Born to Blackwolds in the Chetwood around Combe, Thornblossom was abandoned near the bear dens at no more than a few days old. One of the townsfolk found the sickly squalling bundle, and carried it to Lizbeth Honeymeade at the Combe and Wattle. Raised there, Blossom as Lizbeth called her, was wiping tables and sweeping as soon as she was big enough to hold the broom. Life was rough for little Blossom and at the age of fourteen took an even worse turn. An abandoned Blackwold baby wasn't thought much of, and seeing how pretty she was turning out to be, Lizbeth began to offer her as an extra service to her inn patrons. Four years passed. A man came to Combe late one evening and stopping at the inn, bought a room and Blossom's company for the night. Not thinking there would be any consequences, he used her roughly, beating her for pleasure, taking what he would. Foolishly laying his weapons on the chair in the room, he laughed while he abused her. Snatching the short, double bladed dagger from his pile of weapons, Blossom made one deep swift stroke across his throat. The man fell in a pool of his own blood, and Blossom decided then and there that no man would laugh at her pain again. Taking the dagger, she slipped out the window and into the night, running to Bree. For awhile, she continued to sell herself, needing the money. But only to men she chose to and under the name of Thornblossom. Always now, she keeps her Thorn, the dagger she took from the man in Combe, strapped to her arm within quick reach.

Two years later and Thorn managed to learn how to hunt and survive in the wild. Finding that she had a skill for daggers and short swords, she began taking suppling jobs for people around Bree and occasionally bounty hunting. Grateful for something other than prostitution, she threw herself into the work she found, traveling as far as Evendim and the Lonelands, running goods between the Rangers and the Eglain.