Sharptooth's reign

This article is a stub. This article needs vast improvements and you can help the Warriors Wiki by expanding it.

"With the moon covered by clouds, the cave was almost dark; the huge shape of Sharptooth seemed to be everywhere at once, massive paws pounding on the floor as he sprang from wall to wall, blood splattered across his flanks and saliva dripping from his jaws. This was more terrible than Feathertail had ever imagined—there was no way Stormfur could challenge this beast and survive."

— Feathertail witnessing Sharptooth attack the Tribe in Moonrise, page 192

Sharptooth's reign
General information
Book	Moonrise
Timeframe	Leaf-fall
Event	Sharptooth causing terror to the Tribe
Place	The mountains
Outcome	Feathertail sacrifices herself to kill Sharptooth The Clans create a friendly environment with the Tribe
Participants
Key characters	Feathertail, Stormfur, Sharptooth, Stoneteller
Affiliations involved	The Tribe of Rushing Water The Clans
Chronology
Preceded by:	Journey to Midnight
Concurrent:	Journey to the forest territories
Followed by:	The Great Journey

Sharptooth's reign was an event that took place in Moonrise in which a mountain lion named Sharptooth terrorized the Tribe of Rushing Water for many seasons, resulting in the deaths of many cats.

Summary

Premise

"Sharptooth is a huge cat. He lives in the mountains, and makes the Tribe his prey. For many seasons now, he has been picking us off, one by one. […] He is the enemy of our Tribe. We feared that he would not rest until every cat of the Tribe has been killed."

―Stoneteller telling the Clans cats of Sharptooth ^{Moonrise, pages 155-156}

Upon hearing the silver cat prophecy, Stoneteller shares it with the Tribe, giving them a sliver of hope. When the Clan cats arrive, the Tribe gives the traveling group a preview of what Sharptooth has done, stating that he has wreaked terror on the Tribe for multiple seasons. Stoneteller tells the Clan cats that he and most of the Tribe believe that Sharptooth will not stop killing the Tribe cats until there are no more. After saying so, Stoneteller takes Stormfur prisoner, citing the fact that he is the silver cat, and he must stay with the Tribe until he has dealt with Sharptooth.

Overview

Sharptooth, according to the Teller of Pointed Stones, has wreaked havoc on the Tribe for many seasons, causing many casualties along the way. The Tribe of Endless Hunting gives Stoneteller the silver cat prophecy, and when the traveling Clan cats visit the Tribe, Stoneteller takes Stormfur hostage, claiming that he is the silver cat. After the Tribe sends every Clan cat away except Stormfur, Sharptooth raids the Tribe, claiming Star That Shines On Water as his prey. While the raid happens, the Clan cats rescue Stormfur from the Tribe. They meet Talon of Swooping Eagle, Rock Where Snow Gathers, and Bird That Rides the Wind, who introduce themselves as former Tribe members who were exiled because they failed to kill Sharptooth.

More Coming Soon

Description

The silver cat prophecy

"But then the Tribe of Endless Hunting sent us the promised cat. Stormfur, you're the chosen one. You'll save us all. I know you will."

―Brook to Stormfur ^{Moonrise, page 156}

Given to Stoneteller, the Tribe of Endless Hunting tells him that a silver cat will save him and his Tribe from Sharptooth. When the Clan cats arrive, Stoneteller performs a Telling, calling on the Tribe of Endless Hunting to show their will. The Tribe of Rushing Water thanks their ancestors for sending the promised cat as Stoneteller asks him to stand forth, causing two cave-guards to push Stormfur. Later, because of the silver cat prophecy, Stormfur decides that he must go back to the Tribe and help them, causing Talon, Rock, Bird, and the other Clan cats from the patrol to come with him.

Taking Stormfur hostage

When the Clan cats state that their Clans back home are in trouble, and they need to go, cave-guards surround them forcefully, with a separate batch of cats around Stormfur. Crag tells Stormfur that after he kills Sharptooth, the Tribe will let him leave in peace, while Stoneteller tells him that the Tribe of Endless Hunting had sent him, and he must not worry that the Tribe of Rushing Water will mistreat him. The Tribe gives Stormfur and the rest of the Clan cats a place to sleep,, and they escort Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Feathertail, Crowpaw, and Squirrelpaw to the edge of their territory the next day.

Sharptooth

As the day finishes, the Clan cats observe Sharptooth disappearing behind the waterfall where the Tribe lives. Brambleclaw calls for them to enter behind it, saying that it will be easier to rescue Stormfur when the Tribe is distracted by such a huge threat. Feathertail observes havoc as Brook ushers two kits to the nursery while a cave-guard is flung by Sharptooth off of his back. The Clan cats ambush Crag, and as Stoneteller beckons Stormfur to save them all, the Clan cats escape, leaving the Tribe in havoc.

