Gorseflight

**Gorseflight** is a mottled gray and white tom with a grisly scar across his face and green eyes.

## History

Gorseflight is a warrior of WindClan under the leadership of Swiftstar. His closest friend is Scorchclaw. As a young warrior he often travels outside of Clan territory. Several scents are spotted in WindClan territory, and Gorseflight takes the initiative to track them down. Tracing the scent, he comes across a group of cats who formed their own colony and lived in fear from the Clans, only traveling to their territory to hunt. Gorseflight befriends these cats and sympathizes with them. He visits them every day, to the point where some of his Clanmates secretly suspect he has a mate in another Clan. One time, Russetstripe, a friend of his, tracks him down and sees him visiting the group of cats. When he leaves, Russetstripe demands to know what he is doing. Gorseflight explains to her that he finds these cats fascinating and their beliefs align closely to his. He assures her that he is not betraying his Clan, and Russetstripe believes him.
Swiftstar finds out of the existence of the colony and believes they are the reason that the prey is scarce that leaf-bare. He prepares to take a patrol to get rid of them, and Gorseflight pleads with Scorchclaw to reason with him, as Gorseflight knows that Swiftstar is merciless and will kill all of the cats. Scorchclaw promises to try, but in the end, Swiftstar refuses to listen. Swiftstar leads his patrol and orders them to leave no cat alive. The WindClan patrol kill most of the rogues, leaving only a few survivors. Gorseflight fights against them, and cuts down a fellow Clanmate. Swiftstar is horrified, and is mere moments away from killing Gorseflight. Russetstripe interferes on his behalf, pleading with her father to spare his life. Swiftstar reluctantly agrees and exiles Gorseflight, telling him that if he is ever seen on their territory again, he will kill him.
Moons later, he reappears with the surviving rogues, planning his revenge against Swiftstar. When he finds out that Swiftstar is dead, he decides to attack Scorchclaw - now Scorchstar, as he finds Scorchstar equally to blame. He crosses ThunderClan territory and while hiding behind undergrowth, tells one of their young apprentices that WindClan plans to invade. He does the same thing to a young WindClan warrior as well, telling her that ThunderClan is intent on taking their territory. Later, when Gorseflight is in ThunderClan territory, he comes across Ravenfeather. Ravenfeather attacks Gorseflight, but Gorseflight wins the fight and sends her away. Out of curiosity, Gorseflight follows his trail and finds the young warrior dead. He takes the body and drags it to WindClan's border, making it seem like the moorland Clan had killed the ThunderClan cat.
This causes tension between the Clans, which Gorseflight fully takes advantage of. During a Gathering, he sneaks into camp and kidnaps Wildheart. He brings her to a deserted ravine and traps her there, and apologizes to her for doing what he must do in order to kill Scorchstar. He greets her coldly, telling her that she will be his implement of torture to bring Scorchstar to his knees. Gorseflight is given news by his followers, Orion and Saturn, who tell him that Scorchstar has lost a life in a battle. Wildheart overhears this, distraught, and Gorseflight orders her to be silent. Later, Wildheart asks him why he is still alive. Gorseflight turns to her and tells her that he is only alive to see the moment Scorchstar's face contorts in agony, and although he has no qualms with Wildheart, he can only beg for her forgiveness in doing what he has to do.
Iceheart tries to rescue Wildheart, but Gorseflight captures her and orders her imprisoned. Iceheart notices Gorseflight tending to one of his followers' wounds, and Iceheart believes he is not as ruthless as everyone says he is. Gorseflight goes to speak to her, and states that he will not kill her yet. Iceheart is visibly relieved, and asks Gorseflight why he hates Scorchstar so much. She asks if it is because of all the allies he lost in battle. Gorseflight pauses, and asks if that is what he told her. Iceheart replies that on the occasions he has spoken to her, it was not because of him. Gorseflight then asks why she thinks that, and Iceheart says it is because of what others thought. Gorseflight tells her what matters most is him seeking his revenge. Iceheart asks if he can just talk to him face-to-face, so that no one dies. Gorseflight chuckles at her and says her solution is not perfect, for she cannot save everyone. He walks away, but Iceheart is alerted to a wound on his shoulder. She calls out to him, suggesting that they treat the wound. Gorseflight asks if she is trying to gain his sympathy so that he would release her, and Iceheart denies it. Gorseflight tells her that she is better off praying the wound got infected, and Iceheart shakes her head, saying that everyone should be treated. Gorseflight says she is dangerously naïve. Iceheart asks him why he was treating one of his followers for their wounds when he does not know about medicine.
Iceheart continues to try to reason with Gorseflight, but to no avail. Scorchstar leads a patrol to rescue Wildheart. Iceheart begs Gorseflight not to fight, but Gorseflight tells her he is a demon and he cannot grant her request. Gorseflight takes his moment and attacks Scorchstar, and the two engage in a deadly fight, meeting blow for blow as they had trained with each other for moons. Gorseflight, however, is out of practice, but his anger and fury gets the best of him and he attacks again without any disregard for his moves. Scorchstar defeats him and tells him to leave WindClan, or else he will keep him captive and allow him to live, when all Gorseflight wanted to do was see him dead, regardless if it took his own life or not. Iceheart goes over to Gorseflight and tells him they will spare his followers. Iceheart adds that they do not want to see him die. Gorseflight thanks her, and tells her she is far radiant, and he is glad their paths crossed - it gave him happiness and suffering. Iceheart starts to ask what he means, and Gorseflight tells her that she is to never see him again. He leaves, and Iceheart prays under her breath that he finds someone to help him. Goreflight bids farewell to Saturn and Orion and leaves territory.
He lives out the rest of his days in the Dragon Blood Tree, where Wyvern gives him permission to practice the religion that he and the rogue cats had followed.

