Kinkfur

"Kinkfur was a loyal ShadowClan cat for many moons before I was born. And she remained loyal and kind to the end. She fought beside us against the Dark Forest cats. She was at the front of every battle. She defended her Clanmates as though she were defending her own kits. StarClan will welcome her. She has many friends there, and a kit, Dewkit, and long days of endless hunting lie ahead of her. She will be remembered."

— Crowfrost's speech after Kinkfur's death in Thunder and Shadow, pages 320-321

Kinkfur
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.
Affiliations
Current:	StarClan
Past:	ShadowClan
Biographical information
Cause of death:	Yellowcough
Names
Warrior:	Kinkfur
Queen:	Kinkfur
Elder:	Kinkfur
StarClan resident:	Kinkfur
Kin
Daughters:	Dewkit, Mistcloud
Son:	Sparrowtail
Book appearances
Living	Eclipse, Long Shadows, Sunrise, Hollyleaf's Story, Omen of the Stars, Mistystar's Omen, Dovewing's Silence, Crowfeather's Trial, Bramblestar's Storm, The Apprentice's Quest, Thunder and Shadow
Living	Eclipse, Long Shadows, Sunrise, Hollyleaf's Story, Omen of the Stars, Mistystar's Omen, Dovewing's Silence, Crowfeather's Trial, Bramblestar's Storm, The Apprentice's Quest, Thunder and Shadow
Dead	Darkest Night, Tigerheart's Shadow
Dead	Darkest Night, Tigerheart's Shadow

Kinkfur is a sleek, dark gray tabby she-cat with long, unkempt fur that sticks out at all angles.

Kinkfur was a ShadowClan elder under Blackstar's leadership in the lake territories. She gave birth to Dewkit, Mistkit, and Sparrowkit. Dewkit died, but Sparrowtail and Mistcloud grew to be warriors. During the Great Battle, Kinkfur assisted Littlecloud with treating the injured. After the battle, Kinkfur retired as an elder. She was one of the first to die from yellowcough and the Clan mourned her death. Kinkfur joined StarClan, and later gave Tigerstar a life for courage.

History

In the Power of Three arc

Eclipse

"Oh, but ThunderClan welcomes everyone.'"

―Kinkfur sneering about ThunderClan ^{Eclipse, page 270}

When a ShadowClan patrol finds Jaypaw, Lionpaw, Hollypaw, and Sol heading towards ThunderClan territory, Smokefoot growls about how ThunderClan welcomes in loners and kittypets alike, which leads Kinkfur to sneer about how ThunderClan welcomes everyone. Russetfur hisses at Kinkfur to shut up, reasoning that there's been enough bloodshed.

In the Omen of the Stars arc

The Fourth Apprentice

Kinkfur is now a queen.

Fading Echoes

She and Ivytail, another queen, poke their heads out of the nursery while Jayfeather and Squirrelflight are in the ShadowClan camp.

Night Whispers

Kinkfur has three new kits; one tom, Sparrowkit, and two she-kits, Mistkit and Dewkit. When Ivypaw is held prisoner in the ShadowClan camp, Kinkfur's kits pester her. When Sparrowkit starts racing towards her, Ivypaw snarls, baring her teeth in his face and Sparrowkit squeals for Kinkfur to help him. Sparrowkit is seen huddling beside his mother when Tawnypelt leads Ivypaw over to him and Kinkfur. While the two she-cats get near, Mistkit squirms out from underneath Kinkfur and Dewkit follows, ducking under Kinkfur's tail. Flametail then announces an upcoming fight, and Kinkfur, trembling, sweeps her kits closer to her with her tail.

Later, Kinkfur calls for Flametail, though with no response. She then nudges him with her nose, asking if he heard her. Flametail apologizes and Kinkfur asks him to come and check on Mistkit as she's seemingly lost her voice. Kinkfur then ducks out of the medicine cat den to go back to her kits. Pacing outside her den, Kinkfur rushes over to greet Flametail when he comes. She explains that Mistkit was constantly chatting in the morning but when she woke up she couldn't speak. Inside the den, Sparrowkit and Dewkit are playing with a moss ball when Kinkfur warns them to be careful. After investigating the case, Flametail gives Kinkfur a bit of tansy for her to chew it up and give Mistkit the pulp to swallow after she is fed. Nodding, Kinkfur takes the tansy out of the way of Sparrowkit and Dewkit.

