“We have to let the warrior code rule our hearts. The death of a warrior does not mean victory.” — Hollyleaf explaining to Dovewing why she let Sol go.
Hollyleaf is a slender, long-legged, black she-cat with soft and long fur. She has green eyes and a bushy tail. Most people canon Hollyleaf with a holly on her right ear.
Hollyleaf was a ThunderClan warrior under Firestar’s leadership in the lake territories. Hollykit was raised by Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw alongside her brothers, Jaykit and Lionkit. Initially, Hollypaw trained as a medicine cat apprentice with her mentor being Leafpool, but then she decided that she was better at fighting and became a warrior apprentice. Hollypaw soon learns of the prophecy that concerns her, Jaypaw, and Lionpaw.
After becoming a warrior, Hollyleaf and her siblings are cornered in a fire by Ashfur, and in order to save them, Squirrelflight reveals that they’re not her kits. In the wake of discovering that Leafpool and Crowfeather were her true parents, Hollyleaf killed Ashfur to keep him from telling the Clans, but frustrated that nothing had changed, she ultimately revealed the secret herself at a Gathering. Thereafter, Hollyleaf disappeared into the tunnels and became close to Fallen Leaves; however, after being believed to be dead, she returned to her Clan and fought in the Great Battle, saving Ivypool from Hawkfrost. As she died, Hollyleaf finally forgave Squirrelflight and Leafpool, ascending to StarClan soon after.
Hollyleaf in Power of Three
Hollykit is the daughter of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, along with her brothers Lionkit and Jaykit. She is shown to be curious and logical as a kit, and she initially becomes a medicine cat apprentice under Leafpool, taking the name Hollypaw. During her apprenticeship, she befriends Willowpaw, the RiverClan medicine cat apprentice, but realizes she is not cut out to be a medicine cat. Hollypaw is then apprenticed to Brackenfur and becomes close friends with Cinderpaw, Brackenfur’s daughter. Hollypaw believes strongly in the warrior code and follows it very closely, disapproving of Lionpaw meeting with the WindClan apprentice, Heatherpaw, in secret.
Hollypaw and her siblings travel to the mountains to help the Tribe of Rushing Water fight off intruding rogues, and Jaypaw tells Lionpaw and Hollypaw of a prophecy involving them. Hollypaw stresses out about the prophecy, wondering what her powers are and how they can be used to preserve the warrior code. She is the first to see Sol (thinking he’s a lion at first glance), who she and her brother believe can help them with the prophecy. She is later made a warrior alongside Lionpaw and Cinderpaw, receiving the name Hollyleaf. After Sol convinces ShadowClan to stop believing in StarClan, Hollyleaf helps create a fake sign from StarClan, but it later becomes a real sign when StarClan cats appear.
After a fire starts near ThunderClan’s camp, Squirrelflight, Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather are trapped; however, Ashfur blocks the way out and threatens to kill the siblings as revenge for Squirrelflight loving Brambleclaw instead of him. Squirrelflight reveals that Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather are not her kits, and Hollyleaf resents Squirrelflight for having lied. When it is discovered that her biological parents are Leafpool and Crowfeather, Hollyleaf is devastated. She is horrified when Ashfur threatens to tell the truth at the Gathering and murders him to keep him quiet. Wracked with guilt, Hollyleaf reveals the secret anyway. She then threatens to kill Leafpool with deathberries, but is convinced not to. Pursued by her brothers, she runs into the tunnels, which collapse behind her.
Hollyleaf in Omen of the Stars
Hollyleaf helps Ivypool and Blossomfall find their way out of the tunnels and reveals her identity. She is persuaded by Lionblaze to return to ThunderClan. While Leafpool and Squirrelflight are overjoyed that she’s alive, her brothers feel hurt that they are led to believe that she has been dead for so long. Many cats doubt her loyalty, and while she tries to admit she is Ashfur’s killer, Brambleclaw instead lies to the Clan about his death.
Hollyleaf prepares ThunderClan for WindClan’s surprise attack by teaching them how to fight underground. During the battle, she confronts Sol and nearly kills him, but she lets him go. In the battle against the Dark Forest, Hollyleaf saves Ivypool from Hawkfrost, but is gravely injured by the Dark Forest tom. Distraught, Ivypool, with the help of Tigerheart, carries her back to camp, where Hollyleaf and Leafpool make amends before Hollyleaf dies. When the Ancients join to help fight in the battle, Fallen Leaves mourns for his friend briefly before joining the fight. After the battle, Hollyleaf’s spirit is seen rising from her body, following the others who perished during the battle and leaving with StarClan.
Hollyleaf in Crowfeather’s Trial
Crowfeather often thinks of his ThunderClan daughter and regrets not spending time with her before her death. Later on, as he and Leafpool discuss their kits, the two are both upset that they won’t be able to see her anymore, and Leafpool admits that Hollyleaf couldn’t accept the fact that she was half-Clan, but they should be proud of her accomplishments nonetheless.
Hollyleaf in Squirrelflight’s Hope
Hollyleaf sends a prophecy to Jayfeather and later appears in StarClan when Squirrelflight and Leafpool end up there after their injuries from the rock slide. Leafpool sees Hollyleaf and greets her affectionately. When asked about Ashfur, Hollyleaf says she is okay with him being in StarClan. She asks if she can show Squirrelflight around, then goes tree hunting with her.
Hollyleaf in Bramblestar’s Storm
Bramblestar misses Hollyleaf and recalls how he believed her to be his daughter, loving her like she was his own, and misses her greatly. At the end of the book, she is shown at the Gathering with all the other cats who died in the battle against the Dark Forest, who have all come to give strength to their Clans. In the manga, Hollyleaf’s niece, Hollykit, is named in honor of her.
Hollyleaf in Leafpool’s Wish
Leafpool and Squirrelflight travel away from ThunderClan so Leafpool can give birth. A black she-kit is born first, and Squirrelflight suggests naming her Hollykit since her fur is as dark as holly bark, though Leafpool wishes to name her Crowkit after her father. Leafpool believes Hollykit to be gentle and thoughtful. Leafpool and Squirrelflight take the kits back to ThunderClan so Squirrelflight can raise them as her own, and Leafpool promises to watch over them.
Hollyleaf in Hollyleaf’s Story
Hollyleaf narrowly escapes the tunnels collapsing. She cries for help but fades out of consciousness. She wakes up to find Fallen Leaves tending to her wounds. Fallen Leaves heals her and offers to show her the way out when her injuries heal. She says no, and stays with Fallen Leaves in the tunnels in a form of self-exile. She lives underground and occasionally goes up to the surface to help ThunderClan. She saves Ivypool and Blossomfall when they get lost and later Cherrypaw and Molepaw. Fallen Leaves tells her that she should return home, and when WindClan starts to plan an attack with Sol, she gives in.
Source: Hollyleaf—Warriors Wiki
