Sunflower

Sunflower is the fourth member of Foxgloves band to join, and right away he feels detached from a lot of what's going on. Jaded and a bit bitter, he finds it hard to bond with others and looks to Foxglove for answers about the situations they are put in. He desperately wants to pay back the debt he thinks he owes Foxglove, though he keeps it to himself and a select few others.

Rough Start
Born to a litter of six, Sunflower was one of three total to survive a rather brutal slide down one of the many cliffs. He, along with one brother and one sister, survived the fall, but their mother perished along with three others. Alone, cut off from any adults, and left to fend for themselves, Sunflower tries to be strong for his siblings and leads them through the world of danger and famine.

He struggles to find food for them, and they quickly weaken and struggle to carry on. He starts to lose hope, but tries to outwardly stay strong for his siblings. It's all he can do. They need each other.

Unhappy Greetings
They wonder if their luck has changed when they stumble across a long-legged adult cat named Weaver. He looms over them and inspects each of them, then asks them if they are interested in joining him and training with him. Sunflower’s siblings seem reluctant and scared, but Sunflower can't keep taking care of them alone and he knows it. He meets Weaver's gaze and agrees to work hard to live up to his expectations.

Right away the training is intense. Regretting his choice only a few days after meeting him, Sunflower finds himself trapped by this choice and tries to convince his siblings they are better off struggling to survive. They agree, and try to run away with Sunflower in the dead of night. Of course, this does not work, and Weaver hunts them down only a few hours later. He takes out his frustration and aggravation on Sunflower’s brother until he stops moving.

Sunflower is stunned and horrified, confused and conflicted. He is barely able to process anything before his sister is crushed under Weaver's strength as well, powerless to stop Weaver from his aggression.

Under Constant Pressure
Sunflower bubbles with rage and hostility, and when Weaver turns to inflict damage onto him he lashes out. He bites him rather viciously in the leg and starts fighting with all his might, kicking and screaming all the while. If he was going to die, he was going to make sure Weaver remembered him at least. This seemed to be enough to draw Weaver back to his senses, and after pinning Sunflower down, decides to let him live.

Weaver constantly dodges and blocks any attack Sunflower gives, until eventually Sunflower simmers and waits. Anger never diminished, but his outward attacks stopped for the time being. Weaver continued to train him, always keeping one step ahead so if Sunflower ever wanted to turn on him again, he would still be stronger.

Sunflower feels powerless to run and powerless to fight, and wonders why he was even allowed to survive.

Free From it All
Sunflower grows numb to the torment Weaver puts him through just in time for it to come to its swift and unsatisfying end. During an argument, Sunflower turns away to show a bit of attitude and when he turns back? Weaver is dead on the ground with an irritated looking cat hovering over him. Sunflower is stunned, but overall relieved to find that he is dead. So many times he had tried, and failed. The warmth in his heart for this moment was not tainted at all by the rough attitude of the other cat. Sunflower couldn't care less about that anyways.

He followed Foxglove home, insisting that he make it up to the other cat. He tried telling Foxglove how fast he was, or how strong he was.. but ultimately Foxglove didn't seem interested. Sunflower is confused by this, but decides it was for the better.

Meeting You Again
Sunflower meets Rhyolite for the first time and instantly he feels the rage bubble up in his gut. This guy gives him the same feeling as his mentor, and he is not at all happy about it. He curiously asks Foxglove some questions about it, but Foxglove seems overall dismissive. Worry settles in his chest and he contemplates what to do about this.

It only takes Sunflower a few hours to decide that he wanted to return the favor. To save Foxglove from this cat, just like Foxglove had saved him from Weaver. Even if he hadn't known about Weaver, it didn't matter to Sunflower. He wanted to help this cat more than anything, he wanted to make up for the siblings he couldn't save. He wanted to prove himself.

Unlikely Allies
Sunflower was a bit surprised when Hoot walked up and started talking to him, but he decided to humor him for a bit. None of these cats seemed exceptionally awful or anything, but Sunflower didn't trust Rhyolite, and at first that extended to everyone who wasn't Foxglove. Hoot seemed pushy enough about talking though, and the more they talked the more Sunflower relaxed and realized Hoot was not a fan of Rhyolite either... which helped him open up.

Soon enough a third cat joined them, and Sunflower admitted to wanting to help Foxglove because he felt he owed him one. Hoot and Mulberry shared similar feelings, and the three of them spoke about their options and hopes for the future.

Turn for the Better
Mulberry approaches Sunflower and asks if he knows where Foxglove keeps sneaking off to. Sunflower confesses he is also in the dark about it, and Hoot seems to be on the same page as them about it. This is worrying, as oftentimes Foxglove is not seen to have any friends or interests outside of jobs with Rhyolite or sleeping. Sunflower mulls over their options, and when Mulberry suggests they follow Foxglove? Sunflower agrees.

They find an unlikely scene with a little kitten named Apple at the end of their trail, and Sunflower immediately praises Foxglove for not being what Rhyolite wanted him to be. He is silent as Sunflower soothes him, but Sunflower is warmed and filled with hope by this encounter. He sees a future for them, together with Apple, and tries to fill Foxglove with the same hope.

An Abrupt Halt
Sunflower did not expect things to go south so immediately. Shortly after their meeting, Ametrine seemed insistent on ruining it for them. When confronted by Rhyolite, Foxglove froze up and seemed torn and conflicted on what he needed to do. Sunflower didn't understand the adoration Foxglove might have had for his father figure, but he did understand that Foxglove needed his help.

Sunflower screams words of encouragement at Foxglove and reminds him of the happiness they could have, pleading with him to break from this manipulative cat and come away with them. Foxglove seems scared, and Sunflower can't help but sympathize. He calls out to Foxglove until he breaks through, and when Foxglove finally decides to act Sunflower leaps for Sumac and fights her away from Apple and Ametrine.

Sumac and Sunflower fight until Sumac sees her dead sister under Hoot, and in rage and fear she flees. Sunflower huffs and takes Apple to Mulberry, relieved and happy that he is okay. It doesn't last long. Next thing he knows, Foxglove is tumbling off the cliff and Sunflowers heart stops.

A Chilling End
Sunflower screams and tries to catch up with the two of them as they roll over the cliff. Rhyolite's paw scrapes the edge but ultimately, they tumble. Sunflower runs over and looks below, seeing the raging rapids. He quickly finds a path down, and with Hoot he hurries to the ground below to try and find Foxglove.

Sunflower sees Foxglove’s paw sticking out of the water, holding out for help, and he calls to him again. Foxglove struggles against the current, trying to reach Hoot and Sunflower on the edge. Sunflower reaches out to Foxglove, desperate to save him.