Hellfire

Hellfire is a warriors fan comic written and drawn by me, consisting of all original characters. The story follows Starclan, Dark Forest, and living characters as they struggle to deal with the aftermath of the previous seasons, as well as the following moons ---- The full comic can be found on DeviantArt by Arewco. Here is mostly bonus stuff.

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A Small Ace Story (part 1)

A little thing for pride!

Characters seen are Mousefall (brown) and Fernpath (black), both asexual characters of mine.

I have a handful of other LGBTQA+ characters, but decided to go with these two because I myself am ace. 

Fernpath is also biromantic, while Mousefall is aromantic (also like me)

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I know cats don’t have inanimate objects like this, but meh. Just a fun comic

More coming soon! 

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A Thorn is born

Baby Thorneyes and his three brothers, Eggkit(tail), Ravinekit(pelt), and on his other side, Mumblekit(paw). They’re snuggled up with Curlclaw, with Sandfur just offscreen.

Thorneyes was definitely the runt of his litter. He’s still pretty skinny, but his medium-sized coat makes him look bigger ‘cause it’s always unkempt and fluffed out.

..................

Sad news: 

Mumblepaw would be killed in a battle against Windclan when an older apprentice was too aggressive with him. This broke Ravinepaw, who was closest to him. Seasons later, as a warrior, Ravinepelt spotted the apprentice (also now a warrior), and would confront him. The argument quickly led to a violent fight, and Ravinepelt would die.

Long after that, in another battle with Windclan, Eggtail would be badly wounded and succumb to infection several days later.

The last death prompted Thorneyes to go to the border, shouting for Windclan to come and fight him. All of his brothers were gone because of them! Luckily, no one saw him, and Gorseheart (not yet evil at the time) led him away from the border. 

You can read that story here: https://www.deviantart.com/arewco/art/All-because-of-them-story-845552581

As seen in he comic, Thorneyes would die years later of a bleeding sickness.

Finally, Curlclaw is currently deceased as well (died before Eggtail), and the Windclan warrior is too, and also probably died sometime before Eggail.

Sandfur is alive and is living as an elder, where he enjoys watching over his grandsons, Pigeonkit and Algaekit (fun fact: Eggkit gets his colour from him).

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Follow up to my Starclan version

As I’ve stated before, I won’t be doing the “show what wounds kill you” thing because I would have to draw thousands of cuts on Gorseheart every time he’s seen. 

So instead I decided to do something else-- have blood always sit in their mouth, hugging their teeth and tongue, so that they won’t ever be able to forget who they’ve hurt. :)

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They do have pupils, this is just aesthetic.

And I MIGHT change the eye thing, just cause Gorseheart’s eyes are so dark and they’re against dark fur, so not having any lighting might make it hard to see. Or I’ll just stick to the little lighting and see how that works out. I mostly made it because I wanted to have some way of showing that they’re DF without showing their wounds or a red outline as most people do, and the eyes was it. Now that I have the blood-mouth thing, I probably won’t need to worry about the eyes anymore.

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There was no description of how DF cats look when walking in a cat’s dreams, so I decided glowing yellow eyes because cats would probably think that a dead dude with light glowing eyes is definitely 100% Starclan.

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Redesign Leapkit contest

I want to change Leapkit's design. Originally, she was meant to look like her grandmother, Leapingdusk, but now I'd rather she look like a mix of her parents.

The contest is simple. You can:

--Use a reference sheet to design her. Starting from scratch is fine too, so long as I am able to see all sides of her. It would help if you use the Espherio ref design, since I already use that for the other characters. A blank version is here: https://www.deviantart.com/espherio/art/Feline-Reference-Free-Lineart-382710593

--Be creative. As long as she takes something from one or preferably both of her parents. How you do this is completely up to you. You can have stripes, no stripes, splotches, be grey or white or golden or both, look like her mother but have her father's eyes, vice versa, etc. She also doesn't have to be the same exact shade as either of her parents either.

--I do prefer she has more simple stripes than her mother. I tend to go overboard when designing the main characters, and I'd rather not have another one that I'd spend too long colouring. But also not overly simple, for example not just lines.

--If you have amino, the winner will get 30 coins. If not, I'll give you 30 DA points (or a drawing if I can't figure out how to use it-- I haven't tried yet), or if you just want a drawing, I’ll give you that. 

Please keep in mind that due to how important Leapkit is in a story that's very special to me, if I don't think that any of the designs fit her, I may not pick it. HOWEVER, whoever I deem closest will still win the prize.

Good luck! This is due May 9th (Mountain time)

Refs of her parents (by Espherio): 

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Probably already made this post, but anyways ‘What happens if you’re killed twice AU’:

If you’re killed within nine heartbeats (so yeah, another nine lives sort of thing) of a kit’s birth, you become reincarnated as that kit. 

As relieving as this possibility is, this is rare (more rare than a dead cat dying again, anyway), as the timing would have to be near perfect.

If they’re not killed within nine heartbeats of a kit’s birth, they basically go to this black void. There’s only boundless, pitch-black darkness in all directions.

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A few things that this dark place may also include, but that I’m not entirely sure of yet are:

--an echo when they speak (if it’s endless, an echo may be impossible, but they’re voice going nowhere is still pretty nerve-racking)

--how much they can see. It’s either nothing at all, including their own paws in front of their face, or they can at least see themselves.

--if it’s black in absolutely every direction, or if they at least have some sort of way to see the ground.

--if everyone has their own pitch-black spot, or if cats go to the same place. If it’s the latter, residences of this area may mistake it for the former, as the expanse is so great that cats rarely, rarely ever bump into each other.

This implies to both Starclan and Dark Forest cats, by the way!

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This is for the comic of course, but don’t worry! I’m sure nothing bad will happen to any of the characters

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Feel free to send me asks about the stories/characters, I’m bored as hell

[hellfire-comic-stuff]

Reminder to put the names of books you are talking about in the tags of your posts. This allows people who haven’t read those books yet to block those tags so that they don’t have to read it and have it spoiled for them. It’s much easier that way too because it allows them to continue doing whatever they do without having to dodge around or ignore people they follow.

