Alderheart

Alderheart is a major protagonist in the Warriors book franchise. He is the son of Brambleclaw and Squirrelstar and brother of Sparkpelt, as well as one of the current medicine cats of ThunderClan. 
He serves as one of the main protagonists of A Vision of Shadows arc, a supporting protagonist in The Broken Code arc and super editions Squirrelflight's Hope and Tigerheart's Shadow, a minor character in the super edition Graystripe's Vow and the novella Pebbleshine's Kits, and the tritagonist of the novella Daisy's Kin.
==Appearance==
Alderheart is a short-furred ginger tom with amber eyes and a white-tipped tail.
==Biography==
Alderkit is born to Squirrelflight and Bramblestar alongside Sparkkit, Juniperkit and Dandelionkit, however Juniperkit dies soon after being born and Dandelionkit dies two moons later.
===A Vision of Shadows===
====The Apprentice's Quest====
Jayfeather receives a vision of Alderkit, though doesn't recognize him as the kit is facing away from the group before running off, though Jayfeather sees his white tipped tail and notices he carries the scent of ThunderClan.
Moons later, just before their apprentice ceremonies, Alderkit worries if there's an assessment he must take before he can start his training. Sparkkit nudges and asks if he's exited, wondering who her mentor will be. Alderkit wonders too, hoping that it wouldn't be someone stern like Ivypool or Lionblaze. Bramblestar emerges from his den and commences the ceremony, and the small tom thinks about how proud he is to be his son. As they are made apprentices, the newly renamed Sparkpaw is mentored by Cherryfall, and Alderpaw is mentored by Molewhisker. Alderpaw pads over to sit next to his new mentor, not really knowing what to think of Molewhisker, but still hoping to impress him nonetheless. After the ceremony has ended, The two young cat's parents come up to congratulate them, adding that they're sure that they'll both be great warriors. 
Molewhisker tells his apprentice about the responsibilities he now holds, and Alderpaw tries to look worthy, but worries that it isn't working. Across the camp, he sees Cherryfall and Sparkpaw talking about the fun aspects of warrior life, and wishes that his mentor was as lively as his sister's. Sparkpaw asks to start learning how to hunt, but Molewhisker tells her that they have something different to do. When Alderheart asks what that is, Cherryfall reveals that they're going to be removing the elder's ticks. Alderpaw's mentor sends to two to get mouse bile, and the young tom is worried that he won't like being an apprentice, lamenting that he has to waste a warm, sunny day plucking ticks off of Graystripe. 
While removing the ticks, Purdy tells him that every apprentice has had to do the chore at least once. Alderpaw questions if Bramblestar had to as well, and Graystripe replies that even he and Firestar had to when they were young. The young tom then glances up at his grandmother Sandstorm, who is looking at him and his sister lovingly. She tells them about how when Squirrelflight was an apprentice, her mentor Dustpelt constantly had to keep her in check, and that though he was hard on her, it helped her grow into the best warrior she could be. Alderpaw then looks to see Leafpool and Jayfeather staring directly at him, making him nervous. 
Later, Cherryfall and Molewhisker take their apprentices an a tour of ThunderClan's territory to show them the borders, saying that they'll need to know every part of the territory by heart when they're warriors. They are shown the lake, a twoleg path, a small den where the medicine cat grow herbs, and RiverClan's territory from the other side of the lake. During a border patrol, they pass by the border to ShadowClan, and Alderpaw is asked if her can smell ThunderClan's scent markers. He is told that once he becomes a warrior, he'll be refreshing the scent markers on his own. They then see a clearing full of twoleg stuff, and Alderpaw wonders why the twolegs sometimes come into the forest.
Much later, Alderpaw picks up the scent of a nearby mouse, and Cherryfall asks if he can smell anything else. She praises him when he correctly identifies the scents of WindClan cats, explaining that the other Clan lives on the moor as they watch one of their warrior chasing after a rabbit. Sparkpaw's mentor then suggests returning to camp, but the orange she-cat complains that they didn't get to go hunting. Molewhisker tells her that they can do a bit of quick hunting, but they can't eat what they catch and must bring it back to the Clan. When the patrol reaches a clearing, Molewhisker asks the two young sibling if they can scent anything, to which both reply that they smell a shrew. Cherryfall then teaches them hunting techniques before asking her student to try first, and Sparkpaw successfully catches the shrew. The three others praise her, the mentors saying that they've never seen an apprentice catch prey on their very first try. Alderpaw's turn comes up, and as he crouches, he hesitates and Molewhisker hisses at him to go, but the vole he was stalking runs away. Sparkpaw teases her brother and his mentor tells him to trust in his instincts while trying to tells him that it's okay that he messed up, but the attempt a reassurance only makes him feels worse. 
As they return to camp, Ivypool, Birchfall and Sorrelstripe congratulate Sparkpaw on her catch while ignoring Alderpaw, who is so ashamed that he wants to sink into the earth. Bramblestar bounds up to them and eagerly asks how his children did, praising Sparkpaw as well for her catch. He then asks his son how he did, causing an awkward silence before Sparkpaw hurriedly comments that he listened to his mentor very well. Molewhisker adds that he'll get better at hunting soon, and Alderpaw feels even more shame that it's the best his mentor and his sister can say about him. Worrying what his father thinks, he looks up at him but can't tell what he's feeling. Bramblestar asks to speak with Alderpaw in private, and he worriedly asks his dad if he's mad at him. Bramblestar reassures him though, saying that it's only his first day trying to hunt and that he'll get better eventually, adding that he's happy that his son is listening to his mentor so well. Alderpaw doesn't believe that's true though, and wonders if he saw pity in Bramblestar's eyes for a moment. 
Bramblestar then asks if he's ever told Alderpaw about his own apprentice days, and the young tom mumbles that he was the apprentice of Firestar, thinking he must've been real special to be trained by such a legendary cat. Bramblestar sighs that Firestar probably taught him because he wanted to keep an eye on him, as his father was the tyrannical Tigerstar. he continues that on his first hunting lesson, he wanted to impress his mentor so badly that he slipped on wet leaves and crashed into a tree while chasing a squirrel. Alderpaw asks if this is true, and his father confirms that it is, but that he eventually got better and hunting and that his son will too.
Half a moon later, Alderpaw sits outside the apprentice's den, grooming his fur for the upcoming Gathering. He thinks about his experiance as an apprentice thus far, comparing his lackluster progress to the far more ahead progress of Sparkpaw. His sister asks if he's ready to go, and he excitedly replies that this Gathering will be the first one they ever attend, while wondering what the other Clan cats will be like. When he arrives, he meets three ShadowClan apprentices named Needlepaw, Sleekpaw and Beepaw. Needlepaw teases him and Sparkpaw, asking if they're going to start bossing around the other apprentices because they're ThunderClan cats. As the meeting between leaders begins, the ShadowClan leader Rowanstar announces all of the Clan's new apprentices, wit Needlepaw commenting that her Clan has more apprentices than they know what to do with. Alderpaw feels odd that the other apprentices are openly talking about their Clan's weaknesses. Rowanstar then says that all of the medicine cats have an important message, and said cats reveal that they've received a prophecy from StarClan: "Embrace what you find in the shadows, for only they can clear the sky." As cats debate what it could mean, Alderpaw's fur prickles as he notices Leafpool staring at him yet again. 
