Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2018 4:46:49 GMT -5
Name: Rookshade
Age: 30
Gender: Tom
Clan: NightClan
Rank: Warrior
Picture:
Kit | Apprentice 1 | Apprentice 2 | Apprentice 3 | Apprentice 4 | Apprentice 5 | Warrior 1 | Warrior 2 | Warrior 3 | Warrior 4 | Warrior 5 | Warrior 6 | Warrior 7 | Warrior 8
Description:
Rookshade is a very small, short-furred, black and ginger tortoiseshell tom with exuberant eyes that constantly fluctuate between yellow and yellow-green depending on his mood. His pelt is mostly black with ginger patches and roaning, the majority of which being located around his face, chest, and shoulders with some sparse ginger hairs and spots along his back, flank, and hindquarters. He does have some ginger fur spotted on his legs, and all of his front left toes are orange, the rest of his paws black and crepuscular as a dim, moonless night. Rookshade's nose and whiskers are black as coal, and ginger splotches on his ears make the skin mottled pink.
The tom's most notable physical characteristic at first glance is his height. He is a third of the size smaller than many of his peers, and upon closer scrutiny, strangers would always notice ginger patches throughout his mostly black pelt. Not many cats had ever suspected a tom to boast tortoiseshell coloring. His size and fur had been a vessel for bullying almost his entire apprenticehood, though once he learned his own tricks in battle and hunting to compensate for his shortcomings, Rookshade had earned a great deal of respect from everyone around him.
The tom, although not tall, is much more powerful than he seems. Of course, his strength is by no means comparable to a feline such as Bonetail or other colossal cats, though what he lacks in power he has made up in nimbleness, accuracy, and speed. He is of average Nightclan build, perhaps a bit leaner than his clanmates, though still a very capable warrior despite his downfalls: despite being a runt.
Description Summary: A very small, short-furred, black and ginger tortoiseshell tom with exuberant eyes that constantly fluctuate between yellow and yellow-green.
Personality:
Diplomatic (having or showing an ability to deal with people in a sensitive and effective way)
Rookshade has always been super conscious of everyone else's feelings, though is constantly burying his own emotions deep down, locked away in a box. Despite his hardened appearance and businesslike posture, he is a very empathetic and loving cat on the inside. Rookshade cherishes everyone around him, for it was them who shaped him into the cat he is today. His bullies gave him thick-skinned resolve. His clanmates offered him the opportunities to exercise leadership, develop friendship, and harness victory. His friends gave him comfort in his hardest moons, offering him a brief reprieve from his stresses, allowing him to practice peace and composure. His family allowed him to heed reason, to harden emotionally in an effort to withstand the hardships of being a runt, one of his greatest insecurities.
Perhaps it was his physical downfalls that created a void in his heart, only filled when he offered support and love to the misfit toys. Though despite being compassionate to those in the hardest of times, he doesn't have much patience for those who want to be upset and depressed, those who are constantly allowing themselves to be trapped in a vacuum of anger and grief. In fact, he hadn't much patience at all. To Rookshade, it comes easy to be able to win the support of the damaged or troubled souls, though he isn't quite approachable. He is available to those who summon the courage to speak with him, or to those who are indeed wholly helpless. Rookshade is always helping the "little guy" so to say, and likes doing so. He sometimes wishes that there were more cats like him when he was growing up, but he does realize that the past is the past, and that he won't ever get a chance to relive those moons ever again.
Honestly, he didn't mind the thought of that.
Cultured (characterized by refined manners and good education)
Rookshade is a very knowledgeable and polished cat. He was honored with a brutal upbringing, proud to have grown up with very conservative, opinionated, and militaristic parents. Although it damaged him emotionally in his youngest moons, by the time he was apprenticed, he had been inured to the harsh reality that he will always seem like a step behind his counterparts due to his unusually small stature. It was a benefit to have been blatantly aware of his physical weaknesses from an early age, and he is grateful (in a way) for his family's pitiless, intolerant, and merciless practices. It had accustomed him to inequitable behavior, so by the time he parted ways in his apprenticehood, he didn't look back and took to the life of a warrior trainee like a natural, almost entirely unphased by the other apprentice's jests.
As soon as he was apprenticed, he knew he was going to finish his training before any one of them. His mentor was very pleased with his progress and refined character. Rookpaw seemed to tackle every challenge like a seasoned warrior, and despite his size, he learned his own way to bring down larger opponents in battle, and developed He had to, and after a bonebreaking apprenticeship, Rookpaw received his warrior name at 10 moons old.
When all thought he was one step behind, he had in fact worked himself two steps ahead.
Ingenuitive (the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful to overcome difficulties)
Rookshade's ingenuity is more large-scale. He doesn't busy himself with arts and crafts, but when it comes to finding a solution to a problem that he deems serious, Rookshade is always there with intelligent and clever suggestions with the best interests of everyone in mind. His problem-solving nature has proven to be very helpful to not just himself, but aiding others in hardship as well. Time and time again he dedicates himself to all sorts of problems that arise, perhaps a bit arrogantly. Despite what may seem like conceit, Rookshade jumps the gun to make sure the problem is solved in a timely and effective manner and whatever determination and persistence exercised is absolutely not derived from ego. In fact, he has a relatively altruistic and allocentric personality.
Rookshade has always had an inventive nature, though it wasn't until his warrior moons that he really exercised his problem solving skills for the better of others. He used to be a very astute apprentice, showing a very proficient ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to his advantage, though as he aged, his canniness turned into incisiveness, heavily accented by a selfless ingenuity. Rookshade is very perceptive and aware, with a good, decisive head on his shoulders. The last thing he appreciates is distracted fools diddle-daddling and wasting time when there is work to do.
He is often short on patience with specific types of cats, but towards those who make an effort he is a very loyal and supportive cat to work with.
Principled (acting in accordance with morality and showing recognition of right and wrong)
Rookshade's cutthroat upbringing had instilled in him a certain humble acceptance of the way the world worked and society's morals, though it was really from his mentor that he learned the warrior code and more valid, less biased information about all of the clans. His mentor shaped him into an honorable, loyal, knowledgeable warrior, though Rookshade had always been very principled, even before his apprenticeship.
He recognizes unjustified behavior and partisan as if they were black sheep, and does have a soft spot for those victim of such conduct. He has a good handle on when to step in, and when to leave it be. Rookshade is a strong believer that pain and affliction are building blocks for strong character, but he knows it doesn't change the fact that inflicting that on others is most often unjust.
Rookshade will keep his composure and do his best to prevent the spread of tribulation, unless there is a call for retribution.
