Longtail

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Longtail



Affiliations
Current:	ThunderClan
Past:	None
Names
Warrior: Elder:	Longtail Longtail
Family
None Known	*

Education
Mentor(s):	Darkstripe
Apprentice(s):	Swiftpaw, Ferncloud^[1], Sootfur^[2]

Book Appearances
Living:	Into the Wild, Fire and Ice, Forest of Secrets, Rising Storm, A Dangerous Path, The Darkest Hour, Firestar's Quest, Midnight, Moonrise, Dawn, Starlight, Twilight, Sunset, The Sight, Dark River, Outcast, Eclipse, Long Shadows, Sunrise, Code of the Clans
Dead:	None

Longtail is a pale tabby tom with black stripes and light blue eyes and a nick in one ear.

Spoiler Warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] History

[edit] In the Original Series

[edit] Into the Wild

Longtail has just been a warrior for two moons, as revealed by Graypaw.

When he meets the kittypet Rusty, he hates the new Clan member. As Bluestar informs the Clan of Rusty's arrival, Longtail actively rejects him in front of Bluestar, and eventually, after much taunting, the two launch into a fight. While fighting, Rusty loses his collar, and Bluestar takes this as a sign of approval from StarClan, and gives Rusty his apprentice name, Firepaw. Longtail becomes injured in his first fight, and receives a split in his ear as a reminder of the fight.

[edit] Fire and Ice

Longtail receives his first apprentice, Swiftpaw. Fireheart is secretly annoyed because Longtail treats Swiftpaw much more nicely than he treated Fireheart when he first arrived in ThunderClan. This was the only time Longtail made a formal appearance in Fire and ice.

[edit] Forest of Secrets

Longtail, Tigerclaw, and Fireheart were patrolling the borders to see if it is possible to cross the flooded river blocking their path to Fourtrees, Tigerclaw supposedly shakes the branch Fireheart is walking on, causing him to fall into the freezing river, but Longtail pulls him out, saving his life, and the group comes to the agreement that the river is uncrossable.

Even though he was one of Tigerclaw's closest friends, when he was offered the chance to join him in his exile, he rejected Tigerclaw's offer, thus showing that his loyalties lie with ThunderClan.

[edit] Rising Storm

Near the beginning Longtail and Swiftpaw go out to look for Cloudpaw after he went missing, but returned without finding him. Then Cloudpaw returns with a pigeon, Fireheart later finds out he had eaten without feeding the clan first and has to be held back from the Gathering.

[edit] A Dangerous Path

His apprentice, Swiftpaw, is ready to become a warrior, but Bluestar refuses to give him his ceremony, believing that every ThunderClan cat is a traitor. She eventually makes Fireheart's apprentice, Cloudpaw, a warrior, but none of the other apprentices are given warrior status. Longtail then demands Fireheart to encourage Bluestar to make Swiftpaw a warrior. Fireheart says he will, and then leaves.

Swiftpaw and Whitestorm's apprentice, Brightpaw, decide to impress Bluestar by going to Snakerocks to finding out what has been stealing ThunderClan prey. They are attacked and savagely mauled by the dogs living there. Brightpaw manages to survive, although she is left scarred, but Swiftpaw dies, probably fighting, as the book said his face was still in a snarl. Longtail blames Fireheart for this, saying that if Fireheart had not sent Swiftpaw back to camp to get help during the battle with RiverClan, Bluestar would have made him a warrior, and he would still be alive.

Longtail tells Fireheart that he has scented Tigerstar around Snakerocks several times lately, and asks him to come with him to see for himself. Fireheart says no, saying that it is a trap set by Tigerstar and Darkstripe. Fireheart then talks with Cinderpelt, and when she tells him he sounds like Bluestar, Fireheart comes back, listening now. He finds Longtail trying to convince Whitestorm that he is telling the truth. Longtail tells him that he saw Tigerstar dragging a rabbit. At first, he thought that Tigerstar was stealing prey, but then he sees Tigerstar drop the rabbit in front of the cave. Out of the cave comes what Longtail describes as the "largest dog I've ever seen". He only saw its head and paws, but even then he knew how big it was.

[edit] The Darkest Hour

When Darkstripe is exiled Longtail becomes the mentor of Fernpaw. Firestar hopes that, since Darkstripe is no longer around to jeer at his kittypet roots, the hostility between himself and Longtail can be done away with.

It is also said that he catches a rabbit the size of a fox while on a hunting patrol.

[edit] Super Edition: Firestar's Quest

In Firestar's Quest, Longtail hunted a rabbit, which turned around and scratched his eyes with its dirty claws. His eyes became infected, and Cinderpelt could not save his vision. Longtail was initially worried that he would not have a place in his Clan due to his sight, but Firestar reassured him he would always have a place in ThunderClan, sight or no sight. Longtail, now blinded, went to live with the elders. His apprentice, Sootpaw, is given Thornclaw as a replacement mentor.

[edit] In the New Prophecy Series

[edit] Midnight

Longtail is still an elder. His former apprentice, Sootpaw, now has his warrior name, Sootfur.

[edit] Moonrise

Longtail does not formally appear in this book, his is seen only in the Allegiances.