During a training session, Alderpaw's mind wanders while thinking about how Leafpool and Jayfeather seem to be watching him at all times. Molewhisker, annoyed by his student's distractedness, snaps that a warrior who can't fight is of no use to their Clan. Forcing down his sadness and shame, Alderpaw thinks that there's no such thing as a warrior who can't fight or hunt. When they return home, Bramblestar requests that his son speak with him in the leader's den. Seeing Jayfeather and Leafpool in the den as he enters, Alderpaw worries that Molewhisker told his father about his poor performance. Bramblestar then tells him that he must become a medicine cat apprentice, as Leafpool and Jayfeather have been given a vision of his destiny. Terrified, Alderpaw begs Bramblestar to reconsider, but the tabby leader has already made up his mind, saying that it's the will of StarClan. 
Alderpaw starts his medicine cat training, being taught herbs and their effects and being introduced to the other Clan's medicine cats when he first visits the Moonpool. Leafpool begins the ceremony to make him a medicine cat apprentice officially, and while dreaming, Firestar visits him in a dream. The past leader shows him a vision of of a warrior ceremony between cats he's never seen before. When Alderpaw asks Sandstorm if she knows anything, she tells him that the cats in his dream were Leafstar, Echosong and Sharpclaw of the fifth Clan, SkyClan. He tells Leafpool and Jayfeather, who discuss it with Bramblestar. The leader concludes that Alderpaw has been chosen to go on a quest to find SkyClan.
He goes to find the fifth Clan alongside Sparkpaw, Sandstorm, Molewhisker and Cherryfall. As the group follows Sandstorm's directions, they come across a hostile fox, but are then saved by Needlepaw. The group agrees to let her go with them, while Alderpaw tries to use his knowledge to heal a wound the fox had inflicted on Sandstorm. While traveling, he has dreams of the SkyClan cats running away and begging for help, which only makes him more determined to find them. While walking, Needlepaw approaches Alderpaw and reveals that she overheard what he and Sandstorm were discussing. During the night, Alderpaw notes that his grandmother's wound is starting to get infected, and sees her passing on to StarClan in a dream, saying goodbye to him as she departs. The group hold a vigil for her the next morning, burying her where she can see the stars. Alderpaw tells the others the truth about SkyClan, and Molewhisker tells him that they'll do whatever they can to find them. They then follow a stream to a group of cat they mistake for SkyClan, though soon find out from a real SkyClan cat Mistfeather - who was driven out of her home by the group - that they're a bunch of rouges calling themselves The Kin, lead by the bloodthirsty Darktail. The leader of The Kin confronts Alderpaw, believing that he's plotting against Darktail and his group, and takes him and the rest of the travelling cat prisoner, though they escape during the night. 
While trying to cross a river, the current sweeps away Needlepaw and Alderpaw, who plunge down a waterfall and are separated from the others. They spend three days looking for a way back, encountering a kittypet named Bob who gives them directions. Alderheart is downtrodden by failing to find SkyClan, but Needlepaw argues that they did their best, and Sandstorm appears in a dream to reassure him that he has not failed. While searching a tunnel, they find two seemingly abandoned newborn kits. Agreeing that they should take the kittens back to the Clans, Needlepaw names the black and white she-kit Violetkit while Alderpaw names the gray she-kit Twigkit. They journey back to ThunderClan, where Lilyheart takes care of them for the time being and it's promised that what to do with the kits will be settled at the next Gathering. Alderpaw visits the kits often, and tells Bramblestar about how he and Needlepaw found them. When it's time for the Gathering, he and Sparkpaw both carry the kits to the island. 
As the leader's meeting starts, Rowanstar immediately begins to argue with Bramblestar about Twigkit and Violetkit. Bramblestar explains how the kits were found to the rest of the Clans, and since both a ThunderClan and a ShadowClan apprentice found them and brought them home, the two leaders agree that both Clans will take one of the kits. Alderpaw immediately protests, saying that they can't just separate the sisters from each other, but Brmablestar retorts that he doesn't have a choice. ShadowClan takes Violetkit, while ThunderClan takes Twigkit. Alderpaw feels a sense of foreboding from separating the kittens, but resolves to try and give Twigkit a better life regardless.
====Thunder and Shadow====
Jayfeather snaps at Alderpaw for daydreaming while he's supposed to be sorting herbs. Briarlight volunteers to help him, but Jayfeather says that there's too many cats in the den already, causing the apprentice to glace down guiltily at Twigkit, who he brought with him because the other kits are too rowdy for her to play with. He thinks about how Honeykit, Leafkit and Larkkit are almost ready to become apprentices and wouldn't want Twigkit tagging along, while wishing that her sister Violetkit was with her. He's angry at ShadowClan for separating the two, as they thought that Needlepaw, who helped bring back the kits, was part of the prophecy, but in truth it was Alderpaw's responsibility alone. When Jayfeather complains that a medicine den is no place for a kit to play, Alderpaw and Leafpool have the she-kit play with Briarlight instead. As the three medicine cats continue their work, Graystripe enters and tells them that Bramblestar would like to see them, and that Rowanstar is with him. The ShadowClan leader tells them that his own Clan's medicine cat Littlecloud is dying, and that he needs another cat to heal him. Alderpaw volunteers, but Rowanstar declines, saying that Littlecloud needs the aid of a professional medicine cat and not just an apprentice, and Leafpool goes instead to help with the ShadowClan warrior Grassheart's kitting. Alderpaw is surpries to hear concern in Rowanstar's voice, thinking of him as heartless after he took Violetkit away. 
Leafpool asks the apprentice to help her carry the herbs to ShadowClan, assuring Jayfeather that she'll send him back as soon as she can when the gray tom complains about being left to care for the Clan alone. the two older medicine cats then go to gather the herbs that will be needed, with Bramblestar preventing his son from following. He then tells Alderpaw that Squirrelflight, Lionblaze and Cinderheart are being sent to find SkyClan. When he asks to go with them, the leader declines, saying that Jayfeather will need his help in the medicine den. As his father sends him off, he comments about someone waiting for Alderpaw, and the young tom sees Twigkit at the edge of the camp. She begs to go to ShadowClan with him to see her sister, and Alderpaw regretfully says no. She then runs off and returns with a bright red feather, asking him to give it to Violetkit instead, and he promises to do so.
As he and his aunt enter ShadowClan's camp, Dawnpelt leads Leafpool to where the sick Littlecloud is. Leafpool then tells her nephew and Needlepaw to get water-soaked moss for him to drink, but Needlepaw protests that they can just lead him to a water source, causing Tawnypelt to snap that she shouldn't be so insolent. The two apprentices talk as they fetch the water, with Alderpaw being concerned about Needlepaw's uninvolvement with Violetkit. As they return and deliver the water, the gray she-cat asks her friend if he wants to see Violetkit, and Alderpaw happily accepts. in the nursery, he spots the black and white she-kit playing with a root in the wall, then beckoning her over by saying he has a gift for her from Twigkit. As he gives her the red feather, Violetkit's eyes light up and she exclaims that she loves the gift. She then starts asking many questions about how her littermate is doing, and Alderpaw tries his best to answer them until Pinenose tells the kitten that it's time for a nap. While exiting the nursery, he says that he'll tell Twigkit about her. As the two apprentices collect moss to use as bedding for the ill medicine cat, Alderpaw suggests letting Twigkit and Violetkit meet in secret, to which Needlepaw agrees, saying that everybody loves secrets. 