Disciplined (showing a controlled form of behavior or way of working)
Rookshade had always lived life with equanimity, having much self-control over himself both physically and mentally since the beginning. His discretion and confidence had seeped into every aspect of his life, and his apprenticeship benefited incredibly from his disciplined nature. His work ethic has always been very adept, though almost too much so. He is attentive to detail, though hardly meticulous. Rookshade doesn't take long to think about what to do before he makes a decision, and doesn't busy himself with little, pointless things. He applies himself diligently and wholeheartedly to everything he does and doesn't stop until the job is finished perfectly.
As a warrior, Rookshade liked to think that his disciplined nature gave his apprentices the best chance at success. He dedicates himself to his work and keeps his composure even in the most difficult of situations. The only time Rookshade ever truly loses his cool is when an unrelenting desire for revenge dangerously predominates his mind.
Reason often has no choice but to succumb.
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Conservative (holding to traditional values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics)
Perhaps it was his upbringing or his distaste for change, but Rookshade is much more drawn towards tradition and the "old way". Reform for the greater good is important to him, though he tends to get frustrated with extremely liberal personalities, or any extremists really. He would never outwardly challenge his superiors, but will give his honest and unfiltered perspective on certain matters if asked. With his fellow warriors, he tends to avoid the free-thinking and progressive personalities, for he has better things to do than waste time having a conversation that wasn't going to be productive. Nightclan is generally pretty stuck in tradition, though there are a few cats he doesn't get along with because of how obnoxiously they impose their political views on others, both conservatives and liberals alike.
Rookshade has a couple friends that are in fact more open-minded and embrace many liberal ideas, though it is understood that everyone has their own specific views about politics, and it bringing it into the friendship is unneeded. Rookshade definitely has issues with any religious or political extremists. That could stem from his innate dislike towards those who make a big deal over something that he doesn't think deserves the attention, or it could have been ingrained into him at a young age by his parents. Both are entirely possible and likely contributed to his current feelings on the matter.
Political decisions, in Rookshade's opinion, are for his superiors and should not be gossiped and griped about in the masses unless a consensus was to be come to by the majority and not the ruling minority.
Forthright (direct and outspoken; straightforward and honest)
Rookshade takes pride in his ideas, and perhaps always being tossed to the side and ignored as a kit had instilled a defiance to go unheard in his apprentice and ultimately warrior years. He always makes sure his opinions on certain issues are made known, though he never talks about Starclan or religion in general, and he thinks politics are a rude subject. Rookshade would always be straightforward about his perspective in every way, shape, and form, though he has sworn to himself to keep quiet about his religious views, and only ever talks about politics when directly asked. You'll never see Rookshade starting an argument, as he believes they are very unproductive and steal time out of matters more important than blatant disagreement. If he feels like a conversation is adapting to a dispute, he won't hesitate to walk away.
Rookshade is always to-the-point with no hesitation. He is aware of others feelings constantly as he can relate to many things his clanmates go through and would never wish conflict of any sort on Nightclan, though he knows there is a time and place to have a good conversation and also a time to set feelings aside and continue the task at hand. In a leadership position, he is quite diplomatic, but from day to day life he tends to be pretty blunt and unfiltered. He is the king of acknowledgement and makes everyone feel like they've been heard, despite his outspoken nature, which has aided him incredibly throughout his life.
Rookshade is a forthright cat, though even with as candid and strong as his personality may seem, he will always listen to his clanmates and will always jump to the rescue when he notices even the slightest call for help.
Stern (serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline)
Rookshade is only stern in a leadership role, of which he takes very seriously and never jokes around. His inner austerity and assertiveness didn't show much as an apprentice, though when he started mentoring his apprentices and established himself within the clan as an adept leader, one could easily see his strict, professional, and enterprising tendencies as a superior. He is a very driven cat, and he expects an effort from those around him to push forward and be a contributing factor to the clan. He has a huge problem with laziness, and tends to avoid those who are more careless or aloof in nature. Rookshade has a special love for all of his clanmates and would lay his life down on the line for any one of them, though his preferences of who he spends day to day life with limit those he would really call true friends.
In a non-leadership position, Rookshade's austerity is kept well in check. He only practices such authoritative acts when it is truly justified, or when an emergency is at hand and a leader is needed. He hardly ever tries to control his clanmates outside of appointed ascendancy by superiors. Only in times of urgent need does he designate himself captaincy. In day to day life, one would hardly notice this side of his personality unless you asked one of his apprentices or the rest of the team in the hunting/border patrol he lead. His demanding and flinty personality is most often reserved for those he is tasked with leading, and Rookshade is by no means an easy cat to work for. He puts 150% into everything he does, and expects an effort from those he works beside as well. Rookshade makes it a point to respect everyone around him, though expects that to be reciprocated. He has no tolerance for those who seriously disrespect him, and unless it is an empty jest, cats who mock or insult him with ill intent are never forgiven.
Despite Rookshade's intense care and passion for everything he does, those who wrong him are cut out of his life like cancer without second thought. To the intense frustration of the insolent ones, he has no problem brushing it off and acting like nothing ever happened, offering his discourteous clanmates a cold, unforgiving shoulder.
Competitive (having or displaying a strong desire to be more successful than others)
Rookshade is a highly competitive cat, his keenness well noted in even the smallest of situations. He is always ready to go, go, go, and has a very persistent, never give up personality. His competitive nature could be dangerous accented with the disciplined, determined, vindictive, and unforgiving sides of his personality, though most often his serious care and concern for his clanmates keeps him harnessed and in check. He would never intentionally hurt another cat from Nightclan, though he has no problem destroying outside threats.
It was a more prevalent character trait when he was an apprentice, though nowadays he finds it less regularly practiced and more tapped into when challenged. Rookshade's moments of competitiveness in his later years is oftentimes what makes him reminisce back in his apprenticehood. It was the most exciting time of his life. Occasionally he'll fall into his old self and his hunger for victory will drive him to extraordinary measures both physically and mentally.
Rookshade never backs down from a fight, and will continue persevering until the end.
Pertinacious (holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action)
Some may call Rookshade close-minded, though he is actually quite willing to hear other's opinions on matters. He is steadfast in his morals and is oftentimes unwavering on his opinions and beliefs. He respects authority, as he would expect to be respected if he were in their stead, though he is very hard to alter in any way. If one of his superiors implemented something he didn't quite agree with, acceptance of their decision would come unenthusiastically, though his opinions hardly ever change and he would likely continue to be secretly disconcerted regarding the situation for an indefinite period of time. He is a loyal cat though, and despite his own personal preferences, respecting the warrior code is of utmost importance to him.
