#shortbush

Clan: WolfClan

Siblings: Shortbush, Lionswimmer

Mate: Paintbrushthroat

Swampkit was born to three she-cats, Columbinemouse, Lilypool, and Laurelpuddle, during a long Frost alongside Shortkit and Lionkit. They  grew up during a greencough outbreak and Swampkit developed it when he was very young. He nearly died that Frost from the severe illness. But the medicine cat at the time, Pipershade, saved him. Lilypool stayed in the den with him while the other two stayed with Shortkit and Lionkit. It was odd for Swampkit to go back to the nursery after two or three weeks of being in the medicine den, but his mothers welcomed him back with open arms.

Swamppaw and Lionpaw developed a playful rivalry with one another, working to beat each other during each hunting patrol and become a warrior before one another. Meanwhile, Shortpaw became a medicine cat under Pipershade. The three apprentices excelled in their training. He became close to Paintbrushpaw, even more so when it happened.

When Swamppaw was twelve moons old, he caught greencough again. His mothers spent plenty of their time in the medicine den with him. Lilypool caught the sickness and passed away only a few days later. Pipershade was convinced she was hiding the symptoms so she could continue to hunt for Swamppaw. Swamppaw felt at fault for his mother’s death and his greencough became worse with grief. Shortpaw wasn’t allowed to spend much time with his brother, nor were Columbinemouse and Laurelpuddle. Swamppaw felt another week or so in the medicine den before he was able to leave. Paintbrushpaw helped him through his grief and Lionpaw postponed her warrior ceremony until Swamppaw regained his strength.

A moon later, Swamppaw and Lionpaw were named Swampberry and Lionswimmer. That day, Columbinemouse was trapped under a snowdrift. Shortpaw and Pipershade tried their best to keep her alive, trying to keep her warm and breathing, but she died the next morning and Laurelpuddle died a week later from grief. Lionswimmer, Swampberry, and Shortpaw drifted after the loss of their mothers. Lionswimmer turned to Russetsnap, Shortpaw turned to his studies, and Swampberry began planning his and Paintbrushthroat’s unity, which would eventually be postponed after Paintbrushthroat’s mothers died.