Gingerfrost

Gingerfrost is a medicine cat of WindClan. He was born in ShadowClan to Poisonedsap and Cougarfoot alongside Duskmoon, Rowankit, and Leafkit. His mother intended for him to participate in her plot against the Clans, and when he and his siblings refused to fight in the battle, she killed Leafkit and Rowankit. Cougarfoot saved Gingerkit and Duskkit and intended to bring them to WindClan. He died battling Poisonedsap, and Bloodfur fulfilled his wishes by bringing the kits to WindClan.

Gingerkit and Duskkit were taken in by Willowtail and Blazinglight, who raised them alongside Foggylight and Glowpetal. They lost memory of their ShadowClan origins and enjoy their new lives. Gingerkit and his denmate Mothkit became fascinated with the ways of a medicine cat, but when they realized only one of them could become a medicine cat apprentice, they were forced to compete against each other. When they matched each other in skill, Dewstorm took them to the Moonstone, where StarClan confirmed their choice in Gingerkit. He then received the Winds of Darkness prophecy from Swiftstalker. Gingerpaw was officially apprenticed and happy to pursue his dream, but felt sorry for Mothpaw.

As Gingerpaw's training went on, Rosemary began setting traps within the Clans and disturbing herb mixups began happening, stressing him as he worked to heal his Clanmates. After feeding a juniper berry to Eaglefeather that had been filled with deathberry seeds, he was horrified and guilty about the death of the Clan deputy. But Dewstorm and his friends comforted him and that night, Gingerpaw proudly became a full medicine cat, Gingerfrost. But he was horrified to learn that Mothshadow was behind the herb mixups, attempting to make Gingerfrost look bad, and his increasing insanity disturbs him.

After Dewstorm's death, he became the sole medicine cat of WindClan. He was aware Swiftstalker's prophecy would be fulfilled at the gathering that night, and when he received a vision telling him to go to the Moonstone, he was ready to face his destiny. Mothshadow followed him and attacked, and he fought for his life against him until he sent Mothshadow flying onto a stalagmite, killing him.

Gingerfrost was badly wounded in this fight, and though he was going to die, Starfaith granted him a rare gift, a new life as she would a leader. From there, Gingerfrost spoke to Poisonedsap in the Place of No Stars, where he learned about his ShadowClan heritage and how to scare Rosemary for good.

Poisonedsap told him the burial location of Bone Shred's fox skull, and Gingerfrost wore it, covered himself from head to tail in mud, and leaped onto the Great Rock, where he gave Rosemary the scare of her life. The shock allowed Rosemary to be pinned and then captured by the twolegs Autumnpaw lured to the scene.

After the battle, Gingerfrost realized that Autumnpaw and Foxy were the other two cats in the prophecy. Swiftstalker appeared to them and Duskpaw, explaining their roles.

Gingerfrost was relieved knowing the medicine den and his Clanmates were safe at last. He and Sootheart secretly became mates, fearing what the Clan would think of him breaking the medicine cat code. But to his shock, he discovered that most of the Clan already knew and accepted their relationship.

Gingerfrost happily continues his medicine cat duties while maintaining a relationship with Sootheart.

“I trust you, Swiftstalker… All of StarClan. I will follow this path as best I can… No matter where it takes me.”   _{-Gingerfrost (Winds of Darkness, chapter 25)}

Gingerfrost is gentle, kind, and patient. He is passionate about helping others, as it gives him a great feeling of happiness and purpose. As a young kit he became fascinated with the idea of being a medicine cat, and the magical ability to relieve cats of their pain. He does not like to fight unless he has to.

Gingerkit had no memory of his origins in ShadowClan. He believed he was born a rogue or loner and sometimes wondered who his parents were. However he was content with never knowing the answers, as he loved his WindClan home and family and wouldn't want his life any other way. Moons later after Rosemary's defeat, he learned about his ShadowClan origins and parents. Though it's given him a sense of kinship with Cougarfoot and Spiderfang, he will always see WindClan as his true family and he's grateful to his father for bringing him and Duskmoon to WindClan.