Rookshade doesn't like when his opinions or courses of action are overpowered, though he knows how to keep composure and follow. He learned much from his own mentor, and Swiftstorm arguably groomed him for a leadership role. His mentor always believed he had a lot of potential, and implemented a grueling training regimen for him, of which Rookshade actually kept up with. Rookshade learned how to follow so that he could one day learn how to lead, and his mentors strategies seemed to work well for the tortoiseshell tom. He is continuing to be a respectable, loyal partner to his clanmates at every turn, and respects the word of his superiors like law, despite what he may actually feel.
Rookshade is a very hard, tenacious character with an intense discomfort for change, though he rapidly adapts to his environment regardless and always heeds the word of authority.
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Vindictive (having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge)
The only thing that can truly take control of Rookshade and sour his mind is vengeance. He is generally not a hot-headed cat, but when his clanmates are harmed in any way, he hardly ever settles down until he feels like revenge has been taken. Perhaps it could have been an intense desire for justice in a past life, though Rookshade mistakenly feels his retributions are justified when realistically they are intense fits of anger and absence of reason. It is a dangerous phase to be caught in, though it hardly ever happens. Rookshade usually has a pretty good handle on his emotions, though he cares dearly for Nightclan, and a threat or attack against any one of his clanmates make him livid beyond recognition.
It is hard to tell why he yearns so powerfully for revenge. His vindictive nature is only directed to those he deems a threat or danger to Nightclan, and rather those who wrong him or irritate him personally notice an unforgiving posture. Rookshade would never act violently against Nightclan itself, though he is ruthless and unrelenting towards outside threats. Perhaps his intense desire to protect his clan is what makes him feel so strongly, or the thought of not being able to protect those lost or wounded.
It is hard to say why he feels so vehemently about exercising his own personal reprisals, though it is a serious downfall of his to ignore reason in order to exercise his own selfish paybacks.
Unforgiving (not willing to forgive or excuse faults or wrongdoings)
Rookshade is very understanding of everyone's situation and quite empathetic to those going through loss or hardship, though one thing he cannot seem to do is excuse unjustified iniquity. He has an intense desire to protect his clan, though he wouldn't hesitate to turn a cold shoulder to those inconsiderate enough to put down others. He never truly forgives anyone who acts unjust and unfair, the suspicion that they will continue to do so constantly making his skin crawl and his stomach turn with disgust. It was likely his childhood bullies that instilled in Rookshade this distaste for insolence, though more often than not, he doesn't normally let his unforgiving nature distract him from his duties.
Rookshade has been grateful for his callous family and those who abused him in his youth, for it has hardened him and made him stronger and thicker skinned, though he still hopes that if there even was a Dark Forest, that Starclan would see to it that they were condemned.
Rookshade never liked his family, but they taught him how to know his weaknesses and turn them to his advantage so no one could ever use them against him.
Incredulous (unwilling or unable to believe something/someone)
Rookshade has always been a very independent tom and never had stuff handed to him. He was always fighting tooth and claw every step of the way, and it has hardened him and prepared him for the real world. Due to the fact that he has been so independent and used to be regularly humiliated in his youth, Rookshade constantly struggles with trusting those around him and oftentimes doesn't believe a word out of anyone's mouth. It really isn't anyone's fault, though he'd been rumored about incessantly as a kit and apprentice, and he lived in a pit of lies until he earned his warrior name. If it wasn't his height or pelt, it was him cheating, or some other pathetic excuse of why he wasn't much better than a flea-ridden loner.
It often takes a while for Rookshade to truly warm up to others and even comprehend the fact that someone may even be considered a friend, though friends to him are more important than almost anything (besides the longevity and success of Nightclan). His family had pushed him away at a young age, thus he had disconnected from society and buried himself in battle training and hunting, practicing relentlessly on every spare minute of free time he had. Rookshade constantly felt like he had to prove himself, and because he had been segregated most of his youth, he had grown used to solitude.
Due to the sea of lies and rumors he always heard about himself, he decided to reserve trust to only his closest friends, and of course, his idols: the deputy, leader, and medicine cats.
Agnostic (one who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of Starclan or of anything beyond material phenomena)
Rookshade is one of a handful of cats in all the clans that doesn't believe in Starclan. His parents were huge supporters of the starry-pelted cats he heard so often in stories, and the more they imposed their political and religious views on him, the more it pushed him away from both. He took the freedom of apprenticeship as his chance to figure out himself. The more time he thought about the universe and the clans and the more he witnessed death and heartbreak, the less he seemed to believe that there was a mysterious clan of dead cats in the sky that determined the fate of the clans. He felt like he had a choice in everything he did, and he could never wrap his head around how something so seemingly powerful and familial could reek havoc on the clans in such horrific ways.
Rookshade never talks about his faith, and remains silent when Starclan is mentioned and talked about anywhere in the clans. His wish will never be to offend, thus he thinks it best to stay quiet and not attract attention to himself and spark disputes or mortify others at the same time. Plus it would be yet another thing someone could pester and embarrass him about. It was such an unquestioned reality for every cat to believe in Starclan that, luckily, no one has approached him on the subject. Rookshade never would openly bring to light his disbelief for Starclan though. He felt that sometimes it was best to just let believers be believers for their own sake, and the last thing he wanted to do was impose.
Rookshade wasn't a hypocrite.
Assertive (having or showing a confident and forceful personality)
Rookshade, although respectful to those around him, does have a very assured, and perhaps commanding, personality. He makes sure not to force his will on others unless necessary, but in a situation where time happened to be of the essence and he was the designated lead, or if he was mentoring an apprentice, Rookshade would readily manage. He always seems to know what to do, and oftentimes stresses the significance and validity of his own solutions to the problem at hand, though he recognizes that there is a fine line between sharing your ideas and foisting them upon others. A line which he never crosses.
There is rarely hesitation from Rookshade, as he always seems decisive and relatively emphatic, though he does oftentimes come across as arrogant and imperious to those around him in situations where he has taken control of the situation without permission from the rest of the party. He is a very matter-of-fact, brusque character most of the times, which can pose a problem with some. Only to those who need his emotional guidance, or those he truly wants to hold a conversation with, does he offer more than the minimum number of words he could use to answer the question. More often than not, Rookshade would rather busy himself with chores than chat.
Rookshade loves to have deep conversations, but small-talk isn't his forte.
History:
Rookshade was the son of Jaystep and Snakeflower. His parents were hardly pleased when Starclan gave them only one kit, a tiny, wet bundle that was a third of the size smaller than any normal kit would be. Snakeflower was determined that her son would in fact grow to be as large as his father, though when Echobreeze kitted three healthy kits a few moons later, her heart grew cold and unforgiving. Rook-kit was set aside, and Snakeflower would only see to it that he nursed to stay alive, though she rejected the runt wholeheartedly and disciplined him heavily. Jaystep had no interest in his mate and kit and oftentimes found himself constantly angry at the kit. Some thought it was because Rook-kit didn't die like the clan expected, as Jaystep and Snakeflower's relationship was hardly supported by either parent.
