Heronfang

Heronfang is a muscular white tom with black splotches and blue eyes.

Dawnflower's Curse
Heronfang does not formally appear in Dawnflower's Curse but is listed in the Allegiances. He is a warrior of ShadowClan.

Acornpelt's Past
Heronfang first appears when Nightpaw and Acornpaw catch him sitting close with Dawnpaw in ThunderClan territory. Upon being discovered, he runs away. Dawnpaw explains that he had confessed his love to her.

Later, Dawnpaw reveals that Heronfang was the missing ShadowClan spy in ThunderClan territory, and Roachstep grows angry, vowing to kill him.

When a ThunderClan patrol travels to attack ShadowClan, Heronfang is part of the ShadowClan patrol that ambushes them. He taunts Jaypaw, and dismisses Acornpaw when she mentions his meeting with Dawnpaw. Acornpaw thinks to herself that Heronfang is a truly cruel cat. Heronfang, along with the rest of his patrol, brings the ThunderClan patrol back to the ShadowClan camp by force.

Although unseen, it is revealed that Heronfang and Dawnpaw are not in a relationship, but rather were meeting to share secret information about ThunderClan.

Heronfang is later seen when Nightpaw is held captive in ShadowClan camp. He is seen arguing with Antheart and Adderpaw, where it is revealed that he does have feelings for Dawnpaw and is bitter she doesn't return them. He is upset when the Clan frees Nightpaw, but does not try to stop her from leaving.

Fallen Moon
Heronfang does not formally appear in Fallen Moon but is listed in the Allegiances.

Cruel Season
Heronfang does not formally appear in Cruel Season but is listed in the Allegiances.

Cursed Family
Heronfang is first seen when Acornpelt gets separated from Dawnflower's patrol. He offers to help her find them again, which surprises her. He beckons his hunting patrol and helps boost Acornpelt up the rocks she fell from, returning her to the patrol.

In the Rising Tide Arc
Storming Current Heronfang is first mentioned at a Gathering, when Acornpelt and Nightshine tell Dawnflower he is there. They state he has feelings for her, and Dawnflower pulls him aside to talk. Heronfang angrily asks what she wants after being dragged away from the Gathering, though he quickly softens and asks what's wrong. Dawnflower reaffirms that she does not have any feelings for him, however Heronfang tells her he loves her and always has. Dawnflower scratches his nose with her claws and he is shocked, until Acornpelt apologizes to him.

Later, Heronfang and Deershade, revealed to be friends, ask to join Dawnflower's patrol to defeat Beestar. Ryeheart soon comes across the patrol and demands that Heronfang return to ShadowClan or they will fight for him, and Heronfang rejects any battle, though he remains with Dawnflower's patrol. When Sagepelt's RiverClan patrol joins with Dawnflower's patrol, Heronfang is visibly confused.

Later, when Sagepelt is organizing battle tactics, Heronfang is grouped with Jayfoot and Deershade as a patrol. Heronfang demonstrates his fighting skills in an attempt to impress Dawnflower, however he instead impresses Deershade, much to Dapplewing's annoyance.

When Dawnflower murmurs that Sagepelt is attractive, Heronfang grows upset.

Heronfang stares at Beestar with interest when the patrol comes across him.

During the battle with Beestar's patrol, Dawnflower hears a yowl and recognizes it as Heronfang. Following the battle, he is nowhere to be seen.

Later, during another surprise attack by Beestar, Heronfang jumps in front of Dawnflower to shield her from Beestar's fatal blow. He survives, and is brought back to ShadowClan to be treated.

Broken Clouds
Heronfang returns to Dawnflower's patrol, much to her delight. He touches noses with her and greets everyone warmly. Dawnflower thinks to herself that while it is good he's back, Heronfang is still in no condition to fight, as a result of his prior injuries.

When Suntail finds the patrol, Heronfang comforts Acornpelt when she blames herself. Unable to keep up with the rest of the patrol, Heronfang falls behind when they run from Suntail. Dawnflower goes back from him, but they are both captured by Beestar and his cats.

As the rest of Dawnflower's patrol closes in on Beestar's camp, they hear Heronfang's tortured cry.

Heronfang is next seen in Beestar's camp, where he is being kept in a small den along with Dawnflower. When Beestar sneaks up on the pair, Heronfang lets out a shocked howl, and Dawnflower bitterly tells him he's making things worse. He grows upset and tries to apologize when Dawnflower blames him for getting them captured, but is cut off by Ravenfur. When Heronfang learns Deershade is dead, he is shown to be devastated. When Dawnflower tries to comfort him, he angrily tells her that she has never lost anyone she cares about, which she corrects. The pair then make up.

During the duration of their imprisonment, Heronfang spends much of the time pacing the den worriedly, failing to remain calm. He is eager to follow Dawnflower's plan of escape through a small hole in the back of their den, and when they attempt their escape he leads the way. Like Dawnflower, he is badly wounded on the way out, by Beestar, but the two succeed in their escape. He runs away from Beestar's camp but eventually whimpers that he can't go any further and collapses, bleeding heavily. Dawnflower tells him to grab nearby cobwebs, which he does, and the pair dress their wounds.

