Rootspring

Rootspring is a fluffy bright yellow tom with a broad head and shoulders, a torn ear, and sky-blue eyes.
Rootspring is a SkyClan warrior under Leafstar's leadership in the lake territories. He was born as Rootkit to Violetshine and Tree, along with his sister Needlekit. Upon becoming an apprentice named Rootpaw, Dewspring was assigned as his mentor. Rootpaw developed a crush on the ThunderClan warrior Bristlefrost after she rescued him from the lake, and discovered he could see ghosts after seeing the spirit of Bramblestar begging for help. Using his ability, Rootpaw informed the Clans that the cat leading ThunderClan was an impostor of Bramblestar. He earned his warrior name of Rootspring after rescuing Shadowsight and joined the rebels to defeat the impostor's rule, who was revealed to be Ashfur. Rootspring and Bristlefrost admitted their feelings for each other, but relented that they belong in their separate Clans. 
Rootspring witnessed Ashfur drag Squirrelflight into the depths of the Moonpool, and after being dragged into the Dark Forest by Willowshine, Rootspring and Snowtuft helped Bramblestar and Squirrelflight escape. However, Rootspring was ambushed by the spirits of his former Clanmates, and Bristlefrost and Shadowsight rescued him. During the final fight against Ashfur, Rootspring decided to join ThunderClan to be with Bristlefrost, but she died killing Ashfur. After her death, Rootspring advocated for changes to be made to the warrior code for cats who love another in a different Clan. He later participated in a journey to find catmint and led alongside Fidgetflake due to his experience. He continued to grieve for Bristlefrost, but found comfort in her mother, Ivypool. He set out on a quest prompted by Whistlepaw's vision, during which the Sisters tried to convince him to find a new mate, much to his frustration. Once the journey was completed, he decided that he would find a new mate eventually, one that had to be worthy of Bristlefrost.
==History==
===The Broken Code===
:Rootkit is the son of Tree and Violetshine, and his sister is Needlekit. He is apprenticed to Dewspring, and struggles to break free of his father's reputation, terrified he'll turn out like Tree. After being cajoled into the lake by Kitepaw and Turtlepaw, Rootpaw is rescued by the ThunderClan warrior Bristlefrost, whom he grows to admire. After Bramblestar is revived, Rootpaw discovers his spirit in the woods and runs away in fear as the ghost calls for help. Rootpaw discovers only he can see Bramblestar's spirit much to his displeasure. With the help of the ghost and Tree, Rootpaw convinces Squirrelflight, Bristlefrost, and ShadowClan that the cat ruling ThunderClan is an impostor. His father teaches Rootpaw how to make ghosts appear for others, and Rootpaw makes peace with his powers.
:After his warrior ceremony is delayed, Rootpaw realizes Bramblestar's ghost is missing and grows fearful for Shadowsight following his disappearance. He briefly trains as a medicine cat apprentice because of his powers, but chooses to remain a warrior apprentice. A spirit leads Rootpaw to Shadowsight's injured body, and Dewspring and Rootpaw bring him back to SkyClan to recover. He earns his warrior name of Rootspring for his bravery and works together with the rebels to defeat the impostor, who is revealed to be Ashfur. Rootspring and Bristlefrost admit their feelings for each other, and hope to one day be together. With several spirits still missing, Rootspring, Bristlefrost, Needleclaw and Spotfur venture to find the Sisters to see if they can help with their expertise. Along the way, Rootspring and Bristlefrost struggle to maintain their feelings for each other. The Sisters agree to come help the Clans, and Sunrise teaches Rootspring how to communicate with the earth. He assists the Sisters to summon the spirits, but to their horror, the spirits are aggressive and writhing in pain. Rootspring and Bristlefrost admit they're in love with each other, but both temporary accept they belong in their separate Clans. They comfort Squirrelflight when the Clan leaders attempt to kill Ashfur, and Rootspring follows Squirrelflight to the Moonpool where Ashfur kidnaps her into the Dark Forest.
