| "It's all my fault! I left him...and now he's gone. The hawk should have taken me instead!" |
| — Speckletail after Snowkit's death in A Dangerous Path, pages 95-96 |
Speckletail is a pale[2] golden[9] tabby she-cat with amber eyes.[10]
Speckletail was a ThunderClan warrior under Pinestar's, Sunstar's and Bluestar's leaderships in the forest territories. She was born as Specklekit to Harepounce and Stagleap along with her sister Whitekit. After Harepounce died in the Great Hunger, she and Whitekit were fostered by Rainfur. After she received her warrior name, Speckletail became Smallear's mate and had two litters: Goldenkit and Lionkit, and Mistlekit and Snowkit. Fireheart and Cinderpelt informed Speckletail of Snowkit's inability to become a warrior due to him being deaf, and she went into denial. Speckletail, refusing to accept this, decided for herself that she would train Snowkit and do whatever she could to get him to become a warrior. Snowkit was later carried off by a hawk, which pushed Speckletail to finally take her place in the elder's den. She chose to remain behind in the forest while the rest of the Clans journeyed to find a new home.
History
Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!
The Prophecies Begin
- Speckletail is an aged queen in the nursery raising an unnamed tabby kit. The kit falls ill with Greencough, but recovers. Later, Fireheart and Cinderpelt discover that Speckletail’s other kit, Snowkit, is deaf. Speckletail doesn’t care and is still adamant that he should be a warrior, even attempting to mentor him herself. However, Snowkit’s deafness eventually leads to his death, as he doesn’t hear the warnings called out by the other cats of ThunderClan when a hawk swoops down into camp and carries him off. Speckletail is devastated and retires to the elder’s den.
The New Prophecy
- Speckletail decides to stay behind in the old forest rather than make the journey to the lake, saying that she is too old to travel far. Frostfur, another ThunderClan elder, Mudfur, a dying RiverClan medicine cat, and Loudbelly and Shadepelt, two RiverClan elders, also stay behind, and they all eventually die of hunger and thirst and join StarClan.
Super Editions
This section summarizes Speckletail's significant Super Editions appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!
- In Bluestar's Prophecy, Speckletail is a warrior of ThunderClan. She moves to the nursery and gives birth to her first litter, Lionkit and Goldenkit. Her kits eventually become apprentices, and Speckletail returns to her warrior duties.
Novellas
This section summarizes Speckletail's significant Novellas appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!
- In Goosefeather's Curse, Specklekit and her sister Whitekit are born to Harepounce and Stagleap of ThunderClan. When both her parents die in The Great Hunger, Specklekit and her sister are fostered by Rainfur.
Character pixels
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Official art
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Please do not edit this gallery  Speckletail's icon on the Warriors family tree |
Family
- Main article: Speckletail/Family
- Speckletail's parents are Harepounce and Stagleap. She is the mother of Lionheart, Goldenflower, Mistlekit, and Snowkit. For more of Speckletail's family, click here!
Appearances
- Goosefeather's Curse
- Crookedstar's Promise
- Bluestar's Prophecy
- Leopardstar's Honor (Allegiance only)
- Spottedleaf's Heart
- Redtail's Debt
- Into the Wild (First appearance)
- Fire and Ice
- Forest of Secrets
- Rising Storm
- Tigerclaw's Fury (Allegiance only)
- A Dangerous Path
- The Darkest Hour
- Blackfoot's Reckoning (Allegiance only)
- Firestar's Quest
- Graystripe's Vow
- Mothwing's Secret (Mentioned only)
- Midnight
- Moonrise
- Dawn
Trivia
Author statements
- Snowkit was killed to give Speckletail an extra nudge to move into the elders' den.[11]
- In an Erin Hunter chat, Vicky Holmes confirmed that Speckletail, Loudbelly, Frostfur, Shadepelt, and any other elders left behind may have died up to a few moons after the Clans left. Their confirmed cause of death is unknown, however.[3]
- Vicky has said that Smallear and Speckletail may have been mates once,[12] and that Smallear may have fathered Lionheart and Goldenflower.[13]
Quotes
- "Why can't he be a warrior? There's nothing else wrong with him. He's a good, strong kit. He gets along just fine if you signal what he has to do."
- ―Speckletail to Cinderpelt arguing about Snowkit A Dangerous Path, page 82
- "I know he's deaf! I'm his mother. Do you think I wouldn't know?"
- ―Speckletail ranting on to Cinderpelt A Dangerous Path, page 81
- Firestar: "We'll be leaving soon...but you're not coming with us Speckletail."
- Speckletail: "What? Why not? We may be elders, but we're not useless. Do you really think we're going to sit back and-"
- The Darkest Hour, pages 281-282
External links
- Exclusive! Graystripe's Vow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Exclusive! Leopardstar's Honor: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (Allegiance only) (backup link)
- The Forest Map: RiverClan on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
Fan content
- Warrior of the week gallery #116 - Speckletail on the Warriors official website (Warrior of the Week #116) (backup link)
- Mothers and Kits Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Nursery Scenes Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Revealed in Into the Wild, allegiances
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Revealed on [1]
- ↑ Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 8
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 101
- ↑ Revealed in Dawn, page 223
- ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 89
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in Redtail's Debt, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 6
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
![[14]](#cite_note-familytreeSmallear.family.png-14){kind=link}
