Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Aug 3, 2021 12:08:09 GMT -5
This is literally my third time trying to do this, but just like the others, I thought it'd be fun to do one of these character posts for Ashfur. Unlike the others however, I'm only going to focus of Ashfur's more outstanding moments from the first two arcs rather than every single time he's appeared. Starting with Rising Storm, we see that he's close to Cloudpaw.
In A Dangerous Path, he and Fernpaw want to help with getting rid of the dogs to avenge Brindleface.
Finally, in The Darkest Hour, he initially doubts BloodClan will be much of a threat and later helps avenge Whitestorm.
In Firestar's Quest, he's friendly with Brambleclaw and is shown to be hostile towards outsiders.
He's a pretty minor character for most of TNP, even after Squirrelflight starts getting close to him. But from the little we do see during this time, he tries to urge Squirrelpaw to go back to camp before she gets in trouble with Dustpelt:
Assumes Cloudtail and Brightheart left to become kittypets:
And doesn't trust Hawkfrost:
It's in Twilight when he actually starts gaining prominence. His relationship with Squirrelflight aside, he's shown trying to mediate the situation between her and Brambleclaw, but there's later tension between him and Brambleclaw as well.
He also doubts Daisy's kits being able to fit in because they weren't Clanborn.
And then there's Sunset. Ashfur is shown to be jealous of Brambleclaw, and when Squirrelflight tries to break things off, he tries to use Brambleclaw's heritage as a reason for why she shouldn't be with him.
After this, he acts cold towards Squirrelflight, despite her efforts to stay friends.
He later tries one last time to ruin Brambleclaw by suggesting that Leafpool faked a sign so he would become deputy.
So, what are your thoughts on Ashfur after reading all this? Do you think he was ruined or not?
Cloudpaw was crouched on the tree stump outside his den entrance, play-fighting with Ashpaw, who was scrabbling at him from below. Fireheart was pleased that at least Cloudpaw was getting on with his denmates.
Darkstripe was sitting in front of the apprentices’ den talking to Ashpaw. Fireheart wondered why he was speaking to Dustpelt’s apprentice instead of sharing a meal with the other warriors. Ashpaw was shaking his head, but the dark tabby warrior carried on talking until Ashpaw lowered his eyes and began to pad across the clearing toward the nettle patch.
Fireheart’s ears twitched. From the way Darkstripe was watching the young gray apprentice, he could tell something was up.
Ashpaw stopped in front of Fireheart, his small body stiff and his tail flicking nervously.
“Is something wrong?” Fireheart asked.
“I was just wondering where Cloudpaw was,” mewed Ashpaw. “He said he’d be back by mealtime.”
Fireheart gazed past the apprentice at the dark tabby who watching them closely, his amber eyes glinting with undisguised interest. “Tell Darkstripe that if he wants to know, he should ask me himself!” he snapped.
Ashpaw flinched. “I… I’m sorry,” he stammered. “Darkstripe told me…” The apprentice shuffled his paws and suddenly looked up, staring Fireheart straight in the eye. “Actually, it’s not just Darkstripe who wants to know. I’m worried, too. Cloudpaw promised he’d be back by now.” The gray apprentice hesitated, glancing away, and finished, “Whatever else he might do, Cloudpaw always keeps his word.”
Fireheart was amazed. It had never occurred to him that Cloudpaw could have earned the respect and loyalty of his denmates like any other warrior. But what did Ashpaw mean by “whatever else he might do”?
Fireheart’s ears twitched. From the way Darkstripe was watching the young gray apprentice, he could tell something was up.
Ashpaw stopped in front of Fireheart, his small body stiff and his tail flicking nervously.
“Is something wrong?” Fireheart asked.
“I was just wondering where Cloudpaw was,” mewed Ashpaw. “He said he’d be back by mealtime.”
Fireheart gazed past the apprentice at the dark tabby who watching them closely, his amber eyes glinting with undisguised interest. “Tell Darkstripe that if he wants to know, he should ask me himself!” he snapped.
Ashpaw flinched. “I… I’m sorry,” he stammered. “Darkstripe told me…” The apprentice shuffled his paws and suddenly looked up, staring Fireheart straight in the eye. “Actually, it’s not just Darkstripe who wants to know. I’m worried, too. Cloudpaw promised he’d be back by now.” The gray apprentice hesitated, glancing away, and finished, “Whatever else he might do, Cloudpaw always keeps his word.”
Fireheart was amazed. It had never occurred to him that Cloudpaw could have earned the respect and loyalty of his denmates like any other warrior. But what did Ashpaw mean by “whatever else he might do”?
