#yuccastar

[elementclangen]

The Weight of Leadership

Here's a little drawing I did of the ElementClan leaders. The drawings on the left are them at the beginning of their leadership. The ones on the right are them at the end. And then there's Dawnstar. A new leader. How will leadership change him?

Summary of how I see the leaders/how they changed under the cut.

Shadestar: Shadestar was already a seasoned leader when I started playing the game, so we didn't get to see her as a young leader. But I envision a younger her as confident. A little headstrong. Always leaping into things and dealing with the consequences later. By the end of her leadership, she had matured into a calm, responsible leader. She knew what she was doing and she was confident in her skills, but she no longer rushed into things.

Yuccastar: Yuccastar always knew she was destined to be leader. It was her StarClan-given right. So it was no surprise to her when she claimed the position. Everyone expected her to be innocent and guileless, so she acted the part. At least, towards the beginning. As she continued to lead, the pretenses fell apart. Her paranoia and fear grew as she sabotaged her own Clan to keep her position safe. By the time she was overthrown and exiled, she was a snarling mess of a cat.

Creekstar: Creekstar rose to leadership at a young age, thrust into the position everyone expected of her against her will. Leadership wasn't what she would have chosen for herself, but it was the path StarClan chose for her, so she looked to them for guidance. But, over the many moons that she led ElementClan, hardship after hardship beat her down. She couldn't trust her instincts. She couldn't rely on StarClan to save them. She pulled ElementClan back from the brink again and again but it cost her. When she died, she was exhausted and broken and defeated. She relieved glad to go.

Dawnstar: Dawnstar has the challenge of leading a Clan filled with cats who have never known any leader other than Creekstar. He's a senior warrior, but he doesn't have much leadership experience. He was only deputy for a little over twelve moons before Creekstar died. But he thinks he'll do a good job, that he'll rise to the challenge. Cats like him, after all. What could go wrong?

[elementclangen]

Moon 154-Leaf-bare

Leaf-bare illness has hit.  Chiku (88) has gotten whitecough, Creekpaw (8) has gotten greencough, and Featherpaw (10) has gotten yellowcough.  Oof.  Creekpaw is tempted to heal herself with her dark-cursed powers, but Caterpillarmallow (104) tells her not to.  It’s dangerous.  Creekpaw sighs, but relents.  For now.  If she starts feeling much worse, it can’t hurt that much to help herself, can it?  In other medical news, Yuccastar (133) is getting older and Caterpillarmallow is worried that she’s pushing herself too hard.  They bristle and snap at their Healer.  She knows what she can handle!  Caterpillarmallow is starting to feel old herself and has taken to sparring with Featherpaw to sharpen her skills.  She needs to be able to fight high powered cats, and Featherpaw needs to practice fighting, even though she’s sick.  It’s good for both of them.  While Featherpaw’s training is going well, Frostheart (57) is a little frustrated with training Rabbitpaw (10).  The young cat doesn’t want to follow her orders!  Something to do with having a ‘strong moral code’ which apparently, Frostheart doesn’t have.  Pigeonspot (23) wasn’t this contrary!  But during a patrol, she notices that Rabbitpaw is acting off.  She asks her what is wrong, and Rabbitpaw explains that she doesn’t feel like she’s doing good enough, even though she’s really trying.  Frostheart feels a surge of sympathy for the young cat, who grew up in a Clan without parents, and curls around her.  She purrs softly and tells her a story of her own apprentice days, and her own mistakes.  Frostheart promises that nobody but Rabbitpaw will remember her mistakes.  Wildcave (37) continues to buck Peakspots’ (123) advice.  He knows how to be deputy!  He might even be leader one day.  He doesn’t need the old deputy trying to school him.  It’s past his time.  His sister, Conegoat (37), is enjoying that Cypressbadger (20) keeps coming to the healer's den to check on her sick apprentice.  She has very pretty eyes. . .and Conegoat isn’t the only Healer with romance brewing.  Gladepatch (30) has taken to admiring Sleepyfoot (20) from afar. Well, as far as he can get when they both work in the same den. While on patrol, Gladepatch comes across a StarClan visitor.  It’s Yellowcreek!  He tucks his paws under him and listens to the advice his father has to give him about parenting a dark-cursed cat.

Meta: This moon, Moorleg died while she was lost. RIP Moorleg.

