Written in the Stars

Goosehop brings to mind someone who might have made a decent Medicine Cat were it not for her drive to become a very good, determined mother; something that was clear from the start, in that she would take after her mother. She was the second litter born during Barkbelly's time in the clans, with an old tom who would quickly die before Goosehop was even born. She had elder siblings in Yellowflower and Murkytail - already warriors when she was born, and she was the apple of her mothers' eye. Barkbelly too, wanted to be a mother; but unfortunately due to complications with Goosehop's birth was unable to fulfill her promise and have any more kits, retiring early due to extreme abdominal distress.



From kithood, Goosekit would follow her mother around, trying her best to care for the others her age, or even younger. She was constantly getting underpaw, but trying to be a good friendly. She would even follow around the apprentices, endearing herself to some of them, including a young tom at the time named Stoatpaw; who despite a gap in their ages would often be found playing with one another; scooping up moss balls and digging through the snow. The wouldn't share much time as Apprentices together, as Stoat would get his warrior name only two moons after Goosepaw was assigned to her mentor, but they'd still take their chances to hunt and play when they could.

Goosepaw was a very round, chubby cat from birth, who only seemed to grow outwardly as she aged, and not as vertically as one would hope. Some would think that would put her as a mark for teasing, but like water of a duck's back, it never seemed to bother her all that much. She was the first to make fun of herself, of her healthy appetite and her less than ladylike size, and slightly awkward waddling gait. She was also the first2 to step in though when another apprentice was made to be mocked by another cat; be they from their own clan or an outsiders. Chances are she's endeared herself as protector of many of her yearmates; just out of sheer size and cuddliness as well as her no-nonsense take on bullies.

By the time she was made a warrior, it was clear that a few things had changed between her and Stoatclaw; they still, clearly, friendly - but as the moons went on they grew more so. Leading to the point that it was expected to be only a matter of time before their kits would take up residence in the nursery. And yet, there always seemed to be some sort of delay. First, it was that Goosehop stopped to give aid to other cats who were having their litters...or it was a bad year for weather. It might have been the disappearance of Dawnstar that finally put their decisions into motion; life was short, and dangerous, and not long after their leader went missing Goosehop gave birth to two lovely kits, Magpiekit and Mossykit.

Now, her precious babies are apprentices, and she's beginning to feel that nagging need for motherhood once more, but generally helps to quench it by spending an inordinate amount of time around other expectant mothers.[/a]