And so, the era of Brightstar begins with an unusual end to her 9-lives ceremony >:]
To clarify, Brightstar still has the usual 9 lives, but four of the lives from StarClan where 'purged' out of her and replaced by lives from the Dark Forest Cats, something previously unheard of. How will this affect Brightstar? Who knows hehe >:3
Anywho! Small announcement! Starting with Brightstar's reign, I am going to try and do updates covering what happens each moon so more of the characters are shown in my posts :)
Additionally, after this moon is done, I will be making reference sheets for every cat currently alive in ForestClan (as of Moon 326)! I might also make some reference sheets for important/reoccuring spirit cats (such as Foreststar, the founding leader, and Songstar).
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Brightstar(-whisker), female (she/her)
Other Characters, Close-ups, & What Brightstar recieved lives for under the cut:
First up, we have Brightstar's parents! Meet Snowslip (female, she/her) a short, pale-furred cat. She gave Brightwhisker a life for Bravery, in hopes that it will gave her daughter the strength to make the right decisions, even when it is frightening to do so.
Next up (to the right of Snowslip) is Minnowshadow (male, he/him), a tall, bulky grey tomcat. He chose to give Brightwhisker a life for Resilience, so she won't lose herself to the hardships of leadership.
The two are worried for their only kit, but try hard not to show it during the ceremony.
Antlersmoke, genderflux (they/them) gave Brightwhisker a life for Sympathy, stating that as leader she needs to better understand the plights of her clanmates, and even the struggles of those outside her clan.
Hawthornpoppy, male (he/him), gives Brightwhisker a life for Clear Judgement, so she can see through those who wish to manipulate her.
Nettlewood, female (she/her) gave Brightwhisker a life for Energy, simply stating that running a clan is draining for anycat before stepping back.
Honeysmoke, trans female (purr/purrs) appears conflicted when stepping up to give Brightwhisker a life for Confidence. Purr then tells Brightwhisker that purr hopes it will help her to be able to stand strong on her own, without any...unsavory voices attempting to lead her astray.
Banyantail, male (he/him) gives Brightwhisker a life for Unity, telling her that a divided clan is one destined to fall.
Second to last is Shatterpelt, female (she/her), Songstar's daughter, who angerly gives Brightwhisker a life for Acceptance, curtly telling her she needs to learn to accept those different from her, or she'll find herself abandoned and alone.
And lastly, the leader giving Brightwhisker her last life is...Songstar?? Huh, I wonder why Spikystar isn't here to name her successor..Oh well! Songstar, trans female (she/her), gives Brightwhisker a life for Leadership through the Darkest of Times before naming her Brightstar, the new leader of ForestClan.
Fluttershiver, genderfaun (they/them) replaced Hawthornpoppy's life of Clear Judgement with one for Steadfast Decisions, telling Brightstar that whatever choices she makes, as leader her word is law. And those who question that law need to know their place.
Silvershock, female (she/her) killed Elkflip on Moon 156, after being unable to handle the loss of her sibling Mirrorfrog. On Moon 197, she dies of greencough, and is doomed to the Dark Forest for her crime, constantly coughing up black sludge in mimicry of the illness that killed her. For Brightstar, Silvershock replaces Banyantail's life of Unity for one of Instinct. She then tells Brightstar in a jittery voice that hesitation means death. To avoid death you must choose quickly, and stick with it. No matter what.
Prairieflicker, female (she/her) secretly murdered Shattertooth, Songstar's father on Moon 158. After dying on Moon 179, during an especially harsh blizzard, her spirit joined the Dark Forest. And in addition to the constant hunger the spirits of the Dark Forest face, as punishment for murdering an innocent, Prairieflicker relives the harsh cold that killed her and is unable to feel any warmth. Prarieflicker replaces the life Antlersmoke gave Brightstar for Sympathy with a life for Ferocity, telling Brightstar that to show mercy is to be weak.
Eveningivy, male (he/him) was sentenced to the Dark Forest after death due to having killed an apprentice by the name of Ratpaw on Moon 86. He died on Moon 107, alongside some clanmates during a large badger attack. This is reflected in the black, eternally-bleeding scars along his body. Additionally, he was the first cat of ForestClan to go to the Dark Forest, and so long alone drove him crazy. Eveningivy replaced Shatterpelt's life of Acceptance with one for Greed. After all, there's no such thing as too much of a good thing, right? And as leader, don't you deserve the best of the best Brightstar?
Well, at least that's what Eveningivy believes. And surely he's a great judge of such things..
While Bloodstar is in the medicine den, after the other medicine cats go out to collect herbs for the stores, Fluttershiver tries feeding her deathberries, claiming it will help with her injuries. However, Bloodstar reccognizes them from her time as a loner before the clan had formed, and refuses to eat them. As a result, Fluttershiver, sleep deprived and manic, resorts to using her claws. Shouting about how it didn't have to end this way, asking Bloodstar why she had to let her greed and thirst for power overcome her love for her clan, her love for her children. But Bloodstar never gets a chance to answer, as Fluttershiver has already tore out her throat.
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Characters:
Bloodstar, female (she/her)
Fluttershiver, genderfaun (they/them)
(Context/more lore for this scene under the cut)
After she was accused of killing Foreststar by a group led by her deputy, Scorpionwave, Bloodstar then attacked and killed all of the accusers, losing a life in the process. Bloodstar claimed she did so in order to keep peace in the clan and to prevent infighting after her deputy tried to overthrow her.
However, Bloodstar's adopted child Fluttershiver, a medicine cat of Forestclan, was suspicious. As Fluttershiver grew, they noticed as their mother began to change, becoming more cold and distant. Then, when the accusations occured and thier mother killed all of the accusers, Fluttershiver realized their mother might not be so innocent. Fluttershiver was torn, however, between hoping their mother was the loving individual they remember her being when they were young, and the evidence that their mother was willing to kill to stay in power. That their mother was willing to kill even Fluttershiver's own mate, Skywave, just for questioning her.
Fluttershiver believed their suspicions were confirmed when they started getting dreams about a constellation in the shape of a tree turning blood red, blood dripping from the stars until it covered the sky completely. Fluttershiver, believing they were the only one who could save the clan from Bloodstar, secretly poisoned Bloodstar's food, hoping it would take all of her lives. In the end, however, Bloodstar only lost one life in this attempt, no one realizing that it had been a purposeful poisoning.
Because Bloodstar survived, Fluttershiver starts questioning if they interpreted their dreams correctly, or if they're letting their feelings for Skywave interfere. They aren't sure if Bloodstar surviving their sttempted murder was a sign that they were wrong or just dumb luck. But, eventually Fluttershiver's resolve solidifies, resulting in them secretly poisoning Bloodstar again, taking two more of her lives in the process due to her being weak from losing three lives to old age. Bloodstar at this point only had two lives remaining. So, when Bloodstar and Fluttershiver were alone in the medicine den, Fluttershiver decided to take their chance to end it once and for all.
