Swallowtail (RC)

"Don't worry, Mallowkit. Your mother will be back in a moment. Sneezekit's probably with her."

— Swallowtail reassuring Mallowkit in Dark River, page 134

Swallowtail (RC)
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	RiverClan
Names
Apprentice:	Swallowpaw
Warrior:	Swallowtail
Elder:	Swallowtail
Education
Mentor:	Mosspelt
Apprentice:	Splashpaw
Book appearances
Living	Mothwing's Secret, Dawn, Starlight, Twilight, Sunset, Leafpool's Wish, Power of Three, Hollyleaf's Story, Battles of the Clans
Living	Mothwing's Secret, Dawn, Starlight, Twilight, Sunset, Leafpool's Wish, Power of Three, Hollyleaf's Story, Battles of the Clans

Swallowtail is a plump, dark brown tabby she-cat with green eyes.

Swallowtail was a RiverClan elder under Leopardstar's leadership in the lake territories. As an apprentice, Swallowpaw was mentored by Mosspelt before earning her warrior name of Swallowtail. She mentored Splashpaw and participated in the Great Journey. Swallowtail briefly befriended Rainwhisker of ThunderClan, but their friendship didn't last after the journey ended. She later retired and became an elder.

History

In The New Prophecy arc

Dawn

Swallowtail is a RiverClan warrior, and her apprentice is Splashpaw.

Starlight

Rainwhisker: "Hi, Swallowtail! How's the prey running?"

Swallowtail: "Fine."

^{Starlight, pages 228-229}

Swallowtail befriends Dustpelt and Rainwhisker during the Great Journey. However, when Rainwhisker bounds forward to meet her during a Gathering, she seems awkward around him. When Rainwhisker asks how things are going, she glances at Leopardstar, who is sitting nearby, and murmurs softly that things are fine. As Rainwhisker bends down to lick her between the ears, he remembers that they are from different Clans, and things are different. She is shown to be a little uncomfortable talking with the ThunderClan warrior now that the Clans are in their new homes, despite traveling with them on the journey.

In the Power of Three arc

The Sight

Swallowtail is now an elder.

Dark River

Sneezekit: "Graymist? Graymist?"

Swallowtail: "Sneezekit? What are you doing away from your mother?"

^{Dark River, page 134}

When all of RiverClan attends the Gathering, she helps Sneezekit and Mallowkit find their mother, Graymist. Then, when Hollypaw sneaks to the temporary RiverClan camp on the island, she sees Swallowtail there. Later, when Hollypaw, is leaving the camp with Squirrelflight, Willowpaw brushes muzzles with Hollypaw, Swallowtail is seen flattening her ears in disapproval.

In the Novellas

Mothwing's Secret

"Well I wasn't going to let that trout get away just because my leg hurt a little. Thanks, Mothwing, I was afraid I'd made it worse."

―Swallowtail ^{Mothwing's Secret, chapter 7}

Swallowpaw is an apprentice and her mentor is Mosspelt. Swallowpaw, Mosspelt, Mistyfoot, Hawkfrost, and Mothwing search for watermint for Mudfur's stock and Swallowpaw motions towards a plant and asks if it is watermint. She attends the Clan meeting when Leopardstar announces Mudfur received a sign from StarClan blessing Mothwing's apprenticeship. Moons later, she earns her warrior name of Swallowtail. She and Blackclaw rush Voletooth to the medicine den when their Clanmate is stung by a swarm of bees. A moon later, Mothwing treats Swallowtail's leg after she strained herself trying to catch a trout.

In the Field Guides

Battles of the Clans

Swallowtail appears in Blackstar Speaks: Ambush by the Lake. She is described as plump and lazy with a distinctive rolling gait. When Blackstar and his cats attack the RiverClan patrol, Blackstar comments that he is impressed that the overfed she-cat could move so neatly. Cedarheart then blocks her way towards the halfbridge to cut off a route of escape.

Character pixels

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. Apprentice Version Warrior Version Elder Version

Appearances

• Mothwing's Secret
• Dawn (First appearance; allegiance only)
• Starlight
• Twilight (Allegiance only)
• Sunset (Allegiance only)
• Leafpool's Wish (Allegiance only)
• The Sight (Allegiance only)
• Dark River
• Outcast (Allegiance only)
• Eclipse (Allegiance only)
• Long Shadows (Allegiance only)
• Sunrise (Allegiance only)
• Hollyleaf's Story (Allegiance only)
• Battles of the Clans

Trivia

Continuity

The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.

• In Su Susann's "Missing Kits" on Vicky's Facebook, Swallowtail's parents were Whitefang and Petaldust. She and Reedwhisker were mates and their sons were Rainstorm and Mintfur. She named Rainstorm after Rainwhisker, who she became good friends with during the Great Journey.
• In the Chinese full-color version of Return to the Clans, Swallowpaw, Reedpaw, Pinefur, Duskfur, and Icewing appear as apprentices playfighting as Tigerstar.