Saltwhisker

LichenClan

A Squinting Seal Point Siamese Tom

Saltwhisker holds himself like the devoted servant he is. A nimble and lean warrior cat, able to squeeze into the narrow tunnels of their blessed home. His pelt is the color of their shorelines with darker stripes on his forehead and heavier on his tail. The pattern allows him to blend well where the sand and rocks meet. He has a slight feathering to his fur providing him decent protection against the waters.

Dark eyes are usually hidden in a squinting posture giving him an air of judgment toward any cat that crosses his path. These are mounted on a narrow muzzle that adds to his air of superiority and judgmental appearance. Larger ears are blessed to him to listen to the screams of sinners falling underneath devoted claws.

His size is average among those who serve their faith. While he looks lighter than most, his lean muscle adds surprising weight to his attacks. Hidden underneath the fur are numerous healed over scars.

Stalwart (+/-)

Saltwhisker is a devoted warrior to Starclan above all things. His very existence is to benefit and bring the glory of his faith into reality. Putting his issues with the Heron line and a she-cat in leadership aside, his loyalty remains unwavering.

As a pure-blooded Lichen clan cat, he believes his clan is the right claw of Starclan. This duty entitles them to act on their faith's behalf to declaw and purge the sin in their lands. He views those outside the Lichen clan as sinners. No amount of prayer or devoted work will cleanse them of that. However...

From his moons of servitude, Saltwhisker knows that sin never fully dies. When he kills one sinner, more seem to sprout from unknown origins. Much to his cringe, he's bitterly accepted there will always be sin. He now controls his disdain so he can use sinners rather than always kill them. The moment they prove to be useless, he will gladly send them on their way to the dark forest.

Judgemental (-)

Saltwhisker has a high standard when it comes to any cat serving Starclan. Not even himself excepted from it. His daily life has ritualistic behavior that includes prayer, sacrifice, endurance, and more to prove his dedication.

When a cat fails to meet this expectation, he views them as budding sinners. If not corrected on their path, he believes they are lost. For young, unfortunate cats he holds seniority over, his punishments border on cruel. From standing in pouring rain reciting prayers for Starclan's forgiveness to the suffering shallow wounds, his desire to see dedication has little limits. As long as the cat can serve after it's done.

Bias (-)

While it's obvious his bias against non-Lichen cats is easy to see, his attitude toward mollies is more subtle. In his mind, these creatures tend to range from too gentle and meek to emotional and unreasonable. No proper control over themselves. All their weakness shall lead them into the dark forest's grasp unless kept in check.

In his opinion, they are better off serving Starclan by rising kits in the nursery, cleaning dens, and obeying their toms. It is the best way to keep their faith from wavering. Females with outspoken views, radical attitudes, and reckless behavior will often draw a sneer from his expression. It is these individuals that prove his point the strongest.

Lichen she-cats are just above sinners in Saltwhisker's eyes. Any moment, they can fall if ignored. This bias fuels his reasons to suspect and test them more harshly than toms he deems worthy. In his mind, they are the weakest claws in the clan.

Reserved (-/+)

During his warrior training, his mentor taught him to be submissive and obedient to the Heron line. His voice should only be used for Starclan and ensuring their will was carried out. This makes him a cat of a few words unless engaged in conversation. After all, the Lichen clan's existence is to serve the faith and it can't be done without establishing they are on the same path.

As he aged, Saltwhiskers learned conversation was a good indicator of a cat's faith. Their behavior and attitude revealed their strength and weakness. It was an effective method to root out evil among them. However, he will not gossip like some empty-headed molly. His topics of choice are picked carefully and usually with Starclan in mind.

Cruel (-)

This tom has forgotten how to empathize or show mercy many moons ago. Whether he had it to start with it is questionable and only Starclan knows for sure.

Saltwhisker knows that crippled cats can't serve Starclan. This means those cats among the Lichen clan are spared from the worst of his cruelty. Among his training regiments and tests, the older warrior resists activities that might forever maim or kill his clanmates. However, he does push them to their limits. If he finds a weakness in a potential cat, he will not stop until it is weeded out. These unfortunate victims will see their fear or struggle will only spur harsh reactions from him.

Worthless sinners know no such control from him. He has no need to hold back his claws or fangs, willingly spilling their blood to prove his dedication to Starclan. Out of sight of his clanmates, the true depth of Saltwhisker's cruelty is witnessed. In the last moments of a sinner under his care will be the most painful memories that will follow them into the dark forest. A parting blessing to never return.

When asked about his kithood, Saltwhisker speaks little about it.

He and his sister, Violetkit, were born to the gentle Mallowfur. Their father died in a battle shortly after their birth. Their kithood was steeped deep in the traditions of Sagestars rule and their faith's progress.

Saltkit recalled the stories of the Starclan chosen Heron bloodline. It stirred an envious within his heart, and he grew dreams to lead the clan one day. According to his mother, Molefur and her were friends. However, her tone took on a wistful longing that ruffled his fur. He was too young to understand why.

