Post by jagdhund on Apr 11, 2021 8:33:11 GMT -6
CLOUDCATCHER
REDWOODCLAN
Dark brown tabby tom with hazel eyes.
Warrior
Male
42 Moons
Appearance
It isn't hard to find someone like Cloudcatcher. His stature is rather imposing, with large legs and muscles giving him a natural edge on shredding his opponent. He's a good half-head above the average cat, from pointed, scarred ears to big, rough paws. With his strength and reflexes, it's no wonder that he was called 'catcher'.
Secondly, his pelt is short and rather smooth along his body. Long, dark M-shaped tabby stripes cross against a gradient of dark and light browns crossing to his patchy pale chest. The only thing that breaks the stripes are scars crossing across his flank from a fox attack.
Finally, he has a rather thick, square face with straight, scar-covered ears doing little to enhance his features. Their blocky muzzle has one scar trailing right against his nose up to his right eye. Dark, olive green eyes almost hide with his muted colours.
Secondly, his pelt is short and rather smooth along his body. Long, dark M-shaped tabby stripes cross against a gradient of dark and light browns crossing to his patchy pale chest. The only thing that breaks the stripes are scars crossing across his flank from a fox attack.
Finally, he has a rather thick, square face with straight, scar-covered ears doing little to enhance his features. Their blocky muzzle has one scar trailing right against his nose up to his right eye. Dark, olive green eyes almost hide with his muted colours.
Personality
Positive:
The first thing one would notice after a few minutes of meeting Cloudcatcher is he earned his soft-sounding prefix. He is a rather lax and calm figure compared to the rigid standards imposed onto him by war and strife. Little really gets under his fur and he slides off insults and criticism with a well timed laugh or joke. Compared to his siblings, he can be a rather inspiring and charismatic force, with less abstract thinking. Or really, thinking at all.
But beyond the calm lies the driven storm underneath. He gives a hundred and ten percent for his Clan and the cats inside it, from being the first to come back from a long border patrol, to staying until nightfall to get prey for the queens in the Nursery. To tell him to take a break or rest would be met with a confused stare. "The Clan isn't secure yet though. Why would I stop?"
Negative:
With every storm of driven expectations, destructive lightning is not too far behind. Because of his blind devotion to the safety and health of the Clan, he has a reckless urge to protect it at the expense of his own safety. He never takes himself into account in a crisis of food or natural disaster, and Cloudcatcher comes back with more wounds than one can shake a stick at in a border skirmish.
And with the rumbling of thunder, there is a darkness to his heart. When his calm fades, a searing vengeance absorbs his heart. His anger would make him claw through waves of cats to get to his specific target, and he does not forget grudges. If you make it onto his bad side, there's little short of a miracle that will allow them to come back.
History
"Shrewkit! Forestkit!"
He couldn't help but yell out their names, even if he knew they wouldn't answer. Three moons of getting to know both his Clan and his blood family has been a trial by fire situation. But the little kit found that it was the best way he learned. Cloudkit turned his head around the back of the Nursery, feeling his whiskers droop when nothing appeared. "Oh come -on-!" He sighed inwardly. "I made a promise I was gonna get you two to play with the other kits with me, and I'm not going to back down!"
"Cloudkit! We're playing mossball again! Where are you?" Cloudkit turned his head towards the voice, watching a ginger head poke out with an impatient look in their eyes. "My group's uneven and Ivykit won't let you on her team! You in?"
"Of course!" Cloudkit nodded. "I just wanna find Shrewkit and Forestkit and see if they wanna play too."
He didn't miss the look that crossed Flamekit's face. "Them? It'll take too long to do that. Shrewkit's hard to find and Forestkit is weird!"
The dark tabby tom flattened his ears. "Take that back, she's my sister!"
"It's true though! They both probably don't wanna play with us anyway, and I need you on my team, Cloudkit!" Flamekit begged.
