Flipclaw

Flipclaw is a brown tabby tom with golden eyes.
Flipclaw is a ThunderClan warrior who has served under Bramblestar's, the impostor's, Lionblaze's, Graystripe's, and Squirrelstar's leaderships in the lake territories. He was born as Flipkit to Ivypool and Fernsong with his sisters, Bristlekit and Thriftkit. He was apprenticed to Hollytuft as Flippaw and became a full warrior as Flipclaw. He was forced to become a medicine cat by Bramblestar's impostor, and soon the full medicine cat of ThunderClan when Alderheart was exiled. However, Flipclaw resumed his warrior duties when Jayfeather and Alderheart returned to ThunderClan after the impostor was taken down. Flipclaw later left ThunderClan with Graystripe, Thornclaw, Snaptooth, and Flywhisker. He traveled to the mountains but ultimately decided to return to the Clans, bringing with him the news of Flywhisker and Snaptooth becoming kittypets. During Squirrelstar's leadership, Flipclaw mentored Shinepaw and fathered Myrtlebloom's kits: Sunkit, Oakkit and Hazelkit.
==History==
===In the A Vision of Shadows arc===
====River of Fire====
:Alderheart enters the nursery to check up on Ivypool and her kits. He sees the silver-and-white queen curled around three little shapes, with Fernsong sitting beside his mate. The dark ginger tom learns that Ivypool has named them, one being Bristlekit, a tabby kit as Flipkit, and his sister, Thriftkit. Alderheart bends down and gives their bodies a check, asking if the young kits have been feeding well. Ivypool says they never stop, but her dark blue eyes gleam with amusement and love. Fernsong puts in that neither he nor his mate can be happier.
:Ivypool admits that when her sister, Dovewing, left for ShadowClan, she felt angry and betrayed, but now that she has her own kits, she understands her sister's thinking. Alderheart then goes to see how Cinderheart is, curled around her own kits, and the gray tabby gazes affectionately at Ivypool's litter. After Briarlight's death, Jayfeather blames himself, saying that he must've passed his sickness onto her when he aided in delivering Flipkit, Thriftkit, and Bristlekit. Alderheart, however, reassures the gray tabby it is not his fault Briarlight passed due to her illness.
:Dovewing and the newly-named Tigerstar return back to the lake, and Dovewing pays a visit to her old home. Graystripe and Millie come running over, but Ivypool overtakes them, joyfully greeting her sister, her young kits squirming after their mother. The three siblings sniff at the new, unfamiliar cats, and Ivypool introduces her litter to her sister and her kits. She lists Flipkit off, with his siblings, Thriftkit and Bristlekit. Lightkit says it is good she and her littermates have kin, after a quick introduction and explanation from Dovewing. When the pale gray she-cat breaks the news of her living in ShadowClan with Tigerstar, Ivypool gathers her kits close and turns her back on Dovewing.
====The Raging Storm====
:When Dovewing pays a visit to ThunderClan, Flipkit and Thriftkit hide between their mother's legs. Eventually, Flipkit pads out to Dovewing, asking if her kits look like him and his siblings. Dovewing responds that Shadowkit does a little, and Flipkit asks his mother if they will ever live in ShadowClan, though his mother scolds him, explaining that warriors must be loyal to their own Clan. He goes to play with his siblings, but is heard complaining from the nursery. Ivypool gets up, but Twigbranch tells her to rest, saying she will teach the kits some hunting moves.
:After Alderheart returns from ShadowClan, Flipkit and his siblings rush up to greet him, and Flipkit asks if Tigerstar was scary. Ivypool yowls for her kits to come back into the nursery, saying they will get greencough in the cold, and the kits follow her. Later, Ivypool scolds them for playing in muddy water, though Flipkit claims they are pretending to be RiverClan cats.