So dedicated to the life of a medicine cat, since kithood he never considered taking a mate, and never saw she-cats in such a way. As he grew closer with Sootheart, he realized he loved him and was homosexual. Despite not being able to have kits, Gingerfrost worried what such a relationship might mean in the eyes of StarClan in terms of the medicine cat code. But Starfaith granted him StarClan's approval. With his ancestor's blessing, Gingerfrost secretly became mates with Sootheart, though they kept it secret worrying what their living Clanmates would think. Gingerfrost feared he would lose his position as a medicine cat. But it turned out most of the Clan already knew and accepted their relationship. Gingerfrost is now happily open about his love for Sootheart.

He enjoys spending time with Sootheart, Duskmoon, Glowpetal, Foggylight, and Lightningfall. He is also still close with Blazinglight, Willowtail, and Thistleheart. Outside of WindClan, he is close with his fellow medicine cats and his brother, Spiderfang.

See a more detailed summary of appearances here!

Extra Life

After Gingerfrost was fatally wounded by Mothshadow, he was granted a rare gift: an extra life from StarClan.

• 1 - Lost (Fight against Mothshadow)
• 2 - Active (received by Starfaith)

ShadowClan Kithood

Gingerkit is born in ShadowClan to Poisonedsap and Cougarfoot alongside his siblings, Duskkit, Leafkit, and Rowankit. He is the result of Poisonedsap pressuring Cougarfoot to have another litter with her, planning for their kits to participate in a final battle against the Clans on the side of Deserve's Army. In the first moon of their lives, Poisonedsap was often absent, leaving them to attend meetings with her followers. Poisonedsap trained the four kits in the nursery just as she did her first two litters.

On the night Deserve's Army attacks the Clans, Poisonedsap herds Gingerkit and his siblings out of the nursery, snarling at them to fight. When they're terrified and refuse to hurt anyone, Poisonedsap kills Leafkit and Rowankit in rage, believing the litter to be worthless. Before she can kill Gingerkit and Duskkit too, Cougarfoot attacks her and races out of the camp with the kits while Swiftstalker holds off Poisonedsap.

In the forest, Bloodfur encounters Cougarfoot with the frightened kits. Cougarfoot explains to Bloodfur what has happened and how he plans to bring his sons to WindClan, where they will be safe and not judged for their mother's actions. When Poisonedsap arrives, she battles and kills Cougarfoot. While Swiftstalker attacks her, Bloodfur takes the kits to WindClan, where Willowtail promises they'll be safe.

WindClan Kit

Willowtail and Blazinglight take in Gingerkit and Duskkit and raise them alongside their biological kits, Foggykit and Glowkit. They are unsure if the kits will retain any memories of ShadowClan, but are prepared to address it to the Clan if the kits spoke up about it. Otherwise, they decide it would be best to raise the kits without any knowledge of their origins.

As Gingerkit grows, he has no memory of being in ShadowClan or who his parents are. He only remembers being carried to WindClan and feeling afraid and desperate to escape something. Gingerkit believes the rumors that he and his brother were rogues or loners, but is content with never knowing his past, as he loves his family and home in WindClan.

Gingerkit and his denmate Mothkit become fascinated with the ways of a medicine cat, and Gingerkit especially finds the ability to help others to be amazing. They frequently question Dewstorm about herbs and StarClan, and help him with little tasks around the camp. Unlike most kits, Gingerkit isn't interested in playing games, and would rather be in the medicine den. Gingerkit and Mothkit are excited to become medicine cats together.

When Dewstorm realizes the kits intend to be medicine cats together, he gently explains to them that there can only be one medicine cat apprentice. While reluctant to compete against Mothkit, Gingerkit is desperate to follow his dream. Dewstorm puts them through a series of tests in which they both match each other in skill.

