With our One Year Anniversiary looming on the horizon, we decided to kick off the last month of summer with some exciting updates and a brand new posting contest! So make sure to check out the August Announcements for more information! In addition to the contest, we have a few new rule changes, additions to the lore, OTM winners, and plot updates as well. Lastly, while the cool winds of autumn are right around the corner, the sweltering summer heat continues to persist, and with it, the tension on the island continues to rise like the tide.
Sunny skies. Winds NNE 5 to 10 MPH. High 32℃ / 90℉. Low 25℃ / 77℉.
Potential for violent storms later in the month.
THE APOSTLES
The Apostles is a warrior cats roleplay based in northern Wisconsin. On Lake Superior, the wild cats have made the Apostle Islands their home. It is on these islands - Rocky Island and South Twin Island - that the clan and tribe cats have lived in a peace and harmony that ebbs and flows with the tide.
But as the tides turn, so does the truce that binds them to one another; and as the water raises, a darkness follows, an evil that will end in bloodshed and violence.
This thread contains shortened biographies of important figures who have either impacted the culture or history of the island. Whether these cats have influenced specific clans, the tribe, or individual characters, their actions have altered the course of history and contributed to the current island climate, benevolent or malevolent in nature.
The content in this thread is considered canon. It is a companion piece to the Island Timeline and acts as an extension to our lore. Biographies will be added to this thread as they are written. If members have a NPC request, please reach out to a staff member, and we can collaborate on a bio.
BUILD: Like most Redwoodclan warriors, Heatherstar was a tall cat, with long, graceful limbs. Her build, however, was much more lean and lithe than a redwood tom with brutish muscles.
COAT: Heatherstar carried a rich, chestnut brown coat. Her chin and underbelly were a much softer cream color, while her distinctive, umber tabby stripes spiraled across her back in a spotted pattern.
FACE: The she-cat had a sharp, triangular face with defined cheek bones. Strikingly, her ears sat closer to the top of her head, which gave the she-cat a very pointed look. Her forehead was marked with the classic tabby 'M' while her eyes were a deep, yellow-green in color.
PERSONALITY
JUDISCIOUS: Heatherstar was a rational cat, who was known for her fair and contemplative decisions. She was not a rash leader, and instead, was sensible with how she lead her clan. Her emotions rarely interceded with her actions, and she generally carried a level head on her shoulders.
HONORABLE: The she-cat strictly adhered to the warrior code and had a strong moral compass. She was compassionate in her views on outsiders and condoned violence that was not justified. She never wanted to force her warriors into a battle that risked innocent lives.
STUBBORN: Heatherstar was boar-headed in the sense that few could make her alter her beliefs, values, or even her day-to-day routines. She was a cat of habitual nature, who believed that her decisions were often the correct decisions.
RIGID: Due to her ethics and hard-working nature, the she-cat was rigid in her routines and decisions. She did not like to break her word or retreat on her promises. While this can be a beneficial trait to some, this led Redwoodclan to its downfall, as the she-cat refused to force her clan into a war she did not believe in.
HISTORY
KITHOOD: Heatherkit was born to Sparrowstrike and Darksmoke, two level-headed redwood warriors who were active in their kits' lives. With two sisters, Pebblekit and Batkit, Heatherkit was born into a litter of she-cats. While her den-mates like to terrorize the clan, as kits do, Heatherkit and her sisters tended to the elders and did chores for the medicine cat to 'earn their keep.' The three sisters never minded the work because their clan-mates rewarded them with stories and a sense of accomplishment.
APPRENTICEHSHIP: At six moons old, Heatherpaw was assigned to train under an older tom named Russetfrost. He was a reserved warrior, who often said little, which drove the she-cat insane. She liked conversation and learned best in an active environment, where she could contribute to her lesson as an independent thinker, and Russetfrust offered her little of that in return. It was cold instruction with little constructive feedback.
However, when she was around nine moons old, she was able to crack the old tom's shell. They were on a hunt out in the Redwood forest with another warrior named Gorseheart when an adder struck out of the underbrush to bite Russetfrost. Instead, Heatherpaw intervened and killed the adder before it even touched the tom. Startled, the old tom started to see the young she-cat in a much different light and their relationship as mentor and apprentice grew. Her bravery also attracted the attention of Gorseheart.
WARRIOR: Named for her athleticism and fast feet, Heatherstream became a warrior at twelve moons old. Around this time, the island was in a rare era of peace, so the she-cat lived her first three islands with little bloodshed and war. Instead, Redwoodclan flourished, their summers filled with kits, and their winters free from disease.
A few moons after her warrior ceremony, Heatherstream started to become friends with the warrior who had been with her when she saved her mentor from the snake: Gorseheart. The tom was almost fifteen moons older than her, but the two of them had an undeniable chemistry. While she liked to live her life based on a strict routine and was more extroverted in nature, Gorseheart was more spontaneous and reserved. The more she was with him, the more his humorous and fun side became evident. A season later, the tom confessed his love for her, and she confided she felt the same.
The two of them did have kits until Heatherstream was around four seasons old. She felt that her duties to her clan called her first, and it was not until her sister, Pebblefoot, died at the teeth of a fox, did the she-cat felt a sudden familial desire. She asked Gorseheart for kits the dawn after her death. Her children were born two moons later: Sorrelkit, Bramblekit, and Pebblekit.
DEPUTY: When Heatherstream was around five seasons old, she was elected as the next deputy of Redwoodclan. The previous deputy, Ambertail, had decided to retire to the elder's den, and due to Heatherstream's tireless work-ethic, adherence to the warrior code, and overall love for her clan, she was the obvious choice.
The leader, Mothstar, who had lead the clan for almost a decade, was an older she-cat. She had led the clan during the old Thistleclan conflict and knew the trauma of endless war. She did not want to see her innocent clan-mates suffer or die, and while Heatherstream had seen few battles in her life, she vowed to hold the same values. If she could keep her warriors out of a senseless war, then she would.
LEADER: Mothstar died one season after Heatherstream was named deputy. The old she-cat succumbed to a ruthless infection caused by a seemingly harmless rat bite. If she would have been younger, the she-cat would have been able to fight off the infection, but due to her old age, the wound claimed her final life.
