hollowstep

redwoodclan

lean, short haired black smoke tom with green eyes

Named for his black coat resembling that of a hollow in a tree, Hollowstep appears to most as a shadow, a lithe and elegant figure hiding in the dark. He's of large stature, both tall and long, and beneath his black pelt he's built of the lean muscle of a runner.

Despite his large size he's light on his feet and moved swiftly and steadily, well balanced. He's not particularly heavy, rather of medium weight-- he's narrow, and when he sprints between the redwood trees he's a flash of dark like a crow fleeing the brush.

Hollowstep's eyes are the most striking part of his angular face. Slanted and wide, they're a distinct sage green that stands out against his black coat, the only flash of color on him. He's all black down to his whiskers; his paw pads, his nose, the insides of his tall ears. His high cheekbones and hypnotic eyes do little to soften his already unwelcoming appearance.

His pretty coat is best suited to the night, to the shade beneath the redwood branches. He's a deep black, waxing red in the dappled sunlight. In the sparse patches on his smoke pelt that have rusted, the ghost of a tabby pattern comes through, visible against his shimmering fur only from the right angle.

Hollowstep has a faint scent of wood bark and pond.

To call Hollowstep an enigma is… a bit of an understatement.

There’s just something about him. It’s impossible to capture with words. His manner is decidedly strange. The way he speaks, the way he moves, the way he walks far behind on patrol. How he quietly watches, much like a shadow, from the shaded corners of camp.

At face value, he might appear scary. He’s big and dark and powerful, lean muscle rippling beneath the black of his coat. And he’s distant; literally, figuratively. He’s always far behind, or hiding just out of sight. At a gathering or meeting you’d find him at the back of the crowd. Lounging about camp he very much keeps to himself. He eats alone, shares tongues with very few. In a clan as interconnected as Redwoodclan, he’s a distinct outlier.

Of course, it’s not like he's completely escaped the claws of the familial nature of his clan. He’d only ever appear scary to little kits or the apprentices of other clans. To those within his clan he’s just a single unapproachable figure in a crowd of cats.

Hollowstep is not particularly social. The word most would use to describe him is aloof, but then again, most aren’t close enough to him to know better; and he likes it that way. Hollowstep holds most of his fellow warriors at a fox-length. He’s not unfriendly, but he’s also not a tom of many words, and keeps most of his interactions short and curt at best. He’ll return a hello, hold a brief conversation (and escape it very quickly), but even in the coldest moons he sleeps apart from his peers.

Wouldn’t you know it, beneath all that perceived mystery, there’s a cat shot with anxiety, and anyone with a keen enough eye– or who has shared more than a couple conversations with him, really– is bound to have long since taken note. Hollowstep is meek. He escapes interactions not for distaste or a lack of interest but for fear. It’s as simple as this: any cat he isn’t close to is scary. He’s more afraid of the neighboring clan’s apprentices than they are of him. He’s shy, he’s submissive, he’s not at all a fighter. He’s far from confident in himself and he backs down from almost any conflict, and to top it all off, he’s easy to influence.

He may be shy, and he may be unapproachable, and he may do all he can specifically with the goal of avoiding interaction with his peers, and yet… still there are some that have grown close to him. And what a pleasure it is to be three layers deep, beneath the cold and the fear. Hollowstep’s a gentle cat, really, in every way of the word. He’s sweet. His nerves see to it that he struggles with typical warrior duties, defending the clan and whatnot, but in its place he’s selflessly nurturing. Of course he loves his clan. It’s all he knows. And he takes care of it, if not in the traditional sense.

His patient nature makes him the perfect listener. He offers up his prey to his fellow cats if he knows what he has is their favorite, or if they still seem hungry. He plays with the little kits when they’re big enough to toddle out of the nursery. He biles the ticks off the elders uninstructed and with no complaints, brings new moss for their nests, so forth. He’s soft, domestic. He never did have a talent in much other than moving quick, and falls far easier into these smaller duties. They make a difference, and he prefers them.

Getting close to him is a struggle that few find to be worth fighting, but all those who have shuffled past the harsh exterior are greeted with a gem of a cat who is quiet and easy and kind, who would lay his life down for them.

Kithood: Describe the character’s childhood as a kit in the clan, tribe, or as an outsider, such as their lineage, parents, siblings, or any impactful events.

Adolescence: Describe the character’s adolescence as an apprentice, to-be, or young cat as an outsider, including their training, mentor, den-mates, friends, crushes, or any impactful events.

Adulthood: Describe the character’s adulthood as a warrior, prey-hunter, stone-guard, or an outsider, such as their warrior or tribe-member ceremony, den-mates, friends, romantic relationships, significant battles, apprentices, or any impactful events.

High Position: If relevant, describe how the character received their status as a high position in their respective clan or tribe.

*Remember to keep in mind the clan/tribe's specific history and characteristics. Try to weave information from current events into your character's history. For example, how do they feel about their leaders? Any threats ( lc vs rwc war, rogue threat, the flood for tc, tribe sickness, etc.)? Make them a part of their clan/tribe!