| “ | The Clans have always fought, but this is the first time the medicine cats have been divided. I feel as if something bad is coming. The water is calm, but currents pull beneath the surface. Though they can't be seen, they have the power to drag cats to their death. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to Jayfeather |
| “ | I'm sorry! This is just how it has to be, but once we find our new camp, I'll come back. I'll find you in the Twolegplace. | „ |
| ~ Onestar making false promises with Smoke. |
Onestar is a major protagonist in Erin Hunter's Warriors book franchise.
He is a resident of StarClan, formerly a leader of WindClan and a friend of Firestar. Born in WindClan under Tallstar's leadership in the forest territories, where he was growing up, Onewhisker befriended Fireheart after his Clan had been driven out by ShadowClan. The two toms' friendship survived many hardships, ultimately seemingly ending once Onewhisker became leader of his Clan, following his predecessor's death. Onestar attempted to cut all ties his Clan shared with ThunderClan, becoming particularly hostile towards it and his former friend. Despite his sudden change in behavior, Onestar sided with other Clans in times of great need, although his attitude towards ThunderClan remained unchanged.
However, upon the arrival of Darktail and his rogues onto the lake territories, Onestar recognised the rogue leader as his son, almost immediately coming to regret his past actions and mistakes, before deciding to help the other Clans in driving out The Kin, as well as apologizing to Bramblestar and cats of ThunderClan. In the final battle against The Kin, Onestar confronted Darktail, resulting in both of them drowning each other in the lake. After his death, Onestar went to StarClan and after several moons ventured into the Dark Forest in hopes of helping living cats in defeating Ashfur. He is Darktail's archenemy.
Personality[]
Onewhisker was initially a very friendly and open cat, quickly befriending Fireheart. This friendship would continue even after Fireheart became leader — Firestar. And just before Tallstar‘s death, he chooses Onewhisker to become the new deputy and leader of WindClan rather than the aggressive and especially anti-ThunderClan/Firestar warrior Mudclaw in hopes of continuing the friendship between the two Clans.
But after Mudclaw led a rebellion in an attempt to overthrow Onewhisker due to his heavy reliance on Firestar, Onewhisker grew fearful and insecure. As he ascended to leadership, he realised how much of WindClan despises and considers him weak because of his reliance on the ThunderClan leader, and became no better than what Tallstar expected of Mudclaw if he were to become leader. As Onestar, he is cold, uncaring and overly critical of the other Clans, including and especially to Firestar, much to the ginger tom’s initial confusion.
After Darktail and his Kin come to try and take over the Clans, more of Onestar’s selfishness is further revealed, now on a more personal level. It turns out that as Onewhisker, he fell in love with a kittypet named Smoke, who fell pregnant and gave birth to his kits, though only Darkkit survived. Fearing the repercussions and stigma of Onewhisker being in a half-Clan/forbidden relationship, he rejected Darkkit under the premise of the dangers of Clan life. This angered Smoke, who vowed to teach Darkkit to hate the Clans and seek revenge as an adult.
Later on in a battle, Darktail confronts his father about his rejection in front of the other Clans cats. After the battle, Onestar confesses at a Gathering that Darktail is his son and tells them the story of him rejecting Darktail, which lead to the Kin leader becoming who he is today. But Onestar vows to set things right, and this marks his path to redemption. In another battle, he tries to apologise to his son, but the younger cat refuses his apology and Onestar realises that his son has gone too far. Onestar wonders that after all he’s done, would he be sent to the Dark Forest or not. However, he ends up sacrificing his final life to kill Darktail, and dies a good cat, earning his place in StarClan.
