Post by alee on Oct 5, 2016 4:47:41 GMT
ivyfrost
clan and rank
shadowclan warrior
age
47 moons
gender / pronouns
female
sexual / romantic orientation
asexual
image credits
short appearance description
white she-cat with blue eyes.
personality
Actions speak louder than words. It's a proverb as old as time itself, though the truth those solitary five words contain resonates across hundreds upon thousands of decades. Indeed, it's the foundation for how Ivyfrost lives her life; a she-cat of very few words, and even fewer sentences, this is a ShadowClan warrior that lives up to the cold and stoic stereotype perpetrated among this Clan of darkness. She practically reeks of ice queen, a title she's rather proud to have earned in truth, and many have whispered of how a heart of stone beats within that pearly white chest of hers.
They are mistaken.
Yes, Ivyfrost has very little use for words. They're a waste of energy in her honest opinion, and she'd much rather dedicate her time towards being of use to the Clan she calls her own. But that certainly does not make her cruel, by any means, even if her brash demeanor and bull headed obstinacy have her certainly coming across as such. Ivyfrost would much rather have her focus pinned ahead on the task at paw; she carries with her a firm and strong presence, each pawstep made with purpose, and every word that does choose to exit her lips is said with good reason. To a stranger she can certainly be intimidating, sparing no care for mindless small talk or idle, friendly gossip. No, Ivyfrost can't see the point in such mundane routines. Her life is a surge of doing what she deems important, and she revels in performing such a dutiful service.
You can rely on Ivyfrost - she's as honest as they come, and would cross an ocean if it meant keeping a promise. She's the loyal, dependable sort, a strong and silent figure knitted from grace and quiet certainty. Strikingly decisive, she possesses a sharp and calculating brain, and is constantly on a level of high alert. Those outside of ShadowClan cannot be trusted, nor does she care for their well-being, or trials and errors; no, Ivyfrost's dedication only extends to her birthplace, her care and sympathy only to her clanmates.
This extends to her ruthlessness; the enemy deserves no mercy, the other Clans need no kindness, and selfishly she feels only for those of immediate concern to her way of life. She loves ShadowClan, but she loves her family more; those she holds dear take the top pedestal in her heart, and if one were to harm a hair on their heads, then she'd stop at nothing to see vengeance served. Yes, she holds grudges, this one does, and once you find yourself on her bad side, good luck on ever earning her forgiveness. She's certainly not one to utter apologies of her own, either; no, she's much too proud for that, and has trouble acknowledging or admitting her wrongdoings.
There's something she doesn't show much to the acquaintances in her life, but certainly her loved ones will see this side of her a lot. That would be her motherly nature, and unyielding patience; she has a strange way of showing her gentleness, quiet and soft in display, but ultimately full of assured love, even if she does not say the words. Actions do speak louder, as was mentioned before. Her loved ones are her world; indeed, she's incredibly family orientated, and desires for one of her own someday.
Fiercely independent, Ivyfrost is a proud individual, tactical and favoring a keen brain as opposed to muscles and brawn. In this sense, she can certainly be sly, and even manipulative at times, if it means protecting her family, or getting what they want. Controlled and intelligent, to Ivyfrost life is a puzzle of intertwining paths and jagged edges, a chess game just begging to be played. She's logical as opposed to emotional; cynical as opposed to optimistic; a realist as opposed to an idealist. Very much grounded in reality, Ivyfrost has no time for petty tales of faith and religion - StarClan has failed her countless times, and as such she holds no belief in the starry ancestors said to prowl the skies above. She doesn't need religion to feel purpose or comfort in her life. Ivyfrost has herself for that, and honestly, it's all she needs.
A bit of an old fashioned fae, she's certainly one for the rigorous promise of routine and structure. Those younger than herself whom disrespect their elders or authority figures, or blatantly disobey even the most minute of orders, will earn a sharp cuff around their necks and a harsh dish of punishment. She can be quite controlling, in this sense, and her quiet conviction in her ideas and beliefs has her painted as a warrior that cannot be swayed. This is definitely true; argumentative, her opinion is the right opinion, and none can disagree. This can tie in with her aforementioned ease of gaining and holding down petty grudges; should you take a firm stance against Ivyfrost's views, and she won't be rushing to aid you in battle anytime soon.
