Swiftstar (WC)

"I speak only what we all know to be true. We are four Clans now, not five. Some cats may say we brought this upon our own heads. I do not deny what I did when SkyClan came begging for WindClan territory. But what good is it to gaze backward? [...] There is only one question left. What are we to do now? [...] Listen. Every cat in SkyClan may be dead. Consider how many Twolegs have come to the forest! How many monsters! They destroyed SkyClan's territory. Perhaps they destroyed SkyClan, too. But why should they stop there?"

— Swiftstar to the Gathering in StormClan's Folly, pages 6-7

Swiftstar (WC)
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	StarClan
Past:	WindClan
Names
Leader:	Swiftstar
StarClan resident:	Swiftstar
Leader position
Succeeded by:	Galestar
Book appearances
Living	Cloudstar's Journey, Firestar's Quest, StormClan's Folly
Living	Cloudstar's Journey, Firestar's Quest, StormClan's Folly
Dead	Firestar's Quest
Dead	Firestar's Quest

Swiftstar is a big dark gray-black tom with a long tail and yellow eyes.

Swiftstar was an ancient WindClan leader in the forest territories, and his deputy and medicine cat were Milkfur and Larkwing, respectively. During the destruction of the SkyClan forest territory, Swiftstar was the first to refuse Cloudstar's request that the other leaders give up territory for SkyClan. He coldly stated that SkyClan could not go around begging for territory. Later in StarClan, Swiftstar gave Leafdapple a life for selflessness to use well in the service of her Clan. At her ceremony, he and the other leaders confessed their wrongdoing.

Quick Answers

How did Swiftstar's decision impact SkyClan's fate?

Swiftstar's refusal to help SkyClan had a major impact on their fate. Along with other Clan leaders, Swiftstar doubted SkyClan's survival in another territory, leading to their forced departure. This decision eventually led to SkyClan's downfall. Swiftstar later regretted this choice, feeling lifelong guilt. After his death, he appeared at Leafstar's leadership ceremony to apologize and gave a life for selflessness.

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What role did Swiftstar play in WindClan's history?

Swiftstar significantly impacted WindClan's history by participating in the decision to expel SkyClan. He later expressed regret for this decision, acknowledging the guilt it caused. His leadership and reflections are documented in 'Firestar's Quest.'

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Who were Swiftstar's deputy and medicine cat in WindClan?

Swiftstar's deputy in WindClan is unknown, and the medicine cat was Goldenleaf.

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History

In the Super Editions

Firestar's Quest

"You can't just walk in here and ask for our territory. We can barely feed our own Clans as it is."

―Swiftstar to Cloudstar ^{Firestar's Quest, page 3}

Swiftstar, an ancient WindClan leader, is complaining about wasting time, saying that the Gathering should start. He snorts that WindClan has better things to do than sit around waiting for cats who cannot be bothered to come at the proper time. When he asks Cloudstar why SkyClan is late, Cloudstar does not reply. Swiftstar then remarks that it looks like Cloudstar brought his whole Clan, and is puzzled why. Cloudstar replies saying that it is true, and reveals that Twolegs have destroyed SkyClan's territory. When Cloudstar asks for more territory, Swiftstar coldly tells him that he cannot just walk in and ask for territory, since they can barely feed their own Clans as it is.

After the other leaders make remarks of their own, Swiftstar adds that only WindClan knows how to catch rabbits, and that there is nowhere on WindClan territory where SkyClan could make a camp. Swiftstar supports Redstar's suggestion that SkyClan should leave and, with a hint of a snarl in his voice, tells them to go somewhere far away so SkyClan cannot steal another Clan's prey. Swiftstar argues with Larkwing, his medicine cat, about whether or not SkyClan's leaving is the will of StarClan.

Much later, Swiftstar appears with the other leaders: Redstar, Birchstar, and Dawnstar, the Clan leaders at the time of SkyClan's departure, during Leafstar's leadership ceremony. He tells Cloudstar that when he walked the forest he never told any cat he was sorry, but he says it now; what the leaders did was wrong. Swiftstar hardly gives Leafdapple time to receive Birchstar's life before he gives Leafdapple a life for selflessness, to use well in the service of her Clan. Swiftstar tells Firestar that the leaders had paid for their wrongdoing. None of the leaders could rest easily after SkyClan was gone, and guilt clawed at them for the rest of their lives.

