Moongaze

Appearance
Moongaze is a rather large, pale tabby tom with broad shoulders and very dark amber eyes.

Personality
He has a laid back personality and prefers to watch and listen rather than act. He is very much like his adopted father and prefers to ease tensions by jesting. He is very skilled in intimidation, though he prefers not to utilize that ability, and is noted to be one of the most even-headed tom cats.

Book Appearances
The Cursed Blood

In the Epilogue of The Cursed Blood, he is first seen after being born alongside his littermates, Lynxkit, Havenkit, and Chasingkit. His mother, Maplecrow, names him and is noted to already looking like a handsome kit with broad shoulders that make him look like his father. Maplecrow notes that he will be a powerful warrior when he grows up.

The Cursed Blood: Wild Flames

In Chapter One Moonkit is watching the Battle Ceremony between Firepaw and Wasppaw, pressing his side eagerly against his sister, Lynxkit. He was watching with avid attention, and his muscles sometimes would twitch when he would think about how he would react to the battles. When Havenkit says she wishes their mother could be her mentor, Moonkit tells his youngest sister that she's too much of a kit and that he can't wait to be an apprentice in a moon. He claims that it isn't fair that his former denmates, Tigerpaw and Darkpaw get to tussle and are deemed battle ready. He piped up and said that he wanted to be fight for their Battle Territory and that CloudClan cats were full of bees. Cypressfur found his mews amusing and asked Moonkit if he was really ready to fight, and asked what his son would do if he was Smokestar. Moonkit eagerly growled and said that he would attack, and that Smokestar's lives were his. Upset at this conversation, Maplecrow scolded both her mate and son, the latter of which glared at his paws. Cypressfur defends his son and Maplecrow retires to the nursery, with Moonkit and Lynxkit staring after her as their littermates scamper after her. Cypressfur then tugged his two kits close him and snuggled him fiercely, telling them to be strong for their mother as he was not always there to do that and that they were fighters of the litter. Moonkit purred and said that he was going to always defend Maplecrow, that she was the best. Cypressfur gives his kits each a lick on their heads and tells them that they are his pride and joy before moving on to his deputy duties. Moonkit tells his sister that they're going to become the best warriors ever, and that he's going to work hard to earn the name of Moonclaw that he so desperately wants. Lynxkit encourages him and they race back to the nursery.

In Chapter Two the kits are playing a Clan battle game, where Lynxkit addressed herself as Lynxstar and faced off against Moonkit, who claimed to be Moonstar with Chasingkit as his deputy. After Chasingkit had been bit, Turtleshell returned to her nest with Moonkit in her jaws as she set him down in her nest.

In Chapter Three Moonkit had been present when Thornpetal birthed, and questioned if they could see the newborns yet. He tried to get past Cinderbush, but she had pinned down his tail effectively. He struggled briefly before he asked Thornpetal if they could, to which she doesn't decline but doesn't agree to, leaving him to make the decision himself to bound toward her newborn litter. Moonkit helped Lynxkit take Wolfkit out of his nest and outside.

In Chapter Four Moonkit tells Lynxkit that he doesn't know how she eats lizard tail, as they are too stringy for him. Lynxkit tells him he better share with her, as there's only a crow left and Stonetail prefers birds. Moonkit sighs and replaces the crow, while mournfully stating how the feathers would've been fun to play with and the marrow would've been a delight to suck from the bones while gnawing on them. Lynxkit scolds him for going to be fatter than Flamewhisker, and Moonkit shrugs and says he doesn't care as long as he is warm and full of bird. Cypressfur comes over and says he's glad to see his kits aren't mourning, and Moonkit softly says that Clan life moves on, even if there are those who don't, all the while quivering. Cypressfur praises his son before asking if the three kits want to move on to the Battle Ceremony without their other brother. Havenkit cries out no, that Lynxkit was her pelt, Chasingkit her tail, and Moonkit was her whiskers, to which Moonkit asks why he's the whiskers but is never answered. Lynxkit mewed that she agreed, and Moonkit harshly asks again why he was whiskers. His sisters give him a look and he sighs to say that even though he wants to be an apprentice so bad, he doesn't want to be the only one up there, but that the three of them better watch it come Battle Ceremony.