## Quotes

"*Soon, my brethren. Soon I will be able to bring repose to your souls.*"
—Gorseflight

"*Those poor cats. He makes them his own and takes them on his bloody conquests... and soon, they will fall into the paws of a true demon. Me.*"
—Gorseflight

"*...You cannot stop the coming calamity, Scorchstar.*"
—Gorseflight

**Gorseflight**: "*...What a nice way for us to reunite.*"

**Wildheart**: "*I wish we never reunited at all. Why am I here?*"

**Gorseflight**: "*You will be the implement of torture to bring the devil to his knees. You pitiable creature. If you had never fallen in love with him, you would not have to suffer like this.*"

—Gorseflight and Wildheart

"*Love is a sickness. Binding you. Eating at you until there's nothing left.*"
—Gorseflight to Wildheart

**Gorseflight**: "*It doesn't change anything. What's an innocent life to WindClan? To Scorchstar? I dragged her body back to the border to start a war with ThunderClan.*"

**Iceheart**: "*If you’re angry at him for all the lives you lost, why start another war? And why start a war with ThunderClan? You’re just killing more innocent cats! To avenge yourself on one cat?*"

**Gorseflight**: "*I have no other choice. My brethren and I have always lacked the numbers and training to fight Scorchstar. When you let hardened troops face against hardened troops, of course cats will die. All we had to sustain us were our emotions. Do you know which emotion grants the most strength?*"

**Iceheart**: "*You tell me.*"
**Gorseflight**: "*Hatred. Hatred. The hatred that all of Scorchstar’s victims hold for him. Hatred became my strength after my loss. Hatred kept my brethren alive, and hatred unified them. If they were content, their anger forgotten, would they have come in such numbers when I called?*"
**Iceheart**: "*But you incited them-*"
**Gorseflight**: "*I know what I have done. And I will bear the indelible burden of every innocent soul I have harmed. I plan to die in this battle, knowing my death alone cannot atone for the great evil I have done. But as a martyr, my death will ensure that my brethrens’ hatred for Scorchstar burns everlasting.*"
**Iceheart**: "*That's-*"
**Gorseflight**: "*When WindClan is weakened enough by ThunderClan’s attack, the other Clans will rise up. Across the land, each Clan leader will see the shift in power and seize the chance to destroy WindClan themselves.*"
**Iceheart**: "*Involving the other territories will just start the fighting all over again!*"
**Gorseflight**: "*That is my aim. This isn’t a powerless rebellion smashing itself against a dominant power. This will be a lesson to all to change. Do as Scorchstar did, and your world will crumble around you. From his ruins, a new world will be built. One where the weak will no longer be trampled.*"

