Pikefur

LichenClan

blue-silver mackerel tabby tom with green eyes

Built like any cave-dweller, Pikefur stands upon a long and lean stature, his limbs perfectly capable of swimming and leaping from ledge to ledge with ease. The silver tom boasts a slim musculature, his mass accumulated mostly in his legs. He is slender almost to a fault, stretching from the crest of his nose to the end of his tail with a lean flank and a well defined waist. Weight does not sit on him well, but perhaps with age, he will gain a bit more bulk. For now, the tom sits a bit taller than the rest of his siblings, a body destined for long runs across the shore.

Blue in color, the tom blends in well with the rest of his clan-mates and his home of caves and stone, the shores colored the same hues of slate that shower his thin, short coat. The fur on his undersides, predominantly his muzzle, neck, chest, stomach, and legs, are a bit lighter in shade, noting slicks of silver, the same color as the stars. Across his flank stretch intricate stripes, arranged in a mackerel pattern, much darker blue in hue, while the thin fur across his nose and paws is a bit dusted with a velvet brown.

Pikefur carries a notable, striking face with tapered features. The flats of his head and his ears sit widely, while the rest of his crown narrow down to a pointed chin. Quite noticeably, his cheekbones are well-defined, and sit highly on his face, making him look rather dashing and distinguished. His nose is a soft, rouge, colored plum, while the insides of his ears are a lighter pink, dusted only with sparse silver, almost white, hairs. Perched above his green eyes, always relaxed in a kind glean, sit the usual tabby 'M'. Almost lost in the shades of his fur, his whiskers slide from his maws in a stark white.

timid - While Pikefur would never be considered shy or meek, due to his friendly nature and welcoming demeanor, he is however, reluctant to unsheathe his claws and stand his own ground in the face of danger, at least in comparison to his more bull-headed and ambitious kin. He is not confident in his own skills as a warrior primed for the battlefield nor is he one to raise his own voice.

transparent - The tom's face, and quite bluntly, his entire demeanor, is terribly easy to read. His thoughts, feelings, or motives are worn on his coat, often expressed in the mere buckle of his brows or smile between his maws. He is a bad liar, not particularly cunning or clever when it comes to the truth. He does not see, or perhaps is not smart enough to understand the benefit of a well-crafted secret.

conflicted - Pikefur, however, is not dense. He understands that his clan, as well as his father, has high expectations for him, and thus lies his confusion. He wants to be a good warrior and make Bristlefur proud, but he wrestles with what that entails: a future of blood-shed, death, and fear. The very intricacies of war greatly contradicts with his kind nature and desire to assist those in need, so therein exists his strife.

noncompetitive - The tom does not care for competition, and while this frees him from jealousy or the pout of a sore-loser, it does little to fuel his ambition. It seems he lacks true motivation to set himself apart from his pears, completely content living a life of mediocrity if it leads to happiness. Pikefur would rather remain within the crowd, preferring the pleasure of experience over embellishment.

imitative - Born in a litter of six, Pikefur is easily at home in a sea of faces and pelts, never uncomfortable in a crowd. He is painstakingly unoriginal in his ideas or adventures, often preferring to follow along in his sibling's antics instead of being the ring-leader himself. While this makes him an obedient and submissive cat, it does little to assist him in expressing his own ideas or concerns. He'd rather nod in tandem with another, than make a wave himself.

benevolent - Simply put, Pikefur is kind, always well meaning and friendly to his clan-mates, a warm smile across his maws. Relaxed and rather earnest in his interactions, it is rare to find the tom disagreeable or cross, his battles often handled with kindness over claws. However, this does make him susceptible to manipulation as he is a bit too trusting and naive, ready to believe someone versus condemn them.

cooperative - Pikefur thrives in situations, such as battle practice or hunting, when he gets to work in teams. He loves working towards a common goal with his den-mates, reveling in the companionship of another. His insecurities often surface when he is alone, so the constant chatter of a friend or soft touch of a clan-mate does much to ease his worrisome heart.

compassionate - The tom is rather sympathetic, especially towards those who are bullied or ridiculed. He makes haste to offer a paw to those who need it and is often concerned for those who are far less fortunate than he is. More intuitive than clever, Pikefur is drawn towards his den-mates who are quietly suffering alone, desperate to make them feel better and ease their worries.

determined - While his idea of warriorhood conflicts with his father, and perhaps most of his clan, Pikefur is nonetheless determined to become the best version of himself. He does not want to be better than those around him, but rather rise to the expectations of being a respectable warrior. He has a strong moral compass, even if it does not align with the leaders of his clan.

warm - In a clan of cold waters and caves, Pikefur radiates an unusual warmth. He has an inviting disposition, his facade always welcoming. From his kind eyes to his affectionate smile, it is no wonder that cats are drawn to him, ready to divulge their sorrows. A natural listener, Pikefur knows how to cultivate a conversation and make a friend.

Nestled between five, warm bodies, Pikekit entered the island in a sea of blue and silver, never knowing life outside of his abundantly large family. Born to Cricketcall and Bristlefur, the tom was a mere face among his three brothers, Wildkit, Pricklekit, and Heronkit, and his sisters, Shrikekit and Perchkit. It was easy to get lost in a litter of six, but Pikekit never minded. Benevolent in nature, the tom liked the company of his brothers and sisters, never vying for more attention or less. He was not the leader nor the strongest, but by far, he was the kindest, a shoulder to lean on and the friend to confide in, compassionate at heart.

But a sinister secret rests beneath his naive smile, one Pikekit will hopefully never come to know. Long before he was born, his real mother, Minnowstar wrestled to birth him and his siblings, Heronkit and Perchkit, into existence. The she-cat was at war with herself, lost between the worth of her blood and sin in her heart. If she chose not to continue the Heron line, she would end her ancestor's mission in her death. But if she chose to, she would become the version of herself she always hated, the doting queen. Conflicted, the she-cat at last chose to mother kits into the world with the assistance of an ex-Thistleclan warrior named Slatestep, a prisoner in her own tomb. He was their father; although he would never come to know this himself.

As neither would Bristlefur, the deputy believing he sired all six of his children born to his mate, Cricketcall. Forced to rear them as her own, the blue and white she-cat took on the entire broad, knowing that if she didn't or if she ever revealed the truth of their linage, Minnowstar would end her life. So Pikekit resides, unaware of who he is, but content nonetheless. A future of endeavors await him, but for now he smiles, warm and luminous as the sun itself.