Post by ))Nocturne(( on Jan 11, 2007 22:52:30 GMT -5
Name: Nocturnestar
Age: 46 moons
Gender: Male
Position: Leader
Clan: DayClan
Appearance: Picture Here
Nocturnestar’s build, while obviously not one solely of a fighter, is fairly solid. While he is rather lanky in appearance, he makes up for this is physical strength, and also his speed. He is very long-limbed, giving him a definitely graceful appearance. His tail is long and thin, which gives him not only the good sense of balance possessed by all cats, but also a uniquely mysterious look to match the very sound of his name.
His pelt is short in length, comprised entirely of a single color - a deep, solid ebony hue that gives him the appearance of a moving shadow both at night and during the day. The only part of his fur that is not completely black is a spot on his left shoulder, a silvery patch of fur that resembles the shape of a musical eighth note, which probably explains the origin of his name.
One obvious problem presented by his short coat length is, obviously, a certain weakness to the cold. For this reason, Nocturnestar has a general preference to warm weather; and even though his pelt could shed water easily enough, he doesn’t find swimming a highly enjoyable activity. So, unless the circumstances are quite unusual, his pelt is most often well-groomed and sleek in appearance.
Nocturnestar’s face is wedge-shaped as in oriental breeds. His ears are quite large, almost like those of a bat, and he has an excellent range of hearing to match. His most distinctive facial feature, however, is undoubtedly his eyes - they are two liquid pools of silver; always gentle to those he cares about, yet capable of being quite fierce when he is angry. Generally, they prove unreadable to those around him, although in cases of extreme emotion, his feelings may show through the glittering orbs – especially so when he is angry, and the rage comes through quite obviously in his eyes.
Generally speaking, the DayClan leader will almost never be seen with an entirely serious look on his face. The closest he comes, unless in a situation of much stress or anger for him, is usually a slight half-smile which he uses when reprimanding small amounts of bad behavior on the parts of the younger cats in his Clan. But mostly, he tends toward wearing a friendly smile, and definitely prefers it that way.
The way Nocturnestar holds himself, both when standing still and while in stride, has often been commented on as far too casual for a cat in his position. Indeed, his body language is more similar to that of a warrior than that of what many would deem to be a “proper” leader. Then again, some cats are more comfortable in his presence due to this habit of carrying himself; it really depends on the individuals he is around, and their personal preferences.
Personality: If someone very cynical was to take a look at Nocturnestar’s personality, they would most likely say immediately that it wasn’t fit for a leader so much as a warrior. Truly, his laid-back attitude and occasionally overly optimistic outlook on life isn’t exactly what most would expect from a cat in charge of running their own Clan; he has a certain kit-like innocence, too, although it has diminished noticeably over the seasons where he has seen enough fighting to last him a lifetime.
Overall, Nocturnestar has a very happy attitude toward most of everyone. He is almost bubbly in his outgoingness, which may come as a surprise to those who are just meeting him for the first time. He loves to talk with others, and often seeks out company when there is none to be readily found. This doesn’t keep him from being endlessly loyal to DayClan, though, or immensely caring and understanding to his friends.
On important issues, Nocturnestar has a bit of difficulty deciding for himself – honestly, he has a deeply-ingrained fear of the consequences that his actions will bring about, especially when it comes to deciding on a battle or dangerous tasks to assign his warriors. He’s not overly worrisome, true enough, but he likes to know everyone’s opinions before making any long-term decisions for the Clan.
When it comes to being a leader, Nocturnestar isn’t exactly used to all of the responsibilities that come with his position; there seems to be a big difference, in his mind, between organizing patrols as a deputy, and deciding things on behalf of the whole Clan as a leader. He makes a real effort to do his best at everything, and is well aware that that is all he can do – although, in a way, it proves stressful for him to figure out just where his limit lies.
Though it has improved since he became the leader of DayClan, Nocturnestar has a certain lack of confidence in his own abilities. He has plenty of support from his Clan mates, and no one has yet challenged his position of power, but self-confidence is really where he comes up short on this issue. He tries to hide any insecurity he may have, but on occasion, it does show through in a nervous stutter, or too long a pause when speaking at a Gathering, or at a Clan meeting.
Generally, Nocturnestar is highly thoughtful of what he says in the presence of others – the feelings of his friends and Clan mates are very important to him, and he wants to preserve a good morale throughout the Clan if at all possible. But more than that, he likes keeping his relations with others friendly whenever he can; it hardly matters whether they are in his Clan or not.
