CRANESTEP

LICHENCLAN

A TAN CREAM TABBY SHE-CAT WITH GREEN EYES

Cranestep sports a lithe, athletic build that allows her to perform optimally what a Lichenclan must; swimming, navigating tight caverns and remaining nimble on the shore. Her light-footed frame is a contributor to her namesake, and though she possesses no high class traits, she cares little.

Her pelt is painted in a base of tan, interspersed in a tabby pattern with light cream and a darker, sandier brown. For each point that touches the ground, her fur lightens. Her two shining green eyes are set in a somewhat rounded, but nimble face. Standing out from the rest of her stature, she possesses slightly large ears, which come to rounded points.

Passion has always been a main reason for Cranestep's many choices, she has outstanding passion for her craft and for the well-being of her clan, friends and her forged future. Few things faze her, her life has been so full of catastrophe and upheaval that she now sees it as nearly second nature; the adversity has strengthened her to be a strong, passionate cat. For her success, she provides most of the credit to herself. She is not too humble to deny herself what she believes is rightfully hers, Cranestep knows her current self is a direct result of her own hard work in the end. Though to some she may seem brash, almost arrogant, she calls it confidence and simple realism. This perception of herself doesn't bother her, she pays little mind to the opinions of others so long as she knows her intentions are pure.


Cranestep struggles with the practice of accepting others' beliefs, her reluctance can quickly turn to resentment if she is not checking herself. She knows it's comical that she is not much of an open-minded cat, as she hinges her belief system on a more progressive one. This is something she knows is a negative aspect of her character, so she tries hard to be more tolerant of those she disagrees with, but deep within she has an innate sense of righteousness that she does not waver from. As such, it's easy for Cranestep to make enemies, and harder for her to lose them.

Throughout her life, Cranestep has prided herself in being a loyal and reliable friend. She dislikes the flaky nature that some people have, making a point to be almost infamously on time and dependable for all manner of situations. She keeps a small circle, but a tight one. While her intense regard for her duty to the clan can turn some cats off, in her interpersonal relationships she's remarkably lighthearted.

Cranestep was born in a tumultuous time in the clan, amidst the Lichenclan conflict with Redwoodclan. Belonging to a litter of two, the first for the couple Mantisfang and Poppyfur, Cranestep was always an excited kit, much more than her brother Basstooth.

Born before Minnowstar's demise and at the height of the LichenClan tension, Cranestep was ignorant to the realities of the world in her youth. Despite the unstable nature of the clan, her parents (unashamed rebellion participants, of course) did their best to raise their kits on less rigid and fanatical ideas. They were not high status, so their image was not so important. In this regard, this made raising their children easier with LichenClan's uncertain future. For Cranestep, believing in StarClan was in step with accepting the differences of other cats, denying authoritarian rule, and believing in the capabilities of she-cats beyond their queenly duties. For Basstooth, this wasn't the case.



With LichenClan no longer under Minnowstar's rule as she came into her apprenticehood, Cranestep embraced her warrior future with the same kithood excitement as she had moons ago. However, her relationship with her brother began to suffer as the two got older, his ideals leaning more to puritanical tradition than the new progressive future LichenClan had began to embrace.

The blizzard further drove a splinter through Cranestep's family unit. The isolation and close quarters seemed to egg on Basstooth's resentment of their values, and the family was often apart. Cranestep prayed frequently, even if no one was listening. She clung close to her mother and poured all her earthly energy into becoming a formidable warrior, useful to her clan. These days she cherishes, her days of studying, sparring and hunting. She found this work to be more fulfilling than anything else.

As it seemed the suffocating weather was coming to an end, Cranestep was relieved to feel warmth once more, her first New-leaf, but the flood dashed all her hopes. In their escape from LichenClan, her father Mantisfang was swept away, his body never found. Basstooth called his death retribution. Retribution. For many nights Cranestep pondered that word and if her father truly deserved to die for defying his home's regime. She began to hate. A feeling she never knew was possible in her days, she hated her brother for ruining her grief with unfounded platitudes and spoiling her family's integrity. With their push inland, she channeled that anger and disappointment into her warrior training, earning herself the name Cranestep, an acknowledgment of her stealth and exceptional hunting. At the turn of the weather, and the first mysterious disappearance of their clan, a worry began to be planted in Cranestep's head.



As a young adult, Cranestep is a staunch supporter of the progressive direction LichenClan heads into, and her exposure to the other clans has only supported this. Though as time wears on, the peace she came to know as a given is being tested. Yarrowstar's sudden death has uprooted the clan once more, she may no longer pray at the MoonCave, and a dread fills her whenever she thinks of the tunnels. Though she knows the security measures and new parameters are for the best, quietly she fears that the clan's dynamic is returning to the oppressive times of Minnowstar. Seeing the anger of the loyalists is startling, and it grows more clear with each passing day how divided her clan is becoming. Though she has her side, she knows the danger of absolutes and fears the future. This is a contributor to her attempt at self-improvement; she refuses to be the reason her clan is thrown into turmoil once more.

Several of the new rules she dislikes, but not enough to make a fuss about it. Cranestep misses her days of praying at the MoonCave, but is more disturbed that there is an evil lurking there than the fact it's been heavily guarded. She knows that StarClan can hear her from anywhere, so she pushes that disappointment aside. Queens being forced to patrol is another demand that gives her pause. It makes her feel as if each cat is forced to be something they are neither comfortable or extensively trained in. If they are not good at it, there is no benefit to them being out there. It wasn't their responsibility to patrol, it was warriors, and it should remain so. Regardless, she keeps her faith in the leadership and greater faith in StarClan that their clan will be free of this fear soon.