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| “ | We're only trying to preserve the ShadowClan we all know and love - surely you agree with that? Then join us. You might like what you hear. | „ |
| ~ Berryheart trying to get Sunbeam to join her group |
Berryheart is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Splashtail) of A Starless Clan arc in Erin Hunter's Warriors book franchise.
She was once a ShadowClan warrior who joined a rogue group known as The Kin, but fled after her daughter Needletail was killed by The Kin's leader Darktail. After rejoining ShadowClan, she vowed to protect it from any and all outsiders, taking this to the extreme by purposefully endangering cats from other Clans who would try to join. After trying to force her leader to step down, she willingly exiles herself from the Clan, becoming a rogue.
Appearance[]
Berryheart is a black-and-white she-cat with amber eyes.
Biography[]
A Vision of Shadows[]
Berryheart is a warrior of ShadowClan, and her and Sparrowtail's daughter Needlepaw is a warrior apprentice. As ShadowClan becomes unstable under Rowanstar's leadership, several of its members leave to join a group of rogues who have recently settled at the lake. Berryheart is one of the cats who leaves, soon after her daughter Needlepaw joins the rogues. The combined group of rogues and ex-ShadowClan cats is then named The Kin. Berryheart and many of her Clanmates soon come to regret their decision in joining The Kin though, as the group is bloodthirsty and megalomanic, especially the leader Darktail. When she tries to leave however, Darktail catches her and tries to drown her, with the black-and-white she-cat barely escaping by playing dead and swimming away when Darktail leaves.
When she swims to shore, she vows to be loyal to ShadowClan for the rest of her life, and never let any outsider take advantage of her or destroy her home again. As she takes shelter, she remembers that Sparrowtail and Needletail are still in The Kin, and fears Darktail may hurt them because she fled. She soon runs into Slatefur, a fellow ex-ShadowClan cat who joined then fled The Kin. She asks him to pass on a message that she's heading towards the nearby twoleg campsite. Soon Sparrowtail finds her, informing her that Needletail has betrayed The Kin and is now being held prisoner. On the way to the campsite, they're attacked by a mother hawk, and after fighting it off Berryheart laments that she can't protect her offspring like the bird can.
The two then shelter in an abandoned building, where Slatefur and Berryheart's sister Cloverfoot find them. All four of them express regret for helping Darktail take over ShadowClan, blaming themselves for their Clan's downfall. Berryheart then says they can't give up, and soon StarClan will guide the four of them back home. They're still unsure of ShadowClan's fate and whether or not they'd be allowed back though, so they decide not to go back yet, even after Darktail is killed and The Kin disbands.
Soon ShadowClan's deputy Tigerheart finds her and Slatefur while travelling with the ThunderClan warrior Dovewing and four guardian cats named Spire, Blaze, Cinnamon and Ant. Tigerheart sees that Berryheart is pregnant, then asks her and Slatefur if they've become rogues. Berryheart is shocked, and Slatefur retorts that they aren't rogues. Tigerheart then tells them their Clanmates think they're dead, telling Berryheart that her parents Snowbird and Scorchfur are worried about her. She asks if they still have her younger sister Yarrowleaf, but is told that she left with Sleekwhisker to become rogues after Darktail's death. In disbelief, the amber-eyed she-cat comments that she thought Yarrowleaf would've returned to ShadowClan, and Tigerheart growls that she and Slatefur didn't return either. Slatefur argues that they meant to come back, but Tigerheart accuses them of treachery before Dovewing calms him by pointing out that they don't know what the two have been through. He apologizes, and says ShadowClan has lost so much, adding that Mistcloud, Lioneye and Spikefur are missing. He then asks if Sparrowtail is with them, and Slatefur confirms he and Cloverfoot are, and they're out hunting.
Blaze asks if Berryheart and Slatefur are warriors, and Tigerheart says they used to be. Slatefur then reveals that Sparrowtail is the father of Berryheart's unborn litter, and the pregnant she-cat says they'll be due very soon. Soon Sparrowtail and Cloverfoot return, and they all decide to go somewhere warmer as Berryheart is getting tired. She then states that it's time for them all to return home, and though Dovewing is worried if she'll be able to make the travel, Spire says it would be harder to carry the newborn kits if they wait. Berryheart says they could wait for the litter to be born, but it would be a while before the kittens would be able to make the journey. Sparrowtail stays close to his mate's side as they travel, and soon the group begins following some train tracks.