Nocturnestar highly prefers diplomacy and usage of common courtesy to confrontation, whether in battle or everyday situations. He refers to this often in a joking manner, although really, it’s very important to him that he, if no one else, acts this way. He tries to convince his Clan that peace is the best thing for everyone, but he isn’t against fighting if he is pushed.
The safety of his Clan comes before all else, and any cat who threatens that is quite beyond the boundary of what he will tolerate. Nocturnestar very rarely loses his temper, but any being – cat or not – endangering his Clan causes one of those occasions. It is these times that he proves fiercest in battle, and won’t hesitate against any opponent – the obvious exception being cats who he has previously befriended across Clan boundaries, which is not exactly an uncommon practice for him. He doesn’t see why it’s so wrong to befriend other Clans, and while some may ridicule him for thinking that, he doesn’t seem bothered by it at all.
History: Nocturnestar was born outside of Clan territory, in the litter of a rogue she-cat named Eclipse. His mother was aptly named; she was a pure black she-cat, and nothing but her sharp golden eyes gave her away in the darkness of night. Nocturnestar’s father was a warrior of DayClan, his pelt entirely white in a sharp contrast to his mother’s, and was called Whitehaze.
The two met with rather unusual circumstances; while many stories tell of cats that meet and fall head-over-paws in love with each other and become mates, the exact opposite was true of Eclipse and Whitehaze’s relationship. The two first became acquainted when Eclipse was found wandering into DayClan territory; Whitehaze was one of the warriors sent to escort her back to the border on this occasion.
After their first encounter, Whitehaze sought out the mysterious she-cat once more, and questioned her motives for coming into Clan territory in the beginning; it was quite obvious that Eclipse had no intention of joining a Clan, so that option was automatically ruled out. In fact, the she-cat explained shortly to him, it had been for a much different reason that she ventured into DayClan territory that day - it had been in search of a mate.
Confused by this, Whitehaze inquired as to why she would search among the Clan cats for a mate, when she would be much better suited to another rogue. Eclipse went on to explain that she did not want love from a relationship then--something that would burden her, and tie her down, when she wished so much to be free--but was intent on producing an heir to her bloodline. And, much to Whitehaze’s surprise, she then asked if he would be the cat to help her.
Though hesitant, and unsure of the she-cat’s further motives, Whitehaze agreed. The two mated, and he left her later that day, telling himself firmly that he would have no involvement with Eclipse or their future kits; it would become a promise that was difficult to keep.
Several moons later, Whitehaze was practically dying to know what had happened to the she-cat that he’d left by the edge of DayClan territory. He finally set off to find her, only to discover upon his arrival the Eclipse had given birth to her kits. And two beautiful kits they were; Rhapsody, the eldest, a tom, looked very much like Whitehaze, while the younger kit, Nocturnestar--then called simply Nocturne--was a dark ebony just like his mother.
It was then that Whitehaze realized that he did not wish for his offspring to be raised as rogues, away from him where he could not see or interact with them; he asked Eclipse to allow him to take the kits back to DayClan. The she-cat outright refused, and a battle ensued. Vicious claws and fangs were used to their limits, and neither cat could seem to get the upper hand.
Finally, though both of them were exhausted by their fight, Whitehaze was able to pin Eclipse to the ground, the victor at last decided. But rather than kill the cat whose kits he had fathered, the DayClan tom proposed that they each keep on kit; his sense of justice had not deserted him, even through the bloody battle. Attempting to catch him off his guard, Eclipse agreed to his terms. Slowly, he allowed Eclipse to stand, wary that the she-cat would attack him again.
But he did not wait to see what her reaction would be; instead, he darted over to grab the nearest kit--the smaller of the two, Nocturne--and bounded back into DayClan territory. He left behind a cursing and spitting Eclipse, who was enraged at the theft of her kit, and vowed vengeance upon him as he disappeared into the undergrowth.
When he returned to camp bearing young Nocturne with him, Whitehaze was met with suspicion from his Clan mates. He presented Nocturne to the Clan leader, and begged for the young kit to be allowed into the Clan; though the majority of the cats disagreed with him for want of clearer motives and explanation, the leader was a kind and understanding cat - Nocturne, now given the name Nocturnekit, was allowed to remain in DayClan, under the care of a queen that had only a single kit of her own, a she-cat named Sterlingsight.
Although at first the Clan was very suspicious and distrustful of the new bundle that had been brought into their camp, Nocturnekit’s presence began to become an expected part of every DayClan cat’s routine. Slowly, the Clan cats began to warm up to him, the fastest of whom was his foster mother, Sterlingsight. Also, his foster sister, Ravenkit, was incredibly fond of Nocturnekit’s company, and the two became fast friends.
