Mountainstorm defends Feathertial and Crowfeather’s brief romance.
Hello kits, apprentices, warriors, elders, medicine cats!
Welcome back to another article of me trying to make the FeatherXCrow ship set sail again!
In this article, I will be analyzing and defending Feathertail and Crowfeather’s relationship- prove that it would have worked out- and why this is one of the best ships in the warriors books. So let’s begin!
Crowfeather first appeared in Ravenpaw’s path, as Crowkit. Ravenpaw and Barley found him trying to climb onto the Great rock, curious of what it would be like to be leader at a gathering. They took him home where his mother was relieved that he was safe. As an apprentice (about to be made a warrior), he was chosen by his father, Deadfoot, who was in StarClan, to represent WindClan on the journey to the sun-drown place.
Feathertail first appeared in Forest of secrets, as Featherkit, just kitted at sunning rocks. They took her to ThunderClan, then they are carried back to RiverClan to be raised there. When Tigerstar took over RiverClan, he wanted to kill Featherpaw, because she was half-clan. (ThunderClan and RiverClan) He would have too, if Firestar, Greystripe, and Ravenpaw had not rescued her and her brother, Stormpaw. She stayed in ThunderClan for a while, and fought in the battle against BloodClan, helping kill Bone with the other ThunderClan apprentices. Then she moved back to RiverClan, where she had a very hard time fitting back in. She finally started to make friends again, and accept that these cats had changed, when Oakheart chose her to represent RiverClan on the journey to the sun-drown place.
This is where Crowpaw and Feathertail meet. Feathertail is the one who convinces the difficult, angry apprentice to come along on their journey, when at first, Crowpaw didn’t want to come.
They are off! Feathertail helped calm Crowpaw many times when he was angry, and saw the good side of him when no one else did. She gave him a chance when one else did.
They soon became close friends, and slowly started to fall in love. My heart melted when Crowpaw did this to Feathertail:
“Steady.” Crowpaw came up and bent over Feathertail, rasping his tongue over her ear. “Just ignore the old fool. We’ll make a plan to get out of here ourselves.”
-Midnight, page 272
Crowpaw was already starting to return Feathertail’s kindness. Now, when it’s Feathertail’s turn to be upset, Crowpaw is gentle and supportive, willing to show his kind side to his companions just to calm Feathertail.
They soon reached the sun-drown place, then, after listening to Midnight the badger’s warning, and getting some herbs for Tawnypelt’s injured shoulder, they headed back to the forest. They went across the mountains this time, and soon arrived at the Tribe of endless hunting, but not before Crowpaw saved Feathertail’s life.
The Tribe of endless hunting kicked them out, but held Stormfur hostage, for they thought he was the silver cat who would save them from the mountain lion, Sharptooth.
While the journeying cats waited for night to fall so they could rescue Stormfur under the cover of darkness, Feathertail and Crowpaw had some alone time together. Feathertail started to teach Crowpaw to fish, and this was the moment that everyone knew: Crowpaw and Feathertail were truly in love! My heart melted once again, and I had a smile on my face for the rest of the week.
When they went back to rescue Stormfur, Crowpaw saved Feathertail again! They rescued Stormfur, and as they ran away, it is mentioned many times that Crowpaw and Feathertail were standing so close to each other they fur brushed.
But Stormfur wanted to return to the tribe and kill Sharptooth. So back they went, but their plan to stuff deathberries into a piece of prey for Sharptooth to eat failed, and Crowpaw was about to die, the fierce mountain lion about to kill him. And Feathertail could not let her love die. She could not. So Feathertail sacrificed herself for Crowpaw. She exchanged her life for his. She let breath leave her body and her spirit rise to the stars so Crowpaw’s would not. It was her love that saved him, and her love that made Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze happen. It was her love that would never end for him.
When they got back to the forest, Crowpaw loyally says that without Feathertail, they would not be here, and later even wants to commit suicide to join his love in StarClan.
Crowpaw, soon after made a warrior, requested that his warrior name be Crowfeather, in honor of Feathertail. Tallstar agreed. This is so sad and wonderful at the same time, showing how unwilling Crowfeather was to let go of Feathertail.
In Crowfeather’s trial, Feathertail saves him again from freezing to death in the snow, and visits him in his dreams, giving him advice, and showing her deep love for him, even many moons after she had died.
Alright! Now let’s get to the defending part!
