Which Mate is Better? Opinions by Maplepaw

Maplepaw shares their opinions on some famous mate debates.

WARNING: Spoilers from POT (Power of Three), Tigerheart’s Shadow, OOTS (Omen of the Stars), and TBC (The Broken Code).

Silverstream is a sweet, caring, and energetic mate to Graystripe and Millie is a caring, kind of overprotective mother. So which mate is better?
Silverstream is Graystripe’s first mate, and she is an amazing Warriors character, but is she the best mate for our deer Graystripe? I love her and she’s the perfect mate for him; let me tell you why. First of all, she is very nice. No, this is not her whole personality, but I feel that that would be the trait I would use to describe her. She saved Graystripe out of a freezing river, and I know some cats who would never do the same for drowning cats. Anyway, she’s also a caring mate and probably would have been a caring mother. She was so excited for her kits, and I was so sad when she died. After her death though, things got complicated and I won’t go deep into that. So I think she was the best mate to Graystripe.
Millie. Lovable, somewhat dislikable Millie. She’s sweet, but in my opinion not a very complex, relatable character. She’s kind of like any other mate and she and Graystripe kind of remind me of Sorrelstripe and Brackenfur. (Don’t ask me why). Anyway, when her kits were born, she loved them very much, but as they got older, things became more ‘complicated’.(?) To start off, Briarpaw gets her spine crushed and can no longer use her hind legs. Yes, I was sad, but Briarpaw isn’t the only cat in the world. I felt this was the way Millie acted around her. She was always worried, and blamed Jayfeather when he wasn’t ‘fast enough’. I do feel bad for Briarlight(paw), but Millie shouldn’t act like she’s the only cat in the Clan. Now, I’m not going to say all the bad things because she was a caring mate and was only worried about her kit, so it’s hard to blame her. (Still, she should’ve been nicer to Blossompaw(fall), though).
In the end, I believe Silverstream was the better mate to Graystripe, but Millie is almost certainly the better mother.

Bumblestripe is annoying, but in my opinion Tigerheart is worse. So who’s best for our likable and unlikable friend, Dovewing. Honestly, I don’t ship her with either of these toms, but I’m going to force myself.
Bumblestripe *sarcastically says, “yay”* is the only son to Millie, and one of the toms who has a crush on Dovewing. I’m going to say one nice thing about him: He did have a character as a crushing tom over Dovewing in the beginning, but everything else he did was annoying. Thank you. *hurries away and tries to forget everything I just talked about*.
Tigerstar *also sarcastically says, “yay”*. One, he literally cares more about his kit than the ENTIRE CLAN. Like, I get it, he’s your son, he’s had ‘visions’ since he was a kit. He’s so special. (This isn’t what I think of Shadowsight, this is only used for my opinion). Tigerstar at the end of TBC was just like “Shadowsight, you can’t go, these other cats of ShadowClan, though, I don’t care about and I will gladly send them to the Dark Forest instead of you.” ALSO! I mean, I get that Rowanstar didn’t (and with ShadowClan’s fit), couldn’t stay the leader, but *clears throat* Tigerstar left ShadowClan to be with Dovewing so they could have their kits because Dovewing was having nightmares about the nursery, and when they came back, Dovewing assumed everyone would be okay with her leaving then, when coming back, leaving her Clan to be with her mate. (Let’s just be clear, Ivypool disapproved of him and only seemed to approve when Dovewign was leaving Tigerheart). Anyway, Tigerstar came back and when he did, one of the first things he said was, “I’m going to be the leader now, because ShadowClan needs me.” Huh? He just left the Clans for moons (I think) and then he comes back and is just like Imma be leader now. Please tell me I’m not the only one confused.
Overall, I’m going to have to choose Tigerheart, even though I said all those negative things about him and Dovewing, I do like their kits. *makes an evil face while tiptoeing away*

Hawkfrost is great, but Fernsong is better. Sorry, but yes. It’s true.
Hawkfrost was just training Ivypaw to be in the Dark Forest in hopes she’d turn against her own Clan. (Pfft, like that would work). He was her trainer, and I don’t think he really had any other feelings for her.
Fernsong. *clears throat*. HE OFFERED TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR KITS CUZ IVYPOOL WANTED TO STAY A WARRIOR. How can any mate be better than that??? Sorry, but I don’t think I need to explain any more. Fernsong is obviously the better mate for Ivypool.

Spottedleaf is a kind, caring medicine cat, but much older than Firepaw(heart, star), Sandstorm on the other hand, was just as perfect for him as Bristlefrost and Rootspring were for each other. Sorry, but I believe this is true.
Spottedleaf is an amazing medicine cat and she speaks kindly and is just a nice cat in general for the series. Her death however, meant that it was time to make way for Fireheart and Sandstorm.
From her first insult, to their adventurous and somewhat code breaking kits, (yes I’m talking about Leafpool) I felt they were just one of the best beginner ships in Warriors. First of all, Sandstorm grew to like and respect Fireheart, even with their occasional fights. Yes, many people no longer really like them, but I still feel they’re one of the best ships ever.

From a kind of annoying and rude Bramblestar, to a cruel and love-driven evil Ashfur, who is the better mate for Squirrelflight?
First off, we have Bramblestar. He’s got to work twice as hard to prove that he won’t turn out like his evil father, but many cats forgot about that as the books went on. Soon he became the leader, and that’s where it all went wrong. He made her deputy. After that happened they fought sooo much, and helping Leafpool hide her kits did not help their bumpy relationship at all. After finding out Squirrelflight was lying to him, he was furious. I could go on about all their quarrels, but I think you guys get what I’m saying. Anyway, I do not think they’re made for each other at all.
Ashfur. At first, he stood up for Squirrelflight when Brambleclaw picked on her with one of their big fights on whether to trust Hawkfrost or not. (Not, obviously). But once she chose Brambleclaw (oh boy) over him, he just turned into a big, uhh . . . dunno what to call him. 1: he tried to kill her adopted (Leafpool’s) kits. 2: He took over Bramblestar’s body and tried to destroy the Clans. 3: he nearly succeeded and was just a mean cat after he got rejected. Some good things about him: He was caring, and I can totally picture him as a father to Squirrel’s kits. Also I kind of want to know what evil things Brambleclaw would do if he got rejected.
This was a very hard choice (not really), but I’m going to go with Ashfur. I think Ashfur would have been a better mate to Squirrelflight.
Thanks so much, and I’d love to know your opinion, too!