#dawnfreckle

Day 2 of drawing every day until I start this comic! This time it's the first of our, uh, former cast, Hazystar and his deputy Dawnfreckle!

Skykit (3) has always been a bit jumpy, especially with her wind-blessing allowing her to jump extra high.  Now, Pebbletuft (24) has determined that it’s actually partially due to the fact that cats have been approaching her on her bad side.  She was born with one bad eye and no one picked up on it until now.  Also in the nursery, Kestrelcreek (80) is not healing from giving birth as well as Lakepelt (99) had hoped she would.  It’s a little worrying, considering that the last cat to give birth in the Clan, Whorlstem, died from it.  Kestrelcreek doesn’t want to leave her kits and mate (and Brightmouse-66).  Before she realized that she had an infected wound, Kestrelcreek was having a fun time playing with Brightmouse.  They might have to postpone that, now.  With Kestrelcreek not feeling great, Almondback (62) spends some time with the kits and tells jokes about the other Clans to Rimekit (2).  Cherviljumble (96) is impressed with how well the Ground and Sky kits are doing (that’s what I’m calling them now).  The four of them don’t have a parent in the nursery, and Petalkit (3) has been really brave about telling his siblings to give the younger kits some space.  Basalkit (3) is missing having an adult around to cuddle with.  Sweet Marmalade (76)  is just so fluffy and he just wants to cuddle.  Peatkit (3) works together with Basaltkit to sneak into the warriors den to surprise Sweet Marmalade.  With Downgaze (72) out of the healer’s den, he and Alderflight (47) are taking some time together.  They go on a ‘training’ patrol and have a great time racing each other through the woods.  Meanwhile, Dawnfreckle (74) and Burdockpaw (7) continue to not get along.  Dawnfreckle thinks she’s annoying and wishes that she would just do what he asks without trying to undermine him.   Copperpaw (7) feels like Hoppaw (9) has been acting stuck up and rude lately.  Just because she’s a mediator, doesn’t mean she’s better than all of them!  Echopaw (9) really likes spending time with his older sister, Hatchswipe (36).  It’s a good way to get information.  He keeps asking why.  Why do they catch prey like that?  Why are the days getting longer?  Why is there a strange cat talking to him in his dreams?  Hatchswipe doesn’t have an answer for most of them, and is a little worried about the ‘strange cat’.  Creekstar (145) has also been having strange dreams.  She’s worried that it’s Yuccawillow trying to reach her from the Dark Forest.  It’s actually Echomoor, who has decided that the time for silence about Auburnpaw’s death is over.  He hopes to be able to reach either Creekstar or Echopaw soon.  

Healer’s Den: Kestrelcreek (infection after birth), Aries (running nose), Sofanthiel (small cut), Emberpaw (small cut)

Newleaf has arrived, and maybe it will be a new start for the Clan.  Skipneedle (51) is still adjusting to her new role as deputy and is muttering to herself, running through the patrols she’s planning on sending out.  Gusts of wind stir up the flowers around her as she walks.  Skipneedle, with the loss of Archdapple (who was her favorite sister) is also lashing out at Bluestripe (51).  Brightmouse (51) challenges her to spar (far from camp so she doesn’t burn anything down) to work out some of her feelings. Kestrelcreek (65) reaches out to Hatchswipe (21), as they’ve both lost siblings recently.  They enjoy each other’s company. Despite her losses, Hatchswipe is very happy with her mate and purrs for a long time at one of Treepelt’s (16) lame jokes. Dawnfreckle (59) is dealing with his adoptive older brother’s death by. . .not dealing with it.  Instead, he’s flirting with cats who aren’t interested in him, giving Whorlstorm a pretty feather and complementing Brightmouse’s eyes.    Creekstar (130) is proud of how well her Clan is handling the loss.  They’re managing a big change very well and she promises to take care of the Clan with the rest of her lives.  Primcrest (118) is still not thrilled with how Creekstar’s been doing things.  Even though she’s no longer deputy, she comes up with a list of complaints for Creekstar.

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.

The rogue attack may have been an omen, for, this moon, Creekstar (161) passed away.  She was hunting down the rogues, slipped off a cliff, and died.  Very similarly to how Shadestar died.  She is welcomed into StarClan by the loved ones she has lost, including Shadestar herself and her father, her brother, and all of her grandparents, including her namesake, Yellowcreek.  She is happy to see them again and oddly relieved to be done with living.  After her death, Dawnfreckle (91) and Lakepelt (115) go to the moonstone so that Dawnfreckle can receive his nine lives.  He receives the lives of friendship from Tumbleswoop, sympathy from Brightmouse, confidence from Hyacinthstripe, instincts from Gladepatch, bravery from Fumblekit, trust from Flowerpaw, protection from Primcrest, farsightedness from Skydawn, and, finally leadership through darkest times from Creekstar.  He is granted guardianship of ElementClan and the name of Dawnstar.  He wakes up with a new strength in his body and knows that he is now ready to lead his Clan.  He selects Bluestripe (82) as his deputy.  It feels right to have two dark-cursed cats at ElementClan’s head.  That’s all he’s ever known, after all.  She is shocked and doesn’t know what to say.  But Dawnstar is well-spoken enough for the both of them.  Downgaze (88) is struggling with the loss of Creekstar. Although Downgaze has come to terms with something and has decided to come out to the Clan as a trans she-cat, using she/her pronouns.  However, she can’t believe that her mother is gone, so soon after her mate died.  She grabs some of her mother’s fur, but is distraught when she realizes just how fast the scent is fading. Kestrelcreek (96) feels that Creekstar’s death is overshadowing the loss of her mate, but she understands.  The whole Clan misses its leader of almost 150 moons.  Mitepaw (8), Hollowpaw (8), and Croucheye (18) have also lost another parent, and aren’t sure how to handle the loss.

Healer’s den: Nettlestripe (mangled tail), Bluestripe (recovering from birth), Hopcurl (pregnant), Kestrelcreek (grief stricken), Downgaze (grief stricken), Hatchswipe (sore)

Skymoon’s eyesight is failing and Petalfrost got a scar.

A note about Creekstar: Creekstar had such a tragic life. She became leader at only 13 moons old in a coup. She grew up with the expectations of generations around her, weighing heavy on her shoulders. She did her best to guide the Clan, but she had such a rough go of it. She faced mass extinction after mass extinction, shrinking the Clan down to fewer than 15 cats at points. She doubted herself and all she had built. All but one of her six kits either died before her or were lost when she died. Three of her kits never even made it to adulthood. She lost the loves of her life. She grew apart from her deputy and childhood friends. She had issues. She wasn't perfect. But she ruled ElementClan to the best of her ability from Moon 159 to Moon 307, a total of 148 moons or over 12 years. And that deserves commendation, no matter her flaws.