Minnowtail

Minnowtail is a sleek-furred, dappled dark gray-and-white she-cat with amber eyes.
Minnowtail is a RiverClan warrior who has served under Leopardstar's, Mistystar's, Splashtail's, and Icestar's leaderships in the lake territories. She was born as Minnowkit to Dawnflower alongside her siblings, Pebblekit and Tumblekit, in the old forest. They participated in the Great Journey and, after settling by the lake, she and Tumblekit became ill from poisoned water, but Tumblekit died. As an apprentice, Minnowpaw was mentored by Voletooth, and she earned her warrior name, Minnowtail. She mentored Mossyfoot and trained in the Dark Forest. However, she fought for the Clans in the the Great Battle and later mentored another apprentice, Breezeheart. Following Softpelt's death, Minnowtail completed Splashpaw's training, who earned his warrior name of Splashtail. Minnowtail was loyal to Splashtail when he took leadership of RiverClan, but only out of fear that he would harm her or the kits.
==History==
===In The New Prophecy arc===
====Dawn====
:Minnowkit is born to Dawnflower, a RiverClan queen, along with her two siblings, Pebblekit and Tumblekit. She makes the journey with the four Clans to their new home by the lake. When she and her siblings are stuck out on the Thunderpath, they are saved by Squirrelpaw, Crowpaw, and Dawnflower. They are then checked over by Leafpaw, who finds that they are not hurt, just tired and frightened.
:They are later seen being carried by Dawnflower and two other RiverClan warriors. In the mountains, when a second eagle attacks, she and the other Clan kits are herded into a corner until the Tribe cats can fight it off. She, her siblings, and Tallpoppy's kits share prey and play with the Tribe's kits.
====Twilight====
:She and her siblings escape from the RiverClan camp and discover a sticky liquid next to a discarded Twoleg object. They play around in the puddle, running through it and leaving pawmarks on the grass. Then Minnowkit dares her brother, Pebblekit, to drink some. Despite her dare being targeted at Pebblekit, they all drink it, and describe it as "yucky". As a result, the kits become violently ill. When their mother, Dawnflower, licks them clean, she also ingests some of the liquid and becomes the first fully-grown cat to fall sick as a result. Many other cats catch the sickness, and Leafpool has to come help Mothwing heal them.
:After Minnowkit tells the story to Leafpool, she asks if it is her fault and Leafpool assures her it isn't, and calmly tells her to go to sleep. Eventually, Tumblekit dies from the poisoning, although all the other cats, except for an elder named Ivytail, recover. Later, Minnowkit and Pebblekit are playing by dabbing their paws in water. Mothwing tells them to play somewhere else because if they fell in, she wouldn't have enough time to save them. Minnowkit and Pebblekit move and play by running around in circles.
===In the Power of Three arc===
====The Sight====
:Minnowpaw is now an apprentice with Voletooth as her mentor. She attends the first Gathering of the two littermates, Lionpaw and Hollypaw. Mousepaw calls Lionpaw over to meet her. Mousepaw mentions that she is a whole moon older than him, even though she has fluffy fur like a kit. Minnowpaw introduces two other RiverClan apprentices, Pouncepaw and Pebblepaw, to Lionpaw and Mousepaw. She offers to show the two toms around the island, but Lionpaw irritably rejects the offer, though he thinks Mousepaw would have enjoyed a moonlit walk with the pretty apprentice. Minnowpaw later participates in the daylight Gathering, and her Clanmate, Pouncepaw, earns the fattest fish.
====Dark River====
:While her Clanmates are trying to reconstruct the RiverClan camp, she and Pouncepaw help Voletooth shift stones to try to block the stream so it becomes deeper and wider. Minnowpaw is the one who warns them of the Twolegs returning in time for them to flee. Later, she is one of the cats who Hollypaw meets while in RiverClan; she is alarmed by the ThunderClan apprentice's presence, asking why she was there and why she smelled so bad. She is also on patrol when WindClan finds them on their side of the border after they were chased by a horseplace dog. She asks if they should run when the WindClan patrol come but is told that it is no use. She and Pouncepaw are seen moving closer together.
===In the Omen of the Stars arc===
====The Fourth Apprentice====
:She is now a warrior known as Minnowtail. She has also been given an apprentice, Mossypaw.
====Night Whispers====
:When Ivypaw goes to the Dark Forest for a training bout, she spots Minnowtail and Hollowpaw, along with many other warriors, training in the ways of the gloomy forest. Minnowtail's reason for training in the Dark Forest is unknown.
====Sign of the Moon====
:When Dovewing uses her powers, she hears Minnowtail giving Mossypaw a fishing lesson, and tells her apprentice that she has to sit where her shadow doesn't fall over the water.
