I just re-read Bluestar's Prophecy
Mar 9, 2020 17:25:58 GMT -5
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Mar 9, 2020 17:25:58 GMT -5
And I still don't see the appeal over Thistleclaw, especially when it's already been shown plenty of times already that while he was loyal, he was also arrogant and battle-hungry.
It wasn't Bluestar's place to decide who Snowfur became mates with, but it's not like she didn't have a reason to think this. Thistleclaw was arrogant even as a kit, as shown when he brushed Snowpaw off when she had offered to teach him what she had learned.
Under any other circumstances, I would've just brushed this aside since kids do dumb things all the time, if it weren't for the fact that he just gets worse as he gets older. For example, he showed annoyance when Bluefur was picked to lead a patrol he was going on and gave her a hard time because of this.
Given Thistleclaw's behavior at this point, I really don't blame Bluefur for not approving of the relationship.
Later on, he tried to teach Whitekit advanced battle moves and even threatened Bluefur to stay away from his son.
He was harsh on his apprentice.
He goaded Tigerpaw into attacking Tiny.
He was pretty dismissive over his son getting hurt.
He also nearly killed Oakheart and vowed to mark ThunderClan with the blood of ThunderClan's enemies.
I don't care how bias Bluestar supposedly was. There's a difference between a bias PoV and a certain character genuinely being horrible, and there's actual proof that Thistleclaw didn't have that many good qualities to him besides being loyal to his Clan and being a good mate and father, and even this is called into question thanks to Crookedstar's Promise.
And it's not like Bluestar was the only one who didn't trust him at least as far as him being leader was concerned.
And apparently he didn't get any better even after Bluestar became leader, though we never actually see it. I also wouldn't necessarily call Bluestar completely bias since she does acknowledge that he was a strong warrior, just one who happened to be too battle-hungry.
Then of course there's the whole thing in Spottedleaf's Heart, which I will not get into and this is focusing on his actions prior to that novella, anyway.
And before anyone comes at me with this, just because I'm criticizing Thistleclaw does NOT in any way mean that I think Bluestar is perfect or anything. She has her own flaws as well (which is actually why I like her in the first place) and I actually have alot of problems with her SE in general, but I just happen to think that Thistleclaw was worse. I also never thought he was that interesting of a character, which just disappoints me most of all. There's alot of wasted potential there.
It wasn't Bluestar's place to decide who Snowfur became mates with, but it's not like she didn't have a reason to think this. Thistleclaw was arrogant even as a kit, as shown when he brushed Snowpaw off when she had offered to teach him what she had learned.
Rosekit, Sweetkit, and Thistlekit came dashing across the clearing, mewing excitedly.
“You’re apprentices!” Sweetkit squealed.
Rosekit skipped around them. “We’ll miss you in the nursery.”
Thistlekit’s eyes were dark with annoyance. “If you’re apprentices, I don’t see why I can’t be. I’m almost as big as you.”
Sweetkit rolled her eyes. “No, you’re just always boasting!”
“Don’t worry, Thistlekit!” Snowpaw reassured him. “I’ll teach you every battle move I learn.”
Thistlekit stuck his nose in the air. “I’m already a better fighter than you’ll ever be!” he huffed.
“You’re apprentices!” Sweetkit squealed.
Rosekit skipped around them. “We’ll miss you in the nursery.”
Thistlekit’s eyes were dark with annoyance. “If you’re apprentices, I don’t see why I can’t be. I’m almost as big as you.”
Sweetkit rolled her eyes. “No, you’re just always boasting!”
“Don’t worry, Thistlekit!” Snowpaw reassured him. “I’ll teach you every battle move I learn.”
Thistlekit stuck his nose in the air. “I’m already a better fighter than you’ll ever be!” he huffed.
Under any other circumstances, I would've just brushed this aside since kids do dumb things all the time, if it weren't for the fact that he just gets worse as he gets older. For example, he showed annoyance when Bluefur was picked to lead a patrol he was going on and gave her a hard time because of this.
“Adderfang, Thistlepaw, Smallear, and Robinwing.” The cats straightened as he called their names. “You will hunt.”
Thistlepaw circled his mentor, tail up.
“Bluefur will lead the patrol,” Sunfall added.
“What?” Thistlepaw stared at Bluefur.
“You heard me.” Sunfall padded away to join Poppydawn, leaving Bluefur to face the spiky apprentice’s disbelieving glare.
Thistlepaw cocked his head to one side. “So where are we going to hunt?”
“Snakerocks.” Bluefur blurted out the first place that came into her head.
Adderfang watched her coolly. “Risky,” he meowed. “But it might be worth it. No cat has hunted there for a moon.”
“Because it’s infested with adders and foxes,” Thistlepaw sneered.
Bluefur’s tail whisked the ground. “You’re not scared, are you?” She stared at him. She was not going to be intimidated by an apprentice, even if he was bigger than her now. She was a warrior, and she deserved his respect. She glanced at Robinwing and Smallear. “Ready?”
Smallear nodded and Robinwing plucked the ground as if she couldn’t wait to get moving.
“Good.” Bluefur headed for the gorse tunnel, praying her patrol was following. As she padded out of camp she heard, with relief, paw steps following behind. She led her Clanmates up the ravine and into the forest.
“Why are we taking the long route?” Thistlepaw called as Bluefur headed into a gully toward Snakerocks.
Bluefur hesitated, suddenly doubting her sense of direction.
“This way’s not so steep,” Robinwing meowed. “And it’s softer on the paws.”
“Yeah, right,” Thistlepaw muttered.
Bluefur pressed on.
“Why don’t we take this shortcut?” Thistlepaw scampered ahead of her and leaped onto a fallen log. He flicked his tail toward a thick bramble.
“We’d lose our pelts in there,” Bluefur snapped. Was he going to undermine her every paw step of the way?
“Just fall in behind, Thistlepaw,” Adderfang ordered. “Save your energy for hunting.”
