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Content Warning: Grooming☆ ☆ ☆
Spottedpaw was a spirited, spunky apprentice who showed promise in her warrior training, but also displayed an undeniable affinity for herbs and healing. A definite pawful for her mentor Thrushpelt, both he as well as leader Sunstar and deputy Bluefur knew Spottedpaw as a cat who did what she wanted, when she wanted to do it. She stood out particularly compared to her soft-spoken siblings, Redpaw and Willowpaw.
But all did not go well for Spottedpaw. For much of her life, she was preyed on by senior warrior Thistleclaw, seeking a replacement for his now-dead mate Snowfur. He showered Spottedkit with gifts and praise, constantly telling the young cat how special she was. Spottedpaw became endeared to Thistleclaw, so when he began suggesting they become mates, Spottedpaw believed her respect for the far older warrior to be love. However, once Thistleclaw had Spottedpaw in his grasp, his treatment of her slowly became more and more controlling. He told Spottedpaw to keep their relationship a secret, and Spottedpaw being too young to understand how big of a red flag that is, obeyed him. Many times, Spottedpaw brought up the idea of becoming a medicine cat apprentice, or showed aptitudes for healing and herbs, and every time Thistleclaw would shut her down or berate her for being weak, or accuse her of not loving him.
After witnessing Thistleclaw murder a cat in the Dark Forest, Spottedpaw was horried, and tried to break up with him. Thistleclaw refused to let her go, attempting to bribe her with gifts and praise the same way he had won her over as a kit. However, Spottedpaw was growing wary of Thistleclaw. She couldn't articulate why, but their relationship made her feel afraid. She justified it to herself by insisting it was the murder; not wanting to admit that Thistleclaw may have had sinister intentions from the beginning.
Spottedpaw finally went behind Thistleclaw's back and switched to being a medicine cat apprentice, hoping this would formally sever their ties. However, Thistleclaw did not relent, and became even more harsh towards Spottedpaw than before.
As Thistleclaw's pursuit of Spottedpaw continued, she became meeker and more reserved, less inclined to fight cats exerting power over her. She grew secretive and quiet, a marked change from the extroverted apprentice that Thrushpelt, Bluefur, and Sunstar had come to know. Then, Featherwhisker caught Thistleclaw making advances on Spottedpaw in the medicine den. Horrified, furious, and disgusted, Featherwhisker tried to fetch Sunstar, but Thistlclaw was faster, and attacked the medicine cat. The commotion of their fight drew Sunstar's attention anyways, and when he found out about Thistleclaw's actions, he was equally shocked.
Bluefur, having witnessed her mother's treatment at the paws of her father, was furious. She, along with Featherwhisker and Spottedpaw's father Adderfang, would have been perfectly content to flay Thistleclaw alive for his actions, but Sunstar decided on a "soft exile" - He was quietly disqualified from the deputy position, he was no longer allowed to train apprentices, and he had to keep away from the nursery and apprentice's den. Sadly, his disqualification happened after Bluefur gave up her kits, the revelation of his treachery being too late to save Mosskit.
Thistleclaw's death was orchestrated purposely by Oakheart. He'd heard of Thistleclaw's horrible actions both from his ex-mate and from the RiverClan medicine cats, Brambleberry and Mudfur. When Thistleclaw arrogantly decided to challenge an entire RiverClan patrol on his own, Oakheart killed him purposely and with no remorse, believing he was avenging not just his daughter Mosskit, but every cat Thistleclaw had hurt. Oakheart later confessed this to Bluestar from StarClan, and to this day, she is the only one who knows Oakheart killed Thistleclaw purposely.
Many moons later, long after Spottedleaf grew into adulthood, young Rusty joined the clan as Firepaw. Though Spottedleaf treated Firepaw as she would any other apprentice in the clan, Firepaw saw beauty and kindness in Spottedleaf, and developed an infatuation with her. Being so young, he was rather obvious with his feelings. Spottedleaf was well aware of how Firepaw felt about her, and it brought back terrible memories.
Spottedleaf could never hurt another cat, especially not in a way as despicable as Thistleclaw had. However, her own fears, trauma, and intrusive thoughts convinced her that she was a danger to Firepaw, and she withdrew from him, beginning to treat him more coldly, hoping to push the young apprentice away without confronting her own feelings. The clan had never properly addressed what Thistleclaw did; his death meant Spottedleaf was able to pretend it never happened. But now, seeing young Firepaw, she couldn't help but see herself.
Spottedleaf survives up through the events of Forest of Secrets, where Fireheart learns of Spottedleaf, Tigerclaw, and Bluestar's pasts with Thistleclaw. Fireheart had always been confused as to why Spottedleaf seemed to ignore him, when he had always been quite kind to her. Fireheart has long since grown out of his infatuation, and now knowing of her past, realizes why she had always acted so cold to him. Fireheart apologizes for making the medicine cat uncomfortable, but she assures him that it wasn't his fault; he was an apprentice, barely older than a kit, just like she had been. The two make amends and become on more friendly terms, but it doesnt last; Spottedleaf is slain by Brokenstar during the battle where Tigerclaw attempts to take Bluestar's life.
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