Alderpaw sorts herbs half a moon after taking Twigkit out to meet her sister. The three cats sent to find SkyClan return to report that their camp in the gorge is empty, frustrating Alderpaw. After checking Honeykit for a fever and confirming that it isn't serios, his mentor sends him to get chervil and feed it to her to stop her bellyache. Twigkit then walks into the den with food for Briarlight, and Jayfeather shoos her away. Alderpaw angrily tells his mentor to be nicer to her, but the older tom simply rebukes that just because Alderpaw has had a prophecy delivered to him doesn't mean he knows everything. After Cloudtail reports that WindClan is fighting a bunch of rouges and need help, Jayfeather and Alderpaw follow the ThunderClan warriors to treat the injured cats. After returning to camp, they continue to heal their Clanmate's wounds while Bramblestar talks with Onestar about what happened. When The Kin and Darktail are brought up, Alderpaw tells his father that he's encountered them before on his quest to find SkyClan. After the WindClan cats leave, a patrol is sent to ShadowClan to check on Leafpool and Violetkit. When they reach the other Clan, Alderpaw runs into Violetkit and Needlepaw again, the latter seeming restless, though he dismisses this. After Violetkit is called back into the nursery, Alderpaw leaves the camp, wondering why Needlepaw seemed so agitated. Later, he warms up Twigkit after the kitten's failed attempt to find watermint results in her falling into the lake. As Sparkpaw saved her, she declares that she should be made a warrior, and during the ceremony earns the name Sparkpelt.
While going to meet with Needlepaw and Violetkit in secret, Alderpaw notices that Twigkit is sorrowful about falling in the lake, and he reassures her that jayfeather did the same thing when he was young. The two then run into a ShadowClan patrol, who reveal that Needlepaw was caught trying to sneak out with Violet kit and is now confined to camp as punishment. As they turn around and head back, Alderpaw says that it's probably a good thing they didn't get caught as well, or they would've been in trouble too. Twigkit tells him that she want to be a medicine cat so that she can be special, but he tells her that she already is. After becoming a warrior apprentice, Twigpaw asks if he's ever searched for her mother, and he admits that he didn't. 
During the next Gathering, Rowanstar announces that ShadowClan has recently been attacked by rouges, and that Berryheart, Cloverfoot and Beepaw have all left the Clan. The four leaders then argue for a bit before the meeting comes to an end. At the gathering after that, Sparkpelt tells her brother that ShadowClan has become very unstable. As the meeting commences, Bramblestar says that Violetpaw has retuned to ShadowClan, before said Clan arrives late with Crowfrost leading them, as Rowanstar is sick. He then tells Onestar that if WindClan shared their herbs, Rowanstar would be better by now, but the WindClan leader hisses that he'll never let them have any.
Alderpaw joins a patrol with Ivypool, Bramblestar and Twigpaw to search for her and Violetpaw's birth mother, though they don't find anything when retuning to the tunnel where the two she-cats were found. Later, Ivypool wakes up the apprentice, asking if he's seen Twigpaw anywhere. A patrol of ShadowClan warriors come by and announce that they've kidnapped Twigpaw and are holding her hostage until they get the herbs that they need. Bramblestar says he will consider, but opposes helping them after they leave. He sends Alderpaw and Leafpool to WindClan to get the lungwort the ShadowClan cats need, but Onestar denies them. While going to the Moonpool, Jayfeather and his student discuss the lack of lungwort, with a frustrated Alderpaw suggesting that they should just force WindClan to give over the herb. The WindClan medicine cat Kestrelflight says that there's a peaceful solution, but he must consult with StarClan first. While sleeping by the Moonpool, Alderpaw has a dream of Yellowfang telling him to speak up for what he believes in. When waking up, Kestrelflight tells the others to follow him as he goes to find Harespring, and the medicine cats are then allowed to gather lungwort from WindClan's territory at last. 
Later, Alderpaw is treating a nick in Twigpaw's ear with marigold. he wonders how she got the injury, asking her if she'd tell him if anything was wrong. the gray she-cat replies that she's fine, and is just upset about Violetpaw joining The Kin. At the next medicine cat half moon meeting, Alderpaw finishes his training and earns the name Alderheart. In his dreams near the Moonpool, he finds himself in a sunny meadow. He looks for Yellowfang, but instead find two cats talking in the distance before receiving the same prophecy that he had gotten many moons ago.
====Shattered Sky====
While dreaming, Alderheart stands in a lush hollow that he doesn't remember seeing before. He spots a group of cats gathered in a yellow barn, recognizing a gray tabby she-cat among them. He hesitantly inches closer and calls out to them, quickly realizing they can hear him. While excitement, he concludes that he's dreaming and wonders if the cats in front of him are from SkyClan. As he moves closer, he sees that the gray she-cat is terribly sick and injured, thinking about how he knows how to help her, but can't do anything but watch as the cats around her struggle to heal her. She closes her eyes, and just as Alderheart thinks she's dead, she suddenly calls out the name "Frecklewish", and the ginger tom concludes that she's hallucinating. Figuring out that the dying she-cat is SkyClan's medicine cat, he feels pity for the ragged looking cats and tries to remember the gray cat's name, feeling it's extremely important. She sits up and looks around, with Alderheart wondering what she could be seeing, before she dies and the surrounding cats call out the name "Echosong". Recalling Echosong from a past vision he's had, he confirms that the cats in front of him are from the lost SkyClan. 
He awakes in the apprentice's den with the strong urge to go out and help SkyClan, believing they're related to the prophecy. he thinks about telling Bramblestar, but doubts if anything could even be done before the upcoming battle against The Kin. After said battle, the ThunderClan cats return home badly wounded from losing the fight due to WindClan's sudden withdrawal. After taking care of Birchfall's injuries, he tells his Clanmates about his dream from last night. The cats argue whether or not the dream is important and if they should go search for them again, and Alderheart adds that in his dream he saw a gray tom who looked like he could be related to Twigpaw and Violetpaw, exciting the young gray she-cat. However Ivypool retorts that they shouldn't go looking for SkyClan again, discouraging Twigpaw. Shortly after, Twigpaw goes missing. Deeply concerned, Alderheart is about to go look for her, when Purdy suddenly collapses. he tries to save the old tom, but Jayfeather tells him that nothing can be done, and Purdy passes away. He asks his father if Purdy will go to StarClan, and is assured that he will. During the vigil for their fallen Clanmate, Alderheart notices that Twigpaw still hasn't returned, and knows she likely went to find SkyClan on her own.