:After informing the Clans of Squirrelflight's abduction, Rootspring is kidnapped into the Dark Forest by the spirit of Willowshine, who was killed by Ashfur while trying to enter the afterlife through her dreams. He and Willowshine reunite with Squirrelflight, who had escaped Ashfur's grasp, but are later recaptured after it was revealed that Willowshine was under Ashfur's control. Rootspring manages to narrowly escape drowning in dangerous dark water, and works with Snowtuft, a Dark Forest cat, to save Squirrelflight and Bramblestar. They manage to reunite Bramblestar with his body, but in their attempt to leave the Dark Forest, Rootspring and Snowtuft are subdued by Ashfur's followers and then made to fight one another. Bristlefrost and Shadowsight rescue them, but Snowtuft is killed. They discover a physical barrier blocking StarClan from the Dark Forest with both afterlives disappearing, but the barrier weakens with hope. Rootspring is captured by Ashfur, but the wandering spirit of Firestar possesses his body and kills Darkstripe. Silverhawk agrees to help Rootspring save the Dark Forest. They reunite with Bristlefrost, Shadowsight, and StarClan, Dark Forest, and living cats, and confront Ashfur. In the final fight, Rootspring decides he's going to join ThunderClan to be with Bristlefrost. However, she sacrifices herself to save Shadowsight from Ashfur by flinging both herself and the dark warrior into the dark water, drowning them both. Both StarClan and the Dark Forest are saved, though Rootspring mourns greatly. When they return to the living, he is named a Light in the Mist for his role in saving the Clans, and advocates for changing to be made to the warrior code for cats who love another in a different Clan, wondering if he and Bristlefrost hadn't been stressing over that rule for moons, they could've gotten together sooner.
===A Starless Clan===
:Rootspring is a strong advocate for the new changes to the warrior code, as his relationship with Bristlefrost becomes the foremost example why these changes should happen. Eventually, the five Clans do agree to adjust the warrior code so cats can change Clans to be with their loved ones after performing a test in their adoptive Clan. When the Clans' catmint supply is critically low, Rootspring and Fidgetflake participate in the quest to find more in a nearby Twolegplace. While Fidgetflake knows the way, it is Rootspring who takes the lead, his experience in the Dark Forest resulting in a somber yet focused demeanor, and Alderheart, Nightheart, Sunbeam, and Lightleap defer to his opinion while traveling.
===Super Editions===
:In Ivypool's Heart, Rootspring meets in secret with Ivypool to bond over the loss of Bristlefrost.
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==Detailed description==
===Scars gained===
*Torn ear from escaping Ashfur and his army of ghost cats in A Light in the Mist.
==Character pixels==
==Official art==
==Killed victims==
*Darkstripe (Spirit; through Firestar)
*Ginger rogue she-cat (Spirit)
==Ceremonies==
==Personality and Relationships==
:Rootspring is sensitive, determined, and strives to prove himself of his father's unorthodox reputation. He develops a crush on Bristlefrost after she saved him from the lake, and is the only cat who can see Bramblestar's apparition. For more of Rootspring's personality and relationships, click here!
==Family==
:Rootspring's parents are Tree and Violetshine, and his sister is Needleclaw. For more of Rootspring's family, click here!
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*Rootspring has Sister blood through Tree.
*His warrior name was decided by fans through a poll on the Warrior Cats website with the options Rootspirit, Rootspring, Rootfall, and Rootwing. Rootspring was the winning name.
*Similar to his kin, he has the ability to see the spirits of dead cats and communicate with the earth.
*Rootspring is said to look like a tiny version of Tree.
===Author statements===
*Out of the Lost Stars protagonists, Rootspring is Cherith Baldry's favorite, citing his difficulties with his father and his potential to become "an outstanding cat." Rootspring is also Kate Cary's favorite protagonist, and describes him as "a dear ❤".
*Kate says that it is most likely Tree named Rootspring after Root.
*Kate believes Rootspring to be short-furred.
===Mistakes===
*He was mistakenly described with green eyes.
==Quotes==
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
de:Wurzelquellfi:Juurilähdefr:Racine des Sourcesko:루트스프링no:Rotsprettpl:Korzenny Skokpt-br:Raiz Saltitanteru:Корнецвет
Category:Star (book) characters
Category:Main characters
Category:Toms
Category:SkyClan cats
Category:Warriors
Category:The rebels
Category:Point of view characters
Category:Place of No Stars visitors
Category:Lights in the Mist (title)