Reedwhisker

Reedwhisker is a supporting character in Erin Hunter's Warriors book series.

He is the only one of his litter to survive to adulthood, and was a RiverClan deputy who served under his mother Mistystar’s leadership. After Mistystar’s eventual death, Reedwhisker was expected to succeed as leader, but was found untimely dead in a ravine. As he had no named deputy, a succession crisis soon ensued, with Curlfeather, Owlnose and Splashtail as potential candidates (with the latter most ultimately suceeding). Later, it’s revealed that Splashtail and Curlfeather conspired against Reedwhisker to kill him, but Splashtail soon turned against her by killing her with a pack of dogs and becoming leader.

Appearance[]

Reedwhisker is a black tom with gray eyes.

Biography[]

The Prophecies Begin[]

Reedkit is born to Mistyfoot and Blackclaw alongside his littermates Perchkit, Pikekit and Primrosekit. Perchkit and Pikekit are swept away in a flood, but ThunderClan warriors Fireheart and Graystripe rescue them.

Leopardstar’s Honor[]

Reedkit is apprenticed as Reedpaw alongside his siblings (with the exception of Perchkit, who had died before then), and his mother soon becomes Featherpaw’s mentor. After it’s discovered that Mistyfoot and her brother Stonefur are half-Clan cats by TigerClan (RiverClan and ShadowClan as one) and Mistyfoot escapes with Featherpaw and Stormpaw, Reedpaw and his siblings huddle together while worrying about her. He joins the TigerClan patrol that meets with BloodClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan, though Blackclaw is ordered by Leopardstar to keep him and the other apprentices out of harm's way.

The New Prophecy[]

Reedpaw continues his apprenticeship. He accidentally falls into the river and then hits his head and falls partially unconscious. After Mistyfoot pulls him out with the help of Hawkfrost and Mothwing, Leafpaw arrives to help. Mothwing, the medicine cat apprentice, panics and forgets her training. Leafpaw takes over and saves him with the advice of Spottedleaf. Mistyfoot escorts him home alongside Hawkfrost.

When Sorreltail accidentally goes into RiverClan territory by chasing a squirrel and Hawkfrost finds her and threatens to send her to Leopardstar, Reedpaw is mentioned by Leafpaw when she begs him to let her go.

He goes on the Great Journey and is soon earns his warrior name Reedwhisker, and later an apprentice, Ripplepaw. He meets Leafpool again when she visits RiverClan to help them with a sickness. She's glad to see him again, and asks him to collect some yarrow and juniper berries with Ripplepaw.

The Power of Three[]

Reedwhisker has another apprentice, Pouncepaw. Willowpaw and Hollypaw spy on Reedwhisker, Voletooth, Blackclaw, Minnowpaw and Pouncepaw barricading their camp with stones and gorse from the Twoleg kits, but they are caught when a dog chases them onto WindClan territory. Ashfoot and Tornear accuses them of trespassing, and the RiverClan patrol takes Hollypaw back to the island. He reports Hollypaw to Leopardstar, who lets her stay until it is safe to return.

Reedwhisker later participates in the battle between the four Clans, fighting with WindClan and against ShadowClan and ThunderClan with his Clan and WindClan. When Graystripe orders Jaypaw to alert Firestar that RiverClan had joined the fight, he detects Reedwhisker and Mosspelt arguing as they head for Firestar's battle patrol.

Omen of the Stars[]

He is mentoring his third apprentice, Hollowpaw. During the drought, Leopardstar claims the fish in the lake as RiverClan's and orders her warriors to guard the remaining lake water. Reedwhisker, Graymist, Otterheart and Sneezepaw watch over the water when a ThunderClan patrol comes to collect water. Reedwhisker sharply reminds them to not take any fish. When Dovepaw uses her powers to spy on RiverClan, Reedwhisker hopes that Firestar's plan to send cats to free the water (which is blocked by beaver dams) works.

Mistystar’s Omen[]

Leopardstar dies, and his mother Mistyfoot, succeeds her as leader. She appoints Reedwhisker as her deputy. though Mossypaw believes her choice to be biased since Reedwhisker was Mistystar's son. He greets her when she returns from her leadership ceremony and offers to bring the news to Blackstar. He alerts Mistystar that Hollowpaw and Rushpaw are trapped by dogs, and he and Mallownose rescue them. However, one of the dogs attacks and he is severely wounded. Mistystar forbids Mothwing from treating her son because of her lack of faith in StarClan, but Stonefur gives her an omen to trust in Mothwing's instincts. She allows Mothwing to heal him, and Reedwhisker survives.

A Vision of Shadows[]

Darktail and his Kin have taken over SkyClan and ShadowClan. When they try to invade RiverClan, Reedwhisker fights one-on-one with Darktail when the latter attacks Mistystar. But Darktail subdues him as the Kin take over RiverClan. As the wounded are taken prisoner, including Reedwhisker, they are forced to swear an oath of loyalty under the threat of starvation. As the others give in, Reedwhisker is last to swear the oath, but Darktail makes him repeat louder, which Reedwhisker does. Darktail then gives them a few scrawny mice for them to eat.

Some time later, Violetpaw sneak in more food for the prisoners at night and helps them escape. Reedwhisker and the others fight the Kin to break out, and they are soon recovered by the rest of the Clans. Later on, he goes with some other cats to fetch Onestar and WindClan for help.

After Darktail is killed by Onestar and the Kin are driven out, Reedwhisker continues to recover. He fully recovers by the time of the next Gathering for him to sit at the base of the Great Oak beside the other deputies.

Later, lightning strikes a tree near RiverClan and their camp is set on fire. Reedwhisker helps the medicine cats evacuate the sick ones, but he becomes separated from his Clan. He explains to SkyClan deputy Hawkwing what happened, and is reunited with his Clanmates.

The Broken Code[]

He voices doubt that Shadowsight would be able to connect with StarClan, asking the young cat if he was sure he wasn't dreaming about it. He later is present with the other Clan deputies and leaders as they try to break the ice on the Moonpool, but their efforts are in vain as the ice is too thick. He also appears concerned when Shadowpaw announces his plan to try and cure Bramblestar, asking Squirrelflight what would happen if Bramblestar died for good.

When Mistystar decides to enter the Dark Forest with Crowfeather, Violetshine, Graystripe, and Shadowsight to confront Ashfur, Reedwhisker worries for his leader's safety, but she trusts that he'll be a fine leader if she dies.

A Starless Clan[]

Reedwhisker goes missing on a hunting patrol with Splashtail, Fognose, Curlfeather and Podlight. His Clanmates assumes that he either got lost or went back to camp by himself, by only find Mistystar already dead and Reedwhisker not there. Soon, they find him dead in a ravine, his neck snapped and strange scratches on his back. With both their leader and deputy dead, RiverClan falls into a succession crisis.

Later, Reedwhisker reveals to Frostpaw a vision of his death. And even later with the help of Riverstar, Frostpaw discovers that her mother Curlfeather and Splashtail plotted Reedwhisker’s death.

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