He tells Bramblestar that the apprentice went off to search for SkyClan herself, who then calls a Clan meeting to tell everyone else. Dovewing, Molewhisker and Tigerheart go to look for her, and Alderheart is grateful that they're looking out for her. He then remembers the thunderpath between Clan territory and the farm that is currently sheltering SkyClan, and hopes that Twigpaw will know to go though the tunnel under it rather than trying to run across. He then thinks about all of the danger besides the thunderpath that she could be faced with, and becomes angry with himself for not being more reassuring to Twigpaw while talking to her about her kin. 
After The Kin drives out RiverClan, those who were not taken prisoner sought shelter in ThunderClan. Alderheart and the RiverClan medicine cat Mothwing go to the lake, with the former hoping they won't be caught by a patrol to be interrogated. Mothwing asks if Bramblestar is ok with them sneaking off, and Alderheart tells her that he wouldn't be, which is why he didn't ask him. When she then asks if they'll be in trouble, he replies that they most likely will be, but Bramblestar will come to understand that medicine cats must make their own choices sometimes. Mothwing says she's grateful to have him, as she needs to know what's happening to her Clanmates, but is too afraid to go alone, as Willowshine is too busy to help her. Alderheart understands her fear, as when Darktail and his cats attacked ShadowClan, many of it's members supported him, but with RiverClan, he attacked a Clan that didn't even have anything to do with The Kin. He admires Mothwing for still being willing to set foot on her Clan's former territory after what happened, thinking that he has "bees in his brain" for going with her. As they travel along the lakeside, Alderheart asks if they should go through WindClan or ShadowClan to reach the other side of the lake, as both Clans are hostile, with WindClan closing it's borders and ShadowClan being overtaken by rouges. Mothwing chooses to go through WindClan, citing that while they may give them a hard time, the rouges in ShadowClan won't hesitate to attack. She then adds that WindClan let Mistystar and her patrol through yesterday, to Alderheart's astonishment. She elaborates that they wanted to free the prisoners and retrieve the bodies of their deceased Clanmates for burial, But where fought off by The Kin who threatened to kill the prisoners if they came back. He asks what Mothwing's plan is, and she tells him that her and Willowshine had a store of herbs in the medicine den, and that The Kin might let them in if they claim to simply be gathering herbs. 
Alderheart remembers the first time he had met Darktail, and how fascinated he was with medicine cat knowledge, hoping that it means he has some respect for medicine cats. As they approach the border into WindClan's territory, a passing patrol stops them and demands to know what they want, stating that they can't speak to Onestar. Alderheart explains that they're just passing through to get to RiverClan, and the leader of the patrol, Sedgewhisker, relaxes. Before Sedgewhisker can speak however, Leaftail claims that it's a trick. Sedgewhisker tells her Clanmates that mothwing and Alderheart are just medicine cats, before telling the two to stay within three tail-lengths of the lake to avoid a fight. Alderhear then asks his companion what they meant when they said that Onestar announced yesterday that he didn't want to see anyone. The golden tabby elaborates that on the way back from RiverClan, she sent Petalfur and Mallownose to talk to Onestar, but a patrol turned them away as well. Alderheart finds Onestar's apathy strange, as he was more that happy to try and drive The Kin out when they first arrived. Mothwing adds that she saw Darktail whispering into Onestar's ear just before WindClan retreated from the battle, though couldn't make out what he was saying, and Alderheart says that every other cat is wondering what he said as well, knowing it must've been something big to make Onestar react the way he did.
As they approach their destination, Alderheart begins to grow anxious, as ThunderClan is already unsteady with the refugees, with Bramblestar ordering extra patrols to keep the Clan safe from Darktail. Mothwing halts his train of thought by apologizing for the hasty plan, saying it was the only thing she could think to do. Alderheart then tells her that Dawnpelt's sons Juniperclaw and Strikestone had come to ThunderClan camp to rejoin what's left of ShadowClan, saying that their mother would be coming back soon as well, though she never did, which Alderheart finds suspicious. The two toms are worried about Dawnpelt, believing Darktail may have imprisoned or killed her. Once they finally reach RiverClan, Needletail and Puddleshine assist in their plan to free the imprisoned cats, while telling them that they don't know what happened to Dawnpelt, either. Alderheart notes that despite her confident front, Needletail is terrified of The Kin. The two medicine cats are able to escape RiverClan with the prisoners in tow, bringing them to take shelter in ThunderClan with the rest of their Clanmates.
The three cats sent to look for Twigpaw return, reporting that they couldn't find her and believe her to be dead, to which Alderheart and Ivypool blame themselves for letting it happen. The next day, a patrol tells the Clan that The Kin are planning on attacking them next, and while discussing what to do, the cats decide to speak with those who were kept prisoner as a start.
As the medicine cats gather around the Moonpool during the half-moon meeting, Alderheart has another dream of SkyClan and the tom who he believes to be related to Twigpaw. Violetpaw escapes from The Kin after Darktail orders her to go hunting, running to ThunderClan territory for help. She agrees to be a spy for the Clan cats, and refuses to believe that Twigpaw could be dead when Alderheart tells her of her sister's absence. She later returns with the ShadowClan elders being help prisoner in The Kin, and lays out her plan to put poppy seeds in Darktail's prey and then kill him while he's weakened, a plan that ultimately fails and results in Needletail's death. 
When the medicine cats visit the Moonpool again, the spirit of Firestar tells them to remember their clan's names. Alderheart figures out that he's telling them to use each Clan's talents to fight against The Kin, and together with SkyClan they form a battle plan. their strategy is a success, as Darktail is killed and The Kin disbands.
====Darkest Night====
After the battle, Alderheart is tending to the SkyClan cat's wounds, with Twigpaw worrying about her father as he examines Hawkwing's wounds. He and Leafpool then check on the pregnant Tinycloud, with the ginger tom commenting that her kits will be the first litter of SkyClan born in the lake territories. Leafpool pulls him aside and tells him that SkyClan might not be staying permanently, as many cats in the other Clans' don't like the new inclusion and likely won't be willing to give up territory for them. Alderhear argues that skyClan can't leave because StarClan had brought them there, but Leafpool doubts this.
At the next Gathering, Alderheart asks Sparkpelt how she feels about the arrival of a new Clan, and his sister rants about how they don't belong at the lake - only the "real" Clans should be there, and that SkyClan should go back to the gorge now that the Kin is gone. Alderheart is stunned by her words, asking if she even cares about StarClan or his visions. Sparkpelt argues that just because StarClan wanted them to find SkyClan didn't mean they had to move to the lake. Distraught by his sister's hostility, he goes to Leafpool for comfort, who tells him that he must accept SkyClan's fate, whatever it may be, but Alderheart refuses this notion. As the Gathering begins, Leafstar settles onto the ground rather than sitting in the tree with the rest of the leaders. Due to many of their Clanmates being missing, the cats question Rowanstar's leadership. Mistystar announces that RiverClan's borders will be closed for a while as the Gathering ends.
