Torrentstar

Torrentcreek Latest Reference

### Daughter(s)

Weaselleaf, Pidgeonkit, Blueberryjay, Frenzyclaw (adopted), Fuzzypaw, Merrycreek

### Son(s)

Amethystlight, Shriketalon, Vinewhip, Wanderpaw, Clearmoon, Tsunamipaw, Nightingalepaw, Halfnose, Jackdawfeather, Creektorrent

## Education

### Apprentice(s)

Mottlewing, Mistfeather, Wormwood, Flashwing, Distantpaw, Aloepaw, Pepperpaw, Tuliptail, Sloepaw, Berrypaw, Nectarcloud, Frenzyclaw, Weaselleaf, Nightingalepaw, Tsunamipaw, Bunnypaw, Wishcatcher, Merrycreek, Jackdawpaw

## **Torrentstar**

### Appearance

Torrentcreek (Windclan) is a tall, slightly thin, dark grey tabby tom with a long tail, small, pointed ears, a white tail-tip, yellow eyes and a streak of white fur running along his underside. The fur along the top of his neck is long- like his chin-fur, and his muzzle is white. He has a thin scar on his left cheek, inflicted by Finchsong, and a notched-scar on the left side of his neck, inflicted by Hollyfrost. There is also a small scar on the left side of his forehead. The heel of his front left paw is slightly burned.

### Personality

Torrentcreek is a power-hungry, extremely loyal, intelligent, observant, patient, arguably manipulative and morally questionable tom. He is more of the brains and less of the brawn, fighting his battles with wit and logic. He has very territorial habits, asking first but swiftly attacking any intruders of Windclan territory. He follows orders which he agrees with very well but is infuriated when orders are sub-par, as he strongly believes he is more capable of managing a clan. Since Torrentcreek has never been the best at combat, he utilizes clever choices of words and actions along with persuasion- arguably manipulation at times- to get what he desires most. He is very non-caring and blunt when others are upset, using their emotional vulnerability to his advantage where possible. A lot annoys Torrentcreek, though he does his best to hide it. He often finds himself bored or tired of other cats doubting his logic as they're not intelligent enough to understand the points he makes. He wishes for power so that he may prove himself a capable tom- a cat able to lead a clan to prosperity.

### Background

#### Kit-hood

Not many moons after Torrentkit was able to manage without his mother's milk, both of his parents were killed in a battle against Thunderclan- leaving Torrentkit very alone in the nursery until Weaselkit was born. For many moons, the younger Weaselkit would pick-on and generally target Torrentkit- but Torrentkit was too afraid of breaking rules to fight back. His sister, Mottlekit, from a very young age presented Windclan with a variety of small omens and signs from Starclan- leading Mottlekit to be apprenticed as a medicine cat. Meanwhile as a kit, Mottlekit would spend hardly any time in the nursery- instead helping around the medicine den- leaving Torrentkit. Very anxious and very alone, he felt there was nobody in Windclan to turn to. Until, when he and Weaselkit were around 3 moons old, Finchpaw of Thunderclan trespassed into Windclan camp, suspiciously intrigued by the kits. Upon witnessing Finchpaw tempt Weaselkit into private 'training' with the promise of respect and power, Torrentkit realized how cruel some cats could be. Torrentkit witnessed his 'rival', the cat who had picked on him his whole life trembling in fear- in turn, realizing how non-threatening Weaselkit was. From then on, slow progress was made with Torrentkit's anxious nature. Step by step, he worked his way into becoming a more confident kit. Though his beliefs that the rules were definite were shaken when Thunderclan attacked Windclan in Windclan's own camp. He witnessed mass-murder and his ears filled with pleas for help- things a kit should never be exposed to. After overcoming a few days of trauma, Torrentkit began to realize how little rules mean to some cats. Torrentkit was more determined than ever- it seemed every cat was living for themselves in such a cruel world.

#### Apprenticehood

Torrentkit, at the age of 6 moons, was apprenticed under the well-respected warrior Ravenwing. A humble yet influential tom who every cat appeared to hold in high regard. Training began and Torrentpaw's lack of physical talent was made blatant over the first few days. His nimble frame and lack of muscle made for a weak apprentice. Occasionally, Torrentpaw would best his mentor by first assessing the situation as the weeks dragged on. Being out of the nursery, Torrentpaw was exposed to more aspects of his own clan- like his clanmates and their individual opinions. He found them to be quite irritating at times, talking of how previous attacks had played out. Most nights, Torrentpaw found himself lying awake in his nest, thinking over those previous battle-plans and becoming increasingly disappointed with his current leader- Hazystar- and his deputy- Cinnamonflare- for putting so little thought into such important matters. Time and time again, Torrentpaw found himself overhearing arguments- big or small- and become irritated at the cats who found it impossible to solve the issue. He was confident he would be able to solve most issues, though time and time again the warriors shut him down- he was just an apprentice, why would they listen to him?

Only days before Weaselkit would become an apprentice alongside Torrentpaw, Thunderclan attacked. Torrentpaw found himself the helpless victim of battle- unable to fight for his clan or himself. All he could do was run and hide. Weaselkit did not survive this battle- he had charged out, willing to prove himself a worthy apprentice a few days early: only to be killed. Torrentpaw mourned the loss of the cat he had begun to tolerate and return gestures to. He was rather upset until, when he was reflecting on his actions in battle alone by the Thunderclan border, Finchpaw approached him. Finchpaw began with a calm, almost flirty, and sly tone which gradually shifted to that of the disturbed when he explained how death didn't matter. Everybody would die eventually- be they young or old. After all, when a cat dies they go to 'Starclan', so what is there to fear? Finchpaw suggested, in a manipulative way which was almost commanding, that Torrentpaw continue to meet him at the Thunderclan border. Same place- every few days. After their encounter, Torrentpaw continued reflecting and concluded with 'What happens, happens', reasoning that the past can't be changed, so it's better to move on and continue thriving while others are weak and emotionally vulnerable. He wouldn't let something as common as a clanmate dying slow him down from now on.

Torrentpaw, outside of training with Ravenwing, would proceed to obey Finchpaw and continue to meet him at the Thunderclan border. Upon the arrival of their first encounter, Finchpaw immediately attacked Torrentpaw- to which the tom flew anxiously into a nonfunctioning, broken, shivery, anxious, jittery mess with no capability of self-defense. Finchpaw taught Torrentpaw a lesson the tom deemed very important from that moment onward: always take the side of the aggressor. Be the one who attacks first to throw off your opponent. As their meetings continued, Torrentpaw found himself marginally less afraid and more expectant of the grey tom's attacks. By the time Finchpaw became Finchsong, Torrentpaw was hardly anxious when they fought and he began to fight back. Torrentpaw would use his tactical mind and quick-thinking, accompanied by the techniques taught by Finchsong to begin besting the warrior.

Though when the two were not together, Torrentpaw was jealous. Jealous of Finchsong's abilities and his warrior name. Cats still ignored his ideas and schemes as apprentices are obviously incapable of anything but changing nests. As time drifted onward, Torrentpaw grew confident- in his abilities and in himself. Noticing how no cat paid attention to his claims and strategies he began to keep his mouth shut. Soon the tom would hardly speak- instead, he would watch arguments from the side, looking displeased and skeptical as he thought over a plan which he believed to be ten times as strong. Assisted by Finchsong's training, his physical abilities were that of an average warrior though when mixed with his cunning mind, Torrentpaw began to best Ravenwing within training.

