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Description
this is my leader character for The-Starless-Fjords

this was drawn by my best pal BARACATT and i thank it so much, she turned out so great 💖💖💖 ily

edit 9.25.19: updated with new app art layout!

Basic Information
Name: Cedarkit | Cedarpaw | Cedarback | Cedarstar
Cedar- for the circumstances of her birth.
-back for her rigid, steadfast stature.
-star, the traditional suffix of a leader.
Clan: ThunderClan
Age: 40 moons
Rank: Leader
Gender: She-cat (she/her)
Appearance Details: A large, stocky she-cat with distinct Norwegian forest cat ancestry with unruly mottled grey-brown fur and bright green eyes.

History
. kithood .
Cedarkit got her name not only for the brownish portions of her pelt, reminiscent of cedar bark, but also because of the circumstances of her birth.

Her mother, a stubborn warrior to the core, even as a queen, couldn’t bear to be cooped up in the nursery and took a short walk along the edge of ThunderClan camp. This activity seemed to be the perfect thing to spur on her labor: Timberspot quickly collapsed underneath a cedar tree on a thick bed of pine needles. Nearby warriors rushed to get the medicine cat, though there was no hope of moving Timberspot back inside the nursery. The kits would have to be be born right there beneath the tree.

The birth itself, circumstances aside, was normal, and both mother and kits were safe and healthy. All in good humor, she named both kits to commemorate the unique story of how they’d been brought into the world: Cedarkit and Needlekit. The little family was soon moved back into the nursery, and Cedarkit’s life began.

Cedarkit and Needlekit had a relatively uneventful kithood. It was before the dams, back when things were still good and peaceful among all of the clan territories. Timberspot cared for the kits throughout their younger moons until it was time for them to become apprentices.

. apprenticeship .
Cedarkit and Needlekit were both eager to begin their lives as warriors. While growing up in the nursery, Timberspot had regaled them with tales about her adventures as a warrior; both were eager to grow up and prove themselves just like their mother. Needless to say, the day they were named apprentices was a happy one, and Cedarpaw eagerly joined her new mentor, Brambledust, for training.

Brambledust was a mammoth of a cat, perhaps the largest in ThunderClan at the time, and Cedarpaw felt right at home at his side. She’d been growing rapidly the past few moons; while she and Needlepaw were similar in height, Needlepaw was on the slender side, like their mother, whereas Cedarpaw was stocky, well-built, and showed signs of growing even more as time went on.

He taught Cedarpaw how to feel more comfortable with her size and, more importantly, how to use that size to her advantage. His lessons were hard and grueling; Brambledust was not a merciful or easygoing mentor, but Cedarpaw never complained once. She grit her teeth and put in the work to be the strongest she could be. When she laid Brambledust flat on his back during training, pinning him so hard he had no hope of getting up, they both knew it was time for her to take her warrior name.

. warrior life .
Cedarback became immensely involved with clan life outside of patrols and regular warrior work. She was warm and easygoing, easy to talk to; she grew to care for all of the cats in ThunderClan and would do her best to help if there was a problem or concern, whether that meant helping to work through disputes among cats or difficult tasks other cats couldn’t carry out themselves.

Not only that, but Brambledust was a trusted friend to both Thicketstar and his deputy, Moletooth, and was frequently chosen to go out on patrol, especially more dangerous excursions, with them. Even as an apprentice, Cedarback had gone with them, and after becoming a warrior, they remembered her strength, courage, and ferocity as a warrior, and it was not uncommon for her to be invited on those patrols. She grew to know Moletooth rather well, as well as Thicketstar himself.

There was some tension between Cedarback and Needlestride during that time, beginning because Cedarback had been named a warrior just a few moons before Needlestride. Needlestride was a little more impulsive and hot-headed, and her mentor had known Needlestride hadn’t been ready for such a promotion at the same time Cedarback had been. This was only exasperated by Cedarback’s inclusion in patrols with the high ranks of ThunderClan.

Although there were no outright arguments or fights between the sisters, anyone could sense the tension between the two, and as the first year of Cedarback’s life as a warrior went by, the distance between them grew and grew until Cedarback thought that they were strangers more than they were sisters.

In that year, Cedarback took her first apprentice: an active young tom named Muddypaw. Muddypaw was outgoing and easily excitable, and he had enormous paws despite his small stature. Cedarback could tell that one day, he’d grow to be a cat large, just like her—and just like Brambledust had done for her, she helped him grow comfortable in his pelt so that he could use his size and strength to his advantage and become a powerful warrior. She was never so proud as when Thicketstar gave Muddypaw his warrior name: Muddyclaw.

. deputy to leader .
Moletooth stepped down from being deputy for personal reasons; for some time, it seemed, her desire to lead and protect ThunderClan was at war with her more personal desires for a mate and a family. The latter eventually won out, and Moletooth retired to become a queen. Though no one could blame her for this decision, it came at a rather inopportune time: Thicketstar was on his last life and nearing eighty moons old. Who knew how much longer he had to live?