StormClan's Folly

"Silence! All of you! [...] We cannot go on like this. Twelve moons have passed, and SkyClan has still not returned. It is time to face the truth—they never will."

―Swiftstar to a Gathering ^{StormClan's Folly, pages}

At a Gathering, Swiftstar silences the Clans as he declares they must accept that SkyClan may never return, and they are now four Clans. He recalls how he denied SkyClan help when they had asked him. Swiftstar poses the question of whether the Twolegs would stop at SkyClan, and possibly encroach onto the rest of the Clans. Seasons later, Galestar recalls how Swiftstar had lost his final life soon after she became deputy.

Galestar later notes that Petalstep served as a warrior under Swiftstar.

Bramblestar's Storm

Although unnamed, Swiftstar is mentioned by Firestar, when the old ThunderClan leader is talking to Bramblestar about SkyClan. He says that the leaders of ThunderClan, WindClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan had to deal with the consequences of their actions after being responsible for driving out SkyClan. Firestar goes on to tell Bramblestar that each of these leaders had come to visit Leafstar during her leadership ceremony, and in turn, gave her a life. Firestar says that this served as not only an apology, but a reminder that one Clan is not able to survive alone.

In the Novellas

Cloudstar's Journey

"Larkwing, you say you know the will of StarClan, but can you tell me why the moon is still shining? If StarClan didn't agree that SkyClan should leave the forest, they would send clouds to cover the sky."

―Swiftstar to Larkwing when she protests SkyClan's exile ^{Cloudstar's Journey, chapter 10}

At a Gathering, Swiftstar and his Clan attend, just like normal, and when every leader is finished sharing their news he invites them to go join the mingling cats below, and comments on how he is getting old to be sitting on the Great Rock for extended amounts of time.

At the next Gathering, the Gathering where SkyClan takes its leave, Swiftstar demands what kept SkyClan. He exclaims that Cloudstar must have brought his whole Clan, and Cloudstar confirms it. When SkyClan's leader asks for territory since SkyClan's home has been destroyed by Twolegs, Swiftstar is the first to respond. He refuses, coldly saying that Cloudstar cannot just walk in begging for territory while the other Clans are barely salvaging as is. After Birchstar tells Cloudstar that SkyClan cats cannot fish, Swiftstar agrees that only WindClan can easily get rabbits and birds that are on the moors. After Cloudstar hopelessly asks what to do and Redstar tells them to leave, Swiftstar agrees with Redstar that they should leave and find a faraway place where they cannot steal prey. Swiftstar's medicine cat, Larkwing, disagrees, but he tells her the moon is still shining, and if SkyClan was not meant to leave, clouds would obscure the moon and the sky.

In the Field Guides

The Ultimate Guide

Although not mentioned by name, it is mentioned on Cloudstar's and Skywatcher's page that when Twoleg dens started to destroy SkyClan territory, Cloudstar looked to his rival Clans to help him and his Clan survive. Instead, Swiftstar and the other leaders protested that sharing territory would be impossible, that SkyClan could not catch different prey, that if there were only four Great Oaks in the hollow, perhaps there were only meant to be four Clans.

Character pixels

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

Ceremonies

Lives granted

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

Lives granted
Gift Receiver Selflessness Leafstar

Leader info

Leader info
Deputies Name From To Milkfur Galesweep Cloudstar's Journey StormClan's Folly StormClan's Folly StormClan's Folly Medicine cats Name From To Larkwing Cloudstar's Journey StormClan's Folly

Appearances

• Cloudstar's Journey
• Firestar's Quest (First appearance)
• StormClan's Folly
• Bramblestar's Storm (Indirect mention only)
• The Ultimate Guide (Indirect mention only)

Trivia

Continuity

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

• On Vicky's Facebook, Swiftstar has green eyes.

Quotes

"WindClan has better things to do than sit about waiting for cats who can't be bothered to come at the proper time."

―Swiftstar when waiting for SkyClan to arrive ^{Firestar's Quest, page 2}

"We've paid for it. None of us could rest easily after SkyClan was gone. Guilt clawed us for the rest of our lives."

―Swiftstar, regretting driving away SkyClan ^{Firestar's Quest, page 49}

External links

• Exclusive: StormClan's Folly Sneak Peek on Warriors official website (backup link)