Cinderpelt

Cinderpelt is a major protagonist in Erin Hunter’s Warriors book series. 
She is a former warrior apprentice of ThunderClan who is forced to become a medicine cat after she suffers a leg injury from a collision with a car. As Firestar’s former apprentice, she is one of his best friends and closest advisors. She follows in the steps of her mentor Yellowfang after the latter’s death and teaches Firestar’s daughter, Leafpool, to be a medicine cat. She dies fighting the badgers invading ThunderClan but, instead of joining StarClan, she is reincarnated as her newly born niece Cinderheart.
==History==
===The Prophecies Begin ===
==== Into the Wild ====
Although she is not named, Cinderkit appears in the book alongside her siblings. Later on, they are abducted by Clawface in order to make them ShadowClan apprentices but they are rescued by a ThunderClan patrol led by Whitestorm and helped by Firepaw, Graypaw and Yellowfang.
==== Fire and Ice ====
Cinderpaw is named apprentice early alongside her brother Brackenpaw and she gets Fireheart as a mentor. Out on a patrol with Fireheart, Graystripe and Brackenpaw, she notices that the river is frozen and shortly ventures into RiverClan territory, followed by Graystripe. As he is hunting prey, he suddenly falls into the river and almost drowns. Back at camp, Cinderpaw takes on herself and tells Tigerclaw that it was her fault and not Graystripe’s.
When Tigerclaw sends a message to Bluestar asking her to meet him near the border with ShadowClan because of apparent enemy incursions, Cinderpaw proposes to go herself as ThunderClan’s leader is too sick to leave the camp. She is refused but she goes anyway and ends up severely wounded by a monster. Fireheart finds her lying on the side of the Thunderpath and when she is brought to Yellowfang, the medicine cat reveals that she has a broken leg and that she will not be able to become a warrior. She starts to recover and accepts her fate when Fireheart tells her about Yellowfang’s diagnosis. The latter later reassures her and acknowledges her helpfulness when Cinderpaw believes that she has become a burden for the clan.
====Forest of Secrets ====
During her convalescence, Cinderpaw starts learning about herbs at Yellowfang’s side. When she is out with Fireheart and Cloudkit to fetch some, she saves the latter as he is about to feed on deathberries. Some time later, she heals her brother who was wounded by a badger. She officially agrees to becoming Yellowfang’s medicine cat apprentice and, when Graystripe’s mate Silverstream is having trouble kitting, she assists her in giving birth. Cinderpaw is able to save the kittens but Silverstream dies from her injuries, something which the medicine cat apprentice feels extremely guilty for. Later on, she goes to the Moonstone to be presented to StarClan and treats her comrades’ wounds following Tigerclaw’s attack on ThunderClan. Afterwards she brings a magpie to Bluestar but it turns out to be rotten, which is interpreted as a bad omen for ThunderClan.
====Rising Storm ====
Cinderpelt has earned her medicine cat name but is still insecure about her skills. When two sick ShadowClan warriors, Littlecloud and Whitethroat, are captured on ThunderClan territory and report an outbreak within ShadowClan, Cinderpelt proposes to help them but Yellowfang refuses. She decides to treat them anyways and has them hide on ThunderClan territory for a short time, a thing which only Fireheart is aware of. Worried for his clan, Fireheart asks her to make the two ShadowClan warriors leave and she complies. She then reveals to him that Sandstorm has obvious feelings for him.
During the fire that destroys the forest, Cinderpelt is extremely worried about Yellowfang, who went back to the camp to rescue Halftail but was unable to return, but she treats her comrades nonetheless. When Yellowfang’s death is reported, she is utterly devastated and sits vigil for her.
====A Dangerous Path ====
As ThunderClan’s now sole medicine cat, Cinderpelt misses Yellowfang. She tells Fireheart about a dream she had in which unrecognizable animals chanted “pack, pack” and “kill, kill”. Later on, after her first meeting at the Moonstone as an official medicine cat, she finds out that Speckletail’s kitten, Snowkit, is deaf.
She continues to advise Fireheart when he has to deal with Bluestar’s inconsistent and paranoid behavior. When Swiftpaw is found dead and Brightpaw brutally injured by the dog pack, Cinderpelt is in charge of treating the young she-cat's wounds. She convinces Fireheart to listen to Longtail when the deputy refuses to hear his intel, thinking that he is trying to lure him into a trap. She reassures him about ThunderClan’s loyalty and promises him that they will fight at his side.
====The Darkest Hour ====
After Bluestar’s death, Cinderpelt accompanies Fireheart to Highstones so that he can receive his nine lives. When the newly named Firestar reveals that he has always had dreams about things to come, Cinderpelt reassures him by telling him that all dreams come from StarClan. She manages to save Sorrelkit after Darkstripe tried to poison her with deathberries for having seen him talking with ShadowClan’s deputy Blackfoot. As the battle against BloodClan approaches, she gets ready to heal the many cats who are expected to be wounded.