And instead of choosing a well-seasoned warrior to take Moletooth’s place, he chose Cedarback. Truth be told, leading ThunderClan had never been a personal goal for her. She’d only wanted to help and support the clan as best as she could. Little did she know that Thicketstar had seen the way she cared for and listened to her clanmates, and coupled with her loyalty, honor, and courage, she was the perfect embodiment of everything ThunderClan was meant to be.

At the time, she couldn’t see why Thicketstar had chosen her when there were much better choices—Brambledust, for one. It didn’t help that Cedarback could hear the whispers among other warriors in ThunderClan in the two moons after her promotion: she was too young, she hadn’t seen enough of the world yet. Cedarback was not ready—and truth be told, she would wholeheartedly agree.

To make matters worse, Thicketstar’s last life lasted only two moons after Cedarback was named deputy. He rejoined StarClan, and suddenly, at just 28 moons old, Cedarback was to become Cedarstar.

She wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready. She’d barely gotten her paws under her as deputy before Thicketstar had died, and now she was expected to lead the clan. To make matters worse, the dams built by the twolegs had been completed, and the lake had begun to run dry. ThunderClan was in danger, and just when they needed a strong, experienced paw to guide them, all they had was Cedarback.

But there was no one else to lead the clan. By the warrior code, she had to step up—there was no other choice. Cedarback ignored the comments and whispers from the rest of ThunderClan about her age and lack of experience and steeled herself. From this moment on, she promised herself she would be decisive and do whatever it took to take care of ThunderClan.

Cedarback went to the Moonpool to share tongues with her ancestors and receive her nine lives, as well as her leader name. When she returned to ThunderClan camp, she was Cedarstar. Her first official action as leader was appointing Brambledust as her deputy, knowing his age and experience would win some favor from ThunderClan.

For six moons, she lead ThunderClan as best she could, though things only grew worse. Tensions were high, and Cedarstar knew that some of the ThunderClan cats blamed her for their hardships. But what could she do? She had little power to stop the lake and Moonpool from drying out or disease from ravaging the clan.

So when Cherrypaw began telling prophecies of a new home, Cedarstar made the easiest choice of her short time as leader: ThunderClan would make the journey, as soon as possible.

. journey to the fjords .
The hardest part was losing Brambledust. He didn’t even leave ThunderClan camp; he pulled Cedarstar aside, still weak after having a near-death experience with disease, and told her what she already knew: he would not survive the journey and would rather live out his final moons in relative comfort in a place he knew. Though she was heartbroken, Cedarstar respected his decision and reluctantly appointed a new deputy to help her lead.

She also appointed the new deputy to help lead the warriors that would find the safest passage to their new home—especially considering Cherrypaw was still just an apprentice. She told the new deputy, “I’m counting on you to help me get ThunderClan to our new home,” and knew that if she and the new deputy could make it through this, then she’d made the right choice in them.

As much as she would have loved to go with the scouting party, Cedarstar knew that her place was among the clan itself to not only protect them but also to keep their morale up. This was her chance to prove herself to the whole of ThunderClan that she was wearing her leader name for a reason, and she wasn’t going to squander the opportunity. After a quiet but tearful good-bye to Brambledust on the night of the full moon, ThunderClan began the dangerous trek to their new home.

It was difficult. It was the most difficult thing Cedarstar had ever done, but she put all her faith in Cherrypaw and StarClan to see them through. Cedarstar even put her own lives in peril by doing her best to protect her clanmates, no matter the cost.

Two particular instances were more dangerous than others. The first was a rockslide that would have buried a few kits. Instead, it buried Cedarstar as she pushed the kits to safety. Undeniably, it had claimed one of her lives, crushing her to death, but Cedarstar gathered her strength and used her powerful stature to shove the rubble aside and climb from the debris.

The second occurred when a hawk dove down to claim one of the apprentices as a meal, and Cedarstar leapt into action. She caught the bird off guard and tackled it to the ground; a scuffle soon ensued with several other warriors jumping in to drive the bird back. Its talons struck out at Cedarstar, cutting across her neck in a way that should have been fatal—but it claimed another of her lives instead. The warriors pushed the hawk back, and after receiving quick care from the medicine cat to get her back on her feet, Cedarstar pushed the cats onward before the hawk could return to try again.

. arrival .
Cedarstar had never felt relief quite like the wave of it that came with arriving at the fjords. It was like the whole future had opened up to her, and she could see past the next day or even the next few hours. Suddenly, ThunderClan had a future, and although she hadn’t done it alone, she had been the steadfast guide leading ThunderClan to safety. It cemented her reputation as one of the great leaders of ThunderClan, and the whispers behind her back were suddenly quiet. Cedarstar had more than earned her place as leader.

With ThunderClan settling into their new home, some of Cedarstar’s tension has also been easing away these last few days. The worst of the hardships are behind them—or so Cedarstar believes. Rumors of StarClan’s absence have been circling between the five clans, but Cedarstar is having trouble believing that.