Overall, this is a strong-willed she-cat with a rough and calculating edge. Those she adores will find themselves taken under her wing, protected and loved in the quietest and gentlest of ways - but pluck even a hair follicle from their pelts, and bare witness to the bitter wrath that writhes like maggots within her heart. There's one thing we can be certain of however, and that's her cemented loyalty and passion for ShadowClan; yes, none can deny that she is a cat born for the life of a warrior.
They are mistaken.
Yes, Ivyfrost has very little use for words. They're a waste of energy in her honest opinion, and she'd much rather dedicate her time towards being of use to the Clan she calls her own. But that certainly does not make her cruel, by any means, even if her brash demeanor and bull headed obstinacy have her certainly coming across as such. Ivyfrost would much rather have her focus pinned ahead on the task at paw; she carries with her a firm and strong presence, each pawstep made with purpose, and every word that does choose to exit her lips is said with good reason. To a stranger she can certainly be intimidating, sparing no care for mindless small talk or idle, friendly gossip. No, Ivyfrost can't see the point in such mundane routines. Her life is a surge of doing what she deems important, and she revels in performing such a dutiful service.
You can rely on Ivyfrost - she's as honest as they come, and would cross an ocean if it meant keeping a promise. She's the loyal, dependable sort, a strong and silent figure knitted from grace and quiet certainty. Strikingly decisive, she possesses a sharp and calculating brain, and is constantly on a level of high alert. Those outside of ShadowClan cannot be trusted, nor does she care for their well-being, or trials and errors; no, Ivyfrost's dedication only extends to her birthplace, her care and sympathy only to her clanmates.
This extends to her ruthlessness; the enemy deserves no mercy, the other Clans need no kindness, and selfishly she feels only for those of immediate concern to her way of life. She loves ShadowClan, but she loves her family more; those she holds dear take the top pedestal in her heart, and if one were to harm a hair on their heads, then she'd stop at nothing to see vengeance served. Yes, she holds grudges, this one does, and once you find yourself on her bad side, good luck on ever earning her forgiveness. She's certainly not one to utter apologies of her own, either; no, she's much too proud for that, and has trouble acknowledging or admitting her wrongdoings.
There's something she doesn't show much to the acquaintances in her life, but certainly her loved ones will see this side of her a lot. That would be her motherly nature, and unyielding patience; she has a strange way of showing her gentleness, quiet and soft in display, but ultimately full of assured love, even if she does not say the words. Actions do speak louder, as was mentioned before. Her loved ones are her world; indeed, she's incredibly family orientated, and desires for one of her own someday.
Fiercely independent, Ivyfrost is a proud individual, tactical and favoring a keen brain as opposed to muscles and brawn. In this sense, she can certainly be sly, and even manipulative at times, if it means protecting her family, or getting what they want. Controlled and intelligent, to Ivyfrost life is a puzzle of intertwining paths and jagged edges, a chess game just begging to be played. She's logical as opposed to emotional; cynical as opposed to optimistic; a realist as opposed to an idealist. Very much grounded in reality, Ivyfrost has no time for petty tales of faith and religion - StarClan has failed her countless times, and as such she holds no belief in the starry ancestors said to prowl the skies above. She doesn't need religion to feel purpose or comfort in her life. Ivyfrost has herself for that, and honestly, it's all she needs.
A bit of an old fashioned fae, she's certainly one for the rigorous promise of routine and structure. Those younger than herself whom disrespect their elders or authority figures, or blatantly disobey even the most minute of orders, will earn a sharp cuff around their necks and a harsh dish of punishment. She can be quite controlling, in this sense, and her quiet conviction in her ideas and beliefs has her painted as a warrior that cannot be swayed. This is definitely true; argumentative, her opinion is the right opinion, and none can disagree. This can tie in with her aforementioned ease of gaining and holding down petty grudges; should you take a firm stance against Ivyfrost's views, and she won't be rushing to aid you in battle anytime soon.