The Last Hope

When Littlecloud is overwhelmed by the amount of injuries, Graystripe states that he needs moss and beckons to Kinkfur. He orders her to go and find as much moss as she can carry, quickly. Soon after leaving the camp, Kinkfur races back across the clearing, dropping a bundle of dripping moss next to Littlecloud. She races away again, but Littlecloud calls her back to help him. She, Whitewater, and several others help push the injured cats underneath the thorn barrier so they'd be safe once the fighting ensued again.

In the A Vision of Shadows arc

Thunder and Shadow

"What nonsense! ShadowClan will always be feared and respected by the other Clans."

―Kinkfur about ShadowClan ^{Thunder and Shadow, chapter 8}

As Violetkit sits in the nursery, she contemplates her place as a ShadowClan cat. The she-kit remembers Kinkfur saying that she must be one of them, as StarClan sent Needlepaw to get her. During Littlecloud's vigil, Kinkfur sits with Ratscar and Oakfur, mourning the loss of their long-time medicine cat.

When Alderpaw comes to ShadowClan's camp, Needlepaw and the black-and-white she-kit tease each other. Violetkit comments that it took her a whole day to find a pinecone, but the apprentice protests that it was in Kinkfur's nest. During a Clan meeting, Kinkfur growls that ShadowClan will always be feared and respected by the other Clans. Ratscar responds dryly that they're not even revered by their own kits. Afterwards, the gray elder asks Needlepaw to get her some mouse bile from Leafpool. Within a moment, Darktail's rogues enter the camp with Violetkit. Needlepaw rushes over to the kit, asking if she'd gotten lost trying to find the dirtplace again. Kinkfur looks at them, saying it's impossible to miss if you just use your nose.

Moons later, Violetpaw returns to ShadowClan after living with the rogues. As she enters camp, the she-cat spots Kinkfur and the other elders outside their den. Over time, the black-and-white apprentice earns ShadowClan's trust. Violetpaw refuses to give away information about the rogues, and Kinkfur says that if she won't betray them, then she is loyal.

Kinkfur falls ill with a mysterious illness, along with several of her Clanmates. Puddleshine orders Twigpaw and Violetpaw to fetch the sick cats water, so they bring back soaked moss. The black-and-white she-cat is surprised by the stench of sickness in the medicine den. Twigpaw asks who the cats are, and Violetpaw identifies Kinkfur and Oakfur in their nests. However, the ThunderClan apprentice soon returns to her own camp, leaving Violetpaw to care for the sick cats with Puddleshine. She presses dripping moss to Kinkfur's mouth, but the gray elder pushes it away in a fit of wheezing. A spasm of coughing grips her, and the old she-cat jerks weakly in her nest. Violetpaw calls for Puddleshine, and he orders the apprentice to fetch thyme. Kinkfur continues to twitch, but gives a final wheeze, then falls limp. The gray elder dies, and this shocks both Puddleshine and Violetpaw. The medicine cat says she's in StarClan now, and Violetpaw quickly leaves the den. The apprentice says she needs some air, and reports to Dawnpelt that Kinkfur has died.

In the clearing, a vigil is held for the dark gray tabby. Her body is laid out nicely, with the fur smoothed out neatly. Crowfrost gives a speech, saying that Kinkfur will be welcomed in StarClan by her family. He meows that she was a loyal ShadowClan cat, and will be remembered. Ratscar places a primrose on Kinkfur's body, and the she-cat's kits press against her pelt.

At the half-moon medicine cat meeting, Puddleshine reports that Kinkfur had died of the sickness. The gray elder's kits grieve her, and cease to hunt very much after her passing.

Darkest Night

Puddleshine: "Kinkfur! How are you?"

Kinkfur: "It's good to be free of aches and pains at last."

^{Darkest Night, page 82}

During a medicine cat half-moon gathering, Kinkfur is seen among the StarClan cats during a vision. Puddleshine touches noses with his deceased Clanmates and asks Kinkfur how she is doing. The she-cat shakes out her fur and answers that it is good to finally be free of aches and pains.

