HOME | DD

Description

♪ song lyric ♪
⥽ 𝓶 𝓪 𝓻 𝓼 𝓱 𝓵 𝓲 𝓰 𝓱 𝓽 ⥼

kit ,, paw ,, light
⥽ a red and white tabby tom with folded ears, long, wavy fur, and blue eyes. ⥼

genderflux ,, dmab ,, 93+ m

⚜ 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮
↳ marshlight
↳ marshpaw
↳ marshkit

⚜ 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰
↳ prefix, for his flattened ears and his parents' late friend.
↳ suffix, for his bright personality and smart attitude.

⚜ 𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓴
↳ warrior
↳ apprentice
↳ kit

⚜ 𝓮𝓭𝓾𝓬𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷
↳ mentor, pebblepuddle
↳ current apprentice, apprentice name
↳ apprentice, quailpaw, breezepad, woollylight

♪ song lyric ♪

⚜ 𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓽𝔂
↳ genderflux (male leaning)
↳ he/they/she
↳ pansexual
↳ panromantic
↳ masculine

⚜ 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓽𝓱𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓼
↳ specialty, strategy
↳ strength, coordination
↳ strength, attention to detail
↳ vulnerability, bad eyesight
↳ weakness, speed
↳ weakness, gullible

⚜ 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂
↳ archetypes
↳ mbti personality type
↳ alignment
↳ old and sad, marshlight tries not to let his own emotions get others down. although he's by no means emotionally constipated, he does tend to think of others before himself. he's wise and has amazing attention to detail, but he's easily tricked and somewhat blind to things going on around him, especially if he has reason to believe it's not something to worry about. he can be lazy as well - although he's grown a lot since his kithood days of laying motionless for hours on end, he does genuinely enjoy things like naps and sunbathing and cuddles, and will take it over hunting or fighting any day of the week. he's faithful in what he believes in, and falls in love hard and fast, but he's loyal to no end. he will never take another mate. he can be bitter at times, but those are rare occurrences, and he will often apologize later on. it's hard for him to be motivated, by outside forces or himself, but he is at least passionate for his cause. even if he won't fight tooth and nail for it, he has no qualms with begging for it and weeping. that being said, he can be reserved in some sense - though it's not really the main word to describe him, considering how outgoing and paternal he is. he'd take any wayward kit or apprentice under his wing in a heartbeat and without a second thought, and would not give up on them, no matter what. even if he does sass off about getting up for dawn patrol, he's a softy who's lost a lot and loves even more.