Instead, she thinks that it’s the work of some of the other clans trying to take advantage of the vulnerable position the clans are in to catch them off guard. Cedarstar’s not buying it and won’t let such blasphemous rumors take root in ThunderClan if she has anything to say about it.

About
Personality:
+ Compassionate. Cedarstar cares deeply for the cats of ThunderClan; that much has been certain since she was a young warrior. She won’t hesitate to stop what she’s doing to show concern or ask if there’s any way she can help another cat. She takes her position as leader seriously and cares for her clan as much as possible.

+ Warm. Although Cedarstar isn’t a particularly outgoing cat, she is still warm. She tries to make herself as approachable as possible so the cats of ThunderClan feel comfortable bringing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns to her without hesitation.

+ Steadfast. Despite her insecurities, Cedarstar does not second guess her own decisions or where her loyalties lie. She is a steadfast individual, unwavering and resolute.

> Decisive. To go along with being steadfast, Cedarstar is decisive. She quickly analyzes her options and makes a decision right then and there and doesn’t waffle once she’s done so. However, this can be good and bad—bad because once she’s made up her mind, it’s difficult to get her to change it.

> Lawful. Cedarstar regards the Warrior Code with the utmost respect; she’s done so since she was a kit listening to stories from her mother. She tries to be sensible about her lawfulness, but sometimes her loyalty to the Code gets her carried away.

> Laconic. Cedarstar is a cat of few words. Though she’s not hesitant to speak when she has something to say, she prefers to listen and observe. This allows the things she does say to carry real weight among the clan, but on the flip side, it can be hard to get to know her when she doesn’t talk much.

- Guarded. Going along with being laconic, Cedarstar is extremely guarded, and that guarded nature definitely influences her preference for being quiet. The reason for this is, in her eyes, showing any vulnerability as such a young leader would have given ThunderClan more reason to doubt her. Though she’s established herself, she remains just as guarded, which means she rarely shows any kind of vulnerability to ThunderClan.

- Insecure. Despite her outward confidence, Cedarstar still has her bursts of insecurity. She still wonders if she’s a good enough leader even after all the things she’s done for the benefit of ThunderClan; more than that, she is fearful that the new home they’ve found will be ripped away from them after so much hardship already.

- Shortsighted. Considering how tumultuous the last year has been, Cedarstar has trouble seeing what the future can hold. She still struggles with thinking past the next day or the next few hours, to the point that it’s impacted her personal life; she has trouble imagining taking on a mate, let alone having kits.

Likes:
Sunbathing
Sharpening claws on treebark
Playing with kits
Grooming
Dislikes:
Briars and tangles in her fur
Swimming
Fighting for no reason
Other Information: Lawful Good

Other Information

Theme Song(s): “My Silver Lining” by First Aid Kit
Quote: “Everything I do, I do for the good of ThunderClan.”
Fighting Style: Cedarstar relies on brute strength when it comes to a fight. Her size and physical strength make her a formidable opponent even when she doesn’t move as quickly as smaller, more slender cats.
Strengths:
Large, stocky stature
Physical strength
Good endurance
Weaknesses:
Not very stealthy
Moves slowly
Balance isn’t the greatest
Additional Notes:
Cedarstar still sometimes feels the phantom aches of her brushes with death on the journey to the fjords. Despite that she is nowhere near an elder, her joints and back hurt from time to time, almost like her body remembers nearly being crushed to death.

Relationships
Orientation: Lesbian
Looking For: Truth be told, Cedarstar isn’t looking for a relationship at the moment, though she’s not completely against the idea. She just hasn’t had much time to focus on herself and her personal life since becoming leader.
Ideal Relationship and Traits: Ideally, Cedarstar would be with someone who could anticipate her needs and knows when she needs to take time for self-care. It’d also be good if her mate is also a little more outgoing to help bring Cedarstar out of her shell, or someone who can show Cedarstar how to be vulnerable.

Mentor: Brambledust
Apprentice: Muddyclaw (past apprentice)
Crush: Drizzlestep
Mate: N/A
Ex-Mate/s: N/A
Kin:
Mother - Timberspot
Father - ???
Littermate - Needlestride

ThunderClan
Drizzlestep | BARACATT | Close Friend
Although Cedarstar has been a bit thick headed when it comes to her relationship with Drizzlestep, the two have known each other since apprenticeship. They’ve always gotten along well and have been friends since about that time, and as Cedarstar moved into leadership roles in ThunderClan, Drizzlestep was there to encourage her. Now that things have settled down and Cedarstar is realizing a steady, comfortable life is possible, she’s finally realized there may be something more to her friendship with Drizzlestep.

DEPUTY | TBD | Deputy
TBD

MEDCAT | TBD | Medicine Cat
TBD

Needlestride | NPC (open to adopt) | Littermate
Cedarstar and Needlestride have had a difficult relationship. Though they were close as kits, and even as apprentices, things began to deteriorate once Cedarstar was promoted to warrior before Needlestride was. Cedarstar has nothing against Needlestride whatsoever and has always wondered why her sister allowed jealousy to change things so drastically, but she’s had too much on her plate to devote time to repairing that relationship.

