Blackest Shadow of the Night

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Physical Description

Medium black fur covers a lean frame and flicks out from the backs of his paws and ears in long wisps that, when properly groomed, can be described as beautiful in their own rights, but are more often twisted into mats by the clinging dirt of the mountains. The fur thins out somewhat at his face, where it merges with a black nose that is very nearly invisible to the casual eye. Long silver-white whiskers spread from the sides of his jaws, clearly showing the ease with which he might traverse the darkest and most narrow spaces of his home territory.

However, the eye is rarely drawn by these fine lines white, although one would expect them to be the most striking feature upon his face. Instead, the average observer’s attention is immediately captured by the steady gaze of his startlingly blue eyes, and transfixed, at least for a time, by the fine network of pale, almost metallic flecks that float against the darker background. The effect of his rather unusual gaze often causes felines to miss the other details of his pelt, such as the snow white fur that floats around his hind left paw. This particular part of his pelt extends to just a little way above his ankle, and spreads out in a cascade of wispy fur that is far more noticeable than that which curls around his other three paws.

The longer fur of his lower chest is disturbed by a series of long, thick scars which cut hairless avenues across the flesh, making them easily noticeable to the casual eye. These jagged lines extend across the top quarters of his stomach, where they increase in abundance and severity, and stand as very clear testament to the event that has granted him such a high degree of respect from the other warriors of his tribe. Their presence, or, more likely, the gazes so often turned their way, also seems to cause the tom some discomfort; an emotion that prompts him to start each day by carefully grooming his fur over the vivid lines, and thus keep them from view.

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Personality

These days, Blackest Shadow of the Night is best known for his intense loyalty to the cats of his tribe, and the mile-wide stubborn streak (more often described as determination) that led to him saving his mentor from a fall that would have stolen his life. He is also well-regarded for his obvious dedication to his family, and is often labelled selfless, though he protests that these actions were in his best interest. Though both seemed, to him, the only thing a cat could do, many of his tribe now hold these things up as shining examples of what a warrior should be, and, to his frustration, refuse to let anyone forget what he is capable of.

Other toms may have taken this regard and turned it into an excuse for arrogance, but Black actively avoids the recognition and insists upon being treated like any other cat his age. Unfortunately, his efforts to this end have forced him to become somewhat reserved, for silence is often his best defence against being treated differently. That said, he is usually quick to speak up in defence of those around him and is not foolish enough to remain silent when his words might be of use to the tribe, just as he is smart enough to avoid coming across as unfriendly when he merely wants to be normal. His manners are largely impeccable even when in the face of those who can only think of the event that gave him his scars, and he remains polite wherever possible, though he has proven himself to have something of a temper.

Those who can look beyond his reputation and bypass his reserved defences will find him to be quite the laidback tom; a cat whose company is easily enjoyed. He is friendly and generally inclined towards kindness, even when dealing with rivals, and his loyalty to tribe and family is matched only by that directed towards his friends. Although he can be a little touchy at times, and perhaps too easy to insult, his grudges rarely last for more than a day or two before he sets out to put things back to rights, and he is usually more careful than ever about the fixed relationship.

On the whole, the thing that his friends are most likely to complain is about his tendency to put the wellbeing of tribe and family above all else. This often leads him to neglect friends (and himself) and has already resulted in many cats drifting from his side, but those who stick around will often find that his regard for them merely grows with their patience. It is possible that, with time, he might begin to count certain of their number amongst his family and give to them the same dedication he gives to blood and tribe, just as it is likely that he will eventually seek a mate and kits of his own – though not, it has to be said, until he has seen his youngest brother through to his adulthood and is certain that neither siblings nor parents have any further need of his attentions.

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Other

Black is the only black cat born to his parents. All of his siblings are various shades of grey and white, much like the rest of his recent family.

He is the eldest of Sun-Dappled Flowers and Raven on the Rock’s first litter, and grew up alongside Grey Wind Howling and White Snow Drifting. His parents have since had two further litters, producing Leaves Dancing in the Breeze and Dawn’s Warming Glow, then Stone Dappled by Light and the now-deceased Crows on the Rocks.

Black has been strongly involved with his family for much of his life, and has taken an active part in the rearing of his younger siblings. He is determined to make sure that Stone makes it to adulthood, and has been severely overstretching himself in an effort to find enough food for the younger tom (and his other siblings, to boot). He is quite literally at risk of working himself to death, but refuses to work any less.

