Kithood:

Houndkick was born the youngest of three siblings to two respected WindClan Warriors, Applestride and Mothbelly. Along with Ferretkit and Toadkit, Houndkit soon found himself thrust into the limelight of being the deputy’s kit. Mothbelly and Lightningstar had been friends for moons and with Lightningstar having recently become leader Mothbelly was also establishing himself as deputy.

Houndkit instantly felt pressure to present himself as a loyal and dedicated son, agreeing with everything Mothbelly said without question. He was the good son, the one Mothbelly proudly paraded around. Toadkit and Ferretkit on the other hand were left in the dust. Mothbelly continued to isolate Houndkit from his siblings, placing the kit on a pedestal before the Clan.

Apprenticeship:

Houndpaw was apprenticed to a quiet she-cat named Ashjump. On the surface Ashjump was your typical Warrior. Nothing about her seemed to stand out and she and Houndpaw got along fine. Mostly free from Mothbelly, Houndpaw was able to start rebuilding a relationship with Toadpaw and Ferretpaw. Ferretpaw never hesitated to sass the other apprentices, and encouraged Houndpaw to let loose and step out of his shell a little more.

During his training, Houndkick found that he loved the feeling of running across the moorlands. He would often race from camp to Fourtrees, then hunt on his way back slowly building up his strength and stamina. Ashjump encouraged all of this, gently prodding him to give all of his prey to his Clanmates in need. The War with ShadowClan was doing very little to put Houndpaw at ease, but he was keen on learning the best strategies possible to defend his home.

Midway through his apprenticeship Houndpaw found himself between a rock and a hard place. Ashjump invited him to join some other WindClan cats in a secret meeting. She and many others in WindClan were growing antsy. Lightningstar was… not the leader they expected. They talked at length about how Lightningstar was a traitor to StarClan, unworthy of his nine lives and an embarrassment to WindClan. Things that frankly confused Houndpaw. What was so wrong with Lightningstar’s feelings on StarClan? Were these cats even hearing themselves? It all sounded so… wrong.

After the meeting Houndpaw grew thoughtful. He once again began spending more time with Mothbelly, trying to hear his father’s side of the story. Mothbelly was honest. StarClan held great power, but their meddling in the affairs of the living were troubling to him. Houndpaw couldn’t help but agree. Many stories from the elder’s den tried to paint StarClan in a glorious perfect light. But how true was that?

Houndpaw kept going to the meetings with Ashjump. Toadpaw and Ferrrtpaw also joined these meetings and the three siblings found themselves at odds. Toadpaw and Houndpaw shared a similar opinion while Ferretpaw loyally stuck by Ashjump’s group.

Warrior:

Houndkick was named for his strong back legs. The newly made Warrior was anxious these days. He was fully aware of the fracture in WindClan’s ranks and was constantly expecting a revolution.

He channeled all of his energy into helping out his Clanmates, doing everything he could to make them happy. He often found himself lying in the faces of some cats, telling them only what they wanted to hear about Lightningstar’s leadership rather than his own thoughts. Truthfully, he was of the opinion that Lightningstar was not a bad leader and that cats on both sides of the argument were growing too aggressive.

The War against ShadowClan was continuing to bring heartbreak to both sides. Houndkick fought hard, volunteering to lead patrols whenever he could and taking a number of hard hits in a desperate bid to defend his Clanmates. Houndkick became known for his ability to charge across the battlefield to relay information to other patrols. Houndkick was one of the cats who led the very last battle patrols against ShadowClan.

When Fogstone was brought into WindClan he stood beside his leader. While others whispered that StarClan surely wouldn’t approve of her changing Clan, Houndkick argued that it must be StarClan’s will for him to be in WindClan if Lightningstar had accompanied him. For once he had spoken his true thoughts, and it had worked. Some cats, like Toadsong, accepted it. Others? Not so much. The War ended not long later, and the relief he felt seeing Lizardstar accept Lightningstar’s terms was immense.

He was given his apprentice not long after this. She was a bouncy young cat named Dustpaw. Dustpaw was a pawful, but training her was fun! Houndkick taught her to think for herself and speak her mind, even when she doubted herself. Something that he couldn’t do himself. Dustpaw would often ask him why he couldn’t speak for himself, he would simply smile and tell her that he was too busy listening to speak.

Dustpaw’s parents died during a greencough outbreak, shaking the apprentice’s world. Houndkick was there for her through it all, even as the illness took his own mother’s life. Applestride was gone, a cat he admittedly was distanced from, but it still hurt. Dustpaw and Houndkick grew closer, becoming the family that they both wished they had. He proudly introduced her to cats at the Gathering as his daughter and she would call him her father. Finally, there was some happiness.

His apprentice passed her training with flying colours and was named Duststorm. But beneath the surface, Houndkick was even more aware of the growing discontent. He could practically taste it.

