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— UNDER LEADERSHIP OF HARE WHISKERS / BRIAR
— SPANS FROM JUNE, 2021 TO JULY, 2022
— KEY EVENTS
Born during a tumultuous time for the Marsh Colony, the concept of what is fair and what's not was bestowed upon Bengt early on. He only knew the other, freshly settled in group of cats as intruders, their greedy paws encroaching on the territories that have been first Hare Whiskers' and now Briar's. Many of young Bengt's play-fighting with other kits consisted of play-pretend, one stealing prey from another, forced to defend what each thought to be rightfully theirs. It was only natural; he listened intently to what the adults had to say around him, even if they tried to keep it at bay and lower their voices.
They all thought it to be too important for little kits like Bengt to hear, but he heard it all anyway.
Bengt had felt like he had much to live up to - with himself being the only kitten his parents ever managed to get, his father was particularly picky. He had already imagined his son to be a variety of different things, none of which seemed too close to what Bengt was at the time. It only made sense that Bengt was already trying to copy the grown-ups' battle moves, dreaming of the day he could join in and fight for what belonged to him.
Bengt would soon rue the day his paws actually entered a battlefield for the first time. Barely over his first year in life and he was at the front lines when Briar called for a war; enthusiastic, loyal, and striving to prove himself. No amount of wisdom from elders could prepare him for the feeling of someone else's blood settling between your claws and the fur of your paws, nor the sudden pain that came from unrelenting enemies.
There was little time to recover from the shock - cats who fell in battle rose again, though their flanks did not heave with stolen breaths. He witnessed the birth of StarClan, their own friends and enemies coming back to put an end to this bloodshed. They spoke of their fate and what must be done... and when Rain and Briar led their respective cats to the place later known as Fourtrees, the Clans were born.
Bengt's mother, bless her heart, begged for him to come with his parents and follow after Briar, just like before, but Bengt had little patience left for her. He loved her like she loved him- but evidently, that motherly love had not been enough for her to step in when his father insulted him time after time... so, in an effort to find his own place, Bengt decided to follow after Soot into the moors.
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— UNDER LEADERSHIP OF SOOT / SOOTSTAR
— SPANS FROM JULY, 2022 TO DECEMBER, 2023
— KEY EVENTS
Adjusting to a wholly different lifestyle, and especially away from paternal judgmental eyes, was not as easy as Bengt, now named Dimmingsun, might have hoped. With Soot being blessed by StarClan's nine lives and a name change, her word is law; and Dimmingsun takes it seriously. He often sparred with his Clanmates to let out some steam, claws unsheathed as per Sootstar's encouragements.
He followed her example in believing StarClan favors them, and to remain unfriendly towards the other Clans now that they're all separate.
The Clan settled into the moors; they found and claimed new landmarks, Sootstar named the newest deputy and medicine cat, tunnels discovered, cats grew into warriors. It was only the arrival of hawks that put an end to a seemingly peaceful time with the intitial burst of plump rabbits that kept hungry bellies fed, attacking full-grown adults and causing a panic.
Once the danger was over with WindClan safe again, Sootstar worked on an alliance with Pitchstar in preparation for leaf-bare. The two groups shared a feast in an attempt to be friendly with one another.
Sootstar's offer to let rogues into the Clan threw Dimmingsun for a loop. She hadn't been welcoming towards outsiders in a hot minute, but now she saw potential in a bunch of ragtags? Dimmingsun remained hopeful yet hesitant; perhaps new numbers and fresh faces will help the Clan thrive.
With the arrival of leaf-bare, Dimmingsun managed to get sick with what Dandelionwish later called whitecough, much to his own dismay. It didn't take long for him to recover at least, keeping himself active enough not to let it get worse and turn into greencough.
Dimmingsun found his footing as a few moons passed with relative calm; it was only the rival Clans that caused them trouble, and he rose to Sootstar's call for battle with triumph.
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Leaf-bare with all its cruelty (some due to the season, but mostly cat-made) finally lets WindClan go; the moors are in full bloom, and they can finally take a breather. It's time to sit back and relax for once. Dimmingsun takes the time to look after his Clanmates, now with a newfound glint of appreciation in his eyes... they all stuck together even in the face of Sootstar's road to madness. They are all he has and he does not plan on letting them down.
Even despite Dimmingsun's distaste for Gathering, he decides to indulge in the Clan's newest shenanigans and pretties himself up for the next full moon. It is essential for all of them to appear strong and united, now more than ever.
WindClan's peace does not last for as long as it should; Howlingstar's request to chase their wolves into the moorland pales in comparison for what's to come. Twoleg activity can be found all over the territory, and not even Dimmingsun's first time as a mentor can stop the onslaught of worry in his belly.
All questions get answered soon enough when a group of apprentices report fire heading their way. Dimmingsun saves Slateheart from a burning doom, but suffers quite a hit to his lungs and is forced to remain in the medicine cat's den.
Scorchstreak calls for an evacuation in Sunstar's stead, their leader out of commission for the time being. Smokestar allows WindClan to take refugee in the wetlands, safe from the fire... and all they can do is wait for it to die down. Dimmingsun struggles with feelings of uselessness, knowing the able-bodied moor-runners are sacrificing their safety to keep the fire from their camp.
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