After receiving her nine lives, Heatherstar quickly established herself as a leader who was uninterested in conflict, but could hold her own at the falls. She immediately bonded with the older and kinder Froststar, but had reservations for Sagestar. Despite his seemingly friendly words, there was something about the tom that made her feel uncomfortable, as if a sinister shadow followed him. Even her deputy, a senior warrior named Bluetail, told her to keep her distance from the tom. She continued to make small talk with Sagestar, but she did not trust him.
During the second season of her leadership, Lichenclan launched their first attack on Redwoodclan. Heatherstream was blindsided, and to her horror, her clan lost. Moons of peace had left her clan soft, and with an ire in her heart, the she-cat went to the next Gathering and declared an end to their decade-long truce. However, the she-cat refused to launch an attack of her own. She had made a vow to Mothstar. She would not make her clan fight a senseless war.
Around the same time, Heatherstar decided to take on an apprentice named Finchpaw. While the she-cat had trained numerous cats before, there was something about the young tom that fascinated her. He was ridiculously nervous and would constantly fall victim to fits of anxiety, but he also carried a generous heart, often bringing her gifts to apologize for his behavior. He had a love for their clan, one that she recognized in herself, and the two formed a strong bond.
As Lichenclan refused to back down, Heatherstar ached for her young apprentice and for her clan. She did not want to lose them. Sagestar continued to launch attacks on Redwoodclan, claiming that he would end his reign of horror if Heatherstar gave up the Mooncave and the territory surrounding it. She refused because she did not believe that one clan should have sole control over Starclan, and also because she did not trust him.
Redwoodclan continued to suffer, and a few moons after the first attack, Bluetail was killed. Distraught, Heatherstar decided to elect her mate, Gorseheart as her deputy, due to his status as one of her oldest and most faithful warriors. However, the she-cat feared that this meant her mate was marked like an omen, and soon, he would be next.
As the war continued, Redwoodclan lost more and more senior warriors, and when Gorseheart was killed a season later, Heatherstar entered her den, alone, and did not exit until the dawn threatened to drown the forest in red. As she watched her clan anxiously await her decision, a finch fluttered down from the trees and landed in front of her den's entrance. The bird ruffled its feathers, oblivious to the violent word that exited outside of the trees, and then it flew off.
Heatherstar elected Finchtail, her former apprentice, as her next deputy. Few redwood warrior voiced their opposition. Their warriors were dead. Leaf-bare was on the horizon. The clan then entered the winter with few resources. Finchtail, although nervous, proved to be a fruitful deputy and did what he could to allocate food. Despite their efforts, more Redwoodclan warriors succumbed to starvation. Their only solace was that Lichenclan retreated due to the extreme weather.
As she reached her ninth season on the island, Heatherstar carried little will to live. Even with her children, grand-children, and few clan-mates at her side, the she-cat ached for her dead mate; and when she was called to enter the first border skirmish of new-leaf, she knew it would be her last. With a final word with Finchtail, the she-cat threw herself ferociously at Minnowstar and fought her until the Lichenclan leader sunk her teeth into Heathersta'rs throat and ended the tabby's life. The first cat she saw when she opened her eyes, the skies filled with stars, was Gorseheart.
BUILD: Small but muscular, Froststar's build fitted well into ThistleClan. He was of average height but was capable of squeezing into small spaces.
COAT: The tom's smooth coat was surprisingly thick for a short-haired cat. A delicate cream color, it was accented by darker seal point stripes on his legs, tail, and face.
FACE: Froststar's most notable feature was his pair of sea blue eyes. He had a wide forehead and narrow muzzle, giving his head an inverted pear shape. Large ears perched atop his head, usually swiveled forward at attention. Ironically, the shape of his face spoke to his mannerisms too -- he had big brains, but was not one to boast, using few carefully selected words and preferring to listen more than he speaks.
PERSONALITY
INTELLIGENT: Ever since he was a kit, Froststar was known for his humble intellect. Both clever and wise, he is a thinker through and through, never making decisions without taking time to consider the consequences.
COLLECTED: An emotionally reserved cat, Froststar is cool and calm. His gentle nature has been known to ease tension and resolve conflict before any blood was shed.
PACIFIST: Not one for fighting, this pale tabby prefers to use his tongue over his claws. However, this trait proves detrimental when faced with enemies who do not follow logic, especially those of the more wild variety, like aggressive foxes.
WORKAHOLIC: Froststar's dedication to his clan, while honorable and well-praised for ThistleClan's success during his leadership, was taken to extreme measures, especially during his senior years. A hard worker, he was known to place his clan first, and himself and his family second.
HISTORY
KITHOOD: Frostkit was born to a pair of fierce ThistleClan warriors, Badgerclaw and Pinesong. His meek demeanor was often outshone by his more dominant brother, Brisk-kit, who made everything a competition. Their parents were strong believers in the purity of the ThistleClan lineage and despised outsiders.
APPRENTICESHIP: During his first Gathering, Frostpaw became fast friends with a LichenClan apprentice, a shy tom named Lakepaw. Each moon until their apprenticeship, they would gather beneath the waterfall to exchange stories about their clans. Meanwhile, Frostpaw's training continued under a blunt and unforgiving mentor, Smoketail, who often pitted him against his brother Briskpaw in an attempt to coax out Frostpaw's fighting spirit. These battles came to a head when the brothers were eleven moons old. Frustrated with Frostpaw's noncombatant attitude, Smoketail ordered the apprentices to fight with claws unsheathed. In response, Frostpaw did extend his talons, but instead of striking his opponent, he used a series of cunning dodges and feints to exhaust his brother before Briskpaw could land a single blow. After that day, the two siblings developed a greater understanding for one another.
WARRIOR: Frostpaw became known as Frostbreath for his soft-spoken nature. His brother was dubbed Briskfoot. During his time as a warrior, his friendship with Lakepaw, now Lakemask, blossomed into a romantic interest. Knowing that his family and most of the clan would not approve of an outsider for his mate, Frostbreath kept their relationship a secret. Nevertheless, the two dreamed of having a family together, and enlisted the help of one of the older queens and Frostbreath's closest friend, Firebriar -- the only other ThistleClan cat to know of their bond. Even Briskfoot was kept in the dark.