Timberspot | NPC | Mother
Cedarstar and her mother have always gotten along. Even now, Cedarstar admires her mother as a warrior and sometimes turns to her mother for advice or insight. Timberspot made it through the journey to the fjords, and Cedarstar is grateful to still have her around—though she knows her mother is disappointed and saddened by the fact Needlestride and Cedarstar don’t have a strong relationship anymore.

Muddyclaw | NPC | Former Apprentice
Cedarstar and Muddyclaw had a good relationship when they were mentor-and-apprentice. She’s immensely proud of the warrior he’s become even though she hasn’t had much to talk to him lately.

StarClan
Brambledust (†) | NPC | Former Mentor
Cedarstar and Brambledust were close. He very well may have been the only reason why she didn’t immediately step down from being the ThunderClan leader after Thicketstar died. He always did right by her, teaching her to be the best warrior she could be based on her strengths and weaknesses. He was a close confidante and friend to her, and leaving him behind broke her heart.

Thicketstar (†) | NPC | Previous Leader
If you asked Cedarstar, she’d tell you that she didn’t get to spend as much time with Thicketstar as much as she would have liked. She knows he was a strong leader, but she wishes she could have had more time to learn his wisdom. However, she also trusts that he saw something worthwhile in her, and she hopes that she is living up to his expectations.

Roleplay
Cedarstar paces the length of her den, waiting for Brambledust to arrive. Her tail twitches with anticipation, the skin under her fur feeling electric; she’s sure she looks as puffed up as if she’d been spooked. But she can’t help it. News of Cherrypaw’s visions have her anxious, though perhaps more than anything, she is eager. Hopeful. This feels like salvation.

Brambledust pads into the den, looking as haggard as she’d last seen him. His pelt was patchy in places; she knows the disease that had eaten its way through ThunderClan had taken its toll on him. She’s just thankful he’s alive. “Sit, sit.” She nods to a bed of leaves and pine needles and goes on pacing as he settles himself. She doesn’t wait to greet him, avoids all pleasantries, and dives right in.

“How soon do you think we can begin the journey? Should we wait for the other clans? Surely they’ve received their own prophecies, haven’t they?” She hardly pauses for breath, hardly even looks at Brambledust. “Maybe we can convince all of the others to meet at an early gathering. The sooner we leave, the better. Do you think you have the strength to guide Cherrypaw and—”

“Cedarstar.”

Something in Brambledust’s voice makes Cedarstar stop her pacing. She goes still and slowly turns her head to look at him. He watches her steadily, and Cedarstar is suddenly struck by just how old he looks. She knows what’s coming. “What is it?”

“Sit down here.” He reaches a paw forward and taps the space beside him. Her stomach twists with dread; for a moment, she thinks she may be sick, but she finds it in herself to move and settle down beside him.

The silence stretches for a few moments, and Cedarstar’s heart pounds hard in her chest. Brambledust looks at the floor, saying nothing, and just as Cedarstar opens her mouth to encourage him, he says, blunt as ever, “I’m not going with you.”

It’s just about what she expects to hear, but still she scoffs. “What are you talking about? Of course you’re going. You’re my deputy.”

He’s already shaking his head. “No. Cedarstar,” he starts, takes a breath, and looks her in the eye. “If I go, I won’t make it. Either I die here at least somewhat comfortable or I die up there in the mountains. I know which one I choose.”

Her mouth opens and shuts a time or two. It’s not her worst fear; Cedarstar has seen too many horrible things for this to be her worst fear. But it’s close. Leaving him behind, her deputy, her mentor, her friend… it’s almost too much to bear.

It’s cruel to beg him to go. Still, she begs: “Please… please don’t—don’t do this, Brambledust. Please, I need you. I can’t—”

“Can’t what? Do this without me?” It’s his turn to scoff, and he draws himself up to his full height—still looming over her, somehow. “That’s a load of shit, and you know it. This day had to come eventually. You were always going to outlive me, always. Probably should’ve happened a couple moons ago, anyway.” The rasp of his voice tells her exactly what he’s talking about.

She doesn’t say anything. She looks down at her paws, closes her eyes, and wills herself not to cry. Her eyes still burn, her ears fold down, and she’s as rigid as stone. But she doesn’t cry.

“I’m stepping down now, Cedarstar,” he says, gentler now. “And when you go, I am staying here.”

She barely moves aside from the rigid little nod she gives. A deep breath, and then: “I understand.” She hates the thought of being cold to him, but she still says, “Forgive me for not showing you out, but I have a big decision to make, and I need all the time I can get to consider it.”

“Of course.” He doesn’t sound offended as he hauls himself to his feet. He doesn’t get far before turning back to touch his forehead to hers. Cedarstar leans into him and exhales a shaky sigh; she knows she can’t hold it in much longer. Thankfully, he doesn’t linger long and murmurs, “You’ll be alright,” before straightening up and padding out.

Cedarstar remains unmoving for several long moments before lifting her head and looking around the leader’s den. She feels cold when she realizes she’s more alone than she’s ever been.