At about 11 moons of age, Torrentpaw had been sitting in solitude, silently disagreeing with most words the warriors around him spoke of until a 4 moon-old kit landed an impressive pounce on his tail. Morningkit and he began to talk and gradually realized they had quite a bit in common- neither's parents were alive, for example. They continued to talk daily and became close friends- especially when Morningpaw was apprenticed under Tailedge. The two apprentices frequently found each other out, beginning to care more for one another than they did anybody else in Windclan.

Torrentpaw had been partaking in an especially violent training session with Finchsong one day, earning a new scar on his face and gifting the Thunderclan tom with a scar of his own. Though when the tom left, Torrentpaw was face to face with Morningpaw who had witnessed the whole event. Seemingly angry at first, her tone grew to disappointment and worry. She spoke of how if anything should happen to Torrentpaw- she'd be lost. It was during his run back to Windclan's camp with tears stinging his eyes that he began to notice how close he and the she-cat had gotten.

Training continued all well. Ravenwing was rather impressed with the improvement which shone brightly over most other apprentices and Finchsong was beginning to lose his touch. Now familiar with the Thunderclan cat's manipulative nature and battle strategies, Torrentpaw had little fear and was able to confront said cat with courage and determination. Torrentpaw, despite Morningpaw's concern, continued to meet with Finchsong. The windclan tom reasoned that if Finchsong had trespassed into Windclan camp as an apprentice, he would undoubtedly do it again should Torrentpaw begin skipping training sessions- which would put Morningpaw at risk by having Finchsong so close. He would not allow such a violent tom near the one cat he truly cared for.

There was only one night remaining. Torrentpaw would have his warrior assessment when the clan woke up. Though the sun was only just setting his body shivered. Not with anxiety as he had one done- but with eagerness. Finally, he'd be a cat warriors would listen to. Perhaps Finchsong would treat him with a little more respect. Though the red stain of sunset never washed from the sky, it never disappeared behind pink clouds. Instead, those clouds turned black. Black with soot and ash. The red sun grew closer. As fire rampaged the four clans' territories, Torrentpaw found himself swept along by the crowd, unable to find Morningpaw. He ran, but he stayed alert. After only a few hours on the crowded gathering island- which bore refuge for all four clans- Torrentpaw was finally reunited with Morningpaw. They stayed together in the bustle of cats- not wanting Finchsong to notice their presence. Though Finchsong wasn't stupid and Torrentpaw knew this. Finchsong definitely knew they were there. Though most of Windclan made it out alive, Torrentpaw couldn't help noticing Ravenwing's absence. After a few hours of solitude, he declared losses were losses and he would move on. Suddenly, Torrentpaw became very aware that without a mentor, he would be unable to do his warrior assessment. It sank in that with the territories burning, he wouldn't become a warrior. Bitterness and anger swarmed in his stomach like a hive of angry hornets. Why did the territories have to burn?! Now he'd never become a warrior and cats would continue to look down on him! At least he had Morningpaw, he supposed.

When the clans moved back into their respective territories, every ounce of Torrentpaw's body was filled with determination. He would hunt all that he could to prove himself worthy of his warrior name. There wasn't much, but there was something. And something was better than nothing. During his hunting, Torrentpaw had accidentally lingered on an embering twig for a few seconds too long. From this moment forward, his front left paw-pad would be charred. Though it stung for a few days, he continued.

Eventually, when the clan rejuvenated, Torrentpaw was able to take his warrior assessment- and passed.

#### Warrior-hood

The first thing Torrentpaw did when he became Torrentcreek was spending time with Morningpaw. He reassured her time and time again that when her time came to become a warrior she'd do fine- despite her lack of confidence in her abilities. He encouraged her and persuaded her that she would do alright. Though Morningpaw appreciated the tom's comfort, she believed a different path would be right for her. Upon hearing Morningpaw wanted to be a queen over a warrior when the time was right, he felt a whirl of a strange emotion in his chest. She explained that even if her abilities were on par with that of a warrior's expected capability, she felt she belonged in the nursery. Since she had no parents growing up, Morningpaw wanted to gift some kits with the childhood she never had. At this reasoning, Torrentcreek felt a mix of admiration, respect, and fear. Fear that he couldn't explain.

The first encounter with Finchsong while they both were warriors was the time Finchsong stopped holding back. It became notably harder for Torrentcreek to beat Finch in a battle of strength- and his quick-wit proved not to be quick enough as every pause to assess the situation was met with another claw-swipe to the face. Their training sessions no longer leaned towards Finchsong teaching Torrentcreek new abilities- only harnessing his current skills and enhancing them. Torrentcreek needed to think faster.

Training continued as normal with Morningpaw becoming more concerned with every new scar on Torrentcreek's grey tabby pelt- though a drive pushed him. *He wanted respect from his clanmates*. To Torrentcreek's surprise, warriors had begun to consider his words when he explained his thoughts, yet senior warriors along with Hazystar and Cinnamonflare continued to dismiss him. If he was going to be recognized for his skill then he'd need *more skill*.

Before he knew it, Morningpaw received her warrior name- Morningbreeze, a name he felt suited her nicely. Upon seeing her warrior ceremony, pride and a strange feeling swelled in him once more. The feeling was tangy and sweet- yet scared him. Over time, the idea that he had possibly fallen in love with another cat made its way to the front of his mind. Torrentcreek realized this was bad. He now had something to lose and that put him at a disadvantage.

Attempting to avoid Morningbreeze only worsened his emotions- he wanted to be by her side, to protect her from the world. She was all he had, and for many days he debated on if that was a good thing. Days ticked by and he caved. He wouldn't give in to distancing himself out of fear of losing someone close to him. The world wouldn't stop him from being happy. Torrentcreek stopped distancing himself altogether from Morningbreeze- who seemed relieved to be spending so much time with him in turn. After many days of closeness, Torrentcreek snuck away to find something worthy of Morningbreeze's praise. Searching all day, he swore nothing stood out until a beautiful blue flower caught his eye which he prominently picked and buried close to the lake where he supposed the water and sand would preserve it. Not but a day later, Torrentcreek brought Morningbreeze to that very place, digging up the blue flowers and gifting them to her. After a long talk and a quick confession: Torrentcreek and Morningbreeze were officially mates.

Hope flared in him that one day, he'd be worthy of her kits. Torrentcreek thought logically that if he was going to emotionally invest in cats and risk mourning again then he'd at least go all the way. Torrentcreek wanted a family and Morningbreeze wanted to be a queen and now as a warrior, she could be. Perhaps being a father would earn him respect from his clanmates. He hoped so.

Few skirmishes and battles had been fought with Thunderclan for a long while, though the peaceful streak ended when Windclan found themselves locked in battle with the enemy clan yet again. Though Torrentcreek wasn't present, news spread to him fast. Cinnamonflare was dead. Windclan was without a deputy and his heart leaped with joy- finally, a chance to prove himself! A moment to let every cat, in and out of Windclan, see just how tactical he could be. Though Torrentcreek knew not so deep-down that he was only a young warrior with no outstanding physical abilities- he knew he wouldn't be chosen. But hope vigorously bore at his stomach lining as Hazystar announced the new deputy to her clan. At the call of Reedshade's name, a russet tom with cunning green eyes and a personality much like his own, Torrentcreek felt a tsunami of anger hit him head-on. It was supposed to be *him!* Yet what followed was a wave of relief. This gave him longer to be with Morningbreeze and admittedly, he wasn't sure how to be a deputy. But Torrentcreek was assured by himself that if taught how he'd *excel*.

Lucky for him, the opportunity presented itself yet again within but a few days. The ongoing battles between Windclan and Thunderclan had torn away Hazystar's last life- promoting Reedshade to leader. Yet again, the deputy position was open. *He wanted it, he needed it*. If he became deputy, his values and strategies would be accepted by his clan- he'd make sure they were accepted. Along with increasing punishment. Too long had some cats gone unscathed he believed.

