Lightningfang

**Lightningfang** is a cream colored tom with pale eyes.

## History

Lightningkit is born to Whitejay and Falconheart, along with his brothers Wavekit and Smallkit. Whitejay goes into labor early, and the kits are born weak. The struggled birth leaves Whitejay weak after kitting as well. Despite Ashenhawk's efforts, Whitejay dies soon after. Wavekit and Smallkit survive for three days, and then pass as well. Lightningkit is the sole survivor. Lightningkit is given to Maplefall as a foster kit, and raised alongside Hailkit.
When Lightningpaw is apprenticed, his father Falconheart directly asks Flintstar if he could mentor him, as he is all he has left. Flintstar agrees, despite the fact that blood should not usually mentor blood. Lightningpaw and his father develop a close relationship with each other, and Lightningpaw consoles his father through the grief of Whitejay being gone.
Lightningpaw grows close to Hailpaw, and loves him as if he were his own brother. Falconheart had told Lightningpaw about the death of his mother and brothers early on, but always reminds him that his mother his always with him. Despite not sharing blood with Hailpaw and Maplefall, Lightningpaw loves them as if they were his own family.
Two apprentices join Lightningpaw and Hailpaw in the apprentices' den: Rootpaw and Pearpaw. The brothers are close, but very different from the other, which confuses Lightningpaw. He asks Rootpaw why he is obsessed with flowers and trees so much, and Rootpaw only tells him that they are beautiful. Pearpaw snaps at Lightningpaw to leave him alone.
Lightningpaw is made into a warrior, and given the name Lightningfang. Falconheart is proud, and touches noses with his son immediately afterwards. He tells him that Whitejay is very proud of him, and that he wishes Wavekit and Smallkit were up there beside him. Lightningpaw tells his father that they were beside him, and that they were proud of him all the same.
He begins to grow close to Sagepetal, another new warrior. The two start to spend a lot of time together, and eventually fall in love. He asks Falconheart how he knew when he was in love, and Falconheart tells him that there is no specific way - a cat just knows. Lightningfang asks Sagepetal to be his mate, and she happily agrees.
During a patrol on the ShadowClan border, a skirmish ensues. Coalshadow, a respected ThunderClan warrior, is given a deep wound to his shoulder. Lightningfang and Sunfire escort him back to camp, but Ashenhawk is unable to keep infection from spreading. Coalshadow succumbs to his wounds. His sons, Rootberry and Peartuft, are stricken by grief. Peartuft is espcially hurt, and Lightningfang makes an effort to console him. Peartuft brushes him off and tells him that if he wants to talk, he will summon him first.
Lightningfang notices a change in Peartuft's personality after the death of Coalshadow. The tom becomes more standoffish and cold, and starts to distance himself from the rest of the warriors. Lightningfang tells Rootberry that he should reach out to his brother, and Rootberry responds by saying that he has tried.
One night, Lightningfang takes a nighttime hunt near the WindClan border. He spots a she-cat on ThunderClan's side, and he confronts her. Lightningfang tackles her in an effort to give her a warning, but the she-cat flips him over with ease. Impressed, Lightningfang wriggles out from underneath her and compliments her fighting ability. The she-cat introduces herself as Dovewillow, and Lightningfang is immediately entranced by her beauty. The two spend the rest of the night talking to each other under the night sky, and promise to meet again the next night.
Lightningfang returns to camp, but can't help but feel riddled with guilt about feeling that way about the WindClan cat. He goes back to his nest beside Sagepetal, and feels a nagging at his heart. Despite this, Lighningfang continues to meet with Dovewillow, unbeknowngst to his mate.
Later, Dovewillow confesses to Lightningfang that she feels that she is pregnant. Lightningfang grows scared, and asks her what they should do. Mere days later, Sagepetal tells him the same thing, and feels that she is also pregnant. Unable to contain his guilt any longer, Lightningfang confesses to Sagepetal about his secret affair. He expects his mate to leave his side, but she does not grow angry. She tells Lightningfang to tell the she-cat that she would raise her kits. Lightningfang asks her why she is not mad, but Sagepetal only tells him that hate is blinded by love.
That night, Lightningfang meets Dovewillow and tells her of the plan. She agrees, and says that she would want her kits to grow up with having two parents. The two cats also agree that they can never meet again once the kits have been born. When it is time for her to give birth, she has a private kitting in the forest with Ashenhawk, Violetheart and Lightningfang. She gives birth to two kits, though one is stillborn. She names the kit Houndkit, and sends him away with Lightningfang and Ashenhawk. Lightningfang promises her that he will raise the kit to be the best warrior in the Clan.
Ashenhawk keeps Houndkit in the medicine cat's den, and away from any watchful ThunderClan eyes. The next night, Sagepetal also goes into labor, and gives birth to a single kit: Mistkit. Ashenhawk puts Houndkit with Mistkit, and the two kits instantly snuggle up together. Sagepetal promises to Lightningfang that she will love Houndkit as if he were her own.
Lightningfang is protective over his kits, and intently watches them as they grow into apprentices. He is pleased when Mistpaw is apprenticed to Peartuft - whom Lightningfang respects. Houndpaw is given to Heatherice, whom is an acting senior warrior. Lightningfang frequently checks in with the two cats to learn of his kits' progress.
When the ThunderClan deputy, Sootfall, retires to the elders' den, Flintstar names Rootberry as his successor. Lightningfang is surprised by this choice, given that Rootberry is not that old of a warrior. He notices Peartuft clearly grow upset by this decision, and tries to ask him how he feels about it. Peartuft simply calls Flintstar foolish, and stalks away.
Lightningfang's kits become warriors, and are named Houndheart and Mistcloud. He is proud of them, and wishes that Dovewillow could have watched her son receive his full name.
When Sagepetal breaks her leg falling from a tree, Lightningfang spends all of his time with her in the medicine cat's den. He is heartbroken to learn that she could never preform her warrior duties again, and tells her that he wishes he could trade places with her. Sagepetal moves to the nursery, and Lightningfang brings her prey every day.
## Trivia

* Shortly after his warrior ceremony, Lightningfang is visited by his brothers in a dream. They are grown, and tell him that Brindlestar had given them a warrior ceremony of their own. They introduce themselves to him as Wavemask and Smallthorn.

## Quotes

"*I'm sorry, Dovewillow. I'm sorry for all the pain this has caused you. I will make sure Houndkit grows to be the best warrior in the Clan, and I know that you will always have a piece of your heart in ThunderClan.*"
—Lightningfang to Dovewillow