"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 the leadership of Leafstar 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.
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're 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's 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 hadn't been stressing over that rule for moons, they could've 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 (book), pages 97-98
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 |
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 (Allegiance 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
- 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 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's profile on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Lost Stars Main Characters Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Our Favorite Rootpaw Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Tree and Rootpaw Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Rootpaw and Bramblestar's Ghost Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Our Favorite Rootspring Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- The Broken Code trio artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- The Journey So Far: The Raging Storm on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Lost Stars and Path of a Warrior on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Writing Lost Stars on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Squirrelflight's Hope on the Warriors official website (Mentioned only) (backup link)
- Codebreakers: Brainstorming The Broken Code on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- The Journey So Far: Lost Stars on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- The Silent Thaw on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Exclusive! Veil of Shadows: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- The Journey So Far: The Silent Thaw on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! Graystripe's Vow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Exclusive! Darkness Within: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- The Journey So Far: Veil of Shadows on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! The Place of No Stars Except on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Exclusive! A Warrior's Choice Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- The Journey So Far: Darkness Within on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- The Place of No Stars and A Warrior's Choice on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Exclusive! A Light in the Mist: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- The Journey So Far: The Place of No Stars on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- New Release: A Light in the Mist on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Exclusive! River: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- The journey so far: A Light in the Mist on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! Sky: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! Shadow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- The journey so far: Sky on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! Thunder: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive: Wind chapters on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Nothing But Stories on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Bristlefrost: A Tribute on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- The deaths we remember on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- When the fire burned brightest on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Sunbeam and Nightheart: an unlikely Warrior Cats love story on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
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 the Warriors official website (backup link)
- ↑ Warriors Fan Vote Results on the 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 the Warriors official website (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed in Darkness Within, page 208
Author references
SkyClan cats | |
---|---|
Leader | Leafstar |
Deputy | Hawkwing |
Medicine cats | Frecklewish • Fidgetflake |
Mediator | Tree |
Warriors | Sparrowpelt • Cherrytail • Tinycloud • Sagenose • Mintfur • Nettlesplash • Rabbitleap • Plumwillow • Macgyver • Harrybrook • Cloudmist • Bellaleaf • Dewspring • Reedclaw (Beetlepaw) • Violetshine • Palesky • Gravelnose • Nectarsong • Quailfeather • Pigeonfoot • Sunnypelt (Beepaw)• Kitescratch • Turtlecrawl • Needleclaw • Rootspring • Wrenflight |
Apprentices | Beepaw • Beetlepaw |
Queens | Blossomheart |
Kits | Ridgekit • Duskkit |
Elders | Fallowfern |