Stick's group

"We don't feel the need to change who we are by name. We haven't acted differently by becoming part of a Clan."

— Cora during her and her friends' warrior ceremony in SkyClan's Destiny, page 212

Stick's group
Habitat
In the forest At the lake Borders and camps
Clan information
Founder: Stick Current leader: Stick Rank succession Births and deaths
Unique skills
Hunting Fighting
Book appearances
Firestar's Quest, SkyClan's Destiny, Hawkwing's Journey

Stick's group is a group of rogues that live in the Twolegplace near SkyClan's old territory. It is currently led by Stick, though all cats work together as a group. They are sympathetic and helpful towards strangers, and are known to be visitors in SkyClan, eventually becoming warriors by Leafstar.

Description

Stick's group of cats are in a deserted Twolegplace that is near a stretch of river, which leads to the Twolegplace. It is downstream far away from the forest and SkyClan. There are scrubby trees and Twoleg walls across an open space where his cats meet. There is Twoleg rubbish scattered everywhere, and the stone paths felt slimy underpaw. Reek of Twolegs, monsters, and crow-food fill the air around the place where they live. Twolegplace cats come and go from the group, and they usually return sooner or later. Where Stick's cats meet up, it is near a Twoleg garden.

They share the Twolegplace with Dodge's group, though are often competing for prey. They hunt at night and sleep during the day. There is no borders nor territory within the Twolegplace among his group and Dodge's. Whatever an alley cat catches is what they catch, but if every cat hunts for themselves, there would be plenty of prey in the Twolegplace, as noted by Cora. Their camp is led by a Thunderpath to the end and emerged into another open space. The ground was covered in coarse grass with some scrubby bushes, and a couple of stunted trees, though everything still had the acrid smell of Twolegs and monsters.

History

In the Super Edition arc

Firestar's Quest

"Though he didn't say so to Shorty, [Firestar] was surprised that the rogues were being so helpful. He had been too quick to assume they would be his enemies."

―Firestar's thoughts on Stick's group ^{Firestar's Quest, page 167}

When Firestar and Sandstorm got separated from a flood, Firestar was found by Stick and Cora in the Twolegplace. At first, Firestar thought that Stick's group are like BloodClan, thinking that they were going to kill him, but he finds that they were kind to him. As he felt unkempt and full of Twoleg rubbish, Cora gives him a sparrow, with Cora noting that he hasn't eaten in a while. The ginger tom meets the rest of the group, Shorty, Snowy, and Coal, and he feels desperate to find Sandstorm. Shorty tells Firestar that he saw Sandstorm, but she ran off, but he promises to take Firestar to meet her the next day.

The next morning, Stick gives Firestar a mouse, though Firestar wonders where Shorty is, but Stick reassures him that the stumpy-tailed brown tabby tom will return. Shorty appears later when Firestar wakes up from another nap, and Cora tells him that if they can't find Sandstorm, come back, and they'll help and ask around. As Shorty shows Firestar the place he last saw Sandstorm, Firestar picks up her scent. Shorty tags along with Firestar as they pick up Sandstorm's scent, and Firestar notes that the rogues are more helpful and not enemies. The two fight a tortoiseshell kittypet before being rescued by Sandstorm. The two mates reunite before Shorty shows them the river. They part ways with Shorty, and Firestar thanks Shorty for everything, and the rogue says that he hopes to meet them again one day.

SkyClan's Destiny

Stick: "We have our own way of life."

Leafstar: "That's right. We can learn from one another, but we don't want to decide that one way of life is better than all the others."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 101}

Stick was night hunting, and after he fell asleep, he is woken up by Snowy, Cora, and Shorty. Shorty states that some of Dodge's cats, Misha and Skipper, and himself, were on Stick's side of the Twolegplace. Skipper and Misha stole prey from their pile, and Coal protests that it took all night to collect the prey. Dodge threatens Stick, though Stick said he had enough of Dodge's threats. Dodge gives Misha permission to attack, and she then attacks Percy head on, slashing out his eye. As Stick attacks Dodge, a Twoleg slams open their door, and two dogs fly out, and the cats scatter. Stick and his cats escape, with Percy losing his eye, and Stick notes that Dodge and the others vanished. Stick then wonders where his daughter, Red, is and ponders to wanting to go look for her, though the others state that Red can take care of herself as she's full grown.