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Description
this is my leader character for The-Starless-Fjords

this was drawn by my best pal BARACATT and i thank it so much, she turned out so great 💖💖💖 ily

edit 9.25.19: updated with new app art layout!

Basic Information
Name: Cedarkit | Cedarpaw | Cedarback | Cedarstar
Cedar- for the circumstances of her birth.
-back for her rigid, steadfast stature.
-star, the traditional suffix of a leader.
Clan: ThunderClan
Age: 40 moons
Rank: Leader
Gender: She-cat (she/her)
Appearance Details: A large, stocky she-cat with distinct Norwegian forest cat ancestry with unruly mottled grey-brown fur and bright green eyes.

History
. kithood .
Cedarkit got her name not only for the brownish portions of her pelt, reminiscent of cedar bark, but also because of the circumstances of her birth.

Her mother, a stubborn warrior to the core, even as a queen, couldn’t bear to be cooped up in the nursery and took a short walk along the edge of ThunderClan camp. This activity seemed to be the perfect thing to spur on her labor: Timberspot quickly collapsed underneath a cedar tree on a thick bed of pine needles. Nearby warriors rushed to get the medicine cat, though there was no hope of moving Timberspot back inside the nursery. The kits would have to be be born right there beneath the tree.

The birth itself, circumstances aside, was normal, and both mother and kits were safe and healthy. All in good humor, she named both kits to commemorate the unique story of how they’d been brought into the world: Cedarkit and Needlekit. The little family was soon moved back into the nursery, and Cedarkit’s life began.

Cedarkit and Needlekit had a relatively uneventful kithood. It was before the dams, back when things were still good and peaceful among all of the clan territories. Timberspot cared for the kits throughout their younger moons until it was time for them to become apprentices.

. apprenticeship .
Cedarkit and Needlekit were both eager to begin their lives as warriors. While growing up in the nursery, Timberspot had regaled them with tales about her adventures as a warrior; both were eager to grow up and prove themselves just like their mother. Needless to say, the day they were named apprentices was a happy one, and Cedarpaw eagerly joined her new mentor, Brambledust, for training.

Brambledust was a mammoth of a cat, perhaps the largest in ThunderClan at the time, and Cedarpaw felt right at home at his side. She’d been growing rapidly the past few moons; while she and Needlepaw were similar in height, Needlepaw was on the slender side, like their mother, whereas Cedarpaw was stocky, well-built, and showed signs of growing even more as time went on.

He taught Cedarpaw how to feel more comfortable with her size and, more importantly, how to use that size to her advantage. His lessons were hard and grueling; Brambledust was not a merciful or easygoing mentor, but Cedarpaw never complained once. She grit her teeth and put in the work to be the strongest she could be. When she laid Brambledust flat on his back during training, pinning him so hard he had no hope of getting up, they both knew it was time for her to take her warrior name.

. warrior life .
Cedarback became immensely involved with clan life outside of patrols and regular warrior work. She was warm and easygoing, easy to talk to; she grew to care for all of the cats in ThunderClan and would do her best to help if there was a problem or concern, whether that meant helping to work through disputes among cats or difficult tasks other cats couldn’t carry out themselves.

Not only that, but Brambledust was a trusted friend to both Thicketstar and his deputy, Moletooth, and was frequently chosen to go out on patrol, especially more dangerous excursions, with them. Even as an apprentice, Cedarback had gone with them, and after becoming a warrior, they remembered her strength, courage, and ferocity as a warrior, and it was not uncommon for her to be invited on those patrols. She grew to know Moletooth rather well, as well as Thicketstar himself.

There was some tension between Cedarback and Needlestride during that time, beginning because Cedarback had been named a warrior just a few moons before Needlestride. Needlestride was a little more impulsive and hot-headed, and her mentor had known Needlestride hadn’t been ready for such a promotion at the same time Cedarback had been. This was only exasperated by Cedarback’s inclusion in patrols with the high ranks of ThunderClan.

Although there were no outright arguments or fights between the sisters, anyone could sense the tension between the two, and as the first year of Cedarback’s life as a warrior went by, the distance between them grew and grew until Cedarback thought that they were strangers more than they were sisters.

In that year, Cedarback took her first apprentice: an active young tom named Muddypaw. Muddypaw was outgoing and easily excitable, and he had enormous paws despite his small stature. Cedarback could tell that one day, he’d grow to be a cat large, just like her—and just like Brambledust had done for her, she helped him grow comfortable in his pelt so that he could use his size and strength to his advantage and become a powerful warrior. She was never so proud as when Thicketstar gave Muddypaw his warrior name: Muddyclaw.

. deputy to leader .
Moletooth stepped down from being deputy for personal reasons; for some time, it seemed, her desire to lead and protect ThunderClan was at war with her more personal desires for a mate and a family. The latter eventually won out, and Moletooth retired to become a queen. Though no one could blame her for this decision, it came at a rather inopportune time: Thicketstar was on his last life and nearing eighty moons old. Who knew how much longer he had to live?