In Chapter Five Moonkit cuffs his brother playfully and is given a pleased growl in return at Chasingkit's reconnaissance to the Clan before Lynxkit leaps on top of all of them, purring fiercely. Upon Shadestar's announcement of the Battle Ceremony, Moonkit shares an excited look with Lynxkit as he kneads the ground eagerly and lashes his tail. At the very beginning, Moonkit is tackled by Lynxkit, growling and tussling harshly before he smacked his tail against her face and slammed her to the ground, which was also on Chasingkit's tail. The two brothers started fighting until a claim was called, and they broke away. Creektooth called to be Moonkit's mentor, and Shadestar and Cypressfur agreed as the two touched noses and Moonpaw was then named and taken out of the fight to stand by his new mentor's side. When his littermates are all claimed, his name is called along with theirs.

In Chapter Six Moonpaw is awakened by Havenpaw leaping on top of him and Darkpaw because of a loud sneeze from Chasingpaw.

In Chapter Nine he went to his first Gathering. In the morning he calls Havenpaw a dormouse and tries to wake her up, only to have her head slam into the underside of his jaw to which he says that hurt. He tells Havenpaw that their mentors want them to help with the other 'paw's training and that Shadestar was implementing it. When Havenpaw frets that their pelts were going to get their pelts passed to them, Moonpaw said that was probably going to happen, but it was practice for them as well. He charged straight at Darkpaw without hesitation and they began to grapple, until Havenpaw knocked him off balance and Darkpaw took Moonpaw with him, kicking him in the gut and causing him to go up and over the older apprentice's head, therefore knocking the breath out of Moonpaw. Creektooth called a paused and told the two littermates that they needed to coordinate movements better together before helping his apprentice to his paws, asking if he was breathing alright. Moonpaw nodded with a cough before they started again and he flicked his tail against Havenpaw's side as she bounced over to him. They communicated with slight twitches and inclinations, like how they used to when they would sneak attack others, and Moonpaw waited for his moment to cause Darkpaw to lose his balance. As he did that and cuffed his opponent wildly, he was called to stop as they had succeeded at their second attempt. When Thistletoe let them know that Shadestar had called the Clan together, Moonpaw and Darkpaw took the lead back to camp. When the newly named Darkpelt took Havenpaw's moves, Moonpaw nudged her and said that even though that was a fox-hearted thing to do she should at least say she's happy for him receiving his name.

In Chapter Eleven Chasingpaw tells new apprentices Scorchpaw, Runningpaw, and Dawnpaw that they better be prepared for Moonpaw, who snores like a badger. Moonpaw shoots back with Chasingpaw chattering like a squirrel when excited. Moonpaw agrees with Chasingpaw that Lynxpaw was lucky to have such a fluffy coat, as she never gets close in the leafbare. When Runningpaw stated that he hoped Maplecrow would have chosen him, Moonpaw says she's still young enough to have litters and train and to not moon after every cat who has a mate like his brother. Cinderbush hails him for information that they will be targeting to fight warriors that Shadestar assigns to them so that he could see their sneakiness and adaptation. Moonpaw is given the target of Grayshade before he is dismissed.

In Chapter Fourteen Havenpaw is coaching Chasingpaw and Moonpaw on their speed and endurance as they are tussling and racing each other at the halfway point to the Gathering.

In Chapter Fifteen Moonpaw asks Stonetail what he knows about GustClan. When the newcomer comes into camp Havenpaw brushes against Moonpaw's pelt to get a better look and he gives her a grunt of acknowledgement. Later after Kinkleaf had spat at Firefang, later to break apart at Shadestar's scolding, Moonpaw commented that he had hoped to see Firefang in action, as he thought him to be a topnotch fighter next to Creektooth. Havenpaw asked if he didn't find Firefang intimidating, and Moonpaw asked why he would if he was a Clanmate.

