Thistleclaw

Thistleclaw is a dark gray-and-white tabby tom with spiky fur and amber eyes.
Thistleclaw was a ThunderClan warrior who had served under Pinestar's, Sunstar's, and Bluestar's leaderships in the forest territories. He was born as Thistlekit to Poppydawn and Windflight alongside his littermates, Rosekit and Sweetkit. Even as a kit, he was known for being aggressive amongst his peers. He was apprenticed as Thistlepaw to Adderfang, and earned his warrior name, Thistleclaw, shortly after. Thistleclaw became Snowfur's mate, much to Bluefur's disgust. He and Snowfur had one son named Whitekit, and he began training in the Dark Forest, hoping to become deputy and then leader of ThunderClan. Snowfur was later killed by a monster, devastating Thistleclaw, with him blaming it on Bluefur.
He initiated a relationship with Spottedpaw, hoping that she would choose him as a mate when she became a warrior, but she rejected him after discovering him training in the Dark Forest. Thistleclaw mentored Tigerpaw and nurtured the young tom's ambitions and hunger for power. Bluefur knew that Thistleclaw would lead ThunderClan into war and endless bloodshed, so she did everything in her power to prevent him from becoming deputy, including giving up her own kits to be raised in RiverClan. Ultimately, Thistleclaw was killed by a RiverClan patrol, and descended to the Dark Forest, where he attacked and severely wounded Antpelt, causing Antpelt to later die from his injuries. He also trained several cats to prepare for the Great Battle, during which he retreated after Brokenstar's death. Seasons later, he worked with Ashfur but was forced to surrender after the latter was defeated by the Lights in the Mist and fled.
==History==
===Omen of the Stars===
:Thistleclaw is a member of the Dark Forest and mentors several of their visitors. He supervises a training session between Ivypaw and Antpelt. He is not afraid to discipline or punish his trainees; he drags Sparrowfeather off her paws when he accuses her of cheating and surprise attacks Ivypaw to test her abilities. When Antpelt waits for Ivypool to get up during another session, Thistleclaw accuses him of being weak and violently attacks his throat. The WindClan warrior later dies from his wounds.
:During the Great Battle, Thistleclaw leads an assault on WindClan's camp, where he discovers Ivypool is a traitor and attacks her and Tigerheart, confused why Tigerstar's kin would fight for the Clans. Hollyleaf arrives to Ivypool's aid, driving Thistleclaw and Snowtuft away. When Brokenstar is killed during the skirmish on ThunderClan's camp, Thistleclaw stops his fight with Spiderleg to call a retreat, before fleeing along with the rest of the Dark Forest warriors.
===The Broken Code===
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===Super Editions===
:In Bluestar's Prophecy, Thistlekit is born to Poppydawn and Windflight alongside his sisters, Rosekit and Sweetkit, and is named after his spiky fur. After becoming an apprentice, he develops a crush on Snowpaw, who returns the affection. He earns his warrior name after fighting off a dog alone and is named Thistleclaw. He spends more time with Snowfur, much to Bluefur's ire since she believes Thistleclaw to be an arrogant and troublesome tom. After Sweetpaw dies, Thistleclaw insists on burying her himself. 
:Snowfur gives birth to Thistleclaw's son, Whitekit, and Thistleclaw is overjoyed at becoming a father. He is heartbroken after Snowfur is killed by a monster and furiously blames Bluefur for her death. He focuses on his son and threatens Bluefur to stay away, but Goosefeather warns her about Thistleclaw's influence on Whitekit. Thistleclaw also gains Tigerpaw as an apprentice, and he shares his thirst for fighting and power. He violently attacks Oakheart when he trespasses on ThunderClan territory to see Bluefur and questions her relationship with the RiverClan tom. 
:Thistleclaw is thought to be appointed as ThunderClan's next deputy when Tawnyspots' health is failing. Bluefur and Goosefeather have a vision of Thistleclaw's fur covered in blood, foreshadowing ThunderClan's future if Thistleclaw were to become leader. Bluefur decides to give up her kits to be raised in RiverClan with their father in order to become deputy. She succeeds, and he is furious when Bluestar chooses Redtail as her deputy. Moons later, Thistleclaw dies from a fight with a RiverClan patrol.
