Lightning Tail

Lightning Tail is a wiry, black tom with a broad forehead and shoulders, a torn ear-tip, scarred flanks and bright green eyes.
Lightning Tail was the first deputy of ThunderClan under Thunderstar's leadership in the forest territories. He was born to Jackdaw's Cry and Hawk Swoop alongside his sister, Acorn Fur, and after gaining Thunder as an adopted brother, they formed a friendship that lasted throughout their lives. Though Lightning Tail grew up on the moor, he followed Thunder to his father's group in the forest. However, Thunder left to make his own group, and Lightning Tail stuck by his best friend's side. Thunder dubbed Lightning Tail as his successor, and he later became Thunderstar's first deputy and became a mentor to Apple Blossom. After dying to protect Thunderstar from dogs, Lightning Tail ascended to StarClan, and Thunderstar named his daughter Lightning Stripe in honor of him.
==History==
===Dawn of the Clans===
:Lightning Tail is born in Tall Shadow's group to Jackdaw's Cry and Hawk Swoop, and he is named because he is always following his adopted brother, Thunder, around. He and his sister, Acorn Fur, gleefully welcome Thunder back to the moor when he returns from his father's camp. He and Thunder track down Tom after he stole Turtle Tail's kits. They discover Turtle Tail's body on the Thunderpath, and Lightning Tail makes sure Tom knew the latter was responsible for her death. He participates in the the Great Battle and mourns for the death of his parents. Lightning Tail is more heartbroken when Acorn Fur follows Clear Sky after the battle, and he is astonished that his sister would leave him.
:As Thunder begins to pad after Star Flower, Lightning Tail suspects something off and expresses his worries to Thunder who dismisses them. When Tall Shadow's group splits off, he chooses to live in Clear Sky's group with his sister and Thunder. Lightning Tail bitterly warns Clear Sky about Star Flower when she joins the group, still hurt after she betrayed Thunder's trust. He and Thunder spy on Clear Sky, and they discover him meeting with Star Flower and wonder if she was attempting to use his power for herself. Thunder confronts his father and decides to leave and form his own group in the forest, and Lightning Tail immediately joins him.
:Leaf discovers a ravine for them to live in, and Lightning Tail helps to make dens and hunt for prey. He helps with the rescue for Star Flower when she is kidnapped by Slash and poses as bait for their ambush. When Slash's cats raid their hunting patrols, Lightning Tail decides to organize battle training sessions for everyone and suggests pairing one kit with each adult to work together. Before Thunder leaves with the others to confront Slash and rescue Black Ear, he names Lightning Tail his successor in case he dies.
===Novellas===
:In Thunderstar's Echo, he is now officially the deputy of ThunderClan and mentors Apple Blossom. Lightning Tail reassures Thunderstar when the latter discovers that Violet Dawn is expecting, and Thunderstar is relieved to have Lightning Tail around. Dogs terrorize the Clan, and he and Thunderstar track them to their camp near the Carrionplace. They are quickly attacked, and the two outrun the dogs and collapse, both dying from their wounds. They both wake up in StarClan, and Gray Wing welcomes them, but states Thunderstar must return to ThunderClan. Thunderstar agonizingly mourns for his friend and returns to his Clan with the grave news. He names Owl Eyes as his successor and names one of his kits, Lightning Stripe, after Lightning Tail.
==Detailed description==
===Scars gained===
*Torn ear-tip and scarred flanks caused by rescuing Star Flower from Slash and his rogues in Path of Stars.
==Character pixels==
===Main images===
===Alternate images===
==Official art==
==Killed victims==
*One Eye (Alongside Thunderstar, Cloud Spots, and Gray Wing)
==Personality==
:Lightning Tail is a loyal, energetic, and skilled tom. 
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==Relationships==
===Hawk Swoop and Jackdaw's Cry===
:Lightning Tail mourns for his mother, Hawk Swoop, when she is killed in the Great Battle.
===Acorn Fur===
:Lightning Tail is good friends with his sister, and they often played together as kits on the moor. After the Great Battle, when all the cats are choosing which camp to join, Acorn Fur chooses Clear Sky's camp. Lightning Tail and Thunder later join her, but Thunder soon gets fed up with his father's attitude and creates his own camp in the forest. Lightning Tail follows him, leaving his sister once again.
===Thunderstar===
:Lightning Tail is Thunder's foster brother, and his closest and most loyal friend. He is named after how he follows Thunder around, and he looks up to the powerful ginger tom. When Thunder creates his own group in the forest, Lightning Tail joins him, and eventually becomes deputy of ThunderClan. He is deeply loyal to his leader and his Clan, and supports his friend and is there for him. Thunderstar relies on Lightning Tail as his deputy, and is lost when Lightning Tail is killed by dogs. Lightning Tail is sad to leave his friend, but knows that he'll eventually be okay without him. Thunderstar does eventually get over his grief, and appoints Owl Eyes as his new deputy.
==Kin==
===Members===
Father:
:Jackdaw's Cry: 
Mother:
:Hawk Swoop: 
Sister:
:Acorn Fur: 
Adopted brother:
:Thunderstar: 
Aunt:
:Falling Feather: 
===Trees===
====Genetic====
====Foster====
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*Lightning Tail's death is what inspired the custom of sitting vigil for the dead. After his death, Thunderstar sat with his friend's body for the night, and he reported to the other Clan leaders how it gave him peace how he was honoring his closest friend.
*Lightning Stripe is named after him.
===Author statements===
*Although Kate said that Lightning Tail was named for his speed, Thunder Rising states that Lightning Tail got his name from always following Thunder around.
===Mistakes===
*He has mistakenly been called "Lightning", "Lightening Tail", and "Lighting Tail".This happens multiple times throughout Path of Stars, on pages 57, 58, 60, and 73.
*Despite being called an adult in The First Battle and being old enough to participate in battle, Lightning Tail is listed as a kit in The Blazing Star.
*Lightning Tail is mistakenly called a warrior, despite being ThunderClan's deputy at the time.
*Lightning Tail is said to have been part of Windstar's group on the moor, but Lightning Tail never lived in Wind Runner's group, instead living in the one led by Tall Shadow, Gray Wing, and Thunder.
===Continuity===
*In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, Lightningtail is the very first ThunderClan deputy, serving under the leadership of Thunderstar. It is unknown what happened to Lightningtail, but he is eventually succeeded by Owleyes, who later becomes Owlstar, the second leader of ThunderClan.
==Quotes==
==External links==
*Lightning Tail's profile on the Warriors official website 
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===Fan content===
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==Notes and references==
de:Blitzschweif (Großer Schattens Lager)fi:Salaman Häntäfr:Plume d'Éclairnl:Bliksemstaartpl:Ogon Błyskającyru:Молнехвостыйuk:Блискострілko:라이트닝테일
Category:ThunderClan cats
Category:Deputies
Category:Toms
Category:Deceased characters
Category:StarClan cats
Category:Kits
Category:Early Settlers
Category:Thunder's cats
Category:Tall Shadow's cats
Category:Clear Sky's cats
Category:Mentors