| "Wow, that was a good fight! And you did well, Shadowpaw. You could have been a warrior if you'd wanted." |
| — Pouncestep to Shadowpaw after their play fight in Lost Stars, page 53 |
Pouncestep is a gray tabby she-cat[7] with dark amber eyes.[8]
She is born as Pouncekit to Tigerheart and Dovewing during their stay with the guardian cats along with her siblings, Lightkit and Shadowkit. Pouncekit briefly visits ThunderClan with her siblings when Dovewing returns to the clan territories. Once they leave, she goes to ShadowClan when her mother chooses to follow Tigerheart, now Tigerstar, back. She becomes an apprentice, and later a warrior with the name Pouncestep.
History
In the Super Editions
Tigerheart's Shadow
- Pouncekit and her littermates, Shadowkit and Lightkit, are born to Dovewing and Tigerheart.
- Later, Tigerheart tells her that he's going on patrol, and Pouncekit asks if he means scavenging because thats what the other cats call it. Her mother, Dovewing, says scavenging is like hunting. Pouncekit asks why warriors don't scavenge like city cats. Tigerheart stares, and Dovewing assures her hunting is more fun.
- After going hunting, Tigerheart returns with a thrush. The gray she-cat looks around, sniffing, saying that she smells meat, and Tigerheart prods the thrush. Pouncekit dismisses the bird with a flick of her muzzle, stating that it's all feathers, causing the brown tom's stomach to tighten and wonder why his kits can't smell the fresh-kill. Dovewing helps her daughters and son, stripping the meat away from the feathers.
- Pouncekit stares at her mother with a horrified look as she works, and the smoky gray she-cat lays a meat strip in front of each her kits. Dovewing encourages the young cats to eat, and Pouncekit sniffs the strip uneasily, touching it with her tongue. The gray she-cat affectionately looks at Tigerheart, but he doesn't say anything, gazing at his kits anxiously, wondering if they'll ever like fresh-kill. The mates gaze at their children, who eat the thrush, and while Shadowkit looks thoughtful, and Lightkit has too much in her mouth, Pouncekit still frowns. Then the guardian cats find new cats to take care of, Pouncekit wants to go look at them, but Tigerheart doesn’t allow her. When Dovewing returns from a hunting party, Pouncekit and her littermates race over to meet her.
- Tigerheart gives the kits a badger ride, and explains that they will eat kits if they catch them. Pouncekit wonders why a badger didn’t eat him, then asks if he was ever chased by one. Tigerheart tells them a story of how he once fought a badger with his Clanmates, and Pouncekit squeaks that he’s the best warrior ever. Tigerheart shrugs them off, much to Pouncekit’s dismay and she tries to cling onto his pelt.
- Pouncekit and her littermates are taken out of the Twoleg nest to watch the guardian cats battle train, preparing to fight off foxes. Pouncekit bounces around on the grass, rolling around and mewling with delight, then mews she wants to explore. She goes off with Lightkit onto the stone slabs. The cats cease their training when Pouncekit gets caught in a Twoleg trap. Once free, Dovewing leaps to her kits side, and Pouncekit mews she’s all right.
- Pouncekit and her siblings sneak out of the nest and watch the Twolegs, who are holding some sort of gathering. Pouncekit comments how they’ve made a hole and surrounded it with flowers, thinking it looks pretty, and wonders what they’re hiding. After a Twoleg kit breaks away from the group, Tigerheart orders the kits to climb down the tree. Pouncekit complains, and Tigerheart crossly tells her they aren’t meant to leave the den alone. Pouncekit stares at him, pointing out that the Twoleg traps are gone now, saying it’s not fair. She tells Lightkit that Tigerheart said they aren’t ever allowed out of the den alone, and her sister’s eyes spark with horror.
- Their parents decide it’s time to return to the lake, and Pouncekit excitedly asks if they can ride real badgers when they get to the forest. She is carried by Dovewing through the Thundersnake tunnel. She walks for a bit, then complains her paws are getting too sore, and Lightkit tells her to imagine the stones beneath their paws is like the grass outside of the Twoleg nest. When Thundersnake passes, Dovewing wraps her paws around Pouncekit. After it passes, Pouncekit wonders if they can wait for another one, thinking it was fun and wants to experience it again. Once out of the city and tunnel, Pouncekit is frightened by how quiet the wilderness is and Tigerheart comforts her, saying she’ll get used to it.
- Later, when Tigerheart says they should be at the lake by the full-moon, Pouncekit complains that he said they’d be there before then. She then eagerly asks if they’ll be ‘paws once they get to the lake. Pouncekit and Lightkit are almost hit by an approaching Thundersnake, distracted from playing with an acorn, but both manage to stay safe. Tigerheart gives Pouncekit a badger ride as they reach a river, and the she-kit exclaims there are floating monsters.
