"ThunderClan has kits in the nursery, and the warriors' den is full. We face troubles, it is true. RiverClan pushes at our borders, and kittypets threaten our prey. But the Clan is well fed, and the forest is rich in prey. I vow to make ThunderClan as powerful as the great Clans of old. Today's ThunderClan will be remembered alongside TigerClan and LionClan. Our warriors are courageous and loyal and skilled in battle. There is no reason to feel besieged by our enemies. We have defeated them before and we will do so again. Let me carry you forward in a new era in which ThunderClan is so respected and feared that no cat will dare set a paw on our lands." |
— Sunstar as a new leader in Bluestar's Prophecy, pages 315-316 |
Sunstar is a large[9] bright[2] sun-colored[10] ginger tom[2] with long fur,[11] a broad face,[12] yellow eyes,[2] and a torn ear.[13]
Sunstar was a leader of ThunderClan in the forest territories. He was born as Sunkit to Larksong and Flamenose along with his brother, Featherkit. Moons later, Sunfall became deputy under Pinestar, and mentored Bluepaw after the death of her mother and her mentor retiring. Sunfall comforted Bluepaw in her grief, and helped her focus on her Clan. Pinestar later abandoned the Clan to become a kittypet, leaving Sunfall to unconventionally rise as ThunderClan's leader. However, since Pinestar still retained his last life, StarClan refused to grant him all nine lives, and Sunstar kept this secret from his Clan. As leader, Sunstar appointed Tawnyspots as deputy and dealt with repeated territory threats by RiverClan over the ownership of Sunningrocks. When Tawnyspots became ill, Sunstar chose his former apprentice Bluefur as his successor over Thistleclaw, whom he feared would lead the Clan into endless fighting. After his death by a dog, Sunstar ascended to StarClan and gave Bluestar a life for courage.
History[]
In the Omen of the Stars arc[]
The Last Hope[]
- When Jayfeather reunites StarClan, Sunstar hisses at Yellowfang, saying that she didn't have to be here if she was just going to cause trouble.
In the Super Editions[]
Tallstar's Revenge[]
- At a Gathering, Stagleap points out Sunfall, and nods toward him, who is pacing around the clearing. Sunfall dips his head to the warriors, and shares words with one group before moving on to the next.
Crookedstar's Promise[]
- "If you prefer a battle, then we'll fight, but are the rocks worth it? You have the river to fish in. Your paws are too big to reach far into the cracks of Sunningrocks; your pelts are too clearly marked to stalk prey there. It is no use for RiverClan's ways of hunting."
- ―Sunstar to several RiverClan cats Crookedstar's Promise, page 410
Bluestar's Prophecy[]
- "Fighting for our Clan is part of the warrior code. Whatever doubts we have, we must not doubt the warrior code. The forest and our Clanmates may change around us, but the warrior code remains the same."
- ―Sunfall to Bluepaw Bluestar's Prophecy, page 149
- After the battle at Sunningrocks, Sunfall congratulates Bluepaw and Snowpaw on successfully fighting off Crookedpaw, and mentions that Crookedpaw is big for an apprentice. After Bluepaw has received her warrior name, Bluefur, Sunfall sends her and Snowfur to go leaf gathering with Featherwhisker, calling them his warrior escorts, so the medicine cat can safely gather the herbs he needs. When they return, he asks them how they did on their first warrior assignments. Later, he goes on a patrol with Bluefur to Sunningrocks to check if RiverClan are invading again. After Pinestar leaves for a new life as a kittypet, Sunfall becomes Sunstar, and appoints Tawnyspots as his deputy. When Snowfur, Bluefur's sister, dies from being run over by a Twoleg monster, Sunstar is very sympathetic to his former apprentice, but he chides her for not giving Snowfur's kit, Whitekit, more attention. He also tells her that he understands that she has lost a lot but needs to be strong for the Clan. When she finally does take over as a foster mother for Whitekit, he seems quite relieved and happy.
- Not long after, Tawnyspots starts to become very ill, and Sunstar is pressured to choose a new deputy. He has two choices: Thistleclaw or Bluefur, and he chooses Bluefur after she gives her kits to Oakheart. Sunstar later reveals that he shared some of Bluefur's worries about Thistleclaw's violent nature, but was not as worried about it as Bluefur. He also then shared with Bluefur that he had only been given eight lives because Pinestar left with his ninth and became a kittypet, never surrendering his ninth life and leader position. Sunstar was killed by a dog after being weakened by sickness and was unable to run away from it, and he gave Bluefur one of her nine lives, along with the gift of courage, saying that she would know how to use it.
