Opossumshriek

History

Kithood [0-6 moons] >

Life started off simple for little Opossumkit whom had been born just a few days after New-Leaf’s arrival. Or, at least as simple as things could possibly be after a bunch of strangers broke into Marshclan’s camp, destroying herbs and murdering many cats in the progress. It wouldn’t take much longer after the surprise attack for the cats at the gathering to return afterwards where it was explained that something had occurred at the gathering with some deer. All of this happening in very same moon Opossumkit had been born into. Despite this factor, Leechstripe and Kestrelthroat managed to keep little Opossumkit all safe and sound during the chaos, his older brothers both perfectly fine after the fact.
Lizardscreech, Shrikebrook, and Figscratch were already warriors why the time Opossumkit was welcomed into the world, yet they still made time to pop in on their youngest brother and parents.

Things weren’t particularly eventful after that, Opossumkit’s parents raising him as his brothers went on living their own lives. Their parents weren’t dotting or overbearing by any means, instead simply being mundane folk’s with simple needs. Not that there was anything wrong with being pretty average at their jobs, Opossumkit never really took notice, instead directing his attention to hearing bits and pieces about his older brother’s lives outside the nursery.

It was when Opossumkit hit four moons of age did things take a turn for his family when Figscratch, the youngest of the first litter, ended up getting into some trouble with a fox, in turn costing the youthful warrior his life. The patrol his brother had been on returned to camp with his body where his family held a small vigil, Opossumkit sitting awkwardly as his older brothers mourned harder than he did, along with his parents with his dad crying into his mother’s side. Opossumkit was sad to see his brother dead, knowing he wouldn’t be able to see much more of him anymore as he was still grasping the concept of death. Though it was a tad off putting for the kit, not having the chance to know him as well as his family members did, only having the rare few stories he had been told of from his siblings once every blue moon visits.

Things became quieter from his older brothers, the pair stopped visiting for the most part as Opossumkit’s parents slowly adjusted to their new reality. It wouldn’t be too long now before Opossumkit would become an apprentice and move out of the nursery. From the sounds of it, the whole experience was going quite different, he wouldn’t see his parents as much, he’d be paired up with a bunch of other young cats, all that sort. Having some alone time sounded nice, though he dreaded what mayhem might occur during the night in the den, he didn’t want to be pranked the first night nor any night really. But hey, maybe it wouldn’t end up like that, he’d soon find out what it really was like in there anyways.

Green-leaf came at last, along with it new troubles as Opossumkit heard his parents mention something about over grazing from deer? Whatever that meant? Whatever it was he hoped it wasn’t important.

Apprenticeship [6-12 moons] >

Time passed by rather quickly, Opossumkit’s ceremony arriving in no time as he woke up before his parents. When the meeting was held he had made his way over to the camps clearing, both of his older brothers joining his side as they briefly caught up, Lizardscreech and Shrikebrook teasing each other afterwards over who would be training their youngest brother as he sat there shuffling his paws. Unfortunately for them neither one of them would be called forward by Waspstar, instead a cat named Hedgewood would appear before the now acclaimed Opossumpaw. They seemed like an interesting cat, but who knows how it would go, guess time would tell as the ceremony came to a close.

It wasn’t all that far into his apprenticeship when something about some kits came up, Marshclan sending their aid to assist in the manner. Upon trying to ask his mentor a little bit more on what was going on his was met with a “pay attention to your training newbie.” A fun warrior Hedgewood was, truly.

It was also around this time did Opossumpaw realize he wasn’t just a he, nor was he even cisgender, instead finding themself gravitating towards the idea of being Agender as it best described how they felt. It was a small realization but it made Opossumpaw feel slightly more comfortable in his pelt.

About another moon passed by during his training. His two remaining brothers Lizardscreech and Shrikebrook leaving the camp only to return dead and covered in injuries. It was unclear if they had been attacked by some predator or those strange deer cats everyone had been murmuring about. It was sad to see, Opossumpaw’s head hanging low through the vigil as his parents mourned the losses harder than he did. A part of him felt a tad guilty he wasn’t crying nearly as much as both his father and mother were, but it wasn’t like he didn’t feel the weight of loss on his heart either. It just, clung onto his fur, like wet mud.