"Well if that's how you're gonna treat them, then I hope Ivykit's team wins." Cloudkit's squeaky voice hardened into flint, and he stalked away from the other tom without another word. The dull ache in his heart didn't recede. But he shook it off nevertheless. "Forget what they said. Maybe if I find Shrewkit she can tell me what she found today."
Cloudkit was born to two very loving parents, as well as two littermates to share the world with. While Forestkit and Shrewkit got the lion's share of brains and mystique, Cloudkit was an transparent social butterfly in comparison. But no matter how popular he became with his peers, playing mossball and bothering the older warriors and apprentices for secret training, he never strayed far from his roots. Cloudkit was always protective of his sisters and would not suffer any taunt or jeer in their direction.
And it was not long before he became an apprentice a moon after his littermates...
"Keep your tail straight, Cloudpaw." The white molly chastised, watching the young tom get back onto his paws. "The other Clans will use your bulk and lack of grace against you. You'll need to find another way to counter their swift movements, or hope you'll grow sturdy enough to take everything that comes to you. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Icefang." Cloudpaw grunted, lowering himself back down into a pounce. "I'll get it right this time."
Icefang narrowed her yellow eyes, and lowered herself to lunge at him. "The Clan isn't always going to be there to protect you. You know this, right?"
Cloudpaw narrowed his eyes. "They will. We each protect one another in battle and in hardship. That's what being a Clan cat is all about."
"Yes, little one. But there will come a time that you will have to stand on your own four paws and make that difference. And your stance and strength will be all that matters." Icefang's voice became a growl as she darted straight for the brown tabby, and they resumed their fighting practice in contemplative silence.
Spats with the other kits delayed his apprenticeship by about a moon. Immaturity does not make a good warrior, and when Cloudkit learned that he was eventually granted his apprentice name, along with a rather good match for a mentor in the senior warrior Icefang.
Cloudpaw and Icefang got along swimmingly from the moment they finished their first patrol around the area. Icefang brought him support and companionship when he was struggling to catch up with his littermates, and he brought the normally stern and calm molly a challenge. She mainly focused on his battle moves, but neglected his hunting and tracking skills because of it. But in a warzone and tensions between the Clans growing, she knew she had a duty to make sure he survived through it.
Despite the intense training, he never let his social skills become rusty. He kept up with his peers and took the time out of the day to socialize with friends and family alike.
Cloudcatcher's warrior ceremony was as late as his apprenticeship, but the lax tom didn't feel any spite like he did prior. Fighting came to him as naturally as breathing, with hunting being a close second. But the wrathful vengeance burning in his heart reared it's head fiercely during a battle with a badger in the woods, leading to him being cooped back up in the medicine den to wait out the healing process. But Cloudpaw didn't lash out this time at the unjust timing, and let his lax disposition carry him through the drudgery.
Once he was free and earned his new name, he tom threw himself into every bit of work for his Clan. Fighting, hunting, and keeping his close relationships as tight as they could be. Moons turned to seasons of nonstop hard work with no end in his stride. Especially when it came to the realization that some mollies and toms found him attractive.
Youth was always the time to make mistakes. And Cloud was a mistake in action with this new knowledge.
He showed off in fights for the preying eyes watching him, gave prey to the mollies that felt like their heads were swimming. Courted the attention of toms who just wanted a moment of time to be of someone's importance. He basked in their attention and praise like a fish needing water. But there was one molly whom he could never enchant: Ivythorn.
Ivythorn never appreciated Cloud's gifts, or the rumors of him spending some time with yet another cat. He continued to try and court her as well, many moons of effort, showing off, and leaving gifts at her nest. But none of them garnered her attention or affection. Not until the day they were patrolled together.
"You want to know why I don't want anything to do with you anymore?" Ivythorn's voice was as hard as flint. "Because you changed. You used to be so genuine, so sweet. Do you even look back at the cats you've left behind? How much heartbreak you've caused them? You claim to care about RedwoodClan, but you hurt others in there where they're the most vulnerable."
Cloudcatcher's ears pinned back to his head. "So what do I do? You're acting like there's no changing me, so why tell me this?"
