"You were always brave and clever and loyal, and you always helped any cat who needed you. You died saving me, and there's no way I can thank you properly for that." |
— Thunderstar mourning Lightning Tail in Thunderstar's Echo, chapter 7 |
Lightning Tail is a wiry,[10] black tom[2] with a broad forehead and shoulders,[7] a torn ear-tip,[11] and bright[12] green eyes.[13]
Lightning Tail was the first deputy of ThunderClan under Thunderstar's leadership in the forest territories. He was born to Jackdaw's Cry and Hawk Swoop alongside his sister, Acorn Fur, and after gaining Thunder as an adopted brother, they formed a friendship that lasted throughout their lives. Though Lightning Tail grew up on the moor, he followed Thunder to his father's group in the forest. However, Thunder left to make his own group, and Lightning Tail stuck by his best friend's side. Thunder dubbed Lightning Tail as his successor, and he later became Thunderstar's first deputy and became a mentor to Apple Blossom. After dying to protect Thunderstar from dogs, Lightning Tail ascended to StarClan, and Thunderstar named his daughter Lightning Stripe in honor of him.
History[]
Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!
Dawn of the Clans[]
- "We need to train. Those cats wouldn't have stolen our prey so easily if we'd known what to do. We must practice fighting moves. We must learn new skills so that we're always prepared. We're strong and we're smart. If we practice, we can win even when we're outnumbered. Slash's rogues are just kittypets nobody wants. If we train hard and grow strong and learn fighting moves they've never seen, we will always be ready to defend what is ours."
- ―Lightning Tail Path of Stars, pages 90-91
- As Thunder begins to pad after Star Flower, Lightning Tail suspects something off and expresses his worries to Thunder who dismisses them. When Tall Shadow's group splits off, he chooses to live in Clear Sky's group with his sister and Thunder. Lightning Tail bitterly warns Clear Sky about Star Flower when she joins the group, still hurt after she betrayed Thunder's trust. He and Thunder spy on Clear Sky, and they discover him meeting with Star Flower and wonder if she was attempting to use his power for herself. Thunder confronts his father and decides to leave and form his own group in the forest, and Lightning Tail immediately joins him.
- Leaf discovers a ravine for them to live in, and Lightning Tail helps to make dens and hunt for prey. He helps with the rescue for Star Flower when she is kidnapped by Slash and poses as bait for their ambush. When Slash's cats raid their hunting patrols, Lightning Tail decides to organize battle training sessions for everyone and suggests pairing one kit with each adult to work together. Before Thunder leaves with the others to confront Slash and rescue Black Ear, he names Lightning Tail his successor in case he dies.
Novellas[]
This section summarizes Lightning Tail's significant Novellas appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!
- Lightning Tail: "I believe it's true. You've been the best leader I could have asked for, the strongest cat I know. StarClan will save you."
- Thunderstar: "If I was a good leader, it's only because I had you to rely on. I could never have formed ThunderClan without you."
- Thunderstar's Echo, chapter 6
Detailed description[]
Scars gained[]
The following is a chronological list of scars and/or major injuries that Lightning Tail has gained:
- Torn ear-tip caused by rescuing Star Flower from Slash and his rogues in Path of Stars.[11]
Character pixels[]
Main images[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Alternate images[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Official art[]
Please do not edit this gallery |
Killed victims[]
This list shows the victims Lightning Tail has killed:
Personality[]
- Lightning Tail is a loyal, energetic, and skilled tom.[15]
- More Coming Soon
Relationships[]
Hawk Swoop and Jackdaw's Cry[]
- Lightning Tail mourns for his mother, Hawk Swoop, when she is killed in the Great Battle.[16]
- More Coming Soon
Acorn Fur[]
- Lightning Tail is good friends with his sister, and they often played together as kits on the moor.[17] After the Great Battle, when all the cats are choosing which camp to join, Acorn Fur chooses Clear Sky’s camp.[18] Lightning Tail and Thunder later join her, but Thunder soon gets fed up with his father’s attitude and creates his own camp in the forest. Lightning Tail follows him, leaving his sister once again.[19]
Thunderstar[]
- Lightning Tail is Thunder’s foster brother, and his closest and most loyal friend. He is named after how he follows Thunder around, and he looks up to the powerful ginger tom.[17] When Thunder creates his own group in the forest, Lightning Tail joins him,[19] and eventually becomes deputy of ThunderClan. He is deeply loyal to his leader and his Clan, and supports his friend and is there for him. Thunderstar relies on Lightning Tail as his deputy, and is lost when Lightning Tail is killed by dogs. Lightning Tail is sad to leave his friend, but knows that he’ll eventually be okay without him. Thunderstar does eventually get over his grief, and appoints Owl Eyes as his new deputy.[20]