Which is why Torrentcreek was absolutely ecstatic when Reedstar chose him to be deputy. Keeping his cool just under the surface, he accepted the role.

#### Deputy

Performing his deputy duties was expected to be rather stressful by the young tom- though no stress met his mind. Torrentcreek suspected he wasn't doing enough to help his clan if he hadn't been challenged enough within the first few days.

Meanwhile, Morningbreeze and he had been drawing closer- the time they spent together being more quality. He quite enjoyed his life, seeing as even his tactics were accepted by the clan. Though Finchsong still plagued the back of his mind.

For the first time, Torrentcreek would meet Finchsong at the border as a deputy, Torrentcreek would not reveal his deputy status. He didn't want the Thunderclan tom to know too much about him- or to see his life as potentially worthy of taking. However, their skirmish was rudely interrupted. Finchsong had Torrentcreek pinned to the forest floor, whereas Torrentcreek had shot his head up, clamping his iron-jaw down on the Thunderclan cat's neck and refusing to be shaken free- that was, until a strange cat tacked Finchsong and the pair tumbled down a near-by hill: Torrentcreek having been whipped away by the sudden motion. The deputy sat quietly at the top of the hill, keenly observing the unraveling argument below. He had hoped Finchsong to simply kill the she-cat when they had revealed their name to be Vesta, a kittypet, as killing them would cease their possible future interuptions- but when Finchsong responded to Vesta, introducing himself as *Finchstar*, Torrentcreek's jaw gaped. As the argument heated and the knowledge settled into Torrentcreek's mind, he found himself scrambling down the hill to defend Finchstar, claiming that he and his mentor had just been training and insisting the she-cat leave. After many words from Vesta and Finchstar, the stuck-up kittypet left. *It was at this moment that Torrentcreek noticed outsiders were the worst breed of cat- for sure.*

 Torrentcreek had fully prepared himself for Finch*star* to speak at the oncoming gathering, meaning when Boulderstar of Thunderclan addressed the four clans Torrentcreek was more than confused. What happened to Finchstar? Only curiosity plagued his mind- had Finchstar lied about being a leader in front of him for a reaction and was still in fact a warrior? From the roots of the gathering tree, he scanned every face in the clearing which was close enough to be made out- though none were reminiscent of Finchstar.

Later that gathering, a weird cat named Flashstar had murdered Shadowclan's Rookstar- much to Torrentcreek's annoyance. This was his first gathering as a deputy and somebody had to ruin it by dying. Not to mention the loners who stumbled onto the island directly after. All Torrentcreek could do was sneer through pointed teeth and narrowed, yellow eyes at the ones who didnt belong as Reedstar commanded him to guide Windclan away from the island. When Reedstar later returned to camp only to inform Torrentcreek that said loners would be temporarily residing in Windclan- he narrowly avoided spitting at his leader. Outsiders were outsiders for a reason- *Vesta* had proved that- and he would not offer an *ounce* of hospitality to a single non-windclan cat. Despite Reedstar's persistence with insisting the outsiders could be useful in the future, Torrentcreek found it hard to believe and after a few days of reflection: found himself feeling bitter. Just like when he was an apprentice, Torrentcreek was sure he was more capable than the cats above him, in this case: Reedstar. Torrentcreek wanted Reedstar *gone*- Windclan would follow his orders. He was the more capable tom and he *knew* it.

Days passed and Torrentcreek's mind was plagued with uncertainty. He wanted to trust Reedstar's judgment but the deputy was sure the loners would bring about no good to Windclan. His impression only worsened when two Thunderclan toms wondered into Windclan's camp. To Torrentcreek's horror, Reedstar openly welcomed to duo into Windclan- going as far as to threaten cats who were unwelcoming. Before the leader swept the new cats along to his den, Torrentcreek witnessed many cats greeting the pair- to which he turned his nose up at. One cat though, Lightningpaw, presented favorable qualities. Lightningpaw was visibly unhappy- angry even- that non-windclan cats would become additions to the clan. In that moment, Torrentcreek thought quite highly of the apprentice- seemingly the only other cat with any reason in their brain. Though while the cats were first speaking with Reedstar after entering the camp Torrentcreek overheard from the shadows their names- Slatewater and Finchpaw. He had suspected something was off about the apprentice the moment they'd stepped into camp and now he knew why: this cat was the spitting image of Finchstar. A mix of fear and anger surged through him before he slunk away to his den, thoughts buzzing. Torrentcreek had worked so hard to escape Finchstar, the cat who had hurt him and scarred him and shaped his life so that he would be living in fear, having to pick and choose who he would or wouldn't form emotional connections without of fear of their safety. Finchstar made it so that the safest place for cats Torrentcreek loved was wherever he was not- far far away and just when the deputy thought Finchstar was gone, here pads into Windclan a cat that is the spitting image of him. Not just by name, not just that they came from the same clan, but deep within Finchpaw's eyes he saw the same masochism and darkness that had resided in Finchstar's. Torrentcreek's pelt shivered at the thought of Finchpaw- not the cat himself- Torrentcreek was quite sure he'd be able to win a physical fight with the younger tom, but because Reedstar seemed to trust him. The deputy was sure Finchpaw would be welcomed into Windclan and, much like Finchstar, torment him under the noses of every other cat. He didn't want to let that happen. Not to mention how close to Morningbreeze Finchpaw would be- practically sleeping next to his mate. Something would be done.

Thoughts manifested over a few days in Torrentcreek's mind at how he should handle Finchpaw. He could physically confront the tom with the aim of chasing him from Windclan altogether- though Finchpaw seemed glued to Slatewatcher's side. And Slatewatcher was definitely a cat Torrentcreek couldn't match in a battle of strength. On the other hand, he could warn Reedstar of Finchpaw and the cat he represented- although that may mean revealing his own relations to the ex-leader of thunderclan. He suspected it was worth a shot one morning as he entered the clearing to talk with Reedstar- though was cut off by the leader calling a clan meeting. A little annoyed, he supposed he could wait. Yet when the russet leader declared Finchpaw was to become a warrior, Torrentcreek couldn't stand by and *watch*. He pushed his way to the front of the crowd and demanded the ceremony stopped. After some confrontation with Reedstar and Slatewatcher Torrentcreek knew what he had to do next. Reedstar had proven time and time again with irrational, illogical decisions that he was definitely incapable of leading a clan. He consistently allowed non-windclan cats into Windclan and he'd had enough of sharing limited resources with such vermin. Finchpaw became a warrior that day, Finchcall, to Torrentcreek's spite. As the ceremony ended he retreated to his den to reflect- the cat Finchcall represented hot in his mind and now Finchcall potentially had the respect of his clanmates. Finchcall- the thunderclan-born cat who had been in Windclan for not a week and was practically a replica of Finchstar. Torrentcreek thought back to when he was an apprentice when no cat would listen to him or take him seriously yet how that stopped when he became a warrior. Torrentcreek was fearful that Windclan cats would begin to do the same with Finchcall- to him, it was as if Finchstar had walked into camp and immediately received the trust of every cat around him.

Except him. Torrentcreek was the only cat who saw through Finchcall's act, he wouldn't let him tear him apart- much less *his* clan.

