Vigil

"At the Gathering tomorrow night, I'll suggest we add a new part to the warrior code: that all new warriors must spend one night in silent vigil so they understand how much their Clan needs them now."

— Troutstar to Meadowpelt in Code of the Clans, pages 65-66

A vigil is a Clan ritual in which one or more cats stay awake at night in complete silence. Vigils are typically performed after a warrior ceremony, during which new warriors guard the camp. They are also held in honor of deceased Clanmates.

Origins

"A night of listening...is that what the warriors need?"

―Meadowpelt ^{Code of the Clans, page 63}

Vigils for deceased warriors began in the early days of the Clans when Thunderstar, the first leader of ThunderClan, proposed sitting with his deputy Lightning Tail's body for the night as a way of honoring him. The vigil gave Thunderstar a sense of peace that Lightning Tail was safe in StarClan. Thunderstar shared this idea with the other leaders, and upon Shadowstar's recommendation, vigils were implemented formally into a Clan's mourning ritual.

Meadowpelt, a RiverClan medicine cat, proposed the idea of a warrior's vigil to encourage respect in some of the younger, rambunctious new warriors. Troutstar, RiverClan's leader, brought the idea to the other Clans as a new rule of the warrior code so that each new warrior comprehends how much their Clan needs them. Meadowpelt was successful, and the young warriors have a newfound respect and understanding of their role as a Clan warrior.

Types

Warrior ceremony

Feathertail and Stormfur's warrior vigil in A Shadow in RiverClan

"The safety of the whole Clan depends on you! Sorry, I’m really not trying to worry you. Let’s hope nothing does happen, because after all you’re not supposed to make any noise during the vigil."

―Squirrelflight about a warrior's vigil ^{Code of the Clans, page 67}

The most essential task of a new warrior, vigils represent one's dedication to their Clan. A vigil of the entire night is demanded by the warrior code after an apprentice has completed their warrior assessment. It may be completed alone if only one cat has been named a warrior, but typically new warriors complete their vigil with littermates or denmates who began their training around the same time. An exception is when an apprentice is promoted early due to demonstrated skill or when injury or illness delays an apprentice from graduating.

Warriors must remain silent during their vigil except in the case of emergency, in which case the warrior awakens their leader and then the warriors. Eating during one's vigil is forbidden, though cats may drink if thirsty. The warrior guards the camp in silence while the other cats rest. Vigils encourage new warriors to reflect about their new responsibilities and meditate on StarClan. A warrior's former mentor will let a new warrior know when their vigil is over at sunup. Breaking the vow of silence is taken seriously by the entire Clan, and offending cats can be reprimanded.

Occasionally a new warrior is unable to hold their vigil. Squirrelstar was unable to hold a vigil due to there being no ThunderClan camp for her to guard. In lieu of this, Firestar assigned her to the patrol exploring the lake territories as a way to prove herself a suitable warrior of ThunderClan.

Vigil for fallen Clanmates

Tallstar's vigil after his death in Winds of Change

When a Clan cat dies, their body is taken to the center of the camp, and several Clanmates, usually the cat's family members, close friends, mentors, or apprentices attend the vigil. The vigil is an opportunity to share tongues for the last time before the elders or other important cats in the deceased cat's life bury them in the morning. Cats may also share fond memories of deceased during their vigil.^[source?] If the Clan is not able to sit vigil for the entire night, they sit for as long as they can. After the death of WindClan's leader, Tallstar, cats from multiple Clans attended his vigil due to the Clans' proximity during the Great Journey and Tallstar's reputation as a respected leader.

Vigils may be held for cats whose bodies cannot be found, or for cats who have disappeared and are presumed deceased, such as when ThunderClan assumed that Graystripe died or when ThunderClan believed Ravenpaw was killed by a ShadowClan patrol. Despite burial being impossible, cats sit vigil and mourn their loss.

Outside of the Clans, cats have sat vigil for their loved ones, occasionally influenced by superstitions. One such example was when a cat named Foxy did not sit vigil for his brother when he died. Sharpclaw of SkyClan explains to Firestar that Foxy had died a few days after because he did not sit vigil.

History

In The Prophecies Begin arc

Into the Wild

"His spirit may have left to join StarClan, but the Clan will share tongues with Redtail one last time."

―Graypaw to Firepaw ^{Into the Wild, page 43}

ThunderClan sits vigil for Redtail after Tigerclaw returns to camp with the deputy's body, claiming he was killed by Oakheart in a battle for Sunningrocks. Cats begin to approach the deputy's body and groom him, causing Firepaw to ask Graypaw if they should join them. However, Graypaw replies that only those closest to Redtail will. Some moons later, Graypaw attends his mentor Lionheart's vigil after he is killed in a ShadowClan raid and assists the elders in burying him.

