Lichenfur

"The elder cat, Lichenfur, seldom has pleasant words for any cat, but she means no harm."

— Leafstar thinking about Lichenfur in The Rescue, page 9

Lichenfur
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	SkyClan
Past:	Loner
Biographical information
Cause of death:	Drowned
Names
Loner:	Unknown
Elder:	Lichenfur
Book appearances
Living	SkyClan's Destiny, The Rescue, Beyond the Code
Living	SkyClan's Destiny, The Rescue, Beyond the Code

Lichenfur is a mottled gray she-cat with a rumpled pelt, nicked ears and amber eyes.

History

In the Super Editions

SkyClan's Destiny

Tangle: "What were you trying to drown me for?"

Lichenfur: "Next time I'll let you get stung."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 409}

Lichenfur joins SkyClan about three moons after Firestar and Sandstorm leave. She moves into the elders' den and seems to fit in with her Clanmates, complaining about the moss in the elders' den.

Leafstar is having a dream that a flood is sweeping away the two elders, Tangle and Lichenfur. They struggle frantically as they are swept out of their den, and they flail on the surface for a moment before vanishing.

She shares tongues on a flat rock in the sun with her denmate, Tangle, a former rogue, now residing as an elder along with Lichenfur. The two are content, and Tangle seems to get along with her. It is revealed that she had lived in the woods farther up the gorge, and although she was aware of SkyClan, she avoided it. After nearly dying by being caught in a fox trap, a patrol found and brought her to the camp for healing, and Lichenfur was glad to give up the life of a loner. Leafstar mews softly that she had wisdom to teach the Clan, and comments that every Clan needs its elders.

When confronting his leader, Sagepaw notes that he was about to check the elders for fleas, but Leafstar asks if he wants to do it. She then enters the den and greets Lichenfur and Tangle. Lichenfur raises her head, shocked, and asks if the other Clan leaders help with elders' fleas. Leafstar guesses that Lichenfur thinks that she is inviting criticism by completing tasks unfit for a leader. The SkyClan leader replies that she could leave them alone with their fleas, making Lichenfur grudgingly relent. As Leafstar settles beside Tangle, Lichenfur asks about how she sent Harveymoon and Macgyver away, referring to them as kittypets.

While Tangle tells Leafstar that the path SkyClan walks on is shadowed, Lichenfur comments that cats are supposed to see in the dark, and she does not want a blind leader, hostility in her tone. Tangle nudges her, telling Leafstar to disregard her, as she had sat on a thistle all night, and Leafstar leaves the elders. After Sagepaw's incident, Lichenfur and Tangle emerge from their den and settle on a flat rock. When the four rogue visitors arrive, Tangle and Lichenfur crouch beside the fresh-kill pile, sharing a pigeon. Lichenfur asks for their purpose of being there, glaring at them. She swipes a pigeon feather from her nose and asks how they heard about SkyClan. Leafstar explains that they know Firestar and Sandstorm, and Lichenfur is doubtful.

After the fight with the rats, Echosong requests for Frecklepaw to get a poultice of daisy leaves, as Lichenfur had been complaining of back pain. As a Clan meeting begins, Tangle and Lichenfur join Clovertail, Fallowfern, and their kits. Towards the end of the Gathering, Lichenfur stands up and asks about her bedding, believing that the moss had not been changed recently. Snookpaw apologizes to Lichenfur and promises to get some in the morning. Lichenfur then mutters and sits down, saying something to Tangle.

The next morning, Snookpaw informs Billystorm that he cannot come on patrol, as he needs to fetch fresh moss for Lichenfur and Tangle. As Leafstar sits by the river, Lichenfur approaches her, commenting that Snookpaw did not keep his promise to retrieve fresh moss. Leafstar replies that she saw him enter the the cave, and wonders if he has returned. Lichenfur shakes her head, and Leafstar goes to see what happened to him. Snookpaw is found to be collecting moss, and Leafstar compliments him, remarking that it would be a fine nest for Lichenfur and Tangle. After Snookpaw falls into the river, Lichenfur questions the trivial amount of moss he had collected, and Leafstar comments that it is all Lichenfur is getting. Lichenfur insults Snookpaw, saying that he needs to pay more attention to where he is going, and Leafstar leaves her.

After the rogue visitors are made warriors, Leafstar notices that Lichenfur is one of the many cats to keep quiet. Shortly after she finds Snookpaw with his Twolegs, Leafstar asks if any cat had checked the elders' bedding, as she does not want to hear Lichenfur complaining. During another Clan meeting, Lichenfur and Tangle sit in the entrance to their den. She and Tanglefur later wash themselves on a rock. When Egg is brought in, Lichenfur and Tangle grab a piece of fresh-kill before going back into their den. Some time later, Leafstar calls for a Clan meeting to begin Egg's apprentice ceremony, and Lichenfur and Tangle emerge from their nests. As SkyClan deals with the young Twoleg kit, Lichenfur asks if they have found the kit's family, as she is unsettled by the presence of a Twoleg.

