Sparrowtail

Sparrowtail is a large brown tabby tom.
Sparrowtail is a ShadowClan warrior under the leaderships of Rowanstar and Tigerstar in the lake territories. He was born as Sparrowkit to Kinkfur along with Mistkit and Dewkit, and as a warrior, Sparrowtail became mates with Berryheart, fathering Needletail. When rebellion arose in ShadowClan, Sparrowtail criticized Rowanstar's leadership and joined the Kin. However, he escaped with Berryheart to an abandoned Twoleg nest, where they were found by Tigerheart. Before reaching ShadowClan, their second litter was born: Spirekit, Sunkit, and Hollowkit. Upon his return, Sparrowtail mentored Cinnamontail. After his mate was exiled from ShadowClan, he and his son Hollowspring ultimately made the choice to go with her and eventually settled in RiverClan. Following Splashtail's defeat and Berryheart's death, Sparrowtail and Hollowspring returned to ShadowClan.
==History==
===In the Omen of the Stars arc===
====Night Whispers====
:Sparrowkit, Mistkit, and Dewkit are the kits of Kinkfur, a ShadowClan queen. When Ivypaw is held captive in ShadowClan, he and his sisters come out of the nursery to play. Then he asks Ivypaw if she can fly, to which she tells him all ThunderClan cats could fly. Ivypaw then snarls in his face, scaring him and his siblings away. Later, Ivypaw attempts to apologize to the kits, and Sparrowkit tells her that she does not scare him, while his sisters hide by their mother. As Flametail announces that a great battle will be coming after he receives a vision, Sparrowkit and his siblings are seen being swept close to their mother.
:When Flametail walks to the nursery to tend to Mistkit, who lost her voice, Sparrowkit and Dewkit are playing moss-ball. Sparrowkit knocks Dewkit into Flametail in the process. When Mistkit takes her herbs, Sparrowkit asks if he has to have herbs, and Flametail warns him that if he got near her he would have to eat herbs as well. Sparrowkit is left mewing in disgust.
===In the A Vision of Shadows arc===
====The Apprentice's Quest====
:He is now a warrior named Sparrowtail.
====Thunder and Shadow====
:When Twigpaw is taken hostage at ShadowClan camp, she zigzags between Sparrowtail and Mistcloud to escape. He lines up beside Scorchfur, Mistcloud and Rippletail with Lionpaw and Birchpaw joining him. Ultimately, Twigpaw is let go.
:Sparrowtail's mother, Kinkfur, dies of yellowcough. He, Mistcloud, and Ratscar gather pinecones and primrose and lay them around Kinkfur's body. Sparrowtail and Mistcloud grieve for their mother, leaning close and touching their noses to her pelt for the last time. Later on, Violetpaw notes that Sparrowtail and Mistcloud have barely hunted since their mother's death. They blame Crowfrost for letting Twigpaw go, since they held her as a bargain so ThunderClan would retrieve the life-saving herb from WindClan. They think that if they successfully convinced ThunderClan to get the herb, they would have got it sooner and not lost Crowfrost to the sickness. Sparrowtail is later seen with Mistcloud, sitting on a flat rock with eyes half closed. Tigerheart, the new deputy, assigns Sparrowtail as part of the patrol to hunt near the lake.
:Later on, Rowanstar names Sparrowtail as one of the cats to go to the Gathering. The ShadowClan leader repeats Sparrowtail's name, apparently unaware his name was called, as he has not moved to join the Gathering. Scorchfur refuses to go to the Gathering due to the Clans not helping them fight the sickness. Sparrowtail agrees with him, padding over to join the tom. ShadowClan is soon taken over by Darktail and his rogues, and Sparrowtail remains behind with most of the Clan instead of going with Rowanstar to ThunderClan.
====Shattered Sky====
:When the Kin gather at a small Thunderpath that separates their territory from RiverClan's, Violetpaw looks around at all the cats, noting that almost all of the Kin were there, both the former ShadowClan cats and the rogues. She lists off the cats present in her mind, noting Sparrowtail among them, thinking the line of cats seemed endless.
====Darkest Night====
:His name is mentioned by Rowanstar, who reports him missing at a Gathering along with many of Sparrowtail's Clanmates.