Kin[]
Members[]
Father:
- Jackdaw's Cry:[21] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Mother:
- Hawk Swoop:[21] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Sister:
Adopted brother:
- Thunderstar:[22] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Aunt:
- Falling Feather:[23] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Trees[]
Genetic[]
Unknown | |||||||||||||||||||||
Hawk Swoop ♀ | Jackdaw's Cry ♂ | Falling Feather ♀ | |||||||||||||||||||
Acorn Fur ♀ | Lightning Tail ♂ | ||||||||||||||||||||
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Foster[]
Hawk Swoop ♀ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Thunderstar ♂ | Lightning Tail ♂ | Acorn Fur ♀ | |||||||||||||||||||
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Riverstar's Home
- Thunder Rising
- The First Battle
- The Blazing Star
- A Forest Divided
- Path of Stars
- Moth Flight's Vision
- Thunderstar's Echo †
- Shadowstar's Life (Mentioned only)
- Secrets of the Clans (First appearance; mentioned only) (Retconned)
Trivia[]
Interesting facts[]
- Lightning Tail's death is what inspired the custom of sitting vigil for the dead. After his death, Thunderstar sat with his friend's body for the night, and he reported to the other Clan leaders how it gave him peace how he was honoring his closest friend.[9]
- Lightning Stripe is named after him.[9]
Author statements[]
- Although Kate said that Lightning Tail was named for his speed,[blog 1] Thunder Rising states that Lightning Tail got his name from always following Thunder around.[24]
Mistakes[]
- He has mistakenly been called "Lightning",[25] "Lightening Tail",[26] and "Lighting Tail".[27]
- Despite being called an adult in The First Battle[7] and being old enough to participate in battle,[28] Lightning Tail is listed as a kit in The Blazing Star.[29]
- Lightning Tail is mistakenly called a warrior,[12] despite being ThunderClan's deputy at the time.[5]
- Lightning Tail is said to have been part of Windstar's group on the moor,[9] but Lightning Tail never lived in Wind Runner's group, instead living in the one led by Tall Shadow,[30][31] Gray Wing,[32][31] and Thunder.[33]
Continuity[]
The following information is from sources considered non-canon or retconned.
- In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, Lightningtail is the very first ThunderClan deputy, serving under the leadership of Thunderstar. It is unknown what happened to Lightningtail, but he is eventually succeeded by Owleyes, who later becomes Owlstar, the second leader of ThunderClan.[34]
Quotes[]
- Main article: Lightning Tail/Quotes
External links[]
- Lightning-tail's profile on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- The forest map: WindClan on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- Together We Are Strong on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
Fan content[]
- Warrior of the Week #4 - Lightning Tail on the Warriors official website (Warrior of the Week #4) (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Revealed in Thunderstar's Echo, chapter 6
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Revealed in Thunder Rising, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in A Forest Divided, page 48
- ↑ Revealed in A Forest Divided, page 181
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Revealed in Thunderstar's Echo, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in The First Battle, page 43
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Revealed in The First Battle, page 50
- ↑ Revealed in Thunderstar's Echo, chapter 1
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Revealed in Thunderstar's Echo, chapter 10
- ↑ Revealed in The First Battle, page 164
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Revealed in Path of Stars, page 81
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Revealed in Thunderstar's Echo, chapter 7
- ↑ Revealed in The Blazing Star, page 10
- ↑ Revealed in The Blazing Star, pages 239-240
- ↑ Revealed in Dawn of the Clans
- ↑ Revealed in The Blazing Star
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Revealed in Thunder Rising
- ↑ Revealed in The First Battle
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Revealed in A Forest Divided
- ↑ Revealed in Thunderstar's Echo
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Revealed in Thunder Rising, page 5
- ↑ Revealed in The Sun Trail, page 311
- ↑ Revealed in The Sun Trail, page 93
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder Rising, page 16
- ↑ Revealed in The First Battle, page 212
- ↑ Revealed in The Blazing Star, page 161
- ↑ This happens multiple times throughout Path of Stars, on pages 57, 58, 60, and 73.
- ↑ Revealed in The First Battle, page 252
- ↑ Revealed in The Blazing Star, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in The Sun Trail, page 184
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Revealed in Thunder Rising, page 285
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder Rising, page 168
- ↑ Revealed in The Blazing Star, page 129
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 22
Author references