And instead of choosing a well-seasoned warrior to take Moletooth’s place, he chose Cedarback. Truth be told, leading ThunderClan had never been a personal goal for her. She’d only wanted to help and support the clan as best as she could. Little did she know that Thicketstar had seen the way she cared for and listened to her clanmates, and coupled with her loyalty, honor, and courage, she was the perfect embodiment of everything ThunderClan was meant to be.

At the time, she couldn’t see why Thicketstar had chosen her when there were much better choices—Brambledust, for one. It didn’t help that Cedarback could hear the whispers among other warriors in ThunderClan in the two moons after her promotion: she was too young, she hadn’t seen enough of the world yet. Cedarback was not ready—and truth be told, she would wholeheartedly agree.

To make matters worse, Thicketstar’s last life lasted only two moons after Cedarback was named deputy. He rejoined StarClan, and suddenly, at just 28 moons old, Cedarback was to become Cedarstar.

She wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready. She’d barely gotten her paws under her as deputy before Thicketstar had died, and now she was expected to lead the clan. To make matters worse, the dams built by the twolegs had been completed, and the lake had begun to run dry. ThunderClan was in danger, and just when they needed a strong, experienced paw to guide them, all they had was Cedarback.

But there was no one else to lead the clan. By the warrior code, she had to step up—there was no other choice. Cedarback ignored the comments and whispers from the rest of ThunderClan about her age and lack of experience and steeled herself. From this moment on, she promised herself she would be decisive and do whatever it took to take care of ThunderClan.

Cedarback went to the Moonpool to share tongues with her ancestors and receive her nine lives, as well as her leader name. When she returned to ThunderClan camp, she was Cedarstar. Her first official action as leader was appointing Brambledust as her deputy, knowing his age and experience would win some favor from ThunderClan.

For six moons, she lead ThunderClan as best she could, though things only grew worse. Tensions were high, and Cedarstar knew that some of the ThunderClan cats blamed her for their hardships. But what could she do? She had little power to stop the lake and Moonpool from drying out or disease from ravaging the clan.

So when Cherrypaw began telling prophecies of a new home, Cedarstar made the easiest choice of her short time as leader: ThunderClan would make the journey, as soon as possible.

. journey to the fjords .
The hardest part was losing Brambledust. He didn’t even leave ThunderClan camp; he pulled Cedarstar aside, still weak after having a near-death experience with disease, and told her what she already knew: he would not survive the journey and would rather live out his final moons in relative comfort in a place he knew. Though she was heartbroken, Cedarstar respected his decision and reluctantly appointed a new deputy to help her lead.

She also appointed the new deputy to help lead the warriors that would find the safest passage to their new home—especially considering Cherrypaw was still just an apprentice. She told the new deputy, “I’m counting on you to help me get ThunderClan to our new home,” and knew that if she and the new deputy could make it through this, then she’d made the right choice in them.

As much as she would have loved to go with the scouting party, Cedarstar knew that her place was among the clan itself to not only protect them but also to keep their morale up. This was her chance to prove herself to the whole of ThunderClan that she was wearing her leader name for a reason, and she wasn’t going to squander the opportunity. After a quiet but tearful good-bye to Brambledust on the night of the full moon, ThunderClan began the dangerous trek to their new home.

It was difficult. It was the most difficult thing Cedarstar had ever done, but she put all her faith in Cherrypaw and StarClan to see them through. Cedarstar even put her own lives in peril by doing her best to protect her clanmates, no matter the cost.

Two particular instances were more dangerous than others. The first was a rockslide that would have buried a few kits. Instead, it buried Cedarstar as she pushed the kits to safety. Undeniably, it had claimed one of her lives, crushing her to death, but Cedarstar gathered her strength and used her powerful stature to shove the rubble aside and climb from the debris.

The second occurred when a hawk dove down to claim one of the apprentices as a meal, and Cedarstar leapt into action. She caught the bird off guard and tackled it to the ground; a scuffle soon ensued with several other warriors jumping in to drive the bird back. Its talons struck out at Cedarstar, cutting across her neck in a way that should have been fatal—but it claimed another of her lives instead. The warriors pushed the hawk back, and after receiving quick care from the medicine cat to get her back on her feet, Cedarstar pushed the cats onward before the hawk could return to try again.

. arrival .
Cedarstar had never felt relief quite like the wave of it that came with arriving at the fjords. It was like the whole future had opened up to her, and she could see past the next day or even the next few hours. Suddenly, ThunderClan had a future, and although she hadn’t done it alone, she had been the steadfast guide leading ThunderClan to safety. It cemented her reputation as one of the great leaders of ThunderClan, and the whispers behind her back were suddenly quiet. Cedarstar had more than earned her place as leader.

With ThunderClan settling into their new home, some of Cedarstar’s tension has also been easing away these last few days. The worst of the hardships are behind them—or so Cedarstar believes. Rumors of StarClan’s absence have been circling between the five clans, but Cedarstar is having trouble believing that.

