Snowtuft

Snowtuft is a supporting antagonist in Omen of the Stars and a major anti-hero in The Broken Code. He was formerly a member of ShadowClan who was sent to the Dark Forest upon his death due to his lust for power. While he was apart of the attack on the living Clans with the rest of the Dark Forest's residents, he later changed his ways and helped with the defeat of Ashfur, whose meddling was destroying his home.
== Appearance ==
Snowtuft is a small, thin white tom with scarred-up flanks. His most iconic feature is a long scar that starts at the tip of his ear and ends at his belly, which he had gotten from Shredtail in his debut.
== Biography ==
=== Omen of the Stars ===
==== Fading Echoes ====
While Spottedleaf and Jayfeather are visiting the Dark Forest, they see several residents in a battle training session monitored by Hawkfrost. Snowtuft is watching nearby with half-closed eyes until Hawkfrost calls on him. He creeps forward, and when Hawkfrost asks if he's ready to learn some killing moves, Snowtuft responds that it's the reason why he's here. Hawkfrost then calls Shredtail forward as well, holding Snowtuft up by the throat and telling Shredtail to tear open his exposed belly. Hawkfrost insists that doing so won't kill Snowtuft as he's already dead, and Jayfeather and Spottedleaf quickly flee in horror as the white tome cries out in pain.
==== Night Whispers ====
While training in the Dark Forest, Ivypaw is introduced to Snowtuft by Hawkfrost, shuddering when she sees the scar inflicted by Shredtail that stretches from Snowtuft's ear to his stomach and tries her best not to look at it. Later, Hawkfrost assigns Snowtuft to train the RiverClan apprentice Hollowpaw, to which they both accept.
When Hollowpaw complains about the dark water, Snowtuft shoves his apprentice in. After helping Ivypaw defeat Darkstripe, Hollowpaw swims back to his mentor. Ivypaw later sees him sitting next to Shredtail in a crowd when she's about to take her assessment to see if she's ready to fight the living Clans.
==== The Forgotten Warrior ====
While Ivypool waits for Tigerheart to finish talking to Mapleshade, Snowtuft hides in the bushes nearby. Mapleshade suddenly states that she smells someone's fear-scent, and while at first mistaking it for her own, Ivypool quickly realizes that its Snowtuft's. Mapleshade finds him and snarles at him to get back to fighting, causing him to cry out in pain when she strikes him.
==== The Last Hope ====
Hawkfrost calls out to Snowtuft and asks if he's going to the meeting of the Dark Forest cats, which Snowtuft responds that he wouldn't miss it for all the prey in the forest. He then asks the brown tabby tom where the trainees are, and is informed that Tigerstar sent them back to their nests. Snowtuft's claws scrape the ground upon hearing this, and he asks Hawkfrost if he's sure that there won't be any Clan cats around the training rock, to which the blue-eyed tom assures him that Brokenstar will make sure there isn't.
Much later, when the Dark Forest invades the living world, Snowtuft confronts Ivypool alongside Hawkfrost and Thistleclaw. They call her a traitor for siding with the Clans instead of them, and just as they're about to attack, Hollyleaf intervenes. While Hollyleaf fights of Hawkfrost, Ivypool takes on both Snowtuft and Thistleclaw, managing to drive them both away.
=== The Broken Code ===
==== The Place of No Stars ====
After entering the Dark Forest through his dreams, Shadowsight is immediately attacked and pined down by a thin white tom. Shadowsight asks who he is, and the attacker retorts that he could asks the same thing, questioning why the medicine cat is in the Place of No Stars. Shadowsight explains that he's looking for a warrior from the living world, causing the white tom to relax and tell him that whoever he's looking for is probably responsible for what's happening to the Dark Forest. The black-and-gray tom gets up and studies the white tom, noting both his large scar and how his body seems to be blurred at the edges. After the white tom introduces himself as Snowtuft, Shadowsight asks him if he knows what going on with the Dark Forest, and the older tom laments that he's wondering the same thing.