“Is Cloudpaw okay?” asked Ashpaw.
Fireheart blinked while he searched for the right words to explain Cloudpaw’s disappearance. “I believe
Cloudpaw has left the Clan,” he murmured at last. There was no point trying to hide what had happened.
Ashpaw’s eyes grew wide with shock and bewilderment. “L-left?” he echoed. “But he… he would have told us. I mean, I never thought he’d stay there!”
“Stay where?” asked Runningwind sharply, sitting up. “What’s going on?”
Ashpaw glanced guiltily at Fireheart, knowing he had betrayed his friend’s secret.
“Go back to your supper,” Fireheart meowed gently. “You can tell arkstripe that Cloudpaw has returned to his kittypet life. There’s no need for secrets anymore.”
“I just can’t believe he’s actually left,” mewed Ashpaw sadly. “I’ll really miss him.” He turned and plodded back to the apprentices’ den, where Darkstripe sat waiting like a hungry owl. The news would be all through the camp by sunset.
Fireheart blinked while he searched for the right words to explain Cloudpaw’s disappearance. “I believe
Cloudpaw has left the Clan,” he murmured at last. There was no point trying to hide what had happened.
Ashpaw’s eyes grew wide with shock and bewilderment. “L-left?” he echoed. “But he… he would have told us. I mean, I never thought he’d stay there!”
“Stay where?” asked Runningwind sharply, sitting up. “What’s going on?”
Ashpaw glanced guiltily at Fireheart, knowing he had betrayed his friend’s secret.
“Go back to your supper,” Fireheart meowed gently. “You can tell arkstripe that Cloudpaw has returned to his kittypet life. There’s no need for secrets anymore.”
“I just can’t believe he’s actually left,” mewed Ashpaw sadly. “I’ll really miss him.” He turned and plodded back to the apprentices’ den, where Darkstripe sat waiting like a hungry owl. The news would be all through the camp by sunset.
A murmur of surprise rippled through the Clan; then Ashpaw dashed forward and touched noses with
Cloudpaw. “I told them you wouldn’t have wanted to leave!” he mewed.
Cloudpaw nodded. “I hissed and spat and fought, but the Twolegs took me anyway!”
“Typical Twolegs!” Speckletail called from outside the nursery.
Fireheart stared in amazement. Was Cloudpaw going to win the sympathy of the Clan with his one-sided
tale?
“I was lucky Ravenpaw found me,” the apprentice went on, letting a desperate edge enter his voice. “He came to get Fireheart to rescue me. If it weren’t for Fireheart and Sandstorm, I’d still be trapped in the Twoleg nest with that dog!”
“Dog?” Patchpelt’s horrified yowl sounded from the fallen oak.
“Did he say dog?” rasped One-Eye, who lay next to him.
“I did,” answered Cloudpaw. “It was loose in the nest with me!”
Fireheart watched as the elders’ eyes filled with alarm.
Ashpaw’s tail flicked in outrage. “Did it attack you?” he meowed.
“Not exactly,” Cloudpaw admitted. “But it did bark a lot.”
Cloudpaw. “I told them you wouldn’t have wanted to leave!” he mewed.
Cloudpaw nodded. “I hissed and spat and fought, but the Twolegs took me anyway!”
“Typical Twolegs!” Speckletail called from outside the nursery.
Fireheart stared in amazement. Was Cloudpaw going to win the sympathy of the Clan with his one-sided
tale?
“I was lucky Ravenpaw found me,” the apprentice went on, letting a desperate edge enter his voice. “He came to get Fireheart to rescue me. If it weren’t for Fireheart and Sandstorm, I’d still be trapped in the Twoleg nest with that dog!”
“Dog?” Patchpelt’s horrified yowl sounded from the fallen oak.
“Did he say dog?” rasped One-Eye, who lay next to him.
“I did,” answered Cloudpaw. “It was loose in the nest with me!”
Fireheart watched as the elders’ eyes filled with alarm.
Ashpaw’s tail flicked in outrage. “Did it attack you?” he meowed.
“Not exactly,” Cloudpaw admitted. “But it did bark a lot.”
In A Dangerous Path, he and Fernpaw want to help with getting rid of the dogs to avenge Brindleface.
“Fireheart, we want to help,” Fernpaw begged, fixing her shocked, pleading eyes on Fireheart.
“I said warriors,” Fireheart reminded her gently.
“But Brindleface was our mother,” protested Ashpaw. “Please, Fireheart. We want to do it for her.”
“I said warriors,” Fireheart reminded her gently.
“But Brindleface was our mother,” protested Ashpaw. “Please, Fireheart. We want to do it for her.”