*Goes into FeatherXCrow defending mode*
Probably the main thing the people hate about this ship is that it was “just a crush”, “It wouldn’t have worked out” and “Feathertail was too old for Crowpaw”
Let’s start with this:
1. Feathertail was too old for Crowpaw.
No. This is not true. I said it in previous articles, I will say it again. In the beginning of A shadow in RiverClan, Featherpaw is made a warrior. That is at the end of Green-leaf. Leaf-fall, and Leaf-bare pass, and the story ends at the beginning of New-leaf, when Oakheart visits Feathertail in a dream. Yes, there is a slight mistake here, since in the chapter books it says Feathertail got her dream at the end of Green-leaf, not the beginning of New-leaf. But it still doesn’t make Feathertail much older. Crowpaw says that he is about to be made a warrior, when they ask him to go on the journey to the sun-drown place with them. So, I think Feathertail is about one year or younger then Crowpaw. Brambleclaw was made a warrior about two moons before Squirrelflight was even born. Yet they are mates, and nobody judges them that they are “too old” for each other. Or Fernsong and Ivypool. Nobody hates them because they are too old for each other, even though the age difference between them is more than between Feathertail and Crowpaw.
Feathertail and Crowpaw are perfectly good for each other, they are not too “old” or anything like that.
2. This must look horrible, because Feathertail is so much taller and bigger than Crowpaw!
Feathertail can’t be much taller or bigger than Crowpaw. Most cats stop growing at 12 moons old (I looked it up!), and apprenticeship in warriors lasts about six moons. Adding the time while Crowfeather was a kit, (six moons) he was probably older than 12 moons due to his delayed warrior ceremony, when he fell in love with Feathertail. So Crowfeather probably stopped growing already, and reached his full height. And on the pictures he is with Leafpool, Crowfeather is taller and bigger than her, while on most pictures of him with Feathertail, Crowfeather is portrayed much smaller and shorter than her. Well, this isn’t true! Crowpaw was either as tall and big as Feathertail (because he might have not finished growing, though that’s very rare in cats) or he was taller and bigger, which is the most likely answer! Don’t hate this ship because the female is bigger than the male! Because, number one, they can still be happy together. Size and age don’t really matter. And number two, this isn’t true.
Moving on!
3. FeatherXCrow is just a crush!
No. This isn’t true either.
The Erins confirmed that Crowfeather loved Leafpool just as much as he loved Feathertail. So…LeafXCrow is a crush too. I don’t think people think this about Leafpool and Crowfeather. Or do they? Well, if they don’t, then FeatherXCrow isn’t a crush.
This is a part from Feathertail’s death scene:
Her eyes focused on Crowpaw, and Stormfur saw in them a lifetime of love for the difficult young apprentice, enough to sweep their Clans’ rivalry away forever. “Think I have nine lives, do you?” She whispered. “I saved you once…don’t make me save you again.”
“Feathertail…Feathertail, no!” Crowpaw could hardly get the words out. “Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t.” Now her whisper was scarcely audible. “I’ll always be with you. I promise.”
-Feathertail, to Crowpaw
Feathertail felt enough love for Crowpaw that it would sweep the Clan’s rivalries away forever? Doesn’t sound like a crush to me!
And if what Stormfur felt for Squirrelpaw was the crush, then what can you call Feathertail and Crowpaw’s love, which was much more intense?
4. But they barely knew each other!
Actually, Feathertail and Crowpaw spent more time together than Leafpool and Crowfeather. Think about it. The journey to the sun-drown place lasted about two moons, and the whole two moons Feathertail and Crowpaw barely left each other’s side. While Leafpool and Crowfeather met five times, then ran away for about two days. Then they did see each other at gatherings, but they didn’t go and speak to each other, or anything like that. They could just look at each other- nothing more. So Feathertail and Crowpaw’s relationship is much more developed, and they knew each other and their personalities a lot more than Leafpool and Crowfeather. They did know each other.
5. Crowpaw hadn’t developed his full personality yet! When Crowfeather was with Leafpool, he was so kind and sweet to her! That was his full personality!
Well, we didn’t see much alone time with Crowpaw and Feathertail, because Feathertail only had a few pages with her perspective. But they did go hunting lots of times, alone, just the two of them. We never knew what was happening. Was it really just hunting, or something more?
We saw Leafpool and Crowfeather alone together more then once, but not Crowpaw and Feathertail, so how can we know for sure that Crowpaw treated Feathertail differently then Leafpool? We can’t know for sure, so it would be better if we didn’t assume stuff.
