Brambleclaw

Brambleclaw is a dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes.
Brambleclaw is a former leader of ThunderClan in the lake territories, now retired as an elder. He was born as Bramblekit to Tigerclaw and Goldenflower in ThunderClan with his sister Tawnypelt. His father was exiled from ThunderClan after he attempted to murder Bluestar, and Bramblekit constantly attempted to prove himself free of his father's shadow. As an apprentice, Bramblepaw was mentored by Fireheart so the deputy could keep a close eye on him. As a warrior, Brambleclaw was chosen to go on a quest to find Midnight, and he grew close to Squirrelpaw. At their new home, Brambleclaw became deputy with the promise to mentor Berrynose, and he killed his half-brother, Hawkfrost, when the RiverClan tom trapped Firestar in a fox trap for Brambleclaw to kill.
Brambleclaw became a father to Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Hollyleaf, but later broke up with Squirrelflight when it was revealed their true parents were Crowfeather and Leafpool; for a time, Brambleclaw was furious about this. He became leader of ThunderClan as Bramblestar after Firestar died in the Great Battle, and appointed Squirrelflight as his deputy. They forgave each other and had four kits of their own: Alderheart, Sparkpelt, Juniperkit, and Dandelionkit. Bramblestar eventually fell ill, and without the guidance of StarClan, he died. However, instead of coming back into his body, a different spirit possessed it, leaving Bramblestar trapped as a ghost and the spirit posing as the ThunderClan leader. He sought help from Rootpaw who was able to convince multiple cats of Bramblestar's situation. The impostor trapped Bramblestar in the Place of No Stars until he was freed by Shadowsight. 
Squirrelflight revealed his body is inhabited by Ashfur seeking vengeance on Squirrelflight. However, Bramblestar's spirit remained missing, and the Clans decided to kill Ashfur, but he escaped with Bramblestar's body into the Moonpool with Squirrelflight. Bramblestar remained trapped in the Dark Forest, under control by Ashfur until the intervention of Shadowsight, Rootspring, and eventually the Dark Forest spirit Snowtuft. Bramblestar was reunited with his body and escaped back to the Clans with Squirrelflight. However, Bramblestar remained traumatized by his time in the Dark Forest and how Ashfur used his body and name to wreak havoc on the Clans, adopting a more pacifist approach to matters and opting to avoid violence when possible. He later stepped down to an elder, regaining his warrior name, Brambleclaw, with Squirrelstar taking his place.
==History==
===The Prophecies Begin===
:Bramblekit is born to Goldenflower and Tigerclaw along with his sister, Tawnykit. His father is shortly exiled after his birth after attempting to murder Bluestar. When a fire rages through the ThunderClan camp, Fireheart rescues Bramblekit, who was stranded on the branch of a tree. Fireheart frequently views Bramblekit with distrust since he resembles his father, and he mentors Bramblepaw to keep an eye on him. Bramblepaw completes most of his apprenticeship without Tawnypaw since she runs away after continually being judged for who her father is, which upsets Bramblepaw. When Tigerstar offers Bramblepaw to join his family in TigerClan, Bramblepaw refuses and participates with LionClan in the battle against BloodClan. He tries his hardest to complete his training, and he eventually earns Firestar's trust.
===The New Prophecy===
:StarClan chooses Brambleclaw, Feathertail, Tawnypelt, and Crowpaw to make the journey to the sun-drown place to hear StarClan's message from Midnight the badger, and Stormfur and Squirrelpaw accompany them. Brambleclaw naturally takes on a leadership role of the journeying cats and they grow to respect him, and he and Squirrelpaw become close. They return to the Clans with terrible news that the Twolegs were going to destroy their home and the Clans have to move to a new place. He helps lead the Clans alongside his friends from the journey to their new home by the lake. 
:Brambleclaw becomes close to his half-brother, Hawkfrost, after learning that the RiverClan warrior was his kin. Squirrelflight distrusts Hawkfrost, and she and Brambleclaw fight about his relationship with Hawkfrost, and they end up breaking up. He and Hawkfrost train with their father in the Dark Forest, and Tigerstar plots his sons' takeover of the Clans. With Graystripe still missing after being taken by Twolegs, StarClan sends Leafpool a dream approving Brambleclaw as the rightful deputy of ThunderClan; despite having not trained an apprentice, Brambleclaw is named deputy and promised to mentor Berrykit. Hawkfrost, encouraged by their father Tigerstar, sets up a trap for Firestar so that Brambleclaw can kill him and become leader. Brambleclaw realizes his loyalty is to ThunderClan and his leader, and kills Hawkfrost, fulfilling the "blood will spill blood" prophecy. Squirrelflight begins to trust him again and they become mates.
