Tumblebee

Lineart by: pkrockin\_ | Color by: Kokochips

Cloverdove

Is a former medicine cat of RiverClan. He served under Waterstar and Newtstar. He trained three apprentices.

### **Appearance**

Tumblebee is a long-furred tom of about average stature. He has muddled swirly tabby markings, with fur that ranges from white to silver to a dull gray. His eyes are a radiant blue, with one cloudy due to blindness. Although he is about average size, he's had a slouch for most of his life that makes him appear smaller.

### **Personality**

He is best described as grumpy with a quick temper. He is very passionate about medicine and helping others, but outside of that he tends to be rather crass and cold. He has a tight inner circle that has gotten to see his true self, but not many reach that level.

#### **Personality, Exterior**

Because of the tragedies he faced in his kithood and apprenticeship, he became increasingly guarded and closed off. He is often described as rude and short-tempered, willing to berate anyone with his opinion. He is anal-retentive about his herb storage and organization, leaving anyone who dare mess with it subject to his sharp criticism. He is tough on his apprentices, abiding by rigid training. Ultimately, he believes that the best gift to an apprentice is not friendship, but enough knowledge to guarantee their success in the discipline of medicine.

Though he was childhood friends with Newtstar, and the two remained close, he always had a tendency to be apathetic toward clan relations. Medicine is at the top of his list of priorities, and he often found that clan/inter-clan drama only interrupted their ability to practice.

To the other medicine cats, he is often criticized for being unlike them. He admired the work of most of his fellow medicine cats, especially those like Goosedapple who shared similar ideals. However, for the more astute ones, they were critical of his secular approach to medicine and rude commentary. Throughout his career of medicine, he strayed further and further from the guidance of StarClan, relying more on his own knowledge, and commending his apprentices for the work they put in to study, rather than being guided by ancestors. He can best be described as a believer, but not as much a follower. The only possible exception to this is his beloved mentor, Shelltiger, who he worshiped above all else in his life.

#### **Personality, Core**

While Tumblebee developed a rather crass social exterior, deep down his personality was just as warm as it was during kithood. However, his walls prevented him from letting many people in to see it.

He is deeply passionate toward medicine, as he dedicated his life to it. Once he ultimately removed the role of StarClan within medicine, he realized how important it was to him to save lives in his clan. He cares deeply and intensely for the people closest to him, starting with his immediate family. Those who know him well are aware that behind his crass exterior, he is a real sweetheart. His favorite act of love and service is to give thoughtful gifts. He is passionate and deliberate in what he does, but often doubts himself. While he has mostly overcome his insecurities, his stutter often still bothers him, and pointing it out will make him overly defensive.

From the many losses he suffered: his biological mother, Bumbleweed, Shelltiger, Turtledove, etc., he is incredibly afraid of letting go. He will do anything to prevent someone from leaving--but was able to overcome this in his situation with Timberbranch. But... he still does not handle death well.

## Early History & Apprenticeship

### **Pre-Clan Backstory**

Him and his sister, Bumbleweed, were birthed as a little of two to a loner that lived among the clans. Days after being born, their mother was murdered by a BloodClan warrior over a territory dispute, leaving the kits abandoned somewhere near RiverClan. On a patrol, RiverClan warriors found the two and brought them back to camp, where Waterstar decided to adopt them as her own.

### **Kithood**

As a kit, Tumblebee was rather shy. He was constantly overshadowed by his boisterous sister, who was social and fun. While his blind eye barely affected him, he had trouble when it came to swimming--and constantly worried that no warrior would want to mentor him. He looked up to his mother, Waterstar, as the ultimate symbol of pride, knowing that she would always protect him. His stutter was his biggest insecurity, and his biggest hurdle to overcome socially.

Realizing that he probably wasn't cut out for warrior life, Shelltiger took an interest to him. He had many apprentices before, and was ready to pass down his knowledge to a final successor. Tumblebee never really envisioned life as a medicine cat, but was ushered on by the congratulations of his mother and sister.