In Chapter Sixteen Moonpaw is part of the patrol that accompanies the GustClan cats back to their Clan. There was a reflection on how the others were jealous of the other apprentices and Moonpaw nudged his brother and asked him to cheer up, as he always got cranky when Chasingpaw sulked. Chasingpaw told him to shut up using his 'Whiskers' name and Moonpaw left him to sulk. Havenpaw thought that she wanted to travel along, but knew that Moonpaw would see her. Moonpaw is mentioned again by Havenpaw when she is saying how she and the pale tabby were concerned about Lynxpaw, but Lynxpaw promptly tells Havenpaw that both she and Moonpaw can keep out of her business.

In Chapter Seventeen Moonpaw is mentioned to have given Havenpaw fleas as a jest. Lynxpaw thinks that she is now tied to be the best fighting apprentice with Moonpaw, and wonders how to tip that balance.

In Chapter Eighteen Creektooth snaps out that he doesn't agree with two-part mentoring as he doesn't want or need another warrior telling him how to train Moonpaw. Incidentally, he is not given a second mentor.

In Chapter Nineteen Shadestar skips the Battle Ceremony for Moonpaw and his littermates and names him Moongaze and gives his other littermates names of Havenflower, Lynxtuft, and Chasingstorm before sending Havenflower and Moongaze to GustClan along with a few more of their Clanmates.

In Chapter Twenty One Moongaze is mentioned by Creektooth to have a scratch on his neck that isn't done bleeding after the attack. Butterflywing urges Moongaze into her den, and he passes easily toward her, flicking his tail against his sister's paw as she stares after him. He later emerges with a sticky poultice and looking noticeably sleepier. He approaches his former mentor and folds up next to him in the new den, partway on him in which Creektooth harshly prods him away until the warrior readjusts.

In Chapter Twenty Three Moongaze cuffs Dawnpaw for dreaming about food as they are making their way back to the territory, and tells him to keep his mind on his claws as they were approaching StreamClan territory. Once back at camp Lynxtuft hailed down Moongaze and the rest of her littermates, taking them out of camp to talk. Moongaze jested that fighting StreamClan cats were easy, as long as you knocked them off their paws since they only knew how to stand in water. He stopped as Lynxtuft hissed at him in annoyance. Moongaze demands to know how they had been lied to as littermates, and narrows his eyes at Lynxtuft. When Maplecrow arrives, he stands firm and tall, asking her if Lynxtuft was right in that Cypressfur was not their father. She says yes, and Moongaze is said to look betrayed with flattened ears and a muzzle threatening to break into a hideous sneer.

In Chapter Twenty Four Moongaze immediately lunges at a brindled tom that leapt atop his mother, screeching and tussling viciously into the leaves and forest debris with blood spraying out of both of them. As his opponent disappears, he leaps in front of his mother and sister preparing for another fight as the bushes rustle, only to relax as he spies Thistletoe. Moongaze seizes his mother's scruff as Thisletoe directs them back to camp so he can save them, and Lynxtuft thinks how strange it is that the son was now caring for the mother. She thinks that if there is any affection or love still in his gaze, it is being well guarded as he is carrying her to camp with the support of Chasingstorm. Moongaze was noted to have been lucky to be there to save the two from dying as Thistletoe lies to the Clan about what happened.

Chapter Twenty Five Moongaze is mentioned to prefer to spend time with the older tom warriors by Lynxtuft, as if he thought himself a littermate of Darkpelt instead. Chasingstorm comments that Moongaze won't speak to them now that he had found out.