Thistlepaw padded sulkily to the back of the patrol.
Ahead of them, a branch rustled with life. Bluefur halted and crouched, signaling for her patrol to copy her. There was no harm in bagging a bird or two on the way. She crept slowly forward, eyeing the leaves as they twitched to reveal a small song thrush.
“Are we hunting at Snakerocks or what?” Thistlepaw mewed loudly.
The thrush fluttered up into the higher branches calling an alarm.
He did that on purpose!
“Thistlepaw!” Smallear scolded. “Now every piece of prey will know we’re here.”
But Adderfang had already turned on his apprentice. “We’re hunting for the Clan!” he hissed.
Thistlepaw crouched apologetically as Adderfang bared his teeth, but managed to flash a sly look of triumph at Bluefur.
Thistlepaw circled his mentor, tail up.
“Bluefur will lead the patrol,” Sunfall added.
“What?” Thistlepaw stared at Bluefur.
“You heard me.” Sunfall padded away to join Poppydawn, leaving Bluefur to face the spiky apprentice’s disbelieving glare.
Thistlepaw cocked his head to one side. “So where are we going to hunt?”
“Snakerocks.” Bluefur blurted out the first place that came into her head.
Adderfang watched her coolly. “Risky,” he meowed. “But it might be worth it. No cat has hunted there for a moon.”
“Because it’s infested with adders and foxes,” Thistlepaw sneered.
Bluefur’s tail whisked the ground. “You’re not scared, are you?” She stared at him. She was not going to be intimidated by an apprentice, even if he was bigger than her now. She was a warrior, and she deserved his respect. She glanced at Robinwing and Smallear. “Ready?”
Smallear nodded and Robinwing plucked the ground as if she couldn’t wait to get moving.
“Good.” Bluefur headed for the gorse tunnel, praying her patrol was following. As she padded out of camp she heard, with relief, paw steps following behind. She led her Clanmates up the ravine and into the forest.
“Why are we taking the long route?” Thistlepaw called as Bluefur headed into a gully toward Snakerocks.
Bluefur hesitated, suddenly doubting her sense of direction.
“This way’s not so steep,” Robinwing meowed. “And it’s softer on the paws.”
“Yeah, right,” Thistlepaw muttered.
Bluefur pressed on.
“Why don’t we take this shortcut?” Thistlepaw scampered ahead of her and leaped onto a fallen log. He flicked his tail toward a thick bramble.
“We’d lose our pelts in there,” Bluefur snapped. Was he going to undermine her every paw step of the way?
“Just fall in behind, Thistlepaw,” Adderfang ordered. “Save your energy for hunting.”
Thistlepaw padded sulkily to the back of the patrol.
Ahead of them, a branch rustled with life. Bluefur halted and crouched, signaling for her patrol to copy her. There was no harm in bagging a bird or two on the way. She crept slowly forward, eyeing the leaves as they twitched to reveal a small song thrush.
“Are we hunting at Snakerocks or what?” Thistlepaw mewed loudly.
The thrush fluttered up into the higher branches calling an alarm.
He did that on purpose!
“Thistlepaw!” Smallear scolded. “Now every piece of prey will know we’re here.”
But Adderfang had already turned on his apprentice. “We’re hunting for the Clan!” he hissed.
Thistlepaw crouched apologetically as Adderfang bared his teeth, but managed to flash a sly look of triumph at Bluefur.
With a flash of satisfaction, Bluefur leaped up the rocks, her mouth open to taste the air for prey signs. Smallear disappeared into the undergrowth while Adderfang and Robinwing each took a different route up the boulders.
“Look out!” Thistlepaw yowled.
Bluefur tensed, glancing over her shoulder. “What?”
“Nothing,” he reported, studying something on the ground by his front paws. “Just a beetle.”
Scowling, Bluefur returned to the hunt.
Mouse.
She scented it a moment before she saw a shadow flicker in the crevice between two boulders. Pricking her ears to check for the slither of scales, she crouched. No sign of any snakes. She shot a forepaw down the fissure and hooked out the mouse. Killing it quickly, she tossed it down onto the ground beside Thistlepaw.
“Guard it, don’t eat it,” she told him.
Thistlepaw flashed her a look of fury, but she just turned and climbed to the top of the rocks.
“Snake!” Thistlepaw’s alarm call made Bluefur spin around and peer over the edge, clinging on with her claws as the ground spun far below.
Thistlepaw was looking up at her innocently. “Oops!” he mewed. “It was just Smallear’s tail sticking out of the ferns.”
“Look out!” Thistlepaw yowled.
Bluefur tensed, glancing over her shoulder. “What?”
“Nothing,” he reported, studying something on the ground by his front paws. “Just a beetle.”
Scowling, Bluefur returned to the hunt.
Mouse.
She scented it a moment before she saw a shadow flicker in the crevice between two boulders. Pricking her ears to check for the slither of scales, she crouched. No sign of any snakes. She shot a forepaw down the fissure and hooked out the mouse. Killing it quickly, she tossed it down onto the ground beside Thistlepaw.
“Guard it, don’t eat it,” she told him.
Thistlepaw flashed her a look of fury, but she just turned and climbed to the top of the rocks.
“Snake!” Thistlepaw’s alarm call made Bluefur spin around and peer over the edge, clinging on with her claws as the ground spun far below.
Thistlepaw was looking up at her innocently. “Oops!” he mewed. “It was just Smallear’s tail sticking out of the ferns.”
Given Thistleclaw's behavior at this point, I really don't blame Bluefur for not approving of the relationship.
Later on, he tried to teach Whitekit advanced battle moves and even threatened Bluefur to stay away from his son.
He turned to Whitekit, and tumbled him out of the nursery with a hefty paw. “Now, young warrior, are you ready to practice those battle moves I showed you?” He pushed his way out after his kit. “You never know when some mangy RiverClan furball is going to steal into camp.”
Bluefur followed, her ears twitching. Whitekit was too young for battle training. “He might get hurt!” she protested.
