Reedwhisker

"If I'm bloodying my paws already, why stop at one cat?" This article contains major spoilers for the recently released book, Wind. Please proceed at your own discretion.

"We heard Darktail say that he was going to punish Needletail for what Violetpaw had done. When they'd left, we'd decided it was time to act. We knew we had to do something to stop Darktail's evil."

— Reedwhisker to Bramblestar in Shattered Sky, 226

Reedwhisker
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	StarClan
Past:	TigerClan LionClan The Kin (prisoner) RiverClan
Biographical information
Age:	Approx. 142 moons (11.83 year(s)) old at death
Cause of death:	Killed by Splashtail
Names
Kit:	Reedkit
Apprentice:	Reedpaw
Warrior:	Reedwhisker
Senior warrior:	Reedwhisker
Deputy:	Reedwhisker
Rogue:	Reedwhisker
Kin:	Reedwhisker
Prisoner:	Reedwhisker
StarClan resident:	Reedwhisker
Kin
Mother:	Mistystar
Father:	Blackclaw
Sister:	Primrosepaw
Brothers:	Perchkit, Pikepaw
Education
Apprentices:	Rippletail, Pouncetail, Hollowflight, Lizardtail
Deputy position
Preceded by:	Mistyfoot
Succeeded by:	Splashtail
Book appearances
Living	Forest of Secrets, Moonrise, Twilight, Sunset, Power of Three, Omen of the Stars, A Vision of Shadows, The Broken Code, River, Super Editions, Novellas, Field Guides
Living	Forest of Secrets, Moonrise, Twilight, Sunset, Power of Three, Omen of the Stars, A Vision of Shadows, The Broken Code, River, Super Editions, Novellas, Field Guides
Dead	Sky, Shadow, Thunder, Wind
Dead	Sky, Shadow, Thunder, Wind

Reedwhisker is a large, thick-furred slender black tom with small, neat ears and dark gray eyes.

Reedwhisker was the RiverClan deputy under his mother, Mistystar, in the lake territories. He was born to Mistyfoot and Blackclaw as Reedkit along with his siblings, Perchkit, Pikekit and Primrosekit, but was the only one to reach adulthood. During his apprenticeship, Leafpaw rescued Reedpaw from drowning in the river. After the Clans moved to the lake, he earned his warrior name, Reedwhisker, and trained his first two apprentices, Rippletail and Pouncetail.

After becoming a senior warrior and receiving his third apprentice, Hollowpaw, Reedwhisker was named deputy under Mistystar. However, after saving Hollowpaw and Rushpaw from dogs, Reedwhisker's wounds brought him moments from death, and his life was spared only after Mistystar allowed Mothwing to return to her medicine cat duties. After the Great Battle, Reedwhisker trained one final apprentice, Lizardtail. When the Kin defeated RiverClan, Reedwhisker was taken prisoner along with the other injured RiverClan cats. Yet, Reedwhisker remained defiant even in his starvation, refusing to vow loyalty to Darktail.

During RiverClan's arguments about changing the warrior code, Mistystar died unexpectedly, leaving the Clan to anticipate Reedwhisker as their new leader. However, Reedwhisker never returned from his hunting patrol, having been murdered by Splashtail. Splashtail cast his body into a ravine to make the death appear accidental, per his scheme with Curlfeather to become deputy under Curlfeather's leadership. Reedwhisker's death prompted RiverClan's leader succession crisis.

History

Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!

The Prophecies Begin

Reedkit is born to Mistyfoot and Blackclaw alongside his littermates, Perchkit, Pikekit, and Primrosekit. Two of his littermates—Perchkit and Pikekit—are swept away in a flood. Fireheart and Graystripe rescue them and bring them back to RiverClan's camp.

The New Prophecy

"I'm Reedwhisker. You saved me when I nearly drowned, back in our old home."

―Reedwhisker greeting Leafpool ^{Twilight, page 156}

Reedpaw reunites with Mistyfoot after she is captured by Twolegs.

