// SPOILERS AHEAD //

// cinderblossom //
Sympathetic. Defensive. Motherly.

""I know you blame yourself. But none of it was your fault. You fought bravely. You saved me from Smoketalon, for StarClan's sake! And, thanks to you, StarClan still exists and are growing stronger and stronger. The time to strike will come again soon and, when it does, we will be ready. Then, we will truly be able to start over."

– Cinderblossom to Nightchaser, epilogue of Unmasked

// quick facts //

// physical //
build ▸ small
gender ▸ she-cat
fur ▸ grey
eyes ▸ hazel

// personality //
qualities ▸ sympathetic, kind, motherly | defensive, over-protective, unaware of kindness used against her
strengths ▸ hunting, giving advice
weaknesses ▸ climbing, forgiving

// age //
beginning of Unmasked ▸ 6 moons
end of Unmasked ▸ 16 moons
beginning of Unmarked ▸ 22 moons
end of Unmarked ▸ 26 moons
beginning of Unmade ▸ 30 moons

// death //
cause ▸ n/a

// family tree //
father ▸ Spiderthorn
mother ▸ Morningfire
littermates ▸ Flamestrike, Nightchaser
half-littermates ▸ Icepaw, Pigeonfang, Blackstrike, Lightkit, Beetlekit, Yewkit, Stormkit
paternal grandparents ▸ Rabbitnose, Garlicfur
maternal grandparents ▸ Hailwatcher, Sandfeather
mate ▸ Beavertail
kits ▸ Dewkit (fathered by Smoketalon)

// education //
mentor(s) ▸ Marshclaw, Smoketalon

// names //
kit ▸ Cinderkit
apprentice ▸ Cinderpaw
caretaker ▸ Cinderblossom
outcast ▸ Cinderblossom

// affiliations //
current ▸ RockClan
past ▸ DarkClan, rebels

// appearances //
alive ▸ Unmasked, Unmarked, Unmade

// personality overview //

The basis of Cinderblossom's personality lies in her innate kindness and compassion towards others. She is highly intuitive and emotional, feeling others' pain as if it were her own and longs to help others overcome their griefs, despite the many she herself carries; perhaps it is her way of escaping her own troubles. Her motherly ways are further cemented by her over-protective nature, especially of those close to her, and her strictness and disciplinary actions if needed. These qualities, however, also have their downside, as Cinderblossom is often unable to come to terms with her own problems and this inability to escape from them eats at her until she has no choice but to succumb to it. Her only surviving kit, and the knowledge that she is the only one Nightchaser will listen to, are often the only things that keep her moving forwards.

// relationship analysis //

Cinderblossom's kind qualities would make her a good friend to many but, in DarkClan, that quality is unfortunately not very well liked. Nightchaser, as her littermate, is the only cat she can fully trust from the beginning as her intuition tells her that her will not give her away like Flamestrike might. In her other littermate's case, she is extremely apologetic, especially of his rude and arrogant nature. This puts her at risk and does not go unnoticed by Dawnstar, who plans to get rid of her after her warrior assessment. That plan is foiled by Nightchaser, who gives good enough reason to keep Cinderblossom alive and Dawnstar is forced to make Cinderblossom a caretaker.

Throughout her apprenticeship, Cinderblossom finds a friend in Wrenflight, who is much more curious and energetic and she but provides a companionship that Cinderblossom falls into easily. Mothpelt and Bramblefire, too, are friendly and open to her, particularly once the rebels are defeated. Mothpelt often takes care of Dewkit while Cinderblossom is off talking to Nightchaser.

In the few moons after Cinderblossom learns that Spiderthorn is her father she does little to get closer to him. To her, Spiderthorn is another blood-thirsty DarkClan cat who wishes for nothing more than power. She frowns upon his match with Dawnstar but cannot bring herself to feel the same way about their kits.

As a caretaker, Cinderblossom quickly becomes attached to the kits in the nursery and finds letting go of them, even after the failed rebellion, very hard. She is particularly fond of the boisterous Beetlekit and the shy and quiet Yewkit. Her main grievance when she is announced a caretaker is the fact that she could never have kits of her own – which changes quite quickly when Smoketalon gets her pregnant.

Her relationship with her first mentor, Marshclaw, was an awkward one, but nothing compared to that with Smoketalon. Marshclaw would put her through her paces, making Cinderblossom work hard in order to make her a fine warrior. With Smoketalon, the training was much more gruelling and had the added obstacle of his predatory gaze on her constantly; enough to make her fur stand on end. After she is made a caretaker, Smoketalon follows her out into the forest as she is collecting moss and takes advantage of her, leaving her pregnant.

Despite being a kit she never wanted, Cinderblossom loves Dewkit with all her heart. He is her only surviving kit, as the events of the rebellion left two of her kits stillborn and another two too weak to make it through the night. Though he is crippled, she hopes he will have a grand future ahead of him, free of the laws of DarkClan.

// trivia //

// Cinderblossom was originally supposed to be named Cindercloud.

// On the night she becomes a caretaker, Cinderblossom curls up with Webkit and Crowkit; Nightchaser reflects that she could very well be their mother with the colouration and is saddened that she will never be able to have kits of her own. This, of course, is foreshadowing with some irony thrown in.

Got any other trivia to contribute? Leave a comment!

// fan art //

by DaFoxThatTalks