====River of Fire====
:Sparrowtail is part of Tigerheart's patrol back to ShadowClan, and he is seen by Violetshine, who gasps in shock that he, along with Berryheart, Cloverfoot, and Slatefur are alive. Upon speaking to Berryheart, the queen introduces Violetshine to hers and Sparrowtail's litter of kits. Violetshine explains to the returning cats that ShadowClan does not have a leader, which prompts Sparrowtail to ask what she means, and demands to know what happened to Rowanstar. He cheers for Tigerstar's new name, along with the rest of his Clanmates and rejoins the newly reformed ShadowClan, along with the rest of the patrol and the other former ShadowClan cats.
====The Raging Storm====
:Tigerstar has given Sparrowtail his first apprentice, Cinnamonpaw. He is present at the Gathering when Tigerstar announces ShadowClan's proper reformation, and when Juniperclaw's promotion to deputy is questioned, Strikestone yowls that ShadowClan makes its own decisions, and Sparrowtail follows after him, yowling that nobody dictates for ShadowClan. Tigerstar nods to Sparrowtail before addressing the Clans that ShadowClan is born again, and past mistakes are forgotten, for which Sparrowtail and the ShadowClan cats yowl in agreement.
:He is part of the patrol sent to retrieve Puddleshine from ThunderClan, along with Tigerstar and Juniperclaw. Tigerstar demands that his medicine cat be returned to his Clan, but Alderheart tries to persuade Tigerstar that Puddleshine is too weak to walk. Tigerstar snorts that Juniperclaw and Sparrowtail can carry him. Eventually, Puddleshine is picked up and carried by Juniperclaw and Sparrowtail, accompanied by Alderheart and Tigerstar. The two toms carry their medicine cat back to ShadowClan, and Sparrowtail goes off to continue warrior duties while Alderheart watches over Puddleshine.
===In The Broken Code arc===
====Lost Stars====
:He congratulates Shadowpaw for his success in reviving Bramblestar, stating that he always believed in him, which Shadowpaw doubts.
====Darkness Within====
:Scorchfur and Sparrowtail are on guard of Bramblestar's impostor's prison, sitting stiffly. The two share a glance as Scorchfur detects movement, but then sit down. Shadowsight notes the two are nervous, thinking that even the most experienced warriors are nervous. 
:Soon after, Cloverfoot rushes into the camp, alerting the Clan that the other Clans have come to kill the impostor. Tigerstar and Cloverfoot then leave with all their warriors, barring Sparrowtail and Scorchfur. Sparrowtail and Scorchfur debate leaving the imposter and joining the fight; then doing so after Scorchfur replies that the camp is probably safest for the impostor and he cannot do any harm there. With that, the two toms abandon their guard and join the fight in the forest. However, this was all a ruse formulated by Squirrelflight in order to trick the impostor into revealing his identity as Ashfur. 
:Later on, after Shadowsight stops Lionblaze, the acting ThunderClan deputy, from killing Ashfur, the dark warrior thanks Shadowsight for saving him, leading to Sparrowtail and Scorchfur eyeing both Shadowsight and Ashfur suspiciously. This leads to Shadowsight snapping at Ashfur that he does not want his thanks, and later thinks of Sparrowtail's look of contempt towards himself after leaving Ashfur's prison.
===In the A Starless Clan arc===
====River====
:According to Sunbeam, Sparrowtail, like the rest of his family, is displeased when it is revealed that his son, Spireclaw is in love with the SkyClan she-cat, Fringewhisker, and now that the warrior code is changed she is joining ShadowClan to be with him. However, after Fringewhisker passes her trial, which Berryheart disapproves of, Sparrowtail suggests to his mate that they should accept their son's decision. However, Berryheart refuses and starts discussions about action against the changes to the warrior code. Sparrowtail doesn't participate in his mate's rebellious discussions.
====Shadow====
:Sunbeam recalls how while her mother rarely spoke of Darktail's reign, her father Sparrowtail occasionally spoke of it, explaining how Darktail played a major role in their lives and eventually led to her sister Needletail's death.
====Thunder====
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====Wind====
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====Star====
:
===In the Changing Skies arc===
====The Elders' Quest====
:
===In the Super Editions===
====Tigerheart's Shadow====
:While jorneying back to the Clans, Spire has a vision that leads Tigerheart to an abandoned Twoleg nest where they come across Berryheart and Rippletail. Realizing that Berryheart is expecting, Tigerheart hopes Sparrowtail is with them, and it is revealed he is out hunting with Cloverfoot.
