#mistshadow

The Story:

The 12 (hang on) survivors meet on the Gathering Island. Reedwhisker, being the only surviving deputy, assumes the role of leader, naming Crowfeather his Deputy. Poppyfrost takes on the role of medicine cat, she spent a lot of time with Jayfeather in the medicine den after he saved her life as an apprentice so she picked up a few things, and she also wants to honor her friend. She treats the others' injuries as best she can, and they bed down for the night. 

The next day, while helping to clear ShadowClan camp with Bumbletripe and Icewing, Poppyfrost hears loud mewing, and follows it to where a little gray lump of fur. Mistkit, daughter of Kinkfur.  Her eyes aren’t even open yet, but she’s now the sole survivor of ShadowClan. Poppyfrost is immediately reminded of her precious kits, Cherrypaw and Molepaw, who were too young to be thrown into the war with The Dark Forest. Not that it would have mattered in the end, the lawless cats they fought against didn’t care who they killed. She and the group bring Mistkit back, and Icewing takes care of her while they try to figure out what to do about nursing her. Poppyfrost suggests the Horseplace cats, remembering what Berrynose told her about the cats he and his mother and siblings lived with, and while the others are apprehensive, Reedwhisker states that it’s their best bet. Gorsetail accompanies Poppyfrost there, and while Floss is sympathetic to the kit, she explains that she has no milk to offer but mentions Coco, another loner who recently kitted and may have milk to share. Smoky takes the two Clan cats to where Coco lives, and they meet the marbled brown tabby she-cat with three kits. She agrees to take in Mistkit, and returns to the Gathering Island with Gorsetail and Poppyfrost. On the way back, Gorsetail mentions that Kinkfur must’ve fought like LionClan to protect her kits, remembering the time that her own kits went missing, and how she would have torn down the forest with her bare claws to get them back. She and Poppyfrost bond over their lost kits, and vow to do whatever they can to keep this little one safe. 

With Mistkit in the makeshift nursery with Coco and her kits (Maizie, Willow, and Stormy) and reconstruction and rebuilding efforts underway, Reedwhisker decides now is the time to receive his Nine Lives. He and Poppyfrost go to the Moonpool, and drink from it. While Reedwhisker becomes Reedstar, Jayfeather appears to Poppyfrost alongside Cinderpelt, Yellowfang, Runningnose, Mothwing, and several other medicine cats, and explains to her that while StarClan is a bit of a mess right now, they will do everything they can to teach her everything they know. They welcome her as a proper medicine cat, and allow her to reunite with her sisters, brother, and kits for a moment before returning to the waking world. She and Reedstar return to the Island with StarClan’s blessing, and though the celebration is small, it’s still something. After deliberation, the group agrees to permanently settle on the Island (at least for now while they work on burying the dead and cleaning the former Clan Camps). Mousefur decides to spearhead building more permanent structures, and Poppyfrost realizes that she hasn’t seen her eat since before the Great Battle. She tries to dismiss it, maybe she ate while she was out, but decides to keep an eye on her. 

In the days to come, the Clan cats work on rebuilding what they can. Once Mistkit and the other kits are weaned, Coco offers to help, and has even started to grow close to Robinwing in the process. Poppyfrost has started gathering herbs based on what she learns with Jayfeather in her dreams, and has put together a medicine den. Crowfeather establishes patrols each day for hunting, burials, herb gathering, and den building, and everyone pitches in. As Poppyfrost works, she notices Mousefur has started to eat again. Eventually, the she-cat confides in her that she’d has a crushing amount of survivor’s guilt, being an elder that survived when so many young, more “useful” cats are dead, and that rebuilding dens and gathering herbs makes her feel useful. Poppyfrost tries to explain to her that she doesn’t need to force herself to be useful in order to justify her survival, and that her being here keeps ThunderClan’s spirit and memory alive, but has a feeling it falls on deaf ears. She and Gorsetail start to become good friends, and the she-cat comes to talk to her often. About 3 moons pass, and the group has grown closer. Coco formally joins the Clan, takes the name Flowerpetal, and her kits are Stormykit, Willowkit, and Maizekit. Reedstar suggests they hold a Gathering, where they can remember the fallen and hold a vigil for all the cats they lost. They do so, and Reedstar suggests creating a memorial. Robinwing offers to spearhead it, and together the cats create a large pile of stones, one for each cat who passed. They vow to keep the memory of each of their fallen Clanmates alive, and to teach every kit ever born in the clan the story of the Memorial.

Mistkit and her foster siblings become apprentices about 4 moons after the Gathering, becoming Mistpaw, Stormypaw, Maizepaw, and Willowpaw. Flowerpetal moves into the Warrior’s Den, and formally becomes mates with Robinwing, while Icewing and Mintfur (who were mates before the Great Battle) announce that they are having a litter of kits, which excites the new Clan. When discussing who should mentor them, Reedstar, Crowfeather, and Poppyfrost realize that with cats of all clans here there’s really no one fighting and hunting style, so they decide that the kits will be sort of communal apprentices, with a different warrior taking each of them every day. The apprentices even come to Poppyfrost to learn the basics of healing. 

Mistpaw and her siblings become warriors 6 moons later. Reedstar names Mistpaw Mistshadow, to honor the Clan that she was born in and carries the legacy of, while her siblings are named Stormysky, Maizeseed, and Willowbranch. Icewing gives birth to 4 healthy kits: two toms named Riverkit and Thunderkit, and two she-cats names Shadowkit and Windkit, one for each of the clans. Flowerpetal is also in the nursery, expecting Robinwing’s kits. As Reedstar stands there, he realizes their new clan has no name. He decides to call it DawnClan, for the fact they are the dawn of a new era.

DawnClan:

Leader:

Reedstar- black tom

Deputy:

Crowfeather- dark gray tom

Medicine Cat:

Poppyfrost- tortoiseshell she-cat

Warriors:

Bumblestripe- very pale gray tom with black stripes

Owlwhisker- light brown tabby tom

Gorsetail- very pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes

Mintfur- light gray tabby tom

Robinwing- tortoiseshell-and-white tom

Graymist- pale gray tabby she-cat

Mistshadow- spiky-furred, pale gray she-cat

Willowbranch- light gray she-cat with sky blue eyes

Stormysky- mottled gray she-cat with bright green eyes

Maizeseed- Lilac tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentices:

Queens and kits:

Flowerpetal- Brown marbled tabby she-cat with green eyes, currently nursing Robinwing's kits

Wingkit- White Tom with black patches and green eyes

Morningkit- Tortiseshell she-cat with heterochromia, one blue eye and one green eye

Shellkit- Black tabby he-cat with amber eyes

Icewing- white she-cat with blue eyes, currently nursing Mintfur's kits

Riverkit- Gray and white tom with blue eyes

Thunderkit- Cream colored tom with green eyes

Windkit- smoky brown she-cat with amber eyes

Shadowkit- black she-cat with sea green/teal eyes

Elders:

Mousefur- small dusky brown she-cat

Purdy- plump tabby former loner with a gray muzzle