PETALPAW
"I know who my real family is."
-Petalpaw, Chapter 25
Petalshade, currently known as Petalpaw, is a stocky, light brown she-cat with some darker patches and green eyes. She has a scarred, slightly misaligned jaw.
Petalkit is a half-clan kit born to Mapleshade of ThunderClan and Appledusk of RiverClan. Mapleshade initially lied, telling Oakstar that Birchface was Petalkit's father, but when the truth of her parentage came out, Petalkit was exiled along with her siblings and mother. While crossing the river, Patchkit and Larchkit drowned, leaving Petalkit as the sole survivor.
While living in RiverClan, she was adopted by Reedshine, and eventually apprenticed to her as well.
Petalshade is a light brown she-cat, with a pelt color almost identical to her father, Appledusk's. She has darker patches on her face, paws, chest, and butt. She has a lighter chest, underbelly, and tail. She is stocky, muscular, and sturdily built, with her father's stout legs and her mother's bulk. She has large, bright green eyes like her mother as well. As a kit, she was noted to be larger than other kits her age.
As an adult, Petalshade has an injured, scarred jaw, much like her grandson Crookedstar.
Petalshade is impatient, nosy, and headstrong. She has a tedency to be guarded, acting snappy and sullen with those she doesn't know, while reserving softer, genuine emotions for those she trusts. She often comes off as blunt, being described as "mean" by Perchpaw and "having no friends" by Echosnout. Despite her demeanor, Petalshade isn't a malicious cat, but rather has a hard time connecting with the world around her and determining what is the correct thing to say.
Petalshade has a penchant for acting impulsively, not fully considering the consequences of her actions. She is short-tempered, and often lets her anger get the better of her, leading to trouble for herself and those around her.
As a kit, Petalshade initially harbored a fear for authority, but became more brazen and rebellious as she grew older, more willing to stand up for what she believes in.
AGE
10 moons (as of current chapter)
130 moons (future, at death)
HISTORY
Petalkit was born to Mapleshade of ThunderClan and Appledusk of RiverClan in late Newleaf, alongside her littermates Patchkit and Larchkit. Mapleshade raised her kits alone in ThunderClan, occasionally assisted by Frecklewish, until Ravenwing revealed the kits' true parentage to Oakstar. Oakstar exiled Mapleshade and ordered her to take her kits with her. the distraught mother attempted to cross the river, but her kits were swept away by the current.
Petalkit was presumed dead, and Mapleshade was sent away by Darkstar. However, while burying the kits, Eeltail and Splashfoot discovered Petalkit just barely clinging to life. The kit was taken to the medicine den, where Echosnout and Cloudpaw nursed her back to health. Petalkit frequently complained about the two medicine cats, but found some comfort in their presence. When Eeltail attempted to teach Petalkit how to swim, the kit suffered from flashbacks to her near-drowning, and panicked. In her frenzy, Petalkit attempted to cross the river again, leading to her near-drowning for a second time. This instilled a deep fear of water in the kit, and Darkstar agreed to postpone her swimming lessons.
Petalkit moved to the nursery after fully healing from the sickness caused by her near-drowning, having a nest of her own alongside Eeltail and Perchkit. She found Perchkit greatly annoying, frequently squabbling with and snapping at him. She was excited to learn Reedshine was expecting kits, and told the queen she would be like their older sister.
After an incident where Reedshine was helping Petalkit overcome her fear of water, Petalkit attacks Appledusk and has her apprenticeship delayed. She spends a moon caring for the elders, during which she becomes very jaded and angry. She assists Echosnout in delivering Reedshine's kits due to Cloudpaw's recent departure, and at the age of 7.5 moons, she is apprenticed to Reedshine as Petalpaw.
As an apprentice, Petalpaw frequently struggled with her fear of water, preferring to eat and hunt land-prey. She initially struggled in sparring against Perchpaw, but with help in training from Troutclaw, she became sturdy and strong. She learns how to swim, but maintains a dislike of water even after overcoming her fear of it. Petalpaw fights in the skirmish against ThunderClan at Sunningrocks, where she defends Birdsong from Oakstar. Afterwards, she helps carry Rainfall's body back to camp.
When tensions with ThunderClan began to escalate, Petalpaw participated in group training with Birdsong, Troutclaw, and Tanglewhisker. She grew a friendship with these cats, contrasting with their previous, antagonistic history. She defended her younger brother, Applekit, when their shared father was unaccepting of his identity as a tom. In the battle against Mapleshade, Petalpaw dealt the final blow to her biological mother.
Reedshine is Petalshade's adoptive mother. Initially, Petalkit found Reedshine's role perplexing, not understanding why her father had a second mate. However, through chance, the two grew closer, and Reedshine became affectionate towards the young kit, taking Petalkit in as one of her own. Petalpaw and Reedshine frequently share teasing banter, with Reedshine being excellent at reading Petalpaw's moods and knowing when her prickly exterior is hiding something more.
Appledusk is Petalshade's estranged biological father. When Petalkit was very young and still living in ThunderClan, Appledusk had affection for her and her littermates. However, after Mapleshade's exile, Appledusk became cold and hostile to Petalkit, in an attempt to distance himself from his traitorous affair. Initially, Petalkit desired to win her father's approval, but eventually came to despise him for his cruelty.