"The greatest hunter is one who knows how to wait."
— Sparrowpelt to Bluepaw and Snowpaw in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 78

Halftail is a big,[3] broad-shouldered,[9] dark brown tabby tom[3] with patchy fur[10] and yellow eyes.[5] He has part of his tail missing.[3]

Halftail was a ThunderClan warrior under Pinestar's and Sunstar's leaderships in the forest territories. Originally named Sparrowpelt, his name was changed to Halftail after he lost his tail during a fight with a badger. He mentored two apprentices, Snowfur and Redtail. He also fathered One-eye's kits, Mousefur and Runningwind. He retired to the elders' den and worried with the other elders about Fireheart's unorthodox deputyship. When a fire ravaged ThunderClan's camp, Halftail and Patchpelt were trapped. Despite rescue attempts by Yellowfang and Fireheart, both elders perished from the smoke and ascended to StarClan.


In The Prophecies Begin arc

Into the Wild

When the new apprentice, Firepaw, visits the elders' den, Halftail greets him warm-heartedly.
Graypaw tells Firepaw that Halftail's tail was bitten off by a badger, and he hasn't been able to climb a tree since for fear of falling, and not having his tail to help him land right.

Fire and Ice

It is stated that Halftail is the first cat to wake up after Fireheart and Graystripe's warrior vigil. Fireheart spots him moving in the shadows of the elder's den, glancing at the warrior's den.
Upon the return of the ThunderClan cats from the Gathering, Halftail calls out to Bluestar, asking what the news was. The next day while Graystripe and Fireheart are on their mission to find WindClan, Fireheart remembers the story of how Halftail had lost his tail to a badger. When they return home after successfully bringing the other Clan home, Halftail settles down beside Fireheart with a greeting, saying that he had to share the story with the elders sometime.
During the next Gathering, the Clans are arguing over strange scents found in all their territories, and clouds begin to cover the moon, to which Halftail yowls that StarClan has sent the darkness.
Upon Whitestorm's discovery of rabbit bones with ShadowClan scent all over them, Frostfur and Halftail hurry over from their dens to see what is going on, and creep closer to sniff at the bones.

Forest of Secrets

Halftail, along with all the other elders, create a bond with Fireheart's nephew, Cloudkit.

Rising Storm

When the forest fire strikes, Bramblekit, Patchpelt, and himself get trapped in the camp. Yellowfang and Fireheart travel back from Sunningrocks to rescue them. Fireheart finds Patchpelt and Halftail unconscious, but is unable to save Patchpelt due to inhaling too much smoke. He succeeds in rescuing Bramblekit, who is stuck on a burning tree. Yellowfang grabs Halftail by the scruff and tries to pull him out of the camp to safety. However, a burning tree falls down, blocking their only way out.
Fireheart travels to the camp later, and finds that Halftail breathed in too much smoke too, along with Yellowfang, who dies shortly after Fireheart finds her in her cave. Graystripe offers to bury Halftail, and the Clan all mourn Halftail, Patchpelt, and Yellowfang's deaths.

The Darkest Hour

Halftail is mentioned, along with One-eye, when Cloudtail asks Firestar to change Lostface's name, pointing out that they most likely had not started out with those names.

In the Super Editions

Tallstar's Revenge

Halftail does not formally appear in Tallstar's Revenge, but is listed in the allegiances.

Yellowfang's Secret

Halftail does not formally appear in Yellowfang's Secret, but is listed in the allegiances.

Crookedstar's Promise

Sparrowpelt does not formally appear in Crookedstar's Promise, but is listed in the allegiances.