With the cruel and calculating Sagestar leading LichenClan, however, Frostbreath and Lakemask's meetings became increasingly dangerous, and Lakemask was soon discovered. Enraged by his disloyalty, Sagestar quietly had Lakemask killed on his way to the ThistleClan border. His murder, a drowning, occurred in the midst of a season of heavy rainfall and appeared to be an accident. Before his death, Lakemask pleaded with Frostbreath to continue their plans to raise a family.
DEPUTY: Shortly after Lakemask's Frostbreath was promoted to deputy. The rest of the clan was oblivious to his recent plight. Still mourning for his mate and refusing to show his pain lest it cause unrest within the clan, he threw himself into his work in an attempt to dull the pain. As a result, his three children -- Drizzlekit, Copperkit, and Deerkit -- spend much of their early childhoods knowing little of their fathers. They grew up believing that Frostbreath and Firebriar were mates -- a plan which only forced Frostbreath deeper into depression. Nonetheless, he hid his emotions well, and ThistleClan grows exponentially as the Island shuttered the two-leg tourism business.
LEADER: As a leader, Froststar began to repair his relationships with his children, now graduated into warriorhood as Drizzledance, Copperclaw, and Deerleap. With a heavy heart, he revealed his love of Lakemask, explaining how the two had met at their first Gathering and all their secret meetings over the moons. Drizzledance and Copperclaw accepted this new truth, but Deerleap felt betrayed, and excommunicated himself from the family.
Under Froststar, ThistleClan enjoyed many seasons of success. For over a dozen years, Froststar ensured the safety and strength of his clan, using his charisma to quiet fights without bloodshed and his wits to outsmart predators. Not known for his ambition, Froststar's focus remained internal, avoiding conflict with LichenClan and RedwoodClan, despite ThistleClan's growing numbers and need for more hunting territory. However, some members of the clan felt that his pacifism would lead to ThistleClan's ruin. It is during this time that the foxes that plagued ThistleClan's previous leader, Greystar, return to their territory, whittling down ThistleClan's numbers in a series of ambush attacks. When his oldest deputy, Hawkwing, succumbed to green-cough, Froststar appointed a young warrior, Thievingstreak, as his successor, entrusting her with the elimination of the foxes, hopeful that her tenacious spirit would renew the faith in Froststar's decisions.
As Froststar grew older, his guilt for his long-kept secret continued to eat away at him. Deerleap's severance from the family caused him even more pain, and in his final moons as leader, he pushed himself as hard as he could in an attempt to re-earn his lost son's -- and the Clan's -- trust. His refusal to rest and seek treatment during a particularly fierce bout of greencough eventually lead to his death.
BUILD: The tom was not as massive as a Redwoodclan warrior. However, he was larger than the average Lichenclan cat. He had a wide, barrel chest, and a shorter, compact torso. Beneath his dense coat were well-trained muscles.
COAT: Heronstar's musculature was mostly hidden beneath his thick, heavy coat. His fur was a rich blue color, while his back, limbs, and tail are decorated with darker, mackerel stripes. His muzzle, chest, and stomach were doused in distinctive, alabaster silver.
FACE: He carried a circular, wide face with a defined muzzle. Hersonstar's most distinctive feature was his long, recognizable ear tufts, the fur a captivating white. His eyes, outlined in the same white, were a bright, leaf-green.
PERSONALITY
CHARISMATIC: Heronstar was not charismatic in the sense that he was a schmooze, but rather, in the sense that he was likeable. He was an active listener, conversationalist, and attentive to the needs of clan-mates since he was so susceptible to their emotions. This lead to him to become an excellent orator since he knew what his audience wanted to hear.
DILIGENT: What made Heronstar so likeable was his diligence. The tom was ridiculously hard-working, often waking before dawn to hunt for his clan. He was known as a well-liked contributor, which earned him an abundance of respect. He was also meticulous mentor, who trained his apprentices with the utmost care and attentiveness.
INDECISIVE: Raised as a servant to Starclan, Heronstar wrestled to devise his own beliefs and ideas. The tom was easily susceptible to the words around him, which lead to a lot of conflict in his life because he was so indecisive about what was the correct decision. The world was either black or white, and that dichotomy confused him greatly. He consistently went back and forth between whatever was meowed into his ear, which allowed him to be easily manipulated by others.
NARROW-MINDED: Heronstar struggled to view the complexities of the world. Cats were either servants of Starclan or heathens. There was no in-between because he could not understand what would drive a cat to commit sin. This made him rather close-minded, and in his later seasons, rather intolerant towards those who threatened his sanctimonious clan.
HISTORY
KITHOOD: Born to the docile Lavenderheart and Bramblewing, Heronkit and his sole brother, Reedkit, were raised as traditional Lichenclan pacifists. They believed that war and violence were unjustifiable, and as warriors of Lichenclan, true enlightenment came from a strict devotion to Starclan. Heronkit's kithood was filled with treks to the sacred Mooncave and stories about his ancestors, which he revered as the source of truth.
APPRENTICESHIP: When he reached his sixth moon, Heronpaw was assigned to a mentor who deviated from the usual Lichenclan warrior. Her name was Kestreltail, and she inherently believed that violence was necessary in times of injustice. When the she-cat was nine moons old, her mother, and closest friend, was murdered by a rogue. Devastated, the she-cat turned to her clan-mates for emotional support, but her devout clan-mates did not have the answers she wanted. She was only told to visit the Mooncave, and in time, Starclan would heal her soul.
Frustrated, Kestreltail grew distant from her pacifist roots and devotion to Starclan. This translated to how she trained her apprentices. At the time, most Lichenclan apprentices only learned the battle moves necessary to defend their land against predators and rarely learned offensive moves since violence was a sin. However, Heronpaw trained under a strict regime, which included various banned, attack-orientated moves. This was done in secret, and while he did not adopt his mentor's outlandish views about violence, he did start to think about cats outside of Lichenclan and their barbaric behavior. If violence was a sin, then how come other cats committed it?
WARRIOR: While his mentor showed him the bulk of her battle moves in secret, her lessons soon translated to his ability in the hunt. He became notorious in his clan for his swiftness across the shore and his fast reflexes, which earned him the name Heronfoot. He entered his warrior-hood with his brother, Reedstorm, who had become one of his most trusted comrades.
