Random Character Info Box

Name: Whitestorm

Species: Neko

Birthday: June 1

Age: 49

Height: 164 cm (5'5")

Weight: 67 kg (147 lbs)

Affiliation: ThunderClan

Occupation: Senior Warrior

Known Family: Bluestar, his aunt. He is married to Frostfur, and has four children: Cinderkit, Brightkit, Thornkit, and Brackenkit.

Appearance: Lanky, tanned man with white hair he keeps tied back in a short samurai-style ponytail. He had golden eyes and a wide, inviting grin.

Attire: Whitestorm dresses rather casually on most occasions, in comfortable deerskin clothing. He wears squarish glasses, and his weapon of choice is a bow and a quiver of arrows on his back.

Personality: Patient, kind, and happy to help with anything happening in the Clan. Whitestorm enjoys teaching children and is the appointed chief of teaching children Clan arts and history. Whitestorm is a dedicated warrior and would protect his Clan at all costs.

Theme Song: Fighting by Yellowcard

Honorific Guide

-sama: "one of high rank", or in this case, "leader", or "revered"

-taichou: "captain", or in this case, "deputy"

-san: "adult", formal, used between equals, or as light respect from a younger person, as in 'Mr.' and 'Miss' in the English language. Also can be used between spouses.

-chan: Can be used in two ways. Most commonly used as an endearing term for one who is thought of as cute or childlike. Also can be used to address a female one shares a strong bond with, whether it be romantic or friendship.

-kun: Can be used in two ways. Most commonly used to address one of a junior status, as in a leader addressing a young warrior. Also can be used to address a male one shares a strong bond with, whether it be romantic or friendship.

-Senpai: "upperclassman", so can be used in an apprentice addressing a warrior.

-Sensei: "teacher", so can be used as an apprentice addressing their mentor.

-hoshi: "Buddhist Priest", or in this case, "Healer"

Note: When honorifics are not used, it usually means the two know each other well enough to not engage in formalities. Could also be used as a sign of disrespect, if the particular person is of very high rank.

Silence greeted the deafening scream. Beside him, Graypaw gasped, but it was an inaudible thing, something that jolted his body and made Firepaw flinch. Or perhaps it did make a noise. He wouldn't know. Blood roared in his ears like a torrent, and his vision swam dangerously. Somebody needed to speak. Something needed to be said. They needed to wake him up, say something, anything, let him know it wasn't true, it couldn't be true... say something... someone, just say something...

"Lionheart is dead, too!"

This time, it wasn't a gasp that came from Graypaw. It was a strangled sort of sob that racked his body and boomed in Firepaw's ears. No. No, that couldn't be true. Both Lionheart and Spottedleaf... it wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible. It was a mistake. Spottedleaf would take a look at Lionheart, and he'd be just fine... but what if Spottedleaf wasn't fine, she wouldn't be checking anyone... no, she would be okay...

"Rosetail!"

It was a joke. That's all. A cruel, tasteless joke played by some troubled kid.

The silence was deafening. Nobody even moved, nobody spoke, nobody could breathe. The air was heavy as lead. Like trying to breath through water.

Through the corner of his eye, he saw only one movement. A shambling old figure, making its way across the bloodstained battlefield, hobbling unevenly on gnarled legs. Yellowfang placed her bony hand on one of the boy's shoulders, and he stiffened.

"Come with me, boy." She murmured, helping him to his feet unsteadily. "I will take you to her."

He nodded numbly. He followed her, weaving between the frozen bodies of his Clanmates, limping to the steady beat of his thrumping heartbeat that now felt as though a stake had been driven through it. Shapes and shadows blended in front of him, circling toward him as though attempting to capture him. Once or twice he stumbled blindly, but Yellowfang steadied him with a strong, gentle hand. Within moments, they reached an area just behind the Healer's cabin. The old woman glanced at the boy once, before she lifted the curtain of branches that shielded several of his mourning Clanmates.

He reeled backward, bile rising in his throat too quickly for him to stop it. Crouching beside the cabin, his hands fisting in the dirt beneath him, he wretched violently until he'd emptied the contents of his stomach on to the shifting earth beneath him. Even after the terrible nausea had passed, he sat there, his shoulders quivering and his vision swimming. He started when Yellowfang lay her calloused hand on his arm and helped him to his feet. After earning an encouraging nod, he stumbled forward, into the cool shadows that shielded the young girl's broken body.

Willowpelt, who had first screamed out, looked up silently as he approached. Her tear-streaked face made her seem childish in the gloom, and even the steadfast form of Mousefur beside her seemed shaken to the core. Painfully, Firepaw kneeled in front of the fallen girl. Carefully, he pulled her closer to him and lay her head gently in his lap. With shaking fingers he traced the soft line of her cheek, the curve of her chin, the slight part of her plush lips. Empty amber eyes stared up at him, eery in the way their half-lidded depths seemed almost alive. Though he wanted nothing more than to look away, he forced himself to take in the rest of her body. The grotesque gash that stretched from her navel to her cleavage, a stab wound to her ribcage, and the ragged puncture through her temple. The beautiful woman was merely a shell, beaten and bloodied, never again to look at him with warmth in her bright eyes.

The tears went unnoticed before they dropped silently on to the girl's cheeks. One after another, following each other in succesion as Firepaw wept for the Healer. The flame in his heart had become unbearably painful, scorching him as his love for the dead girl overflowed. There was nothing he could do, then? She was really gone? It wasn't a joke. No, he relented, as he hunched over her, unable to control the sobs that welled in his chest. No, this was real. Everything. Her sweet scent, replaced with the acrid tang of blood. Her steady prescence, now empty and lifeless. Nothing remained of Spottedleaf. Only the soft tinkling of two little silver bells that were strangely reminiscent of her laugh as they were stirred by a breeze.

