Blackfins

***Spoiler warning:** Plot and/or ending details follow.*

* Male
* Female
* Life image

**Blackfins** are aquatic, black-and-white animals with large dorsal fins. Revered within ShoreClan's spiritual culture, they are animals that periodically appear along the coast and travel in small groups.

## Description

Blackfins are huge, oceanic creatures that are primarily black with sparse, white markings on their underside and above their eyes. They don't usually come too close to the shore and are seen in groups no larger than eight individuals. Their large dorsal fins are the most prominent feature, with some Blackfins having large, towering and imposing fins that stand tall above the water. Others, appear to be smaller with fins that hook over. Their young are also quite common, appearing all year round and are noticeably smaller than the adult Blackfins. Some cats have observed that the young sometimes have a pinkish-orange colour instead of the brilliant white the adults have.
They are predatory animals, however, do not view cats as suitable food. Instead, they have been observed killing longfins and corralling fish as well. Some more gifted medicine cats used to note the appearances of Blackfins, noticing more sightings and celebrations in leaf-bare and new-leaf. This was first noticed and documented by Ihe-Me'na, who was notably attached and drawn to the water by the visitations of the Blackfins.
## Relation to cats

Blackfins reside in the ocean relative to the Clans' territory and pose little threat to cats or their prey. ShoreClan cats know better than to directly interact with them, and in known history, no cat has had any direct interaction with a living Blackfin. Extremely rarely, do they come close enough to the shore or in other cases their deceased wash ashore. Only in death, would a cat be able to directly interact however no known instances of this have occurred. Due to the spiritual connection with Blackfins, ShoreClan do not view them as a threat and instead treat them with the utmost respect and reverence.
### Spiritual Connection

Spiritually, Blackfins are quite important to ShoreClan. Most believe they are their ancestors reincarnated and represent a physical form from StarClan that ties them to the mortal world. Others also share the belief that the Blackfins are a sort of guardian of their ancestors, a belief once shared by Hali and her mother before her. When there are sightings of large groups of Blackfins it's a sight to be celebrated both spiritually and culturally within the Clan. It is beleived that these large sightings will coincide with a good hunting season or season of many births within the Clan. The medicine cat can also interpret the sightings as signs from StarClan if there are other contributing factors. Lone Blackfin sightings are rare and are ofted observed as strange and are most commonly interpreted as a sign from their ancestors.
An example of this happening is Fogstar's bizarre disappearance for moons from ShoreClan. Oatflower and Salmonclaw, ShoreClan's medicine cat and deputy respectively, witnessed a lone Blackfin in the bay with no others in the immediate area. The pair were initially sceptical, as it had already been sometime since Fogstar had gone missing. Salmonclaw thought the sighting was a trick of the waves. However, subsequent patrols from the day also mentioned the sighting of a lone Blackfin soon put to rest the false belief. From there, Oatflower was able to interpret it as a sign from their ancestors that Fogstar had passed to StarClan and her spirit had been guided by the Blackfin. This was the final sign that Salmonclaw needed to properly assume her role as leader of ShoreClan.
## History

### In the *The ShoreClan Chronicles* arc

#### *Hali's Home*

Whilst taking her kits on a walk along the shoreline, Morning Sun points out the distant shapes of a group of Blackfins. She explains to her small kits that they are special animals and that they protect the water and their ancestors. Hali asks if they eat cats, which amuses Morning Sun but she responds that they don’t and that they only eat other larger animals called Longfins.

*More Coming Soon*
## Trivia

### Interesting facts

* The name Blackfin is considered sacred and therefore is strictly forbidden for use. The name can be broken up, making Black- and -fin both acceptable when paired with other naming conventions.
* The term is thought to have ben coined by Morning Sun, Hali's mother, many moons before the Clans were formed.
* In ShoreClan's camp there are paintings of animals that supposedly resemble Blackfins, though after years of exposure to the elements have faded and smudged.

### Author statements

* Max thought the addition of killer whales to a *Warriors* series might be too much, as the study of the marine mammal is a special interest of theirs. However, they are quite pleased to have been able to include the worldbuilding and spiritual side of killer whales as it draws inspiration from real-life indigenous cultures and beliefs.
	+ It also acts a a slight nod to the origin of many characters included in the series as they are killer whale characrers of Max's and thought it would be a nice touch.

*End of spoiler warning*
## External links

* Killers of Eden (Eastern Australia killer whales)
* Northern resident killer whales