In the Novellas[]
Pinestar's Choice[]
- Sunkit is mentioned, though unnamed, when Larksong is feeding him and his brother, Featherkit. Much later, Sunfall is back from the battle with RiverClan at Sunningrocks and mentions that they won. When Pinestar makes his announcement, Sunfall is one of the cats who questions why he is leaving. Pinestar states that Sunfall will make a good leader, and later White-eye supports this. After leaving, Pinestar heads for Twolegplace, and notes that he took a different path as to avoid Sunfall and his patrol. Sunfall returns to camp after a battle with RiverClan, greeting Pinestar, and Pinestar silently apologizes for not fighting beside him, noticing Sunfall's bleeding ear. Sunfall says that ThunderClan won, recalling how he and his patrol chased them back to the river. Sunfall is shocked and questions Pinestar when he announces he is leaving to become a kittypet. Sunfall tells the tom angrily about how the other Clans might not understand, and warns him he won't able to return back to the forest. Pinestar shrugs, and entrusts his clan to Sunfall. Sunfall bows, saying he this is a honor, though his eyes still burned. Sunfall tells Pinestar he has led his Clan well, resting his tail on his former leader's flank. Cats around Pinestar start chattering about how Sunfall will make a great leader, then Pinestar leaves, leaving the Clan under the rule of Sunfall.
Goosefeather's Curse[]
- "The fact that Sunkit is going to grow up to be our leader makes him special."
- ―Goosefeather about Sunkit Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 8
- Time passes, and Featherkit and Sunkit grow into strong little kits, taking any chance they can to nip Goosefeather's tail when he isn't watching or bite newly made nests with their teeth. Larksong shoos the kits out into camp as soon as their eyes open so the other queens could have some peace. The kits totter around on sturdy legs and their fur is fluffed again in the cold. They pounce on an ivy tendril with ferocious squeaks. Goosefeather asks Cloudberry if she saw Sunkit jump as he is stronger than Featherkit already. Cloudberry warns him to be careful as she doesn't want the kits to hear and says that he sees their future every time he looks at them. Goosefeather points out that Sunkit will one day become leader, which makes him special, causing Cloudberry to snap back.
Spottedleaf's Heart[]
- When Spottedpaw hobbles around camp after she got injured, Sunstar reminds her that she can't do her duties until healed. Later, Thistleclaw tells Spottedpaw that he wants to know what she thinks, and lists Sunstar.
Redtail's Debt[]
- Redpaw eavesdrops on Tigerclaw, Sparrowpelt and Speckletail reporting to Sunstar about RiverClan marking Sunningrocks. He agrees with Tigerclaw's idea to defend Sunningrocks, and sends a patrol into RiverClan territory to send a message of force. He allows Redpaw, Willowpaw, Brindlepaw and Frostpaw to go, hoping to avoid a fight, and keeps them in a separate patrol with Bluefur, Tigerclaw, and their mentors. Sunstar announces his plan to the rest of the Clan and leads the first patrol. Sunstar's plan fails when Bluefur's patrol fails to show up because of a hawk almost killing Redpaw. Redpaw worries about telling Sunstar, but Tigerclaw assures him he will stick up for Redpaw.
- Moons later, Sunstar names Redtail and Willowpelt warriors. Redtail reflects how Sunstar hadn't scolded him for the hawk incident moons prior. After an incident with Stagleap and Sorrelpaw, Tigerclaw and Redtail report to Sunstar. However, Tigerclaw lies about what actually happened, and insists the two WindClan cats purposefully trespassed and attacked them. Sunstar believes them and promises to talk with Heatherstar that night at the Gathering.
- That night, Sunstar praises his medicine cats during a bout of whitecough and Redtail and Willowpelt as ThunderClan's newest warriors. He also reports a WindClan apprentice picked a fight with his warriors and asks Heatherstar for confirmation that it wouldn't happen again. Heatherstar replies she heard a different story and believes Sunstar would put the incident behind him, and he bristles. After, Stagleap and Redtail agree to speak with their leaders to convince them not to fight. Redtail spots Thistleclaw and Tigerclaw speaking with Bluefur and Sunstar on the way back to camp, and he decides to wait until Sunstar was calmer to talk with him. However, once they arrive back at camp, Sunstar announces his plans to attack WindClan to remind Heatherstar ThunderClan knew how to defend its borders. He agrees with Tigerclaw's plan to damage WindClan's camp. Redtail begs Tigerclaw to tell Sunstar the truth to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, but Tigerclaw cajoles him otherwise.
- Sunstar welcomes Redtail to StarClan and remarks he was very brave. Redtail worries about ThunderClan's future, and Sunstar shows him the camp through a pond. They spot a fiery ginger cat in the camp, and Sunstar explains Bluestar will name him Firepaw and he will save ThunderClan one day.
In the Field Guides[]
Code of the Clans[]
- Sunstar, whose warrior name is Sunfall, is the deputy under ThunderClan's leader, Pinestar. When the two young warriors, Dappletail and White-eye, are caught stealing fish, he teases them gently when they say the fish is disgusting. Sunfall is the one who leads ThunderClan into battle against RiverClan when Pinestar is absent. When his leader tells him that he will become a kittypet, Sunfall is full of understanding but points out that Pinestar will never be able to come back. Pinestar accepts it, and names Sunfall his successor as his last act of leader.