Thistleclaw was already urging the young kit to rear up on his stubby hind legs. “Come on, my little warrior. See if you can duck this.” He swiped a paw close to Whitekit’s ear.
Bluefur caught up to them. “Stop! He’s not ready!”
Bluefur followed, her ears twitching. Whitekit was too young for battle training. “He might get hurt!” she protested.
Thistleclaw was already urging the young kit to rear up on his stubby hind legs. “Come on, my little warrior. See if you can duck this.” He swiped a paw close to Whitekit’s ear.
Bluefur caught up to them. “Stop! He’s not ready!”
Thistleclaw leaped down and faced her. “You know what your problem is, Bluefur? You’re soft. Soft on warriors from other Clans and soft on kittypets. I saw you talking to Oakheart at the Gathering. Do you care about your Clan at all?”
“Of course I do!” Bluefur hissed. How dare he make her defend her loyalty? “And I wasn’t exactly having a friendly chat with Oakheart!”
“Well, I need more proof before I let you near Whitekit.” Thistleclaw headed back into the trees.
Bluefur hurried after. “He’s my kin, too!”
“You weren’t there when he needed you,” Thistleclaw snarled. “I was. Just keep away from him…or I’ll make you.”
“Of course I do!” Bluefur hissed. How dare he make her defend her loyalty? “And I wasn’t exactly having a friendly chat with Oakheart!”
“Well, I need more proof before I let you near Whitekit.” Thistleclaw headed back into the trees.
Bluefur hurried after. “He’s my kin, too!”
“You weren’t there when he needed you,” Thistleclaw snarled. “I was. Just keep away from him…or I’ll make you.”
“I know what you’re doing,” Thistleclaw growled.
Bluefur was alarmed by the ferocity of his mew. “What?”
“Playing with Whitekit every time my tail’s turned.”
“He’s my kin!” she snapped, anger surging in her paws.
“He’s my kit!” he retorted. “Just remember that! I can stop your dumb games anytime I want.”
“How?” Bluefur challenged.
Thistleclaw flashed her a menacing look. “Right now, I’m letting you play with him. But the moment I think you’re turning him soft, the games will stop, get it?” Bluefur glared at him, but Thistleclaw went on. “He’s my son, not yours!”
Bluefur was alarmed by the ferocity of his mew. “What?”
“Playing with Whitekit every time my tail’s turned.”
“He’s my kin!” she snapped, anger surging in her paws.
“He’s my kit!” he retorted. “Just remember that! I can stop your dumb games anytime I want.”
“How?” Bluefur challenged.
Thistleclaw flashed her a menacing look. “Right now, I’m letting you play with him. But the moment I think you’re turning him soft, the games will stop, get it?” Bluefur glared at him, but Thistleclaw went on. “He’s my son, not yours!”
He was harsh on his apprentice.
“Now lunge at me,” Thistleclaw commanded.
Bluefur could see the pair through the bushes just ahead of her.
Baring his teeth, Tigerpaw rushed at Thistleclaw, slamming into his flank. Thistleclaw turned and flung his apprentice away with a hefty blow that left Tigerpaw staggering.
“Mouse-brain!” Thistleclaw growled. “You should have seen that coming.”
Tigerpaw shook his head, looking dazed. “Let me try it again,” he begged.
Bluefur could see the pair through the bushes just ahead of her.
Baring his teeth, Tigerpaw rushed at Thistleclaw, slamming into his flank. Thistleclaw turned and flung his apprentice away with a hefty blow that left Tigerpaw staggering.
“Mouse-brain!” Thistleclaw growled. “You should have seen that coming.”
Tigerpaw shook his head, looking dazed. “Let me try it again,” he begged.
He goaded Tigerpaw into attacking Tiny.
“Hello.” He blinked happily, tail high.
Tigerpaw bristled, and Thistleclaw had already unsheathed his claws.
Bluefur tensed, willing the tiny tom to run. The fence wasn’t far. There was a chance it might escape.
A growl rumbled in Thistleclaw’s throat. “What are you doing here? This is ThunderClan territory!”
“Thistleclaw, he’s only a kit. He’s no threat,” Bluefur pleaded.
“An intruder is an intruder, Bluefur! You’ve always been too soft on them.”
Bluefur felt sick as Thistleclaw turned to his apprentice. “Here, let’s put it to my apprentice. What do you think, Tigerpaw? How should we handle this?”
“I think the kittypet should be taught a lesson,” Tigerpaw hissed. “One it’ll remember.”
Bluefur stepped forward. “Now, hold on, there’s no need for this—”
Thistleclaw turned on her, arching his back. “Shut up!”
Tigerpaw lunged at the kit, sending it flying like a piece of prey. The kit skidded across the rough earth and landed, gasping for breath.
Get up!
Tail bushed in terror, the kit tried to scramble to its paws. But Tigerpaw pounced again. The tabby apprentice pinned the kit to the ground. With claws unsheathed, he swiped at its muzzle, then raked its flank. The kit squealed in agony.
“Show it your teeth, Tigerpaw,” Thistleclaw goaded.
Tigerpaw sunk his teeth into the kit’s shoulder and hauled it to its paws. The kit yowled and struggled, its paws scrabbling helplessly on the ground until Tigerpaw, his eyes gleaming, flung him away.
No!
Blood welling scarlet along his wounds, the kit pressed his belly to the ground as though he wished he could just vanish. Tigerpaw padded grimly toward it.
“Stop, Tigerpaw!” Bluefur pelted past him and stood in front of the kit. “That’s enough!” She bared her teeth, prepared to fight. Tigerpaw would kill this kit if she let him carry on. It was no bigger than Whitekit. The thought wrenched her heart. “Warriors don’t need to kill to win a battle, remember?”
Tigerpaw halted and glared at her. “I was just defending our territory.”
“And you’ve done that,” Bluefur reasoned. “This kit has learned its lesson.”
