Alderheart

Alderheart is a sturdy dark ginger tom with a white-tipped tail, and amber eyes.
Alderheart serves ThunderClan as a medicine cat under the leaderships of Bramblestar, Tigerstar, the impostor, Lionblaze, Graystripe, and Squirrelstar in the lake territories. He was born as Alderkit to Squirrelstar and Brambleclaw, alongside his littermates, Sparkkit, Juniperkit, and Dandelionkit. Initially apprenticed as Alderpaw to Molewhisker, he later chooses to be a medicine cat apprentice with Jayfeather as his mentor. StarClan tasks him with a quest to find SkyClan, but he and his companions encounter Darktail and his Kin instead. Upon their return, Alderpaw and Needlepaw discover two abandoned kits, Twigkit and Violetkit, and bring them back to the Clans.
Alderpaw plays a role in raising Twigkit, even arranging visits with Violetkit, who is taken in by ShadowClan. After completing his training, Alderheart serves his Clan with compassion and empathy, rejoicing when Needletail finds her place in StarClan. He strongly advocates for SkyClan's inclusion among the other Clans at the lake and saves Puddleshine from death with the help of deathberries. He eventually becomes ThunderClan's sole medicine cat after Jayfeather's exile by the impostor. Following his forced mentorship of Flipclaw and subsequent exile by the imposter for opposing him, Alderheart briefly seeks refuge in ShadowClan. He aids the rebel group in confronting the impostor and is welcomed back to ThunderClan after the impostor's exposure and capture during a battle involving all five Clans. After Willowshine's death, Alderheart temporarily serves as RiverClan's medicine cat.
==History==
===A Vision of Shadows===
:Alderkit and Sparkkit are the only surviving kits of Squirrelflight and Bramblestar's litter. Under the pressure of being the son of the leader and deputy, Alderkit is seen to be nervous and anxious, but determined. He is given the name Alderpaw and is apprenticed to Molewhisker, but unlike his sister, who shows a natural talent for hunting, Alderpaw struggles through his training. Bramblestar encourages his son to become a medicine cat apprentice after Leafpool and Jayfeather receive a vision, and at the Moonpool, Alderpaw is chosen by Firestar to go on a quest to find SkyClan. He, Sparkpaw, Molewhisker, Cherryfall, Sandstorm, and Needlepaw of ShadowClan go on the journey. At the gorge where SkyClan lived, the group finds Darktail and his rogues instead, who claim to be SkyClan. After learning the truth, they return home unsuccessful. 
:On the way back, he and Needlepaw find two abandoned kits. They name them Twigkit and Violetkit, and after some disagreement, the kits are taken to ThunderClan. At a Gathering, ShadowClan and ThunderClan fight over the kits, with ShadowClan claiming Violetkit. Alderpaw acts as a fatherly figure toward Twigkit and communicates with Needlepaw so the sisters may meet in secret. When yellowcough weakens ShadowClan, WindClan refuses to share lungwort that was only found on their territory, and Alderpaw speaks against their immorality. Jayfeather is impressed by his apprentice and names him a full medicine cat as Alderheart.
:When Darktail and his Kin take over ShadowClan, Alderheart worries for Needletail and Violetpaw, mourning when he hears of Needletail's death. Though Twigpaw brings SkyClan back to the lake, Alderheart's relief does not last long, and he grows frustrated with Sparkpelt when she and several other cats oppose SkyClan settling at the lake. Alderheart desperately misses Twigpaw when she chooses to live with her family in SkyClan, and is overjoyed when she returns to ThunderClan. He falls for a kittypet named Velvet when she seeks shelter in ThunderClan from a fire. However, he assures Jayfeather that he is loyal to ThunderClan despite his feelings for Velvet and says good-bye to the kittypet at the Twolegplace.
