"And yet I loved Bristlefrost. I tried not to love her. I knew I'd be betraying my Clan. I tried reasoning with myself, but it was impossible. When we got home, I was going to join ThunderClan to be with her. No warrior, no matter how brave and loyal they are, is strong enough to fight love." |
— Rootspring to the cats of StarClan in A Light in the Mist, page 303 |
Rootspring is a fluffy[10] bright[11] yellow tom[1] with a broad head and shoulders,[12] a torn ear,[13] and sky-[14]blue eyes.[15][16]
Rootspring is a SkyClan warrior under Leafstar's leadership in the lake territories. He was born as Rootkit to Violetshine and Tree, along with his sister Needlekit. Upon becoming an apprentice named Rootpaw, Dewspring was assigned as his mentor. Rootpaw developed a crush on the ThunderClan warrior Bristlefrost after she rescued him from the lake, and discovered he could see ghosts after seeing the spirit of Bramblestar begging for help. Using his ability, Rootpaw informed the Clans that the cat leading ThunderClan was an impostor of Bramblestar. He earned his warrior name of Rootspring after rescuing Shadowsight and joined the rebels to defeat the impostor's rule, who was revealed to be Ashfur. Rootspring and Bristlefrost admitted their feelings for each other, but relented that they belong in their separate Clans.
Rootspring witnessed Ashfur drag Squirrelflight into the depths of the Moonpool, and after being dragged into the Dark Forest by Willowshine, Rootspring and Snowtuft helped Bramblestar and Squirrelflight escape. However, Rootspring was ambushed by the spirits of his former Clanmates, and Bristlefrost and Shadowsight rescued him. During the final fight against Ashfur, Rootspring decided to join ThunderClan to be with Bristlefrost, but she died killing Ashfur. After her death, Rootspring advocated for changes to be made to the warrior code for cats who love another in a different Clan. He later participated in a journey to find catmint and led alongside Fidgetflake due to his experience. He continued to grieve for Bristlefrost, but found comfort in her mother, Ivypool. He set out on a quest prompted by Whistlepaw's vision, during which the Sisters tried to convince him to find a new mate, much to his frustration. Once the journey was completed, he decided that he would find a new mate eventually, one that had to be worthy of Bristlefrost.
Quick Answers
Who are Rootspring's parents and sister?
What event led to Rootspring developing feelings for Bristlefrost?
Why can Rootspring see ghosts?
Will Rootspring become mates with another cat?
History
Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!
The Broken Code
- «Why should I care? Let Tree think what he likes. It doesn't matter to me. […] He tells me to be my own cat, but here he is, living under rules he doesn't believe in. Which of us is being more true to himself? I know it's wrong, but sometimes I wish I had a different cat for a father.»
- —Rootpaw's thoughts about Tree Lost Stars, page 60
- After his warrior ceremony is delayed, Rootpaw realizes Bramblestar's ghost is missing and grows fearful for Shadowsight following his disappearance. He briefly trains as a medicine cat apprentice because of his powers, but chooses to remain a warrior apprentice. A spirit leads Rootpaw to Shadowsight's injured body, and Dewspring and Rootpaw bring him back to SkyClan to recover. He earns his warrior name of Rootspring for his bravery and works together with the rebels to defeat the impostor, who is revealed to be Ashfur. Rootspring and Bristlefrost admit their feelings for each other, and hope to one day be together. With several spirits still missing, Rootspring, Bristlefrost, Needleclaw and Spotfur venture to find the Sisters to see if they can help with their expertise. Along the way, Rootspring and Bristlefrost struggle to maintain their feelings for each other. The Sisters agree to come help the Clans, and Sunrise teaches Rootspring how to communicate with the earth. He assists the Sisters to summon the spirits, but to their horror, the spirits are aggressive and writhing in pain. Rootspring and Bristlefrost admit they were in love with each other, but both temporary accept they belong in their separate Clans. They comfort Squirrelflight when the Clan leaders attempt to kill Ashfur, and Rootspring follows Squirrelflight to the Moonpool where Ashfur kidnaps her into the Dark Forest.
- After informing the Clans of Squirrelflight's abduction, Rootspring is kidnapped into the Dark Forest by the spirit of Willowshine, who was killed by Ashfur while trying to enter the afterlife through her dreams. He and Willowshine reunite with Squirrelflight, who had escaped Ashfur's grasp, but are later recaptured after it was revealed that Willowshine was under Ashfur's control. Rootspring manages to narrowly escape drowning in dangerous dark water, and works with Snowtuft, a Dark Forest cat, to save Squirrelflight and Bramblestar. They manage to reunite Bramblestar with his body, but in their attempt to leave the Dark Forest, Rootspring and Snowtuft are subdued by Ashfur's followers and then made to fight one another. Bristlefrost and Shadowsight rescue them, but Snowtuft is killed. They discover a physical barrier blocking StarClan from the Dark Forest with both afterlives disappearing, but the barrier weakens with hope. Rootspring is captured by Ashfur, but the wandering spirit of Firestar possesses his body and kills Darkstripe. Silverhawk agrees to help Rootspring save the Dark Forest. They reunite with Bristlefrost, Shadowsight, and StarClan, Dark Forest, and living cats, and confront Ashfur. In the final fight, Rootspring decides he is going to join ThunderClan to be with Bristlefrost. However, she sacrifices herself to save Shadowsight from Ashfur by flinging both herself and the dark warrior into the dark water, drowning them both. Both StarClan and the Dark Forest are saved, though Rootspring mourns greatly. When they return to the living, he is named a Light in the Mist for his role in saving the Clans, and advocates for changing to be made to the warrior code for cats who love another in a different Clan, wondering if he and Bristlefrost had not been stressing over that rule for moons, they could have gotten together sooner.
