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"I don't know when the end came for Swiftpaw. I only remember him fighting like all of LionClan. That's how I will always remember him."
Brightheart about Swiftpaw's final moments in Secrets of the Clans, page 14


Swiftpaw is a small[7] black-and-white tom[8] with pale amber eyes.[9]

Swiftpaw was a ThunderClan apprentice under Bluestar's leadership in the forest territories. He was born to Goldenflower and Patchpelt alongside Lynxkit, and was an older half-brother to Bramblekit and Tawnykit. He was apprenticed as Swiftpaw to his half-brother, Longtail. When Bluestar refused to give him, Thornpaw, and Brightpaw their warrior names out of paranoia, Swiftpaw formed a plan with the other apprentices to drive out the pack of dogs near Snakerocks. Brightpaw was the only one to agree to go with him; however, both were quickly overwhelmed by the amount of dogs, and in the end, Swiftpaw was killed, and Brightpaw was severely injured. Swiftpaw ascended to StarClan and gave Fireheart a life for mentoring.

Quick Answers

Who were Swiftpaw's parents and siblings? toggle section
Swiftpaw's parents were Goldenflower and Patchpelt, and his littermate was Lynxkit. His older half-brother though his father Patchpelt was Longtail, and his younger half-siblings were Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt through his mother Goldenflower.
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What was the reason behind Swiftpaw's plan to drive the dogs out? toggle section
Bluestar refused to make Swiftpaw a warrior due to her paranoia and mistrust in her Clan, and she only trusted Fireheart and his apprentice Cloudpaw, who did not believe in StarClan. When only Cloudtail was named a warrior, Swiftpaw, motivated by his anger and a need to prove his worth, and Brightpaw devised a plan to discover what creature was stealing their prey at Snakerocks. He hoped their bravery would convince Bluestar to name them warriors, but it resulted in his death and Brightpaw's grave injury.
Provided by: Community
Who was Swiftpaw's mentor during his apprenticeship? toggle section
Swiftpaw's mentor was his older half-brother Longtail.
Provided by: Community

History[]

In The Prophecies Begin arc[]

Fire and Ice[]

"It's okay, you're doing fine."
―Longtail as Swiftpaw becomes an apprentice Fire and Ice, page 14
He is apprenticed to Longtail and receives his new name, Swiftpaw. He is shown to be very nervous and shaky as he approaches his new mentor. To Fireheart's annoyance, Longtail treats Swiftpaw much better than he treated him when he first joined the Clan. Swiftpaw is shown to have gradually adopted Longtail's personality when he jeers along with his mentor when Cloudkit is brought to ThunderClan.

Forest of Secrets[]

During a Gathering, it is thought by Fireheart that Swiftpaw told some ShadowClan apprentices that ThunderClan was keeping Brokentail within their Clan. This causes a war among WindClan, ShadowClan, and ThunderClan because the other Clans are angry that ThunderClan would protect a cat who has done such evil things.

Rising Storm[]

When Fireheart struggles to organize patrols in his new position as deputy, he suggests that Longtail leads the sunhigh patrol, but Runningwind replies with exasperation that Longtail was out training with Swiftpaw. However, Whitestorm helps Fireheart sort out the patrols and suggests that when Longtail and Swiftpaw return, they can go on the evening patrol with him instead. He briefly chats with the other apprentices before Brindleface's kits are set to be apprenticed. After the forest fire that ravages ThunderClan's camp, he replaces Mousefur on guard duty, and helps out with the rebuilding of the camp.

A Dangerous Path[]