When Heronstar reached his second season on the island, he fell in love with a timid she-cat named Honeyflower. The two warriors soon became close, so much so, that the tom even confessed his conflicted views about Lichenclan's stance on violence. The she-cat did not abhor him for his outlandish take, and instead confided to him as well. While not a violent cat herself, the she-cat did lose her brother to a fox attack and always wondered if their warriors had been better trained, would her brother have been saved? The two soon welcomed three litters into the world before Heronfoot was elected as deputy of Lichenclan.
DEPUTY: When he was around five seasons old, Heronfoot was chosen as the next deputy of Lichenclan due to how well-liked he was across the clan, at this time he had mentored several warriors, and his contribution as a hunter. As a much older she-cat, Miststar was traditional in her Lichenclan beliefs. She did not condone violence and believed all answers were in the stars.
However, Heronfoot was convinced he could persuade the she-cat to think otherwise. While he did not want to launch an attack on the other clans, or incite violence for that matter, the tom still believed that Lichenclan warriors should be trained in battle in order to preserve their clan. His efforts were soon noticed by the young medicine cat apprentice, an odd tom named Coyotecall.
LEADER: A season after he was appointed deputy, Miststar died due to natural causes. Around the same time, the elderly medicine cat, Saltwhisker, returned to Starclan as well, and Coyotecall became the sole medicine cat of Lichenclan. During his short time as deputy, Heronfoot was unable to change his leader's stance on violence, and it was not until he earned his name as Heronstar, did the tom enact a new era within Lichenclan.
At first, he was met with opposition. Older warriors who were tied to the Lichenclan traditions considered him a sinful monster. However, Heronstar was a renowned orator, who could convince a warrior that a fox was a hare if he wanted to. This charisma soon worked in his favor as his clan started to alter its tide. Those who had lost kin in unfortunate run-ins with predators started to second his idea, and then younger cats, those had not fully been raised in Lichenclan traditions, started to support him as well. With the final nod from his brother, Reedstorm, who had been anointed as his first and only deputy, Heronstar started a new, strict regime that trained warriors how to fight in battle.
Concurrently, Heronstar started to meet regularly with the clan's medicine cat, Coyotecall, due to his indecisive nature. He found that he often needed the medicine cat's opinion in order to make a decision. The medicine cat, who was odd, used this to his advantage. Coyotecall carried a nervous air about him and meowed with little confidence. However, when it came to matters about Starclan, the tom spoke with an ominous confidence. He told Heronstar that this was the correct route for Lichenclan, and if he did not continue to train his warriors as such, then it would be the end of their clan. Heronstar believed this with little doubt.
As the seasons turned, Coyotecall continued to meow in Heronstar's ear, filling his head with ideas about the other clans. At first, he told the tom that Lichenclan was chosen by Starclan to cleanse the Island from sin, then he told Heronstar that the other clans were filled with vile heathens, who deserved to be killed in order to cleanse the island from sin.
Conflicted, Heronstar was not sure if he could believe the medicine cat's outlandish claims until a border skirmish unfolded near the sandy creek. It started as an accident. A Lichenclan apprentice crossed the border trying to catch a stubborn fish, but then it quickly unfolded into a blood-bath due to Thistleclan's frustration with the two-leg invasion. They were tired of being taken advantage of, so their anger was ruthlessly taken out on the Lichenclan patrol. Heronstar's mate, Honeyflower, was unfortunately killed in the battle due to a horrendous neck wound she sustained from protecting the apprentice from a fatal attack.
Heronstar was never the same after that battle. He immediately started to meet with Coyotecall on a daily basis and affirmed his earlier claims. The other clans were filled with heathens. Only death could save them from their sin. It was then that Coyotecall introduced his most sinister idea: Lichenclan should take the Mooncave. The land was on the shore, and as chosen servants to Starclan, it was their responsibility to uphold their sacred words. Without even a second of consideration, Heronstar conceded.
With his most trusted comrades at his side, and his faithful deputy, Reedstorm, Heronstar devised an attack on the other two clans, which would occur at the full-moon. At the heat of the gathering, the tom declared war on both clans and bloodshed ensued. This horrendous war continued for a few moons, but Lichenclan was impenetrable due to their elaborate cave system. Heronstar even went as far to bar the other medicine cats from the Mooncave.
In the last moon of his life, Coyotecall worked with Heronstar to enact new laws in Lichenclan that would ensure their clan's dominance over the island. It was declared that only male descendants of Heronstar could lead their clan. Coyotecall told his clan-mates that Starclan has blessed Heronstar's blood line in a sacred, ancient ritual at the Mooncave, and this ritual would ensure that the island would continued to be cleansed under his rule. It was also declared that she-cats' were to train primarily as caretakers, since Heronstar believed that his mate would not have died if she had remained in the main cave with the elders and kits. While this was not met with open hostility, a silent unrest flourished within the clan.
As the war continued to infect the island, a sudden flood brought the bloodshed to its end. Locked in battle, the three leaders from each clan were lost in the wicked waves, and Reedstar became the new leader of Lichenclan and anointed Heronstar's eldest son, Shadeclaw, as his first 'Heron' deputy. While the rest of the island saw this as a clear sign of Starclan's disapproval, Coyotecall convinced his watchful clan-mates that it was merely a sacrifice from Heronstar, a sacrifice he made to cleanse the island from sin. With his death, the other clan's sinful leaders were also killed and the island was saved.
Besides, he had meowed, a shimmer in his stare, if Starclan wanted to end the Heron line, then why did Reedstar and his children survive? Most of Lichenclan consumed his every word, and an era of bloodshed, violence, and servitude continued.
uvu
coded by ulla
SAGESTAR
LONG-HAIRED BLUE CLASSIC TABBY TOM WITH GREEN EYES
BUILD: Sagestar was an average sized warrior, for a Lichenclan tom, and boasted a well-muscled, compact torso, designed for swift and decisive moves in battle.
COAT: His coat was dense, a smoke-colored mirage of silvers, grays, and whites, much like the caves he dwells in.
FACE: He had a wide, circular face with a defined, lion-like muzzle, which made him a distinctive figure within his clan. Like his namesake, the tom carried a shocking, light green gaze.
