Perchpaw (MV)

"Take that, ThunderClan mouse-dung! Creep up on me, would you? You're as fox-hearted as your Clanmate! Oops, I could have taken that back to the elder's den. I'll look for some more."

— Perchpaw playing with moss and a twig in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 8

Perchpaw (MV)
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	RiverClan
Names
Apprentice:	Perchpaw
Education
Mentor:	Appledusk
Book appearances
Living	Mapleshade's Vengeance
Living	Mapleshade's Vengeance

Perchpaw is a plump, thick-furred gray tom with stubby front legs and blue eyes.

History

In the Novellas

Mapleshade's Vengeance

Perchpaw: "Who are you? What do you want?"

Mapleshade: "Keep still or I'll rip your throat out."

^{Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 8}

Perchpaw is a RiverClan apprentice with Appledusk as his mentor. Mapleshade watches from a tree as Perchpaw's mentor, Appledusk, comes into view. At first, she thinks that he is alone, but then Perchpaw bundles out of a reed patch, following his mentor. Perchpaw then leaps forward. Appledusk shakes his head, stating that Perchpaw needs to get more height than that, because he's going to have to fight adult warriors in battle. Perchpaw asks Appledusk whether he would grow anymore. Purring, Appledusk replies that he would, but that Perchpaw still would need to know how to jump. Reedshine shows up and offers to jump at Perchpaw to show him how it was done. Appledusk tells her not to, explaining that he doesn't want Perchpaw to accidentally hurt the kits of theirs she was expecting. The three cats walk away, discussing battle tactics.

Later that day, as Mapleshade wakes up from a nap, Perchpaw returns to the clearing, although Appledusk and Reedshine aren't with him this time. He pretends to fight ThunderClan, attacking "warriors" that are twigs and moss. He snaps the twig and then crushes the moss. After seeing what he did to the moss, he remarks that he could have taken it back for the elders and decides to search for more. He pads towards Mapleshade's tree and she pounces on him. He struggles, but Mapleshade sinks her teeth into his pelt until he stops. He then asks her who she is and what she wants. Instead of answering his question, she threatens to rip his throat out if he doesn't hold still. He tells her to let him go, saying that he is a RiverClan warrior. Mapleshade argues that he is just a stupid apprentice and is simply bait. She muffles his protests and holds him down.

Appledusk soon arrives and searches for his apprentice, saying that Perchpaw is going to be in big trouble if he was practicing battle moves instead of moss gathering. Mapleshade reveals Perchpaw to him, asking if that was what Appledusk was looking for. Appledusk orders Mapleshade off of his apprentice, threatening to call a patrol. Mapleshade says he can have Perchpaw back, but only if he fights her first. As she begins to attack, Reedshine arrives, and Mapleshade lunges for her instead. Appledusk is then killed by Mapleshade, as he jumps between her and Reedshine. During this blow, Perchpaw leaps at Mapleshade. He lands on her back and bites her neck, inflicting a wound that will later cause her death. As Mapleshade flees, Perchpaw tries to follow her, but Reedshine calls him back, saying Mapleshade had done enough harm and should be left to crawl away and die alone.

Killed victims

This list shows the victims Perchpaw has killed:

• Mapleshade (Caused)

Appearances

• Mapleshade's Vengeance (First appearance)

Trivia

Author statements

• Vicky thinks Perchpaw might reside in StarClan.

Quotes

Appledusk: "You need more height than that, Perchpaw. You must be prepared to fight full-grown warriors when you go into battle."

Perchpaw: "I will get taller, won't I?"

^{Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 8}

"Why can't you do what you're told for once? If I find out you've been practicing battle moves instead of collecting moss, you're going to be in big trouble, Perchpaw!"

―Appledusk calling to Perchpaw when he can't find him ^{Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 8}