===Firestar's Quest===
When Firestar has dreams and visions of cats fleeing in despair, he goes to Cinderpelt to seek her advice about the matter, yet she doesn't know anything about the cats in question. Later on, when Longtail is brought back to the camp with his eyes wounded by a rabbit, she does everything she can to save him from turning blind. She informs  Firestar that Longtail may never recover his sight, as she is unsure whether or not she is going to successfully heal him.
Firestar tells Graystripe, Cinderpelt and Sandstorm that he decided to go on a mission to rebuild SkyClan and that he needs Sandstorm to go with him. Cinderpelt reassures him that Graystripe and her will look over ThunderClan and she proceeds to teach Sandstorm about herbs. Soon after their return, she assists Sandstorm in giving birth to Firestar’s daughters Leafkit and Squirrelkit.
===Graystripe's Vow===
Cinderpelt briefly appears in some of the chapters taking place in the past when Graystripe acted as ThunderClan’s temporary leader. She wakes Graystripe up as other warriors are discussing Firestar’s absence while he is away on his quest to find SkyClan. When Ashfur proposes that Dustpelt be named as deputy by Graystripe, she retorts that the latter doesn’t have the power to do so. She then helps Brightheart give birth to Cloudtail’s daughter Whitewing.
===The New Prophecy ===
====Midnight ====
Cinderpelt has become a mentor to Firestar’s daughter Leafpaw. When they are out in the forest to gather herbs, they come across a Twoleg object catching on fire. Cinderpelt stops as she sees a tiger within the flames, which she interprets as an omen from StarClan. She warns Firestar that its meaning might be that tiger and fire will destroy ThunderClan, and they both come to the conclusion that it symbolizes the relationship between Tigerstar’s son Brambleclaw and Firestar’s second daughter Squirrelpaw, prompting the leader to avoid any interaction between the two.
After Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw’s departure from ThunderClan, Cinderpelt reassures Firestar who feels guilty, thinking they left the clan because he was being too hard on them. She tells him not to worry for his daughter since Brambleclaw is here to protect her. Later on, she is asked by Leafpaw for burdock root for her to send a message to Squirrelpaw through their connection in order to heal Tawnypelt’s shoulder wound.
====Moonrise ====
Cinderpelt keeps mentoring Leafpaw and teaching her how to become a good medicine cat. She takes part in the patrol that Firestar leads into ShadowClan territory to discuss the Twoleg issue with Blackstar. They are quickly confronted by ShadowClan’s deputy Russetfur who accuses them of trespassing. They break into a fight and Cinderpelt faces Russetfur herself but the conflict is interrupted by Firestar. She later does battle training with Leafpaw.
When it appears that WindClan has been stealing prey on ThunderClan territory, Firestar forms a patrol to visit Tallstar and Cinderpelt is part of it once again. As tension rises between the clans amid the destruction of the forest by the Twolegs, she starts to wonder if StarClan has forsaken them.
During the medicine cats’ journey to Hightstones, Barkface tells her that the Twolegs have poisoned the rabbits on WindClan territory, causing a number of deaths within the clan as well as starving them. Cinderpelt reports it to Firestar and they decide to stop eating rabbits. However, as they are throwing away a rabbit from the fresh-kill pile, Dappletail intervenes and starts eating it hungrily so that it is not wasted. She becomes sick and despite Cinderpelt’s efforts, she succumbs to the disease.
==== Dawn ====
After ThunderClan has abandoned their camp because of the Twolegs drawing near, Cinderpelt goes back to fetch the remaining herbs that she left. There she comes across Squirrelpaw who has just returned from her quest with Brambleclaw and Stormfur and, having not recognized her, she attacks her, thinking that she is trying to steal from her den. She then guides them to Sunningrocks where ThunderClan has settled. Squirrelpaw notices that she is incredibly thinner than before due to hunger.
Cinderpelt accompanies Firestar, Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw at Fourtrees to meet with the other leaders and wait for StarClan’s sign about the dying warrior showing the way prophesied by Midnight, yet nothing happens.
She and Leafpaw go to RiverClan to help Mothwing treat a sick Mudfur. Later, as she is packing herbs with her apprentice, Stormfur arrives and informs Firestar that Mudfur is dying. Cinderpelt and Leafpaw go to watch over him as he joins StarClan and to support Mothwing, all the while accompanying Frostfur and Speckletail who have decided not to participate in the Great Journey as they wish to die in the forest in which they were born. Despite her leg injury, Cinderpelt successfully follows her clan through the Great Journey until they arrive in the lake territories.
