history wrote:
kitten ➥ Her birth was a good omen to Solarclan. A young, happy couple, birthing a ginger litter during the day was what the clan needed after a rough winter. It was only right that Starclan blessed them. The Sun Watchers, Cherrypelt and Rosefrost, had recieved word of this good omen, as well as a new apprentice among the litter. The cream kitten had a fate ahead of them, one that they hadn't even fathomed. The moment she could walk, Dawnkit was ushered into the Sun Watchers den to learn. She simply wanted to play, chase butterflies, and pounce on her sibling's tails. But this was what the Stars had intended for her, and she begrudgingly accepted this was her new role. She thought to her brother, Firekit, who was having a normal kithood, whilst she was practically an apprentice already. Jealousy budded in her heart, as she wished nothing more than to have fun. Cherrypelt and Rosefrost scolded her straying, and she snapped back a lot at first. But she became tired of the arguing, the fights she could never win. Defeat, she had to accept it.
apprentice ➥ Dawnpaw felt numb as she was officially apprenticed. Already she was tired of the training, and her jealousy was blooming as she watched Firepaw go out training. Things changed at her first half moon meeting. Rosefrost accompanied her as they met with the Lunarclan Moon Watchers, Havensnow and Puddlepaw. Dawnpaw looked to the older apprentice, trying to speak with them, but was ignored, and also given a sharp glare from Rosefrost. When she laid in the Moon Cave, resting on the cold, crystal floor, she dreamt. The things will always give her chills. Starclan welcomed her as the newest Sun Watcher in training, guiding her around the star-covered meadows. The sights were beautiful, indescriable. This was broken with a dreadful sight, as a screech broke her from her starry vision. Suddenly, blood was raining down, and the meadow was wilting. There was a figure, a ginger cat, standing proudly as their fur became soaked in blood. Familiarity ran through her, but she couldn't figure it out. She woke with a start, noticing she was the first awake. On the way back to camp, Rosefrost scolded her, reminding her association with Lunarclan was looked down upon, even peacefully. It was best to not make friends with the enemy, as things could turn sour. When Dawnpaw tried to mention her dream, she was dismissed -- Starclan would've shown the experienced Sun Watchers if it was important, nothing more than a nightmare of course. Dawnpaw had the blood-soaked cat visit her every night, in various degrees of terror. Sleep became impossible when her dreams led to her waking up with blood-curdling yowls. Still, dismissed as kit nightmares. She tried to protest, the claws that met her throat so frequently felt real, but it met deaf ears. Dawnpaw resorted to suffering, Starclan was showing her something but the warnings were not listened to. She quietly continued her training, sleepless.
adult ➥ Rosefrost retired sometime before Dawnheart recieved her full name. She felt unappreciated after the struggles to sleep, but she had gotten to the point where it was normal to have these omens haunt her. Cherrypelt seemed pleased that her former apprentice was no longer crying in her sleep, and was more friendly than ever. Dawnheart suddenly felt more aware of her clanmates though, after eight months of continous nightmares. She had suffered the omen so frequently she knew it was a ginger tom. Every ginger tom she would watch carefully, for any sign of issue. None, she saw nothing. Stress began to eat at her again, the dreams suddenly more violent. She watched as more blood-soaked cats stood alongside the ginger tom, clearly their leader. She watched her clanmates be mauled by these... these traitors. She endured it for more moons, until she watched her brother, Firestorm, recieve an apprentice. It clicked, he was the blood-soaked tom. Why had Starclan laid out such a foul path for her family when they were apparently blessed? Was it a lie? Dawnheart began to keenly watch her brother as he trained the young Breezepaw. She saw his claws as they connected with a rabbit and felt them on her pelt. She watched his teeth sink into a mouse and could feel her throat tighten. Should she speak out, after everything? Terror gripped her, but spite seemed to strangle her. Their blessed litter was nothing but a curse in reality, no one would believe Dawnheart anyways. So she was quiet, watching as her brother became deputy. Cherrypelt personally picked him, cheerfully exclaiming about the blessed litter they were to have two high ranks in their blood. As Firestorm had a mate, and even kits, Dawnheart knew what was really happening.
