Ravensong
- Sep 5, 2021
- 5 min read

Sunsetthorn

Updated: Jun 24, 2023

BASIC INFO

Age(at time of death): 24 moons

Gender: Female

Other Names: Sunsetkit, Sunsetpaw

Current Affiliation: Starclan

Former Affiliation(s): Loner(Briefly), Shadowclan

INTERPERSONAL CONNECTIONS

Mother: Goldenstep

Father: Elmshadow

Full Siblings: Chamomilepaw, Ashpaw, Petalflight, Burningpaw, Sorrelpaw

Half Siblings: Pigeonstep, Snowpaw, Lostmoon, Silentpaw, Frostpaw, Mothpaw, Dogpaw, Shadepaw, Seedpaw

Art Credit to littlelove

Mate(s): Branchfire

Offspring: Mousepaw, Hazelkit, kit

Family Tree

Updated: 6/24/23

Mentor: Stormwing [Former]

Apprentice(s): N/A

PHYSICAL TRAITS

Fur Color/Markings: Pale golden tabby with white chest, muzzle, legs, and tail tip

Fur Length: Medium

Fur Texture: Silky straight, smooth

Eye Color: Dark Blue

Body Type/Structure: Stocky

Height: Average

Weight: Above Average

Voice: Sultry

Gait: Sure, smooth

PERSONALITY

Positive Traits: Loyal - Determined - Strong

Neutral Traits: Stubborn - Outspoken - Feminine

Negative Traits: Rough exterior - Precocious

STORY

Sunsetkit was born in Shadowclan to her mother, Goldenstep, and her father, Elmshadow, along with her litter mates, Ashkit and Chamomilekit. Through kithood, she developed a strong loyalty towards family, though she rarely considered her father a part of that family. She grew protective over Chamomilekit especially. She did not resent Elmshadow like Ashkit for being absent but she did not feel beholden to him in any way. As she grew closer to apprentice-age, she began to wonder what appealed Elmshadow to others such as her mother. Goldenstep was kind and motherly and, to her, Elmshadow appeared the opposite so she was fascinated by what her mother saw in a cat like him. So she began to watch him, slowly growing a sort of outsiders respect for him. She gained a respect for him as a Warrior but still felt no obligation to him as his daughter.

She was apprenticed at 6 moons old alongside Chamomilepaw and Ashpaw, her training to take place under Stormwing. During her apprentice ceremony, Dawnstar made her distaste for Chamomilepaw public which served as Sunsetpaw's first dissenting thought, showing Sunsetpaw a rift between her loyalty towards her family and her clan, having always thought that they were synonymous before that day. She made it her goal to bridge the rift between those loyalties and prove to Dawnstar that her family was strong.

Towards the end of her apprenticeship, her grandfather, Gingercry, attacked one of the cats lef run charge of Shadowclan, Owlfeather, for no known reason. That was the last she saw of her beloved grandfather as he was driven from camp following the incident. That night, Goldenstep approached her and her sisters in their nests and told them they had to leave. Ashpaw chose to stay behind though her uncle Loonfeather joined them. Within the rush, however, Sorrelkit and Burningkit were left behind as well. After a few moons in the outskirts with her family, the constant unease finally boiled over. In the middle of the night, she bid her silent goodbyes and left her family, feeling somewhat content that at least they all had each other, but she couldn’t shake the need to return to Shadowclan. Unbeknownst to Sunsetpaw, however, Goldenstep had been woken by her daughter leaving and followed, stopping her near the Shadowclan border to try to desperately talk her out of returning, worrying for her safety if she, now likely deemed a traitor, walked herself back into Shadowclan’s range. Before all could be said, a fox attacked the mother and daughter. Goldenstep sent Sunsetpaw away to get help. Sunder paw reluctantly left and found Elmshadow, bringing her father back to the scene, they both realized they were too late, Goldenstep’s body was already growing cold, left abandoned in the clearing Sunsetpaw had last seen her mother alive.

Though Dawnstar permitted her to return to Shadowclan, not all of Shadowclan was so welcoming. Her father’s cold reaction to seeing Goldenstep and bringing Sunsetpaw back in drove a wedge, driving out what respect Sunsetpaw still had for her father. Now with her mother dead, her father cold and estrange, her littermates gone from Shadowclan, Sunsetpaw found herself alone She hadn’t fostered any friendships in her clan outside of her family but now her family was gone, save for Burningkit and Sorrelkit and she was an outcast in her beloved home.

She finally earned her warrior name at 16 moons old shortly after losing her eye in an accident after jumping into a bush while hunting and getting snagged by a twoleg fishing hook. Elmshadow was able to remove it but not without the casualty of her left eye. While she was in a mini coma in the medicine den, Branchfire spent much of his time by her side as a distant friend noticing nobody else was visiting the out-casted she-cat.

When she awoke she was unsure about Branchfire but over time Branchfire proved to be supportive and loyal with no ulterior motives. He helped her relearn how to fight and hunt without the use of one of her eyes. Eventually, she found out she was pregnant. While she missed her true passion of being a warrior, she couldn't have been happier with her small perfect family. Before Mousekit and Hazelkit reached their apprentice ceremony, however, Hazelkit and Branchfire had turned up missing. She didn't want to believe it until Mousepaw received his apprentice name. Discovering she was once again pregnant with Branchfire's kits, she went out searching for her lost mate and kit and found nothing, except, across the border in Thunderclan territory, she was sure she'd seen her long-lost youngest sister, Petalkit. She returned and told Elmshadow about the discovery, having nowhere else to go.

After the previous encounter had gone poorly, Elmshadow asked Sunsetthorn to go out for herbs with him. During the excursion, Sunsetthorn was finding that her snap judgments on her father weren't entirely based. However, the encounter was cut short when Elmshadow caught a mouse for his pregnant daughter. Quickly after eating the mouse, Sunsetthorn went down in a breathless fit, poisoned by the meadow saffron the mouse had been snacking on unbeknownst to the medicine cat.

Elmshadow rushed her back to camp and did what he could to save his daughter's life. He got her stabilized but the pregnancy was keeping her from a full, strong recovery. The kits came too soon while Sunsetthorn was still recovering her strength and the queen was unable to keep her energy up for the duration. She ended up passing during the kitting, along with three of her kits who were born lifeless. Elmshadow was only able to save the one remaining she-kit.

NOTABLE THREADS

Warrior Ceremony

Opening Up

Death

Apprenticed for 2 months IRL [✔️]

Apprentice Ceremomy12/10(4)

12 Moons Old [✔️]

5 Training Instances [✔]

First Training(Territories)(11)

Training w/Elmshadow(Battle)(1)

Patrols

Battle Experiences