Halftail

Halftail is a big, broad-shouldered, dark brown tabby tom with patchy fur, yellow eyes, and part of his tail missing. 
Halftail was a ThunderClan elder under Bluestar's leadership in the forest territories and previously served as a warrior under Pinestar and Sunstar. Originally named Sparrowpelt, he mentored Snowfur and Redtail and became mates with One-eye, having two kits, Mousekit and Runningkit. After losing half of his tail from a badger, Sparrowpelt's name was changed to Halftail, eventually retiring to the elders' den. Halftail, along with the other elders, were worried about Fireheart's unorthodox deputyship, and following a fire that ravaged through ThunderClan's camp, Halftail was trapped. However, despite Yellowfang's best efforts to save him, he succumbed to smoke inhalation and ascended to StarClan.
==History==
===In The Prophecies Begin arc===
====Into the Wild====
:When the new apprentice, Firepaw, visits the elders' den, Halftail greets him warm-heartedly. Graypaw tells Firepaw that Halftail's tail was bitten off by a badger, and he hasn't been able to climb a tree since for fear of falling and not having his tail to help him land right.
====Fire and Ice====
:Halftail is the first cat to wake up after Fireheart and Graystripe's warrior vigil. Fireheart spots him moving in the shadows of the elders' den, glancing at the warriors' den. Upon the return of the ThunderClan cats from the Gathering, Halftail calls out to Bluestar, asking what the news was. The next day while Graystripe and Fireheart are on their mission to find WindClan, Fireheart remembers the story of how Halftail had lost his tail to a badger. When they return home after successfully bringing the other Clan home, Halftail settles down beside Fireheart with a greeting, saying that he had to share the story with the elders sometime.
:During the next Gathering, the Clans are arguing over strange scents found in all their territories, and clouds begin to cover the moon, to which Halftail yowls that StarClan has sent the darkness. Upon Whitestorm's discovery of rabbit bones with ShadowClan scent all over them, Frostfur and Halftail hurry over from their dens to see what is going on and creep closer to sniff at the bones.
====Forest of Secrets====
:Halftail, along with all the other elders, creates a bond with Fireheart's nephew, Cloudkit.
====Rising Storm====
:When the forest fire strikes, Bramblekit, Patchpelt, and himself get trapped in the camp. Yellowfang and Fireheart travel back from Sunningrocks to rescue them. Fireheart finds Patchpelt and Halftail unconscious, but is unable to save Patchpelt due to inhaling too much smoke. He succeeds in rescuing Bramblekit, who is stuck on a burning tree. Yellowfang grabs Halftail by the scruff and tries to pull him out of the camp to safety. However, a burning tree falls down, blocking their only way out. Fireheart travels to the camp later and finds that Halftail breathed in too much smoke too, along with Yellowfang, who dies shortly after Fireheart finds her in her cave. Graystripe offers to bury Halftail, and the Clan all mourn Halftail, Patchpelt, and Yellowfang's deaths.
====The Darkest Hour====
:Halftail is mentioned, along with One-eye, when Cloudtail asks Firestar to change Lostface's name, pointing out that they most likely had not started out with those names.
===In the Super Editions===
====Bluestar's Prophecy====
:He is a warrior of ThunderClan, then named Sparrowpelt, for he still has his full tail at the time. Sparrowpelt walks through the gorse barrier with a thrush, followed by Speckletail. Moonflower points him out. Later, at a Clan meeting, he is seen sitting with Tawnyspots while Featherwhisker weaves between them.
:Bluekit smells his scent on the gorse barrier, which means he was on the dawn patrol. After Sunfall takes Bluekit out, Sparrowpelt explodes from some ferns and tells them WindClan has been stealing their prey. He then plunges over the ravine and shares his story with Pinestar. When Pinestar asks if there was blood at the border, Sparrowpelt nods, saying there was fresh squirrel blood. Windflight tips his head to one side, slowly saying that the WindClan scent could have drifted from the moorland, causing Sparrowpelt to scoff at him. As the fox scent topic is brought up, Sparrowpelt says that there was fox scent everywhere if one sniffed for it. After Mumblefoot says that WindClan had done the trick before, Sparrowpelt adds to Stonepelt's comment that it wouldn't be the last time. As the topic dies down, Sparrowpelt is seen circling Stormtail and Adderfang, who are talking quietly, with his tail bristling.
