Fire and Ice

The novel’s protagonist, Fireheart, is a strong and energetic young male cat who’s promoted to the status of warrior just before the novel begins. He’s brave, loyal, and extremely devoted to ThunderClan. However, he has a more complex relationship to the clan systems than most cats do because he was born a kittypet (a domestic cat). Fireheart readily proved that he was capable of fulfilling the duties and obligations of a warrior, but many other clan cats (from both ThunderClan and other clans) still feel some suspicion and mistrust toward him. Sometimes, he even questions his own sense of belonging. He secretly has fond memories of growing up as a kittypet and sometimes pines for his family of origin. These feelings lead him to eventually resurrect a relationship with his sister, Princess (who still lives as a domestic cat).

Fireheart matures over the course of the novel, particularly as he comes to realize that individuals should be free to make their own choices and that situations are often more complex and morally ambiguous than they first appear. For instance, he’s often frustrated by Graystripe’s secret relationship, but over time he comes to see that Graystripe is truly in love.