Mudclaw (WC)

Mudclaw is a wiry, mottled dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes.
Mudclaw was a deputy of WindClan under Tallstar's leadership. He was born as Mudkit to Ryestalk and Shrewclaw along with his brother Tornear. He was apprenticed as Mudpaw and later earned his warrior name, Mudclaw. As a warrior, Mudclaw was fiercely loyal to his Clan and was eager to defend his territory. He mentored three apprentices, Brushpaw, Webfoot, and Crowfeather. Mudclaw's ruthless devotion to protecting his Clan in battle convinced Tallstar to make him deputy to balance WindClan's leadership. However, when Tallstar replaced Mudclaw with Onewhisker as deputy moments before the leader died, Mudclaw felt betrayed and openly challenged Onewhisker's legitimate leadership. Hawkfrost convinced Mudclaw that Onewhisker was a puppet leader for Firestar and was planning on taking over the Clans, and Mudclaw, Hawkfrost, and several ShadowClan and WindClan warriors attempted to overthrow Onewhisker and his supporters. However, StarClan sent lightning, striking a tree down, which killed Mudclaw. The tree provided the Clans access to their new Gathering location. He ascended to StarClan, and despite Mudclaw's insistence otherwise, Tallstar revealed Mudclaw belonged in StarClan since he believed he was acting in his Clan's best interest. Mudclaw gave Onewhisker a life for determination and promised to work together to protect their Clan. He and other StarClan cats later decided that they must persuade the Clans to fight against the Dark Forest.
==History==
===The Prophecies Begin===
:Mudclaw is a warrior of WindClan and has an apprentice, Webpaw. He, along with his Clan, is driven off by Brokenstar and ShadowClan who greedily took over WindClan's territory. Mudclaw is viewed as hostile and overly belligerent towards cats from other Clans. He works hard to make WindClan strong again after they are brought back to the forest by Fireheart and Graystripe but coldly asserts to them that he does not owe them anything. He and his brother, Tornear, turn away Bluestar and Fireheart when they try to reach the Highstones, explaining it as payback for ThunderClan sheltering Brokentail, and later adamantly questions Bluestar when she offers a truce between their two Clans. Despite prior encounters and being heavily injured, Mudclaw runs to ThunderClan for aid when TigerClan attacks their camp and participates in the battle against BloodClan.
===The New Prophecy===
:Mudclaw is appointed as the next deputy of WindClan by Tallstar. Mudclaw's aggressive and quick-tempered nature is balanced by Tallstar's calm and patient leadership approach, and the two cats tend to run the Clan well together. Mudclaw acquires another apprentice, Crowpaw. Mudclaw participates in the Great Journey with the other Clans. During this journey, Tallstar becomes frail and sick, and Mudclaw slowly begins slipping into the leadership position and gives out orders to WindClan. 
:When they reach their new home, Tallstar tells Firestar, Onewhisker, and Brambleclaw that he made a mistake choosing Mudclaw as his deputy and could not allow him to become leader, as he could wage unnecessary wars with ThunderClan. Tallstar appoints Onewhisker as the new deputy of WindClan with his last breath and loses his final life. The other cats are shocked, especially Mudclaw. Mudclaw begins to plot a takeover with Hawkfrost and other Clan cats to drive out Onewhisker and seize his leadership, but it ultimately fails and Mudclaw is killed by a falling tree. The tree is seen as a sign from StarClan that Onewhisker is the rightful leader of WindClan and it provides a bridge to the island for Gatherings.
===Super Editions===
:In Tallstar's Revenge, Mudkit is born to Shrewclaw and Ryestalk along with Tornkit. However, his father is killed in battle against ShadowClan before he and his brother are born. In the comic, Mudclaw is eager to establish WindClan's borders at the lake, though the last thing Tallstar wanted was for WindClan to make enemies already. As he lay dying, Tallstar realizes WindClan would be led into constant bloodshed under Mudclaw's rule, and instead reflects on his friendship with Jake and Firestar. He replaces Mudclaw with Onewhisker, hoping the latter would benefit both of their Clans with his companionship with Firestar.