The kit stood up on shaking paws and gazed at Tigerpaw with terror in its eyes.
“Yeah,” Tigerpaw agreed. He leered at the kit. “You’ll never forget me!”
Bluefur held her ground while the kit scuttled away. “If I ever see you do something like that again”—her eyes flashed from mentor to apprentice—“I’ll report you to Sunstar!”
“We were only defending ThunderClan territory from invaders,” Thistleclaw snarled.
“That so-called invader was a kit!”
Thistleclaw shrugged. “That’s his problem.” He turned and stalked away between the trees, his spiky pelt soon swallowed in shadow. Tigerpaw trotted after him with his tail up, proud of his brave victory.
Tigerpaw bristled, and Thistleclaw had already unsheathed his claws.
Bluefur tensed, willing the tiny tom to run. The fence wasn’t far. There was a chance it might escape.
A growl rumbled in Thistleclaw’s throat. “What are you doing here? This is ThunderClan territory!”
“Thistleclaw, he’s only a kit. He’s no threat,” Bluefur pleaded.
“An intruder is an intruder, Bluefur! You’ve always been too soft on them.”
Bluefur felt sick as Thistleclaw turned to his apprentice. “Here, let’s put it to my apprentice. What do you think, Tigerpaw? How should we handle this?”
“I think the kittypet should be taught a lesson,” Tigerpaw hissed. “One it’ll remember.”
Bluefur stepped forward. “Now, hold on, there’s no need for this—”
Thistleclaw turned on her, arching his back. “Shut up!”
Tigerpaw lunged at the kit, sending it flying like a piece of prey. The kit skidded across the rough earth and landed, gasping for breath.
Get up!
Tail bushed in terror, the kit tried to scramble to its paws. But Tigerpaw pounced again. The tabby apprentice pinned the kit to the ground. With claws unsheathed, he swiped at its muzzle, then raked its flank. The kit squealed in agony.
“Show it your teeth, Tigerpaw,” Thistleclaw goaded.
Tigerpaw sunk his teeth into the kit’s shoulder and hauled it to its paws. The kit yowled and struggled, its paws scrabbling helplessly on the ground until Tigerpaw, his eyes gleaming, flung him away.
No!
Blood welling scarlet along his wounds, the kit pressed his belly to the ground as though he wished he could just vanish. Tigerpaw padded grimly toward it.
“Stop, Tigerpaw!” Bluefur pelted past him and stood in front of the kit. “That’s enough!” She bared her teeth, prepared to fight. Tigerpaw would kill this kit if she let him carry on. It was no bigger than Whitekit. The thought wrenched her heart. “Warriors don’t need to kill to win a battle, remember?”
Tigerpaw halted and glared at her. “I was just defending our territory.”
“And you’ve done that,” Bluefur reasoned. “This kit has learned its lesson.”
The kit stood up on shaking paws and gazed at Tigerpaw with terror in its eyes.
“Yeah,” Tigerpaw agreed. He leered at the kit. “You’ll never forget me!”
Bluefur held her ground while the kit scuttled away. “If I ever see you do something like that again”—her eyes flashed from mentor to apprentice—“I’ll report you to Sunstar!”
“We were only defending ThunderClan territory from invaders,” Thistleclaw snarled.
“That so-called invader was a kit!”
Thistleclaw shrugged. “That’s his problem.” He turned and stalked away between the trees, his spiky pelt soon swallowed in shadow. Tigerpaw trotted after him with his tail up, proud of his brave victory.
He was pretty dismissive over his son getting hurt.
“If you taught Tigerclaw respect for his Clanmates, it would never have happened,” she had told him.
Thistleclaw had curled his lip. “His Clanmates must earn his respect.”
“But Whitestorm will be scarred for life!”
“It’ll teach him to react more quickly next time.”
Thistleclaw had curled his lip. “His Clanmates must earn his respect.”
“But Whitestorm will be scarred for life!”
“It’ll teach him to react more quickly next time.”
He also nearly killed Oakheart and vowed to mark ThunderClan with the blood of ThunderClan's enemies.
Bluefur recognized that yowl. Oakheart! She pelted after Thrushpelt, puffing with the effort. She skidded out onto the shore and saw Thistleclaw pinning Oakheart to the stones by his throat. Tigerclaw stood to one side, watching, while Thrushpelt circled nervously, scanning the far bank for cats coming to Oakheart’s rescue.
“You filthy fish-eater,” the spiky warrior was growling into Oakheart’s stricken face. “What are you doing on our territory? I should rip your throat out!”
“There might be more on their way,” Thrushpelt warned. “I’ll get help.” He vanished into the forest.
Terror scorched through Bluefur. “What are you doing?” She darted toward Thistleclaw, unsheathing her claws, her eyes fixed on Oakheart struggling in the warrior’s grip.
Tigerclaw stepped forward to block her. “This RiverClan filth is trespassing,” he growled. “We have to punish him.”
Staring past him, Bluefur could see blood welling at Oakheart’s throat, turning Thistleclaw’s paws red. With a shriek, she surged forward, knocking Tigerclaw off balance. Claws out, she ripped Thistleclaw off Oakheart and flung him aside.
Thistleclaw rolled over and sprang to his paws. “Have you gone mad?” he snarled. “It’s not a kit this time! It’s a RiverClan warrior. He’s invading our territory!”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Bluefur snapped. “What could he do on his own?”
Thistleclaw glared wildly around. “There may be others!”
“There aren’t.” Oakheart had staggered to his paws, slowly twisting his head from side to side. “I-I got swept here by a wave. I’ll leave now.”
“Not so fast.” Thistleclaw sprang in front of him, blocking his exit.
Bluefur darted between them. “Enough, Thistleclaw! You’ve taught him a lesson. I’m sure he won’t come back here again.” She met Oakheart’s gaze and saw nothing but sadness. “Let him go.” Her plea came as a whisper. She was begging for Oakheart, but the words echoed in her heart. Let him go.
