Dawnflurry

A longhaired red broken tabby mask and mantle bicolor tom with orange eyes

Dawnflurry is a medium-sized red bicolor with broken mackerel tabby stripes and orange eyes. He has a mask-and-mantle coat pattern and long fur. The white of his fur starts as a blaze from his forehead and spreads through his lower face, throat, chest, underside, and lower legs. There are some scars on his body and ears simply from life as a warrior.

Dawnflurry believes that a Clan is only as strong as its weakest cats. Therefore, as a warrior, it’s imperative that he protect and uplift those weak cats. When it comes to honing that protection, he loves to spar and he’s ever ready and willing to drive ShadowClan’s opponents into the ground. Dawnflurry is quick to defend others and happy to redirect enemy attention towards himself.

He thinks before he acts and tries to be slow to attack out of pure anger or spite. He has no trouble relaxing at camp. He views his entire body as a weapon and its energy should be saved until it’s needed in the field. In public, Dawnflurry tries to inspire others by being boisterous and encouraging them to do their best. He uses his jolly behavior in attempt to shield his worries and act as a beacon of hope. He only tries to be intimidating to his enemies.

In private, he can be much quieter and reflective. He believes that hopelessness leads to enervation, but he’s realistic about circumstances and focuses on how to improve them. Hope can’t be made only from rousing speeches. True hope comes from actions. Suffering is inevitable, but cats can and should work to make it more bearable. Attritional things like illness, famine, and harsh weather cannot be fought with claws and fangs, and that gives him pause.

At his core, Dawnflurry accepts that he’s ultimately soft-hearted. He’s willing to extend mercy even to enemies, but he won’t pull his blows in a real fight unless the enemy is sufficiently weaker than he is. Although they are opponents, he doesn’t view the other Clans as inferior. There are four Clans for a reason and they all have their own worth.

• Born in the Moon of Lion's Glory (2016) 085
• Made an Apprentice as Dawnpaw during the Moon of Tiger's Wraith (2016) 091
• Named a Warrior as Dawnflurry during the Moon of Long Sun (2017) 097
• Acknowledged as a Senior Warrior as Dawnflurry during the Moon of Leopard's Rest (2018) 115
• Deputized as Dawnflurry in ShadowClan during the Moon of First White (2019) 127

Dawnflurry was born Dawnkit in the Moon of Lion’s Glory (2016), apprenticed as Dawnpaw in the Moon of Tiger’s Wrath (2016), and named a warrior as Dawnflurry in the Moon of Long Sun (2017). Dawnflurry is from the same litter as Cedarfang, born to Moorspeck and Redspine. Dawnflurry grew to be the more muscular of the two, although Cedarfang was still larger. They lost both their parents at a young age and were orphaned before they were even apprentices. Whereas Cedarkit became more withdrawn, Dawnkit became more headstrong.

When they were apprenticed in the Moon of Tiger’s Wrath (2016), Dawnpaw worried about his brother losing focus, so Dawnpaw frequently encouraged him and their peers. He kept it up even after learning Cedarpaw was just quiet, not unmotivated. Dawnpaw also loved sparring and competing with others, seeing each match as extra training. If he was truly to protect the Clan, his body and mind both had to be ready. If he had to fall in battle, he wanted to fall keeping the enemy at bay while his Clanmates escaped to safety.

In the Moon of Long Sun (2017), both Dawnpaw and Cedarpaw became warriors. Dawnpaw was given the name Dawnflurry, inspired by the eagerness with which he guards and fights for his Clan. Border patrols became his preferred. Skirmishes, driving out intruders and predators, investigating potential threats, and so on were all a part of the job and he was proud to do them. He didn’t fear for himself, only for others.

In the Moon of Unnamed Blue (2018), a kit he’d sired was born, but her mother, his Clanmate Cricketleap, passed during the kitting. Dawnflurry mourned her and as another queen took over Sunkit’s care, Dawnflurry was grateful to also be able to watch over Sunkit in Cricketleap’s stead. He would go on to tell her of her mother, especially of her bravery.

Cedarfang’s death from illness in the Moon of First Green (2018) was a blow to Dawnflurry, but he didn’t publicly let it douse his inner flame. Privately, he felt lonely in the same way he had after their parents’ deaths, even though they were now all peacefully with StarClan. He knew there would always be Clanmates they couldn’t save and they had to focus on those who could yet be saved, but that didn’t make the loss any easier.

In the Moon of Leopard’s Rest (2018), Dawnflurry became a senior warrior at the age of thirty moons and was given Hawkfeather’s daughter Hollypaw to mentor. He found her easy to teach, but was and remains concerned about how she always keeps herself busy. He found sparring was the best way for him to get her emotions out, even if she wouldn’t verbalize her personal troubles.

In the Moon of Tiger’s Wrath (2018), Dawnflurry felt great pride watching Sunpool become a warrior, but he was also member of the patrol that found the site of Oakfoot’s death. It was a very sobering moment for him. He hadn’t wanted Hollypaw to experience such a loss so soon into her apprenticeship, if ever at all. They never found Oakfoot’s body, but Dawnflurry couldn’t imagine that he’d survived whatever had happened. Dawnflurry thinks he cheered the loudest at her warrior ceremony when she became Hollyclaw in the Moon of Running Prey (2019).

After Dunestar’s death, he became the new deputy of ShadowClan in the Moon of First White (2019). He was very proud to be named to the position, although he has no wish to succeed Palestar and will happily step down if when it’s time. Being deputy just gives him more opportunity to keep the Clan running well and to learn more to pass down to the next generations.

On the 20th of the Moon of Leopard’s Rest (2019), Hawkfeather gave birth to a litter he sired and she named the kits Ashkit and Sootkit. At first, Dawnflurry thought Ashkit was named after the type of tree, but Hawkfeather clarified that was not the case. They were named after fire residue to represent regrowth. Dawnflurry regretted that he was not with Hawkfeather when she was attacked by a hawk a moon later, but he was glad she survived. He’s excited to see what kind of cats their kits will become.

• Blackout (17FG'20)
• Bouncing Clouds (19FW'20)
• Heralds We All [Gathering] (14CF'20)
• Luck of the Clover (17FG'20)

Honeyglow – Dawnflurry’s sire Redspine was Honeyglow’s paternal half-brother

Appearance is based off of regular domestic longhairs. He and Cedarfang are distant descendants of former ShadowClan leader Elmstar through their mother Moorspeck.

Permission granted by Faux to make Dawnflurry and Redspine related to Honeyglow.