Roach

Roach
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	The Kin
Past:	ShadowClan Rogue Template:Darktail's group
Names
Kit:	Cricket
Rogue:	Roach
Kin
Mother:	Unnamed she-cat
Book appearances
Living	Thunder and Shadow, Shattered Sky
Living	Thunder and Shadow, Shattered Sky

Roach is a silver-gray tom.

History

In the A Vision of Shadows arc

Thunder and Shadow

Roach is first seen when Needlepaw takes Sleekpaw and Violetkit to where Darktail's rogues are. Unnamed, he emerges from some bracken and stops beside Rain. The silver tom notes that Needlepaw had said she wouldn't come, and he eyes her distrustfully. However, Rain says she obviously did come and he brushes past his campmate. The rogues and apprentices criticize Clan ways, then Roach pads toward Violetkit, eyes flashing with curiosity, and asks if she was the kit they had been told about. Needlepaw introduces Violetkit, but the silver tom sniffs her and notes that she smells like a Clan cat, even though Needlepaw had said she wasn't one of them. The apprentice explains that Violetkit has been living in ShadowClan, then tells her own Clanmates that the silver tom is Roach. Darktail mentions staying at by the lake territories, which shocks Violetkit, but Roach narrows his eyes and asks why they shouldn't stay.

Later, when Violetkit has to tell the rogues that Needlepaw would not be able to meet them, she gets attacked by an owl, but something slams into the bird, knocking it away. Rain and Roach rear and drag the owl to the ground, and Violetkit watches nervously as Roach leaps onto the creature's back and sinks his teeth into its plumage. Once the owl has left and Raven appears, Violetkit explains that her Clanmate couldn't come, and Roach nudges Rain, his eyes glinting. He teases that Needlepaw couldn't make it, and must have had better things to do, but Violetkit quickly mews that her friend has to stay in camp.

After eating a squirrel with the rogues that night, Violetkit accidentally falls asleep, and at dawn, when she wakes, Darktail has to call to Rain and Roach to wake up, and he says that they are taking Violetkit home. The white tom nods to his campmates, and tells the two of them to come with him. Darktail heads for the ShadowClan camp and Violetkit follows, Rain and Roach at her heels. When the three toms return her to her home, Violetkit shows gratitude to Darktail for bringing her back, and thanks Roach and Rain for saving her from the owl. However, the rogue leader insists on escorting her through into the camp, and he heads through the dirt place tunnel, Violetkit after him, with Rain and Roach following her. As they enter the camp, the ShadowClan cats are shocked at the rogues' appearance, but Darktail signals to Rain and Roach with a flick of his tail. The two toms stop a few paw steps behind, and Violetkit halts between them. Darktail explains that they brought Violetkit back home, but as the Clan's cats argue among each other about the rogues, Darktail glances at Rain and Roach and meows that they should leave, as they seem to be causing an argument. Rowanstar thanks them for returning their kit, but states that the rogues still don't belong, causing Rain and Roach to exchange amused glances. Rowanstar orders a patrol to lead them out of their territory, and Rain exchanges a quick glance with Needlepaw before turning and following Darktail and Roach as they head for the entrance.

Moons later, after several young ShadowClan cats have joined Darktail's group, on their way back to camp Violetpaw and Needletail encounter Rain and Sleekwhisker, who have caught little prey. Needletail voices her hopes that Cloverfoot and Roach got a better catch. When the four cats return to camp, they find that Roach's group has already returned, and the silver tom, who is lounging nearby, notes that they have been back for ages.

Shattered Sky

Violetkit: "Are you going to stay here?"

Roach: "Is there any reason we shouldn't?"

^{Thunder and Shadow}

Roach is first seen bringing the kittypets, Loki, Max, and Zelda into the Kin's camp. Violetpaw braces herself for a surge of Darktail's anger, but he takes it surprisingly well. Upon further conversation, it is revealed that Roach invited the kittypets into the camp.

As Darktail plans to take over RiverClan's territory, he gathers his rogues, and Violetpaw is among them. She looks down the line of cats, noting Roach to be present with the seemingly endless row. Mistystar arrives, and a battle erupts; Violetpaw catches a glimpse of Roach, fighting alongside Nettle, dealing blows to some RiverClan cats. The clash ends with the Kin winning, and Darktail takes over RiverClan's territory.

While Violetpaw and Zelda are sharing fresh-kill, Zelda mentions that the rogues actually semed to like the fish they've been catching, and how she had seen Roach and Nettle fighting over a piece of one.

When Violetpaw's plan to incapacitate Darktail and his closest Kin fails, Roach and Raven grab her and take her to Darktail to confess. They are the ones that take Violetpaw to the prisoners den to inform Needletail about Violetpaw's treachery. Raven and Roach drag Violetpaw to the lake where she sees Needletail almost drown. That forces her to confess to Darktail that she put poppy seeds in his food. Needletail sacrifices herself for Violetpaw and turns on Roach and Raven. While Raven is pursuing Violetpaw, Roach kills Needletail.

During the battle for ThunderClan, Roach is fighting as hard as he can until Darktail comes and gives the order to retreat. At the final battle in the ShadowClan camp, Roach retreats with Darktail and escapes in the thick of battle.

Trivia

Interesting facts

• His mother named him Cricket, and he later renamed himself Roach when he was a rogue, after a cockroach.

Mistakes

• He was mistakenly referred to as a she-cat.

Character pixels

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

Killed victims

This list shows the victims Roach has killed:

• Needletail (Along with Darktail and Sleekwhisker)

Kin

Members

Mother:

Unnamed she-cat: Status unknown

Appearances

• Thunder and Shadow (First appearance)
• Shattered Sky

External links

• The Warrior Code: An Outdated Relic? on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Best of the Worst on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Creating an Antagonist on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)

Notes and references

Author references