Shaded Creek

[basic descrip]

**WARNING: This page contains mentions of extreme parental abuse. Please read below with caution.**

## Relationships

### **Sweeping Branch**

Sweeping Branch is Shaded Creek's mother. They were very close, and Tumbling Stone did his best to protect her, even though he was very young. She makes it with him to the foot of the mountain, but doesn't survive due to the infection in her leg.

Sweeping Branch gave him one of his eight lives.

### **Falcon Crag**

Falcon Crag is Shaded Creek's father. He starts off as strict, but not necessarily mean. However, by the time that Tumbling Stone is born, Falcon Crag had begun to unravel from jealousy of Mountain Shadow's leadership. He emotionally, psychologically, and physically abused his kits and his mate, Sweeping Branch. This abuse, and the trauma of the harshness of mountain life, caused Tumbling Stone to develop DID (dissociative identity disorder).

Although he was heavily abused, Shaded Creek is the only child out of eight that survives The Journey. This is because Falcon Crag had a "prophetic" dream before his first litter (Sparrow Flight and Cloudy Sky) of a son who would carry their bloodline to leadership. Falcon Crag did not stop trying for kits until Tumbling Stone, because he fit the description of the "chosen kit." This is why Tumbling Stone survives and his siblings die by Falcon Crag's cruelty or the outside elements.

Falcon Crag is part of the group that leaves the mountains. About halfway down the mountain, Falcon Crag, Hail Storm, and Tumbling Stone split off from the main group to go hunting. Falcon Crag insists that they check a crevice in one of the cliffs; Hail Storm and Tumbling Stone agree only out of fear for what he might do to them while they are away from the main group. He leads them into a trap and creates a cave-in, and Hail Storm spares his own life to push Tumbling Stone out of the way. Falcon Crag willingly dies with Hail Storm, telling Tumbling Stone that he would rather be dead than see him grow up to be a disappointment.

Even after they make it to the new territories, Falcon Crag makes a point to meddle with Shaded Creek's life in order to make him miserable. Whether this is from anger, madness, jealousy, or delusion, nobody knows but him. He does this through nightmares in order to trigger him, or by orchestrating deadly encounters, such as the boar attack that took two of Shaded Creek's lives and gave him the existing scars all over his body.

### **Dappled Leaves**

Dappled Leaves was Tumbling Stone's closest friend and sister. They were attached at the hip, and were seen as twins because of this (and because of their almost identical pelts). Tumbling Stone feels sad when Dappled Leaves starts investing her time training with Path Walker to be a Healer, and thus spending less time with him, but her happiness is enough to quell that sadness. Dappled Leaves has a "big sister" aura around her, even though Cloudy Sky is the oldest of the siblings, and she would often assume this role when comforting her siblings during or after distressing events. This was especially true for Tumbling Stone, who heavily relied on her comfort after Sparrow Flight died.

Dappled Leaves dies with Tumbling Stone when they jump the bridge into the gorge in order to lead the wolves away from the rest of the group. Both are battered by the swift current and drown. However, Tumbling Stone is sent back with eight more lives and the new name "Shaded Creek." Dappled Leaves then gives him one of these lives after Sweeping Branch.

When Shaded Creek loses his second life after being pierced in the heart by a wild boar, he stubbornly refuses to return to his body until he sees Dappled Leaves. Exasperated, Path Walker allows this, and Dappled Leaves nuzzles her brother, then tells him that he must return to his body.

### **Path's End**

Path's End was practically Tumbling Stone and his siblings' foster mother. A dear friend of Sweeping Branch's, Path's End, then Spotted Shell, did what she could to limit or eliminate the abuse that she began to see Falcon Crag inflicting on his family. Tumbling Stone and his sisters would frequently hide out in Spotted Shell and Mountain's Shadow's nest when Falcon Crag was unreasonably angry, or when he was hurting Sweeping Branch.

After drowning, Shaded Creek travels until he finds the remains of their tribe, and he finds Spotted Shell, who now goes by Path's End and is scarred from the attack. They rejoice coming together but mourn the loss of Bumblebee Foot, who was not found even after Lamb's best efforts. They continue to be close, even sharing the same nest on nights where they both need comfort.

Path's End talks down Tumbling Stone, a 'little' of Shaded Creek's dissociative system, when he is triggered out after being lost in the catacombs one night. She is unaware of this at the time, but Tumbling Stone recognizes her and calls her Spotted Shell when he's lucid.

As things escalate with Ash, Shaded Creek feels that his efforts are unseen by Path's End, and he lashes out. Eventually they talk, and he apologizes afterwards. They agree to communicate more so that he doesn't feel unappreciated.

Shaded Creek is the one to suggest establishing borders, routines, and the Council of Leaders to Path's End.

Shaded Creek asks Path's End for advice, whether it be emotional or Clan business related, and considers her his second mother. For example, Path's End is the one who encourages Shaded Creek to confess to Persimmon Spice.

### **Sparrow Flight**

Sparrow Flight was Tumbling Stone's main role-model. Tumbling Stone wanted to be like Sparrow Flight since he was born, admiring his older brother's confidence yet humility. Tumbling Stone was a bit clumsy, and Sparrow Flight enjoyed teaching him how to not be.

He is used by Falcon Crag in attempts to isolate Tumbling Stone from his siblings. Steadfast in his morals, however, Sparrow Flight never blames or punishes Tumbling Stone for their predicament, and continued to protect Tumbling Stone.

Sparrow Flight protects Tumbling Stone from a mountain lion cub and loses his life doing so. Shaded Creek still blames himself for his death.

Sparrow Flight gave Shaded Creek one of his eight lives.

## Extra content

* Untitled (a trauma flashback)
* "Path's End's Advice"
* "Rejection"
* "Bonds"
* "News of Cloudy Weather"