When he was one moon old, however, tragedy struck for little Nocturnekit. His father, Whitehaze, disappeared while out on a hunting patrol, and did not return to camp. While Nocturnekit was desperate to search for his father, Sterlingsight knew the dangers that would arise for a near-helpless kit, and did not allow her adoptive son to do so.
Very soon, however, a patrol discovered Whitehaze’s body in the middle of the forest. Next to the dead tom, they also found a pitch-black she-cat, who had suffered the same fate as their own warrior. No cat was certain of the truth; they did not know that the she-cat was Nocturnekit’s mother, Eclipse, trying to take revenge on Whitehaze, and reclaim her second kit. It was that day, when he learned of his father’s death, that Nocturnekit began more readily absorbing the Clans’ beliefs in StarClan - for his father was there, he was sure, watching over him with the star-bound Clan.
Sterlingsight, incredibly moved by poor Nocturnekit’s immense grief, became like an actual mother to the young kit; no longer were they separated by boundaries of blood - Nocturnekit may as well have been Sterlingsight’s own kit, as that was how he was treated from that day forth.
The next moons flew by in a flash, and soon, Nocturnekit and Ravenkit were ready to be made apprentices. They were given the names Nocturnepaw and Ravenpaw, and both assigned their own mentors - Nocturnepaw was given to Sterlingsight to train, while Ravenpaw was apprenticed to a she-cat called Snowybreeze, a cousin of Whitehaze’s. The two were nearly inseparable throughout the beginning of their training, and many of the Clan saw them as being equal in loving affection to any blood-related siblings.
For four long moons, the two young cats became friendly rivals in their training; one was always trying to best the other, and in this way, they quickly progressed through the most advanced of tasks set before the Clan’s apprentices.
When they were twelve moons old, Nocturnepaw and Ravenpaw were called before the Clan to receive their warrior names. As they stood beneath the star-filled leafbare sky, each promised to uphold the warrior code, and Nocturnepaw could have sworn that he saw his father’s face in the stars, smiling down at him with an expression of love and pride. They were given the names Nocturnemark and Ravenclaw, and the Clan celebrated the two new warriors with all of the respect that any cat deserved and hoped for in such an event.
Four moons passed by in a normal, peaceful routine of life, and Nocturnemark and Ravenclaw loyally did all they could to better serve their Clan. However, just before newleaf arrived in its fullest, a dreadful outbreak of Greencough erupted in the camp. Although the sick cats were isolated from the rest of the Clan as quickly as possible, the Clan deputy fell ill, and passed into the paws of StarClan soon before the illness was cleansed from the camp at last.
Nocturnemark never expected that before the following moonhigh, he himself would be appointed the Clan’s new deputy. The young tom promised to faithfully serve his Clan, but felt more than a twinge of unease that he had been chosen for such an important position in DayClan.
For many moons, Nocturnemark served DayClan with all the responsibility and caring that a Clan could hope for in its deputy. But very soon, another event occurred that would alter the course of the tomcat’s life in a way that no one could have expected.
It wasn’t clear just when the depression of the DayClan leader of the time, Moonstar, had begun; certainly, in all fairness, the she-cat had been quite adept at hiding her own weakness from her Clan, although none of those who served under her found it easy to remember events that way. But in any case, it became apparent around fifteen moons into Nocturnemark’s deputyship that the leader was not well.
Although the Clan medicine cat did all they could for the ailing leader, it was obvious that few improvements were being made – Moonstar saw things that others could not, possibly a symptom of the increased depression of having lost her litter of kits moons before; the stress of being a leader was evidently much too great for her, and yet no one dared suggest that the position be filled by a different cat.
Then, one day while out on a hunting patrol near the outer edges of DayClan territory, Moonstar simply disappeared. The she-cat did not return to camp, and although search parties were sent out, the old leader knew her way around the forest well; each boggy patch of ground she passed through sent the Clan farther and farther off her trail, until eventually, that trail went cold.
It was not at all obvious what happened to Moonstar after that, since her Clan mates could no longer find any sign of her – Nocturnemark was left to lead the Clan, among whispers and rumors that the old leader had died. Perhaps, the medicine cat had pondered privately with the deputy at the time, Moonstar had finally sensed that StarClan was calling her, and gone off to die a peaceful death away from prying eyes.
Then again, some supposed, it could have been the work of the dark shadows looming over her that Moonstar had often spoken of that drove the she-cat to her early demise away from her loving Clan.
Nocturnemark himself had no doubt that Moonstar would never have abandoned her Clan when she was in her right mind. The tom grieved for as much time as his responsibility allowed, for he had known the old leader in the prime of her life; she had been his role model, and a beloved friend that he would never forget.