Finally, in The Darkest Hour, he initially doubts BloodClan will be much of a threat and later helps avenge Whitestorm.
“Collars?” Ashpaw spat behind him, echoing his thoughts. The apprentice’s voice was sharp with disgust. “Look at them—they’re kittypets! We won’t have any trouble beating them.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the BloodClan deputy struggling free from Bramblepaw and Ashpaw. Before Firestar could spring at him, a screech of defiance sounded above the noise of battle and several more apprentices hurtled across the clearing. Bone was barely visible under the writhing heap of furious young cats. Bramblepaw and Ashpaw were there, with Featherpaw and Stormpaw and, yes, Tawnypaw, fighting beside her brother. Within a few heartbeats Bone had stopped trying to defend himself; his body went into a series of spasms, ending in his twitching tail, and as Firestar watched the twitching stopped. Ashpaw let out a hoarse cry of triumph.
In Firestar's Quest, he's friendly with Brambleclaw and is shown to be hostile towards outsiders.
Though Firestar didn’t dream again that night, he slept badly, and he still felt tired when he emerged from his den the next morning. He blinked in the strong sunlight to see Ashfur padding across the clearing toward Brambleclaw. “Your vigil’s over,” Firestar heard him meow. “Come on; I’ll find you somewhere to sleep.”
He raced through the trees until he came to the edge of the wood. Ashfur and Brambleclaw were scuffling with an unfamiliar black-and-white cat. Brambleclaw had climbed onto the cat’s back, clawing at its neck fur, while Ashfur bit down hard on the end of its tail.
The black-and-white cat was writhing on the ground, his flailing paws barely touching his attackers. “Get off me!” he yowled. “I need to see Rusty—I mean Firestar!”
Firestar suddenly recognized the disheveled bundle of black-and-white fur. It was Smudge, the kittypet who had been his friend before Firestar left his Twolegs to live in the
forest.
“Stop!” He ran over to the wrestling cats, lowering his head to butt Brambleclaw hard in his flank. Brambleclaw slid off Smudge’s back, glaring up with a furious hiss that broke off when he realized who had interrupted the fight.
“Leave him alone,” Firestar ordered.
“But he’s an intruder,” Brambleclaw protested, scrambling to his paws and shaking dust from his pelt.
“A kittypet intruder,” added Ashfur, reluctantly letting go of Smudge’s tail.
“No, he’s not,” Firestar corrected them. “He’s a friend. What are you two doing here, anyway?”
“We’re the border patrol,” Brambleclaw told him. “With Dustpelt and Mousefur. Look, here they come.”
Following the direction of his pointing tail, Firestar spotted
the two older warriors bounding rapidly through the trees.
“In StarClan’s name, what’s going on?” Dustpelt demanded. “I thought a fox must have gotten you from all that noise.”
“No, just a kittypet,” Firestar mewed, faintly amused at Brambleclaw’s and Ashfur’s outraged expressions. “Okay,
carry on with your patrol,” he added.
“But what about the kittypet?” Ashfur asked.
“I think I can handle him,” Firestar mewed. “You’re doing fine, but just remember that not everything you haven’t seen before is a threat.”
The black-and-white cat was writhing on the ground, his flailing paws barely touching his attackers. “Get off me!” he yowled. “I need to see Rusty—I mean Firestar!”
Firestar suddenly recognized the disheveled bundle of black-and-white fur. It was Smudge, the kittypet who had been his friend before Firestar left his Twolegs to live in the
forest.
“Stop!” He ran over to the wrestling cats, lowering his head to butt Brambleclaw hard in his flank. Brambleclaw slid off Smudge’s back, glaring up with a furious hiss that broke off when he realized who had interrupted the fight.
“Leave him alone,” Firestar ordered.
“But he’s an intruder,” Brambleclaw protested, scrambling to his paws and shaking dust from his pelt.
“A kittypet intruder,” added Ashfur, reluctantly letting go of Smudge’s tail.
“No, he’s not,” Firestar corrected them. “He’s a friend. What are you two doing here, anyway?”
“We’re the border patrol,” Brambleclaw told him. “With Dustpelt and Mousefur. Look, here they come.”
Following the direction of his pointing tail, Firestar spotted
the two older warriors bounding rapidly through the trees.
“In StarClan’s name, what’s going on?” Dustpelt demanded. “I thought a fox must have gotten you from all that noise.”
“No, just a kittypet,” Firestar mewed, faintly amused at Brambleclaw’s and Ashfur’s outraged expressions. “Okay,
carry on with your patrol,” he added.
