starclan COUNTIN' OUT MY SINS ✮ JUST TO CROSS THEM OUT

[Ternstar.]

FROM COFFIN TO THE CRADLE
I GOT DEMONS, I GOT ANGELS​

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ternfrost ♛ 24 moons ♛ female ♛ she/her ♛ shadowclan queen ​

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It is the first time that paws have tread so far from the marshes - from shadowclan, fro home. There is a surety in her steps that Ternfrost doesn't quiet feel - head held high as they set out in a race against the setting sun, the lingering taste of traveling herbs still coating her tongue. Her face remains ever impassive, a blank slate of stoney walls, but mind races a mile a minute as heart thunders away within her chest.

Each landmark they pass only makes it feel more real - reality slowly sinking in with all the crushing weight of a blo to her stomach, nausea churning her belly.

And yet, it is a welcome sort of tension - the knowledge that at last, the stars have recognized her worth, her will. Its Ferndances words that echo in her mind as they arrive, Mirestars pawsteps long since faded under the gentle glow of the leaf-bare sun. 'If you leave too, I'll find you. I'll find you even I have to search to the end of the world,' ━ no, Ternfrost will not fall victim to whatever cursed fate has befallen those who came before.

She is no loner or colony born cat - she is a shadowclanner though and through, born in the very marshes they call home. And it is there that she will die, under the banner of another name that is not quite yet her own. Blue eyes seek to search medicine cat's gazes, whether for comfort or reassurance or simply direction is unclear, before silently turning to look at the moonstones looming presence laid out before her.

There is a moment of awe that half seems to stretch on for eternity, as silver furred figure lowers herself to the ground with a stuttering breath, before nose presses against cold stone with a shiver.

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━

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I - S H O U L D- H A V E- B E E N- B O R N- W I T H-
A -W A R N I N G- L A B E L

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// there is no posting order except for the last two lives

 

[Needledrift]

From a thousand glittering particles, she emerges, star-filled and wondering, wondering helplessly how ShadowClan could be caught in such a predicament, how she could have allowed herself to leave at the precipice of uncertainty... again. She tries not to let it show, but starry green eyes crinkle with concern as she surveys the former queen... turning royalty.

"I didn't think it would be this soon..." Needledrift murmurs softly, "But you... you are everything that ShadowClan is, and you will be everything it needs to be."

Tentatively, cautiously, does she move forward (the effortlessness of death becomes her, a gentle wisp upon a celestial breeze), her nose gracing Ternfrost's shoulder in a quiet gesture of togetherness.. of closeness never quite shared in life. "With this life, I give you unity. Find common ground with those you might at first call enemies, and share in the warmth and wisdom of all cats, from any walk of life. It is a foolish warrior that walks this world alone, and a stupid leader who thinks themselves above help or guidance."

Cold mountain air would sink deep into the christened she-cat's bones then, crisp and daunting, and tempered only by the steady warmth of friendship, invisible cats of indeterminate size and clan pressed to either side of her; a feeling wholly captured in one fleeting moment before returning back to the static, twinkling eternity that was before her now - but her journey would be no mountain. Instead, Needledrift offered a yawning expanse of expectation as the new leader's next great challenge.

She smiles as she pulls away, a small wan thing that couldn't quite reach her eyes. "Protect our family, and do well by my children. We should have been close as sisters, if I hadn't been so selfish. Please make sure they know... all of them... that they are loved. And... be kind to yourself. I will always be here if you can not do it on your own."

And then (too suddenly, too soon for her own liking) she is gone, returned back to shadow and starlight as another moves up in her place, with only the gentle imprint of her dimpled smile to tell of her presence.
​

 

[FLICKERFIRE]

ShadowClan has not known true strength since Chilledstar, is Flickerfire's uncharitable thought. She had strayed from Emberstar's side to give yet another cat who thought they had the chops a life to lead their desolate Clan, and as she takes Needledrift's place, her flame-colored eyes burn through Ternfrost's pale pelt and pin her in place. "Well! You've sure grown since the last time I saw ya. From weird little Maggotkit to Ternfrost, leader of ShadowClan." A smile breaks across her muzzle; even her approach is languid, lazy, as though nothing they're doing here matters, as though Ternfrost does not hold all of ShadowClan's destiny in her forepaw.

