Snowkit (TPB)

Snowkit is a sturdy, deaf, white tom with blue eyes.
Snowkit was a deaf ThunderClan kit during Bluestar's leadership in the forest territories. He was born as Snowkit to Speckletail and Smallear alongside his sister, Mistlekit. He displayed odd behaviors, first noticed by Brackenfur, which were later identified as deafness. However, Speckletail was fiercely protective of Snowkit and believed he could still become a warrior. She attempted to train him herself with little success. A little later, Snowkit was playing outside the nursery when a hawk swooped into camp. Snowkit, unable to hear the hawk or the warning cries of his Clanmates, was snatched up in the hawk's talons and carried away. He ascended to StarClan afterwards, being able to hear.
==History==
===In The Prophecies Begin arc===
====Rising Storm====
:Snowkit is not mentioned by name, but is referred to as Speckletail's kit. He is also her last kit. He is with the Clan when they flee from the fire in the camp. Fireheart carries him at first, but he is passed to Whitestorm throughout the journey. Fireheart mentions that he is a healthy kit.
====A Dangerous Path====
:Snowkit is still in the nursery with Speckletail. Brackenfur mentions to Fireheart that he has noticed Snowkit behaving a little strangely, and when Fireheart is a bit suspicious, Brackenfur admits that he would like to become Snowkit's mentor when he is ready. Brackenfur mentions as well that he wanted to try and get to know Snowkit for a little while. Fireheart agrees, and while Brackenfur continues to observe Snowkit, he also suggests that they should have Cinderpelt check on the kit to see if there is anything wrong with him. Although the two toms are wary of Speckletail and how she would react, as she is fiercely protective of her kit.
:Cinderpelt visits the nursery and watches Snowkit play with the other kits for a short time. Bramblekit holds Snowkit down with his claws, and Snowkit squeals, appearing to not be defending himself. Fireheart snaps at Bramblekit, and Goldenflower makes Bramblekit apologize. Tawnykit says that Snowkit is no fun at all, and never has any good games. Cinderpelt then tells Speckletail that she wants to test Snowkit. When Speckletail reluctantly allows her, Cinderpelt asks her to go a short distance away and call out his name, but Snowkit does not acknowledge the comment. Speckletail does so, while beckoning with her tail, and Snowkit walks over to his mother. Next, Cinderpelt asks Fireheart to go behind Snowkit and call out his name without moving. When he does this, Snowkit does not respond to the calls until Speckletail nudges him in Fireheart's direction. Fireheart praises the kit, but Snowkit just stares at him blankly. Cinderpelt tells her that Snowkit is deaf, and Speckletail snaps that she was aware that the kit was deaf, adding that she is his mother.
:Dappletail comments that cats with the color of his pelt and his eye color are often deaf; she knows this because a kit of hers was deaf and had the white pelt and blue eye color as well. Fireheart recalls that Cloudpaw, who is also white-pelted with blue eyes, was not afflicted with the same hearing disability that Snowkit has. Speckletail does not believe that Snowkit is unable to train to become a warrior. Due to Snowkit being Speckletail's last kit before she retires from being a queen and becomes an elder, she is determined to see Snowkit become a apprentice. She takes matters into her own paws by trying to mentor Snowkit herself, but he only begins playing and pawing at his mother. However, she tries her best despite Snowkit's disadvantage, and devotes all of her time to him and tries to help him with Brackenfur's assistance.
:Later, a hawk flies over the camp looking for prey. While all the other queens rush their kits into the safety of the nursery, Snowkit is playing out in the middle of the camp, oblivious and deaf to his Clanmates' warnings. Speckletail cannot get to him in time to bring him to the nursery herself, and the hawk swoops down and picks up Snowkit in its talons. Speckletail clings onto the hawk and rakes it with her claws to try to stop it, but is thrown off, and the hawk flies away with Snowkit. Speckletail is devastated, even though there is a chance the hawk will possibly drop Snowkit. A patrol consisting of Swiftpaw and Brackenfur is sent out to retrieve him if the hawk should drop him, but they lose track of the hawk and return without the kit. Bluestar, already in a state of mental turmoil after Tigerstar's treachery and the forest fire, sees this as a sign that StarClan is definitely at war with ThunderClan, shocking the whole Clan. When it is clear that Snowkit is not coming back, Speckletail goes mad with grief and is watched over by Sandstorm, Lostface, and Cinderpelt, before finally coming to terms with her loss and joining the elders' den.
==Character pixels==
==Official art==
==Personality==
:Snowkit is a skittish, but friendly, and playful tom-kit. Despite his playful nature, he is shown to be quite vulnerable, unwilling to stand up for himself when playing gets too rough.
==Relationships==
===Speckletail===
:Speckletail is Snowkit's mother. She was exceptionally protective of her kit, and Snowkit was very dependent on her in turn. When Cinderpelt announced that he was deaf, Speckletail snapped in response and bristled when Bluestar insisted that he could not be a warrior. The queen went on to mentor him unofficially, with Snowkit thoroughly enjoying the training despite not copying the moves accurately. When Speckletail failed to save Snowkit from the hawk, his mother was devastated and blamed herself greatly for the loss.
==Kin==
===Members===
Mother:
:Speckletail: 
Father:
:Smallear: 
Sisters:
:Mistlekit: 
:Goldenflower: 
Brother:
:Lionheart: 
===Tree===
==Appearances==
*Rising Storm 
*A Dangerous Path 
==Trivia==
===Interesting facts===
*Snowkit may be deaf due to the fact that it is common for white cats with blue eyes to be born partially or completely deaf. This is due to a genetic phenomenon called pleiotropy, where the dominant genes coding for a white coat and blue eyes interfere with unrelated genes that affect the cat's hearing.Revealed on icatcare.org
**Dappletail mentions this, telling Fireheart that white cats with blue eyes are often deaf and that a white kit of hers with blue eyes was deaf.
===Author statements===
*Kate has said that upon reaching StarClan, Snowkit was able to hear.
*Vicky has stated that Snowkit was killed to give Speckletail an extra nudge to move into the elders' den.
*Snowkit's afterlife residency being StarClan was first revealed on Vicky's Facebook.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook 
*One of Vicky's favorite fan theories is that Snowkit survived the hawk and became Snowtuft, though this theory is not true.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook 
===Continuity===
*Smallear being the father of Snowkit and Mistlekit was originally revealed on Vicky's Facebook.Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
==External links==
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===Fan content===
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==Notes and references==
cs:Snížekda:Snekilling (PB)de:Schneejunges (Staffel 1)es:Copito de Nievefi:Lumipentufr:Patte de Givreit:BatuffolodiNevenl:Sneeuwkit (OS)pl:Śnieżekpt-br:Bolinha de Neveru:Снежокsv:Snöungeuk:Сніжко
Category:Toms
Category:ThunderClan cats
Category:Kits
Category:A Dangerous Path characters
Category:Rising Storm characters
Category:Deceased characters
Category:StarClan cats
Category:The Prophecies Begin characters