They were both cold-hearted cats that had no interest in the runt that they had brought into the world, but Rook-kit loved them the same. His parents were all he ever really knew, as they kept him secluded from the rest of the clan, hardening him like a mountain despite his diminutive stature and thin build. The liberals called it abuse, but much of Nightclan looked on, ignoring the parenting practices of the angry couple. Rook-kit seemed unphased at first, though when Thornkit, Dark-kit, and Cobrakit were born, he grew awfully jealous and always felt left out. There were eleven kits in the nursery, and Rook-kit was always the one locked away in the closet so to say. Rook-kit had yearned to play with the others, but Snakeflower and Jaystep didn't want the runt to partake. They tried to hide him away as if he never existed, and it worked.
Until he hit 6 moons.
Rook-kit, against the will of his parents, was made an apprentice at 6 moons like any normal kit. Sootkit, Ashkit, and Coalkit received their mentors a day before Rook-kit as his parents succeeded in delaying the ceremony by making it a big fight, though Dimstar wholeheartedly believed that the tortoiseshell runt needed to be exposed to the real world and not hidden under a rock. It was when Rook-kit received his apprentice name that his life truly fell apart.
Ashpaw, Coalpaw, and Sootpaw weren't too bad, but he did receive a lot of criticism and looks from the rest of the clan. Unable to partake in common kit games, Rook-kit hadn't developed the fitness that all the other apprentices had, and was at such a severe disadvantage that it sparked a newfound indignation and determination in Rookpaw. His first moon of apprenticeship was a lot of acclimating and growing muscle and endurance, but even when Newtpaw, Pipitpaw, and Stoatpaw joined the mix, Rookpaw still hadn't reached his peak. The three younger apprentices he never cared for, though Newtpaw actually left him alone. Stoatpaw and Pipitpaw bullied him to hell and high water, though in that second moon of training that the three new apprentices entered the mix, Rookpaw had never worked for and wanted something so much than to prove to the mousebrains that he was stronger then every one of them combined.
Day and night Rookpaw worked himself, secluding himself around the time Thornpaw, Cobrapaw, and Darkpaw entered the mix. He never saw any of them, and tended to avoid the other apprentices because of Stoatpaw and Pipitpaw specifically. His mentor Thistleheart offered him guidance and support every step of the way, encouraging the tom to compensate for his short stature. Just as he had been as a kit, Rookpaw isolated himself and basked in solitude, tackling bone-breaking training until his warrior ceremony at 10 moons under the last days of Dimstar's reign. The other apprentices were strangers to him his entire apprenticeship, though the respect he received from the senior warriors and those already boasting their warrior names felt like finally finding shelter from the cold, roaring winds.
His warriorhood was mostly him establishing references, acquaintances, and friends. Rookshade's circle of pals were oftentimes those older than him, and even after the several apprentices earned their warrior names, he kept his distance. He always had a suspicion that they all gossiped about him, even if some were unfairly accused. He never wanted to relive the hurt he had experienced in the first few moons of his apprenticeship, thus he stayed away from his peers and buried himself in work. He felt absolutely overjoyed when he received his first apprentice at 18 moons, and for the first time in his life, he felt like he had a purpose other than a mindless soldier trapped in a revolving door. He was thankful for the opportunity Pinestar gave him.
His first apprentice was very easy. The kit put in an incredible amount of effort, and after 5 eventful moons, the apprentice received a warrior name to be proud of. Perhaps it was how well the apprentice worked, and the fact that the kit finished training a moon early, Rookshade would never know to this day, though only a moon later he received an apprentice by the name of Hickorypaw, courtesy of Foxstar.
This one was much harder to work with.
Hickorypaw was a massive cat, and the physical differences between mentor and apprentice was very difficult to overcome. Perhaps Foxstar wanted to challenge Rookshade? Or perhaps his training methods were heavily supported by Nightclan leadership? He would never know, though after a grueling 6 moons, Hickorypaw became Hickoryfur. Rookshade had never had to put that much effort into anything before in his life, and there was a sense of satisfaction he received from moons of constant problems and solutions.
At 30 moons, Rookshade had been given incredible opportunities by leadership to help Nightclan succeed, and he currently has no intention of slowing down. He eagerly awaits his next apprentice and won't ever pass up another chance to progress his future and the future of his clanmates, with the prosperity of Nightclan being one of his deepest desires.
RP Example:
Other: I do believe almost all male tortoiseshell or calico cats are sterile.
Age: 30
Gender: Tom
Clan: NightClan
Rank: Warrior
Picture:
Kit | Apprentice 1 | Apprentice 2 | Apprentice 3 | Apprentice 4 | Apprentice 5 | Warrior 1 | Warrior 2 | Warrior 3 | Warrior 4 | Warrior 5 | Warrior 6 | Warrior 7 | Warrior 8
Description:
Rookshade is a very small, short-furred, black and ginger tortoiseshell tom with exuberant eyes that constantly fluctuate between yellow and yellow-green depending on his mood. His pelt is mostly black with ginger patches and roaning, the majority of which being located around his face, chest, and shoulders with some sparse ginger hairs and spots along his back, flank, and hindquarters. He does have some ginger fur spotted on his legs, and all of his front left toes are orange, the rest of his paws black and crepuscular as a dim, moonless night. Rookshade's nose and whiskers are black as coal, and ginger splotches on his ears make the skin mottled pink.
The tom's most notable physical characteristic at first glance is his height. He is a third of the size smaller than many of his peers, and upon closer scrutiny, strangers would always notice ginger patches throughout his mostly black pelt. Not many cats had ever suspected a tom to boast tortoiseshell coloring. His size and fur had been a vessel for bullying almost his entire apprenticehood, though once he learned his own tricks in battle and hunting to compensate for his shortcomings, Rookshade had earned a great deal of respect from everyone around him.
The tom, although not tall, is much more powerful than he seems. Of course, his strength is by no means comparable to a feline such as Bonetail or other colossal cats, though what he lacks in power he has made up in nimbleness, accuracy, and speed. He is of average Nightclan build, perhaps a bit leaner than his clanmates, though still a very capable warrior despite his downfalls: despite being a runt.
Description Summary: A very small, short-furred, black and ginger tortoiseshell tom with exuberant eyes that constantly fluctuate between yellow and yellow-green.