Flickerfire sizes the other she-cat up. She is taller than Flickerfire, and strong, despite her Clan's hardships. She has a glacial calmness to her that Mirestar and Smogstar had lacked in this crucial moment.

The tortoiseshell blinks before brushing her nose against Ternfrost's. "With this life, I give you sacrifice." Pain will replace the cool emptiness of Needledrift's life; the power Flickerfire parts with is red, red as the blood she'd spilled, her legs broken and bowed beneath her, the gleam of sunlight on the fang of the hound that had killed her. She had crawled toward her doom with her lover's name on her lips — Emberstar. Ternfrost will feel teeth in her scruff, but she will feel, after the throbbing heat dies away, a satisfaction that she had died well after all, that it had been worth it.

"You're being given nine lives for a reason, you hear me? Every one of these should be given in defense of ShadowClan." Flickerfire's smile widens. "Never forget what's important to you, and who, and you'll do alright." She pulls away, giving Ternfrost a final flick of her tail tip. "Now, keep your wits about you! ShadowClan needs a leader who will actually stay and do what they're supposed to for once!"

She tips Ternfrost a wink before slinking back toward the line of cats waiting to give their lives.
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[COMFREYPAW]

Needledrift and Flickerfire take their places, and the third cat steps forward, starlight glistening under her paws. In life, Comfreypaw and Ternfrost had not been friends — but they had been Clanmates, and in death, that bond is stronger. The subtle jabs between Applejaw, Comfreypaw, and Ternfrost have been long forgotten by the StarClan warrior.

The charcoal tabby sits neatly before her former denmate, her amber eyes glowing with wisdom found only in death. "Ternfrost. That's a nice name, huh? Too bad you didn't get to keep it for too long." She sighs; a soft breeze ruffles the midnight-dark tabby stripes on her pelt.

It had not been long since Smogstar had been drawn to the Moonstone; she remembers, she'd given him one of his sacred nine lives. And Mirestar... they had barely begun to rule before the forest had swallowed them whole. Comfreypaw meets the proposed ShadowClan leader before her with an earnest gaze.

"With this life, I give you compassion." She touches her nose to Ternfrost's. This life will leave her tense, filled to the brim with anxiety she can't shake, but there is peace in the afterglow, peace that comes from knowing you pleased others, that you made others feel seen. "A leader's duty looks different every day, but in the wake of your responsibilities, don't forget to be compassionate to the Clanmates you guide — and to those outside your Clan who might need it, too."

Comfreypaw pulls away, her ears flicking forward. "You have what it takes to lead ShadowClan out of this darkness, Ternfrost. StarClan is with you every step of the way." With that, she departs, leaving space for the next cat to fill.
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[Gladefrost]

Gladefrost had never given a life before, and today was her first. Hopefully, it would be the last time for a while. Shadowclan blood did not flow her veins as the others before her, but they were all equal in blood regardless of where they lived. A vibrant chambray gaze watches as the Shadowclanners bless Ternfrost, giving advice and their lives to follow by. Protection. It was the strongest thing she had followed in her life, and she gave her life having her kits, protecting them until her body had grown cold as the leafbare before them. Unity, sacrifice, and compassion were all granted, and as Comfreypaw parts, she steps forward with a gentle smile.

"Hello, Ternfrost. I may not be Shadowclan, but we are equal under the code and bleed the same." Gladefrost murmurs as her introduction, as she can only imagine that the tabby is confused on who she is. "With this life, I give you protection." The image of her kittens flashed through her mind, followed by Robinheart and her siblings. She'd give every ounce of her blood to protect those she loved and her clan. "You will no longer be a mother of just your own kits, but the mother of Shadowclan." The chocolate tabby steps forth as she touches her nose to the other she-cat's.

