{firexspotted}
CATS INVOLVED (thankstoanswers.com)
>>Firestar - handsome ginger tom with a flame-colored pelt and bright green eyes
Clan: ThunderClan
Rank: Leader
Mentor: Bluestar
Apprentices: Cinderpelt (until her accident), Brackenfur (while Graystripe was seeing Silverstream), Cloudtail, Brambleclaw
Mate: Sandstorm
Kin: Leafpool, Squirrelflight (kits), Hollypaw, Jaypaw, Lionpaw (grandkits), Cloudtail, other unnamed kits (nieces and nephew), Princess (sister), Whitewing (great niece) Formerly Known As: Rusty (Into the Wild), Firepaw (Into the Wild), Fireheart (Into the Wild - The Darkest Hour)
>>Spottedleaf - beautiful dark tortoiseshell she-cat with a white muzzle and pale eyes
Clan: ThunderClan; StarClan
Rank: Medicine Cat
Mentor: Featherwhisker
Kin: Cloudstar, Birdflight, Spottedpelt, Gorseclaw (ancestors), Tigerstar, Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Hollypaw, Jaypaw, Lionpaw, Tawnypelt's kits (cousins)
Death: Murdered by Clawface, Into the Wild
EVIDENCE
"'I'll get some now,' Firepaw offered. He was glad of a chance to get away from the grumpy cat for a while. And it was certainly no hardship to go and see Spottedleaf again.
-Into The Wild, pg 110
Most of the hard-core FirexSpotted evidence is found in Into The Wild, and this is one of the pieces. Firepaw already thinks Spottedleaf is a pretty she-cat, and takes every opportunity he can to visit her in her den.
"'I want to be prepared for any casualties,' Spottedleaf murmured, glancing up at him with her clear amber eyes. Firepaw met her gaze for a moment, then looked away, an uncomfortable feeling prickling his fur.
-Into the Wild, pg 112
What is that uncomfortable feeling, young Firepaw? I do believe it's the beginning of young love.
"'Thanks, Spottedleaf,' mewed Firepaw. He leaned down and picked up one of the parcels. As he bent his head, Spottedleaf stretched over and gently rubbed his cheek with her nose. Firepaw breathed in her sweet warm scent and purred his thanks.
-Into the Wild, pg 164
There are several things in this particular paragraph. Spottedleaf's touch to his cheek is obviously a sign of affection, and it is demure and mild at that, indicating that it is forbidden for her to feel that way. Firepaw also takes the moment to, it seems, commit her scent to memory. The final question is, is he purring his thanks for the traveling herbs (the parcel) or for her fond touch?
"Firepaw hardly heard [Bluestar]. He couldn't help remembering the last time he had come to the clearing. An image of Spottedleaf, trotting out of her den with her coat gleaming in the sunlight, burned in his mind, and he closed his eyes to preserve it.
'Firepaw,' snapped Bluestar, 'you must save your grieving for later.'"
-Into the Wild, pg 234
The fact that Firepaw cannot get his mind off of Spottedleaf's death reveals his true affection. Bluestar's quote is included because it proves that he is truly aggrieved.
"Firepaw buried his nose in Spottedleaf's wet fur and breathed in her scent one last time. 'Goodbye, my sweet Spottedleaf,' he murmured.
-Into the Wild, pg 236
Okay. If this isn't self-explanatory, you either need an eye exam or a mind exam. There could be something going on in your brain that isn't healthy.
"A heavily built brown cat crashed into him. Clawface! Firepaw dug his claws into the ground and whirled around to fight. The warrior that killed Spottedleaf! Rage surged through him and he flung himself onto the brown tom."
-Into the Wild, pg 260
Firepaw is possessed by fury at the thought of fighting the cat that killed "his sweet Spottedleaf". He is bent on revenge.
"'I know you never really wanted me for your mate,' [Sandstorm] meowed as soon as they were out of earshot of the other cats. 'You've always been in love with Spottedleaf.'
Firestar thanked StarClan that he had not mentioned his dream encounter with the former ThunderClan medicine cat. 'I loved Spottedleaf,' he admitted."
-Firestar's Quest, pg 110
AND
"'I don't believe you!' Sandstorm glared at him, then added more softly, 'I know you love me, Firestar, but is that enough? Don't you wish Spottedleaf were with you right now?'
The question took Firestar by surprise. What would it be like to have the StarClan medicine cat by his side? Would she be able to convince him he was doing the right thing?
As he hesitated, the anger faded from Sandstorm's gaze, replaced by a look of horror. 'Don't say a word, Firestar,' she mewed. 'I know what your answer would be.'
-Firestar's Quest, pg 142
Even others knew the relationship existed! Firestar is grateful that he didn't mention anything to Sandstorm about meeting with Spottedleaf, and then he admits to loving her! This is possibly the strongest piece of evidence, at least of Firestar's love. The second quote is almost the exact same thing.
"The tortoiseshell she-cat padded toward the cave entrance and paused for a heartbeat, her pelt brushing against his. Too softly for Sandstorm to hear, she murmured, 'Sometimes I would give anything for things to be different.'"
-Firestar's Quest, pg 402
This is after Spottedleaf explains to Sandstorm that a relationship could never have happened between herself and Firestar because she was a medicine cat. This reveals Spottedleaf's love for Firestar in that she wished she hadn't been a medicine cat so she could be Firestar's mate now.
"'Yes,' [Jaypaw] murmured. He could sense something else inside [Spottedleaf], affection tinged with sorrow. Concentrating hard, he tracked the feeling, following it like a shimmering stream: a flame-colored cat, green eyes clouded with grief...it was Firestar! This StarClan cat was in love with the ThunderClan leader!
-The Sight, pg 231
Without argument the most powerful evidence of Spottedleaf's love, Jaypaw's discovery proves her feelings and also shows that they have never faded.
FAN POPULARITY
This pairing is split in half with supporters and those who don't. Those who like the shipping love it because they think some cat as daring as Firestar should have a forbidden love, and because it was Firestar's first love, and obviously powerful. Those who don't believe that he and Sandstorm belonged together since the beginning, and because he is loyal he should not have a forbidden love.
