Eaglefang

ThistleClan

lithe rosette tabby tom with green eyes

Eaglefang boasts long, graceful legs. His body is lean. A thin, flexible stature allows the tom to easily slip through the undergrowth of the pine forest. He is of average height, slightly tall for a ThistleClan warrior. His pelt is short, smooth and dark. A lighter shade of brown emphasizes the large, black rosettes with a rosy red-brown center spatter across his pelt, shifting into stripes along his face, limbs, and tail. His face is round, his snout short. His chin is white, framed by long, wispy white whiskers. Pale, green eyes are set on each side of his broad, dark nose.

Eaglefang would qualify as the typical ThistleClan warrior being gruff, cold, and aggressive. With a strict father, and his mother's attention focused on his brother, Eaglefang quickly learned to stand for himself, by himself. He is incisive, his sharp, analytical mind functions quickly in tense situations. With this Eaglefang has proved himself to be an excellent warrior in battle.

Eaglefang keeps to himself. Having worked hard to prove himself to his father, Eaglefang has developed a stoic personality. He keeps his emotions in check so well that even those close to him may not know what the dark tom is feeling. The only emotions he easily show are anger and irritation. Because Eaglefang is insightful and stoic, he understands that pain is a fact of life. As such, hesitating to make decisions only prolongs the inevitable. The warrior is decisive, quick and unafraid to make tough decisions when no one else does.

While these traits make him an excellent warrior, there are some traits the tom possesses which can prove either positive or negative. Because Eaglefang has accepted suffering as a fact of life, he has become a private cat. He doesn't rely on anyone, neither family nor friends, for help or conversation. If the topic is not business relating to clan life, it's off topic for Eaglefang. Anything beyond survival is insignificant to him.

Having been raised under strict expectations from his father, and ignored by his doting mother, Eaglefang is determined. Firstly, he is determined to prove himself the best. He does not wish to be tied down by anyone or anything. He strives to prove himself a strong and competent member of the Clan. It could be said that he is ambitious. However, due to a nihilistic attitude Eaglefang has no interest in gaining a leadership position. Life is suffering to the young tom-cat, and as such his duty is to survive until he no longer can.

Eaglefang has developed more negative traits as well. He's callous, critical, and domineering. Any cat who Eaglefang perceives as weak is unworthy of his attention. If he has to interact with any cat deemed weak, Eaglefang makes his displeasure clear and certain. Eaglefang also believes that protecting ThistleClan is the primary duty of a warrior, and so any who do not live up to this in Eaglefang's eye are not worth his time. He won't hesitate to show his displeasure if they do not live up to ThistleClan ideals.

Eaglekit, and Beetlekit were born to the warrior Thornshade and the queen Dapplerun. Eaglekit had been the healthiest of the two kits, while his brother Beetlekit had turned out sickly. The soft-hearted and caring Dapplerun doted on the younger son, almost to the point of neglecting the other. Thornshade proved himself to be as stern in fatherhood as he was a stern warrior. As Eaglekit grew, he learned that to get attention he had to be tough. He strove to emulate his father. Observing how his father was displeased by Beetlekit, Eaglekit began teasing and picking on his brother. But as Dapplerun continued to encourage and dote on Beetlekit, and Eaglekit faltered to gain the approval he yearned for, Eaglekit turned mean. Dapplerun never approved of Eaglekit's fighting spirit, and Thornshade was rarely around to guide his son.

When Eaglekit turned six moons he was apprenticed to the warrior Slatestep. The warrior proved an effective mentor to Eaglepaw. He helped to hone Eaglepaw's skills as a warrior. At the same time, Slatestep's similar personality only strengthened much of Eaglepaw's already developing traits. Through the rough life of a warrior in training, Eaglepaw grew colder toward his brother. As attacks from predators and rogues became the norm, Eaglepaw soon accepted that there was little to enjoy from life. Because training to an extent opens a path of vulnerability between mentor and apprentice, Eaglepaw realized of all the cats in the clan he is the closest to Slatestep. He recognized that when given the opportunity Slatestep proves himself loyal and caring. Despite the influence of his mentor, Eaglepaw is more closed and reserved with his emotions. Continual rejection from his parents and at times his sibling has hardened the tom.

After his training Eaglepaw was declared a warrior and given the name Eaglefang. His sharp battle skills and domineering, decisive personality lend weight to his name. Yet, pain and suffering was inevitable. In his early moons as a warrior Eaglefang stood watch over camp one night. His keen eyes watched his mentor slip from the camp. Curiosity overcame Eaglefang's senses, and the rosetted tom followed Slatestep. Seeing the tom meander through the forest to the edge of ThistleClan territory Eaglefang confronted the tom. The scuffle that ensued hardened Eaglefang's heart. His mentor cast away ThistleClan, and Eaglefang cast away Slatestep. He believed he would never see his old mentor again.

Over the next moons Eaglefang rose as a respected warrior. With tensions rising between rogues and clans, the tom agreed with Thievingstar's decisions. Alienating the tribe and banning rogues and RedwoodClan from ThistleClan territory was the way to preserve the clan. Then the flood came. ThistleClan was washed from their home and forced to take shelter away from the familiar valley. The winter came and passed. As new life sprung Eaglefang was sent on a patrol to return to their camp to see what needed to happen for ThistleClan to return.

The patrol was ambushed by rogues who had claimed the area for themselves. Eaglefang fought alongside Graygaze, but while Eaglefang fared well his clan-mate did not. Eaglefang was forced to retreat to protect Graygaze. ThistleClan had to figure out how best to retake their home.

With the ongoing war and tension with rogues, Eaglefang was set to train his first apprentice, Featherpaw. The two had clashing personalities, and Eaglefang's hard nature did not fare well against Featherpaw who to Eaglefang was soft and illsuited to warriorhood. But she was able to pass her assessments. Eaglefang was quickly given a second apprentice, Oriolepaw. The she-cat tried Eaglefang's patience, wandering off and being tardy more often than not. Yet she had a determination that surprised Eaglefang sometimes, and their relationship ended on a more positive note. Just after Oriolepaw was named Oriolemask Eaglefang was once more given an apprentice. This time the son of Graygaze and Squirrelflight, Silverpaw. The warrior that Eaglefang had once fought beside had died in the final battle that ended the war against Minnowstar and LichenClan. Silverpaw was another trying apprentice for Eaglefang, one who had no interest in fighting and who pushed Eaglefang to the edge. When the second great flood came and washed out ThistleClan camp, however, Silverpaw was lost to the waters. Eaglefang did not grieve long. After all, death and suffering were just a part of life. ThistleClan would always continue.