And then it only took a few days for Crowfeather to develop his full personality? There isn’t much time difference between the time Feathertail and Crowpaw were together, and when Leafpool and Crowfeather were together. So one day Crowpaw is just a silly apprentice, and a few days later he is a serious and loving warrior? Personality needs time to develop. Much more than a few days or weeks. And let’s be honest, how much had Crowfeather’s personality changed? When he was an apprentice, he was snappy, bitter, angry, lost his temper quickly, but deep down, he was kind. When he was a warrior, I think his personality remained the same.
Alright! That’s it for now!
I know there will be a lot of disagreeing in the comments, so for the next three months I will be preparing myself to defend these two!
I had lots of fun writing this, thank you so much for reading!
Till the next gathering!
You know I’m a Leaf X Crow shipper Mounty 😛
That being said, I still like Feather X Crow. Though someone in another article (I forget which one) put it really well, I think. Feather X Crow was first love, Leaf X Crow was true love. Crowfeather loved Feathertail, I’m not denying that, but she died, and life went on, and eventually he found love in Leafpool.
Anyway, I agree with most of your points. Feathertail really wasn’t too old for him (the age gap between Bracken X Sorrel was much larger and everyone loves them) If anyone uses a the height thing as a reason to hate on a ship that’s just plain dumb so I agree with you there 😛 And yeah I agree with your other points!
Great article! I might favor Leaf X Crow over Feather X Crow, but I still like the ship and you did a great job defending it!
Thanks, Fallowheart! 😀
I do think Feather x Crow was true love as well, but that’s just my opinion and you’re probably right about that!
(I don’t have any experience on love so I looked it up on the internet :3)
“True love includes respect, admiration, care, and never subjecting your partner to hurt, humiliation or any form of abuse. True love may be the kind of love that many chase after or desire, but is as elusive as a butterfly. … You give to the relationship unconditionally without expecting something back from your partner.”
I personally think that suits Feather x Crow pretty well, but that might just be me!
Thanks again and good point! <3
Yeah to bad it didn’t last thank goodness tired of rushed halfclan relationships
I really liked this artical! I personaly don’t ship Crowfeather with any cat but if I had to chip him with someone I’d ship hime with Feathertail.
Thank you Blossomtail! <3
Cool! But the Erins have confirmed that Feathertail would have broken up with Crowfeather, forgotten about him, and become mates with Reedwhisker.
Feathertail’s too loyal to RiverClan to be with Crowfeather
What are you thinking Fluffy doggo?! Yes, Feathertail was and remained loyal to RiverClan. But her love for Crowfeather was greater than loyalty to her home clan.
Actually, Feathertail would break up with Crowfeather and become mates with Reedwhisker.
Thanks for the feedback!
But I don’t think that’s true. Feathertail and Reedwhisker are second cousins, and they have a HUGE age gap. Feathertail also never truly cared for Reedwhisker.
As for Crowfeather, she agreed happily to keep meeting him even after they returned to their Clans, even though it was against the warrior code, and when her brother, Stormfur, tried to make her see sense, she yelled at him and stubbornly refused to accept his reasoning. At her death, it said Feathertail had enough love for Crowpaw that is could sweep the Clans rivalry away forever. I can give you the quote, if you’d like. 🙂
After all that, I don’t think they would have broken up. And the Erins confirm a lot of things, most of which don’t come true!
But this is just my opinion 🙂 I love your name, by the way! 😀
Thanks! I know the quote already, but Vicky had stated it.
“In Erin Hunter Chat 3, Vicky confirmed that if Feathertail did live, her relationship with Crowfeather wouldn’t have worked out. She was too old for him, and he wouldn’t have gotten the chance to develop his own personality. She also said within that same chat that Crowfeather’s love for Feathertail was more of a high school crush, and that he could live happily forever with Leafpool.”
I like your name, too 🙂
Though, she also might have forgotten about RiverClan and was driven into her own fantasy world, and might have only realized when she would have gone back to the Clans. Feathertail vowed to her Clan that she would always be loyal to it, no matter what, even if it costs her life
“Kate confirmed that in StarClan Crowfeather would most likely choose Feathertail, not Leafpool, for he says first love always wins”
We already know Feather x Crow wasn’t a high school crush too. The Erins confirmed that Crowfeather loved Leafpool as much as Feathertail- so the logical conclusion is that either Leaf x Crow was a crush, or neither was a crush.
Or, as most people say, Erins are always saying different things so nothing really means anything at all. But in that case, the quote that says “Feather x Crow” is a crush has no power either.