Chapter Twenty Six Lynxtuft said that if Moongaze followed her into the Shadow Fold that the others would as well, as he was a level-headed warrior and his strength was admired. Lynxtuft spied Moongaze and decided to try to get him alone to ask him to join her and their half-brother. Moongaze volunteered Lynxtuft to join the patrol, commenting that now that she was done chatting she was free, and it annoyed his sister. She thinks that there was a reason why they all pegged him as the whiskers, but doesn't say anything. Moongaze listens to Scorchpaw eagerly talking to him as they pad into the forest. Moongaze goes to approach his sister, asking if everything is alright as their patrol splits up. He comments that the GustClan territory looks dusty. Before Lynxtuft can ask him to join her, he tells her that no matter what he's joining her plot because he's tired of the lies too.

In Chapter Twenty Six Moongaze is out of his nest along with his littermate's when Lynxtuft wakes up. He approaches her the minute she leaves the den and tells her that Maplecrow gave birth.

In Chapter Twenty Seven Moongaze is seen leaving alongside his littermates with Lynxtuft in the lead. He says that he is coming with Lynxtuft to see if Archstar really was a cat to follow, and that if his littermates were any kind of warrior than they should be seeing if he was as well. Moongaze looked sickened as he was pulled from the waking world into the Shadow Fold. Moongaze was then seen hunched over, ears flat at the sensations while Archstar tried to talk to him, and that Moongaze's blood helped to awaken more cats in the Shadow Fold. Archstar happily announces that Moongaze has joined their cause, and that they would feast and celebrate that night.

In the Epilogue Thistletoe recounts that Moongaze left with Lynxtuft to be in the Shadow Fold.

The Cursed Blood: The Shadow Fold

In Chapter One Moongaze is mentioned by Blackpaw absently, and Havenflower asks if he was returning, but with no clear answer.

In Chapter Two Archstar takes Lynxtuft to see how Moongaze is fighting. He looked exhausted with deep scratches along his shoulders, he was fighting Spikeclaw and not backing down. Moongaze relaxed when Archstar commanded him to stop fighting, but Spikeclaw didn't hesitate to tear into the pale tabby, causing Moongaze to yowl in pain. Moongaze masked his pain as he freely dripped blood and Archstar came to appraise the wound. He set himself firmly as Archstar glowered at him in dislike and said that he needed the pale tabby to submit to him. Moongaze didn't reply but rather twitched his ear. Archstar demanded it to happen now, but Moongaze refuses stating that he wouldn't submit to a leader as validation in order for Archstar to fulfill a self-purpose. He states that he wanted to see the leader that Lynxtuft had said he was, and that he cared not that Archstar was his father by blood, as he wanted to see Archstar as a leader by nature. Archstar snarls in his face that every time Moongaze spoke, he sounded like Maplecrow. Moongaze had pride dancing in his eyes but elected not to speak. Archstar leaves and tells Moongaze that he will give his son more time, but if he wanted to remain a part of the Shadow Fold, then he would have to come to the same conclusion as his half-brother and his littermate. Lynxtuft looked at him with pleading eyes before she left with her father.

In Chapter Three Shadestar tells Havenflower that he still loves his grandkits, including Lynxtuft and Moongaze.

In Chapter Five Archstar threatens Moongaze with his words to Lynxtuft, and told her to make her brother submit or he will forcibly make him. She goes to speak with him and she reminisced the time they spent together in her dream, as Moongaze as a kit had skittered sideways only to be knocked over my Flamewhisker, who he then gnawed the large paw of as the elder howled in fake pain to encourage Moongaze. When she finds Moongaze, he's staring into a particularly rancid part of the Shadow Fold and he tells her that this place mimicked the area of NightClan territory, and before them was the Great Marsh, just everything was soured and polluted. Lynxtuft encouraged him to accept Archstar, though she realized that what he said echoed inside of her in truth. She acknowledged him as quiet, but worth listening to when he decided to speak. Moongaze's eyes hardened as he asked his sister if she was listening to herself. He says that the only thing that they'd been doing was training for battle and that they were training with cats they've heard haunted stories of since they were kits. He questions if she really wants to stay with these kinds of cats. Moongaze states that they were wrong to come here, and that they should leave when Archstar appeared and questioned how they'd do that. He came around his sister and came face to face with Archstar, stating that they'd leave the way they came. Archstar states that as a place for dead cats, Moongaze would not be able to come and go as he pleased. Moongaze tells Archstar that he is not all-powerful, but an angered spirit that didn't know how to accept it's pitiful ending. Archstar lashed his claws against Moongaze's muzzle, but he didn't flinch after being steeled by Creektooth for moons on end, but rather slamming his head into Archstar's chest and sending them into the Great Marsh to fight. Moongaze screeched in pain as his stomach was almost torn all the way open, pinned down by Archstar, and before the tom could strike a killing blow - with Moongaze staring up at him with a righteous look - a blinding light knocks Moongaze unconscious and throws Archstar away. Moonpaw then appears and takes Moongaze out of the Shadow Fold, fulfilling his prayer to StarClan to leave.

