FOGHEART

LICHENCLAN

handsome blue-silver classic tabby tom with insightful gold-green eyes

Tall, long and broad. This tom is big and uses his size to his advantage whenever possible. Fogheart inherited all of his father’s size instead of his smaller mother’s build. A rectangle frame packed with muscle, mostly in his big chest and shoulders and along his long legs. He is heavy, and between that and his size some cats might discount his ability to be quick. Indeed, he may not be the swiftest. But feel sorry for any cat that doesn’t get out of his way once he gets moving.

Fogheart is thick-furred. From the long fur between his toes to the tufts that stick out from his ears, all the way to his long tail draped in feathered fur. This keeps him happily warm whatever the weather and provides a certain level of protection in water. Born a pale silver-blue kit, he was named after the foggy mists that sometimes rolled over the island. As he grew, his coat darkened to show the dark tabby patterns that he had inherited from his father. His throat, chest, and belly have retained the paleness of his youth, the fur there dense and soft. His tabby pattern from his head to his tail lies in large blotchy stripes that seem almost like shadows cast over him. His paws are made up of the same dark grey fur, the decoration continuing down his legs. His coloration is a natural advantage both within the caves and tunnels of Lichenclan’s territory and in the night, a natural camouflage that leaves him as just another shape in the dark. Cast in the right daylight, the darkness of his pattern lightens and he can seem forged from silver in a lovely glow.

Fogheart is a handsome male, regal looking. His head is large and set upon a strong neck that bears a lovely mane. His muzzle is broad and his nose wide. His eyes are a striking blend of bright gold and rich green, like the leaves of a tree at the start of leaf-fall. They are wide and round, though his brows lie over them and give him a somewhat stern appearance. Above them in his fur are sharply defined lines in two triangular patterns. His whiskers are unnecessarily long and straight, falling down past his chin over his chest.

LAWFUL - DEVOTED – RIGID – NAIVE – RESTRAINED

Above all things, Fogheart feels bound to his duty. From his early life onward he has been enamored to the warrior code, and sees his actions in protecting and serving his clan as his true calling. He restrains any of his emotions that would cause another cat to act rashly, and instead looks to the code for guidance. Fogheart does not agree with the idea inside Lichenclan that dedication to Starclan circumvents the warrior code. After all, the cats that came up with the warrior code were leaders and medicine cats chosen and spoken to by Starclan. And those same cats are part of Starclan now, visible with every glance up at Silverpelt. Didn’t that mean that the code was their will?

Fogheart’s devotion extends beyond his warrior duties to those cats close to him. He cares deeply for his family, they are the foundation of his entire life and he knows it. For these cats, he would do anything. Now that his parents and Stoneclaw are all dead, Fogheart clings tightly to those that are still close to him, such as his sister Magpiefur or his mate, Ivyflower. 

When in moral doubt, Fogheart follows the code. Does he disagree with fighting the other clans? Not particularly. He’d rather focus on making the clan stronger from within, there were so many losses both during the war and the floods afterwards. He never liked Minnowstar. He doesn't particularly like Yarrowstar. In his opinion both leaders are extreme opposites, and the last thing Lichenclan needs is more extremism. But as the code says: the word of the Clan leader is the warrior code. This strict adherence has kept him in good standing within the clan, his loyalty and beliefs unquestioned. But those same beliefs have left Fogheart with a rigid set of morals that do not have the ability to bend. If things don’t change, what can’t bend might instead break.

As a new warrior, Fogheart knew he was a large cat but never truly thought about how he appeared to other cats. One day he was in camp when he noticed a kit less than a moon old wandering alone too far from the nursery. He had bounded over to stop it and take it back to the nursery, caring only about keeping it safe. The kit, seeing only a huge unfamiliar cat rushing towards it, let loose a wailing screech and tumbled over. This resulted in it’s mother chastising him heavily out of high emotions over her kit’s fear. Since then, Fogheart has kept himself more aloof. The last thing he wants is to make another cat uncomfortable due to his presence. He only lets his true self show with cats he knows well.

Mate: Ivyflower
Father: Sharpfrost (deceased)
Mother: Mintstep (deceased)
Younger Siblings: Magpiefur & Pebblepaw (deceased)
Uncle: Silentstrike 

Born the only kit from his mother’s first pregnancy, Fogkit was the recipient of all of his parent’s considerable focus. Mintstep, being naturally sweet natured, poured all of her love into her son. She played with him, told him endless stories of Starclan, and was nearly overbearing in her attention. But, being a first time queen she was not well versed in disciplining a rollicking, rapidly growing kit. For all his mother’s good intentions, Fogkit might have become a self-obsessed, spoiled brat if not for two cats:

Sharpfrost was several season older than Mintstep, and had experience as a mentor. The warrior knew exactly how to treat unruly young cats. His calm, assertive demeanor quickly showed his son what it meant to truly be a confident warrior, and not to be afraid of criticism. While Sharpfrost’s gentle love for Mintstep was the perfect example of healthy emotions.

