Dusktuft

Duskkit was never concerned with any desire for glory in battle or becoming leader of his Clan, or whatever other great aspirations most kits had. He wasn't particularly shy like his sister, Meekkit, but he was never motivated to go out and make himself known to his Clanmates. He liked watching butterflies and helping his aunt Shallowcreek collect moss and feathers for bedding. Many predicted he would follow in his kin's footsteps and become a healer, and at first, Duskkit seemed eager to. However, Shallowcreek was hesitant to take him on. He struggled to remember even the simple remedies and herbs that Shallowcreek introduced him to and seemed queasy when faced with a simple thorn in his paw. By the time he was six moons old, they both decided that he wasn't the right fit for her apprentice. Berrystar was wise in apprenting him to Peonywish, though she was far from a popular choice in the Clan. Peonywish was a warrior from BeeClan, and though she had lived in MothClan for about a year now, many in the Clan still held reservations about her. However, Berrystar recognized that curious, peaceful spirit of Duskpaw mirrored in Peonywish, and knew giving her an apprentice, a legacy to carry on, would truly cement her place in the Clan. Peonywish and Duskpaw hit it off right away. While another mentor may have scoffed at Duskpaw hesitation to hurt a squirrel or his tendency to look for shapes in the clouds, Peonywish understood him and, better yet, understood how to meet him where he was and give him the specialized training he needed to learn how to hunt and fight. However, unlike Peonywish, Duskpaw never truly got over his aversion to violence. One day, Peonywish found him crying over a squished firefly, its glowing guts spread over his paws. Sobbing, he tried to explain that he'd wanted to catch and it bring it to his mother as a gift, but he'd misjudged his strength and squashed it to a pulp. It was just a bug, but Duskpaw was devastated. He had killed it for no purpose at all-- it couldn't feed his Clan, it posed no threat to him or his family. It was a beautiful creation of nature and he'd killed it. Peonywish helped soothe him, and though she didn't say anything to him at a time, her heart broke for her young apprentice, and she knew in that moment he could never be a warrior. His heart just couldn't take it. Shortly after this incident, Duskpaw was on patrol when his sharp ears caught the shrill sound of a kit crying for help. After alerting his patrol, Duskpaw raced ahead, following the sound until he found a young kitten stashed away in a tree by Twolegplace. MothClan sent out patrols searching for her parents, but none of the kittypets and Twolegplace rogues claimed her, so MothClan kept her for their own. However, a problem quickly presented itself-- there were no queens in the nursery. Luckily, the kit was old enough to be weaned, but it still raised the question of who would tend to the kitten? Who would watch her? Who would make sure she stayed out of trouble? Nobody was eager to volunteer themselves, until Duskpaw stepped forward and declared he would be the kit's queen. At first, he was laughed at-- he was just an apprentice, after all-- but when no better option presented itself, the Clan agreed that Duskpaw--assissted by the elders and another warrior, Wrenstreak-- would be the kit's primary caretaker, so long as he could keep up with his training at the same time. Duskpaw named the kit Goldenkit and launched himself into the daunting task without hesitation. The two formed a tightknit bond that would last their entire lives, and Duskpaw came to consider Goldenkit his little sister. Peonywish held much of his training sessions in camp so he could keep an eye on Goldenkit, and Duskpaw always made sure someone in camp promised to keep an eye on her before leaving camp. It was exhausting work, especially when Goldenkit woke up crying during the day, unused to the nocturnal lifestyle and missing her mom, but Duskpaw never faltered. When the time came for his warrior ceremony, he quietly took Peonywish aside and made a confession: he couldn't be a warrior. Or if he could, then he didn't want to be. He loved taking care of Goldenkit. In fact, he just loved taking care of cats. He loved being able to nurture and provide and be the cat others could count on when they needed something. He wanted to dedicate himself to taking care of his Clan, even though he didn't have the stomach or mind for a healer. He wanted to become a full-time nursery tom. Peonywish wasn't surprised, and she warmly told Duskpaw that she was proud of him for being brave enough to tell her and wise enough to realize what he wanted. They spoke with Berrystar, who was surprised--full time queens weren't all that common, and nursery toms even more so-- but he accepted. Of course, when he earned his warrior name and announced his new role, there were those that grumbled that the soft BeeClan side of Peonywish had somehow turned him to this, or worse, she was trying to "take away" MothClan's warriors, soften them for BeeClan to attack. But most cats loved Duskpaw--now Dusktuft--and truly felt that this role fit him perfectly. In the next several seasons, there would be a mini kit-boom in MothClan, and Dusktuft's aid was more than appreciated. Dusktuft has never regretted his decision. However, recently, a mysterious group of vicious rogues launched a surprise attack on his pseudo-sister Goldenstep and her old mentor Shadowstride, and though they were both able to flee, Goldenstep would die of her wounds several days later. Dusktuft was by her side the whole time, licking her fur and whispering soothing things like she was a kit crying in the nursery again. He was there when she took her last breath and passed away. Dusktuft took the loss hard, and is still working on bouncing back.