Upon becoming warriors, Fireheart and Graystripe are ordered by Bluestar to sit vigil until dawn. Fireheart breaks his vow of silence while attempting to speak to Bluestar, and Bluestar sharply reprimands him.

Fire and Ice

«Yesterday [Whitestorm] had fought side by side with Fireheart and Graystripe in the battle with ShadowClan. There was a new respect in his eyes as he looked at them.»

—Fireheart on Whitestorm's respect for him after his vigil ^{Fire and Ice, chapter 1}

At sunrise, Whitestorm informs Graystripe and Fireheart that their vigil is complete. Later, Nightpelt informs the Clans at the Gathering that he will be known as Nightstar after his vigil at the Moonstone. After Brokentail's attack on ThunderClan, Bluestar gives Sandstorm and Dustpelt their warrior names and orders them to sit vigil.

Forest of Secrets

Brackenfur receives his warrior name after alerting ThunderClan to WindClan and ShadowClan's attack. Sandstorm congratulates him on giving the rest of the warriors a night off as he guards the camp. Brackenfur sits vigil alone due to his sister Cinderpaw's injury. Later, Graystripe buries and sits vigil for his mate, Silverstream, alone on the riverbank where she died giving birth to their kits.

Rising Storm

"You shall sleep beneath the stars for the last time tonight."

―Fireheart to Yellowfang at her vigil ^{Rising Storm, chapter 28}

After Runningwind is killed by Tigerstar in a skirmish with ShadowClan, Fireheart bends his head toward his Clanmate's body and says that Mousefur and Brackenfur can bury him while Bluestar sits vigil with him until dawn. Whitestorm adds that he will join her, and Willowpelt and Goldenflower emerge from the nursery to press against the dead warrior. Later, Fireheart notes that Bluestar has hardly left her den since her vigil for Runningwind.

Patchpelt dies in the fire that ravages ThunderClan territory, and ThunderClan shelter in RiverClan territory. RiverClan's deputy, Leopardfur, tells Fireheart that RiverClan will move his body outside of camp so that ThunderClan's elders can sit vigil for him. Fireheart asks Cloudpaw and Smallear if they are fit to bury the elder's body, and goes to ask Dustpelt to help them. Fireheart witnesses Yellowfang succumb to smoke inhalation, Graystripe asks if they should bury her. Fireheart responds that he will return that night to sit vigil for her.

A Dangerous Path

Cinderpelt: "If you’re leading a patrol tomorrow, you should get some sleep. You’ll need your strength"

Fireheart: "I know. But I don’t think I could sleep. It looks so peaceful up there. But down here…"

^{A Dangerous Path chapter 24}

After Bluestar gives Cloudtail his warrior name early due to his lack of faith in StarClan, Fireheart reminds his apprentice to remain silent during his vigil. Afterward, Fireheart informs him that his vigil is over. When Fernpaw admits that Brightpaw and Swiftpaw snuck out of camp during Cloudtail's vigil, Cloudtail replies that he didn't notice them. As ThunderClan grow more anxious of Tigerstar, Fireheart orders a double guard of camp and sits vigil himself.

The Darkest Hour

When Firestar, Graystripe, and Ravenpaw rescue Mistyfoot, Stormpaw, and Featherpaw from TigerClan's prison, Firestar mourns that Mistyfoot will not be able to sit vigil for her brother, Stonefur, who was killed by Blackfoot and Darkstripe.

In The New Prophecy arc

Starlight

As an alternate form of her warrior vigil, Squirrelflight of ThunderClan is permitted to join the patrol of cats who were chosen to travel around the lake to scout for a new home for each Clan. She is joined by the others she traveled with as an apprentice- Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, and Crowfeather. To take Feathertail's place, Mistyfoot is chosen due to her being RiverClan's deputy and knowing best what would suit RiverClan. Firestar urges the cats to not spend too much time exploring and put finding a home for each Clan as their top priority.

WindClan loses their leader, Tallstar, upon arriving at their new home by the lake. Brambleclaw notices that WindClan is not able to sit vigil for their leader the entire night, and wonders if WindClan's grief feels even more raw due to not being able to take as much time to honor their beloved Clanmate. Ashfoot and Crowfeather sit closest to Tallstar, sheltering his body. Other Clans join in mourning Tallstar, including Firestar, Squirrelflight, and Leafpaw. The medicine cat apprentice notes how strange it is to hold a vigil during the morning hours, but knows that these circumstances are different than usual. Winds of Change shows this scene, and shows that all four Clans mourned and sat vigil for Tallstar due to how wise and beloved he was by all of the Clans.

Sunset

"He was loyal through and through. He was the truest friend that a cat ever had. StarClan will receive him with honor. Farewell, Graystripe. May StarClan light your path."

