Tanglewhisker

"We can't ask ThunderClan for anything! They already think we're weak. And if this damp gets into all our bones, we won't be able to fight off a minnow, let alone those mangy warriors."

— Tanglewhisker to Mudfur in Crookedstar's Promise, page 421

Tanglewhisker
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	RiverClan
Biographical information
Cause of death:	Illness
Names
Elder:	Tanglewhisker
Kin
Mate:	Birdsong
Book appearances
Living	Tallstar's Revenge, Crookedstar's Promise, Leopardstar's Honor
Living	Tallstar's Revenge, Crookedstar's Promise, Leopardstar's Honor

Tanglewhisker is a long-haired tabby tom with a thick, knotted pelt, a wide, graying back, grizzled paws, and a ragged ear.

History

In the Super Editions

Crookedstar's Promise

"She's definitely got a tongue in her head. When Troutclaw joined StarClan I thought I'd get some peace."

―Tanglewhisker to Birdsong when she starts complaining ^{Crookedstar's Promise, page 420}

During the storm, he slides out of the elders' den, saying that he's never seen a storm like this before. His mate, Birdsong, follows and asks where they are going. Tanglewhisker strokes her with his tail, and says that they are going further inland where it's safe.

Stormkit is seen climbing a tree branch during a flood, and he slips and plunges into the water. Suddenly, Tanglewhisker dives in and saves him, complaining about kits. He takes him by the scruff and leaves him by his mother. He then shakes the water out of his pelt, and Birdsong scolds him, saying he'll catch a cold. He replies that she couldn't have possibly wanted him to let Stormkit drown. Birdsong says one of the warriors could have saved him, but Tanglewhisker shrugs, saying that they're all busy. Later, Hailstar says that Rippleclaw's patrol will be back soon, and Tanglewhisker comments that he hopes they've caught something edible this time. Birdsong cheerfully replies that she's sure they will have, as it's been a moon since the flood.

As Stormkit and Oakkit slide out of the nursery, they see Tanglewhisker with Troutclaw and Birdsong sunning themselves on the smooth earth in front of the elders' den. After Stormkit is released from the nursery, Tanglewhisker shares fresh-kill with Hailstar, Shellheart, and Birdsong. Birdsong spots Stormkit, and Tanglewhisker appears behind her, tail curled over her back. He asks if that is Stormkit out of the medicine den, and Shellheart arrives to see his son.

When the ceremony is about to start, Tanglewhisker heads down the slope. Later, Shellheart brings back a fish. He gives some to Crookedkit and mentions giving some of the fish to the elders, and that Tanglewhisker won't believe his eyes. As Hailstar starts Oakkit's apprentice ceremony, Tanglewhisker pokes his head out of the den, grumbling. Petalpaw cleans out Tanglewhisker's nest. When the apprentices, Petalpaw, Beetlepaw, and Volepaw refuse to let Crookedkit help, Tanglewhisker, patting his nest into shape, mutters that Crookedkit has to learn sometime. After Crookedkit's return, Tanglewhisker trots down from the elders' den with Troutclaw and Birdsong. Rippleclaw asks suspiciously if they should welcome him back so easily. Tanglewhisker disagrees, saying that Crookedkit is one of them. As they welcome him back, Tanglewhisker and Birdsong weave around him, purring. Shellheart suggests cleaning out the elders' nest, and Tanglewhisker agrees.

Later, as Reedfeather visits the RiverClan camp, Tanglewhisker, Birdsong, and Troutclaw bristle in front of the den. When the secret comes out about Fallowtail's kits, Tanglewhisker murmurs that they'll never know where the kits' loyalties lie. Tanglewhisker is alarmed when Softwing tells them all about the dog. Later, Tanglewhisker and Troutclaw reach the clearing as Hailstar calls a meeting. After the battle with ThunderClan, he carries a lump of snow for Shimmerpelt to drink from. Much after Crookedjaw becomes a warrior, Birdsong calls to Tanglewhisker to come, mentioning his ticks and that he can't reach most of them.

