Talonstar

**Talonstar** is a massive, broad-shouldered, powerful dark brown tabby tom with a pale chest and amber eyes.

## History

Talonclaw is appointed deputy to Lionstar, and serves the golden tabby loyally. When Lionstar becomes ill, Talonclaw takes over his duties. Talonclaw stays behind Lionstar's side for his remaining days, refusing to leave his beloved leader. He watches over him as Lionstar breathes his final breath, telling Talonclaw that the winds were blowing towards a new direction, and that he left everything to Talonclaw.
After Lionstar dies, Talonclaw sits for a few moments, feeling utterly defeated that he lost the cat most important to him. Birdflight enters the den, shocked at Lionstar's death, but tells Talonclaw that life goes on, and he must claim his leader name and nine lives at the Moonpool.
Talonclaw and Birdflight travel together to the Moonpool, and Talonclaw receives his nine lives and name, becoming Talonstar. Talonstar appoints Shrewfur, his closest friend and trusted adviser, as his deputy, and the two cats serve together loyally for a period of time, working together to bring ShadowClan into an age of prosperity.
Tensions between RiverClan and ShadowClan rise due to Dapplestar's arrogant personality colliding with Talonstar's own fierce honor. Dapplestar seeks to take his territory and his Clan away from him. When Stoneheart and Thistlestorm are caught on RiverClan territory, Dapplestar holds them as hostages and to teach Talonstar a lesson in the warrior code, prepares to have them executed. When Talonstar is told that the young warriors were trapped, he sends a patrol, leading it himself, to ambush Dapplestar and save his warriors. Dapplestar is taken aback and Talonstar attacks her fiercely, taking one of her lives. Dapplestar fights back, injuring Talonstar to the point where Nightfire and Cactusclaw drag him to an unused den and are forced to watch him bleed out. When Talonstar recovers, despite shouts from Nightfire, he walks calmly to Dapplestar, who was also recovering, that if she wanted a war, she had one. Dapplestar watches him coldly as Talonstar gathers his warriors and leaves camp.
Talonstar holds war councils often with his senior warriors, and fights Dapplestar back each day as she sends more and more attack patrols. In one of these battles, his deputy is killed by one of Dapplestar's Divine Generals. Outraged, Talonstar orders that no mercy is to be shown to the RiverClan patrols when they attack. He appoints Nightfire as his deputy.
Weakened by the constant attacks from RiverClan, Talonstar visits ThunderClan with Nightfire, to see Rootstar and Sunfire. Sunfire is shocked to see Talonstar, who, despite having been close friends when they were both young warriors, had not seen him a while, save for Gatherings. Talonstar pleads for help, admitting to his Clan's vulnerability. Rootstar agrees to help ShadowClan, and the patrols he sends out are the only factors that stops ShadowClan from being completely destroyed all together.
Dapplestar's attacks have taken lives off of Talonstar, and made him weaker than before, but he cannot afford to show that to his Clan. One day, Dapplestar visits ShadowClan spontaneously, with no guide or escort. This move of bravery surprises Talonstar, and he briefly admires it before coming to meet her. Dapplestar brusquely states that the attacks on ShadowClan will cease only if ShadowClan sends them a hostage. Talonstar is taken aback, and Dapplestar leaves.
Dustcloud, one of Talonstar's senior warriors, suggests that his own kit, Icekit, be the hostage. Talonstar is shocked, and asks why. Dustcloud replies simply that the kit is a bad omen. Talonstar vehemently rejects the idea - unless Lilypetal agrees. Lilypetal denies this, but a couple days later, she visits Talonstar with Dustcloud, saying that she saw the error of her ways and it is the right option to give Icekit up. Talonstar gazes at the both of them, sensing there is something more going on. He notices the sadness in Lilypetal's eyes, and is about to speak, but is interrupted by the cry of a dying warrior in the medicine den. Frustrated and dismayed, Talonstar reluctantly accepts their decision. The next day, Dustcloud brings Icekit to the RiverClan border and leaves her there.
Each day, Talonstar struggles mentally. He does not know if he should surrender to RiverClan, as if he did, Dapplestar may torture them all or kill them. He knows that as long as he keeps fighting that his cats will die, and he blames himself heavily for giving up a vulnerable kit. The guilt takes its toll on Talonstar as he hears that RiverClan is attacking once again. Talonstar leads the patrol this time to see that his territory is being set on fire - Dapplestar had figured out how to use Twoleg fire in order to raze territories. Furious, Talonstar hunts Dapplestar out, with Nightfire following him. From the shadows, Dapplestar traps Nightfire underneath a tree, working it so he cannot move. Talonstar attempts to rescue him, but Dapplestar ambushes him, taking him by surprise. The two leaders fight relentlessly, but Talonstar weakens underneath Dapplestar's precise and hard blows. Dapplestar eventually kills Talonstar, to the point where she takes his head as well.
## Personality