The next day, Twigpaw completes her warrior training. However, she soon after joins SkyClan to be with her father, with Alderheart missing her dearly. At the next medicine cat meeting, he notices that the RiverClan medicine cats aren't there. In a dream, Firestar tells them that they must bring back RiverClan, and Echosong delivers the prophecy of "The dark sky must not herald a storm". Bramblestar refuses to do anything until the prophecy is deciphered much to his son's frustration, s the medicine cats visit SkyClan and RiverClan, but aren't helped by either leader. Later, Alderheart collects herbs near the lake shore when Willowshine runs up to him and tells him about her vision of a six-toed cat, which they then tell the other medicine cats.
Alderheart sneaks into twolegplace in search of the six-toed cat from Willowshine's visions, where he meets three kittypets named Loki, Zelda and Jasper, though none of them are able to help him. Sparkpelt joins him as he leaves the twolegplace, fighting off a dog along the way. At the next Gathering RiverClan is entirely absent, and Rowanstar reports that Tigerheart is missing before stepping down as leader. He then gives ShadowClan's territory to SkyClan, and has the ShadowClan cats merge together with SkyClan. 
Later, he successfully escape a rockslide with most of his Clanmates, before realizing that Jayfeather and Briarlight are still in the medicine den. He goes back for them, having to force Jayfeather out as the blind gray tom refuses to leave his herbs. On the way out of the crumbling camp, Alderheart sees a massive rock breaking off of the cliffside and plummeting straight for him. Snowbush pushes him out of the way, in the process getting his leg crushed, and he stops breathing. After clearing out Snowbush's airways, Alderheart carries him out of camp and near the lakeshore. Despite the amber-eyed tom's best efforts, Snowbush's wound becomes infected and he soon dies. 
Some time later, the medicine cats, ShadowClan warriors and Tree all gather by the lakeshore where Needletail and several more of The Kin's victims had been killed. Tree uses his powers to summon the sprits of the cats who've died there, and they tell Rowanstar that he must fight for ShadowClan and find his missing Clanmates if he wants to save his Clan. Hearing this, Alderheart wonders what is left of ShadowClan, and if it's already too late for them to be saved.
====River of Fire====
Twigpaw returns to ThunderClan, bringing Finpaw with her. When the Clan, questions her loyalty, Alderheart is there to defend her. Later, a wave of illness afflicts the Clan, and he goes to find watermint to cure the with though when he reaches the WindClan border where they usually grow, he finds all of it gone. Guessing that WindClan must have caught the sickness as well, and tries to not hold it against Kestrelflight for taking all of the watermint. He then finds a few spare watermint plants growing by a stream and gathers them up. As he heads home, dark clouds cover the sky and remembers the prophecy of "The dark sky must not herald a storm", making him anxious with the feeling of impending doom.
After giving the little watermint he could find to Plumkit, he starts chewing up chervil roots to give to the other sick cats. Jayfeather, now more irritable that ever with all of the sick cats, rudely asks Alderheart why he intends to use chervil roots when their patients need watermint. Alderheart spits the herb out onto a leaf and sighs that they don't have any watermint left, and Jayfeather tells him to keep searching until he finds some more, despite it currently raining heavily outside. He then tells the ginger tom that the roots are too solid need to be chewed up more, with the younger tom resisting the urge to argue that Jayfeather had been the one to interrupt his chewing. He instead suggests they talk about the prophecy, but the gray tom responds that it doesn't matter right now and that they need to focus on helping their ill Clanmates. 
Leafpool suggests that Briarlight be moved into the nursery for the time being to make room for more sick cats, and while Briarlight protests, Alderheart agrees to do so. He briefly thinks about how Whitewing is gradually losing strength needed to fight her ailment. Later, Blossomfall asks him how Plumkit is doing, wanting to be with her daughter to comfort her. Alderheart tells her that she shouldn't as she could catch the illness and spread it to the nursery, and Blossomfall reluctantly accepts though comments that it's hard to not be worried for her, and Alderheart reassures her that Plumkit is in good care.
When returning to the medicine den, Leafpool discussed the lack of watermint with him, as they only know of the currently depleted source it WindClan, though she suggests that there could be some near RiverClan. Alderheart gets excited at the thought of going to RiverClan despite it's borders being closed, wanting to check on them and convince them to reconnect with the other Clans. He asks Bramblestar about it, who lets him go only if he takes a few warriors with him, as none of them know what to expect from the closed off Clan. Sparkpelt and Twigpaw, though notices the latter looks nervous and sad. 
As the three travel across the lake, he asks the apprentice how she's doing, and she simply responds that she's fine, and Alderheart's suspicious about something being wrong grow as it's not like Twigpaw to answer like that. He then asks how she's doing with Sparkpelt as her mentor, and she gives another quick answer. Before he can ask anything else, a small WindClan patrol of Hootwhisker, Featherpelt and larkwing encounter them, though are luckily not hostile. When the medicine cat explains that they're going to RiverClan to collect more watermint, the WindClan warriors join them, saying they want to get some more as well. As they reach the border, they start gathering the herb before the ground beneath twigpaw gives way and she falls into the stream. Sparkpelt saves her and begins to scold her, and Alderheart worries that the noise his sister is making will alert the RiverClan cats. As he predicted, two RiverClan warriors named Shimmerpelt and Havenpelt tell them that the borders to their Clan are closed, with Sparkpelt snapping that they need the herbs for their Clanmates. The two RiverClan cats uneasy tell the group to just leave, and Alderheart stops Sparkpelt from making any more aggressive comments and asks if they can speak to Mistystar and tell her why they're so close to the border. The two agree, though will only let Alderheart go as he's a medicine cat. 
When they get to camp, Havenpelt brings out Mistystar, who questions why a ThunderClan cat is in RiverClan when their borders are closed. He explains that ThunderClan and WindClan both have a wave of illness and that they need watermint to help their Clanmates. He adds that they don't intend to cross the border, but Mistystar says that they came very close to crossing. Though he's afraid that Mistystar will react aggressively, he asserts that he won't go home without the herb. She concedes and allows them to get the herb, though reiterated that the borders are closed. Alderheart notices Willowshine shifting her paws, unhappy with her leader's actions. The amber-eyed tom thanks Mistystar for letting them get the herb, though as he leaves he feels a heavy weight in his chest. he turns around and asks if she's consider reopening the borders once more, reminding her of ShadowClan's collapse and telling her that it's in every Clan's best interest to stay strong. the RiverClan leader draws herself back for a moment before simply responding that the borders will remain closed until her Clan can rebuild itself, and that while she's sorry about what happened to ShadowClan it's none of RiverClan business, dismissing the medicine cat with a flick of her tail.
Disappointed, he leaves camp and returns home. he tries to be optimistic that he at least has watermint now, though as soon as he enters camp Jayfeather informs him that even more cats have fallen ill. At the next medicine cat meeting, all of the attendees get the same prophecy from Needletail, Beenose, Dawnpelt and Lioneye of "The shadows are approaching and must not be dispelled". At the following Gathering, Leafstar announces that the former Kin members Sleekwhisker and Yarrowleaf are staying in the SkyClan-ShadowClan camp because of the recent prophecy. Alderheart however feels that they've interpreted the prophecy incorrectly. Back in ThunderClan, Twigpaw asks if they should do something about the prophecy, but to her disappointment Alderheart says no. A violent storm begins, tearing the roof off of the nursery. Briarlight is sheltered from it inside the tunnels, and Alderheart witnesses lightning strike near the twolegplace and start a fire.