===Power of Three===
:Brambleclaw becomes a father to Lionkit, Hollykit, and Jaykit. He raises them with pride and love, and he later becomes the uncle to Tawnypelt's kits, Tigerkit, Flamekit, and Dawnkit. He also mentors Berrypaw who was promised to him earlier. Brambleclaw leads the journey to assist the Tribe with his family and becomes temporary leader when Firestar and half the Clan fall ill to greencough. Later, it is revealed that Leafpool and Crowfeather are the true parents of the Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Hollyleaf. Brambleclaw is angry and hurt, and turns his back on Squirrelflight after learning that she kept that secret from him for so long, and they stop being mates.
===Omen of the Stars===
:Despite splitting up with his mate, Brambleclaw still acts as a fatherly figure for Lionblaze and Jayfeather nonetheless. He defends Hollyleaf's actions when she returns to ThunderClan, proving his undying loyalty to his adopted kits. Brambleclaw later understands that the reason why Squirrelflight lied to him was that she was protecting her sister. He participates in the Great Battle and kills Hawkfrost after he discovered his half-brother killed Hollyleaf. Firestar dies from his wounds after fighting Tigerstar, and Brambleclaw becomes leader of ThunderClan. He appoints Squirrelflight as his deputy because he believes that he can trust her more than any other cat.
===A Vision of Shadows===
:Squirrelflight and Bramblestar have a litter of four kits, Dandelionkit, Juniperkit, Alderkit, and Sparkkit. Dandelionkit and Juniperkit die during kithood, but Alderkit and Sparkkit go on to be apprentices. He encourages Alderpaw through his fumbled warrior training before switching his path to become a medicine cat. He and Squirrelflight begrudgingly allow their kits to go on a quest to find SkyClan after Alderpaw received a vision. Bramblestar tries to act as a voice of reason when SkyClan returns to the lake, although he is against giving up his territory for them. He is against his nephew Tigerheart claiming the leadership of ShadowClan, fearing he would become like Tigerstar, Bramblestar's own father was many years ago. He also tries to help SkyClan stay at the lake, but ultimately gets distracted when Juniperclaw is accused of poisoning SkyClan, which turns out to be true. He then gives up some of ThunderClan's territory so SkyClan can stay, along with the other four leaders. 
===The Broken Code===
:During a harsh leaf-bare, Shadowpaw receives an omen from an unnamed spirit cat that Bramblestar will fall seemingly incurably ill. When Bramblestar suddenly falls ill, Shadowpaw, guided by the unnamed spirit, suggests an unorthodox method to cure him but ends up killing Bramblestar. The spirit possess the ThunderClan leader's corpse, stranding Bramblestar in the ghost residence. Bramblestar desperately asks for help from Rootpaw, who is the only cat who can see him. Bramblestar's situation is later realized by several cats from across the Clans, convinced by Rootpaw and Tree. However, the rebels debate whether to murder Bramblestar's body to free the Clans from the impostor's nefarious deeds and thus leaving Bramblestar trapped as a spirit. The impostor traps Bramblestar in the Place of No Stars until Shadowsight frees him. 
:Squirrelflight reveals the impostor to be Ashfur who used Bramblestar's body to get close to Squirrelflight as revenge for her choosing Bramblestar over himself. While Bramblestar's ghost remains missing, several Clan cats wish to destroy Ashfur to get rid of him, but Squirrelflight holds hope for the return of her mate. After the Sisters fail to summon his spirit, the Clan leaders decide to kill Bramblestar's body, and Squirrelflight grimly accepts his fate. Ashfur, upon learning that the Clans had decided to kill him, forces Bramblestar to possess his body once more to convince Shadowsight to let him escape, though Shadowsight ponders if it was really Bramblestar, or Ashfur putting on the persona once more. Ashfur escapes with Bramblestar's body and kidnaps Squirrelflight, bringing her to the Dark Forest, where Bramblestar still remained and was subsequently put under Ashfur's control like the other spirits Ashfur had captured, until Bramblestar was able to escape with Squirrelflight from the assistance of Rootspring and Snowtuft, where Bramblestar was also able to get back into his body and return to the living world with his mate. Bramblestar resumes his position as leader of ThunderClan, and after the defeat of Ashfur, he names those who entered the Dark Forest as Lights in the Mist.