Reedpaw is now a young apprentice. He accidentally falls into the river and is rescued by Mistyfoot. However, he is unconscious and bleeding, and Hawkfrost and Mistyfoot urge Mothwing to help him, but her nerves get the best of her. Leafpaw, with the aid of Spottedleaf, removes the water from his lungs and patches his wound. Reedpaw thanks Leafpaw and suddenly realizes she is a ThunderClan cat. Mothwing frets how she failed to help Reedpaw, but Leafpaw reassures her.

He makes the journey to their new home and is given his warrior name of Reedwhisker, and later an apprentice, Ripplepaw. He meets Leafpool again when she visits RiverClan to help them with a sickness. She's glad to see him again, and asks him to collect some yarrow and juniper berries with Ripplepaw.

Power of Three

"No, you don't! You have to explain what you're doing here!"

―Reedwhisker to Hollypaw when she tries to go home ^{Dark River, pages 200-201}

Reedwhisker has another apprentice, Pouncepaw. Willowpaw and Hollypaw spy on Reedwhisker, Voletooth, Blackclaw, Minnowpaw and Pouncepaw barricading their camp with stones and gorse from the Twoleg kits, but they are caught when a dog chases them onto WindClan territory. Ashfoot and Tornear accuses them of trespassing, and the RiverClan patrol takes Hollypaw back to the island. He reports Hollypaw to Leopardstar, who lets her stay until it is safe to return. Reedwhisker participates in the battle between the four Clans, fighting with WindClan and against ShadowClan and ThunderClan with his Clan and WindClan. When Graystripe orders Jaypaw to alert Firestar that RiverClan had joined the fight, he detects Reedwhisker and Mosspelt arguing as they head for Firestar's battle patrol.

Omen of the Stars

"Huh! Twolegs couldn’t catch a fish if it leaped out of the water and begged them."

―Reedwhisker at a Gathering ^{The Forgotten Warrior, page 283}

He is mentoring his third apprentice, Hollowpaw. During the drought, Leopardstar claims the fish in the lake as RiverClan's and orders her warriors to guard the remaining lake water. Reedwhisker, Graymist, Otterheart and Sneezepaw watch over the water when a ThunderClan patrol comes to collect water. Reedwhisker sharply reminds them to not take any fish. When Dovepaw uses her powers to spy on RiverClan, Reedwhisker hopes that Firestar's plan to send cats to free the water works. After Leopardstar dies, his mother, Mistyfoot, succeeds her as leader. She appoints Reedwhisker as her deputy. At a Gathering when Mistystar reports the increased presence of Twolegs have not threatened their fresh-kill, Reedwhisker remarks the Twolegs are incapable of catching fish.

A Vision of Shadows

"My paws will take me anywhere if it means I can help get rid of that mange-pelt Darktail!"

―Reedwhisker about joining the other deputies to go to WindClan ^{Shattered Sky, page 247}

When Darktail and his Kin invade RiverClan territory, Reedwhisker fights one-on-one with Darktail when the tyrant attacks Mistystar, preventing him from killing her. However, Darktail easily subdues Reedwhisker and demands to take all of the wounded prisoners. Mistystar does not want to abandon her son, but Reedwhisker insists she must, and Darktail takes him, along with Brackenpelt, Mintfur and Icewing. The four are tortured, starving and their wounds untreated until all four reluctantly swear an oath of loyalty to the Kin. Reedwhisker at first tries to defy Darktail but gives in due to hunger. Violetpaw sneaks them food, and forms a plan to break them out. The prisoners fight back, and the rest of the Clans rescue them.

He later journeys with Squirrelflight, Hawkwing, Tigerheart, Violetpaw and Twigpaw to confront Onestar about Darktail, insisting he was fit for the journey. At the next Gathering, Reedwhisker stands by Mistystar when she closes RiverClan's borders. When a lightning strike causes a fire in RiverClan's camp, Reedwhisker helps the medicine cats evacuate the sick ones, but he becomes separated from his Clan. He explains to Hawkwing what happened, and is reunited with his Clanmates.

The Broken Code

Mistystar: "You've been a strong deputy, and you'll be a strong leader if I die. I have every faith you are ready to take my place. You'll make me proud. I know it."

Reedwhisker: "I will try. But I hope I don't have to."

