Lightleap

Lightleap is a dark brown tabby she-cat with a striped tail and amber eyes.
Lightleap is a ShadowClan queen under Tigerstar's leadership in the lake territories. She was born as Lightkit to Tigerheart and Dovewing during their stay with the guardian cats along with her siblings, Pouncekit and Shadowkit. She joined ShadowClan when her mother chose to follow Tigerheart back to the Clans. As an apprentice, Lightpaw was mentored by Stonewing, and she later earned her warrior name, Lightleap. She volunteered as ShadowClan's representative to enter the Dark Forest to defeat Ashfur, but Shadowsight took her place when she got too anxious. As a result, Lightleap grew frustrated with herself and began performing reckless behavior to prove herself, much to her parents' and Sunbeam's duress. 
Lightleap participated in a journey to a distant Twolegplace to find catmint to cure her brother Rowankit, though he died before they arrived, and Lightleap blamed herself for not traveling faster. She became closer with Blazefire, eventually becoming mates with him, and leaving her best friend Sunbeam depressed. Lightleap and Blazefire also had a litter of kits: Quickkit, Beechkit, and Poolkit.
==History==
===In the A Vision of Shadows arc===
====River of Fire====
:Lightkit appears unnamed, huddled up with her siblings beside Dovewing at the Moonpool. Alderheart rushes over, greeting Dovewing. He looks down at the kits and notes how the dark brown one looks just like her father, and Dovewing reveals her name to be Lightkit, along with her siblings. When the others discuss Tigerheart being dead, Shadowkit speaks up, claiming he is not dead, and that he had a dream of him and his family in the ShadowClan camp, playing moss-ball together. Tigerheart is revealed to be alive after all, and is now named Tigerstar and will be rebuilding the fallen Clan. Dovewing decides she will be joining him in ShadowClan, but wants to visit ThunderClan first, bringing Lightkit, Pouncekit, and Shadowkit with her. On the way, Alderheart and their mother help the kits climb over the terrain, and bounce around Dovewing's paws, demanding to know all about Clan life and their kin.
:Once they reach ThunderClan's camp, they meet Ivypool's kits, and Lightkit remarks they are kind of small, and warily touches her nose to Bristlekit's. Dovewing explains to her kits that Ivypool's kits are their kin. After discussing the events at the Moonpool, Dovewing gathers all three kits together and they are escorted to ShadowClan. 
====The Raging Storm====
:During Shadowkit's vision, Lightkit cowers with her sister and denmates at the other end of the nursery. After Shadowkit is spending much of his time helping Alderheart in the medicine den, Lightkit and Pouncekit attempt to get him to come out and play. Pouncekit says Strikestone and Blazepaw are going to give them badger rides, and Lightkit adds they are going to race while they ride them. Shadowkit declines, stating he is having fun in the medicine den. Lightkit looks unconvinced, wondering how looking after the sick can be as fun as badger rides. Pouncekit nudges her out of the den, saying they are wasting their time.
:When Shadowkit goes missing, Lightkit says he was playing a game, pretending he was on an important mission to save the Clan, and Pouncekit wanted to go with him, but he told her it was something he had to do alone. Dovewing weaves frantically around them, asking if he said where he was going. Lightkit tells her he just said he had to save them, then sneaked out of the den.
===In The Broken Code arc===
====Lost Stars====
:Lightleap has completed her apprenticeship and is now a full warrior of ShadowClan. She and Pouncestep return from a border patrol, and Pouncestep announces she is starving and thought they would never get to the end. Lightleap agrees, but also states they made a good job of the scent markers and SkyClan will not dare set paw over the border. As the two warriors share a vole, Shadowpaw comes over, asking if they have seen Cinnamontail and Blazefire. Pouncestep replies that she has not seen a whisker of them, and Lightleap adds that she has not either, not since yesterday. Shadowpaw tells them that Dovewing is leading out a patrol to look for them, and Lightleap blinks nervously, mewing she hopes she finds them and she cannot imagine why they would wander off in this weather.