Biography[]
The Prophecies Begin[]
In the prologue of Fire and Ice, Onewhisker and Deadfoot are sent by Tallstar to seek out a temporary camp after Brokenstar drives them out of their territory. Later, Onewhisker quickly befriends Fireheart when he and Graystripe find WindClan living in the sewers and bring them back home. The WindClan cat, along with his deputy, escort Fireheart and Graystripe back to their own territory. However, while taking a shortcut through RiverClan, The four run into Leopardfur's patrol where a fight ensues near the gorge, with a RiverClan warrior Whiteclaw accidentally being knocked over the edge. later, When ShadowClan and RiverClan team up to attack WindClan for their territory, Onewhisker is sent to ThunderClan camp to seek their aid.
In Forest of Secrets, Onewhisker is among the WindClan cats who invade ThunderClan's camp with ShadowClan to kill Brokentail, who was being kept prisoner there after Bluestar refuses to kill him. The invaders are ultimately chased off, however.
At a Gathering in Rising Storm, Onewhisker greets Fireheart and introduces him to his new apprentice - his nephew, Gorsepaw.
When Bluestar plans an attack against WindClan in A Dangerous Path, believing the were the ones who were stealing prey, Fireheart goes behind her back to try and stop the invasion. He runs into Gorsepaw, who fetches his mentor, who Fireheart requests he be brought to Tallstar. Fireheart tells the WindClan leader, along with Deadfoot, Muclaw, and Onewhisker himself, about Bluestar's plan, to which Tallstar agrees to meet up with her to settle their misunderstanding.
In The Darkest Hour, Fireheart - now Firestar - arrives at WindClan's camp just after TigerClan had left. He finds Gorsepaw dead, and Onewhisker explains to him bitterly how Tigerstar had pinned the young apprentice down and forced the rest of the clan to watch him kill the WindClan cat, to act as an example for what the rest of the Clan could expect should they still oppose him. Later, Onewhisker is briefly seen fighting against Scourge.
The New Prophecy + Winds of Change[]
When the forest territories are being torn down, Onewhisker joins the rest of the Clan cats on the Great Journey to the lake. The light brown tabby constantly finds himself at odds with Mudclaw, as the deputy takes on most of Tallstar's duties while his leader grows weaker, and is very needlessly hostile to the other Clans. Shortly after they arrive, Tallstar begins losing his last life from his old age. He tells Onewhisker in private that he is to be the next leader of WindClan instead of Mudclaw, regretting his decision to make the latter deputy and believing Mudclaw would only wage countless wars as leader. With his dying breaths, Tallstar wishes for the new leader to uphold the friendship between ThunderClan and WindClan.
Onewhisker struggles to be confident in his leadership, without the Moonstone to grant him nine lives. Mudclaw, furios that his future leadership was stripped from him, gathers other WindClan cats who believe he is the rightful leader and starts a civil war against Onewhisker with the help of Hawkfrost. However, during a storm, a tree falls on top of Mudclaw, killing him and extinguishing the rebellion. When Leafpool discovers the Moonpool, the amber-eyed tom travels to it and receives his nine lives from StarClan, becoming Onestar. After becoming leader officially however, Onestar is noted to grow more distant and bitter towards the other Clans.
The Power of Three[]
Onestar is often switching between being friendly towards other Clans, being neutral towards them, and being openly hostile. This happens most often between him and Firestar, causing a large rift between ThunderClan and WindClan. When the kits of the WindClan queen Gorsetail go missing, Onestar suspects RiverClan had stolen them because a RiverClan patrol was seen near their territory, and thus plans an attack to find the kits. When he finds RiverClan isn't responsible, he then turns his attention to ThunderClan. Breezepaw stops him and informs his leader that he, Heatherpaw, Lionpaw, Jaypaw, and Hollypaw have found the kits at the lakeshore. Onestar apologizes, no longer planning to attack RiverClan.
Later, Onestar resumes his hostility towards ThunderClan by utilizing the tunnels running beneath the two Clans to trespass and steal prey. He says that ThunderClan is not the most important Clan, and that WindClan will take as much territory as they want to prove they don't need ThunderClan's help. The WindClan leader starts a huge fight that eventually involves all the Clans, but the battle is cut short by a solar eclipse, which the cats interpret as StarClan being angry with them all for fighting.
