"Betrayal could come from anywhere. You must stand alone, knowing your ancestors walk with you, and you alone." |
— Barkface to Kestrelflight in Night Whispers, page 154 |
Barkface is a dark brown tom[10] with a short tail,[2] a graying muzzle and yellow eyes.[11]
Barkface was a WindClan medicine cat under the leadership of Heatherstar, Tallstar and Onestar in the forest and lake territories. He was born as Barkkit to Brackenwing and Redclaw, along with Shrewkit. He became interested in medicine at a young age, and eventually became Barkpaw under Hawkheart's mentorship. Eventually, he received his full medicine cat name, Barkface. He encouraged Talltail to leave WindClan when he received an omen and was happy when he returned many moons later.
Barkface continued to serve WindClan, even after ShadowClan drove them off their land. While Fireheart and Graystripe brought them back, he received an omen stating that today would bring an unnecessary death. He helped to heal the injured during the BloodClan battle and later joined his Clan on the Great Journey. Barkface supported Onewhisker during Mudclaw's rebellion and became his medicine cat once he rose to leadership. Now one of the oldest medicine cats, he mentored Kestrelflight before dying and ascending to StarClan where he began to teach Whistlepaw.
History[]
Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!
The Prophecies Begin[]
- "The clouds are stained with blood! It is a sign from our ancestors. There is trouble ahead. This day shall bring an unnecessary death."
- ―Barkface upon seeing the red clouds Fire and Ice, page 76
The New Prophecy[]
- "Stop! Sheathe your claws, Mudclaw. Clan leaders have never been chosen by fighting. And do you want to start a fight with Tallstar’s spirit still watching over us? We should be sitting in vigil for him, not bickering over who will take his place. You betray him by behaving like this. He always expected the best from his senior warriors. I believe what the ThunderClan cats tell us. This was Tallstar's choice, and you must accept it."
- ―Barkface to his Clanmates Starlight, page 130
- Like the rest of WindClan, Barkface is extremely weak and hungry, and snaps at Mothwing when she sniffs a dead rabbit. He explains how Twolegs have been poisoning WindClan's prey and slowly starving and killing his Clanmates. During the Great Journey, he tends to Tallstar who is very frail. At their new home, Barkface realizes that his old friend is dying and fetches Firestar, Brambleclaw, and Onewhisker at Tallstar's request. He is surprised to hear that Tallstar made Onewhisker deputy before he died, but supports his old friend's choice. When Leafpaw discovers the Moonpool, Barkface goes with Onewhisker for his leadership ceremony. He mourns Cinderpelt's death, but is confident Leafpool would do well without her.
Power of Three[]
- "It doesn't look as if Littlecloud is coming. I thought he at least would stay faithful to StarClan."
- ―Barkface about Littlecloud when ShadowClan stops believing in StarClan Long Shadows, page 61
Omen of the Stars[]
- "You must trust in your ancestors, not in other Clans. The past will be your strength, not the present."
- ―Barkface to Kestrelflight Night Whispers, page 153
Super Editions[]
This section summarizes Barkface's significant Super Editions appearances. If you're looking for a full list, find one here!
- In Tallstar's Revenge, Barkkit is born to Redclaw and Brackenwing alongside his brother Shrewkit. He befriends Tallkit, their denmate, and tries to ease his brother's harsh words to Tallkit. After removing a thorn from Tallkit's paw, Barkkit insists he wants to train as a medicine cat, though Tallkit couldn't imagine having Hawkheart as a mentor. He becomes Barkpaw, and he and Tallpaw continue their friendship through their adulthood. When Talltail struggles to fit into Clan life and longs to find Sparrow who he believed killed his father, Barkface discovers a tuft of Talltail's fur blowing away in the wind. Barkface believes this meant Talltail's destiny lies outside the Clans, and he wishes his friend well. He is delighted when his friend returns, and serves as Tallstar's medicine cat.
Stand-Alone Graphic Novels[]
- Mudclaw: "Barkface...do you know if StarClan has come here with us? Do you know for certain? I ask because...well...what if it turns out that we can only reach them in our old territory? What if StarClan can never give any of our leaders nine lives again?"
- Barkface: "All will be well, Mudclaw. I know it. I can feel it. You just have to have faith in StarClan."
- Winds of Change, page 98
- Barkface has completed the Great Journey alongside his Clanmates. When Mudclaw worries about Tallstar's deteriorating condition, Barkface somberly insists Tallstar is weakening and Mudclaw should prepare to become leader soon. When Tallstar renames Onewhisker as his successor prior to his death, Barkface confronts Mudclaw's anger and insists he should abide by Tallstar's wishes. In their new camp, Mudclaw seeks Barkface's advice about StarClan journeying with them to their new home, and the old medicine cat advises him to keep faith in StarClan. Barkface also takes Onewhisker to receive his nine lives at the Moonpool.