Black missed the Stone Teller’s meeting (he was hunting, as per usual), but some time mulling over her suggestion as soon as he heard the news. The shortage of food, lack of any signs of improvement, and Crow’s death convinced him that there’s no future for them with the Tribe, so he has decided to leave with the other Sun Trail cats—and to take Stone with him. He has urged the rest of his family to accompany them, but is ultimately leaving the decision in their paws.

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History

Black was the first-born of a three-strong litter of toms, all of whom were expected to become fine warriors – if only because they represented the mingling of two highly regarded bloodlines. Despite this, the trio led an easy, uncomplicated kit-hood that was free of the pressure so often placed on other ‘highborn’ kittens, and were given all the freedom in the world to enjoy the luxuries heaped upon the young of their tribe. Their mother took great pains to ensure that they would not become selfish, and she was more than a little pleased to find that her sons had swiftly formed a strong bond, though perhaps a little baffled by just how dedicated her eldest was to his brothers. Still, she was inclined to encourage this trait within them all; encouragement that made Black quite the protective cat even before he left the nursery.

Once old enough, the tom found himself in the care of Dark Whiskers – a cat well known for his skill in battle and prowess at hunting, but also his interest in a cat several days Black’s junior. Unfortunately, Black was the only kit thought to be a suitable match, so he was forced to endure the elder cat’s displeasure—just as Dark Whiskers had to endure training ‘the wrong’ kit. The older tom made no secret of how little this pleased him and was overly critical Black from the outset, often demanding impossibly high quality from everything he did, and setting challenges that were much too difficult for a cat of his age.

However, Black persevered with his training and did all in his power to please his mentor, eventually leading to their relationship growing somewhat smoother. The tom’s sheer bloody-mindedness and frequent extra-curricular sessions with his siblings won him Dark Whiskers’ grudging respect, and the older cat began to put fewer obstacles in his path. Unfortunately, his pickiness never decreased, and it is to this that Black now credits the speed with which he became a warrior, and the skill with which he is able to complete his duties.

Black was fortunate enough to finish his training at the same time as his brothers, and subsequently flung his all into serving the tribe. He was dedicated to his work and careful of his sibling’s health, to whom he frequently surrendered fresh-kill, and it seemed that he could go nowhere but up. Unfortunately, he was soon side-tracked by the discovery that his mother had fallen ill whilst nursing her second litter, and lacked the strength to care for them as well as she should. He responded to this by pouring his spare time into the litter’s care, thus maintaining their health and giving his mother the time she needed to recover—but sacrificing his own rise through the ranks.

The tom’s attention to his younger siblings continued even after they left the nursery, despite the fact that they technically had no more need for his care. He spent much of his spare time giving them pointers and additional training—though never more than they asked—and his aid accelerated their progress. As a result the two cats passed from their mentors’ paws several moons earlier than had Black or his brothers – but the trio welcomed them true enthusiasm and none of the jealous that others had feared they might show. It was only when his younger siblings were grown that Black turned his fullest attention back to his own duties, but he continued to find time for his kind whenever they asked.

The time that followed was largely uneventful, but the largely unremarkable nature of his life was set to make a rather sudden turn. Rogues wandered into the Tribe of Rushing Water’s territory, and although it was never their intention to meet them without backup, Black and Dark Whiskers were unfortunate enough to stumble across the unwelcome band during patrol. Outnumbered and unable to retreat, the pair found themselves with little option to fight – and it’s likely they would both have met their ends had a desperate yowl not distracted their opponents. Dark Whiskers and two rogues had strayed too close to a chasm as they fought, and the trio had tumbled from the perilous edge. One had already plunged into the depths, but Black Whiskers had found a crumbling foothold on the ledge – even as the second rogue had gained a clawing grasp on his haunches and legs.