When Acornpelt, Nightshine, and Jayfoot arrive, Heronfang remains quiet. However, when Dawnflower asks if Deershade has truly died, he is shown to have a hopeful look on his face, and he lets out a mournful wail when the tom's death is confirmed. Nightshine then further treats his wounds, and he nods solemnly when Jayfoot states Dapplewing was devastated by her mate's death. He thanks Nightshine after she finishes treating him.

Dawnflower's patrol returns to their makeshift camp and Heronfang comments that he had never been there before. He lets out a gasp when he sees another cat, though it is revealed to be Milkheart. He watches awkwardly as Dawnflower and Milkheart reunite. He then turns to see Carptail, Maplefur, and Cinderpaw, and is unimpressed by the amount of ThunderClan cats present.

Heronfang joins Dawnflower, Acornpelt, and Jayfoot to find Nightshine and Cherrystorm, who had gone hunting. He accidentally surprises Nightshine, who instinctively claws his nose, causing him to hiss in pain. He then follows the patrol to the Gathering, having finished their work. He disappears into the crowd upon arriving.

Following Poppyheart's betrayal, he is among the cats captured by Beestar's patrol. Heronfang lets out a frustrated screech, which annoys Dawnflower and causes her to slap her tail over his muzzle. As the captured cats make their way to Beestar's camp, Heronfang attempts to fight back, only to be gravely wounded by Larchtail, presumed dead. The cats are all horrified, but are forced by Beestar to leave his body.

Much later, as Dawnflower's patrol is preparing to face Beestar's cats, Heronfang arrives. He triumphantly explains he dragged himself to help and was treated, and had returned to help fight back. Although not formally seen, he takes part in the victorious battle.

Last Sunrise
Heronfang is first seen travelling with the rest of Dawnflower's patrol. He walks silently with a sullen look on his face. It is revealed that shortly beforehand, he and Acornpelt had gotten into an argument.

When Poppyheart arrives to deliver a prophecy, Heronfang asks her if Deershade is in StarClan with her, and is pleased to hear he is. He is annoyed by the dead medicine cat's vague prophecy, and chases her away. He then freezes and states he smells something, which he discovers to be foxes. He fights the foxes with the rest of the patrol, chasing them off. Heronfang is confused when Bramblefern and Mintpaw request to join the patrol, though he does not care whether they do or not.

Heronfang climbs a tree with Adderclaw when the foxes return, and helplessly watches in horror as Frostpaw is attacked.

That night, he tries to sleep close to Dawnflower but she angrily shoos him away.

Dangerous Night
Heronfang is first seen worriedly asking if Dawnflower is alright after she wakes up wailing. When the patrol wants to leave Bramblefern and Mintpaw, he runs after them, commenting that Dapplewing will have to find them on her own. He is then paired with Adderclaw with the task of finding Dapplewing.

When the two groups reunite, he is seen boredly scratching his claws on a tree. He greets the patrol and tells Dawnflower it's good to see her, which annoys her. Jayfoot tells him to back off and Heronfang grows annoyed, but quickly apologizes when Jayfoot threatens to send him back to ShadowClan.

That night the patrol sits together to talk, and Dawnflower grows annoyed with Heronfang once more, hissing at him to grow up. Upon the return of Rowanheart, Heronfang is visibly jealous and annoyed. He then mutters he should get back to his Clan and leaves, wishing the group luck.

Dark Valley
Heronfang does not formally appear in Dark Valley but is listed in the Allegiances.

The Lone Warrior
Heronfang briefly appears when Dawnflower's patrol is hiding in the trees to escape from Troutclaw. Wanting to help them, he tries to climb the tree Rowanheart is in but Rowanheart mistakes him for Troutclaw and slashes him, causing Heronfang to fall to his death. Antheart then angrily walks over to his body before hurrying away. Dawnflower notices the spirits of Deershade and Dapplewing looking over his body.

When Dawnflower's patrol finds Jayfoot, he asks if it's true that Heronfang died, and is upset to hear it is. He tells Dawnflower that Heronfang truly cared about her.

Following Jayfoot's death, Heronfang's spirit is among those there to guide him to StarClan. He nods warmly at Dawnflower before guiding Jayfoot's spirit away.

Darkening Shadows
Heronfang is among the StarClan cats present when Dawnflower's patrol journey to StarClan. He welcomes them warmly and runs forward, pressing his nose to Dawnflower's. He is later seen with Poppyheart, the pair speaking excitedly to Dawnflower.

Final Legacy
Following the deaths of Sandheart and Dawnflower, Heronfang is among the spirits present to guide them to StarClan.

Trivia

 * Vicky feels bad for Heronfang, stating that he deserved better than he got.
 * Kate also thinks Dawnflower's treatment of him was unkind.
 * He did love Dawnflower.