"It's Swiftpaw. He . . . he was really angry that Bluestar wouldn't make him into a warrior. Last night he got all us apprentices together in the den. He said we'd never be warriors unless we did something so brave that Bluestar couldn't go ignoring us anymore. […] He said we ought to find out who has been killing prey in the forest. He said you didn't seem bothered about finding our enemy. He wanted us to go to Snakerocks because that's where most of the scraps of prey have been found. Swiftpaw thought we might pick up a trail."
―Fernpaw telling Fireheart of Swiftpaw's plan A Dangerous Path, page 212
Swiftpaw goes out on patrol with Bluestar, Fireheart, Cloudpaw, and his mentor, Longtail. They find a RiverClan patrol, led by Leopardstar, invading Sunningrocks, and Fireheart orders him to go back to camp and bring reinforcements. After the battle, Longtail blames Fireheart for his apprentice not being made into a warrior because when he was sent back to camp to fetch more warriors, what he called an "apprentice task", he did not get a chance to participate in the fight very much. This lost Swiftpaw the opportunity to show off his battle skills in front of Bluestar.
He is ready to become a warrior, but Bluestar is thoroughly convinced that every cat in her Clan is a traitor, especially Tigerstar's old allies, Darkstripe and Longtail, with the exception of Fireheart. She refuses to let Swiftpaw become a warrior because of who his mentor is, even after persuasion from Fireheart. She agrees to make Cloudpaw a warrior, partly because of his disbelief in StarClan, even though Swiftpaw has trained for longer than him. Cloudpaw becomes a warrior, Cloudtail, leaving Swiftpaw, Thornpaw, and Brightpaw as apprentices.
Swiftpaw is furious, and his anger compels him to prove himself to Bluestar. Swiftpaw convinces the apprentices that if they do something really brave, Bluestar will have to make them warriors. He plans to attack Snakerocks and drive out whatever was killing their prey and living there. Only Brightpaw goes with him to the Snakerocks. They are then met by a pack of vicious dogs, much larger than they had expected. Swiftpaw is killed in the attack, and Brightpaw is viciously scarred. Brightpaw clings to one of the dogs as it joins its pack mates in dragging Swiftpaw out of the tree. He is pulled to the ground, where Swiftpaw is brutally killed by the dogs. His body, along with Brightpaw, is later found and brought back to camp by Fireheart and his patrol.

The Darkest Hour[]

"Before you go, I've something more to say. First, I want to honor the apprentice who should have been here, receiving his warrior name along with Thornclaw. You all know how Swiftpaw met his death trying to hunt down the dog pack who threatened us. His Clan will always remember that."
―Firestar honoring Swiftpaw during a Clan meeting The Darkest Hour, page 106
During Firestar's leadership ceremony, Swiftpaw appears as a member of StarClan to give Firestar a life. Firestar apologizes to Swiftpaw for not trying harder to convince Bluestar to make him a warrior, but Swiftpaw is not angry anymore and is more forgiving. He gives Firestar his sixth life, with the gift of mentoring, so he can pass on his knowledge and skills to all the young cats of ThunderClan. When Firestar is given the life, he feels a pang of sheer terror, pain, and a flash of red. He thinks that was what Swiftpaw experienced at the end of his life. At his former denmate, Thornpaw's, warrior ceremony, Firestar mentions Swiftpaw and how he died in honor fighting the dog pack. His former mentor Longtail is seen sitting among the ThunderClan cats with pride and grief on his face at the honorable mention of his apprentice. After Darkstripe is exiled, Firestar gives Longtail another apprentice, Fernpaw, thinking of Swiftpaw as well.

In the Power of Three arc[]

Outcast[]

Swiftpaw is mentioned when Whitetail says that Breezepaw had gone out with other apprentices to fight dogs without orders and no warriors for backup. This reminds Lionpaw of the story of how Swiftpaw was killed when he and Brightheart were attacked by the dog pack back in the old forest.

In the Omen of the Stars arc[]

The Last Hope[]

"And Swiftpaw, yours was for mentoring."
―Jayfeather describing Swiftpaw's life to Firestar to ThunderClan The Last Hope, page 326
Swiftpaw is seen briefly at Firestar's death along with the rest of the cats that gave him his nine lives. Jayfeather notes that he gave Firestar the life of mentoring, to which Brambleclaw comments that Firestar was the best mentor he could have hoped for.

In the Super Editions[]

Moth Flight's Vision[]

Although unnamed, Moth Flight sees him giving Firestar one of his nine lives.

Yellowfang's Secret[]

In the manga at the end of the book, Swiftpaw and Brightpaw are seen being told by Fireheart that they have to check the elders for ticks.

In the Novellas[]

Redtail's Debt[]

Redtail spots him playing with his littermate and Frostfur's kits near the nursery as their mothers watch them protectively.

In the Stand-alone graphic novels[]

A Thief in ThunderClan[]

Moons after the battle against BloodClan, Brightheart still experiences nightmares about the dog pack attacking her and Swiftpaw. No matter what she tries, Swiftpaw always dies. The night after Firestar and Sandstorm leave on their mysterious quest, Brightheart has another nightmare of Swiftpaw's death.