PERSONALITY
CALCULATIVE: The tom was always thinking about his next move, whether this was in battle or in his own clan. He was a wise cat, who has learned over the moons. He knew how to use his words to his benefit and how to use his wit to advance Lichenclan.
DEVOUT: Since the moment he was born, Sagestar had devoted his life to Starclan, and thus Lichenclan. Under his rule, Lichenclan continued to enforce kit baptisms, warrior confessions, and sacrificial offerings to Starclan.
COLD: As an elected leader, the distinctive tom became more and more cold and calloused. He was indifferent towards his clan-mates, and as he made advances on Redwoodclan, he found that he did not care if his clan-mates died.
CRUEL: While the tom was not born cruel, he became cruel with time. As the Mooncave continued to exist as a neutral land, Sagestar became consumed with blood lust, torture, and death at the caw of his warriors. He did not care who he killed in order to have control.
HISTORY
KITHOOD: Born to Crimsonstar and Silverwing, Sagekit came into the world with two, measly sisters. He was the third litter born to the leader; and as a male descendant of Heronstar, he knew he was destined to follow in his father's paw-steps. When he was around three moons old, one of his sisters died from a seasonal influx of green-cough. As the tom grew with each moon, it was also noted that he had an uncanny resemblance to the great Heronstar himself, which made the tom a bit egocentric in nature. By the time he reached his sixth moon, only he and his sister, Thymekit reached their apprenticeship.
APPRENTICESHIP: It was no secret that the tom, as a descendant of Heronstar, received special treatment. He was chosen to train under his great-uncle, and clan deputy, Nettlefur. While the clan was currently in a truce with Redwoodclan, due to their treaty over the Birch Forest, Sagepaw started to think about how he could break that truce when he controlled the clan. He wanted to take the Mooncave back as Heronstar wanted.
WARRIOR: Bestowed with the name Sagestrike, the blue tom was named for his decisive skill in battle, each move calculative and effective. As a young warrior, the tom considered himself an important figure in the clan, due to his lineage, and used this as leverage to control those around him. However, this did not work in his favor as he started to romantically pursue a respected she-cat known as Egretfeather, who was about a season or two older than him. She saw his confidence as arrogance and told him as such. Stunned that another cat would disregard his heritage, the tom grew to greatly dislike the she-cat, despite his initial attraction. To his dismay, the she-cat decided to take on another mate and had a litter of kits. His hatred for the she-cat only grew.
When he was around two seasons old, Ergretfeather saved three apprentices from drowning in the icy, cold winter waters of the lake. This heroic act coincided with the death of Sagestrike's great uncle and former mentor, Nettlefur. As one of the most prospective, male descendants of Heronstar, Sagestrike expected to be named the next deputy of Lichenclan. However, some of his clan-mates advocated for Egrefeather's promotion instead. Ignoring their wishes, Crimsonstar appointed his youngest child, Sagestrike, as the new deputy of Lichenclan because of his confidence, battle prowess, and resemblance to Heronstar, even though a few of his older sons were still alive. This ignited a divide within the clan, with warriors threatening to incite violence, but this civil unrest soon ended when Egretfeather's body was mysteriously found dead near the Mooncave. Her supporters disbanded and grew silent, suddenly fearful of their new reign.
DEPUTY: As the newly named deputy, Sagestar continued to grow more and more arrogant. He was consistently in his father's ear, trying to coerce him to end the truce with Redwoodclan and take back the Mooncave. However, his father remained staunch on his decision and did not make a threat on the sacred land. He would stick to his word. This tension continued well into their elected union.
Around his fifth season, Sagestar took on a mate. The she-cat was a cold, meticulous warrior who agreed to pass on the Heron line out of duty to her clan. It was not a match made in love. Instead, the she-cat considered it an act of servitude to Lichenclan and Starclan. Her name was Lilyfrost. Their first litter together was a disappointment, two measly kits, both she-cats. Before the kits reached their first moon, one of the kits died due to a debilitating birth defect. Their remaining kit, Whitekit, became an apprentice at six moons, but her parents were not interested in her. Two seasons later, Lilyfrost birthed their second litter. This time, the she-cat blessed Lichenclan with three toms and a she-cat.
LEADER: When Sagestrike reached his eighth season, his father and leader, Crimsonstar returned to Starclan. His death was ruled to natural causes due to his age. Sagestrike then traveled to the Mooncave to receive his nine lives, and when he returned, he appointed an older tom, one of his older brothers from a previous litter, Otterthroat, as his first deputy. The tom was meek compared to other Heron descendants, but he was wise. Sagestar also felt that his own sons, Smokemask, Molefur, and Skunktail, required more training before they could rule his clan.
While he wanted to extend his reach onto the Mooncave, Otterthroat advised him to wait. He still respected their truce with the redwood dwellers, and did not want to make a move their clan could not win. Instead, he instructed Sagestar to focus on their training and strategic planning. Words were more powerful than force, an idiom Sagestar used as an advantage, one that was largely sinister in nature.
The blue tom used his silver tongue to develop a respected acquaintanceship with Redwoodclan's new leader, Heatherstar, and a mere season later, the tom launched his first, unsuspected attack to take back the Mooncave. Blindsided, Redwoodclan lost the battle, and the next gathering, Heatherstar angrily announced the end of their decade long truce. She, however, refused to launch attacks on Lichenclan in return, declining to stoop to their level.
Sagestar continued to attack the clan, growing indifferent to the dwindling numbers in both of their territories. His blood lust was stronger than his compassion. He grew cold and calloused, his confidence now a sinister hate. Even when Otterthroat died in battle, the tom remained brutally detached. His eldest son, Smokemask, was the next appointed deputy of Lichenclan.
Sagestar continued to attack Redwoodclan, refusing to accept any of Heatherstar's peace offerings or truces. His son, Smokemask, supported his bloodthirsty reign, instilling this belief into his own children, and continued to advocate for it, even in his own death. His younger, and only surviving sibling, Molefur was the next appointed deputy. He did not rule for long. At the start of the next season, his body was found, mysteriously drowned in the lake.