He was just about ready to act when Ravenwing entered his den. The two spoke for a while and Ravenwing, upon hearing Torrentcreek's faked excuse that he disliked Finchcall purely due to him being a thunderclan-born cat, was ready to leave Windclan to which Torrentcreek attempted to prevent, busting into a fit of shouting at his ex-mentor. He explained about Finchcall, about Finchstar and how they'd trained together- only for Ravenwing to be supportive. Torrentcreek was touched, almost heart-broken by the tom's support and provision of an outlet and listened to what they spoke of. Ravenwing, before leaving, taught Torrentcreek of how loyalty stays with an individual- not with the clan they were born into- and that Finchcall, despite their similarities to Finchstar, has never done anything wrong. The deputy paused to consider, it was true that Finchcall had never technically wronged any cat- though the fangs in his eyes still shook Torrentcreek's core. Torrentcreek would give Finchcall a *chance*.

Later that day, Torrentcreek saw Finchcall leave camp and heard Ravenwing's words echoing in his head. Following the younger warrior, he would at least *try*. What met the deputy's ears chilled him- coming up on a rock which separated the pair, he swore he could hear a second voice speaking to Finchcall. Could Finchcall have spoken his name and Torrentcreek misheard, or did the cat introduce himself as *Finchstar*? Peering around the corner to spy, the deputy froze as all of his suspicions were confirmed- there stood Finchcall, openly talking to and trying to support the ghost of Finchstar- right by windclan camp.

Wanting to hear what was spoken, Torrentcreek continued to listen from a distance. Though when Finchcall left his cover would be blown- so he rounded to the opposite side of the toms, now behind Finchstar as he observed them. The instant Finchcall turned and left, the tom revealed himself to Finchstar- demanding answers to questions and having an *unsavory* interaction until they parted ways.

With his suspicions upon the young warrior confirmed, Torrentcreek began again to reflect. Now that he had proof Finchcall was up to no good with Finchstar, the deputy *knew* Finchcall would try to hurt Windclan. Even if he didn't know, Finchstar would use him. Windclan would be damaged either way- whether Finchcall meant to or not. This made Finchcall gaining Windclan's respect dangerous. Torrentcreek wouldn't let a cat he now *knew*, rather than *suspected*, was up to no good gain the favor of his clanmates- so the idea of *convincing* some cats to see the darkness in Finchcall's eyes. He immediately knew where to begin- Morningbreeze, Mottlewing and Lightningpaw. These cats would listen to him.

First, the deputy made his way to Lightningpaw and made his opinions clear with subtle methods- suggesting the extreme of killing Reedstar to the impressionable cat. To his happiness, Lightningpaw agreed with the words he spoke.

Torrentcreek was a good deputy to Windclan but his incapable leader was limiting him, stressing him out. He began spending time alone at borders, as far away from camp as he could manage and one day stumbled upon Boulderstar of thunderclan.

After confiding in each other relating to stress, the two cats began to seek one another out more frequently. After many meetings, Torrentcreek began to suspect something was off with the lovely she-cat.

The tom's suspicions were eventually confirmed when Boulderstar brought 4 young kits to him on the border: Amethystkit, Shrikekit, Vinekit, and Wanderkit- four toms. Immediately, repulsed by what he'd done, Torrentcreek rejected the kits and disowned the family, attempting to leave yet Boulderstar ensured he took responsibility for at least one after a lengthy argument- so Torrentcreek returned to Windclan with Amethystkit who he claimed was a loner's kit, lost on a border. In Windclan, Amethystkit was fully ignored.

Torrentcreek couldn't believe he'd let his emotions get the better of him. He'd fallen low enough to confide in a non-Windclanner, and these kits now represented that stressed period of his life, serving as a reminder of his sins.

Yet after some time of careful consideration and reflection, as usual, Windclan's deputy realized he could use their kits as possible blackmail in the future. He was unsure at the time of what blackmail he'd bring about with Boulderstar, but he'd take the opportunity if it ever came around.

Over the next moon or so, Torrentcreek sought out Thunderclan's deputy- Scorchwind- and ensured her pregnancy before attempting to disown the couple, yet Scorchwind insisted he took their one kit back to Windclan- after a long night of arguing, Torrentcreek returned to Windclan with his son who was also ignored.

He never wanted anything to do with the she-cats or their kits: he wanted *blackmail*.

However, one pregnancy he was more than happy to accept was that of Morningbreeze. The two grew closer after her announcement and Torrentcreek wondered how he'd serve as a father. He wanted the best for his family, and the tom would provide.

At the next gathering, Torrentcreek watched with burning, angered yellow eyes as Quietstar and Spiderstar announced Riverclan and Shadowclan would combine into one *Shiverclan*. This was an all-around bad idea- at least all four clans below seemed to agree. The deputy's heart ached with the longing to pry the clans back apart- a clan founded on a cross-clan relationship, between two leaders nonetheless, was a clan destined to fail.

On the way back, Windclan's deputy paced deep in thought. Nobody liked this new *Shiverclan*, all the cats' opinions Torrentcreek had heard appeared to be negative. It had no backing- and yet, there it stood. He'd decided what to do by the time Windclan returned to camp.

The next day, Torrentcreek sat alone by the lakeside, contemplating his decisions when he was jumped by Finchcall- his body wasn't physically strong enough to even defend himself, yet his intelligent eyes turned to the water. The deputy proceeded to drag Finchcall by the ankle into the lake, only to push the cat into the ground below until the struggle ended. After the event, he sat once more on the lake's edge, staring intently at the still water surface- yet not as much as a ripple passed its perimeter. Even though there was no sign of life, the tom suspected Finchcall was not quite finished and would sleep with one eye open. His impression of the cat had only worsened.

The tom returned to camp, a large gash on his left shoulder and a small cut above the same side's eye- usually, Torrentcreek would allow scrapes and cuts to heal by themselves, but such a large gash on the leg would surely draw attention and raise questions- questions the deputy didn't want to answer. He made his way to his sister in the medicine den, claiming he'd fallen down a hill- yet the medicine cat wasn't *that* stupid. She claimed to know a claw wound when they see one, as a seasoned medicine cat it would be quite obvious. As she patched his wounds, he explained what'd happened, how Finchcall had attacked him and in response, Torrentcreek had drowned the cat, all with a toneless voice, proceeding to make a cover-up story.

It went along the lines of a Shiverclan patrol attacking the pair, taking Finchcall's life and scarring Torrentcreek- he ordered his sister not to spread this unless absolutely necessary, as he was still somewhat certain that Finchcall would not be quite as dead as most would expect.

His reluctant sister agreed but warned that Reedstar would find out if it happened again.

Torrentcreek mentally shrugged it off. He would never go round killing cats- killing cats was a sin. An irredeemable action, drawing cats to the dark forest, and Torrentcreek was not a bad cat. He worked for his clan in any way possible. Even down to feeling the need for Reedstar's absence. Reedstar was incapable and Torrentcreek was *very* capable. Windclan would thrive with his lead- so why settle for a leader like Reed when they could have someone much better?

The deputy's mind was flickering between many issues and many solutions- he'd use this moment of Finchcall's absence to work on separating Shiverclan, unaware of how long that absence would be.

Not taking the risk of waiting, Torrentcreek exited the medicine den and sprinted to Thunderclan, crossing their borders and following a scent trail to their camp where he entered the leaders' den- confronted by Boulderstar who he had a proposition for.

Quietstar and Spiderstar were mates and seemed to be proud of their unique relationship- both being leaders. On top of that, Quietstar was petty- meaning it would be easy to upset such a pathetic cat whose thoughts dwelled too long on grudges. Torrentcreek pitched the idea that Boulderstar and himself became formal mates- he'd tell Morningbreeze to avoid any miscommunication and ensured to specify the formality of this relationship, claiming he felt nothing for Thunderclan's leader and this was to secure the allegiance between their clans while also upsetting the petty Quietstar. Whatever offended Quietstar, he'd ensure he explored.

