Adderstar

**Adderstar** is a tall, long-limbed, jet black tom with sunken yellow eyes. He has a slightly muscular build and a scarred flank, with a deep scar on his throat. His pelt is thick.

## Personality

Reserved, stoic, and stern. A warrior of experience and uncompromising discipline. He has lost and felt lost but knows for the sake of his Clan must press onward.

## History

Adderkit was born alongside three siblings to two CedarClan warriors, and was the oldest and leader of his litter. As Adderstrike grew he became an exemplary warrior, but over time it became obvious that some plight had struck his family. Firstly, one of his brothers fell sick with greencough and died the same night, for which Adderstrike at first blamed the medicine cat. Later his sister was killed in a badger attack, which also took the life of Brindletail. Finally his youngest brother drowned, leading Adderstrike to become more aggressive towards the other clans, which some say furthered the tensions that eventually caused the war.

Adderstrike was made deputy at around the time of DriftClan’s arrival, and became leader halfway through the DriftClan war, after the passing of his predecessor. He went on to choose Stagleap as his own deputy. Adderstar’s first life was lost soon after his ascension to leadership after a vicious bite to the throat.

At some point during the war, Adderstar decided to cut their losses and relocate his clan to the west. Focusing on rebuilding the clan and remembering the fallen, he renamed CedarClan to HollowClan. After the death of Cricketpaw he restricted all apprentices to the new camp.

### First Leaf-fall

Recalling HollowClan's struggles, Adderstar looks out over his Clan and thinks that they are on the verge of recovery. When he nears Stagleap, his deputy mentions he went hunting and found signs of a fox near one of their borders. Adderstar considers the presences of the other two Clans and suggests they wait for another exchange before he meets with their leaders, promising that nothing will deter them from their new home. He tells Stagleap to gather a patrol of at least four warriors and take them to kill the fox. Stagleap agrees that this is their home now, and that their lost kin looks down on them from StarClan. Not for the first time, Adderstar is relieved that he chose Stagleap to be his deputy. He reminds Stagleap that they should not get off on the wrong paw with the other Clans.

After Stagleap's patrol returns, Stagleap goes to report their meeting with GrimeClan to Adderstar. Noticing that something is on Stagleap's mind, Adderstar allows him to explain, and once Stagleap is done assures him that he knows no other cat who could have managed the patrol better. Wondering briefly at GrimeClan's strange name, he agrees to the meeting with Molestar and Redclaw at sundown. He and Stagleap agree to bring a hidden backup patrol of their own warriors, in case the meeting turns sour and GrimeClan has brought warriors of their own. Adderstar remarks that GrimeClan could easily have attacked if they wanted to, but he suspects they follow StarClan's laws just as HollowClan does, and tells Stagleap to brief his chosen warriors before sundown. As Toadpaw and Birchthroat approach to speak with Stagleap, Adderstar takes his leave.

Arriving at the meeting place, Adderstar glances briefly at the dead fox before turning away in discomfort. He dips his head in greeting to Molestar, Redclaw, and their guide Dustscrape - Adderstar notices guiltily that they seem healthier than HollowClan. Addressing Molestar and Redclaw, he explains HollowClan's situation. His mention of StarClan catches Molestar's attention, and this and the clear loss in their manner lead Molestar to allow them to stay for a moon, after which he will assess the situation and reconsider. Adderstar thanks him, and as night has fallen, they depart back to their camps.

Returning to camp, Adderstar allows himself to relax. He recalls his younger brother Ravenheart, comparing him in appearance and manner to Molestar, and hoping that Ravenheart would be proud of him. He calls a Clan meeting and announces that GrimeClan has allowed them to stay, although he does not mention the limited period and potential reassessment, wanting his Clan to have the chance to celebrate.

The next morning, Adderstar emerges from his den after having had his first deep, untroubled sleep in many moons. He admires how suitable the camp is for his Clan, and is glad to think of how the territory is theirs now. However, he feels slight guilt at not telling the rest of his Clan of their time contingency, and wonders if he made the right decision. Stagleap approaches him and suggests it might be good to allow the apprentices to train outside of camp, rather than continue to confine them. Adderstar agrees and suggests Stagleap takes Merlinmist and Darkspring out with the apprentices on a hunting patrol, then suggests Berrybrook instead when Stagleap says that Darkspring has been forbidden from most duties by Birchthroat.