The group worries they won't get home before Berryheart gives birth, and the expecting she-cat is worried they'll get lost if they stop following the tracks. Berryheart has trouble keeping up with Spire, and Tigerheart asks him to slow down for her, but he replies that there's no time. After Spire sacrifices himself to save Tigerheart's and Dovewing's daughter Pouncekit, the deputy wants to give him a warrior's sendoff, but Berryheart wonders how he could be considered a member of ShadowClan. Blaze replies that he knew some of ShadowClan's members, and she ends up agreeing that he deserves a warrior name, after which he's named Spiresight.
Berryheart gives birth soon after to a litter of a she-kit and two toms. She named the brown-and-white she-kit Sunkit, the black tom Hollowkit, and the black-and-white tom Spirekit after Spiresight. The group then decides to wait until the newborn kittens are able to travel before continuing on their journey. A moon later, Tigerheart asks if they're able to travel yet, but she says they're barely weaned off of milk, telling him to carry on without her, and she'll go back once her kits are ready. Dovewing instead suggests they all wait a week longer, and hesitantly Berryheart agrees, but only if the weather is good.
A week later, the group is ready to leave, but an owl attacks them. It nearly grabs Hollowkit, but Tigerheart intervenes, being gravely wounded in the process. Berryheart then whispers to him that she can never repay him for saving her son. Once they at last reach home, Tigerheart dies of his wounds, and Berryheart shields her kits from him, not wanting them to see him die. She then helps carry him to the Moonpool for StarClan to revive him. After Tigerheart revives with eight lives and becomes ShadowClan's new leader, now named Tigerstar, he rebuilds the Clan and allows Berryheart and the others back.
A Starless Clan[]
River[]
Several moons later, Sunbeam, Hollowspring and Spireclaw are all now warriors. Meanwhile, Berryheart is one of several ShadowClan cats unhappy with the newly-revised warrior code, particularly the part allowing cats to move to different Clans. She visits Sunbeam in the medicine den while her daughter is recovering from some minor injuries, and comforts her about her crush Blazefire choosing Lightleap over her. She then claims that Tigerstar's kin think they can do whatever they want, and points out how the code changes benefit them, as both the leader's mother and mate were originally ThunderClan warriors. The black-and-white she-cat adds that with the code changing, loyalty to ShadowClan is more important than ever.
At the next Gahering, SkyClan's leader Leafstar announces that one of her warriors, Fringewhisker, is leaving to join ShadowClan so she may be with her new mate, Spireclaw. Berryheart is unhappy about this, and speaks up about her disapproval, claiming that if they allow cats to change Clans whenever they like, there will soon be so much change that there aren't real Clans anymore. This makes the rest of the Gathering' attendees uncomfortable, and Sunbeam speaks with the ThunderClan apprentice Flamepaw about her mother's speech.
Later, Fringewhisker's trial to officially join ShadowClan begins, with her needing to roll a log over a hill to succeed. When she passes, Sunbeam notices how unhappy Berryheart is with the result. The amber-eyed she-cat complains that the trial was too easy, as Fringewhisker had broken off the smaller branches to make the log easier to roll, and let it roll down the other side of the hill by itself. She then concludes that Tigerstar made the test easy because he wants more warriors to protect the Clan, as he and Dovewing have just had a second litter of kits. She then says that he won't be so happy about the code changes when a ShadowClan warrior wants to leave, ominously stating that the Clans need a reminder why cross-Clan relationships were forbidden in the first place. Hearing this, Sunbeam grows anxious of her mother, and fears that their bond may be drifting apart as her friendship with Lightleap is.
Sky[]
When ShadowClan faces a small outbreak of whitecough, Berryheart speculates that Fringewhisker had brought it from SkyClan, but Sunbeam doubts this. After the vigil for Rowankit, Tigerstar's and Dovewing's son who had died of whitecough, Berryheart invites Sunbeam to a secret meeting with Yarrowleaf, Whorlpelt, Snowbird, Snaketooth, Stonewing and Grassheart. Her daughter is shocked to hear them accuse Fringewhisker of purposely bringing illness to the Clan to weaken it.