Character pixels[]

Main images[]

Alternate images[]

Official art[]

Ceremonies[]

Lives granted[]

The following is a list of gifts Swiftpaw has granted during nine lives ceremonies:


Kin[]

Members[]

Father:

Patchpelt:[10] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Mother:

Goldenflower:[6] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Sibling:

Lynxkit:[10] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-brothers:

Longtail:[11] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Brambleclaw:[12] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)

Half-sister:

Tawnypelt:[12] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
See more
Grandfathers:
Smallear:[13] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Adderfang:[14] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Grandmothers:

Speckletail:[15] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Swiftbreeze:[16] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Aunts:

Leopardfoot:[17] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Willowpelt:[16] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Spottedleaf: [16] Deceased, no residence
Mistlekit:[18] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Uncles:

Redtail:[16] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Lionheart:[15] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Snowkit:[19] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-grandmothers:

Harepounce:[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Flashnose:[21] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-grandfather:

Stagleap:[22] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-aunt:

One-eye:[20] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Great-great-aunt:

Daisytoe:[21] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-nephews:

Tigerstar:[23] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Flametail:[23] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Alderheart:[24] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Juniperkit:[25] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-nieces:

Dawnpelt:[23] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Sparkpelt:[24] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Dandelionkit:[25] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Half-grandnieces:

Sleekwhisker:[26] Living (As of River of Fire)
Pouncestep:[27] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Lightleap:[27] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Finchlight:[28] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)

Half-grandnephews:

Strikestone:[29] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Juniperclaw:[29] Deceased, verified border guardian between the Dark Forest and StarClan
Shadowsight:[27] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Nightheart:[28] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Flickerkit:[30] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Birchpaw:[31] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Rowankit:[31] Deceased, verified StarClan member

First cousins:

Cinderpelt:[32][33] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Brightheart:[34][33] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Brackenfur:[32][33] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Thornclaw:[34][33] Living (As of Ivypool's Heart)
Darkstripe:[35] Deceased, no residence
Graystripe:[36] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Sorreltail:[37] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Rainwhisker:[37] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Sootfur:[37] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Tigerstar:[38] Deceased, no residence
Mistkit:[38] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Nightkit:[38] Deceased, verified StarClan member

Tree[]

    = Tom

    = She-cat

    = Gender unknown


Appearances[]

Trivia[]

Interesting facts[]

  • Swiftpaw's father is not Tigerstar.[6][39]

Author Statements[]

  • On her Facebook page, Vicky does believe that Patchpelt may be Swiftpaw's father.[40]

Mistakes[]

  • Swiftpaw was shown as a solid-colored cat in the manga in Yellowfang's Secret.[41]
  • Swiftpaw is mistakenly shown as mostly white on the Warriors website's family tree.[42]

Continuity[]

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

  • In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, When Goldenflower, his mother, becomes an elder, she remembers that she nursed Swiftpaw, then Swiftkit, in the nursery.[43] Brightheart tells the story of when she and Swiftpaw tried to take on the dog pack by themselves. Brightheart says that he was killed at Snakerocks when she and Swiftpaw were trying to prove themselves so that they could become warriors. They were trying to find out who or what was stealing ThunderClan's prey at Snakerocks. Brightpaw tried to stop Swiftpaw, but he did not listen, and got them into a fight with a dog four times their size. Six more dogs emerged, and Swiftpaw died fighting, while Brightpaw lost an eye and an ear, but recovered from her severe injuries under Cinderpelt's care. As the story ends, Brightpaw says she will always remember him "fighting like all of LionClan," despite the fact they were impossibly outnumbered.[44]
  • Swiftpaw's sibling, Lynxkit, was originally introduced on Vicky's Facebook. Lynxkit was identified as one of the kits in Into the Wild who died of weakness.[45]
  • In the Chinese full-color version of Into the Woods, Swiftpaw and Longtail appear as the ThunderClan trespassers.[46][47]
  • In The Prophecies Begin graphic novel adaptation, Swiftkit is one of the kits that Clawface steals,[48] replacing Brightkit.[49] He is also apprenticed alongside Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw,[5] when he was originally apprenticed prior to Fireheart and Graystripe searching for WindClan.[50]

Quotes[]

Fireheart: "Swiftpaw should be a warrior too. He did well today."
Bluestar: "Swiftpaw carried a message back to camp. That's apprentice work. He's not ready to become a warrior yet."
Fireheart: "But he came back to the battle."
Bluestar: "No! I cannot trust Swiftpaw. Cloudpaw is stronger and braver—and besides, he doesn't grovel to StarClan like the rest of you. The Clan needs more warriors like that."
—Bluestar refusing to make Swiftpaw into a warrior A Dangerous Path, pages 204-205


