Whorlpelt

"We look after our Clanmates because we care about them, not because we're obeying rules."

— Whorlpelt on the honor of warriors in The Silent Thaw, page 225

Whorlpelt
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	ShadowClan
Past:	SkyClan
Names
Kit:	Whorlkit
Apprentice:	Whorlpaw
Warrior:	Whorlpelt
Rogue:	Whorlpaw
Kin
Mother:	Grassheart
Father:	Stonewing
Sisters:	Snaketooth, Flowerstem
Education
Mentor:	Juniperclaw
Apprentice:	Hopwhisker
Book appearances
Living	Thunder and Shadow, Darkest Night, River of Fire, Tigerheart's Shadow, Tawnypelt's Clan, The Raging Storm, Squirrelflight's Hope, Lost Stars, The Silent Thaw, Veil of Shadows
Living	Thunder and Shadow, Darkest Night, River of Fire, Tigerheart's Shadow, Tawnypelt's Clan, The Raging Storm, Squirrelflight's Hope, Lost Stars, The Silent Thaw, Veil of Shadows

Whorlpelt is a gray-and-white tom.

Whorlpelt is a ShadowClan warrior that has served under Tigerstar's leadership in the lake territories. Whorlkit was born to Stonewing and Grassheart with his sisters Flowerstem and Snaketooth, and became an apprentice named Whorlpaw under Juniperclaw. He earned his warrior name of Whorlpelt and mentored Hopwhisker. He participated in a secret meeting with others concerned about Bramblestar's behavior against codebreakers.

History

In the A Vision of Shadows arc

Thunder and Shadow

When Rowanstar asks ThunderClan for one of their medicine cats to come to ShadowClan, Leafpool accepts, and the Clan leader thanks her, noting that Grassheart's kits are due any day. He explains that although there are other former queens who could help, he would like a medicine cat close by as it is Grassheart's first litter. Later, when Alderpaw comes to see Leafpool in ShadowClan, he talks with Violetkit, but Pinenose orders her foster daughter to come into the nursery, as she doesn't want her to get a cold and spread it to Grassheart's kits.

Whorlkit and his littermates, Flowerkit and Snakekit snuggle together beside their mother's belly. Later that night, the tom-kit sleepily lifts his head when he hears a fox screech in the distance, but soon falls asleep. A few days later, Leafpool mentions that she'd had to hunt for Grassheart because she wasn't producing enough milk for him and his littermates. The medicine cat comments that the he and his littermates were growing fast. On one sunny afternoon, Violetkit recalls how Grassheart had asked her in the morning to take her kits outside to play. She remembers teaching them the rules of moss-ball and cat and mouse, but realizes she has nothing to do.

When Violetpaw returns to ShadowClan many moons later, she glances at the nursery and wonders if Whorlkit, Flowerkit, and Snakekit had become apprentices' yet. She is later thankful that they aren't in the den with her when Twigpaw visits. When Dawnpelt and Tawnypelt discover the ThunderClan apprentice on their territory, Whorlkit and Flowerkit tumble out of the nursery. The tiny ShadowClan tom growls that there's an invasion when he sees Twigpaw, and his mother darts out of the den in panic. The queen watches as Whorlkit races around the clearing, his fur fluffed out. Crowfrost stops the young kit and sends him back to his mother, so he trudges reluctantly across the clearing.

The next day, Twigpaw hears Whorlkit outside the apprentice's den say that Grassheart told her ThunderClan cats can climb trees. Flowerkit mews with terror in her voice that their mother had told her that naughty kits were thrown in the lake. The small ShadowClan tom comments that she's too old to believe in stupid nursery tales, because they'll be apprentices' in a moon. Whorlkit barges into the den, and asks Twigpaw if it was okay if they visited. Flowerkit peers out from behind him, and inquires if the ThunderClan apprentice is there. Whorlkit snorts that of course she was here, because there was nowhere else she could be. The ShadowClan tom turns to Twigpaw and queries if it's true that she's special. The gray she-cat doesn't answer, so Violetpaw replies that she doesn't know, and StarClan isn't telling them.

The ShadowClan apprentice asks why the kits are here, and Whorlkit and Flowerkit reply that they're bored because Grassheart spends all her time with a sick Snakekit. Flowerkit whimpers that she hopes their littermate will get better before their apprentice ceremony. Twigpaw feels a rush of sympathy for the kits, and offers to teach them some hunting moves. When they agree, the ThunderClan she-cat begins to demonstrate a stalking position. Whorlkit exclaims that there isn't enough room in the den, and they'll have to go outside. Twigpaw reluctantly lets Violetpaw nudge her from the den, and they enter the clearing. Two warriors, Rippletail and Mistcloud, brush past the kits and Whorlkit exclaims that they should watch where they're going.