Overall, this is a strong-willed she-cat with a rough and calculating edge. Those she adores will find themselves taken under her wing, protected and loved in the quietest and gentlest of ways - but pluck even a hair follicle from their pelts, and bare witness to the bitter wrath that writhes like maggots within her heart. There's one thing we can be certain of however, and that's her cemented loyalty and passion for ShadowClan; yes, none can deny that she is a cat born for the life of a warrior.
history
Let me tell you a love story. Thistletail and Pinepelt grow up together, best of friends, though as time grows on their relationship deepens to new levels. By the time they've earned their warrior names, they're known as the ShadowClan sweethearts, practically on their honeymoon at this point. It's a time filled with innocent love and playful giggles, of happy frolicking amidst the marshes, and whatever other cheesy rom-com cliche you'd like to imagine. As with all love stories, of course, so comes a time that these young lovers desire nothing more than children to call their own.
There's only one problem. You see, Thistletail and Pinepelt are both she-cats.
In walks Tigershade. Seeing their plight, he kindly offers his aid to both, knowing very well the trials and errors it had taken for him and his own mate, Sunblaze, until they'd finally been blessed with a single son. Fast forward a few moons later, and the two young lovers finally have their family complete. Three kittens were born, though only two survived: Ivykit and Snowkit, both young females of healthy weight and form. The other, a small, stillborn tom, is named Quietkit, and buried under the frost laden leaves by the fringes of Camp.
Though Thistletail and Pinepelt grieve for poor Quietkit, their attention is rightfully returned to their remaining young. Pinepelt, being the she-cat to give birth, tucked her new kin close and whispered sweet nothings into their ears, promised them that they will forever be loved and adored. Thistletail watched on, adoration and wonder clear in her shimmering blue eyes. It's such a beautiful scene, as any new birth is. So peaceful, so content, so intimate; of course, if only they knew what awaited them mere moons later.
Snowkit was the first to open her eyes. She was high energy from the word go; a bumbling, excitable, albeit sweet child, with an incredibly short attention span and limited focus. Thistletail and Pinepelt certainly had their paws full! So much so that their other daughter, Ivykit, went relatively unnoticed, though truthfully that was just how she liked it. Ivykit may have been younger than Snowkit by a few minutes, but she graciously adopted the role of stern, older sister. Alongside her mothers, she attempted to keep quiet order and control within the Nursery. Dubbed a little thinker, Ivykit saw no point in games of pretend or idle talk; rather, she was much more interested in activities that engaged her critical thinking, and spent a large chunk of her childhood hanging about the senior warriors or starting passionately charged debates with the elders.
Whilst Ivykit was very much content with thriving in the background, mostly looked over or ignored by those outside of immediate family, Snowkit was unfortunately attracting the wrong kind of attention. She was such a precious darling, determined to do her best and get along with everyone, but she struggled socially and maintained heavy concentration issues, earning her the cruel ire and mockery of her Nursery peers. It was in times like these that Snowkit found her comfort in the quiet warmth of family; Ivykit would curl next to her sister, and Pinepelt and Thistletail would coo that, one day, she'd show them all by being the best warrior ever. They were a close, tight knit unit, depending and thriving off each other; a family that valued themselves more than they even valued ShadowClan.
Soon came the time for Snowkit and Ivykit to be given mentors. Ivykit was placed with a stern older she-cat named Dustfeather, whilst Snowkit was pawned off on the aptly named Scorchgaze. This marked the beginning of the end, for Ivypaw's happy and quaint tiny family.
Ivypaw flourished well under Dustfeather. She wasn't brilliant, but she met her milestones and passed each and every exam with an above average grade. It was clear her strengths lay in her calculating mind, as opposed to her tooth and claw, so Dustfeather settled for emphasizing their training on strategics. Whereas Ivypaw was lucky enough to have a mentor whom catered to her strengths and weaknesses, Snowpaw on the other paw was faring much worse off.
Scorchgaze was a loyal and kind tomcat, with an impatient and stern disposition. Unfortunately intense pressure and second hand embarrassment was the last thing Snowpaw needed, but whenever she failed at a task, he dished it out like a platter of fleas. It became common to see Scorchgaze frustratingly lecturing his poor apprentice, or Snowpaw fussing and being bossed about by the elders as she hurriedly searched for mousebile. It seemed even the most simple of apprentice duties were cause for some slip up. And Snowpaw, being so highly strung and anxious, slowly lost her confidence, in ShadowClan and herself.
There was one constant she could believe in however. Pinepelt and Thistletail remained close with their daughters - not to mention that Ivypaw was always a shoulder to lean on, always a defender of her sibling against the bullies. "What's wrong with me?" Snowpaw would whisper into Ivypaw's ear, in the depths of their den at night; "nothing," Ivypaw replied firmly, "you're just different."