In the end, Boulderstar agreed to the idea- seeing it would benefit Windclan and Thunderclan alike. They would not merge clans as the others did and would even be setting an example to the reluctant Shiverclanners that allegiances were of course possible without merging.

Torrentcreek suggested they had a litter of kits to ensure the relationship was sound and so that they would serve as the bond between clans. When he spoke, Boulderstar asked what was wrong with the first litter and the deputy was forced to repeat himself, explaining again that the first litter represented a bad, stressful point in both of their lives where they turned to a cat from a different clan to confide in about their worries. The kits were a subproduct of their stress and Torrentcreek wanted to forget about them. The kit themselves had done nothing wrong, but every time they were mentioned or he looked in their direction, he was reminded of all his issues.

Caving, Boulderstar agreed as long as Torrentcreek took responsibility for exactly half of the litter- which he also agreed to- stating it would be beneficial to have the kits representing the bond in the clans in both allied sides.

Exiting the camp that night, Torrentcreek was attacked by a Shiverclanner- Hollyfrost. She seemed to have some personal vendetta against him, which manifested into anger as she swatted at him, pushing him open-mouthed into a thorn bush. Being physically weak anyway and topping it with his injury from Finchcall, Torrentcreek assessed the situation and found it clear he'd be incapable of beating the cat with force. Taking off, the broke into a sprint and lost the she-cat when he plunged into the border river between both clans. The current carried him, dragging him out of control and slamming his side into a stepping stone- where he washed up- only to be found by Shrikepaw in the morning.

Hardly conscious, his son dragged the deputy to Thunderclan's medicine den where he- having taken up the role of a medicine cat apprentice- began to work on his father. When the tom came to, it was apparent minor memory loss was present. As his senses returned, Torrentcreek realized he recognized the cat but didn't quite know from where- until Shrikepaw figured his father's thoughts out for himself, explaining who he was. The two were in an awkward state as Shrikepaw worked- pulling thorns from the Windclanner's mouth and face, patching cuts, and treating wounds- all the while a tense glare was shared between the duo.

Memory coming to, Torrentcreek was able to explain a little of what happened, but not the full story- he could recall his attacker being a Shiverclanner, but not quite who. Shrikepaw claimed he'd warn Boulderstar himself as he finished working- Torrentcreek left swiftly, unwanting to look at his offspring and moving very cautiously back to Windclan where he explained the ordeal with Boulderstar to his pregnant mate. After some explaining and reassurance, Morningbreeze accepted this as almost a sacrifice for the sake of the clans.

The pair took time to further bond and Torrentcreek rather looked forward to beginning a family with the she-cat. At this point, the mutually respected Frenzyclaw achieved a more father-daughter relationship with the deputy.

One day, hunting around the Riverclan border, Torrentcreek overheard a scrap between Amethystlight and an apprentice of Shiverclan- Howlpaw. The fight swiftly turned sour and he ended up struggling to pull his son away, immidiately exiling them on the spot. It was admittedly a rushed decision, but no regret was made.

Nobody in Windclan would likely notice they were gone, let alone ask- and if they did raise questions, Torrentcreek would explain how a Shiverclan patrol had murdered them and taken the body.

Sticking around Howlpaw for a while, Torrentcreek began to realize this apprentice was just the kind of cat Windclan could use. He felt nothing for her, but definately saw Howlpaw as a useful *piece*. Offering to take her mind off of the previous event, Torrentcreek allowed Howlpaw into Windclan land where the two spoke before getting caught in a storm and returning to camp.

Frenzyclaw, Canarysong, and Dappledshine all conversed with him as the apprentice slept away the rain. In the end, his decision was made- a part of separating Shiverclan would be to take their own cats, temporarily or permanently luring them into Windclan where they'd be turned against their own birthplace.

Upon further meetings with Howlpaw, Torrentcreek learned of how a dark forest cat had killed their father and left the she-cat in Shiverclan with nobody to turn to- a perfect cat to persuade to switch clans. It was also made apparent how Howlpaw would only leave if it was a matter of life and death- so Torrentcreek would *make* it life or death. When Amethystlight was caught in Windclan for the first time as an exile, he *accidentally let slip* where and when Howlpaw would next be alone- becoming rather pleased when *Howlfire* explained to him how Amethyst had indeed attacked them, giving a scar on their rear leg, the next time they met.

Yet he suspected his adoptive daughter Frenzyclaw was right- perhaps Amethyst's background as a Windclanner would sour Howlfire's opinion of said clan. He needed a *Shiverclanner* to target the she-cat.

Taking the time to pick out a promising cat, Torrentcreek settled on Ibispaw- a Shadowclan apprentice who, in a few nights, snuck into Shadowclan camp to see- claiming word of their talent had reached Windclan and he had to see for himself the cat of such skill.

By the end of the night, Ibispaw was hooked on his word, admiring his status as a deputy and agreed to meet him the following night- where he practically brainwashed them, persuading the young, impressionable cat that Shiverclan was a disgrace and an insult to every living cat and their ancestors who had fought clan to clan, day in, day out.

At the end of the week, Ibispaw agreed to consistently attack Howlfire for him with hopes of driving them from Shiverclan. Every aspect of this was meticulously considered- meaning when Ibispaw returned having been beaten by the warrior, Torrentcreek silently admitted to himself that he'd expected this.

Taking Ibispaw's suggestion of Cardinalbreeze- his Shadowclan mentor- Torrentcreek waited for the following night on the border until said cat walked by. After a rocky start, the warrior too was hooked on his word, agreeing to target Howlfire.

Upon walking away from their first meeting, having agreed to talk in one night's time, Windclan's deputy realized they'd need a safer place to converse and decided finding a small place to make a den would be appropriate.

Torrentcreek felt nothing for these cats and was slightly dismayed at the need for conversing constantly with the non-Windclanners, but this would benefit his own clan while damaging Quietstar's- so he'd absolutely follow through with his word.

A while later, the tom ventured to Thunderclan to check up on the now pregnant Boulderstar who appeared to have no issues with the pregnancy. The trip went well for the most part, yet an unwanted visit from Shrikepaw- wanting to check up on Boulderstar- and Torrentcreek's previous injuries while he was still here- may have ruined the moment.

It was nice to know from a medicine cat that there was indeed, nothing wrong with Boulderstar. It was announced the kits would come very shortly- a few sunrises from now- and there would be around three. The atmosphere was no less tense as Shrikepaw checked the thorn-wounds in his mouth, noticing some possible areas of infection and passing on some marigold. Absorbing the information of marigold healing infections, Torrentcreek swiftly left.

As he returned to Windclan that same day, Frenzyclaw- accompanied by Canarysong- had approached him for a general conversation. It was pleasant, the sun warming his fur and distracting him from all that had happened. For once, Torrentcreek's mind emptied- all that was there was the warmth of the sky above. Yet the peace was swiftly disturbed- first by Frenzyclaw's constant shuffling which drew into pained screams. Frenzyclaw was giving birth, and the kits weren't about to wait. Canarysong confirmed there were no medicine cats in camp, so Torrentcreek ordered the she-cat to take his adoptive-daughter to the medicine den while he fetched water.

Quick as a hawk, the tom returned with a massive bout of water, proceeding to pass it onto the birthing she-cat and stand aside, mind frantically racing. What was he meant to do?!

Mind racing, he recalled something Mottlewing had once mentioned about poppy seeds relieving pain. He awkwardly clawed a dozen or so and allowed Canary to force-feed Frenzyclaw. For the remaining process, Torrentcreek stood in the corner of the den, dumbstruck and confused- how did he comfort a cat in so much pain? His heart ached as he watched the cat struggle-- until a high-pitched mewing filled the nursery. One kit.

