BEAVERTAIL

REDWOODCLAN

longhaired mink tom with blue eyes

Stature: Beavertail grew from a stocky, sturdy apprentice to a formidable warrior. Though his long fur softens his shape, he is long and muscular with powerful legs and a feathered tail. The fluff around his neck makes his shoulders appear even broader than they are.

Pelt: Beavertail has long, feathery mink fur with dark, nearly black points. The lighter tan fur ripples smoothly into chocolate colors, ending at the dark fur on his legs, ears and face. Beavertail's favorite pastime is sharing tongues, as the length and texture of his fur is prone to matting, but he wouldn't want to be seen as vain by constantly grooming himself.

Face: Beavertail has a round, broad face with full cheeks and a strong jaw. Despite the icy blue of his eyes, they glitter with humor and friendliness. His muzzle is not smushed flat but not pronounced either, just a gentle slope that seems to taper into the mane around his neck. Beavertail has a black nose surrounded by dark chocolate fur that radiates outward into the lighter browns and tans of his body.

+ Diligent: Since kithood, Beavertail has strived to make his parents and Clan proud. He never lets a task assigned to him go unfinished, and often checks on his Clanmates to see if anything more can be done. He'll be among the first to see a dwindle in the fresh-kill pile, or to notice that borders need fresh scent markers, and will graciously accept extra work around camp.

+ Curious: Despite his adamant beliefs that RedwoodClan sits above all the others, Beavertail is immensely curious about the land they all call home. While he'd never let an intruder get away unscathed, he'll also try to ask a question about how they live or what kind of prey they have "over there" before he sends them running. Beavertail wants to hear all of the elders' stories, to learn about all of his Clanmates and their likes, dislikes, and dreams. And, while sometimes difficult, he wants his beliefs challenged - or reaffirmed - by seeking out other perspectives.

~ Earnest: Everything Beavertail does, from Clan duties to conversations, he does earnestly. He gives his full attention to any venting or anxious Clanmate, and often treats even small duties like grave missions. In his mind, the wellbeing of his Clan isn't something to be unserious about, even for a moment, and sarcasm is sometimes lost on him. This can be helpful in times of strife, but can also make him seem unapproachable at times; just wanting to chit-chat about a small issue can get him really worked up.

- Purist: While it's something he's working on as he ages, Beavertail can't help but feel his Clanmates' lives are more valuable than any other Clans or outsiders. He fully respects the warrior code, and wouldn't unjustly kill or hurt, but in times of hardship or war, he can't help a rising bitterness against half-Clan cats or different Clans altogether. Why shouldn't RedwoodClan be able to hunt where they need to feed themselves, and why can't all of these other squirrelly forest cats with their weird customs just leave the best Clan in peace?

- Clingy: Tied in with earnestness, Beavertail can be immensely clingy to anyone he grows close to. The doting nature of his parents made him attentive and caring, but his over-eagerness to please can rub cats the wrong way all the same. He wants to know where his friends go all day, any important conversations they had, and did they run into any brambles or catch any ticks? The appeal of "alone time" is just not quite something he understands.

Kithood: Born during the flood of 2023, Beaverkit knew love and protection from the very beginning. He and his sister Martenkit were nearly smothered with it, both from their anxious first-time parents, Elmlight and Barkheart, and their grandmother Curlycloud, aunt Larchtail, and uncles Aspenfoot and Cressclaw. Blissfully unaware that he had blood outside of RedwoodClan, Beaverkit began to feel Clan pride and superiority early on. He'd tussle with his dad, pretending Barkheart was a flea-ridden ThistleClan cat or some other threat. He would snuggle up against Elmlight and ask for stories about her life, marveling at how he looked so much like his strong, beautiful momma.

Adolescence: As an apprentice, Beaverpaw could not be sheltered from all of life's dangers and complications. Uncertain times reigned during his apprenticeship, creating the foundation for his beliefs and personality as a warrior.

Under the wise, watchful mentorship of Ravenfeather, Beaverpaw began his transformation into a proud, diligent young tom who valued family above all. The tragedies of Ravenfeather's life were not lost on his young apprentice, and Beaverpaw listened sympathetically and intently to his mentor's stories and advice. Hunting and battle training were a given, but it was these heartfelt moments that truly bonded the two as mentor and apprentice.

Beaverpaw found it difficult to be apart from his sister Martenpaw during their apprenticeships; he had grown so used to the warmth and playtime they enjoyed in the nursery together. While Beaverpaw pushed himself, unafraid of training injuries or getting dirty, he doted on Martenpaw. Not a day of training passed without him checking up on her, sharing prey while scanning her for even the most superficial wounds. While his care for his sister was certainly patronizing at times, he was immensely proud of her and how strong and brave she was becoming.

His parents were not forgotten during Beaverpaw's apprenticeship, despite his eagerness to be out of the nursery. Barkheart offered his own bits of wisdom and training, encouraging his young son to practice any new moves on him and to share his thoughts and feelings. Beaverpaw spoke of outsiders and half-Clanners with such distaste that it worried Barkheart, who knew of his mate's complicated heritage. Not his place to share those secrets, he did his best to gently guide Beaverpaw into a more open-minded attitude. You don't need pure blood to be loyal to our great Clan.

Elmlight also remained an important figure throughout Beaverpaw's training. He preferred to come to his mother to lick any shallow scratches or bug bites, rather than visiting the medicine cat. Beaverpaw felt his mother was maybe the wisest cat in RedwoodClan, aside from his father and his grandmother Curlycloud. She always knew the magic words to make a bruise stop hurting, and he cherished the moments when their matching pelts could melt together as she curled around him; his ultimate safe place.

And finally, Duskpaw. Every apprentice seems to find a partner in crime, their forever hunting buddy, and this was Duskpaw to Beaverpaw. Duskpaw's antics floored Beaverpaw, who had been working so hard to be serious and intense, ready for anything. His friend showed him that he could be strong and brave without sacrificing humor and playfulness; perhaps Beaverpaw taught Duskpaw some patience and diligence as well. Although Duskpaw is two moons older than him, Beaverpaw was hot on his heels to become a full warrior shortly after his best friend.

Adulthood: Head bowed, legs trembling, Beavertail received his warrior name after moons of intense effort and diligence. The importance of this ceremony couldn't stop him from throwing a glance backwards at his beaming parents. So many early mornings and deep talks with Ravenfeather...the transition into a warrior was almost bittersweet. With uncertain times behind, and now before him, Beavertail is determined to hold his head high, keep his family close, and show as much wisdom as he can muster in any coming challenge.

The changing leadership in other Clans creates rapidly spreading rumors and murmurs; will RedwoodClan face the same fate? Beavertail feels perfectly unthreatened by the new rules of full-blooded enforcement, eager to someday have his own apprentice to train.