In Chapter Six Moongaze is found by Havenflower, Tigerpad, and Fernpaw laying bleeding in the Great Marsh, with Moonpaw at his head. He is seen to be unconscious as they begin to haul him to camp, and Cypressfur appears to help carry the weight of his adopted son. The Clan is abuzz and Maplecrow is bared from seeing her son so that the medicine cats could heal him without distraction. Havenflower rejoices, and Shadestar acknowledges that the Shadow Fold was one more warrior down.

In Chapter Seven Havenflower spotted a half-eaten pigeon by Moongaze's nest, and he opens his eyes to say hey, with his eyes glazed in pain. Havenflower is joyous to see her brother awake, but is kept from his nest by a firm Thistletoe. She crawls slowly toward him, but can't help but wrinkle her nose at his smell. He huffs to not hurt herself coming to get closer, and she restrains herself from cuffing him, as she knows that he's too weak to be able to stand it. She asks if he's okay, and he grunts in pain and says that he guesses he would be. Havenflower informs him that it was his namesake that saved him upon hearing his prayer. Moongaze informs his sister that Moonpaw may have saved him, but he couldn't answer his exact prayer. He stares at his paws and says forlornly that he couldn't save Lynxtuft, nor make her see reason. He informs Havenflower that Archstar and Firefang have wrapped themselves around her like snakes, hissing venom in her ears and blinding her from the truth. Havenflower pushes her nose into Moongaze's fur and encourages him. He jokingly mentions that Havenflower would've been lost without her 'whiskers' referring back to the old nickname that had stuck with him. When Shadestar and Cypressfur come into the medicine den, Moongaze tries to get to his paws as Havenflower stands protectively in front of him. Blackpaw rushes forward and guides him back down, crouching at his head and licking it gently. Shadestar demands to know what happened in the Shadow Fold, and Moongaze weakly nods and begins to explain how the blood had affected the awakening cats, and mentioned Fallowpelt, which he noticed to Shadestar and Cypressfur react to. Shadestar asked if there was anything else that Moongaze had to report, and Moongaze mentioned that there may be, but he wasn't ready to tell if he wasn't sure if he was going to live after he said everything. When Havenflower tried to scold him, he shot back that the last time these cats saw him, he was disappearing into the Shadow Fold. He stated that they could do whatever they wanted to him, but to keep in mind that he never agreed to share his strength with Archstar. Havenflower thinks that he would've made a great leader, and Blackpaw shoos the other toms out of the den along with Havenflower, declaring he needs his rest. Cypressfur hesitates for a moment before gently rubbing his cheek on his adopted son's head and exiting the den. Moongaze then falls into a quick and deep sleep.

In Chapter Nine he is vaguely mentioned by Archstar as a lost valuable asset.