See more
Fireheart: "Longtail, I'm sorry, I've got bad news. Bluestar has agreed to make Cloudpaw a warrior, but—"
Longtail: "But not Swiftpaw? That's what you're going to say, isn't it?"
Fireheart: "I'm sorry, Longtail. I tried to persuade Bluestar, but she wouldn't agree."
Longtail: "So you say. But it's strange that your apprentice is chosen, and mine is ignored. Swiftpaw never went off to live with Twolegs!"
Fireheart: "I'm not going into all that again. Bluestar said she's making Cloudpaw a warrior because he fought well, while Swiftpaw . . ."
Longtail: "Took a message. And who made him take it? He would have stayed to fight if you hadn't sent him away!"
Fireheart: "I know that. I'm just as disappointed as you are. I'll do my best get Swiftpaw made a warrior soon, I promise."
Longtail: "If I believed that, I'd believe anything!"
—Fireheart speaking to Longtail about Swiftpaw not becoming a warrior A Dangerous Path, pages 205-206


"Angry at Bluestar's refusal to make him a warrior, and desperate to prove himself, Swiftpaw had gone out to track down whatever was preying on the cats in the forest. The dog pack had killed him, and Fireheart knew he would blame himself forever for not trying harder to make Bluestar change her mind. But Swiftpaw showed no anger now. His eyes shone with a wisdom far beyond his age as he touched his nose to Fireheart's."
―Fireheart upon seeing Swiftpaw in StarClan The Darkest Hour, page 51


"The life Swiftpaw gave him was a pang of anguish so great Fireheart thought it would stop his heart. It ended in a jolt of pure terror, and a flash of light red as blood. Fireheart knew he was experiencing what Swiftpaw had felt in the last moments of his life."
―Fireheart after Swiftpaw gave him a life The Darkest Hour, page 51


"Swiftpaw . . . and Lostface. They should both be with me."
―Thornpaw to Firestar, grieving for his former denmates The Darkest Hour, page 98


"Swiftpaw said we should do something so brave that Bluestar would have to make us warriors too. None of us knew what had been eating the prey around Snakerocks, but Swiftpaw figured if we went out there, we'd find a trail to follow. It made sense, you know?"
―Brightheart about Swiftpaw Secrets of the Clans, page 12


"I don't know when the end came for Swiftpaw. I only remember him fighting like all of LionClan. That's how I will always remember him."
―Brightheart about Swiftpaw Secrets of the Clans, page 14

External links[]

Fan content[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 51
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 14
  3. Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 216
  4. Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 218
  5. 5.0 5.1 Revealed in The Prophecies Begin, volume 1, page 219
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 225
  7. Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 13
  8. Revealed in Fire and Ice, allegiances
  9. Revealed in Fire and Ice, chapter 1
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
  11. Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Revealed in Rising Storm, pages 19-20
  13. Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
  14. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 32
  15. 15.0 15.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 48
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 362
  17. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 8
  18. Revealed in Rising Storm, page 16
  19. Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 44
  20. 20.0 20.1 Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 8
  21. 21.0 21.1 Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 3
  22. Revealed on Vicky's Facebook {{Screenshot|Eaglestorm, Ashfoot, Speckletail, Harepounce, Windflight, Mudclaw.screenshot.png}
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 Revealed in Dark River, pages 20-21
  24. 24.0 24.1 Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, page 10
  25. 25.0 25.1 Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, pages 9-10
  26. Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, pages 347-348
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 187
  28. 28.0 28.1 Revealed in Lost Stars, allegiances
  29. 29.0 29.1 Revealed in Shattered Sky, pages 114-115
  30. Revealed in Squirrelflight's Hope, page 253
  31. 31.0 31.1 Revealed in River, allegiances
  32. 32.0 32.1 Revealed in Fire and Ice, pages 95-97
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
  34. 34.0 34.1 Revealed in Forest of Secrets, pages 62-63
  35. Revealed in Onestar's Confession, allegiances
  36. Revealed in Graystripe's Vow, page 44
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 Revealed in Rising Storm, page 120
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 266
  39. Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 4
  40. Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
  41. Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret comic
  42. Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
  43. Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 116
  44. Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, pages 12-14
  45. Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
  46. Revealed on the Chinese Wiki
  47. Revealed in Into the Woods, Chinese full-color edition, page 70
  48. Revealed in The Prophecies Begin, volume 1, page 169
  49. Revealed in Exile from ShadowClan, page 147
  50. Revealed in Fire and Ice, chapter 2
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