Post by tatl on Mar 24, 2017 15:58:50 GMT
we reach higher
Age - 63 moons
Rank - Leader
Clan - Ferryclan
- Description -
Lithe, long-legged mostly white calico with one blue eye and one golden eye.
- Appearance -
Saltstar is a pretty bobtail cat, very similar to a Japanese Bobtail in build. Her back legs are rather long, which leaves her with something of a hopping gait when she runs, an almost rabbit-like motion. Her fur is plush and longer around her nubby tail and neck in particular, and it is silky and soft in texture. Calico patches splash her face, the back of her neck and her upper shoulders heavily, but the rest of her pelt is mostly white, with only a few tiny scattered patches. around her front legs. Her ears are thin and tall, a little rounded at the tip. Thus far in her life, Saltstar has mostly avoided severe scars, and she does certainly pays attention to her looks. She keeps well groomed, walks with pride wherever she goes. The most exceptionally enchanting thing about her, though, are her heterochromic eyes. One of her eyes is a pale, gentle blue, and the other is practically shimmering gold.
- Personality -
Passionate. Capable. Dynamic. Perceptive. Loyal. Stubborn. Proud. Brash. Impulsive.
Saltstar's warrior name says it best. Storm. She is a strong, graceful, and thrives in power. Every inch of her exudes pride. It's rare to see Saltstar without her head held high, and everyone is certain that if she had more of a tail that would be held high too. Even as an apprentice, she was always vocal, offering up her ideas and eager to help where she could. She used to run around helping younger apprentices practicing their skills, and when she became a warrior she was always volunteering to do all sorts of jobs. There seemed to be no end to her energy. As she grew, Saltstar calmed down, and started to get more charismatic in her approach to things. Saltstar is well-liked among her clan, and through she's never apparently adopted a mate, she's definitely been seen flirting with toms (more toms outside of the clan than within, granted). Though she's mellowed out now, and more dignified and contained, Saltstar still is very active among her clan, going where she is needed and joining in on average warrior tasks on top of her leader duties. She's passionate about everything she does and throws herself heart and soul into her clan. However, this determination and passion has its downsides. Saltstar's temper is quite short, particularly towards other clans (more so towards Rootclan than Waveclan). She often invites herself into arguments through her pride, and is never afraid to face down a challenge. She bares no issue with fraternizing with kittypets in particular, and in fact has been known to extend help to many cats beyond the clan, often receiving help in return when Ferryclan needs it. Regardless of how open Saltstar can be to non-clanners, there is always something her clanmates have never doubted. Ferryclan comes first in her heart.
It is worth noting that Saltstar has a particularly strong hatred of Rootclan. She finds them incredibly pretentious.
- History -
Sorrelflower had always wanted to be a mother. From her early apprenticeship, she was always eager to go back to the nursery and help out. She was the first to volunteer to get prey for the queens, and was always there to help clean out the nests and play with the kits when the Queens were tired. She adored caring for kits, and that never changed as she grew up. Not a soul was even vaguely surprised when she took a mate, the older, serious tom named Willowfang. Willowfang joined Ferryclan when he was about nine moons old, having been born a kittypet, and he'd adapted well to clan life. They fell in love after Willowfang fought off a hostile kittypet who'd been harassing Sorrelflower. She'd never been good at fighting. From then on Sorrelflower hung out around Willowfang all the time. A few moons later they were expecting their first litter of kits. They had three she-kits.
Saltkit was rambunctious to say the least. From the moment she could stumble around, she was off causing all sorts of trouble for her mother. She charged about, Emberkit in tow, play fighting and pestering the elders. Despite the Emberclaw being the one who always was running about and causing trouble with Saltkit, the two always seemed to be fighting. In fact, it was Lark-kit who kept them united as sisters. Lark-kit was often the voice of reason between her sisters, and after a fight with Emberkit, Lark-kit was always there to quietly listen to Saltkit's complaints.
As they came of age, all three were made into apprentices. Saltpaw and Emberpaw grew more distant from each other, and despite the fact that every time they talked it resulted in a fight they actually seemed to fight less, if only because being out and about in training kept them apart. Saltpaw and Larkpaw however grew very close, and Larkpaw was often seen shadowing her sister as Saltpaw ran about the camp, doing everything she could to help out. During her early apprentice years, Saltpaw, was quite hectic in her attempts to help out too, often leaving messes behind her and making disasters out of her tasks, but as she grew and learned, she got better. Soon the warriors, elders and queens actually looked forward to Saltpaw coming to help out. She was getting more and more difficult to pin down as she ran about, fetching pray for those who needed it, changing bedding, hopping into every patrol she could.
Saltpaw became Saltstorm shortly after a battle with Rootclan, where the fierce young she-cat has proven herself to be worthy of the title. She was named for her adaptability and energy in working with her clan. Her sisters were given their warrior names as well. Emberclaw, for her talent in battle, and Larksong for her broad knowledge of the clan's history and lore. Nothing changed much between the sisters as they grew. The whole family was moderately close, with the exception of Saltstorm and Emberclaw. Moons passed as Saltstorm continued to dedicate herself to the good of her clan. She had become a beautiful young she-cat as well, earning the attentions of several toms, both from within her clan and from outside it.
Saltstorm grew close to one tom in particular by the name of Glasscloud. He was the calm, level-headed sort. The two had never seemed to flirt wildly, and around their clan behaved completely normal, as though they had no interest in each other. But Saltstorm had grown a degree of affections for the tom. He was her best friend, and just as easy to talk to as Larksong. They hardly spent every moment together, but they definitely got along.