- They begin crossing a Thunderpath that goes over the river, but it splits and rises in the center. Pouncekit is at the top of the other end, where it cracked open, wailing with terror. Spire saves her, but he dies in the process. She and Lightkit are seen playing with Berryheart’s kits. After an owl drops Tigerheart, Pouncekit and her littermates sit beside Dovewing, fear in their round eyes as they gaze at their injured father. Dovewing begins snapping at Shadowkit, desperate to get back to the lake, and Pouncekit darts to her brothers side, telling her mother to not scare him. They continue the journey back to the lake, carrying Tigerheart, and Pouncekit approaches him, asking if he’s dying. As Tigerheart slips away, Pouncekit and her siblings cling to their father’s neck. After he dies, Tigerheart sees his body being carried, and Pouncekit stares at his body across Dovewing’s back, pain in her gaze. Tigerheart is resurrected as Tigerstar, ShadowClan’s new leader. Pouncekit follows Dovewing as she pads up to Tigerstar, her eyes as wide as moons.
In the A Vision of Shadows arc
River of Fire
- Pouncekit and her family are seen by Alderheart, and he greets Dovewing. Dovewing introduces the medicine cat to Pouncekit and her littermates. Violetshine, after seeing Berryheart, Sparrowtail, Rippletail, and Cloverfoot, asks where they even came from. Dovewing explains that she went to a Twoleg nest to have her kits, and when they left, they ran into the former ShadowClan cats in a disheveled Twoleg nest.
- Shadowkit protests that Tigerheart is not dead, and he had a dream of his father playing moss-ball with him and his sisters. Pouncekit and Lightkit stay silent. However, Puddleshine appears with Tigerheart, and Pouncekit follows her littermates and mother in greeting him. Puddleshine explains that Tigerheart, now Tigerstar, was resurrected to lead ShadowClan. However, upon learning that Dovewing intends to move to ShadowClan, Alderheart tries to persuade her that Ivypool now how kits. Dovewing speaks with Tigerstar, and she tells Alderheart that she will take one last visit to ThunderClan.
- On the trek to ThunderClan, the three littermates play and tussle with one another. Pouncekit stops play-fighting, and asks Dovewing and Alderheart if they will be made warriors. Dovewing gently explains that she isn't old enough, which results in a groan from all three kits. However, they quickly go back to their fun, much to Alderheart's amusement. Dovewing sighs that she doesn't know where they get their energy from.
- Upon arriving to ThunderClan, Pouncekit and her siblings meet their grandparents, Birchfall and Whitewing, who are Dovewing's father and mother. Ivypool streaks through the crowd to greet Dovewing, Ivypool's own kits wriggling through the crowd to find their mother. Ivypool notices Dovewing's kits with her. Dovewing introduces her kits to Ivypool, explaining that she was her sister, and is thus their aunt. Pouncekit, Shadowkit, and Lightkit examine one another, and Pouncekit tells her mother and aunt that it was good to have kin. Dovewing then explains that she is moving to ShadowClan to be with Tigerstar. Ivypool, now furious, stalks away from her sister, nephew, and nieces, taking her kits with her. Bramblestar tells Dovewing that she will need an escort back to ShadowClan, and Birchfall immediately offers to lead it, alongside Whitewing. Bramblestar appoints Fernsong to go as well, and the three cats lead Pouncekit and her family out of ThunderClan.
The Raging Storm
- During Shadowkit’s vision, Poucncekit and Lightkit cower with their denmates at the other end of the nursery. Later, Shadowkit is often helping Alderheart with medicine cat duties, and Pouncekit and her sister crowd at the entrance to the den, eyes bright with excitement. Pouncekit can barely keep still as she tells her brother that Strikestone and Blazepaw have promised to give them badger rides around the clearing. Lightkit adds they’re going to race while they ride them, and Pouncekit gives Shadowkit a pleading look, saying he must come, he’s missed all the fun since he’s been helping Alderheart. Shadowkit tells them he’s been having fun in the medicine den, and says he still has a lot to learn, he’s going to be a medicine cat one day. Pouncekit rolls her eyes, nudging Lightkit out of the den, saying they’re wasting their time.
- When Bramblestar and Alderheart come to ShadowClan to confront Tigerstar about Juniperclaw, Pouncekit and Lightkit bounce out of the nursery, and Dovewing raises her tail at them to tell them to settle down. Pouncekit peers from the nursery, calling to their mother, asking if they can have fresh-kill. Dovewing asks them if they can share a shrew with Shadowkit. Pouncekit blinks, saying he’s not in the den. Lightkit explains he said he was playing a game, and Pouncekit wanted to join him, but he told her it was something he had to do by himself. Dovewing weaves frantically around her daughters, asking if he said where he was going. Pouncekit says he didn’t, with a frightened look.