Once the Twoleg kit is returned to her family, Lichenfur and Tangle are down by the river, concealing paw prints in order to hide the camp. The next morning, there is yet another Clan meeting, and Tangle and Lichenfur appear, resting in a sunny spot near the river. When they are attacked by bees, Lichenfur and Tangle show their claws. They lead the bees into the river, and Leafstar launches herself at Tangle and Lichenfur, pushing them into the river. Lichenfur shoves Tangle's head under the water, ending his screech. Afterwards, Tangle questions her decision, and Lichenfur remarks that she would let him get stung next time.

In the SkyClan and the Stranger arc

The Rescue

Lichenfur: "Ridiculous. Bouncing about all over the place. We're cats, not rabbits. What does he plan to do, land on prey and squash it to death?"

Waspwhisker: "There's no call to be rude, Lichenfur. My son's skill is something to be proud of."

^{The Rescue, pages 9-10}

Lichenfur watches Rabbitleap teach a move to three apprentices. She asks if he plans on squashing his prey to death, to which Waspwhisker scolds her for being rude. Leafstar says that Lichenfur means no harm by what she says and praises Waspwhisker. Soon after, Ebonyclaw's patrol returns, reporting that they had discovered a trail of fox scent. Lichenfur remarks that Ebonyclaw's idea for marking the trail is good for a daylight-warrior.

Later, Leafstar decides to punish Nettlesplash and Sandypaw for eating Twoleg food and sets them to checking Lichenfur for ticks and changing out her bedding. The two young cats express their disgust, but later clean the elder's fur.

Beyond the Code

"They may be pests... But I've kind of got used to having them around."

―Lichenfur about Leafstar's kits ^{Beyond the Code, page 52}

Birdpaw and Honeypaw complain to Leafstar and Echosong about how Lichenfur told Honeypaw that she is clumsy. After Sol and his patrol come back to camp with enough prey to feed the Clan for days, Lichenfur and Tangle complain about the noise, but Leafstar invites the elders to join them.

When the foxes attack SkyClan, Leafstar's kits are near the nursery, wanting to fight. But when Leafstar is about to head over to them, Lichenfur picks them up and takes them back inside. Leafstar thanks her after the foxes leave, and she responds by saying that even though they annoy her, she is accustomed to having them around. At the Gathering, when the wind suddenly cools, Lichernfur sniffs the air and announces that rain is coming, which receives positive comments from the cats around her.

When the gorge floods, Lichenfur is killed by the raging waters, and her body is discovered by Cherrytail. Leafstar and the Clan are shocked and saddened by the elder's death, and they gather around her dead body. Sparrowpelt asks Leafstar if they can sit vigil for her, and Leafstar allows it.

After the Flood

Leafstar: "How's [Tangle] doing?"

Clovertail: "Well, I'm ... I'm a little worried. Losing Lichenfur has hit him really hard."

^{After the Flood, page 16}

Following the flood, Leafstar mentions how their mourning for Lichenfur had to be regrettably short due to the repairs to the camp. Tangle is noted to be distraught over her death, as he is not complaining about building his own nest like he usually does. After Clovertail assigns Leafstar's kits the task of finding feathers for Tangle, Leafstar asks how he is doing, and Clovertail sadly states that she is worried, as he has been hit hard by losing Lichenfur.

Character pixels

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

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery Lichenfur in The Rescue Lichenfur in SkyClan and the Stranger

Appearances

• SkyClan's Destiny (First appearance)
• The Rescue
• Beyond the Code †
• After the Flood (Mentioned only)

Quotes

"Cats are supposed to be able to see in the dark, and I for one don't want a blind leader."

―Lichenfur about Leafstar's leadership ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 68}

"Hold it right there you sorry little scraps! You're going nowhere!"

―Lichenfur to Leafstar's kits ^{Beyond the Code, page 51}

"Oh, no... no... Nooo... It's Lichenfur! She's dead!"

―Cherrytail discovering Licherfur's death ^{Beyond the Code, page 85}

SkyClan cat: "Lichenfur..."

SkyClan cat: "No..."

^{Beyond the Code, page 86}

Sparrowpelt: "Leafstar...? Could we... would it be all right if we sit with her? For the rest of the night, I mean... Like we did with Rainfur? Or... Or I mean, I know the dens are wrecked... Do you want us to get started putting them back together instead?"

Leafstar: "No... No. The camp can wait for a while. Tonight we'll sit vigil for our lost Clanmate."

^{Beyond the Code, pages 86-87}