====The Forgotten Warrior====
:Her apprentice, Mossypaw, is now a warrior named Mossyfoot. Minnowtail is seen in climbing training in the Dark Forest. Minnowtail pushes past Hollowpaw to head for the top of the tree, almost knocking Ivypool off her branch. She is noted to have a light, strong body and confident movements. Minnowtail wins the exercise, her reward being that she did not have to jump down, expecting an attack from the tree, while the other cats did. Minnowtail jumps gracefully down from the tree and lands in a clump of fern, then pairs up with Breezepelt for battle training. Afterwards, Minnowtail asks if they did well, and Shredtail growls that the Clan cats aren't there for praise, they are there to fight. When battle training is over, Minnowtail has a small patch of fur missing from the fight. Later at a Gathering, Ivypool catches Minnowtail's gaze, reminding Ivypool of their training together in the Dark Forest.
====The Last Hope====
:After Jayfeather's business with RiverClan is done, Minnowtail escorts ThunderClan's medicine cat off of their territory, and nudges Jayfeather impatiently from behind. She is joined by Hollowflight, Beetlewhisker, and RiverClan's deputy, Reedwhisker. After finally realizing what the Place of No Stars is, and what Tigerstar and his cats hoped to accomplish, she and Sunstrike are horrified.
===In the A Vision of Shadows arc===
====Thunder and Shadow====
:Minnowtail is now mentoring Breezepaw. At a Gathering, Mallownose and Minnowtail are seen sharing tongues with Brightheart and Cloudtail, and the RiverClan cats look sleek again after the long leaf-bare. When the Gathering starts without ShadowClan, Bramblestar announces that Violetpaw has returned to said Clan, and that StarClan's prophecy is safe again, yet Crowfeather opens question on if Violetpaw and Twigpaw are really part of it. From among the RiverClan warriors, Minnowtail asks what else the prophecy could mean, and she points out that the kits are the only things they found in the shadows.
====Darkest Night====
:Minnowtail enters the ThunderClan camp, where RiverClan are temporarily staying, coming back from a patrol with Mistystar, Breezepaw, Mallownose, and Podlight.
====The Raging Storm====
:Minnowtail attends the Gathering with her Clan, and stands near Reedwhisker as they talk to Lionblaze and Twigbranch.
===In The Broken Code===
====Darkness Within====
:Following Softpelt's death in the battle for ShadowClan, Minnowtail is now mentoring her former apprentice, Splashpaw.
===In the A Starless Clan arc===
====River====
:Her apprentice Splashpaw is now a warrior named Splashtail. After Mistystar dies, Minnowtail turns on Duskfur for pushing her. After Reedwhisker's disappearance, Minnowtail and Havenpelt journey to ThunderClan to ask if they've seen Reedwhisker, though they don't reveal why he's missing when ThunderClan presses.
====Sky====
:When Owlnose returns from the Moonpool without his nine lives, Minnowtail suspects it's because Owlnose isn't meant to be their leader, and she questions his choice of Splashtail as deputy.
====Shadow====
:Minnowtail keeps watch over camp while Frostpaw sneaks out to speak to Whistlepaw.
====Thunder====
:At the emergency Gathering, Sunbeam spots Minnowtail looking humiliated among the ShadowClan cats.
====Star====
:Minnowtail attacks Tigerstar and attempts to pull the ShadowClan leader underwater after RiverClan trap his patrol on the island. Frostpaw attacks her, launching both she-cats into the water and allowing Tigerstar to escape. After Whorlpelt is knocked into the lake, Minnowtail, Berryheart, and Lizardtail attempt to drown him by blocking him from reaching the bank. Whorlpelt is rescued by his Clanmates, and Minnowtail , Nightsky, and Lizardtail race toward ShadowClan camp to join Splashtail's raid. During the subsequent battle, Minnowtail fights Tawnypelt, Sunbeam, and Grassheart as the brown tabby attempts to defend the nursery. Frostpaw recalls Minnowtail racing toward ShadowClan when she attempts to convince Harestar that RiverClan are attacking.
:After the battle, Minnowtail returns to RiverClan camp and shares a day-old fish with Mistpaw and Shimmerpelt. Splashtail brings her to the ShadowClan camp to guard their prisoners. Splashtail orders her to guard the nursery with Graysludge so that no queens or kits can escape. Minnowtail nods, but her pelt prickles nervously as Cinnamontail glares at her. She prepares to fight once more when the ShadowClan cats refuse to submit, until Splashtail threatens ShadowClan's kits. Blazefire points out Minnowtail guarding the nursery with Graysludge when urging Sunbeam that they cannot risk harming the kits.