"Because you can. And I hope you start before we can't even recognize you anymore." The gray-and-white tabby turned away, leaving the tom alone in the clearing.
After that moment, Cloudcatcher attempted to change for the better. He stopped constantly seeking out the attention of others, using his social graces to help restore them back to their comrades-in-arms reputation. Ivy watched her friend's progress, keeping up with every step of his path. They grew back together as friends. Patched one another up during their emotional turmoil. Defended one another in the heat of battle. Told each other things that no one, not their family or closest friends, could know. Stitched each other's hearts together until they could agree that they were mates.
At thirty-eight moons, he could finally say that his life was starting to turn around.
Until it wasn't.
"IVYTHORN!"
Cloudcatcher heard the cry, muffled by the blood roaring in his ears. The cavalry was finally here, but were they too late? The tabby tom attempted to rise up to his paws, to see out of his good eye for the familiar splash of gray. But he shuddered back into the mud, feeling the darkness begin to take him once more.
Confined to the medicine den once again, Cloudcatcher almost did not fight against the grievous injuries. The poppyseeds and other herbs could dull the pain and some of the swarming memories in his head, but not all of it could be healed instantaneously. The tabby tom kept his strength up haphazardly, keeping away from the bonds he had taken to tenderly form over time. It wasn't until an epiphany struck his dense head that he began to go back out into the world. At 44 moons, he has a lot of ground to cover yet.
But now he had to live for them both.
He couldn't help but yell out their names, even if he knew they wouldn't answer. Three moons of getting to know both his Clan and his blood family has been a trial by fire situation. But the little kit found that it was the best way he learned. Cloudkit turned his head around the back of the Nursery, feeling his whiskers droop when nothing appeared. "Oh come -on-!" He sighed inwardly. "I made a promise I was gonna get you two to play with the other kits with me, and I'm not going to back down!"
"Cloudkit! We're playing mossball again! Where are you?" Cloudkit turned his head towards the voice, watching a ginger head poke out with an impatient look in their eyes. "My group's uneven and Ivykit won't let you on her team! You in?"
"Of course!" Cloudkit nodded. "I just wanna find Shrewkit and Forestkit and see if they wanna play too."
He didn't miss the look that crossed Flamekit's face. "Them? It'll take too long to do that. Shrewkit's hard to find and Forestkit is weird!"
The dark tabby tom flattened his ears. "Take that back, she's my sister!"
"It's true though! They both probably don't wanna play with us anyway, and I need you on my team, Cloudkit!" Flamekit begged.
"Well if that's how you're gonna treat them, then I hope Ivykit's team wins." Cloudkit's squeaky voice hardened into flint, and he stalked away from the other tom without another word. The dull ache in his heart didn't recede. But he shook it off nevertheless. "Forget what they said. Maybe if I find Shrewkit she can tell me what she found today."
Cloudkit was born to two very loving parents, as well as two littermates to share the world with. While Forestkit and Shrewkit got the lion's share of brains and mystique, Cloudkit was an transparent social butterfly in comparison. But no matter how popular he became with his peers, playing mossball and bothering the older warriors and apprentices for secret training, he never strayed far from his roots. Cloudkit was always protective of his sisters and would not suffer any taunt or jeer in their direction.
And it was not long before he became an apprentice a moon after his littermates...
"Keep your tail straight, Cloudpaw." The white molly chastised, watching the young tom get back onto his paws. "The other Clans will use your bulk and lack of grace against you. You'll need to find another way to counter their swift movements, or hope you'll grow sturdy enough to take everything that comes to you. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Icefang." Cloudpaw grunted, lowering himself back down into a pounce. "I'll get it right this time."
Icefang narrowed her yellow eyes, and lowered herself to lunge at him. "The Clan isn't always going to be there to protect you. You know this, right?"
Cloudpaw narrowed his eyes. "They will. We each protect one another in battle and in hardship. That's what being a Clan cat is all about."
"Yes, little one. But there will come a time that you will have to stand on your own four paws and make that difference. And your stance and strength will be all that matters." Icefang's voice became a growl as she darted straight for the brown tabby, and they resumed their fighting practice in contemplative silence.