Oakheart stumbled past her and slid into the river. “Traitor!” Thistleclaw shoved Bluefur, sending her stumbling onto her haunches. His claws were still unsheathed and tufted with Oakheart’s fur. “You’re a coward and a fool! I’ve never once seen you defend our borders. What kind of warrior are you?” He stepped close, his breath coming fast, his eyes wild with blood-hunger. “Do you know that RiverClan warrior?” he hissed slowly.
Fighting back panic, Bluefur forced her pelt to lie flat. “He’s called Oakheart. I’ve seen him at Gatherings.”
Thistleclaw leaned closer until he was a whisker away from her muzzle. “I didn’t ask if you knew who he was, I asked if you knew him.” Unblinking, he added, “Better than the warrior code allows.”
Has he seen us together? Overheard something? Bluefur forced herself to meet Thistleclaw’s gaze without flinching. “Of course not,” she spat.
Thistleclaw lurched away and began to pace up and down the shore, staring across the river. “We need more patrols,” he muttered. “It’s too easy to invade. Too many invaders. Only fear will keep them out. We must mark our borders with the blood of our enemies.” Spittle bubbled at his mouth.
Bluefur backed away, shaking. He sounded insane! The undergrowth shook as Thrushpelt burst onto the shore. Adderfang, Sparrowpelt, and Lionheart hurtled out behind him. Thank StarClan! They might be able to calm him.
But when Thistleclaw turned around, his eyes were mild and his fur flat. “Nothing to worry about,” he mewed evenly. “Just a RiverClan warrior sniffing around. We chased him off.”
“Nice job,” Adderfang praised.
“Well spotted,” Sparrowpelt added.
Thrushpelt caught Bluefur’s eye, puzzled. Bluefur shook her head. This wasn’t the time to challenge Thistleclaw.
Adderfang nodded at Tigerclaw. “I hope you’re still learning from Thistleclaw. He’s quite a warrior. Impressive paw steps to fill.”
Tigerclaw dipped his head. “I never miss a thing,” he meowed smoothly.
“Is the area clear?” Adderfang asked.
“Clear.” Thistleclaw headed into the trees. He didn’t even glance at Bluefur. It was as if nothing had passed between them at all.
“You filthy fish-eater,” the spiky warrior was growling into Oakheart’s stricken face. “What are you doing on our territory? I should rip your throat out!”
“There might be more on their way,” Thrushpelt warned. “I’ll get help.” He vanished into the forest.
Terror scorched through Bluefur. “What are you doing?” She darted toward Thistleclaw, unsheathing her claws, her eyes fixed on Oakheart struggling in the warrior’s grip.
Tigerclaw stepped forward to block her. “This RiverClan filth is trespassing,” he growled. “We have to punish him.”
Staring past him, Bluefur could see blood welling at Oakheart’s throat, turning Thistleclaw’s paws red. With a shriek, she surged forward, knocking Tigerclaw off balance. Claws out, she ripped Thistleclaw off Oakheart and flung him aside.
Thistleclaw rolled over and sprang to his paws. “Have you gone mad?” he snarled. “It’s not a kit this time! It’s a RiverClan warrior. He’s invading our territory!”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Bluefur snapped. “What could he do on his own?”
Thistleclaw glared wildly around. “There may be others!”
“There aren’t.” Oakheart had staggered to his paws, slowly twisting his head from side to side. “I-I got swept here by a wave. I’ll leave now.”
“Not so fast.” Thistleclaw sprang in front of him, blocking his exit.
Bluefur darted between them. “Enough, Thistleclaw! You’ve taught him a lesson. I’m sure he won’t come back here again.” She met Oakheart’s gaze and saw nothing but sadness. “Let him go.” Her plea came as a whisper. She was begging for Oakheart, but the words echoed in her heart. Let him go.
Oakheart stumbled past her and slid into the river. “Traitor!” Thistleclaw shoved Bluefur, sending her stumbling onto her haunches. His claws were still unsheathed and tufted with Oakheart’s fur. “You’re a coward and a fool! I’ve never once seen you defend our borders. What kind of warrior are you?” He stepped close, his breath coming fast, his eyes wild with blood-hunger. “Do you know that RiverClan warrior?” he hissed slowly.
Fighting back panic, Bluefur forced her pelt to lie flat. “He’s called Oakheart. I’ve seen him at Gatherings.”
Thistleclaw leaned closer until he was a whisker away from her muzzle. “I didn’t ask if you knew who he was, I asked if you knew him.” Unblinking, he added, “Better than the warrior code allows.”
Has he seen us together? Overheard something? Bluefur forced herself to meet Thistleclaw’s gaze without flinching. “Of course not,” she spat.
Thistleclaw lurched away and began to pace up and down the shore, staring across the river. “We need more patrols,” he muttered. “It’s too easy to invade. Too many invaders. Only fear will keep them out. We must mark our borders with the blood of our enemies.” Spittle bubbled at his mouth.
Bluefur backed away, shaking. He sounded insane! The undergrowth shook as Thrushpelt burst onto the shore. Adderfang, Sparrowpelt, and Lionheart hurtled out behind him. Thank StarClan! They might be able to calm him.
But when Thistleclaw turned around, his eyes were mild and his fur flat. “Nothing to worry about,” he mewed evenly. “Just a RiverClan warrior sniffing around. We chased him off.”
“Nice job,” Adderfang praised.
“Well spotted,” Sparrowpelt added.
Thrushpelt caught Bluefur’s eye, puzzled. Bluefur shook her head. This wasn’t the time to challenge Thistleclaw.
Adderfang nodded at Tigerclaw. “I hope you’re still learning from Thistleclaw. He’s quite a warrior. Impressive paw steps to fill.”
Tigerclaw dipped his head. “I never miss a thing,” he meowed smoothly.
“Is the area clear?” Adderfang asked.
“Clear.” Thistleclaw headed into the trees. He didn’t even glance at Bluefur. It was as if nothing had passed between them at all.
