shelter woven

with golden twigs

Tribe of Floating Stones

red pointed tom with folded ears and blue eyes

Unlike his maternal side of the family, Shelter is a short tom, though not unnaturally so. His mother always told him that he took after his father in appearance. He boasts a rounded body with wide paws, a stout tail, and a stocky middle. Nothing in his figure is pointed or harsh; instead, he is soft and plush as though he were made of cotton.

Shelter shares the reddish pelt his family is notorious for. He is a mixture of cream and soft ginger, the brightest of his orange across his face in faint tabby stripes, coating his ears, and extending the length of his tail. He has faint stripes along his legs as well when percieved closely. The rest of the tom is a gentle off-white or cream.

With a flattened nose and miniature, folded ears, Shelter's face is even more distinctive than his rounded body. The bridge of his nose is small and cute, extending little from the ridge of his brow. His nose is reddish-pink, as are the pads of his paws. His muzzle is full, with a slightly receded chin. His eyes are soft blue and slightly hooded. He has long white whiskers.

Shelter wants little more than to prove himself helpful. He yearns for the chance to assist and make life easier for the tribe, a community that he loves with his whole heart. He feels no greater joy than when the creation of his might prove useful. His youthful eagerness can be taken advantage of, however, and his eagerness to please makes him susceptible to manipulation. As long as the exploiter plays off of his optimism and excitement, he is easily swayed to work on another's behalf.

Shelter's physicality is his weakness. He is awkward and clumsy, his strength not in knowing how his body moves and where it is at any given time. He is not the type to trip over his own feet, but he bumps into things, alerts prey to his presence, and lacks the physical strength for fighting. Where he exceeds is using his mind, something quick and skilled. Whenever he can think about the task he is to complete, he is much more likely to succeed. He loves puzzles and thought experiments, and enjoys the opportunity to create grand plans and creations.

Shelter goes through phases where he becomes incredibly dedicated to one prospect at a time before switching to another. He observes nature and when a mystery reveals itself to him, he wants nothing more than to understand. His tendency to question what many would take as simple facts can lead to him seeming somewhat peculiar or quirky. His unconventional way of interacting with the world draws attention to him and also isolates him within the spheres of characters that find him endearing rather than annoying.

Shelter was born in a time of trouble within the Tribe of Floating Stones. When he took his first breath, the tribe was without a teller, Creek having died not long before and Fog not yet returned to the island. Fog's vision for him was a soft one, a gentle valley with a small structure in the center, a den composed of sticks and leaves turned golden in the sunset light. He was named accordingly; Shelter Woven with Golden Twigs.

Shelter did not know his father except for the vague image his mother had described. Instead, he was primarily raised by Bee, a cheerful preyhunter with a sweet disposition. He was close to his mother and took after her in optimism and chipper disposition. His mother was the sister of Sunrise and Fox and the daughter of Flame, so from the beginning expectations for Shelter were high. He was to become something great, and with the support of his mother, he knew he could make something of himself.

The tom became a to-be when he hit six moons and was distinctly alone. The turmoil faced by the tribe meant few litters, leading to few companions around Shelter's age. The young cat became accustomed to making friends among those significantly older than him. He was a breath of fresh air compared to those who had been beaten down over time, his optimism both a blessing to some and an annoyance to others.

Already, Shelter is proving to be skilled in some ways and less so in others. As a hunter, he is lackluster. He is no good at stealth and lacks the bodily awareness to use the skills inherited from his mother. Physically, he does not stand out, even in tasks where perfection is unnecessary such as hefting large objects or carrying out chores.

Where Shelter exceeds expectations is the workings of his mind. He is intelligent for his age and has grown fascinated by the process of creation. He builds by a set of tenets that guide him when he wants to make new things.

1. When a distinguished but old scientist states that something is possible, they are almost certainly right. When they state that something is impossible, they are very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from the magic of the ancestors.
4. Through the laws of science, the love of creativity, and the power of conviction, the incredible can become reality.