A short while later, when Lionpaw and Birchpaw fight over a thrush, Whorlkit and Flowerkit watch with excitement. After they finish, the tom-kit asks Twigpaw why she hadn't let them fight it out. The ThunderClan she-cat turns away from the kit and starts talking to Violetpaw. After ShadowClan receives the lungwort which heals Rowanstar, it is noted that the ShadowClan leader had given Whorlpaw, Snakepaw, and Flowerpaw their apprentice names, and Grassheart had now returned to her warrior duties, leaving the nursery empty. The lungwort had also healed Snakepaw, and the tabby she-cat now lies beside the clearing while her siblings practice stalking in the long grass behind her.

As Tigerheart, the new ShadowClan deputy, assigns patrols, he tells Spikefur to take Birchpaw, Mistcloud, Whorlpaw, and Rippletail to the ditches to hunt. Later that night, Rowanstar calls the Clan together to list the cats who would be attending the Gathering. Whorlpaw is chosen by the leader, along with his littermates. In the clearing, Violetpaw glances around her for the young apprentices, and thinks that this would be their first Gathering. Whorlpaw follows his sister, Flowerpaw as she hurries toward Rowanstar, her eyes shining, while he follows behind her.

Darkest Night

Whorlpaw attends the Gathering along with Snakepaw, though both remain at their mentor's sides instead of mingling with the other apprentices. Tensions rise in ShadowClan, which leads to cats challenging Rowanstar's leadership. Whorlpaw and his littermates seem uncomfortable with the confrontations and edge to the side of the clearing. They look at their Clanmates in fear and back away as arguments become more heated. When Rowanstar merges ShadowClan with SkyClan, Whorlpaw goes with them.

Soon after, as ShadowClan settles in with SkyClan, Finpaw says that they'll need a lot more moss for the apprentices' den, and adds he'll take Whorlpaw and Flowerpaw with him to collect it. The statement confuses Violetpaw, who's recently returned from a journey, as she remembered them to be ShadowClan cats. Whorlpaw, Flowerpaw, and Finpaw run into the group as they head back to camp. They are confused, but Finpaw cryptically says that Leafstar will explain and runs into the forest with the other two apprentices following.

Just before Twigpaw's impending SkyClan warrior ceremony, she runs into the forest to get some air. Finpaw meets with her, mentioning that Dewpaw was taking Whorlpaw and Flowerpaw back to camp to watch it.

River of Fire

Leafstar demands to know who was all in on the secret of keeping Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf in the former ShadowClan camp, and Whorlpaw admits he knew about it, stepping forward to stand with his mentor, Juniperclaw. Seeing his apprentice trembling with fear, Juniperclaw rests his tail on the young cat's shoulder.

Leafstar accepts Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf into SkyClan, albeit on probation. Hawkwing tells Sleekwhisker she will be sleeping with the apprentices, and Whorlpaw offers to show her where, and leads the yellow she-cat away. During a storm, Leafstar calls for the apprentices to report back to her. After finding they were all safe, the SkyClan leader tells the apprentices they will have to stay with the warriors for now, to which Whorlpaw promises Leafstar they'll make great warriors. Violetshine thinks to herself that Whorlpaw and the other apprentices won't be happy when they have to rebuild their den.

In The Broken Code arc

Lost Stars

Whorlpelt and Strikestone get into a fight over whether he put thorns in the tom's bedding. The two are broken up by Dovewing, and Whorlpelt apologizes to Dovewing afterwards. However, Strikestone is still bitter at him.

The Silent Thaw

His apprentice, Hoppaw, is now a warrior named Hopwhisker. Whorlpelt and Flowerstem look up from their mouse when Snaketooth and her patrol return with Antfur's body. Whorlpelt believes Shadowsight is right to reveal the codebreakers. Later, he, Cloverfoot and Blazefire participate in a secret meeting with other Clan cats concerned about Bramblestar's stance about the codebreakers. He is furious of Bramblestar's aggression and is in awe of Tree's news of the imposter.

They return back to camp and are questioned by Tigerstar of their prior whereabouts. Whorlpelt quickly replies they were hunting but couldn't catch anything. Later, he and Flowerstem glance at each other when Squirrelflight arrives seeking sanctuary. He wonders if the imposter is right that punishing the codebreakers will bring StarClan back, but Tree sharply disagrees with him. He suggests killing the imposter, but Rootpaw disagrees that the real Bramblestar won't have a body to return to then. Later, he and Scorchfur watch the medicine cats, Tree, and Rootpaw leave for the Moonpool.

Veil of Shadows

Whorlpelt appears on patrol with his Clanmates, Snowbird and Slatefur. They encounter Bristlefrost escorting Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Twigbranch on ShadowClan territory seeking out refuge due to their exiles and atonement.