Talonstar is a gruff, no-nonsense leader. He upholds the warrior code and does not tolerate breaking it. Those who commit crimes against ShadowClan and the code are given heavy punishments by Talonstar. As a younger warrior, he was known to be very ruthless, but he promised to calm his ways once he became deputy. Despite this, he is powerful and gives off an authoritative vibe. The cats of ShadowClan are loyal to him and appreciate his style of leadership, knowing that his love for his Clan is the most important thing to him. He would give his life for a word embedded in the heart of every ShadowClan warrior: honor.

## Quotes

"*He did not know Dapplestar personally, but he did know the burden she bore. It was the burden of a deep sorrow that could never be truly understand... save for those who must bear it by having to lead others.*"
—Talonstar's thoughts

"*I knew I could rely on you to come. I am blessed with such wonderful allies. Join me as we cut through this adversity!*"
—Talonstar

"*You have beaten me, but you will not defeat my honor!*"
—Talonstar

"*Fear is powerless against a noble spirit!*"
—Talonstar

"*Your ambitions will destroy everything I'm fighting for. I will never stop!*"
—Talonstar

**Dapplestar**: "*Any last words… Talonclaw? Why, how you’ve grown since you were that little warrior I met at the Gathering years back. I have to say, I never thought we would be at war with each other. We were friends. Such a shame it had to end like this.*"

**Talonstar**: "*Same goes to you, Dapplewing. I have never feared you. You will not win. The blood of ShadowClan warriors runs true in their veins, and they will rise from the ashes you burnt them on. You will never defeat them.*"

**Dapplestar**: "*Is that so. So how is it that I have driven them past their borders already? I have taken your territory, your camp. I have killed most of your warriors. Yet you sit here, underneath my grasp, ready to die, and you dare tell me that you do not fear me? Ridiculous!*"

**Talonstar**: "*Yes. I do not fear you. That’s what you want, isn’t it? To be feared? It doesn’t work. It’s never worked. You may be the Devil Queen, but not once have I faltered in the face of you. You can take my last life, right here, right now, but I will go to StarClan knowing that my warriors will continue the fight against you until you are dead.*"
**Dapplestar**: "*Really. Any last words?*"
**Talonstar**: "*You may think I am at your mercy… giving me a glorious death… but I will die right here, as I always wished, the death of a leader fighting for the lives of his warriors.* I’ve had a happy life, Dapplestar. I’ll die as a warrior’s death.'**"**

—Talonstar and Dapplestar's final battle

"*I have no regrets... This is a victory for honor...*"
—Talonstar

"*Well done, my righteous warrior. We must fight on until all evil has been banished from this land.*"
—Talonstar

"*Two defeats we have suffered, but we must not give up! True honor knows no enemies! Heaven is on our side!*"
—Talonstar

"*I must recognize my defeat... and beg forgiveness of my ancestors. They have protected my Clan for hundreds of years... and I have failed them.*"
—Talonstar

"*If I fall... how can I face everyone who's died for me?*"
—Talonstar

**Dapplestar**: "*Your warriors are out there, against mine. You know the power of RiverClan, you have experienced it many times, yet still you continue to fight. Your warriors will die today, and it will be because of you.*"

**Talonstar**: "*Not if I save them first.*"

—Talonstar and Dapplestar