### **Medicine Apprenticeship**

As Shelltiger's apprentice, he grew a passion for medicine. He couldn't fathom even becoming a warrior as he watched his sister train, still preferring to be a drypaw among the clan. He was a voracious learner, constantly trying to prove to his wise and ambiguous mentor that he was willing of the honor. Shelltiger's teaching instilled an unwavering sense of pride in StarClan within him, which later faded.

He was fascinated by his elderly mentor, alive for many many moons before him. He was awed by the stories he had to tell about his old apprentices, his time in BloodClan, and old friends that had since passed. Despite becoming an avid and efficient medicine apprentice, his favorite part of the job was learning more and more about Shelltiger.

After moons of training, he was taken to the Moonfall to recieve his full name among the stars. Less than a moon after this, Shelltiger passed.

## Life as a Medicine Cat

### **Life Post-Shelltiger**

He had a very hard time coping with Shelltiger's death. He made a grave for him, under a willow tree marked by a shiny nautilus shell. Every day, he would sit under the tree with his nose pressed to the shell, asking for guidance but receiving nothing in return. He was unsure how he was supposed to just move on, and to even pick a new apprentice to pass his knowledge on to. It was too early, and he didn't understand how he was expected to mentor someone like Shelltiger did for him.

He shut himself off from his family members, instead turning to his friend Stoatpaw, to overcome the grief. They became the closest of friends rather quickly, bonding over their shared experiences as medicine apprentices. They met in the woods often, discussing herbs and opening up about grief. For Tumblebee, it was losing his mentor, for Stoat, the effects of their mother's wrath.

### **Early Mentorship**

Deciding that it was time to choose an apprentice, he selected Turtlepaw from the crowd. He was rather chipper and steadfast, a contrast to the now grumpy and closed off Tumblebee. Still bitter over his mentor's death, he put up many walls--to all but Stoat. Turtlepaw, excited to train and become a medicine cat, was not at all off-put by Tumblebee's rudeness. Over time, he became comfortable in his knowledge enough to mentor, putting all of his stress into organizing his herb storage. He grew to love Turtledove like a son, or a brother.

During the war with Shroomstar, RiverClan was mostly neutral. However, the strain of biochemical warfare was waring on Stoatchirp, who confronted Tumblebee with their decision to run away from ThunderClan. Tumblebee was crushed, offering for his friend (or unconfessed lover?) to come live with him in RiverClan. He begged endlessly, until Stoatchirp made the final decision to leave the territories altogether, leaving Tumblebee hurt and confused. With no communication to his once-lover, he assumed that they could be dead or worse. This loss impacted him more than Shelltiger--showing how death is not the only form of loss.

He ran into Maggotmoon, a fellow medicine cat, while collecting herbs in ShadowClan. Maggotmoon confessed that he killed innocent cats, and was terrified and unsure what to do. Instead of offering any sympathy, Tumblebee was horrified and scolded him for what he did. Returning to RiverClan, he told his mother, Waterstar, what he had heard from Maggotmoon but she decided not to confront Talonstar about it, to preserve clan relations. While this was likely a smart move, Tumblebee was enraged and would not let it go. He despised Maggotmoon for his actions and made it very obvious. Once Lakestar transitioned to leadership, he confronted her at a gathering and demanded action be taken against Maggotmoon. She was appalled by Tumblebee's confession, and confirmed that Maggotmoon had in fact killed and broken the code. She exiled him at once, thanking Tumblebee for coming forth with the information.

### **Life in ShadowClan**

With Maggotmoon exiled, his newly appointed apprentice, Toadpaw, was left without a mentor. Since Lakestar was on good terms with Tumblebee through the whole encounter, she asked if he could take over for the remainder of Toad's apprenticeship. He agreed, realizing that the newly named Turtledove was more than capable of taking over while he was gone. He spent moons living in ShadowClan to train him, and grew to hate the geographical features of ShadowClan. By many ShadowClanners, he was known as the grumpy and rude fish-eater that never stopped complaining. Though Toadpaw was an excellent and devout apprentice, Tumblebee found them too shy and docile. Nonetheless, they reminded him of the dynamic between him and Shelltiger, and he grew an affinity for Toadpool along with Turtledove. Even after leaving to return back to RiverClan, they still maintained a friendship and mutual respect.

