Discussing Character Development (feat. Moonheart) by Morningbrook

Morningbrook and Moonheart take a look at characters who changed the most throughout the series.

Hi! It’s Morningbrook, with a very special guest, my friend Moonheart. Together, we’ll be jointly discussing the most significant character developments in the whole series, talking about how they changed and why. Let’s get started!

Let’s start with Longtail. He was a follower of Tigerclaw in the first book, and he mistreated Rusty/Firepaw, especially during his first scene where he ridiculed Rusty in the Clan meeting and fought him. However, at the end of TPB, he is a relatively loyal ThunderClan warrior under Firestar’s rule, and Firestar even comforts him once he is blinded, acting like they never were at each other’s throats.
So what changed?
We can skip analyzing Into the Wild and Fire and Ice, as in those two Longtail is still a sneering Tigerclaw follower, ridiculing Fireheart. However, he mostly changed in Forest of Secrets, when Fireheart revealed that Tigerclaw was a traitor. I think part of this change was the fact that it was Tigerclaw who was a traitor, and Fireheart who exposed him. Longtail refused to go with Tigerclaw, showing he did not like traitors. I suppose part of his excuse for trying to harm Fireheart was that he was nervous a kittypet would only harm the Clan, so I think he is loyal.
Especially when Fireheart became deputy, he stopped with his ‘kittypet’ taunts, either because he was too shaken by Tigerclaw’s betrayal to bother, or because he had new loyalty and respect for Fireheart. This allowed him to form a tenuous relationship with him. Then he became a trusted warrior.

Secondly, we have Ravenpaw. Formerly a skinny, jumpy apprentice, and now a sleek and calm loner, I don’t think any of us expected him to change that much, even when his friends shipped him off to Barley. Bluestar apprenticed him to Tigerclaw with the hope that Tigerclaw would pass on his boldness and bravery to Ravenpaw. However, this did not really work out, and instead he became intimidated by his mentor. He was even more afraid of him when he found that he killed Redtail. Tigerclaw quickly realized what Ravenpaw knew, so he threatened him to the point when his friends needed to rush him to safety – in this case, Barley’s farm.
I think the main impact was his distance from Tigerclaw. Less exposure to his fear was helping him gather up more courage. Plus, he was well fed thanks to Barley, and he was safe.
*drops mic*

*Moonheart grabs mic*
Our next test subject is Sandstorm. At the beginning of the series, when she was known as Sandpaw, she was too reluctant to welcome Rusty into the Clan. She and Dustpaw were very hostile, didn’t get along as well with Rusty and they scorned him. Their jealousy was made worse when the younger apprentice was made a warrior before them. However, in Fire and Ice, when Fireheart saves Sandpaw from the gorge she was initially annoyed but then she realized how close she was to an ‘unnecessary death’ much like Whiteclaw’s. Around this time she disappeared from a big chunk of the book. However, chapters later, she decided to go out hunting with Fireheart and she was much more passive with him. The lack of hostility was completed when Fireheart suggested Bluestar hold their warrior ceremony. I’m pretty sure this is how that risky encounter in the gorge changed her sights of him enough for her to let him be this kind to her, and strike up a friendship which morphed into a serious relationship. Later in the series we can see how much the character development of Sandstorm changed, despite the fact their relationship had some ups and downs.
*drops mic*

*Morningbrook takes it*
Alright, bye everyone! I hope you liked our analysis & I will make a part 2 soon, including the characters Ivypool and Hollyleaf. In the meanwhile, Morningbrook (and Moonheart) out!