But indeed, Nocturnemark had a duty to his Clan, one that he was determined to fulfill despite the pain of losing Moonstar. He traveled to receive his nine lives from StarClan, and assume the duties of a true leader – something he regretted having to do in Moonstar’s absence, but at a time he knew that his Clan needed a leader just the same.
When he spoke with StarClan, several faces from his past appeared; Whitehaze, his father, was one of several cats that he recognized. And the last among the cats who granted him his lives was one who made his heart ache on sight: Moonstar, the former leader of DayClan. The old cat, now transported back to her youthful appearance and intelligence, encouraged him not to fret over her death – it was simply her time to go, and his time to lead, she had assured him.
Nocturnemark returned to his Clan bearing the nine lives of a true leader, and also the name Nocturnestar. He resolved, for every cat to hear and know, that he would take care of DayClan in the same way Moonstar had in the prime of her life. And he could feel the cats of StarClan, high above, watching and listening to him with approval.
Nocturnestar has since led his Clan without hesitation; he has yet to learn all of the ways of a leader, and some of his habits from his warrior and deputy days will never die. But he has made a promise, not only to the living cats around him, but to those departed that he dearly loved. He has no intention of breaking that promise, as long as he still draws breath.
Other: Nothing that I can think of.
IC: ((An excerpt from another of my RPs.))
Had she been a lesser cat - had she not been fully aware and almost accustomed to how the forest worked and the fact that death was, in fact, a part of it all - Astralpace was sure that right then, she would have just burst out from all the pressure suddenly upon her and cried. Why did the world have to be so complicated? Why? It was all going horribly wrong, and now on top of this death, they had to go and fight a battle with StealthPack?
But the female warrior kept that metaphorical lid shut tight, clamping down on her true feelings for the sake of her Clan; for the sake of everything. If she fell apart, that would only burden Seastar and Littlestep further. She couldn't have that now - a time would come later to grieve for Flutterfoot, when they were back in their homelands, and had driven out the vultures that now took residence there.
Yet something that Seastar said caught her attention, and Astralpace ran it through her mind a second time: "First Rainbowtail, now Flutterfoot." Those had been her leader's exact words, had they not? The flame-colored she-cat felt her muscles stiffen up in shock - no wonder her Clan mates had been so on edge...Rainbowtail, dead?
Bowing her head in a moment of silent grief, Astralpace attempted to pull herself together. She wished, oh how she wished, that this was all a nightmare from which she would awaken soon, back in her own territory. And Flutterfoot and Rainbowtail would be just fine, offering to come on hunting patrols with her, or lounging about the camp as all the cats occasionally did.
Still, it seemed that no dream could be as bad as this; the warrior blinked away another tear from her eye, knowing what a devastating loss SpringClan had suffered today. Not only Flutterfoot, a loyal and kind warrior, but Rainbowtail as well - part of the warrior council, the LightCats' Nest Queen. And what of her kits...? Although they were nearly full-grown now, the three apprentices would doubtless miss their mother dearly.
Glancing over to where Heartnose lay hunched on the floor, Astralpace could guess all too keenly how the poor tom felt. Regardless of formal announcement, he had obviously been the closest to Rainbowtail in the whole Clan. While Littlestep, she knew, had shared a close bond of friendship with the tortoiseshell queen, the adoration she had seen in Heartnose's eyes time and again for the fallen she-cat had been too immense to describe.
"Yes, Seastar," Astralpace finally replied to the order, stepping heavily to her paws. Even from where she stood, the majority of the LightCats seemed scattered about, scurrying hither and thither, trying to round up missing Clan mates. All seemed occupied from this vantage point, although one familiar silhouette lingered under the shadows of the lofts.
Lostwing. Or Lost, I hear he goes by now. The she-cat blinked, rather surprised by the tom's presence, before she remembered that he had been let out on a parol by their leader. After his turn to the life of a rogue, Astralpace could guess that Seastar wouldn't easily trust him, but...Perhaps all he needed was a second chance.
And besides, half the Clan appeared busy with one thing or another; all of the apprentices were most likely too small to lift such a burden...And the warriors seemed more dwindling in number now than ever before. Making a swift decision, Astralpace turned back to Seastar with a questioning glance, flicking her ears in Lost's direction.
Will she trust him with this so soon? Or am I wasting my time? With a sad half-smile, the ginger-coated warrior asked aloud, "What about Lost? I assume we're taking him with us; he'll be valuable in that battle to come." If she doesn't assume he'll turn traitor, that is. Quickly, Astralpace added, "He's earned another chance, and since he isn't busy..."