:Alderheart saves Puddleshine's life when he is caught in barbed wire by using deathberry skins. When Tigerstar discovers Alderheart's unusual methods, Tigerstar makes Alderheart become ShadowClan's temporary medicine cat as Puddleshine recovers. In ShadowClan, Alderheart becomes close to Shadowkit, one of Tigerstar's kits, and notes the kit's future as a medicine cat. Alderheart continues to advocate for SkyClan's place at the lake and is relieved when all five Clans make peace at last.
===The Broken Code===
:Like the other medicine cats, Alderheart is worried when StarClan cannot be contacted when the Moonpool freezes over. Bramblestar falls mysteriously ill, and Shadowpaw informs them of a cure for him. Both medicine cats try it, but it initially doesn't work, and Bramblestar dies. Alderheart grieves for his father, but when he revives, he is overjoyed. Rootpaw summons Bramblestar's ghost for the medicine cats and reveals the truth about the impostor. The false Bramblestar exiles Jayfeather for being a codebreaker, leaving Alderheart as the sole medicine cat of ThunderClan. The impostor also often yells and berates the dark ginger tom, later forcing Alderheart to reluctantly train Flipclaw as a medicine cat apprentice, much to both cats' dismays. Alderheart is exiled after he stands up to the impostor, leaving Flipclaw as the sole medicine cat with very little training. After the impostor is defeated, Alderheart and Jayfeather return to ThunderClan under the acting leadership of Squirrelflight. After his mother is kidnapped by Ashfur, Alderheart believes that she would not have gone willingly, and is later sent to act as RiverClan's temporary medicine cat by Graystripe.
===A Starless Clan===
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==Character pixels==
==Official art==
==Ceremonies==
 
==Personality==
:Alderheart is a kind, loving, loyal, and nervous tom.Revealed on As an apprentice, Alderheart tends to become anxious when he is put in difficult situations and often doubts his own abilities when he compares himself to other cats.
==Relationships==
===Squirrelstar and Brambleclaw===
:Alderheart feels lucky to be the son of Bramblestar and Squirrelflight. Bramblestar is affectionate and comforts his son, valuing them as cats. Squirrelflight also adores her kits, and is very protective of them due to the fact that two of their littermates, Dandelionkit and Juniperkit, had died soon after birth. She is very proud of both Alderheart and Sparkpelt, and the great Clan members that they have become. Alderheart is sometimes frustrated at Bramblestar when his father does not act on prophecies as quickly as he hopes.
===Sparkpelt===
:Alderheart wishes he had the confidence of his sister. She is much more eager and outgoing than him, and he is sometimes overwhelmed by her energetic attitude. Alderheart thinks she is funny, smart, and an amazing warrior. Sparkpelt thinks that Alderheart's sensitiveness makes him a great brother.
===Twigbranch===
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===Needletail===
:Despite their clashing natures, Alderheart liked to spend time with Needletail. He enjoyed how she always spoke her mind, and how she was different, like him. Even though he knew that she broke the rules all the time and was from another Clan, he could not resist seeing her.
===Velvet===
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===Bramblestar's impostor===
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==Family==
:Alderheart's parents are Squirrelstar and Brambleclaw. His littermates are Sparkpelt, Dandelionkit, and Juniperkit. For more of Alderheart's family, click here!
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*He has kittypet blood through Firestar, and SkyClan blood through Tigerstar.
===Author statements===
*Kate said that she liked Alderheart better than Sparkpelt because she prefers a worrier.
*Kate has said that Alderheart does have feelings for Needletail.
*Kate believes Alderheart to be short-furred.
===Mistakes===
*He was called Alderpaw before his apprentice ceremony, and after receiving his full medicine cat name.
*In his bio for The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition, Alderheart is listed with dark brown fur.
==Quotes==
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
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Category:ThunderClan cats
Category:Toms
Category:Main characters
Category:Medicine cat apprentices
Category:Medicine cats
Category:Characters
Category:Banished or exiled cats
Category:Refugees
Category:Loners
Category:Mentors
Category:The rebels
Category:Point of view characters