Burnstar (OC)

**❣ Please do not edit this page ❣**

**❣ ShadowClan leader ❣ Demigirl ❣ Autistic ❣ Tokophobic ❣**

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> *Come baby, come baby, burn tonight
> One step across the border won't hurt your mind
> The fire will get you baby don't you know
> Easy come, easy go*
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> - Catch Fire, Jenix
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## **Appearance**

**Burnstar** is a large, muscular, ticked ginger tabby she-cat with tall, prickled ears, long ear furnishings, a narrow face streaked with thin, dark brown stripes, and a dark brown, nearly black, shaded back, where the flames of her fur fade into a dark oblivion. Her long, fluffy, flame-orange pelt is her namesake, said to look like burning fires in the sunlight, with abnormally wide, radiant, vibrant blue eyes like glittering azure flames. She was luscious fur, long, wiry, brilliant white whiskers, large, gleaming fangs and claws, a white-tipped tail, a white splash on her chest and pale belly fur. There is a single nick in her right ear, with minor scars all over her body.

## **Personality**

 Burnstar is intelligent, level-headed and highly empathic with strong morals and a hunger for justice often mistaken by the other Clans as a thirst for blood. She can be highly emotional but does an exceptional job hiding it. She is not afraid to take risks if there is reasonable planning behind it and does not concern herself with Clan gossip, or what others think of her, although she does take the judgement of her Clanmates into consideration, valuing their opinion and knowledge. Her mental health sometimes makes tasks difficult, but she remains diligent.

As an apprentice, Burnpaw was often overly emotional and quick to anger, and that was all her clanmates saw in her. Her negative relationship with her stepfather, Boulderstone, who had been ThunderClan's deputy for a while, formed a distrust of authority that changed when she went to ShadowClan and quickly became to respect their superiors as hard-working individuals. Being trained by a senior warrior, Marshflower, whom she genuinely respected, she grew to become just as diligent, honourable and fiercely loyal as her, helping her climb up the ranks to leader.

## **Backstory**

 Burnkit was the middle of a little of three. She and her littermates were conceived when ThunderClan and ShadowClan were whole, making LeopardClan, and giving the cats of either Clan the chance to intermingle with each other, with most convinced it would be a long and healthy alliance. But the alliance would not last, and despite her father's attempts to stay connected, her mother, Amberflash, did not wish to violate the code and turned him down, choosing to raise her kits on her own for the time being. Flarekit, Burnkit and Tigerkit were later born.

By the time Burnpaw and her siblings had been apprenticed, Amberflash had grown interested in a tom named Boulderstone, a purebred ThunderClan warrior who had incredible distaste for ShadowClan, but was considerate enough to keep most of it hidden and not brought up at casual conversations. Burnpaw felt that he personally despised *her* and her siblings for being half-Clan. Becoming their stepfather, Boulderstone tried to look out for his new stepchildren, although they were originally reluctant; he hadn't been there for their kithoods and his naturally strict personality as a result from his own upbringing was a turn off. Tigerpaw soon looked up to him as the closest father figure they had, although Burnpaw and Flarepaw were unsatisfied. When chosen for their first gathering, they spent their time hanging around ShadowClan cats, who, despite spending most of their time hating on ThunderClan, were able to guide them in the right direction to find their father. They eventually did. He introduced himself as Crowclaw and took interest in his newly-discovered kits, who were excited to see him and have him in their life. However, this was interrupted when Amberflash came over and the two warriors started an argument in front of the entire gathering that almost caused a fight between their two Clans, before it ended early and everyone went home.

Burnpaw and Flarepaw went back to camp with the rest of the Clan. Burnpaw wanted to confront her mother about why any of that had happened, although Tigerpaw came to inform her that she was with a meeting with their leader, Gravelstar. Burnpaw didn't particularly like Gravelstar as she blamed him for the rift between LeopardClan can prevented her and her littermates for having a "decent" father figure and getting to know ShadowClan warriors, whom she was deeply interested in. She usually respect the Clan superiors, but took the chance to eavesdrop on their conversation, overhearing Amberflash requesting that none of her kits be allowed to attend a gathering again. Burnpaw felt deeply upset by this, and ran off. The event caused a rift between her and her mother, which the latter unable to figure out where it came from. At this point, Amberflash had Boulderstone's kits, a little of four that Burnpaw and Tigerpaw took to playing with. Burnpaw became quickly disinterested in the nursery once she realized Tawnykit was entitled, Cinderpaw was virtually a clone of her father, and the queens going into labour made her deeply uncomfortable, and so did her clanmates' pressures on how she'd be having kits someday, despite her insisting that she would not, not ever.

