Post by budgie on Sept 18, 2020 12:49:56 GMT -6
Ladybug ON GOLDEN LEaf
Tribe of Floating Stones
light brown spotted she-cat with green eyes
to-be
she-cat
10 moons
Appearance
Despite being named for such a tiny creature, Ladybug is anything but! Her bulky frame towers over her peers. As a young to-be, it’s still uncertain which path she’ll take, and her stature doesn’t offer many clues. While she has the bulk of a cave guard, her long legs also give her the potential to be an effective prey hunter.
Her body may make Ladybug intimidating at first glance, but that’s quickly offset by her friendly-looking face. Her wide yellow-green eyes and soft, round muzzle appear almost incapable of twisting into anger or sadness. Instead, her expression is typically one of curiosity or excitement, causing her raspberry-colored nose to twitch and her fur-lined ears to stick straight up.
While her name may not be indicative of her size, it is a nod to her spotted pelt. Light brown with dark brown and black spots all across her body, save for a few stripes that frame her face and decorate her tail, she certainly resembles the dotted insect in that regard. Aside from a small patch of white fur on her muzzle and chin, Ladybug’s entirely brown pelt allows her to blend in with the surrounding forests without too much trouble.
Her body may make Ladybug intimidating at first glance, but that’s quickly offset by her friendly-looking face. Her wide yellow-green eyes and soft, round muzzle appear almost incapable of twisting into anger or sadness. Instead, her expression is typically one of curiosity or excitement, causing her raspberry-colored nose to twitch and her fur-lined ears to stick straight up.
While her name may not be indicative of her size, it is a nod to her spotted pelt. Light brown with dark brown and black spots all across her body, save for a few stripes that frame her face and decorate her tail, she certainly resembles the dotted insect in that regard. Aside from a small patch of white fur on her muzzle and chin, Ladybug’s entirely brown pelt allows her to blend in with the surrounding forests without too much trouble.
Personality
+ Energetic
Ladybug is always willing to volunteer, even for the less desirable chores around the Island. She’s able to get excited about nearly anything, and doesn’t typically tire easily, which definitely gave her parents some extra stress in her younger moons. While some cats appreciate her enthusiasm, it is not always welcome.
- Distractible
Good luck trying to hold a long conversation with Ladybug, because odds are she’s going to get distracted and go on a tangent about something else, or straight up walk away without warning. She doesn’t do this to be intentionally rude, but it can certainly come off that way. Training her may prove to be difficult, as she has a hard time following directions and staying focused.
+ Empathetic
While Ladybug has difficulty making friends and spent most of her childhood isolated from other cats her age, she has a great deal of compassion and empathy for others. If she notices that another cat is upset, she’ll do everything in her power to cheer them up.
- Naïve
Unfortunately, her empathetic nature can lead her to be quite naïve. There are no strangers to her on the Island, but if she were to encounter one, she’d trust them without hesitation. She has no reason to suspect another cat is lying to her, so she’ll believe almost anything that’s told to her.
= Imaginative
Ladybug has a more active imagination than most, going so far as to create a friend for herself in the form of Shadow that Falls at Dusk. Shadow isn’t real, of course, but Ladybug will often have animated conversations with the imaginary tom, play with him, and even prefer his company to the company of her tribemates.
Her imaginative side has its positives, too. The dialogues she has with Shadow can sometimes serve as effective brainstorming sessions, helping her to come up with unique solutions to difficult problems.
Ladybug is always willing to volunteer, even for the less desirable chores around the Island. She’s able to get excited about nearly anything, and doesn’t typically tire easily, which definitely gave her parents some extra stress in her younger moons. While some cats appreciate her enthusiasm, it is not always welcome.
- Distractible
Good luck trying to hold a long conversation with Ladybug, because odds are she’s going to get distracted and go on a tangent about something else, or straight up walk away without warning. She doesn’t do this to be intentionally rude, but it can certainly come off that way. Training her may prove to be difficult, as she has a hard time following directions and staying focused.
+ Empathetic
While Ladybug has difficulty making friends and spent most of her childhood isolated from other cats her age, she has a great deal of compassion and empathy for others. If she notices that another cat is upset, she’ll do everything in her power to cheer them up.
- Naïve
Unfortunately, her empathetic nature can lead her to be quite naïve. There are no strangers to her on the Island, but if she were to encounter one, she’d trust them without hesitation. She has no reason to suspect another cat is lying to her, so she’ll believe almost anything that’s told to her.