Instead, she thinks that it’s the work of some of the other clans trying to take advantage of the vulnerable position the clans are in to catch them off guard. Cedarstar’s not buying it and won’t let such blasphemous rumors take root in ThunderClan if she has anything to say about it.

About
Personality:
+ Compassionate. Cedarstar cares deeply for the cats of ThunderClan; that much has been certain since she was a young warrior. She won’t hesitate to stop what she’s doing to show concern or ask if there’s any way she can help another cat. She takes her position as leader seriously and cares for her clan as much as possible.

+ Warm. Although Cedarstar isn’t a particularly outgoing cat, she is still warm. She tries to make herself as approachable as possible so the cats of ThunderClan feel comfortable bringing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns to her without hesitation.

+ Steadfast. Despite her insecurities, Cedarstar does not second guess her own decisions or where her loyalties lie. She is a steadfast individual, unwavering and resolute.

> Decisive. To go along with being steadfast, Cedarstar is decisive. She quickly analyzes her options and makes a decision right then and there and doesn’t waffle once she’s done so. However, this can be good and bad—bad because once she’s made up her mind, it’s difficult to get her to change it.

> Lawful. Cedarstar regards the Warrior Code with the utmost respect; she’s done so since she was a kit listening to stories from her mother. She tries to be sensible about her lawfulness, but sometimes her loyalty to the Code gets her carried away.

> Laconic. Cedarstar is a cat of few words. Though she’s not hesitant to speak when she has something to say, she prefers to listen and observe. This allows the things she does say to carry real weight among the clan, but on the flip side, it can be hard to get to know her when she doesn’t talk much.

- Guarded. Going along with being laconic, Cedarstar is extremely guarded, and that guarded nature definitely influences her preference for being quiet. The reason for this is, in her eyes, showing any vulnerability as such a young leader would have given ThunderClan more reason to doubt her. Though she’s established herself, she remains just as guarded, which means she rarely shows any kind of vulnerability to ThunderClan.

- Insecure. Despite her outward confidence, Cedarstar still has her bursts of insecurity. She still wonders if she’s a good enough leader even after all the things she’s done for the benefit of ThunderClan; more than that, she is fearful that the new home they’ve found will be ripped away from them after so much hardship already.

- Shortsighted. Considering how tumultuous the last year has been, Cedarstar has trouble seeing what the future can hold. She still struggles with thinking past the next day or the next few hours, to the point that it’s impacted her personal life; she has trouble imagining taking on a mate, let alone having kits.

Likes:
Sunbathing
Sharpening claws on treebark
Playing with kits
Grooming
Dislikes:
Briars and tangles in her fur
Swimming
Fighting for no reason
Other Information: Lawful Good

Other Information

Theme Song(s): “My Silver Lining” by First Aid Kit
Quote: “Everything I do, I do for the good of ThunderClan.”
Fighting Style: Cedarstar relies on brute strength when it comes to a fight. Her size and physical strength make her a formidable opponent even when she doesn’t move as quickly as smaller, more slender cats.
Strengths:
Large, stocky stature
Physical strength
Good endurance
Weaknesses:
Not very stealthy
Moves slowly
Balance isn’t the greatest
Additional Notes:
Cedarstar still sometimes feels the phantom aches of her brushes with death on the journey to the fjords. Despite that she is nowhere near an elder, her joints and back hurt from time to time, almost like her body remembers nearly being crushed to death.

Relationships
Orientation: Lesbian
Looking For: Truth be told, Cedarstar isn’t looking for a relationship at the moment, though she’s not completely against the idea. She just hasn’t had much time to focus on herself and her personal life since becoming leader.
Ideal Relationship and Traits: Ideally, Cedarstar would be with someone who could anticipate her needs and knows when she needs to take time for self-care. It’d also be good if her mate is also a little more outgoing to help bring Cedarstar out of her shell, or someone who can show Cedarstar how to be vulnerable.

Mentor: Brambledust
Apprentice: Muddyclaw (past apprentice)
Crush: Drizzlestep
Mate: N/A
Ex-Mate/s: N/A
Kin:
Mother - Timberspot
Father - ???
Littermate - Needlestride

ThunderClan
Drizzlestep | BARACATT | Close Friend
Although Cedarstar has been a bit thick headed when it comes to her relationship with Drizzlestep, the two have known each other since apprenticeship. They’ve always gotten along well and have been friends since about that time, and as Cedarstar moved into leadership roles in ThunderClan, Drizzlestep was there to encourage her. Now that things have settled down and Cedarstar is realizing a steady, comfortable life is possible, she’s finally realized there may be something more to her friendship with Drizzlestep.

DEPUTY | TBD | Deputy
TBD

MEDCAT | TBD | Medicine Cat
TBD

Needlestride | NPC (open to adopt) | Littermate
Cedarstar and Needlestride have had a difficult relationship. Though they were close as kits, and even as apprentices, things began to deteriorate once Cedarstar was promoted to warrior before Needlestride was. Cedarstar has nothing against Needlestride whatsoever and has always wondered why her sister allowed jealousy to change things so drastically, but she’s had too much on her plate to devote time to repairing that relationship.

