Boulderpaw

**Boulderpaw** is a longhaired dark grey she-cat with a white chest and muzzle marking that extends along the bridge of her nose to create a thin blaze. She has a small, slim build but appears larger due to her long fur, and has distinctively tufted ears. Her eyes are a light orange-yellow.

## Personality

A loose cannonball of a kid, Boulderpaw is the hellion of her family. She is not close with her mother due to Ermineflight's disciplinarian mindset, and feels her mother will never 'get' her. With her mother in mind, she feels whatever she does will never be good enough compared to her older brother Rookflight. Despite this, she too looks up to Rookflight (though she'll act the way a younger sister does to an older brother; always dissing his advice) from afar, and feels closest to her littermate Mistpaw. Although, she sometimes does wish she had a sister instead of a brother.

## History

Boulderkit and her brother Mistkit were the second litter of their parents Ermineflight and Cragleap. They shared the nursery with the older kit Peakit, and were joined two moons after their birth by Grapeclaw and Runningwolf's first litter, Treekit, Woodkit, and Leafkit. Boulderkit had a fairly uneventful kithood and was apprenticed around a moon before the Highlands ambush, to Blazestar's brother Burnclaw.

### First Leaf-fall

Feeling frustrated at not being chosen for the Highlands patrol, Boulderpaw goes into the warriors' den to wake up her mentor, Burnclaw, in hopes of some training. He stirs, and Boulderpaw comments that she's amazed he wasn't woken by Blazestar's shouting earlier. She says she hopes that they're chosen for an expedition soon. When Burnclaw asks what sort of training she would like to do today, Boulderpaw eagerly replies that she wants some battle training to use against the Bloodhides, then asks Burnclaw what he thinks her warrior name might be. He returns the question, to which she suggests Boulderstorm or Boulderfrost. Burnclaw remarks that it matters more how the name fits than how it sounds, then asks where she would like to train today. Boulderpaw is briefly confused by his comment, then suggests that perhaps some things might sound nice but aren't meant for you, and there may be a better choice. She suggests training on Corrigan's Peak, wanting a challenge.

As they climb the Peak, Boulderpaw asks if they could try the half-turn belly rake. However, Burnclaw stops at a ledge and asks her to sit beside him, then asks what information she would gather before attacking if she found a trail of fox-scent in the Valley. A bewildered Boulderpaw replies that she would check the age of the scent, or if there were multiple mingling scents, then at his further prodding that if it were a vixen it might have cubs and be more aggressive, as would a fox that had made a den and claimed a territory. She beams at Burnclaw's resulting praise. When he asks her of the importance of thinking ahead before a battle, she muses that sometimes there's not always time to think ahead. Burnclaw tells her that in a battle her mind is the most valuable tool, and that even if she doesn't have much time to think, even a heartbeat of forethought could be the difference between life and death.

Chastened by the reminder of the severity of battle, Boulderpaw asks Burnclaw if he believes his sister Blazestar to be a good leader, or that she makes decisions he sees fit for the Clan. She thinks briefly that perhaps Burnclaw should have been leader instead of Blazestar. Burnclaw responds that Blazestar is loyal, brave, and principled, a good warrior by any standards, but that good warriors do not necessarily make good leaders. Presuming that her main concern is the Highlands, he adds that they may prove to be an asset yet, though perhaps the cats chosen were not necessarily appropriate for the task. Boulderpaw says quietly that she thinks he would've been a better leader, then once Ermineflight is mentioned begins complaining about her. Burnclaw tells her that she isn't the first cat to feel constrained by their parents. When Boulderpaw asks for any gossip or slip-ups about her mother, Burnclaw reminds her that no cat is perfect and they should not be judged for past mistakes, though assures her that she has made many of the same mistakes Boulderpaw herself has made.

They find a good space to spar and begin doing so, Burnclaw reminding her to think ahead as he had instructed. Boulderpaw makes a point of noting his behaviour and stance before she charges, but is eventually grappled by him. She quickly gives in and he releases her, though points out that a real enemy wouldn't let go just because she asked. When he asks if she would like to spar again or practice escaping his grapple, Boulderpaw misunderstands and says she wants to try grappling him again, asking how she can stay on his back without slipping off. Burnclaw replies that she can't, at risk of being thrown off or rolled onto, and her focus should be to do as much damage as possible before getting out of the way. He tells her to try out her ideas on him, and first she simply batters his ears and head. Burnclaw adds that another good move is to rake their back, which Boulderpaw suggests would be distracting and allow her the chance to wind up for a concussion, and Burnclaw continues that injuries to the back will also greatly reduce an enemy's ability to attack without pain, or the risk of getting foreign objects in the wounds. He stresses that evaluating an enemy's disposition is important, as it can help her work out what the best move is for the situation.

As they begin their return to camp, Boulderpaw asks if, for example, she was attacking an old and hungry cat, whether they would stick around to fight out of hunger or run out of fear. Burnclaw muses that it depends on other variables as well, and that though she will always be limited in her ability to assess a situation, paying attention will almost always give her something she can use to her advantage.

They arrive back at camp after Smokefall's kitting is finished, and Boulderpaw goes to the fresh-kill pile to snag a thrush for her dinner. Watching her former denmates Treekit, Woodkit, and Leafkit toss a moss-ball around in the centre of camp, Boulderpaw feels the urge to join them, recalling their birth and her own time in the nursery with Mistpaw. Later, she snoozes in the apprentices' den, thinking of Ermineflight and Rookflight's return the next day.

The next day, Boulderpaw is woken alongside many others by the return of Peapaw and Ermineflight. Though Ermineflight is not too badly injured, she is dazed by shock and bloodloss, and Boulderpaw fearfully urges her into Morningbird's den. She asks worriedly if Rookflight will be alright, and Ermineflight admits she doesn't know. Boulderpaw is unnerved by Ermineflight's strange demeanour and helps Morningbird settle her into a nest. Morningbird instructs her to press moss to Ermineflight's worst injuries. As Ermineflight explains that they were ambushed by the Bloodhides as they returned from the Highlands, Boulderpaw listens anxiously, praying to StarClan for the safe return of her brother. Beginning to recover, Ermineflight awkwardly thanks Boulderpaw for helping her into Morningbird's den, and Boulderpaw feels a warmth at the rare display of kindness from her mother. She asks Morningbird if she needs Boulderpaw to go out and get supplies, or find more moss for nests, wondering how long it will be before the rest of the patrol returns.