“But what about the kittypet?” Ashfur asked.
“I think I can handle him,” Firestar mewed. “You’re doing fine, but just remember that not everything you haven’t seen before is a threat.”
He's a pretty minor character for most of TNP, even after Squirrelflight starts getting close to him. But from the little we do see during this time, he tries to urge Squirrelpaw to go back to camp before she gets in trouble with Dustpelt:
“Does Dustpelt know you’re here?”
“No,” Squirrelpaw admitted. “He promised last night we’d do some training, but every cat knows he spends all day in the nursery with Ferncloud and their kits.”
“Not anymore,” Ashfur mewed. “Not since the kits opened their eyes. Squirrelpaw, I think you might be in trouble if Dustpelt goes looking for you.”
“No,” Squirrelpaw admitted. “He promised last night we’d do some training, but every cat knows he spends all day in the nursery with Ferncloud and their kits.”
“Not anymore,” Ashfur mewed. “Not since the kits opened their eyes. Squirrelpaw, I think you might be in trouble if Dustpelt goes looking for you.”
Assumes Cloudtail and Brightheart left to become kittypets:
“I’m taking out the dawn patrol,” Mousefur announced as she came up. “Do you still want us to look for Cloudtail and Brightheart?”
“Not that there’s much point, if they left on purpose,” Ashfur added darkly.
Leafpaw’s heart sank even further as she remembered the Clan’s efforts the day before to find the two cats. Patrols had covered the entire territory, picking up a scent-trail leading toward the place where the Twolegs had destroyed the forest. It had broken off abruptly near one of the huge tree-cutting monsters, and after that there was nothing.
“Keep your eyes open,” Firestar replied. “That’s all you can do.”
“I wouldn’t put it past Cloudtail to have gone back to the Twolegs,” Mousefur growled. “With so little prey in the forest, even Twoleg food must look tempting.”
“And he ate it often enough when he was an apprentice,” Ashfur put in.
“Not that there’s much point, if they left on purpose,” Ashfur added darkly.
Leafpaw’s heart sank even further as she remembered the Clan’s efforts the day before to find the two cats. Patrols had covered the entire territory, picking up a scent-trail leading toward the place where the Twolegs had destroyed the forest. It had broken off abruptly near one of the huge tree-cutting monsters, and after that there was nothing.
“Keep your eyes open,” Firestar replied. “That’s all you can do.”
“I wouldn’t put it past Cloudtail to have gone back to the Twolegs,” Mousefur growled. “With so little prey in the forest, even Twoleg food must look tempting.”
“And he ate it often enough when he was an apprentice,” Ashfur put in.
And doesn't trust Hawkfrost:
Ashfur gave a low growl. “But what if Hawkfrost shares his father’s ambition to take over the whole forest?” He clearly shared Squirrelpaw’s secret fear.
“We mustn’t jump to conclusions,” Firestar warned. “It’s clear that Hawkfrost’s first loyalty is to his Clan. He said he would fight to defend them. Does that sound like Tigerstar to you?”
Reluctantly, Ashfur shook his head, and Firestar went on. “Hawkfrost is no threat to us.”
“Yet,” Ashfur mewed pointedly.
“Until he proves he is, there’s no need to worry the rest of the Clan,” Firestar continued. “We might need RiverClan’s help before this is over.”
Ashfur swished his tail in frustration, but did not argue.
“Don’t worry, Ashfur,” Squirrelpaw reassured him. She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt. “Hawkfrost is just Hawkfrost. Tigerstar has left nothing bad in the forest except memories.”
“We mustn’t jump to conclusions,” Firestar warned. “It’s clear that Hawkfrost’s first loyalty is to his Clan. He said he would fight to defend them. Does that sound like Tigerstar to you?”
Reluctantly, Ashfur shook his head, and Firestar went on. “Hawkfrost is no threat to us.”
“Yet,” Ashfur mewed pointedly.
“Until he proves he is, there’s no need to worry the rest of the Clan,” Firestar continued. “We might need RiverClan’s help before this is over.”
Ashfur swished his tail in frustration, but did not argue.
“Don’t worry, Ashfur,” Squirrelpaw reassured him. She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt. “Hawkfrost is just Hawkfrost. Tigerstar has left nothing bad in the forest except memories.”
It's in Twilight when he actually starts gaining prominence. His relationship with Squirrelflight aside, he's shown trying to mediate the situation between her and Brambleclaw, but there's later tension between him and Brambleclaw as well.
Spiderleg, sitting on Ashfur’s other side from Squirrelflight, snorted. “Bossy furball,” he muttered. “Who does he think he is? Clan deputy?”