Blade, Feline
Age: 46 moons
Gender: Male
Position: Leader
Clan: DayClan
Appearance: Picture Here
Nocturnestar’s build, while obviously not one solely of a fighter, is fairly solid. While he is rather lanky in appearance, he makes up for this is physical strength, and also his speed. He is very long-limbed, giving him a definitely graceful appearance. His tail is long and thin, which gives him not only the good sense of balance possessed by all cats, but also a uniquely mysterious look to match the very sound of his name.
His pelt is short in length, comprised entirely of a single color - a deep, solid ebony hue that gives him the appearance of a moving shadow both at night and during the day. The only part of his fur that is not completely black is a spot on his left shoulder, a silvery patch of fur that resembles the shape of a musical eighth note, which probably explains the origin of his name.
One obvious problem presented by his short coat length is, obviously, a certain weakness to the cold. For this reason, Nocturnestar has a general preference to warm weather; and even though his pelt could shed water easily enough, he doesn’t find swimming a highly enjoyable activity. So, unless the circumstances are quite unusual, his pelt is most often well-groomed and sleek in appearance.
Nocturnestar’s face is wedge-shaped as in oriental breeds. His ears are quite large, almost like those of a bat, and he has an excellent range of hearing to match. His most distinctive facial feature, however, is undoubtedly his eyes - they are two liquid pools of silver; always gentle to those he cares about, yet capable of being quite fierce when he is angry. Generally, they prove unreadable to those around him, although in cases of extreme emotion, his feelings may show through the glittering orbs – especially so when he is angry, and the rage comes through quite obviously in his eyes.
Generally speaking, the DayClan leader will almost never be seen with an entirely serious look on his face. The closest he comes, unless in a situation of much stress or anger for him, is usually a slight half-smile which he uses when reprimanding small amounts of bad behavior on the parts of the younger cats in his Clan. But mostly, he tends toward wearing a friendly smile, and definitely prefers it that way.
The way Nocturnestar holds himself, both when standing still and while in stride, has often been commented on as far too casual for a cat in his position. Indeed, his body language is more similar to that of a warrior than that of what many would deem to be a “proper” leader. Then again, some cats are more comfortable in his presence due to this habit of carrying himself; it really depends on the individuals he is around, and their personal preferences.
Personality: If someone very cynical was to take a look at Nocturnestar’s personality, they would most likely say immediately that it wasn’t fit for a leader so much as a warrior. Truly, his laid-back attitude and occasionally overly optimistic outlook on life isn’t exactly what most would expect from a cat in charge of running their own Clan; he has a certain kit-like innocence, too, although it has diminished noticeably over the seasons where he has seen enough fighting to last him a lifetime.
Overall, Nocturnestar has a very happy attitude toward most of everyone. He is almost bubbly in his outgoingness, which may come as a surprise to those who are just meeting him for the first time. He loves to talk with others, and often seeks out company when there is none to be readily found. This doesn’t keep him from being endlessly loyal to DayClan, though, or immensely caring and understanding to his friends.
On important issues, Nocturnestar has a bit of difficulty deciding for himself – honestly, he has a deeply-ingrained fear of the consequences that his actions will bring about, especially when it comes to deciding on a battle or dangerous tasks to assign his warriors. He’s not overly worrisome, true enough, but he likes to know everyone’s opinions before making any long-term decisions for the Clan.
When it comes to being a leader, Nocturnestar isn’t exactly used to all of the responsibilities that come with his position; there seems to be a big difference, in his mind, between organizing patrols as a deputy, and deciding things on behalf of the whole Clan as a leader. He makes a real effort to do his best at everything, and is well aware that that is all he can do – although, in a way, it proves stressful for him to figure out just where his limit lies.
Though it has improved since he became the leader of DayClan, Nocturnestar has a certain lack of confidence in his own abilities. He has plenty of support from his Clan mates, and no one has yet challenged his position of power, but self-confidence is really where he comes up short on this issue. He tries to hide any insecurity he may have, but on occasion, it does show through in a nervous stutter, or too long a pause when speaking at a Gathering, or at a Clan meeting.
Generally, Nocturnestar is highly thoughtful of what he says in the presence of others – the feelings of his friends and Clan mates are very important to him, and he wants to preserve a good morale throughout the Clan if at all possible. But more than that, he likes keeping his relations with others friendly whenever he can; it hardly matters whether they are in his Clan or not.
Nocturnestar highly prefers diplomacy and usage of common courtesy to confrontation, whether in battle or everyday situations. He refers to this often in a joking manner, although really, it’s very important to him that he, if no one else, acts this way. He tries to convince his Clan that peace is the best thing for everyone, but he isn’t against fighting if he is pushed.
