Gorseclaw

Art by CaptainMorwen

## Appearance

Gorseclaw is a brown tabby tom with amber-yellow eyes. His pelt is a very pale beige, and his stripes are much darker, rimmed in a more classic shade of brown. There are speckles on the left side of his muzzle that are not reflected on his right, but aside from that, his markings are symmetrical. He is tall and slim with long, sleek fur that tends to sag downward. His chin is prominent, his brows are large, and his ears are long and tapered. There is a pointy tuft of fur on the top of his head that splits into two separate spikes.

## Personality

Not much is known about Gorseclaw's personality, but he's a keeper and has raised and taken in many kittens, meaning he must be caring and kindhearted to some degree. On the official Oak Colony height chart, he is shown to be looking cheerful and thoughtful.

## Biography

### Pre-Series

Not much information is known about Gorseclaw’s early life. He was born in Oak Colony to Yellowflower and Birchwhisker as the only cat in his generation that is currently still alive. He was raised by his mother and the keepers in the nursery at the time, and he went from a kitten to a new-claw to a ranger pretty uneventfully, soon entering keeper training himself. Yellowflower and Birchwhisker eventually retired to the elders’ den, settling into their new roles as Council members.

When he was twelve moons old and had earned the name of Gorseclaw, Finch was born. She was a cheerful and sweet kitten, and since Gorseclaw was working as a keeper, he probably saw an awful lot of her and taught her much of what she learned at an early age. Finch became a new-claw and then a ranger, staying close with Gorseclaw all the while — and as Finchflight, she chose to become a keeper alongside him. They went from friends to mates before long, and when Gorseclaw was thirty-nine moons old and Finchflight was twenty-seven, they had their first litter of kittens — a tom and a molly, Thorn and Wren.

Wren and Thorn were good kittens, and with both Gorseclaw and Finchflight working as keepers, Gorseclaw was around his children more often than not. He and Finchflight very content, and they even cared for another kitten — Dawn — after the untimely death of her mother, Flamecloud. Thorn, Wren, and Dawn soon became new-claws, and Thorn trained as an herbalist new-claw under Frondsway for a short time before swapping places with Wren. Gorseclaw stayed a keeper and stayed proud of his kittens.

A short while after Thornheart, Wrensong, and Dawnfrost had earned their ranger names, Gorseclaw and Finchflight had their second litter: this time consisting of two mollies, Moon and Fox, and one tom, Oak. They took in a pair of formerly unbound kittens, too: Frost and Black. The five eventually became new-claws, Dawnfrost became an envoy, and Wrensong continued serving Oak Colony well as its sole herbalist. Gorseclaw and Finchflight remained as they were and couldn’t be happier with their success.

### Synopsis

Gorseclaw was not seen or mentioned in Shifting Roots: Chapter 1.

## Relationships

### Finchflight

Finchflight is Gorseclaw’s mate and twelve moons his junior. They are said to be a good match for each other. There is no special or fancy backstory to their relationship; they simply found that they fit one another perfectly, fell in love, and became a pair. They have had two litters of kittens together: the first being Wrensong and Thornheart and the second being Fox, Oak, and Moon. They have also raised several kittens that are not theirs, such as Dawnfrost, Frost, and Black.

### Thornheart and Wrensong

Thornheart and Wrensong are Gorseclaw's son and daughter from his first litter with Finchflight. Not many details are known about their relationship, but seeing as how Gorseclaw already had plenty of experience with kittens, he was likely a good father to them. Thornheart is currently a ranger and Wrensong is an herbalist, and Gorseclaw is presumably very proud of his children.

### Moon, Oak, and Fox

Moon, Fox, and Oak are Gorseclaw's daughters and son from his second litter with Finchflight. Not many details are known about their relationship, but again, with all of Gorseclaw's experience, he is probably a good father to them*.*

### Yellowflower and Birchwhisker

Yellowflower and Birchwhisker are Gorseclaw's parents. Not much is known about their relationship.

### Dawnfrost

Dawnfrost is unofficially Gorseclaw’s adopted daughter. She was said to be taken in by Finchflight and raised alongside Wren and Thorn after her own mother died. Not many details are known on Gorseclaw’s relationship with her, but the two aren't particularly close - Dawnfrost's father, Brackenfoot, was alive for most of her youth, and she found another father figure in Elmtail.

### Black and Frost

Black and Frost are the kittens of Swiftshadow and Juno. They were brought to Oak Colony at one moon old, and Gorseclaw agreed to raise them with Finchflight. Again, not many details about their relationship have been given - Swiftshadow is still alive, but Frost and Black resent him. Gorseclaw may be more of a father figure to them than their actual father.

## Gallery

Gorseclaw and Finchflight by CaptainMorwen on DeviantArt
1. ↑ Revealed in StarClan-Battles Allegiances