"Tonight we mourn the deaths of three of our most treasured friends. Spottedleaf, our dedicated Healer. Rosetail, a brave elder and close friend of mine. And Lionheart, who'd only just began his role as Deputy." Bluestar's voice was solemn as she spoke that night. A strangely chilled air was blowing in from the mountains, bringing with it the tang of crisp springs and wild flowers. In the center of the camp, three coffins lay, laced with hastily picked herbs and flowers. The Clan was gathered around the coffins, looking up at Bluestar where she sat on the Highrock. The stars above them were cold, distant, mocking. Firepaw's head was bowed. He was unable to look at those little points of light, for fear of seeing her face staring down at him from the heavens.

"Though I would rather not rush such things, Moonhigh is approaching fast, and I must now appoint a new Deputy."

Firepaw couldn't help but notice the way Tigerclaw straightened up, as though jolted. Nobody else stirred, unable or unwilling to comprehend what the leader was saying, too lost were they in their grief. Bluestar looked up at the skies for some time, her blue eyes distant as a fresh wind whipped her hair. Her face seemed strangely indecisive, as though she'd given no prior thought to who would lead the Clan after her. Or perhaps she was just second-guessing herself. Both theories were quickly disproved when the leader let out a sigh and her gaze fell on Tigerclaw. "I say these words before the body of Lionheart so he may hear and approve my choice. Tigerclaw will be the new Deputy of ThunderClan."

Several despondant cheers of "Tigerclaw, Tigerclaw!" emerged from the Clan, the loudest of which coming from Darkstripe and Longtail. Nobody else seemed particularly interested, though some gave short words of congratulations or gave the tall man a pat on the shoulder. His face betrayed no emotion, though he nodded and accepted the praise.

"Please be on the lookout for four lost children, by the way." Bluestar added, after Whitestorm gave her a pointed glance. "They're probably just wandering around somewhere, but Whitey-chan insists they must've gotten into trouble. Just bring them back if you see them." She looked at the esembled Elders, and sighed deafeatedly. "Alright. It is time for the Elders to bury the fallen, so please pay your last respects. Oh, and Firepaw... please come see me after you're done with that."

Murmurs broke out as, one after another, the Clan lined up to say their final goodbyes to their comrades. At this point, Firepaw felt too sick to lay eyes on the bodies again, so he simply turned away with a soft murmur of "Goodbye, Spottedleaf." Silently, he peeled off from the crowd and made his way over to Bluestar, who took him by the hand and lead him to her cabin. She opened the door, and together the two entered the cool darkness. She lit a single candle made of bee wax and set it down on the floor before gesturing for Firepaw to sit down on a pillow. She sat opposite him, staring at the small, flickering flame for a moment before speaking. "How much do you know about your father, Firepaw?"

Firepaw stiffened for a moment, but forced himself to relax. "Not much, I suppose." He muttered.

"Did you know he lived for a time in this Clan, just as you are now?"

His head snapped up, and his eyes widened. No, he hadn't known that. He never would have guessed that- well, how could he gave not seen it? The necklace he wore, even now, was the ThunderClan warriors' emblem. Of course he'd known all along that there was a connection, but that his father had actually lived with this Clan before he had... it was remarkable. "I didn't, no."

"Might as well start at the beginning." Bluestar sighed. "Your father and your stepmother... what was her name, Quince?" She waited for a moment, and when Firepaw nodded, she continued. "They had an arranged marriage. They were from very noble families that wanted to be associated with one another as soon as possible, and so the two were married when they were only thirteen years old." For a moment, a smirk tugged at her lips. "Well, I can certainly sympathize with what happened next. Three children in the course of three years. Marry two thirteen year olds, and suddenly they have no restrictions... well, what are they gonna do? Wait till they're eighteen?"

Sensing this conversation was entering dangerous territory, Firepaw blushed and cleared his throat loudly. "So, um... what happened after that?"

"Oh, right. Well, understandably, Jake became rather fed up with all the noble nonsense. He loved Quince, that much I can tell you. It was easy to tell when he spoke to me. But he yearned freedom, the way you do. So he ran into the woods. Found a cute girl here in ThunderClan. She gave birth to their daughter, Priscilla. Then to you."

Firepaw blinked. So... he was half-Neko? And so was Priscilla?

"Your mother died soon afterward in a battle. Jake went back to your world, where he raised you and your sister. I assume he died, or else you wouldn't be here, seeking that necklace's memories."

"Memories? A necklace?"

"Pretty much. I don't get it either, so don't ask. Just thought it'd sound cool."

"...So it's not true?"

"Yup, it's true. I just don't know what I'm talking about."

Before Firepaw could voice his confusion, turmoil from outside interrupted him. He picked out several voices, and tuned in carefully.

"Yellowfang is gone! She... she must have stolen my children!"

Bluestar glared at Firepaw dangerously. "Stupid kid. I told you to watch her. You'd fail as a slave, you know that?""

I was gone for a long, long time. I'm back now though, so no worries, eh? /shot /bricked /killed /dies

Reviewers: CyilEib, Lunara the ara, Ivypool Luva, winterthaw of thunderclan, Scarheart of DarkClan, Sparkheart of ThunderClan, Echosky of ForestClan, Nightkill, Sdr82561. Thank you!

Guys, quit freaking complaining about the Japanese stuff. I realize it was stupid to add, but this was during my whole weaboo-stage. Besides, it fits the Clans' lifestyle, so stop whining.

Review? o3o