Oakstar

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

"Have you forgotten Appledusk murdered my son and Flowerpaw? Of all cats, why did you have to choose him? You cannot possibly expect my forgiveness. You have betrayed the warrior code and lied to your Clanmates. We will not raise these kits within the walls of our camp, nor the boundaries of our territory. Take them and leave. You are no longer a warrior of ThunderClan."

— Oakstar exiling Mapleshade in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 4

Oakstar is a broad-shouldered, glossy-furred,^[1] sturdy^[2] dark^[4] brown tom with amber eyes.^[2]

Oakstar was a ThunderClan leader in the forest territories, and father to Frecklewish and Birchface. When Appledusk, a RiverClan warrior, accidentally killed Birchface in a battle for Sunningrocks, Oakstar was distraught. Hope was brought back to him when Mapleshade apparently had Birchface's kits, but it quickly turned to anger when it was revealed they were Appledusk's kits and not his son's. He exiled Mapleshade and her kits, and later lost Frecklewish when Mapleshade lured her to Snakerocks, causing her to be bitten by an adder. Later in his life, Oakstar and Sweetbriar had a son, Pinestar, who later becomes a leader as well. After the death of his deputy, Beetail, Oakstar appointed Doefeather as his replacement. Oakstar later joined StarClan and was succeeded by Doestar. He appeared at Pinestar’s leadership ceremony and gave him a life for judgement.

History

In the Novellas

Mapleshade's Vengeance

"I want Mapleshade to tell us herself. She let me believe that my son Birchface was their father. I cannot imagine that one of my warriors would dare to tell such a lie."

―Oakstar about Mapleshade's kits ^{Mapleshade's Vengeance}

Oakstar is the leader of ThunderClan. He makes a report about ThunderClan at a Gathering, explaining that ThunderClan warriors had successfully eliminated the adders from their territory by tracking them to their nests and blocking the holes with rocks. He commends their courage as there have been no adders seen on ThunderClan territory. Mapleshade asks Appledusk of all the cats he had to kill; it had to be Oakstar's son. During the day, Oakstar's deputy Beetail is seen by his den. Mapleshade informs Beetail that she is pregnant, and the striped brown tom asks if Oakstar knows, to which she replies that he doesn't yet.

Later, he goes into the nursery to see Mapleshade and her newly born kits. He asks if Mapleshade is receiving visitors, and the queen mews to the leader to come in. Oakstar purrs greetings to the kits. The she-kit jumps at his voice but slithers back down. Mapleshade introduces him to her kits as their leader. The smell of a different cat is too much to resist for the kits so all three totter to Oakstar. Oakstar gently herds them back to Mapleshade and reminds her that he is not just their leader; he is also their kin, as he believes that their father is his son Birchface. He goes on to sadly remark that he wishes Birchface could see them, his eyes clouding with emotion. Mapleshade assures him that his son is watching from StarClan. Oakstar then adds that his son is a great warrior and that they should be honored if the kits were his. Mapleshade wonders if it would be rude to ask Oakstar to leave, as his scrutiny is making her nervous.

Oakstar's daughter Frecklewish enters the den, turning to Oakstar and saying that she can see Birchface in each kit. Oakstar doesn't comment and instead asks Mapleshade what their names are. Mapleshade explains their names are Petalkit, Patchkit, and Larchkit. Oakstar says that she has chosen excellent names and also comments that the kits will grow up to be fine warriors. When the topic turns to RiverClan, Oakstar curls his lip and growls that they now have three more warriors to defend their territory. However, he later adds that the most important thing is that Mapleshade and the kits are safe. He has a grim note to his voice as he states they will be trained and will get to avenge Birchface's death when they are ready. He turns and vanishes out into the clearing. Mapleshade thinks that when everyone is ready for the truth, Oakstar would understand once he values the kits for what they are rather than their legacy.

When Mapleshade takes her kits out to the river, Oakstar is mentioned to be out on patrol. However, when she returns, Oakstar is perched upon the Highrock and silhouetted against the trees. Beetail and Ravenwing, ThunderClan's medicine cat, are on the ground beside him. He tells Mapleshade to come over to him and asks her who fathered her kits, demanding the truth. Frecklewish interrupts, saying they know it’s Birchface, so there isn't much point in asking. Oakstar growls with a soft menace, saying that he wants Mapleshade to say it herself, as she let him believe it was Birchface. He hisses he can’t believe a warrior of his would tell such a lie.

It is then revealed that Appledusk is the kits' father. Oakstar bounds down from the Highrock and stands in front of Mapleshade, thrusting his face towards hers. He growls that of all the cats she could have chosen, she had chosen the cat that had murdered his son and Flowerpaw, and can’t possibly expect his forgiveness. He goes on to say that she has lied and betrayed the warrior code, and her Clanmates, and will not raise the kits in the camp or territory. He exiles both Mapleshade and her kits. Mapleshade protests that he can't do that, but Oakstar says he can. He explains that Ravenwing told him about the omen of the strange stream bringing reeds that don't belong into the camp, and concludes that the kits will bring nothing but danger. After being questioned by Mapleshade, Bloomheart agrees that Oakstar is right and that he is ashamed in his former apprentice. Mapleshade thinks that they have betrayed her kits, and will regret their choice forever, vowing that her vengeance will never sleep.