Example: if you are talking about a scene from Warriors: Shattered Sky and the scene is a huge spoiler, write “Shattered Sky” in the tags. It also probably helps to put the tag of the series name as well (A Vision of Shadows).

This doesn’t have to apply to huge spoilers either. Some people enjoy to learn everything the book has on their own. When they’re finished, they can unblock all those tags and, if they want to, can look at the posts they missed.

[random-warriors-thoughts]

Reblogging on my other account because it’s annoying as hell

[random-warriors-thoughts]

Guys please

It’s wonderful when you get to read a story and have everything unfold, and to discover things that happen on your own while you’re reading a book from a series you love.

Don’t ruin that for people just because you’ve already read it. Talking about it is fine, of course, but put the tags.

[hellfire-comic-stuff]

Reminder to put the names of books you are talking about in the tags of your posts. This allows people who haven’t read those books yet to block those tags so that they don’t have to read it and have it spoiled for them. It’s much easier that way too because it allows them to continue doing whatever they do without having to dodge around or ignore people they follow.

Example: if you are talking about a scene from Warriors: Shattered Sky and the scene is a huge spoiler, write “Shattered Sky” in the tags. It also probably helps to put the tag of the series name as well (A Vision of Shadows).

This doesn’t have to apply to huge spoilers either. Some people enjoy to learn everything the book has on their own. When they’re finished, they can unblock all those tags and, if they want to, can look at the posts they missed.

[mr-moonstone]

Hi! I’m working on a research essay for class and I would appreciate it if black ppl who identify as ace and/or aro took this survey!

Being Black in the Ace and/or Aro Community

Being Black in the Ace and/or Aro Community

[Reblogs would be greatly appreciated!]

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I’m trying to have serious thoughts about my characters, but I can only picture them in the Family Guy style

[thehopelessopus]

Friendly reminder that if you ask about my OCs, you are actually doing me a huge favor.

You are:

Letting me know that my character/fic is important to you, which is so very important to me.

Making me think deeper about my character and therefore expanding his/her personality or backstory.

Making me think about my character which helps me to overcome writer’s block.

Encouraging me in my writing (which, let’s be honest, it’s a battle)

Letting me know that I am seen and that I’m not doing this for nothing.

So thank you, and don’t ever feel like you are wasting my time by asking me anything about anything.

This has been a PSA.

[mrs-silverhand]

🥺❤️

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Happy Easter from the random-oc-question-fairy! May your day be full of fun and happiness! ~☆

Woah! Your character just walked in on the Easter Bunny placing eggs around their house! How do they react?

Everyone likely has that idea of “maybe ____ hired someone to do this?? but also who are you and are you dangerous?”

How they would answer differently is:

Mallowstar: “Hello? Can I help you?” Followed by trying to civilly ask who they believe to be in a costume to get out.

Blightstar: believes there is something in the feast he ate. Probably walks past while shaking his head.

Gorseheart: “I KNEW IT!” followed by asking a million questions, one of which being does the EB need help and can Gorseheart give it.

Thorneyes: *lifted brow, also believing they’re in a costume* “so you’re....a bunny..and you’re giving me chocolate? Did ____ send you here?”

Halflight: *screaming*

Firejay: will be the same as Mallowstar. If she realizes he is real, she will be both surprised and ecstatic.

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Happy Easter!

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Happy Easter from the random-oc-question-fairy! May your day be full of fun and happiness! ~☆

Does your character celebrate Easter (or their world's equivalent)? If so, how do they celebrate? If not, have they ever done so? Would they like to?

Oh boy, let’s see!

Say in an AU where they were all human,

Mallowstar does celebrate it to a normal extent. He gives his wife, Firejay, some chocolate, she gives some to him. They hope to have a silent, pleasant day, but will probably be dragged into a bunch of shenanigans.

Gorseheart would LOVE it and would want to bring everyone together. He probably has a story about what he would do every Easter as a kid. The new, wicked Gorseheart couldn’t care less.

Blightstar’s happy because, along with chocolate, his family makes a feast for it, which he loves.

Halflight thinks it’s a bit weird and overrated. The giant bunny is an odd thing. But there’s candy, so why complain?

Firejay is pretty much like Mallowstar, only more open to adventure, so will be more happier when they get dragged into stuff. That is, unless it lasts all day. Then she just wants to go home.

Thorneyes will probably be talking about how the holiday started and what makes people like it so much, and what makes the best treat and why.. friends will try to shut him up by constantly feeding him chocolate. Was that always his plan? Maybe.

[random-questions-fairy]

Happy Easter everyone! If you would like a special, Easter-themed character question, like or reblog this post! ~☆

Have a wonderful day, dears! 🐇🐣

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Willowtail’s origin story and bio

Willowkit

Willowpaw

Willowtail

Reason for prefix: leaves from Riverclan’s willow trees were blown over to Windclan, touching his mother the same day she would go into labour.

Current residence: Starclan

Previous residence: Windclan

Age (at death): 73 moons (or whatever the cat equivalent of a 73 year-old human is)

Cause of death: blunt force trauma, specifically to the head / fell from a great height.

Final rank: senior warrior

Sexuality: straight

Mentor: unknown (likely deceased)

Mother: Heatherstone (deceased)

Father: unknown (deceased)

Littermates: one stillborn brother (deceased)

Mate: Leapingdusk (deceased) (www.deviantart.com/arewco/art/…)

Son: Mallowstar (www.deviantart.com/arewco/art/…)

Daughter: Scaleears (deceased) (www.deviantart.com/arewco/art/…)

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PERSONALITY

Willowtail is a very headstrong and stubborn individual. If it’s pouring out and he slips in mud multiple times, he would still be searching for prey until he found at least one that he deemed plump enough. He and Leapingdusk were young when they became parents, which worried him, as he was unsure what to do. He wasn’t horribly strict, but was definitely firm, and at times he would punish his kits for something he had forgotten to teach them not to do. This of course, rocked his relationship with them. He wasn’t always firm, as he did often play with his kits, their favourite games being when the kits and parents played against each other on teams.

Willowtail is not one for sadness or emotion, so when his mate died, he forced himself not to think about it. He made himself work until he was too tired to move, then he would sleep before he could think. To his kits, this made him seem cold and uncaring, but he really did care deeply for his family.

