Lionblaze

Lionblaze is a major protagonist in Erin Hunter's Warriors book series.
Born to Leafpool and Crowfeather, Lionblaze and his siblings Hollyleaf and Jayfeather are raised by Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw to cover up the secret affair between two cats from different Clans, one being a medicine cat. He later discovers that he and his brother are apart of a special prophecy to save the Clans from the Dark Forest, with Lionblaze having the power to never be harmed in battle. He later mentors the third prophesized cat, Dovewing, and together with Firestar the three save the Clans from the spirits of their past enemies.
== Appearance ==
Lionblaze is a large, muscular tabby tom with large paws and broad shoulders. He has bright, thick golden fur, with a ring of fluff around his neck resembling a lion's mane, of which he was named after. His eyes are amber, and after a fight with Breezepaw in Dark River, he has a nick in one of his ears.
== Biography ==
=== Leafpool's Wish ===
Shortly after the events of The New Prophecy, StarClan tells Leafpool that she'll soon meet three cats who will change her life forever. When she discovers that she's expecting kits, she realizes that her unborn litter must be the three she was told about.
Much later, when she's about to go into labor, Leafpool sneaks out of ThunderClan territory with her sister Squirrelflight, finding a hollowed-out tree to give birth in. With assistance from the spirit of Yellowfang, she gives birth to three kittens. When it's time to name the three, Leafpool starts with the golden tabby tom, naming him Lionkit after the "mane" of fur he has. Later, while the two she-cats watch the kittens play, Leafpool notes how strong and courageous Lionkit is.
When the litter is able to make the journey, they and the two sisters them make their way home, with Squirrelflight agreeing to raise them and claim they're hers and Brambleclaw's. Lionkit eagerly asks is new mother when he'll become a warrior, to which Squirrelflight licks his head affectionately and says he will be soon enough.
=== The Power of Three ===
Lionkit is the son of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, along with his two siblings, Jaykit and Hollykit. He is a strong-willed fighter, who is apprenticed to Ashfur, becoming Lionpaw. As an apprentice, he grows very close with Heatherpaw of WindClan, often sneaking off to go meet with her. He also begins to train with Tigerstar and Hawkfrost, unaware of them being in the Dark Forest. After traveling to the mountains, Jaypaw informs him and Hollypaw that they are a part of a Kin of Your Kin prophecy, and are destined to be more powerful than StarClan themselves. Lionpaw's power is to be undefeated in battle.
Shortly after earning his warrior name, Lionblaze, a fire erupts in ThunderClan camp, it is forced out by Ashfur that Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw are not his true parents. After hunting for clues, it comes out that his parents are Leafpool and Crowfeather, causing a strain on the family. Hollyleaf reveals the truth during a Gathering and vanishes in the tunnels. In their grief, he and Jayfeather realize that she is not one of the Three, and that the prophecy is predicting the Dark Forest's rising.
=== Omen of the Stars ===
Lionblaze is given Dovepaw as his first apprentice, who he later discovers is the third cat in the prophecy. He and Dovepaw journey to save the lake water from beavers. He develops feelings for Cinderheart, but is unsure how she feels. During a border fight with ShadowClan, Lionblaze accidentally kills Russetfur, the ShadowClan deputy. When Cinderheart comforts him, he shares his wishes of becoming mates with her, but she is distraught. Confused by Cinderheart's emotions, he grows frustrated and depressed that Cinderheart chooses their destinies over their shared happiness. He decides to shape his own destiny, and urges Cinderheart to let Cinderpelt free. She does, and the two become mates. Fulfilling the prophecy, he, Jayfeather, and Dovewing help the Clans fight off the Dark Forest in the Great Battle.
=== A Vision of Shadows ===
Lionblaze and Cinderheart's first litter have received their warrior names: Hollytuft, Sorrelstripe and Fernsong. He participates in the rescue to save Twigpaw from ShadowClan when she is held prisoner, and in the several battles against Darktail. When Bramblestar asks for ideas how to defeat the Kin, Lionblaze proudly announces Cinderheart is expecting his second litter. Cinderheart gives birth to Spotfur, Flywhisker and Snaptooth, and the grandfather to Bristlekit, Flipkit and Thriftkit. He leads a patrol with cats from the other Clans to rescue SkyClan when they leave the lake, and together they convince Leafstar and the others to return home.