A Starless Clan
- «There was a grimness to his mew that filled Sunbeam with foreboding. Rootspring was younger than her, but he sounded a lifetime older. Had losing Bristlefrost made him like this? Or did the Dark Forest have that effect on every cat who set paw there?»
- —Sunbeam's thoughts about Rootspring Sky, pages 97-98
Super Editions
This section summarizes Rootspring's significant Super Editions appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!
- Rootspring: "But this story seems too important to have simply faded away. Two leaders became mates! That's huge. I had to go to the Dark Forest and back to get the leaders to consider letting cats switch Clans. And now I find out that long ago two leaders did a lot more than that for the sake of love. It feels like the Clans have gone backward since then."
- Whistlepaw: "But were they really breaking the code? They didn't switch Clans; they just combined them."
- Ivypool's Heart, chapter 19
- In Ivypool's Heart, Rootspring meets in secret with Ivypool to bond over the loss of Bristlefrost.
- More Coming Soon
Detailed description
Scars gained
The following is a chronological list of scars and/or major injuries that Rootspring has gained:
- Torn ear from escaping Ashfur and his army of ghost cats in A Light in the Mist.[17]
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. Rootspring on the cover of The Silent Thaw Rootspring on the cover of The Silent Thaw Rootspring on the cover of The Place of No Stars Rootspring in The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition Rootspring's Warriors website fact sheet Rootspring's Warriors website fact sheet for The Broken Code Rootspring's silhouette on the Warriors website Rootspring's old silhouette on the Warriors website Rootspring's icon on the Warriors family tree |
Killed victims
This list shows the victims Rootspring has killed:
- Darkstripe[18] (Spirit; through Firestar)
- Ginger rogue she-cat[19] (Spirit)
Ceremonies
Rootpaw's apprentice ceremony | ||||||
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Rootspring's warrior ceremony | ||||||||||
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Personality and Relationships
- Main article: Rootspring/PR
- Rootspring is sensitive, determined, and strives to prove himself of his father's unorthodox reputation. He develops a crush on Bristlefrost after she saved him from the lake, and is the only cat who can see Bramblestar's apparition. For more of Rootspring's personality and relationships, click here!
Family
- Main article: Rootspring/Family
- Rootspring's parents are Tree and Violetshine, and his sister is Needleclaw. For more of Rootspring's family, click here!
Appearances
- Spotfur's Rebellion
- Squirrelflight's Hope
- Lost Stars (First appearance)
- The Silent Thaw
- Veil of Shadows
- Darkness Within
- Graystripe's Vow (Allegiances only)
- Daisy's Kin (Allegiances appearance; mentioned in text)
- The Place of No Stars
- A Light in the Mist
- River
- Sky
- Shadow (Allegiances appearance; mentioned in text)
- Thunder
- Wind (Allegiances only)
- Star (Allegiances appearance; mentioned in text)
- Ivypool's Heart
- The Elders' Quest
- The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition
Trivia
Interesting facts
- Rootspring has Sister blood through Tree.[20]
- His warrior name was decided by fans through a poll on the Warrior Cats website with the options Rootspirit, Rootspring, Rootfall, and Rootwing.[21] Rootspring was the winning name.[22]
- Similar to his kin, he has the ability to see the spirits of dead cats[23] and communicate with the earth.[24]
- Rootspring is said to look like a tiny version of Tree.[25]
Author statements
- Out of the Lost Stars protagonists, Rootspring is Cherith Baldry's favorite, citing his difficulties with his father and his potential to become "an outstanding cat."[26] Rootspring is also Kate Cary's favorite protagonist,[blog 1] and describes him as "a dear ❤".[blog 2]
- Kate says that it is most likely Tree named Rootspring after Root.[blog 3]
- Kate believes Rootspring to be short-furred.[blog 4]
Mistakes
- He was mistakenly described with green eyes.[27]
Quotes
- Main article: Rootspring/Quotes
External links
Rootspring on Warriors official website (backup link)
The Broken Code characters - a visual guide on Warriors official website (backup link)
Lost Stars Main Characters Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Our Favorite Rootpaw Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Tree and Rootpaw Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Rootpaw and Bramblestar's Ghost Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Our Favorite Rootspring Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
The Broken Code trio artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)



The Journey So Far: The Raging Storm on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Lost Stars and Path of a Warrior on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
Writing Lost Stars on Warriors official website (backup link)
Squirrelflight's Hope on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only) (backup link)
Codebreakers: Brainstorming The Broken Code on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
The Journey So Far: Lost Stars on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
The Silent Thaw on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
Exclusive! Veil of Shadows: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link)
The Journey So Far: The Silent Thaw on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Exclusive! Graystripe's Vow: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
Exclusive! Darkness Within: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances only)
The Journey So Far: Veil of Shadows on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Exclusive! The Place of No Stars Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link)
Exclusive! A Warrior's Choice Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances only)
The Journey So Far: Darkness Within on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
The Place of No Stars and A Warrior's Choice on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
Exclusive! A Light in the Mist: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link)
The Journey So Far: The Place of No Stars on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
New Release: A Light in the Mist on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
The best of the broken on Warriors official website (backup link)
Exclusive! River: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
