandstorm, Dustpelt, and Hazelpaw. Later, she gives a mouse to Lionpaw that had been caught by the sunset patrol, thinking he was hungry. Lionpaw asks her if the kits and elders had already eaten, which she confirms, and then talks about the fight with WindClan. She asks him if he is okay. She tells him to meet them if he wants, padding out of the apprentices' den.

Outcast

Honeypaw trains with Lionpaw, Poppypaw, and Cinderpaw, while Berrynose is on guard. Later, she admits to Hollypaw that she has a crush on Berrynose. Hollypaw asks herself why anyone would love Berrynose, saying he is ignorant and a pain in the tail. She comments that they were not even warriors yet, and wonders why an apprentice would be thinking about mates. On a patrol, Honeypaw is one of the first cats to detect WindClan scents around the border area, and she and Hollypaw quickly run back to camp to warn Firestar of the intruders.

Eclipse

Honeypaw suns herself with Cinderpaw and Poppypaw. Icepaw comes over with prey in her mouth, and Honeypaw admiringly asks if that was her first catch. Jaypaw, Hollypaw, and Lionpaw are later spying on Honeypaw and her siblings during their assessment, since Jaypaw wanted to see how Cinderpaw was holding up. Lionpaw comments to Jaypaw that Honeypaw looks nervous. She asks Poppypaw where she should hunt, to which her sister tells her to trust her instincts. Lionpaw later hears the apprentice cursing as she misses a catch.

She and Poppypaw gain their warrior names, Honeyfern and Poppyfrost, although Cinderpaw does not, due to her injury. Nonetheless, they cheer out their sisters name during the ceremony. When Honeyfern is looking over at Berrynose for his approval, Lionpaw, Hollypaw, and Jaypaw instantly stop cheering for her. It is mentioned by all three apprentices that Honeyfern is mooning over Berrynose and sharing fresh-kill with him.

During the battle with WindClan, Jaypaw finds her and Sorreltail losing a fight against two RiverClan warriors who are assisting WindClan. Jaypaw saves them, although Sorreltail twists her paw.

Long Shadows

Honeyfern gets greencough and is moved to the abandoned Twoleg nest where she watches over Daisy's daughter, Rosekit, who is also sick. Firestar gets infected with greencough, and loses a life. Honeyfern is one of the cats gathered around him, watching helplessly with some of the Clan cats and all the sick cats. Later, she tries to feed a mouse to Briarkit but the kit refuses to eat it, wanting milk and her mother Millie, who is seriously sick with greencough.

Sunrise

«[Lionblaze] bunched his muscles to spring, but Honeyfern was quicker. Leaping down from the rock, she bundled Briarkit out of the way. The snake arched its neck; before Honeyfern could move it struck down and buried its hooked fangs in her shoulder. Honeyfern sprang backward with a screech of pain.»

—Honeyfern saving Briarkit from the snake ^{Sunrise (book), chapter 16}

Honeyfern and Berrynose are now very close and will soon be mates. They appear together, sharing tongues near Lionblaze on the basking rocks. Both of them are watching the kits playing, and discuss having some of their own. Suddenly, she and Lionblaze notice an adder slithering across camp, about to bite Briarkit. Before Lionblaze can do anything, Honeyfern bravely dives for Briarkit, sweeping her aside, and takes the bite for herself. Honeyfern screams that her blood is on fire as soon as she is bitten. Berrynose pleads for Leafpool to heal her, but she replies that the poison has already taken hold and she can’t save her. Berrynose tries to comfort her in her final moments, telling her that they would have had wonderful kits and she will die as a hero. When she is nearly dead, he tells her that they will meet again in StarClan. Lionblaze is also regretful because he knew that if he dived at the snake first, he wouldn't have gotten hurt, and he could have killed it.