====Starlight ====
Cinderpelt and Leafpaw look for a den to settle in in ThunderClan’s new camp. While she is out on a patrol fetching herbs with Thornclaw and Leafpaw, she lets her apprentice go to WindClan to treat their elders’ bellyaches. She starts to become suspicious of Leafpaw’s feelings for Crowfeather and she asks her about it, but her apprentice quickly denies it. This doesn’t stop Cinderpelt from worrying that Leafpaw may break her oath to never fall in love as a medicine cat.
She ends up finding a convenient den among a bramble bush and, shortly after, Leafpaw discovers the Moonpool. Cinderpelt goes to ShadowClan and RiverClan to inform Littlecloud and Mothwing of this discovery. As a way to reward the talents of her apprentice, Cinderpelt gives her her full name, Leafpool, during the first medicine cats’ gathering at the lake territories.
====Twilight ====
Cinderpelt learns of her upcoming death from StarClan through a dream. She becomes increasingly dubious over Leafpool’s absent-mindedness when she prepares the wrong seeds to be brought to Firestar, and she strongly suspects that her apprentice is in love. She then sends her to fetch some herbs and later treats Squirrelflight and Ashfur’s wounds after they clashed with a badger.
When Leafpool tries to go to speak to Crowfeather at the end of a Gathering, Cinderpelt intervenes and drives her away as the clan is about to leave. She begins to figure out that Leafpool is actually infatuated with the WindClan warrior. She sends her apprentice on more and more medicine cat missions to occupy her. After Leafpool left the clan and spent a whole night in RiverClan to deliver a message to Mothwing, Cinderpelt angrily berates her.
Having noticed Leafpool and Crowfeather’s shenanigans at Gatherings, Cinderpelt follows her apprentice to the border with WindClan where she catches the two by surprise during one of their secret meetings. She furiously orders Leafpool to stop seeing Crowfeather and to honor her promise to never have a mate as a medicine cat, but Leafpool refuses. Cinderpelt then leaps at her and her apprentice runs away. When Leafpool is declared to be missing, Cinderpelt tells Squirrelflight about her sister’s love for Crowfeather.
During the badgers’ attack on ThunderClan, Sorreltail starts kitting and Cinderpelt rushes to assist her as the badgers try to fight their way into the nursery. The badgers end up entering and Cinderpelt is lethally injured, although she managed to defend Sorreltail while she gave birth to her kits. As she dies, Leafpool comes back and rushes at her side, overwhelmed by guilt. Cinderpelt tells her that she doesn’t resent her, that she is a good medicine cat and that there is no need to worry since she knew she was going to die.
====Sunset ====
Spottedleaf reveals to Leafpool that Cinderkit, Sorreltail and Brackenfur’s daughter, is the reincarnation of her aunt Cinderpelt.
===Power of Three ===
==== Dark River ====
While Cinderpaw is being treated in the medicine cat den after she broke her leg, Jaypaw enters Leafpool’s dream and discovers that the gray she-cat is the reincarnation of Cinderpelt. He tries to make Cinderpaw aware of it but he fails.
=== Omen of the Stars ===
====The Forgotten Warrior ====
Jayfeather is commanded by Yellowfang to tell Cinderheart about her previous life as Cinderpelt but, when he discusses it with Leafpool, the latter refuses to do so. Jayfeather goes to see Cinderheart but he changes his mind upon seeing Leafpool’s disagreeing expression. Cinderheart is eventually shown all of her life as Cinderpelt by Jayfeather and she immediately remembers everything, expressing gratitude to her aunt for living her first life.
====The Last Hope ====
Cinderheart is torn between her current life and the one she lived as Cinderpelt. When she considers becoming a medicine cat and giving up on taking Lionblaze as her mate, he convinces her that she is free to choose her own path. Cinderheart chooses Lionblaze and the life of a warrior and Cinderpelt’s spirit finally breaks free from her body, ascending to StarClan.
==Appearance==
Cinderpelt is a dark gray she-cat with thick, smoky fur and pale blue eyes. One of her hind legs is broken and twisted since an accident she suffered from as a young apprentice, when a monster (the name that cats give to cars in Warriors) collided with her.
==Personality==
As a young she-cat, Cinderpaw was curious and bubbly. Because she was restless, she had trouble containing her excitement and was very eager to learn about everything. Her enthusiasm and slight pride often collided with her mentor Firestar’s authority but she remained a brave and respectful apprentice who looked up to him.
After her accident, Cinderpaw loses part of her optimism when she learns that she cannot achieve her dream of becoming a warrior. However thanks to Yellowfang she soon heartens up and shows her lively and mischievous side again. She briefly becomes depressed and struck with guilt when she is unable to save Silverstream from dying in labor, believing she should have succeeded in keeping her alive as a medicine cat, but she manages to get over it when Yellowfang tells her that no medicine cat is able to save everyone.