“Brambleclaw is a good warrior,” Ashfur mewed. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be deputy.”
“Except that ThunderClan already has a deputy,” Spiderleg pointed out.
“But Graystripe isn’t here,” Ashfur replied. “And sooner or later Firestar is going to have to decide how long he’s prepared to wait for him.”
“Brambleclaw is a good warrior,” Ashfur mewed. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be deputy.”
“Except that ThunderClan already has a deputy,” Spiderleg pointed out.
“But Graystripe isn’t here,” Ashfur replied. “And sooner or later Firestar is going to have to decide how long he’s prepared to wait for him.”
“Why should we believe Hawkfrost?” Squirrelflight clawed the ground in frustration.
“Why shouldn’t we?” Brambleclaw countered. “Because Tigerstar was his father? Like he was my father too?”
“That’s not fair,” Ashfur protested, coming to stand at Squirrelflight’s shoulder. “Squirrelflight didn’t say—”
“Keep out of this!” Brambleclaw rounded on the gray tomcat, tail lashing. “It’s got nothing to do with you!”
“Why shouldn’t we?” Brambleclaw countered. “Because Tigerstar was his father? Like he was my father too?”
“That’s not fair,” Ashfur protested, coming to stand at Squirrelflight’s shoulder. “Squirrelflight didn’t say—”
“Keep out of this!” Brambleclaw rounded on the gray tomcat, tail lashing. “It’s got nothing to do with you!”
“Steady.” Ashfur stepped forward and pressed his muzzle against Squirrelflight’s shoulder.
Squirrelflight struggled to control her anger. “I’d give anything to have Graystripe back.”
“Yes, we know,” Ashfur reassured her. His breath felt warm against her pelt. “Look, Brambleclaw,” he went on, straightening up, “we’ll get the moss, okay? You don’t need to hassle Squirrelflight.”
Brambleclaw twitched his ears. “Okay, but be as quick as you can. And when you’ve done that, make sure the elders have had some fresh-kill.” Without waiting for a reply he turned and stalked off toward the camp.
“Feed the elders yourself!” Squirrelflight yowled after him.
There was no need for Brambleclaw to behave like this—not unless he was punishing her for being suspicious about Hawkfrost.
If Brambleclaw heard her, he didn’t show it. He just carried on walking until soft green ferns hid him from sight.
“Take it easy,” Ashfur meowed. “He’s just trying to make sure everything gets done. We’re all under pressure, with only one apprentice.”
Squirrelflight struggled to control her anger. “I’d give anything to have Graystripe back.”
“Yes, we know,” Ashfur reassured her. His breath felt warm against her pelt. “Look, Brambleclaw,” he went on, straightening up, “we’ll get the moss, okay? You don’t need to hassle Squirrelflight.”
Brambleclaw twitched his ears. “Okay, but be as quick as you can. And when you’ve done that, make sure the elders have had some fresh-kill.” Without waiting for a reply he turned and stalked off toward the camp.
“Feed the elders yourself!” Squirrelflight yowled after him.
There was no need for Brambleclaw to behave like this—not unless he was punishing her for being suspicious about Hawkfrost.
If Brambleclaw heard her, he didn’t show it. He just carried on walking until soft green ferns hid him from sight.
“Take it easy,” Ashfur meowed. “He’s just trying to make sure everything gets done. We’re all under pressure, with only one apprentice.”
“Have you noticed,” she mewed to Ashfur, “how we’ve split up into our Clans again? It’s as if the journey from the forest never happened.”
“Well, Brambleclaw is over there with Hawkfrost,” Ashfur pointed out, turning his ears to where the two tabby toms had reappeared from a clump of bracken.
“Huh!” grunted Squirrelflight.
Ashfur’s blue eyes gleamed. “You’re worried about him, aren’t you?”
“Worried? Me?” Squirrelflight mewed. “Certainly not!” When Ashfur didn’t respond, she added, “Honestly, I’m not worried about him.”
Ashfur let out his breath in a long sigh. “Good,” he murmured. “He’s an honorable cat, you know. He may be friends with Hawkfrost, but he wouldn’t betray his Clanmates.”
“Well, Brambleclaw is over there with Hawkfrost,” Ashfur pointed out, turning his ears to where the two tabby toms had reappeared from a clump of bracken.
“Huh!” grunted Squirrelflight.
Ashfur’s blue eyes gleamed. “You’re worried about him, aren’t you?”
“Worried? Me?” Squirrelflight mewed. “Certainly not!” When Ashfur didn’t respond, she added, “Honestly, I’m not worried about him.”