In the Super Editions

Onestar's Confession

Coming Soon

Tigerheart's Shadow

"With this life I give you courage. Fear will always pull at your tail, but the courage I give you know will always draw you on."

―Kinkfur giving Tigerheart the life of courage ^{Tigerheart's Shadow, page 402}

Kinkfur is present at Tigerheart's leader ceremony. She looks sleek and young, and the only thing to give away her long life is the knowing flash in her eyes. She gives Tigerheart the life of courage, saying that fear will always pull at his tail, but her life will make him stronger.

In the Novellas

Dovewing's Silence

Kinkfur is now an elder of ShadowClan.

Tawnypelt's Clan

In Tawnypelt's dream, she is spotted eating a rabbit with Pinenose by the elders' den.

Character pixels

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. Warrior Version Queen Version Elder Version StarClan Version

Ceremonies

Lives granted

The following is a list of gifts Kinkfur has granted during nine lives ceremonies:

Lives granted
Gift Receiver Courage Tigerstar

Kin

Members

Son:

Sparrowtail: Living (As of Wind)

Daughters:

Dewkit: Deceased, residence unknown

Mistcloud: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Granddaughters:

Needletail: Deceased, verified StarClan member

Sunbeam: Living (As of Wind)

Grandsons:

Hollowspring: Living (As of Wind)

Spireclaw: Living (As of Wind)

Tree

Unknown

Kinkfur ♀

Scorchfur ♂

Snowbird ♀

Ratscar ♂

Dewkit ♀

Mistcloud ♀

Sparrowtail ♂

Berryheart ♀

Cloverfoot ♀

Beenose ♀

Yarrowleaf ♀

Nettle ♂

Buster ♂

Gullswoop ♀

Frondwhisker ♀

Conefoot ♂

Bluebellkit ♀

See more

Fringewhisker ♀

Spireclaw ♂

Hollowspring ♂

Needletail ♀

Flaxfoot ♂

Hopwhisker ♀

Sunbeam ♀

Nightheart ♂

See more

    = Tom

    = She-cat

    = Gender unknown

Appearances

• Onestar's Confession (Indirect mention only)
• Eclipse (First appearance)
• Long Shadows (Allegiance only)
• Sunrise (Allegiance only)
• Hollyleaf's Story (Allegiance only)
• The Fourth Apprentice (Allegiance only)
• Mistystar's Omen (Allegiance only)
• Fading Echoes
• Night Whispers
• Sign of the Moon (Allegiance only)
• The Forgotten Warrior (Allegiance only)
• The Last Hope
• Dovewing's Silence (Allegiance only)
• Crowfeather's Trial (Allegiance only)
• Bramblestar's Storm (Allegiance only)
• The Apprentice's Quest (Allegiance only)
• Thunder and Shadow †
• Darkest Night
• Tigerheart's Shadow
• Tawnypelt's Clan (Vision or Dream)

Trivia

Author statements

• When asked about Kinkfur's kits' disappearance, Vicky says that she hopes the kits are alive and well.
  • Sparrowtail and Mistcloud had lived to become warriors, and Dewkit was revealed to have died.
• Kate believes Kinkfur to be dark gray.

Continuity

The following information is from sources considered non-canon or retconned.

• In Su Susann's "Missing Kits" on Vicky's Facebook, Kinkfur's parents are Nightwhisper and Darkflower, and her younger brother is Pouncetail. She was described as a dark gray tabby she-cat with yellow eyes. She earned her warrior name in Twilight.

Quotes

"She must be one of us. StarClan sent Needlepaw to find her."

―Kinkfur about Violetkit to Ratscar ^{Thunder and Shadow, page 35}

"Who gets lost finding the dirtplace? You only have to follow your nose."

―Kinkfur about Violetkit ^{Thunder and Shadow, chapter 8}

"If she won't betray them, then she won't betray us."

―Kinkfur about Violetpaw ^{Thunder and Shadow, chapter 14}

"It's going to be quiet in here without Kinkfur. Oakfur isn't much of a talker."

―Ratscar about Kinkfur ^{Thunder and Shadow, chapter 22}

External links

• Stand Together or Fall Divided on the Warriors official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)

Notes and references

Author references