Dewstorm and Monarchstar decide to let StarClan make the decision, and Gingerkit and Mothkit accompany Dewstorm to the Moonstone. Gingerkit is amazed when he dreams into StarClan and is visited by Starfaith, who tells him he has been chosen to be WindClan's medicine cat apprentice. Before he wakes, he is visited by Swiftstalker, who shares the Winds of Darkness prophecy with him.

Medicine Cat Apprentice

Gingerpaw is happy to pursue his dream in becoming Dewstorm's apprentice, but wishes the angry and hurt Mothpaw could have achieved his dream too. He tries to speak with Mothpaw, but is ignored or snapped at, their friendship severed. He tries to push aside his feelings of guilt and focus on serving his Clan, relishing in the feeling of helping his Clanmates.

Gingerpaw forms a friendship with Sootpaw and reassures him about his disliking of battle training.

Trouble and Herb Mixups

Gingerpaw encounters Rosemary by the stream and is horrified to learn she has contaminated the water with twoleg junk from Carrionplace, and destroyed the rest of the watermint along the bank. He works with Dewstorm to help the affected cats recover. He's shocked and terrified when some cat switches watermint for water hemlock, and he gives it to his sister, Glowpaw. Luckily she throws up the poison and survives, but more mixups continue happening in the herb store.

Mothshadow grows more and more disturbed and hostile toward Gingerpaw, unsettling him and making him wonder if he's behind the mixups, but he doesn't want to believe his old friend would do such a thing. When Eaglefeather dies after Gingerpaw gives him juniper, he's horrified to see some cat has put deathberry seeds inside.

Gingerpaw is shaken and filled with guilt at the deputy's death, feeling he should have inspected the berry more thoroughly, and some of his Clanmates agree. But Dewstorm, Sootheart, Duskpaw, Lightningfall, Blazinglight, and Willowtail comfort and reassure him that he is not responsible for this evil act, and his guilt fades into a determination to never let this happen again. The other Clans' medicine cats agree that Gingerpaw is not to blame, further reassuring him.

Full Medicine Cat

That night, Dewstorm makes Gingerpaw a full medicine cat, naming him Gingerfrost. He is very proud and excited to fullfill his kithood dream. But while dreaming with StarClan, Swiftstalker shows him that Mothshadow has been dreaming into the Place of No Stars, where he boasts about poisoning his Clanmates to make Gingerfrost look bad. Gingerfrost is horrified to learn what an evil cat Mothshadow has become.

After being reminded of the prophecy, Gingerfrost figures that he must be one of the three cats, but wonders how he could play a role in defeating Rosemary. Though he doesn't understand it, he trusts StarClan and will jump at any opportunity to make a difference. He's also torn on what to do about Mothshadow, fearing what he'll do if Gingerfrost can't convince the Clan of his crimes.

Worrying

He allows Duskpaw to bring goldenrod to ShadowClan, but when his brother doesn't return, he gets worried something has happened to him. While staying up waiting for news, Willowtail's search party returns, attacked by Rosemary's cats, and Sootheart is badly wounded. Gingerfrost is terrified and desperate to save him, and he realizes he's in love with him. The next morning, Mothshadow reveals he saw them together and threatens to tell the Clan. It makes Gingerfrost anxious as he wonders if his feelings could be breaking the medicine cat code he's committed himself to.

Gingerfrost is shocked when Dewstorm is found dead on the territory. He mourns the cat who trained and inspired him to be a medicine cat. But he is comforted knowing Dewstorm must be happy in StarClan with Starfaith, and they'll still see each other in dreams. But imagining daily life without Dewstorm is difficult.

After Mothshadow tries to kill Gingerfrost with a rabbit stuffed with deathberries, Gingerfrost knows he must do something before more cats die from his insanity. He plans to tell Monarchstar about his crimes, even if it means Mothshadow exposes his feelings for Sootheart and he loses his love and position forever.

Facing Destiny

Gingerfrost is nervous as he goes with his Clan to the gathering, aware the prophecy will be fulfilled and he will be sent a sign when it's his time to act. He looks for Duskpaw and is very confused and worried when he discovers he isn't in ShadowClan as he had assumed. Suddenly he receives a vision telling him to go to the Moonstone, and he immediately leaves the gathering.