^{A Light in the Mist, page 184}

He voices doubt that Shadowsight would be able to connect with StarClan, asking the young cat if he was sure he wasn't dreaming about it. He later is present with the other Clan deputies and leaders as they try to break the ice on the Moonpool, but their efforts are in vain as the ice is too thick. He also appears concerned when Shadowpaw announces his plan to try and cure Bramblestar, asking Squirrelflight what would happen if Bramblestar died for good. When Mistystar decides to enter the Dark Forest with Crowfeather, Violetshine, Graystripe, and Shadowsight to confront Ashfur, Reedwhisker worries for his leader's safety, but she trusts that he'll be a fine leader if she dies.

A Starless Clan

Podlight: "I don't know where he went. We lost track of him; I thought he'd just wandered off, chasing a rabbit or something."

Curlfeather: "That's right. We tried looking for him—we followed his scent trail, but there was rain last night, and the ground is too wet to hold a scent. In the end we thought he would be waiting for us back here in camp."

^{River, pages 89-90}

While on a hunting patrol with Fognose, Curlfeather, Splashtail, and Podlight, Reedwhisker goes missing, and his Clanmates assume that he returned to camp on his own or got lost. In ShadowClan, Sunbeam hears a mysterious yowl coming from RiverClan. When RiverClan's patrol returns to camp, they are surprised to learn that Reedwhisker is not there and Mistystar has died. With their leader dead and deputy missing, RiverClan sends patrols to each Clan asking if they have seen Reedwhisker. Frostpaw and Mothwing temporarily lead the Clan until Leopardstar tells Frostpaw of Reedwhisker's location. Frostpaw and her patrol find Reedwhisker's body dead in the bottom of a ravine, his neck broken and strange scratch marks on his back. Reedwhisker ascends to StarClan, and he later sends Frostpaw a vision about his death and warns her about a darkness in RiverClan.

More Coming Soon

Super Editions

This section summarizes Reedwhisker's significant Super Editions appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!

Reedwhisker: "Stop! What are—Oh, it's you! We thought you were rogues."

Dovewing: "Thank StarClan, you survived!"

^{Bramblestar's Storm, page 162}

In Leopardstar's Honor, Reedkit is ushered into the nursery by Mistyfoot along with his siblings after Frogleap's death to play with Robinkit, Woodkit, and Dawnkit. He later becomes an apprentice named Reedpaw. Reedpaw, Primrosepaw, Pikepaw, and Blackclaw watch proudly as Mistyfoot becomes Featherpaw's mentor. After Mistyfoot escapes retribution for being half-Clan, Reedpaw and his siblings huddle together while worrying about her. He joins the TigerClan patrol that meets with BloodClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan, though Blackclaw is ordered by Leopardstar to keep him and the other apprentices out of harm's way.

Novellas

This section summarizes Reedwhisker's significant Novellas appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!

Mossypaw: "I bet she only chose him because he's her son!"

Minnowtail: "Hush, Mossypaw! Reedwhisker is a loyal and brave warrior, and will make a great deputy."

^{Mistystar's Omen, chapter 2}

In Mistystar's Omen, Reedwhisker is one of the first cats to honor Mistyfoot as their new leader. She names Reedwhisker her deputy, though Mossypaw believes her choice to be biased since Reedwhisker was Mistystar's son. He greets her when she returns from her leadership ceremony and offers to bring the news to Blackstar. He alerts Mistystar that Hollowpaw and Rushpaw are trapped by dogs, and he and Mallownose rescue them. However, one of the dogs attacks and he is severely wounded. Mistystar forbids Mothwing from treating her son because of her lack of faith in StarClan, but Stonefur gives her an omen to trust in Mothwing's instincts. She allows Mothwing to heal him, and Reedwhisker survives.

