Post by ∞TEA∞ on Oct 15, 2017 15:30:59 GMT -5
Quick Facts
Name meaning:
Prefix — Briar
Her pelt was the color of briars.
Suffix — star
Being the leader of OakClan, she has adopted the traditional suffix.
Past names:
Briarkit
Briarpaw
Briartail
Gender:
Female
Age:
48 moons or 4 years
Birth place:
OakClan camp
Dwelling location:
OakClan
Past dwelling locations:
--
Current location:
OakClan
Appearance
A slim female with striking green eyes and a ticked pelt of varying shades of brown and a slight hint of grey.
Briar has a slim build, though solid and far from frail and delicate. It's easy to see that the queen has packed on a lot of muscle on her frame. She has a short ticked coat that is mostly brown, with hints of black and white. It's thick enough to protect her from light rains, but won't keep her warm enough during a cold winter. Her chest, tail, and front legs are a lighter shade of brown with a few darker brown stripes, but her tail is tipped with black. The underside of her chin and muzzle are white.
Briar's eyes are a green almost the shade of grass, bright and striking.
Personality
From the point of an outsider, someone who has met her for the first time, Briar seems like the ideal leader. Cool, calm, collected, those seem to be the only emotions she shows apart from an occasional flicker of annoyance and anger if you go too far. She gives out orders easily and seems to be on top of things, seemingly having a very good memory. But when she only shows so few personality traits, she can sometimes seem... blank. Distant. Sometimes unreal.
This demeanor doesn't seem to change with friends, making it hard to decide if you even are her friend in the first place. With her duties, she doesn't spend much time with what she thinks is idle chatter and gossip, unless she thinks it is necessary to show her clan that she is not distant, even when she often feels she is. In rare cases though, she might lower her guard a bit around you. Speak about matters a little closer to her heart, show traces of emotions such as fear, uncertainty, sadness, weariness.
Behind this well put together front, Briar isn't so . . . calm and collected. She obsesses over every detail, believing that she must keep track of everyone and everything as a leader. If something goes wrong, no matter how big or small, chances are she is blaming herself before you even finish the story. There is always some way that she could have prepared or warned her clanmates, something she should have noticed to prevent the bad thing from happening. It's impossible to keep track of everything realistically, but she still attempts to do so, loosing sleep as she does.
With such a burden, perhaps some might think she would be glad to share the burden with someone else. Like a deputy, perhaps? No. Briar only reluctantly dishes out duties to others, only doing it when she has to face the fact that she does not have enough time to do it all herself. Sending out hunting patrols and border patrols she doesn't mind too much, but anything that requires something a little bit unusual she tries to do herself, or at least be present for. An unidentified scent? She's going out. An elder having fallen sick? She feels the need to check up on them personally. A rumor that herbs are running low? She'll be visiting the medicine cats and asking if they need more cats to assist.
The leader has also taken the words "the clan must come first" to heart, which can be seen as a driving factor behind her obsessions. Sleep and personal pleasures come last, which is a reason why it is so hard to become her friend. She can trust you more than others, perhaps, but that's not the same as being a friend. Deep down, she has longings to make friends, give in to those attractions to that crush, spend a day relaxing in the sun. But the clan comes first. She's pushing others away, pushing away what could become a close relationship in favor of thinking about the wellfare of the clan.
History
Names or positions in brackets and italicized are up for adoption here. Also, the name of Briar's father might be temporary, I'm trying to come up with a better one.
Thornkit, Briarkit, and Sootkit were born at the very beginning of leaf-bare to Ruepath and Coaltail. In the beginning, as the kits opened their ears and eyes and learned to totter around, it seemed everything would be fine. Litters born in leaf-bare were harder to care for and more dangerous, but at the start there was a sufficient—if not abundant—amount of food. Two moons of what could be called a "normal" leaf-bare went by, some snows here and there, cold, but nothing extreme. But then, when during the third moon it should have begun to warm up, it got colder instead. Much colder. Food became so hard to find that the clan was getting thinner day by day, and the kits and their parents were no exception.
Coaltail tried his best to make sure his mate and kits were well fed, but in order to accomplish that he had to sacrifice himself. He ate even less than the already meager helping that the rest had, and even when his mate begged him to eat more he often didn't listen.
When Briarkit was four moons, she sneaked out of nursery at night while her mother and siblings were sleeping and tried to climb a shrub by the edge of camp. Why? During such a time, many stories were told to try and keep the clan's mind off their hunger. Briarkit had heard of her father's great climbing skills, and was eager to see if she could climb.
