#shrewshadow

Shrew girl post-fight with her brother.

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Base:

He's caring for two younger kits, but says that the mom is not in the picture.

They form their own little family, but then Badgerpaw dies.

Shrew breaks down, believing that her old family was right, that she lead her kits to their deaths. Mousepaw points out how Badger was the happiest he had ever been away from that old place.

Shrew decides to take up medicine so that she can help her new family.

All of this takes place in the Dark Forest, and the kits are Dark Kits

1: Starting The Family

Badgercrest and Ferrettail couldn't conceive kits on their own, so Ferrettail tricked a she-cat into having his kits. Once those kits were mostly weaned, Ferrettail killed her with the help of his true mate.

While the fake parents hid them away before the deed, it is possible that at least one of the kits, curious or frightened or both, sneaked over and witnessed the act.

Carrying them as far as they could, Badgercrest and Ferrettail settled in an incredibly concealed clearing, where they built a den for them and their kits. They named their kits Ratkit, Shrewkit, Mousekit, and Volekit.

2: Raising The Family

The kits didn't know anything outside of their home and kin.

Badger and Ferret would tell their kits over and over about how this home is the safest place for them, and that other cats will hurt them the first chance they get.

They trained their kits harshly and for extended periods of time. When anyone expressed displeasure, they made sure to reiterate that they were only so hard on them because the world would be harsher.

The kits became molded by this harsh training. Mousepaw became cold, believing that he doesn't need anyone, while Shrew viewed her littermates as weaker (though they both still loved their kin).

Volepaw and Ratpaw, on the other hand, were beginning to break, constantly worried that they didn't have their parents' approval.

As time went on, the roles began to switch.

Voleice was the family's healer, and because of that, she was in good graces with both her parents--even if she did doubt herself often. Ratdusk pushed himself more and more, burning for their approval, until nothing else mattered but working every second to make his family better.

When the first litter are fully grown, Ferrettail and Badgercrest bring a new litter to the family: Chipmunkkit, Squirrelkit, Molekit, and Stoatkit. They state that their real parents can no longer care for them, and don't say what exactly happened to the parents.

With both litters, the kits were not fully weaned. While the first litter could manage, Squirrelkit in the second litter fell sick from the early weaning, and passed.

3: Deaths + Betrayal

Badgercrest's death came as a cold blow to the family. They found her remains--or what was left of them, close to the border of their home (many cats don't use borders in the Dark Forest, but the rodent family does).

It wasn't clear what had happened to her, but everyone agreed nonetheless that it had to be the work of a dangerous outsider.

When Mouseclaw met the same fate, the same conclusion was made.

That was why Ratdusk was furious with his once-closest littermate, Shrewshadow, when she met with a strange tom. After all, that tom could be the same cat that killed their mother and brother.

As a young cat, Shrewshadow had been her parents' star-kit, but as she grew, she felt more and more isolated. It wasn't her that her family loved, but her contributions to them, what she could do. She had enjoyed sending more time away, and that's how she met Dusklake, a tom who actually enjoyed her company, seemed to really like who she was, even if she did nothing for him but nuzzle and laugh.

4: Shrewshadow and Kits

Shrewshadow wasn't planning to have kits, and was panicked when she found out. She knew that her family would be furious with her, and they were.

Ferrettail was enraged, but admitted that the family could use the new numbers. He strongly suggested the names for the kits, even though Shrewshadow had wanted to give them water-based names.

When she told Dusklake, he was happy, but said how he wanted to raise them as friends. But Shrewshadow knew that her family would never allow it, and she was right--when Dusklake tried to near the camp to see his kits, he was chased off by Ferrettail, who gave him a harsh sprain.

5: Leaving

Dusklake tells Shrewshadow that they should take some time apart, explaining that he feels weird around her.

Not long after, Shrewshadow notices how her son, Mousekit, avoids the adults, huddling beside Badgerkit. Inspecting them, Shrewshadow sees that Badgerkit was inflicted with a claw-wound.

That is the final straw that allows Shrewshadow to leave. But when she sneaks out to tell Dusklake the plan, she can't find him anyware.

Doubts crept in again. Her family and home was all she knew. She had been told all her life that everywhere else, everyone else, was dangerous and would try to kill her and her kits. Mouseclaw and Badgercrest were proof of that, but Dusklake was a contradiction. Dusklake was the only reason she had to believe anything different, and he was gone.

Ultimately, she decides to leave, with or without Dusklake. But when she's sneaking through the trees, she's caught by Ratdusk.

Her brother, who had once been her best friend, accuses her of betraying the family and knowingly getting with the cat who killed their mother and littermate. He goes further, stating that she must have been part of it, and that her kits have tainted blood.

