Nightheart (ASC)

Nightheart is a night-black tom with flame-colored amber eyes and a nicked ear.
Nightheart is a ThunderClan warrior who has served under Bramblestar's and Squirrelstar's leaderships, briefly a ShadowClan cat under Tigerstar's leadership, in the lake territories. He was originally born in ThunderClan to Sparkpelt and Larksong as Flamekit alongside Finchkit and Flickerkit, the latter of which was stillborn. Flamekit was named after his ancestor Firestar, something he grew to resent. Moments after his birth, Larksong died, and Flamekit and Finchkit were fostered by Sorrelstripe while Sparkpelt recovered from her depression. Flamekit never grew close with his mother as a result. He later became an apprentice named Flamepaw and was mentored by Lilyheart. Flamepaw grew up in a tumultuous time in ThunderClan when Bramblestar was possessed by Ashfur who tore the Clans and the warrior code apart.
Flamepaw struggled from the legacy of his kin and what was expected from him. After failing his warrior assessment twice, Flamepaw received his warrior name of Flameheart, but rejected his name to free himself of Firestar's shadow. Bramblestar instead named him Nightheart which earned him the disapproval of both his Clan and family. Finding himself unhappy with his Clanmates and having growing affection for Sunbeam, Nightheart joined ShadowClan to be with her, hoping to find a fresh start in a new Clan. However, Nightheart realized his heart belonged in ThunderClan, and he and Sunbeam left ShadowClan for ThunderClan under Squirrelstar's new leadership. He journeyed with Frostpaw to the Cats of the Park as her protector, and he later mentored Wafflepelt, who followed during the journey home. Following Splashtail's defeat, he and Sunbeam had a litter of kits: Goldenkit and Shinekit.
==History==
===The Broken Code===
:Flamekit is a ThunderClan kit alongside his sister, Finchkit. After the sudden revival of his grandfather Bramblestar, Flamekit was apprenticed as Flamepaw with his grandmother Lilyheart as his mentor. However, his grandfather begins to act strangely, strongly enforcing absolute loyalty to the warrior code. The impostor indirectly threatens Flamepaw to coerce Sparkpelt to obey his orders. Later, Flamepaw's mother and sister are exiled, but they return under Squirrelflight's temporary leadership. ThunderClan and the rest of the Clans continue to suffer under the impostor's reign until the Lights in the Mist defeat him.
===A Starless Clan===
:Resentful and bitter about his mother's distance and the expectations from his Clanmates due to his heritage, Flamepaw fails his warrior assessment twice, much to his ire. After finally passing his assessment, Bramblestar names him Flameheart in honor of Firestar. Furious of the reminder of his legendary kin, he rejects his warrior name, prompting Bramblestar to name him Nightheart. Nightheart's frustration grows when he's still treated like an apprentice, though he gains confidence while journeying to find catmint during a catmint shortage. He grows close with Sunbeam, a ShadowClan warrior. Believing his Clan doesn't respect him, Nightheart abruptly leaves ThunderClan to be with Sunbeam in ShadowClan. However, Nightheart purposefully fails his third trial to become a ShadowClan warrior when he realizes his heart belongs in ThunderClan. To his surprise, Sunbeam follows him.
:Shortly after returning to ThunderClan, Nightheart is called by StarClan to join Frostpaw on a journey to the Cats of the Park as her protector. While he laments leaving Sunbeam so soon, Nightheart demonstrates true friendship to Frostpaw, providing her security after moons of turmoil in RiverClan. Nightheart befriends Waffle and Wasp, who eventually travel with them back to the Clans. He becomes Wafflepaw's mentor. Nightheart continues to advocate for his friend Frostpaw, helping her lead Mothwing, Icewing, and Duskfur to escape to ShadowClan. When RiverClan assaults ShadowClan in retaliation, Nightheart leads Mothwing and Duskfur to ThunderClan but gets captured by Fognose and Sneezecloud. His attempts to turn RiverClan's warriors on their heinous leader fail, and Nightheart is nearly killed by Gorseclaw when the other Clans arrive. Following Splashtail's defeat, Nightheart and Sunbeam prepare to start a family.
===Super Editions===
:In Squirrelflight's Hope, Flamekit is born to Sparkpelt and Larksong alongside his littermates, Finchkit and Flickerkit, though Flickerkit and their father die upon his birth. Because of the death of her mate and son, Sparkpelt is unable to take care of her two remaining kits, leaving Daisy, Sorrelstripe, and his grandparents, Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, to look after him and Finchkit. Sparkpelt begins to develop a proper relationship with her kits after Squirrelflight returns from StarClan.
