Rippleheart

**Rippleheart** is a massive, powerful, muscular gray tabby tom with rippling stripes and blue eyes. He is known as the **Lion of RiverClan.**

## History

Ripplekit is born to Ivycloud and Foxfire. He is an only kit, and his closest friend is Runningkit in the nursery. They are apprenticed together, with Ripplekit to Otterstar and Runningkit to Birdflower. Ripplepaw trains hard under Otterstar, proud to have the Clan leader as his mentor. He practices during night too, eager to please his mentor. When Runningpaw finds out about this, he berates Ripplepaw so loudly that the entire Clan hears. Ripplepaw stops practicing at night, and Runningpaw promises to train with him more often. Birdflower and Otterstar arrange this so the two work hard together.
They are given their warrior names together, Runningflame and Rippleheart. Showing the same resolve and valor when they were apprentices, they work hard to earn the definition of a "warrior." Unfortunately, their pair of parents die by a sickness that plagued the camp. The two cats bond more in their shared grief. They notice Dapplewing, realizing how neglected she is by her family. Rippleheart makes an effort to become good friends with the tortoiseshell warrior, and he is pleasantly surprised by what a loyal and courageous warrior she is. He works hard to dispel the rumors of her, but to no avail.
He mourns Otterstar when he dies. When Dapplestar becomes leader, Rippleheart serves her as a senior warrior, alongside Runningflame, Rowanshade, Shimmerwing, and eventually Shellfall.
Although he respects his new leader, Rippleheart shows hesitation to Dapplestar's attack plan when their patrol is cornered in thickets underneath a raging storm, surrounded by rogues that double their numbers. Dapplestar decides on a counter offensive, and attacks. She wins the battle, leaving Rippleheart more in awe of her than ever.
Rippleheart cheers for Shellpaw when he is made a warrior, Shellfall, and shows no anger that he instantly is welcomed as one of Dapplestar's most respected warriors. Rippleheart's friendship with the young tom deepens as the two serve Dapplestar. When Dapplestar decides to revamp her army for more victories, she makes her most trusted warriors commanders. Each cat - Dapplestar, Rippleheart, Runningflame, Rowanshade, Shimmerwing, and Shellfall have a regiment. Dapplestar trusts each cat to lead their own regiments, but reminds them that, in the end, they all fight for RiverClan.
When Shellfall is injured by a ShadowClan cat and nears the verge of death, Rippleheart sits with him every night, waiting for him to recover. He is surprised but relieved when Shellfall heals, believing that he was genuinely going to die.
Rippleheart serves as the "motherhen" of RiverClan, keeping every cat in line, even Dapplestar herself and Runningflame. This often has Shimmerwing poking fun at him.
He is an avid supporter of the war between RiverClan and ShadowClan, believing that Dapplestar knows what is best for them, and serving his leader with all his heart. Although he has doubts about Dapplestar's approaches to fighting, he does not tell anyone, believing it is best to keep them quiet.
Rippleheart is then awarded with another apprentice, Petalpaw. However, one day, he finds Petalpaw's bloodied body in the forest. Outraged, Rippleheart brings his apprentice's body to camp and demands to know who did this. Dapplestar feigns surprise, although she was behind it this entire time, infuriating Petalpaw's friend, Icepaw. She reassures Rippleheart that the murderer will be found, and Rippleheart volunteers to search for the murderer himself. Dapplestar assigns the task to Icepaw, the ShadowClan hostage. Eventually, Rippleheart is provided with the information that a ShadowClan cat did that, and he instantly ensures his support for an invasion of ShadowClan land.
After Dapplestar disappears in a roaring inferno after being confronted by Shimmerwing, Shellfall is outraged at this and declares Shimmerwing an enemy of Dapplestar, no matter how close the two were. Rippleheart finds out about this, and gathers Runningflame and Rowanshade together. Rowanshade and Shellfall agree that even though Dapplestar's tactics were inhumane and gruesome and she had turned into a tyrant, they were still loyal to the warrior code, and Shimmerwing had killed her own leader. Runningflame defects, unable to excuse Dapplestar's actions and unable to follow the warrior code because of it. Rippleheart is heartbroken to know that he will fight his dearest friend in battle.
Rippleheart follows Shellfall, as his heart is tied to the warrior code and he feels it is his duty to avenge his leader, which the popular belief is that she was killed by her own deputy. On the fateful rainy day, Shellfall, Rowanshade, and Rippleheart sit together in camp. The air is heavy as they scout the battle plan. They know that they are fighting against the cats they served with together as a combined force, but they are unable to break away from their ideals of their leader being killed and the code being broken. Shellfall leads his cats out of camp to find a hillside where Shimmerwing is already set out ways across, and Rippleheart camps next to him. Through the hills, Shimmerwing and Shellfall see each other. There is a pause, and no cat moves. Then, Shellfall lets out a battle cry. Shimmerwing meets it, and the two sides charge. Shellfall's warriors outnumber Shimmerwing's greatly, but Shimmerwing still fights. Fighting alongside Shellfall and Rowanshade Rippleheart throws himself into the fray, grimly aware that he is inevitably going to have to face Runningflame or Shimmerwing. He is eventually forced to face Runningflame, and the two pause, unable to fight each other. But the battle is at a stalemate, and cats from both sidees urge them to fight. Runningflame starts the battle, charging into Rippleheart, who defends himself from Runningflame's attacks. Rippleheart stops to see a second wave of cats bearing down on him - cats he knew should not be there. Rippleheart dislodges Runningflame from his body and races to meet Shellfall to inform him of the news.
Rippleheart says that they should keep fighting, that the battle is not over until they all are dead. Shellfall mutters softly that the lives he should be focusing on are the ones that are still there - less than half of the cats Shellfall had originally brought out. Rippleheart falters, and Shellfall takes the remainder of his troops that are still living back to RiverClan's camp, knowing they cannot win the battle - staying out there would mean being massacred. He pleads with them to surrender, but they deny. Shellfall pleads again, and Rippleheart finally understands that Shellfall cannot die, not in RiverClan's camp. He urges Shellfall to go on, and Shellfall shakes loose a tuft of mottled fur from his shoulders. He tells Rippleheart to give it to Shimmerwing in a sign of surrender. Rippleheart says he will.
Under the cloak of night, the few remnants of the battle patrol leave to confront Shimmerwing, while Shellfall disappears. Shimmerwing is shocked when she sees what remains of Shellfall's troops, and almost attacks until Rippleheart drops the tuft of fur and explains to her that Shellfall surrenders. Shimmerwing asks what happened to Shellfall, but his cats refuse to answer. Rippleheart declares his loyalty to Shimmerwing, and proves this by continuing to serve RiverClan, despite his feelings on what had happened.
Because they were Dapplestar's senior warriors and had fought for Shellfall, Rippleheart and Rowanshade are treated like outsiders in the Clan, despite their previous positions. This frustrates Rippleheart to no end, but he knows he must work for their trust again, even though he believes that fighting for his leader was right, even though Dapplestar's actions were to be condemned. Runningflame and Rippleheart meet each other for the first time since the battle, with Runningflame ordered to guard Rippleheart to make sure he does not betray them again. Runningflame asks him to forgive him, Rippleheart curtly says there is nothing to forgive, as Rippleheart followed his ideals, and Runningflame followed his principles. Rippleheart assures him that they never stopped being friends, and they always will be, no matter what. Runningflame is visibly relieved at this and promises Rippleheart he will do what he can to make Shimmerstar see that he is trustworthy again. They continue to walk across the riverbank, and Runningflame finally asks Rippleheart what happened to Shellfall. Rippleheart stops, and tells Runningflame that Shellfall did not fight for evil or out of tyranny - he fought for the warrior code. Runningflame assures him that he understands this, but he does not know where Shellfall is. Rippleheart replies honestly that Shellfall is probably dead.
Rippleheart decides to speak to Shimmerstar, to explain his actions. He tells her that he cannot apologize for fighting for Shellfall, but he can apologize for what he had done in the battle - striking down his own Clanmates. He explains that he had not cared if he lived or died, believing that his only worth as a warrior was to live to fight, ignoring everything else. He tells her that he will not forget, or let it go, but he still wants to live and see the future. Shimmerstar takes stock of him and accepts his words.
When Rippleheart is told the truth about Petalpaw's death, he breaks down, blaming himself. He is close to going to ShadowClan to challenge Icestorm to a battle one on one, but is stopped by Shimmerstar.
He falls in love with Darkshadow, realizing that his duties as a senior warrior should not get in the way of his personal life. Darkshadow becomes pregnant with his kits, much to Rippleheart's happiness. Runningflame assures him he will make a great father.
## Personality