The tom comforted Frenzyclaw, standing guard in the nursery until a medicine cat returned- where he left the den and took a deep breath. Both Morningbreeze and Boulderstar would both birth to his kits in a matter of days- hell, Morningbreeze could go into labor any second now. His stomach churned with fear. Part of him wanted to run, but running would accomplish nothing- if only Boulderstar hadn't forced him to attend the birth.

Torrentcreek disappeared into the med den, visiting his sister Mottlewing to retrieve Marigold for his gums and tongue. Once the herbs were obtained a conversation sparked between them- the tom had asked how Morningbreeze's pregnancy was coming and received concerning news. So far there had been no complications, but that may not last. The litter was 4 kits large at least and since it would be Morning's first, she may not *cope* too well. Taking this information into his mind, Torrentcreek mentally prepared himself for the worst.

Venturing to the Riverclan border a little later to wait for Howlfire, Torrentcreek began to call out the she-cat's name when he heard rustling in the bushes- only for Quietstar to emerge. Though the leader seemed vulnerable and upset. Not caring for the expected snarky response, the tom asked what was up and got a surprisingly honest answer. Seconds turned to minutes and the pair began to get a little closer- more honest with one another. Quietstar was upset with the constant fights with Spider- she wants kits, to see the kits she already had and a possible break from the clans altogether. Torrentcreek listened intently, absorbing the leader's emotions, and giving advice. His comfort turned a little personal and the two spent a while laying on the border together- at ease, sharing loving gestures. The pairs' tails had entwined and they both felt protected- safe even. When the time came to leave, Windclan's deputy questioned if they'd see eachother again- to which Quietstar said they likely would before parting.

This was good- Torrentcreek would be able to, if he kept this act up, get a litter of kits with the Riverclan leader to use as blackmail against her, hopfuly pushing her and Spiderstar apart- potentially disrupting the bond between Sh*iverclan.*

At the next gathering, Reedstar was unavailable so Torrentcreek, as Windclan's deputy, took his place. Putting on a friendly, welcoming act, he ensured to minimalize hostility with a smile to all- going as far as cutting Boulderstar off before they could snap a remark at Spiderstar. Overall, the gathering went well- if not for a slight mishap with Quietstar which the deputy swiftly resolved with a boyish, playful grin.

After said gathering concluded, Boulderstar pulled him to the side and explained that she wanted him to return to Thunderclan for the kitting. It'd be a few weeks- but it would cover their birth and nursing, giving him ample time to *bond* with his family- not backing out like last time.

A little offended that Boulderstar clearly hadn't been paying attention when he explained why he'd take half of the kits, Torrentcreek agreed out of concern that she'd back out of their agreement.

The next night, Torrentcreek met Ibispaw at the border- who had received their Warrior name of *Ibiscreek*, and was determined that this was a sign from Starclan. Taking the information and working with it, the rest of that night was spent finding a different place for their meetings to take hold. Torrentcreek had stumbled upon an abandoned badgers' set which proved suitable. They planned to bring Sparkstream- the Shadowclan medicine cat- into their cause to hopefully aid them. Ibispaw was certain their connection to Starclan would be beneficial, yet Torrentcreek thought otherwise. It may harm them as Sparkstream would be aware that Starclan's eyes were not, in fact, upon them.

The following day, Torrentcreek sought out Sparkstream and explained that he had received a weird dream, which briefly went along the lines of:

*"A weird cat has spoken to me, they claim there are cats- born and unborn- in all the clans who are destined to follow me. They have said there will be signs and prophecies to direct the cats to Torrentcreek or to point the cats out to the group. We need to await further instructions once we have all the 'Followers'."*

Faithful in Starclan, Sparkstream sat with the deputy- the conversation concluding after Torrent explained all he'd done with the Shiverclan cats, Ibiscreek's name, etc- everything. The Medicine Cat ensured none of this information would get out, and would be open to meeting him again for a more thought-out talk. One thing was for certain, they trusted this was the word of Starclan.

Later that evening, Boulderstar allowed Torrent a few hours to himself in Windclan to visit and keep up with all that was happening. While he didn't have the time to see Morningbreeze, he wished to Starclan he could and had to settle with Mottlewing telling him that everything surrounding her pregnancy was the same as before- though now she really was mere moment away from kitting.

Torrentcreek went on to explain his dream, including how he'd explained it to Sparkstream who held it in such high faith- at this, Mottlewing seemed to also gain faith. During this chat when the deputy asked his sister if there were any signs or prophetic dreams coming their way- their only response being that they could swear there was a consistent presence of a Spirit overlooking Windclan camp.

At this, Torrentcreek's mind immediately moved to Finchstar- he was still out there, most likely right beside him. It chilled the tabby, knowing he couldn't run from what he couldn't see.

Taking a moment to get the Marigold for his gums he had partially come for, the deputy ensured to swipe away half-a-dozen poppy seeds while he was at it. They could be useful somehow.

Windclan's deputy was very busy over the next few days.

Boulderstar had kitted to a litter of four: Merrykit, Jackdawkit, Halfkit and Fuzzykit, though this meant he'd miss the fatal birth of Morningbreeze's litter in Windclan- Weaselkit, after Weaselkit, Nightingalekit, Tsunamikit, Blueberrykit and Pidgeonkit- who sadly didn't make it.

It had been a large litter and for such an inexperienced, young she-cat, it had been too much for her body to bare. Torrentcreek had lashed out at his sister after returning just a dozen heart-beats too late. Why didn't Mottlewing save them? That was their job! Emotions building up, the force of being in Thunderclan for a second-rate litter when he *should* be in *Windclan* with his own family, how Boulderstar would scold him like a kit for returning to Thunderclan camp late at night- having continued their search for Finchstar's wandering spirit: it was all too much.

One day, as he'd been transversing along the Windclan-Thunderclan border, he'd caught glimpse of his sister on the opposite side, blatantly making a bee-line for the moonpool. The tabby had stalked her, disguising his scent by rolling in a rotting squirrel corpse, and had come up behind, shoving their head underwater just as they were about to touch nose- drowning them. Just to make sure, as the previous drowning attempt had resulted in failure, he proceeded to slit Mottlewing's throat, dragging the body to a clifftop and hauling them over the edge. For a small while, the Windclanner sat in silent reflection, just having murdered his own sister- but it was for the better. They'd threatened before to snitch to Reedstar about his work and sat by as his mate and kit died.

Returning to Thunderclan immediately, Torrentcreek stopped in the river which parted claimed land to wash away the scent and meat chunks- the once peaceful session disrupted by the barking of a *particular* Warrior. Finchcall had found him, looking more distraught than ever- the dizzied tom began to shout that Torrent had 'won', how he'd lost everything which once meant dear to him- his father, mother, respect as a Warrior. It made little sense in the tabby's mind, how had he 'won' anything? This wasn't a game to him- yet a key mention piqued his interest.

Finchcall had claimed to have never been working or conspiring alongside Finchstar- explaining how he'd merely been curious to the spirit's identity when they'd been caught conversing. Remaining suspicious, he decided the only way to know for sure would be to find Finchstar's spirit to *talk* for once.

Though as his searching intensified, not a sign of the once imposing leader made itself visible.

Torrentcreek's mood was down. Loved ones had died and there was still no sign of Finchstar- so when Merrykit began to spark a chat in Thunderclan's camp he was a little guarded at first, yet slowly came to enjoy the small kit's company. They'd bonded as the tom took his daughter to the Windclan border, showing her about the forest as they transversed Thunderclan's dense underbrush- for once, he felt a little comforted by one of his kits, enjoying her company.