Personality:
Diplomatic (having or showing an ability to deal with people in a sensitive and effective way)
Rookshade has always been super conscious of everyone else's feelings, though is constantly burying his own emotions deep down, locked away in a box. Despite his hardened appearance and businesslike posture, he is a very empathetic and loving cat on the inside. Rookshade cherishes everyone around him, for it was them who shaped him into the cat he is today. His bullies gave him thick-skinned resolve. His clanmates offered him the opportunities to exercise leadership, develop friendship, and harness victory. His friends gave him comfort in his hardest moons, offering him a brief reprieve from his stresses, allowing him to practice peace and composure. His family allowed him to heed reason, to harden emotionally in an effort to withstand the hardships of being a runt, one of his greatest insecurities.
Perhaps it was his physical downfalls that created a void in his heart, only filled when he offered support and love to the misfit toys. Though despite being compassionate to those in the hardest of times, he doesn't have much patience for those who want to be upset and depressed, those who are constantly allowing themselves to be trapped in a vacuum of anger and grief. In fact, he hadn't much patience at all. To Rookshade, it comes easy to be able to win the support of the damaged or troubled souls, though he isn't quite approachable. He is available to those who summon the courage to speak with him, or to those who are indeed wholly helpless. Rookshade is always helping the "little guy" so to say, and likes doing so. He sometimes wishes that there were more cats like him when he was growing up, but he does realize that the past is the past, and that he won't ever get a chance to relive those moons ever again.
Honestly, he didn't mind the thought of that.
Cultured (characterized by refined manners and good education)
Rookshade is a very knowledgeable and polished cat. He was honored with a brutal upbringing, proud to have grown up with very conservative, opinionated, and militaristic parents. Although it damaged him emotionally in his youngest moons, by the time he was apprenticed, he had been inured to the harsh reality that he will always seem like a step behind his counterparts due to his unusually small stature. It was a benefit to have been blatantly aware of his physical weaknesses from an early age, and he is grateful (in a way) for his family's pitiless, intolerant, and merciless practices. It had accustomed him to inequitable behavior, so by the time he parted ways in his apprenticehood, he didn't look back and took to the life of a warrior trainee like a natural, almost entirely unphased by the other apprentice's jests.
As soon as he was apprenticed, he knew he was going to finish his training before any one of them. His mentor was very pleased with his progress and refined character. Rookpaw seemed to tackle every challenge like a seasoned warrior, and despite his size, he learned his own way to bring down larger opponents in battle, and developed He had to, and after a bonebreaking apprenticeship, Rookpaw received his warrior name at 10 moons old.
When all thought he was one step behind, he had in fact worked himself two steps ahead.
Ingenuitive (the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful to overcome difficulties)
Rookshade's ingenuity is more large-scale. He doesn't busy himself with arts and crafts, but when it comes to finding a solution to a problem that he deems serious, Rookshade is always there with intelligent and clever suggestions with the best interests of everyone in mind. His problem-solving nature has proven to be very helpful to not just himself, but aiding others in hardship as well. Time and time again he dedicates himself to all sorts of problems that arise, perhaps a bit arrogantly. Despite what may seem like conceit, Rookshade jumps the gun to make sure the problem is solved in a timely and effective manner and whatever determination and persistence exercised is absolutely not derived from ego. In fact, he has a relatively altruistic and allocentric personality.
Rookshade has always had an inventive nature, though it wasn't until his warrior moons that he really exercised his problem solving skills for the better of others. He used to be a very astute apprentice, showing a very proficient ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to his advantage, though as he aged, his canniness turned into incisiveness, heavily accented by a selfless ingenuity. Rookshade is very perceptive and aware, with a good, decisive head on his shoulders. The last thing he appreciates is distracted fools diddle-daddling and wasting time when there is work to do.
He is often short on patience with specific types of cats, but towards those who make an effort he is a very loyal and supportive cat to work with.
Principled (acting in accordance with morality and showing recognition of right and wrong)
Rookshade's cutthroat upbringing had instilled in him a certain humble acceptance of the way the world worked and society's morals, though it was really from his mentor that he learned the warrior code and more valid, less biased information about all of the clans. His mentor shaped him into an honorable, loyal, knowledgeable warrior, though Rookshade had always been very principled, even before his apprenticeship.
He recognizes unjustified behavior and partisan as if they were black sheep, and does have a soft spot for those victim of such conduct. He has a good handle on when to step in, and when to leave it be. Rookshade is a strong believer that pain and affliction are building blocks for strong character, but he knows it doesn't change the fact that inflicting that on others is most often unjust.
Rookshade will keep his composure and do his best to prevent the spread of tribulation, unless there is a call for retribution.
Disciplined (showing a controlled form of behavior or way of working)
Rookshade had always lived life with equanimity, having much self-control over himself both physically and mentally since the beginning. His discretion and confidence had seeped into every aspect of his life, and his apprenticeship benefited incredibly from his disciplined nature. His work ethic has always been very adept, though almost too much so. He is attentive to detail, though hardly meticulous. Rookshade doesn't take long to think about what to do before he makes a decision, and doesn't busy himself with little, pointless things. He applies himself diligently and wholeheartedly to everything he does and doesn't stop until the job is finished perfectly.
As a warrior, Rookshade liked to think that his disciplined nature gave his apprentices the best chance at success. He dedicates himself to his work and keeps his composure even in the most difficult of situations. The only time Rookshade ever truly loses his cool is when an unrelenting desire for revenge dangerously predominates his mind.
Reason often has no choice but to succumb.
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Conservative (holding to traditional values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics)
Perhaps it was his upbringing or his distaste for change, but Rookshade is much more drawn towards tradition and the "old way". Reform for the greater good is important to him, though he tends to get frustrated with extremely liberal personalities, or any extremists really. He would never outwardly challenge his superiors, but will give his honest and unfiltered perspective on certain matters if asked. With his fellow warriors, he tends to avoid the free-thinking and progressive personalities, for he has better things to do than waste time having a conversation that wasn't going to be productive. Nightclan is generally pretty stuck in tradition, though there are a few cats he doesn't get along with because of how obnoxiously they impose their political views on others, both conservatives and liberals alike.
Rookshade has a couple friends that are in fact more open-minded and embrace many liberal ideas, though it is understood that everyone has their own specific views about politics, and it bringing it into the friendship is unneeded. Rookshade definitely has issues with any religious or political extremists. That could stem from his innate dislike towards those who make a big deal over something that he doesn't think deserves the attention, or it could have been ingrained into him at a young age by his parents. Both are entirely possible and likely contributed to his current feelings on the matter.
Political decisions, in Rookshade's opinion, are for his superiors and should not be gossiped and griped about in the masses unless a consensus was to be come to by the majority and not the ruling minority.