I don't care how bias Bluestar supposedly was. There's a difference between a bias PoV and a certain character genuinely being horrible, and there's actual proof that Thistleclaw didn't have that many good qualities to him besides being loyal to his Clan and being a good mate and father, and even this is called into question thanks to Crookedstar's Promise.
“Higher!”
A sharp growl sliced through the mist.
“Faster! Do you want to die at the paws of a common warrior?”
Crookedjaw heard a grunt and the thud of hard muscle hitting earth. Did Mapleshade have another pupil? He crept forward, ears pricked. Ducking behind a thornbush, he saw two shapes moving in a narrow clearing. As the mist swirled away, two pelts showed: one ragged, one sleek.
The ragged mentor wasn’t Mapleshade. It was a cat he’d never seen before. But who was the sleek tom? Crookedjaw searched his memory. There was something familiar in the wide, muscled shoulders and the dark tabby pelt.
“Do it again!” the ragged cat snarled. “Do it better!”
The sleek tom took a short run up and leaped, higher than Crookedjaw had seen any cat jump. With a flick of his tail, he twisted in the air, kicking out his hind legs, claws splayed while he punched the air with his forepaw. He hit the ground with a thump, landing on his side. Crookedjaw felt the jolt, gasping as though the breath had been knocked from him instead of from the tom.
The ragged cat was on his apprentice in an instant, battering his head with a flurry of swipes. Crookedjaw flinched as blood sprayed from the torn fur. The tom struggled free and met his mentor’s blows with vicious, slicing jabs.
The ragged cat ducked away. “That was better!”
Blood welled on both cats’ muzzles and, as Crookedjaw peered closer, he could see the tom’s pelt was laced with slash marks.
“Let me try it again, Shredtail,” the tom growled.
Again? Crookedjaw swallowed. He thought his training sessions with Mapleshade had been brutal, but they were never this violent. These cats acted as though shedding blood meant nothing.
In a flash, Crookedjaw recognized him. Thistleclaw! He’d seen the ThunderClan warrior at Gatherings.
Thistleclaw took another run up, leaping once more and twisting. This time he finished the move before landing on his paws. Yowling with triumph, he reared and slashed the air. “This is it!” He faced his mentor. “My time is coming.”
Shredtail nodded. “You’ve worked hard for it, Thistleclaw.”
“And I’m going to get it. I’ll be deputy before the next full moon.”
“Are you sure Sunstar won’t soften and choose Bluefur instead?” Shredtail snarled.
Thistleclaw narrowed his eyes. “He’d be a fool if he did,” he growled. “Bluefur is weak. I bet she’s whimpering for Snowfur right now.”
“Grief can bring strength,” Shredtail warned.
“But Snowfur’s body is hardly cold,” Thistleclaw pointed out. “Bluefur will be breaking her heart for moons. Which will give me a chance to make Sunstar see that I’m the only one capable of following him.”
“Snowfur was your mate.” Shredtail narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you grieving, too?”
“Of course!” Thistleclaw slashed at a moss-coated tree. “Snowfur shouldn’t have died! It should’ve been Bluefur on the Thunderpath instead!”
“What about your kit?” Shredtail pressed. “Your son?”
Thistleclaw curled his lip. “He takes after his mother,” he spat. “There’s no fire in his belly, no hunger for battle.” He swung his gaze around to his mentor. “Why are we talking?” he snarled. “I came to train, not to talk.” Rearing up, he strode forward on his hind paws, slicing the air with his tail tucked in tight.
A sharp growl sliced through the mist.
“Faster! Do you want to die at the paws of a common warrior?”
Crookedjaw heard a grunt and the thud of hard muscle hitting earth. Did Mapleshade have another pupil? He crept forward, ears pricked. Ducking behind a thornbush, he saw two shapes moving in a narrow clearing. As the mist swirled away, two pelts showed: one ragged, one sleek.
The ragged mentor wasn’t Mapleshade. It was a cat he’d never seen before. But who was the sleek tom? Crookedjaw searched his memory. There was something familiar in the wide, muscled shoulders and the dark tabby pelt.
“Do it again!” the ragged cat snarled. “Do it better!”
The sleek tom took a short run up and leaped, higher than Crookedjaw had seen any cat jump. With a flick of his tail, he twisted in the air, kicking out his hind legs, claws splayed while he punched the air with his forepaw. He hit the ground with a thump, landing on his side. Crookedjaw felt the jolt, gasping as though the breath had been knocked from him instead of from the tom.
The ragged cat was on his apprentice in an instant, battering his head with a flurry of swipes. Crookedjaw flinched as blood sprayed from the torn fur. The tom struggled free and met his mentor’s blows with vicious, slicing jabs.
The ragged cat ducked away. “That was better!”
Blood welled on both cats’ muzzles and, as Crookedjaw peered closer, he could see the tom’s pelt was laced with slash marks.
“Let me try it again, Shredtail,” the tom growled.
Again? Crookedjaw swallowed. He thought his training sessions with Mapleshade had been brutal, but they were never this violent. These cats acted as though shedding blood meant nothing.
In a flash, Crookedjaw recognized him. Thistleclaw! He’d seen the ThunderClan warrior at Gatherings.
Thistleclaw took another run up, leaping once more and twisting. This time he finished the move before landing on his paws. Yowling with triumph, he reared and slashed the air. “This is it!” He faced his mentor. “My time is coming.”
Shredtail nodded. “You’ve worked hard for it, Thistleclaw.”
“And I’m going to get it. I’ll be deputy before the next full moon.”
“Are you sure Sunstar won’t soften and choose Bluefur instead?” Shredtail snarled.
Thistleclaw narrowed his eyes. “He’d be a fool if he did,” he growled. “Bluefur is weak. I bet she’s whimpering for Snowfur right now.”
“Grief can bring strength,” Shredtail warned.