In the Super Editions

Tigerheart's Shadow

Whorlpaw is in the ShadowClan camp, and Tigerheart calls to the apprentice, asking where Ratscar is. Whorlpaw replies that the elder is out on a border patrol with Juniperclaw. Tigerheart is surprised, and asks why, but before Whorlpaw can answer, Scorchfur tells the deputy that Ratscar wanted to help out, since there were so few cats in camp.

During Tigerheart's dream, he sees the young apprentice padding out of his den. Later on, Whorlpaw is on a hunting patrol with his mentor Juniperclaw, and his father, Stonewing. Tigerheart notes that the gray and white tom was clearly proud of the rabbit he caught. Juniperclaw calls to Stonewing that he scents prey, and Whorlpaw dips his head in respect to his mentor as Juniperclaw gently adjusts his hunting crouch, or showing him a piece of bracken-stalk that still held prey-scent. When the patrol arrives back at camp, Juniperclaw stops at the entrance, causing the other three cats to stop, and reports that ThunderClan had been around. After Stonewing comments that Rowanstar lets every cat push him around, Whorlpaw asks which warrior was missing, to which Tawnypelt replies that it was Dovewing. Whorlpaw's eyes widen, and wonders aloud about the badger that Juniperclaw, Scorchfur, and Tigerheart fought off.

Tawnypelt dismisses the apprentice, reminding him that they sent a patrol to ensure that the badger left the territory. Whorlpaw persists that maybe the badger went onto ThunderClan's territory. Juniperclaw adds that ThunderClan would know about it if that had happened. When Tigerheart first encounters Fuzzball, he notes that the kittypet is no bigger than Whorlpaw. During Tigerheart's vision, he sees Whorlpaw wailing over his sister Snakepaw's body, while his other sister, Flowerpaw is facing off Hawkwing, the SkyClan deputy.

Squirrelflight's Hope

Whorlpelt has become the mentor to Hoppaw. When Squirrelflight and her patrol arrive in ShadowClan's camp, Whorlpelt and Sparrowtail drag old bedding. When the two spot the ThunderClan cats, they unsheathe their claws.

In the Novellas

Tawnypelt's Clan

He is now a warrior named Whorlpelt. When Shadowkit has a seizure, Whorlpelt speaks up and says he doubts it was anything, since when he eats something funny he'll get strange dreams. Juniperclaw agrees with him, and says it's nothing worth getting worked up about.

Trivia

Interesting facts

• He is named after Whorlpelt, a member of BlogClan.
• He was apprenticed before Juniperclaw returned to ShadowClan, making it unclear who his initial mentor was.
• Whorlpelt and his sisters are the first cats Tigerstar made warriors.

Mistakes

• While appearing in Thunder and Shadow, Whorlpaw is omitted from Shattered Sky. This is corrected in Tigerheart's Shadow and beyond.

Character pixels

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

Appearances

• Thunder and Shadow (First appearance)
• Darkest Night
• Tigerheart's Shadow
• River of Fire
• Tawnypelt's Clan
• The Raging Storm (Allegiance only)
• Squirrelflight's Hope
• Lost Stars
• The Silent Thaw
• Veil of Shadows

Kin

Members

Mother:

Grassheart: Living (As of Wind)

Father:

Stonewing: Living (As of Wind)

Sisters:

Snaketooth: Living (As of Wind)

Flowerstem: Living (As of Wind)

Tree

Stonewing ♂

Grassheart ♀

Snaketooth ♀

Flowerstem ♀

Whorlpelt ♂

    = Tom

    = She-cat

    = Gender unknown

Quotes

Whorlkit: "Grassheart says ThunderClan cats can climb trees."

Flowerkit: "She told me that if kits misbehave, they throw them in the lake."

^{Thunder and Shadow}

Whorlkit: "Is it true that you're special?"

Violetpaw: "Only StarClan knows if we're special or not, and they're not telling."

^{Thunder and Shadow}

Whorlkit: "Why did you stop them?"

Flowerkit: "Now we won't know who would have won."

^{Thunder and Shadow}

Strikestone: "He put thorns in my bedding."

Whorlpelt: "Did not!"

^{Lost Stars}

"A cat stole another cat's body..."

―Whorlpelt in shock when he finds out that Bramblestar's body is being possessed ^{The Silent Thaw}

"But maybe Bramblestar—or whichever cat it is—is right. Won't punishing the codebreakers bring them back?"

―Whorlpelt about punishing the codebreakers ^{The Silent Thaw}

"Kill him! If he's not a leader, he won't have nine lives. It'll be easy."

―Whorlpelt's plan to get rid of the imposter ^{The Silent Thaw}

External links

• Best of the Worst on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Creating an Antagonist on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Exclusive! Veil of Shadows: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (Allegiance only) (backup link)
• The Journey So Far: The Silent Thaw on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)
• Nothing But Stories on the Warriors official website (Indirect mention only) (backup link)

Notes and references

Author references