Omen of the Stars[]
At a gathering, Onestar and Leopardstar get into a fight over the fish in the lake, the latter claiming that the lake and all of its fish belong to RiverClan and that she'll start sending patrols around it. Onestar threatens her to stay out of his Clan's territory. Later, Onestar finds Dovepaw and Ivypaw in WindClan's camp, checking on Sedgewhisker after the warrior was attacked by a dog. He sends Heathertail and Breezepelt to escort the two apprentices home. At the next Gathering, Blossompaw complains that Onestar acts as if WindClan refilled the lake alone when the leader reports on it. He also warns punishment for any trespassers, hinting towards Ivypaw and Dovepaw.
At yet another Gathering, Onestar provokes a fight with Firestar yet again when the former sees a trespasser on his territory and accuses ThunderClan of planning an attack. Later, he and a patrol of warriors threaten to invade ThunderClan and drive out Sol themselves if the other Clan doesn't do it first.
In The Last Hope, the light brown tom reports scenting Dark Forest cats deep in WindClan territory, but not near the borders. When the Great Battle comes, Onestar participates and helps the Clans drive out the invading Dark Forest cats.
A Vision of Shadows[]
Onestar is noted to be much more old and frail-looking and continues to be standoffish and judgmental towards the other Clans.
When he loses a life to Darktail's rogues, he becomes notably more hostile than he already was, punishing his warriors for even the slightest violation of the warrior code. When ShadowClan falls ill with yellowcough and requires lungwort - an herb only WindClan has - to save them, Onestar refuses to help them, blaming them for Darktail and his rouges. Kestralflight and Harespring deliver the herb to ShadowClan behind his back, infuriating the leader. Even as his own warriors glare at him accusingly for letting ShadowClan suffer, Onestar claims ShadowClan are a bunch of rogues.
In Shattered Sky, all four remaining Clans (most of ShadowClan has been merged into the Kin) band together to chase out The Kin. However, while battling Onestar, Darktail whispers something into the WindClan cat's ear that causes him to retreat from the battle followed by the rest of his Clan, causing the Clan cats to lose the battle. At the Gathering, Mistystar and Bramblestar demand to know why he retreated. Onestar doesn't answer, instead shifting the blame onto Rowanstar once more. While discussing The Kin driving out SkyClan, Onestar suddenly becomes incredibly defensive, closing off WindClan's borders from the rest of the Clans. Alderheart deduces that Onestar is hiding something, as the leader continues to close his Clan off even after RiverClan's camp is overtaken by The Kin.
In another battle with Darktail, The Kin's leader begins taunting Onestar, leading to the other Clan cats wondering how they know each other. When Darktail reveals that Onestar had done something to him in the past that's his motive for what he's doing, Onestar claims the black-and-white tom isn't to be listened to. Darktail tries to resume his attack, but is driven off, swearing that things between him and the leader of WindClan were not over.
Onestar later explains his connection to Darktail. As a warrior in the forest territories, Onewhisker had often visited the kittypets of Twolegplace, including a gray she-cat called Smoke. He and Smoke fell in love, and eventually she became pregnant with their kits. Smoke asked Onewhisker to let her join WindClan - however, both knowing Smoke wasn't fit for Clan life and fearing what his Clanmates would say about being mates with a kittypet, Onewhisker turned her away. Smoke would then return moons later with a single kit - the only one who had survived her kitting - and begged the forest tom to at least take him in. Onewhisker refuses again for the same reasons, causing Smoke to develop a deep hatred of Clan cats and vowing to teach their son that same hate.
Onestar then explains what Darktail whispered to him that caused him to retreat that day: that the Dark Forest would surely have a place for him, being a cat who rejected and then killed his own son. Onestar regrets his actions heavily, apologizing for not facing Darktail and owning up to his mistakes until now. Determined to stop his son and make amends once and for all, Onestar engages Darktail one last time in a battle between The Kin and all five Clans. The two fight while edging deeper and deeper into the lake, eventually being submerged completely, with neither resurfacing again. WindClan holds vigil for their lost leader, and Harespring steps up to become the next leader of his Clan.