= Imaginative
Ladybug has a more active imagination than most, going so far as to create a friend for herself in the form of Shadow that Falls at Dusk. Shadow isn’t real, of course, but Ladybug will often have animated conversations with the imaginary tom, play with him, and even prefer his company to the company of her tribemates.
Her imaginative side has its positives, too. The dialogues she has with Shadow can sometimes serve as effective brainstorming sessions, helping her to come up with unique solutions to difficult problems.
History
KIT
On a bright spring day, two kits were born to Poplar that Reaches the Clouds and Branch Where Birds Nest. The older couple had earned a reputation in the tribe as gentle caregivers, but they had been unable to have kits of their own—until now.
The larger, spotted she-kit would be called Ladybug on Golden Leaf, the Teller of the Stars had decided. The small, pale-colored tom would be Light that Shines Through Trees.
Unfortunately, their good luck couldn’t have come at a worse time. A great sickness was sweeping the island, and quickly took the life of the smaller, weaker kit just one moon later. Certain she was too old to bear any more kits, Poplar was especially devastated by the loss of the son she had waited for for so long. The tiny family of three decided to keep to themselves, hopeful that staying away from others would keep their only remaining kit from coming down with the same illness.
Ladybug’s physical health wasn’t the only thing the couple was worried about—their surviving kit had suddenly lost all interest in playing or babbling like she used to. Nothing they did could cheer up their once rambunctious daughter—none of Branch’s silly faces go so much as a smile out of her. She was growing skinnier by the day, and her parents were already preemptively grieving her loss, too.
By Ladybug’s third moon, things began to change.
Poplar was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of laughter. Her mate was still dozing soundly beside her, but little Ladybug was gone. Before the frantic mother could rise to her paws, she spotted her daughter on the opposite side of the den, batting around a pebble and laughing. Shocked, confused, but feeling a flicker of hope for the first time in moons, Poplar called her back to her side to go back to sleep.
The following days saw Ladybug improve tremendously. She ate ravenously, played like she had limitless energy, and chattered excitedly when her mother groomed her before bedtime. Poplar and Branch felt like they could finally let out the breath they’d been holding for the past 2 moons—their daughter was going to be ok.
One night, after her routine grooming, Ladybug wiggled in her mother’s paws to look up at the queen with her green, big eyes. “Momma, I have a question.”
“Yes, darling?” Poplar purred.
“Why don’t you ever give Shadow a bath?”
Poplar’s purring stopped. “Shadow?” She looked to her mate for the answer, but he only shook his head.
“Yeah! I mean, I guess it’s kinda hard to tell when he’s dirty since he’s got black fur an’ all.”
Concern creeped across Poplar’s face. “Ladybug, darling, who is Shadow?”
“He’s Shadow! He’s right next to you, silly!”
Concern turned to fear as both Poplar and Branch scanned the den. “Sweetheart, there’s no one else here in this den. It’s just you, me, and your father.” Poplar’s voice shook slightly, but she was trying hard to stay calm.
Ladybug’s brow furrowed in frustration. “Shadow that Falls at Dusk! He’s right here!” Her voice became higher with every word.
Branch, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally spoke.
“Ladybug,” his voice was stern. “Shadow isn’t real. We can’t see him—he’s just in your imagination.”
“No he’s NOT!” She wailed, tears welling in her eyes. Poplar gave her mate a warning look. Let me handle this.
“Darling,” her mother cooed, giving the kit a comforting lick on the head. “Do you remember Light?”
Ladybug became very quiet, and nodded. “A little,” she sniffed. “He lives in the Tribe of Endless Life now, right?”
“That’s right. Your brother must have sent you a friend to play with, so that you don’t get too lonely while he’s away.”
Branch’s eyes widened, and he started to open his mouth to protest, but Poplar silenced him with another look.
Ladybug’s eyes widened, and she turned to look at something that her mother couldn’t see. “Really?”
“Mhhmm. But since he’s your special friend, only you can see him. But if other cats knew you had a special playmate, they might get jealous. You don’t want that, do you?”
Ladybug shook her head back and forth vigorously.
“Of course not. Then maybe we should keep Shadow a secret.”
Ladybug nodded.
---
TO-BE
Ladybug beamed as the Teller smeared the berry mixture across her forehead. They were finally becoming to-bes!
Sit still!