Bluestar's Prophecy

He is a warrior of ThunderClan, then named Sparrowpelt, for he still has his full tail at the time.
Sparrowpelt walks through the gorse barrier with a thrush, followed by Speckletail. Moonflower points him out. Later, at a Clan meeting, he is seen sitting with Tawnyspots while Featherwhisker weave between them.
Bluekit smells his scent on the gorse barrier, which means he was on the dawn patrol. After Sunfall takes Bluekit out, Sparrowpelt explodes from some ferns and tells them WindClan has been stealing their prey. He then plunges over the ravine and shares his story with Pinestar. When Pinestar asks if there was blood in the border, Sparrowpelt nods, saying there was fresh squirrel blood. Windflight tips his head to one side, slowly saying that the WindClan scent could have drifted from the moorland, causing Sparrowpelt to scoff at him. As the fox scent topic is brought up, Sparrowpelt says that there was fox scent everywhere if one sniffed for it. After Mumblefoot says that WindClan had done the trick before, Sparrowpelt adds to Stonepelt's comment that it wouldn't be the last time. As the topic dies down, Sparrowpelt is seen circling Stormtail and Adderfang, who are talking quietly, with his tail bristling.
When the siblings, Snowkit and Bluekit, become apprentices, Sparrowpelt is appointed as Snowpaw's mentor, and is mentioned to look quite surprised when Pinestar chooses him, and he is told to train Snowpaw to be a fine warrior. After the ceremony, Sparrowpelt then bounds up the ravine with Snowpaw, and he advises Snowpaw to take the route between two big boulders. He says that usually warriors go that way, but places faith that Snowpaw could make the jump. Sparrowpelt calls to Snowpaw to hurry up, reasoning that he was going to show her the river.
The next morning, Snowpaw reveals to Bluepaw that Sparrowpelt said that they were going to go hunting together. When Bluepaw complains that Snowpaw got to see Fourtrees, Snowpaw drops her voice like Sparrowpelt's growly mew, telling her to remember the RiverClan scent. Sparrowpelt surprises Snowpaw, calling if she was ready to go. He heads out the tunnel as Snowpaw replies, urging her to hurry up. When Stonepelt suggests the Owl Tree, Sparrowpelt debates that the Great Sycamore would be better for prey. Bluepaw asks the warrior how much farther it is, and Sparrowpelt promises that it wouldn't be much longer. As they reach their destination, Sparrowpelt weaves in front of the cats and lifts his chin. He later agrees with Stonepelt that the greatest hunter knows how to wait. When Snowpaw asks if any prey was at their location or nearby, Sparrowpelt says none will be if they have any sense.
Snowpaw also asks if prey would come into the open, which Sparrowpelt says that since they were downwind, some might. He also asks if the apprentices see the sycamore pods, claiming that where there were pods, there were bugs. Stonepelt finishes his sentence that where bugs where, there was prey. After Snowpaw fails to catch a mouse, Sparrowpelt shakes his head. He admits that he liked Snowpaw's enthusiasm, but her technique needed a little work. Bluepaw notes the teasing lightness in his tone. She encourages Snowpaw that she was fast, but Sparrowpelt says that speed didn't count when hunting mice. He reasons that skill was far more important. Stonepelt suggests leaving hunting for another day, in which Sparrowpelt agrees to. After Bluepaw demonstrates the hunting crouch, Snowpaw tries hers. Sparrowpelt praises her, telling her to move forward slowly. As dusk arrived, Sparrowpelt tells the cats they needed to go home, and he heads away through the trees with Snowpaw. Stonepelt promises Bluepaw they could practice again the next day, then catches up with Sparrowpelt.
When Bluepaw catches a big squirrel, Sparrowpelt opens his mouth and stares for a moment. After they reach camp, Snowpaw promises she'll catch something the following day, resulting in Sparrowpelt reminding her that it wasn't a competition. After Bluepaw returns from the Gathering, she tells Snowpaw to ask Sparrowpelt if she could come to the following one.
As Snowpaw wakes up, she tells Bluepaw that Stonepelt said she could sleep as long as she would like while Sparrowpelt took Snowpaw hunting to practice her stalking. When Goosefeather receives an omen from Snowpaw's vole, Sparrowpelt barges forward, hooking the vole with his claw so the Clan can see, yowling that they had to attack first. Pinestar then retrieves the vole from Sparrowpelt. Sparrowpelt hisses at his leader, asking if they should risk not fighting, reasoning that there may be no Clan to strengthen if they didn't act. As Sunfall understands the heavy weight in Pinestar's decision, Sparrowpelt growls that he thinks StarClan made the choice clear.
Snowpaw later becomes a warrior, earning the name Snowfur. It is mentioned that his mate is White-eye, and he often shows affection towards her, and she later has his kits, Runningkit and Mousekit. He later gets a new apprentice, Redpaw, one of the kits from Adderfang and Swiftbreeze's second litter. His apprentice later becomes a warrior, Redtail.
Many seasons later, it is mentioned that he has lost half of his tail fighting a badger. Because he has a much harder time staying balanced on trees without his tail, he had retired to the elders' den, changing his name to Halftail.

In the Novellas

Spottedleaf's Heart

Redpaw is given to Halftail as an apprentice and it’s noted that he is grumpy. He pads up to the newest apprentices and says that is enough chatter. He asks Redpaw if he is ready to see ThunderClan territory. Redpaw says to Halftail that of course he is and tells him to lead the way. The tom looks quizzically at his apprentice, commenting that he wasn’t going to let him lead. Thistleclaw says that he and Tigerpaw will join him and Redpaw. After Bluefur gives birth to her kits, Spottedpaw contends that Thrushpelt must be the father, although the two cats never been affectionate in front of cats like Halftail and White-eye.