Gallery[]
Appearance[]
Onestar is a small, lithe tom with pale brown fur and amber eyes. He has a scar behind one ear and one whisker that's notably longer and thicker than the rest, hence his warrior name Onewhisker.
Quotes[]
| “ | You would have died for us. WindClan will never forget that. | „ |
| ~ Onewhisker to Fireheart |
| “ | WindClan can deal with it. Many moons have passed since ShadowClan drove us out of our home, but too many cats still see WindClan as the weakest Clan. You act as if we can hardly feed ourselves. But WindClan is as strong as any other Clan and we shall prove it. We do not need help from any cat. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to Firestar, Squirrelflight, Ashfur and Brambleclaw |
| “ | We dare because we are true warriors. This battle has been too long coming. ThunderClan must learn that they are not the most important Clan in the forest. You watch the suffering of others, waiting to be begged for help like you belong to StarClan. We will not beg. We are warriors! We will fight for the prey and the territory we need to survive. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to Firestar |
| “ | Onestar: Ridiculous, am I? Then why have my warriors seen a ThunderClan cat scouting our territory? Firestar: [...] Can you identify this trespasser? Is that cat here tonight? |
„ |
| ~ Firestar and Onestar at a Gathering |
| “ | You blame Rowanstar and forget that it was Onestar who brought Darktail's vengeance to the Clans. Onestar was Darktail's father, and Onestar rejected him. But Darktail chose his path. He chose cruelty and murder. And Onestar died putting an end to that cruelty. We have all suffered. But we must listen to Bramblestar. He is right. Let us not blame. Let us remember the dead and the missing. Let us remember Onestar and his courage. He faced up to his past mistakes and he gave his last life to destroy Darktail, his own son. | „ |
| ~ Harestar about Onestar at a Gathering |
| “ | Onestar: I hope you're right. Firestar: Have faith in them. |
„ |
| ~ Onestar and Firestar about allowing the Dark Forest warriors to help them |
| “ | For so long, I've been scared of losing my last life, and it's only now that I know why. My guilt and shame were like a trail leading to the Dark Forest. And now that I'm at peace with what I've done, I'm not afraid anymore. My fate is in the paws of StarClan. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to Whitetail and Heathertail |
| “ | Crowfeather, I can't believe you would even suggest we turn to ThunderClan. WindClan can handle itself. What's happened here is none of ThunderClan's business. There's no way I'm going to allow the other Clans to find out that we're vulnerable right now. Firestar was always meddling in our business, I don't want to set that precedent with Bramblestar, or soon ThunderClan will be sticking their noses into all our problems. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to Crowfeather about refusing to ask ThunderClan for help |
| “ | Mudclaw: But please. Listen. You can't give away our territory. These first days...we're setting borders that cats will fight to keep, long after we're dead and our kits' kits are patrolling these moors! We need to defend ourselves now if WindClan is ever going to be safe. Threats could come from anywhere. Onewhisker: Mudclaw...I respect you. We all respect you. You're one of the best warriors I've ever known. But right now, setting up good relations with the other Clans is more important than a few tail-lengths of woodland. |
„ |
| ~ Onewhisker to Mudclaw |
| “ | Onestar, your biggest flaw was trying to cover up mistakes with lies. Do you realize that? [...] You wanted to solve problems yourself. And sometimes that was admirable. But the way you went about it, you often ended up creating bigger problems. And when they had to be dealt with...it left the other Clans wondering if they could trust you. | „ |
| ~ Firestar to Onestar about his behavior |
| “ | It seemed to Onewhisker that he was alone in the world with Whitetail; he was surprised at how good that felt. | „ |
| ~ Onewhisker's thoughts with Whitetail |
