Brambleclaw (Warriors)

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Brambleclaw, formerly known as Bramblekit and Bramblepaw, is a fictional character and a main protagonist in the book series Warriors: The New Prophecy. He is a massive dark brown tabby tomcat with amber eyes, the son of Tigerstar and Goldenflower, brother of Tawnypelt (tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes), and half-brother of Hawkfrost (massive dark brown tabby tomcat with ice-blue eyes) and Mothwing (beautiful golden she-cat with amber eyes). Brambleclaw is the current deputy of ThunderClan. He was first seen in Forest of Secrets as a newborn, and later in Rising Storm as the "young kit who looks exactly like Tigerstar". His mentor was Firestar.

He looks exactly like Tigerstar, and in the original series, Firestar (then Fireheart) thought he would turn out exactly like Tigerstar, too ambitious and a traitor to his Clan. Concerned about the young cat's future, he takes on Brambleclaw (then the apprentice Bramblepaw) as his own apprentice. Bramblepaw shows signs of being a superb warrior, hunting and fighting very well for his age. He is also very shrewd and intelligent, and realizes that Firestar doesn't trust him due to his heritage. He guards his emotions, keeping Firestar from knowing his true thoughts and loyalties. However, all doubt is put out of Firestar's mind when Tigerstar offers his son a place in his own Clan. Bramblepaw states that he would rather die than join his treacherous father, causing Tigerstar enough anger that he was prepared to murder his son. However, Scourge, the leader of BloodClan, killed Tigerstar before that became possible. During the battle against BloodClan, Bramblepaw fights side by side with his estranged sister, as well as the rest of the forest apprentices.

In The New Prophecy, Bluestar surprises all of StarClan by choosing Brambleclaw to represent ThunderClan in the journey to Midnight's cave. Brambleclaw is astonished himself, as he still one of the younger warriors in the Clan. He pays Bluestar's message no heed until he learns that Tawnypelt, Crowpaw (Now Crowfeather), and Feathertail have all had similar dreams. It is Brambleclaw who had the dream about the sun-drown-place, telling the cats where to go, and they all set out toward the west. Feathertail's brother Stormfur and Firestar's daughter Squirrelpaw (Now Squirrelflight ) join them as well. Along the way, Brambleclaw becomes the de facto leader of the group, much to his surprise, and begins growing very close to Squirrelpaw.

In Dawn, he is very surprised to learn of his relationship to Hawkfrost, and worries that the other cats might see a resemblance between himself and the amibitous RiverClan warrior. After Graystripe is stolen away by Twolegs, Brambleclaw is one of the warriors whom Firestar put the deputy's responsibilities on. Later, he leads the Clans, with some help from the other journeying cats, to their new territory by the lake. In fact, when the journeying cats (along with Mistyfoot, since neither Stormfur or Feathertail made it to the lake.) are sent to explore the lake territory, Mistyfoot allows Brambleclaw to lead the group, even though, as RiverClan deputy, she had authority among them.

As the Clans settle in to the new territory, Brambleclaw begins quarreling with the new warrior Squirrelflight (formerly Squirrelpaw), due to his growing friendship with Hawkfrost, whom Squirrelflight does not trust. The two of them begin hurting due to their loss, but both too angry to try to mend their relationship. Brambleclaw also begins feeling the same sort of ambition his father had, and begins desperately wanting to become deputy. Worse, Tigerstar learns how to meet with his two sons in dreams, and tries to coach them into exacting revenge upon Firestar, and taking over the Clans. Though Hawkfrost listens intently, Brambleclaw is more guarded, struggling with himself over whether to follow his father's advice. He does become much more cold toward his Clanmates, and begins acting like a deputy, ordering the other cats around. They all go along with it except for Squirrelflight, who makes a point of ignoring Brambleclaw's orders. While she ignores and fights with Brambleclaw, she becomes increasingly closer to Ashfur, a pale gray warrior with blue eyes.

In Sunset, he and Squirrelflight finally make up with one another, and become much closer than before, much to Ashfur's dismay. Brambleclaw also begins trying to get close to Berrykit, one of Daisy's kits, hoping to mentor the young kit and thereby fulfill the requirements for being named deputy. At Tigerstar's behest, he tells Firestar to accept that Graystripe won't be coming back, and name a new deputy. Firestar agrees reluctantly, and, driven by a sign from StarClan, appoints Brambleclaw deputy, despite the fact that Brambleclaw has not mentored an apprentice.

Later, he and Hawkfrost meet in ThunderClan territory to discuss whether or not to go ahead with Tigerstar's plan to rule the forest. Hawkfrost tricks Firestar into a fox trap, and tells Brambleclaw to takes his leader's remaining six lives and become leader himself. Brambleclaw finally rebels against his father's wishes and kills his half-brother with a (wire) stick, saving Firestar and putting the Clans at peace in their new home. Before Hawkfrost dies, he suggests to Brambleclaw that a ThunderClan warrior helped him lure Firestar into the trap.

Nothing has been revealed about Brambleclaw's role in The Power of Three, except that his and Squirrelflight's three kits, Lionpaw, Jaypaw, and Hollypaw appear to be significant characters. In the The Power of Three, it has been revealed that Lionpaw, Jaypaw, and Hollypaw have special powers, with which they have to save the forest, and that the future of the forest is in their paws.