Stonekit and Fogkit were born the same moon. Both the only living kits of their litters, together the two young toms played and grew close. Stonekit became the friend that Fogkit would have otherwise been sorely lacking - a happy face that he could pounce on, a sympathizing purr that he could cry to when heavy emotions became too much for his young self to handle alone. Side by side, the two toms would go on to discover the world.

Being dipped into the pool inside the Mooncave for the very first time was a memory that Fogkit would carry all his life. That first touch of the water to his pelt had felt like all of his ancestors watching him. The strange muffled silence below the surface had been overwhelming, the water all around him a representation of the duty he would forever owe them. The bit of water that stung in his nose a reminder that nothing was ever easy. From that day on, Fogkit’s only goal was to grow up. Grow up, and make his clan proud.

On the day he was assigned a mentor, Fogpaw already knew the warrior code. He had begged for every scrap of information that his parents could tell him about life as warriors, and they had told him happily. His uncle, Silentstrike, was named his mentor. The brother of Mintstep, Silentstrike had been known to him but distant. He was a slim, fast tom that relied on his speed and wits. A far cry from Fogpaw’s big body. This encouraged him to think of new ways to fight and honed his skills. Which served him well, for his new goal was to excel as an apprentice and be named a warrior as soon as possible.

It was during this same time that Stonepaw lost his father. Though they had been busy with their duties as apprentices, this loss brought Fogpaw’s focus back to a part of his life that he had begun to forget. What use is fighting for your clan if there are no cats to share your life with? He leant his time and strength to Stonepaw, helping him in his grief in every way he could. And through this hardship, they became like true brothers.

Fogpaw tried to hide how much witnessing such a loss had shaken him. In the following days he took the time to visit his parents, pressing his nose into their fur and committing them to his memory.

These acts didn’t go unnoticed, and finally the day came that he was named Fogheart.

His vigil inside the Mooncave felt both an eternity and as short as a pounce. He prayed to Starclan to give him the strength and cunning to always defend Lichenclan. That night he swore silently that he would never fail in his duty.

He and Stoneclaw celebrated being warriors as only young toms would, gallivanting down the beach and pouncing on every fallen leaf in the forest. They volunteered for every patrol and hunt for days before the senior warriors finally hissed at them to get some rest. These days the two toms patrol the width and breadth of Lichenclan territory together. Side by side they make an imposing pair as they roam, ready at the drop of a feather to plunge themselves forward towards their duty.

When Mintstep announced that she’d be having another litter Fogheart was glad for his parents, but very busy with his warrior duties. The violence against Redwoodclan kept him on edge, always keeping an ear towards the closest border in preparation for an attack. He gained injuries and treasured them like trophies, proof that he could protect all that he held dear.

Sharpfrost’s near fatal injury was an eventuality that he thought he had prepared himself for. But it happened only a few days after Fogheart’s sisters were born, and such a near thing. He had not expected to see his father ever lose a fight. Thankfully his father survived, and Fogheart found another reason to admire him.

Helping Magpiepaw complete her apprenticeship successfully was something that became deeply important to him after witnessing his sister’s distress, after Pebblepaw’s death. Fogheart decided that he had been too distant with her. Also, helping her realize her duty to the clan while improving her skills was important. The clan needed to be strong, more battles were undoubtedly in their future.

And he was right. Battle after battle came, the war seemed unending and the clan's situation worsened as rogues were invited into the sacred caves. Fogheart began to pace along the territory's borders, waiting for what felt like an inevitable counter-attack from Redwoodclan. During one of these nightly escapades, he encountered Ivyflower.

The molly was quiet, shy, but sweet polite. The two warriors fell into each other's company often - hunting, patrolling, sharing tongues. Fogheart found himself feeling responsible and protective of the pretty she-cat, and defending her against a rude rogue. But despite his feelings, the tom made no effort to further their relationship - he was too worried about the war. 

But then, it was over. After fighting side by side with Ivyflower in the birch trees, Fogheart returned to camp to find Minnowstar dead, her supporters defeated, and a new leader stepping forward - seemingly with Starclan's blessing. Somewhat unsettled, but also releived that he might finally know peace, Fogheart settled into his place in a clan that was reforming itself. And finally, he confessed his feelings to Ivyflower. Happily, she felt the same, and they became mates upon the very cliffs where they'd first encountered each other.

Not long after, a blizzard came. It blanketed the island and drove the clan deep into the shelter of the caves. And when the weather passed and the seasons moved on, the tremendous amounts of ice and snow caused a sudden melt that cast Lichenclan's lands into chaos. Flooding the likes of which the tom had never seen chased them out of their camp and onto higher ground, in Redwoodclan territory. And in the madness of the raging waters, Fogheart lost too much. Not only did his parents meet their end, but also his chosen brother - Stoneclaw. Though he managed to keep Ivyflower and Magpiefur close to him, the tom found himself suddenly with only half of his family. 

The moons that followed were strange, distorted, and grievous for the blue tabby. He mourned the loss of Stoneclaw most of all, feeling as though a part of his spirit had been ripped from him. Only when Lichenclan returned to their own territory did the tom finally begin to heal, and look toward the future again.