Goldenstream

Bella Bella was born to a prim and proper showcat named Dahlia, a purebred ragdoll, and Sandsnake, a swift-footed seeker of the Starseekers colony. Dahlia and Sandsnake truly loved each other, more than her mother loved any other cat- and so, despite his mixed breed, she agreed to become his mate... and take on the curse of the Enlightened, sharing the burden within herself, and to the kit she birthed.

Her adolescence was nearly much different- her owners almost jumped at the chance of selling her. But Bella Bella's golden eyes were just stunning, such an abnormal straight for a ragdoll cat that they couldn't help but keep her around. So, she continued to live with her mother, accompanying her to many cat show scenes that she herself could rarely attend due to her genes. Seeing the humans reject her, time and time again, she began to hate the part of her that wasn't fully ragdoll. Not to mention that the circumstances of her birth brought to her a curse, one she'd be yet to fully grasp.

Despite her best efforts, though, she couldn't bring herself to be truly mad at her parents for her birth. She saw how Sandsnake brought true joy to her mother's heart, more than even she could. His visits made her happy, filling her head with stories, and filled her mother with love. And when his colony had to move on, and her father stopped coming around, she saw the emptiness Dahlia tried to veil. Eer since she became a hopeless romantic, dreaming of a tom who could take away her insecurities, take her away from this place, and simply love her for who she was.

This dream, unfortunantely, lead her to Pride. An older, narcissistic, yet upsettingly charming purebred flamepoint ragdoll. A respected tom of the showcat scene, at the first sign of his love Bella Bella fell for him instantly. Her mother, Dahlia, responded badly to their blooming romance, an act of protection that Bella Bella was too lovestruck to understand. In spite of her mother, gave her heart and soul to him, and as payment for her loyalty he gave her... acknowledgement, an occasional showing of his love to keep her happy, and eventually, a kit. But as time passed, Bella Bella had to do more and more to earn his affection, and more and more easy did it seem to piss him off. Learning of her pregnancy- but afraid to tell Pride- she became increasingly desperate for him to show ANY sign that he even liked her at all... but was soon shut up by his claws.

She almost could have been fooled into staying with him. To forgive him for his mistreatment. Almost. But at the first kick to her belly... the first sign that she absolutely knew this kit was alive, and growing... for the first time in her life, she was ready to defend herself. Running to her mom for advice, Dahlia apologized for her inability to warn her daughter, and gave her next warning: that the curse will follow her as long as she lives. The best chance she had was to leave home, immediately, and find the Starseekers- and her father- and navigate that curse under the protection of the colony.

"Go, child... and take the name Goldenstream with you. It is what your father wished to name you. The colony will welcome you as their own."
"But what about you?" Goldenstream questioned. "Why not change your name? Why not come with me, where the cursed cats live? Why not protect yourself?"
Dahlia shook her head. "This life is all I've ever known. Besides, it's too late now. Whatever curse this is will have stained every pillow I rest my head on. I carry this burden alone... if it means even one tragedy escapes your father, and now, you and your child. " She chuckled sadly. "Go, my little Goldielock. You'll be alright."

With that, Goldenstream ran, following the faint scent her father's pawsteps left behind. Her legs carried her faster than they ever had before, her fur dirty wih dust and pawpads aching. Still, she ran, determined to catch up with them. Over the course of his journey, Goldenstream became bigger and bigger, until suddenly was thrown into labour of a premature kit. Luckily, the kit survived. Unsure what to name it- and wishing her father, or at least, her colony, a chance to name the kit (after all, she came with a name- but she was unaware of what the colony would wish a kitten to be named), she simply called the kit Little Kit.

Little Kit grew and grew before her eyes, a perfect little mostly-ragdoll that looked just like Pride... and yet, still carried their mother's golden eyes. They loved dandelions and would run as fast as their little legs would take them just find the next dandelion they saw. So, when Little Kit got sick with an illness that brought no coughing, only exhaustion- Goldenstream gifted the kit every dandelion she saw until her kitten was constantly covered in their favorite dandelions. This lasted until suddenly the kit's health declined... and they suddenly collapsed, wilting away and gone like the white seeds of their dandelions.

Full of sorrow, but determined to carry on, Goldenstream continued on her path, finally encountering the Starseekers. As expected she was welcomed by open arms... however, not by her father, who had perished on the journey. Picking up the responsibility of caring for the young widow was Reindeercough, an old tom who was Sandsnake's best friend. Calling her "Goldie", he taught her how to hunt, and climb, and fight, and most of all, introduced her to the life of a factionless cat. Though she was tempted to be in Emberstar's faction- her father's- she trusted Reindeercough and stayed by his side as a factionless cat, going from camp to camp to care for kits and deliver herbs.

After his death, Goldenstream felt like she lost her father for a second time. But, now she had a pupil of her own- Dovepaw- who kpt her busy. And soon, she grew into the life of a permanent queen just fine, training pupils and starlets from every faction.

Once again, she was ready to open her heart. And, when meeting an equally flirty and kind tom at a gathering named Pinefall, both fell deep in love. The two amused their friends by talking endlessly about each other, and Goldenstream finally knew what it was like to be truly loved- not just by her mate, but by her friends too.

However, as the curse is, it would not let peace reign forever. When the factions had to split up to navigate both the surface and the tunnel paths, Goldenstream went with Lionstar's Faction to train Prettypaw and help raise the overwhelming amount of kits in that faction, while Pinefall remained in Blossomstar's Faction. Hearing she was expecting his kits, Goldenstream was overjoyed, though was a bit sad Pinefall wouldn't be able to raise the kits until the factions reunited. Tragically, the tunnels the third faction faced were hazardous, and soon, a cave-in took Pinefall's life.

Goldenstream, seperated from Pinefall, is still unaware of his death, still excitedly raising her young kits- Snowbell (named after Pinefall's favorite flower) and Dandelion (named after her and Little Kit's favorite flower) and training Prettypaw on the side. In her journey she also found an abandoned kit, Lily, and adopted her as well. In this journey she navigated the haunted forest to search for her temporarily-missing kits, met a towering stranger named Crag who helped find her kits, and fought off the terrifyingly large eagle known as Shattercry.

Now, she continues to roam with Lionstar's Faction, but is more than eager to reunite with Pinefall, desperate to tell him all about her adventures, and most of all, their kits, not to mention returning to the factionless lifestyle of caring for all colonies at once.