=== The Broken Code ===
Lionblaze is now among ThunderClan's eldest warriors, and his litter with Cinderheart have become warriors; and is also now Baykit's and Myrtlekit's grandfather. He is also mentioned by an unknown StarClan cat to Shadowpaw as one of the codebreakers within the Clans. When Bramblestar dies, Lionblaze speaks fondly of his adopted father at his funeral, mentioning him as the best father a cat could have, but is relieved when he comes back to life. However, Lionblaze comes at odds with Bramblestar's impostor when his leader twists the code for his own benefit. When out on patrol with Spotfur and Bristlefrost, he accidentally crosses the WindClan border, which is reported to Bramblestar and Lionblaze is banished from ThunderClan for a quarter moon, much to the disdain of Cinderheart and shock of ThunderClan. He later returns and is angry when he has to swear an oath of loyalty for being listed as a codebreaker, something he had no control over. Later on, he and Jayfeather are exiled from ThunderClan because of their half-Clan status, where Tigerstar gives them refuge in ShadowClan.
Lionblaze takes an active role within the rebel group and during the battle against the impostor, he kills Harestar. After the impostor is deposed of, he becomes temporary deputy under Squirrelflight. Squirrelflight reveals that the identity of the impostor is Ashfur, and Lionblaze becomes adamant about killing Ashfur, almost succeeding in the act himself while guarding him in ShadowClan. Lionblaze struggles to support Squirrelflight as her deputy when ThunderClan is divided on her leadership, and argues with Thornclaw when the senior warrior points out the nepotism with ThunderClan's leadership and Firestar's kin. Two of his kits, Snaptooth and Flywhisker, decide to leave on a wander with Flipclaw, Thornclaw, and Graystripe to reflect if they wish to stay in ThunderClan. Following Squirrelflight's abduction into the Moonpool by Ashfur, Lionblaze becomes temporary leader of ThunderClan, but he later decides to abdicate the leadership to Graystripe, recognizing his personal ties to the situation at hand and his own temper clouding his judgement, but Graystripe kept Lionblaze as his deputy. Lionblaze then stepped down as deputy following the return of Squirrelflight, going back to a warrior.
== Gallery ==
File:TheSightOG.webp|Lionpaw, Hollypaw and Jaypaw on the original cover of The Sight
File:DarkRiverReprint.webp|Lionpaw on the reprinted cover of Dark River
File:LionblazeBramblestarsStorm.webp|Lionblaze in the mange epilogue of Bramblestar's Storm
File:HollyJayLionCatsOfTheClans.webp|Lionblaze, Hollyleaf and Jayfeather in Cats of the Clans
File:LionblazeFactSheet.webp|Lionblaze's fact sheet on the official website
File:LionblazeFamilyTree.webp|Lionblaze's icon on the family tree
== Trivia ==
* Breezepaw nicking Lionpaw's ear contradicts his power to never get harmed in battle.
* Lionblaze is one of few cats to become deputy twice, though both times it was as a substitute.
* Author Kate Cary has stated that after her death, Leafpool would often visit Lionblaze in his dreams.
* Kate has also said that she thinks he would be a good leader of ThunderClan one day.
==External Links==
*
==Navigation==
Category:Warriors (Erin Hunter) Heroes
Category:Book Heroes
Category:Male
Category:Warriors
Category:Fantasy Heroes
Category:Good Vs. Good
Category:Siblings
Category:Right-Hand
Category:Virtually Resourceful
Category:Lawful Good
Category:Animals
Category:Anthropomorphic
Category:Mentors
Category:Military
Category:Titular
Category:Wrathful
Category:Fighters
Category:Berserkers
Category:Brutes
Category:Narrators
Category:Officials
Category:Optimists
Category:Parents
Category:Spouses
Category:In Love
Category:Insecure
Category:Successors
Category:Protectors
Category:Successful
Category:Predecessor
Category:Predators
Category:Patriots
Category:Related to Villain
Category:Rivals
Category:One-Man Army
Category:The Chosen One
Category:Lethal
Category:Arrogant
Category:Reluctant Heroes
Category:Apprentice of Villain