♪ song lyric ♪

⚜ 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂
↳ full backstory
↳ pre birth, Sheepnose and Mistyfern were members of two very loyal, long lines of LeafClanners. Sheepnose was claimed to be decended from the founders of Leafclan (though no one quite believed her, as no one remembered that far in the past), and Mistyfern came from one of the recent (although not the current) medicine cats of LeafClan. As such, when they settled down and had kits, both parents expected a lot from their only son, Marshkit.
↳ kithood, Marshkit was born many moons ago at night, just after the cats of the clan had gone to bed. His biological mother, Sheepnose, had only a bit of help from the medicine cat, who had been a heavy sleeper. Of course, with only one (albeit, somewhat large) kit, the birth was fairly easy, and Sheepnose didn't struggle too much. The next morning, another kit was born before he opened his eyes - a tiny molly who was given the name Heronkit, for her immediate wild and brash personality - even while she grew inside her mother's belly, she had been feisty. In fact, Heronkit even opened her eyes before the sleepy Marshkit, who lazed away even as his denmate tried to wake him for play sessions. Finally, he opened his eyes to Heronkit in his face, and briefly, he wailed, terrified - surely this wasn't his mother. But, he was soothed by his parents soon afterward, Mistyfern and Sheepnose coddling him softly while Heronkit's parents pulled her away with a little roll of their eyes. From that day on, the pairs of parents bickered about which kit was better. Heronkit, spoiled rotten by her parents, was allowed to do anything and everything - and was given whatever she wanted by her perfectionist, entitled parents. Sheepnose and Mistyfern, however, also spoiled their only son, which clashed with Heronkit's parents surprisingly less than one might think. Marshkit was a slow kit, who liked to explore and meander rather than rush in and discover. Still though, with both pairs living in the nursery, their kits felt the weight of being the best - or, at least, Heronkit did. Marshkit, however, although he was not particularly self-loathing, found that Heronkit's parents had good arguments. He was absolutely enchanted with her, and when she approached him, trying to pick a fight over who was the better kit, she was appalled when Marshkit just agreed with her. From then on, the kit decided she adored Marshkit, and so they were inseparable. Neither set of parents were expecting this, and although it was a bit rough at first, they soon learned to accept their kits had play pals within each other.
↳ apprenticeship, Marshkit and Heronkit were made apprentices on the same day. Marshpaw, of course, was given to an aunt - although, not a biological aunt, just a cat his mothers considered like a sister. Pebblepuddle was eccentric and flighty, an Marshpaw could not keep up. Although he had the enthusiasm to learn and eagerness to please, he was just not a cat who was very active by nature. He'd grown a lot since his lazy kithood days, but some part of that still remained in him - especially when set right next to a cat who had boundless energy. On Heronpaw's side, she was given a mentor by the name of Howlmoon, and he was the exact opposite of her as well. Slow and more willing to master one skill rather than become acceptable at a myriad of skills, Howlmoon was a hands-on, studying mentor that Heronpaw just could not stand. However, both sets of apprentice and mentor did adore each other, even if it was hard to keep up with - or slow down for. Many cats, including each mentor and apprentice pair, joked about how they were given the wrong mentors on accident. However, it seemed the leader knew what he was doing. Not only did Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle grow close, but by the time Marshpaw and Heronpaw reached their warrior assessments, they were absolutely inseparable. They spent every moment of every day together, rather than falling away from each other as their apprentice duties and lessons wore on. Unlike most kithood friends, they stuck together. The leader, proud of this development and seeming satisfied, requested that their mentors work together to craft a warrior assessment like no other for them. And sure enough, Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle did. They spent moons planning their assessment that both Heronpaw and Marshpaw were held back, simply because their mentors were not pleased with their own assessment's crafting. And then, the day finally came. Three moons older than they should be for their ceremony, Marshpaw and Heronpaw were let loose in a lesser known part of LeafClan territory, and told not to come back until after they had captured a list of very specific prey - one of which, included a falcon. It was a bird of prey, not usually prey itself. But, Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle thought the two were up to the task, especially because this supposed falcon had been terrorizing cats for a good six or so moons now, and with leafbare coming onward, the clan needed every bit of territory they could get. It took Marshpaw and Heronpaw three days to collect all of the prey - their mentors having come up with a system to tally their catches and observe the two without interfering, and without wasting the prey. And then, the bird struck. Heronpaw had charged up the mountains, climbing and climbing while Marshpaw spotted her, as they searched for nutritious eggs to eat and save their stomachs for the day. The bird poked it's head out, it's eyes narrowed, and then it spread it's wings, much, much larger to Heronpaw than that of a falcon, or even a hawk. Marshpaw stared up in terror, backing away when he remembered Heronpaw still on the rocks above them, completely open to attacks from