Cardinalgaze

*Original Kirby image by SIRArtwork*

Character art by Sci

## Description

Cardinalgaze is a short and lithe tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes and short whiskers. Her muzzle is grayed and her eyes are slightly glassy from old age. Because she only found her calling after becoming a warrior, she has a greater knowledge of hunting and combat than most medicine cats.

Theme Song: The Dear Hunter - What It Means to Be Alone

## Personality

Cardinalgaze was an energetic and playful she-cat in her youth. Over many moons, prophecies, famines, and wars, she mellowed out to become a wise, caring, creaky, intelligent and slightly anxious old lady who can be sarcastic at times. She is skilled with herbs and an experienced medicine cat. She is a firm believer in cooperation across borders, but feels an obligation towards and cares for the cats of ReedClan above all else. She's independent and determined.

## History

Soon after Cardinalgaze earned her warrior name, she left camp to accompany Alpinebloom in gathering herbs. While reaching for cobwebs, she fell out of a tree and seriously injured her leg. Alpinebloom helped her get back to camp and treated it, but decided that she would have to stay in the medicine den for a while. During that time, the two bonded over sorting herbs, long talks, and their situation (for example, floods and Monsoonstar getting hit by lightning).

Alpinebloom later retired and trained Cardinalgaze to replace him as medicine cat. Since then, she has served under Cherrystar and Hawthornstar and appointed Sandpath (deceased?) as her apprentice, later Cragpaw.

Under Cherrystar's rule, Joltwing called her, Ashnight, Echoheart and the rest of the current medicine cats to the Mooncavern a day after the Gathering. In StarClan, a vision of Flickbeak appeared before Joltwing and one of Currentleap before Cardinalgaze, leading them to fear the two had died. It was there that StarClan's Houndpaw delivered a prophecy to Ashnight: "The eyes stalk, the claws take. Deception lies beside reality." From then on, Cardinalgaze made sure to keep a close eye on Currentleap (then still alive, and one of the prophecy cats).

During a rare moment of peace during a walk, Alpinebloom and Cardinalgaze were attacked by a German Shepherd. Alpinebloom told her to escape and tackled the dog, bringing it down with him into a cave where he was impaled by an ice spike and died. Soon after, when the Gangs' attack unleashed a GladeClan diaspora on the other territories, she worked with Cherrystar to arrange care for what refugees ReedClan could handle. A combination of prey shortages, Alpinebloom's death, the prophecy and several refugees young and old to take care of (now on her own) made her very paranoid and anxious during this time.

When a meteor hit the Clans, she treated the ReedClan cats who had been hurt. Unbeknownst to her at the time, however, a shard still lodged in Lotusflame's body led him to commit the Wraith murders.

Many moons later, The Society was making its rise among the Clans. Cardinalgaze went with Tinybrook, Robinpaw and Condorpaw to receive guidance from StarClan at the Mooncavern. Scabbedsnout, a StarClan cat from GladeClan told them that StarClan remained neutral; however, he feared the existence of the Clans was in jeopardy, a fear he had never held during any inter-Clan wars of his lifetime.

Cardinalgaze went with ReedClan and CavernClan to provide backup during The Society's attack on DustClan, and told Sandpath to stay in camp should she not return. When The Society retreated, she cared for the wounded with Duneheart and brought unconscious cats to safety. However, it was a trick: The Society launched another attack. Cardinalgaze defended the medicine den, and, when the Clans retreated and The Society declared its victory, opted to stay and hide in an attempt to protect Archpaw, Fallenwalker, Duneheart (who had passed out) and Cobraglare.

Cardinalgaze, Archpaw, Fallenwalker and Cobraglare escaped captivity during a flood after staying there for about 2 moons with little prey and water due to the sandstorms. A Society cat swam towards them and Cardinalgaze kicked up water at him before realizing it was Thorn, a ReedClan cat sent to the Society as a diplomat. He told them to go, and that he had to return to the Society. They escaped to ReedClan camp.

Her resentment of The Society grew as she reflected in the temporary SeaClan camp. She became interested in appointing Cragkit as her apprentice. A few days later, she decided to travel to CavernClan and GladeClan (living together) to meet with Robinpaw and Condorpaw and visit the Mooncavern, concerned about the two Clans' lack of a full medicine cat as Olivebranch had returned to the SeaClan camp. She informed Hawthornstar and set off on the several-day journey immediately.

Two days later, she arrived at the Gatheringplace where GladeClan and CavernClan were gathered under the full moon. She got onto the perch with the leaders, but no announcements took place. She went to GladeClan/CavernClan after, where she assisted in Halfstar's birthing, demonstrating for Robinpaw. Halfstar lost a life.

She found out that Condorpaw was missing from his father, the deputy Curlingsmoke. The two expressed their doubt in StarClan and she left for the Mooncavern, promising to come back with what she would learn there. On the way there, she ran into Shell (formerly Fogwhisper of ReedClan) and worked out a deal that as long as he kept quiet about seeing her, she would treat his wounds, tell him how his family back in ReedClan was doing, and deliver them a message.

She spoke to Scabbedsnout once more in StarClan, who told her that Condorpaw was alive, and that she should return to ReedClan and DustClan as soon as possible to prepare for an unknown choice she'd have to make in the future. She told Lionstar what she'd learned, and to say goodbye to Robinpaw for her. She went back to SeaClan camp.

Before SeaClan's attack on the Society-occupied DustClan camp, Cardinalgaze asked Goldenheart to train Cragkit if she did not return. She left with the others and stayed at the sidelines of the battle once more, taking care of cats who could no longer fight. The choice she made was between caring for Hawthornstar or taking revenge on Sun when both of them laid dead on the battlefield with remaining lives. Angry at StarClan's inaction, she took Sun to the side and slipped him deathberries, him mistaking her for Wanheda. Sun survived, foaming at the mouth, and they fought briefly. Sun injured her shoulder with a bite, but Cardinalgaze escaped his grasp and drowned him, taking a life. She limped away, but was caught by Sun when he returned, and he knocked her out with a headbutt.

Olivebranch retrieved Cardinalgaze's unconscious body as she spoke to Crashstrike in StarClan. She was distressed, not willing to die until she had trained an apprentice, thinking of Robinpaw and Condorpaw. She survived and woke up in ReedClan's medicine den under Goldenheart's care. She talked to Cragkit and then to Goldenheart about the possibility of appointing the kit as her apprentice. She approved, both agreeing Cragkit cared about others and was a hard worker.

She promised to continue training the returned Condorpaw at the next Gathering and comforted him about Bean's departure. Soon after, she talked to Cragkit about her future and asked her to become her apprentice, to which Cragkit said yes. Cardinalgaze brought Cragpaw to the Mooncavern for her ceremony after Ravenstar officially apprenticed her to her. They met Crashstrike and Gloomyhollow in StarClan, and the former told them of the outcome of GladeClan's battle with The Society.

Cardinalgaze continued to spend her time between ReedClan and CavernClan to train Cragpaw and Condorpaw. She taught Cragpaw the medical weaving techniques (for casts) she had adapted from her experience as a warrior (weaving dens/the camp). During this time, as a result of her Clan meeting propositions, Cardinalgaze began to regard Ravenstar as a warmonger like Hawthornstar before her.

When Curlingstar fell off of the Gathering tree and lost a life, Cardinalgaze performed emergency treatment for his shock and broken leg while Fadedpath kept cats away. She asked Joltstrike, whom she referred to as Joltwing, to retrieve poppy seeds.