This article contains major spoilers for the recently released book, Thunder. Please proceed at your own discretion. |
"Reedwhisker will come back! Why would any cat think he won't? We don't want to tempt fate like that, do we?" |
— Podlight to Duskfur about Reedwhisker's disappearance in River, page 121 |
Podlight is a sturdy[1] gray-and-white tom.[3]
Podlight is a RiverClan and ShadowClan medicine cat under Splashtail's and Tigerstar's leaderships in the lake territories. He was born to Duskfur as Podkit alongside his sister, Curlkit. He earned his warrior name, Podlight, and sought refuge in ThunderClan when the Kin drove RiverClan away. Moons later, Podlight, Curlfeather, Fognose, and Splashtail were on a hunting patrol when Reedwhisker disappeared, and assumed he had returned to camp without them. He advocates for the medicine cats to temporarily lead RiverClan, and helps support Owlnose during his time as leader, despite wanting leadership himself. After Frostpaw is believed to be dead, Podlight claimed to have dreams from StarClan and became RiverClan's newest medicine cat.
History[]
In the A Vision of Shadows arc[]
The Apprentice's Quest[]
- Podlight and his sister, Curlfeather, are now warriors.
Shattered Sky[]
- Podlight takes refuge in ThunderClan's territory alongside the rest of his Clanmates when the Kin drive them out of RiverClan territory. When Violetpaw makes her way there in order to get the Clans' help, she spots Dewnose, Podlight, and Beetlewhisker on a patrol. She waits as the three bound up to her, and Podlight is suspicious of her intentions. He asks why they should believe her when she explains she's come for help, and to see Twigbranch, saying they didn't know if she wasn't a part of a rogue attack. Dewnose gives him a shove, asking if Darktail would really send an apprentice.
- Violetpaw assures them she is there on her own, telling them they could get the others to escort her if they had to. Podlight gives a curt nod at that, seemingly satisfied. The patrol agrees to take her after she tells them the RiverClan prisoners are part of the reason she's there, Dewnose mewing they had better bring her to Bramblestar. Podlight cuts in sharply, adding Mistystar's name to his statement. They escort her to ThunderClan's camp, the two RiverClan cats flanking Violetpaw on either side.
Darkest Night[]
- Podlight: "They chose rogues as their campmates."
- Rowanstar: "I didn't."
- Darkest Night, page 28
River of Fire[]
- When RiverClan is escaping the fire in their camp, Podlight gets to safety and joins Mistystar's group of cats. Mistystar insists that no cat will be left behind, and the gray and white warrior says he thought he saw some of their Clanmates escaping a different way.
The Raging Storm[]
- At a Gathering, Podlight is part of RiverClan's patrol. While on the island, he talks to Plumwillow and Sandynose.
In the A Starless Clan arc[]
River[]
- Mothwing: "Where's Reedwhisker?"
- Podlight: "Nice to see you too, Mothwing. Isn't Reedwhisker here with you?"
- River, pages 87-88
Sky[]
- "I'll take a look once Podlight swallows this yarrow. Eat them. Who knows what else you swallowed with all the mud. It's better to be sick once now than to spend half a moon in the medicine den throwing up."
- ―Mothwing to Podlight Sky (book), page 150
Shadow[]
- "You're not our leader!"
- ―Podlight to Tigerstar Shadow (book), page 59
- While out hunting, Frostpaw makes a mistake and admits that she was not paying attention and it resulted in the loss of prey. Podlight is part of this hunting patrol, and Frostpaw expresses her apologies for letting prey get away. Despite the apprentice's blunder, Podlight, Havenpelt, and the others are able to successfully bring prey to RiverClan, having caught many mice between them.
Thunder[]
- "I've always had strange dreams, but I didn't realize they were special."
- ―Podlight at the Gathering Thunder (book), page 335
In the Novellas[]
Mistystar's Omen[]
- Mistystar: "Great catch, Podkit. Make sure it doesn't eat you first!"
- Podkit: "It won't. I killed it with one paw!"
- Mistystar's Omen, chapter 6
- Later, when Mistyfoot returns to the camp after Dapplenose and Pouncetail show her where they think will be an excellent spot to bury the deceased leader, Grasspelt's hunting patrol had returned with two minnows, and Duskfur tells Mistyfoot to have them, because her kits, mentioned again not by name, can eat later. He is again namelessly mentioned when Mallownose's patrol returns with only tiny minnows, and Mistystar asks if that was all they had, because that would not be able to feed Curlkit, Podkit, and Duskfur let alone the whole Clan. Duskfur asks Mistystar if she can take her kits to bed after moonhigh on the night of Leopardstar's vigil.