With Dodge is trying to leave Stick's prey pile low, Stick's cats are going hungry. Red then appears, and Stick wonders where she had gone, but Red dodges his question and goes to Percy, who is recovering from losing his eye. After trying to stop from letting Misha and Skipper kill a Twoleg pet rabbit, Stick gets set up by them, and after the angered Twoleg chases him out, he goes back to his camp, where he sees Red, Cora, and Shorty in a huddle. Percy then yowls that Dodge and Misha are coming, though it is a false alarm.

As Stick falls asleep, Red wakes up and wants to investigate, though when Stick wants to go with his daughter, she refuses to let him. As Red whisks around a corner, Stick sees gray-brown fur, and he thinks that it's one of Dodge's rogues waiting for Red. Afterwards, Twolegs come pouring in the alley, and Stick's cats run out. As he thinks that his companions can help themselves, Stick goes to look for Red. He finds her with a cat named Harley, and Stick thinks that Harley was going to hurt Red, though Red retorts against her father, saying that she knew that Stick would follow her. Though Stick has his suspicions against Harley, Red defends him, stating that Harley was taking her away as he knew that Twolegs would come. After leaving Red to Harley, Stick comes back to his companions, and Cora says that Percy was taken by Twolegs.

As the cats try to figure out what to do, Stick declares that to fight for their home, they must fight Dodge and his cats, as he thinks that Dodge arranged for the Twolegs to try and drive them out. Later, Stick tells Shorty that he thinks Red betrayed his group for Dodge's group. Then one of Dodge's rogues, Onion, appears, and Stick almost tries to kill her, but Shorty tells him that he shouldn't. Scared, Onion tells Stick where Dodge is, though Stick almost wants to kill her.

After visiting his former mate, Velvet, Stick is led by Shorty to a place where they can spy on Dodge's camp. They see Red within Dodge's group of cats, next to Harley. Stick thinks that Harley is asking Red information about his group. Though he thinks they're on their own, Shorty suggests asking the cats downriver for help, knowing Firestar went to find cats to build a lost Clan.

A patrol of SkyClan cats come across some newcomers searching for them. Stick and his cats, Cora, Shorty, and Coal, introduce themselves to Leafstar and SkyClan, with Stick stating that it must be the group of cats that Firestar banded together. Sharpclaw puts in they could use the extra cats for hunting patrols, and Cora states that she wants to learn how to protect her kin and thinks they could learn a lot from SkyClan. Leafstar tells Coal to go help Echosong and tells Tinycloud that she gave permission to let Coal watch the medicine cat. Leafstar later offers Stick, Cora, and Shorty to go to a training session with the apprentices, and the visitors accept.

The three rogues join the training session with the apprentices, their mentors, and Leafstar, and two groups huddle together before battling. As the training session comes to an end, they discuss about why Stick is there. The cats of SkyClan ask if Stick is going to make his own Clan, to which he reorts that they have their own way of life, and they don't want to be a Clan. Leafstar agrees with him, stating that no one's way of life is better than the other. During that night, Shorty sees cats leaving, and Tinycloud says that they're day-light warriors, though Cora and the other seem confused about the whole ordeal. As they continue to talk, Leafstar realizes, along with Sharpclaw, that the newcomers are not telling them something, that they are not only wanting to learn about Clan life. They all head to their dens, but Cora reassures Leafstar that they haven't come to cause the Clan cats harm.

The next morning, Leafstar invites Shorty and Cora to patrol with them. As they head near the Twolegplace and rats are mentioned, Leafstar's fear of them becomes more apparent, as she tells the Twolegplace cats that they aren't hunting them today, stating they had trouble with them in the past. Leafstar leads the patrol back to camp and calls a Clan meeting, where Sharpclaw lets Stick come. They discuss the rat problem, and the Clan becomes frantic, though Stick says that it's only a few rats. However, in the end, Stick offers that they can help with the rat problem. Leafstar tells Sharpclaw to help Stick organize the patrols soon after. Stick organizes battle training to help fight the rats, and the Clan cats are excited to help contribute, though Leafstar is reluctant too.