While in ShadowClan, he became acquainted with their deputy, Timberbranch. There was natural chemistry between the two, and a connection formed easily. Tumblebee, who had become extremely guarded outside of his family members, realized what was happening between the two. Dealing with the situation surrounding Venomstrike, Timberbranch had a reason to continually appear around RiverClan to see Tumblebee, but the two were still meeting in secret.

After many secret meetings, it was obvious that there were feelings between the two of them, but he was still feeling apprehensive because of what happened with Stoat. Timberbranch asked if they could officially become mates, casting away any of that doubt he faced. They became mates, though secret to everyone else because of RiverClan's traditional code that forbade cross-clan mates.

### **Moving to the New Territories**

Moving to the new territories was painful for him, because it meant he was truly leaving Turtledove behind. The move was tough, but RiverClan found their new home eventually. After the assumed death of Turtledove, he was struggling to pick a new apprentice. The opportunity arose once he met Cloverpaw, who seemed hopeless as a warrior due to her short legs. He saw his younger self in her, and felt compelled to take her on as his last apprentice.

### **Late Mentorship**

His training with Cloverpaw was going well as they adjusted to the new territories. His intensely organized herb storage was looking as fine as ever, even though the pain of losing Turtledove hadn't gone away. Early into their training, he discovered that Cloverpaw had went with RiverClan to help in their battle with ThunderClan. He was enraged by this, worried that she would've gotten hurt since she couldn't fight. He firmly believed that Medicine Cats should not travel into battle, and the argument brought up feelings about Turtledove. He thought if he could take a tighter grip on Cloverpaw, he couldn't fail her like he did Turtledove.

Near the end of his mentorship, he was able to reconnect with Stoat, who he presumed to be dead. They had an emotional reunion, causing him to reevaluate his life as a medicine cat.

## Leaving the Clans

After his reunion with Stoat, and a lot of thought, he decided to leave the clans. By then, Cloverpaw was reaching the end of her training and Bumbleweed had already passed. A life together with Stoat was a dream-like opportunity, and after losing them once, he felt he had to take it. At the next Medicine Cat meeting, he granted Cloverpaw the title of Cloverdove, stating that she had come far enough to face the ancestors. The other cats dismissed his unreliance on StarClan, as he instead promoted her personal training above StarClan's blessing. However, it really did not matter to him. Less than a moon after Cloverdove had transitioned to a full Medicine Cat, he left the clans, telling only Cloverdove, Newtstar, and his mother Waterwillow.

## Post-Clan Life

He settled into a quaint den near the furthest lake near RiverClan's territory, where he lived with Stoat. Ultimately, the piece of land was unclaimed by the clans but bordered both SkyClan and RiverClan.

However, soon after settling into his new life, Stoat disappeared. Despite his frantic searching, he wasn't able to find any trace of their whereabouts, or whether they were alive or dead. Crushed by this monumental loss once again, he pronounced them dead--pained by the idea that they might be alive somewhere without him.

As he began to settle into his new life without Stoat, he found himself feeling quite lonely. Aside from the occasional passerby, he had nearly no visitors.

Until one day, an old friend showed up in need of help. While he was out collecting some local herbs, he stumbled across a bloodied Raccoonleap who was fleeing SkyClan during Auburnstar's reign. Immediately recognizing who it was, he brought him back to his den and did everything he could to treat his wounds. After explaining the entire situation to him later on, he let Raccoonleap stay with him for a couple of moons until he found his own den to occupy.

## Defining Relationships

### **Waterstar & Bumbleweed**

Waterstar and Bumbleweed were the first meaningful relationships in his life. Being adopted into the clan by Waterstar filled him with pride, and set him on the path to become a medicine cat. He admired Bumbleweed greatly, and was essentially his first rolemodel. It would've been easy for him to despise her for being the fun and outgoing one, overshadowing him often, but he loved her without bounds.

### **Shelltiger**

Out of all of his relationships, Shelltiger was his most influential. While he was alive, he instilled in Tumblebee the passion he has for medicine and the perseverance it took to keep going through the tough times. His death also impacted him, turning him from a shy bubbly apprentice into a grump, rude, closed-off medicine cat. It was not a result directly from Shelltiger, but rather his way to cope.