“But Snowfur’s body is hardly cold,” Thistleclaw pointed out. “Bluefur will be breaking her heart for moons. Which will give me a chance to make Sunstar see that I’m the only one capable of following him.”
“Snowfur was your mate.” Shredtail narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you grieving, too?”
“Of course!” Thistleclaw slashed at a moss-coated tree. “Snowfur shouldn’t have died! It should’ve been Bluefur on the Thunderpath instead!”
“What about your kit?” Shredtail pressed. “Your son?”
Thistleclaw curled his lip. “He takes after his mother,” he spat. “There’s no fire in his belly, no hunger for battle.” He swung his gaze around to his mentor. “Why are we talking?” he snarled. “I came to train, not to talk.” Rearing up, he strode forward on his hind paws, slicing the air with his tail tucked in tight.
Thistleclaw!
The ThunderClan warrior stopped beside his mentor—the same ragged, pale gray tabby who’d been training him last time—and stared at Crookedjaw.
“Is this him?” the ragged tom grunted.
“Just get on with your training session, Silverhawk,” Mapleshade ordered.
Crookedjaw darted in front of her. “Why are they here?”
She snorted. “To help you learn, of course!” She whipped her tail across his ears. “Watch!”
Silverhawk crouched, growling at Thistleclaw. Thistleclaw stretched his claws and hissed. They circled each other, eyes like slits. Suddenly Silverhawk darted forward. Thistleclaw ducked away from his mentor’s jaws and Silverhawk’s teeth snapped at thin air.
“Did you think you’d get me that easily?” Thistleclaw hissed.
Silverhawk crouched lower. “Say that again.”
“Did you think—”
Before Thistleclaw could finish, Silverhawk leaped on him and dug his claws deep into Thistleclaw’s shoulders. Crookedjaw gasped when he saw the blood welling up in the spiky gray-and-white fur. Thistleclaw yowled, scrabbling at the ground, trying to get a grip, but Silverhawk heaved him on to his back and kicked his churning hind paws away. Crookedjaw’s breath stopped in his throat as Silverhawk lunged for Thistleclaw’s neck. Opening his jaws wide, he gripped his apprentice’s throat in his teeth.
No! He was going to give a killing bite. Crookedjaw started to rush forward, but Mapleshade knocked him back with a vicious blow.
“Wait,” she growled.
Silverhawk let go of Thistleclaw
The ThunderClan warrior leaped to his paws, ignoring the drops of blood that flew off his pelt. “Let me try that on you!” he begged. “I think I know what to do now.”
Crookedjaw stared in horror. “You’re teaching him how to kill? But that’s against the warrior code!”
Thistleclaw’s gaze flashed at him. Contempt lit his eyes. “If you want to be more than just a warrior,” he snarled, “you have to be prepared to look beyond the warrior code!”
Silverhawk padded closer. “Victory is everything,” he hissed. “There’s no glory in surrender.”
Thistleclaw tipped his head to one side. “Do you want me to show you how the killing bite’s done?”
Crookedjaw recoiled. “No!”
“No?” Thistleclaw narrowed his eyes. “What do mean, no? Why wouldn’t you want to learn such a powerful move?” He looked puzzled.
Crookedjaw took two steps back. The fur along his spine was standing on end. “I didn’t know StarClan was like this!”
“StarClan?” Thistleclaw blinked. “You mouse-brain! This isn’t StarClan! Those smug, toothless fools won’t teach you anything as useful as this.”
“This isn’t StarClan?” Crookedjaw’s mind whirled. “Then . . . where am I?”
Silverhawk pushed past Thistleclaw. “This is the Dark Forest,” he snarled. “This is where you go if StarClan won’t take you.”
Crookedjaw whipped around. Trees loomed over him on every side, mist swirled, and the shadows moved as though they were alive. Voices sounded from the darkness, cries and whispers that he didn’t understand. Breathing fast, the blood roaring in his ears, he turned back and stared at the three warriors. Their eyes were fixed on him, glittering with menace. Crookedjaw stiffened, rage giving him courage. “You lied to me!” he spat at Mapleshade.
“I never told you this was StarClan,” she meowed smoothly. She took a step toward him. “Why are you so angry? You’re the deputy of RiverClan. You have everything you want. And you got it because I trained you and encouraged you. I did more for you than your own mother.”
“Shut up!” Crookedjaw unsheathed his claws.
Mapleshade circled him, pelt smooth, tail swishing behind her. “Your mother never sent an omen telling your Clan to make you deputy, did she?”
“So it was you!”
“Of course it was me!” Mapleshade’s mew sharpened. “Do you think Hailstar would make you deputy without an omen? You’ve never even won a fight!”
Thistleclaw hissed. “He’s deputy already?” He glared at Silverhawk. “Are you going to do the same for me?”
Silverhawk clouted his apprentice with a lightning-swift forepaw, sending him staggering back. As Thistleclaw struggled to keep his balance, Silverhawk thrust his muzzle in his face. “You still have much to learn!” he spat. “Your time will come when I say so, apprentice!”
The ThunderClan warrior stopped beside his mentor—the same ragged, pale gray tabby who’d been training him last time—and stared at Crookedjaw.
“Is this him?” the ragged tom grunted.
“Just get on with your training session, Silverhawk,” Mapleshade ordered.
Crookedjaw darted in front of her. “Why are they here?”
She snorted. “To help you learn, of course!” She whipped her tail across his ears. “Watch!”
Silverhawk crouched, growling at Thistleclaw. Thistleclaw stretched his claws and hissed. They circled each other, eyes like slits. Suddenly Silverhawk darted forward. Thistleclaw ducked away from his mentor’s jaws and Silverhawk’s teeth snapped at thin air.
“Did you think you’d get me that easily?” Thistleclaw hissed.
Silverhawk crouched lower. “Say that again.”
