Gooseclaw

**Gooseclaw** is a spotted gray tom with blue eyes.

## History

Goosepaw is an apprentice, training alongside Snowpaw and Graypaw. He takes a liking to Snowpaw, and often tries to talk to her, but he notices she is not interested. This upsets Goosepaw, but he understands that he cannot force her to like him. At Gatherings, he sees her talk with a gray tabby tom from another Clan, and is somewhat suspicious, but does not act on it. He becomes a warrior, Gooseclaw. Snowpaw, now Snowstorm, congratulates him. The two maintain a good friendship, even though Snowstorm does not return his affections for him. Gooseclaw promises that he will always be there for her.
One day, Snowstorm asks to speak to Gooseclaw. Gooseclaw and Snowstorm walk outside of camp near the waterfall at night, and Gooseclaw asks her what is wrong. Snowstorm reminds him of the promise he had made, and tells him that she is in a bit of a situation. Gooseclaw asks if it is because of the gray tabby she had been meeting. Snowstorm is surprised, but ruefully smiles in response, and says that she needs his help. Gooseclaw nods and says he will help her with anything. Snowstorm says nothing as she continues to walk with him.
The next day, Snowstorm tells him she is expecting Peartuft's kits, and asks him to raise the kits with her. Gooseclaw tells her that he will love them like they are his own, and announces to the Clan that he is their father. Snowstorm gives birth a few moons later to three kits. One is very sickly, and without Gooseclaw knowing, Snowstorm names it Pearkit. It dies within a few days, and she buries it, wondering if it was an omen from StarClan.
The other two kits, named by Gooseclaw, Icekit and Meadowkit, survive, and are healthy kits. Gooseclaw watches them grow with pride, and likes to think they even look a bit like him. Icekit and Meadowkit grow up believing that Gooseclaw is their real father, and he dotes on them. He is proud when they are apprenticed, and trusts Runningflame and Rippleheart to keep an eye on them. Snowstorm tells them that the two toms know of the situation, and they swore not to tell anyone.
At the apprentices' first Gathering, Gooseclaw keeps a close eye on them, and cheers for them when Otterstar announces their name. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices Peartuft glaring at him and Snowstorm angrily. Gooseclaw is uneasy about this and wants to stay with Snowstorm, but notices his kits running off in the other direction. Gooseclaw goes after them to round them up, and when he returns, he sees Peartuft close to Snowstorm. Gooseclaw rushes over, hearing Peartuft snarl at her, and he asks him to go away to his own territory. Peartuft snaps at Gooseclaw, but Dapplewing, the RiverClan deputy, breaks the argument up. She orders Peartuft to return to his territory and Gooseclaw and Snowstorm to join the RiverClan patrol back to camp. The two do, and come across Icepaw and Meadowpaw, who are staring at them. Meadowpaw asks what happened, and Gooseclaw touches her head and tells her it is nothing for her to worry about.
Gooseclaw is very proud when they become Iceshine and Meadowdawn, and often takes them out hunting even when they are warriors. The two she-cats continue to believe he is their biological father.
When the truth breaks out, Gooseclaw apologizes to Dapplestar. Dapplestar takes stock of the four cats and tells them that she does not care for birth or status, but she is deeply disappointed that they lied to her. However, instead of exiling them, she says she wants to give them a second chance.
Gooseclaw fights in the war against ShadowClan fiercely for his leader. After Dapplestar is presumed dead, RiverClan is split into two. Meadowdawn stays on Shellfall's side because she loves him, and Snowstorm stays with her. Gooseclaw begs both of them to reconsider, but Meadowdawn fiercely states that Shellfall is her mate, and Snowstorm says she cannot leave her daughter. Gooseclaw tells her that Iceshine has picked Shimmerwing's side, and Snowstorm gazes at him with an expression full of sorrow and pain. Gooseclaw knows that he must go and fight for Iceshine. In agony, he bids Snowstorm and Meadowdawn farewell, knowing that this is the last time he will see them. He leaves them to Shimmerwing's side and breaks the news to Iceshine. Iceshine begs Shimmerwing for her to go over to Shellfall's camp and try to force Meadowdawn to change her mind, but Shimmerwing states calmly that it is too dangerous and that Meadowdawn will not change her mind anyway.
On the day of the final battle, Iceshine tells Gooseclaw that she loved him, and that she still loves him like he was her father. Gooseclaw is painstakingly aware that Iceshine is saying this because she believes this is the last time they will see each other, and Gooseclaw tells her that he loves her and would die for her. Iceshine asks him to fight with her, and Gooseclaw promises he will. In the final battle, Gooseclaw is struck down by one of Shellfall's warriors next to Iceshine. Iceshine shrieks out, horrified for Gooseclaw. Behind her Icepaw is close to cutting her down, but Iceheart and Icefrost from WindClan and RiverClan drive her off.
The battle ends in Shimmerwing's favor, and Gooseclaw is among the deceased. Iceshine mourns him heavily and promises that she will see him again one day. Snowstorm had been killed in the fighting too, and both of them reunite in StarClan and watch over their daughters.