==Detailed description==
:Nightheart is a skinny broad-shouldered, muscular night-black tom with bright flame-colored amber eyes, glossy, thick fur, long whiskers, and a nicked ear.
==Character pixels==
===Main images===
===Alternate images===
==Official art==
==Ceremonies==
==Personality and traits==
:As a young cat, Nightheart was stubborn, irritable, and resentful. He especially despised having Firestar's legacy overshadowing his own individuality. He felt that no one else understood his worries and anger. Beyond his anger, Nightheart is also resourceful, creative, impulsive, earnest, and determined. His time in ShadowClan allowed Nightheart to grow more confident in himself, and as he matured, Nightheart became more resolved and mindful, though his heart still rested with those he cared about.
==Relationships==
===Sparkpelt and Finchlight===
:Sparkpelt grew distant from her kits after the deaths of Larksong and Flickerkit, resulting in Sorrelstripe nursing Flamekit and Finchkit. During his apprenticeship, Sparkpelt and Finchpaw were exiled by the impostor, leaving Flamepaw behind. Flamepaw resented his mother for leaving him, resulting in a stiff and awkward relationship between the two. However, Sparkpelt missed her son, and she thought being hard on him would help him become stronger. Sparkpelt was deeply offended when Nightheart rejected his name of Flameheart, only furthering Nightheart's anger. Finchlight and Sparkpelt were disappointed when Nightheart left for ShadowClan, and Nightheart interpreted Sparkpelt's absence at the Gathering as a sign that she didn't miss him, despite Finchlight's reassurances. Sunbeam suggested that his kin merely missed him, which Nightheart later realized she was right. Sparkpelt apologized for not being there for Nightheart during his youth and finally saw him as Nightheart. The two reconciled upon his return to ThunderClan, and both Sparkpelt and Finchlight welcomed Sunbeam to ThunderClan.
===Sunbeam===
:Flamepaw first met Sunbeam at a Gathering when she admonished other apprentices for teasing Flamepaw about failing his assessment. At another Gathering, the two found comfort in listening to each other's worries, and Sunbeam was one of the first to validate Flamepaw's anger. The two grew closer during the journey to find catmint, with the two playfully stealing chicken from a Twoleg carnival. To Nightheart, Sunbeam was the only cat who treated him like a warrior. His decision to leave ThunderClan to be with Sunbeam in ShadowClan was made partly because of his own anger at his former Clan, but also because he did have feelings for Sunbeam. Despite his abrupt decision, Nightheart placed the decision in Sunbeam's paws, content either becoming mates or friends. Sunbeam helped Nightheart become more familiar with ShadowClan's territory in preparation for his own trials. His earnestly and determination won her over, though Nightheart felt guilty when he realized he belonged in ThunderClan. Sunbeam followed him to ThunderClan, though Nightheart felt guilty for leaving so soon for his StarClan-appointed mission with Frostpaw. Upon his return to ThunderClan, he and Sunbeam became mates and planned to have kits eventually. Nightheart and Sunbeam are perceptive of each other's feelings, always willing to listen and help each other despite their own worries.
===Brambleclaw===
:Nightheart was born during his grandfather Bramblestar's leadership. His grandparents frequently played with him and Finchkit while Sparkpelt was grieving. However, Flamepaw felt distant from his kin during his youth since Bramblestar was possessed by Ashfur, though Flamepaw warmed up to his kin when Bramblestar gave him encouragement for his warrior assessment. Bramblestar offered to watch over his next assessment, though Flamepaw grows disappointed when Squirrelflight comes instead. Bramblestar later ordered Nightheart to ask Sunbeam about Tigerstar's plans in ShadowClan, though not to let Squirrelflight know. Bayshine informed Squirrelflight, who canceled the mission, and Nightheart resented her for interfering. However, Nightheart grew worried for Bramblestar and despite being in ShadowClan, Nightheart went to visit his kin. Nightheart convinced Bramblestar to consider stepping down from leadership due to his mental trauma, which Bramblestar appreciated.
===Squirrelstar===
:Like Bramblestar, Squirrelflight doted on her grandkits while Sparkpelt was grieving for Larksong and Flickerkit. However, Flamepaw grew to resent Squirrelflight when she disapproved of his second warrior assessment, resulting in Lilyheart failing him. Despite Squirrelflight being hard on him because she knew what he was capable of, Nightheart felt he was being singled out for apprentice duties. Nightheart resented Squirrelflight for canceling his mission to spy on ShadowClan as prompted by Bramblestar. After realizing he went so anyway, Squirrelflight reprimanded him, resulting in Nightheart abruptly leaving ThunderClan for ShadowClan. Squirrelflight encouraged Nightheart that he should've communicated with his Clanmates instead of leaving so abruptly. One of Squirrelflight's first decisions as the new leader of ThunderClan was to accept Nightheart back into the Clan. At the end of her ceremony, StarClan gave Squirrelstar a message about Nightheart's important mission. When Squirrelstar decided to not interfere in RiverClan yet, Nightheart understood his leader's decisions despite disagreeing with her. Squirrelstar honored Nightheart's loyalty and appreciation for his Clanmates by appointing him as Wafflepaw's mentor.