The safety of his Clan comes before all else, and any cat who threatens that is quite beyond the boundary of what he will tolerate. Nocturnestar very rarely loses his temper, but any being – cat or not – endangering his Clan causes one of those occasions. It is these times that he proves fiercest in battle, and won’t hesitate against any opponent – the obvious exception being cats who he has previously befriended across Clan boundaries, which is not exactly an uncommon practice for him. He doesn’t see why it’s so wrong to befriend other Clans, and while some may ridicule him for thinking that, he doesn’t seem bothered by it at all.
History: Nocturnestar was born outside of Clan territory, in the litter of a rogue she-cat named Eclipse. His mother was aptly named; she was a pure black she-cat, and nothing but her sharp golden eyes gave her away in the darkness of night. Nocturnestar’s father was a warrior of DayClan, his pelt entirely white in a sharp contrast to his mother’s, and was called Whitehaze.
The two met with rather unusual circumstances; while many stories tell of cats that meet and fall head-over-paws in love with each other and become mates, the exact opposite was true of Eclipse and Whitehaze’s relationship. The two first became acquainted when Eclipse was found wandering into DayClan territory; Whitehaze was one of the warriors sent to escort her back to the border on this occasion.
After their first encounter, Whitehaze sought out the mysterious she-cat once more, and questioned her motives for coming into Clan territory in the beginning; it was quite obvious that Eclipse had no intention of joining a Clan, so that option was automatically ruled out. In fact, the she-cat explained shortly to him, it had been for a much different reason that she ventured into DayClan territory that day - it had been in search of a mate.
Confused by this, Whitehaze inquired as to why she would search among the Clan cats for a mate, when she would be much better suited to another rogue. Eclipse went on to explain that she did not want love from a relationship then--something that would burden her, and tie her down, when she wished so much to be free--but was intent on producing an heir to her bloodline. And, much to Whitehaze’s surprise, she then asked if he would be the cat to help her.
Though hesitant, and unsure of the she-cat’s further motives, Whitehaze agreed. The two mated, and he left her later that day, telling himself firmly that he would have no involvement with Eclipse or their future kits; it would become a promise that was difficult to keep.
Several moons later, Whitehaze was practically dying to know what had happened to the she-cat that he’d left by the edge of DayClan territory. He finally set off to find her, only to discover upon his arrival the Eclipse had given birth to her kits. And two beautiful kits they were; Rhapsody, the eldest, a tom, looked very much like Whitehaze, while the younger kit, Nocturnestar--then called simply Nocturne--was a dark ebony just like his mother.
It was then that Whitehaze realized that he did not wish for his offspring to be raised as rogues, away from him where he could not see or interact with them; he asked Eclipse to allow him to take the kits back to DayClan. The she-cat outright refused, and a battle ensued. Vicious claws and fangs were used to their limits, and neither cat could seem to get the upper hand.
Finally, though both of them were exhausted by their fight, Whitehaze was able to pin Eclipse to the ground, the victor at last decided. But rather than kill the cat whose kits he had fathered, the DayClan tom proposed that they each keep on kit; his sense of justice had not deserted him, even through the bloody battle. Attempting to catch him off his guard, Eclipse agreed to his terms. Slowly, he allowed Eclipse to stand, wary that the she-cat would attack him again.
But he did not wait to see what her reaction would be; instead, he darted over to grab the nearest kit--the smaller of the two, Nocturne--and bounded back into DayClan territory. He left behind a cursing and spitting Eclipse, who was enraged at the theft of her kit, and vowed vengeance upon him as he disappeared into the undergrowth.
When he returned to camp bearing young Nocturne with him, Whitehaze was met with suspicion from his Clan mates. He presented Nocturne to the Clan leader, and begged for the young kit to be allowed into the Clan; though the majority of the cats disagreed with him for want of clearer motives and explanation, the leader was a kind and understanding cat - Nocturne, now given the name Nocturnekit, was allowed to remain in DayClan, under the care of a queen that had only a single kit of her own, a she-cat named Sterlingsight.
Although at first the Clan was very suspicious and distrustful of the new bundle that had been brought into their camp, Nocturnekit’s presence began to become an expected part of every DayClan cat’s routine. Slowly, the Clan cats began to warm up to him, the fastest of whom was his foster mother, Sterlingsight. Also, his foster sister, Ravenkit, was incredibly fond of Nocturnekit’s company, and the two became fast friends.