At Shadow’s harsh whisper, she straightened her back.and held her breath. As the Teller stepped back to continue the ceremon, Ladybug had to bite back a yowl of protest—why hadn’t Shadow been acknowledged, too? Her parents couldn’t see him, but surely the Teller of the Stars could—he had a deeper connection with the Tribe of Endless Life than any other cat!
Eh, don’t worry about it. Saves me from having to wash that mush off my face!
Ladybug giggled at his remark, earning her a few odd stares from the other to-bes. Once the ceremony was over, she bounded over to her parents. They glowed with pride and warmth.
“We did it!” She exclaimed, hopping up and down. Her entire kithood had been spent in isolation to keep her safe, but now she was free to play with the other to-bes and explore the island! After receiving a congratulatory nuzzle from both Poplar and Branch, she skipped away to the small group of newly initiated to-bes that had formed by the Tribe Stone. Once she was within earshot, she could hear them all chatting excitedly.
“I’m gonna be a cave guard for sure!” A large, grey and white tom mewed confidently.
“I’m not quite sure yet,” A thin black she-cat replied, shuffling her paws.
“It’s ok! We don’t know either!” Ladybug chirped, hopping closer to the semi-circle of cats.
“Who’s we?” The future cave guard mewed, brow raised.
“Oh! I’m Ladybug on Golden Leaf, and this is Shadow that Falls at Dusk!” The words rolled off her tongue before she could catch herself.
Maybe they can see me? Well, hopefully not all of them. I’m not too keen on the big tom.
“I’m sure he’s not so bad,” She replied quickly to Shadow, who was lingering behind her.
“Who are you talking to?” The black she-cat piped up. “Who’s Shadow?”
Ladybug felt her face growing hot. “He’s my friend! He’s standing right in front of you!” She countered, indignation plain in her voice.
“Are you messing with us?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“There’s no one there. Are you ok?”
The questions flew one after the other, and Ladybug felt herself becoming more flustered by the second.
Come on, Ladybug. Let’s go.
The excitement she had been feeling just moments ago had completely deflated. Tail between her legs, she walked home behind her parents. Shadow fell into step alongside her.
“Mom and Dad warned me, you know. Why didn’t I listen?”
You had faith. There’s nothing wrong with that.
“I guess so. But what if they don’t want to be my friend now? What if no one ever wants to be my friend?”
Well, any cat who’s that quick to judge probably wouldn’t make a great friend, would they?
---
((OOC note: If it’s not clear, Shadow is not actually a cat from the Tribe of Endless Life! He is only a figment of Ladybug’s imagination, not a god-mod haha))
On a bright spring day, two kits were born to Poplar that Reaches the Clouds and Branch Where Birds Nest. The older couple had earned a reputation in the tribe as gentle caregivers, but they had been unable to have kits of their own—until now.
The larger, spotted she-kit would be called Ladybug on Golden Leaf, the Teller of the Stars had decided. The small, pale-colored tom would be Light that Shines Through Trees.
Unfortunately, their good luck couldn’t have come at a worse time. A great sickness was sweeping the island, and quickly took the life of the smaller, weaker kit just one moon later. Certain she was too old to bear any more kits, Poplar was especially devastated by the loss of the son she had waited for for so long. The tiny family of three decided to keep to themselves, hopeful that staying away from others would keep their only remaining kit from coming down with the same illness.
Ladybug’s physical health wasn’t the only thing the couple was worried about—their surviving kit had suddenly lost all interest in playing or babbling like she used to. Nothing they did could cheer up their once rambunctious daughter—none of Branch’s silly faces go so much as a smile out of her. She was growing skinnier by the day, and her parents were already preemptively grieving her loss, too.
By Ladybug’s third moon, things began to change.
Poplar was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of laughter. Her mate was still dozing soundly beside her, but little Ladybug was gone. Before the frantic mother could rise to her paws, she spotted her daughter on the opposite side of the den, batting around a pebble and laughing. Shocked, confused, but feeling a flicker of hope for the first time in moons, Poplar called her back to her side to go back to sleep.
The following days saw Ladybug improve tremendously. She ate ravenously, played like she had limitless energy, and chattered excitedly when her mother groomed her before bedtime. Poplar and Branch felt like they could finally let out the breath they’d been holding for the past 2 moons—their daughter was going to be ok.
One night, after her routine grooming, Ladybug wiggled in her mother’s paws to look up at the queen with her green, big eyes. “Momma, I have a question.”
“Yes, darling?” Poplar purred.
“Why don’t you ever give Shadow a bath?”
