Shrikesong

LichenClan

blue & white classic tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Shrikesong is an average sized cat. While she will neither overpower a cat by her sheer size, she also will not be easily overpowered by those larger. Her dedication to being a worthy warrior of her father's approval has resulted in well conditioned muscles gracing her frame, hidden though they are under her feathery pelt.

Shrikesong has inherited the long fur of her parents. Her blue tabby stripes are classic swirls much like her mother's. Her striped pelt is broken with patches of white. Her face is round with a petite muzzle, though it isn't quite as smushed as her father's or brother's is. Dainty ears grace the top of her head and golden yellow eyes peer expectantly out.

The life of a warrior is not without its dangers. In her time as a young warrior she has received a scar across her chest, a trail of claws. Although the mark is hidden by her fur, she remembers the battle and tom who bestowed it upon her well.

Shrikesong is full of determination. She is a hard worker and strives to prove herself to those around her. While originally these traits started in a desire to prove herself to her father, it has widened to a desire to prove herself to her clan. She does not believe that she has to live up to the traditional expectations placed upon she-cats, and so she works diligently to show that she is more than just a kit barer - she is a warrior.

Being raised by Cricketcall also created some tension. With a traditional minded mother, and an inclination to please her parents, Shrikesong has had to grapple between pleasing her mother and following her own dreams and desires. Shrikesong knows she has a duty to obey the desires of her parents, and as a dutiful warrior she wrestles to balance this tension dailey.

The downside to her determination and desire to please others, when Shrikesong knows she cannot live up to those expectations she lashes out in frustration. She might sneer, or spit some harsh words. But much of her frustration remains internalized as she is avoidant of admitting her inability to meet the desires of those around her.

Finally, Shrikesong is stubborn. Her determination will sometimes get the best of her, and she will remain stubborn in her beliefs, avoiding any who might potentially conflict with her wants and refusing to change her ways in compromise.

Shrikekit is the blood daughter of Cricketcall, warrior of LichenClan, and Bristlefur, deputy of LichenClan. But three other kits entered the world the same night of her birth. Pikekit, Perchkit, and Heronkit - the off spring of the leader of LichenClan, Minnowstar, and the ex-ThistleClan warrior Slatestep - would instead be raised as siblings to Shrikekit, Wildkit, and Pricklekit. The true origin of Shrikekit's extra siblings a secret that only Cricketcall, Briarfall, and Minnowstar know of. One they were threatened to take to their grave.

So Shrikekit grew up with the belief that she had five siblings. Raised under the traditional tendencies of Cricketcall, Shrikekit knew as the daughter of the deputy there would be great expectations. But her bright eyes only sought the approval of her father, who admired skill in battle above all. She ignored any hints or stories about a she-cat's true duty laying in the nursery. Instead Shrikekit focused her energy on training, even as a kit she strove to prove herself. With four brothers she was never at a loss for a sparring partner. 

When the time came for Shrikekit to be baptized, the she-kit experienced for the first time uncertainty and fear. The dark, cold waters of the Moon Pool frightened her, but she persevered to the best of her ability. Seeing the unwavering gaze of her father, however, left her uncertain of his approval of her.

At her sixth moon Shrikekit became an apprentice to Merlintail. The new 'paw threw herself into her training, reveling in having a mentor with expectations and exactitude. But when Merlintail became pregnant during Shrikepaw's training, the she-cat was left withone a mentor for her final moons. It was during this time as well that her father dissapeared from the Clan. Minnowstar never named a successor, and Shrikepaw fervently prayed for her father's return. But he never did.

Finally, with the help of other warriors, Shrikepaw was named a warrior just a moon later than she should have been. If she had focused more on the shifting of roles Merlintail had undergone, perhaps Shrikesong would have been more prepared for the day her mother pulled her two daughters to the side. Perchwhisker accepted the news more graciously than Shrikesong. When Cricketcall told Shrikesong that she would have a different path laid before her, one of submission and motherhood, Shrikesong felt her world collapse. She could not disregard her mother. But she also could not throw away her dreams of being a great warrior. Salmonfur may be her mate in word, but Shrikesong doubted she would ever feel anything more of him than a flea to be squashed. 

But as Shrikesong's dreams darkened, so did her clan. With rogues amongst them it was tense even in the safety of camp. Then suddenly, they were attacked. RedwoodClan, ThistleClan, even other LichenClanners began to attack, striking out at any cat who seemed to support Minnowstar or at least any who did not fight alongside the other clans and turn on their own clan-mates.

Shrikesong ended up fighting alongside Salmonfur. Together they faced off against two RedwoodClan warriors, warriors who were stronger and more experienced than the two LichenClanners. Shrikesong, try as she might, could not hold her own against the black-furred tom. Only his clan-mate saved her from a worse fate as he called at "Ravenfeather" to restrain himself. As Shrikesong was forced to retreat with Salmonfur she felt a fire light inside her. A determination to show RedwoodClan and all who fought against her home that LichenClan was not one to step on.

With Minnowstar dead, Shrikesong has had to figure out how to find her standing once more in her clan. The new leadership was foreign to her, and all she knew was that they had both fought against and played a paw in Minnowstar's death. Their reign was one marked by blood, and blood leaves a distaste in ones mouth.