He informs the medicine cat that he's seen who he believes is a StarClan cat coming and going lately, and has no idea why or how they came in the first place. Shadowsight tells him that the cat he's referring to must be Ashfur, and Snowtuft comments that some of the other denizens of the Dark Forest have begun working for Ashfur, who promised them great things should his plan succeed. When the ShadowClan medicine cat points out that Snowtuft wasn't one of his followers, the white tom says that Ashfur is evil. He then reveals that the Dark Forest has been flooding with dark water ever since Ashfur arrived and that some of its spirits have been fading away, scared that he's going to fade soon too. Shadowsight apologizes for what's happening to the older tom's home, revealing that he's a living cat and thus doesn't know exactly how the Place of No Stars operates. Snowtuft is shocked by this, concluding that the black-and-gray tom must be dreaming to be here, as he's had experience with living cats entering the Dark Forest in their sleep. Shadowsight confirms this, telling Snowtuft that Ashfur is causing problems for StarClan as well.
Snowtuft then asks how long he's been dead, but Shadowsight doesn't know, as he's never even heard of his name before. Shadowsight then asks what Clan he used to be in, surprised when the white warrior replies that he was a part of ShadowClan in life and purring that he's a member of ShadowClan as well. The amber-eyed tom then asks if he knows Oakfur, who's currently ShadowClan's oldest member, but Snowtuft doesn't recognize the name. The scarred spirit then asks who the leader of ShadowClan is now, getting exited when he's told it's Tigerstar, thinking Shadowsight meant the Tigerstar that he trained with in the Dark Forest rather than his grandson of the same name. He then praises Tigerstar, stating he could've taken over the whole forest if Firestar hadn't killed him before looking around confused, remembering that the dark brown tabby had faded away moons ago. Shadowsight explains that the current leader is a different Tigerstar than the one who once resided in the Dark Forest.
Snowtuft sighs, telling his company that time seems to move differently in the Place of No Stars, and that ever since the Great Battle he hardly sees any other spirits around. He then adds that certain cats he used to see are gone now and the forest is shrinking, fearful that he'll fade away with it. When Shadowsight asks how he ended up in the Dark Forest in the first place, the white tom admits that he's been there so long that he's forgotten, only vaguely remembering that he used to be power-hungry. He then laments that power means nothing when you're forever trapped in the Place of No Stars. The medicine cat then brings up how he knew the first Tigerstar and fought alongside him to take over the Clans, to which Snowtuft snaps that he doesn't want to talk about it. Shadowsight agrees not to bring up the Great Battle again, instead asking if he knows where Ashfur is. The older tom then leads him to a gully surrounded by fog, and the black-and-gray tom is horrified at the effects Ashfur has had on the Dark Forest. Snowtuft then asks his new friend to help him save his home, and Shadowsight agrees, but only after he finds and saves Squirrelflight.
The two find Squirrelflight, witnessing Ashfur take control of Bramblestar's spirit and forcing him to fight her. Shadowsight insists that they need to help the orange she-cat, but Snowtuft tells him that there's nothing they can do, as Ashfur is too powerful. The medicine cat then suggests distracting Ashfur, and Snowtuft retorts that he has bees in his brain and the white tom won't die for someone else's battle, bidding Shadowsight good luck as he leaves.
Some time later, Rootspring encounters Snowtuft while thinking of a plan to stop Ashfur. Snowtuft says that he's Shadowsight's friend and can help Rootspring to if he likes, and when the yellow tom asks why, he answers that the Dark Forest is flooding because of Ashfur and he wants to save his home. Rootspring agrees to let him help, telling him that they need to find a way to free the prisoners Ashfur has brainwashed. The two try to make a plan together, with Rootspring saying that they need to help Squirrelflight escape. When Snowtuft points out that there are too many cats on the island she's being held prisoner on, the SkyClan warrior suggests attacking Ashfur to distract him, saying that the prisoners on the island are all good cats. Pessimistically Snowtuft says that it's worth a try.