:They return from their hunt, meeting Tigerheart, Dovewing, Spire, and Blaze. When Spire insists they join them in returning to the Clans, Sparrowtail and Rippletail are hesitant. Cloverfoot explains that they feared being turned away because of their prior support of Darktail. However, Sparrowtail asks Tigerheart where they are camping after it is revealed that he and Dovewing have kits, and joins the rest of the former ShadowClan cats in deciding to return to the lake.
:Sparrowtail is protective of Berryheart during their journey, and guides her off the Silverpath they are following when a Thundersnake approaches. When Spire insists they leave the Silverpath, Sparrowtail argues, saying that they must not lose time in reaching the lake before Berryheart kits. However, he follows the group when they abandon the path.
:Tigerheart overhears Sparrowtail and Rippletail whispering their doubts about Spire's trustworthiness. Sparrowtail denies that the tom is crazy, but doubts that he knows where he's going, citing the danger Berryheart was in when they crossed a stream the day prior, further fretting about whether they will reach the lake in time for her kitting. They cross a drawbridge over a Thunderpath, but Spire is killed saving Pouncekit. Sparrowtail suggests they sit vigil for him, but Tigerheart decides to grant him a warrior name, Spiresight, though Sparrowtail doubts his name-granting authority.
:When Berryheart begins kitting, Sparrowtail and Cloverfoot hastily build her a nest. The kitting is hard, but three healthy kits are born: Sunkit, Hollowkit, and Spirekit — named in honor of Spiresight. Sparrowtail and Rippletail further work on the temporary camp, and Spirekit plays with his father's tail as he works. He bids his son play with the other kits when Tigerheart announces that Shadowkit has had a vision.
:After deciding to leave for the lake immediately per the vision, Sparrowtail is assigned on a hunting patrol to fill their bellies before the journey. However, when Tigerheart is attacked by an owl, Sparrowtail and the others cluster around their wounded leader. Sparrowtail and Rippletail carry him toward the lake, but Tigerheart succumbs to his wounds, urging the remaining cats not to let ShadowClan die. When Tigerheart is revived as Tigerstar, the group rejoins their Clan.
:In the manga, Berryheart survives Darktail's attempt to drown her. While initially happy to be free, she worries about what will happen to Sparrowtail and their daughter, Needletail. She resolves to get as far away from the lake as she can, and asks Slatefur to tell Sparrowtail and Needletail where she is gone. Days later, Sparrowtail finds her and reveals that Needletail is being held prisoner, explaining that there is no way to get to her, and that they need to get as far away from the Clans as possible. He suggests they find new territory for themselves, believing ShadowClan is gone for good.
:The two encounter a swarm of biking Twolegs and decide to steer clear of Twoleg paths; however, they are later attacked by and fight a raptor when they find the bird's nest. Sparrowtail nearly slips off the cliff, but he is saved by Berryheart. They flee and find shelter in an abandoned Twoleg den, and are found by Cloverfoot and Rippletail.
====Squirrelflight's Hope====
:When Squirrelflight and her patrol arrive in ShadowClan's camp, Sparrowtail and Whorlpelt are dragging old bedding. When the two spot the ThunderClan cats, they unsheathe their claws.
==Character pixels==
==Official art==
==Family==
===Members===
Mate:
:Berryheart: 
Daughters:
:Needletail: 
:Sunbeam: 
Sons:
:Hollowspring: 
:Spireclaw: 
Mother:
:Kinkfur: 
Sisters:
:Dewkit: 
:Mistcloud: 
Grandson:
:Goldenpaw: 
Granddaughter:
:Shinepaw: 
===Tree===
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Mistakes===
*He is listed twice in the allegiances of Ivypool's Heart.
*Despite Berryheart being approximately 16 moons older than Sparrowtail, he says they trained together as apprentices.
*He is mistakenly listed in RiverClan in the allegiances of The Elders' Quest.
==Quotes==
==External links==
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===Fan content===
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==Notes and references==
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Category:Toms
Category:ShadowClan cats
Category:RiverClan cats
Category:Warriors
Category:Rogues
Category:Darktail's cats
Category:Groupless cats
Category:Loners
Category:Mentors
Category:The rebels