When he was one moon old, however, tragedy struck for little Nocturnekit. His father, Whitehaze, disappeared while out on a hunting patrol, and did not return to camp. While Nocturnekit was desperate to search for his father, Sterlingsight knew the dangers that would arise for a near-helpless kit, and did not allow her adoptive son to do so.
Very soon, however, a patrol discovered Whitehaze’s body in the middle of the forest. Next to the dead tom, they also found a pitch-black she-cat, who had suffered the same fate as their own warrior. No cat was certain of the truth; they did not know that the she-cat was Nocturnekit’s mother, Eclipse, trying to take revenge on Whitehaze, and reclaim her second kit. It was that day, when he learned of his father’s death, that Nocturnekit began more readily absorbing the Clans’ beliefs in StarClan - for his father was there, he was sure, watching over him with the star-bound Clan.
Sterlingsight, incredibly moved by poor Nocturnekit’s immense grief, became like an actual mother to the young kit; no longer were they separated by boundaries of blood - Nocturnekit may as well have been Sterlingsight’s own kit, as that was how he was treated from that day forth.
The next moons flew by in a flash, and soon, Nocturnekit and Ravenkit were ready to be made apprentices. They were given the names Nocturnepaw and Ravenpaw, and both assigned their own mentors - Nocturnepaw was given to Sterlingsight to train, while Ravenpaw was apprenticed to a she-cat called Snowybreeze, a cousin of Whitehaze’s. The two were nearly inseparable throughout the beginning of their training, and many of the Clan saw them as being equal in loving affection to any blood-related siblings.
For four long moons, the two young cats became friendly rivals in their training; one was always trying to best the other, and in this way, they quickly progressed through the most advanced of tasks set before the Clan’s apprentices.
When they were twelve moons old, Nocturnepaw and Ravenpaw were called before the Clan to receive their warrior names. As they stood beneath the star-filled leafbare sky, each promised to uphold the warrior code, and Nocturnepaw could have sworn that he saw his father’s face in the stars, smiling down at him with an expression of love and pride. They were given the names Nocturnemark and Ravenclaw, and the Clan celebrated the two new warriors with all of the respect that any cat deserved and hoped for in such an event.
Four moons passed by in a normal, peaceful routine of life, and Nocturnemark and Ravenclaw loyally did all they could to better serve their Clan. However, just before newleaf arrived in its fullest, a dreadful outbreak of Greencough erupted in the camp. Although the sick cats were isolated from the rest of the Clan as quickly as possible, the Clan deputy fell ill, and passed into the paws of StarClan soon before the illness was cleansed from the camp at last.
Nocturnemark never expected that before the following moonhigh, he himself would be appointed the Clan’s new deputy. The young tom promised to faithfully serve his Clan, but felt more than a twinge of unease that he had been chosen for such an important position in DayClan.
For many moons, Nocturnemark served DayClan with all the responsibility and caring that a Clan could hope for in its deputy. But very soon, another event occurred that would alter the course of the tomcat’s life in a way that no one could have expected.
It wasn’t clear just when the depression of the DayClan leader of the time, Moonstar, had begun; certainly, in all fairness, the she-cat had been quite adept at hiding her own weakness from her Clan, although none of those who served under her found it easy to remember events that way. But in any case, it became apparent around fifteen moons into Nocturnemark’s deputyship that the leader was not well.
Although the Clan medicine cat did all they could for the ailing leader, it was obvious that few improvements were being made – Moonstar saw things that others could not, possibly a symptom of the increased depression of having lost her litter of kits moons before; the stress of being a leader was evidently much too great for her, and yet no one dared suggest that the position be filled by a different cat.
Then, one day while out on a hunting patrol near the outer edges of DayClan territory, Moonstar simply disappeared. The she-cat did not return to camp, and although search parties were sent out, the old leader knew her way around the forest well; each boggy patch of ground she passed through sent the Clan farther and farther off her trail, until eventually, that trail went cold.
It was not at all obvious what happened to Moonstar after that, since her Clan mates could no longer find any sign of her – Nocturnemark was left to lead the Clan, among whispers and rumors that the old leader had died. Perhaps, the medicine cat had pondered privately with the deputy at the time, Moonstar had finally sensed that StarClan was calling her, and gone off to die a peaceful death away from prying eyes.
Then again, some supposed, it could have been the work of the dark shadows looming over her that Moonstar had often spoken of that drove the she-cat to her early demise away from her loving Clan.
Nocturnemark himself had no doubt that Moonstar would never have abandoned her Clan when she was in her right mind. The tom grieved for as much time as his responsibility allowed, for he had known the old leader in the prime of her life; she had been his role model, and a beloved friend that he would never forget.