Burnpaw's health deteriorated as she refused to train with a mentor she deeply disrespected, refused to eat for long periods of time, and had no one to turn to other than the few friends she had, most of which being full-grown warriors who were mostly preoccupated with their new duties or starting a family of their own, which made her all the more uncomfortable. Tigerpaw eventually stopped bothering to come get her out of her nest and they drifted apart, and despite Flarepaw's attempts to hang on, she realized this was effecting his own training. So she pushed him back, for his "own good", for him to realize she was a lost cause and he'd be better focusing on her own future. Amberflash's concern for her eldest daughter came in the form of irritation, which made Burnpaw mistake her feelings as anger and shame towards her own daughter. Burnpaw decided she'd be better off elsewhere, and he mind wandered to ShadowClan. When the next full moon came, she snuck out with the patrol to attend the gathering and find her father once again.

Hiding among the other Clans to keep ThunderClan unaware of her presence, it made Burnpaw happy to know that ShadowClan not only remembered her, but took pity on what happened at her last attendance of the gathering. She informed them that she had been forbidden from attending by her concerned mother, which they took as a personal attack against Crowclaw. They were quick to hate on ThunderClan but seemed to consider her almost one of their own, as she hoped. She took to opportunity to talk with the apprentices, meeting Batpaw, Petalpaw and Eaglepaw, who would become her closest friends. She was ready to sneak out with the Clan, but was confronted with Flarepaw. They were both shocked and suspicious to see each other, but Flarepaw told her that he'd be given permission to attend gatherings again, but she'd be in trouble if she was discovered. Burnpaw was angered that he had not considered to ask for her and Tigerpaw to be allowed too, but became angrier upon asking her brother not to tell the Clan what she was doing to do, only for him to reply that he would neither immediately tattle on her, or would be keep a secret. Tension between ThunderClan was enough of a scene for ShadowClan to leave and Burnpaw to slip away with them.

She was accepted quickly into the Clan, but was still determined to prove herself. She worked hard, but not to the point of exhaustion like she witnessed Flarepaw go through time and time again. She had been apprenticed to Marshflower, Batpaw's father, who she liked significantly more than her previous mentor. Her warrior apprentice friends received their warrior names, becoming Petalbreeze and Eaglestrike, She was named Burnshadow, partially in honour of her Clan, partially in honour of Marshflower's mate, Quickshadow, being killed in a recent battle against ThunderClan. Burnshadow grew to hate ThunderClan more. She attended gatherings, avoiding her previous clanmates when she could, but they noticed her nonetheless and didn't hesitate to show their disapproval, which her father and other paternal kin would shield her from. A couple moons later, the deputy died and Burnshadow had been made the new deputy in his place, to her shock but also enjoyment. Around this time, Batpaw was named Batflight, receiving his full medicine cat name. He taught Burnshadow some basic uses of herbs and they grew quite close.

When Burnstar became leader, she was determined to ensure that ShadowClan respected her and trusted her as a alliable ruler, although she was ready to make decisions that she knew they would not like. She stated her respect for the warrior code, but announced as it also declared "the word of the leader is law", she'd be entitled to make decisions that would contradict it since they were doing to harm. The first was establishing her uncle's relationship with one of their warriors, showing apathy to the fact it broke the code and ensuring that her clanmates would keep the secret safe from the other Clans. ShadowClan took negatively to that but ended up in agreement over the fact they'd be spiting their most hated enemy, ThunderClan. Her second decision was to pursue a relationship with Batflight, a medicine cat. In the end, this shaped ShadowClan's version of the warrior and medicine cat codes, although this was hidden from the other Clans.

## **Relationships**

### **Ambersnow**

Burnstar wishes she could've been closer to her mother, and that Amberflash could've showed more concern for her in ways that didn't include verbal abuse, but accepts that Amberflash is not the mother she wanted. Despite this, they were able to meet each other once against after the rivalry between ShadowClan and ThunderClan was mostly healed.

### **Crowclaw**

Despite being very different in personality, Burnstar and Crowclaw get along very well if only over one thing, wanting each other in their life and showing each other the respect that Amberflash gave neither of them (even if she did care for them both at some point). Burnstar wishes she could've been with him sooner, but doubts she'd love and respect him as much if she had.

### **Boulderstone**

Burnstar never liked her stepfather, although her hate she held for him in her apprenticeship later subsided into apathy. They never got along, however, she noticed his outward hatred for ShadowClanners became slightly quieter since he discovered she had moved there. She considers he may have actually cared for her and her littermates, but this does not make her feel loving, or even sympathetic towards him. She has not met him again yet like she did with her mother, but excepts that he'll respect her as she is now a leader with authority over him.