APPEARANCE

Willowtail is a thin, yet muscular light grey tom with seafoam green eyes. He has a short, coarse pelt, with long cheek fur, three scars across his chest, one on his rump, and several nicks in his ears.

ORIGIN STORY

   Willowkit was born during a harsh leaf-fall storm. During the birth, Heatherstone lost a kit, and chose to give him no name, deeming being named by Starclan the highest honour of all, and would make up for never being able to be given an apprentice or leader name by Windclan’s leader.

Heatherstone was an excellent mother, never too strict or too easy on her son. She would defend him when he was being unreasonable punished, and lecture him when he needed it. She always told him to be confident and to try hard, which led to Willowkit becoming a rather boastful child. As he got older, he stopped visiting the elders so often, moreso focusing on practising fighting and hunting moves in the hopes that he would get a head start. The apprentices would help him, and when they weren’t available, Heatherstone would. If her son wanted to train hard and become a great warrior, why not encourage him?

Training in camp could only be so helpful. When Willowkit became Willowpaw and had to do laps, it was a tough realization when he found out that running around the camp was nothing compared to running across the moor. The heather was long, rocks dotted here and there. Stars, how did his Clanmates do it?

He became an excellent fighter, and hunted well.. So long as he wasn’t chasing any fast prey, but was definitely one of the slower of his Clanmates. That’s why when Leapingpaw, a new apprentice, came along and ran as fast as a hare after only a few tries, he became irritated.

He has trained hard and for moons, and still can’t get the speed– even when he trained before becoming an apprentice, and this new student comes along and instantly outdos him?

He would avoid her the best he could. He can’t look bad if he doesn’t hang around those better than him– at certain stuff only, of course. However, he still had times where they had to train together. The worst times was when Willowpaw had to help the younger Leapingpaw train, only for her to outdo him.

When he hunted birds (not needing to run a lot), fought, or patrolled with her, he looked a lot better, as he was stronger and had a strong sense of smell. He would eventually lose the hunting bird advantage, as Leapingpaw’s long legs would quickly make her an excellent leaper. She was named after them, afterall.

However much he hated training with Leapingpaw, training with her sister was worse. Unlike her sister, Hoppaw didn’t try to be humble. She boasted and beamed at the praise– and it drove Willowpaw nuts. What was worse was when the pair had to train together with him.

In spite of not saying anything against the other apprentices out loud, Willowpaw would soon feel guilty for feeling irritated with them, as Hoppaw would die by an infected wound only a few moons into training.

Leapingpaw’s mentor, Sedgeslip, allowed her to have a few days off from her lessons. Before, Willowpaw would’ve been ecstatic to finally be able to have some time on his own, but now how could he? It wasn’t like Leapingpaw was staying in camp because she had a minor sprained paw. Her sister was dead!

He knew how well they got along, they were inseparable. Not only that, but Hoppaw was the social one. With her gone, Leapingpaw drew into a shell.

Even though he knew this, Willowpaw didn’t try to help her out, only became more gentle. It’s not like the two were friends. They only trained together.

On the day Willowtail became a warrior was the same day he would go into battle. He earned some nicks in his ear, and wore them with pride. He may not be the fastest and he may not be able to jump the highest, but when it came to defending the Clan, his Clanmates could rely on him.

As a warrior, he was able to hang out with Deerdust again. The two had been good friends as apprentices, but since Deerdust was several moons older, he became a warrior much sooner, and they weren’t able to hang out so much.

Deerdust introduced Willowtail to a small group of friends, and they would hang out a lot, joking, hunting, talking. Then Leapingpaw became Leapingdusk, and someone in the group, taking pity on her, Willowtail guessed, invited her to join them.

Willowtail’s sympathy had long passed by now, and was annoyed once again. Leapingdusk didn’t try at all to reconnect with her Clan, and yet everyone loved her just because she was shy and gentle. He couldn’t help but wonder if he would be part of the group– or any group, for that matter– at all if he wasn’t already friends with one of them. And Leapindusk gets invited just like that?

The more their friends hung out, the more Leapingdusk and Willowtail had to hang out. He had to listen to her talk, hunt with her, and patrol with her. At first, Willowtail didn’t notice it, but he started to seek out her company, pulled by the soft sound of her voice and the proud smile she always tried to hide when catching prey.

Eventually the two didn’t just talk when their friends did. When they had to to hunt, they preferred to do so with eachother, often waking up early in the morning so that they could have some time to themselves.

On one patrol near Riverclan, Leapingdusk mentioned a fondness of the mallow plants that grew in the other Clan’s territory. That night, Willowtail took advantage of the rain that would disguise his scent, and snuck over. Impulsively, he collected a bundle of the plant, and Leapingdusk would awake to Willowtail, dripping wet, dropping the plants at her paws. It wasn’t long after this when the two became mates, and not long after that when Leapingdusk announced that she was expecting.

Willowtail put on a brave face for his mate, stating that it was wonderful news. And it was, of course it was, but inside he panicked. Yes, he had been a warrior for several moons now, but he was still young compared to other warriors when they had kits! And he didn’t grow up with a father. What if he messed something up? If he did one thing wrong, would it change his kits forever?

To block out these feelings, he worked extra hard, collecting as much moss as he could for Leapingdusk’s new nest in the nursery, and hunting a lot to make sure she had plenty to eat– perhaps he hunted a bit too much, according to Leapingdusk, as he would want her to eat even when she wasn’t hungry. Better than not having enough when she was in a craving mood.

The kits were born on time, perfectly healthy. First came the she-kit, whom Willowtail named Scalekit, after Leapingdusk’s late father, Lizardfoot. Then came the tom, whom Leapingdusk named Mallowkit, after the time Willowtail collected the plant for her, leading to the two becoming mates.

Leapindusk would prove to be a great mother. She was always fair with her kits, always made the time to play with them, make sure they were well-fed, and that they never stayed up too late. The only thing she wasn’t great at was scolding, which Willowtail thankfully took care of. He also played with his kits, told them stories, and soothed them the best he could. Even so, he still took note the whispers some of the other warriors made, saying that he wasn’t old enough to know what to do. He ignored them the best he could, striving to prove them wrong.