- Later, Podkit plays in the clearing after Mistystar returns from her leadership ceremony. He calls to Mistystar when he sees her, telling her to watch him as he sinks his claws into a twig and begins dragging it toward the nursery. He tells her that he's caught a giant fish to feed to the whole Clan. Mistystar congratulates him on his brilliant catch, and tells him to make sure the fish doesn't eat him first. Podkit replies that he knows it won't, and that he killed it with one paw. Duskfur walks out of the nursery and tells Podkit that she hopes he wasn't been bothering Mistystar. Mistystar assures her that he isn't bothering her, and adds that if he can catch a fish that size already then she would be glad to make him a warrior right away. Podkit looks around, his eyes wide, asking her if she really means it. His sister, Curlkit, walks out of the nursery at that moment and tells him not to be so minnow-brained. Duskfur scolds her for being rude. Podkit adds that Curlkit had started it and starts to shred his twig with his claws. After Mistystar and her patrol return from RiverClan's first patrol in the territory in the opposite direction from the lake beyond their territory, Podkit is seen eating one of the baby mice they brought back, exclaiming that mice are almost as yummy as trout.
Mothwing's Secret[]
- Before the Great Battle, Mothwing treats Podkit's cough with some comfrey, but the small protests, insisting the herb tastes nasty. Mothwing soothes Podkit by explaining the herbs will help him and he needs to behave like a brave warrior. Duskfur thanks Mothwing, and Mothwing reminds her to stay in the nursery and defend her kits during the battle.
Character pixels[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Kin[]
Members[]
Mother:
Sister:
- Curlfeather:[1] Deceased, verified the Place of No Stars member
Nephew:
Nieces:
Tree[]
Graymist ♀ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Havenpelt ♀ | Sneezecloud ♂ | Duskfur ♀ | Mallownose ♂ | Petalfur ♀ | See more | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fognose ♀ | Splashtail ♂ | Podlight ♂ | Curlfeather ♀ | Jayclaw ♂ | Owlnose ♂ | Brackenpelt ♀ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frostpaw ♀ | Graypaw ♂ | Mistpaw ♀ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Mistystar's Omen (First appearance)
- Mothwing's Secret
- The Apprentice's Quest (Allegiance only)
- Thunder and Shadow (Allegiance only)
- Shattered Sky
- Darkest Night
- River of Fire
- Tigerheart's Shadow (Allegiance only)
- Tawnypelt's Clan (Allegiance only)
- Spotfur's Rebellion (Allegiance only)
- The Raging Storm
- Squirrelflight's Hope (Allegiance only)
- Lost Stars (Allegiance only)
- The Silent Thaw (Allegiance only)
- Veil of Shadows (Allegiance only)
- Darkness Within (Allegiance only)
- Graystripe's Vow (Allegiance only)
- Daisy's Kin (Allegiance only)
- The Place of No Stars (Allegiance only)
- A Light in the Mist (Allegiance only)
- River
- Sky
- Shadow
- Thunder
Trivia[]
Author statements[]
- Kate has said that she would like Reedwhisker to be Duskfur's mate and the father of Curlfeather and Podlight, and even wrote it in her Allegiance list, but it isn't confirmed as canon.[blog 1]
External links[]
- Exclusive! Veil of Shadows: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! Graystripe's Vow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! Darkness Within: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! The Place of No Stars Except on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! A Warrior's Choice Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! A Light in the Mist: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! River: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Exclusive! Sky: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive! Shadow: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Exclusive! Thunder: Excerpt on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Allegiance only)
- Exclusive: Wind chapters on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- Thunder recap: the story so far on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
Author references
RiverClan cats | |
---|---|
Leader | Splashtail |
Medicine cats | Mothwing • Podlight |
Warriors | Duskfur • Icewing (Mistpaw) • Minnowtail • Mallownose • Sneezecloud • Shimmerpelt • Lizardtail • Owlnose • Brackenpelt • Gorseclaw • Harelight • Nightsky • Breezeheart (Graypaw) • Fognose |
Apprentices | Mistpaw • Graypaw |
Queens | Havenpelt |
Kits | N/A |
Elder | Mosspelt |