:Shadowpaw heads back to his den, but spots Lightleap waving her tail at him, and she tells him to come and play with her and Pouncestep. Tail curling with amusement, Shadowpaw points out that since he is not trained like them, they would claw his fur off. Lightleap promises they will go easy on him. Pouncestep pretends to be a badger invading camp, while Lightleap and Shadowpaw are two warriors driving it out. Lightleap rears up and swipes Pouncestep's muzzle, telling the filthy badger to get out. While Shadowpaw distracts Pouncestep, Lightleap jumps in and rolls her sister over. Once they trap Pouncestep, Shadowpaw asks what they should do, and Lightleap answers that they will shove it out of camp, and begins to push Pouncestep across the ground. After their playfight, Shadowpaw has another seizure. Once it passes, he sees Lightleap and Pouncestep watching him from further away, eyes wide with fear. Later, Tigerstar calls a meeting and Shadowpaw finds a spot to sit near his sisters.
====The Silent Thaw====
:Lightleap and her sister proudly gaze at their brother as he leaves to receive his full name. Later, Lightleap frantically calls for Shadowsight as she and Flaxfoot carry Snowbird into camp. He orders them to carry Snowbird into an empty nest in the medicine cats' den, and Lightleap explains how Snowbird slipped and broke her paw while hunting. Shadowsight noses Lightleap out of the den and when she insists she wants to stay, Shadowsight has her fetch sticks for a splint. He later goes to search for them when they take too long.
====Darkness Within====
:Lightleap notices that Shadowsight is looking down and invites him to come hunting with her, Gullswoop, Blazefire, and Hollowspring. While out, Lightleap teaches her brother some basics when it comes to hunting and gladly indulges him when he asks her to teach him how to scent for prey. Shadowsight scares away sparrows when he is startled, and Lightleap assures him that they will find more. Hollowspring is sullen about losing the prey and she defends Shadowsight. When they return to camp with their catches, she reassures Shadowsight that he will get better with time and that his scenting had improved.
====The Place of No Stars====
:Tigerstar mentions that now Lightleap and Pouncestep are warriors and Shadowsight is a full medicine cat, he and Dovewing must back off and face the fact that their daughters or son could be killed or seriously injured, and that they have to take risks for their Clan.
====A Light in the Mist====
:Tigerstar tells ShadowClan cats that someone is needed to enter the Dark Forest but he cannot condemn someone to it, and that a volunteer is required. He adds that if no cat comes forward, he will be the fulfilling volunteer, causing yowls of opposition. Cloverfoot, Snowbird, Cinnamontail, and Lightleap all volunteer. Lightleap cites that as deputy, Cloverfoot cannot be risked, and Snowbird cannot either because although she is a great warrior, she is almost an elder. Lightleap also acknowledges that Cinnamontail is a great warrior, but counters that Cinnamontail has not been practicing battle moves since kithood, looking at her mentor for praise. Nodding, Stonewing adds that she was one of his greatest apprentices, causing Lightleap to prompt Tigerstar for a response. Shadowsight turns to Dovewing, noting that Tigerstar cannot say no as to not show priority for his kit, and she agrees, desperately wondering why Lightleap volunteered. Whorlpelt and Flowerstem yowl praise for Lightleap, while the entire Clan starts chanting. To enter the Dark Forest, one must be very calm, but Lightleap becomes too anxious to quiet her mind. Shadowsight volunteers in her place, and he goes into the Dark Forest.
===In the A Starless Clan arc===
====River====
:Lightleap asks her best friend Sunbeam to go hunting with her, though Sunbeam notes how reckless she has become since her fear prevented her from entering the Dark Forest with the Lights in the Mist. The previous half-moon, she had sneaked across the RiverClan border because Hopwhisker had dared her, and was punished by her father. When Lightleap attempts to jump across some tree branches to chase some squirrels, she falls and lands on Sunbeam's back, hurting her friend. Lightleap presses Sunbeam not to tell anyone what had happened, and while Sunbeam reluctantly agrees, she grumbles that her friend could be a tad more grateful. However, Lightleap's brother Shadowsight pressures Sunbeam to tell him the truth and he tells their parents. Lightleap finds out after her parents scold her and she confronts Sunbeam about it. Shadowsight steps in that he was the one who informed Tigerstar and Dovewing and urges her to stop acting recklessly. Lightleap turns on her brother and storms off, and Sunbeam asks her friend Blazefire to speak to her.