Talon, Rock, and Bird

"Many seasons ago, the Tribe of Endless Hunting sent a sign to Stoneteller. They chose six cats to leave the shelter of the caves and go out into the mountains to face Sharptooth and kill him. We are three of that six. […] Stoneteller ordered us not to come back without his pelt."

―Talon to the Clan cats about their history ^{Moonrise, page 230}

The Clan cats encounter three cats of unknown scent as they find them on their territory. The Clan cats want to leave, but the three cats do not allow them to. After learning that they share common knowledge of Sharptooth, Squirrelpaw unintentionally lets out that they have escaped from the Tribe, and the three cats state that they were once of the Tribe. As they sit down to talk about their history, the three cats introduce themselves as Talon of Swooping Eagle, Rock Where Snow Gathers, and Bird Who Rides the Wind. Talon states that a message from the Tribe of Endless Hunting was given to Stoneteller, stating that six cats were to leave the Tribe for a while and not return without Sharptooth's pelt. The tom continues, telling the Clan cats that they are the only three remaining from that mission.

Silverstream's message

"Actually, Stormfur, I think you're right. Ever since we rescued you, you've been mooning around like a rabbit without its tail. It makes my fur ache, just looking at you. You're obviously going to be no use at all until you've tried to help these cats."

―Crowpaw to Stormfur on why he thinks him returning to the Tribe is a good idea ^{Moonrise, page 242}

Stormfur receives a message from Silverstream, his mother saying that a question may have many answers when the dark gray tom asks the she-cat what he should do. Soon after, Stormfur decides that he has to go back to the Tribe and fulfill the silver cat prophecy. He shares the idea with the remaining Clan cats, who all agree that Stormfur will not feel normal until he has fulfilled what he set out to do. When the question is brought up about what they should try next, Squirrelpaw refers back to Silverstream's quote that a question has many answers. The apprentice questions if the Tribe has tried the right answer, reasoning that if strong cats cannot bring down Sharptooth, they need something else that will kill the big cat for them.

Aftermath

Coming Soon

Characters

Stormfur

Stormfur was originally suspected as the silver cat destined to save the Tribe

Stormfur was a RiverClan warrior who the Tribe of Rushing Water misconstrued as the silver cat in the silver cat prophecy. Stormfur does not believe that he is the one as he comes from faraway Clans and has never heard of Sharptooth in his life. The others agree with Stormfur's thoughts, but they are surrounded by cave-guards as Stormfur is guarded by a different patrol, officially being kept in the Tribe against his will. Left to himself in his sleeping hollow, Stormfur wishes that he could wake up back in RiverClan the next morning.

Later, bewildered, Stormfur sees Feathertail and the other Clan cats coming to rescue him while Sharptooth is wreaking havoc on the Tribe. Stoneteller commands the silver cat to save them all, but Feathertail and Brambleclaw drag him away from the Tribe, and the patrol of Clan cats escape the cave.

After escaping the Tribe, Stormfur and the other Clan cats run into three cats with unknown scent. Stormfur especially is surprised by the fact that the cats know of Sharptooth, and the silver cat questions if the Tribe made them leave after learning that the trio were former Tribe cats. While staying with Talon, Rock, and Bird, Stormfur receives a dream, with a message from Silverstream. He asks her what his next step should be, but Silverstream vaguely states that a question may have many different answers. Stormfur interprets this as a statement telling him to go back to the Tribe and save them from Sharptooth. The other Clan cats agree with Stormfur, and Squirrelpaw suggests approaching the difficult task of taking down Sharptooth in a different way.

Stormfur returns to the Tribe with the former Tribe cats and Clan cats as he notes the hostility in the air. Stoneteller informs the entering cats that Sharptooth returned and took Star, naming them as cowards because they ran away. Stormfur and the rest of the Clan cats say that he came back freely, wanting to help them even if he is not the cat in the silver cat prophecy.

Quotes

«With the moon covered by clouds, the cave was almost dark; the huge shape of Sharptooth seemed to be everywhere at once, massive paws pounding on the floor as he sprang from wall to wall, blood spattered against his flanks and saliva dripping from his jaws. This was more terrible than Feathertail had ever imagined—there was no way Stormfur could challenge this beast and survive.»

—Feathertail seeing Sharptooth for the first time ^{Moonrise, page 192}

See also

• Moonrise
  • Moonrise/Cliffnotes
• Sharptooth (TNP)
• Sharptooth (creature)