Rabbitclaw - ShadowClan Warrior

Evelyn lived a life of luxury, but kittens rarely enjoy the lives handed to them. Her home was lush, her twolegs kind and generous with endless treats and gentle hands- but she craved adventure. Often the spirited she-cat sat on their windowsill or by the unseen-door, looking out over the trees just beyond the garden. Never was she allowed out, but she liked to imagine what grass must feel like, or the breeze buffeting her fur.

What started as a kitten's dream became an obsession. She wanted to know the world outside that barrier. Even when her twolegs introduced her to the kind young tom, even after her first two litters- Evelyn wasn't satisfied.

Every time that door opened she made a run for it. Sometimes it closed on her and grabbing hands dragged her back, sometimes she barreled head-first into it. Her twolegs tried to help her, propping open the barriers so only mesh separated her from the world outside- but Evelyn was not satisfied with just smells and sounds. She wanted to be out there, chasing the fluffy creatures that lived in the big, leafy thing outside.

Then came the fateful evening when she discovered a small tear in the mesh. Relentlessly she tore into it, ripping into freedom as she finally jumped free of the twoleg nest. She started to explore, and then she saw it- some giant, spotted beast that came towards her, roaring and barking. It was terrifying with it's wagging tail and giant, floppy ears, with it's mouthful of teeth.

Like any frightened cat she bolted, taking the nearest escape-route into the forest. She ran. She ran until leaves turned to pavement turned to mud, and she kept running. That night the outside world wasn't fun anymore. It was cold. It was hungry. It was lonely. She spent it camped out in a clearing of ferns, startling at every unfamiliar noise.

The ShadowClan cats found her that morning and took pity on the suffering she-cat. She was invited in for a meal before they'd escort her off their territory. Evelyn was grateful, but also entranced by the clan life she saw. She bugged them ceaselessly with questions. Before she could leave, ShadowClan's medicine cat noticed her, and took interest. Not because of her unusual appearance, or the cold state they found her in- but because the she-cat had a swollen appearance. Evelyn was pregnant.

Boarstar orders warriors to escort her home, not wanting the inexperienced she-cat to be injured and risk losing her kittens- but Evelyn is unable to locate her garden. She and the two cats spend the whole day pacing and looking in at the gardens, but their search is fruitless. Not that Evelyn was -really- searching anymore, she was far too interested in the clan to be taken back home.

After days of searching they give up- Evelyn begging to stay with them. She pleads Boarstar to let her have a warrior name and a place in the clan, and begs her 'kittysitters' to teach her the code. Reluctantly, the clan agrees to take in this enthusiastic young cat.

When Rabbitkit and Mudkit are born, their mother had taken on the name Minkheart. She's worked endlessly by this time to fit in with the clan, eager to please them- and she knows a fantastic way to do that is raise a litter of respectful, helpful warriors. Shortly after Minkheart kits, another she-cat in the clan dies during labor. Her litter is lost, save for one tiny she-kit, whom Mink gracefully accepts into her brood.

Born in early leaf-fall, there's a chill in the air- but even that doesn't justify the whitecough, and later greencough, both brown kittens catch. Goosekit hardly blinks an eye, but Mudkit and Rabbitkit are brought to death's doorstep. The medicine cat often curses their sickly little bodies, and eventually Mudkit passes away. Rabbitkit manages to recover, but just barely.

Minkheart drills the code into her two kits from the moment they can hear her. She scolds them when they play and squeal, insisting they must be good, quiet warriors. Rabbitkit's initial playfulness is smothered as playfighting leads to sitting with his nose to the back of the den. For a time, trying to trick eachother into receiving these punishments become a game- but both Goose and Rabbitkit tire of it as it becomes less fun and more tedious- just sitting constantly until they're excused.

Eventually the kittens are made apprentices. Even when out from under his mother's watchful gaze, Rabbitpaw minds himself. He finds himself muttering her scoldings under his breath when he finds himself breaking her rules. The little anxious tom constantly criticizes himself into shape. His mentor, a darling little she-cat with endless patience, tries to draw out the tom's more social side, to no avail.

Rabbitpaw takes his training very seriously. He sticks to his chores without falter and even does Goose's chores for her when she asks. He's a cat-pleaser, his mentor's pride and joy and a favorite of the elders. Rarely did the little cat speak out of turn, reminding himself to do as mom taught and be a good, good warrior.

Unfortunately, after a few moons Minkheart catches greencough. Despite being in her prime and seemingly healthy, she goes downhill quickly. Rabbitpaw somehow catches it from her during his visits and ends up in the medicine cat den again. Minkheart passes away, and it seems for several days that Rabbit would soon follow. Once again, he manages to recover. Rabbit swears to avoid any signs of sickness in the future, distancing himself from anyone who so much as sneezes.

He passes his assessment, managing to snag a pair of baby bunnies from the edge of ShadowClan territory. His name is given to him to honor the tom's knack in a fight.

Since then, Rabbitclaw has been working to keep to his mother and mentor's lessons, and keeping his anxious sister close.