Spats with the other kits delayed his apprenticeship by about a moon. Immaturity does not make a good warrior, and when Cloudkit learned that he was eventually granted his apprentice name, along with a rather good match for a mentor in the senior warrior Icefang.
Cloudpaw and Icefang got along swimmingly from the moment they finished their first patrol around the area. Icefang brought him support and companionship when he was struggling to catch up with his littermates, and he brought the normally stern and calm molly a challenge. She mainly focused on his battle moves, but neglected his hunting and tracking skills because of it. But in a warzone and tensions between the Clans growing, she knew she had a duty to make sure he survived through it.
Despite the intense training, he never let his social skills become rusty. He kept up with his peers and took the time out of the day to socialize with friends and family alike.
Cloudcatcher's warrior ceremony was as late as his apprenticeship, but the lax tom didn't feel any spite like he did prior. Fighting came to him as naturally as breathing, with hunting being a close second. But the wrathful vengeance burning in his heart reared it's head fiercely during a battle with a badger in the woods, leading to him being cooped back up in the medicine den to wait out the healing process. But Cloudpaw didn't lash out this time at the unjust timing, and let his lax disposition carry him through the drudgery.
Once he was free and earned his new name, he tom threw himself into every bit of work for his Clan. Fighting, hunting, and keeping his close relationships as tight as they could be. Moons turned to seasons of nonstop hard work with no end in his stride. Especially when it came to the realization that some mollies and toms found him attractive.
Youth was always the time to make mistakes. And Cloud was a mistake in action with this new knowledge.
He showed off in fights for the preying eyes watching him, gave prey to the mollies that felt like their heads were swimming. Courted the attention of toms who just wanted a moment of time to be of someone's importance. He basked in their attention and praise like a fish needing water. But there was one molly whom he could never enchant: Ivythorn.
Ivythorn never appreciated Cloud's gifts, or the rumors of him spending some time with yet another cat. He continued to try and court her as well, many moons of effort, showing off, and leaving gifts at her nest. But none of them garnered her attention or affection. Not until the day they were patrolled together.
"You want to know why I don't want anything to do with you anymore?" Ivythorn's voice was as hard as flint. "Because you changed. You used to be so genuine, so sweet. Do you even look back at the cats you've left behind? How much heartbreak you've caused them? You claim to care about RedwoodClan, but you hurt others in there where they're the most vulnerable."
Cloudcatcher's ears pinned back to his head. "So what do I do? You're acting like there's no changing me, so why tell me this?"
"Because you can. And I hope you start before we can't even recognize you anymore." The gray-and-white tabby turned away, leaving the tom alone in the clearing.
After that moment, Cloudcatcher attempted to change for the better. He stopped constantly seeking out the attention of others, using his social graces to help restore them back to their comrades-in-arms reputation. Ivy watched her friend's progress, keeping up with every step of his path. They grew back together as friends. Patched one another up during their emotional turmoil. Defended one another in the heat of battle. Told each other things that no one, not their family or closest friends, could know. Stitched each other's hearts together until they could agree that they were mates.
At thirty-eight moons, he could finally say that his life was starting to turn around.
Until it wasn't.
"IVYTHORN!"
Cloudcatcher heard the cry, muffled by the blood roaring in his ears. The cavalry was finally here, but were they too late? The tabby tom attempted to rise up to his paws, to see out of his good eye for the familiar splash of gray. But he shuddered back into the mud, feeling the darkness begin to take him once more.
Confined to the medicine den once again, Cloudcatcher almost did not fight against the grievous injuries. The poppyseeds and other herbs could dull the pain and some of the swarming memories in his head, but not all of it could be healed instantaneously. The tabby tom kept his strength up haphazardly, keeping away from the bonds he had taken to tenderly form over time. It wasn't until an epiphany struck his dense head that he began to go back out into the world. At 44 moons, he has a lot of ground to cover yet.
But now he had to live for them both.