He did make mistakes as a parent, one of the biggest being when he heard whispers of warriors looking down on the way his kits acted. Rather than ignoring them, telling them to bug off, or gently teaching his kits not to do whatever it was they were doing, he chose to yell at them, loud enough to make sure that the others knew that he was handling the problem like a proper father should.

When the kits were only two and a half moons old, Willowtail panicked again. This time he worried for his mate, who he noticed was eating less and less, and who slept in her nest for longer than usual. She passed it off as nothing, she didn’t want Mallowkit and Scalekit to worry, but Willowtail insisted she see Sageleaf, the medicine cat.

Sageleaf gave her herbs for the bellyache and honey to help her swallow, informing her to come back once a day to get more medicine, and that if it gets worse, to tell her.

The herbs helped less and less. One night, Willowtail was awoken by Mallowkit, who announces that mommy was hurt. Willowtail sped past him and to the nursery, seeing with distraught the pain his mate was in. He then raced for the medicine den, retrieving Sageleaf. With Nightbird’s help, he moved her to the medicine den.

Leapingdusk’s health kept her confined to her nest. Willowtail felt wretched. He wanted to wail to the stars, or curse them, but how could he let Leapingdusk or their kits see him like that? They needed him to be strong.

Several days later, he padded into the den to find Mallowkit clambering on top of his mother, begging her to play with him. Angered, Willowtail ordered him out, forgetting that Mallowkit was only a child and had no way to know how bad his mother’s health was.

Willowtail was relieved when Scalekit and Mallowkit became apprentices. With constantly hunting, patrolling, and fighting back worry, he didn’t have time to watch them and make sure that they weren’t doing anything wrong. They could be watched by someone else now. He trusted Greenbend and Hayshade, their mentors.

Mallowpaw tried to show him his first catch, and Willowtail was sure he said… something of congratulations. He couldn’t really remember. He hadn’t thought properly in so long, and the catch reminded him that he should be hunting, so he left camp. Leapingdusk needed food.

To see Leapingdusk like that, ruffled, glassy-eyed, a shadow of her bright self…. He couldn’t take it. He knew he should stick by her side, he knew he should comfort his children. With that said, he didn’t. Leapingdusk was going to die. He knew it, as much as he wished it wasn’t true. If he separated from her now, perhaps it would hurt less when the dreaded time came.

But all this got was the worst build-up of guilt he had ever felt in his entire life. He tried to push it away, telling himself that the guilt was better than seeing Leapingdusk like that again, until finally he couldn’t take it anymore. He burst into the medicine den and curled around his mate, saying how sorry he was for not taking care of her and how scared he was that she would leave him. Leapingdusk, being the grudgeless being that she was, forgave him, and died later that same day.

Willowtail cursed Starclan. Did they think it was funny to kill her when he was just starting to visit her again? Was this all some twisted joke, to make Leapingdusk the best runner and jumper in her Clan, to make her well-liked to anyone who met her, to give her a loving, caring family, only to tear it all away with some horrible illness that took moons to kill her?

He hunted more, patrolled more, did anything he could to keep him out of the camp and away from the memories there. He avoided his kits as well. They were apprentices now, anyways, and he knew first hand that a kit could grow up just fine without a father. They would get used to it.

During one of his hunts, a snapping twig scared his quarry away. He whipped around and saw Mallowpaw. Anger burned through him, built up from unchecked grief. Greenbend wasn’t in sight, Mallowpaw must’ve snuck out. How dare he do such a thing and then ruin Willowtail’s catch!

Mallowpaw shouted back, unexpectedly and openly blaming his father for his mother’s death. Willowtail couldn’t take it. He had loved Leapingdusk for seasons! She was the one he had a family with, she was the one he always made sure was safe in a battle! He told Mallowpaw to shut his mouth, but this only prompted the young cat to blame him more and more.

Willowtail loved Leapingdusk more than Mallowpaw ever could. He only knew her for two moons of his life before she got sick! He made sure to tell his son this, along with calling him a pest. And he was! What kind of son says such a thing to his own dad? Finally he couldn’t take it. Mallowpaw wanted to fight? Fine. He lunged at his son, clawing his shoulder as he tackled him to the ground.

The scuffle lasted only a few heartbeats before Greenbend came to separate them, and Willowtail stocked off. Rage boiled in his chest. It needed to be released. He went to the Thunderclan border, goading a fight with a patrol. However, only one of the cats attacked him before the rest simply chased him away. Too bad Thunderclan was too soft for an unfair fight.

When he returned with minor scratches, it was announced that Scalepaw had gone missing. For the first time in moons, he felt something that wasn’t sorrow, anger, or numbness. He was terrified. Scalepaw must’ve been hurt. She wasn’t the kind to go running away deliberately…. Was she? He had to admit to himself that he no longer knew the answer to that question. Later that night, Mallowpaw would run away too.

He would soon learn that Mallowpaw had run away to Thunderclan, while Scalepaw went to Shadowclan. What was their reason? He knew that Mallowpaw hated him, but enough to leave his entire life behind? Surely he still had friends and Greenbend? He didn’t need his father. And what about Scalepaw?

Was he supposed to know what was going on with his kits? No, their mentors were enough. They could’ve confided in them, or anyone, for that matter. Then again, why did it feel so…unfavourable when he thought about it, when he wondered if he was supposed to have done something, as though his mind hated to think like that?

Willowtail could feel the eyes of his Clanmates on him. Was it pity? Blame? Did they think it was his fault those two apprentices chose to run away, or was that his own subconscious? He did what he did best– hunt and avoid thinking. He also avoiding patrolling the Thunderclan border. Nothing good could come from seeing his son.

Greenbend soon began telling Willowtail about how Mallowpaw was adjusting. The two had met again at the gatherings and apparently Mallowpaw would talk to his old mentor about his issues. So why doesn’t he just come back if he’s so miserable? Still, he was thankful to hear what was happening in his kit’s life.  When he himself went to the gatherings, he didn’t need to try to avoid his kits. They were already avoiding him. Or did they no longer see him as someone important, and therefore had no reason to avoid, nor to talk to him at all?

Many moons went by. Greenbend had died, killed by the stream by some passing rogue. Willowtail spoke with old friends. He had a life long before his kits stepped into it. If they could live without him, he could live just fine without them. He joked with Deerdust. See? He could still laugh.