:When the siblings, Snowkit and Bluekit, become apprentices, Sparrowpelt is appointed as Snowpaw's mentor and is mentioned to look quite surprised when Pinestar chooses him, and he is told to train Snowpaw to be a fine warrior. After the ceremony, Sparrowpelt then bounds up the ravine with Snowpaw, and he advises Snowpaw to take the route between two big boulders. He says that usually warriors go that way, but places faith that Snowpaw could make the jump. Sparrowpelt calls to Snowpaw to hurry up, reasoning that he was going to show her the river.
:The next morning, Snowpaw reveals to Bluepaw that Sparrowpelt said that they were going to go hunting together. When Bluepaw complains that Snowpaw got to see Fourtrees, Snowpaw drops her voice like Sparrowpelt's growly mew, telling her to remember the RiverClan scent. Sparrowpelt surprises Snowpaw, calling if she was ready to go. He heads out the tunnel as Snowpaw replies, urging her to hurry up. When Stonepelt suggests the Owl Tree, Sparrowpelt debates that the Great Sycamore would be better for prey. Bluepaw asks the warrior how much farther it is, and Sparrowpelt promises that it wouldn't be much longer. As they reach their destination, Sparrowpelt weaves in front of the cats and lifts his chin. He later agrees with Stonepelt that the greatest hunter knows how to wait. When Snowpaw asks if any prey was at their location or nearby, Sparrowpelt says none will be if they have any sense.
:Snowpaw also asks if prey would come into the open, which Sparrowpelt says that since they were downwind, some might. He also asks if the apprentices see the sycamore pods, claiming that where there were pods, there were bugs. Stonepelt finishes his sentence that where bugs where, there was prey. After Snowpaw fails to catch a mouse, Sparrowpelt shakes his head. He admits that he liked Snowpaw's enthusiasm, but her technique needed a little work. Bluepaw notes the teasing lightness in his tone. She encourages Snowpaw that she was fast, but Sparrowpelt says that speed didn't count when hunting mice. He reasons that skill was far more important. Stonepelt suggests leaving hunting for another day, in which Sparrowpelt agrees to. After Bluepaw demonstrates the hunting crouch, Snowpaw tries hers. Sparrowpelt praises her, telling her to move forward slowly. As dusk arrived, Sparrowpelt tells the cats they needed to go home, and he heads away through the trees with Snowpaw. Stonepelt promises Bluepaw they could practice again the next day, then catches up with Sparrowpelt.
:When Bluepaw catches a big squirrel, Sparrowpelt opens his mouth and stares for a moment. After they reach camp, Snowpaw promises she'll catch something the following day, resulting in Sparrowpelt reminding her that it wasn't a competition. After Bluepaw returns from the Gathering, she tells Snowpaw to ask Sparrowpelt if she could come to the following one.
:As Snowpaw wakes up, she tells Bluepaw that Stonepelt said she could sleep as long as she would like while Sparrowpelt took Snowpaw hunting to practice her stalking. When Goosefeather receives an omen from Snowpaw's vole, Sparrowpelt barges forward, hooking the vole with his claw so the Clan can see, yowling that they had to attack first. Pinestar then retrieves the vole from Sparrowpelt. Sparrowpelt hisses at his leader, asking if they should risk not fighting, reasoning that there may be no Clan to strengthen if they didn't act. As Sunfall understands the heavy weight in Pinestar's decision, Sparrowpelt growls that he thinks StarClan made the choice clear.
:Snowpaw later becomes a warrior, earning the name Snowfur. It is mentioned that his mate is White-eye, and he often shows affection towards her, and she later has his kits, Runningkit and Mousekit. He later gets a new apprentice, Redpaw, one of the kits from Adderfang and Swiftbreeze's second litter. His apprentice later becomes a warrior, Redtail.
:Many seasons later, it is mentioned that he has lost half of his tail fighting a badger. Because he has a much harder time staying balanced on trees without his tail, he had retired to the elders' den, changing his name to Halftail.
====Leopardstar's Honor====
:Fireheart and Graystripe return to the ThunderClan camp after the fire and bury the cats who did not escape.
===In the Novellas===
====Spottedleaf's Heart====
:Redpaw is given to Halftail as an apprentice, and it's noted that he is grumpy. He pads up to the newest apprentices and says that is enough chatter. He asks Redpaw if he is ready to see ThunderClan territory. Redpaw says to Halftail that of course he is and tells him to lead the way. The tom looks quizzically at his apprentice, commenting that he wasn't going to let him lead. Thistleclaw says that he and Tigerpaw will join him and Redpaw. After Bluefur gives birth to her kits, Spottedpaw contends that Thrushpelt must be the father, although the two cats had never been affectionate in front of other cats like Halftail and White-eye are.