The Clan prepares to drive out and have another battle with rats, thanks to Stick's help. The battle is deemed successful thanks to Stick's and his friends' help, though Waspwhisker and Cora are wounded. As they heal, Leafstar still wonders what Stick isn't telling her nor the Clan, but appreciates his loyalty and fairness to his friends. As the cats gather for the Gathering by the Skyrock, Cora and Coal question what their warrior ancestors are, but Leafstar thinks to herself that if the Twolegplace cats stay in the Clan, they must learn about StarClan sooner or later. As Macgyver and Harveymoon return from their brief exile, they are questioning the strangers in camp, though Waspwhisker states that it wouldn't be for them if they didn't win. During the Gathering, Leafstar briefly states the visitors, and thanks them for their help in fighting against the rats.

The next morning, the visitors go on different patrols. However, when Sharpclaw suggests that Shorty leads a patrol, Patchfoot protests that he isn't a warrior yet. Leafstar goes with Cora on a hunting patrol, and the two discuss what the rogues ate in the Twolegplace. When Leafstar asks if the cats are thinking of leaving, Cora tries to change the subject. When Leafstar asks if there's trouble in the Twolegplace, Cora changes the subject by looking at a mouse. Leafstar later thinks that she must find out what Stick and his friends want from them. Leafstar makes Cora, Coal, Stick, and Shorty warriors, though she had some doubts about it. They all keep their names, despite some protests from the Clan, but become warriors and join the Clan officially. She feels that the only way to appreciate the visitors was to make them warriors, though some of the daylight-warriors, were against this.

Now that they're warriors, Shorty and Stick start leading patrols without any protest. Later, Leafstar notices that Cora and the others are starting to feel like a Clan, as they have been helping their Clanmates. Later on, the former visitors participate in a fight against a Twoleg and its dog. They later participate in helping an injured Twoleg kit.

Leafstar later spots Sharpclaw leading the former visitors and other warriors away, tailing him, though Leafstar is confused where her deputy is leading them. Leafstar finds out that Stick and the others were training the Clan cats how to fight in the Twolegplace. With some pressuring, Stick finally reveals to Leafstar on why they went to SkyClan: not join, but they need their help. Leafstar wants to think about it, but Sharpclaw challenges her and defends Stick and his friends, wanting to help them. Leafstar later agrees to help Stick and his friends fight off Dodge's group in the Twolegplace.

The cats stop for the night through the Twolegplace before challenging Dodge. Stick and his friends later reunite with Percy, who had been taken by Twolegs, though his lost eye was healed by the Cutter. Snowy reunites with the group of cats as well. The next morning, Stick leads SkyClan and his cats to Dodge's camp. Stick attacks Dodge, and the two almost kill each other, blood splattering everywhere. When Leafstar tries to help Nutmeg and her kits during the battle, Cora and Shorty think that Leafstar was betraying them. However, Shrewtooth states that kits take no sides. Coal gets angry at Leafstar as well. With Stick angry at Harley, he attacks him during the battle, but Red leaps in the way of her mate, and gets the killing blow from Stick, devastating both Stick and Harley when she dies. Leafstar declares the battle to an end after her death. She says that Dodge and his cats must not bother Stick and his group, and Stick should defend his side of the Twolegplace. Afterwards, Cora thanks Leafstar for everything before going back to Stick and her group in the Twolegplace.

Hawkwing's Journey

Stick: "I wouldn't bother. They must have been Dodge's cats, and if Dodge has your friend there's nothing you can do to help her."

Leafstar: "We don't abandon our friends. We're Clan cats!"

^{Hawkwing's Journey, pages 251-252}

Leafstar leads her Clan in the Twolegplace after being driven out of the gorge by Darktail and his rogues. They scout the Twolegplace to find Stick and his companions, unsure whether if they were walking along the right path or not to find them. Though Leafstar felt like she was losing confidence, as thought by Hawkwing, the Clan bumps into one of Stick's cats, Shorty, who welcomes the Clan with a warm greeting. The older warriors, Cherrytail, Waspwhisker, and others, crowd around Shorty as they exchange greetings. When Leafstar tells Shorty they were driven out, Shorty offers the Clan to spend the night in the Twolegplace, and Echosong warns them that they must only stay for a night.