So it was that Ivypaw took it upon herself to help train her sister. They took things at a slow place; in the evenings, when the last drop of sunlight faded from the sky, they would venture out into the thick of the marshes, and practice with sticks or moss. It was a calm and relaxed environment, and with only her sister by her side, Snowpaw finally found herself making slow improvement. She found her own ways of hunting or fighting, unorthodox ways perhaps, but they worked for her, and that was all that mattered.
Life seemed to be looking up, especially when Pinepelt and Thistletail joined these evening sessions. They were a strong, tightly knit family, though all the obstacles and errors; it was all they needed, all they wanted, and it was an unspoken certainty that they would always be there for each other, even during the toughest of times.
Ivypaw was eleven moons old when the sickness struck.
It must've been brought by her from the carrionplace she realized, upon reflection; the time was leaf-bare, and sometimes it was easier to hunt the rats that thrived there when the frost was too thick for clean, wild food. Ivypaw and her mentor Dustfeather had found themselves venturing there more and more as prey dwindled in number. So it was that, on one evening in particular, she returned jaws laden with rat, and as was per routine, delivered the food to her mothers first.
The next morning she was awoken by a panicked Snowpaw.
"Ivypaw! Ivypaw, wake up! Mum...ma...they're both really sick!"
The medicine cat's den was a bustle in the early hours of twilight; cats groaning, paws scratching at their gurgling bellies, and amid the chaos did Ivypaw see Thistletail and Pinepelt. Both were as quiet as death, cold and stiff, but cuddled together as if they'd merely been caught in the peaceful lull of sleep. The medicine cat turned to them with grief stricken eyes. "I'm sorry."
Dustfeather said it was her fault. The rats had acted funny that day, and a few lucky cats had pushed the meal away, complaining it had smelled sour. For those who ate the sick rats, however, death was the inevitable. Five perished that day, Pinepelt and Thistletail among them.
Ivypaw didn't cry.
She prided herself in never shedding a tear.
But in the quiet, with a grossly sobbing Snowpaw, Ivypaw found her strength dissolve in the blink of an eye; she joined in, loud and uncaring for those who watched on.
The grief would never fade away. She'd always miss her beautiful two mothers, so kind and loving and dependable. Silently Ivypaw vowed to them that she'd look after her precious sister; she'd take over as the shoulder to cry on, as the mother and the sibling and the best friend.
Snowpaw didn't recover nearly as well however. Two moons later, Ivypaw became Ivyfrost, though sadly without her sister by her side. Ivyfrost remained convinced that Snowpaw just needed to be given a chance; they were doing so well before their mother's deaths, and after, her poor sister had just given up on training whatsoever. It wasn't that she was being lazy, or useless, as Scorchgaze proclaimed, much to Ivyfrost's anger; she was grieving. Why couldn't her stupid mentor see that?
Ivyfrost tried to fight the power on Snowpaw's delayed warrior ceremony. It was considered but, ultimately, she'd performed incredibly below average on her assessment, and it was decided that more training would be most beneficial. Ivyfrost attempted to train alongside her sister, but Snowpaw had developed an apathetic attitude towards any form of warrior training whatsoever. She began to slip out of scheduled appointments, skipped sessions she'd arranged with her sister, in favor of wandering off who knows where.
It all came to a head when Ivyfrost was sixteen moons old. Awakening within the depths of midnight, a rustle in the bushes snagged at her ears; emerging from the warrior's den, she glimpsed a white tail disappearing through the back of the dirtplace.
"Where are you going?"
Snowpaw spun around, fur standing on end, only to relax upon seeing her sister's familiar form.
"...I can't do this anymore."
Ivyfrost frowned. "Do what?" She knew very well what Snowpaw was talking about; knew so very clearly what her sister was hinting at. It had been obvious to her for moons - but now it loomed inevitably ahead, imposing and unavoidable.
"I'm leaving. And I'm not coming back." The words hung suspended midair, cold and spine chilling. Although Ivyfrost knew it was coming, she could only stand and stare in shock.
"This...this isn't my home," she went on, tears threatening to spill from her beautiful blue gaze. "I try and I try and I just...I can't. I really, really can't, Ivyfrost. I'm the oldest apprentice in the den. Everyone laughs at me. What happens when I'm twenty moons, huh? They pity promote me just so I don't take up another nest? Send me to the elder's den so I won't get in the way?"