Battles of the Clans[]
- Sunstar appears as Sunfall in "Mousefur Speaks: The Deserter". He is on a border patrol with Lionpaw, Swiftbreeze and Bluepaw. He leads the patrol to the ShadowClan border where they are confronted by Foxheart, Cloudpaw, and Crowtail. He asks why they are on ThunderClan territory, to which Crowtail replies that they are hunting prey. Sunfall tells the ShadowClan cats that if they leave, the matter would be forgotten, but they end up fighting each other. Sunfall is first to attack, springing out at Foxheart.
The Ultimate Guide[]
- He is mentioned on the page for ThunderClan leader Pinestar, who says that after the battle over Sunningrocks with RiverClan, Pinestar ultimately decided that the life of a warrior was no longer for him, and he passed down leadership to his deputy, Sunfall.
Detailed description[]
Scars gained[]
The following is a chronological list of scars and/or major injuries that Sunstar has gained:
- Torn ear from a RiverClan raid in ThunderClan territory during Bluestar's Prophecy.[13]
Character pixels[]
Main images[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Alternate images[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Ceremonies[]
Lives granted[]
The following is a list of gifts Sunstar has granted during nine lives ceremonies:
Lives granted | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
Leader info[]
Leader info | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kin[]
Members[]
Mother:
Father:
Brother:
- Featherwhisker:[3] Deceased, residence unknown
Tree[]
Larksong ♀ | Flamenose ♂ | ||||||||||||
Sunstar ♂ | Featherwhisker ♂ | ||||||||||||
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Pinestar's Choice
- Goosefeather's Curse
- Tallstar's Revenge
- Yellowfang's Secret (Allegiance only)
- Crookedstar's Promise
- Bluestar's Prophecy †
- Leopardstar's Honor (Allegiance only)
- Spottedleaf's Heart
- Redtail's Debt
- Onestar's Confession (Allegiance only)
- The Last Hope
- Secrets of the Clans (First appearance; mentioned only) (Retconned)
- Code of the Clans
- Battles of the Clans
- The Ultimate Guide (Mentioned only)
Trivia[]
Interesting facts[]
- Sunstar was only given eight lives when he became leader because Pinestar kept his ninth one.[14]
- Sunstar and Featherwhisker are the first known brothers to serve as leader and medicine cat together.[6]
Author statements[]
- Kate has hinted that he may have had feelings for Moonflower.[17]
- The identities of his parents were initially revealed on Vicky's Facebook.[18][19]
Mistakes[]
- He was mistakenly called the ShadowClan deputy.[20]
- He was mistakenly described as a golden tabby.[21]
Continuity[]
The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.
- In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, Sunstar's is listed in the notable ThunderClan leaders section.[11] Sunstar fought against RiverClan to keep Sunningrocks part of ThunderClan territory. His brother, Featherwhisker, served as his medicine cat, who mentored the later ThunderClan medicine cat after him, Spottedleaf. Sunstar had two known apprentices, Bluestar, then Bluepaw, would go on to serve as his deputy and then leader after him. His other known apprentice was Lionheart. He was described as fair minded, even tempered, and wise.[11]
- Sunstar is also described with yellow tabby stripes and green eyes.[22]
Quotes[]
- Crookedpaw: "Where are the deputies?"
- Sunfall: "The ThunderClan deputy is right in front of you, and he'll pin back your whiskers if you don't do as you're told and be quiet!"
- Bluestar's Prophecy, page 161
- "We will make them understand that ThunderClan needs a leader. Featherwhisker is right: StarClan will not abandon us."
- ―Sunfall to all of ThunderClan Bluestar's Prophecy, page 312
- "You've had much grief for one cat. But life goes on. Whitekit will become an apprentice and then a warrior, and you can choose to help him with that or to let him work it out for himself. I have high hopes for you, Bluefur. You were my apprentice once, and I will always feel like your mentor. I want you to strive to become the best warrior you can be, because I believe one day ThunderClan will have need of your gifts."
- ―Sunstar to Bluefur Bluestar's Prophecy, page 369
- Sunstar: "I have just three lives left, not four."
- Bluefur: "How did you lose the extra one?"
- Bluestar's Prophecy, page 496
External links[]
- Leafstar: Mother or Leader? on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Stand Together or Fall Divided on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- The Forest Map: ThunderClan on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! Leopardstar's Honor: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! Onestar's Confession: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
Fan content[]
- Our Favorite Fourtrees Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Into the Wild artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 501
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, allegiances
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 8
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 497
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 163
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 314
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 142
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 504
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 28
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 27
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 23
- ↑ Revealed in Redtail's Debt, chapter 10
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 302
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 496
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 492
- ↑ Revealed in Pinestar's Choice, chapter 4
- ↑ Revealed on Kate's Twitter (backup link)
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
- ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 175
- ↑ Revealed in Tallstar's Revenge, page 128
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 25