Redtail's Debt

Redpaw reflects how his mentor, Sparrowpelt, could be grumpy at times, and refuses to let his apprentice join him on a hunting patrol near Sunningrocks which Sunstar has deemed too dangerous for younger cats. His mentor returns and Redpaw nervously greets him to ask about the hunt, but Sparrowpelt interrupts that he needs to report to Sunstar. Redpaw eavesdrops on their conversation and disagrees with Tigerclaw about letting the apprentices fight in the upcoming battle against RiverClan for trespassing. Sunstar agrees for a compromise and allows the apprentices to join the fight in a second patrol.
Sparrowpelt interrupts Redpaw speaking with White-eye, and his mate insists for Sparrowpelt to be careful for the sake of their unborn kits. Redpaw awkwardly excuses himself as the two nuzzle. He touches noses with White-eye one last time before heading out on the battle patrol. When a hawk attacks the patrol while on the bridge, Stormtail and Sparrowpelt herd the apprentices away. Redpaw is separated and Sparrowpelt yowls for his apprentice to run as he and Tigerclaw race towards him. Sparrowpelt urges Redpaw away as Tigerclaw fights off the hawk. Redpaw's tiny legs can't keep up and he whimpers to his mentor to not leave him. Sparrowpelt carries him by the scruff off the bridge. Once they reach the trees, Sparrowpelt checks for any wounds.
Sparrowpelt stays with Redpaw and Willowpaw as the rest of the patrol checks on the battle and tries to reassure his apprentice what happened wasn't his fault. He greets Bluefur when she arrives with the rest of the patrol, but she announces they lost the fight.
During Redtail's warrior ceremony, he gazes at Redtail with pride in his eyes as his kits, Mousekit and Runningkit, play in front of him and White-eye. He reflects about the battle moves his mentor has taught him.

Tigerclaw's Fury

Halftail is noticed to be missing when Cloudpaw asks where he is. Yellowfang and Fireheart head back to the camp to try to find him, Patchpelt, and Bramblekit. Yellowfang grabs the closest body, which Tigerclaw is pretty sure is Halftail, and she slowly drags him along the clearing, until they are lost to Tigerclaw's sight due to the flames.

In the Short stories and plays

The Elders' Concern

Halftail, concerned about ThunderClan's aftermath due to the broken law of the code when Fireheart was made deputy by Bluestar, gathers his fellow elders. He merely tries to find a solution to keep their Clan strong in this time of doubt, but one of the elders tells him that they were just elders. Smallear reminds Halftail that Bluestar must have had bees in her brain when she appointed a kittypet as the new deputy.
He also states that instead of being honored to serve his Clan, Fireheart looked like he had just been asked to jump off the gorge, and that their once honorable leader has turned her back on StarClan. To Halftail's dismay, when Smallear tells him that Fireheart will never be a true deputy in his eyes, the rest of the elders, Dappletail and Patchpelt, agree with him. Halftail is left wondering what will become of the Clan he had loved and cared so deeply for. He silently vows that he will never turn his back on his Clan.


Interesting facts

  • He and Patchpelt might have been at Firestar's leadership ceremony, but weren't named.[11]
  • Halftail lost his tail in a fight with a badger.[12]
  • He is the first cat in the series to have their tail amputated. [3]
  • His original warrior name was Sparrowpelt, before having it be changed to Halftail.[5]


  • In the allegiances of Yellowfang's Secret,[13] Tallstar's Revenge,[14] and Spottedleaf's Heart,[6] he is listed as Halftail, despite still having his full tail at the time.[5][15]
  • Halftail was originally described with a stump for a tail.[10]

Character pixels

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Official art

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One-eye:[16] Deceased, verified StarClan member


Runningwind:[17] Deceased, verified StarClan member


Mousefur:[17] Deceased, verified StarClan member


Featherkit:[2] Deceased, residence unknown


Cricketkit:[2] Status unknown


    = Male

    = Female

    = Gender Unknown


"Can we risk not fighting? StarClan warned us that there may be no Clan to strengthen if we don't act!"
—Sparrowpelt to Pinestar Bluestar's Prophecy, page 98

"Yet they had never been affectionate in front of other cats the way that White-eye and Halftail or Robinwing and Patchpelt were."
—Narrator about Halftail Spottedleaf's Heart, page chapter 9

"Well done for bringing WindClan home! You must come and share the story with the elders' one night."
—Haftail to Fireheart Fire and Ice, page 95

External links

Notes and references

  1. Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Revealed on the Warriors website family tree
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Revealed in Into the Wild, allegiances
  4. Revealed in Rising Storm, page 280
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, allegiances
  6. 6.0 6.1 Revealed in Spottedleaf's Heart, allegiances
  7. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 61
  8. Revealed in Spottedleaf's Heart, chapter 2
  9. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 111
  10. 10.0 10.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 49
  11. Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 1
  12. Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 41
  13. Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, allegiances
  14. Revealed in Tallstar's Revenge, allegiances
  15. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, chapter 44
  16. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 410
  17. 17.0 17.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 467