After the fire dies down, Bramblestar sends two warriors to investigate the aftermath, who return with two kittypets named Fuzzball and Velvet who seek shelter within ThunderClan due to the fire destroying their homes. The brown tabby leader agrees to let them stay until they can return home, and Alderheart brings them into the medicine den to tend to their burns. After they've been treated, Fuzzball is assigned to help Jayfeather, who has fallen ill, and velvet is assigned to help Alderheart sort herbs. While helping him, Velvet grows close to the ginger tom as he learns about her life in twolegplace. Another storm starts up shortly after, this time staring a fire near RiverClan and WindClan.
At the next Gathering, RiverClan shows up with Mistystar announcing that the borders are no longer closed and asks the other Clans for help rebuilding. Though some cats are suspicious of the timing, the other leaders agree to assist regardless. Leafstar then reveals that she's given Tree the new role of a mediator. A few days later, Alderheart finds that velvet's wounds are now fully healed. As he checks on the nursery, he finds that Briarlight is very sick. Despite his efforts to save her, Briarlight dies the next day as her family gathers around to say their goodbyes. They sit vigil for her that night, burying her the next morning. Velvet then has the exhausted Alderheart go to sleep, promising to take care of him. later, Jayfeather tells the kittypet she-cat that now that she's heled, she should moveout of the medicine den. Velvet and Fuzzball are then greeted by their friend, a fellow kittypet named Ajax. The visitor informs them that their houses are safe to return to now, and the ginger medicine cat is disappointed that velvet has to leave. That night, Jayfeather brings up his concerns that Alderheart is going to leave the Clans to be with velvet, but the younger tom assures him that he isn't going anywhere, and is just wondering how he's going to say goodbye to her. The next morning, he bids Velvet farewell as she and Fuzzball return home, knowing that it has to be this way.
Twigpaw completes her warrior assessment, and she and Finpaw earns the names Twigbranch and Finleap. Alderheart is proud of the gray warrior, remembering the time she was just a tiny kitten. Just after, Grassheart and Strikestone appear and demand that Hawkwing come with them, with Alderheart going with them to the Moonpool where they see that Tigerheart and Dovewing have returned along with several other cats, including their kits. Later, when seeing that Velvet left one of her cat toys behind, Alderheart decides to go into twolegplace to return it himself. he comes across Fuzzball who takes him to her house, where she greets him warmly. As he returns her toy, she gives him a thyme plant to remember her by, and after saying their final goodbyes Alderheart departs for the Moonpool. As he arrives late, Jayfeather and Leafpool question where he's been, and he simply explains he was in the twolegplace. In his dreams, Cinderpelt tells him that she understand how hard it is to let someone you love go for the sake of your Clan, as she once had been in love with Firestar. She then states that ThunderClan will need him for the challenges ahead, and after he wakes up he wonders what challenged she'd been referring to.
====The Raging Storm====
Alderheart frees Puddleshine from barbed wires, bringing him into the medicine den for treatment. Puddleshine's wounds quickly become infected and he catches a fever, with none of Alderheart's attempts at healing him being successful. As his patient's health declines, Alderheart looks to StarClan desperately for an answer. Returning to the barbed wires where he first found Puddleshine, he sees an injured rabbit eating deathberries while spitting out the seeds, thinking it's trying to take it's own life and feeling pity for the creature. He later returns again, feeling that StarClan is guiding him there, and sees the same rabbit still alive and in a much better condition. He figures out that deathberries aren't lethal with the seeds removed, and wonders if feeding Puddleshine the deseeded berries could help him. When he proposes this idea to his fellow ThunderClan medicine cats however, they immediately shut down his plan. Alderheart insists that this could be the only thing that saves Puddleshine, and begrudgingly the other two allow it. 
After he begins his treatment, bramblestar confronts him, angry that he hadn't been told of his plan and saying that ShadowClan must be told about it. Bramblestar sends Cloudtail and Molewhisker to deliver the message, but on the way there the two run into some ShadowClan cats planning on discussing the boundaries of SkyClan and ShadowClan with ThunderClan, and brings them back instead. When Tigerstar finds out what Alderheart's been doing, he mistakes him for trying to put Puddleshine out of his misery. After explaining that deathberries aren't poisonous without the seeds and that Alderheart was only trying to help, Tigerstar brings Puddleshine back to camp and has the ginger tom look after him there. 
He feels incredibly uncomfortable in ShadowClan's camp, worrying what the ShadowClan cats would do to him if Puddleshine died under his care. While sorting through Puddleshine's herb supply, Cloverfoot inquires as to what he's doing. He explains that their herb supply is low and that their medicine cat will need to gather more once he's cured of his fever. Cloverfoot watches him tending to Hollowkit and Stonewing, gaining a respect for him. He also helps Shadowkit while the kitten has a seizure, when he's told by Shadowkit himself that he was having a vision of himself drowning, and Alderheart is concerned that he kit may have just seen his own death. 
Just before going to the half moon meeting, Alderheart buries the seeds that he's removed from some deathberries. Puddleshine has been gradually getting better, all the while Alderheart teaches Shadowkit about being a medicine cat. The kit wishes to be a medicine cat like him one day, though the ginger tom laments that he may not live long enough. After Grassheart is injured by SkyClan warriors, he wonders why SkyClan would provoke ShadowClan like that. Tigerstar pads into the den commenting how much healthier Puddleshine is now, attributing his recovery to being back in his own Clan. Alderheart reveals that he's still been feeding him seedless deathberries, and while the leader is shocked at first, he commends the younger tom for his bravery and tells him that ShadowClan will honor him. 
At the next half moon meeting, he feels guilty about treating a wound inflicted by a SkyClan cat, but reminds himself that the battle was not his to begin with. At the Moonpool, the medicine cats receive a vision of sapling in a storm, with one being uprooted causing the others to be blown away as well. Afterwards, Frecklewish reveals that her Clan's fresh-kill had been poisoned by deathberry seeds, blaming Alderheart for it. The gathered cats all agree to tell their leaders to meet and discuss a peaceful solution. During the meeting of the leaders, Alderheart and the rest of the medicine cats state that peace must be kept and that SkyClan cannot be lost again. SkyClan accuses ShadowClan of poisoning their fresh-kill, and Alderheart says that none of the deathberries he was using had been stolen, though admit's he hadn't been keeping track of the seeds. 
When he goes back to where he buried the deathberry seeds, he's unable to tell if any where missing. Grassheart tells him that ShadowClan cats were not fox-hearts who would poison another Clan, and Alderheart agrees, though can't shake off that the timing isn't a mere coincidence. The now recovered Puddleshine says that he can't believe that their leaders didn't listen to their warnings, which Alderheart also agrees with. Tigerstar tells the ThunderClan tom that since Puddleshine is healthy again, he may return to his own Clan. He feels as though Tigerstar is throwing him out, but is relieved that he's no longer responsible for ShadowClan. He says goodbye to Shadowkit and Puddleshine as he leaves, but heads for SkyClan instead of going home. He finds tht the camp is in disrepair and that a few of its members where missing, and upon investigation, he realizes that it was indeed a ShadowClan cat who had poisoned the fresh-kill. He runs back to ThunderClan with this discovery, though Sparkpelt seems apathetic when he tells her. Dodging his Clanmate's questions about ShadowClan, he tells his parents as well, though they have the same reaction as his sister, with Bramblestar stating that there was nothing more they could do. 