As an adult, Cinderpelt takes after her mentor Yellowfang and becomes more mature and sharp-tongued. She is much wiser and smarter than before, but her wits do not hide her friendly and compassionate nature. She is very helpful to the cats who seek her advice, especially her friend and former mentor Firestar. She does not hesitate to disagree with him and other cats, nor to reprimand them, and can be strict or even aggressive at times. However she is generally affectionate.
==Relationships==
===Firestar===
Cinderpelt was Firestar's first apprentice. As such the two of them grew particularly close. Firestar enjoyed the young cat's energy even though he found it exhausting at times, while she was proud of being the apprentice of a warrior she counted among the bravest. When she was left crippled by a monster, Firestar often paid her visits, helping her grow out of her depressed state of mind. At this point they became real friends and Firestar often went to see her to seek advice. As ThunderClan's new medicine cat, she remained a close friend and wise advisor to Firestar, being especially useful once he became his clan's leader. It was also revealed that she was actually in love with him, although she gave up on becoming his mate after becoming a medicine cat and upon noticing Sandstorm's feelings for him.
===Brackenfur===
Brackenfur is Cinderpelt's brother. They were very fond of each other as apprentices, and they spent a lot of time together. Brackenfur was saddened when his sister's leg was broken in an accident with a monster. When she proudly rushed to congratulate him after his warrior ceremony, he resented that she couldn't become a warrior like him.
===Yellowfang===
Cinderpelt became Yellowfang's apprentice after she broke her leg. The two she-cats developed a strong bond and became close friends despite their age gap. Thanks to her wittiness, Cinderpelt was one of the few cats who could bear Yellowfang's sharp tongue and respond to her, a trait which earned her the old medicine cat's respect. Yellowfang liked her for having her head screwed on and Cinderpelt was among the only cats whose company was tolerated by her. They had a habit of joking with each other. When Cinderpelt was dejected after failing to save Silverstream from birth complications, Yellowfang was the only one who was able to cheer her up (even Firestar was unable to do so). Cinderpelt was heartbroken when Yellowfang died during the fire that destroyed ThunderClan's camp and she felt guilty about it. She was inspired by her mentor to the point that she took after some of her character traits and adopted her sense of humor and sometimes sharp tongue.
===Sandstorm===
Cinderpelt was rarely seen interacting with Sandstorm, though she had a rather tense relationship with her at first. She resented her for the feelings she shared with Firestar, as they were both in love with him, essentially making them rivals. However she later accepted it and considered the ginger she-cat with respect, even teaching her basic medicine cat knowledge before her and Firestar's journey to find SkyClan.
===Graystripe===
Cinderpelt saw Graystripe as a friend since he was also Firestar's best friend. During his short time as ThunderClan's leader, when Firestar was away on his quest to rebuild SkyClan, Cinderpelt played her part as a useful advisor and right-hand to Graystripe, reinforcing the bond between the two of them.
===Littlecloud===
Littlecloud was one of Cinderpelt's closest friends. As a young warrior, he was secretly cured by Cinderpelt from the disease that was ravaging ShadowClan. This experience inspired Littlecloud to walk in her path and become ShadowClan's medicine cat. His respect for his savior and friend never faltered and he was dejected upon learning about her death.
===Leafpool===
Leafpool was Cinderpelt's apprentice and the daughter of her friend Firestar. They quickly formed a close bond as Cinderpelt did with her former mentor Yellowfang. Cinderpelt was very affectionate and compassionate with her apprentice, often reassuring her with wise advice when she was troubled. At the same time, she could be strict: she wished the best for Leafpool, meaning she wanted her to focus on her objective of becoming a medicine cat above all else. She knew her apprentice well enough to understand that she was in love with Crowfeather when she noticed her gradual lack of focus and interest in her duty. When she caught the two of them by surprise, she confronted Leafpool and grew angry, going as far as attacking her own apprentice. She forgave her as she died and reassured her one last time, knowing she had what it took to become a good medicine cat.
==Trivia==
*Cinderpelt was apprenticed earlier than most other cats since she became an apprentice at less than six moons old.
*Cinderpelt was in love with Firestar and was jealous of Sandstorm for a short time. This was hinted at by herself in Twilight during her confrontation with Leafpool before the latter escapes with Crowfeather, and later revealed in River of Fire and on the warrior app.
*Cinderheart was named after her aunt.
*It is said that Cinderpelt was reincarnated as Cinderheart. However, since her spirit finally leaves Cinderheart’s body and ascends to StarClan in The Last Hope, showing that they both have a spirit of their own, it looks more like she was possessing her.
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