Later, Berryheart, Whorlpelt and Yarrowleaf accuse Fringewhisker of bringing prey to SkyClan. Sunbeam tries to defend her, but Fringewhisker admits that she did do it, later confiding in her in secret that her new Clanmates told her to. The brown-and-white she-cat confronts her mother over this, telling her that she's splitting the Clan by turning Clanmates against each other, but Berryheart argues that she's trying to protect the Clan. Appalled, Sunbeam tells her to leave her out of her clique's meetings and keep her opinions to herself.
After the other Clans find out that RiverClan no longer has a leader or deputy, Tigerstar offers to lead them until they can find new ones, though this idea is shot down. ThunderClan's leader then sends Flamepaw - now a warrior named Nightheart - to go ask Sunbeam if her leader has any ulterior motives concerning RiverClan. Sunbeam tells him that Tigerstar doesn't seem to have any other motive to lead RiverClan, but after Nightheart leaves, she confides in Flaxfoot about his worries. Flaxfoot then goes against her wishes to keep the conversation between them, and tells Berryheart, who angrily reports the conversation to the leader. Tigerstar vehemently denies any sinister plans for RiverClan, and Berryheart then chides her daughter for trusting a ThunderClan cat.
Shadow[]
After TIgerstar forces RiverClan to let him be their subsitiute leader, ShadowClan comes back from the battle to find Nightheart in their camp, proclaiming his wish to join their Clan to be with Sunbeam. Berryheart irritably talks to Sunbeam about this, telling her about her time in The Kin and asking how Nightheart could ever be loyal to a new Clan. Sunbeam defends him, but her mother argues that she's just looking out for her kits' happiness. Her daughter then retorts that if she wanted them to be happy, she should give him and Fringewhisker a chance.
At the next Gathering, when Tigerstar announces Nightheart's move to ShadowClan, Berryheart protests that switching Clans is too easy. Nightheart's sister Finchlight then suggests having three trials instead of just one, which the leaders agree to. Tigerstar then puts the black-and-white she-cat in charge of organizing trials for Fringewhisker and Nightheart. She gives them dangerous tasks, such as neearly getting Fringewhisker bitten by snakes, possibly in an attempt to kill her.
When Berryheart, Yarrowleaf and Whorlpelt sneak out of camp, Sunbeam and Nightheart follow them to the RiverClan border, where they see them meeting up with three warriors from the neighboring Clan; Splashtail, Minnowtail and Mallownose. The six discuss Tigerstar's leadership of RiverClan, during which Berryheart tells Spalshtail that his Clan's new medicine cat needs to be someone suggestible. The brown-and-white she-cat confronts her mother about this, but she claims that she's just trying to protect ShadowClan now after failing to do so with The Kin. For Nightheart's second assessment, Berryheart has him steal something from a twoleg tent, brushing off Blazefire's concerns about a dog in one of them. Nightheart succeeds in stealing a piece of clothing, as the dog had been very small, but Sunbeam still confronts Berryheart for endangering him like that.
After Nightheart purposefully fails his final trial, realizing that he belongs in ThunderClan, Sunbeam is heartbroken as he leaves. Berryheart comforts her, and tells her that she knew the black tom was untrustworthy, with her daughter believing her for a moment. The next morning though, Sunbeam remembers how irrational her mother's beliefs are, and decides to leave the Clan and join Nightheart in ThunderClan.
Thunder[]
The day after Sunbeam abruptly leaves to join ThunderClan, Berryheart shows up in the neighboring Clan's camp and demands that she come home. Sunbeam begs that they talk somewhere private, but her mother refuses, saying she has nothing to say that can't be said in front of her new Clan. She then accuses her daughter of betrayal, and pities her when she says she loves Nightheart, telling her she should've chosen someone more loyal. She then asks her to come back, saying it isn't too late. She refuses though, after which the amber-eyed she-cat points out that Nightheart is gone. Finchlight and Sparkpelt then defend Sunbeam, and ThunderClan's new deputy Ivypool tells Berryheart to watch what she says about the Clan while in their camp. Ivypool then has Sorrelstripe and Flipclaw escort her out, and she begrudingly obligies, telling her daughter she'll be waiting for her to change her mind and come home.