Moons waxed and waned and what had been bubbling beneath the surface eventually exploded in a gruesome fashion. Ashjump killed Mothbelly. She ambushed one night, striking him down in the “name of StarClan” under the light of a near full moon. The next day was grey and stormy, a sure omen that StarClan didn’t approve of her actions.

Houndkick was devastated upon finding the body of his father. And, he immediately knew what he had to do. He told Lightningstar that he suspected Ashjump was behind the murder and a trial began. Surprisingly, Ashjump confessed without complaint and was exiled. Strange… almost as if she’s planning something. But there was no time to dwell on her actions, WindClan needed a new deputy.

Deputy:

Houndkick was named deputy. After turning Ashjump in for her crimes, it was an obvious choice. Almost instantly he felt that crushing pressure again. He had to be like Mothbelly, he can’t not be like Mothbelly. And what about Ashjump’s followers? They know he knows and he doesn’t want to rat any of them out, but he also wants to be loyal to Lightningstar. Duststorm was ready to support him without question, often speaking his mind for him when too many cats crowd him.

As far as he’s concerned, Lightningstar is a good leader, he will defend that. Flawed? Yes, but who’s really perfect?

Houndkick is still a new deputy and trying to find his footing. He was entrusted to train Lightningstar's apprentice, Falconpaw, while the leader nursed kits. He grew attached to Falconpaw and enjoyed training the young tom. It was bittersweet when Lightningstar took over training again, but Houndkick was given Lightningstar's son, Firepaw, as an apprentice. It was an opportunity he was thrilled to have and he found the young tom very easy to get along with.

While training Firepaw, Houndkick got to thinking. Seeing the innocence and joy that life brought to a cat who had never known the brutality of war or the fear of knowing you may never see your loved ones again inspired him. For the sake of Firepaw, and all young cats for generations to come he would do everything he could to try and bring peace to the Clans. How could they continue to survive if the Clans were always at each other's throats? No, he decided that the cycle had to be broken and so he began thinking.

It was by luck that a ThunderClan apprentice rolled over the border and brought the ThunderClan deputy, Jaycrest, into Houndkick's life. He'd always admired Jaycrest from a distance, and figured that if he could dicuss his, admittedly, idealistic thoughts with anyone, it was Jaycrest. And so, he suggested that they attempt to try forming friendships between the Clans. Honestly, his optimism got to his head, but he was thrilled when Jaycrest decided to give it a shot.

Training was goin well with Firepaw, the young cat proving to have a cautious respect for the gorge and impressing Houndkick with his ability to learn. And, he still got the chance to train Falconpaw when Lightningstar was busy. Training apprentices, Houndkick decided, was his favourite job. There was nothing better than helping young cats grow and thrive.

One day, Duststorm dragged a tresspassing ShadowClan cat into camp. Lightningstar's reaction genuinley frightened Houndkick as he saw the blood that dappled the ground and the torn ear on the tom's head. He suggested that Duststorm and he escort the ShadowClanner to the border and wait with him there for a ShadowClan patrol, but Lightningstar misinterpreted this as Houndkick suggesting they march into ShadowClan camp and he was immediately shot down.

Eventually, he had no choice but to chase the stranger off with Duststorm, but the events left Houndkick rattled and nervous. The next day, he and Shatteredpeak investigated the barn the ShadowClanner had been heading towards, only to find that everything was still in order.

Finally, the Gathering arrived! As planned, Houndkick, with Jaycrest backing him up, suggested to the other deputies that they try to become friends. It... didn't go well. Lakeshade refused to befriend anyone from ThunderClan and Midnightscar's comments about giving back the land Wolfcatcher had STOLEN from WindClan triggered a response in Houndkick he had never expected. He grew angry, hot beneath his pelt and demanded that Midnightscar explain why WOLFCATCHER'S life should be held with more importance than any other when Wolfcatcher was the one who STARTED the war, getting cats on both sides killed.

Once again he was left humiliated by Lightningstar's public words and he was left to skulk away, removing himself from the situation before the memories of bloodshed and the hurt he felt could consume him. He was only glad that Jaycrest, one of his biggest inspirations, stayed by his side for the remainder of the Gathering.

For a while, things seemed to improve. Tentatively, Houndkick was convinced that things were getting better between him and Lightningstar after a conversation about his father. Better still, Houndkick and Jaycrest found that they both held feelings for each other and began meeting in secret. And to think, the event that led to this revelation was their apprentices meeting beside the Thunderpath with an arrogant ShadowClan apprentice.

The only cat in WindClan who knew was Lightningstar, further hinting to him that things were getting better. Even as Duststorm and Falconpaw left for a journey to prevent a palgue, things at least felt okay.

Things fell apart slowly and fate seemed to have plans for Houndkick. It was on a patrol with Starlingshine that an attempt to hide his relationship with Jaycrest would remind Houndkick of just how haunted he was by Ashjump. Nine moons was no where near enough time to heal the seasons of abuse at her paws. She was still haunting him, and his fear kept him on high alert. He was no fool, he knew she was out there somewhere. But where? That really was the question.