Forthright (direct and outspoken; straightforward and honest)
Rookshade takes pride in his ideas, and perhaps always being tossed to the side and ignored as a kit had instilled a defiance to go unheard in his apprentice and ultimately warrior years. He always makes sure his opinions on certain issues are made known, though he never talks about Starclan or religion in general, and he thinks politics are a rude subject. Rookshade would always be straightforward about his perspective in every way, shape, and form, though he has sworn to himself to keep quiet about his religious views, and only ever talks about politics when directly asked. You'll never see Rookshade starting an argument, as he believes they are very unproductive and steal time out of matters more important than blatant disagreement. If he feels like a conversation is adapting to a dispute, he won't hesitate to walk away.
Rookshade is always to-the-point with no hesitation. He is aware of others feelings constantly as he can relate to many things his clanmates go through and would never wish conflict of any sort on Nightclan, though he knows there is a time and place to have a good conversation and also a time to set feelings aside and continue the task at hand. In a leadership position, he is quite diplomatic, but from day to day life he tends to be pretty blunt and unfiltered. He is the king of acknowledgement and makes everyone feel like they've been heard, despite his outspoken nature, which has aided him incredibly throughout his life.
Rookshade is a forthright cat, though even with as candid and strong as his personality may seem, he will always listen to his clanmates and will always jump to the rescue when he notices even the slightest call for help.
Stern (serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline)
Rookshade is only stern in a leadership role, of which he takes very seriously and never jokes around. His inner austerity and assertiveness didn't show much as an apprentice, though when he started mentoring his apprentices and established himself within the clan as an adept leader, one could easily see his strict, professional, and enterprising tendencies as a superior. He is a very driven cat, and he expects an effort from those around him to push forward and be a contributing factor to the clan. He has a huge problem with laziness, and tends to avoid those who are more careless or aloof in nature. Rookshade has a special love for all of his clanmates and would lay his life down on the line for any one of them, though his preferences of who he spends day to day life with limit those he would really call true friends.
In a non-leadership position, Rookshade's austerity is kept well in check. He only practices such authoritative acts when it is truly justified, or when an emergency is at hand and a leader is needed. He hardly ever tries to control his clanmates outside of appointed ascendancy by superiors. Only in times of urgent need does he designate himself captaincy. In day to day life, one would hardly notice this side of his personality unless you asked one of his apprentices or the rest of the team in the hunting/border patrol he lead. His demanding and flinty personality is most often reserved for those he is tasked with leading, and Rookshade is by no means an easy cat to work for. He puts 150% into everything he does, and expects an effort from those he works beside as well. Rookshade makes it a point to respect everyone around him, though expects that to be reciprocated. He has no tolerance for those who seriously disrespect him, and unless it is an empty jest, cats who mock or insult him with ill intent are never forgiven.
Despite Rookshade's intense care and passion for everything he does, those who wrong him are cut out of his life like cancer without second thought. To the intense frustration of the insolent ones, he has no problem brushing it off and acting like nothing ever happened, offering his discourteous clanmates a cold, unforgiving shoulder.
Competitive (having or displaying a strong desire to be more successful than others)
Rookshade is a highly competitive cat, his keenness well noted in even the smallest of situations. He is always ready to go, go, go, and has a very persistent, never give up personality. His competitive nature could be dangerous accented with the disciplined, determined, vindictive, and unforgiving sides of his personality, though most often his serious care and concern for his clanmates keeps him harnessed and in check. He would never intentionally hurt another cat from Nightclan, though he has no problem destroying outside threats.
It was a more prevalent character trait when he was an apprentice, though nowadays he finds it less regularly practiced and more tapped into when challenged. Rookshade's moments of competitiveness in his later years is oftentimes what makes him reminisce back in his apprenticehood. It was the most exciting time of his life. Occasionally he'll fall into his old self and his hunger for victory will drive him to extraordinary measures both physically and mentally.
Rookshade never backs down from a fight, and will continue persevering until the end.
Pertinacious (holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action)
Some may call Rookshade close-minded, though he is actually quite willing to hear other's opinions on matters. He is steadfast in his morals and is oftentimes unwavering on his opinions and beliefs. He respects authority, as he would expect to be respected if he were in their stead, though he is very hard to alter in any way. If one of his superiors implemented something he didn't quite agree with, acceptance of their decision would come unenthusiastically, though his opinions hardly ever change and he would likely continue to be secretly disconcerted regarding the situation for an indefinite period of time. He is a loyal cat though, and despite his own personal preferences, respecting the warrior code is of utmost importance to him.
Rookshade doesn't like when his opinions or courses of action are overpowered, though he knows how to keep composure and follow. He learned much from his own mentor, and Swiftstorm arguably groomed him for a leadership role. His mentor always believed he had a lot of potential, and implemented a grueling training regimen for him, of which Rookshade actually kept up with. Rookshade learned how to follow so that he could one day learn how to lead, and his mentors strategies seemed to work well for the tortoiseshell tom. He is continuing to be a respectable, loyal partner to his clanmates at every turn, and respects the word of his superiors like law, despite what he may actually feel.
Rookshade is a very hard, tenacious character with an intense discomfort for change, though he rapidly adapts to his environment regardless and always heeds the word of authority.
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Vindictive (having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge)
The only thing that can truly take control of Rookshade and sour his mind is vengeance. He is generally not a hot-headed cat, but when his clanmates are harmed in any way, he hardly ever settles down until he feels like revenge has been taken. Perhaps it could have been an intense desire for justice in a past life, though Rookshade mistakenly feels his retributions are justified when realistically they are intense fits of anger and absence of reason. It is a dangerous phase to be caught in, though it hardly ever happens. Rookshade usually has a pretty good handle on his emotions, though he cares dearly for Nightclan, and a threat or attack against any one of his clanmates make him livid beyond recognition.
It is hard to tell why he yearns so powerfully for revenge. His vindictive nature is only directed to those he deems a threat or danger to Nightclan, and rather those who wrong him or irritate him personally notice an unforgiving posture. Rookshade would never act violently against Nightclan itself, though he is ruthless and unrelenting towards outside threats. Perhaps his intense desire to protect his clan is what makes him feel so strongly, or the thought of not being able to protect those lost or wounded.
It is hard to say why he feels so vehemently about exercising his own personal reprisals, though it is a serious downfall of his to ignore reason in order to exercise his own selfish paybacks.
