warriors
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
"That's right. You could have killed us, but you chose not to. If that's what it means to live by your warrior code—that, and the fact you feed yourselves, and find your own shelter—then we want to be part of it."
— Boulder to Cedarstar in Yellowfang's Secret, page 144


Boulder is a big,[12] skinny[13] pale[14] gray tom[13] with a ragged left ear,[15][14] a nicked right ear,[14] claws as sharp as black-thorns,[16] and blue eyes.[17]

Boulder was a ShadowClan elder under Blackstar's leadership in the lake territories and previously served as a warrior under Cedarstar's, Raggedstar's, Brokenstar's, Nightstar's, and Tigerstar's leaderships in the forest territories. Boulder was a Twolegplace rogue and part of BloodClan before joining ShadowClan alongside Russetfur. He kept his name as an apprentice, being mentored by Mousewing, and after becoming a warrior, Boulder mentored Wetfoot. He was one of Brokenstar's followers and was exiled alongside the rest of his supporters, but later rejoined ShadowClan when Tigerstar took over. He led Tigerstar to Scourge and took part in the battle against BloodClan. Soon after, Boulder retired as an elder and took part in the Great Journey before his peaceful death in the elders' den.

Quick Answers

Who were the leaders Boulder served under in ShadowClan? toggle section
Boulder served under Cedarstar, Raggedstar, Brokenstar, Nightstar, Tigerstar, and Blackstar.
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What was Boulder's role in ShadowClan? toggle section
Boulder, originally from BloodClan, joined ShadowClan with Russetfur, attracted by the warrior code and loyalty and honor of the Clan. He kept his name, was mentored by Mousewing, and later mentored Wetfoot. Boulder served under multiple ShadowClan leaders, including Cedarstar and Blackstar. He was temporarily exiled after siding with Brokenstar, but he returned to ShadowClan under Tigerstar's leadership. His BloodClan past haunted him, but he strived to be a loyal warrior to ShadowClan. He later led Tigerstar to Scourge when his leader wanted a meeting with the BloodClan leader.
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Why did Boulder keep his name as an apprentice? toggle section
Boulder requested to keep his birth name upon becoming an apprentice. His decision was viewed as defiant by some, but Boulder's attachment to the name his mother gave him prevailed.
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History

In The Prophecies Begin arc

Into the Wild

Boulder is a warrior of ShadowClan, and his apprentice is Wetpaw. Although unnamed, during the battle to rescue ThunderClan kits from ShadowClan, Firepaw grasps him but is shaken off. The warrior turns on him, grasping the apprentice with claws as sharp as black-thorns. Firepaw manages to sink his teeth in, and Boulder's yowl indicates he bit a tender spot, so Firepaw bites harder. He screeches again before pulling himself free and running into the bushes.

Fire and Ice

Boulder has been exiled from ShadowClan alongside the rest of Brokenstar's followers. His apprentice, Wetpaw, has become a warrior named Wetfoot.

A Dangerous Path

After spending time as a rogue, Boulder returns to ShadowClan, which is now under Tigerstar's leadership.

The Darkest Hour

"I belonged to BloodClan once. I left many moons ago, but Tigerstar knew about my past [...] I...I tried to tell Tigerstar that Scourge was dangerous, but neither of us imagined what he could do."
―Boulder to Firestar about BloodClan The Darkest Hour, page 273
Boulder and Tigerstar go into BloodClan territory so Tigerstar can meet Scourge, the leader of BloodClan. Scourge and Tigerstar form an agreement, and BloodClan comes to the forest. When Scourge kills Tigerstar, Jaggedtooth joins BloodClan, and Boulder thinks it is worth fighting BloodClan so he can get his claws in Jaggedtooth's fur for betraying the Clan. He fights alongside LionClan, the four Clans combined, led by Firestar, to fight BloodClan, then goes back to ShadowClan, now under Blackstar's leadership.

In The New Prophecy arc

Dawn

"We are going to live in Twolegplace where BloodClan used to rule. I still have one of their former warriors among my elders. He will show us the best places to find food and shelter. Now Scourge is dead, we'll be the strongest cats there."
―Blackstar about Boulder Dawn (book), pages 84-85
Boulder is now an elder of ShadowClan. When the Clans are deciding where to go, Blackstar says that they will travel to Twolegplace, BloodClan's former home, explaining that one of their elders, Boulder, used to be a member of BloodClan and can show the way and the best hunting places. The other Clans, however, disagree. When the Clans rescue ShadowClan from the Twoleg monsters, he does not respond to Leafpaw's greeting when she comes to check on him, but sighs softly as she pulls out a splinter in his flank.