the bird of prey hovering above them. It launched itself into the air, revealing itself to be an eagle, and Marshpaw wailed out for Heronpaw to do something risky, but very clever. Heronpaw did as she was told - climbing further up the mountain as swiftly as she could, before she could get to a ledge. She jumped once, then twice, and as the eagle swooped down at her, she jumped one last time, dropping all of her weight onto the rock, and making it come loose from the dirt and slide down the steep slope. Meeting Marshpaw at the bottom, Heronpaw turned back to face the eagle, now on even ground. She had told him, "GO! Get Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle! We were given this task for our clan, and I'll see it through, no matter what!" and stood her ground to face the eagle herself. Although Marshpaw thought this was the last he'd see of his kit hood friend, he bolted, knowing she was too stubborn to disagree - they were given this assessment FOR their clan, after all. However, the mentor pair was already rushing out to meet them, an snapped for Marshpaw to find the fastest route home and get help. When he returned with the deputy, medicine cat, and a handful of warriors to finally take down this eagle, Heronpaw was laying on the ground, feathers embedded in her claws, but motionless. Deep scars ran across her face and her scruff, and Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle fought tirelessly against the giant bird. But, it seemed to have a large gash in it's underbelly, and was not long for this world. Although Heronpaw did not have the final blow, she did help by weakening it considerably.
↳ warriorhood, Heronpaw and Marshpaw were given their names on the spot, although Heronpaw remained unconscious for the time being. She had lost a lot of blood, and had hit her head harshly on the rocks, but the medicine cat was insistent she would survive. Heronpaw was given the name Herontuft, for the tuft of feathers - and albeit, skin - she had torn from the eagle. Marshpaw was given the name Marshlight, for his surprising strike of wisdom in a moment of panic. The next few moons, Herontuft spent recovering, with Marshlight nearby. Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle became mates soon after Herontuft recovered, and upon the birth of their first litter, they gave their kits the name Tuftkit and Lightkit, after their brave and wise apprentices. Herontuft, although she had been gravely injured in her battle against the eagle, considered it to be the light of her life - which did make Marshlight pout whenever she mentioned it, not that she really realized that. Herontuft was far too caught up in the excitement of re-climbing the mountains, searching for predators, and helping her clanmates with day-to-day chores, that Marshlight's adoration of the brave and wild she-cat went unnoticed... for a while. And then, Herontuft had dragged Marshlight out on yet another one of her adventures. Although he did not enjoy being dragged through the underbrush and up rocks, he couldn't help but watch her in complete adoration as she charged into empty caves, and then smile and chuckle, and tell her soft apologies as she came back without any predator to battle. Her adventures were uneventful - other than a feisty rabbit or crow, Marshlight usually spent time meandering on behind her in an easy trot, swooning over the wild she-cat that he could never hope - nor want - to tame. And then night fell as they were out on an adventure, hunting a scary kit-tale monster that Herontuft had promised a kit she would take down. Marshlight turned back toward camp, but Herontuft insisted that she had promised, and she had yet to figure out some kind of proof to bring back for the kit. Marshlight sighed, and turned back to face her, and tell her they could continue to search tomorrow, when he spotted it. A large, fierce creature that dwelled outside of LeafClan territory stood, looming behind the love of his life. Terror overtook him, and he yowled for her to climb up the nearest birch tree. She moved first, and then him, and then the bear came stomping, storming behind them. The two cats scaled the tree with ease, though Herontuft shook from fear of heights. And, although the bear tried, it could not get a grip on the smooth bark or the fragile branches of the tree, and just stood, waiting. Finally, as the sun began to rise, soft, baby cries of the same creature came from the mountains, and the bear finally wandered away. Herontuft begged for Marshlight not to tell anyone this had scared her so badly, and Marshlight agreed, before moving to get down from the tree. Herontuft didn't move, too nervous to began to get down. Marshlight rolled his eyes at her, and insisted, telling her that she was the bravest cat he'd ever met, and that anything he could do that she could also do. Smiling down at her kithood friend, she moved to climb down, but slipped on the smooth bark that also saved them before, and fell. She hit the ground with a crack, and wailed in pain. Marshlight carried her home, and the medicine cat said she had sprained her ankle badly. They spent moons in the medicine cat's den together. Marshlight mentored cats, but his time was spent primarily caring for Herontuft, who, now that she was forced to stay and watch instead of run around and explore, began to see how much Marshlight cared for her. She repeated her mantra of the eagle being the light of her life to kits every day when they came to her for stories, making sure Marshlight heard, until one day, she hit him with it. "Marshlight. Do you know who the light of my life is?" she had asked, half asleep from the poppy seeds that had been given to her the night before. He had chuckled and told her of the eagle, and then she had scoffed, and put a paw on his chest, and just stared until it seemed