Kithood

Ashkit and Sleetkit were born to Pebblenose and Duskwhisker of WindClan. Her earliest memories were stories of StarClan, tales of the valiant and perfect stars that shone over their heads. As a kit she was encourage by both of her parents to sleep under the stars, disregarding the safety of the nursery to be closer to the light of StarClan. As she grew older she learned that one of her ancestors, many, many seasons ago, was a disgraced medicine cat. A cat who had a forbidden relationship with a Warrior and had kits.

That story settled it. She had to become a medicine cat and right the wrongs of her ancestor. Ashkit began spending more and more time around the medicine cat’s den, asking questions and learning as much as she could in the hopes of being assigned to the life of a medicine cat by Kitestar.

She and Sleetkit continued to listen to the stories of StarClan, absorbing all of the information. If something no one could explain happened around camp, it was StarClan’s will. Any fight that broke out was also StarClan’s will. Everything was StarClan’s will.

Apprenticeship

Much to Ashpaw’s joy she was made a medicine cat apprentice. At first, things were great! She loved exploring and learning all about StarClan, but it quickly became clear that she was terrible at memorising and handling herbs. She always got them mixed up and before she even got a chance to visit the Moonstone she had given up on her dream of becoming a medicine cat and was made a Warrior’s apprentice.

She was apprenticed to an older tom named Mottleshadow who was close to retirement. Mottleshadow was a bit slower than the rest of his Clanmates, so he mostly allowed Ashpaw to do as she pleased. He still taught her how to hunt and fight, but most of that training came from other cats, like Sleetpaw’s mentor, Flamesoar.

Flamesoar was like Pebblenose and Duskwhisker, encouraging the two siblings to follow StarClan on the straight and narrow. In fact, Flamesoar took the Warrior Code extremely seriously and would watch the sisters like a hawk, ensuring that they both followed the Code to a T. The one code they didn’t agree on? That the leader’s word was law. What if a leader didn’t wish to follow StarClan? There was no way a cat could follow such demands! And that thought clung to Ashpaw’s mind throughout her apprenticeship.

Warriorhood

Ashjump was named for her impressive hunting skills and stood tall beside Sleetwhisker as Kitestar gave them their Warrior names. There was conflict between WindClan and ShadowClan brewing on the borders and Ashjump was constantly aware of the whispers of discontent within her Clan.

With her dreams of being a medicine cat long behind her, Ashjump set her sights on instead becoming deputy. After all, Kitestar wasn’t going to live forever. She worked her tail off to prove that she was ready for an apprentice, doubling her efforts each time another cat was given an apprentice over her. It was infuriating and her anger only grew when Kitestar announced that Lightningspark, of all cats, had been chosen by StarClan to lead WindClan. For once, she actually found herself agreeing with Lightingspark on something. There was no way StarClan would choose him as leader! But there was nothing she, or anyone else could do. Lightningstar was granted his nine lives and Ashjump had nothing.

Mothbelly was named deputy, not a cat she would personally choose, but she could see why Lightningstar would pick him. It was an advantage to Lightningstar, after all. Ashjump was well aware that there were other cats in WindClan who shared her thoughts on the matter. With the war between WindClan and ShadowClan growing by the day, why would Lightningstar be a good leader? Ashjump began gathering these cats together to discuss their grievances, giving them a place to vent their frustrations. She learned everything she needed about these cats, gathering them together in secret meetings to further encourage their anger. They looked to her as a guiding light and she thrived under the attention.

Finally, she was given her first apprentice, Mothbelly’s son, Houndpaw. Her apprentice did as she asked him without question, something she came to believe would be useful to her. If she could get Houndpaw on her side, then maybe he could help her topple Lightningstar. It was a solid plan, and with Houndpaw’s siblings also having mentors in her group it was easy to bring the three young cats into the fold.

Tragedy struck when Sleetwhisker was killed in a battle with ShadowClan. Ashjump grew numb, seeing her sister in fitful sleep, begging her to fix WindClan. It was all Lightningstar’s fault! If he hadn’t been made leader, surely StarClan would have allowed them to end this war seasons ago! This had to end.

Houndpaw was named Houndkick and Ashjump was suspicious of his dedication to her cause. She kept riling up her group and kept fighting, putting on a front of being a perfectly loyal WindClan Warrior. Her fury only grew when Lightningstar brought Fogstone to WindClan. Even with Houndkick’s argument that StarClan must approve, she couldn’t believe it. It was obvious to her that Lightningstar had been breaking the Warrior Code and he had to go, one way or another.

For seasons she plotted and planned and one night, she saw the perfect opportunity. Mothbelly was out by himself, if she could get to Mothbelly, she had a chance at getting to Lightningstar. She murdered him out on the moor under the light of a near full moon. To her horror the sky turned stormy and grey the very next day. Why? She had done everything right! Wasn’t it StarClan’s will for her to remove such heretics?

Of course it was Houndkick who accused her. And she saw another opportunity. She confessed instantly and accepted her exile without question. If she couldn’t take control of WindClan from the inside, she would find help on the outside.

Exile

Ashjump wanders the land just beyond the borders of the Clans. She often ventures into Twoleg Place and to the barn, spreading her message to any cat who will listen.