:Lightleap continues to ignore Sunbeam and snaps at her when she tries to apologize. While on a hunting patrol, Sunbeam decides to hunt separately to avoid Lightleap's ire, though she hears a strange yowl from RiverClan. While attempting to investigate it, she runs into Lightleap, who is limping and explains that she had trodden on a thorn. Sunbeam is suspicious of Lightleap's strange behavior, though Lightleap snaps at her for asking questions. After RiverClan arrives asking about Reedwhisker since he is missing, Sunbeam wonders if Lightleap had anything to do with it, though Blazefire brushes her off when she asks him about it. Lightleap begins to spend time with Blazefire, and Sunbeam grows jealous, since she intended to be Blazefire's mate. However, Lightleap dares Blazefire to catch some mice in a shallow tunnel when rocks fall and trap him. She rushes into camp for help, and Sunbeam scolds Lightleap for her reckless behavior. She insists she and Blazefire are only friends and have a lot in common, especially since Sunbeam is a rule follower. Sunbeam learns from Blazefire that he also views Lightleap as a friend, and Berryheart informs Sunbeam that she believes Lightleap and her family can get away with a lot of things since their father is Clan leader.
====Sky====
:Lightleap watches Dovewing anxiously after learning about Rowankit's sickness. Tigerstar later assigns Lightleap to join Sunbeam on the journey to find catmint instead of Puddleshine, and Lightleap looks at Sunbeam with hope and wariness in her eyes. Lightleap promises Tigerstar that they will not take any unnecessary risks, and that they will bring back catmint. She tries to make conversation with Sunbeam, who ignores her. She sees a cracked branch above them and mews for Sunbeam to watch out. Sunbeam brushes her off in frustration while Lightleap tries to explain that the branch could have fallen and hurt her, but Sunbeam just pulls ahead.
:Lightleap and Sunbeam meet Rootspring, Fidgetflake, Alderheart and Nightheart, and Lightleap informs them that Rowankit is very sick. Lightleap joins the other cats in conversation once they begin the journey, much to the annoyance of Sunbeam, who thinks that Lightleap has always enjoyed the sound of her own mew. The patrol stops to hunt, and she hunts rabbits with Rootspring. While the patrol eats Lightleap excitedly tells them about how she and Blazefire explored the rocky tunnel and how Blazefire was injured, though she does not mention that she had dared him to go into the tunnel.
:Alderheart suggests making camp for the night, and Lightleap, alarmed, insists that they must keep going in order to save Rowankit, mewing that they do not need sleep and should push on. The patrol comforts her and she eventually agrees that they need to rest. After crossing a Thunderpath they settle for the night, though Lightleap asks if the area is safe to hunt and suggests the patrol stay together. Lightleap grows anxious for Rowankit when Sunbeam worries about being able to find catmint, fretting that kittypets will not let them take any. When Nightheart asks Sunbeam if she thinks the new code changes are a good idea, Lightleap immediately answers that Sunbeam does. Sunbeam angrily reflects that Lightleap used to answer for her when they were friends. Lightleap goes on to mew about Dovewing and Tigerstar's relationship, mentioning how they suffered because of the code and is glad that they left the city to take their kits back to ShadowClan.
:The next day, Lightleap greets Nightheart, who has come back with prey, and playfully winks and asks if it is for her. When Nightheart offers prey to Sunbeam, Lightleap eyes Sunbeam warily and joins Rootspring. When the patrol sees a monster, Sunbeam mews they might eat cats, to which Lightleap seems momentarily disturbed before confidently mewing that if they did the cats would know about it. Lightleap loses some fur pushing under a fence, and watches when Sunbeam gets stuck. When Sunbeam is freed, Lightleap weaves around her and Nightheart, mewing that she thought they were monster food. The patrol finds catmint and Lightleap helps gather it, still worried for Rowankit. Nightheart and Sunbeam join the patrol with Twoleg food, and Lightleap excitedly eats some.
:Once the patrol returns to the Clans, Sunbeam notes how nervous Lightleap is for Rowankit. They reach ShadowClan and upon noticing the gloomy mood in camp, Lightleap rushes into the medicine den. Lightleap wails upon finding out Rowankit is dead, asking when it happened and insisting the patrol should have traveled faster. At Rowankit's vigil, she sits beside Blazefire, her eyes glistening with grief. She sits all night for the vigil with Blazefire, their pelts touching.