He rushes to Highstones and into the cave, but before he can dream with StarClan, he is confronted by Mothshadow, who followed him. During a storm of thunder and lightning, Mothshadow viciously attacks him in a flurry of insanity, and Gingerfrost fights desperately for his life, ultimately kicking him across the cave where he is impaled on a stalagmite and dies.

Though badly wounded, Gingerfrost dreams into StarClan, where Starfaith and Dewstorm reveal he is about to die. But they grant him the gift of a life just as they would a leader. He is told he will die by the Moonstone, but awake beside his destiny.

Answers in Darkness

Swiftstalker and Cougarfoot accompany Gingerfrost to the border of the Place of No Stars, where he will "find answers in the darkness". He meets Poisonedsap and is shocked to learn about his ShadowClan parentage and relation to Swiftstalker.

Feeling she must have the answers to help, Gingerfrost tells her about Rosemary. To his surprise, Poisonedsap knows her and explains her fear of twolegs and Bone Shred. She originally refuses to help, but after Gingerfrost rubs in how Rosemary will be remembered for acheiving what she and Bone Shred couldn't, she agrees to help stop her, but for a cost.

Referring to how Gingerfrost refused to fight for her when he was a kit, she proposes he dream into the dark forest every single night to face torture. Gingerfrost is horrified, but prepared to agree to her terms. Before he can, Cougarfoot insists on taking his place. Gingerfrost is heartbroken by his father's sacrifice. Poisonedsap proceeds to tell him how to scare Rosemary: by wearing Bone Shred's fox skull. She tells him where she buried it.

When Gingerfrost wakes, he's by the riverbank on the outskirts of RiverClan territory. He quickly locates the old willow tree and digs up the skull. He wears it, covers himself from head to tail with mud to appear darker, and goes to Fourtrees.

Defeating Rosemary

He leaps onto the Great Rock behind Rosemary and yowls with all his might, giving her the scare of her life and sending her slipping off the rock. While Bloodfur and Song pin her, Gingerfrost pretends to be Bone Shred, snarling at her for once trespassing on his territory. Then he leaps down and confronts her, revealing his true identity and relationship to Bone Shred and Poisonedsap.

Autumnpaw arrives with the twolegs, and as they capture Rosemary and some of her soldiers, Gingerfrost retreats with the others to the treeline, where he's relieved to see Duskpaw.

In the RiverClan camp, Gingerfrost helps see to the wounded, more energized compared to his companions due to receiving a new life. After bringing herbs for Foxy, he realizes that he and Autumnpaw were the other two cats in the prophecy.

Swiftstalker's spirit appears to them and praises them for fulfilling the prophecy. He explains that each cat embraced their dark heritage to stop Rosemary. Like Bone Shred, Gingerfrost used the fox skull to strike fear into his enemy.

He is relieved the Clans are safe and is praised by the Clan leaders for his role in saving the forest. Gingerfrost cheers proudly as Duskmoon is named a warrior alongside Autumnfire and Stormspirit.

After the Battle

After the battle, Gingerfrost confesses to Monarchstar about Mothshadow's crimes, but she decides to hide the truth from everyone to prevent further pain. Despite his wrongdoings, Gingerfrost mourns his friend who fell so far and buries him near Mothermouth. Still, he feels at peace knowing the Clan and the medicine den is safe, and he won't have to face Mothshadow anymore.

Gingerfrost spends more time with his friends and siblings. He's aware of Duskmoon's secret relationship with Autumnfire and keeps it to himself, as he himself has formed a secret relationship with Sootheart. Despite having StarClan's blessing, he fears what the Clan might think, so they meet in private. But one day they're caught by Glowpetal, but to his shock, she reveals most of the Clan has noticed the obvious affection between them and accepts their relationship. Gingerfrost is full of happiness that he can open about his love for Sootheart.