Eventually, the time to return to Windclan made itself known. The father had selected Fuzzykit, Jackdawkit and, of course, Merrykit- who had continued to stand out as a lot of fun- to join him in his clan, leaving Halfkit under Boulderstar's care.

He'd expected positives and negatives upon returning- yet what did await the deputy was far from predicted- Frenzyclaw and Lightningmask's bodies, dead in the corner of camp- warriors claiming Wishcatcher had dragged them in, having battled some rogues. Though the scents suggested otherwise. Sure, Wishcatcher had dragged his dead daughter to camp, explaining the presence of his scent, but there was only one other scent present- the stench of a familiar Thunderclan she-cat, not a sign of a single rogue. A few nights ago, during a routine meeting with Ibiscreek and Cardinalbreeze- who'd declared to now be Cardinalstar- the Shadowclanners had warned Torrentcreek of a Thunderclanner by the name of Badgerpelt- a she-cat willing to murder anybody for sport, wishing to pick off their own leaders one by one until they, themselves, took the position. If only the cat hadn't been so vocal about their intentions- since now Torrentcreek knew. The scent which lay deep within their mangled corpses triggered a twitching suspicion not so deep in the tabby's foremind.

He didn't so much grieve Frenzyclaw as he did accept the death- yet a spike of unshifting anger would not budge from his gut. Wishcatcher was stuck-up, believing he could get away with anything because he was *the leader's kit*. No cat should be allowed to get away with murder like that.

Under the dead of night, the deputy rallied his followers- who had grown in size. Cardinalstar, Ibiscreek, Sparkstream, Mottlewing, Pricklepaw, Merrykit, Halfpaw, Mellowheather, Flashpaw, Distantgaze, Mistfeather- he gathered them in the badgers' set, explaining what had happened and what must be done. Including 90% of his followers, Torrentcreek set a plan into motion.

Not a day ago, Merrykit had admitted to having left camp- lured out by Wishcatcher to play hide and seek only to become abandoned at sunset. Their father explained to them just how disdainful the leader's son was, ordering for her to never socialize with that cat. Though an exception would soon be made: Torrentcreek prompted Merrykit to suggest another round of hide and seek with the Windclanner, using his daughter as bait to lure him to the thunderclan border. As expected, Merrykit closed their eyes to count and Wishcatcher began to leave- though not far within the underbrush, lurked an ambush of battle-hungry followers. As if the stars aligned, opening a narrow path in the tom's mind, Badgerpelt had reared on them, somehow oblivious to the impending danger and conversed with Wishcatcher. To the deputy's surprise, a fight had shortly broken out between the two- only to be swiftly drowned out by his commanding scream, followed by the vicious snarls and trampling of cats rushing past him to swarm the pair. He'd given the command to retreat- Badgerpelt already scarpered away, injured, and Wishcatcher lay immobile.

Hooking a paw under the chin of the leader's son, Torrentcreek tilted up his face, gazing with unscathed eyes at the torn figure- they'd put up a good fight, but were no match for the sheer amount of cats. Torrentcreek on the other hand had not fought, opting to stay on the side-lines to better judge the moment of retreat and give any possible extra orders.

With a firm tone, Windclan's deputy demanded to know if Badgerpelt was the accompanying Warrior when *he'd* killed the duo- when an answer of confirmation was released, Torrent ordered for the younger tom to never lay eye or claw upon any of his kin again, opting to leave them alive in the dirt.

Meetings with his followers continued as usual, though he ensured to meet with Cardinalstar once alone- acting vulnerable to better gain the leader's trust as they'd noticeably been the least confident follower. Thankfully, the act worked.

A small while passed, days spent socializing with Merrykit pleased the tom, and the next gathering rolled around- another full moon lingering within a black sheet of sky.

To his surprise, Boulderstar was not present at that gathering- Scorchstar in their place. Great, he'd just gotten use to having those kits around and now it meant nothing since Boulderstar was dead. Those kits no longer served as the gap to bridge clans- yet he still wished for a close relationship with Merry.

Toward the gathering's end, an ex-Windclanner by the name of Daisydream, claiming to be Daisystar, emerged from the roots of the tree on which he sat on, pitching the idea of uniting the clans under one alliance, without fully merging- naming it Lakeclan as the lake was that which united physical territories. They'd visited all the leaders, and asked them one by one for support- which she received, be that willingly or reluctantly. Reedstar, was very willing.

The tom had reflected and considered this passing event very strongly, a solid plan forming in his foremind before he returned to Windclan's camp that night. Soon after, Torrentcreek lured a large pack of dogs from an old twoleg settlement into the clans- accidentlly losing a few in Shadowclan.. *oops*- ditching the majority in Windclan with intent of Reedstar losing a life- to his pride, it actually worked.

Though there was a catch- during his next meeting with Cardinalstar, intending on asking for kits, the ragged leader revealed they'd lost 8 of their 9 lives to rogue dogs who had popped up in Shadowclan's territory out of nowhere. The state of the Shadowclanner shocked him greatly: nothing more came from that meeting besides another arrangement to enounter the following night.

Torrentcreek could not have a doubtful cat such as Cardinalstar, who would refuse to mother his kits despite a full explanation, within his followers. And he could not have followers stray- they knew too much. So under the darkness of night, witnessing Shadowclan's leader near the den from Neutral land's thick canopy, Torrentcreek lept down to slit the leader's throat- taking their final life.

Scorchstar, too, had declined his offer of kits- a small hindrance at most.

The next obstacle was a little out of nowhere. Torrentcreek had been sound asleep in his nest, only to be awoken by Merrykit- a nervous wreck. It had taken the night, but the kit had eventually confessed to seeing Wishcatcher murder a cat on the Riverclan border- a cat they didn't recognize but displayed grey fur. Following their conversation the next day, he arranged to meet with Pricklefur- a loyal, dedicated Riverclan supporter of his, much like a soldier- he'd asked which grey-pelted Riverclanners had gone missing or died recently, their encounter resulting in a revelation that a cat by the name of Whispercave must have been the victim. Before the two parted ways, Torrentcreek ensured the new Warrior retrieved their deputy for him to speak with.

Just as they were about to turn tail, Frenzyclaw's spirit which had been possessing Pricklefur since death made itself apparent, momentarily taking control of the she-cat's tongue to speak with their father- it was comforting, to know his daughter wasn't completely gone.

Successfully so, the following interaction with Poppyflesh, deputy of Riverclan, had been swift. Both cats cut to the point- skipping formalities and courtesies. Torrentcreek explained all there was to know about Wishcatcher and Badgerpelt- and went on his way.

He'd been alone in Thunderclan, checking for scent of dogs when Ibiscreek stumbled upon him- opposite side of the border in their respective Shadowclan territory. After a quick, agreeable talk on how poorly thought out Lakeclan was and how incapable Reedstar was as a leader, they parted ways- only for a sickening stench of blood to meet the deputy's nose as he reached Thunderclan's lake.

Torrentcreek ran to Shadowclan- the direction of the scent- with paws hardly skimming the floor, adrenaline fueling his body, pumping throughout veins and muscle so that he may leap into battle- *Badgerpelt.* To the tom's absolute relief, a corpse lay not far up the lake-bank, Ibiscreek standing firm- alive- beside it, scaping at the Thunderclanner with rage furiously burning in their eyes. The fight had been swift, and Torrentcreek alongside Ibiscreek had overpowered the fleeing cat- sending them into the lake, not to rise again.

From the battle, a large scar- 4 straight rows of flesh- had been torn from his face, a reminder that would sit with him for the rest of his life.