| “ | Smoke: I'll believe it when I see it. Onewhisker, you have to promise me that you won't forget us. Your kit needs you. Onewhisker: I promise. |
„ |
| ~ Onewhisker's hasty promise to Smoke and Darkkit |
| “ | Onewhisker: Then I suppose you must use your judgment. After all, your wisdom has always benefited WindClan. Tallstar: You're a good warrior. Will you always use good judgment as well? |
„ |
| ~ Tallstar and Onewhisker on the way to the Moonstone |
| “ | And what will happen to WindClan under Mudstar? Will he really be the leader that we need? I've always trusted Tallstar. What will I do if I can't have the same faith in Mudstar? | „ |
| ~ Onewhisker's thoughts about Mudclaw's leadership |
| “ | Firestar: You're proving yourself a worthy leader, Onestar. Of course I understand that WindClan must come first, but I hope we can still be friends. Onestar: A leader can have no real friends in other Clans. |
„ |
| ~ Onestar breaking ties with Firestar |
| “ | Crowfeather: What's going on, Onestar? If there were stoats here, the smell would have struck us by now. And I don't think it was a stoat who took Smokekit. I'm not sure what it was, but I have a feeling that you know. Smokekit is safe, but you're behaving like ants are crawling through your pelt. Is there anything you want to tell me? I know some secrets are better off kept. But if one becomes a burden, it might be easier to bear when it's shared. And if your secret might endanger WindClan, shouldn't you tell some cat the truth? Onestar: I don't know what you're meowing on about. It must have been a stoat, and we should go on through the tunnels to ThunderClan so that we can warn them. |
„ |
| ~ Crowfeather and Onestar about Darktail stealing Smokekit |
| “ | If you had a fraction of Ashfoot's knowledge, of course I would listen to you. But you don't! You will have to earn my trust, just like every deputy, before and after the Great Battle. Now accept this: I have given you my final answer about the stoats. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to Harespring |
| “ | Ashfoot: Come on, Onewhisker—pull yourself together. You're right about one thing. Tallstar chose you to lead WindClan, and soon StarClan will approve you, too. What StarClan decides, no cat can question. Onewhisker: I hope so. I don't feel like a leader, though. I never have. |
„ |
| “ | I'm sorry to hear about the fire. I know how bad it is for a Clan to be driven out of its home. | „ |
| ~ Onewhisker sympathizing to Fireheart about ThunderClan |
| “ | I wouldn't do this for any cat but you, Fireheart. | „ |
| ~ Onewhisker to Fireheart about speaking with Tallstar about a truce |
| “ | Stoneteller: You will be crucial to your Clan's survival in your new territory. Onewhisker: I hope always to do my best for my Clan. |
„ |
| ~ Stoneteller's warning to Onewhisker |
| “ | This is as much of a shock to me as it is to you. And I would like you to carry on being WindClan's deputy. I'll need your support and experience every pawstep of the way. | „ |
| ~ Onewhisker offering for Mudclaw to remain deputy of WindClan |
| “ | Of course we came. There are four Clans in the forest, but we can still help one another. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to Brambleclaw |
| “ | Blackstar talks as though StarClan should grant us nothing but blessings. Does he want us to live the spoiled life of a kittypet? | „ |
| ~ Onestar |
| “ | Dustpelt: I hope I meet Onestar in battle. He's stolen from us too many times, the fox-hearted thief. Mousefur: WindClan has changed so much since Tallstar was leader. |
„ |
| ~ Dustpelt and Mousefur about Onestar |
| “ | Onestar: I expect more from you, Crowfeather. You are a brave and talented warrior. But you need to get to the bottom of your own problems and become a true WindClan warrior once again. Crowfeather: Do you know what I've given up to be loyal to WindClan? I've sacrificed so much, and you don't give a mousetail about that! |
„ |
| ~ Onestar to Crowfeather about why he wasn't chosen as deputy |
| “ | Onestar: Hunting has been good on the moor. Needlepaw: I bet he hasn't done much hunting. Creaky old mange-pelt! |