:In Crookedstar's Promise, Crookedjaw spots Thistleclaw in the Dark Forest battle training with Shredtail. Thistleclaw is determined to become deputy, though Shredtail doubts that Sunstar would appoint him. When asked if he still grieved for Snowfur, Thistleclaw adamantly insists she never should've died and his son is soft like his mother. Later, Silverhawk teaches Thistleclaw the killing bite and offers to teach Crookedjaw it. At a Gathering, he nods at Crookedjaw, who is now the RiverClan deputy, as if they were allies. 
===Novellas===
:In Spottedleaf's Heart, Thistleclaw befriends Spottedkit, and despite remarking she would be a good medicine cat, he is pleased that she is determined to be a warrior. While on a patrol, he compliments her hunting skills and is blamed when she falls out of a tree trying to catch a squirrel. She witnesses Thistleclaw order Tigerpaw to attack a tiny black kitten, and Spottedpaw confronts him, though Thistleclaw defends his actions. Attempting to make it up to her, Thistleclaw takes Spottedpaw to the Dark Forest to meet Mapleshade to demonstrate his training, and during the training, he murders a tabby cat. Spottedpaw is disgusted and eventually confronts him to stop training there if he really cared about her. Thistleclaw disagrees, citing his destiny to rule ThunderClan, and Spottedpaw breaks ties with him.
===Stand-Alone Manga===
:In The Rise of Scourge, while on a patrol with Bluefur and Tigerpaw, they come across a tiny black kitten trespassing. Thistleclaw accuses Bluefur of being soft on kittypets and tells Tigerpaw that the kit should be taught a lesson. Tigerpaw attacks the kitten, and Bluefur stops him, but Thistleclaw insists they were protecting their territory before leaving.
==Detailed description==
:Thistleclaw is a huge, sleek-furred, lean, dark gray-and-white tabby tom with uneven gray patches mottling his white face and spiky fur that is said to be softer than it looks. He has wide, white shoulders, dark amber eyes, a broad, mottled, gray-and-white muzzle a torn ear-tip, and a long gray tail.
===Scars gained===
*Torn ear-tip caused by Rushtooth during a Dark Forest training session in Spottedleaf's Heart.
==Character pixels==
===Main images===
===Alternate images===
==Official art==
==Killed victims==
*Blood-stained light brown tabby (Spirit)
*Antpelt (Caused)
==Ceremonies==
==Personality and traits==
:As a young cat, Thistleclaw displays the typical arrogance of a tom wanting to be the best cat for his Clan, though much to the annoyance of some of his Clanmates, who believe he should show respect at such an age. He displays much of his future battle-hungry attitude young as well, encouraged by some of ThunderClan's senior warriors. However, despite his arrogance, Thistleclaw proves himself to be a strong and brave warrior of ThunderClan, sometimes thinking before acting on behalf of his Clanmates' safety. Ultimately, his arrogance costs him his life when he tries to fight an entire RiverClan patrol all by himself, only to be overpowered and killed.
:Aside from his apparent arrogance, Thistleclaw also cares deeply for those close to him. He shows this when Sweetpaw passes away, and later when he and Snowfur become mates. He is also overjoyed when he learns he is to be a father, and is as supportive as possible for Snowfur when she gives birth to Whitekit.
==Family==
:Thistleclaw's parents were Windflight and Poppydawn, and his older half-siblings were Tawnyspots, Thrushpelt and Dappletail. He and Snowfur had one son, Whitestorm. For more of Thistleclaw's family, click here!
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
:Did you know Vicky initially suspected Thistleclaw went to StarClan, but Bluestar chased him out? For more trivia about Thistleclaw, click here!
==Quotes==
==External links==
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===Fan content===
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==Notes and references==
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Category:ThunderClan cats
Category:Toms
Category:Warriors
Category:Senior warriors
Category:Mentors
Category:Place of No Stars trainees
Category:Deceased characters
Category:Dark Forest cats
Category:Place of No Stars visitors
Category:Main characters