Later, ThunderClan's new leader Squirrelstar calls for an emergency Gathering to announce her leadership. Sunbeam attends, nervous about seeing her old Clanmates again, and tries to get Berryheart's attention when she sees her, but her mother ignores her. When the brown-and-white she-ct approaches and calls her name, she turns her head away, which hurts her. Sparrowtail then says that she'll come around evetually, since she can't ignore her kit forever. Splashtail then reports that Frostpaw has gone missing, to which the SkyClan warrior Rootspring suggests that she may have run away. Berryheart agrees with this, saying that if she found out the visions from StarClan were fake, she'd be humiliated enough to run away too. Frostpaw's former mentor Mothwing retorts that she was just trying to help, but Berryheart responds that she was making things worse. Squirrelstar then announces that Sunbeam is settling in to ThunderClan well, to which she glances at Berryheart, but her mother continues to ignore her. Tigerstar then asks where Nightheart is, and when Sunbeam says that he's sick, the leader replies that Berryheart had said the black tom was too busy to sleep in his own nest.
Later, while meeting at the ShadowClan border, Sunbeam finds out from Sparrowtail that Berryheart has a plan concerning RiverClan, but her father walks away when she tries to ask him about it. Sunbeam later attends a meeting between the leaders to discuss RiverClan and Tigerstar, and gets uncomfrotable when she arrives and spots her mother sitting next to Scorchfur, afriad she was going to cause another scene. The black-and-white she-cat then walks over and tells her kit that she wants to talk to her, and the two go somewhere rpivate. She tells Sunbeam that she can still return to ShadowClan, but her daughter tells her to be quiet, revealing that she's already passed all three of her trials and become an official ThunderClan warrior. The older she-cat blames Nightheart for this, accusing him of stealing her kit, but Sunbeam retorts that she didn't move just for him, but also because she couldn't live with cats she disagreed with, and didn't want to get involved with RiverClan any more. Berryheart rplies that at least tey can agree that ShadowClan should stay out of RiverClan's buisness, and says that she's going to remind Tigerstar where his loyalties should lie. Uneasily Sunbeam asks what she means, but she walks away, saying that what happenes in ShadowClan is none of her daughter's buiness anymore.
At the next Gathering, after Squirrelstar announces that Sunbeam is an official warrior of ThunderClan, Berryheart speaks up, telling her that she's betrayed her original Clan, and her new Clanmates will always see her as an outsider. Snowbird, Whorlpelt and Yarrowleaf back her up as she continues that ThunderClan doesn't care about her, and just wants to steal ShadowClan's warriors. With Sparkpelt's encouragement, Sunbeam then tells everyone at the Gathering that ThunderClan is her knew home, and her new Clanmates are more like kin to her than some of her actual kin, shooting a look at her mother, who gazes back with hurt in her eyes.
Berryheart then walks to the center of the island, followed by Yarrowleaf, Whorlpelt and Snowbird, and tells the leaders that they have an announcement to make. She states that they belive Tigerstar stepping down from leadership would be best for the Clan, and when her other Clanmates protest, she points out that the revised warrior code allows cats to vote their leaders out of power, and argues that Tigerstar has only been concerned about RiverClan for moons. The leader retorts that she's been poisoning the Clan for moons by turning them against the other Clans, and he's grown sick of explaining to her over and over that he doesn't want to take over RiverClan. She then adds that she has Puddleshine's support, and when Blazefire and Pouncestep point out that the support of both medicine cats is needed, she says that Shadowsight can't give fair judgement as Tigerstar's son, and this shouldn't count. The ThunderClan medicine cat Alderheart asks Puddleshine if he really supports her, and he says yes, with her making him say it louder. She then demands Cloverfoot assume leadership as soon as possible, but Puddleshine interrupts her, revealing that he only agreed to support her to demonstrate how easily it would be for a cat to get their leader voted out for petty reasons.