===A Starless Clan===
:Now back in his body, Bramblestar struggles to adapt back to his role as Clan leader, often finding himself getting lost in his memories and nightmares about the Dark Forest. His Clanmates often tiptoe around him as well, recalling Ashfur's brutal reign in his body. Bramblestar grows fearful of making firm decisions, casting doubt on his leadership. When he learns Squirrelflight settled a prey dispute with WindClan on her own, Bramblestar tasks Nightheart with spying on ShadowClan in hopes of learning Tigerstar's intentions with RiverClan purposefully without Squirrelflight's knowledge. Bramblestar also believes Tigerstar just wishes to advise RiverClan instead of commandeering the Clan by force, and he is hesitant to resort to battle when Tigerstar refuses to give up his occupation of RiverClan. After some convincing from Nightheart, Bramblestar decides to step down from leadership to retire as an elder, knowing that Squirrelstar will be the strong leader that ThunderClan needs.
===Super Editions===
:In Firestar's Quest, Bramblepaw finishes his warrior training and is named Brambleclaw, his suffix coming from his father's warrior name, Tigerclaw. Firestar feels guilty for still seeing Tigerclaw in his son, but knows Brambleclaw is loyal to ThunderClan and the warrior code. At the Gathering, Brambleclaw discovers that Tawnypelt has also earned her warrior name, and becomes friends with Ashfur.
:In Bramblestar's Storm, Bramblestar struggles to find his own path after Firestar's legacy. He leads his Clan through the Great Storm and begins developing feelings for Jessy, a kittypet who is taking shelter in ThunderClan. He helps another refugee, Frankie, come to terms with the loss of his brother. He fondly remembers raising Lionblaze and Jayfeather, proud of the cats they've grown to become, and misses Hollyleaf greatly. Bramblestar also realizes his love for Squirrelflight through Jessy, and stays loyal to her in the end. He adds a new addition to the warrior code, each Clan has the right to be proud and independent, but in times of trouble they must forget their boundaries and fight side by side to protect the four. Later, Squirrelflight happily reveals she is expecting his kits.
:In Squirrelflight's Hope, Bramblestar struggles to maintain the peace between the Clans and isn't as eager to have another litter as Squirrelflight is. The two continually argue when Squirrelflight seems to favor the Sisters over her own Clan, and even questions her legitimacy as his deputy. He and Squirrelflight find some peace spending time with Sparkpelt's kits, Finchkit and Flamekit, after Larksong and Flickerkit die. Squirrelflight convinces Bramblestar to not attack the Sisters, and he mourns for her after she is fatally injured from a cave in. After Squirrelflight returns from StarClan, the two reconcile.
===Novellas===
:In Leafpool's Wish, Leafpool doubts Brambleclaw as her sister's choice as a mate. She had previously witnessed Brambleclaw train with his father and Hawkfrost in the Dark Forest and is suspicious of his true intentions. Some of her fears are lifted when he kills Hawkfrost and saves Firestar. Knowing that Leafpool still doesn't trust him, Brambleclaw reassures her that his loyalty is to ThunderClan only. When Leafpool discovers she is expecting kits, Yellowfang assures her and Squirrelflight that Brambleclaw would be a great father to them and, as future leader of ThunderClan, he will need kits. Squirrelflight agrees to lie and raise them with Brambleclaw, and Leafpool worries about Tigerstar haunting them.
:In Dovewing's Silence, during Bramblestar's first few days as leader, he is too busy to pay attention to the growing divide between his Clanmates and those who trained in the Dark Forest. He meets with the other Clan leaders to discuss what to do with them, despite initially believing each Clan would decide on their own. He agrees to let the former trainees take a new oath of loyalty, but some of his cats are still not happy. Angered by his Clanmates' attempts to lure the trainees with a fox, Bramblestar rallies the Clan to commend Ivypool, Thornclaw, Birchfall, Blossomfall, and Mousewhisker's bravery and unites the Clan.
:In Spotfur's Rebellion, after disobeying her mentors, Spotpaw is punished with cleaning Bramblestar's den for a moon, and admires how he wishes to become a great leader like Firestar. As a warrior, Spotfur asks Bramblestar to enforce a new rule to prohibit apprentices venturing out of camp alone during a harsh leaf-bare, and he agrees, complimenting her eagerness to help her Clan. Spotfur worries when Bramblestar falls deathly ill, and remorsefully recalls how kind he was to her during his funeral. When Bramblestar is revived, Spotfur is one of the first to notice his odd behavior, and is willing to kill the impostor to restore her Clan.