Shorty leads the way to their camp, and Leafstar reunites with Stick Coal, and the other cats. Snowy greets them, and Cora shows off her new kits, Night, Branch, and Stone. As others emerge, Curlypaw disappears, and Hawkwing felt anxious when she wasn't there. As Hawkwing and Pebbleshine go hunting with Foggy and Suzy, Hawkwing tries to reassure himself about Curlypaw. The Clan and Twolegplace cats manage to get a mouse, a rat, and a blackbird. As they come back, Leafstar, Stick, and Shorty discuss Dodge as the rogue leader is up to his old tricks, and he hasn't been keeping to his side of the border. When Leafstar mentions to scent-mark it, Stick says that they're not a Clan. Later, Bellaleaf yowls that Dodge's cats took Curlypaw. Shorty and Snowy offer to go with Leafstar, Bellaleaf, Rabbitleap, Harrybrook, Sagenose, Tinycloud, and Hawkwing to search for their captured apprentice, though when Harley appears, a member of Dodge's group, Stick's shoulder fur bristles.

It is noted by Hawkwing that Harley and Stick don't look happy to see one another. Harley states that he has a message for Leafstar from Dodge, though Stick argues what his word is worth. Despite what has happened, Leafstar trusts Harley to keep her Clan safe, and SkyClan goes with Harley to Dodge's camp, though Stick and the others stay behind. After Dodge is killed by Hawkwing, and Harley takes over leadership of his group, Shorty appears, worried for his friends. He then leads them out of Dodge's territory back to theirs before SkyClan leaves the Twolegplace.

Known residents

• Stick
• Cora
• Snowy
• Shorty
• Coal
• Percy
• Night
• Stone
• Branch
• Foggy
• Suzy
• Unnamed number of cats

Former members

• Red

History of ranks

Leaders
Name	Gained rank in...	Left rank in...
Stick	Before Firestar's Quest	—

Quotes

"He thought of Scourge and BloodClan, and wondered if there was another Clan of vicious Twolegplace cats here. If they knew he was from the forest, they might see him as an enemy. Were these cats taking him to be killed?"

―Firestar's thoughts after meeting Stick and Cora ^{Firestar's Quest, page 157}

Stick: "I can see you haven't eaten for a long time. Have you come far?"

Firestar: "Far enough. My name is Firestar."

^{Firestar's Quest, pages 158-159}

See more

"Firestar glanced around. There were still no other cats in sight, but the strong scent he picked up at first told him that this must be a meeting place for many cats. The memory of BloodClan made him nervous. Stick and Cora had treated him well up to now, but what about the others? Firestar's instincts were telling him to run, but he was so desperate to find Sandstorm that he knew he had to stay and ask more questions."

―Firestar thinking about BloodClan and Stick's cats ^{Firestar's Quest, page 159}

Cora: "Come back here if your friend's not there. We'll ask around and see if we can find out anything else."

Firestar: "I'll do that, thanks."

^{Firestar's Quest, page 166}

Stick: "Are you too idle to hunt now, Dodge?"

Dodge: "We have an agreement, remember? Sunrise belongs to us."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 110}

"I know every hiding place, every puddle, every corner where mice make nests. But now everything had changed. The familiar alleys and rooftops hid an enemy: Dodge and the cats he had brought with him to steal this place from those who had lived here forever. Cats who would rather fight than hunt, who enjoyed inflicting fear and pain. Cats who prowled around looking for trouble. And Red is out there."

―Stick about the recent attack with Dodge and being worried for his daughter ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 113}

"I know it's Dodge. He doesn't want us living here, so he's trying to starve us."

―Stick to Cora about Dodge ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 152}

"I don't want to give into [Dodge]. But how can we hunt if we have to get into a fight every time?"

