Saffronstep

### Siblings

Brownclaw, Monarchwing, Gorgekit, Canyonkit, Cavekit, Cavernkit, Plateaukit, Crevicekit, Cliffkit (deceased)

## Appearances

### Debut

Chapter 7

Saffronstep is one of the main characters in Tales of Perfectheart. He is the brother to Monarchwing and Brownclaw, and a warrior of WindClan

## Personality

Saffronstep is a logic-driven cat and is often described as emotionless. 9rainbowtails has said herself that Saffronstep would be the kind of person who would read an entire dictionary/encyclopedia for fun. He is also shown to be very smart.

Despite his overall apathetic outlook, he does have feelings and he does care for others. Most of it, however, is shown in very subtle ways. Although, he always places facts and logic over other cats' feelings. Saffronstep doesn't necessarily do this to be mean, he just doesn't seem to be aware how his actions can hurt others.

He believes himself incapable of making mistakes, and will go to lengths to prove himself right. His grandmother, Laurelwing, even stated that he refuses to look at anything that could prove him wrong. He is confident in the fact that his way is the best way, as shown by how he continues pushing his idea of an alliance onto Cottonstar and stubbornly continues pushing it after Cottonstar has provided an explanation and denied his ideas several times. He believes himself to be the smartest cat in his clan.

## Appearance

Saffronstep is a brown tabby tom with yellow eyes. His facial stripes take on the appearance of glasses, while the stripe around his neck resembles the appearance of a tie, and he also has several stripes running down his tail.

However, Saffronstep's appearance isn't limited to this design. He has the ability to remove his stripes and reform them into anything he wishes. When Saffronstep was a kit, he had two pairs of facial stripes wrapping around the bottom of his head, and two stripes of his back.

## Stripe-manipulation

Saffronstep is capable of changing pelt patterns on others and himself. It is also implied that his original pelt pattern was changed by him or Monarchwing to his signature look, a pattern resembling glasses and a tie. He does it first in Chapter 33, leaving Brownpaw fairly confused. In Chapter 92, Monarchpaw reveals that she also has this power, and adds that Saffronpaw is less skilled changing stripe appearances because 'he can't draw', which is speculated to be a reference to the "Saffronstep can't draw" ToPH skit.

## Biography

### Pre-series

Saffronstep was born into WindClan as Saffronkit. His grandmother, Laurelwing, died when he was 4 moons old.

### Chapter 7

Saffronpaw is attending the gathering. When Monarchpaw almost reveals the secret about Houndpaw, he smacks his forehead in frustration.

### Chapter 8

Monarchpaw mentions Houndpaw again, causing Brownpaw to silence her. When Dovepaw asks him about Houndpaw, he grabs Monarchpaw by the scruff and hurries away.

### Chapter 31

Houndpaw runs into the apprentice den, anxious about attending the next gathering. Brownpaw tries to calm him down, but Saffronpaw shuts him down. When Brownpaw gets upset, Saffronpaw shouts at him, telling him he "isn't being logical". Brownpaw retorts that he's simply being empathetic, calling him stupid, and goes to talk to Houndpaw again. Saffronpaw sits alone, angrily. He thinks to himself that he must be correct, and that everyone will soon see that he is.

### Chapter 32

Houndpaw returns home from looking for Cricketkit with a small leg wound. Brownpaw asks why anyone would scratch him, and Saffronpaw appears, saying that some cat is trying to get rid of Houndpaw. He explains himself, saying that Cottonstar's announcement angered cats, and some cat tried to get rid of Houndpaw in an attempt to protect the Clan. Both Brownpaw and Saffronpaw agree that it's Russetfin.

### Chapter 33

Brownpaw and Saffronpaw follow Russetfin through the bushes. Saffronpaw takes off his glasses stripes to wipe them, surprising Brownpaw. He nonchalantly twists his stripes into a detective outfit, running after Russetfin. The two find Russetfin's plan crossed out in the dirt. Saffronpaw says they'll need disguises, and peels off Brownpaw's forehead stripe to turn it into a mustache. He turns it back on request. The two spot Russetfin speaking to Gingerpool, and Brownpaw suggests asking Cricketkit what Russetfin did this morning. He asks Cricketkit why he was at the gorge, and he says a 'big cat made of shadow'. Russetfin leaves, so Brownpaw and Saffronpaw must follow him. He notices Russetfin looking at a holly berry. Brownpaw snaps at him, asking why he's acting so strange and is so adamant about helping Houndpaw now. Saffronpaw says he's only doing this to prove he's right. Brownpaw gets angry and leaves. Saffronpaw continues without him and spots a large holly bush.