Travelling back to ShadowClan in hopes of finding clues on who poisoned SkyClan, he's initially questioned but lies that he simply wants to check on Puddleshine's wounds. As he arrives, Shadowkit has another seizure, telling him he had the vision of drowning again. As the cats around Shadowkit comfort him, the amber-eyed tom asks him how he's been doing with helping with medicine cat duties. Shadowkit responds that Cloverfoot has been helping him, then reveals that he witnessed Juniperclaw digging up seeds one night. Tigerstar overhears what his son just said and grows very worried, arguing with Alderheart when the latter accuses Juniperclaw of poisoning SkyClan, before demanding him to leave. 
When Alderheart returns to camp, he tells his father that Juniperclaw is the culprit of SkyClan's poisoning, though the leder says he doesn't want to meddle with other Clan's affairs. Alderheart tells him that if they don't do something, ShadowClan could fall apart all over again. Two days later, bramblestar and his son go to ShadowClan to speak to Tigerstar about Juniperclaw's crime. Alderheart is concerned that the two cats ecorting them don't seem to care that SkyClan is gone. When they get to camp, Bramblestar tells tigerstar what Alderheart told him, and tigerstar tries to argue that the case is closed and that there's no evidence pointing towards a ShadowClan cat poisoning SkyClan. Alderheart states that there is evidence, and begins to interrogate Juniperclaw until the latter admits that he was behind the fresh-kill poisoning.
Tigerstar, forced to accept the truth, says that he regrets SkyClan's departure. Alderheart pities him when he starts to panic about Shadowkit escaping camp. At the next gathering, he feels glad that twigbranch's and Violetshine's family is reunited one more for the night. Though he regrets that the investigation of Juniperclaw's actions lead to the former deputy's death, he knows that speaking up about what he found was the right thing to do. He is pleased to see Tigerstar name Cloverfoot as ShadowClan's new deputy following Junipeclaw's death, though worries about a fight breaking out between ShadowClan and SkyClan. He relaxes however when the other Clans agree to Bramblestar's idea for the boundaries. He looks back at Twigbranch and Violetshine, reminiscing the time when they were tiny kits. He hopes that the peace between the Clans will last, and that whatever problems they face next, they'll face them together.
===Squirrelflight's Hope===
When a ThunderClan patrol finds an injured Sister named Sunrise and bring her back to camp to heal her, Alderheart rushes out of the medicine den to examine her. Bramblestar doesn't allow her to be treated, and Leafpool argues that they can't just let Sunrise die, with her nephew supporting her, saying that it isn't the medicine cat way to let a cat suffer. Bramblestar sends him and Jayfeather to the Moonpool to ask for StarClan's permission to heal the wounded she-cat, and wen they return Alderheart says that he's not quite sure what StarClan told them. 
While walking to the Gathering, Bristlepaw and Thornclaw complain about Sunrise not going back to The Sisters yet, and Alderheart tells them that her wounds still need time t heal. When Bristlepaw asks why her visiting Sisters aren't gone yet, he tells her that Sunrise will be able to leave in a few days, and soon everything will be back to normal. As they cats head home from the gathering, the ginger tom wonders if the other Clans suspect ThunderClan of hiding The Sisters. When they get back home, Squirrelflight asks her son if he thinks Sunrise will be able to travel back to her group's camp. He replies that she'll need some help, but will be able to rest once she gets back. She then asks if it was fair to make the other Sisters leave the camp, and he assures her that they're safer in their own territory.
When larksong suddenly collapses from sickness, Alderheart rushes to the nursery and checks his vitals, reporting that his heart is still beating but his breathing will need to be restarted. He and Leafpool start performing CPR on Larksong until the black tom can breathe again before moving him to the medicine den. He notices a dark liquid leaking out of his patient's moth, asking Jayfeather if he should be given more yarrow leaves, but the blind tom says no. 
He and Jayfeather visit ShadowClan to see if Puddleshine knows anything about Larksong's ailment, and Squirrelflight volunteers to go as well, but her sons tell her that bringing a warrior might give ShadowClan the wrong impression and that they can't wait for Bramblestar to give permission for her to go. When Bramblestar cannot be found, he asks Squirrelflight if she wants to go back, which she does while requesting they ask Puddleshine if ShadowClan had anything to do with the tained prey that caused Larksong's sickness, but he tells her that he can't just accuse Puddleshine's Clanmates like that. After Squirrelflight finds Bramblestar and is escorted to ShadowClan's camp, Alderheart and Jayfeather get done with talking to Puddleshine right as the ThunderClan deputy is arguing with Tigerstar, making the ginger tom uncomfortable by the surrounding hostility.
On they way back home, the two medicine cat toms confirm that Puddleshine doesn't know anything about how Larksong fell ill, and they visit the spot where the warrior had caught the prey that made him sick to investigate. None of them find anything wrong, and becomes concerned at his mother's sudden tiredness. After Sparkpelt falls ill as well, the medicine cats begin to check everyone else in the Clan for possible sickness, ushering Thriftpaw and Berrynose into the medicine den when the two show symptoms. After Squirrelflight returns with news of a cure, Alderheart tells her that he's given Sparkpelt poppy seeds to try and calm her, as she's fretting over her mate's worsening condition. He later guides Thriftpaw's mother Ivypool out of the medicine den, informing her that the sickness isn't contagious and her daughter's supposed symptoms were just false alarms. 
After Leafpool and Squirrelflight are crushed in a rockslide and end up in StarClan, the latter sees how distressed her son is while he tries to save her in the living world. She tries to send him a sign that she's alright with a squirrel, but he doesn't seem to notice it. after Leafpool decides to remain dead and stay in StarClan, Alderheart notices how distant Jayfeather has become. With Mothwing's help, he brings Jayfeather to the Moonpool by telling him that there's a hurt cat near it. When they arrive, the rest of the medicine cats have gathered, and Alderheart tells him that the wounded cat is himself, assuring him that it's ok to be sad about Leafpool's death and comforting him as he mourns her.
===The Broken Code===
====Lost Stars====
At the half moon meeting at the Moonpool, both Willowshine and Alderheart report that their Clanmates have been getting sick from the cold of Leafbare. He then comforts Jayfeather as the latter is reminded of Leafpool's death. After Rootpaw is saved from the frozen lake and brought to ThunderClan's medicine den for recovery, Alderheart immediately gets to work in caring for him, encouraging the young apprentice during his recovery. At the next half moon meeting, he and the rest of the medicine cats are shocked at the inability to contact StarClan, worriedly remembering his mother's words about what their ancestors wanted. 
