“Of course. I have made good friends in all the Clans. I’ve seen kits born and watched elders leave on their final journey to Silverpelt. I’ve made the long journey to the Clans’ new home. Believe me, I wouldn’t change a single day. I know it is not in your power to give me longer with my Clan, but I can’t help wanting more.” —Cinderpelt to the StarClan cats.
Cinderpelt is a small and sleek-furred, dark smoky gray she-cat with pale blue eyes, and a twisted hind leg.
Cinderpelt was a ThunderClan medicine cat who served under Bluestar’s, Firestar’s, and briefly Graystripe’s leaderships in the forest and lake territories. She was born as Cinderkit to Lionheart and Frostfur alongside her siblings: Brackenkit, Thornkit, and Brightkit. She and her siblings were captured by ShadowClan, but they were later rescued by a ThunderClan patrol and ShadowClan’s elders. She was apprenticed early as Cinderpaw with Fireheart as her mentor. However, she was caught in a trap set by Tigerclaw that was originally meant for Bluestar, causing her to be struck by a monster on the Thunderpath and to sustain a permanent leg injury that prevented her from becoming a warrior. Despite this, Cinderpaw found her place in the Clan by becoming Yellowfang’s apprentice as a medicine cat. Though she blamed herself for Silverstream’s death while kitting, she grew into a skilled medicine cat and earned her full name, Cinderpelt.
Cinderpelt nursed two ShadowClan warriors, Littlecloud and Whitethroat, back to health despite Fireheart’s warnings and devised a cure for their sickness. She was later devastated over Yellowfang’s death, but she continued to serve ThunderClan. After Firestar went on a quest, she briefly led ThunderClan alongside Graystripe. Eventually, she became a mentor to Leafpool and participated in the Great Journey to the lake where StarClan foretold her of her death, but omitted when this would happen. Cinderpelt was at odds when Leafpool left the Clan to be with Crowfeather, but she protected Sorreltail during her kitting from badgers when they attacked ThunderClan’s camp, dying in the process and rendering Leafpool devastated. She was given a second chance at life and was reborn as Cinderkit, her brother Brackenfur’s kit. After Cinderpelt’s spirit separated from Cinderheart’s, she ascended to StarClan and gave Brambleclaw one of his nine lives.
Cinderpelt in The Prophecies Begin
Cinderkit is born to Frostfur with her three siblings. Her littermates are kidnapped by Clawface, a ShadowClan warrior, but are rescued by a ThunderClan patrol. She is apprenticed to Fireheart at three moons old, being very energetic and eager to learn. Tigerclaw asks for Bluestar to meet him on the Thunderpath to give her a message, but the leader is unable to because she is ill. Despite Fireheart forbidding her, Cinderpaw goes to the Thunderpath and is struck by a monster, injuring her leg. Cinderpaw’s leg never properly heals, thus preventing her from becoming a warrior. Cinderpaw is initially upset and feels useless, but finds her place, following the path of a medicine cat, with Yellowfang’s guidance.
Graystripe’s mate, Silverstream, begins kitting at Sunningrocks, but complications arise, and Fireheart finds Cinderpaw to help. Despite Cinderpaw’s best efforts to save her, Silverstream loses too much blood and dies, and the medicine cat apprentice blames herself for the queen’s death. After Tigerclaw betrays ThunderClan and is exiled, Cinderpaw finds a rotting magpie on the fresh-kill pile and believes it to be a sign from StarClan that Bluestar’s leadership is deteriorating. She is later given her full medicine cat name, Cinderpelt. When two sick ShadowClan warriors, Littlecloud and Whitethroat, come to ThunderClan for help due to their Clan dying from Carrionplace disease, they are rejected by Bluestar, Fireheart, and Yellowfang. However, Cinderpelt goes behind her leader’s back by healing the two in secret. Fireheart finds out, but does not reveal it to anyone, not even Yellowfang. When a fire breaks out in ThunderClan territory, Yellowfang dies trying to aid their trapped Clanmates. Cinderpelt grieves for her lost mentor and is nervous about being the Clan’s only medicine cat, but grows more confident in her role as time passes.
She has a dream of ferocious dogs panting “Pack pack, kill kill” and is worried it is a sign from StarClan of danger to come. Her sister, Brightpaw, is brought back to camp after being mauled by a pack of dogs, and Cinderpelt saves her. She tags along with Fireheart as he goes to receive his nine lives from StarClan after Bluestar loses her last life. She later goes to save Sorrelkit after Darkstripe feeds her deathberries. Cinderpelt prepares to heal the wounded, with the help of Fernpaw, as the battle with BloodClan draws near.
Cinderpelt in The New Prophecy
Cinderpelt is now mentoring Firestar and Sandstorm’s daughter, Leafpaw. While out collecting herbs, Cinderpelt sees an omen of a tiger leaping into flames and believes it might mean Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw may be a danger to the Clan; however, this was later proven to be false, as Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw came together to help save the Clan. ThunderClan abandons their camp as Twolegs draw too close, and she travels with the Clans on the Great Journey. Once they reach the lake territories, Cinderpelt and the other medicine cats discuss how they will communicate with StarClan, since the Moonstone is far behind them. Leafpaw discovers the Moonpool, and Cinderpelt gives her apprentice her full name, Leafpool, in honor of discovering the Moonpool.
StarClan gives Cinderpelt the troubling news that she will die sometime soon, and she accepts this. She confronts Leafpool about her relationship with Crowfeather, a WindClan warrior, which escalates into an argument. Leafpool leaves Cinderpelt and ThunderClan behind and runs off with Crowfeather. During Sorreltail’s kitting, badgers attack ThunderClan’s camp, and Cinderpelt defends her Clanmates to the best of her abilities, but is fatally wounded. Leafpool returns just before she dies, and Cinderpelt tells her that she knows the Clan will be well cared for. Shortly after, Leafpool learns that Cinderpelt has been reborn as one of Sorreltail’s kits, Cinderkit, to have a second chance to live the life of a warrior.
Cinderpelt in Omen of the Stars
After seeing Cinderpelt’s memories in a dream, Cinderheart realizes the medicine cat was reborn as her. She regains all of Cinderpelt’s knowledge of healing and memories, suffering from an identity crisis, and no longer knows who she is supposed to be. Cinderheart ultimately decides to be a warrior and become mates with Lionblaze, allowing Cinderpelt’s spirit to separate from her. Cinderpelt thanks her before joining StarClan.
Cinderpelt in Graystripe’s Vow
Cinderpelt helps lead ThunderClan with Graystripe while Firestar and Sandstorm embark on a journey to rebuild SkyClan, with only her and Graystripe knowing of their departure. While Graystripe struggles leading the Clan, Cinderpelt supports him through all of his decisions, and she defends him whilst their Clanmates doubt his leadership and Firestar’s short-noticed departure. Cinderpelt assists ThunderClan and Graystripe preparing for their next battle against BloodClan. She goes to the Moonstone when Graystripe is doubting himself on what to do with Gremlin, a BloodClan queen, and she tells Graystripe to follow his instincts after StarClan gives her a message for Graystripe regarding the future battle. After the battle, Cinderpelt helps heal Fury’s wound and worries over the heavily pregnant Gremlin, but wants to make sure her unborn kits are safe. When Graystripe is worrying that he almost killed Snake, Cinderpelt reassures him that he showed mercy towards Snake, Fury, and Gremlin, and tells him he made the right choice, adding that Graystripe is becoming wise enough to be a Clan leader.
Source: Cinderpelt—Warriors Wiki
