Sharpclaw (SkC)

"He would always be tough, challenging presence at her shoulder, with ideas of his own, and he would never be afraid to argue."

— Leafstar's thoughts about Sharpclaw in SkyClan's Destiny, page 461

Sharpclaw (SkC)
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	SkyClan
Past:	Rogue, Kittypet
Names
Name:	Scratch Scratch Sharpclaw Sharpclaw
Education
Apprentices:	Cherrytail, Egg
Deputy position
Preceded by:	Honeyleaf
Book appearances
Living	Firestar's Quest, SkyClan's Destiny, The Rescue
Living	Firestar's Quest, SkyClan's Destiny, The Rescue

Sharpclaw is a massive dark ginger tabby tom with broad shoulders, powerful hind legs, and sharp, brilliant, green eyes.

History

In the Super Edition Series

Firestar's Quest

Before joining SkyClan, he is a nameless rogue, although he has a faint memory of his mother calling him Scratch. He is first seen when Firestar is hunting near a fallen tree. Firestar calls out to him, but Scratch does not turn around.

Later, when Firestar and Sandstorm battle a fox that tries to get to Clover's kits, Scratch helps them fight it off. He then tells Firestar and Sandstorm his name. He is reluctant at first to join SkyClan, saying that he does fine on his own, but agrees to give it a try.

When Scratch hears that Firestar is going to have a meeting to tell other cats about the Clan, he offers to take Firestar to meet other rogues that live near SkyClan camp to come to the meeting. Firestar agrees, and they go and find the rogues.

He joins SkyClan eventually, but Firestar is worried that he is only interested in becoming leader and gaining the respect and power he would be granted from a leader's nine lives.

When Firestar gets back from the first hunting patrol after the SkyClan meeting is held, he finds Sandstorm and Scratch having a fierce quarrel over who eats first. Firestar resolves the fight and explains to the rogue the ways of the Clans. Still irritated, Scratch glares at Clover.

Scratch is later given the name Sharpclaw by Firestar. He receives Cherrypaw as his apprentice. During his time in SkyClan, Sharpclaw proves himself a powerful and courageous cat and is one of the obvious choices for Clan leader, but Firestar feels he does not respect and understand the warrior code enough. After the rats attack the camp, It is shown that he becomes more cautious about battles, instead of rushing into battle. His apprentice, Cherrypaw is later named as Cherrytail. He is later seen fighting courageously in the battle with the rats.

When Leafdapple is chosen as the leader of SkyClan, she names Sharpclaw as the first modern SkyClan deputy. He says that he is truly honored to be deputy, and that is when he finally realizes what it truly means to be a Clan cat.

SkyClan's Destiny

Sharpclaw continues to be SkyClan's deputy, but he does not agree with Leafstar all of the time. He is one of cats opposing Leafstar's decision of letting kittypets come to the gorge and act as warriors during the day, but returning to their housefolk at night. Leafstar calls them daylight-warriors while he shows a slight scorn for them, calling them kitty-warriors behind their backs.

Leafstar doesn't want to begin Rockpaw, Bouncepaw, and Tinypaw's warrior ceremony without the daylight-warriors, but Sharpclaw convinces her to go ahead, showing disrespect for the warriors with a paw in each world.

While Sharpclaw is organizing the patrols, he acts as if Ebonyclaw and the other daylight-warriors mean nothing to the Clan. Leafstar speaks with him, and he calls them "kitty-warriors." He makes fun of Snookpaw's name, and points out how Ebonyclaw wears a collar. It seems as if he is out to do everything possible to be against the daylight-warriors.

When it begins to snow, Sharpclaw is irritated, instead of excited like the other cats. He complains that they got too much in leaf-bare, let alone newleaf. He then offers to search the extra caves, pointing out that they could be useful for storing prey or extra dens.

Tinycloud, Rockshade, and Bouncefire complain about wanting to go hunting. Sharpclaw steps in, saying that it's the Clan deputy who sets the patrols.

He is shown to be incredibly supportive of the newcomers when they arrive. He often overruns Leafstar's opinion over Stick's, which rather irritates her. In face of the newcomers, he does things and sends orders around the camp without Leafstar's permission. During the rat invasion, he takes Stick's side over Leafstar's, who wished to follow what Firestar had led down for them.

Secretly, he also confides about Stick's true problem and often takes out groups of cats for training in the Twolegplace with the newcomers at night. This act is noticed by Billystorm and is reported to Leafstar who doesn't believe it until she actually witnesses one of these new training lessons, often headed by Sharpclaw and Stick.

He participates in the final battle between SkyClan and the newcomers, Dodge and his group of cats in the different Twolegplace. He also gains the respect of a new member of SkyClan, Egg, persuading him to join the Clan under the pretext of there being a fox in the area. He later becomes Egg's mentor.

After fight loyally in battle, it is obvious that Sharpclaw only wants the best for his Clan, contrary to Leafstar's previous premonitions.