[elementclangen]

Moon 151-Leaf-fall

Sadly, just before her apprentice ceremony, Slipkit (6) died of kittencough.  It just affirms some cats’ belief that powerless cats are inherently weaker than powered ones. With the loss of their sister hanging over them, her siblings are made apprentices.  In a bit of an unorthodox move, Volcanoblossom (78) is mentoring Whistlepaw (6) herself.  Their similar power levels should help her train her kit more effectively.  Due to the lack of other water-blessed warriors, Yuccastar (130) has decided to train Rockypaw (6) themself.  He hasn’t expressed interest in being a mediator, so she is the only logical choice for his mentor.  In other Clan news, Wildcave (34) and Rustsong (20) have become mates!  While talking with Frostheart (54), Creekkit (5) almost lets slip that she’s dark-cursed.  She manages to avoid it.  But she wishes she didn’t have to and she could just tell some cat.  Pigeonspot (20) decides to take her complaints about Wildcave all the way to the leader.  She complains about only getting to go on hunting patrols, but Yuccastar insists that is all that she can do as an earth-blessed cat.  It’s not like her skills are useful in battle.  This does not help the situation and just leaves Pigeonspot feeling resentful towards most of ElementClan’s leadership.

[elementclangen]

Moon 149-Greenleaf

At long last, Sleepypaw (15) has been made a full Healer.  She is named Sleepyfoot in honor of her serenity.  Steppemimic (32) thinks fondly back to when Sleepyfoot was a kit, running around in the healer's den and following after her mom.  She’s come so far.  Yuccastar (128) has been watching the new kits closely.  It makes Gladepatch (25) nervous.  He tries to distract her by asking her to speak up in a conversation they’re having but it doesn’t work.  She just keeps staring at Creekkit (3).  Does she suspect something?  Fry (56) is not a fan of how close Frostheart (52) is getting to his daughter, Steppemimic.  He got in a spat with her over a piece of fresh-kill, but it was really about him being an overprotective dad.  Peakspots (118) feels like Wildcave (32) is too headstrong of a deputy and brings it up with him, but the two get in a fight.  Wildcave is a different cat than Peakspots.  He’ll be deputy however he likes!  Pigeonspot (18) has noticed that Gladepatch seems to be hiding something.  She knows that plants tend to inch away from an earth-blessed cat when they lie, and they’ve been doing that whenever he’s been talking about his kits.  What is going on?  Amethystdapple (76), on the other paw, is watching the kits with fondness.  She laughs when Featherkit (5) blows a gust of wind at Wormkit (5) from behind, knocking him over.  She knows they’ll grow out of it when they’re apprentices, so she’ll enjoy it while it lasts.  She wonders if Fry  would ever like to have more kits.  Songkit (3)is a bit annoyed at Rabbitkit (5).  The older kit is always rubbing it in his face that he doesn’t have powers and she does.  He really wants to tell her that he actually does have powers.  And light her on fire.  Just a little bit.  But he can’t.  Because Gladepatch says so.  Sigh.  While on a patrol, Fry and Cypressbadger (15) come across a kittypet with her kits.  She introduces herself as Blossom (76) and explains that she fled her twolegs when one of them beat her kit, Rocky (4).  The Clan agrees to take her and her three kits in, and she changes her name to Volcanoblossom.  It turns out that she has an incredibly strong water-blessing, even rivaling that of the deceased Shardfrost.   Her youngest kit, Slipkit (4), is powerless, although with the amount of noise she makes it’s easy to forget.  The scarred Rockykit does have magic, although his water-blessing is very weak.  Her third kit, Whistlekit (4), is on the complete opposite side of the power spectrum.  She has a water-blessing that may be even more powerful than her mother’s.  She’s already flooded the camp, which Chervilcry (128) and Volcanoblossom have to clean up.  She’ll  be a formidable warrior when she’s grown.

