Redwood

When Creek and Redwood finally finished their training, they didn't have anything to do with one another. Treating each other more like distant cousins than relatives. Redwood holds no love in his heart for his sister, so he avoids her as much as he can. And if they go on patrols together he makes sure to make her life a living hell. He hated his clan mates, he hated their leader, and he especially hated the ocean. Redwood often daydreamed about killing Reef himself and taking over the clan. But he knew that was no way to become a leader. Especially if he wanted is clan mates to trust him. Despite his hatred, he made sure to keep his social circle big. He had no true friends, none he could really trust, but he made sure to stay on good terms with his companions and work hard to show his worth. Most cats now never suspected him of any ill intent. Besides his sister. The scar on her throat will always be a reminder. It was around this time in the young tom's life had come to a halt. Most of his days were spent doing the same thing over and over and over until he couldn't take it anymore. Something needed to be done, he had too much potential. And it was wasted in Tideclan. At last, Redwood made the decision to leave. He had every intention of leaving forever, but he promised his parents that he would return. Some of his clanmates looked down on his decision, but by then he had proved himself to be a capable warrior. So his friends and family wished him safe travels and supported his decision. Creek was relieved. Redwood traveled for quite some time. Living outside his home as a loner was a new experience for him. He had no company, no one to spar with, no one to hunt with. Just constant days of silence. Not that he minded too much though. It gave him a lot of time to think. And plan. One evening while the red tom was hunting, he came across a she-cat. Another cat! It had been so long since he'd had proper interaction with another of his kind. She was stunning too, a sleek Bengal with beautiful light red fur. Their first interaction was tense and a bit awkward, but they both agreed to meet again the next night. And they did. He learned her name was Heatherheart. A beautiful name for an equally stunning cat. He learned a lot about her time as a clan cat while they met. Learned of their strange ways and even stranger naming systems. Redwood would often boast about having a name that resembled their naming structure. Maybe he was destined to meet these cats? He learned about the fire as well, and how the clan cats were slowly making their way to find a new home. Redwood could have told them about the tides but... something stopped him. He wasn't quite sure what. Did he want them to die? The pair met up for a few weeks before Heatherheart finally told him she was pregnant. Pregnant? Kits? The young tom was bewildered. He was so young, was he even ready? For maybe the first time in his life, he felt afraid. After hearing about her pregnancy, he agreed to return to the other clan cats with her and introduce himself. It was tense and awkward, he was a loner after all. But eventually they settled and got used to his presence. Besides, they had bigger problems to face. And they needed more able bodied warriors. Redwood stayed by Heatherheart's side throughout her pregnancy. It was hard on her. They were always moving, and the queen never had enough time to rest. When it was finally time to deliver, she gave birth to a single kit. A beautiful deep red kit who had Redwood's features but her mom's beautiful spots. She was perfect. When Heather offered up the name Redkit, the tom's chest would swell with pride. A little him! The first week was bliss, but soon Heather became more and more sick. The lack of food was getting to her, along with the weakness of just giving birth. Along with her failing health was Redwood's failing hope. These cats were dying. His mate was dying. His kit is going to die. This was the first time he'd ever truly felt love for someone, and it was slipping away. His time here was done. He knew it had to be this way. He told himself it was because he couldn't stand living in a clan so weak, but he knew in his heart that it was because he couldn't bare to see them die. So one night while the clan was sleeping, Redwood sneaked away and ran. Ran as far as his feet would carry him. All the way back home. Redwood returned to Tideclan into open arms. His parents and friends were thrilled to see him again after being gone for so long. He told them nothing about where he went and what he'd done. Instead he threw himself into his work. It was at this point when Sky and Pine had their second litter. Giving birth to two little siblings. A tom and a she-kit named Bark and Tiger. He hated them at first. Every time they saw them all he could see was his little Redkit. But slowly he began to warm up to them. Until he eventually started to adore them. Well, he adores manipulating them. Always pitting them against each other and encouraging naughty behavior. He often took out his frustrations on the little siblings. It was a good distraction from the pain in his heart. He took a particular liking to his little sister Bark, who was clearly the more dominant of the two.