:Sunbeam notes that Lightleap has been keeping her distance as if having given up on trying to repair their friendship, and she is spending more time with Blazefire. Later, Sunbeam tells Nightheart that Lightleap and Blazefire have begun being friendly to her again. Upon leaving camp Sunbeam finds Lightleap and Blazefire, their pelts touching and their muzzles close together. Lightleap notices Sunbeam and stiffens, embarrassed and looking away from her. Blazefire explains to Sunbeam that they had not meant for their feelings to grow, but that they could not help it and are now together.
====Shadow====
:Sunbeam and Lightleap cross into RiverClan territory to hunt.
:
====Thunder====
:During a Gathering, Sunbeam sees Lightleap with RiverClan and feels guilty when seeing how exhausted she is. She tries to greet her but Lightleap is cold to her. Tigerstar praises Lightleap's work with RiverClan, but she is not pleased. Sunbeam worries about Lightleap when ThunderClan discusses Tigerstar. At a following Gathering, Lightleap appears happier and less tired being back home. When Berryheart challenges Tigerstar, Lightleap argues that her father is not a danger to their Clan.
====Wind====
:Lightleap is upset when Tigerstar suggests that he can step down if he is no longer wanted as leader. As her patrol takes Squirrelstar and Nightheart into camp, Nightheart feels awkward around her and she will not look at him. Tigerstar sends her to get Frostpaw, and she is relieved.
====Star====
:
===In the Changing Skies arc===
====The Elders' Quest====
:After returning from a patrol, Tawnypelt pads over to Lightleap and Blazefire in the nursery. She asks to see Quickkit, Poolkit, and Beechkit, and Lightleap tells her they are with Oakfur. When Birchfeather prepares to leave for SkyClan, Lightleap and her littermates gather around him to say goodbye, and she nuzzles her brother solemnly. Later, Lightleap, Sparrowtail, and Gullswoop greet Tawnypelt as they return from the dawn border patrol.
===In the Super Editions===
====Tigerheart's Shadow====
:Lightkit and her littermates, Pouncekit and Shadowkit, are born to Dovewing and Tigerheart. When Tigerheart returns from scavenging, he finds Dovewing and the kits asleep. The dark tabby catches a thrush, and his mate excitedly wakes her kits up. Lightkit scrambles from the nest, her tabby fur ruffled from sleep, and sniffs the prey. The small kit comments the bird smells sweet. Dovewing peels meat strips from the fresh-kill, and lays a strip in front of each of her kits. Lightkit grabs her meat piece and tugs it with her teeth. Later on, the tabby she-cat looks from beneath the ledge sheltering their nest and asks if there were more nests. Behind her, Shadowkit and Pouncekit chase each other. Lightkit blinks at her father and questions why her father calls the healers 'medicine cats'.
:Pouncekit mentions Dovewing's story about the Clans and Lightkit eagerly asks if they will go there one day. Lightkit gazes up at the wall and mews she likes sunshine and does not want to hide in darkness. As Tigerheart is heading out to scavenge, Dovewing meets Lightkit and her siblings as they charge up to their mother. Tigerheart gives the kits a badger ride, and while clinging to her father's back, Lightkit asks what a badger is. Tigerheart tells them a story of how he and his Clanmates fought a badger once, and Lightkit is breathless as she asks how they beat it. Lightkit is disappointed she has to go to sleep, complaining she wants to hear more about badgers, and Dovewing promises they will tell them about hawks tomorrow.
:The kits are taken out of the Twoleg nest to watch the guardian cats battle train. Lightkit bounces on the grass, squeaking it is soft, then asks Tigerheart if he will play with them. She does not pay attention to his answer, preoccupied with following Pouncekit onto the stone slabs. When Pouncekit gets caught in a Twoleg trap, Lightkit and Shadowkit scrabble at the outside, trying to reach her. After Pouncekit is freed, Lightkit looks out from below Dotty, asking if the Twolegs are trying to hurt them. Later, Lightkit, Pouncekit, and Shadowkit give their parents a scare when they sneak out of the nest and climb up a tree, sitting on the branch like a bunch of starlings. Lightkit looks down at her parents, telling them they are watching the Twolegs gathering. Lightkit climbs down the tree, along with her siblings. Once out of the tree, Pouncekit tells her Tigerheart said they were not ever allowed out of the den alone, making Lightkit's eyes spark with horror.