Timberspot | NPC | Mother
Cedarstar and her mother have always gotten along. Even now, Cedarstar admires her mother as a warrior and sometimes turns to her mother for advice or insight. Timberspot made it through the journey to the fjords, and Cedarstar is grateful to still have her around—though she knows her mother is disappointed and saddened by the fact Needlestride and Cedarstar don’t have a strong relationship anymore.

Muddyclaw | NPC | Former Apprentice
Cedarstar and Muddyclaw had a good relationship when they were mentor-and-apprentice. She’s immensely proud of the warrior he’s become even though she hasn’t had much to talk to him lately.

StarClan
Brambledust (†) | NPC | Former Mentor
Cedarstar and Brambledust were close. He very well may have been the only reason why she didn’t immediately step down from being the ThunderClan leader after Thicketstar died. He always did right by her, teaching her to be the best warrior she could be based on her strengths and weaknesses. He was a close confidante and friend to her, and leaving him behind broke her heart.

Thicketstar (†) | NPC | Previous Leader
If you asked Cedarstar, she’d tell you that she didn’t get to spend as much time with Thicketstar as much as she would have liked. She knows he was a strong leader, but she wishes she could have had more time to learn his wisdom. However, she also trusts that he saw something worthwhile in her, and she hopes that she is living up to his expectations.

Roleplay
Cedarstar paces the length of her den, waiting for Brambledust to arrive. Her tail twitches with anticipation, the skin under her fur feeling electric; she’s sure she looks as puffed up as if she’d been spooked. But she can’t help it. News of Cherrypaw’s visions have her anxious, though perhaps more than anything, she is eager. Hopeful. This feels like salvation.

Brambledust pads into the den, looking as haggard as she’d last seen him. His pelt was patchy in places; she knows the disease that had eaten its way through ThunderClan had taken its toll on him. She’s just thankful he’s alive. “Sit, sit.” She nods to a bed of leaves and pine needles and goes on pacing as he settles himself. She doesn’t wait to greet him, avoids all pleasantries, and dives right in.

“How soon do you think we can begin the journey? Should we wait for the other clans? Surely they’ve received their own prophecies, haven’t they?” She hardly pauses for breath, hardly even looks at Brambledust. “Maybe we can convince all of the others to meet at an early gathering. The sooner we leave, the better. Do you think you have the strength to guide Cherrypaw and—”

“Cedarstar.”

Something in Brambledust’s voice makes Cedarstar stop her pacing. She goes still and slowly turns her head to look at him. He watches her steadily, and Cedarstar is suddenly struck by just how old he looks. She knows what’s coming. “What is it?”

“Sit down here.” He reaches a paw forward and taps the space beside him. Her stomach twists with dread; for a moment, she thinks she may be sick, but she finds it in herself to move and settle down beside him.

The silence stretches for a few moments, and Cedarstar’s heart pounds hard in her chest. Brambledust looks at the floor, saying nothing, and just as Cedarstar opens her mouth to encourage him, he says, blunt as ever, “I’m not going with you.”

It’s just about what she expects to hear, but still she scoffs. “What are you talking about? Of course you’re going. You’re my deputy.”

He’s already shaking his head. “No. Cedarstar,” he starts, takes a breath, and looks her in the eye. “If I go, I won’t make it. Either I die here at least somewhat comfortable or I die up there in the mountains. I know which one I choose.”

Her mouth opens and shuts a time or two. It’s not her worst fear; Cedarstar has seen too many horrible things for this to be her worst fear. But it’s close. Leaving him behind, her deputy, her mentor, her friend… it’s almost too much to bear.

It’s cruel to beg him to go. Still, she begs: “Please… please don’t—don’t do this, Brambledust. Please, I need you. I can’t—”

“Can’t what? Do this without me?” It’s his turn to scoff, and he draws himself up to his full height—still looming over her, somehow. “That’s a load of shit, and you know it. This day had to come eventually. You were always going to outlive me, always. Probably should’ve happened a couple moons ago, anyway.” The rasp of his voice tells her exactly what he’s talking about.

She doesn’t say anything. She looks down at her paws, closes her eyes, and wills herself not to cry. Her eyes still burn, her ears fold down, and she’s as rigid as stone. But she doesn’t cry.

“I’m stepping down now, Cedarstar,” he says, gentler now. “And when you go, I am staying here.”

She barely moves aside from the rigid little nod she gives. A deep breath, and then: “I understand.” She hates the thought of being cold to him, but she still says, “Forgive me for not showing you out, but I have a big decision to make, and I need all the time I can get to consider it.”

“Of course.” He doesn’t sound offended as he hauls himself to his feet. He doesn’t get far before turning back to touch his forehead to hers. Cedarstar leans into him and exhales a shaky sigh; she knows she can’t hold it in much longer. Thankfully, he doesn’t linger long and murmurs, “You’ll be alright,” before straightening up and padding out.

Cedarstar remains unmoving for several long moments before lifting her head and looking around the leader’s den. She feels cold when she realizes she’s more alone than she’s ever been.

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