to click in his mind. She joked about how long it had taken for him to make it click, about him being the wiser of the two, but Marshlight just held her. From then on, they were mates, and as Herontuft's ankle healed, Marshlight was there to help her make sure she regained the strength she needed to go back to her warrior duties. They grew particularly close to Marshlight's first apprentice, Quailpaw, but he eventually ran away. They also grew close to Marshlight's third apprentice, who was named Woollypaw. Woollypaw was the reason that Marshlight and Herontuft decided to have kits, though Herontuft was not quite ready to settle down. When Woollypaw was given her warrior name, she stopped the leader, and requested she be named after her mentor, because although cats had passed down what they knew to their apprentices, she had felt that Marshlight had given every small scrap of wisdom he knew to her. Days went on and Herontuft and Marshlight's parents retired. They brought them prey, and joked about how their old family rivalry could have changed their lives entirely if Marshlight wasn't such a sap. Slowly but surely, each parent passed away, and although they grieved, Herontuft and Marshlight realized they had had full lives. They had seen their kits grow up, find a mate, and although they would never see grandkits in their time, they both knew that their parents likely wouldn't care too much. Marshlight and Herontuft were in love so deeply, that it was unlikely they wouldn't have kits. And, after several more adventures, a few with their old mentors, their old mentors decided to retire as well. Herontuft seemed to take their retirement as a sign that she too, was ready to settle down. She and Marshlight were older, past their prime for certain, and they had had a full life, full of love and loss, fear and happiness. They began to start trying for kits, though her old habits did get the best of her. Although she was expecting and on the older side, Herontuft was an active molly, and didn't particularly enjoy Marshlight trying to tame her spirit, even if it were only temporary. They were very excited for their kits, regardless. They picked names before they ever knew how many there might be, and when the medicine cat gave them an estimate, they were even more thrilled. Frog, Turtle, and Gator. Although it had been so, so many moons from when they were kits, Herontuft and Marshlight recalled the game they used to play with other kits in the nursery, especially when Herontuft was an apprentice. A game where one kit hops, one kit is slow, and one kit (or parent), tries to snap up the little "prey" with their belly to the ground.... And then the kits were born. It was simultaneously the worst and best day in his life. Marshlight watched in horror the light drain from his mate's eyes, her older body unable to provide the strength for the three kits that came. The first few days, he had completely disappeared. No cat saw him, and no cat wanted to bother a grieving man. And then, he returned, smiling again, although the devastation and exhaustion was clear in his eyes. He insisted he were in his kits life, and gave them their names. Every night, he told them stories of a brave and wild she-cat, a molly who was as gentle as the moon and shone like the sun. He taught his kits the Frog, Turtle, Gator game, and watched them grow up. When they were older, he told them that their mother was that deity from the stories, that perfect molly that he spoke of every night but they never got to meet. Of course, his kits were doubtful, or some of them were. He just hoped they remembered her, even if she was buried before they could ever see or hear. This was a dark time during his life. He often went to Pebblepuddle and Howlmoon for comfort, but he knew their days were coming soon. When his kits were apprenticed, Turtlepaw and Gatorpaw were given one of Pebblepuddle and Howlmoon's younger children (and her mate) as mentors. Turtlepaw was mentored by Daisysong, bright and as energetic as her mother, but as gentle as her father. Gatorpaw was given Nightberry as a mentor, Daisysong's mate. Frogpaw, however, he was worried about. Perhaps because of his past, Marshlight stayed blind to his kit's stress, assuming that the leader knew what he was doing. He heard nothing of Daisysong having to approach Pikewatcher, but he did not know the tom, and his helicopter instincts kicked in, even if all he knew was that the cat was strict. His kits became warriors, and he had much more time to spend with his little ones. Like old times, he would relax with them. Even in his older age, he enjoyed spending time with them, and frankly, they became the lights of his life. And then Gatorsnap was gone. Blackcough swept through LeafClan and Marshlight saw yet another light that was so important to him be snuffed out. Part of him was bitter, angry, sad, but... he knew he couldn't stay that way, and so he didn't. He had gotten over it for his kits once, and he would again. He held Frogspring and Turtleleaf closer than before, spending time with them on the daily, and then Bristleback spoke. The decision had been easy for him. Gatorsnap and Herontuft always wanted to explore, find new things, claim new territory... StoneClan was the way to go. It was what they would have wanted. Turtleleaf followed him easily, but Frogspring... did not. He was reluctant to leave, feeling as if yet another light in his life was flickering because he was blowing on it, but... eventually, he left. It was then that he learned from Turtleleaf of Frogspring's training, of Pikewatcher's harsh personality and rigorous training regimen. As they stepped into StoneClan's camp for the first time, Marshlight found himself grieving, not for the loss of one he loved, but for his own blindness to his own kit's struggles.
↳ retirement, writing

