Runningnose

Runningnose is a reoccurring supporting character in the Warriors series, featured most prominently in The Prophecies Begin, Yellowfang's Secret, Tigerclaw's Fury and Exile From ShadowClan. He was formerly a medicine cat of ShadowClan and the adoptive brother of Brokenstar, who had tried to keep his Clan together during a bout of sickness, losing his leader Nightstar in the process. 
== Appearance ==
Runningnose is a small, sickly tom with patchy, unkempt gray-and-white fur. His muzzle is gray, and he has watery amber eyes. As his name suggests, he has a constant cold.
== Biography ==
=== Yellowfang's Secret ===
Runningkit is born to Lizardstripe and Mudclaw alongside Tanglekit and Deerkit, and later the deputy Raggedpelt's son Brokenkit is reluctantly taken in by Lizardstripe, becoming the litter's adoptive brother. The medicine cat Yellowfang sees the three kits bullying Brokenkit in the camp's clearing, calling him names and mocking him for not knowing who his birth mother is. Yellowfang intervens and scolds the three, with Runningkit looking remorseful while Tanglekit and Deerkit are defiant. Runningkit stops tormenting the dark brown tom from then on, and instead just watches his siblings.
After trying and failing to teach Brokenkit about herbs, Yellowfang sees Runningkit watching her intently from outside the medicine den while she sorts her herb supply. She invites the gray-and-white kit to get a closer look, causing him to panic and run back to the nursery. When Runningkit reaches six moons old, he becomes a medicine cat apprentice with Yellowfang as his mentor, earning the name Runningpaw. The old gray she-cat is happy to have a cheerful and patient student who learns quickly, even if he can't cure his own sickness. Much later, once Runningpaw has completed his training, Yellowfang gives him the name Runningnose as a reminder that there are some ailments medicine cats can't cure, but they should always have the courage to try. 
=== Exile from ShadowClan ===
After becoming leader, Brokenstar exiles all of ShadowClan's elders, believing them to be a waste of resources. Runningnose and Yellowfang accompany the elders as they leave the camp, carving a den into a hillside for them to stay in. The two promise the elders to visit frequently and bring herbs and news from the camp before they leave. The next time they visit, they tell the exiles that Brokenstar has declared war on WindClan for supposedly killing Raggedstar. After her son Mosspaw is killed in a brutal training session conducted by Brokenstar, Featherstorm leaves the Clan and joins the elders. Nightpelt asks Runningnose if there's anything he can do to stop the needless deaths Brokenstar is causing, but he sadly says no, since ShadowClan's strongest warrior support their new leader, and StarClan has not said anything about him yet.
After Volepaw and Littlepaw are badly wounded from being sent to fight a hoard of rats, Brokenstar refuses to Volepaw's wounds be treated, believing they're too severe and the apprentice will die anyways. Not wanting Volepaw to die, Runningnose and Clawface sneak him out of camp so the elders can take care of him, with the gray-and-white tom asking Nightpelt if he can give the apprentice a second chance. The medicine cat then tells the rest of the Clan that Volepaw has died of his injuries so that no one will go looking for him.
==== Yellowfang's Secret (cont.) ====
After Brokenstar frames Yellowfang for the deaths of Mintkit and Marigoldkit, Runningnse, Rowanberry, Nutwhisker and Newtspeck defend her, not believing she would do such a thing. Brokenstar doesn't listen though and banishes her from ShadowClan. As she leaves, Runningnose shouts to her that he'll find some way to prove her innocence.
==== Exile From ShadowClan (cont.) ====
Nightpelt is surprised to see the camp nearly empty when he visits, finding out that most of the Clan has gone to raid WindClan. Runningnose explains what happened to Yellowfang and that he doesn't believe she killed the kits. He also stays resolute in helping his Clan to the best of his abilities as their only medicine cat.
=== The Prophecies Begin ===
==== Into the Wild ====
At Firepaw's, Graypaw's and Ravenpaw's first Gathering, they overhear Runningnose complaining about twolegs in ShadowClan territory. They then hear him telling a story of how there was once an herb that could cure kittencough, but ever since twolegs moved into ShadowClan's territory, the herb was destroyed and kits have died needlessly in leafbare. Upon returning to ThunderClan's camp, Firepaw tells Yellowfang, who was taken in by the Clan, about Runningnose's role as ShadowClan's sole medicine cat, which surprises her.
Runningnose later joins in a rebellion to drive Brokenstar out, trying to stay out of the fight itself and instead heal his injured allies. In the aftermath of the battle, he helps Yellowfang tend to a wounded kit by handing her cobwebs to stop the bleeding with. Yellowfang then entrusts Runningnose to take care of the Clan, as she has decides to become ThunderClan's medicine cat following the death of their old one, Spottedleaf.
