"But we were close to them once. We have not stopped thinking about them just because we no longer live among them." |
— Stumpytail about ShadowClan in Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 3 |
Stumpytail is a brown tom with darker stripes and a short, stumpy tail.[6]
Stumpytail was a ShadowClan warrior under Raggedstar's, Brokenstar's, Nightstar's and Tigerstar's leaderships in the forest territories. He was born as Stumpykit to Clawface and Rowanberry alongside his brother, Cinderkit. As an apprentice, Stumpypaw was mentored by Brokentail who frequently delivered harsh punishments for his apprentice. He earned his warrior name, Stumpytail, and gained an apprentice of his own, Brownpaw. He participated in several battles against ThunderClan.
History
In The Prophecies Begin arc
Into the Wild
- Stumpytail is a ShadowClan warrior with an apprentice, Brownpaw.
Forest of Secrets
- Stumpytail runs with Deadfoot along with their respective Clans, to attack ThunderClan for harboring Brokentail, even though they are from different Clans. He attacks Fireheart as WindClan and ShadowClan try to invade the ThunderClan camp, but Fireheart defeats him by clawing his belly.
In the Super Editions
Yellowfang's Secret
- Yellowfang: "Stumpypaw! What in the name of StarClan are you doing?"
- Stumpypaw: "Now I’m going to be in big trouble! Brokentail told me I had to stay there until he came back!"
- Yellowfang's Secret
- Stumpykit is next seen as Stumpypaw, a newly made apprentice, who is apprenticed to Brokentail. Yellowfang is with Nightpelt, and Nightpelt yelps for Yellowfang to come. The two cats see Stumpypaw hanging from the lowest branch of a tree by his teeth. When Yellowfang asks him what he was doing, he crashes to the ground in a tangle of legs and tail when he opens his mouth to reply. He wails that he is going to be in big trouble as he picks himself up, and adds that he was supposed to stay there until Brokentail came back. When asked to explain, he hangs his head, and says that Brokentail had told him to do it because he was chattering like a blackbird, and Brokentail had said that he needed to learn how to keep his jaws shut. Yellowfang then tells Nightpelt that there was a better way to punish him, as Stumpypaw could have permanently injured his jaw. Brokentail soon returns, and orders Stumpypaw to get back to the training area, and Stumpypaw dashes off.
- Yellowfang sees Stumpypaw when she returns to the camp. He makes his way over to eat with his brother and his mentor Nutwhisker, but Brokentail bars his way, telling him he can eat when he catches enough prey for the elders. Stumpypaw then nods unhappily, and trails off toward the camp entrance. Yellowfang thinks that he appears worn out, and it was not fair. Yellowfang goes over to Cloudpelt to talk about how he has been treating Stumpypaw, explaining how Stumpypaw had hung from the tree branch, and Cloudpelt asks if he was injured at all. Yellowfang admits that he wasn't, but Cloudpelt says it's been a while and she's probably forgotten how tough it is for apprentices.
- When Brokentail points out about a rabbit killed in ShadowClan borders, Scorchwind steps forward with Stumpytail and Cinderfur behind him. Brokentail offers to lead the patrol himself, Yellowfang notices that Stumpytail and Flintfang nod in agreement with him. Afterwards, Yellowfang watches Raggedstar race across camp toward Brokentail, Cloudpelt, and the warriors they had gathered, including Stumpytail, Flintfang, and Scorchwind.
- As Nightpelt and Yellowfang return to camp, they meet a patrol with Stumpytail and Tangleburr in the lead. Yellowfang asks them if they were going out hunting, and he replies that it was battle training, and his whisker quiver with excitement. He then adds that Brokentail had asked them to be dogs, and to chase their Clanmates through the forest. As the patrol charges off through the trees, Stumpytail claims that he would climb a tree, and then jump down on the dogs and shred them. When he returns, Brokentail mentions that Rowanberry and Stumpytail had cornered the dogs before they were halfway to the border.
- He is told by Brokentail to join a hunting patrol with Frogtail, along with Blackfoot and Brackenfoot. During an apprentice ceremony, Stumpytail receives an apprentice, Brownpaw. At a Gathering, he is seen huddling with Russetfur, Brownpaw and Brackenfoot near Blackfoot. When Brokenstar claims that he had found no trace of fox near Marigoldkit and Mintkit, Stumpytail asks how they had died.