Ashfur let out his breath in a long sigh. “Good,” he murmured. “He’s an honorable cat, you know. He may be friends with Hawkfrost, but he wouldn’t betray his Clanmates.”
Before she reached the others, Brambleclaw shouldered his way through the undergrowth, with Sandstorm just behind him.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.
“I spotted one of those kittypets from ShadowClan territory.” Squirrelflight was puzzled and angry at how hostile he sounded. What was he accusing her of now? “We’re supposed to chase trespassers on a border patrol, right?”
“Right,” meowed Brambleclaw. “What you’re not allowed to do is cross the border into another Clan’s territory. Suppose a ShadowClan patrol had seen you?”
“But I didn’t…” Squirrelflight’s voice trailed off. Suddenly she spotted the dead tree that was one of the boundary markers. She must have chased the kittypet straight past it. “I didn’t notice any scent marks,” she argued, padding forward until she was on the right side of the border again.
“The markings are really faint.” Ashfur had been over to sniff at the roots of the dead tree. “Leave her alone, Brambleclaw. Any cat could have made the same mistake.”
Sandstorm gave Ashfur a look from narrowed green eyes. “Squirrelflight can answer for herself,” she mewed. “She’s not usually lost for words.”
Squirrelflight blinked gratefully at Ashfur. She didn’t need him or any cat to spring to her defence, but it was good of him to support her. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t notice.”
“The markings are faint,” Thornclaw agreed. “I don’t think ShadowClan have renewed them for days.”
“What’s the matter with them?” Sandstorm wondered. “ShadowClan are usually the first to make sure that no cat crosses their borders.”
Squirrelflight shrugged. “If they can’t be bothered to set their markers, they can’t object if some cat crosses the boundary by mistake.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Brambleclaw sighed. “But for StarClan’s sake, be a bit more careful next time.”
“She will be.” Ashfur sprang to Squirrelflight’s defence again, unaware of the furious look she gave him this time. She was even angrier when she noticed a surprised glance from Sandstorm, as if her mother couldn’t believe she was depending on Ashfur for protection. “Anyway, Brambleclaw,” the grey tomcat went on, “it’s not your place to tell her what to do.”
“It’s any cat’s place,” Brambleclaw retorted, his neck fur starting to bristle. “Do you want trouble with ShadowClan?”
Ashfur unsheathed his claws. “That’s not the point!”
“Hang on!” Squirrelflight protested. “I don’t want—”
“That’s enough.” Sandstorm stalked over and confronted the three quarrelling cats. “Let’s get back to camp before ShadowClan cats do turn up and find us ruffling each other’s fur.”
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.
“I spotted one of those kittypets from ShadowClan territory.” Squirrelflight was puzzled and angry at how hostile he sounded. What was he accusing her of now? “We’re supposed to chase trespassers on a border patrol, right?”
“Right,” meowed Brambleclaw. “What you’re not allowed to do is cross the border into another Clan’s territory. Suppose a ShadowClan patrol had seen you?”
“But I didn’t…” Squirrelflight’s voice trailed off. Suddenly she spotted the dead tree that was one of the boundary markers. She must have chased the kittypet straight past it. “I didn’t notice any scent marks,” she argued, padding forward until she was on the right side of the border again.
“The markings are really faint.” Ashfur had been over to sniff at the roots of the dead tree. “Leave her alone, Brambleclaw. Any cat could have made the same mistake.”
Sandstorm gave Ashfur a look from narrowed green eyes. “Squirrelflight can answer for herself,” she mewed. “She’s not usually lost for words.”
Squirrelflight blinked gratefully at Ashfur. She didn’t need him or any cat to spring to her defence, but it was good of him to support her. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t notice.”
“The markings are faint,” Thornclaw agreed. “I don’t think ShadowClan have renewed them for days.”
“What’s the matter with them?” Sandstorm wondered. “ShadowClan are usually the first to make sure that no cat crosses their borders.”
Squirrelflight shrugged. “If they can’t be bothered to set their markers, they can’t object if some cat crosses the boundary by mistake.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Brambleclaw sighed. “But for StarClan’s sake, be a bit more careful next time.”
“She will be.” Ashfur sprang to Squirrelflight’s defence again, unaware of the furious look she gave him this time. She was even angrier when she noticed a surprised glance from Sandstorm, as if her mother couldn’t believe she was depending on Ashfur for protection. “Anyway, Brambleclaw,” the grey tomcat went on, “it’s not your place to tell her what to do.”
“It’s any cat’s place,” Brambleclaw retorted, his neck fur starting to bristle. “Do you want trouble with ShadowClan?”