♪ song lyric ♪

⚜ 𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓼
↳ art

↳ design
↳ application (bg), QuietHollow
↳ application (written), do not use

Description

♪ song lyric ♪
⥽ 𝓶 𝓪 𝓻 𝓼 𝓱 𝓵 𝓲 𝓰 𝓱 𝓽 ⥼

kit ,, paw ,, light
⥽ a red and white tabby tom with folded ears, long, wavy fur, and blue eyes. ⥼

genderflux ,, dmab ,, 93+ m

⚜ 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮
↳ marshlight
↳ marshpaw
↳ marshkit

⚜ 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰
↳ prefix, for his flattened ears and his parents' late friend.
↳ suffix, for his bright personality and smart attitude.

⚜ 𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓴
↳ warrior
↳ apprentice
↳ kit

⚜ 𝓮𝓭𝓾𝓬𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷
↳ mentor, pebblepuddle
↳ current apprentice, apprentice name
↳ apprentice, quailpaw, breezepad, woollylight

♪ song lyric ♪

⚜ 𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓽𝔂
↳ genderflux (male leaning)
↳ he/they/she
↳ pansexual
↳ panromantic
↳ masculine

⚜ 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓽𝓱𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓼
↳ specialty, strategy
↳ strength, coordination
↳ strength, attention to detail
↳ vulnerability, bad eyesight
↳ weakness, speed
↳ weakness, gullible

⚜ 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂
↳ archetypes
↳ mbti personality type
↳ alignment
↳ old and sad, marshlight tries not to let his own emotions get others down. although he's by no means emotionally constipated, he does tend to think of others before himself. he's wise and has amazing attention to detail, but he's easily tricked and somewhat blind to things going on around him, especially if he has reason to believe it's not something to worry about. he can be lazy as well - although he's grown a lot since his kithood days of laying motionless for hours on end, he does genuinely enjoy things like naps and sunbathing and cuddles, and will take it over hunting or fighting any day of the week. he's faithful in what he believes in, and falls in love hard and fast, but he's loyal to no end. he will never take another mate. he can be bitter at times, but those are rare occurrences, and he will often apologize later on. it's hard for him to be motivated, by outside forces or himself, but he is at least passionate for his cause. even if he won't fight tooth and nail for it, he has no qualms with begging for it and weeping. that being said, he can be reserved in some sense - though it's not really the main word to describe him, considering how outgoing and paternal he is. he'd take any wayward kit or apprentice under his wing in a heartbeat and without a second thought, and would not give up on them, no matter what. even if he does sass off about getting up for dawn patrol, he's a softy who's lost a lot and loves even more.