As the duo head towards the island, Rootspring states that Ashfur no longer has control over Bramblestar's spirit, and though they can't defeat him on their own, they'll at least be able to free the cats he's brainwashed from his control. Snowtuft comments that they'll need to lure Ashfur off the island first, and when Bramblestar's spirit appears to them and Rootspring explains their plan to him, the dark brown tabby becomes hostile at the sight of the Dark Forest cat. Recognizing him from the Great Battle, Bramblestar is about to attack when Rootspring interferes, telling him that Snowtuft has changed his ways and is here to help defeat Ashfur. Still wary of the white tom, Bramblestar tells the two of his plan to use Snowtuft to lure Ashfur away from the island. Snowtuft says that it's a good plan, but he doesn't want to be used as bait, irritating Bramblestar. Rootspring asks him why he's really helping them, and Snowtuft admits that when the Dark Forest first started to disappear, he'd resigned himself to his fate, believing that he was an evil cat who deserved to fade away. However, just as the forest began to shrink, good cats like the two of them and Shadowsight started showing up, which Snowtuft took as a sign that his final days should be spent doing something good.
Bramblestar is moved by Snowtuft's wish to redeem himself and bows his head in respect, embarrassing the Dark Forest tom. He changes the topic by asking Bramblestar is he's sure his plan will work. The tabby leader assures him that it will, and that it's now or never. Taking a deep breath, Snowtuft approaches the island and calls out for Ashfur. The gray tom irritably asks him what he wants, and Snowtuft announces that he's found Bramblestar's spirit. When asked why he's telling him this, the scarred warrior tells him that since Ashfur's in charge of the Dark Forest now, he wants to make sure the gray tom's residence lasts as long as it can. Ashfur demands that Snowtuft lead him to Bramblestar.
Once he realizes that Snowtuft had tricked him, Ashfur pins Rootspring to the ground. Snowtuft comes to his rescue, wrestling the gray warrior off of him and telling him to run. He then shoves Ashfur away and flees with the SkyClan warrior, meeting up with Squirrelflight and Bramblestar who commend the two on their bravery. Snowtuft interrupts that they don't have time to stand around with Ashfur and his followers at their heels, showing the three the way out. Squirrelflight and Bramblestar are able to escape and return to the living world, but Rootspring and Snowtuft are caught by Ashfur's forces. When Shadowsight returns to the Dark Forest once more, this time accompanied by Bristlefrost, the two find Rootspring and Snowtuft about to fight while encircled by Dark Forest cats with Ashfur overseeing them. Shadowsight is shocked to see the white warrior about to attack, telling Bristlefrost that he had wanted to help get rid of Ashfur to save his home. Bristlefrost responds that it doesn't seem to be the case, though notices how reluctant Snowtuft looks to fight. Ashfur then commands the two to start fighting, and while Snowtuft is scared he does so, with the two toms wrestling while Ashfur's followers cheer on Snowtuft and jeer at Rootspring.
==== A Light in the Mist ====
While Snowtuft and Rootspring fight, Ashfur grows annoyed at the former's refusal to kill the latter. The battle is then interrupted by Bristlefrost and Shadowsight, who distract Ashfur long enough for the two to escape. Snowtuft returns to save Shadowsight from Ashfur shortly after, yowling to his allies to run away while they can. Helping an unconsious Shadowsight, Rootspring and Bristlefrost also manage to free the brainwashed spirits. As they flee, they hear a wail and fear that Ashfur had killed Snowtuft. This fear is confirmed when the formerly brainwashed spirit of Willowshine tells Snowtuft's new friends that she'd seen Ashfur snap his neck, causing him to fade away forever. Shadowsight and Rootspring are devastated, with the latter lamenting that he hoped after Ashfur had been dealt with he could get Snowtuft out of the Dark Forest and into StarClan, as he had redeemed himself and saved him multiple times. Bristlefrost comforts him, saying that though Snowtuft may be gone, he still exists in their hearts.
== Trivia ==
* After Snowtuft's introduction, it was a popular headcannon/theory that Snowkit, a deaf white kitten from The Prophecies Begin, had survived the hawk he was taken by and grew up to become Snowtuft. This was debunked in The Place of No Stars, where Snowtuft states that he used to be a ShadowClan cat, while Snowkit was in ThunderClan.
* Author Kate Cary has stated that she thinks Snowtuft should get his own novella.
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