Bristlepaw overhears him talking about his concerns regarding the Moonpool with Jayfeather, Bramblestar and Squirrelflight. After the next unsuccessful half moon meeting, he suggests that they tell their leaders about what's been happening, believing that StarClan has abandoned them. He rushes out of the medicine den when Bramblestar's body is brought back into camp after the leader suddenly collapsed during a hunting session. After his father regains consciousness, he calls for Alderheart to tell him something, but his son refuses and insists that he needs to rest, though Jayfeather convinces him to let the brown tabby tom speak. He informs them of a dream he's had while unconscious that unsettles both medicine cats as Alderheart admits that StarClan hasn't sent either of them any signs for quite a while. Jayfeather is mad at him for revealing this, but Bramblestar says that it was a foolish thing to try and hide from their leader.
The medicine cats all try to break open the frozen Moonpool at their next meeting. Alderheart remains calm during his mother's outburst, though Bristlefrost notes how upset he looks as she storms off. Shadowpaw later visits ThunderClan with his father to tell them that a StarClan cat told told him to bury Bramblestar in snow to cure his affliction, which Alderheart agrees on doing, reminding Jayfeather of how StarClan told him to cure Puddleshine with seedless deathberries, figuring that their ancestors have changed their ways of communication by sharing with only Shadowpaw. Squirrelflight protests this idea however, saying that she doesn't want her mate to spend a night buried in snow, and Alderheart doesn't argue. The two medicine cats agree to give Bramblestar some borage instead to make him colder, though their idea doesn't seem to work. The younger of the two brings up Shadowpaw's plan again, which Jayfeather immediately turns down. The ginger tom calls Squirrelflight over for her opinion instead, stating that it's her call on whether or not they do it. Squirrelflight, admitting that they're out of options, relents and lets them go through with the idea. 
They begin to bury Bramblestar in snow, with Alderheart wishing he could comfort his father as the leader gets more and more panicked as the night progresses. Eventually Alderheart cries out that Bramblestar is too cold and will die if this keeps up, but Shadowpaw retorts that the cold is supposed to cure him. As his son predicted, Bramblestar dies of hypothermia and Alderheart begins sobbing when his father doesn't revive. He attends Bramblestar's funeral vigil, giving a small word on him, before witnessing Bramblestar's body suddenly wake up.
====The Silent Thaw====
Alderheart is ecstatic at first to have his dad back, though Bristlefrost and Thriftear quickly notice how uncharacteristically hostile the leader is to him and Jayfeather. He attends Shadowsight's full name ceremony, cheering for the fellow medicine cat. Later during a gathering, he concludes that StarClan's silence is simply because there's currently no threats to the Clans. When Shadowsight tells him about the codebreakers, including Squirrelflight and jayfeather, he wonders why StarClan waited until now to punish them, agreeing to tell his leader.
After Sparkpelt is caught trying to search for the exiled Lionblaze, "Bramblestar" asks Alderheart if he needs more catmint before sending his siter to go gather some more by the twolegplace, intending to have the dogs there kill her. She survives however, and her brother tends to her numerous wounds. Later, he and Jayfeather witness "Bramblestar" banishing their mother from the Clan after angrily throwing her off of the Highrock.
====Veil of Shadows====
During the half moon meeting, Rootpaw is able to summon the real Bramblestar's spirit to convince the medicine cat that the current leader of ThunderClan is an imposter. When Shadowsight is reported to be missing, all of the remaining medicine cats are worried for his safety, and Alderheart and Jayfeather promise Rootpaw that they'll keep an eye on the imposter leading their Clan. The next morning, Jayfeather and Lionblaze are exiled for being half-Clan cats, leaving Alderheart the sole medicine cat of ThunderClan. He worries for his former mentor, and reluctantly trains Flipclaw to take Jayfeather's place in the medicine den when the false leader orders him to.
Later, as the imposter denies Twigbranch re-entry into ThunderClan believing she hadn't atoned during her banishment, Alderheart stands up to the faux leader, calling him a faithless imposter. The imposter banishes him as well, and as he leaves he apologizes to Flipclaw, stating that he can't be in a Clan run by a fraud. Twigbranch brings him to the exiled rebel's camp, later joining the battle against the imposter. After said imposter is defeated, Alderheart is allowed back in to ThunderClan with the rest of the refugees, resuming his role as a medicine cat.
====Darkness Within====
As Twigbranch coments that she hopes they can contact StarClan soon while a dispute breaks out between Thornclaw and Lionblaze, Alderheart simply looks at his paws and says nothing. he later defends Squirrelflight when lionblaze yowls that she should've known their leader was an imposter sooner, stating that Squirrelflight did her best to help her Clanmates and that it isn't fair to blame her. Lionblaze asks how blaming her isn't fair, saying that that this isn't the first time Squirrelflight has unintentionally hurt her loved ones. 
====The Place of No Stars====
As Sparkpelt says that Rootspring's account proves that Squirrelflight didn't help Ashfur escape his prison in ShadowClan, Alderheart backs her up by saying that she would never do such a thing. When Graystripe returns from the Moonstone and assumes the role of ThunderClan's leader after Squirrelflight disappears, Alderheart is told to go to RiverClan for the time being, as with Willowshine dead they have no medicine cat.
====A Light in the Mist====
After Shadowsight informs that the cats who ventured into the Dark Forest had spoken with StarClan, Alderheart asks who they'd talked to. Shadowsight answers that it was the spirit of Leafpool, who told them that StarClan did not abandon the living Clans, rather Ashfur's meddling had cut off access to them. Later, as the leaders decide not to send a patrol into the Moonpool to save StarClan and the Dark Forest, Alderheart backs up Shadowsight's rebuttal that Ashfur will win if they don't. After the battle is over and Ashfur is killed, Alderheart wonder's if they'll be able to reach StarClan now, and Jayfeather tells him that the only way to find out is to try. The ginger tom visits StarClan in his dreams, where he finds the recently deceased Graystripe reuniting with Briarlight and Millie. When Sadowsight doubts if he can still be a medicine cat without being able to speak with StarClan, Alderheart assures him that he's still one of them, and that nothing will ever change that.
===A Starless Clan===
====River====
Alderheart warmly greets Mothwing's new apprentice Frostpaw when introduced to her, wishing her luck with her training. After storming away from an argument with his mother about their heritage, Flamepaw passes by Alderheart and thinks about how nice the medicine cat had always been to him, but says nothing as he goes. Later, all of the medicine cats present the updated warrior code to StarClan at the next half moon meeting. He offers to help Mothwing when she lies about the absent Mistystar and Reedwhisker having whitecough at the gathering, but she quickly declines, not wanting anyone outside RiverClan to find out that the aforementioned cats are actually dead. During Flamepaw's warrior ceremony, Alderheart silently wishes his nephew well with a flick of his tail
==Gallery==
File:AlderheartFactSheet.webp|Alderheart's fact sheet on the official website
File:AlderheartFamilyTree.webp|Alderheart's icon on the family tree
==Quotes==
==Trivia==
*Author Kate Cary said that she prefers Alderheart over Sparkpelt because she likes a "worrier".
*He has romantic feelings towards Needletail, though it's unknown if they're reciprocated.
*He's mistakenly called Alderpaw before becoming an apprentice in page 10 of The Apprentice's Quest and after receiving his full name in page 374 of Thunder and Shadow.
==External Links==
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