wolfstone, warrior

wolfkit and coyotekit were born to the older warriors bearclaw and irisheart. right from the start, the two seemed like polar opposites, coyotekit full of mischief and and pranks while wolfkit seemed to be as stoic and serious as a seasoned warrior even as a kit. still, the pair were close, and certainly had fun even despite their differences. the small famiy was full of love, bearclaw and irisheart doting on their sons while the pair grew quickly. 

from the start, wolfkit was enamored with the life of a warrior. he knew he wanted to be strong and skilled, able to protect his family and his clan. coyotekit shared his dreams, though he tended to take it a little less seriously, the sort of cat to go with the flow and have fun along the way. they were both excited for their apprentice ceremonies, and irisheart groomed her sons to perfection while bearclaw looked on proudly. truly, everything was perfect. 

wolfpaw was apprenticed to an older warrior, opaltooth. she was powerful and intimidating, and while she was small and wolfpaw would soon outgrow her, her punches were startling in their strength and her quick wit only added to her bite. wolfpaw was more than pleased with the pairing, and immediately set himself to his training with vigor. much of their focus was fighting and strength building to take advantage of his size and bulk, while coyotepaw's own training was taking advantage of his speed and more slender build. 

it was during this time that he met hollypaw, who was apprenticed only a few moons after him and his brother. she was more outspoken and fiery, offsetting his serious and blunt nature, and despite their differences soon began to grow close. coyotepaw also joined them much of the time, and the three made a tight-knit group. 

wolfpaw knew that he liked hollypaw, but she was more similar to his brother, and he assumed that she would be drawn to his more outspoken sibling. but she continually sought his company, eventually smacking him over the ear and declaring her own interest in him. this took him by surprise, though coyotepaw's cackles later that day showed him that hollypaw had been very obvious in her affections. 

the three continued through their apprenticeship, coyotepaw and wolfpaw becoming warriors before hollypaw. wolfstone, coyotecry, and hollythorn all stuck together as they began their warrior duties, wolfstone and hollythorn soon officially becoming mates. their relationship seemed strong, and the two were certainly attached to each other, though her opinionated personality often clashed with his own stubborn nature, leading to arguments that ended just as quickly as they began.

wolfstone continued to put much of his attention into his warrior duties, especially now that he had a mate to protect. he was quickly recognized as a talented and reliable clanmate, content to help with anything from hunting to den repairs. his attentions were primarily for the clan, though this soon changed when hollythorn confided in him that she was pregnant. 

the news certainly shifted his world view, and wolfstone was soon focused on making sure that hollythorn was comfortable while dealing with the new worries of being a new father and protecting his kits. despite the worries, the two young warriors were thrilled, and began to go on twilight walks outside of the caves for fresh air and to discuss future plans. of course, hollythorn did most of the talking, but wolfstone was simply happy to be with her. 

it was during one of these walks when disaster struck. the pair had been entering an argument about names when they were ambushed by a bobcat, both too focused on each other to pay close attention to their surroundings. wolfstone noticed too late, and there was only a brief scuffle before the larger predator was fleeing with hollythorn grasped in its jaws. 

wolfstone's world was turned upside down. in just an instant, everything changed, the loss of his mate and unborn kits affecting him deeply. he withdrew into himself, becoming gruff with previous companions and even pushing his brother away. he focused himself on hard work, losing himself in his duties as an escape from what had happened. 

it had become obvious that the life of a warrior was hardship, and wolfstone decided that close relations were too much of a risk. his heart had been broken once, after all, and the warrior life was full of loss. wouldn't it be better in the end to simply focus himself on his clan and not on close relationships? coyotecry tried to argue with wolfstone's new logic, but wolf's heart had been hardened and he was determined to see his new ideals through. 

so the moons went on, and while wolfstone was not necessarily popular within the clan, he quickly grew respected as a hard worker and fierce fighter. he was reliable, and while he wasn't personable and or approachable, he was certainly an appreciated member of the clan. he put his duties before all else, the first in line for battles or ambushes, anything to keep his clanmates safe. 

it was in these later moons that his parents passed away. it was a sad ordeal, but not entirely unexpected, as the pair had been growing older and slower with each day. their deaths brought the brothers closer, if just for a bit. 

disaster would find wolfstone again not long after, though, when an accident befell coyotecry during a patrol. there was a confrontation on the border, a brief scuffle that should have ended easily. but coyotecry slipped, a paw misplaced, and his head connected with a rock on his way down and he didn't wake back up. 

wolfstone was again heartbroken, this time by the loss of his brother. again his views of the harshness and inevitable sorrow of warriorhood were strengthened, and he closed himself off completely to his clanmates. he became more reckless than before, earning scars and the loss of his ear from the battles he threw himself into. 

for moons he played the role of the fierce battler, earning respect both in and out of the clan. never once did he look to leadership or higher power, content (supposedly) to simply serve the clan. while fierce, he found himself incredibly fond of kits, and while he never went out of his way to play with them or interact, he let them clamber over him while he was napping or play with his tail while he was sunbathing. they reminded him of what he almost had, all those moons ago. 

he was emotionally distant, having lost much and not wanting to lose more. avoiding connections was the obvious solution to preventing loss. but he has been feeling lost, and has been going out alone increasingly more and more, lost in his thoughts and confused by emotions that he has ignored for much of his life. his life has just been just fighting, after all, and there is an emptiness that he has only recently begun to acknowledge. but he is afraid of the solution, and afraid of the hurt that he could experience again should he open himself up to others. 

and so he wanders, trailing the borders, a fierce knight guarding his realm but also a lost and confused warrior who has never allowed himself the simple pleasures of life.