Black had reacted without thought. Seeing that his mentor was helpless against the extra weight, he launched himself to the chasm’s jagged edge and locked his teeth in Dark Whisker’s scruff, anchoring him with his own body and strength. By pure luck he reached the tom before his grip failed, giving him time to kick the rogue away—an unfortunate but necessary act—but neither had purchase nor power enough to pull the tom back to solid ground. Black could do little more but cling to his counterpart and scrabble for his own balance as the rocks scoured his stomach and chest, and Dark Whiskers could do nothing but demand that he stop being a fool; let him fall. Black, of course, would have none of it: loyalty and stubbornness drove him to hold on until there was no hope of him saving himself even if he did let go, then to hold on even more fiercely as he faced the certainty of their deaths. To this day he has no idea why or how he held on so long, but somehow luck shone on them twice, and they were discovered by a patrol before the chasm could suck them down.

Black remembers little of what happened next. Somehow the patrol saved them both, even managing to get them back to camp, but he’s told he blacked out shortly after being pulled from the edge. However, he doubts he’ll ever forget the reception he had when he finally woke, or the way he was greeted when he had healed enough to return to his duties. Though his actions seemed entirely normal to him, they had somehow earnt him the regard of many of his tribe, and peace was consequently, for awhile, difficult to find. Although the tom tried to regain the uncomplicated, uneventful contours of his old life, he soon found that the changes were not so easily shaken off; he simply wasn’t viewed in the same light. Others might have enjoyed it, but Black was not truly one for the spotlight, and the (in his mind) unnecessary attention ultimately drove him to grow more reserved; to quieten and distance himself whilst he waited for things to return to the norm. But they never quite did.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that he leapt at the chance to pour his spare time into the care of Sun-Dappled Flower’s third litter, and thus to withdraw still further from the rest of his tribe. Family and kits were a simpler matter, after all—and it took only a couple of short moons for family concerns to become the centre of his world. The Tribe of Rushing Water plunged headlong into a famine not long after his youngest siblings were born, and the smallest of the two—Crows on the Rocks—was lost before his second moon was through. The kit’s death devastated their mother, and Sun-Dappled Flower folded in upon herself, barely managing to tend her own needs – let alone care for her remaining kit. It fell upon the rest of the tribe to see that they both made it through, and Black dedicated his every waking moment to giving the kit care and entertainment – and finding them both food. The worse the famine grew the harder the tom worked, and by the end he was barely eating—food was for his family; for the tribe; for him only when the rest were fed—and sleeping hardly at all. Had something not changed, Blackest Shadow of the Night would likely have worked himself into the Tribe of Endless Hunting’s paws.

Luckily for him, something did change. The Teller of the Stones decided that some most leave the tribe for the good of them all, and though Black didn’t hear the announcement with his own ears he soon saw that there was only one thing to do. The Sun Trail would be dangerous, but there was no hope of survival within the tribe, and so he resolved to leave with Stone and his other siblings—or those who would come—at his side. His parents he left behind, for his mother was too weak to be moved, and his father dedicated to tending her until the bitter end. It is a decision he understand and resects, despite the sadness it brings him, but it also set duty ever heavier across his shoulders. He is the eldest, after all. It’s up to him to ensure that his remaining kin survive.

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Roleplay Sample

(From an existing roleplay using a different character)

He wasn’t sure, even in that moment, if the kitten was going to cooperate as he ought. There was still a very real chance that he might decide to rebel still more, despite his apparent relenting, and it was only when Dustykit took his first few tentative step forwards that Leopardstrike began to believe that the problem had been resolved. Only when the kitten walked forwards properly, showing no signs of trying to dart aside, that the tom felt the doubt slide from his form. There was still some underlying problem tangled into the situation, he knew, but at least there would be no need to go chasing after a rebellious Boar.

That was a relief, to say the least. That allowed the tom to re-enter the camp with something like ease once more wound about his frame, but even so the worries still lurked within his brain. Something was wrong here, and his inability to guess just what that something was troubled him, half-distracting him as he padded along in his companion’s wakes.

‘We should tell Ashstar of Dustykit first thing—’

“What?” Leopardstrike blinked, eyes flickering back to Mossypath’s frame as he was drawn from his wayward thoughts. For a moment he merely stared at her, almost at a loss, but then her words sank in and his gaze shifted on across the camp, drawn to the oak that their leader called his own. There was a sense to the Boar’s words, he knew, but even so he hesitated, wondering if Ashstar really needed to be disturbed. Dustykit had been brought back safely, after all, and their leader was a busy cat: surely had countless other concerns…

“Perhaps…we should just take him to Amberfrost,” his words came slowly; betraying his uncertainty. “She must be frantic.”

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