===In The Broken Code arc===
====Lost Stars====
:Flippaw and Thriftpaw greet Bristlepaw after she rescues Rootpaw from drowning. They are both very impressed with their sister, and agree she should be made a warrior immediately. Later, Flippaw hears that Bristlepaw is taking her warrior assessment early, and wishes her well. When Bristlepaw returns having failed, he and Thriftpaw are both very supportive of their sister, which Bristlepaw is grateful for. Flippaw and Thriftpaw meet up with Bristlepaw later, showing off the mice they caught. The three accidentally eavesdrop on Bramblestar and Squirrelflight talking over the lack of connection with StarClan. Bristlepaw snorts to herself that the Clan should be more worried about finding prey, which Jayfeather overhears, and scolds all three littermates. Bramblestar overhears Jayfeather talking to them, and decides the three should come to the Gathering.
:Flippaw follows along with his littermates and Clan to the Gathering island that night. Later, when Bristlepaw decides to retake her warrior assessment without them, they are both still very supportive and wish her luck. When Bristlepaw returns, Flippaw yowls excitedly that she caught a mouse. He and Hollytuft return from a border patrol leading Tigerstar and Shadowpaw into the ThunderClan camp. When Tigerstar claims Shadowpaw can cure Bramblestar's illness, Squirrelflight orders Flippaw to fetch Jayfeather and Alderheart. Bristlefrost watches Shadowpaw sympathetically when he fails to revive the ThunderClan leader, noting how similar the shape of his eyes were to Flippaw's.
====The Silent Thaw====
:He is now a warrior named Flipclaw. Flipclaw plays moss-ball with Snaptooth and Dewnose while waiting for Squirrelflight to organize the patrols. When she and Bramblestar finally appear, the three offer to hunt, and Flipclaw notes he scented a mouse nest the other day. Bramblestar confronts him for not catching it sooner, but Flipclaw explains he thought it could wait. Squirrelflight agrees, saying they should not hunt the forest clean, and Bramblestar congratulates Dewnose for training the young cats well, albeit getting his name wrong.
:Squirrelflight orders Flipclaw to go on a hunting patrol with Eaglewing near the beech grove and Bramblestar interrupts her to try the ancient oak instead. Bristlefrost asks to help and Squirrelflight distractedly replies she can join her brother's patrol. Bramblestar later announces Flipclaw and Thriftear's warrior names at the Gathering and Bristlefrost is one of the first to cheer their names. Bristlefrost organizes patrols and puts Thornclaw on a hunting patrol with Stemleaf and Flipclaw. Rosepetal remarks that Thornclaw will not appreciate hunting with younger cats, and Lionblaze jokes that he will have to keep up since Flipclaw and Stemleaf are as fast as hares.
====Veil of Shadows====
:Bristlefrost spots her brother repairing the bramble barrier of the ThunderClan camp. She compliments his work, to which Flipclaw snaps at her, bringing up how she had allowed Bramblestar to send Jayfeather and Lionblaze away. She considers telling Flipclaw about how she had actually brought them to safety in ShadowClan, but the tabby tom stalks away before she gets the chance.
:Later, Flipclaw tells several of his Clanmates about a scary dream he had, where he was attacked by a group of giant birds. Bramblestar listens in on the conversation, and soon after, the leader announces that Flipclaw is to become ThunderClan's new medicine cat. Flipclaw is astonished, but Bramblestar insists that the dream the tom had was prophetic and molds it into an omen about StarClan being the birds preying on them. Still, Flipclaw denies he has any calling to be a medicine cat, and Bramblestar reminds him that they will need another medicine cat if anything happens to Alderheart, his words threatening. Flipclaw reluctantly heads to the medicine den and begins bickering with Alderheart.
:When Alderheart discusses joining the exiles with Bristlefrost, he mentions that he cannot due to being ThunderClan's only remaining medicine cat. Bristlefrost meows that he cannot leave them in the care of Flipclaw, and Alderheart gawks at the thought of it. Later, Bramblestar uses Flipclaw's prophetic dream as a reason to stop Twigbranch from returning to ThunderClan as he had previously promised her. Alderheart follows her into exile, and when Ivypool yowls that they cannot live without a medicine cat, Bramblestar gestures to Flipclaw. The Clan looks at Flipclaw doubtfully, and he bows shamefully. Alderheart apologizes to the tom, but admits that he cannot stay any longer.
