Sunbeam and Nightheart: an unlikely Warrior Cats love story
BY THE STORY TEAM
Since Valentine’s Day just passed, we thought now would be a good time to reflect on one of the most endearing love stories the Warriors cats have seen in some time. In the wake of Bristlefrost’s tragic loss and Rootspring’s subsequent heartbreak, we believed the readers—and the story team—deserved a new love story, one that would restore our faith in romance and heal our wounded hearts a bit. When we needed them most, along came Nightheart and Sunbeam.
When we first introduced these characters, nothing about them said they would end up together. For starters, they were from different Clans—Sunbeam was a ShadowClan cat, while Flamepaw (Nightheart’s name at that time) represented ThunderClan. Whereas Sunbeam was positive and dedicated to her Clan, Flamepaw was resentful and unsure where he belonged. Sunbeam was already a warrior when they met, while Flamepaw was still a paw struggling to pass his assessment. Though Flamepaw began the story unattached and not even thinking about romance, Sunbeam had a potential mate already in Blazefire. So how did this unlikely pair find their way to each other? Like so many romcoms, it began with an argument.
As different as these two cats were, by the time Sunbeam and Flamepaw met at a fateful Gathering, they were in a very similar place in their lives: rock bottom. Sunbeam had just been left by the cat she’d hoped would be her mate and was on the outs with her best friend, Lightleap. Flamepaw had just failed his warrior assessment for the second time and felt humiliated and unsupported by his Clan. To escape their sorrow and embarrassment, they each found themselves hiding out from the rest of the Clans in a secluded spot. Flamepaw initially told Sunbeam to “beat it,” but after she stood up for herself, they commiserated and comforted each other. This encounter, though brief, laid the foundation for a strong friendship that eventually blossomed into love.
But it didn’t happen overnight. It took time for Sunbeam to get over Blazefire and let go of the hope that he might change his mind. And Flamepaw needed to deal with the anger he’d been harboring since he was temporarily separated from his mother as a kit. But when they were both sent on a quest to retrieve catmint from a nearby Twolegplace in order to save Tigerstar’s kit, Rowankit, from a bout with Greencough, they found themselves growing closer. Having finally passed his assessment, Flamepaw had become a full warrior and had the courage to rename himself Nightheart. It was clear from that point on that the two young warriors brought out the best in each other. Sunbeam instilled a confidence in Nightheart that often seemed to elude him, while Nightheart encouraged a more daring, fun side in Sunbeam. Who else could have convinced her to be mischievous enough to steal food from Twolegs during a carnival?
They ended the quest as friends, but they were never too far from each other’s thoughts. Nightheart eventually used his ebony pelt to sneak into ShadowClan territory in the dark of night, supposedly to spy on Bramblestar’s behalf. But the pleasure he took in getting to visit Sunbeam at the same time was obvious. He began to wonder if he should take advantage of the new warrior code and switch Clans to be with Sunbeam. For her part, Sunbeam wasn’t as sure. She’d been burned by love before, and switching Clans was a serious thing, not to be done lightly. What if she was wrong?
Ultimately, Nightheart did make the decision to join ShadowClan—as much out of love for Sunbeam as out of anger at his own Clan. Sunbeam was still dubious about the move—especially since her mother stood staunchly against Clan switching and was determined to make it as hard as possible for Nightheart. But he soon won Sunbeam over with his dedication and attentiveness. His willingness to embrace all the things she loved most about ShadowClan, and his respect for her knowledge and strength as a warrior, erased her doubts. At long last, her broken heart had mended and she’d found a true mate.
Their relationship would be tested, though. First they had to overcome Berryheart’s objections. Then when Nightheart left to rejoin ThunderClan after Bramblestar stepped down, it seemed like maybe their love story had come to an abrupt end. But shocking even herself, Sunbeam did something she’d never thought she’d be brave enough to do: She left ShadowClan to join ThunderClan and be with Nightheart. Though Nightheart soon left on a lengthy quest with Frostpaw that kept the two apart for many moons, their love remained intact, and their reunion was one of the sweetest ever seen in the Clans.
What we love most about this pairing is that it didn’t initially seem like it could work. In fact, in early brainstorms for this series, the story team originally thought that Nightheart and Sunbeam would break up. But their connection surprised us as much as it did them. We admired the way they support each other through the worst of times and have faith in each other, even when they’re apart. Though they are each fiercely independent and formidable warriors in their own rights, they are the best versions of themselves when they are together. We can’t wait to see how their relationship grows and where their love story will lead them next.
