Scarletflame

Scarletflame is a slightly short, thick furred dark ginger she-cat with darker stripes and a cold yellow gaze. Scorchpelt once referred to her pelt color as auburn.

## Personality

Has a cold, calculating demeanor, determined, easily holds on to resentments, cares for her clanmates, compassionate, naive, somewhat judgemental, stubborn, manipulative.

### Strengths

She has an adequate knowledge of herbs, is a quick learner, and can have a quite caring nature. She is also a generally determined cat, and will not easily give up on her goals.

### Weaknesses

She tends to hold resentments for a long time, often jumps to conclusions, tends to act on impulse; especially when she's hurting, she is not the best at hunting, and struggles at making amends.

## Backstory

### Past

Scarletkit, Briarkit, and Shardkit were the kits of Willowfern and Harefoot. Willowfern died shortly after the kits were born due to complications. Another queen took on the duty of raising the kits, while Harefoot distanced himself from them as much as possible. Scarletkit took up an interest in herbs, while Briarkit and Shardkit were always practicing their battle moves and boasting about becoming great warriors. Briarkit was apprenticed to Yellowtail, and Shardkit apprenticed to Needlestrike. Scarletkit's mentor was Cloudfrost, the kind old medicine cat at the time. Cloudfrost became a motherly figure to Scarletpaw, patiently teaching her everything she knew about medicine.
In one raid against a rival clan, Harefoot was injured beyond repair. He died shortly after he was dragged back to camp. Scarletpaw grew distressed, wondering if there was anything she could have done to save him. But Cloudfrost assures her there wasn't, and it was better that he didn't suffer any longer.
Shortly after his death Scarletpaw began to notice the tension between her littermates increasing. Shardpaw and Briarpaw's arguments grew more violent, sometimes spiraling into full fledged fights meant to inflict harm on one another, with their mentors only egging them on. Then during one battle Shardpaw suffers a fatal blow, dying instantly.
While Pebblestar tries to sort things out Scarletpaw notices her sister sneaking out of camp. Scarletpaw follows her panicked sister to the border, demanding to know what's going on with her. Briarpaw frightfully explains that she killed Shardpaw, when she had really been targeting Needlestrike. She wails that Yellowtail is going to kill her for failing her mission, and is so power thirsty that she'd kill Needlestrike too once she has the chance. She tells Scarletpaw that she has to choice but to flee the clans and never return. Scarletpaw is horrified by this, but lets her sister go, never truly forgiving her for her actions against Shardpaw.

Moons later, after Scarletflame receives her full name, Cloudfrost falls ill. Scarletflame is powerless to help her mentor, but stays up every night with her until she joins Starclan. Grief stricken, Scarletflame is surprised when a Burrowclan tom befriends her, filling in the hole left by the death of her mentor. Though Scarletflame knows it's wrong, she agrees to a secret relationship with the tom.
At the next visit to the Moonlake Scarletflame is confronted by Cloudfrost and some other Starclan cats. Cloudfrost warns her that it is unwise to put her trust in such a hastily formed friendship, and that her clanmates should always come first. Scarletflame retaliates, blaming Cloudfrost for her lonely life as a medicine cat and firmly stating that she should be able to have something of her own. As Scarletflame storms off Cloudfrost speaks of a prophecy about a kit with ice in his heart. Scarletflame refuses to listen.
But sure enough, the Burrowclan tom she thought had loved her abandoned her when he found out she was expecting. Scarletflame is angered by this, and vows to make him pay for his actions. Snakekit is born, and Scarletflame decides to use him to take down Sparrowclaw. At her last visit to the Moonlake, Scarletflame avoids Starclan and goes straight to the Dark Forest where she encounters Yellowtail. Though she is reluctant at first, she agrees to send Snakekit to train with her, at a price.

### Since

Scarletflame returns to camp with Snakekit in her jaws, surprising the deputy, Scorchpelt. He treats her with coldness, bringing her out into the forest to question her. Scarletflame states that she wants to give Snakekit up so she can resume her medicine cat duties. Scorchpelt retorts that such action must not go without punishment, and strips her of her rank. Scarletflame is furious, but does not protest further.

Scarletflame reluctanly agrees to train with Scorchpelt, knowing that she will need warrior skills if she is to become one. After one of their training sessions, a queen in the nursery informs Scarletflame that Scorchpelt is quite fond of her. Scarletflame is horrified by this, and quickly confronts Scorchpelt, telling him that she could never love again. Not after what her last mate put her through. Shortly after this, the pair resume training, but the tension between them is strong. Scarletflame grows distracted while practicing a pounce, and lands badly, twisting her paw. Scorchpelt grows deeply concerned, helping her get to a hollow tree where they can spend the night. The next morning they head back to clan territory, running across a patrol sent to look for them. Scorchpelt claims that he found Scarletflame injured in the forest and helped her get to safety. He then leaves her with the patrol and returns to camp. Upon arriving in the camp, Scarletflame is confronted by Snakekit, who demands to know why she was gone all night. He notices her injury and glares accusingly at Scorchpelt. Scarletflame is too exhausted to calm her kit, and goes with him into the nursery.

That night, Scarletflame is awoken by Snakekit's wails. To her horror, she discovers that Scorchpelt has entered the nursery. He demands to know what is wrong with her kit, and she lies, telling him that she doesn't know. She then forces Snakekit awake, waiting until Scorchpelt has left the den to comfort her son.

## Education

Mentor - Cloudfrost

Apprentice - Frostpaw (formerly)

Replacement - Hailwing