Character pixels

Main images

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. Kit Version Apprentice Version Warrior Version Deputy Version Rogue Version The Kin Version Prisoner Version StarClan Version

Alternate images

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

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery Reedwhisker in Leopardstar's Honor Reedwhisker on the cover of Star Reedwhisker in Battles of the Clans Reedwhisker's icon on the Warriors family tree

Ceremonies

Reedwhisker's deputy ceremony
Mistystar: It is time for me to name my deputy. Reedwhisker, I invite you to walk beside me and help me to lead this Clan. May StarClan hear and approve my choice. Reedwhisker: I am honored to be chosen. And I will lay down my life to protect you and my Clanmates. Everyone: Reedwhisker! Congratulations! Reference: Mistystar's Omen, chapter 2

Personality

Reedwhisker is a loyal and brave RiverClan warrior, willing to put himself in harm's way to protect those he loves^[source?] and his Clan.^[source?] He is strong-willed and somewhat stubborn, as when he was a prisoner of the Kin, he refused to take Darktail's oath even though he was starved and wounded for many days, though eventually gave in.^[source?]

Family

Main article: Reedwhisker/Family

Reedwhisker's parents are Blackclaw and Mistystar. His siblings are Primrosepaw, Pikepaw, and Perchkit. For more of Reedwhisker's family, click here!

Appearances

• Leopardstar's Honor
• Forest of Secrets (First appearance; mentioned only)
• Moonrise
• Dawn
• Twilight
• Sunset (Allegiance only)
• Leafpool's Wish (Allegiance only)
• The Sight (Allegiance only)
• Dark River
• Outcast (Allegiance only)
• Eclipse
• Long Shadows (Allegiance only)
• Sunrise
• Hollyleaf's Story (Allegiance only)
• The Fourth Apprentice
• Mistystar's Omen
• Fading Echoes
• Night Whispers
• Sign of the Moon
• The Forgotten Warrior
• The Last Hope
• Mothwing's Secret
• Dovewing's Silence (Allegiance only)
• Crowfeather's Trial
• Bramblestar's Storm
• The Apprentice's Quest
• Thunder and Shadow
• Shattered Sky
• Darkest Night
• Tigerheart's Shadow (Allegiance only)
• River of Fire
• Tawnypelt's Clan (Allegiance only)
• Spotfur's Rebellion (Allegiance only)
• The Raging Storm
• Squirrelflight's Hope
• Lost Stars
• The Silent Thaw (Allegiance only)
• Veil of Shadows
• Darkness Within
• Graystripe's Vow (Allegiance only)
• Daisy's Kin (Allegiance only)
• The Place of No Stars (Allegiance only)
• A Light in the Mist
• River †
• Sky
• Shadow
• Thunder
• Wind
• Battles of the Clans
• The Clans Decide

Trivia

Interesting facts

• He has ThunderClan blood through Bluestar.
• Despite being an older kit in Forest of Secrets, he does not become an apprentice until at least Moonrise, while gaining his warrior name some time between Starlight and Twilight.
• Reedwhisker's father was mentioned to be Blackclaw on Vicky's Facebook and the Warrior Cats website family tree before it was added in Leopardstar's Honor.

Author statements

• Kate Cary has said that she wishes that three of Mistystar's four kits could have been Graymist, Rippletail, and Reedwhisker. However, Reedwhisker is confirmed by Vicky later in the same chat, making Rippletail too young to be from the same litter.
  • Later it is revealed that Graymist and Rippletail were not Reedwhisker's littermates and that the litter Fireheart saved from the river consisted of Reedwhisker and either Pikepaw, Perchkit, or Primrosepaw.
• Kate has mentioned that she would like Reedwhisker to be Duskfur's mate and even wrote it into her Allegiance list, but it isn't confirmed as canon.
• His deputyship was first revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 6.

Mistakes

• He has been mistakenly called Reedfeather twice.
• He is described as a newly made apprentice in Twilight, despite Forest of Secrets stating he was almost six moons old. Due to timeline inconsistencies, he is shown younger than he actually is, when he is actually at the very least the same age as Bramblestar and Tawnypelt.
• He was mistakenly depicted as a tabby with a reed-shaped tail.
• He was mistakenly depicted with green eyes on the cover of Star.

Continuity

The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.