:After Bristlefrost faints, she awakens to find herself in the medicine den being treated by Flipclaw, although he is unsure if he is using the correct herbs. Brightheart assures him that she checked that they were correct, explaining how she used to help Cinderpelt, a former ThunderClan medicine cat. Flipclaw worriedly asks Bristlefrost how much she remembered after her fall, and she recalls that Stemleaf had died. Flipclaw sadly notes that Conefoot of ShadowClan and Dappletuft of RiverClan are dead too. Suddenly, Bramblestar appears in the den, praising Flipclaw for his skill as a medicine cat, and the tabby tom hurries out of the den as Bramblestar speaks to Bristlefrost. Bramblestar questions why Brightheart is in the medicine den, and the elder replies that she was helping Flipclaw. The leader angrily asks how Flipclaw could learn with her there, and Brightheart defends that he could not learn if she was not there. Still, Bramblestar orders her to leave, and Brightheart concedes.
:During a rebel meeting, Spotfur mentions Flipclaw as a possible source of inside information, noting that he is getting fed up with being a medicine cat. Puddleshine says that the other medicine cats will not be happy to hear he is replacing Alderheart, and that an untrained medicine cat is dangerous for a Clan. At the next Gathering, Bramblestar announces that Flipclaw is ThunderClan's new medicine cat, mentioning his prophetic dream. Tigerstar asks to hear about it, but Bramblestar insists that it will stay within ThunderClan. 
:The next day, Flipclaw attempts to put a poultice on Shellfur's paw. The tortoiseshell tom snaps at the medicine cat, exclaiming that he is making it worse. Sparkpelt asks what is happening, and Flipclaw explains that the wound is infected despite his use of oak leaves. Sparkpelt yowls that oak leaves only prevent infection, and that he should be using marigold, though Flipclaw admits he did not know about marigold. The ginger warrior continues to yell at him, but Bristlefrost defends her brother, and the she-cat apologizes. Sparkpelt beckons him to follow her to the middle of camp, where she confronts Bramblestar about how terribly the Clan is doing with Flipclaw. Her disrespect causes Bramblestar to exile Sparkpelt, and when other cats are gathering to join her, Ivypool glances at Flipclaw and Bristlefrost, knowing she cannot leave without them.
:Later, Puddleshine discusses the event of the half-moon meeting, noting that Flipclaw did not come, though he may not have known he was supposed to. Frecklewish asks if Kestrelflight and Willowshine were able to persuade their leaders about Bramblestar's treachery by explaining what happened with Flipclaw, but Puddleshine responds that Harestar and Mistystar were unfazed. The next day, Bristlefrost says she needed to collect chervil for Flipclaw as an excuse to slip away to talk to Rootspring.
====Darkness Within====
:When Lionblaze and Thornclaw are arguing about Squirrelflight being leader, Flywhisker, Snaptooth, and Flipclaw watch with interest. Flipclaw begins nodding in agreement at Thornclaw's words. When the discussion moves on to StarClan, Flipclaw suggests that StarClan does not care about them anymore or that they imagined all their prophecies. He says that they should learn how to live without StarClan, like they did when the Clans were born. He asks what the point of following the warrior code is now that StarClan is gone, and says that since their ancestors have abandoned them, they no longer need to follow their tradition and they can make up their own codes to fit their life beside the lake. He tells Squirrelflight that he needs some time to think about what being a warrior really means after what happened with Bramblestar, and that he will go on a wander away from ThunderClan for a while. He continues, saying that maybe it is time they all stopped living in Clans. Snaptooth, Thornclaw, Flywhisker, and Graystripe all decide to go with him. Ivypool asks Flipclaw if he will come back, but he replies that he is not sure.