To Sagestar's dismay, all of his male descendants were dead. His only living heir was his granddaughter, Minnowsleap; and while she showed promise in battle, she was undesirable as a she-cat. With no other options, the old, blue tom elected his only living heir. Their union as deputy and leader was filled with an uncomfortable tension, and in order to avoid his violent outbursts, Minnowleap said little and kept her head down. Her strategic prowess, however, came out in battle, and the old tom grew to begrudgingly tolerate his granddaughter.
As one of the oldest, and most hated, cats on the island, Sagestar died at 192 moons old, his final life at the claws of a Redwoodclan warrior. The tom did not die instantaneously in battle. Instead, his body was brought back to camp, and he died in the medicine cat's den. On his deathbed, he fixed his granddaughter a cold, horrid stare and demanded that she have kits before she died, before she ruined all that he, and their ancestors worked for. He then took his last, callous breath, and returned to the stars.
BUILD: Hollythroat was a slim and lithe she-cat. Her stature was small and her soft features made her approachable to even the timidest of cats.
COAT: A beautiful blue Somali color graced Hollythroat's pelt. Long, wispy fur feathered across her body. Her plumed tail would curl gently around her body. Undertones of red and cream lined her lower body.
FACE: Her face was small, but not round. Her angular face featured a soft, dusty red nose. Short, graceful white whiskers jutted from the sides of her face. Beautiful hazel orbs peered from under the distinctive Somali face markings. Her ears were large triangles, their creamy interiors striking atop her darker toned face.
PERSONALITY
CARING: Hollythroat had a kind, caring heart even as a kit. Nurtured by the love of her parents, Hollythroat wished for others to experience that same love. Stories of helpful medicine cat's inspired the she-cat to care for others in a similar way.
ASPIRING: Hollythroat had lots of hope for her Clan. Filled with stories of legends and heroes, Hollythroat dreamed of an era of peace and tranquility for LichenClan. Driven by a still, quiet hope, Hollythroat persevered that even if she wasn't assertive, or had to submit to the decisions of her leaders, that one day goodness would prevail and peace would return.
FEARFUL: Fear drove Hollythroat to operate under the radar as a medicine cat. When she would speak out against the plans of the leader, she knew she would be putting not only herself but her family at risk. Fearful of how far some in LichenClan would go for power, Hollythroat learned to focus only on her tasks of healer and not as advisor.
INSECURE: Hollythroat, some might say, did not have a back bone. She was timid, and this timidness affected how she interacted with her clan and her completed her duties. She would not assert herself in her position of medicine cat. When teaching Cinderface, she hoped that her calm, quiet, kindness would speak louder than anything. On rare occasions when she would be asked for advice, Hollythroat would be soft-spoken and hesitant in bestowing said advice. She became a medicine cat who stayed under the radar, and hoped for better things to come from her failures.
HISTORY
KITHOOD: It was the beginning of green-leaf when Hollykit entered the world. Beside her was her sister, Berrykit. The two she-kits were loved by their parents - Sandbite and Mintheart. Mintheart, their mother, was frequently visited by her friend Egreftfeather as the kits were growing. Sandbite would visit his small family almost every night. Hollykit's parents doted not only on their two daughters, but on each other. The blue Somali she-kit grew up knowing only love and happiness. The nights that Sandbite would spend with his family were Hollykit's favorite nights. Her father would regale his daughters with harrowing tales of battle, perseverance, and legends. Hollykit loved the stories that featured cats who healed the best. When she and Berrykit would play Clan, Hollykit always insisted on being the medicine cat.
APPRENTICESHIP: Hollykit's inclination to help others was noticed by many. The Clan spoke highly of the helpful she-kit and brought her to the attention of the medicine cat, Robinwing. But the tabby she-cat was not impressed with the young kit. Hollykit was devoted to much to serving others and not StarClan. The she-cat, however, was growing sickly and old. StarClan left Robinwing no guidance, and when Hollykit reached six moons of age Robinwing accepted the kit as her apprentice.
During Hollypaw's training, she was stunned by Robinwing's obsessive devotion to StarClan. Hollypaw's mentor had been trained by Lilacbite. Lilacbite had been thrust into the position of medicine cat too young, and was swayed by the influence of the leaders. In dreams Lilacbite conversed with Coyotecall, and through her influence strife and war returned between LichenClan and RedwoodClan. That same corruption and obsessive devotion to StarClan was present in Robinwing, and most certainly would have been passed on to Hollypaw if she had not had the support and love of her family.
As Hollypaw neared her twelfth moon, four apprentices were involved in an accident. Egretfeather, who Hollypaw affectionately called aunt even though they weren't related by blood, saved three of the apprentices. It was the first trial of Hollypaw's training, and her performance in healing the injured apprentices impressed Robinwing. Hollypaw never reached the level of devotion to StarClan that Robinwing thought appropriate for a medicine cat, but her skill in healing made up for it.
Shortly after the incident, a civil war broke out in LichenClan. The old deputy, Nettlefur, passed from old age. The Clan was ripped in two between those who wanted Egretfeather named deputy and those who wanted Sagestrike. Hollypaw was worried the fighting would reach the point that physical battle would break out in the middle of camp, but then Egretfeather was found dead. The she-cat's death was a mystery. When Hollypaw sat beside the she-cat's body with her family, the she-cat noticed the subtle signs of poison. Her heart froze, knowing that only herself and Robinwing would have had access to such herbs. Scared that revealing the truth would result in her own, or her family's, death Hollypaw remained silent about her suspicions.
MEDICINE CAT: Hollypaw reached her twelfth moon. She and her family had sunken into the shadows, worry about their safety after Egretfeather's death spurred them into submission to the leadership of LichenClan. Robinwing had grown progressively sicker over the course of Hollypaw's apprenticeship, and when Hollypaw was of age the medicine cat bestowed her full name - Hollythroat. Robinwing passed soon after.
Hollythroat kept her suspicions about Egretfeather's death to herself. She did her best to prevent Crimsonstar and Sagestrike from using StarClan to rationalize their hunger for war and battle with RedwoodClan, but she was so young compared to the toms that soon she was relegated to to the "menial" tasks of healing, the leader and deputy rarely came to her for guidance from StarClan.
