Swansong

lichenclan

silver and white bengal she-cat with blue eyes

Swansong is a large female, just as tall as her younger brother, Quickstrike, but with less muscle and more bulk. Though she may be a lover of food, her heft is hardly all fat, and she takes great pride in her curves. There is still enough wiry tissue under her pelt to make her a formidable warrior. Her silver fur is short but smooth with traditional smoky bengal spots along her sides.

Her eyes are a soft pastel blue, but in the sunlight they take on a more aquamarine color, as deep as ocean waves. White marks frame either side of her inner eyes and brows, and her nose is large and the color of wet charcoal. Tall ears atop her wide forehead give her a sense of attentiveness. A few dark stripes punctuate her forehead, sliding evenly like a stream down the back of her head and neck. Her chest, forelegs, and two back paws are patched in glowing white.

A timid and empathetic she-cat, Swansong is not one for starting idle conversation, but she will lend an ear when needed from time to time. More interested in the lives of others than her own, she is a good listener and knows when to ask questions and when to hold her tongue (with a tendency toward the latter). Her concern for the well-being of others is genuine and wholesome, and she dislikes gossip and rumours, whether hearing or spreading them.

Despite her big heart, she is also unobtrusive and does not meddle in the affairs of others. Her willingness to help is limited more to advice than to action, as she hates stepping on other cats’ toes or getting in the way. Though she is eager to please, more often than not, she acts as a wallflower, observing events that unfold from the sidelines. These two traits -- her kindness and inconspicuousness -- often conflict with each other and cause her a great deal of unease, resulting in a molly who is constantly at war with herself emotionally.

Though she can be compassionate toward others, Swansong has a tendency to neglect her own emotional needs and has difficulty expressing her frustrations for fear of pushing them away. Though normally a quiet cat, she has been known to lose her temper with those she loves because she refuses to vent sooner in a healthy manner. Wherever possible, Swansong tries to avoid pain of any kind, and as such, when rifts form in her relationships, she tends to end them abruptly rather than try to salvage them.

This frequent building of pent-up emotions has led her to become suspicious and paranoid, as she will obsess over issues in her mind until they ultimately become tainted and negative, rather than bringing them up with her clanmates. She hates being a burden and struggles to cope with her problems on her own. These flaws have led her to develop a somewhat neurotic mindset.

The youngest of Kestrelwing and Silvespring’s first litter, Swankit had little claim to fame as she was growing up. In fact, she tried her very hardest to stay out of the limelight, leaving the adventures to her littermates, Owlkit and Fernkit. Her brother and sister often played roughly together, and Swankit felt safest next to their mother, cheering them on and keeping score. Her early relationship with them would cement much of her personality for the rest of her life -- always on the sidelines, offering encouragement, but rarely taking part.

Under Lightwater’s tutelage, her demeanor stayed much the same during her apprenticeship. She was a dutiful, trustworthy student, though her mentor’s seriousness meant that they did not grow particularly close. Theirs was a relationship akin to a strict manager and an awkward but willing-to-please intern. Swanpaw was not a fast learner, but she was not a slow one, either, and her eagerness to prove herself made her a much respected new warrior. Swanpaw became Swansong for her good-natured obedience, for Lightwater was one of the few cats to sing her praises.

Her uninvolved nature changed briefly when her parents’ second litter was born. Swansong was heavily present in the early upbringing of Quick-kit (whom she had named herself), Lark-kit, and Falconkit, acting as almost a second mother to the trio. Of the three, she favored Quick-kit the most, admiring his strong spirit. Swansong swelled with pride when the three became apprentices.

This happiness evaporated not long into her younger siblings’ apprenticeships. An accident on the cliffs resulted in the death of Larkpaw and Falconpaw, who were spurred on by Quickpaw to practice their climbing techniques during a squall. Owlflight tried to help rescue the two struggling apprentices, but he, too, was swept out into the roaring lake. The three cats were never seen again.

Immediately after the incident, Swansong initially tried to place the blame on LichenClan’s leadership -- Hemlockheart to some extent, but primarily Minnowstar for pushing the Clan to train their youngsters so irresponsibly. Her father was quick to silence her anger, not wanting her to catch the ire of the silver zealot and her deputy. It was then that he explained their Egretfeather heritage, which he made her swear to keep a secret, and the danger she was placing her family in by speaking out of turn. Frightened by this new knowledge, she became even more withdrawn, both from the Clan in general and from her brother for his foolishness.

Soon after Owlflight, Larkpaw, and Falconpaw’s deaths, Swansong’s sister, Ferncloud, also passed away from unknown causes -- though many suspected it was the result of the severe grief that had stricken their family. Since the death of her four siblings, Swansong has found herself becoming closer to her parents, who have since alienated her brother for his actions and strict apprenticeship under Hemlockheart. She also has become more devoted to StarClan to help ease her pain. While far from the religious fervor of Minnowstar, her faith gives her comfort, and so she stands beside the silver leader as a solemn supporter.