// SPOILERS AHEAD //

// dawnstar //
Proud. Strategic. Manipulative.

"We don't keep you around just for sport."
– Dawnstar to Nightpaw, chapter 18 of Unmasked

// quick facts //

// physical //
build ▸ muscled, but not overly
gender ▸ she-cat
fur ▸ blue & cream tortoiseshell
eyes ▸ cold amber

// personality //
qualities ▸ strategic, watchful, calculating | manipulative, cruel, proud
strengths ▸ strategy, leadership
weaknesses ▸ hunting, love

// age //
beginning of Unmasked ▸ 52 moons
end of Unmasked ▸ 62 moons
beginning of Unmarked ▸ 68 moons
end of Unmarked ▸ 71 moons

// death //
cause ▸ killed by Spiderthorn

// family tree //
father ▸ Lionmask
mother ▸ Pebblefur
half-littermates ▸ Sedgecloud, Beetlefur, Marshclaw, Maplefeather
paternal grandparents ▸ Fennelfur, Gingertail
maternal grandparents ▸ Fognose, Swanpelt
mate ▸ (1) Rowanstorm, (2) Flintmask, (3) Spiderthorn
kits ▸ (1) Newtfang, Oakshade, (2) Smoketalon, Jaystrike, (3) Beetlefang, Lightchaser, Stormfall, Yewpaw

// education //
mentor(s) ▸ Owlstar
apprentice(s) ▸ Thistleshade

// names //
kit ▸ Dawnkit
apprentice ▸ Dawnpaw
warrior ▸ Dawnfire
deputy ▸ Dawnfire
leader ▸ Dawnstar

// deputy position //
preceded by ▸ Redclaw
succeeded by ▸ Sleetfur

// leader position //
preceded by ▸ Owlstar
succeeded by ▸ Sprucestar (RockClan), Gannetstar (SeaClan), Tallstar (MoorClan)

// affiliations //
current ▸ DarkClan

// appearances //
alive ▸ Unmasked, Unmarked

// personality overview //

The word that describes Dawnstar best is unafraid. She is shrewd and calculating, at times cruel with her actions, but nevertheless unafraid to exact punishments and consequences upon those who she believes have wronged her or DarkClan. It was these qualities that most likely drove Owlstar to name her his deputy, even at the young age of 34 moons. As an apprentice, she often watched the others to learn of their weaknesses, choosing to train in specific techniques that would ensure she 'won' all training sessions. It was this same strategy that brought down her opponents in the deputy race she ran in, as well as allowed her to stay alive through the rebellion. Always suspicious, she keeps her eyes open for treachery.

// relationship analysis //

Dawnkit, the only kit of Lionmask and Pebblefur, always preferred solitude. Though she was raised alongside Sandkit, who later became a caretaker by the name of Sandfeather, she never felt any camaraderie with her. She despised their caretaker, Milkfeather, as well, able to see her usefulness to the Clan but unable to stomach her weakness.

As an apprentice, Dawnpaw was very proud to be apprenticed to the leader of the Clan, Owlstar. He decided to take her on after Milkfeather's attempted treachery – Dawnkit was the one left behind to watch the deputy race while Sandkit was taken away. Believing Dawnpaw would become a great warrior because of her unflinching position during that deputy race, Owlstar trained her heavily in battle (but, sadly, skipped much of her hunting training, making it one of her weak points). Dawnpaw became the strongest apprentice quickly, easily beating out the others in training.

Once more, Dawnpaw chose to keep to herself and had very little to do with the other apprentices at the time. Ashpaw (Ashfang), Goosepaw (Goosepelt), Willowpaw (Willowtail), and Snowpaw (Snowdapple) she tolerated and even respected simply because they were older than her; they, in turn, were very taken with her skills. Beetlepaw (Beetlefur), Sedgepaw (Sedgecloud), and Marshpaw (Marshclaw) she tended to stay away from (though she later named one of her kits after Beetlefur, who died saving her in a rogue attack).

As a young warrior, Dawnfire was very respected and a top pick for deputy when she decided to run. Her rise to power was slightly slowed by her pairings with multiple toms, but she never felt much of an obligation to her kits once they were born, allowing her to run in the deputy race while Jaystrike and Smoketalon were still under the caretakers' watch.

The only tom Dawnfire found herself feeling anything for was Spiderthorn, who she had noticed even as an apprentice (he was Beetlefur's mentor). She hoped to be paired with him much earlier but, to her dismay, Owlstar chose to pair Morningfire, a she-cat Dawnfire found hard to stomach, with him instead. Her hatred of the she-cat stemmed from her animosity with her mother, Sandfeather, and her increasing popularity within the Clan. She was afraid that Morningfire would take her place as one of the most popular with the senior warriors.

As a leader, Dawnstar continued Owlstar's idea of 'experiments' within the Clan, leaving Morningfire's kits alive rather than having them killed. She did, however, manipulate some members of the Clan into harming others or to make them appear traitorous so that she could get her way. Her primary opposition to these strategies was the truth-teller, Hailwatcher, who did not condone her cruelty. Dawnstar, however, took very little stock of what Hailwatcher thought as she did not respect him, primarily because she was privy to the knowledge that he was Morningfire's father and Sandfeather's illegal mate.

// trivia //

// Dawnstar named Beetlekit after Beetlefur, who died saving her during a rogue attack

// She never knew Lionmask was her father, but mourned his death greatly (she just made sure not to show it)

Got any other trivia to contribute? Leave a comment!