In the Super Editions

Yellowfang's Secret

"You know, Russetpaw and Boulder are much better at this than I expected. Maybe they didn't lead such soft lives after all!"
―Rowanberry to Yellowfang Yellowfang's Secret, page 154
When Yellowpaw and Raggedpelt come to Twolegplace to search for Raggedpelt's father, they are taken to a group of kittypets deep in Twolegplace. Yellowpaw introduces herself and Raggedpelt, and states that they are from ShadowClan. A black she-cat says that she has never heard of it, but Boulder pads forward to sniff their pelts. He comments that they do smell of forest. Jay snarls at him. Boulder retorts at Jay, saying that he wonders what it was like in the forest. Boulder is part of the group of kittypets confronted by ShadowClan warriors, jumping over the fence to join Red and a tabby tom. Yellowfang sees him battling Rowanberry, blood trickling from a torn ear.
Three sunrises later, Nettlespot and Toadskip lead Boulder and Red into the camp. When Cedarstar asks why they had come, they announce that they wish to join ShadowClan. Boulder steps forward and tells them that they wish to hunt and fight. As he does, some cats do not believe him. He bursts out saying that they catch their own prey, but is cut off by Red. He adds onto what Red says about how their Clan has strength and skill, but also mercy, that if that is what it means to live by the warrior code, they want to be a part of it. Cedarstar allows them to stay, though waiting a moon for them to prove their loyalty first.
At twilight, Yellowfang spots the large tom and Red sharing a vole together. Boulder pads up to her, recognizing her as one of the cats that came to visit Hal. She admits that she was, though Boulder and Red cheerfully agree to keep quiet about it. The next morning, Cedarstar has decided to let Boulder and Red train as apprentices, despite what he had said before. Boulder interrupts the ceremony to many cats' shock, asking if he can keep his name. Cedarstar grudgingly allows him to, assigning Mousewing as his mentor. Boulder participates in a training session with Yellowfang, Rowanberry, and the other apprentices overseen by Brackenfoot. They practice against Yellowfang, and win when Boulder sweeps Yellowfang to the ground and pins her down. They try again, and Yellowfang wins when she drops on Boulder as he tries to dive on her. Boulder and Russetpaw practice against Foxpaw and Wolfpaw while Yellowfang and Rowanberry rest.
Boulder drops off prey at the fresh-kill pile with his mentor. At Foxpaw and Wolfpaw's warrior ceremony, he is near the front with gleaming eyes, as Yellowfang realizes that this is his first warrior ceremony. He joins in enthusiastically with the calling of their new warrior names, causing Amberleaf and Finchflight to comment on how well the two cats are settling into the Clan. Yellowfang mentions Boulder and Russetpaw while talking to Hollyflower while out on a patrol. Hollyflower says that kittypets hardly seem like real cats and wonders if they even remember living in Twolegplace. During a confrontation with Marmalade, he asks if they knew where the two are and Hollyflower triumphantly tells him that they were part of ShadowClan now.
Marmalade and a mixture of kittypets and rogues attack the ShadowClan camp, looking for Boulder and Russetpaw. Yellowfang dashes outside the camp to find them, as they are out on patrol. She finds them with Deerleap and Frogtail. When Boulder and Russetpaw see that Hal is dead, they exchange a horrified glance, before being sent back to the camp by Raggedpelt. Boulder protests that the warrior code says not to kill, but Raggedpelt interrupts and tells him that Hal was outside the warrior code. Cedarstar tells Boulder to explain to the Twolegplace cats why they were there, and he says that they wanted to see what forest life was like, adding that it was good. Pixie pads up to the two afterwards, saying they would always be welcome back, but Boulder tells her that they were warriors now. He and Russetpaw have their warrior ceremonies; Cedarstar asks Mousewing if Boulder was ready to be a warrior, and he responds that he is a true ShadowClan cat. Though he knows Boulder does not want to change his name, Cedarstar tells him that StarClan will see him as a warrior by what he does rather than what he is called.
During the walk to a Gathering, Brokenpaw runs towards the ThunderClan side of the border. After he is called back, Boulder comments that he will be a great warrior. Boulder mourns Cedarstar's death, thanking him for the chance to become a warrior and that he and Russetfur would never forget his generosity. Boulder is present at Brokenpaw's warrior ceremony. Once the ceremony is over, he gives Brokentail a friendly cuff on his shoulder. He is sent staggering by Brokentail's return cuff, who asserts that they would shred any enemies. Boulder goes to Yellowfang when he gets a thorn in his paw, talking about how good a warrior Brokentail is while she gets it out of his paw. He admits that he was a bit keen on chasing a blackbird, and ended up in a thorn bush. She asks him if he caught it, and he responds yes, before saying that he had better get back on patrol and dashes off.
While on patrol, Boulder is horrified when he sees that Raggedstar is dead, saying the patrol had fought with some WindClan cats, but they did not know Raggedstar was hurt. He helps Scorchwind put Raggedstar on Brokentail's back to take him back to the camp. During a Clan meeting, Boulder is assigned Wetpaw as an apprentice after the death of Mosspaw. He goes to the medicine den after the battle that drives WindClan away, telling Scorchwind that he should have seen him fighting with the WindClan deputy. Yellowfang snaps at him to let her look at his savaged ear and to stay still. When Marigoldkit and Mintkit go missing, Boulder searches the camp, and is the first to notice Yellowfang return to the camp.