Relations
Family
Mother: Ruepath, OakClan
Father: Coalheart, deceased
Silbings: Thornheart, OakClan ; Sootclaw, OakClan
Trusted
Ashheart, deceased
Ruepath, OakClan
Friends
'I have no time for friends, not anymore. It is . . . an unnecessary longing.'
Enemies
Birchstar, JaggedClan
Goldenstorm, JaggedClan
Timeline
Names or positions in brackets and italicized are up for adoption here. Also, the name of Briar's father might be temporary, I'm trying to come up with a better one.
0-4 moons:
Born along with her littermates in the first moon of leaf-bare to Ruepath and Coaltail. The leaf-bare is cold and harsh. Attempts to climb a bush in the corner of camp and gets stuck there. Subsequently becomes afraid of climbing.
5 moons:
Leaf-bare not yet over, Coalheart falls from a tree and dies a few days later. Briar is severely grieved, and fears climbing even more.
6-10 moons:
Becomes an apprentice of [mentor] along with her littermates at the beginning of new-leaf. Refuses to try climbing, and is made fun of by many except her friend [Mousepaw]. Trains very hard at other aspects, becoming skilled at everything but climbing.
10.5 moons:
Rescues [Mousepaw] from the Giant Oak and slowly overcomes her fear. Begins to practice climbing.
12 moons:
Made a warrior and earns the name Briartail.
19.5 moons:
Is given her first [apprentice].
28 moons:
Made deputy after the previous deputy dies of greencough as leaf-bare fades away.
35 moons:
Becomes leader mid leaf-fall after previous leader looses his last life fighting a fox. Begins mentoring Nightingalepaw.
Opinions
(Sorry for the tags, everyone!)
Riley (loner)
( sully )
'The fact that she only has one eye and is also a kittypet, unused to having to work for a living, does not make me very optimistic for her future in OakClan. Of course, I have seen a rare few cats who have come with barely any skill, with only determination to offer, and end up staying for life. But is she determined enough? Her fighting gives a bit of hope, but there's still much for her to learn. I know I'll be keeping a close eye on her, as is always necessary.
She better not use only having one eye as an excuse. Maybe I should speak to Opossumtail.
---
Well, it seems you've left. Good wanderings to you.'
Echospring
'The fact that she only has one eye and is also a kittypet, unused to having to work for a living, does not make me very optimistic for her future in OakClan. Of course, I have seen a rare few cats who have come with barely any skill, with only determination to offer, and end up staying for life. But is she determined enough? Her fighting gives a bit of hope, but there's still much for her to learn. I know I'll be keeping a close eye on her, as is always necessary.
She better not use only having one eye as an excuse. Maybe I should speak to Opossumtail.
---
Well, it seems you've left. Good wanderings to you.'
Echospring
( —(••÷[ נιηx ]÷••— )
'I chose her to be my deputy. I hope I won't regret that choice. She seems hard working enough. Calm most of the time, though a little hot hotheadedness isn't a bad thing once in a while. The thing is . . . I feel bad burdening anyone with the job of deputy. One day she will become leader, and accept an even greater burden. I wish I could spare her the worries, the load, but I have to accept that I cannot do everything by myself.
'Even if I wish I could.'
Birchstar (JaggedClan)
( мαrι ✿ )
'I have never liked JaggedClan. The way they think they can raid and intrude just because they can't get their act together. The way they know nothing about unity. Order. You can say that I'm prejudiced, say that I don't have enough facts, but oh I know enough about them to draw my own conclusions. Birchstar sent a patrol to raid. my. clan. And there is no excuse for what she did. That patrol attacked a queen. Injured a medicine apprentice. All during the full moon. I didn't like Birchstar before. I hate her now.
'But even more than I hate her, I hate myself. I should have been able to prevent this. Lessen the damage at least. But the clan was too unprepared, and it's my fault.'
Nightingaleflight
( мαrι ✿ )
'My apprentice. Second apprentice. Hmph. I guess we didn't get along too well, did we? There's a reason why I don't assign myself apprentices unless I think it's absolutely necessary. I'm probably too stiff. Too cold. Not empathetic enough. That's what responsibilities have done.
'But I think that at least . . . she's been trained well. Being strict on her at least made sure she developed some skill. She's still too egoistic, too eager to show off, but at least she'll be able to hold her own. I hope.
'Some spirit, I suppose, is good.'
Thrushpaw
( Pyma )
'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Thrushpaw, but I know that's not enough, is it? I've lost a parent too, and though I cannot say I know your pain exactly because each time it's different, I can empathize. It hurts. I know. And I'm just, so, so, sorry. Please, please don't think it's your fault. I don't want you to go down that way. Your mother died honorably, and from what I see she was fighting alongside you, because she loved you. It's not your fault.