• In The Clans Decide, when he votes for Firestar, Reedwhisker mentions that Firestar saved his life and that he believes that Firestar can do it again, thus, it is believed that he is one of Mistyfoot's kits who is washed away in the flood in Forest of Secrets, and rescued by Fireheart and Graystripe.
• In Su Susann's "Missing Kits" on Vicky's Facebook, Reedwhisker and Swallowtail were mates and Rainstorm and Mintfur were their sons. He also has brilliant blue eyes.
• In the Chinese full-color version of Return to the Clans, Reedpaw, Swallowpaw, Duskfur, Pinefur, and Icewing appear as apprentices playfighting as Tigerstar.

Quotes

"Fireheart's story makes sense. We had to abandon the camp and shelter in these bushes when the water started to rise again. When we came to move Mistyfoot's kits, we could find only two of them. The other two were missing. The whole nursery floor had been washed away. They must have been swept away along the river to where you found them."

―Silverstream defending Fireheart and Graystripe ^{Forest of Secrets, page 133}

"Thanks...You have ThunderClan scent!"

―Reedpaw after Leafpaw saved his life ^{Moonrise, page 207}

Mosspelt: "Could you make any more noise, Reedwhisker?"

Reedwhisker: "Shut up, Mosspelt! You're the one that yelped like a kit when you fell down that rabbit hole!"

^{Eclipse, page 209}

"Have you forgotten what Leopardstar told you at the Gathering last night? The fish in the lake belong to RiverClan."

―Reedwhisker to a ThunderClan patrol seeking water ^{The Fourth Apprentice, pages 19-20}

See more

"Stop! What are—Oh, it's you! We thought you were rogues."

―Reedwhisker to a ThunderClan patrol ^{Bramblestar's Storm, page 162}

«At first the RiverClan warriors had held out—but as the days passed, first one and then another had given in, until Reedwhisker was the only one left who wouldn't repeat the pledge of loyalty to Darktail, proudly refusing to betray his Clan in spite of his hunger and the many wounds he had taken in the battle.»

—Violetpaw about the prisoners ^{Shattered Sky, page 126}

Violetpaw: "I won't tell him anything. I think he's cruel, too."

Reedwhisker: "So why do you follow him?"

^{Shattered Sky, pages 158-159}

"Are you sure you weren’t dreaming? I’ve seen what lightning strikes can do. It wasn’t long ago that lightning almost destroyed our camp. If you had really been struck, you wouldn’t be here to tell the tale."

―Reedwhisker to Shadowpaw ^{Lost Stars, page 112}

"I don't like this silence. I can smell ShadowClan nearby."

―Reedwhisker telling his patrol he can smell ShadowClan ^{Battles of the Clans, page 102}

"Shall I finish him? Or do you want to have that pleasure, Pouncetail?"

―Reedwhisker offering to kill Spiderfoot during a battle against ShadowClan and ThunderClan ^{Battles of the Clans, page 105}

External links

• Featured
• Book specific
• Character specific
• Themes and concepts
• Merchandise and website
• Fan content

• Warrior of the Week Gallery #9 - Reedwhisker on the Warriors official website (Warrior of the Week #9) (backup link)

• Exclusive! Veil of Shadows: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
• Exclusive! Graystripe's Vow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
• Exclusive! Darkness Within: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Exclusive! The Place of No Stars Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
• Exclusive! A Warrior's Choice Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
• Exclusive! A Light in the Mist: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
• Exclusive! River: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Exclusive! Sky: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• The journey so far: River on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
• Exclusive! Shadow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
• Exclusive! Thunder: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
• The journey so far: Shadow on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
• Exclusive: Wind chapters on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
• Revealed: Official details from Star, A Starless Clan #6 on the Warriors official website (backup link)
• Best Warrior Cats book with a mystery on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
• Thunder recap: the story so far on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)

• Frostpaw's bravest moments on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)

A Lost Tradition on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)

Best of the Worst on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)

Stand Together or Fall Divided on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)

Missing the old days on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)

Mini Figures Series 7 cats: the details on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)

River: A look at the most popular fan theories on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)

Shadow: A look at the most popular fan theories on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)

Thunder: A look at the most popular fan theories on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)

Wind: A look at the most popular fan theories on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)

More of our favorite Mistystar artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)

Notes and references

Author references