Trivia
Interesting facts
- Pouncestep has ThunderClan blood via Dovewing,[9] kittypet blood through Cloudtail[10] and Hal[11] and SkyClan blood via her great-grandfather Tigerstar.[12]
- Pouncestep is Kate's favorite kit of Dovewing and Tigerstar.[13]
- Pouncestep is noted to look more like her father Tigerstar than her cousins Flippaw, Bristlefrost and Thriftpaw.[14]
Character pixels
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.  Apprentice Version  Warrior Version |
Kin
Members
Mother:
Father:
Sister:
Brother:
See more
Aunts:
Uncle:
Grandfathers:
Grandmothers:
Great-grandfathers:
- Tigerstar:[17] Deceased, no residence
- Dustpelt:[18] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Cloudtail:[19] Living (As of Wind)
- Scorchwind:[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-grandmothers:
- Ferncloud:[18] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Brightheart:[19] Living (As of Wind)
- Goldenflower:[17] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Darkflower:[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-grandfathers:
- Pinestar:[21] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Hal:[20] Deceased, residence unknown
- Smallear:[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Oliver[20] Status unknown
- Lionheart[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-grandmothers:
- Leopardfoot:[22] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Speckletail:[23] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Princess:[24] Living (As of Dawn)
- Brindleface:[25] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Frostfur:[26] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-great-grandfathers:
- Adderfang:[27] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Oakstar:[28] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Stagleap:[29] Status unknown
- Jake:[30] Deceased, unknown residence
- Fuzzypelt:[31] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-great-grandmothers:
- Swiftbreeze:[27] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Sweetbriar:[32] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Harepounce:[33] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Nutmeg:[34] Living (As of Fire and Ice)
- Robinwing:[35] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-great-great-grandmothers:
Great-uncles:
- Bramblestar:[17] Status unknown
- Spiderleg:[38] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Shrewpaw:[38] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Foxleap:[39] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Snowbush:[40] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Dewnose:[40] Living (As of Wind)
Great-aunts:
- Hollykit:[18] Status unknown
- Larchkit:[18] Status unknown
- Icecloud:[39] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Ambermoon:[40] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-half-uncles:
- Hawkfrost:[41] Deceased, no residence
- Tadpole:[42] Deceased, unknown residence
- Swiftpaw:[43] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Lynxkit:[20] Status unknown
Great-half-aunt:
Great-great-aunts:
- Nightkit:[22] Status unknown
- Mistkit:[22] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Cinderpelt:[44] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-uncles:
- Brackenfur:[44] Living (As of Wind)
- Thornclaw:[26] Living (As of Wind)
- Ashfur:[25] Deceased, no residence
- Two unnamed kits:[45] Status unknown
- Ravenpaw:[31] Deceased, verified StarClan and Unknown Residence member
- Lionheart:[23] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-aunts/uncles:
- Four unnamed kits:[46] Status unknown
- Cherrypaw:[20] Status unknown
- Chestnutkit:[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Elderkit:[20] Deceased, residence unknown
- Tulipkit:[20] Deceased, residence unknown
Half-great-great-aunts:
- Mistlekit:[47] Status unknown
- Sandstorm:[31] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Ruby:[48] Living (As of The Rise of Scourge)
Half-great-great-uncles:
- Snowkit:[49] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Scourge:[48] Deceased, no residence
- Socks:[48] Living (As of The Rise of Scourge)
- Longtail:[50] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-great-uncles:
- Patchpelt:[27] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Redtail:[27] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Firestar:[24] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-great-great-uncles/aunts:
Great-great-great-aunts:
- Spottedleaf:[27] Deceased, no residence
- Willowpelt:[27] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- One-eye:[33] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-great-great-aunt:
- Fallowsong:[51] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-great-great-great-great-aunt:
Cousins:
- Sandstorm:[31] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Darkstripe:[52] Deceased, no residence
- Sootfur:[53] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Rainwhisker:[53] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Sorreltail:[53] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Longtail:[31] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Graystripe:[31] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Squirrelflight:[54] Status unknown
- Leafpool:[54] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Molepaw:[55] Status unknown
- Cinderheart:[55] Living (As of Wind)
- Honeyfern:[55] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Poppyfrost:[55] Living (As of Wind)
- Stormfur:[56] Living (As of Graystripe's Vow)
- Feathertail:[56] Deceased, verified the Tribe of Endless Hunting and StarClan member
- Briarlight:[57] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Blossomfall:[57] Living (As of Wind)
- Bumblestripe:[57] Living (As of Wind)
- Lionblaze:[58] Living (As of Wind)
- Jayfeather:[58] Living (As of Wind)
- Hollyleaf:[58] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Molewhisker:[59] Living (As of Wind)
- Cherryfall:[59] Living (As of Wind)
- Fernsong:[60] Living (As of Wind)
- Hollytuft:[60] Living (As of Wind)
- Sorrelstripe:[60] Living (As of Wind)
- Alderheart:[61] Living (As of Wind)
- Sparkpelt:[61] Living (As of Wind)
- Dandelionkit:[62] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Juniperkit:[62] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Runningwind:[63] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Mousefur:[63] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Goosefeather:[64] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Moonflower:[64] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Bluestar:[65] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Snowfur:[65] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Mistystar:[66] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Mosskit:[66] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Stonefur:[66] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Whitestorm:[67] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Reedwhisker:[68] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Perchkit:[69] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Pikepaw:[69] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Primrosepaw:[69] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Heronwing:[64] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Rabbitleap:[64] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Poppydawn:[64] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Rosetail:[32] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Sweetpaw:[32] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Thistleclaw:[32] Deceased, verified the Place of No Stars member