In Chapter Ten Maplecrow is seen defending her son against Creektooth, saying that if he wants to drive out Moongaze that he has to fight her first. Underwater proclaims that Moongaze left, therefore he shouldn't be considered a Clan cat and therefore should be driven off. Havenflower defends her brother, stating that he still has information that could be vital, it's just that he doesn't feel safe anymore. Moongaze comes out of the medicine den supported by Blackberry, looking as if he had deathberries smeared into his fur. Moongaze offered to leave, and Maplecrow blurted out no before Shadestar asked his grandson if he truly thought him leaving would solve anything. Moongaze shrugged, wincing at the pain in his shoulders and states that he hears some warriors calling him a spy - causing the hidden Dawnclaw to cough uncomfortably - and suggests that maybe it would be best if he goes. He asks for Shadestar's blessing before leaving the world of the Clans, saying it makes no difference that his namesake saved him from his father, but that it's trust he's shattered most of all. Creektooth breaks in and says to Shadestar that they can't afford to be a warrior down, and Shadestar agrees, ordering Moongaze to rest and build back the trust he had lost. Moongaze collapses in relief on Blackberry, who wasn't prepared for his weight and helps him back on his paws.

In Chapter Eleven Moongaze's state of return was compared to Lynxtuft's when Havenflower sees her in her dream. He is mentioned again to have brought Dawnclaw and Tigerpad over to watch Lynxtuft be washed with water. He's the first to congratulate his sister when Havenflower discovers she's expecting, and asks for one as his apprentice. Moongaze snorts at his sister's comment of taking them away from NightClan, and asks if he really thought them growing up not knowing about the Clans is the best, and questions what Hornetstripe would do. He sees that his sister's really thinking about what he's saying, and tells her that she finally messed up, making her an official part of the litter. Blackberry cuffs him dotingly.

In Chapter Thirteen Moongaze is remembered to have been part of the patrol to help GustClan in case of a StreamClan attack.

In Chapter Fifteen Moongaze is thought about by Lynxtuft for failing him, and not being able to let the Clan know that he's still a loyal and true warrior. He's thought about again as Lynxtuft recalls how he was saved by his namesake. Lynxtuft thinks that she's never seen Archstar look so enraged, not even when he had attacked Moongaze.

In Chapter Sixteen Havenflower compares the shoulders and size of her biggest kit to Moongaze, thinking that he may grow even bigger than him.

In Chapter Seventeen Moongaze was working on his exercises out in camp when the battle cry sounded, and he gives a gruff nod to Grayshade before stationing themselves behind Shadestar in the middle of camp. Together they paced and growled low, working themselves up for the fight.

In Chapter Eighteen Moongaze is seen circling Firefang, blood streaking their claws and muzzles. They slammed into each other, pressing their chests against one another while snapping their jaws trying to grab the other and pull them off balance. Lynxtuft thinks that Firefang's match was met with Moongaze, even though the tom was gravely injured.

In Chapter Twenty Moongaze has a deep scratch behind his ear and edging on the dangerous soft part of his neck. He is being supported by Wrenflight who is licking him gently. Moongaze gave a dark look to Lynxtuft, narrowing his eyes at her and shaking his head to show that he would not support her or vouch for her after what she did.

In the Epilogue Moongaze is seen fighting his apprentice Batpaw during the Battle Ceremony for his apprentice's name. It's noted that Moongaze became close with Wrenflight, and Havenflower bet that they'd be expecting a litter soon.

 The Coming :Into the Storm

In Chapter Four he is mentioned by Firstorm to be the only littermate of Havenflower.

In Chapter Six Blackberry tells Firstorm how all the cats in the patrol NightClan had taken to StreamClan were related, and mentioned Moongaze's daughter, Crowpaw.

In Chapter Twenty Five Moongaze is mentioned as the father of Wispfeather when she is seen sharing tongues with her new mate, Bramblethorn in StormClan.

In Chapter Twenty Six Moongaze is noted to be a heavy and powerful fighter by Hollywing. She says that one of them will likely be the next deputy, just based on how well they can hold themselves in a fight against multiple cats. She says that defeating Moongaze - and Grayshade - would be incredibly difficult.

Moongaze's Trust

Trivia

 * Moongaze was named after Moonpaw.
 * This created a bond between the two which allowed her to save him
 * Moongaze is the biggest of the litter.
 * He's often referred to by his littermates as their 'Whiskers'
 * He will have his own Novella titled Moongaze's Trust