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"The stars don’t care about fairness, or kin, or loyalty. They shine the same on the cat who leaves you bleeding in the snow as they do on the one who loves you. So you must choose your own path in the shadows. StarClan has already failed you."
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Slenderpaw is a scrawny[1] dark tabby[2] she-cat with one amber eye[2], and one decayed eye[3]. Her face and body are slashed with scars[3], her ears are shredded[4], and her muzzle is torn[3], revealing gums and teeth[1]. Patches of her fur are missing[3] and part of her abdomen is bitten away[2], exposing her ribs and spine[1].
Slenderpaw, also known as The Fallen Apprentice, or The Shadow, was an ancient PineClan apprentice who served under Pinestar's leadership in the snow forest territories. She was born during an eclipse to two unnamed Circle cats, alongside two brothers. In the darkness of the eclipse, she became separated from her family and was left helpless and alone as a kit. After surviving for a short time as a stray, she was discovered by PineClan warriors and taken into their camp.
She was given the name Slenderkit, and later apprenticed as Slenderpaw under the mentorship of Minkfoot, PineClan’s deputy. Early in her apprenticeship, Slenderpaw received a dream from the spirit of a cat named Snowstar, who warned her that she was destined to destroy her Clan. Despite this troubling prophecy, she worked hard in her training and grew close to Minkfoot. She also developed a friendship with PineClan's medicine cat apprentice, Yakpaw. Slenderpaw’s life took a tragic turn when she stumbled upon the body of Chirpsong, a PineClan warrior. When other cats discovered her trying to wake the corpse, they assumed she had committed the murder. Although Pinestar, the leader, declared her innocent until proven guilty, the grieving kin of Chirpsong attacked her in camp, leaving her gravely wounded. Believing she was dead, the clan buried her in the training grounds.
However, Slenderpaw was still alive. Minkfoot secretly unearthed her and revealed himself as the true traitor who had framed her. He abandoned her, leaving her exposed and helpless. Slenderpaw was ultimately eaten alive by rats, suffering an agonizing death. After dying, she was approached by Snowstar, who offered her a place among StarClan. Feeling betrayed and abandoned by her Clan and by Snowstar, she rejected the offer and instead became trapped in a shadowy realm. Naming this place the Dark Forest, she became its first inhabitant. Slenderpaw grew bitter and vengeful, reflecting on her betrayal and isolation. Over time, she began making pacts with other cats, offering to fulfill their desires in exchange for loyalty. She later declared herself the founder of the Dark Forest and vowed revenge, ensuring her legacy as one of the most dangerous and feared figures in Clan history. She swore vengeance against the clans, particularly PineClan, and after waiting long for Minkfoot's death, she hunted him down in the Dark Forest and killed his spirit.
Though she lived long ago, many cats today believe Slenderpaw is a myth. Yet elders warn kits and apprentices never to linger in shadows or darkness too long, lest she appear and drag them into the Dark Forest herself. They whisper that claw marks on trees during dark nights may signal her presence. Some say that if you stare into a pool of water for too long at night, you might see the right side of your muzzle ripped open, revealing the gums and teeth of Slenderpaw herself.
She has become a legend of fear and caution—a reminder that betrayal and vengeance can endure through the ages, and that the Dark Forest is never far from the shadows of the clans. As of the present, cats have began to believe Slenderpaw's existence, as many cats started to experience ominous seizures and muteness, hinting at her attempts to pierce the veil between Dark Forest and waking life. Medicine cats sensed a growing corruption, connected to sealed mouths and silence, and later she was revealed to be actively working with a StarClan warrior named 'The Faded Star' in the Dark Forest, she is currently plotting the downfall of the clans. She later corrupted the afflicted mute cats, using them as vessels and forcing them to perform rituals to summon her as a ghost. She then briefly attempted to possess Laurelsong, testing her willpower, and began targeting apprentices like Scarletpaw and Azurepaw to create pawns for her cause.
Book Name[]
- Coming Soon
Trivia[]
Interesting Facts[]
- Slenderpaw was originally going to have a half-bitten tail.
- She is one of ashes' oldest OCs.
- Slenderpaw's signature look was inspired by how Frostpaw saw Curlfeather in the canon Warriors series.
- She was originally going to have white fur, but ashes' wanted her to 'blend into the darkness of the Dark Forest'.
- She was originally going to have a limp leg, but ashes' says she can't have a disability as her final act at the end of the Rise of The Fallen arc cannot account for it.
- She was inspired by some of ashes' similar old OCs, like ones named 'Circe' and 'Red'.