Ashfur unsheathed his claws. “That’s not the point!”
“Hang on!” Squirrelflight protested. “I don’t want—”
“That’s enough.” Sandstorm stalked over and confronted the three quarrelling cats. “Let’s get back to camp before ShadowClan cats do turn up and find us ruffling each other’s fur.”
He also doubts Daisy's kits being able to fit in because they weren't Clanborn.
“Clanborn kits would know not to do this sort of thing,” Ashfur commented. “Maybe these kittypets will never settle here properly.”
“What did you say?” Squirrelflight spun around to face him. “Have you forgotten that my father was a kittypet?”
Ashfur blinked. “I’m sorry. But Firestar’s pretty special. Most kittypets couldn’t live our sort of life. They need their Twolegs to look after them.”
Squirrelflight let out a furious hiss, and her claws slid out; it took a massive effort to shield them again and go on sorting berries. How dare Ashfur make judgments based on a cat’s birth? she fumed. Did that mean he thought less of her because she was half kittypet? Couldn't he see that she and Leafpool, Cloudtail, and his kit Whitepaw were as important to the Clan as any warrior who was forestborn through and through?
“What did you say?” Squirrelflight spun around to face him. “Have you forgotten that my father was a kittypet?”
Ashfur blinked. “I’m sorry. But Firestar’s pretty special. Most kittypets couldn’t live our sort of life. They need their Twolegs to look after them.”
Squirrelflight let out a furious hiss, and her claws slid out; it took a massive effort to shield them again and go on sorting berries. How dare Ashfur make judgments based on a cat’s birth? she fumed. Did that mean he thought less of her because she was half kittypet? Couldn't he see that she and Leafpool, Cloudtail, and his kit Whitepaw were as important to the Clan as any warrior who was forestborn through and through?
And then there's Sunset. Ashfur is shown to be jealous of Brambleclaw, and when Squirrelflight tries to break things off, he tries to use Brambleclaw's heritage as a reason for why she shouldn't be with him.
“Look, Ashfur.” Squirrelflight’s voice told Brambleclaw that she was trying hard to hold her temper. “I really care about you as a friend, but I don’t want any more than that.”
“But I love you!” Ashfur protested. More hesitantly, he added, “We’d be great together, Squirrelflight, I know we would.”
Brambleclaw felt a stab of sympathy for the grey warrior. He remembered how he had felt when he thought he had lost Squirrelflight’s affection.
“I’m sorry,” Squirrelflight went on. “I never meant to hurt you, but Brambleclaw—well, I think StarClan has destined us to be together.”
“I don’t know how you can say that!” There was the hint of a snarl in Ashfur’s voice. “You said yourself that it’s impossible to trust a cat with Brambleclaw’s heritage. He’s a great cat, I know, but he is still Tigerstar’s son.”
Brambleclaw’s feelings of sympathy vanished instantly. He unsheathed his long, curved claws and sank them into the ground. Would he never be judged for what he was, instead of who his father had been? Worse, would Squirrelflight be unable to trust him because Tigerstar was his father?
“I’ll judge Brambleclaw by his own actions,” she retorted hotly, “not by something that other cats did long before I was born.”
“I’m only thinking of you, Squirrelflight,” Ashfur meowed. “I can remember Tigerstar. His paws were red with the blood of innocent cats. You know that he murdered my mother to lure a pack of dogs to our camp?”
Squirrelflight murmured something Brambleclaw couldn’t catch, then went on more clearly, “But that doesn’t mean Brambleclaw will turn out like his father.”
“But I love you!” Ashfur protested. More hesitantly, he added, “We’d be great together, Squirrelflight, I know we would.”
Brambleclaw felt a stab of sympathy for the grey warrior. He remembered how he had felt when he thought he had lost Squirrelflight’s affection.
“I’m sorry,” Squirrelflight went on. “I never meant to hurt you, but Brambleclaw—well, I think StarClan has destined us to be together.”
“I don’t know how you can say that!” There was the hint of a snarl in Ashfur’s voice. “You said yourself that it’s impossible to trust a cat with Brambleclaw’s heritage. He’s a great cat, I know, but he is still Tigerstar’s son.”
Brambleclaw’s feelings of sympathy vanished instantly. He unsheathed his long, curved claws and sank them into the ground. Would he never be judged for what he was, instead of who his father had been? Worse, would Squirrelflight be unable to trust him because Tigerstar was his father?
“I’ll judge Brambleclaw by his own actions,” she retorted hotly, “not by something that other cats did long before I was born.”