Leopardstar's Honor

Leopardstar recalls how Boulder and Jaggedtooth had been sent by Tigerstar to the RiverClan camp to support the merging of ShadowClan and RiverClan. However, the two toms do not hunt or patrol with the other cats. Most of RiverClan is uncertain about Boulder and Jaggedtooth, but they no longer question if aligning with ShadowClan is wise. Later, when Leopardstar instructs to Blackclaw to turn against ShadowClan in the battle, Boulder and Jaggedtooth direct hostile looks at Loudbelly and Heavystep. After Tigerstar is killed by Scourge, Boulder and the rest of ShadowClan begin obeying Leopardstar.

In the Novellas

Tigerclaw's Fury

Tigerclaw notices Boulder, Fernshade, and Deerfoot on a patrol. Boulder approaches first, and informs them that Rowanberry told him she saw them, asking why they were there. It is noted that despite his bright eyes, Boulder's ribs show beneath his fur, and his flanks tuck with hunger. Tangleburr explains that they lived in the fallen oak, and Boulder asks if they were the cats that attacked ThunderClan. Once they bring some prey, Boulder lowers his head, sniffing the prey heap, and claims that it would fill the fresh-kill pile more than it had been for days prior. However, Boulder tenses, and reminds Tigerclaw that he said they would stay out of ShadowClan territory, and could not guarantee their Clanmates' reactions.
Boulder then puts down a sparrow he carries, and explains that no cat had escaped sickness, and recommends for them to turn back in order to remain uninfected. Tigerclaw remarks that they were not afraid to deliver help, and Boulder leads them to the center of camp. When Tigerclaw thinks of Russetfur, it is noted that she came from Twolegplace with Boulder. When Tigerclaw becomes leader, Boulder claims that they chose him, as they led him out of darkness after Nightstar's passing, and shown them how to be strong once more.

Blackfoot's Reckoning

«It didn't matter if they said he wasn't part of ShadowClan anymore. Dawncloud, Boulder, and Flintfang would always be his true Clanmates. Dawncloud, who had once been his apprentice! Loyal, steady Boulder! Flintfang, his own littermate!»
—Blackfoot about his Clanmates when he returns to ShadowClan Blackfoot's Reckoning, chapter 9
Blackfoot spots Boulder sharing prey with his mentor, Mousewing. After a battle against WindClan, Boulder's ear is torn. When Badgerfang gives Blackfoot a life, Blackfoot experiences memories of his Clanmates, including Boulder and Russetfur on a patrol. In another memory, Boulder participates in a raid on ThunderClan's camp to steal their kits, and he and Russetfur attack Frostfur and Brindleface. In another flashback, Boulder greets Tigerclaw and his rogues when they return to ShadowClan with prey for the sick Clan, and he warns them to beware of the sickness.

In the Stand-Alone Graphic Novels

The Rise of Scourge

Boulder is with Tigerstar when he is taking him to see Scourge.

Exile from ShadowClan

"Not that it's any of your business, outcast, but...WindClan'll never even see us coming."
―Boulder to Nightpelt Exile from ShadowClan, page 109
In ShadowClan's camp, Boulder trains against Russetfur. The she-cat knocks him into Poolcloud, and he snaps at the elder to watch where they are going. Later, he leads a patrol into the elders' camp to steal their prey, insisting that the real warriors need their food. Later, he returns victoriously from driving out WindClan. He participates in the battle in ShadowClan's camp and attacks Cinderfur. When ThunderClan's reinforcements arrive, Nightpelt and Ashfur attack Boulder until he flees with the rest of Brokenstar's allies.

In the Tigerstar and Sasha arc

Into the Woods

Boulder is introduced by Tigerstar to Sasha, a rogue, as one of his best fighters. A day after, Sasha comes to the ShadowClan camp, and he, Tigerstar, Oakfur, and Sasha go on a border patrol. Later, he is planning with Tigerstar and some other warriors.