At the next gathering, all had proven average and well with the first three leaders speaking as per usual- yet Torrentcreek couldn't help the knotting of his stomach when Reedstar went last. He claimed Daisydream was dead and that her work should not be put to waste- wanting to fully merge all four clans into one- and he would lead them. *Honestly, the deputy wished he could say he didn't see it coming.* At least it didn't last long. Before the gathering was over, Finchcall had murdered his own father-figure there on the branch. Taking the opportunity to establish himself as Windclan's new leader, Torrentcreek had made way to the branch above- ensuring to drag his tail sickeningly under the soft chin of Shadowclan's new deputy, Hollyfrost, who had been making ugly faces at him all gathering- to announce the gathering's end. No mergence would take place- thanks to Finchcall. The younger tom had proven his worth.. and was alright in Torrentcreek's books.

Not wasting a second of time, Torrentcreek immediately ventured to the moonpool to receive his nine lives- accompanied by Silverfeather, Mottlewing's apprentice. It was here he received what he'd been working his entire life for- clawing at it since apprenticehood.

Boulderstar with passion, Mellowheather devotion, Vixenstar strength to act without fear or judgment, Newtspeck wisdom, Dreampaw justice, Mottlewing patience, Lightningmask quick thinking, Frenzyclaw strength to battle.. and the final cat- Finchstar- expediency. Each life touched his soul in a different way. Boulderstar reminded him just how much he loved her, and their kits. Mottlewing boiled at guilt, and Finchstar pried at the deepest roots of emotion deep within the scarred tom.

That would be the last time Finchstar and he would cross paths- and despite the rough start, he accepted it.

#### Leader

For the remaining night of that which he became a leader on- Torrentstar merely walked, walked in silence throughout Windclan's land. His land.

Trecking silently under the cover of night, the grey tabby transversed Windclan's vast fields, a near-full moon beaming down upon him, not a few nights after the events of the previous gathering. It had been a strange one indeed, but to the new leader's surprise, it had all solved
itself without intervention. The tom's figure towered over grass, a blackened silhouette against Silverpelt. It was refreshing. To be alone: just the stars and he. Not to mention he felt closer to his ancestors than ever with thanks to his lives ceremony. It had put an end to so many worries. Boulderstar was at peace.. Frenzyclaw was.. coping. and Finchstar had disappeared for what looked to be the last time. He felt complete. Finchcall no longer posed concern- unfolding events of the past nights' gathering proving very pleasing. Torrentstar was there now, the place he'd been clawing at since apprenticehood- a place of control and ability, ability to serve and protect his clanmates. He now had authority over Slatewatcher and Wishcatcher- able to exile them at will. Windclan would thrive beside him, as he would alongside them. And he was greatful for their support. Merrycreek had matured- a fine, able warrior with a name similar to once his own, whereas Morningbreeze's litter progressed steadily. Above all else, there was Ravenwing- his chosen deputy- the cat who'd been there since six moons of age. A father to Torrentstar, their relationship was unwavering. Even the faint, bone-chilling stench of dog had dissipated into the breeze. Life was good in Windclan.

Though that very night, as he traveled with solitude, Torrentstar was met by a slightly starry ghost. Not the cat he'd been searching for previously- but Ibiscreek. To begin with, Torrentstar was confused, worried, worried he may have let Badgerpelt live- or perhaps Wishcatcher got to them! Though upon striking conversation, it was made apparent that Pricklefur had killed them- seeming to regret their actions shortly after. Admitting that the spirit of his daughter resided within the Riverclanner, Torrentstar knew he couldn't kill them if he tried- he was far too weak for such a bulky she-cat, though the leader promised justice would be met for the spirit, stuck in limbo with unfinished business. He offered him a place to stay in Windclan for the time-being, which Ibiscreek accepted- claiming there was nothing left for him in Shadowclan. And just like that, Ibiscreek was gone.

Torrentstar continued to upkeep Poppyflesh on information surrounding Wishcatcher, who- despite their disappearance- was promptly exiled for good measure, to ensure the clan would not be a safe place for them. He didn't want Wishcatcher in Windclan, yes, but he didn't want Wishcatcher in any clan. Torrent wanted Wishcatcher completely gone.

As their meetings continued, he ended up getting too close to the Riverclan deputy and she eventually provided him with their kit- an unnamed, grey tabby- much like himself- with the same yellow eyes.

It was clear Poppyflesh was not open for convincing, so keeping a straight face without speaking a word- the pair silently agreed to not see each other again, to not speak of this and Torrentstar took his kit. *Another potential use of blackmail it seems.* If Poppyflesh got too pushy he'd announce her wrong-doings with a cross clan relationship. Torrentstar on the other hand was shameless- not caring about how the implications go both ways. It would harm her if needed, so it was alright.

Every kit to this point had been a physical and mental reflection of their mother. In Weaselleaf and their siblings he saw the dancing spirit of Morningbreeze. When he gazed into Merrycreek's eyes he saw the warm grin of Boulderstar. Even Clearmoon, Scorchstar and his first kit from a while back resembled their mother spittingly. Though this kit was different- you'd most likely be unable to tell Poppyflesh was their mother unless pointed out. This kit was the perfect replication of Torrentstar, and as the only public-known parent, he'd have a closer connection. Torrentstar named this kit Creekkit, his own blood, and felt such a strong connection to the smaller version of himself despite being half clan.

Admittedly, not all non-Windclanners were as bad as he'd one thought. Torrentstar forced his mind to wander, to consider if he'd been wrong for all those moons. Perhaps Windclanners weren't the only decent clan- and Windclan definitely had flaws.. thanks to Reedstar mostly. But with Reedstar gone, he'd already rid them of Wishcatcher and Slatewatcher would likely be next. Windclan would be the clan he'd admired under his rule.. but what of the other clans? Close-minded ignorance was a weakness, a weakness Torrentstar was willing to acknowledge and unwilling to fall into. It appeared he'd been wrong all those moons- but that hardly mattered.

The clans by nature would oppose eachother. Even if total peace was agreed upon, even if the code was re-written, tensions would still surface as cats with differing opinions battled it out. Lasting peace, if not forced upon the Clans, was not an option in their society. As the leader of one of those clans, it was his duty to benefit his clanmates, yes, and to protect against the likes of other clans. By nature, there would be necessary hostility. Even if the clans weren't as bad as once thought, even if individuals were rather nice, agreeable cats, it was Torrentstar's job to oppose them- and oppose them he would. Not with anger, but with a logical mind. This was the duty his position asked of him, and he'd ensure he stood up to the task.

Many moons passed and it was clear Torrentstar was changing. His kits were independant- unrequiring of him. He no longer had to sneak around Reedstar's will, and Creekkit grew into a fine, able, noble, intelligent warrior- Creektorrent, after his father who he admired so much. Every day, he saw the glistening of Morningbreeze in Weaselleaf's eyes. Every day his clan grew stronger and sturdier- what more was there than to sustain it?

The triumph seemed.. a little empty. Ever since kithood, all Torrentstar had wanted was recognition. Recognition that he was capable, that he was someone they could have and *should* have turned to for he alone could better their clan- and he did. He was able, he'd proved himself to the clans. To Ibiscreek, Pricklefur, Finchstar- to everyone. He'd surpassed Reedstar, he'd become a cat Ravenwing was proud of.

But what now?

He felt... *empty*. There was nothing else for him to prove himself in relation to- the clans knew he was able and a good, capable cat. He'd gotten what he'd been working for. Now there was no struggle- no obstacle to overcome- no challenge or foe for him to face. Life seemed a little.. boring... without the challenge. He was done, he was unmotivated, he'd reached the top and there was nothing else to work to.

Ah, but at least he had his followers.

They'd challenge his mind.