- Juniperclaw:[70] Deceased, verified border guardian between the Dark Forest and StarClan
- Strikestone:[70] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Sleekwhisker:[71] Living (As of River of Fire)
- Bristlekit:[72] Status unknown
- Thriftkit:[72] Status unknown
- Flipkit:[72] Status unknown
- Swampkit:[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Blossomkit:[20] Status unknown
- Dawncloud's unnamed kits:[73] Status unknown
Distant ancestors:
- Cloudstar:[74] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Gorseclaw:[74] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Birdflight:[74] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Spottedpelt:[74] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Tree
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Quotes
- "It's not fair. All we ever see is the inside of the den, and we've explored all the Twoleg clutter in there. We want to see something new."
- ―Pouncekit Tigerheart's Shadow
- Tigerheart: "You're not meant to leave the den without us."
- Pouncekit: "But why? The traps are gone."
- Tigerheart's Shadow
- "Poor Shadowkit. He's such a scaredy-mouse."
- ―Pouncekit about her brother Tigerheart's Shadow
- Tigerheart: "I feel sorry for the the warrior who has Pouncekit as an apprentice."
- Dovewing: "She'll question every order."
- Tigerheart's Shadow
- "It's great to have kin."
- ―Pouncekit, after meeting her ThunderClan kin River of Fire
References and citations
- ↑ Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 409
- ↑ Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 187
- ↑ Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 301
- ↑ Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 191
- ↑ Revealed in Lost Stars, chapter 1
- ↑ Revealed in Lost Stars, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in The Raging Storm, chapter 22
- ↑ Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, chapter 26
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, chapter 18
- ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 220
- ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 197
- ↑ Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 4
- ↑ Revealed on Kate's Blog
- ↑ Revealed in The Raging Storm, page 48
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Revealed in Dark River, pages 20-21
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Revealed in Sunrise, page 317
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Revealed in Rising Storm, pages 19-20
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Revealed in Midnight, page 84
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Revealed in Midnight, page 17
- ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 20.12 Revealed on the Warriors website family tree
- ↑ Revealed in Code of the Clans, page 150
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 266
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 48
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 219
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Revealed in Rising Storm, page 42
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Revealed in Forest of Secrets, pages 62-63
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 364
- ↑ Revealed in Pinestar's Choice, chapter 1
- ↑ Revealed on Facebook Page
- ↑ Revealed in an unknown book, page jake
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 Revealed in an unknown book, page oskits
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 47
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 8
- ↑ Revealed in the Warriors App
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 329
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 3
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Revealed in Pinestar's Choice, chapter 5
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 19
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Revealed in The Sight, page 5
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 Revealed in The Last Hope, page 216
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Revealed in Moonrise, page 258
- ↑ Revealed in Return to the Clans, page 2
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 116
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Revealed in Fire and Ice, pages 95-97
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 226
- ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 191
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 153
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Revealed in The Rise of Scourge, page 3
- ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 44
- ↑ Revealed in an unknown book, page long
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook Page
- ↑ Revealed in an unknown book, page dark
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 100
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 509
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 Revealed in Sunset, page 27
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 39
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 Revealed in Eclipse, page 154
- ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 Revealed in Sunrise, page 251
- ↑ 59.0 59.1 Revealed in The Fourth Apprentice, page 299
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 Revealed in Bramblestar's Storm, page 478
- ↑ 61.0 61.1 Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, allegiances
- ↑ 62.0 62.1 Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, chapter 1
- ↑ 63.0 63.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 467
- ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 64.3 64.4 Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, allegiances
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 8
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 502
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 18
- ↑ Revealed to be a in Erin Hunter Chat 6, undefined
- ↑ 69.0 69.1 69.2 Revealed in Mistystar's Omen, chapter 3
- ↑ 70.0 70.1 Revealed in Shattered Sky, pages 114-115
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, pages 347-348
- ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 Revealed in River of Fire, page 203
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 255
- ↑ 74.0 74.1 74.2 74.3 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 496-497