And then it did. A thunderstorm struck, and most cats stuck to their den. "Starclan is angry on this day." Dawnheart remembers hearing Cherrypelt's words. She remembered that Ashstar and Firestorm were at the beach, which was very normal for leader and deputy as it was a way to strategically plan and bond better. Dawnheart saw what was coming as soon as Firestorm came into camp, a dead Ashstar in his maw. The leader's throat had been ripped open, his amber eyes glassy. Immediately questions were thrown, as Dawnheart prepared the former leader's body for mourning. "What happened?" "Who did this?" "Why would this happen?" No one suspected anything but Dawnheart knew her brother had killed their leader. His story was believed all too well; the two had reached the northern border when a rouge group had attacked them, slaughtering them. They had gotten away, of course, as Firestorm said, showing his own wounds. Dawnheart began to treat her brother's wounds, as Cherrypelt prepared traveling herbs. "You go with him while he is made leader." She felt a moment of fear, alone with the tormentor of her dreams... it scared her. She nodded though, as she finished applying marigold to his wounds and lapping up the traveling herbs. When they arrived at the Moon Cave, Firestorm met Dawnheart's gaze. "Aren't we a blessed litter? I am happy to have you by my side in this." She felt a chill run through her as they descended, the crystalline floors feeling colder than ice. She watched as he became leader, being granted all of the lives he needed to secure his leadership, except one. Ashstar stood, watching him with light amber eyes. "We know what you have done, Firestar, but our clan failed themselves. I cannot offer you a life you took by force, so you will only have the eight you have now. Lead Solarclan as you wish, for no one stopped you." Her brother's amber eyes looked fiery at the former leader, before the two woke on the floor. Dawnheart met his gaze, the silence between them neverending. "You knew I did it, yes?" "I do, I have since I was appointed Sun Watcher officially." "So why did you not say anything?" A sly grin went across his face, and she heard his claws clink on the crystal as he crept towards her. Dawnheart met her brother's gaze, feeling coldness like never before, she felt as though her nightmares prepared her for this. "They didn't believe me." Laughter burst through the cave, the newly appointed leader unable to resist. His plans have gone through because no one believed their blessed litter. In those first few days of his leadership, things tightened up. Breezetail was sent as messenger to Lunarclan so they were aware of Firestar's new title. The half moon approached and Dawnheart and Cherrypelt went. Their opposing Watchers were unseen when they reached the border, causing a flicker of concern from the Sun Watchers. They proceeded, however, unaware of the true things occuring. When they dreamt, they saw the beach, the waves a sea of blood. And they saw Firestar, wading in the waves, grinning back at them. They woke at the same time, Cherrypelt frazzled. She became accusatory instantly, blaming these issues on Dawnheart herself. The cream tabby snapped. "You nor Rosefrost ever believed me! This is the seed you sew, so you will suffer it!" Two years of anger bubbled out of her as she watched the older seeker stumble back. The two returned to camp in silence, only to be met by a bloody fest. Firestar proudly announced that they had found the Lunarclan Moon Watchers following the river and ambushed them before fighting off another patrol. Pointless blood spilled, for joy, the chills returned to Dawnheart and she saw her former mentor look horrified at Firestar. More pointless battles occured, more death, an endless cycle. Eventually, it began to occur in the clan. Both Rosefrost, a very old elder, and Cherrypelt were targets. "Blesseded be Solarclan, for the fiery kits born at dawn will be our future!" Firestar proudly exclaimed before killing them both. Dawnheart felt conflict rise in her, the spite she felt melted as she watched her former mentors die. She hadn't enjoyed their abuse, but she never wished their death upon them. Dawnheart then had a dream, that a silvery star would save them all. It wasn't what she thought, but when word spread that Lunarclan had a new leader, a theory came to her. And she was right about it. A silvery star was meant to be Silverstar, the new leader of Lunarclan. Though they were rivals, Dawnheart felt relief flood over her as she watched all eight of Firestar's lives drain from him. The ginger tom died, soaked in his own blood. Since his own deputy fell in battle, it was up to Dawnheart to pick up the pieces of Solarclan after all of this bloodshed.