Top five things to know about Fireheart
BY THE EDITOR
Anyone who’s started their Warriors journey knows that this little orange house cat is our main guide into this world of wild cats struggling for survival. But what should new readers know about our ginger friend going into the series? Today, we will be covering the top five things new readers should know about Fireheart of ThunderClan!
5 – He’s curious
This one will be obvious to readers from the get-go. Rusty’s curiosity is what led him from the safety of his garden and into the wild dangers of the woods in the first place. Without it, he never would have found the warrior way of life that would come to suit him so well. But you know what they say about curiosity―and Fireheart’s enduring inquisitive nature may lead him to more than one dangerous revelation as he struggles to unravel the mysteries surrounding his Clan.
4 – He’s brave
If we’re being honest with ourselves, if our own real-life pampered house cats came up against the kinds of dangers a Clan cat faces on a regular basis, most of them would turn tail and hide under the nearest couch. The same seems to be true for many kittypets the Clans encounter―but not Fireheart. From the start, his bold nature and the stand he took against Graypaw in their first battle impressed Bluestar and made her see that there was more to the young kittypet than his cozy life would suggest. He will need all of that courage for the challenges that await him as the series progresses.
3 – He’s oblivious
As we’ve seen from the list so far, Fireheart is a lot of things―curious, brave, a good and loyal warrior, and a fun character to read about. But one thing he isn’t is perfect, and nothing illustrates that better than his frequent moments of being oblivious to the obvious. While he’s often perceptive about the dangers facing his Clan, he can also be shockingly ignorant about the emotions of the cats around him―especially as related to how certain she-cats feel about him, as more than one she-cat will be frustrated to learn…
2 – He’s compassionate
As we discussed in our “What makes a hero” article, Fireheart’s greatest strength as a hero, far more than any of the traits we’ve discussed so far, is his compassion. His curiosity led him to the Clans, and his courage helped him make his mark enough to join them, but it’s his compassion that makes him a true warrior. His curiosity will carry him to the secrets behind Redtail’s death and the other problems plaguing his Clan, but it will be his compassion that calls on him to act on what he learns―hopefully, in time to save his Clan.
1 – He’ll always try to do what’s right
This is tied in with everything else we’ve already discussed. No, Fireheart isn’t perfect. And yes, sometimes his curiosity, his obliviousness, his boldness, even his compassion will land him in trouble or earn him the ire of his Clanmates. But no matter what mistakes he might make, what challenges he comes up against, what betrayals he may face, or what losses he may suffer, Fireheart will always do what he believes to be right. He will always act with the best of intentions and try to help as many cats as he can. He will never put any rule or other cats’ opinion over what he genuinely believes to be the right thing to do. That is a truly admirable quality in a hero, and it will lead our fiery friend forward in his quest to save the Clans.