"You will have many cats under you that you need to protect and tend to. You'll need to put your own personal interests aside to protect your clanmates and bring Shadowclan forward. It will be a difficult journey, but we all believe in you. A mother to a mother," Gladefrost allows a gentle dip of her head as she departs to allow the rest to grant their blessings.
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[STUMPYSPOTS]

A small section of the starry crowd shifts to make way for the round she-cat. Stars twinkle against her rolled skin and dot her compact face. Her brown and blue eyes settle onto Ternfrost, a troubled expression softening her face. The she-cat looked as if she could cry.

"Oh, Ternfrost… When will this misfortune cease?" She meows with a frown and a solemn shake of her head. In the last five moons, Stumpyspots has given lives to two ShadowClan leaders. Ternfrost will make this her third. She is exhausted by the amount of power she's had to sacrifice to gift these lives, but she'd give up all of her spirit if it meant ShadowClan could at last find peace and prosperity. Ternfrost had to be the one, she had to be the cat who'd raise ShadowClan up again. StarClan was counting on her.

Stumpyspots rises onto her tip-toes to reach the ShadowClan queen's nose. "With this life I give you perseverance." Stumpyspots whispers. "Use it to lead your Clan now in its darkest of times. Use it to teach your clanmates to not give up no matter how difficult it gets. ShadowClan will prevail." As Stumpyspots' life flows through her, Ternfrost will feel as if the earth is crumbling beneath her feet, that any step she makes might just lead to her demise… Yet slowly this feeling eases away, she feels strength, the sweet taste of victory, that is the gift of perseverance.

At last, the calico draws her nose away. "Bless you, Ternfrost. StarClan and ShadowClan counts on you." With that, she steps away to disappear back into the crowd.

*.☽ INFO BATTLE

• 
  » Half Maw . Stumpyspots
  » ShadowClan Warrior
  » She/her ․ Twice Widowed
  » Calico she-cat with rounded features.
  » "speech"․ thoughts ․ attack
• 
  » A heavy hitting foe capable of standing her ground
  » Excels in slow, but powerful blows and kicks.
  » Fights to defend and protect
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

 

[CHILLEDSTAR.]

how many times are they gonna have to do this? how many times do they have to keep getting leaders who just... disappear? had the curse finally come back into play? how was anyone supposed to do anything, get used to or even take the role of leadership seriously with such incredible bad luck? maybe this was their curse for taking and losing. maybe. chilledstar doesn't know. they guess they're lucky enough to have led as long as they did. they can't say they're upset they're no longer in charge– because now it was someone else's time. ternfrost. formerly named out of hatred by her mother. when she became a warrior, maggotfur, chilledstar made it extremely clear that she would be a good warrior. she's pulled her weight enough to make starclan notice. the motivation? chilledstar doesn't know but they dont dispute either. she will be a good leader. they just hope she stays.

"you're all grown up. you know, i can almost see you as that young kitten... you have grown to be a good warrior and it's can only hope you'll be an even better leader."

there is only a small pause before chilledstar dips their head.

"with that, then i give you the life of patience. leading a clan takes a great deal of it. you will be met with cats who don't understand or even like your decisions. cats who are reckless and will endanger themselves and the clan to prove a point. you have to be patient. they will test it, trust me. but if you are patient, you will be okay."

a quick press of their nose to her head before stepping back and disappearing into the crowd. good luck.

———————---***i try to live in black and white***———————---​

but i'm so blue✧ i'd like to mean it when i say i'm over you

•  
• — black feline with a white marking across their face, a white chin, a white right front paw, and a blue single eye. chilledstar is covered in scars, the most prominent ones being the one across their face, one across their missing eye and the one across their neck.
  — 48 moons old; no longer ages
  — they / them pronouns
  — aromantic / homosexual ; not looking
  — child of JAGGED and RAVEN
  — starclan / formerly shadowclan ; loyal to shadowclan ; other info if applicable
  — mildly difficult to befriend ; trusts barely anyone; trusts no one outside of shadowclan
  — "speech", thoughts, attacking
  — peaceful powerplay allowed

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