Hedgewood begun to task Opossumpaw more heavily, he couldn’t tell if it was his mentor trying to take his mind off things or trying to toughen him up? It wasn’t like he was lazy! But he did do the bare minimum sometimes  regarding the tasks, but hey his mentor just keep adding more and more to his list. Least he wasn’t turning them down! Though something notable did occur with Butterflypaw being appointed by Fisherbat to be the clans next herbalist in training. He didn’t exactly get to interact much though besides the typical chores every apprentice had to do such as feeding the elders or helping change bedding.

Some time had passed with Green-leaf going away, Leaf-fall instead coming along and replacing its warm days with slightly cooler once ever so steadily. It wouldn’t be too long now before Opossumshriek would take his warrior assessment according to his mentor, about another moon of training precisely. His tail twitched at the thought of messing up and failing, he had to really focus in this moon! Though fate would have another way, instead grabbing ahold of his attention through a tragedy, Marshclan once more falling victim to an attack. The rogues even had gone as far to kidnap one of the expecting queens! Now that was terrifying, talk about pressure, was that what his generation of future warriors had to face? What they would be thrown up against? All he could do was hold his breath and count the days before the time arrived for his assessment.

It was his mentor that woke him up that morning, explaining they’d be hunting by the rivers for his assessment. Exactly as he suspected, the typical hunting place thanks to their wet territory, ah well, no matter. He just had to get through this and then he’d be all set! Upon reaching one of the streams things started out pretty alright,the weather was nice, it wasn’t too cold, but the scruffy apprentice found himself having poor luck with catching any proper prey. Eventually he had leapt onto a rock in the middle of the stream to try and catch a small minnow when behind him a carp came up and bit his tail. Opossumpaw shrieked out in surprise as he stumbled into the water, his loud cry scaring off the prey around him. His heart sank as he realized his mistake, had he just ruined his chances of passing his warrior assessment? … No! No, he could still fix this- possibly. Opossumpaw looked around when he decided to follow the river downstream, he wouldn’t call it quits just just yet, he could find something before he ran out of time! Hopefully any ways.
His fur prickled nervously the entire time, a small groan escaping his throat as he couldn’t seem to find anything, that was till a new groan joined in with his own? No, that wasn’t a groan that was a … ribbit? Upon investigating the noise Opossumpaw was shocked to have stumbled across a small colony of frogs leaping around nearby. The apprentice wasted no time in hunting down quite a few of them as he returned back to the spot he had promised to meet his mentor, even managing to come across a small turtle on his way back after nearly missing it in the grass. With a stroke a luck he had just barely managed to salvage his assessment in the nick of time, his mentor even getting a small kick regarding the carp sneaking up on him.

Warriorhood [12 - 23 moons] >

After successfully passing his warrior assessment, Opossompaw made his way once more made his way into the camps clearing where he finally learned what his warrior name would be. Opossumshriek. It was surprising to heard at first, catching the warrior off when its reasoning was explained to him. His face warmed with fluster as his resilience was brought up when faced with a challenge. It was both flattering and embarrassing, that being knowing  his mentor had repeated the story, but he still couldn’t help but smile.

Shortly after his ceremony in the days following, many cats were surprised when Lightember’s rescue mission proved to be successful. Opossumshriek noted how many cats rejoiced to see the queen back and  alright for the most part. He wondered what that was like to be recognized by the whole clan, though he couldn’t say he exactly envied her ether after all they had been through.

About another moon or two went by when one day a rogue was brought into camp. It was surprising to say the least, but according to the word spreading around camp she seeking shelter and Waspstar had agreed to provide as much. There was also something about having kits and being chased? Whatever it was, there was a lot of eyes on the newcomer, though Opossumshreik would have his attention dragged off else where when his mother, Leechstripe had gotten hurt while out hunting, her injuries unfortunately getting infected in the process. Her condition slowly deteriorated, Opossumshriek visiting her twice before her passing. It was rough watching her grow weaker and weaker, Opossumshriek tried to speak with his dad after the fact but he only seemed to grow more quiet, their conversations growing shorter as he father Kestrelthroat took the loss of his mate hard.

