Grayclaw
"Looks like we're gonna have to kill this guy, Jinx Arcane."
"Damn."
Grayclaw is a silver tabby tom with spiral patterned stripes, long fur, sharp claws, broad shoulders, and ears that begin to curl inward at the tips by ASC Book 4. His eyes are ice-blue.
Poor Graypaw. He takes each loss he feels so deeply to heart. He was inconsolable when his Papa was gone, as he and Jayclaw had an incredibly close bond despite how young Graykit was.
When Curlfeather passed, Graypaw took it even more terribly. He was very nearly in denial, trying to hold himself together to be the "rock" for his sisters. He did not do it well.
Splashtail sunk his claws into him. Promised him security in return for support. He was Curlfeather's apprentice, he knew she would want him to watch over her kits. She was such a good, loving mother, wasn't she? Such a shame she's gone, she would have made a perfect leader, good thing she shared all her ideas with me to make me a perfect new candidate. Ah, rest, sweet Curlstar, I shall take care of your children for you...
Graypaw buys it. He supports Splashtail, his new best friend. When Splashtail claims his leadership, Graypaw vouches for him. His mother trusted him, he must clearly be worthy.
Then Frostpaw is "killed". She runs away from the Clans into a strange place with a small party of other cats, Sunbeam, Nightheart, Whistlepaw, and Shadowsight. No one knows this, of course. She is assumed to have died as well. Graypaw snaps. He cannot take another loss, and hangs on to every word Splashtail says. Splashtail is young and born from tumultuous times himself. Starclan has lead them astray in his eyes, and his mentality stems from a long cycle of violence that is as inevitable as an egg spoiling in summer heat. Graypaw swears he will do anything to keep Riverclan safe, and follow Splashstar's every order.
In return, Graypaw is immediately given his warrior name, Grayclaw. In honour of his beloved father, who would be so proud to see him. Splashstar tells Riverclan to yowl loud enough that Jayclaw will hear his name being honored. Funny that he left out any mention of 'Curlstar'.
Grayclaw becomes one of Splashstar's enforcers, quickly climbing the ranks. Grayclaw, Duskfur, Shinetoe, Brackenpelt, Foxnose, Shadenose, Wavesplash, Spikeleaf, and Mallownose all support him. While Mallownose is made deputy, Splashstar creates a second position. Head Enforcer.
Grayclaw is placed in that decorated position. He is in charge of enforcing Splashstar's rules, and making sure cats are compliant with them. He buries his head in the sand when it comes to complaints. The only one he'll listen to is his sister. Mistpaw, denied a warrior name for not singing Splashstar's praises, doesn't complain, but... She does make suggestions. She saw a lot of salmon in the stream, maybe they could do more hunting patrols today rather than making everyone go over battle moves for the 5th time in a row?
Grayclaw grieves his missing sister, presumed dead, he cannot stop thinking about how much of a failure he must be, that the only hope he has left is to keep Mistpaw safe... If she keeps looking upset, Splashstar will get angry...
He forces Mistpaw to bow to Splashstar, calling him Riverclan's true leader, and that the only reason she'd held off was due to her own grief for her mother. Of course Splashstar understands, he's so generous, so wise.
He gives her the name Mistwillow instantly, a beautiful name, and seems to settle down. Grayclaw sees this as having been the correct thing to do. It kept his sister safe and in line, and Splashstar approved.
Then, when the dust seemingly settled during a horrible battle with Windclan, Frostpaw appeared in the moonlight, silver fur shining and curled ears framing the crescent moon. She had a small group with her that was growing quickly, leading a rebellion against Splashstar and his enforcers. Grayclaw at first was enraged, he had mourned her so badly, fought so hard for the peace he had built for Mistwillow and himself, and now she came in trying to tear it all down. He fought like hell at first, going after the River Rebels and doing his best to destroy them.
And then he grew desperate. He begged Frostpaw to join them. They'd be a happy family again. They wouldn't have to be alone anymore. They could just go back to the way things used to be. She just had to give all of this up...
Frostfeather refuses, and The River Rebels make another push back into their home.
Grayclaw can't take it. He can't handle his sister abandoning him again. He needs to be better, to keep what he has left together as it slips through his claws like feathers in a hurricane. He resolves himself of one thing...
He'll always have his sister's memory.
Grayclaw catches his sister, crashing into her after a long chase up onto the highest cliff of Sun-Drown Place, the two rolling over each other, almost off the edge of the cliff.
As thunder cracks deafeningly above them and lightning shines in Frostfeather's star-filled eyes, Grayclaw pins her against soaking wet rock, sharpened claws raised high, dripping from the torrential rain around them... He knows if Frostfeather perishes, the rebellion will too. Splashstar needs him to do this.
He has to do this.
Why can't he do this?
