“Loyalty is proved by what we do, not where we come from!” ― Sorreltail yowling about loyalty after Firestar’s speech
Sorreltail was a ThunderClan warrior under Firestar’s leadership in the forest and lake territories. She was born as Sorrelkit to Willowpelt and Whitestorm along with her brothers Sootkit and Rainkit. As a kit, she followed Darkstripe out of camp and saw him talking to Blackfoot, the ShadowClan deputy. To keep her quiet, Darkstripe tricked her into eating deathberries, resulting in the young kit being close to death. Due to the hard work of Cinderpelt, she was able to survive and tell ThunderClan what Darkstripe had done. She later became an apprentice named Sorrelpaw and was given Sandstorm as a mentor, but has Dustpelt as a temporary mentor when Firestar and Sandstorm leave on a journey.
Her warrior ceremony was held back after she was injured by a monster; however, she eventually recovered and was named Sorreltail. She became mates with Brackenfur, and during her first kitting, badgers attacked the ThunderClan camp. Her brother Sootfur was killed, and Cinderpelt also died while helping her with the kitting. Sorreltail gave birth to Poppykit, Molekit, Honeykit, and Cinderkit. She and Brackenfur later had a second litter, Lilykit and Seedkit. During the Great Battle Sorreltail defended the nursery but died of her wounds. She joined StarClan and was present at the leadership ceremony of Bramblestar.
Sorreltail in The Prophecies Begin
Sorreltail is born to Whitestorm and Willowpelt, along with her two brothers Sootkit and Rainkit. Sorrelkit follows Darkstripe out of camp and witnesses him secretly converse with ShadowClan’s deputy, Blackfoot. When Darkstripe discovers this, he feeds her deathberries to prevent her from telling anyone. Sorrelkit is cared for by the ThunderClan medicine cat, Cinderpelt, and once again regains some strength, she tells Firestar what happened, which results in Darkstripe’s exile. After Sorrelkit’s recovery, Sandstorm takes a liking to Sorrelkit and her brothers, and teaches them some basic offense moves. The trio of kits argue about who their mentors will be, although Firestar promises Sorrelkit to Sandstorm when she comes of age.
Sorreltail in The New Prophecy
Sorrelpaw is now an apprentice with Sandstorm as her mentor. Due to being injured by a monster, her warrior ceremony was pushed back while her brothers received their full names. Sorrelpaw tackles Brambleclaw and reveals her ceremony will be later that day, and she is given the name Sorreltail. She is a good friend of Leafpaw and often accompanies her on adventures: joining her to gather herbs, traveling to WindClan territory, and investigating the Twolegs who are tearing the forest apart. Leafpaw is trapped by the Twolegs and Sorreltail fails to save her, which makes her feel very guilty, and she later helps free Leafpaw and the other cats who were trapped. Sorreltail travels with the rest of the four Clans on the Great Journey and settles in ThunderClan’s new camp beside the lake. She becomes Brackenfur’s mate and is soon expecting his kits. Sorreltail gives birth while badgers attack ThunderClan’s camp, and Cinderpelt dies protecting her. The parents name their kits Molekit, Poppykit, Honeykit, and Cinderkit, after Cinderpelt.
Sorreltail in Power of Three
Sorreltail’s kits are now apprentices, and it is revealed that her only son Molepaw passed from greencough. Poppypaw is extremely ill with the sickness, and Jaypaw promises Sorreltail he will not let her die. After Poppypaw recovers, Sorreltail is very grateful and thanks Jaypaw. Cinderpaw later falls from the Sky Oak and breaks her leg, and Sorreltail is frantic over her injury and offers to stay with her. When Squirrelflight travels to the mountains to assist the Tribe, Sorreltail becomes Foxpaw’s temporary mentor. During Honeypaw and Poppypaw’s warrior ceremony, Sorreltail thinks how her son should be there too. Her daughter Honeyfern dies after saving Briarkit from being bitten by a snake. Sorreltail grieves and sits vigil for her with the rest of her family.
Sorreltail in Omen of the Stars
Sorreltail spends a lot of time with her mate, Brackenfur, and the pair become grandparents to Poppyfrost and Berrynose’s litter, Cherrykit and Molekit. Sometime later, Sorreltail learns that she is expecting her and Brackenfur’s second litter of kits, although her age makes carrying this litter difficult. She experiences an early birth by the lake, and due to the stiffness she feels in her body, the birth is made much more painful and exhausting, endangering the lives of Sorreltail and her new children. Jayfeather hears her and finds her outside the hollow. With his help, Sorreltail is able to give birth to two new daughters. They are soon taken back to the camp to rest, and the two newborns are given the names Lilykit and Seedkit. During the Great Battle, Sorreltail is sent on a patrol to help ShadowClan fight against the Dark Forest. When they return to camp, she battles with Darkstripe, and after he flees, she goes to her kits, telling them it is safe to come out.
Sorreltail in Firestar’s Quest
Sorrelpaw and her brothers are devastated after Willowpelt is killed by a badger. Being newly apprenticed, they stay in the nursery with the queens while they recover from their grief. Sorrelpaw is given Dustpelt as her temporary mentor while Sandstorm travels with Firestar on his journey.
Sorreltail in Bramblestar’s Storm
Dewpaw recites Sorreltail’s name on the Stick of the Fallen, and she is said to be the bravest out of all the fallen cats for hiding her wounds for the sake of her kits. When Lilypaw is made a warrior, Bramblestar gives her the name Lilyheart in recognition of her courage and because Sorreltail and Seedpaw would live forever in her heart. In the manga at the end of the book, her granddaughter Sorrelpaw is named after her.
Sorreltail in Dovewing’s Silence
Brackenfur and Dovewing discover that Sorreltail has died from the wounds she got in the battle against the Dark Forest. They find her in the nursery with Lilykit and Seedkit in a pool of blood, and the Clan is surprised, as Sorreltail never told anyone she was hurt. She never did because she just wanted to be with her kits.
Source: Sorreltail―Warriors Wiki
