Squirrelflight or Leafpool: a Debate by Flowerpaw and Fallowpaw

Flowerpaw and Fallowpaw discuss Squirrelflight and Leafpool.

Hello there! I’m Flowerpaw, and today, Fallowpaw and I will be debating about a pair of popular sisters from Warriors, namely Leafpool and Squirrelflight. Read on to find out about our opinions on these two!

Fallowpaw: I really like Leafpool because she is very sweet, smart and calm. She’s also a great medicine cat, and she has her flaws, like lying to Jayfeather, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf. She had some great relationships, like with Cody, Cinderpelt and Mothwing, tho I hate her ship with Crowfeather. I disliked her for it some time, but I ultimately forgave her now and I think she’s a great character!🩵

Flowerpaw: In my opinion, Squirrelflight is an amazing character not just because of her courage, determination, and resilience, but also because of her development. She began as an obnoxious, hotheaded young she-cat, yet over experience and time, this fiery nuisance matured into a more level-headed, sensible warrior with a motherly nature and a heart forged from fire and love. But many things about her never changed, and that’s Squirrelflight’s bravery and motivation to face every challenge thrown at her head-on. Even when hit hard by losses, she never gave up and met her obstacles with her head held high. With her development and her strong personality combined, this is why I love Squirrelflight’s character! Since I also like Leafpool, I do think we’re going to end up debating about the more controversial Squirrelflight <3

Fallowpaw: Okay, so, I don’t think Squirrelflight had much development. Even after a long time, we still see dumb, jealous, arrogant, hypocrite and kittish behavior from her. She can never accept something someone else said, she doesn’t even let Bramble TALK to his half-brother (before she knew he was evil) while if you asked her not to talk to Leafpool, she’d rip your throat out. And she was also a terrible mother to Jayfeather, Hollyleaf and Lionblaze. She was never around, just dumped them all day in the nursery with Ferncloud and Daisy, and when they grow up, we see Brambleclaw talk to them often, while she never speaks a word to them. She’s just completely not fair and only ever thinks about herself, while Leafpool is wise, kind and caring.

Flowerpaw: Good points, Fallowpaw! But I politely disagree with you. She was a very good mother to Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze. And while she did leave them in the care of Ferncloud and Daisy, it was because they were permanent nursery queens and could look after Hollykit, Jaykit, and Lionkit when she was out for warrior duty. But nevertheless, she definitely loved them a lot. Take Long Shadows for an example. During a fire, Squirrelflight managed to leap over the flames, but Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze were trapped. Rather than save just herself, Squirrelflight wrestled with a branch so that the kits could make it through. Even though she was exhausted, Squirrelflight would do anything to save her kits, to the point where she told a vengeful Ashfur that he could do anything he wanted with her, as long as he let Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze go. Saying that Squirrelflight dumped them with Daisy and Ferncloud is as though claiming that Ivypool is a bad mother simply because she left her kits with Fernsong most of the time. But is Ivypool a terrible mother? No. Both of these cats would risk their lives to save their kits, and the fire is a perfect example of just how selfless and loving towards her kits Squirrelflight really is.

Fallowpaw: That’s true, but in Ivypool’s case she knew Fernsong was there for them, and he was her mate, while Ferncloud and Daisy are just random cats for Squirrelflight. And Squirrelflight DID stay in the nursery for Alderheart and Sparkpelt, which means that she cares more about them than about Jayfeather, Hollyleaf and Lionblaze.

Flowerpaw: I disagree. A queen’s main purpose is to feed her kits with milk, but Squirrelflight didn’t have any. But luckily, Daisy and Ferncloud had the milk that Hollykit, Jaykit, and Lionkit would need, and motherly care. However, in the case of Alderkit and Sparkkit, Squirrelflight did have milk and could feed them, which was why she stayed in the nursery. I think that, in the end, Squirrelflight was an equally good mother to both kits, and because of her, and Bramblestar, they had good kithoods and grew to be warriors with the courage, loyalty, and selflessness of their parents.

Fallowpaw: I still like Leafpool more, but you do have some good points. I just really like her, but that’s my opinion!

And that’s it! I hope you enjoyed this article; please comment your opinions below 😀

-Fallowpaw and Flowerpaw