In the short manga, Sharpclaw is seen assessing Rabbitpaw along with Leafstar and Billystorm. As they are walking back to camp, Harveymoon and Macgyver find them and tell them about the dogs in twolegplace. Sharpclaw and Leafstar decide that they will send out a patrol to twolegplace to fight the dogs, and give them a good lesson. Sharpclaw is chosen to go with the patrol.

In the SkyClan and the Stranger Series

The Rescue

Sharpclaw is first seen telling Sandypaw and Honeypaw to quit playing around, threatening that he'll find something else for them to do. Sharpclaw then confronts a patrol consisting of Ebonyclaw, Mintfur, and Shrewtooth. He listens to their report about an old fox scent and compliments Ebonyclaw on the tactic she used to handle the situation, which proved that the gorge-born warriors and the daylight warriors are getting along at last.

Soon after, Leafstar sees Cherrytail and Sharpclaw going somewhere together and she stops them to have a word with him. She asks him if he's going to check the old fox scent himself and he awkwardly says that he's going hunting with Cherrytail but that they'll check it anyway. Both he and Cherrytail appear nervous. Leafstar notices this and wonders out loud what's up with them after they leave. Clovertail says that it's obvious that Sharpclaw and Cherrytail like each other and may become mates, and possibly have kits. Leafstar expresses surprise over this, saying that he always seems so dedicated to his deputy duties and that she never thought that he would consider a mate. Echosong reassures her, stating that Sharpclaw is a loyal deputy, and that he would never abandon his responsiblities, whatever he feels for Cherrytail.

Sharpclaw returns and reports to Leafstar about the fox scent again. Afterwards, Leafstar asks Sharpclaw if she could lead a patrol, but he declines, saying that she could kit any day now. Leafstar gets angry, but Sharpclaw calmly points out that if she was a normal queen than she would be confined to the nursery by now. She gets his point and reluctantly agrees. When Leafstar and her kits get caught by an elderly Twoleg, Sharpclaw brings a patrol to help rescue her. The Twoleg comes out with milk for the cats and Sharpclaw bristles and becomes aggressive, getting ready to attack her. Leafstar stops him, saying that she means no harm, and he and the other cats are forced to leave.

At the end of the book, he leads another patrol to the Twoleg nest, and this time the plan succeeds, bringing Leafstar and her kits back to SkyClan.

In the Field Guide Series

Cats of the Clans

Rock says that although Sharpclaw was a rogue named Scratch, he has the jumping ability and courage of a fully trained SkyClan warrior. Rock says that he will make a great leader someday, but he still has a lot left to learn from Leafstar, and adds that there might be less blood spilled while she is leader.

Battles of the Clans

Sharpclaw does not formally appear but is mentioned as the deputy of modern SkyClan.

In the Warriors App

Sharpclaw's page in the Warriors App reveals the story of his past that he has kept hidden from his Clan.

Sharpclaw is born as a kit named Scratch to Jessamy, a kittypet, along with his sister, Flower. They are initially happy with their elderly Twoleg owner, but the Twoleg leaves suddenly and Sharpclaw and his family are left with his younger kin. The younger Twoleg kits treat the trio badly, holding them harshly and when they don't want to, playing rough, and eventually Jessamy takes herself and her kits into the wild where she teaches them how to survive.

Trivia

• Sharpclaw was seen in The Rescue and in Beyond the Code as a solid-coloured cat instead of a tabby.
• In Cats of the Clans and in Warriors App , Sharpclaw is mistakenly depicted as a brown and white tabby with blue eyes.

Character Pixels

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

Family

Members

Mother:

Jessamy: Status Unknown

Sister:

Flower: Status Unknown

Tree

Template:Sharpclaw Tree

Quotes

"A place in the Clan is earned by loyalty, duty, and courage."

―Sharpclaw at a Clan meeting ^{SkyClan's Destiny}

"But I've never doubted you should be our leader, I've always believed that, ever since Firestar took you to the Skyrock to receive your nine lives. I challenged you, yes, so I could be sure of your conviction that you were doing the right thing."

―Sharpclaw to Leafstar ^{SkyClan's Destiny}

"Sharpclaw will never neglect his duties, whatever he feels for Cherrytail."

―Echosong talking to Leafstar about Sharpclaw ^{The Rescue}

Ceremonies

Sharpclaw's Warrior Ceremony

Firestar: I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan and mentor to SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these cats. They have a true desire to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Scratch, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life? Sandstorm: Say, 'I do.' Scratch: I do. Firestar: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Scratch, from this moment you will be known as Sharpclaw. StarClan trusts you will give all your courage and strength to the new Clan. Sandstorm: Lick his shoulder. Now we welcome him to the Clan by calling out his name. Sharpclaw! Sharpclaw! Everyone: Sharpclaw! Reference: Firestar's Quest, pages 332-333

Sharpclaw's Deputy Ceremony
Leafstar: Cats of SkyClan, my first duty as leader is to appoint a deputy. I speak these words before the spirits of my ancestors, that they may hear and approve my choice. Sharpclaw will be the new deputy of SkyClan. Sharpclaw: Thank you, I shall be honored to serve you and our Clan. Reference: Firestar's Quest, page 501