Shrew didn't want to fight her brother, but when he leapt at her kits, she had no choice. They fought viciously, and Ratdusk ended up pinning Shrewshadow. Having no choice, Shrewshadow shut her eyes tightly and swung, slitting his throat,

Horrified, she grabbed her kits before anyone else could find them, and ran, grieving for her brother as they went.

To Be Continued

Taglist: @ambitiousauthor @starfalcon555 @frightnightindustries

Ratkit asks Shrewkit if they will always be friends.

..

Ratkit defends Shrewkit.

..

Ratpaw is sick with water in the lungs. While recovering, Shrewpaw makes sure to keep him updated on all the funny gossip. That is, until Ratpaw becomes unresponsive. Shrewpaw continues to stay close, hoping Ratpaw can feel her beside him.

..

Shrew teases Rat.

..

Ratdusk loves Shrewshadow the most.

Shrew's favourite sibling is Volepaw, who she really likes, followed closely by Ratdusk.

..

Ratdusk tells Shrew to get out of his face, and that he hates her (maybe he saw her meet with Dusklake and considered it a betrayal).

..

Rat is angry again with Shrew. It turned out that Shrew was saying Dusklake's name in her sleep.

..

Shrew decides to leave, with or without Dusklake's help. The kits are just old enough to be apprenticed. They're old enough to leave with her, but if she waits any longer and they're given mentors, she may lose her opportunity.

While leaving, Ratdusk confronts her.

Ratdusk accuses her of betraying the family by getting with someone who could have been the one to kill their mother or brother. He calls her kits tainted blood, and in a moment of rage, leaps at them.

Shrew tackles him mid-jump, and the two fight viciously. Ratdusk pins her, and Shrew has no choice, she swings blindly, eyes shut tightly. She hears a gasp and when she opens them, she sees Ratdusk staring down at her in shock, blood pooling from his throat.

Shrew is horrified, but doesn't wastes anymore time. She grabs her terrified kits and runs.

..

Shrew wishes she could turn back time.

Kit/Warrior Days

Badger and Ferret come to the den one day with a new litter of kits. They don't say exactly where they found them, only that their parents couldn't care for them anymore. They don't say why.

Molekit, Stoatkit, Squirrelkit, and Chipmunkkit have joined the family.

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Shrew gives Chipmunk a badger ride, as the parents are 'too busy.'

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Volepaw is named Voleice.

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Mouseclaw helps Vole gather herbs, and they bond.

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Squirrelkit died, having been weaned too early and became sick as a result.

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Molekit is sick with whitecough.

.

Apprentice/Warrior days

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Molekit recovered and became an apprentice along with his littermates.

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Badger died of unknown causes (murdered?)

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Stoatpaw is saying how he can handle the grief, but breaks down before he can finish.

.

Warrior Days

Stoat is names Stoatwhisper, Chipmunk is named Chipmunkhail, and Mole is named Molepoppy.

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Chipmunk has whitecough.

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Mouseclaw went missing, only a pile of bones with his fur was found.

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Shrew was seen arguing with a strange cat by the border of their home.

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Shrew meets Dusklake. Worried her family won't like him, as they don't like non-kin, she keeps him a secret and sneaks out to visit him.

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Voleice sharpens her claws.

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Stoatwhisper is reevaluating his morals.

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Ratdusk tells Shrew to get out of his face, and that he hates her?? (maybe he saw her meet with Dusklake and considered it a betrayal).

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Shrew's tail was mangled in a harsh training session.

.

Shrew's Kits

Shrew realizes she is pregnant, and panics. How will her family react? She does not allow herself to rest.

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Shrew welcomes two kits into the Clan. Her family is furious with her for meeting with a potentially dangerous outsider, but Ferret admits that they do need the family to grow to remain strong.

Shrew can't help but feel trapped. Does she want to raise her kits here?

She wants to name them something water-related, but Ferret convinces her to name them after Mouseclaw and Badgercrest.

When she can get away, she tells Dusklake the good news. He's happy, but says that he wants to raise them together as just friends.

----

Chipmunk has yellowcough.

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Dusklake wandered too close to the family's home, hoping to catch a glimpse of the kits, and was attacked by Ferrettail, earning a sprain.

When Shrew goes to meet him, she is distraught to learn of the attack.

Dusklake questions how good this place is to raise their kits, and if he can never see them. Shrew can't help but agree, but can she leave her family?

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Shrew has been hard on herself lately.

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Dusk tells Shrew that maybe they should spend time apart, because when she's around, he feels strange.

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Badgerkit is hurt by a claw-wound.

Mousekit is hiding from the older cats.

