Mosspelt

Lichenclan

blue mackerel bicolor she-cat with yellow eyes

At her most simplistic, Mosspelt is beautiful.

Her most notable feature, and that which she was named for, is her fur: Mosspelt boasts a feathered, double-layered coat which bolsters what would otherwise be a completely standard Lichenclan form. Of average height and weight, the only real discerning feature of the she-cat's stature is her long, lanky body, balancing atop dainty, feminine paws.

Her pelt is a joining of ripple-like blue mackerel stripes and glowing white—both of which are subject to a strict daily grooming ritual via a meticulous tongue. Mosspelt's coat is thick and soft, its feathery layers most prominent on her plumed tail and around her neck in mane-like fashion, the satiny fur subject to knots and tangles if not attended to with the utmost care.

The she-cat's visage is perhaps the most striking of her bodily features; a small, round muzzle protrudes from Mosspelt's narrow face, the white of her maw well-complemented by a vibrantly pink nose and tongue. Tufts of silky fur protrude from the two triangular ears perched atop her skull, their wide-set nature giving the she-cat an air of regality. However, it's Mosspelt's eyes that are truly magical, her pale yellow gaze contrasting beautifully with the thick dark lashes that encircle them; they're the eyes of a thief, of a stealer of hearts.

From the detached perspective of a stranger, Mosspelt is the model of a perfect Lichen molly; she exhibits all the characteristics expected of a lady in the making—she's dainty and shy, attentive to the needs of others, and as saccharinely sweet as can be reasonably expected. However, this is nothing more than an incredibly well-maintained façade, Mosspelt is meticulous in every facet of her life, and this carefully constructed image of herself is no exception. Underneath it all, Mosspelt is an entirely different creature.

Stemming from deep-seated insecurity and raging jealousy, Mosspelt's temper is volcanic—the she cat has the potential to be as nasty and violent as they come, but it's a rare sight to see her be anything more than slightly snarky, petty, or passive. Mosspelt is prone to dangerously violent mood swings, producing fits of vengeful jealousy to rival those of a molly scorned—she has a great capacity for deception and manipulation, twisting arms to get what she wants even when she isn't fully aware of what she's doing. Though she hasn't yet perfected the art, a little more practice will transform Mosspelt into a skilled oral opponent, having perfected the craft of using calm, charming words to tear viciously at the proverbial underbelly of her opponent.

However, that's not to say the she-cat is without her redeeming qualities. Mosspelt is dangerously loyal, whip-smart, and incredibly devoted to Starclan—though she'd dare not tell a soul, she inherited her mother's intrinsic belief that their starry ancestors are peaceful. Yet, in typically hypocritical fashion, Mosspelt isn't outwardly opposed to violence. In similar phony fashion, Mosspelt is an empath, and quite skilled at understanding the virtually unnoticeable body language that most of her clanmates favor; perhaps this is what grants her the ability to be so cruel: she can read others like a book, poking and prodding at their insecurities as they see fit.

Mosspelt is as fickle as she is beguiling, using a wealth of intelligence and beauty to get exactly what she wants—as self serving and narcissistic as she is, it's only a matter of time before the she-cat's façade slips, thrusting her from grace as the damned angel himself was once cast from the heavens above.

Mother: Streamfeather; deceased
Adoptive mother/aunt: Silverfoot
Father: Blackheart
Adoptive father: Lightningjaw
Adoptive siblings/cousins: Seedstorm, Shadowsight

Born out of a marriage arranged only for logistical purposes, Mosskit was the only kit of her litter to survive the harsh winter evening into which she was born; in fact, she was the only cat to survival the ordeal at all. Streamfeather was a she-cat with a strong moral compass, the type of molly who, had she known of the rebels' presence, would've joined their ranks immediately. But, on that bleak night, it wasn't mental fortitude that she needed, and she paid the price for what she lacked.

The process of kitting, paired with Streamfeather's already failing body due to the low resources of winter, was simply too much for the beautiful molly. Mosskit's mother was dead before she had the chance to name her only daughter.

It was pure luck that Streamfeather's sister had given birth only a month earlier. Silverfoot was a molly who was secretly as fiery and opinionated as her sister, but maintained a meek façade with skilled precision. This had won her praise and standing within the clan, and a strong mate named Lightningjaw. She'd had two toms: Seedkit and Shadowkit, and now she had a daughter, a piece of her sister to hold close and dear. She named the beautiful she-kit Mosskit, after her grandmother: Mossfoot, and, once she was old enough to know the truth, told her of her family's history:

Silverfoot claimed that their family had been there when Heronfoot was elected deputy; a long line of strong females continuing the family line, passing on the truth behind Lichenclan's leadership: Lichenclan had once been pacifistic, and Silverfoot firmly believed they'd return to these roots before all was said and done.

Mosskit was apprenticed a moon after her brothers, who'd quickly grown to adore the snarky yet charming kitten—they remain the only cats, other than Silverfoot, who know the she-cat's true colors, and choose to love her all the same.

Apprenticed to a rough-around-the-edges tom, Mosspaw excelled rapidly through her training, gaining the name Mosspelt for her renowned beauty after a battle with Redwoodclan.