====Redtail's Debt====
:Redpaw reflects how his mentor, Sparrowpelt, could be grumpy at times and refuses to let his apprentice join him on a hunting patrol near Sunningrocks, which Sunstar has deemed too dangerous for younger cats. His mentor returns, and Redpaw nervously greets him to ask about the hunt, but Sparrowpelt interrupts that he needs to report to Sunstar. Redpaw eavesdrops on their conversation and disagrees with Tigerclaw about letting the apprentices fight in the upcoming battle against RiverClan for trespassing. Sunstar agrees for a compromise and allows the apprentices to join the fight in a second patrol.
:Sparrowpelt interrupts Redpaw speaking with White-eye, and his mate insists for Sparrowpelt to be careful for the sake of their unborn kits. Redpaw awkwardly excuses himself as the two nuzzle. He touches noses with White-eye one last time before heading out on the battle patrol. When a hawk attacks the patrol while on the bridge, Stormtail and Sparrowpelt herd the apprentices away. Redpaw is separated, and Sparrowpelt yowls for his apprentice to run as he and Tigerclaw race towards him. Sparrowpelt urges Redpaw away as Tigerclaw fights off the hawk. Redpaw's tiny legs can't keep up, and he whimpers to his mentor to not leave him. Sparrowpelt carries him by the scruff off the bridge. Once they reach the trees, Sparrowpelt checks for any wounds. 
:Sparrowpelt stays with Redpaw and Willowpaw as the rest of the patrol checks on the battle and tries to reassure his apprentice what happened wasn't his fault. He greets Bluefur when she arrives with the rest of the patrol, but she announces that they lost the fight. During Redtail's warrior ceremony, he gazes at Redtail with pride in his eyes as his kits, Mousekit and Runningkit, play in front of him and White-eye. He reflects about the battle moves his mentor has taught him.
====Tigerclaw's Fury====
:Halftail is noticed to be missing when Cloudpaw asks where he is. Yellowfang and Fireheart head back to the camp to try find him, Patchpelt, and Bramblekit. Yellowfang grabs the closest body, which Tigerclaw is pretty sure is Halftail, and she slowly drags him along the clearing, until they are lost to Tigerclaw's sight due to the flames.
===In the Short stories and plays===
====The Elders' Concern====
:Halftail, concerned about ThunderClan's aftermath due to the broken law of the code when Fireheart was made deputy by Bluestar, gathers his fellow elders. He merely tries to find a solution to keep their Clan strong in this time of doubt, but one of the elders tells him that they were just elders. Smallear reminds Halftail that Bluestar must have had bees in her brain when she appointed a kittypet as the new deputy. 
:He also states that instead of being honored to serve his Clan, Fireheart looked like he had just been asked to jump off the gorge, and that their once honorable leader has turned her back on StarClan. To Halftail's dismay, when Smallear tells him that Fireheart will never be a true deputy in his eyes, the rest of the elders, Dappletail, and Patchpelt, agree with him. Halftail is left wondering what will become of the Clan that he had loved and cared so deeply for. He silently vows that he will never turn his back on his Clan.
==Detailed description==
===Injuries gained===
*Missing part of tail caused by a badger sometime before Into the Wild, causing him to retire to the elders' den and his name changed to Halftail.
==Character pixels==
==Official art==
==Kin==
===Members===
Mate:
:One-eye: 
Son:
:Runningwind: 
Daughter:
:Mousefur: 
Grandson:
:Featherkit: 
Grandkit:
:Cricketkit: 
===Tree===
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*Halftail and Patchpelt might have been at Firestar's leadership ceremony, but weren't named.
*Halftail lost his tail in a fight with a badger.
*Halftail is the first known cat in the series to have their tail amputated, while Berrynose is the second, and Finleap is the third.
*Halftail's residency in StarClan was first revealed on Vicky's Facebook.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook 
===Mistakes===
*In the allegiances of Yellowfang's Secret, Tallstar's Revenge, and Spottedleaf's Heart, he is listed as Halftail, despite still having his full tail at the time.
*Halftail was originally described with a stump for a tail.
===Continuity===
*In Su Susann's "Missing Kits" on Vicky's Facebook, Sparrowpelt mentored Cherrypaw who perished from a fox wound on her second trip out of camp.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
==External links==
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===Fan content===
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==Notes and references==
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Category:Toms
Category:Elders
Category:ThunderClan cats
Category:Warriors
Category:Mentors
Category:Deceased characters
Category:StarClan cats
Category:Point of view characters
Category:The Prophecies Begin characters