♪ song lyric ♪

⚜ 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂
↳ full backstory
↳ pre birth, Sheepnose and Mistyfern were members of two very loyal, long lines of LeafClanners. Sheepnose was claimed to be decended from the founders of Leafclan (though no one quite believed her, as no one remembered that far in the past), and Mistyfern came from one of the recent (although not the current) medicine cats of LeafClan. As such, when they settled down and had kits, both parents expected a lot from their only son, Marshkit.
↳ kithood, Marshkit was born many moons ago at night, just after the cats of the clan had gone to bed. His biological mother, Sheepnose, had only a bit of help from the medicine cat, who had been a heavy sleeper. Of course, with only one (albeit, somewhat large) kit, the birth was fairly easy, and Sheepnose didn't struggle too much. The next morning, another kit was born before he opened his eyes - a tiny molly who was given the name Heronkit, for her immediate wild and brash personality - even while she grew inside her mother's belly, she had been feisty. In fact, Heronkit even opened her eyes before the sleepy Marshkit, who lazed away even as his denmate tried to wake him for play sessions. Finally, he opened his eyes to Heronkit in his face, and briefly, he wailed, terrified - surely this wasn't his mother. But, he was soothed by his parents soon afterward, Mistyfern and Sheepnose coddling him softly while Heronkit's parents pulled her away with a little roll of their eyes. From that day on, the pairs of parents bickered about which kit was better. Heronkit, spoiled rotten by her parents, was allowed to do anything and everything - and was given whatever she wanted by her perfectionist, entitled parents. Sheepnose and Mistyfern, however, also spoiled their only son, which clashed with Heronkit's parents surprisingly less than one might think. Marshkit was a slow kit, who liked to explore and meander rather than rush in and discover. Still though, with both pairs living in the nursery, their kits felt the weight of being the best - or, at least, Heronkit did. Marshkit, however, although he was not particularly self-loathing, found that Heronkit's parents had good arguments. He was absolutely enchanted with her, and when she approached him, trying to pick a fight over who was the better kit, she was appalled when Marshkit just agreed with her. From then on, the kit decided she adored Marshkit, and so they were inseparable. Neither set of parents were expecting this, and although it was a bit rough at first, they soon learned to accept their kits had play pals within each other.
↳ apprenticeship, Marshkit and Heronkit were made apprentices on the same day. Marshpaw, of course, was given to an aunt - although, not a biological aunt, just a cat his mothers considered like a sister. Pebblepuddle was eccentric and flighty, an Marshpaw could not keep up. Although he had the enthusiasm to learn and eagerness to please, he was just not a cat who was very active by nature. He'd grown a lot since his lazy kithood days, but some part of that still remained in him - especially when set right next to a cat who had boundless energy. On Heronpaw's side, she was given a mentor by the name of Howlmoon, and he was the exact opposite of her as well. Slow and more willing to master one skill rather than become acceptable at a myriad of skills, Howlmoon was a hands-on, studying mentor that Heronpaw just could not stand. However, both sets of apprentice and mentor did adore each other, even if it was hard to keep up with - or slow down for. Many cats, including each mentor and apprentice pair, joked about how they were given the wrong mentors on accident. However, it seemed the leader knew what he was doing. Not only did Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle grow close, but by the time Marshpaw and Heronpaw reached their warrior assessments, they were absolutely inseparable. They spent every moment of every day together, rather than falling away from each other as their apprentice duties and lessons wore on. Unlike most kithood friends, they stuck together. The leader, proud of this development and seeming satisfied, requested that their mentors work together to craft a warrior assessment like no other for them. And sure enough, Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle did. They spent moons planning their assessment that both Heronpaw and Marshpaw were held back, simply because their mentors were not pleased with their own assessment's crafting. And then, the day finally came. Three moons older than they should be for their ceremony, Marshpaw and Heronpaw were let loose in a lesser known part of LeafClan territory, and told not to come back until after they had captured a list of very specific prey - one of which, included a falcon. It was a bird of prey, not usually prey itself. But, Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle thought the two were up to the task, especially because this supposed falcon had been terrorizing cats for a good six or so moons now, and with leafbare coming onward, the clan needed every bit of territory they could get. It took Marshpaw and Heronpaw three days to collect all of the prey - their mentors having come up with a system to tally their catches and observe the two without interfering, and without wasting the prey. And then, the bird struck. Heronpaw had charged up the mountains, climbing and climbing while Marshpaw spotted her, as they searched for nutritious eggs to eat and save their stomachs for the day. The bird poked it's head out, it's eyes narrowed, and then it spread it's wings, much, much larger to Heronpaw than that of a falcon, or even a hawk. Marshpaw stared up in terror, backing away when he remembered Heronpaw still on the rocks above them, completely open to attacks from the bird of prey hovering above them. It