[edit] Dawn

He had originally planned to stay in the Forest, along with Frostfur, Speckletail, Loudbelly, and Shadepelt because of his blindness, but Firestar convinced him to come with them on the Great Journey, saying that he still had a place in the Clan. Longtail manages to survive the dangerous journey, even with the trip through the mountains, which was difficult for even the other, non-blind cats.

[edit] Starlight

He settles into the new camp as an elder along with Goldenflower, and they are soon joined by Mousefur when she retires. Goldenflower is very kind to him throughout the book; she often guides him with her tail and describes all the new sights and areas to him so he can know his surroundings.

Longtail is not troubled by the stomach pains from the tainted water Mothwing gave to some of the other elders, this may be because he didn't drink any, or because he was younger and stronger than the others, so the sickness did not affect him as much.

[edit] Twilight

During the badger attack, he and Mousefur helped defend the Clan by fighting the badgers. He, along with Goldenflower, carried Cinderpelt's body to her final resting place. He was almost stopped by Mousefur, but said he didn't need to see to carry his Clanmate.

[edit] Sunset

When the badgers attack, he says that he doesn't need to see badgers to fight them, but that he smells them from their disgusting scent.

[edit] In the Power of Three Series

[edit] The Sight

In The Sight, he helps Brightheart teach Jaypaw, who is blind as well. Despite the fact that Jaypaw is very disrespectful, saying that he was just repeating things he already knew, Longtail remains very enthusiastic. Later in the book Longtail seems to notice that Mousefur was getting sick and keeps hinting to Jaypaw, who takes no notice.

[edit] Dark River

He remains an elder of ThunderClan, and is not mentioned much.

[edit] Outcast

Longtail confesses that he really liked the mountains and the caves where the Tribe of Rushing Water lived in, even though he couldn't see. Longtail tells Icekit, Foxkit, and Lionpaw a story about Tigerstar when they visit the elders' den.

[edit] Eclipse

He remains an elder of ThunderClan, and is not really talked about.

[edit] Long Shadows

Longtail is seen with Mousefur and Jaypaw, helping Jaypaw to convince Mousefur to eat strengthening herbs. The herbs help Mousefur, but Longtail soon falls ill and has to move to the abandoned Twoleg Nest with some of his Clanmates.

[edit] Sunrise

At the beginning of the book, Longtail follows Mousefur, Icepaw, and Foxpaw out of the elder's den, to rest in a patch of sunlight with Mousefur. Later on, Leafpool asks if Jayfeather would take Mousefur and Longtail out for a stroll in the woods, and pick up some herbs. Out in the forest, Mousefur tells Jayfeather that she knew Leafpool only sent him with them was to make sure they didn't get hurt or tired. She and Longtail go find a sunny spot to rest. Longtail persuades Jayfeather to go, saying, " Go on, we'll be fine."

The next day, he is seen sharing tongues with Mousefur. Longtail was also the first one to hint about the "funny tasting herb" that Leafpool accidentally mixed in Mousefur's tansy around the night of Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze's kitting. Jayfeather brought herbs to Mousefur and Longtail, but none of them were the strange herb.

When Purdy joined the clan, Firestar let him move into the Elder's den, and told Foxpaw to introduce him to Longtail and Mousefur. When Brambleclaw is bringing Sol to Firestar, Purdy runs after him, followed by Longtail and Mousefur. Longtail, Mousefur, and Purdy all take a liking to the basking rocks inside the camp. Berrynose, Honeyfern, and Lionblaze want to ask if they can have a turn. When they walk up to the rocks, they find that Longtail and Mousefur have fallen asleep to a story that Purdy was telling. The elders let them rest there without objection. A few days after Honeyfern was killed by the snake, Jayfeather went to the elder's den. Purdy was trying to persuade Longtail and Mousefur that Sol was a good cat, and that they shouldn't believe in "cats in the sky". Longtail wanted Purdy to understand StarClan was very important to them, and he would understand that if he stayed. Jayfeather was bringing Mousefur some medicine for her sore pads when Longtail stretched out and sniffed at his pelt. Jayfeather had caught some scraps of herbs on his fur. Longtail was the first to recognize it, then Mousefur confirmed it was the mysterious herb Leafpool mixed with her tansy.

[edit] In the Omen of the Stars Series

[edit] The Fourth Apprentice

When the drought strikes the Clans, Jayfeather noticies that Longtail seems to not be feeling well, and thinks he has been giving his share of food and water to Mousefur. However, that question is never answered.

When Dovekit and Ivykit earn their apprentice names Longtail is seen being led in and out of the elders' den by Mousefur.

[edit] In the Field Guide Series

[edit] Code of the Clans

He was in a story about how elders and kits must be fed before warriors. Prey was scarce and there were several sick cats in ThunderClan that needed to be fed, so he and Darkstripe went out hunting at Snakerocks. They quickly found a squirrel, and Darkstripe suggested they eat it to have strength to find more prey for the other cats. Longtail was reluctant, but finally gave in. When they got back to camp they found out that a sick elder, Poppydawn, had died because she was so weak from lack of food. Longtail thinks that if they brought back the squirrel, she could have lived, but Darkstripe insists it wasn't their fault and tells Longtail not to tell anyone about the squirrel they ate, because Poppydawn was already dead and there was one less mouth to feed.

End of Spoiler Warning

[edit] References

↑ The Darkest Hour, page 119
↑ Firestar's Quest, page 31

[0] The Darkest Hour, page 119

[1] Firestar's Quest, page 31

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