- Slenderpaw has a connection with Everest that will be revealed in future Super Editions.
Mistakes[]
- She was accidentally drawn with a green eye on her Icon.
Author Statements[]
- Slenderpaw is one of ashes' favourite characters.
- According to her, Slenderpaw sometimes wishes she hadn't become what she is.
- She sometimes sees her parents and family in brief hallucinations.
- In ashes' opinion, her art is 'viewer-friendly', because in reality, Slenderpaw is much more hideous.
- To avoid her being a mary sue, it is noted that Slenderpaw has many weaknesses.
Detailed Description[]
- Slenderpaw is a scrawny[3], long-bodied[4] dark tabby[1] she-cat with jet-black stripes[4]. She has a cream-colored muzzle[2], a white chest[2], paws[4], and tail-tip[3], and one narrow amber eye[2] with a slit pupil[2], while the other eye is decayed and hollow[3]. Both eyes are marked with scars[4], and her pelt is covered with additional scarring[2]. Her ears are small[4], and her nose, paw pads, and inner ears are a dull greyish-pink[1]. A section of her abdomen is missing[1], exposing her ribs and spine[1]. The right side of her muzzle is torn away[3], leaving loose flesh that reveals her gums and sharp teeth[2].
Gallery[]
 Slenderpaw on the TFASpoiler |
Personality and Traits[]
- Slenderpaw is a cunning and manipulative cat, driven by a deep sense of betrayal and a desire for vengeance against the clans, especially PineClan. Her mind teeters on the edge of madness, making her unpredictable and dangerously erratic, while her cruelty and sadistic tendencies allow her to exploit the fears and weaknesses of others without remorse. She approaches her goals like a predator, patiently luring cats into traps or bending them to her will, enjoying the control she wields over those who fall under her influence. Despite her intelligence and strategic thinking, her obsession with revenge and her unstable mental state make her both terrifying and unrelenting in pursuit of her dark ambitions. However, she may be impulsive and not entirely powerful, due to her inability to fight a warrior realistically, her vulnerabliity to bright light, and her limited manipulation of cats who have strong bonds of loyalty.
Quotes[]
"Silence! Do you want our secret exposed so soon? You're not asking to be sent down here for all eternity are you? Wouldn't you rather we keep this between us... at least, until the stars find out what you've done?"
- Slenderpaw to The Faded Star in The Fallen Apprentice
"The stars don’t care about fairness, or kin, or loyalty. They shine the same on the cat who leaves you bleeding in the snow as they do on the one who loves you. So you must choose your own path in the shadows. StarClan has already failed you."
- Slenderpaw to her followers on The Fallen Apprentice Spoiler
Slenderpaw: "Then it is final. There is no turning back, StarClan warrior."
The Faded Star: "True... but what if StarClan uncovers our plans? What if they cast me down here, among wretches like you? I fear-"
Slenderpaw: "You will know true fear when you break this deal! Betray me, forsake this alliance, and StarClan will not shield you. I will tear through their borders myself and hunt you down. Then you shall meet your ultimate demise!"
- Slenderpaw to the Faded Star in The Fallen Apprentice
Minkfoot: "Great StarClan, Slenderpaw what the scratches happened to you? You look hideous... and why aren't you among the other StarClan warriors? Don't tell me you're gone forever! What a shame..."
Slenderpaw: "I'm not gone you fool! This place is my home now. And I'm here, waiting, watching, growing stronger with every second you think I’m dead. And when the time comes, oh… when I finally reach you-"
Minkfoot: "But you won't. Don't you see? You're trapped here forever. Meanwhile, I rise. Once little Pinestar meets her final life, my reign begins. I have a plan- I'm sure you're familiar with it. How did your own blood taste in those final moments, Slenderpaw?"
Slenderpaw: "You- flea-ridden- fox-heart! You wretch! You’ll regret every shred of pain you've caused me! When you finally fall, you will know the consequences of your actions, and nothing in this world, not even StarClan, will save you from what I am now!"
- Slenderpaw to Minkfoot in Slenderpaw's Fate
"I've known what betrayal tastes like. I’ll serve it back to you Minkfoot, cold and slow."
- Slenderpaw as she attacks Minkfoot in the Dark Forest, in Slenderpaw's Fate
<<I know they won't resist. I can give them everything they've ever dreamed of, and yet they don't even know what they've given in return. Soon the Dark Forest will be their reckoning.>>
- Slenderpaw's thoughts on her followers in Slenderpaw's Fate
Kin[]
Members[]
- Coming Soon
Family Tree[]
- Coming Soon