launched itself into the air, revealing itself to be an eagle, and Marshpaw wailed out for Heronpaw to do something risky, but very clever. Heronpaw did as she was told - climbing further up the mountain as swiftly as she could, before she could get to a ledge. She jumped once, then twice, and as the eagle swooped down at her, she jumped one last time, dropping all of her weight onto the rock, and making it come loose from the dirt and slide down the steep slope. Meeting Marshpaw at the bottom, Heronpaw turned back to face the eagle, now on even ground. She had told him, "GO! Get Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle! We were given this task for our clan, and I'll see it through, no matter what!" and stood her ground to face the eagle herself. Although Marshpaw thought this was the last he'd see of his kit hood friend, he bolted, knowing she was too stubborn to disagree - they were given this assessment FOR their clan, after all. However, the mentor pair was already rushing out to meet them, an snapped for Marshpaw to find the fastest route home and get help. When he returned with the deputy, medicine cat, and a handful of warriors to finally take down this eagle, Heronpaw was laying on the ground, feathers embedded in her claws, but motionless. Deep scars ran across her face and her scruff, and Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle fought tirelessly against the giant bird. But, it seemed to have a large gash in it's underbelly, and was not long for this world. Although Heronpaw did not have the final blow, she did help by weakening it considerably.
↳ warriorhood, Heronpaw and Marshpaw were given their names on the spot, although Heronpaw remained unconscious for the time being. She had lost a lot of blood, and had hit her head harshly on the rocks, but the medicine cat was insistent she would survive. Heronpaw was given the name Herontuft, for the tuft of feathers - and albeit, skin - she had torn from the eagle. Marshpaw was given the name Marshlight, for his surprising strike of wisdom in a moment of panic. The next few moons, Herontuft spent recovering, with Marshlight nearby. Howlmoon and Pebblepuddle became mates soon after Herontuft recovered, and upon the birth of their first litter, they gave their kits the name Tuftkit and Lightkit, after their brave and wise apprentices. Herontuft, although she had been gravely injured in her battle against the eagle, considered it to be the light of her life - which did make Marshlight pout whenever she mentioned it, not that she really realized that. Herontuft was far too caught up in the excitement of re-climbing the mountains, searching for predators, and helping her clanmates with day-to-day chores, that Marshlight's adoration of the brave and wild she-cat went unnoticed... for a while. And then, Herontuft had dragged Marshlight out on yet another one of her adventures. Although he did not enjoy being dragged through the underbrush and up rocks, he couldn't help but watch her in complete adoration as she charged into empty caves, and then smile and chuckle, and tell her soft apologies as she came back without any predator to battle. Her adventures were uneventful - other than a feisty rabbit or crow, Marshlight usually spent time meandering on behind her in an easy trot, swooning over the wild she-cat that he could never hope - nor want - to tame. And then night fell as they were out on an adventure, hunting a scary kit-tale monster that Herontuft had promised a kit she would take down. Marshlight turned back toward camp, but Herontuft insisted that she had promised, and she had yet to figure out some kind of proof to bring back for the kit. Marshlight sighed, and turned back to face her, and tell her they could continue to search tomorrow, when he spotted it. A large, fierce creature that dwelled outside of LeafClan territory stood, looming behind the love of his life. Terror overtook him, and he yowled for her to climb up the nearest birch tree. She moved first, and then him, and then the bear came stomping, storming behind them. The two cats scaled the tree with ease, though Herontuft shook from fear of heights. And, although the bear tried, it could not get a grip on the smooth bark or the fragile branches of the tree, and just stood, waiting. Finally, as the sun began to rise, soft, baby cries of the same creature came from the mountains, and the bear finally wandered away. Herontuft begged for Marshlight not to tell anyone this had scared her so badly, and Marshlight agreed, before moving to get down from the tree. Herontuft didn't move, too nervous to began to get down. Marshlight rolled his eyes at her, and insisted, telling her that she was the bravest cat he'd ever met, and that anything he could do that she could also do. Smiling down at her kithood friend, she moved to climb down, but slipped on the smooth bark that also saved them before, and fell. She hit the ground with a crack, and wailed in pain. Marshlight carried her home, and the medicine cat said she had sprained her ankle badly. They spent moons in the medicine cat's den together. Marshlight mentored cats, but his time was spent primarily caring for Herontuft, who, now that she was forced to stay and watch instead of run around and explore, began to see how much Marshlight cared for her. She repeated her mantra of the eagle being the light of her life to kits every day when they came to her for stories, making sure Marshlight heard, until one day, she hit him with it. "Marshlight. Do you know who the light of my life is?" she had asked, half asleep from the poppy seeds that had been given to her the night before. He had chuckled and told her of the eagle, and then she had scoffed, and put a paw on his chest, and just stared until it seemed to click in his mind. She joked about how long it had taken for him to make it click, about him being the wiser of