At the Gathering, Tanglewhisker greets Mumblefoot. As the Gathering starts to break up, Crookedjaw paces around Oakheart, Tanglewhisker and Birdsong catching up. When RiverClan takes back Sunningrocks, Tanglewhisker and Birdsong are happy about the warmth. After Rainflower's death, Tanglewhisker carries her body. When Mudfur did one-on-one combat, Tanglewhisker appears angry, saying RiverClan has never fought that way. While Shellheart announces that he's moving to the elders' den, Tanglewhisker nudges him, saying there's plenty of room in the den.

As Birdsong scowls at Crookedjaw and Mudfur for coming in, Tanglewhisker rolls his eyes, saying that when Troutclaw joined StarClan, he thought he would get some peace. While Brambleberry and Mudfur talk, Tanglewhisker snorts that they shouldn't ask ThunderClan for anything. Birdsong then talks to him about the mutt that used to live in the big nest by the Twoleg meadow. Tanglewhisker questions her, and his eyes gleam as she tells him about the dry grass.

After Hailstar dies, Birdsong paces the edge of the clearing, wailing. Tanglewhisker pads after her. He tries to comfort her and says that she shouldn't blame herself. Crookedjaw thinks about how Birdsong liked to say 'hungry bellies make angry hearts', and that Tanglewhisker had snapped at her the last time she said it. When Fallowtail moves to the elders' den, they mention that Tanglewhisker had died.

Leopardstar's Honor

"She misses Tanglewhisker. The camp doesn't seem the same without him."

―Silverstream to Leopardfur about Birdsong's grief ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 297}

Whitepaw picks ticks from Tanglewhisker's pelt when he overhears the warriors prepare a patrol to Sunningrocks, though Whitefang chides his apprentice to return to his task. Tanglewhisker and Birdsong peer from the elders' den when Crookedstar announces Whitefang's death. After Whitepaw passes his assessment, he complains about being ordered to clean the elders' nests, though Leopardfur insists he can ask Emberkit and Mosskit to help. When Leopardfur is chosen as the new deputy, she overhears Tanglewhisker and Birdsong whisper doubts to each other.

In leaf-bare, Sedgecreek and Lakeshine repair the elders' den, and Tanglewhisker and Birdsong sun themselves in the faint sunshine. When Leopardfur's patrol returns with a huge salmon stolen from a Twoleg, Crookedstar asks Shadepaw to bring a section to the elders. Tanglewhisker complains about eating rabbit to Birdsong since there's too much fur. Tanglewhisker falls ill with a mysterious illness and eventually dies.

Kin

Members

Mate:

Birdsong: Deceased, residence unknown

Appearances

• Tallstar's Revenge (Allegiance only)
• Crookedstar's Promise † (First appearance)
• Leopardstar's Honor †

Trivia

Interesting facts

• Unlike the rest of his Clan, Tanglewhisker prefers to eat birds over fish.

Author statements

• When he is mistakenly called Tanglefur in Tallstar's Revenge, Vicky thinks he is a gray and white tabby with blue eyes.

Mistakes

• He is mistakenly called Tanglefur in Tallstar's Revenge.
• In Crookedstar's Promise he is said to have died sometime before Silverstream has been born. However, in Leopardstar's Honor he dies long after Silverstream has been made a warrior.

Continuity

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

• On Vicky's Facebook, Tanglewhisker resides in StarClan.

Quotes

"Of course he is! Crookedkit's one of us."

―Tanglewhisker defending Crookedkit from Rippleclaw's accusations ^{Crookedstar's Promise, page 110}

Rippleclaw: "How can we trust them, knowing they are half WindClan?"

Tanglewhisker: "He's right. We'll never truly know where their loyalties lie."

^{Crookedstar's Promise, page 140}

"How would you know what would happen? You can't blame yourself, frog-brain."

―Tanglewhisker to Birdsong after Hailstar died ^{Crookedstar's Promise, page 434}

«Of course, Tanglewhisker and Softwing preferred birds. She shuddered. Why would any cat want to eat their way through smelly feathers when fish came from the river clean and easy to bite into?»

—Leopardfur's thoughts about Softwing's preferred choice of prey ^{Leopardstar's Honor, page 77}

External links

• Exclusive! Leopardstar's Honor: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)