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 |
Family[]
Members[]
Mother
- Brackenwing:[12] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Father:
Brother:
Nephews:
Tree[]
Windstar ♀ | Gorsestar ♂ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See more | Moth Flight ♀ | Micah ♂ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Blue Whisker ♀ | Bubbling Stream ♀ | Honey Pelt ♂ | Spider Paw ♂ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three kits | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missing Generations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redclaw ♂ | Brackenwing ♀ | Mistmouse ♀ | Hareflight ♂ | See more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Barkface ♂ | Shrewclaw ♂ | Ryestalk ♀ | Doespring ♀ | Stagleap ♂ | Wrenflight ♀ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mudclaw ♂ | Tornear ♂ | Morningflower ♀ | Ashfoot ♀ | Onestar ♂ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Storkkit | Quailkit | Gorsepaw ♂ | Downkit | Crowfeather ♂ | Hillkit | Eaglekit | Heathertail ♀ | Galekit ♀ | Darktail ♂ | Unnamed kits | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See more | See more | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Tallstar's Revenge
- Yellowfang's Secret
- Leopardstar's Honor
- Redtail's Debt
- Onestar's Confession
- Fire and Ice (First appearance)
- Forest of Secrets (Allegiance only)
- Tigerclaw's Fury (Allegiance only)
- Rising Storm (Allegiance only)
- A Dangerous Path
- The Darkest Hour
- Blackfoot's Reckoning
- Firestar's Quest (Allegiance only)
- Graystripe's Vow (Allegiance only)
- Midnight
- Mothwing's Secret
- Moonrise
- Dawn
- Starlight
- Winds of Change
- Twilight
- Sunset
- Leafpool's Wish (Allegiance only)
- The Sight
- Dark River
- Outcast (Allegiance only)
- Eclipse
- Long Shadows
- Sunrise
- Hollyleaf's Story (Allegiance only)
- The Fourth Apprentice (Mentioned only) †
- Night Whispers
- Sign of the Moon
- Crowfeather's Trial (Mentioned only)
- The Apprentice's Quest
- River (Mentioned only)
- The Clans Decide
Trivia[]
Mistakes[]
- In Yellowfang's Secret, Barkpaw is said to have been training with Runningpaw, even though he is older than Runningpaw's mentor, Yellowfang.[6]
- He accidentally appears in the allegiances for the online previews of Riverstar's Home.[15]
Continuity[]
The following information is from sources considered non-canon or retconned.
- In The Clans Decide, along with Jayfeather, Mothwing, and Littlecloud, Barkface measures how long each line of stones is to determine the result.[16]
- On the Warrior Cats website, Barkface was named after his mottled brown face resembling tree bark, despite never being called mottled in the series.[17]
Quotes[]
- «Fireheart could see from the worried look in the leader's eyes that Barkface's warning had disturbed him more than his confident words suggested.»
- —Tallstar's reaction to Barkface's prophecy Fire and Ice, page 77
- "Sometimes I think StarClan wants every one of us to join them, and not even a kit left to keep the warrior code alive."
- ―Barkface about his Clan starving Moonrise, page 165
- Barkface: "Twolegs have done something bad to the rabbits in the territory. They all die. And if cats eat them, they die too. We have lost half our elders and nearly all of our apprentices."
- Mudfur: "And you couldn't help them?"
- Moonrise, pages 166-167
- "He said what? I can understand what he said was a shock, but you can't do anything about it. If that's what Tallstar wanted, it means that you're Clan leader in the sight of StarClan."
- ―Barkface to Onewhisker upon hearing Tallstar made him deputy Starlight, page 121
- Barkface: "Everything is changing. WindClan's greatest battle is coming. We cannot let the treachery of other Clans sap our strengths."
- Daisytail: "We must stand alone."
- Night Whispers, page 153
External links[]
- Reading the Omens on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! Graystripe's Vow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Mudclaw's Rebellion on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! Leopardstar's Honor: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! River: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! Onestar's Confession: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- The Prophecies Begin trivia! on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Guess that cat - clouds and rodent on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Fan content[]
- Our Favorite Starlight Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Our Favorite Barkface Artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Our favorite artwork from 2021 on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Curated collection of The Prophecies Begin medicine cats on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed in Night Whispers, page 154
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Revealed in Fire and Ice, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 210
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Revealed in Tallstar's Revenge, page 6
- ↑ Revealed in The Fourth Apprentice, page 6
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 366
- ↑ Revealed in Redtail's Debt, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in The Sight, allegiances
- ↑ Revealed in The Fourth Apprentice, allegiances
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Revealed in Tallstar's Revenge, page 8
- ↑ Revealed in Winds of Change, page 18
- ↑ Revealed in Tallstar's Revenge, page 20
- ↑ Revealed in Tallstar's Revenge, page 176
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Revealed on the Warriors website family tree (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed on HarperCollins.com (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in The Clans Decide
- ↑ The Prophecies Begin trivia! on the Warriors official website (backup link)