Berrynose, Sorreltail, Brackenfur, Cinderheart, and Poppyfrost are the cats who sit for Honeyfern's vigil. Her mother, Sorreltail, is horribly upset by her death, reminded of Molepaw's death as well. Mousefur recalls how well Honeyfern took care of her as an apprentice and that she shouldn't have died so young. She mournfully wishes it had been herself who died instead, as she and Purdy had been basking where she had been just a little while earlier. While passing Hollyleaf, Sorreltail goes to her den in hopes that she'd see Honeyfern in her dreams.

In the Omen of the Stars arc

The Fourth Apprentice

"Get away! You're not wanted here! And as for you, Breezepelt- You get out of here, too. Or do you want a couple of shredded ears?"

―Honeyfern to Brokenstar and Breezepelt ^{The Fourth Apprentice, page 242}

Poppyfrost becomes Berrynose's mate. Although she loves him, she feels very guilty about stealing him from Honeyfern. She dreams of walking to the Moonpool often so she could speak to Honeyfern, and apologize. One day, she finally goes, upsetting the other queens as they don’t know where she is. Jayfeather follows Poppyfrost to the Moonpool, where she says that Berrynose doesn’t love her, and still wanted to be mates with Honeyfern. She wants to speak with her dead sister, but Jayfeather tells her that warriors can’t speak with StarClan whenever they wish.

Before Jayfeather and Poppyfrost can leave the Moonpool, they are attacked by a WindClan warrior, Breezepelt, who wants to punish Jayfeather and his brother, Lionblaze, for being born. He plans to drown Poppyfrost in the Moonpool, and blame Jayfeather for it, telling his half-brother that his Clanmates could lie as well as his. Jayfeather tries to make him leave Poppyfrost alone, but winds up having to attack him. Brokenstar comes from the Place of No Stars to join the fight on Breezepelt's side. As Jayfeather is losing the fight, Honeyfern comes down from StarClan and helps Jayfeather win the fight. When Breezepelt and the Dark Forest cat are gone, Honeyfern tells him that Berrynose did love Poppyfrost, but was scared of losing her like he had lost Honeyfern. She says that Poppyfrost couldn't see her, but to tell her that she missed her, that she would love her kits as if they were her own, and that she was watching over them. Poppyfrost asks shortly afterward what Honeyfern had said. When Jayfeather tells her, she is pleased that Honeyfern was happy for her and her new family, but still doubts that Berrynose loves her. Her presence is felt by Jayfeather when Poppyfrost gives birth to her kits, Cherrykit and Molekit.

The Last Hope

When Cherrypaw and Molepaw arrive at the camp, Dovewing looks around to see if Poppyfrost noticed them. She spots her fighting side-by-side with Honeyfern, driving back a Dark Forest warrior. Dovewing notices how well they fight together, as if they had been training with each other for a lifetime. When Poppyfrost runs over to her kits, Honeyfern finishes off the tom they were fighting before following her sister.

In the Novellas

Leafpool's Wish

Honeykit and her siblings, Molekit, Cinderkit, and Poppykit tumble out of the nursery just as their father, Brackenfur, walks away after his discussion with Leafpool. Honeykit chases after Molekit, her only brother, saying that she can catch him. She and her siblings are warned by Sorreltail, when he fears that her kits are getting in the way of the warriors. Honeykit assures Sorreltail that she and Molekit are only practicing their running, and they're not getting in the way of any cat. As she brags about how swift she is, Honeykit accidentally runs into Whitepaw, almost knocking the apprentice off her feet. This is seen by her mother, who tells the kit to watch where she's running.

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 StarClan Version

Official art

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

Ceremonies

Honeyfern's warrior ceremony

Firestar: I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Poppypaw and Honeypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives? Honeypaw and Poppypaw: I do. Firestar: Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Poppypaw, from this moment you will be known as Poppyfrost. StarClan honors your courage and your initiative. Honeypaw, from this moment you will be known as Honeyfern. StarClan honors your intelligence and kindness. Everyone: Poppyfrost! Honeyfern! Reference: Eclipse, pages 89-90

Personality

As a kit, Honeyfern was gentle and a quick learner, even learning many hunting moves before being apprenticed. She could sometimes be anxious or insecure, wanting the approval of loved ones. She was also acknowledged as kind and intelligent during her warrior ceremony. She defended her sister fiercely from Breezepelt and promised to watch over Popppyfrost, Berrynose and their kits, showing a loving spirit. But Honeyfern’s strongest trait of all was selflessness, her death protecting Briarkit is the best example of this but it is also demonstrated in a smaller way, shortly before her death, by fetching food for Mousefur when it could have been done by someone else.