Dovewing then suggests she go live in a new Clan if she's so unhappy with how ShadowClan is being run, but she refuses, saying she'd rather be a rogue. Tigerstar then tells her that maybe she should go do that, adding that Snowbird, Whorlpelt and Yarrowleaf are free to join her. The three slink away into the crowd however, to which Berryheart says she didn't want cowards wit her anyways, bitterly agreeing to leave. Sparrowtail decides to join her, and she asks Hollowspring and Spireclaw to come too. Hollowspring takes her side, but Spireclaw tells her he has a mate he won't abandon, and his mother says she wouldn't want a SkyClan cat with her anyways. She then asks Sunbeam to join her with no warmth in her voice, causing her daughter to realize she didn't actually care whether or not she stayed, and just wants everyone at the Gathering to see her "betray" her mother again. She then points out how Nightheart still hasn't come back, but her daughter asserts that he will return, and ThunderClan is where she's meant to be. Berryheart replies that she may do as she wishes, telling everyone that ShadowClan is on their own now as she, Sparrowtail and Hollowspring leave the island, becoming rogues.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Snowbird (mother)
- Scorchfur (father)
- Cloverfoot (sister)
- Yarrowleaf (sister)
- Rippletail/Buster (brother)
- Frondwhisker (sister)
- Beenose (sister)
- Conefoot (brother)
- Gullswoop (sister)
- Bluebellkit (sister)
- Sparrowtail (mate)
- Needletail (daughter)
- Spireclaw (son)
- Sunbeam (daughter)
- Hollowspring (son)
Friends[]
- Snaketooth
- Whorlpelt
- Stonewing
- Grassheart
- Splashtail
- Duskfur
- Mallownose
Enemies[]
- Fringewhisker
- Nightheart
- Sunbeam
- Tigerstar
Quotes[]
| “ | Needlepaw: Is WindClan our friend now? I thought ShadowClan stood alone. The only truce we recognize is the truce of the Gathering. Why deny ourselves prey on WindClan's behalf? Berryheart: Would WindClan do the same for us? |
„ |
| ~ When Rowanstar denies Darktail's rogues joining ShadowClan |
| “ | The giant bird is like a nightmare—a cluster of claws and feathers and rage. But even as my mate and I scramble and fight and try to keep it from killing us... I can't help but understand. This is a mother protecting her young. Protecting her family. Something I wasn't able to do. Our Clan, our daughter...maybe our whole forest...Darktail has taken everything. And what can we do to stop him? Nothing. | „ |
| ~ Berryheart's regret at not protecting Needletail |
| “ | Cloverfoot: What we were thinking? How could we have let this happen? Supported a cat like Darktail? Rippletail: We believed him. That's all. He said he was the strongest, and we went along. Cloverfoot: And now ShadowClan is gone because of it. Because of him...because of us. Rippletail: Well, stupid mistakes or not...Berryheart, I thought we'd never see you again. I'm so glad you're all right! Berryheart: That's the trouble, Rippletail. I'm not all right. None of us are. But we can be. StarClan will guide us. We just...we can't give up. As long as we don't give up, sooner or later...StarClan will guide us home. |
„ |
| ~ Cloverfoot, Rippletail, and Berryheart admitting their mistakes |
| “ | Berryheart: I don't blame you one bit for acting out like you did. That family - all of Tigerstar's kin think they can do whatever they like. Sunbeam: What do you mean? Berryheart: It's not important. Just something that's been on my mind. Sunbeam: Please, tell me. Berryheart: It's all this talk of changing the code, when it's cats like Tigerstar and Dovewing who will benefit the most. Obviously, I'm not Ashfur. He went much too far in his obsession with the code. But sometimes I think too many cats aren't all that trustworthy, and when that happens, the code is there to help them do the right thing. I'm sorry - I'm rambling. |
„ |
| ~ Berryheart's gripes about the new warrior code |
| “ | I understand how Fringewhisker could want to change. Any cat would be lucky to be with my son Spireclaw. But I have to ask: Are cats being too quick to give up on finding love within their own Clans? And if cats are that eager to change Clans for love, how long will it be before they start finding other reasons to change? How long before there's so much change that there are no real Clans anymore? I love the pride of ShadowClan. I love the way we do what we want and we don't need to rely on any other Clan. Leaving my Clan to follow Darktail was the biggest mistake I ever made. It means everything to me that I am now a true ShadowClan warrior, and it frightens me to think that I might be in danger of losing that. | „ |
