Post by stray on Apr 24, 2020 7:32:39 GMT
Aspenstar
gorseclan ∙ leader ∙ tom ∙ 27 moons
Appearance
Description sentence:
A large ginger-and-white tabby tom with a feather tucked at the base of his tail.
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Gene String: XOY ll Bb1 Dd Aa'mcmc CCs ii Wsw
Appearance:
A large cat by nature with long fur that only serves to exaggerate his size. A soft ginger color covers the majority of his pelt, and white fur runs from his chin to his belly. Over these base colors, dark red-orange classic tabby stripes swirl and slash through his fur, forming an arrow-like mask around his green eyes. A pale white star on his nose denotes his leader status. He has a muscular build underneath his soft pelt, and he has large paws that are perfect for digging and climbing in the rough Gorseclan terrain. His right ear is nicked and he has a scar running across his shoulders from long-forgotten accidents as an apprentice. A newly-made scar zigzags across his cheek from his fight with Rainier. Tucked into the base of his tail is a red feather, a keepsake from a more peaceful time.
Personality
Positive Traits: • Sociable • Optimistic • Empathetic | Negative Traits: • Oblivious • Rowdy • Indecisive |
Personality:
Aspenstar is an outgoing, energetic cat, unafraid to make conversation with strangers and passerby. At home in camp, he can often be seen socializing in his downtime, making his rounds to each group of cats during their meals and having a laugh. Younger cats often gravitate towards him, eager to hang out with "the friendly warrior who teaches us cool stuff".
He can be... a bit absentminded. He isn't the smartest cat in the clan--he'll tell you that much himself--but he isn't stupid, either. Sometimes things just take a moment to click. He's a big jock with a heart of gold--someone who's a little more in touch with his emotional side. Though his large stature can be intimidating, he prefers diplomacy over fighting.
Having been only recently appointed, Aspenstar is uncertain and insecure about his abilities as a leader. He has barely lived past his second winter. The battle with the Bluebloods has permanently shaken him, though he will not let anyone know it. He dreams of flashing teeth and the taste of blood on his tongue. He regrets not being a more experienced warrior during the time.
Some cats may find him sitting outside his den late at night, looking up to the sky in silent contemplation. He is quick to bounce back into his friendly demeanor if his attention is caught by a fellow clan member. He is incredibly picky about who he confides in, even among his closest confidants.
Skills & Combat
Strengths: • Navigating difficult terrain • Excellent hunter • Physical strength | Weaknesses: • Anything to do with water • Slow in close combat • Mostly inexperienced |
Character Background
History:
Aspenstar was born outside of Valeclan territory to a loner named Twig. The tom that sired the litter, Pikefur, was himself a clan warrior. Soon after the kits were born, Twig gave Aspenkit and Ashkit to Pikefur as a farewell gift. The tortoiseshell queen took her other two kits with her and they were never heard from again. The then-leader of Valeclan faced Pikefur with incredible disdain when presented with two kits that bore the scent of a loner. Reluctantly, he allowed the kits to stay, and Pikefur watched his only children grow from afar with a distant fondness.
Aspenkit's foster mother treated him like one of her own and he became stronger and stronger with each passing day. While he was not of pure clan ancestry, he was popular with his other denmates--save for one. When it came time for his apprenticeship, a senior warrior named Swansnap was assigned to him as his mentor. The stoic she-cat worked him to the bone, wanting him to earn the respect of his fellow warriors. Aspenpaw's friendly and easy-going personality never wavered, even when tensions flared within his own camp.
Their lives carried on. He was named Aspenbreeze for his personality. Very soon after being named, his sister could not stand the judgement radiating off their clanmates' pelts, so she moved to Peakclan; Aspenbreeze followed reluctantly. The two grew apart a couple moons after Ashlight had her kits. As far as he knew, she and fellow warrior Blackmoon had kits simply because they were both strong warriors, but after his nieces and nephews were born, Ashlight began acting... different. Possessive. He figured it was best if he didn't confront Ashlight, so he slowly distanced himself from the grey queen.
Sister aside, things were pretty smooth - Aspenbreeze was given his first apprentice, Weaselpaw, as a test from the old Peakclan leader. The two became best friends, pushing each other to new heights. By the time Weaselpaw graduated and became Weaselwhirl, it was apparent that Aspenbreeze was an excellent role model and teacher. Everything was good and he finally felt settled, happy to have a permanent home.
Then the two-legs arrived.
The clans were thrown into turmoil as disaster and plague struck with everything stacked against them. Aspenbreeze defended his clanmates as best as he could. After an exhausting era of injury and death, no clans remained; only a ragtag group of survivors whose names were the only thing that bound them to their former lifestyle. On one fateful night, he dreamed a hazy dream, hearing one voice that sounded like many:
"Follow the clawmarks in the night. The stars are bound to your paws and will bring you home."
Aspenbreeze looked to the skies and was greeted with the glorious sight of a meteor shower. These showers lasted for the next half-moon and he pursued these streaks of light with the group of clan cats. For once, they reluctantly put aside their differences and found kinship in their shared cultures. They walked together, every other night for a moon until they stumbled upon a peaceful valley, untouched by two-legs and theirs for the taking.
It seemed that way, at least. Aspenbreeze took the cats that he had traveled with and headed towards the dry shrublands, which reminded him of a livelier version of his first home, of Valeclan. They scouted a place that could serve as a camp, but as they approached, they realized it smelled of foreign cats, and it became apparent that these cats were not welcoming of outsiders.
Aspenbreeze and his clan cats rested in another part of the territory, tensions high with the other group. He tried going up to them while hunting to talk; at first to get to know the original residents of the territory, then to see if they could reach a compromise. Some of the loners were a lot friendlier or tolerant than others, but it was clear they thought he should not be in their land. This went on for about two moons, until one night, the rogues attacked them in their sleep.
He wasn't sure if it was an act driven purely by hatred of clan cats or out of desperation for them to leave. Regardless, Aspenbreeze could not stand the thought of having to find a third home. He tried his own way. Now he would play the rogues' game.
Aspenbreeze roared into battle with a ferocity that was foreign to him. Within the blur of the fight, with adrenaline rushing through his veins, he killed the leader of the rogues, Rainier. As the dust settled and the fighting ceased, the rogues realized that Rainier had died at Aspenbreeze's paws. He stared coldly at the rogues, angered that they hadn't found peace before all of this, and claimed the entire territory as the clan's. Those who wanted to stay were free to so long as they adopted the clan's ways; otherwise they would leave the territory by the next sundown. And those who didn't like the thought of doing either? They could die with Rainier.
It was the first and only time Aspenbreeze had taken another cat's life. He wants it to stay that way.
Aspenbreeze was then selected to become the clan's leader and receive his nine lives. He since has taken the time to integrate the loners who decided to join the clan and train them in the ways of a warrior. The bloodshed that happened that night would not become a stain on his legacy, so when he established Gorseclan, he named it for the yellow flowers that bloomed across the land - a symbol of hope and new beginnings.
☆☆☆
Family:
Mother: Twig
Father: Pikefur
Siblings: Ashlight (fate unknown), two unknown siblings
Mate: Fogpool
Kits: n/a
Other Notes
Shop Purchases:
n/a
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