"They would never do such a thing -"
"But they want to." A sob choked at her voice; inside, Ivyfrost's heart shattered to a million little pieces. "I know they want to. And that's enough for me."
"Snowpaw-"
"I've met a friend." A long, heavy pause. "He...he's offered me a home. Somewhere I don't have to hunt, or fight, or...prove myself, for anything."
"Please." She barely noticed the brush of a tear grazing down her flank. "Please, don't leave me alone."
"I'm sorry. I have to."
Ivyfrost could only watch, as Snowpaw disappeared into the night, and subsequently from her life. When she returned to camp, she appeared the picture of calm composure as she relayed a false story of how Snowpaw died in battle with a wandering fox, If she wanted her sister to be remembered for anything, then it was as an underestimated, brave she-cat, with a whole lot of spirit hiding beneath her fluffy pelt. Because that really was her. It was just that no one took the time to learn.
Ivyfrost was normally as honest as they could come. But on this one instance, the lies poured from her lips as swift as a river. A tale of how Ivyfrost had gone out for a late night walk with her sister, when a fox scent had hinted at her nostrils; moments later, and a flurry of orange fur snagged in her vision. Snowpaw met the beast with talons tearing, and was carried away into the night, never to be seen again.
They accepted it so easily. Maybe it was a relief to have Snowpaw gone, or maybe that was just clan life; death happened, you moved on, that was it. Either way, no questions were asked. Snowpaw had simply just died.
Naught a day went by when Ivyfrost didn't think of her sister, hopefully living a happier life beyond the worn borders of the forest. Sometimes she'd find her paws leading her in the direction Snowpaw had taken off in, hoping for even the smallest glimpse of her familiar lithe shape; there was never such luck however.
Ivyfrost was alone in the world.
Moons passed. As time drawled on she developed as the picture of calm, icy decisiveness; a dedicated and loyal ShadowClan warrior, an imposing figure, strong and intimidating. She became independent, learned how to survive without a family at her side, though truthfully she longed for those warm and simple comforts again more than anything in the world. Today, Ivyfrost has very few friends, and even fewer loved ones. Though grief still throbs raw in her heart for the losses she's sustained, this warrior treks on with head held high, and gaze pointed firmly ahead, never behind.
There's only one problem. You see, Thistletail and Pinepelt are both she-cats.
In walks Tigershade. Seeing their plight, he kindly offers his aid to both, knowing very well the trials and errors it had taken for him and his own mate, Sunblaze, until they'd finally been blessed with a single son. Fast forward a few moons later, and the two young lovers finally have their family complete. Three kittens were born, though only two survived: Ivykit and Snowkit, both young females of healthy weight and form. The other, a small, stillborn tom, is named Quietkit, and buried under the frost laden leaves by the fringes of Camp.
Though Thistletail and Pinepelt grieve for poor Quietkit, their attention is rightfully returned to their remaining young. Pinepelt, being the she-cat to give birth, tucked her new kin close and whispered sweet nothings into their ears, promised them that they will forever be loved and adored. Thistletail watched on, adoration and wonder clear in her shimmering blue eyes. It's such a beautiful scene, as any new birth is. So peaceful, so content, so intimate; of course, if only they knew what awaited them mere moons later.
Snowkit was the first to open her eyes. She was high energy from the word go; a bumbling, excitable, albeit sweet child, with an incredibly short attention span and limited focus. Thistletail and Pinepelt certainly had their paws full! So much so that their other daughter, Ivykit, went relatively unnoticed, though truthfully that was just how she liked it. Ivykit may have been younger than Snowkit by a few minutes, but she graciously adopted the role of stern, older sister. Alongside her mothers, she attempted to keep quiet order and control within the Nursery. Dubbed a little thinker, Ivykit saw no point in games of pretend or idle talk; rather, she was much more interested in activities that engaged her critical thinking, and spent a large chunk of her childhood hanging about the senior warriors or starting passionately charged debates with the elders.