the two, but Marshlight just held her. From then on, they were mates, and as Herontuft's ankle healed, Marshlight was there to help her make sure she regained the strength she needed to go back to her warrior duties. They grew particularly close to Marshlight's first apprentice, Quailpaw, but he eventually ran away. They also grew close to Marshlight's third apprentice, who was named Woollypaw. Woollypaw was the reason that Marshlight and Herontuft decided to have kits, though Herontuft was not quite ready to settle down. When Woollypaw was given her warrior name, she stopped the leader, and requested she be named after her mentor, because although cats had passed down what they knew to their apprentices, she had felt that Marshlight had given every small scrap of wisdom he knew to her. Days went on and Herontuft and Marshlight's parents retired. They brought them prey, and joked about how their old family rivalry could have changed their lives entirely if Marshlight wasn't such a sap. Slowly but surely, each parent passed away, and although they grieved, Herontuft and Marshlight realized they had had full lives. They had seen their kits grow up, find a mate, and although they would never see grandkits in their time, they both knew that their parents likely wouldn't care too much. Marshlight and Herontuft were in love so deeply, that it was unlikely they wouldn't have kits. And, after several more adventures, a few with their old mentors, their old mentors decided to retire as well. Herontuft seemed to take their retirement as a sign that she too, was ready to settle down. She and Marshlight were older, past their prime for certain, and they had had a full life, full of love and loss, fear and happiness. They began to start trying for kits, though her old habits did get the best of her. Although she was expecting and on the older side, Herontuft was an active molly, and didn't particularly enjoy Marshlight trying to tame her spirit, even if it were only temporary. They were very excited for their kits, regardless. They picked names before they ever knew how many there might be, and when the medicine cat gave them an estimate, they were even more thrilled. Frog, Turtle, and Gator. Although it had been so, so many moons from when they were kits, Herontuft and Marshlight recalled the game they used to play with other kits in the nursery, especially when Herontuft was an apprentice. A game where one kit hops, one kit is slow, and one kit (or parent), tries to snap up the little "prey" with their belly to the ground.... And then the kits were born. It was simultaneously the worst and best day in his life. Marshlight watched in horror the light drain from his mate's eyes, her older body unable to provide the strength for the three kits that came. The first few days, he had completely disappeared. No cat saw him, and no cat wanted to bother a grieving man. And then, he returned, smiling again, although the devastation and exhaustion was clear in his eyes. He insisted he were in his kits life, and gave them their names. Every night, he told them stories of a brave and wild she-cat, a molly who was as gentle as the moon and shone like the sun. He taught his kits the Frog, Turtle, Gator game, and watched them grow up. When they were older, he told them that their mother was that deity from the stories, that perfect molly that he spoke of every night but they never got to meet. Of course, his kits were doubtful, or some of them were. He just hoped they remembered her, even if she was buried before they could ever see or hear. This was a dark time during his life. He often went to Pebblepuddle and Howlmoon for comfort, but he knew their days were coming soon. When his kits were apprenticed, Turtlepaw and Gatorpaw were given one of Pebblepuddle and Howlmoon's younger children (and her mate) as mentors. Turtlepaw was mentored by Daisysong, bright and as energetic as her mother, but as gentle as her father. Gatorpaw was given Nightberry as a mentor, Daisysong's mate. Frogpaw, however, he was worried about. Perhaps because of his past, Marshlight stayed blind to his kit's stress, assuming that the leader knew what he was doing. He heard nothing of Daisysong having to approach Pikewatcher, but he did not know the tom, and his helicopter instincts kicked in, even if all he knew was that the cat was strict. His kits became warriors, and he had much more time to spend with his little ones. Like old times, he would relax with them. Even in his older age, he enjoyed spending time with them, and frankly, they became the lights of his life. And then Gatorsnap was gone. Blackcough swept through LeafClan and Marshlight saw yet another light that was so important to him be snuffed out. Part of him was bitter, angry, sad, but... he knew he couldn't stay that way, and so he didn't. He had gotten over it for his kits once, and he would again. He held Frogspring and Turtleleaf closer than before, spending time with them on the daily, and then Bristleback spoke. The decision had been easy for him. Gatorsnap and Herontuft always wanted to explore, find new things, claim new territory... StoneClan was the way to go. It was what they would have wanted. Turtleleaf followed him easily, but Frogspring... did not. He was reluctant to leave, feeling as if yet another light in his life was flickering because he was blowing on it, but... eventually, he left. It was then that he learned from Turtleleaf of Frogspring's training, of Pikewatcher's harsh personality and rigorous training regimen. As they stepped into StoneClan's camp for the first time, Marshlight found himself grieving, not for the loss of one he loved, but for his own blindness to his own kit's struggles.
↳ retirement, writing

♪ song lyric ♪

⚜ 𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓼
↳ art

↳ design
↳ application (bg), QuietHollow
↳ application (written), do not use