Unforgiving (not willing to forgive or excuse faults or wrongdoings)
Rookshade is very understanding of everyone's situation and quite empathetic to those going through loss or hardship, though one thing he cannot seem to do is excuse unjustified iniquity. He has an intense desire to protect his clan, though he wouldn't hesitate to turn a cold shoulder to those inconsiderate enough to put down others. He never truly forgives anyone who acts unjust and unfair, the suspicion that they will continue to do so constantly making his skin crawl and his stomach turn with disgust. It was likely his childhood bullies that instilled in Rookshade this distaste for insolence, though more often than not, he doesn't normally let his unforgiving nature distract him from his duties.
Rookshade has been grateful for his callous family and those who abused him in his youth, for it has hardened him and made him stronger and thicker skinned, though he still hopes that if there even was a Dark Forest, that Starclan would see to it that they were condemned.
Rookshade never liked his family, but they taught him how to know his weaknesses and turn them to his advantage so no one could ever use them against him.
Incredulous (unwilling or unable to believe something/someone)
Rookshade has always been a very independent tom and never had stuff handed to him. He was always fighting tooth and claw every step of the way, and it has hardened him and prepared him for the real world. Due to the fact that he has been so independent and used to be regularly humiliated in his youth, Rookshade constantly struggles with trusting those around him and oftentimes doesn't believe a word out of anyone's mouth. It really isn't anyone's fault, though he'd been rumored about incessantly as a kit and apprentice, and he lived in a pit of lies until he earned his warrior name. If it wasn't his height or pelt, it was him cheating, or some other pathetic excuse of why he wasn't much better than a flea-ridden loner.
It often takes a while for Rookshade to truly warm up to others and even comprehend the fact that someone may even be considered a friend, though friends to him are more important than almost anything (besides the longevity and success of Nightclan). His family had pushed him away at a young age, thus he had disconnected from society and buried himself in battle training and hunting, practicing relentlessly on every spare minute of free time he had. Rookshade constantly felt like he had to prove himself, and because he had been segregated most of his youth, he had grown used to solitude.
Due to the sea of lies and rumors he always heard about himself, he decided to reserve trust to only his closest friends, and of course, his idols: the deputy, leader, and medicine cats.
Agnostic (one who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of Starclan or of anything beyond material phenomena)
Rookshade is one of a handful of cats in all the clans that doesn't believe in Starclan. His parents were huge supporters of the starry-pelted cats he heard so often in stories, and the more they imposed their political and religious views on him, the more it pushed him away from both. He took the freedom of apprenticeship as his chance to figure out himself. The more time he thought about the universe and the clans and the more he witnessed death and heartbreak, the less he seemed to believe that there was a mysterious clan of dead cats in the sky that determined the fate of the clans. He felt like he had a choice in everything he did, and he could never wrap his head around how something so seemingly powerful and familial could reek havoc on the clans in such horrific ways.
Rookshade never talks about his faith, and remains silent when Starclan is mentioned and talked about anywhere in the clans. His wish will never be to offend, thus he thinks it best to stay quiet and not attract attention to himself and spark disputes or mortify others at the same time. Plus it would be yet another thing someone could pester and embarrass him about. It was such an unquestioned reality for every cat to believe in Starclan that, luckily, no one has approached him on the subject. Rookshade never would openly bring to light his disbelief for Starclan though. He felt that sometimes it was best to just let believers be believers for their own sake, and the last thing he wanted to do was impose.
Rookshade wasn't a hypocrite.
Assertive (having or showing a confident and forceful personality)
Rookshade, although respectful to those around him, does have a very assured, and perhaps commanding, personality. He makes sure not to force his will on others unless necessary, but in a situation where time happened to be of the essence and he was the designated lead, or if he was mentoring an apprentice, Rookshade would readily manage. He always seems to know what to do, and oftentimes stresses the significance and validity of his own solutions to the problem at hand, though he recognizes that there is a fine line between sharing your ideas and foisting them upon others. A line which he never crosses.
There is rarely hesitation from Rookshade, as he always seems decisive and relatively emphatic, though he does oftentimes come across as arrogant and imperious to those around him in situations where he has taken control of the situation without permission from the rest of the party. He is a very matter-of-fact, brusque character most of the times, which can pose a problem with some. Only to those who need his emotional guidance, or those he truly wants to hold a conversation with, does he offer more than the minimum number of words he could use to answer the question. More often than not, Rookshade would rather busy himself with chores than chat.
Rookshade loves to have deep conversations, but small-talk isn't his forte.
History:
Rookshade was the son of Jaystep and Snakeflower. His parents were hardly pleased when Starclan gave them only one kit, a tiny, wet bundle that was a third of the size smaller than any normal kit would be. Snakeflower was determined that her son would in fact grow to be as large as his father, though when Echobreeze kitted three healthy kits a few moons later, her heart grew cold and unforgiving. Rook-kit was set aside, and Snakeflower would only see to it that he nursed to stay alive, though she rejected the runt wholeheartedly and disciplined him heavily. Jaystep had no interest in his mate and kit and oftentimes found himself constantly angry at the kit. Some thought it was because Rook-kit didn't die like the clan expected, as Jaystep and Snakeflower's relationship was hardly supported by either parent.
They were both cold-hearted cats that had no interest in the runt that they had brought into the world, but Rook-kit loved them the same. His parents were all he ever really knew, as they kept him secluded from the rest of the clan, hardening him like a mountain despite his diminutive stature and thin build. The liberals called it abuse, but much of Nightclan looked on, ignoring the parenting practices of the angry couple. Rook-kit seemed unphased at first, though when Thornkit, Dark-kit, and Cobrakit were born, he grew awfully jealous and always felt left out. There were eleven kits in the nursery, and Rook-kit was always the one locked away in the closet so to say. Rook-kit had yearned to play with the others, but Snakeflower and Jaystep didn't want the runt to partake. They tried to hide him away as if he never existed, and it worked.
Until he hit 6 moons.
Rook-kit, against the will of his parents, was made an apprentice at 6 moons like any normal kit. Sootkit, Ashkit, and Coalkit received their mentors a day before Rook-kit as his parents succeeded in delaying the ceremony by making it a big fight, though Dimstar wholeheartedly believed that the tortoiseshell runt needed to be exposed to the real world and not hidden under a rock. It was when Rook-kit received his apprentice name that his life truly fell apart.
Ashpaw, Coalpaw, and Sootpaw weren't too bad, but he did receive a lot of criticism and looks from the rest of the clan. Unable to partake in common kit games, Rook-kit hadn't developed the fitness that all the other apprentices had, and was at such a severe disadvantage that it sparked a newfound indignation and determination in Rookpaw. His first moon of apprenticeship was a lot of acclimating and growing muscle and endurance, but even when Newtpaw, Pipitpaw, and Stoatpaw joined the mix, Rookpaw still hadn't reached his peak. The three younger apprentices he never cared for, though Newtpaw actually left him alone. Stoatpaw and Pipitpaw bullied him to hell and high water, though in that second moon of training that the three new apprentices entered the mix, Rookpaw had never worked for and wanted something so much than to prove to the mousebrains that he was stronger then every one of them combined.