Whilst Ivykit was very much content with thriving in the background, mostly looked over or ignored by those outside of immediate family, Snowkit was unfortunately attracting the wrong kind of attention. She was such a precious darling, determined to do her best and get along with everyone, but she struggled socially and maintained heavy concentration issues, earning her the cruel ire and mockery of her Nursery peers. It was in times like these that Snowkit found her comfort in the quiet warmth of family; Ivykit would curl next to her sister, and Pinepelt and Thistletail would coo that, one day, she'd show them all by being the best warrior ever. They were a close, tight knit unit, depending and thriving off each other; a family that valued themselves more than they even valued ShadowClan.
Soon came the time for Snowkit and Ivykit to be given mentors. Ivykit was placed with a stern older she-cat named Dustfeather, whilst Snowkit was pawned off on the aptly named Scorchgaze. This marked the beginning of the end, for Ivypaw's happy and quaint tiny family.
Ivypaw flourished well under Dustfeather. She wasn't brilliant, but she met her milestones and passed each and every exam with an above average grade. It was clear her strengths lay in her calculating mind, as opposed to her tooth and claw, so Dustfeather settled for emphasizing their training on strategics. Whereas Ivypaw was lucky enough to have a mentor whom catered to her strengths and weaknesses, Snowpaw on the other paw was faring much worse off.
Scorchgaze was a loyal and kind tomcat, with an impatient and stern disposition. Unfortunately intense pressure and second hand embarrassment was the last thing Snowpaw needed, but whenever she failed at a task, he dished it out like a platter of fleas. It became common to see Scorchgaze frustratingly lecturing his poor apprentice, or Snowpaw fussing and being bossed about by the elders as she hurriedly searched for mousebile. It seemed even the most simple of apprentice duties were cause for some slip up. And Snowpaw, being so highly strung and anxious, slowly lost her confidence, in ShadowClan and herself.
There was one constant she could believe in however. Pinepelt and Thistletail remained close with their daughters - not to mention that Ivypaw was always a shoulder to lean on, always a defender of her sibling against the bullies. "What's wrong with me?" Snowpaw would whisper into Ivypaw's ear, in the depths of their den at night; "nothing," Ivypaw replied firmly, "you're just different."
So it was that Ivypaw took it upon herself to help train her sister. They took things at a slow place; in the evenings, when the last drop of sunlight faded from the sky, they would venture out into the thick of the marshes, and practice with sticks or moss. It was a calm and relaxed environment, and with only her sister by her side, Snowpaw finally found herself making slow improvement. She found her own ways of hunting or fighting, unorthodox ways perhaps, but they worked for her, and that was all that mattered.
Life seemed to be looking up, especially when Pinepelt and Thistletail joined these evening sessions. They were a strong, tightly knit family, though all the obstacles and errors; it was all they needed, all they wanted, and it was an unspoken certainty that they would always be there for each other, even during the toughest of times.
Ivypaw was eleven moons old when the sickness struck.
It must've been brought by her from the carrionplace she realized, upon reflection; the time was leaf-bare, and sometimes it was easier to hunt the rats that thrived there when the frost was too thick for clean, wild food. Ivypaw and her mentor Dustfeather had found themselves venturing there more and more as prey dwindled in number. So it was that, on one evening in particular, she returned jaws laden with rat, and as was per routine, delivered the food to her mothers first.
The next morning she was awoken by a panicked Snowpaw.
"Ivypaw! Ivypaw, wake up! Mum...ma...they're both really sick!"
The medicine cat's den was a bustle in the early hours of twilight; cats groaning, paws scratching at their gurgling bellies, and amid the chaos did Ivypaw see Thistletail and Pinepelt. Both were as quiet as death, cold and stiff, but cuddled together as if they'd merely been caught in the peaceful lull of sleep. The medicine cat turned to them with grief stricken eyes. "I'm sorry."
Dustfeather said it was her fault. The rats had acted funny that day, and a few lucky cats had pushed the meal away, complaining it had smelled sour. For those who ate the sick rats, however, death was the inevitable. Five perished that day, Pinepelt and Thistletail among them.
Ivypaw didn't cry.
She prided herself in never shedding a tear.
But in the quiet, with a grossly sobbing Snowpaw, Ivypaw found her strength dissolve in the blink of an eye; she joined in, loud and uncaring for those who watched on.
The grief would never fade away. She'd always miss her beautiful two mothers, so kind and loving and dependable. Silently Ivypaw vowed to them that she'd look after her precious sister; she'd take over as the shoulder to cry on, as the mother and the sibling and the best friend.