A battle would occur between Windclan and Thunderclan. It was about time. With all that has happened, it would be wonderful to get everything out with the help of claws and flying fur. While sneaking up on a random warrior, he heard a familiar yet different voice shout the word ‘murderer!’ Before he could react, he was slammed in the side and pinned on the ground by Mallowpaw, who seemingly grew twice as big since he was in Windclan.

Mallowpaw clawed at his chest as he cried, once again accusing him of killing Leapingdusk, stating how Willow abandoned her when she need him most, and how he killed her because she had become too much to take care of. Willowtail, who had been taken aback, recovered and in turn called Mallowpaw a traitor. He flipped them over so that he was the one pinning Mallowpaw. He critized Mallowpaw for leaving his father, and Mallowpaw snapped that he abandoned them all first.

He raised his claws, ready to slash them down, but was forced away by a scarred ginger tom. The tom ordered Mallowpaw back to camp, as Windclan was already fleeing. Mallowpaw did so, and when he was out of earshot the tom leaned close to Willowtail, and warned him that if ever even considered hurting his apprentice again, that he’ll rip his claws out of his toes and his teeth out of his mouth, so that he would never be able to act on it. Willowtail only spat in response before joining his Clanmates.

Who did that tom think he was, lecturing a father about hurting his own kit. Of course he wasn’t really going to scar Mallowpaw. Was he? No, like he said, of course not! If he did, would Mallowpaw not have earned it anyways? What kind of son leaves his father and Clan behind, then turns around and accuses that same father of leaving HIM? What nonsense!

Was it really possible that Mallowpaw was happier there? Even after all the torment he experienced when Harestep was his mentor? Was Scalepaw? How bad of a father did they have to think him to be to be willing to go through that instead of staying with him? A part of his mind shook it’s head. No, it said. They’re the ones who chose to run away like some small kits. That part of his mind always shook, but the more he thought the smaller it got, and now he could hardly hear it. Of course they ran away like some small kits. They WERE kits, even if they had just been made apprentices. It was Willowtail’s job to guide them and protect them, was it not?

He remembered Mallowpaw’s words with a pang. Mallowpaw was right. Even if he didn’t leave his Clan, he still abandoned them when they needed him the most. Scalepaw was so quiet and withdrawn, and Mallowpaw clearly had thoughts he was struggling with. And what did Willowtail do but turn the other cheek?

He wasn’t good enough to call himself their father. Over time, he became gentler. He didn’t like to think of it as a ‘bringing out inner peace’ sort of way. He just knew that who he was wasn’t a good enough warrior. Who he was avoided his dying mate. Who he was tried to hurt his son. Who he was neglected his son and daughter. That warrior needed to die, and another one would be born.

This process wasn’t at all easy. It took many seasons, years, in fact, to adjust, and he was still very rough. He started talking with Scalepaw, now Scaleears again at gatherings. They were both uncomfortable at first. But they would talk, again and again every time they both attended the meetings, until finally he heard what he didn’t know he ever needed– that his daughter forgave him.

Mallowpaw, now Mallowfur was a lot tougher. Scaleears encouraged him to talk to Mallowfur, offering to join them to make it easier. Willowtail’s heart raced to see and talk with his son again, claws sheathed. His feet, rooted to the ground, had another idea.

Then one gathering, it was announced that Blightstar, the warrior that had threatened him all those seasons ago, was now the leader, and Mallowfur was his deputy. He couldn’t pass up the chance now. When the crowd broke into small groups to talk, he went up to his son and congratulated him, making sure to tell him how proud he was of how far he’s come.

The pair talked for a long time. In that time, Willowtail confessed to how sorry he was for not being there when he should’ve been, and for getting so angry at Mallowfur. He claimed to truly love Leapingdusk, and how, although it was very wrong, he stopped visiting her because he couldn’t stand seeing her in such pain. Then came the most wonderful news of all– Mallowfur believed him.

For the most part, Willowtail was tremendously glad and relieved. All the years of anger, sorrow, and regret were fixed now. Only…. He had spent so long letting his grief and rage get to him.. Did he really, truly know who this happy, care-free cat was? Was it wrong to feel good again? Afterall he still did all those things, whether or not he was forgiven for them.

Though always on the back of his mind, these thoughts would ease with time. Seasons later, he would spot a kit on the moor getting carried away by a hawk. He leaped as high as he was able, wishing he had Leapingdusk’s legs. He just barely held the hawk, but his grip was weak, and all it took was one kick from the bird to send him falling to the ground.

It was Leapingdusk who had guided him to Starclan, reunited him with his mother, Scaleears–who should’ve died long after him–, the brother he never got to know, and several lost friends. The only thing he cursed was not being able to do much of anything when Mallowfur suffered so much when Gorseheart, his close friend, became an enemy to the Clans. It was torture to see his son suffering so much, to see him grieve as one by one, his friends died around him,Hadn’t he been through enough?

Eventually, Gorseheart and Stemgrass were defeated, and when Mallowstar became the new leader of Thunderclan, Willowtail was the first to give him a life– the life of trust.

By @spottedsnap

Also by Spottedsnap

Cameo by Blue-Kit-Kat on DeviantArt (along with Leapingdusk, the brown one)

Once again by Spottedsnap

[hellfire-comic-stuff]

Do I realize two of the photos are switched? Yes.

Will I fix it? Probably not.

[hellfire-comic-stuff]

Willowtail’s origin story and bio

Willowkit

Willowpaw

Willowtail

Reason for prefix: leaves from Riverclan’s willow trees were blown over to Windclan, touching his mother the same day she would go into labour.

Current residence: Starclan

Previous residence: Windclan

Age (at death): 73 moons (or whatever the cat equivalent of a 73 year-old human is)

Cause of death: blunt force trauma, specifically to the head / fell from a great height.

