[fresh]

flash, flash, flash.
the taunts singe her tongue like ash.
her best friend gone, out of time
forced, by the world, to make the climb.
but it was her who truly suffered in the end.
her paws stained bloodred
his paws lying there, dead.
she made it there in a flash
he gnashed
he thrashed
and fell into death's firm grasp.
the flash had been framed
for the death of her best friend
and while she assured herself she wasn't to blame
she had lit the flame.

Here is the plot.

gray eyes.
stocky frame.
black pelt.
and her name?
flashpaw.
named for courage.
named for speed.
named for loyalty.
if only she'd been fast enough.

A small, average-sized, stocky black she-cat with gray eyes and gray tabby markings. Nearly all of the scars marking her body are from clumsy footing and/or stumbling in a daze. Flashpaw has a slightly lighter gray tail-tip, running down for a short amount of space before fading back into the base color.

her voice, once thoughtful and strategic
was now laced with hurt and sick
she's fighting for control of her memories
hoping they'll stay for the day
shaking off all of the pities
and wishing that they'd go away.

Before the slaughter, this feline wasn't exactly happy-go-lucky. In fact, she was more reserved, and strategic, thinking everything through before it came out of her mouth. She had a rare excited side, which only her best friend, who was mangled in an attack so badly he was barely recognizable, could bring out in her. Flashpaw's only goal was to one day make him as happy as he'd made her, and now she can never even attempt it. Her personality now is even more reserved than before, anxious, and sad.

she was injured the most in the murder
her mental health suffered the most.
flash's already labored breathing
was worsened by the lethal dose
of witnessing murder firsthand, the trauma
could not have been worse
for the poor cat.. she was cursed.

Flashpaw already had mild-strength asthma from birth, mostly stress-induced rather than exercise. Upon witnessing the death firsthand of her best friend, the killer unknown, she gained post traumatic stress disorder (P.T.S.D.) as well. Now she has episodes where she is afraid of everything and everyone. By the time the episode is over, she has no idea what happened in between. During the moment, there is a good chance she'll have an asthma attack as well, adding to the moment of distress. These two factors make life hard for her, and she is on the edge of depression. Having more of a use in life can change this and maybe get her to laugh again, even.

when daydream entered this she-cat's life
she shut them out at first, out of spite
that they could help their clan easily, without setbacks
and and with flashpaw, boy, she's got no lack.
after a while, she started to warm up to them
she saw them a lot anyway, why not learn from
the things they did?
maybe she could have a use, the traumatic kid
and finally open up to another friend.


Upon meeting them, Flashpaw didn't think much of Daydream. She didn't think much of anything anymore, really. But after more than one trip to the medicine den per quarter-moon, she began to warm up a little to Daydream. Before beginning to like them, she had been angry at them for being able to help their Clan without breathing problems or random moments of time that they can't remember. After a while of regular visits, she put the feelings behind her and tried to hint that she'd like to become medicine cat apprentice. It was already a guarentee she'd never become a warrior, in her eyes; she'd just fail the assessment due to forgetting all the hunting and battle moves. She'd fall behind on everything.
With a new purpose in life, Flashpaw can now eat right, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep at night, which are all key factors in reducing P.T.S.D.
They helped her realize her entire life didn't have to be defined by the tragic accident that had occurred, and that she could get through it.

so there you have it.
a new look on life
flashpaw set out
to make things right.
she apologized to her once-friends,
made some new ones, even,
and when all that was done
she had a place in the world- a reason.
< woly poly >