===Frostdawn===
:Frostdawn is a close friend of Nightheart. Nightheart was chosen by StarClan to accompany Frostpaw on her journey to the Cats of the Park. Frostpaw convinced Nightheart to join her by implying he would become famous by saving the Clans. Nightheart knew that she distrusted him, despite Frostpaw telling him to trust her. Frostpaw begins to open up after he saved her from otters, and she confided with him about the turmoil in RiverClan. Nightheart's faith in Frostpaw provided her with much needed reassurance. When they arrived at the Cats of the Park, Nightheart patiently waited for Frostpaw to figure out what she needed to learn, even though he wanted to return to Sunbeam. Nightheart advocated for Frostpaw when she attempted to reveal the truth at the Gathering, and he encouraged Squirrelstar to believe her.
===Firestar===
:As a young cat, Flamepaw resented his kinship with his great-grandfather, Firestar, believing that his Clanmates only saw his legacy instead of Flamepaw himself. He felt he was only named Flamepaw because his mother wanted to remind everyone of his kin. When Bramblestar named him Flameheart after Firestar's warrior name Fireheart, he sharply rejected his warrior name. He wanted to be named for himself instead of his legacy, prompting Bramblestar to name him Nightheart to still honor Firestar's qualities within him. Sparkpelt felt that Nightheart rejecting his original name was an insult to Firestar. Eventually, Nightheart felt proud to be kin to the great Firestar.
==Kin==
===Members===
Mate:
:Sunbeam: 
Son:
:Goldenpaw: 
Daughter:
:Shinepaw: 
Mother:
:Sparkpelt: 
Father:
:Larksong: 
Sister:
:Finchlight: 
Brother:
:Flickerkit: 
Foster mother:
:Sorrelstripe: 
Foster sister:
:Myrtlebloom: 
Foster brother:
:Bayshine: 
===Tree===
====Genetic====
====Foster====
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*Nightheart and his siblings have kittypet ancestry through Firestar.
*Despite being younger than Bayshine and Myrtlebloom, he and Finchlight were apprenticed first.
**Furthermore, all four cats were apprenticed by Bramblestar's impostor.
*Nightheart's original name Flamepaw was named after Firestar.
**Nightheart's original warrior name, Flameheart, was named after Firestar's original warrior name: Fireheart. Nightheart's current name is after his black pelt and demeanor, which reflects after his father Larksong, and the fact that Nightheart bears qualities of Firestar.
**In regards to his warrior name, the Story Team added, "...but more than just accurately reflecting his appearance, his name speaks to his rebellious spirit, while still acknowledging the similarities we envisioned between the new warrior and his highly regarded ancestor. He possesses some of Firestar's best qualities—bravery, a sense of justice, a good heart—but in a kind of nighttime version that is quieter and more self-doubting. [...] Finally, there is the fact that due to his black pelt [...] At night he gets to be his boldest self and take risks he might not in the light of day. For all these reasons, Nightheart is the perfect name for him."
**Nightheart is one of the few cats to reject a Clan name.
*Nightheart is said to look like his father, Larksong.
*He is the final perspective Kate Cary wrote from in the Warriors series. 
===Author statements===
*In earlier drafts of the A Starless Clan arc, Nightheart and Sunbeam were originally supposed to break up, though the Story Team was touched by their connection and faith in each other.
===Mistakes===
*He is called Nightpelt.
*He mentions how WindClan used to tunnel, however there is no way for him to have known this as this fact had been kept a secret among WindClan.
*He is mistakenly depicted as a tabby.
==Quotes==
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
de:Nachtherz (Staffel 8)fi:Yösydän (TK)fr:Nightheartit:Nottecuoreko:나이트하트(천둥족)lt:Nightheart (S8)no:Natthjertepl:Nocne Sercept-br:Coração da Noite (UCSE)ru:Ночегрив
Category:Toms
Category:Warriors
Category:ThunderClan cats
Category:ShadowClan cats
Category:Main characters
Category:Point of view characters
Category:Mentors
Category:Prisoners