=== Exile From ShadowClan (cont. 2) ===
The ThunderClan cats leave after helping drive out Brokenstar, and Runningnose tends to Nightpelt, giving him herbs to soothe his coughing. The old black tom is surprised when both the medicine cat and Cinderfur agree that he should be the new leader, and is hesitant since he wasn't the deputy and StarClan hadn't set a sign, but Runningnose is confident that he's the right choice. After a Gathering, he leads Nightpelt to the Moonstone to get nine lives, but StarClan rejects him since Brokenstar is still alive. Runningnose is shocked, but insists that the Clan still need him to lead, which he agrees to, saying that one day Brokenstar will die and ShadowClan will get the leader they deserve.
=== Tigerclaw's Fury ===
While in exile, Tangleburr tells the former ThunderClan deputy Tigerclaw that ShadowClan is suffering from a sever illness from the carrionplace, and that Runningnose is doing everything he can, not sleeping for an entire week, but there are too many ill cats to treat. Tigerclaw and his rogues offer to bring herbs and fresh-kill, which they bring the next day. Runningnose and Nightstar stumble out of the leader's den when they arrive, and when Deerfoot complains about having to accept help from rogues, his brother says that they may have saved the Clan from starvation, telling his littermate to be more grateful.
After finding out that Cinderfur died of illness, Tigerclaw asks who replaced him, and the amber-eyed medicine cat says that he's taking over deputy duties since Nightstar is too weak from sickness to name a new one. Scornfully Tigerclaw thinks about how weak Runningnose is, and that him being the deputy is making the Clan fail. The gray-and-white tom asks Tigerclaw if he'd like to organize patrol instead, as he's very busy with his herbs, which the brown tabby accepts.
A few days later, Runningnose sits with his Clan around Nightstar's body as they grieve, telling Tigerclaw and his group that the leader died last night, and hoping that he's happy now in StarClan. He then says that the Clan is terrified without a leader or a deputy, and with no sign from StarClan on who should lead them, he doesn't blame them for thinking that their ancestors have abandoned them. He expresses fear that the Clan will never recover from Brokenstar's tyranny, if the wounds runs so deep that he can't heal them. Tigerclaw urges the medicine cat to be strong as now his Clan looks to him for guidance, saying that StarClan has not abandoned them, and he must lead until their ancestors send him a sign, assuring him that he and his rogues will support him. The sickly tom thanks him, saying he knew he could count on him.
Runningnose calls a Clan meeting, announcing that until StarClan chooses a new leader, he will be in charge of the Clan. He then says that life must go on as they mourn Nightstar, assuring his Clanmates that the worst has passed and they must regain their strength, and as such, patrols and training will go on as usual once more. Soon the Clan starts to protest that they're being overworked, which confuses the medicine cat, and Tigerclaw offers to take over the patrols and training, which he accepts, saying they need all the help they can get. During another Clan meeting, he asks the brown tabby to organize battle training since he doesn't know much about fighting, then helps the elders take Nightstar's body out of camp to be buried. The amber-eyed cat thanks the rogues for all their help, saying that his Clan is honored to have them and offers that they join the Clan as warriors, since it's what Nightstar would've wanted. Tigerclaw accepts and asks that two of the rogues, Snag and Mowgli, be given warrior names. Runningnose says yes, telling the brown tabby to choose warrior names for them, after which Snag is reamed Jaggedtooth while Mowgli is renamed Nightwhisper.
Over the course of a week, ShadowClan becomes confident that StarClan will send them a message soon. While watching a training session, Runningnose gets concerned that Rowanpaw is hurt, to which Tigerclaw says that he'll dodge attacks quicker next time. The medicine cat murmurs that he trusts Tigerclaw to train the apprentices and that no one doubts his loyalty, then asks to speak to him in privet. He tells the tabby tom that a Gathering is near, and ShadowClan still has no leader or deputy, but if they don't go, the other Clans will find out that something's wrong and he'll have to ask StarClan to cover the moon. Tigerclaw asks if there have been any signs yet, but the sickly tom says no, worrying that he was simply too busy to notice one and the Clan is on the brink of collapse because of him. The brown tabby reassures him that the Clan is much stronger now, and he will know in his heart who the next leader will be. Runningnose then asks if he should fake a sign, but Tigerclaw instead tells him to keep an eye out for signs and listen to his thoughts, which he takes as meaning that StarClan will make sure he makes the decision they would.
The day before the Gathering, Runningnose calls a Clan meeting to tell his Clanmates that the leader will come soon, hanging his head in defeat when they protest. He then notices a lone claw at the base of the rock he sits on, and as he examines it, shadows in the shape of tiger stripes are cast over it. Realizing it must be a sign form StarClan, he announces that Tigerclaw will be the new leader. Tigerclaw accepts the responsibility, and the Clan cheers for their new leader.