Final rank: senior warrior

Sexuality: straight

Mentor: unknown (likely deceased)

Mother: Heatherstone (deceased)

Father: unknown (deceased)

Littermates: one stillborn brother (deceased)

Mate: Leapingdusk (deceased) (www.deviantart.com/arewco/art/…)

Son: Mallowstar (www.deviantart.com/arewco/art/…)

Daughter: Scaleears (deceased) (www.deviantart.com/arewco/art/…)

=======

PERSONALITY

Willowtail is a very headstrong and stubborn individual. If it’s pouring out and he slips in mud multiple times, he would still be searching for prey until he found at least one that he deemed plump enough. He and Leapingdusk were young when they became parents, which worried him, as he was unsure what to do. He wasn’t horribly strict, but was definitely firm, and at times he would punish his kits for something he had forgotten to teach them not to do. This of course, rocked his relationship with them. He wasn’t always firm, as he did often play with his kits, their favourite games being when the kits and parents played against each other on teams.

Willowtail is not one for sadness or emotion, so when his mate died, he forced himself not to think about it. He made himself work until he was too tired to move, then he would sleep before he could think. To his kits, this made him seem cold and uncaring, but he really did care deeply for his family.

APPEARANCE

Willowtail is a thin, yet muscular light grey tom with seafoam green eyes. He has a short, coarse pelt, with long cheek fur, three scars across his chest, one on his rump, and several nicks in his ears.

ORIGIN STORY

   Willowkit was born during a harsh leaf-fall storm. During the birth, Heatherstone lost a kit, and chose to give him no name, deeming being named by Starclan the highest honour of all, and would make up for never being able to be given an apprentice or leader name by Windclan’s leader.

Heatherstone was an excellent mother, never too strict or too easy on her son. She would defend him when he was being unreasonable punished, and lecture him when he needed it. She always told him to be confident and to try hard, which led to Willowkit becoming a rather boastful child. As he got older, he stopped visiting the elders so often, moreso focusing on practising fighting and hunting moves in the hopes that he would get a head start. The apprentices would help him, and when they weren’t available, Heatherstone would. If her son wanted to train hard and become a great warrior, why not encourage him?

Training in camp could only be so helpful. When Willowkit became Willowpaw and had to do laps, it was a tough realization when he found out that running around the camp was nothing compared to running across the moor. The heather was long, rocks dotted here and there. Stars, how did his Clanmates do it?

He became an excellent fighter, and hunted well.. So long as he wasn’t chasing any fast prey, but was definitely one of the slower of his Clanmates. That’s why when Leapingpaw, a new apprentice, came along and ran as fast as a hare after only a few tries, he became irritated.

He has trained hard and for moons, and still can’t get the speed-- even when he trained before becoming an apprentice, and this new student comes along and instantly outdos him?

He would avoid her the best he could. He can’t look bad if he doesn’t hang around those better than him-- at certain stuff only, of course. However, he still had times where they had to train together. The worst times was when Willowpaw had to help the younger Leapingpaw train, only for her to outdo him.

When he hunted birds (not needing to run a lot), fought, or patrolled with her, he looked a lot better, as he was stronger and had a strong sense of smell. He would eventually lose the hunting bird advantage, as Leapingpaw’s long legs would quickly make her an excellent leaper. She was named after them, afterall.

However much he hated training with Leapingpaw, training with her sister was worse. Unlike her sister, Hoppaw didn’t try to be humble. She boasted and beamed at the praise-- and it drove Willowpaw nuts. What was worse was when the pair had to train together with him.

In spite of not saying anything against the other apprentices out loud, Willowpaw would soon feel guilty for feeling irritated with them, as Hoppaw would die by an infected wound only a few moons into training.

Leapingpaw’s mentor, Sedgeslip, allowed her to have a few days off from her lessons. Before, Willowpaw would’ve been ecstatic to finally be able to have some time on his own, but now how could he? It wasn’t like Leapingpaw was staying in camp because she had a minor sprained paw. Her sister was dead!

He knew how well they got along, they were inseparable. Not only that, but Hoppaw was the social one. With her gone, Leapingpaw drew into a shell.

Even though he knew this, Willowpaw didn’t try to help her out, only became more gentle. It’s not like the two were friends. They only trained together.

On the day Willowtail became a warrior was the same day he would go into battle. He earned some nicks in his ear, and wore them with pride. He may not be the fastest and he may not be able to jump the highest, but when it came to defending the Clan, his Clanmates could rely on him.

As a warrior, he was able to hang out with Deerdust again. The two had been good friends as apprentices, but since Deerdust was several moons older, he became a warrior much sooner, and they weren’t able to hang out so much.

Deerdust introduced Willowtail to a small group of friends, and they would hang out a lot, joking, hunting, talking. Then Leapingpaw became Leapingdusk, and someone in the group, taking pity on her, Willowtail guessed, invited her to join them.

Willowtail’s sympathy had long passed by now, and was annoyed once again. Leapingdusk didn’t try at all to reconnect with her Clan, and yet everyone loved her just because she was shy and gentle. He couldn’t help but wonder if he would be part of the group-- or any group, for that matter-- at all if he wasn’t already friends with one of them. And Leapindusk gets invited just like that?

The more their friends hung out, the more Leapingdusk and Willowtail had to hang out. He had to listen to her talk, hunt with her, and patrol with her. At first, Willowtail didn’t notice it, but he started to seek out her company, pulled by the soft sound of her voice and the proud smile she always tried to hide when catching prey.

Eventually the two didn’t just talk when their friends did. When they had to to hunt, they preferred to do so with eachother, often waking up early in the morning so that they could have some time to themselves.

On one patrol near Riverclan, Leapingdusk mentioned a fondness of the mallow plants that grew in the other Clan’s territory. That night, Willowtail took advantage of the rain that would disguise his scent, and snuck over. Impulsively, he collected a bundle of the plant, and Leapingdusk would awake to Willowtail, dripping wet, dropping the plants at her paws. It wasn’t long after this when the two became mates, and not long after that when Leapingdusk announced that she was expecting.

Willowtail put on a brave face for his mate, stating that it was wonderful news. And it was, of course it was, but inside he panicked. Yes, he had been a warrior for several moons now, but he was still young compared to other warriors when they had kits! And he didn’t grow up with a father. What if he messed something up? If he did one thing wrong, would it change his kits forever?

To block out these feelings, he worked extra hard, collecting as much moss as he could for Leapingdusk’s new nest in the nursery, and hunting a lot to make sure she had plenty to eat-- perhaps he hunted a bit too much, according to Leapingdusk, as he would want her to eat even when she wasn’t hungry. Better than not having enough when she was in a craving mood.

