Hutch

"I was scared. And I knew that I didn't want to give up my life for the sake of my Clan. I'm a coward, and selfish, but I can't change the way I feel."

— Hutch's confession to Firestar before leaving SkyClan in Firestar's Quest, page 474

Hutch
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	Kittypet
Past:	SkyClan
Names
Kit:	Unknown
Warrior:	Shortwhisker
Kittypet:	Hutch
Kin
Mother:	Unknown she-cat
Book appearances
Living	Firestar's Quest, SkyClan's Destiny, Battles of the Clans
Living	Firestar's Quest, SkyClan's Destiny, Battles of the Clans

Hutch is a dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes and hard paw pads.

Hutch is a kittypet, formerly a warrior of SkyClan. When SkyClan was being rebuilt by Firestar and Sandstorm, Hutch decided to join the Clan in the gorge and took on the name Shortwhisker. However, he struggled to commit fully to the warrior life, and after the battle with the rats, Shortwhisker decided to go back to being a kittypet, and changed his name back to Hutch.

History

In the Super Editions

Firestar's Quest

"There's nothing wrong. Everything's fine. I'm learning stuff I never imagined before. It's just...well, there are so many cats. Especially when we're all sleeping together in the den. I've been used to living on my own with my housefolk."

―Shortwhisker expressing his doubts to Firestar ^{Firestar's Quest, page 354}

After introducing Firestar to Bella, Cherry and Boris take Firestar to meet Hutch, a kittypet living with a dog as well as Twolegs. Firestar notices that as Hutch runs over that he has hard pads and strong hind leg muscles like a SkyClan cat. Firestar tells Hutch about SkyClan, explaining who they are and what they've done. Hutch, already hearing this from his mother, nods and says that he'd heard Firestar's tale when he was young, and thought they were kits' tales. Hutch seems interested in the new Clan's formation, and he gives his word that he will appear at Firestar's meeting. He offers cream to Cherry and Boris as they leave, but Firestar doesn't let them have it, as they have to give up their kittypet ways. Firestar waits on the fence to say goodbye, and he feels encouraged, as Hutch was a cat he could work with.

Cherry and Boris come to the meeting, and are confused, as no one has arrived yet. Cherry mutters to Boris that she that said they should have gotten Hutch after all, and Boris bets that Hutch is in his Twoleg nest, and he calls him fat and lazy. Sandstorm cuts him off, saying that some cat had arrived. He eventually arrives, Oscar close behind. He picks his way cautiously down the gorge and sits beside Cherry and Boris. After hearing about the formation of SkyClan, he is hesitant but interested in joining the growing Clan. He decides to join, and is worried that he won't fit in.

The next day, Firestar tries to track down some prey. He gives Hutch, Cherry and Patch their first hunting lesson. Hutch has trouble getting his haunches into the right position, whilst Patch gets it right almost the first time. Firestar watches all three cats stalk, and he notes that Hutch has managed to get his paws into the right position. Hutch misses a chance to catch a squirrel, and even though Cherry almost catches it, she gets her paws caught in some leaves, allowing it to escape. He says that he should have caught it, but Firestar says that he's doing fine. Despite his doubts, he later catches a sparrow.

Hutch, Scratch, Leaf, Clover, and Patch then have their warrior ceremony, earning their warrior names. Hutch is given the name Shortwhisker. After his warrior ceremony, Sandstorm emerges from a bush with a mouse. She says that Shortwhisker is coming along really well in hunting.

When Skywatcher dies, the Clan prepare to sit vigil for him. Clovertail reminds her kits that they have to stay awake, but when Firestar says that the kits don't have to, she screeches if he wants her kits to die. Shortwhisker explains to the shocked Firestar that they were all told as kits that if they sleep on the night of a cat's death, then they will die too. Even though Firestar and Sandstorm explain that its not true, all the Clan stay up. Shortwhisker sits on a sharp stone, and Firestar wonders if he sat there deliberately to stay awake. But other cats begin to doubt the story, and they begin to fall asleep and go to their dens. Shortwhisker gets up and sits on a rock.

Three nights later, Firestar awakes to see Shortwhisker's nest empty. Worried, he looks outside, but then he sees Shortwhisker by the river. He goes up to the tom, who jumps when Firestar calls to him. Firestar tells him that he has a feeling that he's not happy, and Shortwhisker confirms his suspicions. He says that there's so many cats, and that he's used to living and sleeping on his own. Firestar comforts him, saying that he was once a kittypet, but Shortwhisker is still not sure.