—Iceheart and Gorseflight

**Iceheart**: "*Even if this creates the world you’re talking about, is it worth all those victims? Your own life?*"

**Gorseflight**: "*Yes.*"

**Iceheart**: "*But you're wrong!*"

**Gorseflight**: "*Why?*"
**Iceheart**: "*The world you’re talking about creating will be built on a foundation of war, death, and hatred. When you plant it with those horrible seeds, why do you imagine anything else will grow?*"
**Gorseflight**: "*Then can you stop this war with righteousness and justice?*"
**Iceheart**: "*I won’t say what I can do. Not yet. But I will stick to what I believe. Emotions can strengthen you, but they can overwhelm you too.*"
**Gorseflight**: "*Why do you talk as if such a thing is any more than a delusion?*"
**Iceheart**: "*Wouldn’t you rather live and help us change the world too, without using the tools we all hate?*"
**Gorseflight**: "*My life might mean your death. How can you make that offer? It is too late for me. For those who follow me. We cannot turn back.*"
**Iceheart**: "*Don’t give up! I know we can figure this out if we just keep talking!*"
**Gorseflight**: "*We cannot.*"

—Iceheart and Gorseflight

"*The only reason I’m still alive, Wildheart, is to witness the moment Scorchstar’s face contorts in agony. Though I have no qualms with you, I can only beg for your forgiveness in what I have to do.*"
—Gorseflight to Wildheart

**Icehear**: "*Gorseflight Please, won't you just surrender?*"

**Gorseflight**: "*What...?*"

**Iceheart**: "*You don't have to hurt anyone. You can start by saving yourself.*"

**Gorseflight**: "*I do not wish to be saved-*"
**Iceheart**: "*I want you to be saved! I'm sick to death of seeing the nicest cats suffer the most in war! All I know is that there is a cat in front of me who used to be kind. A part of whom still is!*"
**Gorseflight**: "*I cannot grant your request. I am a demon. I do not care what you think or wish…! I am doing what I must.*"

—Gorseflight and Iceheart

**Gorseflight**: "*Hush now. Even if I fall, as long as our allies live, their enmity for Scorchstar will burn on. But think, if they were to sacrifice themselves meaninglessly in trying to protect me, what would happen? It would diminish the will of our future allies. We must prioritize our cause above all else.*"

**Orion**: "*Gorseflight...*"

**Gorseflight**: "*You must understand. There was never a plan where we all got out alive. I want all of you to escape as well. Do not waste your lives here.*"

—Gorseflight, Orion, and Saturn

**Gorseflight**: "*They will spare my followers?*"

**Iceheart**: "*I’m sure your brethren wouldn’t want you to die with them.*"

**Gorseflight**: "*It’s been a long time since I’ve felt any emotion but hatred. But when I was told my brethren had been spared… I felt relief.*"

**Iceheart**: "*Then-*"
**Gorseflight**: "*I thought only a demon could kill a devil, but I failed in becoming even that.*"
**Iceheart**: "*That’s because you’re not a demon. You never were, Gorseflight. ...*You were so kind once. That kindness is still inside of you. You let hatred take over because you couldn’t bear the sadness. *Wouldn’t that make you happier than what you’re doing now?*"
**Gorseflight**: "*I can never be happy again. Not after what I’ve done. I foreswore my own joy and salvation when I buried the bodies of my brethren.*"
**Iceheart**: "*You’re alive. Your followers are too. Being alive gives you a chance. And a choice.*"
**Gorseflight**: "*You are far radiant. That our paths crossed even temporarily has brought me great joy and great suffering.*"
**Iceheart**: "*What do you mean...?*"
**Gorseflight**: "*Forgive me, Iceheart. You are never to see me again.*"
**Iceheart**: "*Gorseflight… I pray there’s someone out there who will pull you back from the darkness swallowing you. But Iceheart was not the one to reach him. Still, as long as he’s alive, there’s a chance he can find peace and a better purpose in life.*"

—Gorseflight and Iceheart parting