Seasons passed, and Crimsonstar passed from old age having reached his final life. Hollythroat accompanied Sagestrike to the Moon Cave, and sat beside him as he received his nine lives from StarClan. She feared him more than she had feared Crimsonstar. The blue Somali remembered what had happened to Egretfeather, however, and remained complacent and quiet to Sagestar's ambition.
As Sagestar exerted his dominance over the Moon Cave and RedwoodClan, Hollythroat knew she needed help. With battles occurring frequently the she-cat could not keep up with the demand for healing. Although she wished to take on one of her great nieces or nephews, none of them showed interest in the life of a medicine cat. Instead, a small mottled she-kit would frequently find her way into Hollythroat's den. Cinderkit, whose bright hazel eyes glowed with a passion that Hollythroat could not deny. But she hesitated, knowing that Cinderkit came from Icefoot, a StarClan fanatic and staunch Heron line supporter. Hollythroat worried she would not be able to rid the young kit of her mother's influence. Growing short on time, however, Hollythroat was forced to trust that StarClan was bringing Cinderkit to her den for reasons of their own, and so named Cinderkit her apprentice.
Moons passed, and Cinderpaw took quickly to her learning. She was attentive and devoted, but as battle became a norm for LichenClan Hollythroat frequently noticed her apprentice seeking out StarClan and blaming her failures on her lack of faith. Gentle correction, nudges, and advice from Hollythroat only did so much. The time came for Cinderpaw to be named, having completed her training. Hollythroat took Cinderpaw to the Moon Cave, and there bestowed the name of Cinderface onto her apprentice.
As moons passed and Hollythroat grew older, she did her best to continue teaching Cinderface. As LichenClan fell further into war with RedwoodClan, and political strife ripped through the Clan, Hollythroat feared she had not done enough for her Clan. They should be at peace with RedwoodClan and each other...StarClan what do I do? But time continued to pass, and Hollythroat's attempts to pull Cinderface away from her reckless devotion to StarClan continued to fail. The blue Somali grew tired and weak with age. Whatever bond she had shared with Cinderface during the mottled she-cat's apprentice ship was gone. As Hollythroat neared her 170th moon, she knew life was coming to a close for her. One final night she meditated by the pool of water in the den. It's source is the Moon Cave pool, she had once told Cinderface. Staring into its depths, she prayed one final prayer that StarClan would forgive her clan, and would not abandon them to destruction.
That night, Hollythroat passed away in her sleep, her hope for peace in her Clan guiding her to the starry sky above.
BUILD: Rain was rather small for her age but really well built under her medium-length cloak. She possessed the strong four limbs of a stone-guard and the agile back limbs of a prey-hunter as she worked to make sure she was trained to assist her tribe in all roles.
COAT: Rain's fur was not exactly short but also was not extremely long. While the she-cat was mostly put together mentally, her fur did not reflect her sound mind as Rain was known for her disheveled and dirtied coat. Her tabby markings were usually streaked with mud, and matted fur often stuck out from her smaller frame.
FACE: Rain's features were nothing out of the ordinary to make her stick out compared to the other cats in her tribe. She carried the normal tabby markings across her forehead and had gentle olive green eyes. She did, however, have a large notch taken out of her left ear when she tussled with a fox cub as a to-be.
PERSONALITY
CARING: It is often said that had Rain not become a Teller and did not suffer from paranoids, she would have made a wonderful den-mother. The she-cat commonly went out of her way to make sure that her tribe had available resources. She made numerous den visits and had a soft heart for kits.
ATTENTIVE: Rain was detailed-orientated. She wanted to know every inch of the island and what was going on in the land she watched over. She wanted to know where each den was situated on the island, who lived where, and how every member was doing, not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. She enjoyed her time getting to sit and talk with all her members, from the youngest kit to the oldest has-been.
IMPULSIVE: When it came to providing care for her tribe, Rain was known to act upon instinct rather than thought. This caused her to make numerous rash decisions. She never meant any harm, but there were several instances where the situation could have been handled better if Rain had taken her time to think about a resolution.
PARANOID: Due to the circumstances of her earlier moons, Rain dealt with a lot of her paranoia and anxiety. This mostly stemmed from her mentor's horrendous request before her death and the starvation her tribe suffered through. As a teller, Rain was always on edge. She hated the sound of whispers and always felt as if she had eyes on her that were waiting to reveal any dark secret she thought she had buried long ago.
HISTORY
KIT: Rain that Waters the Land was born on the night that ended the long drought, which had plagued the tribes for many moons. With her birth, came rain. When her parents visited the teller to choose her name, Rain was blessed with promises that her future would hold great possibilities. So her parents raised her to be attentive to those around her, kind in her words, and fierce in her loyalty to the tribe.
TO-BE: At the age of six moons, Rain began her generalized to-be training, and it wasn't long before the head prey-hunter and head stone-guard were arguing over who would get her when she became of age due to her hard-working nature and love for the tribe. Rain excelled in most tasks given to her, and when she did fail, she always asked questions in order to improve her short-comings.
When she was about ten moons old, Rain, wanting to prove herself even more to her tribe mates, slunk out of her den and into the forests of the tribe. She wanted to search for a herb that Black Bear had spoken of earlier that day, one that he had wrestled to find for moons. Instead of the herb, she found a fox den. Finding the mother no where nearby, Rain decided that if she could run the fox cubs out of the den, then she'd save the tribe a hassle down the road. So she dove in and quickly realized that she was in over her head. The two fox cubs quickly over powered her and drove her from the den, tearing her ear and leaving her with several other bites and scratches.
Limping her way back to the tribe, Stone-guards were quickly dispatched to care for the fox cubs, and Rain was herded to the Teller's den. After several scoldings, Rain promised she wouldn't go out on her own anymore. But her actions were not forgotten. Black Bear watched the she-cat for a few moons more, remembering a vision he had long before.
TELLER'S APPRENTICE: At eleven moons old, Rain was approached by Black Bear with the inquiry if she would like to start her training as his apprentice to be the next Teller of the tribe. Confused, Rain questioned his choice. She never imagined becoming the next teller. Black Bear then explained that he had a vision long before her birth that prophesied Rain's role as the next teller, but he did not want to start her training too soon. He wanted her to live a normal to-be life in order to be well-rounded in both roles before she took on the weight of the entire tribe. Excited by the notion of eventually leading the tribe, Rain accepted, and thus began her many moons of training to become the tribes next leader.