In the Novellas
Tigerclaw's Fury
- "What if a patrol catches us? We won’t be welcome inside ShadowClan’s borders!"
- ―Stumpytail expressing his worries Tigerclaw's Fury
- When Tigerclaw encounters the rogue group, Stumpytail and Tangleburr stand up to brush their tails against Tigerclaw. When asked of Mowgli's whereabouts, Stumpytail answers that he didn't know, as he had his ears clawed by Brackenpaw, and hadn't seen him since. As they near ShadowClan, Stumpytail, alarmed, speaks of the possibility of a patrol catching them, as they wouldn't be welcome in ShadowClan's borders. When they reach a fallen tree, he and Tangleburr then drag ivy from a scoop in the ground. During battle practice, Stumpytail pricks his ears, and inquires if he could knock over Snag, who is balancing on three paws, making Tigerclaw respond in the positive, as long as he was careful about where he would land. As Stumpytail barges into Snag's haunches, Snag swipes Clawface, which makes Snag lurch sideways. After the session, Stumpytail notes that the hunting patrol would return soon.
- Once the cats hear of ShadowClan's problems, Stumpytail lifts his head, remarking that they were close to ShadowClan once, and had not stopped thinking of them despite not living with them anymore, and Tigerclaw appreciates the note of defiance in his words. When they encounter a patrol, Tangleburr explains that Stumpytail and Clawface were with the group. While hunting, it is noted that it once took Stumpytail several moments to catch his breath after Snag struck a blow on him. While Dawncloud leads the way through the pines, she brushes her tail against Stumpytail, and Tigerclaw knows that they were friends as apprentices, and decides to make sure Stumpytail didn't return his loyalties completely to ShadowClan. Stumpytail then casts a yearning glance at Dawncloud as they follow Flintfang. After Tigerclaw has a dream, Stumpytail reacts in disgust as he scrambles to the other side of his nest, asking if Tigerclaw rolled in something the day prior.
- When Nightstar dies, Stumpytail sits beside Dawncloud. While Tigerclaw assigns some cats to train apprentices, Stumpytail pricks his ears, asking what he could do, and Tigerclaw orders for him, Clawface, and Tangleburr to lead hunting patrols. Some time afterwards, it is noted that Stumpytail and Clawface stocked the fresh-kill pile. When Mowgli and Snag are about become official warriors, Stumpytail and Dawncloud touch noses. Once they do, Stumpytail and Blackfoot cheer out their new names. When Rowanpaw asks if StarClan had given up on them, Stumpytail hushes him by clouting him with a paw.
In the Field Guides
Battles of the Clans
- "Do you think we should leave before they come back?"
- ―Stumpytail to the rest of his patrol Battles of the Clans
Trivia
Mistakes
- Despite remaining in ShadowClan after Brokenstar was exiled,[7] Stumpytail appears in Tigerclaw's Fury as one of Tigerclaw's rogues.[2]
Continuity
The following information is from sources considered non-canon or retconned.
- On the Warriors website family tree, Stumpytail's nieces and nephews through Cinderfur are Rubblekit, Quietkit, and Turtlekit.[8]
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 |
Kin
Members
Mother:
- Rowanberry:[3] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Father:
Brother:
- Yellowfang:[10] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Marigoldkit:[11] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Uncles:
- Nutwhisker:[10] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Mintkit:[11] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Nightstar:[12] Status unknown
Grandmother:
- Brightflower:[10] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Grandfather:
- Brackenfoot:[10] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Great-Grandmother:
- Silverflame:[10] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Cousins:
Tree
Template:Cinderfur Tree
Appearances
- Yellowfang's Secret
- Into the Wild (First appearance; allegiance only)
- Fire and Ice (Allegiance only)
- Forest of Secrets
- Rising Storm (Allegiance only)
- Tigerclaw's Fury
- Battles of the Clans
External links
- Stand Together or Fall Divided on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Revealed in Into the Wild, allegiances
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Revealed in Tigerclaw's Fury, allegiances
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 396
- ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 398
- ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 399
- ↑ Revealed in Battles of the Clans, page 19
- ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 467
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, allegiances
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 473
- ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 327