Snowpaw didn't recover nearly as well however. Two moons later, Ivypaw became Ivyfrost, though sadly without her sister by her side. Ivyfrost remained convinced that Snowpaw just needed to be given a chance; they were doing so well before their mother's deaths, and after, her poor sister had just given up on training whatsoever. It wasn't that she was being lazy, or useless, as Scorchgaze proclaimed, much to Ivyfrost's anger; she was grieving. Why couldn't her stupid mentor see that?
Ivyfrost tried to fight the power on Snowpaw's delayed warrior ceremony. It was considered but, ultimately, she'd performed incredibly below average on her assessment, and it was decided that more training would be most beneficial. Ivyfrost attempted to train alongside her sister, but Snowpaw had developed an apathetic attitude towards any form of warrior training whatsoever. She began to slip out of scheduled appointments, skipped sessions she'd arranged with her sister, in favor of wandering off who knows where.
It all came to a head when Ivyfrost was sixteen moons old. Awakening within the depths of midnight, a rustle in the bushes snagged at her ears; emerging from the warrior's den, she glimpsed a white tail disappearing through the back of the dirtplace.
"Where are you going?"
Snowpaw spun around, fur standing on end, only to relax upon seeing her sister's familiar form.
"...I can't do this anymore."
Ivyfrost frowned. "Do what?" She knew very well what Snowpaw was talking about; knew so very clearly what her sister was hinting at. It had been obvious to her for moons - but now it loomed inevitably ahead, imposing and unavoidable.
"I'm leaving. And I'm not coming back." The words hung suspended midair, cold and spine chilling. Although Ivyfrost knew it was coming, she could only stand and stare in shock.
"This...this isn't my home," she went on, tears threatening to spill from her beautiful blue gaze. "I try and I try and I just...I can't. I really, really can't, Ivyfrost. I'm the oldest apprentice in the den. Everyone laughs at me. What happens when I'm twenty moons, huh? They pity promote me just so I don't take up another nest? Send me to the elder's den so I won't get in the way?"
"They would never do such a thing -"
"But they want to." A sob choked at her voice; inside, Ivyfrost's heart shattered to a million little pieces. "I know they want to. And that's enough for me."
"Snowpaw-"
"I've met a friend." A long, heavy pause. "He...he's offered me a home. Somewhere I don't have to hunt, or fight, or...prove myself, for anything."
"Please." She barely noticed the brush of a tear grazing down her flank. "Please, don't leave me alone."
"I'm sorry. I have to."
Ivyfrost could only watch, as Snowpaw disappeared into the night, and subsequently from her life. When she returned to camp, she appeared the picture of calm composure as she relayed a false story of how Snowpaw died in battle with a wandering fox, If she wanted her sister to be remembered for anything, then it was as an underestimated, brave she-cat, with a whole lot of spirit hiding beneath her fluffy pelt. Because that really was her. It was just that no one took the time to learn.
Ivyfrost was normally as honest as they could come. But on this one instance, the lies poured from her lips as swift as a river. A tale of how Ivyfrost had gone out for a late night walk with her sister, when a fox scent had hinted at her nostrils; moments later, and a flurry of orange fur snagged in her vision. Snowpaw met the beast with talons tearing, and was carried away into the night, never to be seen again.
They accepted it so easily. Maybe it was a relief to have Snowpaw gone, or maybe that was just clan life; death happened, you moved on, that was it. Either way, no questions were asked. Snowpaw had simply just died.
Naught a day went by when Ivyfrost didn't think of her sister, hopefully living a happier life beyond the worn borders of the forest. Sometimes she'd find her paws leading her in the direction Snowpaw had taken off in, hoping for even the smallest glimpse of her familiar lithe shape; there was never such luck however.
Ivyfrost was alone in the world.
Moons passed. As time drawled on she developed as the picture of calm, icy decisiveness; a dedicated and loyal ShadowClan warrior, an imposing figure, strong and intimidating. She became independent, learned how to survive without a family at her side, though truthfully she longed for those warm and simple comforts again more than anything in the world. Today, Ivyfrost has very few friends, and even fewer loved ones. Though grief still throbs raw in her heart for the losses she's sustained, this warrior treks on with head held high, and gaze pointed firmly ahead, never behind.
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