=== The Ultimate Guide ===
Runningnose takes Tigerclaw to the Moonstone so he may receive nine lives. At the Mothermouth, he murmurs to the leader that the moon is rising, to which he snaps that thy will wait. Tigerclaw then thinks about how Runningnose was the hardest of ShadowClan to earn the trust of, and how he likely doubts the brown tabby's loyalty even now, but doesn't go against his Clanmates' opinions on him. As the two walk into the Mothermouth, Tigerclaw is irritated by the medicine cat's rasping, wondering who would put their trust in a medicine cat who couldn't even cure their own cold. They get to the Moonstone, and the gray-and-white tom instructs the leader to press his nose to it, laying down beside him and telling him not to be alarmed if StarClan doesn't show. He explains that they didn't show up for Nightstar since Brokenstar was still alive, and that they know a cat's destiny better than anyone.
After Tigerstar's leadership ceremony, he wakes up next to Runningnose, who tells him that he was by his side the whole time, and it's now time to leave. Tigerstar states that he has a Clan to lead, to which the sickly tom says that he must listen to what StarClan has told him during the ceremony, as they cannot help if he doesn't accept what each life was given for. Tigerstar asks if that was a threat and reminds Runningnose that he's just a medicine cat, who serves him before ShadowClan or StarClan. Runningnose dips his head at this, murmuring of course, and the two head home.
=== The Prophecies Begin (cont.) ===
==== Rising Storm ====
As a sickness sweeps through ShadowClan, Runningnose stays by his ill leader's side, worrying he might die. An owl then attacks the roof of the medicine den, which he interprets as a sign from StarClan that ShadowClan will soon grow incredibly strong in the near future, but first must pay the highest price. Later, a very sick Littlecloud and Whitethroat beg ThunderClan to help heal them, explaining that Runningnose is too preoccupied with trying to heal Nightstar. The Clan sends them away in fear that the sickness will spread, but their medicine cat apprentice Cinderpaw starts treating them in secret.
At a gathering, the other Clans start getting suspicious when ShadowClan is late, when Runningnose and tow others show up. Panting, he explains that the sickness is gone, and he's been sent ahead to tell the other leader to wait before starting the meeting. WindClan's leader Tallstar asks why Nightstar is so late, to which the gray-and-white tom bluntly replies that Nightstar is dead. Whitestorm of ThunderClan asks if that means his deputy Cinderfur has taken his place as leader, to which the medicine cat paws the ground anxiously and says that he was dead too. 
Crookedstar, RiverClan's leader, then demands to know who's leading ShadowClan now, and Runningnose promises that they'll see when he arrives, glancing around. Fireheart goes to tell the sickly tom approaches the sickly tom as curious warrior swarm him, wondering if he'll be phased by learning that Yellowfang has died in a forest fire, since he's been around so much death recently already. He then decides to break the news of his mentor's death in private, thinking how the two must have had a close bond when she was in ShadowClan.
Fireheart signals to the medicine cat to follow him, and he's relived to get out of the swarm of cats. The two go to a quiet area beneath one of the four oaks, where the ThunderClan deputy gently tells him that Yellowfang has died. Runningnose's eyes cloud with grief, and Fireheart continues that she had gave her life helping to evacuate the burning camp. The amber-eyed tom silently shakes his head in despair before quickly walking away. Soon after, ShadowClan's leader arrives, and reveals himself to be Tigerstar.
==== A Dangerous Path ====
As Tigerstar announces his leadership to the Gathering, Fireheart notices that Runningnose has his head bowed, lost in misery as the new leader talks about the sickness that overtook ShadowClan. The orange tom feels bad for him, thinking that it must hurt to know that all of his skill wasn't enough to save Nightstar. As Tigerstar continues that the medicine cat had received an omen from StarClan that he should be leader, Fireheart then notices him shifting around uncomfortably.
Later, as Fireheart escorts Cinderpelt to the Moonstone for the medicine cat meeting, Runningnose cheerfully greets them at Fourtrees. Littlecloud is with him, stating happily that he's now a medicine cat apprentice, and his mentor adds that he has a real talent, and how he's sorry that Whitethroat didn't return with him, as the black-and-white warrior was ran over by a monster. Fireheart asks him how he's doing, wanting to warn him that Tigerstar is a traitor, the sickly tom reports guardedly that they're well-fed and their apprentices are getting proper training. Fireheart then asks about the rogues that had joined the Clan with Tigerstar, to which he says that he and some of his Clanmates weren't happy about them at first, but they're strong and haven't caused any trouble, so no one could deny them.
