Hollyleaf’s Wrongs by Doc

Doc takes a look at Hollyleaf’s actions.

Hey, I’m Doc. Nice to meet ya! Today I’m discussin’: is Hollyleaf a bad cat?

Let’s take a quick look at Hollyleaf’s life, facts first, opinions later. Leafpool was Hollyleaf’s mother, Squirrelflight being brought to raise her. A fire started in camp and Ashfur cornered the Three and Squirrelflight, telling her that he’d kill her and her kits if she didn’t love her. Then Squirrelflight told Ashfur that the Three weren’t her kits. Hollyleaf tried to kill Leafpool, and then killed Ashfur. At the Gathering, Hollyleaf told the whole story, save for the part where she killed Ashfur. Then she fled into the tunnels, where she stayed for a long, long time. Finally, she died from Hawkfrost’s death blow, aimed at Ivypool.

First and foremost, the fire scene was incredibly traumatic, I know. However, if Leafpool’s secret got out, Leafpool, the newborn kits, and Crowfeather would likely be exiled, with much doubt cast upon Squirrelflight as well. Therefore, Squirrelflight was protecting herself, her sister, her sister’s kids, and her sister’s husband.

Heartbroken, Hollyleaf was thinking very seriously about killing Leafpool. Thoughts and behaviors even geared towards murder is very bad, serious, and illegal. (Unless you’re joking, and I have a feeling Hollyleaf wasn’t.) This is extremely wrong and cruel, and Leafpool tried as best as she could as a mother. In fact, Leafpool saved Squirrelflight, Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze, and herself, too, as previously mentioned.

Hollyleaf finds Ashfur alone by a river and kills him and disposes of his body in it. Later, Hollyleaf shows no signs of regret or even thinks about what she’s done. Murder, I’m sure you know, is an extremely wrong and inexcusable action. Hollyleaf does nothing about it.

Then, at the Gathering, Hollyleaf unravels the story, putting Leafpool, Squirrelflight, herself, and Jayfeather and Lionblaze into extreme danger. I’m talking extreme. Obviously, she doesn’t mention the part where she killed Ashfur, causing turmoil and panic in the Clan, and raising up old ruckuses.

Conveniently, right when the Clan is having a hard time, and loss and fear spreads around every cat, Hollyleaf runs into the tunnels. This is a cowardly, selfish, and I dare say cruel action. Way to go, Hollyleaf. And she gets stuck in the tunnels, having fun with her new friend, resting, and exploring while the Clans are in utter panic.

Then when she comes back, she tells the Clan about how she killed Ashfur. Of course, Firestar openly forgives her and welcomes her back into the Clan. If I were Firestar, I wouldn’t welcome a known killer into my community.

Finally, Hollyleaf dies from taking a death blow. This action, however heroic, doesn’t make up for the fact that she’s killed a cat, abandoned her Clan twice, tried to kill her own mother, was cruel to Squirrelflight, and was reckless and selfish. A rather sad ending to a villainous cat.