In the Field Guides

Cats of the Clans

Rock tells the kits of StarClan how Boulder was raised in BloodClan, but came to the forest when he heard of how much safer and easier the system of territories, warriors, and patrols sounded. He apparently had too much faith in the warrior code. He was the cat who led Tigerstar to Scourge with a desire to impress his new leader, without realizing that he knew from his time in BloodClan that Scourge would never help Tigerstar win a battle and then leave with the promise of some small hunting grounds. According to Rock, Boulder was not an evil cat. His ambition just got the better of him. He thought everything would work out as Tigerstar had planned, with BloodClan helping to take over the forest, and less cats would be hurt if the takeover was smoother. He lived a wretched life in BloodClan, and once he had heard about the forest, he decided to leave BloodClan to live there. He did want to impress his new leader, but he had forgotten about how Scourge could be. He thought that it was better to spill the blood of other cats than their own, especially cats who made his early life a misery.

Battles of the Clans

Although unnamed, Dustpaw and Longtail attack Boulder during a battle. Russetfur rushes to defend her Clanmate, but Tigerclaw and Dustpaw kick up sand to distract them.

The Ultimate Guide

He is first mentioned on Russetfur's page to have come to ShadowClan with her. His own page is featured. He was born in Twolegplace. The first forest cats he saw were Yellowpaw and Raggedpelt when they came searching for Raggedpelt's father. He had fascination with the forest cats, and he participated in a fight with a ShadowClan patrol against some Twolegplace cats, sparking an interest in the warrior code. Cedarstar accepted him and Red into ShadowClan, and Boulder was mentored by Mousewing, though he kept his name. Boulder was a good warrior, and he supported Tigerstar, seeing him as an able leader for his Clan. He suggested meeting with BloodClan's leader, Scourge, but he trusted the cat too much, and Scourge murdered Tigerstar. Boulder fought hard against the BloodClan cats and remained loyal to ShadowClan. Boulder is last mentioned during Tigerclaw's leadership ceremony, where it is told that his support of Tigerclaw had helped him become Nightstar's successor. He is lastly mentioned, although not by name, on Scourge's and Bone's page. A former BloodClan cat came to Scourge with Tigerstar, asking for an alliance with the other Clans.

Detailed description

Scars gained

The following is a chronological list of scars and/or major injuries that Boulder has gained:

Character pixels

Main images

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description;
undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.

Alternate images

The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description;
undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation.

Official art

Please do not edit this gallery.

Ceremonies


Kin

Members

Mother:

Unnamed she-cat:[6] Status unknown

Appearances

Trivia

Interesting facts

Author statements

Mistakes

Continuity

The following information is from sources considered non-canon, retconned, or from adapted material.

Quotes

"This is it. Now, remember what I told you. The cat we're going to meet holds command over many cats. You must treat him with respect."
―Boulder to Tigerstar while going to meet Scourge The Darkest Hour, page 3


Boulder: "Are you really from the forest? Yeah, you smell of trees."
Pixie: "Get away from them, Boulder."
Boulder: "But I've always wondered what it would be like to live beyond the fence!"
—Boulder and Pixie Yellowfang's Secret, page 97


"He wanted me to give up my freedom and join his Clanmates! I nearly clawed off his fur. I didn't need a leader or a Clan. But he kept talking, and some of the things he said made sense."
―Boulder about meeting a ShadowClan cat Secrets of the Clans, page 57
End of spoiler warning

External links

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Revealed in Into the Wild, allegiances
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 3
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Revealed in A Dangerous Path, allegiances
  4. ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 179
  5. ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 210
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Revealed in The Ultimate Guide, page 81
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 150
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Revealed in Dawn, allegiances
  9. ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 149
  10. ↑ Revealed in Leopardstar's Honor, page 523
  11. ↑ Revealed in Leopardstar's Honor, page 534
  12. ↑ Revealed in Tigerclaw's Fury, page 37
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Revealed in Midnight, allegiances
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Revealed in Exile from ShadowClan, page 109
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 476
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 259
  17. ↑ Revealed in The Ultimate Guide, page 80
  18. ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 133
  19. ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 378
  20. ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 449
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Revealed in Tigerclaw's Fury, allegiances
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Revealed in The Darkest Hour, allegiances
  23. ↑ on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
  24. ↑ Revealed in the allegiances of Into the Wild, Fire and Ice, Forest of Secrets, Rising Storm, Tigerclaw's Fury, and A Dangerous Path.
  25. ↑ Revealed in Battles of the Clans, page 20
  26. ↑ Revealed in his artwork in Cats of the Clans and The Ultimate Guide
  27. ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, allegiances
  28. ↑ Revealed in Firestar's Quest, allegiances
  29. ↑ Revealed in Graystripe's Vow, allegiances
  30. ↑ Revealed in Moonrise, allegiances
  31. ↑ Revealed in Leopardstar's Honor, page 453
  32. ↑ Revealed in Leopardstar's Honor, page 471
  33. ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 57
  34. ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
  1. ↑ Leopardstar proclaims TigerClan as no more and that she has offered refuge to ShadowClan cats due to BloodClan's threat.[10][11]