'You know what I want to do? I want to sit by your side, tell you that you can talk to me, that I'll be there for you. I'll sit there for days, as long as you need me to. If I weren't leader, that's what I would do. But I can't. If I start, if I let out something that's been locked away so I can help you, be there for you, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop. Then everything will crumble down, and I can't let that happen. I'm sorry, but I must continue. Do you understand? I hope someone else can be there for you.
'I'm sorry. I wish I could make it up to you. Bring her back. Life is full of regrets, and there are so many things I wish I could change. I'm sorry I wasn't able to prepare the clan better for JaggedClan's attack. I'm sorry I didn't make sure everyone was sharp with their fighting. I should have done better, and I won't deny it. It's my fault. It's not yours. It's my fault. I won't forget that. I won't forget your mother. I can't forget anyone, you know? I can't.'
Chestnutflower
( Sol )
'Your son will miss you. I will miss you. My last words to you? Regrets. Was I too harsh when I rushed off to start a clan meeting? I'm sorry. Ottercreek was the most recent death at that time, and I wasn't handling myself properly. But now you're gone, and I wonder if I showed my appreciation enough. If you're up there in StarClan, know that I appreciate everything you did. You really were a -flower cat, weren't you? So precious with the little ones, a gentle blossom . . . that has now . . . gone—gone out. Leaf-bare came for you too soon, Chestnutflower. I'm sorry.
'I will make sure your son grows up strong and as—as—there are no words to describe it. As wonderful as you were. You will continue to be proud of him.'
Yarrowpaw
( Sol )
'Your eyes. Alderpelt wouldn't answer me how bad it was. I didn't need to ask again, because the silence was answer enough. I hope you recover your sight, not just for your sake but for my own selfish one. I don't want your injury to be another thing that I am responsible for, but I know I am responsible. If needed, I will go MistClan or FlameClan for help with the healing, if Aphodelberry doesn't come back. And even if he does, he might need a second opinion. I'm willing to go, because this is my fault.
'But I don't get how JaggedClan could have done this. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but you are a medicine cat, and they should have respected that you have not learned to fight well. You're also still barely past kithood. How could they have done this? JaggedClan needs to stop. They have gone too far, went too far long ago when they started raiding. What happened cannot be undone, but I can't stop thinking about what could have been. If I would have brought you to the Gathering, this would not have happened. I'm sorry.'
'I chose her to be my deputy. I hope I won't regret that choice. She seems hard working enough. Calm most of the time, though a little hot hotheadedness isn't a bad thing once in a while. The thing is . . . I feel bad burdening anyone with the job of deputy. One day she will become leader, and accept an even greater burden. I wish I could spare her the worries, the load, but I have to accept that I cannot do everything by myself.
'Even if I wish I could.'
Birchstar (JaggedClan)
( мαrι ✿ )
'I have never liked JaggedClan. The way they think they can raid and intrude just because they can't get their act together. The way they know nothing about unity. Order. You can say that I'm prejudiced, say that I don't have enough facts, but oh I know enough about them to draw my own conclusions. Birchstar sent a patrol to raid. my. clan. And there is no excuse for what she did. That patrol attacked a queen. Injured a medicine apprentice. All during the full moon. I didn't like Birchstar before. I hate her now.
'But even more than I hate her, I hate myself. I should have been able to prevent this. Lessen the damage at least. But the clan was too unprepared, and it's my fault.'
Nightingaleflight
( мαrι ✿ )
'My apprentice. Second apprentice. Hmph. I guess we didn't get along too well, did we? There's a reason why I don't assign myself apprentices unless I think it's absolutely necessary. I'm probably too stiff. Too cold. Not empathetic enough. That's what responsibilities have done.
'But I think that at least . . . she's been trained well. Being strict on her at least made sure she developed some skill. She's still too egoistic, too eager to show off, but at least she'll be able to hold her own. I hope.
'Some spirit, I suppose, is good.'
Thrushpaw
( Pyma )
'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Thrushpaw, but I know that's not enough, is it? I've lost a parent too, and though I cannot say I know your pain exactly because each time it's different, I can empathize. It hurts. I know. And I'm just, so, so, sorry. Please, please don't think it's your fault. I don't want you to go down that way. Your mother died honorably, and from what I see she was fighting alongside you, because she loved you. It's not your fault.