===Stand-Alone Graphic Novels===
:In Winds of Change, as the Clans arrive at their new home, Mudclaw prepares to affirm WindClan's place in their territory, though Tallstar wishes for peace between the Clans. After Tallstar's death, Mudclaw is furious when Firestar announces that Tallstar named Onewhisker his deputy before his death, and wonders what he did wrong to fault his former leader. At the Gathering, Hawkfrost spins ideas into Mudclaw's mind that Onewhisker is a puppet leader for Firestar and the ThunderClan leader plans to take over the Clans, starting with WindClan. Mudclaw is wary at first of Hawkfrost's ideas but begrudgingly obliges. He forms a rebellion with Hawkfrost, meets in secret with other cats at night, and continues to undermine and argue with Onewhisker at camp. Mudclaw's fears of Onewhisker siding with ThunderClan and not having WindClan's best interests continue when Onewhisker gives territory to ThunderClan. When Leafpaw discovers the Moonpool, Hawkfrost insists that their rebellion must kill Onewhisker and Ashfoot for Mudclaw to secure leadership, and Mudclaw resolves that WindClan must come first. During the assault, he challenges Onewhisker when ThunderClan arrives to help. As the small rebellion flees, Mudclaw nearly kills Brambleclaw when Hawkfrost stops him, lying to Brambleclaw that Mudclaw manipulating him to join his cause. As Mudclaw flees, he realizes what he has done and lightning sends a tree from the island to kill him. Mudclaw wakes up in StarClan, and questions Tallstar why he deserves a place among their ancestors. Tallstar explains that Mudclaw did what he thought was best for WindClan, and Mudclaw gives Onewhisker a life for determination, welcoming him as WindClan's true leader.
==Character pixels==
==Official art==
==Ceremonies==
===Lives granted===
==Personality==
Coming Soon
==Relationships==
===Onestar===
:
===Tallstar===
:
===Tornear===
:
==Kin==
===Members===
Mother:
:Ryestalk: 
Father:
:Shrewclaw: 
Brother:
:Tornear: 
===Tree===
==Appearances==
==Merchandise==
===Toys and Plush===
====Ashfur & Mudclaw - Mini Collector Figures====
*Series 3
*These two cats could tell quite a tale of the dangers of bitterness. After serving for moons as a loyal deputy of WindClan, Mudclaw felt cheated when his chance to lead was stolen from him with Tallstar's dying breath. He convinced himself that his replacement, Onewhisker, was too dangerously naïve to be the leader WindClan needed, and led a rebellion to overthrow him. After dying during the battle, Mudclaw realized how wrong he'd been to rise against his own Clanmate, and made his peace with Onewhisker and Tallstar. Ashfur, on the other hand, allowed his bitterness against Squirrelflight for refusing to return his love to consume him entirely, turning him into one of the most dangerous adversaries the Clans have ever faced. In life, he attempted to murder Squirrelflight's kits in a fire and succeeded in claiming one of Firestar's through Hawkfrost's fox trap, but the true danger he posed didn't become apparent until after his death when Bramblestar lost his first life and Ashfur took over his body.
*Sturdy mini figure of Ashfur and Mudclaw, approximately 7cm in height.
*Also included in a three-pack bundle with the rest of Series 3: Squirrelflight, Scourge, Yellowfang, and Ivypool.
*Approximate individual price is $12.99 USD, and the three-pack bundle is $38.97 USD.
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*On the Warriors website, Mudclaw is a descendant of Windstar through his grandmother Mistmouse.
===Author statements===
*Vicky stated that Mudclaw was not evil enough to go to the Dark Forest and that she felt bad for him losing his deputy position. She has also stated that he went to StarClan due to his legitimate claim for WindClan's leadership. This is further backed by Tallstar's explanation in Winds of Change.
*Kate said she liked the idea of Shrewclaw being Mudclaw's father, and Vicky later confirmed so.
===Mistakes===
*Mudclaw is said to be a kit in the nursery when Tallstar became leader in Starlight, but in Tallstar's Revenge, he is shown as a warrior when Tallstar is going to receive his nine lives.
**Furthermore, he is seen as a kit in Redtail's Debt, when he should be a warrior by then, as he was fathered by Shrewclaw who died many seasons prior.
*In Firestar's Quest and Graystripe's Vow, the allegiances show Mudclaw as WindClan's deputy, but in The Heart of a Warrior, which takes place afterward, Deadfoot is still the deputy.
==Quotes==
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
cs:Bahňákde:Moorkrallees:Enlodadofi:Mutakynsi (TuK)fr:Griffe de Pierreit:ArtigliodiFangonl:Modderklauw (WC)pl:Błotnisty Pazur (KW)ru:Чернохватsv:Lerklo (VK)uk:Багнокіготьko:머드클로
Category:Deputies
Category:Warriors
Category:Toms
Category:WindClan cats
Category:Senior warriors
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Category:LionClan (modern) cats
Category:Main characters
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Category:Point of view characters