―Stick's thoughts as prey becomes scare for his group because of Dodge ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 244}

"But we were here first. This is our home, and I don't want to give it up."

―Stick's thoughts before he sleeps ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 245}

Stick: "One of Dodge's lot. […] What's your name?"

Onion: "I—I'm called Onion."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, pages 298-299}

"Focus on what's really at stake here: our safety and our right to hunt."

―Shorty to Stick ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 300}

Shorty: "Do you remember those cats who came here just after the flood? From a forest downriver? They were on their way to find other cats, weren't they? Just like them. If we could find them, maybe they would help us sort out Dodge."

Stick: "You're right, Shorty. We must find those cats."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 398}

Leafstar: "How do you know Firestar? Are you from ThunderClan?"

Stick: "No, we're not from any Clan. But we met Firestar and his mate, Sandstorm, when they were on their way to find some cats who needed a new home. Is this it?"

^{SkyClan's Destiny, pages 83-84}

"This is going to be really useful for us. It's the sort of thing that would help us get to a bit of prey before another cat."

―Stick during a training session ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 91}

"There's something they aren't telling us. They haven't come here just to ask questions about Clan life. So I'm not imagining this! Sharpclaw thinks there's something odd about these strangers, too."

―Leafstar thinking about the newcomers ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 106}

Cora: "We haven't come to cause you harm."

Leafstar: "I hope not."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 108}

"Why are you here? What do you want, to make you risk your own pelts in battle, just because we let you stay here in the gorge?"

―Leafstar on Stick's cats ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 151}

"I'm sure there's something Stick's not telling us. But he's fair and loyal to his friends, and I appreciate that."

―Leafstar thinking about Stick ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 161}

"Visitors have arrived in the gorge, from a Twolegplace downriver. Stick, Shorty, Cora, and Coal have settled down well during their stay in the Clan, and we thank them for the help they gave in fighting against the rats."

―Leafstar about the visitors at a Gathering ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 175}

"Sharpclaw and I believe this is the best way to acknowledge all that the visitors have done for SkyClan. They have learned our skills, and taught us skills we never knew before."

―Leafstar on why she made Stick, Cora, Shorty, and Coal warriors ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 214}

Cora: "Leafstar, wait. Stick, please. It's time to tell them the truth."

Stick: "I'll decide when it's time."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 390}

Sharpclaw: "What? Look at the way Stick and the others helped us with the rats! And they've hunted for us and carried out all the other warrior duties. Are you saying that SkyClan shoudn't be loyal to them?"

Leafstar: "It's not a matter of loyalty. Stick and his friends never intended to stay with us for good. Surely that means they're not warriors like us?"

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 400}

"The camp was in ruins, the flimsy sides of the dens squashed or torn, and smeared with blood. In the midst of the debris, Stick and Dodge still wrestled, with growls of hatred and claws clotted with each other's blood. It was obvious that the two toms were determined to kill each other."

―Narrator about the battle between the two groups ^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 454}

Sharpclaw: "Enough! Too much blood has been shed already! You asked for our help to drive these cats out, not to kill them!"

Stick: "Anything less is a sign of weakness."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 456}

Cora: "Thank you. For everything"

Leafstar: "It was our destiny."

^{SkyClan's Destiny, page 457}

Shorty: "But what are you all doing here? Leafstar, this must be almost all of your Clan."

Leafstar: "This is all my Clan. Rogues attacked us in the gorge and drove us out. Many cats were killed or scattered, and the rest of us have been forced to look for a new place to live."

^{Hawkwing's Journey, pages 243-244}

Leafstar: "How are things with you?"

Stick: "Dodge kept to his side of the border at first, but we've had a few skirmishes lately. I'm afraid he's up to his old tricks."

^{Hawkwing's Journey, page 249}

Leafstar: "Who? Where?"

Bellaleaf: "Other cats...They jumped down on us from the top of a wall. There were so many of them! I managed to get Fidgetpaw away, but I couldn't help Curlypaw."

^{Hawkwing's Journey, pages 251-252}

See also

• Dodge's group
• SkyClan
• Twolegplace
• BloodClan
• Stick
• Leafstar
• Dodge