:Dovewing and Tigerheart decide it is time to return to the lake and begin the journey home. Lightkit is clearly excited at the news, squeaking they are going to be warriors. She is carried by Cinnamon as they walk through the Thundersnake tunnel. When Pouncekit and Shadowkit are placed on the floor, Lightkit wriggles in Cinnamon's jaws, saying she wants to walk too. Once on the ground, she proudly comments that she bets no kits have walked along the Thundersnake tunnel before. When Pouncekit begins complaining of her sore pads, Lightkit tells her to imagine the ground is the soft grass outside the Twoleg den. When a Thundersnake passes, Lightkit hides underneath Cinnamon. After it passes, she wriggles out, exclaiming that was exciting, with shining eyes. Once out of the tunnel and city, Lightkit sounds frightened as she comments how big everything is.
:Later, Lightkit sniffs some sweetbriar buds, asking if they can eat it. Dovewing says no, but Jayfeather might use them to make medicine, and Lightkit blinks, asking who Jayfeather is. A Thundersnake approaches them, and Lightkit freezes in the tracks, but Spire saves her before the Thundersnake reaches her. Cloverfoot gives Lightkit a badger ride as they reach a river. They cross a Thunderpath going over the river, but it begins to split and rise in the center. Lightkit and Shadowkit squeal in panic, sliding down past Tigerheart, but Rippletail catches Lightkit as she falls toward him, wrapping his paws around her. She plays with Berryheart's kits. Tigerheart asks her where Shadowkit is, and she explains Dovewing took him out of their temporary camp to discuss something. She then shows Spirekit how to strip out the meat on prey. After an owl drops Tigerheart, Lightkit and her littermates sit beside Dovewing, fear in their round eyes as they gaze at their injured father.
:They continue the journey back to the lake, and Lightkit's eyes are misted with fear as she asks if Tigerheart will be okay. As Tigerheart slips away, Lightkit and her littermates cling to their father's pelt. After he dies, Tigerheart sees his body being carried, Lightkit follows, her eyes misted with grief. Tigerheart is resurrected as Tigerstar, ShadowClan's new leader. Pouncekit and Lightkit crowd around him, eyes as wide as moons.
====Squirrelflight's Hope====
:Lightpaw is now an apprentice with Stonewing as her mentor. She practices battle moves against Pouncepaw. Later, she and her family attend a tense Gathering and her father weaves protectively around them.
====Ivypool's Heart====
:
===In the Novellas===
====Tawnypelt's Clan====
:Tawnypelt is woken up from a dream because of Lightkit and her siblings' loud play. Lightkit yowls at Shadowkit that that is not how he should play, then Pouncekit screeches at Lightkit to get off of her. Juniperclaw exits the warriors' den, furiously telling the kits that they need to settle down right now, they are waking the whole camp. The three kits freeze and stare up at him, then Dovewing apologizes, and Tigerstar comes in, telling the kits to quiet down. Shadowkit tells Tawnypelt that they are sorry if they woke her, and his sisters nod earnestly. Tawnypelt meows that it is fine, and Lightkit cheerfully tells her littermates to come on, they will be so quiet now, as quiet as they were when they hid from the Twolegs. Later, Lightkit plays with her siblings and the other kits of the Clan, squealing with delight as they chase each other around the clearing.
==Character pixels==
==Official art==
==Family==
:Lightleap's parents are Tigerstar and Dovewing, and her littermates are Pouncestep and Shadowsight. Her younger siblings are Rowankit and Birchfeather. For more of Lightleap's family, click here!
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*Lightleap has ThunderClan blood via Dovewing and Tawnypelt, and kittypet blood through Cloudtail and Hal.
*She looks just like her father, Tigerstar.
===Author statements===
*Kate has said Lightleap was named to celebrate the differences between her parents, Tigerstar and Dovewing.
===Mistakes===
*She was mistakenly called Shadowkit.
==Quotes==
==External links==
<tabber>
|-|
Featured=
* 
*
* 
|-|
Book Specific=
|-|
Character Specific=
* 
* 
* 
* 
|-|
Themes and Concepts=
** 
** 
** 
** 
|-|
Merchandise and Webiste=
* 
|-|
Fan content=
***
*** 
*** 
*** 
*** 
*** 
*** 
</tabber>
==Notes and references==
de:Lichtsprung
fi:Valohyppy
ru:Светогривка
fr:Lumière Bondissante
pl:Świetlisty Skok
Category:Ivypool's Heart characters
Category:She-cats
Category:ShadowClan cats
Category:Warriors
Category:The rebels
Category:Queens