―Firestar reflecting on Graystripe's legacy ^{Sunset, pages 253-254}

Firestar has struggled with running ThunderClan without his deputy, Graystripe. After a long time thinking and trying to come to terms with his loss, Firestar decides to announce to ThunderClan that he believes Graystripe has died. ThunderClan, along with Graystripe's son Stormfur, and his mate, Brook Where Small Fish Swim, decide to hold their own kind of vigil for Graystripe. Firestar reflects on his friendship with Graystripe, and how he was the first Clan cat that he had met when he was still a kittypet. Firestar mews that he could not have asked for a better friend, and Stormfur adds onto that, saying that Graystripe was also an excellent father. Brackenfur and Dustpelt reflect on their relationships with Graystripe, commenting that he was a good mentor and that they knew Graystripe would have their backs, no matter if they did not always see eye-to-eye. Firestar says that he was the best kind of friend to have, and that he was always loyal to his friends. Saying goodbye to Graystripe was difficult for Firestar, and Leafpool can see that her father has given up trying to stay strong and hide how much losing his friend has shaken him.

After Firestar has finished sitting vigil for his friend, he uses this time to talk with Leafpool about who the next ThunderClan deputy would be. One of the choices is Brackenfur, but Firestar wonders if he would be the best choice. Leafpool reveals that she has had a sign while sitting vigil for Graystripe, and that she believes it is meant to be Brambleclaw who will become ThunderClan's next deputy. While there are objections, namely Dustpelt, the brown tabby backs down when Leafpool discusses her sign with him. Ashfur is another cat to object, but he is soon silenced by Squirrelflight. After their argument, the Clan disperses, and some of ThunderClan continues to mourn Graystripe.

In the A Starless Clan arc

Sky

After Rowankit dies of greencough, ShadowClan sit vigil for the lost kit. His mother, Dovewing, recalls Rowankit's sweet disposition and laments that she will still reach for him in her nest.

In the Novellas

Thunderstar's Echo

"Perhaps we can all honor our warriors by spending a last night with them before they pass on to StarClan."

―Shadowstar ^{Thunderstar's Echo, chapter 10}

After Lightning Tail's death, Thunderstar decides that he will not sleep the night after he dies, and instead opts to guard Lightning Tail's body and sit with him one last time. Thunderstar does not want to abandon Lightning Tail and leave him alone just yet, and it gave him peace. Speaking to Riverstar, Thunderstar mews that it felt right and the best way to honor Lightning Tail for everything that he had done for him and ThunderClan, and gave him one last chance to say goodbye. Thunderstar passes on this suggestion to Riverstar, Windstar, Skystar, and Shadowstar, and Riverstar says that it is a good idea to show respect for the dead. The other leaders agree with Riverstar, and Shadowstar suggests that the Clans start doing that as a way to honor their fallen Clanmates.

In the Stand-Alone Graphic Novels

Winds of Change

After Tallstar's death, all four Clans sit vigil for the great WindClan leader, as he was highly respected and well-loved throughout all of the Clans. Many Clan cats can be seen mourning Tallstar, with Onewhisker and Firestar seen with their heads together, clearly upset at the death of their friend. Throughout the vigil for Tallstar, Mudclaw wonders why he was replaced by Onewhisker, and if he had done something to disappoint his former leader. Despite the vigil being a time for remembering, Mudclaw is unable to focus on anything other than him losing his deputyship and he discusses it with Tornear, his littermate. Tornear, knowing that Onewhisker was a good cat, says that he would not lie to their faces, even if Mudclaw does not trust Firestar. After their discussion, they go back to mourning Tallstar with the other Clans.

A Shadow in RiverClan

Upon receiving their warrior names, Feathertail and Stormfur are assigned to guard the camp the entire night. This is their warrior vigil, and Mistyfoot tells the new warriors that they must not speak the entire night and use this time to think about their newfound responsibilities as warriors of RiverClan. She mews that they should also use this time to communicate with StarClan as well. After Mistyfoot is done with the formalities, she tells Feathertail how proud she is of her, and adds that Stonefur, her brother, would be proud of Stormfur. Feathertail uses her vigil as a chance to think about what happened when she and her brother were apprentices, and the incident at the Bonehill that resulted in Stonefur's death. Caught in her memories, Feathertail soon realizes that her warrior vigil is over. Stormfur happily mews that they are warriors of RiverClan and that they were successful with their vigil. Feathertail asks Stormfur if he believes they made the right choice, by not staying with Graystripe. Stormfur says that it is a little too late to wonder about that now, since they just completed their warrior vigil. Feathertail vows to be the best RiverClan warrior she can be, and she and Stormfur try to move past what happened to Stonefur and how they were treated by RiverClan.

In the Field Guides

Code of the Clans

"It's because we were being quiet, like you said. We'd never have heard that fox if we'd been in our dens."