We already know that Feathertail isn’t too old for Crowpaw too! There have been lots of ships with a much bigger age gap, yet they still became mates. Why should Feather x Crow suddenly be different?
As for not getting a chance to develop his full personality:
A. It was already fully developed. There isn’t any difference in the apprentices Crowpaw and the warrior Crowpaw’s personalty.
B. Why wouln’t he have had a chance? Feathertail is nurturing and encouraging. She would do anything but hold Crowpaw back.
True, but everyone promises to be loyal to their Clan even at the cost of their life.
Tigerclaw promised, so did Crowfeather, Dovewing, Mapleshade- a bunch of cats promised it and than broke it. And we already know that Feathertail felt divided loyalty between ThunderClan and RiverClan.
I never confirm, I only offer my opinion 😛
Is that really you, kate?!
Totally 🙂
O
Oh, I’m so sorry! 😞
Just to clarify what Kate means, Kate never really confirms things unless they’re facts (such as Jay Frost in the books being named after Jayfrost from the blog or that cats moved from the lake to the mountains to the forest, only to move back to the lake after generations have passed). For debates such as who a cat will end up with in StarClan or the true colour of Divewing’s eyes, Kate essentially just shares her own headcanon 🙂 It’s not necessarily true, because it hasn’t been written down in the books, and it’s not necessarily false because, well, there’s nothing in the books that would contradict her opinion. In the end, though, it’s what she would like to happen, but it hasn’t really happened or shared by the rest of the Warriors team within the Erins, so it’s not a confirmation ^^
yeah, but would Feathertail reject him? Yeah, the cats you said did. But does Feathertail HAVE to exactly be like the breakers? Does it mean she can’t be different from others? Think about it, Firepaw vowed to be loyal to his Clan, too. Did he break any of the warrior code? Feathertail got over it and chose RiverClan. Feathertail isn’t an EVIL cat like Mapleshade or Tigerclaw/star and if you read “a shadow in riverclan”, she knew she belonged to RiverClan. Like what kind of cats have bigger age gap?
A. Crowpaw was only an apprentice how can he mature as an apprentice. NO cats can mature as an apprentice. Well, maybe some cats but still.
B. He was too into Feathertail to pay attention to any cat but be mean to them. See Crowfeather now? He matured a little. With Feathertail, Crowfeather would probably be his same apprentice self. Also, Crowfeather needed to be knocked off his paws. He was too grumpy and mad with Feathertail and when Feathertail died, it was a little better. I’m not saying Feathertail’s death was happy, just it would make Crowfeather a little mature. Feathertail IS holding Crowfeather back, though, by being his future mate(even if it’s not true).
Feather x Crow SHOULD be different, since they are in different Clans, and Feathertail doesn’t want to break the Warrior Code. It also might make war. Feather x Crow runs away RiverClan and WindClan look for them and blame on each other and they get mad and get into battle. Unless Feathertail and Crowfeather come back to the Clans, which is 0.00001% chance.
Firestar did break the warrior code a few times. He loved a medicine cat, he made Brambleclaw deputy without him having an apprentice first which is against the warrior code, he fed RiverClan cats prey from his own territory, etc.
Leaf x Crow didn’t start a war when they ran away together. What should make Feather x Crow different?
And if Feathertail is loyal to the warrior code, why is there only a 0.00001% that she’ll come back?
As mentioned in the article above, Crowpaw was going to be made a warrior when the journeying cats left. He was basically already a warrior, just with the suffix “paw”.
And I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re saying there. :p
Firestar loved a medicine cat, but they didn’t become mates. He trusted Brambleclaw enough- StarClan sent Leafpool a dream that Brambleclaw should be deputy. And Firestar couldn’t let them starve-
If feathertail’s loyal to the Warrior Code, she should have known to not be with Crowfeather. Why is it 0.00001% chance she’ll come back? Well, they would become mates and the Clans would only be faded memories, so why would they even bother to look at how their Clans are doing.
Yeah, but Crowpaw was still young.
You also said that Feathertail and Reedwhisker has a huge age gap. And Leaf x Crow isn’t a crush. They literally became mates and had kits. Feathertail didn’t run away with Crowpaw on the trip and escape Stormfur and the others. Tigerclaw also met with rogues.
Well, if Leaf x Crow isn’t a crush then neither is Feather x Crow. It’s as simple as that.