Shortwhisker later takes part in a training session with Sandstorm, Patch, Sharpclaw and Cherrypaw. When its Shortwhisker's turn, he leaps, but falls short. Sandstorm cuffs him over both ears, and he backs away, frustrated. Sandstorm says to try again, but he says that he's had enough, and he could practice on his own for a bit. As he leaves, Sandstorm stares, and exchanges a questioning look with Firestar. Firestar follows Shortwhisker, and catches up to him. Shortwhisker admits that he feels awkward and clumsy, and Firestar says that its the same for every cat. Firestar says that he could have just asked Sandstorm for a one-on-one training session, but Shortwhisker says that she works so hard already. Firestar offers for him for a training session now with him, and he agrees. Shortwhisker does good, and Firestar says that he has the potential for a dangerous warrior.

While Firestar is searching for a medicine cat, he considers Shortwhisker, but Sandstorm states that he had basically frozen at the sight of Patchfoot's blood, and suggests Leafdapple instead.

After the Clan cats defeat the rats, Shortwhisker finally admits that the rat attack, the sight of Patchfoot's blood, and the fact that he did not fit in led to his decision that living in a Clan and trying to be a Clan cat is entirely too much for him to handle. He leaves, promising to visit, leaving behind the name Shortwhisker, and returning to the name Hutch.

SkyClan's Destiny

"The life of a warrior wasn't for me. It's good to see you again, Leafstar. The Clan must be doing well—you look almost as well-fed as me."

―Hutch to Leafstar ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 227}

When Leafstar and Billystorm venture into Twolegplace to look for Snookpaw, Leafstar thinks that a dog is coming out of a Twoleg nest, but it is Hutch. She accidentally calls him Shortwhisker, and she greets him warmly, touching noses. Billystorm asks if they know each other, and Leafstar explains that Hutch was in SkyClan when Firestar was with them, but he decided that being a kittypet suited him better. Hutch is cheerful, and happy to see Leafstar, remarking that she looks as well-fed as him. Hutch is puzzled about Billystorm, as he says that he is a warrior and a kittypet. Leafstar explains about daylight warriors, and she tries to persuade Hutch into returning, as he could be a kittypet and warrior, but Hutch refuses, saying that he is not cut out for the life of a warrior. He tells Leafstar that it is great to see her again, and he also tells her to say hello to his old Clanmates for him. The two cats touch noses once more, before Hutch returns to his Twoleg nest.

In the Field Guides

Battles of the Clans

He is mentioned by Sparrowpaw as the apprentice explains to Clovertail that he learned the sky-drop technique. While explaining, Sparrowpaw says that Shortwhisker was his enemy for the day. The apprentice says that Shortwhisker took forever, but when he finally walked underneath the branch where Sparrowpaw was, he dropped down and attempted to land on his back.

Sparrowpaw explains to Clovertail that Shortwhisker was fine after training. He tells her that his mentor, Sharpclaw, had told him that the apprentice was nowhere near the tom, although Sparrowpaw claims that he felt his tail brush against him, and goes on to say that it would be a huge shock for any invading cats.

Character pixels

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

Ceremonies

Shortwhisker's warrior ceremony

Firestar: Hutch, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life? Hutch: I do. Firestar: Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Hutch, from this moment you will be known as Shortwhisker. StarClan trusts you will give all your strength and wisdom to the building of this new Clan. Reference: Firestar's Quest, page 333

Kin

Members

Mother:

Unnamed she-cat: Status unknown

Appearances

• Firestar's Quest (First appearance)
• SkyClan's Destiny
• Battles of the Clans

Trivia

Mistakes

• He was mistakenly called Whitewhisker in Battles of the Clans.

Quotes

Firestar: "Sharpclaw wouldn't do, he's far too good a warrior. Clovertail has kits...what about Shortwhisker?"

Sandstorm: "He froze at the sight of blood when Patchfoot was injured."

^{Firestar's Quest, page 406}

"I thought I was crowfood for sure. Three of them drove me into a tiny cave. All I could do was try to keep them off. Then suddenly they turned and vanished."

―Shortwhisker to Firestar ^{Firestar's Quest, pages 445-446}

Firestar: "You're not selfish or a coward. The warrior code isn't right for every cat. You must choose the path that suits you best."

Hutch: "Then that is the path of a kittypet."

^{Firestar's Quest, page 474}

External links

• Protect and defend on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)