:Minnowtail returns to RiverClan camp, where she is ordered by Splashtail to seize Floatkit, Troutkit, and Rapidkit from their mother with Breezeheart. When ThunderClan, SkyClan, and WindClan arrive in ShadowClan to liberate the camp from Splashtail, Minnowtail and Owlnose cower against the camp wall. Along with Graysludge, they promise to fight against Splashtail when the Clans continue toward RiverClan to confront the false leader. When Splashtail challenges the battle patrol, Minnowtail speaks gently to him like a queen reasoning with her kit, but he cuts her off and eagerly expects her to fight. Breaking her promise, she attacks Twigbranch and Violetshine when Splashtail threatens Troutkit, prompting another battle.
:Minnowtail defends her and her Clanmate's actions when Splashtail is driven into the lake with Floatkit, mewling that he would have killed them like he killed Harelight, and that they were scared after Mistystar's and Reedwhisker's death, their loss of connection to StarClan, and RiverClan's occupation by Tigerstar. Moreover, she praises Splashtail for getting ShadowClan's warriors out of their camp, but chokes up when recalling Harelight's death and the threatening of the kits. She argues with her Clanmates over who could be the next leader, reminding them that they thought Splashtail was the best warrior, and that they cannot be a true Clan without a leader. She admits she would rather join a different Clan than remain in a leaderless RiverClan. Minnowtail yells for Fognose and Breezeheart to get out when the she-cats are exiled and mentions that Breezeheart enjoyed getting the first pick of the fresh-kill pile under Splashtail.
:Despite her mentioning she would join another Clan, Minnowtail remains in RiverClan and helps repair the nursery with Owlnose. At the Gathering, she sits beside Podlight, and she shares gossip with Gorseclaw and Lizardtail when the toms visit RiverClan after their stay in ThunderClan. When Frostpaw wakes up, Minnowtail and Nightsky crowd the entrance to see her. Later, Frostpaw recalls the shame she felt that Minnowtail was her Clanmate when the warrior had attempted to drown Whorlpelt.
===In the Super Editions===
====Squirrelflight's Hope====
:Her apprentice, Breezepaw, is now a warrior named Breezeheart.
===In the Novellas===
====Mothwing's Secret====
:During her ceremony, Mothwing dreams of Dawnflower's kits growing healthy and strong. When Sasha reveals the truth about Hawkfrost and Mothwing's parentage, Dawnflower yowls in outrage that they're Tigerstar's kits. Mothwing lifts her head in defiance and reflects how she treated Minnowkit's infected paw not long ago. Many moons later, Minnowtail and Icewing repair the nursery with brambles in preparation for the Great Battle. During the battle, Minnowtail is gravely injured and is lying near the warriors' den when Mothwing rushes to her side. Minnowtail pleads for Mothwing to understand that she would never betray RiverClan by training in the Dark Forest. A Dark Forest spirit overhears Minnowtail and calls her a traitor. He prepares to attack her when Mallownose tackles him away. When the StarClan spirits arrive to help, Minnowtail uneasily rises to her paws to greet her mother.
====Mistystar's Omen====
:Minnowtail is one of the cats that Mistyfoot orders to go on a hunting patrol. She joins her apprentice, Mossypaw, and Icewing. The patrol is led by another warrior, Grasspelt. When Reedwhisker is made deputy of RiverClan following Mistystar's rise to leadership, Mossypaw comments that Mistystar only chose him because of the black tom being her son. Minnowtail, upon hearing this, reprimands the apprentice, and says that Reedwhisker is a brave and excellent warrior who deserves his rank. Minnowtail is sent on another hunting patrol, this time led by Mallownose. She hunts with Petalfur and Robinwing, as well as Mossypaw. Mistystar is dismayed at the small amount of prey that is brought back, saying that they couldn't even feed Podkit and Curlkit, Duskfur's two kits, with this prey.
==Character pixels==
===Main images===
===Alternate images===
==Official art==
==Kin==
===Members===
Mother:
:Dawnflower: 
Brother:
:Pebblefoot: 
Sister:
:Tumblekit: 
===Tree===
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Mistakes===
*She was mistakenly described as black.
===Continuity===
*In Su Susann's "Missing Kits" on Vicky's Facebook, Voleclaw and Dawnflower were mates and Pebblefoot, Minnowtail, and Tumblekit were their kits.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
==Quotes==
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
de:Fischflossees:Palomerafi:Särkihäntäfr:Écaille d'Anguillenl:Visstaartpl:Płotkowy Ogonru:Карпозубкаsv:Mörttasssv:Mörttassuk:Мільколапка
Category:RiverClan cats
Category:Warriors
Category:Mentors
Category:Place of No Stars visitors
Category:Place of No Stars trainees
Category:She-cats
Category:ShadowClan cats
Category:Mothwing's Secret characters