“Did you think—”
Before Thistleclaw could finish, Silverhawk leaped on him and dug his claws deep into Thistleclaw’s shoulders. Crookedjaw gasped when he saw the blood welling up in the spiky gray-and-white fur. Thistleclaw yowled, scrabbling at the ground, trying to get a grip, but Silverhawk heaved him on to his back and kicked his churning hind paws away. Crookedjaw’s breath stopped in his throat as Silverhawk lunged for Thistleclaw’s neck. Opening his jaws wide, he gripped his apprentice’s throat in his teeth.
No! He was going to give a killing bite. Crookedjaw started to rush forward, but Mapleshade knocked him back with a vicious blow.
“Wait,” she growled.
Silverhawk let go of Thistleclaw
The ThunderClan warrior leaped to his paws, ignoring the drops of blood that flew off his pelt. “Let me try that on you!” he begged. “I think I know what to do now.”
Crookedjaw stared in horror. “You’re teaching him how to kill? But that’s against the warrior code!”
Thistleclaw’s gaze flashed at him. Contempt lit his eyes. “If you want to be more than just a warrior,” he snarled, “you have to be prepared to look beyond the warrior code!”
Silverhawk padded closer. “Victory is everything,” he hissed. “There’s no glory in surrender.”
Thistleclaw tipped his head to one side. “Do you want me to show you how the killing bite’s done?”
Crookedjaw recoiled. “No!”
“No?” Thistleclaw narrowed his eyes. “What do mean, no? Why wouldn’t you want to learn such a powerful move?” He looked puzzled.
Crookedjaw took two steps back. The fur along his spine was standing on end. “I didn’t know StarClan was like this!”
“StarClan?” Thistleclaw blinked. “You mouse-brain! This isn’t StarClan! Those smug, toothless fools won’t teach you anything as useful as this.”
“This isn’t StarClan?” Crookedjaw’s mind whirled. “Then . . . where am I?”
Silverhawk pushed past Thistleclaw. “This is the Dark Forest,” he snarled. “This is where you go if StarClan won’t take you.”
Crookedjaw whipped around. Trees loomed over him on every side, mist swirled, and the shadows moved as though they were alive. Voices sounded from the darkness, cries and whispers that he didn’t understand. Breathing fast, the blood roaring in his ears, he turned back and stared at the three warriors. Their eyes were fixed on him, glittering with menace. Crookedjaw stiffened, rage giving him courage. “You lied to me!” he spat at Mapleshade.
“I never told you this was StarClan,” she meowed smoothly. She took a step toward him. “Why are you so angry? You’re the deputy of RiverClan. You have everything you want. And you got it because I trained you and encouraged you. I did more for you than your own mother.”
“Shut up!” Crookedjaw unsheathed his claws.
Mapleshade circled him, pelt smooth, tail swishing behind her. “Your mother never sent an omen telling your Clan to make you deputy, did she?”
“So it was you!”
“Of course it was me!” Mapleshade’s mew sharpened. “Do you think Hailstar would make you deputy without an omen? You’ve never even won a fight!”
Thistleclaw hissed. “He’s deputy already?” He glared at Silverhawk. “Are you going to do the same for me?”
Silverhawk clouted his apprentice with a lightning-swift forepaw, sending him staggering back. As Thistleclaw struggled to keep his balance, Silverhawk thrust his muzzle in his face. “You still have much to learn!” he spat. “Your time will come when I say so, apprentice!”
And it's not like Bluestar was the only one who didn't trust him at least as far as him being leader was concerned.
Bluefur narrowed her eyes. The deputy needed to have wisdom as well as courage. Not that Adderfang was mouse-brained, but he saw only as far as the battle and never beyond.
“Maybe Thistleclaw.”
Rosetail’s new suggestion made Bluefur gasp. “He’s too young!”
“He says he’s going to be the youngest deputy the Clans have ever seen.”
“No way.”
“He talks about it all the time,” Rosetail meowed. “Deputy!” She snorted. “As if Sunstar would give him the chance to lead us all into battle at the flick of a tail!”
“Maybe Thistleclaw.”
Rosetail’s new suggestion made Bluefur gasp. “He’s too young!”
“He says he’s going to be the youngest deputy the Clans have ever seen.”
“No way.”
“He talks about it all the time,” Rosetail meowed. “Deputy!” She snorted. “As if Sunstar would give him the chance to lead us all into battle at the flick of a tail!”
Sunstar stared into the trees. “Thistleclaw would be a popular choice,” he conceded. “No cat can doubt his courage, or his battle skills, or his pride in his Clan. But I don’t want my Clan to be led into endless fighting. Our borders are strong enough without being marked over and over in blood. ThunderClan deserves to live in peace, and I believe you can give it that.”
And apparently he didn't get any better even after Bluestar became leader, though we never actually see it. I also wouldn't necessarily call Bluestar completely bias since she does acknowledge that he was a strong warrior, just one who happened to be too battle-hungry.
The spike-furred warrior had died just a few moons earlier, chasing RiverClan invaders out of the territory. He had died as he lived, claws unsheathed, hungry for a fight, and his Clanmates had found him in a pool of blood, like the one Bluestar had seen staining the snow so many moons ago.
"Oh yes. There was Thistleclaw. He was a fine warrior, strong and brave. But his answer to every problem was a fight. Should I have watched him be made deputy, and then leader, and let him force the Clan into unnecessary wars? He died as he lived, Fireheart, a few seasons before you came to join us, attacking a RiverClan patrol on the border. Wild and arrogant to the last. I couldn't stand by and let him destroy my Clan."
Then of course there's the whole thing in Spottedleaf's Heart, which I will not get into and this is focusing on his actions prior to that novella, anyway.
And before anyone comes at me with this, just because I'm criticizing Thistleclaw does NOT in any way mean that I think Bluestar is perfect or anything. She has her own flaws as well (which is actually why I like her in the first place) and I actually have alot of problems with her SE in general, but I just happen to think that Thistleclaw was worse. I also never thought he was that interesting of a character, which just disappoints me most of all. There's alot of wasted potential there.