'You know what I want to do? I want to sit by your side, tell you that you can talk to me, that I'll be there for you. I'll sit there for days, as long as you need me to. If I weren't leader, that's what I would do. But I can't. If I start, if I let out something that's been locked away so I can help you, be there for you, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop. Then everything will crumble down, and I can't let that happen. I'm sorry, but I must continue. Do you understand? I hope someone else can be there for you.
'I'm sorry. I wish I could make it up to you. Bring her back. Life is full of regrets, and there are so many things I wish I could change. I'm sorry I wasn't able to prepare the clan better for JaggedClan's attack. I'm sorry I didn't make sure everyone was sharp with their fighting. I should have done better, and I won't deny it. It's my fault. It's not yours. It's my fault. I won't forget that. I won't forget your mother. I can't forget anyone, you know? I can't.'
Chestnutflower
( Sol )
'Your son will miss you. I will miss you. My last words to you? Regrets. Was I too harsh when I rushed off to start a clan meeting? I'm sorry. Ottercreek was the most recent death at that time, and I wasn't handling myself properly. But now you're gone, and I wonder if I showed my appreciation enough. If you're up there in StarClan, know that I appreciate everything you did. You really were a -flower cat, weren't you? So precious with the little ones, a gentle blossom . . . that has now . . . gone—gone out. Leaf-bare came for you too soon, Chestnutflower. I'm sorry.
'I will make sure your son grows up strong and as—as—there are no words to describe it. As wonderful as you were. You will continue to be proud of him.'
Yarrowpaw
( Sol )
'Your eyes. Alderpelt wouldn't answer me how bad it was. I didn't need to ask again, because the silence was answer enough. I hope you recover your sight, not just for your sake but for my own selfish one. I don't want your injury to be another thing that I am responsible for, but I know I am responsible. If needed, I will go MistClan or FlameClan for help with the healing, if Aphodelberry doesn't come back. And even if he does, he might need a second opinion. I'm willing to go, because this is my fault.
'But I don't get how JaggedClan could have done this. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but you are a medicine cat, and they should have respected that you have not learned to fight well. You're also still barely past kithood. How could they have done this? JaggedClan needs to stop. They have gone too far, went too far long ago when they started raiding. What happened cannot be undone, but I can't stop thinking about what could have been. If I would have brought you to the Gathering, this would not have happened. I'm sorry.'
Hickoryheart
( sully )
'We never were very close, and it doesn't seem like he was ever very close with our father either . . . yet another thing that sets us apart. I don't know what is going on with us right now. He didn't respect my rank as a deputy, he defied me. Not in the proper, respectful way that OakClanners are welcome to share their opinions and views with, but in a way that makes me think it was all personal and nothing practical.
'What's so wrong about sending out a patrol that he had to challenge me? I think I still hold it against him. For giving me yet another obstacle to overcome in my transition into being deputy. It was already hard for me to handle, if he couldn't give me support could he have at least stayed away? I think he's become more dependable now, but I can't help but feel he still resents my rank. And because of this, I don't think I can ever truly trust him.
'There's a reason why I refuse to get dependent on others. Few can be trusted.'
'What's so wrong about sending out a patrol that he had to challenge me? I think I still hold it against him. For giving me yet another obstacle to overcome in my transition into being deputy. It was already hard for me to handle, if he couldn't give me support could he have at least stayed away? I think he's become more dependable now, but I can't help but feel he still resents my rank. And because of this, I don't think I can ever truly trust him.
'There's a reason why I refuse to get dependent on others. Few can be trusted.'
Draftfeather
( moss )
'He confuses me. I don't get him, I don't get how he ended up so . . . quiet. More than just quiet. Is it because of something that happened early on that I wasn't aware of, or did he just . . . turn out this way? Somehow? I've tried observing him when I can, but I really can't get any insight on why he has so much trouble talking. Only a few seem to be able to get through to him, and I'm definitely not one of them.
'Each to his own, I suppose, but it worries me somewhat. He's young, so perhaps he can grow out of this, but will he? How can I help him? I really wonder what he's thinking sometimes. He's definitely not stupid. He's capable of being a warrior or I wouldn't have made him one. I . . . I just don't know. I've even considered asking Hailbreeze, but no. That would be going too far, being too rude.
'I hope he's still able to find happiness in this clan, despite his issue. I hope it's nothing against this clan.'
'Each to his own, I suppose, but it worries me somewhat. He's young, so perhaps he can grow out of this, but will he? How can I help him? I really wonder what he's thinking sometimes. He's definitely not stupid. He's capable of being a warrior or I wouldn't have made him one. I . . . I just don't know. I've even considered asking Hailbreeze, but no. That would be going too far, being too rude.