| ~ Berryheart protesting Fringewhisker's move to ShadowClan |
| “ | Berryheart: This is dreadful. I never thought I'd see such a thing. Tawnypelt: What's so dreadful about it? Berryheart: Well, you might not think so. But I always imagined Spireclaw with a ShadowClan she-cat - I even had a few in mind. They would have made beautiful ShadowClan kits together. But now, I'll have half-Clan kin whose mother will always have one paw back in SkyClan. And all because of this stupid sham of a test! Sparrowtail: Berryheart, maybe we should let this- Snowbird: Why do you think it was a sham? Berryheart: To begin with, it was way too easy. Even the youngest apprentices know how to clear debris out of dens. What's so hard about pushing a branch out of the way? And did you see what Fringewhisker did before she started? She broke off some of the smaller branches and twigs that would have slowed her down, so the branch was smoother and easier to roll. The last bit of the challenge was on flat ground, at the top of the slope. And once she got it through the bushes, it rolled down the other side on its own. This whole idea is mouse-brained! Grassheart: If that's true, then why would Tigerstar go along with it? Is he biased in some way? Berryheart: How do I know what goes through his head? Maybe he just wants to steal a warrior from SkyClan. Maybe since Rowankit and Birchkit were born, and they're so small and fragile, he would like another fully grown warrior to help protect them. Who knows? But I'll tell you one thing: I doubt Tigerstar will be so cool about it when a ShadowClan warrior wants to leave. Then he'll see what damage switching Clans like this can cause. Snowbird: But what can we do? Berryheart: The warrior code forbade this for a reason. Maybe the Clan just needs a reminder. |
„ |
| ~ Berryheart when Spireclaw becomes mates with Fringewhisker |
| “ | Many cats died, including my own daughter, Needletail. I mourn her every day, and regret that I didn't do more to save her. So many cats were killed, in fact, that our whole Clan's way of life almost collapsed and disappeared into nothing. You almost missed being raised as a Clan cat. If Tigerheart hadn't found us near the abandoned Twoleg den where we were sheltering, we would still be living there as rogues. And we were there because I followed Darktail away from ShadowClan. It was the worst decision I ever made, and I'll never stop regretting it. That evil cat did his best to destroy our Clan, and he took the thing most precious to me. I can't let that happen again. I'll protect ShadowClan with my last breath! | „ |
| ~ Berryheart to Sunbeam |
| “ | Berryheart: What are you thinking? Inviting an outsider - a ThunderClan cat - into our Clan, without telling any cat! How could you betray your Clan like this? Sunbeam: But I didn't- Berryheart: I once gave up my Clan, and it was the worst mistake of my life. I'll spend the rest of my days trying to be worthy of the forgiveness my Clan showed me. How can Nightheart ever be loyal to you if he can't be loyal to ThunderClan? Sunbeam: Nightheart isn't a traitor, or an outsider. He's a good cat. And what about Fringewhisker? She hasn't given any cat reason to doubt her since she became Spireclaw's mate. Berryheart: All I'm worried about is your happiness. And you won't get to be happy if Nightheart fails the test, or if he decides to go back to his real Clan - or if he goes back and tells them all of ShadowClan's secrets. Sunbeam: You can't be all that concerned about my happiness, or Spireclaw's, if you talk about our mates that way. Nightheart deserves the chance to follow the code and become a ShadowClan cat. What you did in the past is your problem. This is now. |
„ |
| ~ Berryheart confronting Sunbeam over Nightheart joining the Clan for her |
| “ | Berryheart: Are you feeling better? A little sleep must have helped you see things more clearly. To be honest, I never thought Nightheart was good enough for you, and not just because he was from another Clan. Now you can find a mate who really deserves you - a strong ShadowClan warrior! Sunbeam: I don't want a ShadowClan warrior. Berryheart: ShadowClan warriors are the strongest cats by the lake. In fact, I already have some ideas. Maybe you just need to be more open-minded. |
„ |
| ~ Berryheart trying to comfort her daughter after Nightheart leaves |
External links[]
Berryheart on the Warriors Wiki
