While Chickweed is about average in size - maybe a tiny bit smaller than average - the way they carry themselves can sometimes be deceiving, making them seem even smaller than they are. A rather shy and self-conscious cat, they try to make themselves look small in order to prevent themselves from standing out of the crowd. Unfortunately for Chickweed, that becomes a little more difficult given their bright, long white fur - the length that makes it rather clear that they were originally born as a member of RidgeClan in order to keep themselves warm in the harsh environment.

Their yellow eyes often seem to be darting rather anxiously, paws sometimes fidgetting as though ready to bolt. Their general body language can often come across as though they're waiting for something terrible to happen upon them and the cats around them. But when Chickweed is feeling more confident, while their stature might still look small, their eyes are often soft and inviting, giving the impression of a cat ready to listen to whatever problems another might have.

Chickweedkit was born the single kit to Jaybelly and Hollyflower of RidgeClan. Their birth was something of a miracle for a couple who'd been trying to have kits for many moons, and had all but given up on thinking they would become parents.

Though what was once a loving relationship bringing in their first kit seemed to turn sour rather quickly. While it seemed that the kit's parents tried to dote on them as much as they could, they weren't oblivious to the fighting and tension that existed between them. At a rather young age, Chickweedkit started to feel a mounting pressure - was this their fault? After all, Jaybelly and Hollyflower had been together since they were apprentices, and had officially been mates since the day Jaybelly received his warrior name. They had wanted kits more than anything in the world, but now that Chickweedkit was here, it seemed that they were always at odds.

While it seemed many of the cats around them tried to keep them company, things often felt strange in comparison to the relationship other kits seemed to have with their parents. Jaybelly was spending less time in the camp, and would never answer questions straight about where he was going. Hollyflower never wanted to play with them, even occassionally shooing the young kit off when they asked what was wrong. While Gorseclaw, a close friend of their parents, would sometimes play with Chickweedkit, even he seemed to grow strangely more distant, talking in shadows with Hollyflower about things that they were never allowed to listen to.

At a certain point, Chickweedkit eventually simply... stopped asking. They drew more into themselves, scared to ask for even the most basic things in fear that they would be shooed away by the very cats who were supposed to love and care for them.

Thankfully, the failing adults around them were not the only cats in the nursery. Another litter had been born in the same moon, two kits named Bearkit and Shellkit. And only two moons younger was Chivekit, who was practically family to them, and whom they were closest to. There was a slight jealousy that they held towards their playmates, who were often doted on quite generously by their parents, but they were thankful for the moments they spent with their friends, not having to worry about the things that bothered them.

One night, when Jaybelly had already gone out, Chickweedkit had noticed Hollyflower and Gorseclaw slip into the night. They did their best to try and follow, though they certainly weren't all that confident in their abilities, given that they were still an apprentice. Looking up to the sky, they began to wonder if what they were doing was right, and if they were going to be alright. In that very moment, Chickweedkit watched as a warrior of StarClan ran across the sky in a shooting star, as though a sign from StarClan themselves to let the terrified kit know everything would be just fine. When they heard the sound of Hollyflower sobbing in the distance, the kit ran back to camp as fast as they could and into the nursery before anyone could catch them.

Just as they were about to fall asleep, they felt a body curl up next to them, and caught the scent of Jaybelly. With a newfound thankfulness to StarClan, Chickweedkit moved in closer to their father, wondering if StarClan had told him to sleep next to them that night. He never left the nursery after that night, nor did Hollyflower ever return. Perhaps that was simply StarClan's fate for them, to stay close to their father.

Chickweedpaw's apprentice ceremony left much to be desired out of the young apprentice. It certainly hadn't been much of a secret to know that they wanted to study medicine more than fighting and hunting, but Rainstorm was already mentoring Frostpaw by the time they were named, so there wasn't more room for another apprentice. After their fated night with StarClan, Chickweedpaw wanted to become closer to their ancestors, and wanted to learn more about what it was that they had in store for them. On top of that, the lack of Hollyflower's presence made their ceremony all the more sour, and the young cat wasn't oblivious to the cats who sat in the back and seemingly refused to cheer when their new name was called. It felt like more and more cats had grown further distant from them as they got older, making each day in RidgeClan feel more like a chore as time went on.

They were assigned to a tom by the name of Brindlehawk - the father of their denmates Bearpaw and Shellpaw. He was certainly well-meaning in everything he did for Chickweedpaw, but still it felt as though everything just fell short. Even when they did try their best to do what was asked of them, it was evidently clear to Brindlehawk that Chickweedpaw simply wasn't meeting the same expectations and goalposts as their peers. He tried his best to meet them where they were, to talk about their abandonment issues - something that perhaps the young cat wasn't really all that prepared to acknowledge at their age - and just serve as a friend. They were certainly thankful for the tom's kind presence and words, but the lack of support from other places within RidgeClan often made their days feel dull.

Fact of the matter was, outside of their lack of desire to be a warrior, Chickweedpaw was also distracted. Chivekit, their one friend, was still a kit while they had moved onto apprenticehood. Their mother was around, but certainly no longer present in their life, and it seemed as though their father was rarely around at all. They'd begun to notice their father not being around late in the day when night approached, knew they needed to figure out what was going on.

Keeping their distance, Chickweedpaw was able to stalk after their father before they found him speaking with a cat from MistClan, and acting much friendlier to her than they ever saw their father act around Hollyflower. It was almost nice to watch, to see someone in their disfunctional family be happy for once. The second the she-cat mentioned that she was pregnant, Chickweedpaw quickly made their way back to camp to think everything over. They would have half-siblings soon... but would they be raised in MistClan? Was their father going to leave RidgeClan altogether in order to be with his new mate? Sure, Chickweedpaw wanted to see their father happy, but they didn't want to lose the only cat they really had left in their life.

Determined not to be left behind, Chickweedpaw kept a close eye on Jaybelly. While they still weren't sure that they wanted to go to MistClan, they also didn't want to be left behind. They wanted to find a time to talk to their father about his plans, but finding a time when he was alone proved to be difficult. When they saw their father leave camp late at night once again, they knew they had to follow him.

After hearing Jaybelly and the she-cat's plan to move to the Kingdom, suddenly every thought that Chickweedpaw had changed on a dime. They didn't even have time to think before they stopped Jaybelly and demanded that they come along, in which he told them that he never intended on leaving them behind.

Within the quarter-moon, Chickweedpaw would meet Ottersplash and move to the Kingdom to start their new life, deciding to follow their father's lead in dropping their suffix and deciding to simply go by the name Chickweed.

Pre-Plotting: Originally adopted from Bones' ad in the role of The Student, which also makes them part of Gingerfang's massive family ad.

They fit into the plot role of Dragonfly as a former member of RidgeClan. They didn't leave the Clans because they despised them, but because they knew their life would be better with their father in the Kingdom and being able to learn more about herbs and healing.

Family: Chickweed is closest to their father, Jay. They struggle with feelings surrounding why their mother seemingly abandoned them, and will perhaps need to juggle those later down the line. In the meantime, they're excited to welcome Ottersplash into the family, and even more excited to meet their future half-siblings.

Friends: As a kit, Chickweed's shier personality made it rather difficult for them to make friends with the exception of their cousin, Chivepaw. They miss Chivepaw dearly, but hope they'll be able to make new friends in the Kingdom, too.