===Stand-alone graphic novels===
:In Winds of Change, Brambleclaw and his friends are chosen to scout the new territories. After Tallstar's death, Brambleclaw reveals that he also witnessed the former WindClan leader name Onewhisker his deputy, much to Mudclaw's ire that another ThunderClan cat was present. Hawkfrost weaves ideas into Mudclaw's mind that Firestar plans to take over WindClan with Onewhisker as a puppet leader, noting how Firestar also has Brambleclaw under his control. Hawkfrost and Mudclaw plan a revolt against Onewhisker, and Hawkfrost plans for Brambleclaw to take over ThunderClan after they kill Onewhisker. However, during the assault on WindClan's camp, Firestar and Brambleclaw come to aid Onewhisker. Mudclaw nearly kills Brambleclaw until Hawkfrost stops him, lying that it was all Mudclaw's idea.
===Field Guides===
:In The Ultimate Guide, Brambleclaw journeys to the Moonpool with Jayfeather to receive his nine lives. Firestar welcomes him and grants him a life for courage. Goldenflower gives him a life for understanding the love of a mother. Bluestar apologizes for her prejudice against him and gives him a life for clear judgment. Mousefur gives him a life to listen to the elders, Lionheart grants him pride, and Ferncloud bestows understanding the role of everyone in the Clan. Cinderpelt gives him a life for second chances and Feathertail for exploring beyond the Clans' borders. His final life comes from Ravenpaw who wishes him to speak out against injustice.
==Detailed description==
:Brambleclaw is a huge and muscular dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes. He has sleek fur, long, curved claws, and a long scar on his shoulder.
:After Bramblestar took back his body from Ashfur, he retained all changes and damages that had happened to it while Ashfur was possessing it. Ashfur had been putting on weight and refusing to groom. Since being defeated by Tigerstar and imprisoned in ShadowClan, the body received numerous injuries and scars. He has a scar on his leg, shredded ear tips, one of which is ripped, and a scar on his tail. He has a scar on his neck, a deep scar on his shoulder, gashes on his cheeks, flanks and muzzle, and a ruffled and bloody pelt, with chunks of fur that have been ripped out.
===Scars and injuries gained===
*Long scar on shoulder caused by the battle against the badgers in Twilight.
*Scar on neck, shredded ear tips, a scar on his leg and tail, and a ruffled, bloody pelt caused by Tigerstar during the battle for ShadowClan while possessed by Ashfur in Veil of Shadows.
*A deep shoulder scar and gashes on cheeks and flanks caused by Lionblaze while possessed by Ashfur in Darkness Within.
*Ripped ear-tip, gashes on cheeks and muzzle, and chunks of fur ripped out caused by Hawkwing and Tigerstar while possessed by Ashfur in Darkness Within.
==Character pixels==
===Main images===
===Alternate images===
==Official art==
==Killed victims==
*Bone (Along with Ashpaw, Tawnypaw, Stormpaw and Featherpaw)
*Hawkfrost (Physically and spiritually)
*Leafpool (Indirect; instigated the confrontation)
*Moonlight (Indirect; instigated the confrontation)
==Ceremonies==
==Leader info==
==Personality and Relationships==
:Brambleclaw is determined to prove himself free of his father's shadow. While he and his mate experienced some tensions, they are devout parents to their children. For more of Brambleclaw's personality and relationships, click here!
==Family==
:Brambleclaw's parents are Goldenflower and Tigerstar. His mate is Squirrelstar, and Alderheart, Sparkpelt, Juniperkit, and Dandelionkit are their children. He was also the adopted father to Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf. For more of Brambleclaw's family, click here!
==Appearances==
==Merchandise==
===Toys and Plush===
====Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight - Mini Collector Figures (The New Prophecy)====
*The New Prophecy
*Though the son of Tigerstar and the daughter of Firestar got off to a rocky start, their journey together created a love strong enough to weather any storm. Brambleclaw struggled between his desire for power, so similar to his father, and his true loyalty to his Clan and leader, while Squirrelflight fought hard to keep mistrust and misunderstanding from coming between them.
*Approximate individual price is $12.99 USD, and the three-pack bundle is $38.97 USD.
==Trivia==
:Did you know Brambleclaw is the spitting image of his father, Tigerstar, and half-brother, Hawkfrost? For more trivia about Brambleclaw, click here!
==Quotes==
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
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