In the following moons, he tolerated his sister's meekness. He grew to see it as weakness and lacking faith. Often his mother reminded him of his duties and how they differed from his sister's. A divide began to grow between them. As a tom, he would become a warrior and forever serve Starclan's cause. It was a feeling that strengthened his devotion to his future. Meanwhile, his sister was duty-bound to bear the kits and nothing more.

He didn't envy her.

Upon becoming Saltpaw, Crowtooth became his mentor toward warriorhood. The old cat was a strict supporter of Starclan and approved of Sagestar's methods. In secret, it only increased Saltpaw's disdain for the Heron legacy. Speaking out only earned him punishments until he learned silent servitude was best. As long as Lichen Clan answered Starclan's call, blood and gender didn't matter.

Through the teachings of Crowtooth, he learned about cruelty, faith, and pain. Devoted cats obtained forgiveness from Starclan through sacrifice and suffering for it. He even learned that the weaker a cat was, the more likely it answered the call of the Dark Forest. This belief lead him to continually purge any found weakness in the form of prayers, hard work, and sacrifice.

As a youth, he was not immune to sin. It lured him in through the guise of a young she-cat named Sandfur. The molly was a recently made warrior and a few moons older then him. She held a confident air as she claimed to devote herself to Starclan to her peers. Her beauty and strength entranced young Saltpaw as he decided to court her. That same night, he spotted her sneaking out into the territory. Driven by Starclan's guidance, Saltpaw followed in the shadows.

Not long after, he witnessed her approach a young Redwood clan cat. Shocked filled his core while they indulged in sinful acts. The betrayal left a bitterness in his soul before he returned to camp.

As a loyal servant of Starclan, he revealed his discovery to Crowtooth. The cat was silent. He gracefully placed a tail about Saltpaw's shoulders, the first glimpse of kindness the harsh mentor showed since becoming his apprentice. It was the night that Saltpaw bias toward females was born.

Whatever happened to Sandfur was never discovered, but he no longer cared. From that point on, every female came under harsh judgment and suspicion. Many mollies he now found stirred disgust within him, including his sister. Crowtooth ensured to temper his wrath with logic toward fulfilling Starlcan's desires.

Saltpaw became Saltwhisker shortly before a patrol found Molefur's body drowned. Part of him had hoped that Sagestar might assign a more fitting tom to serve as deputy. Instead, he chose Minnowleap.

A she-cat.

She received the rank solely because of her blood. This fact infuriated Saltwhisker, but he reminded himself that Starclan came first. Quietly he waited to witness her fate, part of him hoped the war might take her like previous deputies.

Either by Starclan's blessing or a twist of fate, Minnowleap became Minnowstar after Sagestar's death. Many traditional cats expected her to call off the war, but the she-cat's ruthless nature and cold tactics earned respect. Even Saltwhisker had to approve of the results.

Without Heron heirs, change happened gradually to the Lichen clan. Hemlockheart was named deputy, and Saltwhisker's hope for a new legacy rekindled. He still longed for leadership, but he knew few would accept him. If he ruled, it needed to be through other means.

Minnowstar's leadership brought new changes to the war. They took control of the moon cave and even invaded the Redwood clan camp to destroy a Dark Forest demon. Unfortunately, they never found the strange cat. The war on sin continued to escalate until leaf-bare started to arrive. While most of the clan faired well, Mallowfur died from sickness. It was the first in a long time that he mourned. Her faith should've been stronger.

Next came the announcement of Hemlockheart's death at the border. Once more, Minnowstar quickly filled her deputy rank with a new cat: Bristlefur. Later on, a she-cat named Shadowface had died in another border skirmish, but her loss was less tragic in his eyes. What any tom ever saw in her, only Starclan knew.

At some point, Briarfall had replaced Cinderface. Increasing the attacks on the Redwood clan, he and others marched through the tunnels toward their camp. Things turned sour when the bark huggers dropped into an ambush upon them. Starclan had blessed Saltwhisker, and he came back with only minor wounds. Other warriors were less fortunate.

After the loss, he noticed Minnowstar's presence became scarce. Her behavior was less predictable and more erratic among her clan when Bristlefur hauled her from her den. He even heard about a she-cat sneezing from sickness and was banished at the gathering by their leader. Perhaps she had not been devoted enough to Starclan, deserving her punishment.

With each crazy antic, Saltwhisker found himself blaming her gender for this weakness. If she had been born a tom, this display would never happen. He didn't dwell on this. The ambush bothered him since it meant sin had resurfaced in their ranks.

The next mass confession proved that Minnowstar suspected the same. Warriors were tested and found guilty or innocent. He was found loyal by Starclan's grace. Those cats banished received mercy instead of having their trip to the Dark Forest paved with their blood. This display still left Saltwhisker restless, and he vowed to be more vigilant of the darkness. His mission started with the younger generations.