Poplar’s purring stopped. “Shadow?” She looked to her mate for the answer, but he only shook his head.
“Yeah! I mean, I guess it’s kinda hard to tell when he’s dirty since he’s got black fur an’ all.”
Concern creeped across Poplar’s face. “Ladybug, darling, who is Shadow?”
“He’s Shadow! He’s right next to you, silly!”
Concern turned to fear as both Poplar and Branch scanned the den. “Sweetheart, there’s no one else here in this den. It’s just you, me, and your father.” Poplar’s voice shook slightly, but she was trying hard to stay calm.
Ladybug’s brow furrowed in frustration. “Shadow that Falls at Dusk! He’s right here!” Her voice became higher with every word.
Branch, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally spoke.
“Ladybug,” his voice was stern. “Shadow isn’t real. We can’t see him—he’s just in your imagination.”
“No he’s NOT!” She wailed, tears welling in her eyes. Poplar gave her mate a warning look. Let me handle this.
“Darling,” her mother cooed, giving the kit a comforting lick on the head. “Do you remember Light?”
Ladybug became very quiet, and nodded. “A little,” she sniffed. “He lives in the Tribe of Endless Life now, right?”
“That’s right. Your brother must have sent you a friend to play with, so that you don’t get too lonely while he’s away.”
Branch’s eyes widened, and he started to open his mouth to protest, but Poplar silenced him with another look.
Ladybug’s eyes widened, and she turned to look at something that her mother couldn’t see. “Really?”
“Mhhmm. But since he’s your special friend, only you can see him. But if other cats knew you had a special playmate, they might get jealous. You don’t want that, do you?”
Ladybug shook her head back and forth vigorously.
“Of course not. Then maybe we should keep Shadow a secret.”
Ladybug nodded.
---
TO-BE
Ladybug beamed as the Teller smeared the berry mixture across her forehead. They were finally becoming to-bes!
Sit still!
At Shadow’s harsh whisper, she straightened her back.and held her breath. As the Teller stepped back to continue the ceremon, Ladybug had to bite back a yowl of protest—why hadn’t Shadow been acknowledged, too? Her parents couldn’t see him, but surely the Teller of the Stars could—he had a deeper connection with the Tribe of Endless Life than any other cat!
Eh, don’t worry about it. Saves me from having to wash that mush off my face!
Ladybug giggled at his remark, earning her a few odd stares from the other to-bes. Once the ceremony was over, she bounded over to her parents. They glowed with pride and warmth.
“We did it!” She exclaimed, hopping up and down. Her entire kithood had been spent in isolation to keep her safe, but now she was free to play with the other to-bes and explore the island! After receiving a congratulatory nuzzle from both Poplar and Branch, she skipped away to the small group of newly initiated to-bes that had formed by the Tribe Stone. Once she was within earshot, she could hear them all chatting excitedly.
“I’m gonna be a cave guard for sure!” A large, grey and white tom mewed confidently.
“I’m not quite sure yet,” A thin black she-cat replied, shuffling her paws.
“It’s ok! We don’t know either!” Ladybug chirped, hopping closer to the semi-circle of cats.
“Who’s we?” The future cave guard mewed, brow raised.
“Oh! I’m Ladybug on Golden Leaf, and this is Shadow that Falls at Dusk!” The words rolled off her tongue before she could catch herself.
Maybe they can see me? Well, hopefully not all of them. I’m not too keen on the big tom.
“I’m sure he’s not so bad,” She replied quickly to Shadow, who was lingering behind her.
“Who are you talking to?” The black she-cat piped up. “Who’s Shadow?”
Ladybug felt her face growing hot. “He’s my friend! He’s standing right in front of you!” She countered, indignation plain in her voice.
“Are you messing with us?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“There’s no one there. Are you ok?”
The questions flew one after the other, and Ladybug felt herself becoming more flustered by the second.
Come on, Ladybug. Let’s go.
The excitement she had been feeling just moments ago had completely deflated. Tail between her legs, she walked home behind her parents. Shadow fell into step alongside her.
“Mom and Dad warned me, you know. Why didn’t I listen?”
You had faith. There’s nothing wrong with that.
“I guess so. But what if they don’t want to be my friend now? What if no one ever wants to be my friend?”
Well, any cat who’s that quick to judge probably wouldn’t make a great friend, would they?
---
((OOC note: If it’s not clear, Shadow is not actually a cat from the Tribe of Endless Life! He is only a figment of Ladybug’s imagination, not a god-mod haha))