[elementclangen]

Moon 146-Newleaf

Cressfreckle (62) has been upping his investigation of Yuccastar (125).  He’s been eavesdropping on her (which is a lot harder for a powerless cat than one with wind powers) and been seeing if any other cats in the Clan share his dislike of their leader.  He knows that Gladepatch (22) does, but highly doubts that Peakspots (115) and Chervilcry (125) do.  Mothecho probably would have, if she hadn’t been taken by twolegs.  Maybe his former apprentice Cypressbadger (12)?  Moorleg (58), despite being kind of annoying with her crush on him, may also end up on his side.  Maybe Pigeonspot (15) too.  Moorleg has noticed that Cressfreckle likes spending time with the kits, and so she has taken to doing so as well.  She has a great time getting into a mock battle with Rabbitkit (2).  Chasingskip (58) is looking out for her surviving kits and asks Sleepypaw (12) if there are any herbs she should look out for while on patrol later.    Steppemimic (29) has been stressed with training an apprentice and needs some more downtime.  Wildcave (29) offers to take Sleepypaw out for a patrol, which his sister appreciates.  And that gives Steppemimic a chance to hang out with Pigeonspot.  She’s the only cat that can make her laugh and its fascinating to see what an earth-blessed warrior gets up to.  Meanwhile in the elder’s den, Strawberrytrail (134) doesn’t want to take her herbs and gets in a fight with Sleepypaw.  After the fight, she ignores the Healer apprentice. Sleepypaw is also feeling ignored by her mentor and feels like Steppemimic has been shoving her off onto other cats. In the nursery, Wormkit (2) absolutely adores his sisters and hopes that Featherkit (2) will be his friend forever.  And it looks like they’ll be getting some new companions. While on a patrol, Conegoat (29) and Gladepatch find a pair of kittens next to their dead parent.  While investigating them, Gladepatch notices that one is clearly emanating. . .darkness.  And the plants around her are dead.  A dark-cursed cat!  And the other. . .well, the signs around him are fainter, but they’re there.  Two dark-cursed kittens.  Gladepatch remembers what happened to his brother and father because of their magic, and begs Conegoat to keep it a secret. He tells her that Yuccastar actually killed his brother because of his magic.  Conegoat is shocked, but agrees to keep the secret.  They take the two kittens back to camp.  The girl is named Creekkit (0) and the boy is named Songkit (0), after Yellowcreek and Graysong.

[elementclangen]

Moon 144-Newleaf

Cressfreckle (60) decided to talk with Yuccastar (123) and see if he could get her to confess to anything.  He couldn’t, although he could tell that she was nervous.  Her power kept slipping and causing little gusts of wind around them.  They both ended up resentful of each other.  Seeing as Cressfreckle is one of the more senior warriors in the Clan, Peakspots (113) asks if he could organize patrols for a day.  Cressfreckle refuses, still frustrated with Yuccastar and, by extension, her mate, leading to resentment between the two.  This moon, Cressfreckle seems to be annoying everyone. He feels like Burrowpaw (10) has been too invested in his training of Cypresspaw (10) and they get in a fight.  At least Gladepatch (20) still likes him and thinks that he’s always reliable.  Burrowpaw is impatient to get back to training, but she’s still sick and injured.  She just wants to show her mentor how smart, talented, and skilled she is.  While on a patrol, Conegoat (27) finds the dead body of a tom and his (still-living) kits.  She brings the kits back to camp and names them Featherkit (0), Rabbitkit (0), and Wormkit (0).  All three have powerful wind magic.  

[elementclangen]

Moon 142-Leaf-bare

Yellowcough proved too much for Yuccastar (121) in her old age.  Thankfully, she was able to recover after losing only one life, but it was still a little scary.  She also spread the yellowcough to Chasingskip (54) and Pigeonpaw (11). Thankfully, it was after  Pigeonpaw had been given her warrior name of Pigeonspot,  honoring her valiance.  Caterpillarmallow (92) has been feeling stressed lately, with all the sick cats.  She ignores Gladepatch (18) and her voice has been extra shrill lately.  The sound of it makes Peakspots (111) shudder.  Caterpillarmallow does find the time to chat with Conegoat (25) while getting something to eat, though.   Gladepatch has been feeling a bit like the odd one out in the healer's den.  In addition to Caterpillarmallow being snippy, Steppemimic (25) was making mean comments about him.  He just wants to spend time alone.  Sleepypaw (8) is making some good progress, though.  She feels like she’s ready to take care of any patients. There is also a bit of romance going on in the Clan.  Amethystdapple (69) and Fry (49) were seen rolling around a little too playfully. . .maybe there’ll be new kits in the Clan come newleaf. 

[elementclangen]

Yuccastar and Chervilcry's Elder Sprites

Yuccastar; Star-blessed cat with a power level of 19 (very low); Insecure and very clever

Chervilcry; Water-blessed she-cat with a power level of 58 (medium); Strange and an eloquent speaker

The first cats born in the Clan have gotten their elder sprites! Can you believe they're this old? I sure can't.