The journey so far: A Light in the Mist on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Exclusive! Sky: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances only)
Exclusive! Shadow: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances only)
The journey so far: Sky on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Exclusive! Thunder: Excerpt on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances only)
First look at brand new Warrior Cats artwork from The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition on Warriors official website (backup link)
Exclusive: Wind chapters on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances only)
Warrior Cats books that will make you cry on Warriors official website (backup link)
Scariest Warrior Cats books on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
Best Warrior Cats book with a mystery on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Best Warrior Cats romance books on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Exclusive! Ivypool's Heart chapters on Warriors official website (backup link)
Grief and hope in Ivypool's Heart on Warriors official website (backup link)
Exclusive! Star chapters on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
The cats of The Broken Code on Warriors official website (backup link)
Who are the cats on The Broken Code book covers? on Warriors official website (backup link)
Filling in the blanks: an insight into the creative process on Ivypool's Heart on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Exclusive! The Elders' Quest chapters on Warriors official website (backup link)
Nothing But Stories on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
Bristlefrost: A Tribute on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
The deaths we remember on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
When the fire burned brightest on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Sunbeam and Nightheart: an unlikely Warrior Cats love story on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Nightheart and Sunbeam: our favorite moments on Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)





















Darkness Within: A look at the most popular fan theories on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
The Place of No Stars: A look at the most popular fan theories on Warriors official website (backup link)
A Light in the Mist: A look at the most popular fan theories on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Winners of the November 2022 fan challenge + new challenge announcement on Warriors official website (backup link)
Winners of the New Year's resolution fan challenge on Warriors official website (backup link)
Winners of the two strange creatures fan challenge on Warriors official website (backup link)
Star: A look at the most popular fan theories on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Winners of the scary scene fan challenge on Warriors official website (backup link)
Winners of the holiday gifts fan challenge on Warriors official website (backup link)
The Elders' Quest: A look at the most popular fan theories on Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
Our Favorite Tree Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Possessed Bramblestar Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Family Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Ghosts Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Leafbare Scenes Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
The Gathering Island Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
More Darkness Within Scenes Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
The Place of No Stars Artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
More The Place of No Stars scenes artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
More of our favorite Bristlefrost artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Lights in the Mist artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Top five scenes of The Broken Code artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Bristlefrost's death artwork on Warriors official website (backup link)
Warrior Cats love stories on Warriors official website (backup link)
Favorite battle scene art challenge winners on Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Revealed in Lost Stars, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in Veil of Shadows, page 74
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 328
- ↑ Revealed in Squirrelflight's Hope, page 41
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Revealed in Lost Stars, page 17
- ↑ Revealed in Veil of Shadows, page 49
- ↑ Revealed in Veil of Shadows, page 173
- ↑ Revealed in Veil of Shadows, pages 68-71
- ↑ Revealed in Veil of Shadows, page 48
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 151
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 209
- ↑ Revealed in Darkness Within, page 125
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 31
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 265
- ↑ Revealed in The Place of No Stars, page 192
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 15
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, chapter 3
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 157
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 240
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder and Shadow: Bonus Scene, page 11
- ↑
Warriors Fan Vote on Warriors official website (backup link) (screenshot)
- ↑
Warriors Fan Vote Results on Warriors official website (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed in Squirrelflight's Hope, page 170
- ↑ Revealed in Darkness Within, page 227
- ↑ Revealed in Squirrelflight's Hope, page 43
- ↑
Writing Lost Stars on Warriors official website (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed in Darkness Within, page 208
Author references
![]() | |
---|---|
Leader | Leafstar |
Deputy | Hawkwing |
Medicine cats | Frecklewish • Fidgetflake |
Mediator | Tree |
Warriors | Tinycloud • Sagenose • Mintfur • Nettlesplash • Rabbitleap • Plumwillow • Macgyver • Harrybrook • Blossomheart • Cloudmist • Bellaleaf • Dewspring • Reedclaw • Violetshine • Palesky • Gravelnose (Robinpaw) • Nectarsong (Starlingpaw) • Quailfeather • Pigeonfoot • Sunnypelt • Turtlecrawl • Rootspring • Needleclaw • Beesting • Beetleshine • Ridgeglow • Duskshine • Birchfeather |
Apprentices | Starlingpaw • Robinpaw |
Queens | Wrenflight |
Kits | N/A |
Elders | Fallowfern • Sparrowpelt • Cherrytail |