====The Place of No Stars====
:Flipclaw returns from his wander, and his kin and Clanmates happily surround him, greeting him. Flipclaw asks why they are up so early. Bristlefrost explains that a patrol had been sent to kill Bramblestar's body after the leaders decided to do it. Flipclaw tells them that he had visited the Tribe of Rushing Water along with Graystripe, explaining how he met Stormfur and Feather of Flying Hawk. He was injured in a rockslide, but Stoneteller healed his injury. Living with the Tribe made Flipclaw realize he belonged in ThunderClan, and that Graystripe had gone to the old forest to see if he could contact StarClan through the Moonstone. When Cinderheart asks about Flywhisker and Snaptooth, Flipclaw explains that they decided to become kittypets, going on to say that he tried to convince them to come home while on his way back to ThunderClan. Soon after, Lionblaze's patrol arrives. Lionblaze spots Flipclaw and greets him, before scanning the camp looking for Snaptooth and Flywhisker. Later, Flipclaw greets Graystripe warmly when he returns to camp from his wander, and asks how things at the Moonstone went.
====A Light in the Mist====
:At the Gathering, he and Thriftear huddle close as they mourn the loss of their sister.
===In the A Starless Clan arc===
====River====
:Flipclaw and Thriftear share their excitement about the new changes to the warrior code, and when Birchfall chides them, they both roll their eyes at each other.
====Sky====
:After Nightheart gets bitten by a squirrel, Flipclaw and Thriftear had teased him, commenting that Nightheart was supposed to eat the prey, not the other way around. Flipclaw then hooks the squirrel and makes a joke about Nightheart and Firestar. Later, while waiting to be called for the dawn patrol, he is seen pacing the clearing impatiently.
====Shadow====
:When Bramblestar announces he is stepping down, Flipclaw asks what he will do, and if he will leave them.
====Thunder====
:While resting with Sunbeam, Nightheart thinks that Flipclaw will be leaving with Fernstripe and Sorrelstripe on the evening border patrol soon. He then returns with Sorrelstripe, following Berryheart into camp, and apologizes to Ivypool. After Sunbeam speaks with her mother, Ivypool sends Flipclaw and Sorrelstripe to escort Berryheart out of camp.
====Star====
:Flipclaw accompanies Nightheart, Eaglewing, Wafflepaw, and Myrtlebloom into camp with prey before heading away with Myrtlebloom.
===In the Changing Skies arc===
====The Elders' Quest====
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===In the Super Editions===
====Squirrelflight's Hope====
:Flippaw is a new apprentice being mentored by Hollytuft, and the two nose through the fresh-kill pile after a training session. Thriftpaw catches a rabbit, and her littermates are impressed with her catch. Flippaw tells them how Mousewhisker caught a weasel earlier that morning, peaking Squirrelflight's interest about his injuries. When Squirrelflight returns from the Sisters, Flippaw eagerly badgers her with questions, and Hollytuft stops him. He, Thriftpaw, Dewnose, and Hollytuft arrive into camp when the Sisters bring Sunrise to the ThunderClan camp to be healed. Bramblestar orders him and Thriftpaw to help Twigbranch and Finleap gather ferns for Sunrise to rest on. Flippaw and a few other cats stare with hostility at the Sisters.
:When Larksong falls ill to a mysterious sickness, Squirrelflight, Hollytuft, Flippaw, and Bristlepaw bury the prey outside of camp. Flippaw asks why it is so important to bury the prey, and Hollytuft grimly reminds him that sickness affects everyone in the forest. Hollytuft takes the apprentices hunting afterwards. He attends Larksong and Flickerkit's vigils with the rest of his family.
====Graystripe's Vow====
:Flipclaw suggests leaving ThunderClan and his Clanmates are shocked, but Graystripe, Flywhisker, Thornclaw, and Snaptooth join him. Squirrelflight allows them to leave, but gives them only one moon outside of the Clan. Flipclaw and the others then hunt so they would have enough energy to travel the next day. He shows extra affection towards Flywhisker but she does not pay attention to him.
:Flipclaw and the remaining cats soon get chased by two curious dogs, and are relieved when the dogs are taken away by their owners. He then murmurs about how he would make sure Flywhisker was well-fed if she was expecting kits, but Flywhisker rejects him, which disappoints Flipclaw. After they argue, Thornclaw leaves the group, wanting to be alone.