By the time of the next moon the rogue that had been staying in Marshclan’s camp for refuge, had decided to join the clan in turn taking the name Bellflowersnow. It would be the same moon when something would occur in Cloudclan. They had heard rumors regarding the clan’s attack on the empire, but he was shocked when a small group of Cloudclanners had arrived in Marshclan explaining their territory had been taken over by the empire in retaliation, many cats killed or trapped in the tunnels. His fur prickled up at the information, recalling how just prior to the event his clan had found several tunnels on their side to be closed off. Thankfully Waspstar, bless his kind heart, agreed to provide refuge to the Cloudclanner’s, granted he would have been surprised if he even had turned them away.

Leaf-bare had arrived, it’s cold almost feeling late compared the cold reality many cats were facing with this war between the empire. Though things weren’t all terrible, after all it was the very same moon when Opossumshriek learned he would be training his very first apprentice by the name of Warblerpaw. They were quite the surprise, a sweet kid but very much more outspoken compared to himself.

More cats from Cloudclan were eventually found in the tunnels by the next moon. It was nice knowing more cats made it from the attack, the Cloudclanners being happy to be reunited though there was still some mourning to be shared with not everyone being able to be saved. Still though, it was a small win. Not to mention there was other good news as well, Butterflypaw being made a fully fledged herbalist just a moon early, gain the name Butterflydawn.

Things went on normally in the tom’s life, though being a mentor proved to be rather tiring as Warblerpaw kept Opossumshreik on his paws. It had only been two moons into their training yet the scruffy warrior couldn’t shake off his nerves, it didn’t help at all how awkward some of their training sessions where whenever he was trying teach the young apprentice, even more so whenever they weren’t talking. While out of camp, Opossumshreik had taken Warblerpaw hunting, blissfully unaware of what would occur during this time. Upon returning back to camp he was informed his father had passed away from a heart attack much to his surprise. He was distraught by the news, but went to go see his father afterwards. Sure enough, Kestrelthroat was dead, Opossumshriek attending his vigil, this time unaccompanied as he sat there alone.
Even with the death of his father, Opossumshriek kept on with Warblerpaw’s training over the next moon, slowly adjusting to everything that had occurred when tragedy would strike once more. Warblerpaw had gotten sick one day, Opossumshriek canceling their training for the day in order to send them over to the herbalist den. Unfortunately his apprentice would never get to leave the herbalist den as the sickness only got worse and worse. The warrior had gone in to check in on his apprentice one day only to find they had passed away during the night. The news hurt as he dropped the prey he had carried, fighting back tears as he left it for someone else. It was a rough night, having to sit there next to his apprentice's parents, crying silently in the warrior den as he didn’t get much sleep. 

Yet life carried on, Opossumshriek getting up everyday as he returned to his normal duties. Soon enough the clans all formed a plan where an attack was led against the empire with all four clans taking part. Good news came at last, the battle was successful Cloudclan regaining their territory once more. It would take a bit of work before they could all go home, but there was a sense of hope in the air. Well, ignoring whatever was going on with some Cloudclanners that were fighting with each other but that sounds like personal drama that Opossumshriek wasn’t going to get involved.

Cats began to get sick more frequently by now, it was a bit worrying honestly how fast the sickness was spreading and just how severe it was. It even got a new name, Wasting Disease, now that sent a shiver down his spine. They couldn't help but wonder if that’s what Warblerpaw had caught, he hoped not.

New-leaf soon had arrived, along with it surprising news as Waspstar stepped down as leader, now leaving room for Egretbranch to step up and become Egretstar. So many murmurs broke out after that, Wasps-catcher, Waspcatcher and Egretstar had looked over the clan together for so long. Many cats wondered who would step up into Egretstar’s shadow next? Even Opossumshriek couldn’t help but wonder.

Deputy [23 - Present moon] >

Soon enough Egretstar would hold a meeting where he announced he had came to a decision regarding who would be Marshclan’s next deputy. Everyone looked around as they held their breath during their leaders pause, Opossumshriek even taking the brief silence to give his leg a good lick after noticing a twig clinging to his pelt. It was when they heard their name did they pause with their leg stretched out, many eyes turning towards them as they looked startled. Opossumshriek quickly coughed out, even almost choking on his own spit in the process as the twig remained clung to him upon standing up. To say he was caught off guard would be an understatement, but after looking around and realizing this was indeed real, he gave his leader a nod accepting the role albeit it with a slight fumble. This was real right?