Gracious and loyal, Rippleheart is one of RiverClan's most respected warriors. He is cool, calm, and composed, and works hard to serve RiverClan, putting his loyalty above everything. He is one of the most powerful warriors in RiverClan, and does not hesitate to use that to his advantage when confronting warriors from other Clans. He has a soft spot for apprentices and kits, despite his gruff exterior. He cares very much about his Clanmates, often being the ones to put them in line, even his Clan leader and deputy. However, he can also be very stern and gruff when it comes to dealing with Clan matters.
## Trivia

* He is loyal to the warrior code, which is why he felt he had to fight for Shellfall and Dapplestar.
* He will always miss the Dapplestar he served.
* He believes that is only worth as a warrior is to fight for his Clan.
* His best friend is Runningflame.

## Theme song

* **If Today Was Your Last Day** by Nickleback

*If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late, could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last?*

## Quotes

"*I will see you again. But not yet. Not yet.*"
—Rippleheart while burying Shellfall's fur

**Rippleheart**: "*Do you remember your first Gathering?*"

**Shimmerwing**: "*Oh, yes. I had never seen so many cats.*"

**Rippleheart**: "*Your poor mother was all over the place trying to keep an eye on you.*"

**Shimmerwing**: "*It was nothing compare to your mother's worry. I think that's where you got your anxiety from.*"

—Rippleheart and Shimmerwing

"*You're only asking for death. What a waste of life.*"
—Rippleheart

"*I shall defeat all before me! To battle!*"
—Rippleheart

"*You have a keen eye for danger. I suppose there is no harm in following your lead.*"
—Rippleheart to Runningflame

"*We're warriors. We win or lose. Live or die. That is all there is for us. Live to serve, until Death. That is the vow of RiverClan... the value of my life is known by the wounds on my corpse.*"
—Rippleheart

"*We do not fight to survive … we fight to defend all those who depend upon us.*"
—Rippleheart

"*I shall never lose heart! I will fight until my dying breath!*"
—Rippleheart

"*If you believe me to be your enemy, Shimmerwing, command me, and I will gladly take my life... but... if you allow me the honor of living... I will spend the rest of my life serving RiverClan... and you.*"
—Rippleheart surrendering to Shimmerwing