The kits were born on time, perfectly healthy. First came the she-kit, whom Willowtail named Scalekit, after Leapingdusk’s late father, Lizardfoot. Then came the tom, whom Leapingdusk named Mallowkit, after the time Willowtail collected the plant for her, leading to the two becoming mates.

Leapindusk would prove to be a great mother. She was always fair with her kits, always made the time to play with them, make sure they were well-fed, and that they never stayed up too late. The only thing she wasn’t great at was scolding, which Willowtail thankfully took care of. He also played with his kits, told them stories, and soothed them the best he could. Even so, he still took note the whispers some of the other warriors made, saying that he wasn’t old enough to know what to do. He ignored them the best he could, striving to prove them wrong.

He did make mistakes as a parent, one of the biggest being when he heard whispers of warriors looking down on the way his kits acted. Rather than ignoring them, telling them to bug off, or gently teaching his kits not to do whatever it was they were doing, he chose to yell at them, loud enough to make sure that the others knew that he was handling the problem like a proper father should.

When the kits were only two and a half moons old, Willowtail panicked again. This time he worried for his mate, who he noticed was eating less and less, and who slept in her nest for longer than usual. She passed it off as nothing, she didn’t want Mallowkit and Scalekit to worry, but Willowtail insisted she see Sageleaf, the medicine cat.

Sageleaf gave her herbs for the bellyache and honey to help her swallow, informing her to come back once a day to get more medicine, and that if it gets worse, to tell her.

The herbs helped less and less. One night, Willowtail was awoken by Mallowkit, who announces that mommy was hurt. Willowtail sped past him and to the nursery, seeing with distraught the pain his mate was in. He then raced for the medicine den, retrieving Sageleaf. With Nightbird’s help, he moved her to the medicine den.

Leapingdusk’s health kept her confined to her nest. Willowtail felt wretched. He wanted to wail to the stars, or curse them, but how could he let Leapingdusk or their kits see him like that? They needed him to be strong.

Several days later, he padded into the den to find Mallowkit clambering on top of his mother, begging her to play with him. Angered, Willowtail ordered him out, forgetting that Mallowkit was only a child and had no way to know how bad his mother’s health was.

Willowtail was relieved when Scalekit and Mallowkit became apprentices. With constantly hunting, patrolling, and fighting back worry, he didn’t have time to watch them and make sure that they weren’t doing anything wrong. They could be watched by someone else now. He trusted Greenbend and Hayshade, their mentors.

Mallowpaw tried to show him his first catch, and Willowtail was sure he said… something of congratulations. He couldn’t really remember. He hadn’t thought properly in so long, and the catch reminded him that he should be hunting, so he left camp. Leapingdusk needed food.

To see Leapingdusk like that, ruffled, glassy-eyed, a shadow of her bright self…. He couldn’t take it. He knew he should stick by her side, he knew he should comfort his children. With that said, he didn’t. Leapingdusk was going to die. He knew it, as much as he wished it wasn’t true. If he separated from her now, perhaps it would hurt less when the dreaded time came.

But all this got was the worst build-up of guilt he had ever felt in his entire life. He tried to push it away, telling himself that the guilt was better than seeing Leapingdusk like that again, until finally he couldn’t take it anymore. He burst into the medicine den and curled around his mate, saying how sorry he was for not taking care of her and how scared he was that she would leave him. Leapingdusk, being the grudgeless being that she was, forgave him, and died later that same day.

Willowtail cursed Starclan. Did they think it was funny to kill her when he was just starting to visit her again? Was this all some twisted joke, to make Leapingdusk the best runner and jumper in her Clan, to make her well-liked to anyone who met her, to give her a loving, caring family, only to tear it all away with some horrible illness that took moons to kill her?

He hunted more, patrolled more, did anything he could to keep him out of the camp and away from the memories there. He avoided his kits as well. They were apprentices now, anyways, and he knew first hand that a kit could grow up just fine without a father. They would get used to it.

During one of his hunts, a snapping twig scared his quarry away. He whipped around and saw Mallowpaw. Anger burned through him, built up from unchecked grief. Greenbend wasn’t in sight, Mallowpaw must’ve snuck out. How dare he do such a thing and then ruin Willowtail’s catch!

Mallowpaw shouted back, unexpectedly and openly blaming his father for his mother’s death. Willowtail couldn’t take it. He had loved Leapingdusk for seasons! She was the one he had a family with, she was the one he always made sure was safe in a battle! He told Mallowpaw to shut his mouth, but this only prompted the young cat to blame him more and more.

Willowtail loved Leapingdusk more than Mallowpaw ever could. He only knew her for two moons of his life before she got sick! He made sure to tell his son this, along with calling him a pest. And he was! What kind of son says such a thing to his own dad? Finally he couldn’t take it. Mallowpaw wanted to fight? Fine. He lunged at his son, clawing his shoulder as he tackled him to the ground.

The scuffle lasted only a few heartbeats before Greenbend came to separate them, and Willowtail stocked off. Rage boiled in his chest. It needed to be released. He went to the Thunderclan border, goading a fight with a patrol. However, only one of the cats attacked him before the rest simply chased him away. Too bad Thunderclan was too soft for an unfair fight.

When he returned with minor scratches, it was announced that Scalepaw had gone missing. For the first time in moons, he felt something that wasn’t sorrow, anger, or numbness. He was terrified. Scalepaw must’ve been hurt. She wasn’t the kind to go running away deliberately…. Was she? He had to admit to himself that he no longer knew the answer to that question. Later that night, Mallowpaw would run away too.

He would soon learn that Mallowpaw had run away to Thunderclan, while Scalepaw went to Shadowclan. What was their reason? He knew that Mallowpaw hated him, but enough to leave his entire life behind? Surely he still had friends and Greenbend? He didn’t need his father. And what about Scalepaw?

Was he supposed to know what was going on with his kits? No, their mentors were enough. They could’ve confided in them, or anyone, for that matter. Then again, why did it feel so...unfavourable when he thought about it, when he wondered if he was supposed to have done something, as though his mind hated to think like that?