Fireheart says that Tigerstar must be a good leader, to which Runningnose meets his eyes steadily and remarks that it's odd ThunderClan would cast out a strong cat like him. The orange tom prepares to tell him about how Tigerstar was exiled from ThunderClan for killing their deputy and trying to kill their leader as well, but before he can, Runningnose says that he doesn't want him to betray his Clan by revealing their secrets, and that StarClan really did send an omen about Tigerstar. He then admits that Nightstar had never received nine lives from StarClan since Brokenstar will still alive at the time, and by the time the old leader was dead, Nightstar was too weak from illness to make it to the Moonstone. He adds that the rest of ShadowClan never knew their leader was denied nine lives and had just assumed the sickness took them all, saying he was a noble and loyal leader regardless. he explains that the two of them decided to keep it a secret because there was no other cat fit to lead, and knowing the truth would've likely caused panic. Fireheart then realizes that this fear of the illness is why the Clan accepted Tigerstar so easily.
Finally, Fireheart asks if ShadowClan was planning to invade ThunderClan, to which Runningnose purrs in amusement that he couldn't betray his Clan by giving information like that out, before assuring him that there's nothing to worry about. Fireheart chooses to trust him, and Cinderpelt then calls for the medicine cats to start heading for the Moonstone.
==== The Darkest Hour ====
After Tigerstar is killed by Scourge, the leader of BloodClan, Runningnose leaves with the rest of his Clan to prepare Blackfoot for his journey to the Moonstone. He glances at Firestar as he leaves, with the orange tom wishing luck after Nightstar's and Tigerstar's failed leaderships.
=== Blackfoot's Reckoning ===
After the battle against BloodClan, Blackfoot sees Runningnose and Littlecloud tending to their injured Clanmates, relived that they're all ok. The next morning, Blackfoot is woken up by Runningnose and tells him that he's ready to travel to the Moonstone. At Highstones, the medicine cat pads into Mothermouth with Blackfoot following close behind, soon announcing that they've made it to the Moonstone as moonlight floods into the cave. The gray-and-white tom tells Blackfoot that he knows what to do, and he touches his nose to the Moonstone, being lulled to sleep immediately,
=== Firestar's Quest ===
Runningnose retires to the elder's den, leaving Littlecloud as ShadowClan's sole medicine cat.
=== The New Prophecy ===
==== Dawn ====
Despite his age, Runningnose makes the long journey to the lake with the rest of the Clans after the forest is destroyed. Before they leave though, he insists on saying goodbye to the dying RiverClan medicine cat Mudfur, as the two were close friends.
==== Starlight ====
Runningnose is one of the cats who argues in favor of the Clans finding a new place to hold Gatherings rather than continuing to do so at the lake's shore.
=== The Power of Three ===
==== Eclipse ====
Runningnose has since died and went to StarClan, where he appears to Littlecloud at the Moonpool. He remarks that Blackstar has begun losing faith in StarClan ever since a rogue named Sol had become the de-facto leader of ShadowClan, wondering if the Clans were meant to come to the lake at all. He then tells Littlecloud not to give up on Blackstar, and while spying on the small brown tom's dream, the ThunderClan medicine cat apprentice Jaypaw notices that even as a spirit, he still has a cold.
==== Long Shadows ====
Runningnose and Raggedstar appear to Jayfeather in his dreams, asking him to help get Sol out of ShadowClan and restore their faith in StarClan. Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, Flamepaw, Dawnpaw and Tigerpaw then all work together to try and fake a sign from StarClan. Right before their plan is about to fail however, Runningnose and Raggedstar appear before Blackstar and Littlecloud, convincing the leader to start believing in StarClan again and kick Sol out.
=== Omen of the Stars ===
==== Fading Echoes ====
As Jayfeather spies on Flametail's dream, he sees Yellowfang telling the orange tom that Runningnose wishes to speak to him, wondering what the gray-and-white medicine cat has to say.
==== Night Whispers ====
While visiting the Moonpool, another past ShadowClan medicine cat named Sagewhisker tells Flametail to name which ancestors he sees, and he names Runningnose as one of them.
=== A Vision of Shadows ===
==== Thunder and Shadow ====
When Yellowcough infects ShadowClan, their new medicine cat Puddleshine tells the deputy Crowfrost that Runningnose visited him in a dream, showing him an herb called lungwort that could cure the illness. The young tom then explains that the herb can be found in the moorlands of WindClan's territory. When they announce this at the Gathering though, WindClan's leader Onestar refuses to let anyone harvest lungwort, not wanting to help ShadowClan after several of their members joined a rogue group known as The Kin, which severely disappoints Puddleshine.
== Trivia ==
* Runningnose is the first of three medicine cats to become leader, with the second and third being Mothwing and Frostpaw of RiverClan, though in all three cases they were only serving as a temporary substitute.
* He and Sneezecloud are the only two cats in the series named after their illness.
* Author Victoria Holmes has said that Runningnose likely died from his cold getting too severe in his old age.
== External links ==
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