Houndheart

**Houndheart** is a large dark brown tabby tom with unblinking amber eyes.

## History

Houndkit is born to Dovewillow and Lightningfang alongside Mistkit. Lightningfang brings the two kits to ThunderClan to be raised by Sagepetal. The journey is in leaf-bare, and it is difficult. The moor is freezing, the forest is blanketed by snow. Lightningfang accidentally drops Houndkit on a sharp rock, leaving him with an injury that scars him. Lightningfang is horrified and quickens his pace.
Houndpaw struggles with repressed memories and memory loss as an apprentice, which makes it worse every time he looks at the scar on his pelt, as he does not remember how it happened. Houndpaw idolizes Peartuft, seeing him as the strongest warrior in all of ThunderClan. Peartuft feeds into this mentality by taking Houndpaw out on hunting patrols and border patrols, and Houndpaw is impressed at how Peartuft handles things with other Clans. When Houndpaw becomes a warrior, Houndheart, he promises Peartuft that he will be his friend forever and that he has his loyalty.
Houndheart meets Dawnfire, and while hanging with Dawnfire, he realizes that Dawnfire helps him remember some things. He starts to remember another she-cat who loved him, but he cannot put his paw on it. He starts to mention this cat, and Lightningfang overhears it. He confronts Dawnfire and tells her the truth about Houndheart, and asks her to stay away from him for his own sake. Dawnfire is unable to, as Houndheart has fallen in too deep. Lightningfang makes her promise to conceal the truth from him.
Houndheart is aware he has repressed memories, and despite him trying to find them, he is never able to. It frustrates him and fills him with anger.
Peartuft sometimes confides in Houndheart about his annoyance for his brother, Rootberry, and Houndheart agrees with him vehemently, saying that Rootberry is weak and must be taught a lesson. Peartuft is taken aback by Houndheart's ferocity, and insists there is no need for that. Houndheart backs down, but keeps it in his mind that Rootberry should be showed a lesson in strength. Knowing Peartuft's contempt for Rootberry, Houndheart actively challenges him when he gets the chance to.
When Rootberry is made deputy, Houndheart is dismayed for Peartuft's sake. He says nothing to Rootberry, and tells Peartuft that it should have been him. He shows visibly disdain for Rootberry for the rest of his status as deputy, and is even more angered when Rootberry becomes Rootstar. Under his breath when Rootstar comes back to camp after being given nine lives, Houndheart says that Rootstar will never have his loyalty, and that Peartuft should've been Pearstar.
While Rootstar is gone and Sunfire serves as acting leader, Houndheart loses his temper and claws Sunfire in the eyes, temporarily blinding him. Horrified at what he had done, Houndheart tries to apologize, but Winterfall has him imprisoned on the apprentices' den and flippantly states that his fate is in the paws of Rootstar.

## Quotes

**Dawnfire**: "*Did you find what it was you'd forgotten?*"

**Houndheart**: "*No... I didn't. It's never going to be found. I...I think I had the wrong idea, probably.*"

—Houndheart and Dawnfire

"*...No matter what I do, I can't remember. The more I think about it, the more it tears me up inside. It's wrecking me. I have no idea what happened, but it hurts so much... it hurts so badly I can't take it. It was far less painful when I remembered nothing.*"
—Houndheart's thoughts

"*Dishonor doesn't mean a thing to me. I'll do whatever it takes to win.*"
—Houndheart

"*You think too much of yourself! I'll tear you to pieces!*"
—Houndheart

"*Any who get in my way will die! End of story!*"
—Houndheart

"*With you and me on the same side, there is nothing we need fear!*"
—Houndheart to Peartuft

"*I really do appreciate the thought... But I want you to go on living even if I die. Okay?*"
—Houndheart to Breezeflower