:Graystripe, feeling uncomfortable with the new tensions in the group, says he will be traveling to the Tribe and asks if anyone wants to come with him. Snaptooth and Flywhisker deny the offer. Meanwhile, Flipclaw hesitates, saying nothing. When Graystripe departs, Flipclaw catches up to him, mentioning he could use some company in the dangerous outside world. Graystripe is a bit offended by the suggestion he is too old, but he lets Flipclaw come with him anyways. They walk side by side out of Clan territory. Graystripe grows to enjoy the young tom's company.
:When the pair arrive in the mountains, they are escorted to the Tribe of Rushing Water. Flipclaw is fascinated with their way of life and their beautiful home. He quickly befriends Stormfur's son, Feather. Graystripe is pleased that Flipclaw is enjoying himself and leaves him alone to spend more time with Stormfur and Brook. The next morning, Flipclaw joins Feather on a hunting patrol, but they are buried under a landslide accidentally caused by Breeze. Graystripe and several other Tribe cats rush to rescue them. After Graystripe unburies Flipclaw, he panics because he thinks Flipclaw is dead. However, Stoneteller revives him and puts his dislocated leg back into socket. Flipclaw, feeling much better, limps back to the Tribe's camp.
:When Stoneteller tells Graystripe that it may be several days before Flipclaw can travel, Graystripe is horrified because he wants to leave immediately. He tells Flipclaw to stay with the Tribe until he gets better but Flipclaw, to everyone's surprise, says he wants to go back to ThunderClan, where he belongs. Graystripe is stunned but pleased that Flipclaw realizes where he truly belongs. Flipclaw then decides to travel back to ThunderClan shortly after Graystripe leaves.
====Ivypool's Heart====
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===In the Novellas===
====Tawnypelt's Clan====
:Fernsong mentions Flipkit when Dovewing asks how Ivypool and her kits are doing, to which the yellow tom replies that they are doing well.
====Spotfur's Rebellion====
:Flipkit, Bristlekit, and Thrifkit ask what Spotpaw is doing while the apprentice cleans Bramblestar's den. Spotpaw explains to them that it is an apprentice's duty to clean the dens. Fernsong tells the kits to not bother Spotpaw, relieving the apprentice. Flipkit and Thriftkit go away, while Bristlekit adds that she wants to be just like Spotpaw. When the ThunderClan camp floods and the Clan evacuates, Flipkit shelters under the queens, and he is worried; as they walk, he is separated from the rest of the cats. Spotpaw finds Flipkit stuck in mud and helps him out, and the apprentice tells him to yowl if he is lagging behind. They continue through the rainy forest, and he soon finds signs of where the rest of the Clan had gone. Spotpaw leads him to the makeshift camp, to his parents' relief. Moons later, when the situation with Bramblestar wreaks havoc on ThunderClan, Flipclaw becomes Alderheart's "apprentice".
====Daisy's Kin====
:Daisy mentions that Flipclaw had gone on a wander after questioning if he should stay in ThunderClan, the former wondering if she should've joined the latter.
==Character pixels==
===Alternate images===
==Official art==
==Personality==
:Flipclaw is a bright, optimistic young tom with high resolve and courage. He is goofy, imaginative, and playful, though unafraid to express dissent or displeasure where he perceives cruelty or injustice. Serving as a warrior almost entirely during the reign of Bramblestar's impostor, Flipclaw quickly grew disillusioned with the warrior code and its strain on Clan life, doubting the importance of a silent StarClan. Though a competent warrior, Flipclaw made for a clueless medicine cat, unable to recognize herbs and lacking dexterity when treating injuries.
==Relationships==
===Bristlefrost and Thriftear===
:Though Flipclaw is not particularly close with his sisters, they initially share a positive relationship, as the littermates do not grow jealous or bitter when Bristlefrost is given her warrior name early. However, when she begins reporting even minor codebreaking to Bramblestar, Flipclaw begins to distant himself from Bristlefrost, furious that she was eager to play an active role in the punishing of their Clanmates. Despite the tension between the littermates, Flipclaw did not linger on his anger, showing relief that Bristlefrost was okay after she fainted in a skirmish, and treating her without complaint. After Bramblestar is revealed to be an impostor and ThunderClan is in disarray, Bristlefrost is outraged and horrified when her brother suggests abandoning Clan life. Nonetheless, he departs on a wander, eager to tell Bristlefrost and Thriftear about his adventures in the mountains. After returning, Bristlefrost and Thriftear happily welcome Flipclaw back to ThunderClan.