Of course Feathertail and Crowpaw didn’t run away on the journey. They had a mission to complete! They couldn’t let the whole Clans die! They wanted to wait till they got home and saved the Clans.
Leafpool is in StarClan, too. Crowfeather might choose Leafpool
Yes, Crowfeather might choose Leafpool. The fandom prefers Leaf x Crow over Feather x Crow, so it will most likely be Leaf x Crow.
probably-
There’s a plenty amount of the fandom that prefers FeatherCrow of LeafCrow, though.
True!
But I think the majority prefers LeafCrow.
Briarpaw, but more prefer Leafxcrow
and what it Reedwhisker was Feathertail’s cousin? Dustpelt was Ferncloud’s uncle and they were mates.
Because of blood poising and inbreeding.
?
It’s when closely related animals or humans mate. It causes their children to be sick and weak, and eventually for the species to spoil.
oh
Also, there’s no one else Feathertail could be with-
Hawkfrost wasn’t exactly for her and Feathertail saw right away that he was evil.
Feathertail dislikes Blackclaw a lot
Reedwhisker is pretty much her type
And yeah
Feathertail could be with Crowfeather 🙂
Th-they aren’t in the same clan-
They love each other 🙂
yes 🙂 I would have been a featherxcrow shipper but I like the warrior code 🙂 🙂
Actually the age gap between Reed and Feather is no different from Crow and Feather, if not less! Reed was born sometime in Fire and Ice and Feather was born in Forest of Secrets!
but Reedwhisker is older than Feathertail-
which makes more sense, and Feathertail was only born a book after
There are a few mistakes around this, but in Moonrise, Reedwhisker was said to be a newly apprenticed kit, while Feathertail had already been a warrior for many moons.
still-
If crowfeather wasn’t too young for Feathertail, Reedwhisker isn’t too
Feathertail and Crowpaw have 12 moons in between them.
While Reedwhisker and Feathertail have nearly two years.
Still-
Crowfeather wasn’t probably even born when Feathertail was made warrior.
He was, if I remember correctly.
yup reedwhisker’s been an apprentice for 100000 moons.
Seriously, Reedwhisker was born in or sooner than Fire and Ice and the Erins forgot about him, and ta-da, here you go, an overaged apprentice :p
Yes XD
lol
I hate to say it but I was happy to see it end I wish they would develop half clan relationships instead of rushing them
Feather x Crow was actually really well developed compared to other ships!
Thank you so much for this artical! I have a hard time convincing people CrowXFeather ship is a ship, not a crush. Again-Thank you!!!!
Lol, both are names are Featherfrost!
Yes, totally agree!! And when people say “Feathertail is too old for Crowpaw”, everyone loves Sorreltail and Brackenfur. And BrackenXSorrel must be a “too old” problem too I guess. You are right. The Erin’s did confirm Crowfeather loves Leafpool the same as Feathertail, so it he must have a crush on Leafpool. Tysm for defending Feathertail and Crowpaw/feather!!!
FeatherCrow is definitely one of my favorite canon ships. I think the part so many people dislike is that since Crowfeather was an apprentice, they see him as a child. However, it is stated he was supposed to have been made a warrior already or very soon, his ceremony way delayed because things in WindClan were so bad.
I saw someone state Vicky said Feathertail would have left him for Reedwhisker had she lived, but at this point I don’t accept what the authors just say as canon, when it’s not in the books. It doesn’t make sense. I know Feathertail did start to feel loyalty to RiverClan at the end of A Shadow in Riverclan, but with all she’s been through I think it wouldn’t have been enough to make her leave Crowfeather. If Stormfur was alive I think Feathertail would’ve somehow tried to get Crowfeather to join RiverClan. But if Stormfur had died to kill Sharptooth instead of Feathertail, I believe Feather and Crow would have left the clans together, just like Crowfeather and Leafpool planned to.
I TOTALLY support this article! Whoever you are, you’ve made a nice point for everyone who thinks that: Feathertail and Crowpaw are just a silly friendship, but Leafpool is his true love! I like Leafpool just fine, but she definitely shouldn’t have abused Crowfeather by forcing her to betray her one, true, and true love of her life – Feathertail!
About the age gap: Brambleclaw was made a warrior before Squirrelflight was born, and they are perfectly fine. (well not exactly) And then there’s the same thing with Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt, Brackenfur and Sorreltail, Stagleap and Wrenflight, Thrushpelt and Bluestar. And they are PERFECTLY GOOD!
Great article! Feather x crow is my favourite half clan ship (my favourite ship is heather x breeze