| “ | What kind of mouse-brained nonsense is that? Why should I have to put up with another mewling lump of fur? I didn't ask for these kits, either, but you don't see me dumping them on some other cat. It's not my job to take care of every unwanted kitten in the Clan. | „ |
| ~ Lizardstripe when Raggedpelt has her raise Brokenkit |
Lizardstripe is a minor character in the Warriors series, serving as a supporting character in the super edition Yellowfang's Secret and a minor character in The Prophecies Begin and Omen of the Stars arcs.
She was the mother of Runningnose, Tangleburr and Deerleap, and adoptive mother of Brokenstar. She didn't care much for her kittens though, considering them an inconvenience and wishing her mate Mudclaw could raise them instead. When ShadowClan's deputy Raggedpelt had her take in his son Brokenkit, as his mother Yellowfang could not raise him without revealing she'd broken the warrior code, Lizardstripe is less than happy to have another child to watch over. She repeatedly deprives him of milk and tells him his mother didn't want him, doing nothing when her kits would bully Brokenkit relentlessly.
Appearance[]
Lizardstripe is a tabby she-cat with pale brown fur, a white underbelly, and yellow eyes.
Biography[]
After Yellowfang quits warrior life to become a medicine cat, Foxheart taunts her about gathering herbs, with Lizardstripe adding that it must be so hard to hunt leaves. Lizardstripe then mockingly tells the dark gray she-cat to clean her nest, saying she wanted feathers in it, and telling her to bring the elders their food. Stonetooth interrupts, reminding Lizardstripe that she has a patrol to be on, and she bounds off with an annoyed hiss.
Later, Lizardstripe is expecting her and Mudclaw's kittens, a fact which she dreads. She talks to Hollyflower about this, with the gray-and-white she-cat trying and failing to get her to be excited and see the bright side of motherhood. She gets more irritated as the conversation continues before walking away. Yellowfang considers trying to comfort her by telling her she's expecting kits as well so it could be an experience they go through together. She pushes this though away though, reminding herself that no one can know she's broken the warrior code by having kits as a medicine cat, and that she and Lizardstripe had never liked each other anyways.
When Yellowfang and Raggedpelt discuss what they'll do when their kits are born, the former points out that Lizardstripe could nurse them until they're old enough. Soon after, Lizardstripe gives birth to Runningkit, Tanglekit and Deerkit. Yellowfang also gives birth in secret, birthing two she-kits and a tom, but unfortunately the tom is the only surviving member of the litter. After Yellowfang buries the other two and names them Hopekit and Wishkit, she brings their brother to camp.
Raggedpelt takes his son when they get to camp, bringing him to Lizardstripe and telling her that he's his offspring. Lizardstripe sarcastically remarks that if she'd known toms could have kits, she would have made Mudclaw have hers instead. Raggedpelt then says the kitten's mother doesn't wish to reveal herself, but hopes that Lizardstripe will take care of him. The tabby she-cat protests that it isn't her job to look after every unwanted kitten, but Raggedpelt snarls that it's an honor to get to raise the deputy's child, and she should be more grateful. Reluctantly she agrees to look after the kit, asking what his name is. Yellowfang replies that he's called Brokenkit, which her Clanmates assume is because of the bend in his tail resembling a broken branch, but it's actually because of her heart breaking from having to give him away.
Yellowfang's mentor Sagewhisker comments that Lizardstripe doesn't seem very fond of Brokenkit, and the dark gray she-cat replies that she didn't seem to even want kits in the first place. Yellowfang later sees Deerkit, Tanglekit and Runningkit tormenting Brokenkit while Lizardstripe does nothing. She takes Brokenkit away from them, promising to tell Lizardstripe what they did, but Brokenkit begs her not to. He says that she'd just blame him if she found out because she doesn't like him, and when Yellowfang doubts this, he says he heard her telling Amberleaf that. She continuously allows her kits to bully Brokenkit, and deprives him of milk while reminding him that his mother didn't want him. Once the four kits are made into warrior apprentices, Lizardstripe watches the ceremony before returning to the warrior's den with a sigh of relief.
Trivia[]
- It is arguable that she was the main reason for Brokenstar's villany as she subjected him into abuse and didn't stop the bullying he went through.
- However in Secrets of The Clans it is said that Brokenstar's bad temper, ambition, and tendency to fight to settle problems was inherited from Lizardstripe.
- Author Victoria Holmes believes that Lizardstripe resides in StarClan, despite all the things she's done to Brokenkit.
- Lizardstripe is mistakenly described with amber eyes on page 323 of Yellowfang's Secret.
- She was stated to have died of greencough in Secrets of the Clans, though this has since been retconned.
External links[]
- Lizardstripe on the Warriors Wiki