Shrew decides that that is the last straw. She sneaks out to tell Dusk the plan, but can't find him anywhere. Maybe he really did leave. Knowing that, can she take her kits away, where she's the only one that can keep them safe?

----

Rat is angry again with Shrew. It turned out that Shrew was saying Dusklake's name in her sleep.

----

Shrew decides to leave, with or without Dusklake's help. The kits are just old enough to be apprenticed. They're old enough to leave with her, but if she waits any longer and they're given mentors, she may lose her opportunity.

While leaving, Ratdusk confronts her.

Ratdusk accuses her of betraying the family by getting with someone who could have been the one to kill their mother or brother. He calls her kits tainted blood, and in a moment of rage, leaps at them.

Shrew tackles him mid-jump, and the two fight viciously. Ratdusk pins her, and Shrew has no choice, she swings blindly, eyes shut tightly. She hears a gasp and when she opens them, she sees Ratdusk staring down at her in shock, blood pooling from his throat.

Shrew is horrified, but doesn't wastes anymore time. She grabs her terrified kits and runs.

----

Shrew wishes she could turn back time.

(Ferret was named Burnet, but @starfalcon555 suggested the name change so that everyone matches)

Background

Ferrettail and Badgercrest, once alive, were unable to have Dark Kits of their own. So, they devised a plan.

Ferrettail tricked a she-cat into falling for him. Together, they had kits--and once they were weaned enough, he and his true mate, Badgercrest, killed her and took the kits to raise themselves.

They didn't kill in front of the kits, hiding them away. But perhaps one of the kits peaked out, curious or scared, and saw the deed.

.

Kit Days

Volekit whines for milk. Maybe they weren't fully weaned when they were taken from their bio mom

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Shrewkit rolls her eyes at Mousekit, who cries at a small cut.

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Ratkit asks Shrewkit if they will always be friends.

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Ratkit defends Shrewkit.

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Volekit worries that others find her annoying.

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Apprentice Days

Ferret tells Shrew to always look after Vole.

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Mousepaw prefers training alone, saying that working together is for the weak, and that Ferret is too stupid to see that. He says that he doesn't need anybody.

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Ratpaw is sick with water in the lungs. While recovering, Shrewpaw makes sure to keep him updated on all the funny gossip. That is, until Ratpaw becomes unresponsive. Shrewpaw continues to stay close, hoping Ratpaw can feel her beside him.

Volepaw is learning about herbs so that she can help Ratpaw. Feeling better, Ratpaw asks her about it.

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Mousepaw wonders if Badger is proud of him.

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Shrewpaw struggles in training, and Ferret forces her to keep working until her muscles are almost too sore to move.

Afterwards, Ferret rewards her with two minnows.

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Ratpaw recovered!

.

Apprentice/Warrior Days

Mouseclaw was named first.

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Mouseclaw yells at Ratpaw for putting thorns in his nest.

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Shrewpaw feels hurt and ignored when Ferret brushes off her requests to train.

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Shrew teases Rat.

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Shrew is named Shrewshadow, and Rat is named Ratdusk. As a med cat, Volepaw is still training.

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Shrew tells Badger that she hurt her, but Badger says 'oh big deal' and that she was only toughening Shrew up, so she has nothing to be sorry for. She tells Shrew to peddle her sob stories to someone else, as she doesn't want to hear it.

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Relationships check

Ferret:

Likes his mate the most.

Shrew is his favourite kit, followed by Rat.

He dislikes Mouse and Vole (three marks).

..

Badger:

Likes her mate the most.

Shrew is her favourite kit (not nearly as much as she is Ferret's), but she also dislikes Shrew.

Mouseclaw is her second-favourite, but dislikes him almost as much as she likes him.

She dislikes Volepaw, and Ratdusk even more.

..

Shrew:

Shrew's favourite sibling is Volepaw, who she really likes, followed closely by Ratdusk.

Badgercrest is her favourite parent.

Mouseclaw is her least favourite sibling, but they are still quite close, and she only dislikes him a tiny bit.

Shrew likes her father, but dislikes him as well.

..

Mouse:

Volepaw is Mouse's favourite, followed closely by Shrew.

Ratdusk is his least favourite, but he doesn't dislike him, and he likes Badger more.

Ferret is his least favourite, but he only dislikes him a little bit.

..

Rat:

Ratdusk loves Shrewshadow the most, followed by Vole.

He loves Mouse the least, but doesn't dislike him.

He likes Badger more than Ferret, but dislikes her more than him as well.

..

Vole:

Volepaw loves Shrew the most. Mouseclaw is second.

Ratdusk is her least favourite sibling, and she dislikes him a bit.

Ferret is her favourite parent, but she still dislikes him. She also likes Badger, but dislikes her as well.