### Chapter 34

Saffronpaw appears briefly at the end of the chapter,

### Chapter 35

Saffronpaw starts an investigation and starts interviewing his clanmates about the rescue of Cricketkit. He first goes to Echowind, asking for any suspicious behavior from Russetfin, but Echowind noticed nothing. Then he went to the leader's den, which was during a meeting, and got kicked out. He went to Sparrowwhisker and asked the same question about suspicious activity from Russetfin, but Sparrowwhisker noticed nothing either. Saffronpaw becomes frustrated before a butterfly flies to him and tells him he's wasting time. Saffronpaw crushes the butterfly and says he doubts butterflies can talk, demanding the butterfly's true identity. Black wisps can be seen in the corner. Saffronpaw stares in shock as a strange black and yellow cat appears.

### Chapters to be added

More to be added from chapters 36-41, 52, 59-60, 72-74, 78-83, 85, and 87-90.

### Chapter 92

Saffronpaw and Monarchpaw are discussing if Brownpaw would come to the Dark Forest. Saffronpaw hands his sister a brown tie and glasses. Later, as Brownpaw exits the nursery, Saffronpaw stands in the way wearing his brother's pelt pattern. He seems excited, but when Brownpaw wants to get away, he motions to Monarchpaw and she grabs Brownpaw by the scruff. Saffronpaw and Monarchpaw drag Brownpaw while Brownpaw is shouting a "katnap," to no avail. As Brownpaw is dropped face-down into the floor, Saffronpaw nudges him and stares as Brownpaw starts walking away. Saffronpaw once again motions to Monarchpaw, with starts a brief chase. As Brownpaw agrees to go to the Dark Forest with his sister, he and Monarchpaw are cheerful, which turns to dismay as Cottonstar offers to go as well.

## Relationships

### Brownclaw

Saffronstep loves his brother, Brownpaw, and he clearly trusts him with important issues (e.g. Crushing all the butterflies for Laurelwing's sake). However, his nonchalant attitude often makes it seem that he doesn't care too much for his littermate. On Brownpaw's end, he loves Saffronpaw very much and is more open about his feelings towards him. Even though Brownpaw is frequently frustrated by Saffronpaw's uncaring demeanor, he still helps him out because Saffronpaw is his brother and he loves him for that. Overall, the two care for each other in their own ways, and despite the bumps in their relationship, they still love each other as brothers should. Mostly.

### Laurelwing

Laurelwing is his grandmother. He has been seen communicating with her, and following her orders to crush butterflies. Saffronstep is a self-proclaimed grandma's boy.

### Birdbird

Birdbird is his aunt who has tried to bludgeon (smash his head with a rock) him when he woke up from seeing Laurelwing.

### Houndpaw

Saffronstep used to dislike Houndpaw because he is a dog, and only tried to figure out who hurt him to prove that he's always right. Now they share somewhat of a mutual bond with each other.

### Monarchwing

Monarchwing is Saffronstep's sister. Despite their personality differences, they are shown as caring for each other.

### Seednose

Seednose is his father. They are quite distant; while his siblings have many interactions with him, Saffronstep has almost none. Though, in Chapter 74, he shows great concern for him, and he and Saffronpaw have a short yet meaningful discussion, which seems to calm Saffronpaw.

### Littletuft

Littletuft is his mother. In Chapter 41, Saffronpaw says that he will not scare his mother like that again, but he really can't promise that.

## Trivia

* Stripeless Saffronstep can be seen at the end of Chapter 52.
* Voice Claim: Donatello from *Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*
* Saffaronstep has turned into Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, and maybe perhaps even Bill Cipher.

## Gallery

Saffronstep's official referenceSaffronstep as a kit.Saffronpaw and LittletuftSemi-buggified SaffronpawSaffronpaw with Brownpaw's stripes
1. ↑ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/534229490/
2. ↑ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/534229490/
3. ↑ Chapter 36
4. ↑ Chapter 72
5. ↑ Chapter 80