But indeed, Nocturnemark had a duty to his Clan, one that he was determined to fulfill despite the pain of losing Moonstar. He traveled to receive his nine lives from StarClan, and assume the duties of a true leader – something he regretted having to do in Moonstar’s absence, but at a time he knew that his Clan needed a leader just the same.
When he spoke with StarClan, several faces from his past appeared; Whitehaze, his father, was one of several cats that he recognized. And the last among the cats who granted him his lives was one who made his heart ache on sight: Moonstar, the former leader of DayClan. The old cat, now transported back to her youthful appearance and intelligence, encouraged him not to fret over her death – it was simply her time to go, and his time to lead, she had assured him.
Nocturnemark returned to his Clan bearing the nine lives of a true leader, and also the name Nocturnestar. He resolved, for every cat to hear and know, that he would take care of DayClan in the same way Moonstar had in the prime of her life. And he could feel the cats of StarClan, high above, watching and listening to him with approval.
Nocturnestar has since led his Clan without hesitation; he has yet to learn all of the ways of a leader, and some of his habits from his warrior and deputy days will never die. But he has made a promise, not only to the living cats around him, but to those departed that he dearly loved. He has no intention of breaking that promise, as long as he still draws breath.
Other: Nothing that I can think of.
IC: ((An excerpt from another of my RPs.))
Had she been a lesser cat - had she not been fully aware and almost accustomed to how the forest worked and the fact that death was, in fact, a part of it all - Astralpace was sure that right then, she would have just burst out from all the pressure suddenly upon her and cried. Why did the world have to be so complicated? Why? It was all going horribly wrong, and now on top of this death, they had to go and fight a battle with StealthPack?
But the female warrior kept that metaphorical lid shut tight, clamping down on her true feelings for the sake of her Clan; for the sake of everything. If she fell apart, that would only burden Seastar and Littlestep further. She couldn't have that now - a time would come later to grieve for Flutterfoot, when they were back in their homelands, and had driven out the vultures that now took residence there.
Yet something that Seastar said caught her attention, and Astralpace ran it through her mind a second time: "First Rainbowtail, now Flutterfoot." Those had been her leader's exact words, had they not? The flame-colored she-cat felt her muscles stiffen up in shock - no wonder her Clan mates had been so on edge...Rainbowtail, dead?
Bowing her head in a moment of silent grief, Astralpace attempted to pull herself together. She wished, oh how she wished, that this was all a nightmare from which she would awaken soon, back in her own territory. And Flutterfoot and Rainbowtail would be just fine, offering to come on hunting patrols with her, or lounging about the camp as all the cats occasionally did.
Still, it seemed that no dream could be as bad as this; the warrior blinked away another tear from her eye, knowing what a devastating loss SpringClan had suffered today. Not only Flutterfoot, a loyal and kind warrior, but Rainbowtail as well - part of the warrior council, the LightCats' Nest Queen. And what of her kits...? Although they were nearly full-grown now, the three apprentices would doubtless miss their mother dearly.
Glancing over to where Heartnose lay hunched on the floor, Astralpace could guess all too keenly how the poor tom felt. Regardless of formal announcement, he had obviously been the closest to Rainbowtail in the whole Clan. While Littlestep, she knew, had shared a close bond of friendship with the tortoiseshell queen, the adoration she had seen in Heartnose's eyes time and again for the fallen she-cat had been too immense to describe.
"Yes, Seastar," Astralpace finally replied to the order, stepping heavily to her paws. Even from where she stood, the majority of the LightCats seemed scattered about, scurrying hither and thither, trying to round up missing Clan mates. All seemed occupied from this vantage point, although one familiar silhouette lingered under the shadows of the lofts.
Lostwing. Or Lost, I hear he goes by now. The she-cat blinked, rather surprised by the tom's presence, before she remembered that he had been let out on a parol by their leader. After his turn to the life of a rogue, Astralpace could guess that Seastar wouldn't easily trust him, but...Perhaps all he needed was a second chance.
And besides, half the Clan appeared busy with one thing or another; all of the apprentices were most likely too small to lift such a burden...And the warriors seemed more dwindling in number now than ever before. Making a swift decision, Astralpace turned back to Seastar with a questioning glance, flicking her ears in Lost's direction.
Will she trust him with this so soon? Or am I wasting my time? With a sad half-smile, the ginger-coated warrior asked aloud, "What about Lost? I assume we're taking him with us; he'll be valuable in that battle to come." If she doesn't assume he'll turn traitor, that is. Quickly, Astralpace added, "He's earned another chance, and since he isn't busy..."
Blade, Feline