Most of her training went well during the time she trained under Black Bear. However not everything could remain peaceful. During this time, the head prey-hunter, Cypress, was careless with his preservation. He ran his prey-hunters like wolves and over-hunted the islands until there was no prey left. Black Bear had been so focused on his new pupil, that he did not realize what the tom had done until it was too late. Soon, the tribe quickly began to starve. During this time, Black bear also weakened due to the coming winter winds, lack of food, and his age.
In his last moments, he had Rain follow him to his final resting place and ordered her to take his body and shred it, giving it to the tribe as a source of food. Horrified, Rain started to object but Black Bear explained to her that if the tribe suffered any more losses than the whole island itself would fall apart in their absence. Reluctantly, Rain did as her mentor asked and miraculously the tribe and the island thrived and survived.
TELLER: While the tribe was able to survive the winter, their losses were tremendous, and Rain had few resources as the new teller. Her mental state was also unwell, and she started to suffer from nightmares and bouts of extreme paranoia. Still, she refused to let more of her tribe-mates die. She had to do this for her former mentor. His life was not lost for nothing. As the warm winds came back to the island, Cypress was demoted, and and older prey-hunter, one who Rain trusted named Tansy, was anointed to take his rank.
Under Tansy, the tribe returned to its traditions and worked hard to preserve all of the island's inhabitants. This allowed the tribe cats to flourish, and to Rain's relief, new kits were welcomed to their ranks. Around the time, the teller found solace in an old friend, a prey-hunter named Crane, who had trained with her as a to-be. He soon became a comfort to the rattled she-cat and would take her on hunts to distract her anxious mind.
Around her fourth season, and second season as teller, Rain and Crane welcomed two kits into the world, a tom and a she-cat, named Kite and Daisy. While Rain wanted to adore her kits with all of her heart, she continued to suffer from paranoia, which later turned into horrible post-partum depression. Her two kits were then nursed from another kit-mother, and Tansy, and her head stone-guard, Lightning, ran the tribe while she worked to heal herself. When her kits were around six moons old, and about to become to-bes, Rain re-introduced herself into their lives and was able to develop a better relationship with them. She and Crane decide to never have another litter of kits due to the mental stress it had caused Rain.
Once her kits were to-bes, and her mind was clearer, Rain re-took over duties as the teller and through herself into her work. Rain continued to work like this for a few seasons as the tribe flourished into its former self. The Great Hunger was a mere memory to her tribe-mates, but when the winter months became long, or a horrendous storm raged above, Rain found herself slipping, and she was back beside her mentor and his grave. The trauma of the winter never left her mind.
When Rain was around nine seasons old, she started to wonder when the Tribe of Endless Hunting would send her an apprentice. However, her ancestors remained silent. It was not until the summer solstice did the ancient tribe send her a vision. Rain was near the lake, watching the waves crash into the shore when she heard a noise suddenly crack behind her. Startled, the she-cat turned and saw the massive silhouette of a wolf. Their eyes met, and despite it's colossal size, the she-cat did not feel fear, and then she blinked. The wolf vanished. It was a vision. Rain immediately returned home and anointed a ten moon old to-be named Jaw of the Wolf as the next teller of the tribe.
The tom proved to be a fruitful apprentice. He was smart, charismatic, and had a knack for herbs. As Jaw of the Wolf continued to train under Rain, the she-cat anxiousness dwindled. There was relief in knowing that her tribe would be left in capable paws, and for the first time in a long time, the she-cat felt at peace. This did not last.
Near the end of the season, a tribe-member named Lark is exiled from the clan. While Lightning was on island patrol, his stone-guards discovered the torn and mangled body of their tribe-mate, Owl, near the lake, and Lark's stoic form, sitting beside her. Confronted, the massive tom did not hide what he had done, and then he left, vanishing into the dense forests on the mainland. The tribe-cats watched in disbelief, too started to follow him, and later, when Rain sends a patrol to permanently banish him from the tribe, his scent is not found. The tribe never saw Lark again.
As the seasons ends, and the new season starts, both Tansy and Lightning retire as from their ranks and become has-beens. Rain anoints Moth Guided by Fireflies as the head prey-hunter and Talon of the Owl who Hunts at Dawn as the new head-stone-guard. Both cats were recommended to the teller due to their work ethic and skill in their role. The tribe flourished from the end of winter until the start of fall. Rain continued to train Jaw of the Wolf, her anxieties soothed as the tom remained a constant source of relief due to his natural knack for his role. However, sickness descended over the tribe the moment the cold winds returned.
Rain and Jaw worked tirelessly to heal their clan-mates, but their stocked storage of cat-mint soon diminished due to its high demand, and no more was able to be harvested with the cold weather. As the season came to a close, Jaw succumbed to the sickness. He had been around the sick too much, and due to his work ethic, his immune system had weakened. No matter what Rain tried, the tom did not heal, and before the next season started, he died. With his death, Rain's paranoia and anxiety returned like a horrific wave.
A few night's later, the she-cat received another vision during a sudden sleet storm. While the rain and ice pounded into the tribe stone above, Rain became still as a vision of a river breaking a rock into numerous pieces overcame her mind. With a shallow breath, Rain knew who the next teller would be. As the sleet storm raged into the island, the she-cat summoned her tribe and announced her decision. Creek that Breaks the Stone would be the next teller.
Rain trained her new apprentice for only six moons before the sickness claimed her. While the black and white tom was kind and attentive to his den-mates, he still had a lot to learn, and this worried the she-cat. Creek did not soothe her as Jaw had, and as her sickness worsened, her mental wellness deteriorated as well. Even visits from her mate, children, and their children did little to ease her mind. Rain knew that soon she would return to the earth, and she had to leave all that she could with Creek.
In her dying breath, the she-cat whispered to her apprentice: "You are the first ripple, Creek." Her mind returned to her first vision, recalling how the rocks separated. She did not know what this meant, not for the tom, not for her sick tribe, but for the first time in her life, the she-cat felt at peace. Then she took another shallow, small breath and entered the Tribe of Endless Hunting.