„ |
| ~ Needlepaw and Sleekpaw about Onestar at a Gathering |
| “ | Onestar: What is it you want? Darktail: I want my mother back. |
„ |
| ~ Onestar and Darktail's meeting |
| “ | Then why are [the Kin] still here? ShadowClan allowed them to stay near their territory. They paid for their foolishness by losing some of their best apprentices. When this so-called ‘special' kit returned, they took her back in, and now she lives among them—giving who knows what information to her rogue friends! They are weak and foolish! They deserve no help. They don't even deserve the name of Clan cats. They are no more than rogues themselves. Let them keep Twigpaw. Let them die of sickness. I will not be tricked or bullied into helping traitors. They deserve everything StarClan has brought upon them. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to Alderpaw and Leafpool about ShadowClan |
| “ | He had always believed that ridding the Clans of Darktail would cost him one single thing, but now the fear grew inside him that it would cost him everything. His life, his Clan, the happiness that would have been his forever as one of the warriors of StarClan. All lost, over one stupid mistake, and Onestar had no idea how to stop it. | „ |
| ~ Onestar thinking about Darktail |
| “ | For a few heartbeats, Onestar was tempted to tell the medicine cat everything. He hadn't been able to confide in Bramblestar, but maybe it wasn't too late to trust a cat from his own Clan. The need to unburden himself of the secret that had weighed him down for so long was so great that the words came bubbling up into his throat. | „ |
| ~ Onestar's thoughts about his secrets |
| “ | We all have the same problem. The rogues go on attacking us, stealing territory, threatening vulnerable cats and kits. I know this problem is of my making, and I'm very sorry that I turned away from my friends. I won't do that again; I'm no longer afraid. Darktail and his rogues need to be dealt with, no matter what happens to me—otherwise, they will keep on coming back, and more good cats will perish. [...] WindClan will fight with the other Clans, to drive Darktail off our territory once and for all. | „ |
| ~ Onestar joining the other Clans in fighting Darktail |
| “ | And then his memories were replaced by images of the days still to come. The days after his time. He saw Harestar leading a thriving WindClan to a Gathering of all the Clans—so many cats, more than he could count. [...] The Clans were going to survive, and thrive. And Onestar had made it happen. It hadn't been too late for him after all…He would not die a bad cat. | „ |
| ~ Onestar's final thoughts as he dies |
| “ | You all know that I never expected to be chosen as deputy, or to become your leader. Tallstar appointed me in the last moments of his life, and no cat was more astonished than I was. I felt I was unworthy...And events have proved that I was right. | „ |
| ~ Onestar to the assembled cats |
| “ | Kestrelflight: The Dark Forest is for cats who have given themselves to evil. That isn't you, Onestar. I could have told you that long ago, if you'd trusted me enough to be honest with me. Onestar: Maybe. I admit that it was a selfish fear. But...well, things look a bit different when a leader is on his final life. I started to worry that StarClan would judge me harshly for my mistakes—and StarClan knows, I have made many of those. |
„ |
| ~ Onestar to Kestrelflight |
| “ | Deciding who can join StarClan and who should be in the Dark Forest is a hard decision, and we don't take it lightly. A gathering of StarClan warriors discusses every cat to try to understand what is in their hearts, and to judge whether they should be allowed to join us. | „ |
| ~ Onestar |
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Wrenflight (mother)
- Stagleap (father)
- Ashfoot (sister)
- Morningflower (sister)
- Whitetail (mate)
- Smoke (ex-mate)
- Heathertail (daughter)
- Darktail (son)
- Unnamed kits (children)
- Smokehaze (granddaughter)
- Brindlewing (granddaughter)
- Appleshine (granddaughter)
- Woodsong (granddaughter)
External Links[]
- Onestar on the Warriors Wiki
