Longtail Should’ve Been Deputy! by Pigeonpaw

Pigeonpaw argues why Longtail should’ve been chosen as deputy over Graystripe.

Longtail should have been deputy, not Graystripe.

(quick notes before starting! Cover art is by me, and spoilers for The Prophecies Begin, The New Prophecy, and Firestar’s Quest!)

This article is inspired by a video by Moonkitti talking about Longtail!

Longtail is a side character that is fondly remembered for being a relevant one. (AHEM LOOKING AT YOU MODERN TC) He started out as an antagonist, but became great friends with Firestar.

Also I will try not to be biased because I ship LongFire, I will try very hard ToT

Anyway, Longtail is introduced as one of Tigerclaw’s companions, and is very against a dorito kittypet joining ThunderClan. He has a fight with Rusty, and rips off his collar, now Rusty is Firepaw because this is how Warrior Cats works. Later, in I believe, Forest of Secrets? Tigerclaw has Firepaw (now Fireheart) cross a tree branch over a raging river, Fireheart almost falls in, but Longtail saves him, this is the first step to Longtail being a good little kitty.

When Tigerclaw is exiled, he tries to persuade Longtail to join him, but Longtail refuses, saying his heart will always lie in ThunderClan.

In Firestar’s Quest, Longtail gets permanently blinded by a rabbit, and goes to join the Elder’s den, (presumably on his own, I hope so at least!) In TPB, the clan debates whether Longtail should go with them to the lake territories or leave him to die with the rest of the elders, Firestar stands up for him, and Longtail goes to journey over the mountains.

Now, to my point, Longtail definitely should’ve been deputy, not Graystripe.

Longtail is WAY more capable than Graystripe, all Graystripe did was teach a child how to stalk a mouse for a day and then never talk to him again.

This would also aid greatly in Longtail’s character arc, as his was to be done well, but it kind of ended rushed and half baked.

We could’ve had Longstar! I’m sure he would’ve been amazing compared to Bramblestar, because Bramblestar sucks and HE SHOULD JUST DIE ALREADY.

You may be thinking, “But Pigeonpaw, if he was deputy it would only be for a short time because then he would go blind!” Well to that I say…probably not?

I’m guessing (this is just a guess it’s most likely not true!) that the Erins decided they had nothing more to do with Longtail’s character, so they sent him to be an elder, but if he was deputy, he would be significantly more important. (or the Erins can do whatever they want idk)

So, Longtail should’ve be deputy! He was way more trustworthy than

Graystripe ever was.

That’s it! Sorry the article was so long, I just wanted to get this out of me 🙂