Relationships

Berrynose

Cinderpaw: "Have you seen how Honeyfern keeps following Berrynose with that drippy look on her face?"

Hollypaw: "Oh, yes! Anyone would think he was StarClan’s gift to the Clan!"

^{Eclipse, page 151}

As an apprentice, Honeypaw admired Berrynose, but doubted that the warrior would value her. Nonetheless, they spent much time together, and when Honeyfern earned her warrior name, she sought Berrynose's approval. They had discussed becoming mates and having kits, but their romance was cut short when Honeyfern was killed protecting Briarkit from a snake. Honeyfern continued to watch over Berrynose from StarClan, and was not jealous of him finding a new mate in her sister, Poppyfrost.

Poppyfrost and Cinderheart

"I've dreamed of this mountain path so many times since Honeyfern died. I want to see her so much, and I can hear her calling to me from somewhere up there."

―Poppyfrost about Honeyfern ^{The Fourth Apprentice, page 192}

Honeyfern had a close relationship with her sisters.^[source?] Honeyfern's death struck both of her sisters hard, but Poppyfrost grieved for moons to come, missing her sister and afraid that Honeyfern would hate her for taking Berrynose as a mate.

Sorreltail and Brackenfur

"No…oh, no… I can’t lose another kit! Not after [Molepaw]! Please, StarClan…"

―Sorreltail grieving for Honeyfern ^{Sunrise, page 213}

Honeyfern was loved by her parents, who grieved for her death.

Family

Main article: Honeyfern/Family

Her parents are Sorreltail and Brackenfur, and her siblings are Cinderheart, Poppyfrost, and Molepaw. For more of Honeyfern's family, click here!

Appearances

• Twilight (First appearance)
• Sunset
• Leafpool's Wish
• The Sight
• Dark River
• Outcast
• Eclipse
• Long Shadows
• Sunrise †
• The Fourth Apprentice
• Fading Echoes (Mentioned only)
• The Last Hope

Trivia

Interesting facts

• It was revealed in the sixth Erin Hunter Chat that Honeyfern was killed to have a reason for bringing deathberries into camp.
• She was originally described as a pale bracken-colored tabby, but this was later changed to her current light brown tabby appearance.
• She has SkyClan blood through her grandmother, Willowpelt, and WindClan via Windflight.

Author statements

• Kate suspects that Honeyfern had a crush on Lionblaze.

Mistakes

• Honeyfern is listed in the Hollyleaf's Story allegiances despite dying in Sunrise, the previous book.
• She was mistakenly called by her apprentice name after she had become a warrior.
• She was mistakenly called a tom.

Quotes

Berrynose: "We'll have kits like that one day."

Honeyfern: "I'd like that."

^{Sunrise, page 210}

"We'll all miss her. She was so gentle as a kit. And so quick to learn! She knew most of the hunting moves even before she was apprenticed."

―Sorreltail grieving for Honeyfern ^{Sunrise, page 247}

Jayfeather: "Honeyfern came to me just now."

Poppyfrost: "Did she…did she speak to you?"

^{The Fourth Apprentice, chapter 23}

External links

• Stand Together or Fall Divided on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
• Morningstar's Folly - When Peace Isn't the Answer on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
• Guess that cat - ear and tree on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
• Guess that cat - snakes and storm on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Guess that cat - fire and bird on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
• Mini Figures Series 7 cats: the details on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)

Fan content

• Family Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Our Favorite Berrynose Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)