Russetstripe

**Russetstripe** is a long-furred ginger she-cat with a darker stripe across her back and vivid green eyes.

## History

Russetkit and Scorchkit are born to Sunleaf and Swiftheart. Because they are the Clan's leader kits, they get doted on quite often. At six moons old, they are apprenticed to Sunsplash and Emberfrost.
Russetpaw excels in her training, and per Swiftstar's orders, is pitted against the other she-cat apprentice in the den, Songpaw. She finds her annoying and clashes with her constantly, the other apprentices in the den wanting to stay out of their fights. Their training becomes competitive, and Russetpaw, confident in her abilities, accepts the challenge. The two's rivalry becomes so strong that one day, in the middle of training, they clash with claws unsheathed and teeth bared. At first, their mentors believe this is just training, but they see fur being ripped. Russetpaw claws Songpaw's chest, leaving a scar, and Songpaw tears her ear. The two apprentices are treated together in Violetheart's den, much to their resentment.
They are both prohibited from going to the next Gathering, but are kept on guard that night. In the quiet, Songpaw blames Russetpaw, and Russetpaw clashes back at her. The two fight again, and some warriors are forced to break it up, sending Songpaw to her den and Russetpaw to guard the camp. Russetpaw believes that Songpaw is bad news for the entire Clan. They are able to attend the next Gathering, where Russetpaw meets all of RiverClan's apprentices: Dapplepaw, Ripplepaw, Runningpaw, and Rowanpaw. Russetpaw is in awe of them. Dapplepaw instantly speaks to Songpaw and bonds with her, while Russetpaw talks to Ripplepaw and Runningpaw. Runningpaw tries to start a fight with Russetpaw, but Russetpaw silences him with a swipe to his face. Ripplepaw laughs at Runningpaw being beaten by a WindClan apprentice, while Runningpaw merely shrugs it off and praises Russetpaw for her bravery.
Finally, Russetpaw and Scorchpaw are made warriors - Russetstripe and Scorchclaw. Russetstripe is ready to serve her Clan, but keeps away from Songpaw, now known as Songbreeze. Russetstripe serves her Clan diligently, but her relationship with her father is strained as Swiftstar had always doted on Scorchclaw and was much more harsher and stricter with Russetstripe. This leads to both of them clashing heads quite often, and eventually they drift far apart where they lack a relationship. Russetstripe tells Swiftstar at one point that he is no longer her father, and Swiftstar tells her that he always will be.
Russetstripe cheers for her brother when he is made the deputy of WindClan. When their father passes away, Russetstripe feigns grief, but knows that WindClan will be better without him as a leader, and still holds resentment against him for how he treated her. She is proud of her brother when he becomes Scorchstar and promises to serve him.
She participates in the battle against RiverClan when they try to take territory, but WindClan is defeated, much to her guilt. She gains an apprentice, Frostpaw, and immediately whips her into shape.
When a fire rages through WindClan's camp, Russetstripe watches it, feeling an ominous sense of danger. This causes her to have hesitation to shelter with RiverClan, but she still accepts Scorchstar's decision regardless and accompanies him.
Much to her frustration, during the time she spent in RiverClan's camp, she falls in love with a RiverClan warrior, Runningflame, who she had met by battling with him in a border skirmish. This costs both of them to meet together secretly when they can. This strains Russetstripe's relationship with much of her Clanmates, and although she knows this, she has fallen too far for Runningflame to do anything about it. Despite this, she still cares about her family and her Clan greatly.
In a battle that WindClan came to assist RiverClan with, Russetstripe is gravely injured. Scorchstar makes the decision to keep her in camp and have her treated by Starlingfern. Much to his Clanmates' suspicions, Runningflame spends the time he can with her and helps Starlingfern nurse her to help.
She is brought back home to WindClan, and her divided loyalties continue.
When ThunderClan is hit with an illness, she stays in the Clan to help them recover as many of their cats are sick or were away. While in camp, she becomes good friends with Sunfire and Winterfall. She is horrified when Sunfire is blinded by Houndheart, and checks on him daily with Winterfall. When Peartuft and Houndheart escape, they encounter Winterfall, Russetstripe, and other ThunderClan cats on their way home from the Gathering. Russetstripe attacks them, but Houndheart is able to fend her off. When Rootstar returns, Harewhisker comes back to ask for Sedgefall and Russetstripe. The two WindClan cats are brought home by the deputy.
## Personality

No-nonsense, tough, and stern, Russetstripe is not afraid to call out anyone she believes is wrong. Her temper is short, and she does not tolerate anything she finds unfitting for a warrior. However, behind her fierce persona, she is secretly kind and soft.
## Trivia

* Her best friend is Blackdove, whom she looks to as a sister.

## Theme song

* **Love Story** by Taylor Swift

*Romeo save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel, this love is difficult but it's real, don't be afraid we'll make it out of this mess.*
* **Bad Boys** by Victoria Justice

*You're a bad boy, I'm a good girl, and I'm gonna get my heart broken in time. You're a bad boy, baby, your world is gonna chew me up and spit me out alive.*
* **Superman** by Taylor Swift

*He's not as bad like this reputation, I can't hear one single word they said, no. You really got places to be, and I'll be old then. I always forget to tell you, I love you, I loved you from the very first day.*

## Quotes

**Russetstripe**: "*Get out of here, Runningflame.*"

**Runningflame**: "*Why don't you make me?*"

**Russetstripe**: "*Because... I can't.*"

—Runningflame and Russetstripe

**Runingflame**: "*...I want to see you again.*"

**Russetstripe**: "*I see you all the time. You're all I see. When I close my eyes, when I open them. You're all I see. Sometimes I wish I'd never seen you.*"

**Runningflame**: "*But you did, didn't you?*"

—Russetstripe and Runningflame

"*Each day has been filled with peril, but somehow, we have made it through it all together. I've finally figured out I can no longer live without you. Let us be together as long as it takes to bring an end to the chaos.*"
—Russetstripe

**Russetstripe**: "*Damn you. This, what we're doing? It won't end well, it can't.*"

**Runningflame**: "*It doesn't have to end at all. I'd never hurt you.*"

**Russetstripe**: "*You are not the cat who worries me.*"

**Runningflame**: "*Then who?*"
**Russetstripe**: "*Everyone else! You're not stupid or naive. This is wrong.*"
**Runningflame**: "*I...*"
**Russetstripe**: "*But I can't stop it. It's also the only thing that's right. You're the first cat who sees me.*"

—Runningflame and Russetstripe

**Runningflame**: "*Do I frighten you?*"

**Russetstripe**: "*The most frightening thing to me is having a part of you I don't know.*"

**Runningflame**: "*There is often more happiness in not knowing.*"

**Russetstripe**: "*I don't think that's true. There is no situation where it could ever be better for me not to know you. Even when it is hard to know, or frightening to know... even still.*"

—Runningflame and Russetstripe

"*My feelings cannot be changed. No matter whom it is I must face...!*"
—Russetstripe

"*So this is what it is to fight for love...*"
—Russetstripe

"*I knew you would come... I never stopped believing in you.*"
—Russetstripe

## References

1. ↑ Love Story by Taylor Swift
2. ↑ Bad Boys by Victoria Justice