'I hope he's still able to find happiness in this clan, despite his issue. I hope it's nothing against this clan.'
??
( moss )
'Yet another task to complete, another thing to see to. I don't know much about her yet since there's just been too many other things to see to, but I must do it soon. First impressions, though? Not so great. How can she just march in and ask if we are planning to eat a clanmate? Where in the world did she come from? It was rude and uncalled for. Even if she does come from some twisted place, she shouldn't have interrupted. Out of the loners and kittypets I've seen enter the camp? One of the weirdest.
'I better keep an extra close eye on her. I don't want her stirring up anything and making things worse by running around asking if all our fallen clanmates are going to be eaten. We've had too many losses lately, StarClan have mercy . . .'
Blueberry
( Pyma )
'Recently got her full name, huh? Fresh, new, ready to save the world. Believing that everyone has hope, that bias should not be a thing, wanting to help and change . . . No, I'm assuming things. But am I so wrong? She stepped up quickly to offer FlameClan's help, not waiting for Stormstar to speak first. She talked about how her duty was to help every cat, regardless of their origin. I guess it is. Medicine cats are different, aren't they? Supposed to remain separate from clan issues. I wonder if she'll be able to manage that. If JaggedClan had killed her clanmate, then it turned out that one of their cats was seriously ill, would she want to help?
'I just . . . don't want to see her when she realizes it's not all possible. Because one day, she won't be able to save someone. There will come a day when she fails. When that day comes, I offer her my deepest sympathies.
It's life.'
Goldenstorm
( Pyma )
'When Birchstar finally decides to choose a deputy, of course it's a rude queen who's so full of herself and her clan. Just as bad as Birchstar herself. What kind of insult was that supposed to be? Little friends? I would have responded, but . . . I had no need to. She can play her little games.
'I want to see her fall. Her and her beloved leader.'
Fallowface
(loveymymavi)
'Don't become deputy, I told him. I meant it. In another world, if a deputy spot would be open . . . it would hurt a lot to see him fill that position. Echospring already was a bit more serious, I think? But he strikes me as light hearted, and so I wouldn't want to see him as deputy. Held down by burdens. I don't know why I think like this? I think it's just me who turned out this way. Perhaps he would be a wonderful deputy and leader, making jokes, making everyone feel at ease. I do a horrible job of that, don't I? But I wasn't feeling so well, I was panicking, and I still am, to be honest. So it slipped out. I hope he remembers it as nothing. Just a joke.
Yes. Just a joke. Keep on living, Fallowface. You're a good warrior.'
'I better keep an extra close eye on her. I don't want her stirring up anything and making things worse by running around asking if all our fallen clanmates are going to be eaten. We've had too many losses lately, StarClan have mercy . . .'
Blueberry
( Pyma )
'Recently got her full name, huh? Fresh, new, ready to save the world. Believing that everyone has hope, that bias should not be a thing, wanting to help and change . . . No, I'm assuming things. But am I so wrong? She stepped up quickly to offer FlameClan's help, not waiting for Stormstar to speak first. She talked about how her duty was to help every cat, regardless of their origin. I guess it is. Medicine cats are different, aren't they? Supposed to remain separate from clan issues. I wonder if she'll be able to manage that. If JaggedClan had killed her clanmate, then it turned out that one of their cats was seriously ill, would she want to help?
'I just . . . don't want to see her when she realizes it's not all possible. Because one day, she won't be able to save someone. There will come a day when she fails. When that day comes, I offer her my deepest sympathies.
It's life.'
Goldenstorm
( Pyma )
'When Birchstar finally decides to choose a deputy, of course it's a rude queen who's so full of herself and her clan. Just as bad as Birchstar herself. What kind of insult was that supposed to be? Little friends? I would have responded, but . . . I had no need to. She can play her little games.
'I want to see her fall. Her and her beloved leader.'
Fallowface
(loveymymavi)
'Don't become deputy, I told him. I meant it. In another world, if a deputy spot would be open . . . it would hurt a lot to see him fill that position. Echospring already was a bit more serious, I think? But he strikes me as light hearted, and so I wouldn't want to see him as deputy. Held down by burdens. I don't know why I think like this? I think it's just me who turned out this way. Perhaps he would be a wonderful deputy and leader, making jokes, making everyone feel at ease. I do a horrible job of that, don't I? But I wasn't feeling so well, I was panicking, and I still am, to be honest. So it slipped out. I hope he remembers it as nothing. Just a joke.
Yes. Just a joke. Keep on living, Fallowface. You're a good warrior.'
Ask if you want to know Briar's opinion of your cat!