Day and night Rookpaw worked himself, secluding himself around the time Thornpaw, Cobrapaw, and Darkpaw entered the mix. He never saw any of them, and tended to avoid the other apprentices because of Stoatpaw and Pipitpaw specifically. His mentor Thistleheart offered him guidance and support every step of the way, encouraging the tom to compensate for his short stature. Just as he had been as a kit, Rookpaw isolated himself and basked in solitude, tackling bone-breaking training until his warrior ceremony at 10 moons under the last days of Dimstar's reign. The other apprentices were strangers to him his entire apprenticeship, though the respect he received from the senior warriors and those already boasting their warrior names felt like finally finding shelter from the cold, roaring winds.
His warriorhood was mostly him establishing references, acquaintances, and friends. Rookshade's circle of pals were oftentimes those older than him, and even after the several apprentices earned their warrior names, he kept his distance. He always had a suspicion that they all gossiped about him, even if some were unfairly accused. He never wanted to relive the hurt he had experienced in the first few moons of his apprenticeship, thus he stayed away from his peers and buried himself in work. He felt absolutely overjoyed when he received his first apprentice at 18 moons, and for the first time in his life, he felt like he had a purpose other than a mindless soldier trapped in a revolving door. He was thankful for the opportunity Pinestar gave him.
His first apprentice was very easy. The kit put in an incredible amount of effort, and after 5 eventful moons, the apprentice received a warrior name to be proud of. Perhaps it was how well the apprentice worked, and the fact that the kit finished training a moon early, Rookshade would never know to this day, though only a moon later he received an apprentice by the name of Hickorypaw, courtesy of Foxstar.
This one was much harder to work with.
Hickorypaw was a massive cat, and the physical differences between mentor and apprentice was very difficult to overcome. Perhaps Foxstar wanted to challenge Rookshade? Or perhaps his training methods were heavily supported by Nightclan leadership? He would never know, though after a grueling 6 moons, Hickorypaw became Hickoryfur. Rookshade had never had to put that much effort into anything before in his life, and there was a sense of satisfaction he received from moons of constant problems and solutions.
At 30 moons, Rookshade had been given incredible opportunities by leadership to help Nightclan succeed, and he currently has no intention of slowing down. He eagerly awaits his next apprentice and won't ever pass up another chance to progress his future and the future of his clanmates, with the prosperity of Nightclan being one of his deepest desires.
RP Example:
WARRIOR | NIGHTCLAN | 30 MOONS
"Keep your stance wider, like we've practiced." Rookshade commented as casually as he could muster. The warrior's exasperation at his apprentice's recent lack of motivation had turned to worry. Hickorypaw's sister, Nutpaw, was much better than him at what seemed like every aspect of warrior apprenticeship, and Rookshade had the growing concern that the brown tom didn't care about being a warrior anymore.
The black and ginger tom did notice that Nutpaw was always one step ahead in almost everything, from hunting and fighting, to social interaction. She had charisma unlike any other, and the only thing Hickorypaw really seemed to show extraordinary talent in was tracking. Hickorypaw's skill was in analyzing in detail, and Rookshade felt like Hickorypaw may even be better at tracking than himself. That is an incredible skill to have. I hope he realizes that one day, if he doesn't get killed first. The tortoiseshell tom thought uncomfortably.
Hickorypaw wouldn't stand a chance right now if he was face to face with a fox, badger, or even an apprentice from another clan. Any one of the dangers clan cats commonly face would rip the apprentice to pieces. I'm not doing him justice if I can't teach him to at least protect himself, but what am I doing wrong? Rookshade pondered heavily. They had been battle training almost non-stop the past moon since he seemed fairly proficient in hunting, but his apprentice didn't seem to get any better against him. And evidently the other apprentices. Rookshade noted. Nutpaw wasn't the most skilled of the bunch, and she was still beating her brother to a pulp. Rookshade glanced to the ginger she-cat right next to him, only to find her amber eyes looking back. Was that pity I saw? Rookshade mused.
Robinpaw was the most skilled of the three, the quickest learner, and she knew it. The tortoiseshell tom had just finished brawling with the apprentice a few minutes ago, and after being content with her progress, they had decided to sit on the sidelines and watch the other two. Robinpaw would pass the assessment today if given the chance, and Nutpaw as well. That posed much difficulty for Rookshade, as no matter how much work and effort he put into his apprentice, Hickorypaw's resolve still continued to fade. Now, there was hardly any attempt from the brown tom, and Rookshade could notice Nutpaw growing increasingly irritated at her brother's lack of care.
The more Rookshade watched Hickorypaw getting battered and bruised by his sister, the more he thought that it may be time for Hickorypaw to be pulled to the side and talked to on a personal level. Whatever the problem was couldn't possibly be physical. The brown tom was massive, and if it came to an all out comparison of strength, Hickorypaw was much, much stronger than Rookshade. He did seem to be more of a competition to those of his stature, though there was an emptiness to Hickorypaw's personality that Rookshade hadn't seen until the past couple weeks. It had started to visibly weigh the apprentice down at this point, and as much as the tortoiseshell tom didn't want to intrude, Hickorypaw's personal problems were significantly affecting his training. It was already almost time for assessments! Rookshade shifted uneasily as Nutpaw pinned her brother to the ground and rested a paw on the brown apprentice's neck.
"Alright, I think that's enough for today." Rookshade rasped. "Nutpaw, well done. You and Robinpaw, head back to camp. Hickorypaw, come here." The tortoiseshell tom dipped his head to Robinpaw as she got up to leave, offering the ginger she-cat that moment of unspoken praise. She returned a knowing look that made Rookshade's skin crawl. How am I going to start this conversation? He pondered, mouth getting dry all of a sudden.
It was a cool Greenleaf morning with skies overcast, clouds dressed in dreary, grey uniform. The moon had long since dipped beneath the horizon and a cold, weak light had blanketed the clearing for the past several minutes. When Hickorypaw walked up to him, the apprentice's gait was slow and lumbering. The brown tom approached with his head down, stooping pathetically before his mentor like an aching, nest-ridden elder. Alright. Rookshade determined. As he brushed past Hickorypaw, the tortoiseshell tom tapped him lightly on the shoulder with his tail, his voice soft and fatherly for the first time. His usual stern, die-hard behavior just wasn't working. It was time to change something.
"Follow me, Hickorypaw."
LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED
Rookshade
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Other: I do believe almost all male tortoiseshell or calico cats are sterile.