Pinestar's Choice

Oakstar rumbles in agreement when Mistpelt says Pinepaw is the perfect apprentice, warmly gazing at his son and saying he is going to be the best warrior their Clan has ever seen. The leader tells Pinepaw to listen to his mentor, as he wants him warmed up to fight RiverClan cats. Oakstar looks sad as he claims that those mangy cats won't take another son from him, and Pinepaw thinks of his half-brother Birchface, who died in a battle with RiverClan. He then agrees with Doefeather, his deputy, as she joins them and mentions that ShadowClan seems more of a threat.

A patrol bursts into clearing and, out of breath, and mentions troublesome kittypets. Oakstar hears the commotion in the clearing and exits his den, asking what's going on. They explain what happened, and the leader says they're likely not in great danger, but should remind the kittypets to stay away. Oakstar wants to send a patrol that night and asks Doefeather what she thinks. She agrees that it's a good idea.

The patrol successfully fights off the kittypets, and Doefeather purrs that they'll have to tell Oakstar of their victory. Oakstar, barely taller than his son, stands in front of him. He declares, purring, that the Twolegplace raid was a success. He tells the assembled cats that kittypets may not seem like a threat, but they're just as capable of causing trouble, and he is especially proud of Pinepaw for fighting them alone during the raid. Oakstar touches his muzzle lightly to his son's ear and declares him Pineheart, a new ThunderClan warrior. He describes Pineheart's honorable traits as courage and sense of strategy and asks for StarClan to light the path of the new warrior.

During Pineheart's nine lives ceremony, Oakstar tells him he knew his son would be leader one day, and gives him a life for judgment.

Goosefeather's Curse

Oakstar is mentioned by Cloudberry to be the leader of ThunderClan when she arrived, and also had Beetail as his deputy.

In the Field Guides

The Ultimate Guide

When it is discovered that Mapleshade bore a RiverClan warrior's kits, Oakstar and the other ThunderClan cats exiled Mapleshade from their Clan.

Character pixels

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description;

undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery

Kin

Members

Mate:

Sweetbriar:^[5] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Daughter:

Frecklewish:^[6] Deceased, verified the Place of No Stars member

Sons:

Birchface:^[6] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Pinestar:^[5] Deceased, verified StarClan member

See more

Grandson:

Tigerstar:^[7] Deceased, no residence

Granddaughters:

Nightkit:^[7] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Mistkit:^[7] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-grandsons:

Bramblestar:^[8] Status unknown

Hawkfrost:^[9] Deceased, no residence

Tadpole:^[10] Deceased, unknown residence

Great-granddaughters:

Tawnypelt:^[8] Living (As of Wind)

Mothwing:^[9] Living (As of Wind)

Great-great-grandsons:

Tigerstar:^[11] Living (As of Wind)

Flametail:^[11] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Alderheart:^[12] Living (As of Wind)

Juniperkit:^[13] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-great-granddaughters:

Dawnpelt:^[11] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Sparkpelt:^[14] Living (As of Wind)

Dandelionkit:^[13] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-great-great-grandsons:

Juniperclaw:^[15] Deceased, verified border guardian between the Dark Forest and StarClan

Strikestone:^[15] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Shadowsight:^[16] Living (As of Wind)

Flamepaw:^[17] Status unknown

Flickerkit: ^[18] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-great-great-granddaughters:

Sleekwhisker:^[15] Living (As of River of Fire)

Lightleap:^[19] Living (As of Wind)

Pouncestep:^[19] Living (As of Wind)

Finchpaw:^[17] Status unknown

Distant relatives:

Cloudstar:^[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Birdflight:^[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Spottedpelt:^[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Gorseclaw:^[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Tree

Oakstar ♂

Sweetbriar ♀

Frecklewish ♀

Birchface ♂

Pinestar ♂

Nightkit ♀

Tigerstar ♂

Mistkit ♀

Tadpole ♂

Mothwing ♀

Hawkfrost ♂

Brambleclaw ♂

Tawnypelt ♀

= Tom

= She-cat

= Gender unknown

Leader Info

Leader info

Deputies

Name	From	To
Beetail Doefeather	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance Before Pinestar's Choice	Before Pinestar's Choice Pinestar's Choice

Medicine cats

Name	From	To
Oatspeckle Ravenwing Cloudberry	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance Before Mapleshade's Vengeance Before Pinestar's Choice	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance Mapleshade's Vengeance Pinestar's Choice

Appearances

Mapleshade's Vengeance (First appearance)
Pinestar's Choice †
Goosefeather's Curse (Mentioned only)
The Ultimate Guide (Mentioned only)

Trivia

Mistakes

Vicky first said that Pinestar succeeded Oakstar,^[21] although Goosefeather's Curse and Pinestar's Choice has Pinestar becoming leader after Doestar.^[22]^[3] Vicky's initial statement was then corrected, and the proper order is Oakstar, then Doestar, and then Pinestar.^[23]
He was mistakenly described with yellow eyes.^[24]
He and Fallowsong are listed as siblings on the Warriors website family tree.^[25]

Quotes

Oakstar: "I'm not just their leader. Birchface is my son. These cats are my kin. If only Birchface could see them."

Mapleshade: "I'm sure he's watching from StarClan."

Oakstar: "My son was a great warrior. The Clan is honored if his spirit lives on through his kits."

^{Mapleshade's Vengeance}

"It will do no harm for RiverClan to know that they may have robbed us of two fine cats, but thanks to Birchface, there will be three more warriors ready to defend what is rightfully ours."

―Oakstar about Mapleshade's kits when he believes their father is Birchface ^{Mapleshade's Vengeance}

"The most important thing right now is that Mapleshade's kits are safe and well. We will raise them to be great warriors like their father, and let them avenge his death when they are ready."