Willowtail could feel the eyes of his Clanmates on him. Was it pity? Blame? Did they think it was his fault those two apprentices chose to run away, or was that his own subconscious? He did what he did best-- hunt and avoid thinking. He also avoiding patrolling the Thunderclan border. Nothing good could come from seeing his son.

Greenbend soon began telling Willowtail about how Mallowpaw was adjusting. The two had met again at the gatherings and apparently Mallowpaw would talk to his old mentor about his issues. So why doesn’t he just come back if he’s so miserable? Still, he was thankful to hear what was happening in his kit’s life.  When he himself went to the gatherings, he didn’t need to try to avoid his kits. They were already avoiding him. Or did they no longer see him as someone important, and therefore had no reason to avoid, nor to talk to him at all?

Many moons went by. Greenbend had died, killed by the stream by some passing rogue. Willowtail spoke with old friends. He had a life long before his kits stepped into it. If they could live without him, he could live just fine without them. He joked with Deerdust. See? He could still laugh.

A battle would occur between Windclan and Thunderclan. It was about time. With all that has happened, it would be wonderful to get everything out with the help of claws and flying fur. While sneaking up on a random warrior, he heard a familiar yet different voice shout the word ‘murderer!’ Before he could react, he was slammed in the side and pinned on the ground by Mallowpaw, who seemingly grew twice as big since he was in Windclan.

Mallowpaw clawed at his chest as he cried, once again accusing him of killing Leapingdusk, stating how Willow abandoned her when she need him most, and how he killed her because she had become too much to take care of. Willowtail, who had been taken aback, recovered and in turn called Mallowpaw a traitor. He flipped them over so that he was the one pinning Mallowpaw. He critized Mallowpaw for leaving his father, and Mallowpaw snapped that he abandoned them all first.

He raised his claws, ready to slash them down, but was forced away by a scarred ginger tom. The tom ordered Mallowpaw back to camp, as Windclan was already fleeing. Mallowpaw did so, and when he was out of earshot the tom leaned close to Willowtail, and warned him that if ever even considered hurting his apprentice again, that he’ll rip his claws out of his toes and his teeth out of his mouth, so that he would never be able to act on it. Willowtail only spat in response before joining his Clanmates.

Who did that tom think he was, lecturing a father about hurting his own kit. Of course he wasn’t really going to scar Mallowpaw. Was he? No, like he said, of course not! If he did, would Mallowpaw not have earned it anyways? What kind of son leaves his father and Clan behind, then turns around and accuses that same father of leaving HIM? What nonsense!

Was it really possible that Mallowpaw was happier there? Even after all the torment he experienced when Harestep was his mentor? Was Scalepaw? How bad of a father did they have to think him to be to be willing to go through that instead of staying with him? A part of his mind shook it’s head. No, it said. They’re the ones who chose to run away like some small kits. That part of his mind always shook, but the more he thought the smaller it got, and now he could hardly hear it. Of course they ran away like some small kits. They WERE kits, even if they had just been made apprentices. It was Willowtail’s job to guide them and protect them, was it not?

He remembered Mallowpaw’s words with a pang. Mallowpaw was right. Even if he didn’t leave his Clan, he still abandoned them when they needed him the most. Scalepaw was so quiet and withdrawn, and Mallowpaw clearly had thoughts he was struggling with. And what did Willowtail do but turn the other cheek?

He wasn’t good enough to call himself their father. Over time, he became gentler. He didn’t like to think of it as a ‘bringing out inner peace’ sort of way. He just knew that who he was wasn’t a good enough warrior. Who he was avoided his dying mate. Who he was tried to hurt his son. Who he was neglected his son and daughter. That warrior needed to die, and another one would be born.

This process wasn’t at all easy. It took many seasons, years, in fact, to adjust, and he was still very rough. He started talking with Scalepaw, now Scaleears again at gatherings. They were both uncomfortable at first. But they would talk, again and again every time they both attended the meetings, until finally he heard what he didn’t know he ever needed-- that his daughter forgave him.

Mallowpaw, now Mallowfur was a lot tougher. Scaleears encouraged him to talk to Mallowfur, offering to join them to make it easier. Willowtail’s heart raced to see and talk with his son again, claws sheathed. His feet, rooted to the ground, had another idea.

Then one gathering, it was announced that Blightstar, the warrior that had threatened him all those seasons ago, was now the leader, and Mallowfur was his deputy. He couldn’t pass up the chance now. When the crowd broke into small groups to talk, he went up to his son and congratulated him, making sure to tell him how proud he was of how far he’s come.

The pair talked for a long time. In that time, Willowtail confessed to how sorry he was for not being there when he should’ve been, and for getting so angry at Mallowfur. He claimed to truly love Leapingdusk, and how, although it was very wrong, he stopped visiting her because he couldn’t stand seeing her in such pain. Then came the most wonderful news of all-- Mallowfur believed him.

For the most part, Willowtail was tremendously glad and relieved. All the years of anger, sorrow, and regret were fixed now. Only…. He had spent so long letting his grief and rage get to him.. Did he really, truly know who this happy, care-free cat was? Was it wrong to feel good again? Afterall he still did all those things, whether or not he was forgiven for them.

Though always on the back of his mind, these thoughts would ease with time. Seasons later, he would spot a kit on the moor getting carried away by a hawk. He leaped as high as he was able, wishing he had Leapingdusk’s legs. He just barely held the hawk, but his grip was weak, and all it took was one kick from the bird to send him falling to the ground.

It was Leapingdusk who had guided him to Starclan, reunited him with his mother, Scaleears--who should’ve died long after him--, the brother he never got to know, and several lost friends. The only thing he cursed was not being able to do much of anything when Mallowfur suffered so much when Gorseheart, his close friend, became an enemy to the Clans. It was torture to see his son suffering so much, to see him grieve as one by one, his friends died around him,Hadn’t he been through enough?

Eventually, Gorseheart and Stemgrass were defeated, and when Mallowstar became the new leader of Thunderclan, Willowtail was the first to give him a life-- the life of trust.

By @spottedsnap​

Also by Spottedsnap

Cameo by Blue-Kit-Kat on DeviantArt (along with Leapingdusk, the brown one)

Once again by Spottedsnap