Tumbletail

"There will be many troubles on our path—I do not doubt it. But nothing good comes without a struggle. We must fight for our future." This article contains major spoilers for the recently released book, StormClan's Folly. Please proceed at your own discretion.

"I only mean...it's been such a disaster! If we tell other cats, won't they understand what a bad idea it was? The story of StormClan could be a warning to any cat who'd dream of following in our paw steps."

— Tumbletail to the StarClan leaders in StormClan's Folly, page 441

Tumbletail
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Last known:	ThunderClan
Past:	StormClan
Names
Kit:	Unknown
Warrior:	Tumbletail
Deputy:	Tumbletail
ThunderClan deputy position
Preceded by:	Tinyclaw
Book appearances
Living	StormClan's Folly
Living	StormClan's Folly

Tumbletail is a large black tom.

History

In the Super Editions

StormClan's Folly

«Stripestar allowed the big, strong tom to push past and get a good look for himself. He was glad to have Tumbletail at his side. His Clanmate was a great hunter and a fearsome warrior besides, and he had known him since they were both kits in ThunderClan. But he's also a born troublemaker.»

—Stripestar's thoughts about Tumbletail ^{StormClan's Folly, page 308}

Tumbletail is originally a ThunderClan warrior under Stripestar's leadership. Prior to StormClan's formation, he gossips with Icefoot and learns of Galestar and Pebblenose's breakup. He later becomes a StormClan warrior. After a fire destroys StormClan's camp in the forest, he helps build a new camp on the moor. He wakes the entire camp up by dragging in a pile of heather. When he begins sorting through the pile with Frecklepelt, Spotnose snarls at him and blames him for waking her kits. Tumbletail fires back at her, wondering how any WindClan cats could sleep on the moor to begin with. Frecklepelt and Thrushcall join the argument, and Tumbletail insults the former WindClan cats, calling them lazy.

Tumbletail remains a warrior of StormClan when they leave the territories, which upsets Fawnpelt's kits, Curlkit and Russetkit. On their journey, Tumbletail joins Stripestar on a StormClan patrol to traverse an apple grove. When the patrol encounters Twoleg kits, Tumbletail questions their intentions, but is reassured by Flash that they mean no harm. He is in disbelief when Flash is picked up by a Twoleg kit. Afterwards, he hesitates to eat the food offered by the Twoleg kits. When Stripestar says the food is delicious, he joins the feast. He flees when adult Twolegs chase the Clan off.

Later, Tumbletail hunts for StormClan when they make camp in an abandoned Twoleg den. He tells Whitebreeze about a hunting technique he learned from Flash. The Clan is chased from the Twoleg den, and forced to camp in a swamp, which Tumbletail loathes. He is summoned by Stripestar to hunt for the Clan, along with Frecklepelt and Alderbranch. Galestar criticizes Stripestar for favouring former ThunderClan warriors over former WindClan warriors and asks to lead the patrol instead. Tumbletail unenthusiastically asks if he will be joining Galestar's patrol, but she selects Mudsplash and Harewhisker instead.

A few moons later, StormClan has made camp on a mountain. Stripestar rallies the Clan with promises of catching a hawk. Tumbletail is summoned by Stripestar to join himself, Berryfall, and Flash on a patrol. They ignore a scrawny mouse, intending to lure the hawk in with it. However, the hawk notices Rainkit scampering in the camp below, and captures her. After her vigil, the cats of StormClan confront their leaders. Tumbletail interrupts Stoneflower to say StormClan has had enough, and they want to return to the forest territories.

StormClan is traversing the apple grove again, when Goldenleaf has a vision. Tumbletail grumbles at her for waking him. StormClan moves to the endless lake, as foretold by Kestrelwing. Stripestar plots to hunt rats in the carrionplace, and chooses Tumbletail to join him. Tumbletail is thrilled by the prospect of the hunt, and hisses when he encounters a massive rat. The toms silently work together to corner the rat, but just as Stripestar pounces, Tumbletail yowls a warning, having spotted a Twoleg behind Stripestar. The toms and the rat are captured in a Twoleg net. The Twoleg carries them to a yard where other animals are trapped in dilapidated cages. Tumbletail and Stripestar furiously break free of the net and are forced to leave the rat behind. A while later, the two toms are returning home with a miserable haul. Tumbletail grumbles about the Carrionplace, but obeys when Stripestar instructs him not to speak of it. They return home to Galestar's kitting. The birth of kits brightens the Clan, and Tumbletail nuzzles Pebblekit's forehead.

The hunting at the endless lake continues to be poor. Tumbletail seeks Stripestar on a patrol, joined by Swiftwing and Roughpelt. Tumbletail suggests they should attempt hunting at the carrionplace again, having told the others about the large rat. Stripestar snaps at them, shutting down the proposal. Tumbletail glares at him, but relents. They patrol along the beach, and Tumbletail sniffs at a five-legged fish. Before it can be eaten, Stripestar bolts for the camp, his patrol following.

At Stripestar's behest, the cats abandon the camp amidst a terrible storm the next day. Galestar and her kits go missing during the storm. Searching is futile in the rain, so after the storm passes, Stripestar calls for Tumbletail and Frecklepelt to help search. The three cats cannot find Galestar or her kits, and as Stripestar begins to lose hope, Tumbletail rallies him. However, their search is unsuccessful, and StormClan believes Galestar to be dead. The formerly-WindClan members of StormClan abandon the camp in the night. Whitestep and Tumbletail ask the grieving Stripestar to lead them back to the forest territories, where they can become ThunderClan again. He accepts.

The ThunderClan cats arrive at Highstones. Tumbletail urges Stripestar to fight for ThunderClan territory, but Stripestar insists on meeting with StarClan first. A ShadowClan patrol approaches the ThunderClan group, informing them of a gathering tonight. The ThunderClan cats go to Fourtrees, where they find the WindClan cats, along with ShadowClan and RiverClan. Stripestar begs forgiveness from Snakestar and Birchstar, and muses that StarClan only know where Galestar is now. Tumbletail comments that they are likely dead, earning a mournful wail from Crowflight.

ThunderClan approach Highstones after a disastrous gathering, and StarClan appear to the cats. Stripestar begs StarClan for their forgiveness. StarClan deems that the gathered cats may never speak of StormClan again, for the idea is too dangerous. Tumbletail challenges the ancient StarClan leaders. He agrees that StormClan was a disaster, but believes that telling their story will serve as a warning to any who would seek to do the same. StarClan refuses his plea.

Whitestep is promoted by StarClan, and becomes ThunderClan's new leader. She leads the Clan out of Highstones, and rallies them. She turns to Tumbletail, and asks if he is ready to serve his Clan. He affirms. Tumbletail becomes the deputy of ThunderClan.

Character pixels

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

Appearances

• StormClan's Folly (First appearance)

External links

• Exclusive: StormClan's Folly Sneak Peek on Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiances appearance; mentioned in text)