“I’m only thinking of you, Squirrelflight,” Ashfur meowed. “I can remember Tigerstar. His paws were red with the blood of innocent cats. You know that he murdered my mother to lure a pack of dogs to our camp?”
Squirrelflight murmured something Brambleclaw couldn’t catch, then went on more clearly, “But that doesn’t mean Brambleclaw will turn out like his father.”
After this, he acts cold towards Squirrelflight, despite her efforts to stay friends.
For a moment she thought Squirrelflight would stalk off without replying. Then her sister turned back, cast a rapid glance at Cloudtail, and mewed in a low voice, “It’s Ashfur. I passed him just now, and when I said hi he stared through me as if I wasn’t there. Rainwhisker was with him,” she went on as Leafpool laid her tail comfortingly on her shoulder. “The whole Clan must be talking about me!”
“Hi there,” Squirrelflight mewed.
Ashfur swept a freezing glance over her, ignored Brambleclaw entirely, and stalked away, carrying his moss to the elders.
“I tried to explain. . .” Squirrelflight insisted helplessly. “I keep on trying, but he just won’t listen. I don’t see why we can’t be friends.”
Ashfur swept a freezing glance over her, ignored Brambleclaw entirely, and stalked away, carrying his moss to the elders.
“I tried to explain. . .” Squirrelflight insisted helplessly. “I keep on trying, but he just won’t listen. I don’t see why we can’t be friends.”
He later tries one last time to ruin Brambleclaw by suggesting that Leafpool faked a sign so he would become deputy.
Leafpool stepped forward to the edge of the Highledge and described the sign that StarClan had sent her, of the circle of brambles keeping the Clan safe. When she finished, she saw Dustpelt dip his head.
“I can’t quarrel with StarClan,” he meowed.
“Well, I can!” To Leafpool’s surprise, the challenge came from Ashfur. He marched forward until he stood directly beneath the Highledge, the moonlight turning his grey pelt to silver. Instead of addressing his leader, he turned to face the Clan. “Doesn’t any cat think it’s odd that Squirrelflight is Brambleclaw’s mate, and our medicine cat is Squirrelflight’s sister? It’s very convenient that she had a sign about Brambleclaw just now, isn’t it?”
Leafpool felt her neck fur bristling. How dare Ashfur suggest that she would invent a sign to help her sister’s mate become deputy! Even if he was bitter at losing Squirrelflight to Brambleclaw, he should know that a medicine cat would never lie.
“Ashfur, you—” she began.
Her words were drowned in a furious yowl from Squirrelflight. “Say that to my face, fox dung!”
The ginger warrior lunged at Ashfur, but Brambleclaw thrust her to one side and wrapped his tail around her neck. He was saying something to her, speaking fast and urgently, too low for Leafpool to hear.
“Do any other cats agree with Ashfur?” Firestar demanded calmly.
Leafpool saw Spiderleg glance uneasily from side to side; he opened his jaws to speak and then obviously thought better of it.
“None of us agree,” Brackenfur called out. “Leafpool is an honest cat. If StarClan chose Brambleclaw, that’s enough for us. I think he’ll make a great deputy.”
“I can’t quarrel with StarClan,” he meowed.
“Well, I can!” To Leafpool’s surprise, the challenge came from Ashfur. He marched forward until he stood directly beneath the Highledge, the moonlight turning his grey pelt to silver. Instead of addressing his leader, he turned to face the Clan. “Doesn’t any cat think it’s odd that Squirrelflight is Brambleclaw’s mate, and our medicine cat is Squirrelflight’s sister? It’s very convenient that she had a sign about Brambleclaw just now, isn’t it?”
Leafpool felt her neck fur bristling. How dare Ashfur suggest that she would invent a sign to help her sister’s mate become deputy! Even if he was bitter at losing Squirrelflight to Brambleclaw, he should know that a medicine cat would never lie.
“Ashfur, you—” she began.
Her words were drowned in a furious yowl from Squirrelflight. “Say that to my face, fox dung!”
The ginger warrior lunged at Ashfur, but Brambleclaw thrust her to one side and wrapped his tail around her neck. He was saying something to her, speaking fast and urgently, too low for Leafpool to hear.
“Do any other cats agree with Ashfur?” Firestar demanded calmly.
Leafpool saw Spiderleg glance uneasily from side to side; he opened his jaws to speak and then obviously thought better of it.
“None of us agree,” Brackenfur called out. “Leafpool is an honest cat. If StarClan chose Brambleclaw, that’s enough for us. I think he’ll make a great deputy.”
So, what are your thoughts on Ashfur after reading all this? Do you think he was ruined or not?