### **Flarestar**

As apprentices, Burnstar once felt closest to Flarestar, even over their other friends. However, after she left to join ShadowClan and her brother was absorbed in his training, and later warrior duties, they drifted. As leader, they had an intense rivalry, a hatred, feeling betrayed by each other for their own personal reasons. Burnstar began to feel guilty, especially after the death of Squirrelnose, and took the initiative to reach out later on, and although still spiteful, they hope to regain their closeness.

### **Tigerstripe**

Burnstar was closest to Tigerstripe during their kithood; before the three siblings had apprentice duties and other friends, they were best friend with each other. As apprentices, their relationship went downhill silently, as Tigerpaw was more concerning with making friends and Burnpaw's mental health took a turn for the worst. While Burnstar fears she left Flarestar down, she feels Tigerstripe let *her* down.

### **Petalbreeze and Eaglestrike**

Eagle' and Petal', along with Batflight, are Burnstar's closest friends, being the first cats to make her feel welcomed into ShadowClan. Burnstar feels more welcome and at home among them than what she did with any cat in ThunderClan. They are practically her adoptive siblings, especially after the siblings' mother tragically died of an unknown, incurable illness. The three of them look to Marshflower as a second mother.

### **Batflight**

Batflight is Burnstar's mate and best friend. He respects her discomfort and choice not to have kits, although the two of them agreed that adoption may be a possible option in the future, since they're both still young with a lot of their lives ahead of them. Batflight is someone Burnstar feels she can completely let her guard down around and open up her heart to.

### **Marshflower**

Marshflower is Burnstar's secondary mother figure, someone more supportive and outwardly loving while also being unafraid to be blunt and open towards her, even if that's telling her to get her act together. Being called out is something Burnstar appreciates by a warrior and a honourary family figure that she respects so much. Marshflower could've been made deputy if she had not turned the offer down. She is also encouraging Burnstar to reach out to her kin in ThunderClan.

### **Flamefur and Frogdapple**

Flamefur is Burnstar's maternal aunt, the eldest of his litter. She knows of his and Frogdapple's secret relationship and chooses to keep it a secret from the other Clans, with those inside ShadowClan, who originally doubted her judgement, growing to accept and tolerate their forbidden love. Frogdapple, originally feeling guilty, has since become very grateful, and is working hard as a warrior to earn time with her mate.

### **Gingerfoot and Squirrelnose**

Gingerfoot and Squirrelnose are Burnstar's maternal uncles, the younger littermates of Amberflash and Flamefur. They had little to do with her and her littermates, and she feels little towards them. However, upon discovering that Gingerfoot had been killed in a battle against her own Clan no less, Burnstar felt immense guilt and did her best to prevent a battle against ThunderClan and ShadowClan as much as she could, giving her and her brother the chance to reach out.

### **Ravensong and Rookbeak**

Ravensong and Rookbeak are the littermates of Crowclaw, the paternal aunt and uncle of Burnstar. They are both respected warriors and Burnstar was honoured to meet them. After becoming leader, she looks to them as trusted advisors, with Ravensong in charge of battle reports, and Rookbeak in charge of reporting on prey.

### **Honeyleaf and Hawkcry**

Honeyleaf is Amberflash's mother, and Hawkcry is Crowclaw's father. Both are grandparents of Burnstar, although she never met them, as they both died after she was born, both related to battle. She only heard stories of them, hearing about Honeyleaf in ThunderClan and Hawkcry in ShadowClan, both described as loyal, talented, battle-hungry fighters, as well as being kind. Burnstar sees the resemblance in them, and got to see the both of them at her leader ceremony.

### **Nettlestar**

Nettlestar was the leader before Burnstar. Being old and frail even at the time she first joined as an apprentice, he expected his deputy to succeed him, until the deputy was killed overnight by a suspected ThunderClan assassin. This enraged ShadowClan and Nettlestar, who looked for a new deputy, and chose Burnshadow deliberately on her ThunderClan heritage and how it may benefit their Clan in revenge. However, at Burnstar's ceremony, he was there to give her a life and told her of his mistake, that it was probably not ThunderClan at fault, but he did not regret choosing her as she would undoubtedly benefit the Clan.

## **Trivia**

* Burnstar's warrior warrior name was originally Burnheart, then Burnshade, before being Burnshadow.
	+ The -heart suffix appears in her brother's warrior name, Flareheart.
* Her stand-alone theme song is *Catch Fire* by Jenix. The theme song she shares with Flarestar is *The Plagues* from The Prince of Egypt.
* The Somali and Ojos Azules breeds were her biggest inspirations.