===Alderheart===
:When Bramblestar's impostor forced Flipclaw to train as a medicine cat apprentice, Alderheart begrudgingly served as his mentor. He was acutely aware of the young tom's ineptitude for memorizing herbs and treating patients, recognizing that the impostor only wanted Flipclaw trained as his replacement. Despite knowing that ThunderClan would be in jeopardy without him, Alderheart ultimately left after an argument with the impostor, leaving Flipclaw responsible for taking care of the Clan. The weight of this responsibility made Flipclaw miserable, as he was fully aware of his lack of skill.
===Flywhisker===
:Flipclaw joined Flywhisker, alongside Thornclaw, Graystripe, and her brother, Snaptooth. Her decision to come along was of great pleasure to Flipclaw, and as they traveled, his feelings for her grew obvious. When Snaptooth asked his sister about the potential of taking Flipclaw as a mate, the she-cat affirmed that he wasn't her type, crushing the love-struck tom. Flipclaw suggested hopefully that she might change her mind, but his desperation left him ridiculed by the littermates. Despite their awkwardness, the group managed to work together until Graystripe announced he was leaving to find the Tribe of Rushing water. Flipclaw decided to leave Flywhisker and her brother to travel alongside the elder, whose guidance would be a comfort to him after his heartbreak.
===Graystripe===
:Graystripe accompanied Flipclaw and the wandering cats despite being an elder, and due to his age, the younger warriors looked to him as a leader, and Graystripe guided them with a sense of protectiveness, especially after the departure of Thornclaw. When Flipclaw decides to join him and travel to the mountains, Graystripe is pleased to have company, albeit slightly offended that Flipclaw's intentions are to protect him, but he senses that the young tom will need the comfort of an elder in healing from his rejection from Flywhisker. After spending some time in the mountains, Flipclaw declines to follow Graystripe to the old forest territories, which saddens the elder, but he is impressed and pleased by Flipclaw's resolve to return to ThunderClan. Flipclaw is happy to see Graystripe back from his travels, asking about the news of what happened at the Moonstone.
===Feather of Flying Hawk and the Tribe of Rushing Water===
:Feather of Flying Hawk, a prey hunter of the Tribe of Rushing Water, quickly befriended Flipclaw upon his arrival in the mountains. The Tribe's territory and way of life immediately inspired Flipclaw, who actively participated in hunts alongside Feather. A life similar to life in the Clans, but without the struggle of following the code appealed to Flipclaw to the point that Graystripe and Stormfur suspected he would join the Tribe permanently. However, Flipclaw and Feather were caught in a landslide, leaving Flipclaw homesick for stable ground. Flipclaw decided to return to his own family, leaving the mountains behind. While retelling the story to his Clanmates, he states that he made friends with Feather.
==Family==
:Flipclaw's mate is Myrtlebloom, and Hazelkit, Sunkit, and Oakkit are their children. His parents are Fernsong and Ivypool, and his sisters are Bristlefrost and Thriftear. For more of Flipclaw's family, click here!
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*He has WindClan blood through Crowfeather.
*Flipclaw and his littermates are stated to resemble Shadowsight a little. In addition, the shape of Shadowsight's eyes resembles Flipclaw's.
*He and Thriftear were made warriors by Bramblestar's impostor.
===Author statements===
*Kate originally believed him to be gray.
**However, she has since said that she believes him to be a brown tabby.
===Mistakes===
*Flippaw is present when the Sisters bring Sunrise to ThunderClan's camp, but in the next chapter, he is seen coming into camp and unaware of the events that transpired.
* Flipclaw is not listed in the allegiances of The Place of No Stars and A Light in the Mist despite appearing in the books.
*Flipclaw is called a pale tabby.
==Quotes==
==External links==
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===Fan content===
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==Notes and references==
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Category:Characters
Category:ThunderClan cats
Category:Toms
Category:Warriors
Category:Medicine cats
Category:Medicine cat apprentices
Category:Mentors