―Nettlepad ^{Code of the Clans, page 65}

Meadowpelt is an ancient RiverClan medicine cat, and he serves under Troutstar. As Meadowpelt is shredding a willow stick, he hears his name being howled from somewhere outside of his den. Meadowpelt barges out from his den, wanting to know what is going on. After finding out that Snaketooth is hurt, Meadowpelt thinks to himself that this is not the first time this group of cats have gotten hurt doing silly things. Meadowpelt gives Snaketooth some herbs, and asks Oatpaw to assist him in getting back to the medicine cat den. Meadowpelt overhears Snaketooth, Nettlepad, and Lightningpelt talking, and he soon finds out that this group of warriors is going to jump into the gorge on the full moon. Nettlepad says that if Snaketooth does not get better and make the jump, then Nettlepad would win their bet. They keep their voices low, thinking Meadowpelt is asleep, and the young warriors exit the medicine den.

Afterwards, Meadowpelt goes to Troutstar to report in on Snaketooth's condition. The older cat replies that Snaketooth is okay, although whether the young cat will be able to hunt and fight again is beyond his knowledge. Troutstar is unable to fathom why his younger warriors keep wanting to do stupid things, and Meadowpelt reveals that he had overheard Snaketooth, Lightningpelt, and Nettlepad planning to jump into the gorge. He asks Troutstar's permission to go to the Moonstone to talk to StarClan, and although Troutstar is not sure about involving StarClan, Meadowpelt is certain this is what needs to be done. Angry, Meadowpelt says that this generation of warriors is irresponsible, and they can't learn paitence from mentoring since there are not enough apprentices to do so. Troutstar is surpised when he finds out that despite them all being hurt by their antics, the young cats continue to do these things anyways.

After visiting StarClan and seeing a vision of a respectful and kind RiverClan, Meadowpelt gets the idea of a night that warriors spend listening instead of talking, and guarding the camp in silence. While he is unsure that this will fix the problems, he wants to bring it up with Troutstar anyway, in an attempt to make something work out in their favor. Troutstar is not convinced by Meadowpelt, but assigns the cats to their guard duty nevertheless. Meadowpelt hopes that a sleepless night will make these younger warriors less rambunctious and less likely to carry out their plan of jumping into the gorge. Molewhisker, Nettlepad, and Lightningpelt are the cats chosen to perform this duty, with Troutstar putting an emphasis on staying silent and listening to their surroundings.

Meadowpelt is awoken by the sounds of Nettlepad screeching and howling. The medicine cat jumps up and races into the clearing, with Nettlepad saying that they discovered a fox about to attack the nursery. Sunspots, a nursing queen, thanks Nettlepad, Molewhisker, and Lightningpelt for their courage and bravery, saying that they saved her kits from an accident. Meadowpelt praises them as well, saying that they should be proud. Nettlepad says the only reason they were able to hear the fox is because they were quiet and listening to their surroundings. Meadowpelt rattles off their mouse-brained ideas, and Nettlepad is ashamed that Meadowpelt found out about their idea to jump into the gorge. Lightningpelt returns and says that they have chased off the fox, but they are warned by Fernleaf, an elder, that the fox may come back and that they need to be ready to fight it. Lightningpelt and the others say that this is not a problem.

Meadowpelt is approached by Troutstar, who thanks the medicine cat for his idea of a vigil. Meadowpelt says the idea was StarClan's, not his. Troutstar tells Meadowpelt that he will announce this idea to the other leaders at the Gathering the following night. They decide to make all new warriors perform a silent vigil upon receiving their warrior name, so that they may understand and reflect upon how much they are needed by their Clanmates.

ThunderClan warrior Squirrelflight explains to the group of visiting kittypets the importance of having a warrior vigil. She says that it is both the proudest and scariest night that a new warrior can have. She gives tips to the visiting cats on ways to successfully get through the long night of silence. She suggests jumping onto Highledge, but reminding the cats to keep quiet. She suggests to keep moving, and not to lay down near any dens, lest the snoring make a cat sleepy. Squirrelflight says the safety of the Clan is of the utmost importance, and that a cat must pay attention to their surroundings. She says that if there is danger, that a cat must first wake the Clan leader, then the warriors, and that a cat is not to investigate on their own. Squirrelflight mews that if a cat is thirsty, they may drink, but they are not permitted to eat until the sun has risen. After the sun is up, a cat's former mentor will relieve the guarding cat of their duty and they will be permitted to speak and rest.

Trivia

• Despite having a section in Code of the Clans, Squirrelflight did not have a warrior vigil.
• Although Code of the Clans states that the warrior vigil was created by Meadowpelt, Thunderstar's Echo shows that this concept was suggested long before that.

See also

• Origin of the warrior vigil, as described in Code of the Clans
• The warrior code
• StarClan (for a list of deaths)