When she was around 42 moons old, Ferryclan's old deputy retired. He was tom by the name of Whiteheart who had always done good for the clan, but he'd grown old in his position (having started fairly old as a deputy to begin with). The clan's leader, Cherrystar had been leader for quite some time, as well, and had whittled himself down to his last life over the years. He chose Saltstorm as the clan's new deputy, for her dedication and drive. Saltstorm was honored, and vowed to serve honorably and proudly as his deputy. It was during this time her sister Patchkit was born, her parents only kit in their second litter.
Moons passed, and Saltstorm proved that she truly suited this position of power. When the time came for Cherrystar's last life to go (lost to a bout of white cough), he felt he was leaving his clan in very capable paws. Saltstar was 53moons when she became leader. Though she was proud to be leader, there were certain aspects of the responsibility that she did not take seriously to begin with. In particular, having kits.
Within a moon of her leadership ceremony, she was expecting kits. Throughout her pregnancy she was badly ill. She tried to pretend she was fine, but everyone in the clan could see she was weak. Her ill state did not diminish her pride or her command of respect however. She faced down the berating of Rootclan strongly and alone, not wanting to get Glasscloud involved. When she did not say who the father of her kits were, many began to rumor that it was a kittypet tom. It wasn't a far stretch, especially not for a Ferryclan cat, and at Gatherings in particular Saltstar earned herself a lot of disapproving stares.
Giving birth to her two kits was the most difficult Saltstar had to do. In fact, Saltstar lost two lives to it. One for each o her kits. The smaller, weaker of her two kits was still born. Before her burial, Saltstar gave her the name Robinkit. Many believe Robinkit, despite her small and quiet, but correctly done burial, is destined to be a lost soul until the time comes that she fades away. The other kit, a tiny ginger tom, lived. Once he was born, Saltstar offered herself to her clan for punishment. It was only fair she faced justice. Her deputy led her trial, and her fate was decided by the elders and senior warriors of the clan.
Saltstar of course had to give up her kit, a fact which she had resigned herself to. He would be watched, raised by another queen, and if the elders and senior warriors deemed it necessary in the future, he would be banished even if Saltstar disagreed. But Saltstar had otherwise been faithful to her clan, and served them well. Even in the poor state she'd been in, she'd managed to improve the clan's relationship with the non-clan cats around the town, and strengthen the clan's new warriors through an adjusted training regime that assured every apprentice got to practice fighting regularly with warriors who were not their mentors, as well as with non-clan cats to give them chances to learn more about different and new fighting styles. There was no denying she'd done well for her clan.
Saltstar was sent into temporary banishment after calling a meeting to apologize to her clan. Her deputy was given leadership of the clan for a moon, in which Saltstar was sent out into the wilderness to fend for herself, and to ponder and commune with Starclan, to work on improving her connection with them, and rediscovering the meaning of being a part of a clan. So Saltstar went into her isolation for a moon. Rumors blazed across the other clans when she missed a Gathering. When Saltstar returned, she came back stronger(mentally), and more proud than ever even though she looked exceptionally thin and ragged for a Ferryclan cat. In the following moons she regained her old looks, fattening up with more abundant food and being sure to groom properly again. Her fire and desire to serve her clan seemed to have ignited with a new passion.
Since returning, Saltstar has hardly glanced at her son more than any regular kit. He grew older and became an apprentice, and action which she felt a certain reluctance in. There was an unnerving emptiness in her son's eyes. Yet the elders had decided that if they would send the young tom away from Ferryclan, it would be when he was of age to be a warrior and had had a chance to prove whether he was a danger to his clan or a credit. She complied. She does her best now to treat her son as she would any average apprentice, and live down her mistake.
- LIVES -
The First Life: Cherrystar was Ferryclan's leader before Saltstar. He mentored Saltstar when she was only a deputy, and put the fate of their clan in her paws. Cherrystar was a very wise, even tempered leader, who had led Ferryclan for many, many moons. He is experienced in the role of leadership, and also very empathetic and kind.
The Second Life: Cootsong was an elder who had died when Saltstar was a young apprentice. She didn't know him for very long, but the elder was always very encouraging to her courageous and boisterous attitude, and he had taught Larksong a great many of her tales.
The Third Life: Oilstream was a senior warrior when she was Saltpaw's mentor. She taught the young she-cat everything she could, always proud of her apprentice's eagerness and abilities. She could be sharp-tongued, but Saltstar and Oilstream always had a good connection. Oilstream died in battle a few moons after Saltpaw became Saltstorm.
The Fourth Life: Whiteheart was the former deputy of Ferryclan. He retired to the elder's den and died several moons later of illness. Being Saltstar's predecessor when she was a deputy, she had sought advice from him often, and they formed a bond through their experiences as deputies.
The Fifth Life: Gravelnose was Saltstar's grandfather. He died when she was only a kit, and he was a well-respected senior warrior. However, she'll never forget how he instilled pride in her to be a Ferryclan warrior. He once said to her, 'If you're not doing everything you can for your clan, you don't truly value your life as a warrior.' She really took that to heart.
The Sixth Life: Liontail was a young warrior when Saltstar was an apprentice. He fought along side her in her first battle, when she was being overwhelmed by Rootclan warriors in a border skirmish. That day he saved Saltstar's life, but he sacrificed his own. When fending off one of the warriors, to make Saltpaw's battle more fair, Liontail suffered a would that would prove to be fatal. Saltstar never forgot him.
The Seventh Life: Lightflower was the head queen when Saltstar was still only a kit in the nursery. She was known to be extremely talented when it came to keeping kits out of trouble, but boy did Saltstar manage to ware her thin! Still, she was like a second mother to Saltstar, and she was very grateful for such wise guidance.
The Eighth Life: Tarfoot was a boisterous warrior. He was loud, obnoxious, and not afraid to challenge Saltstar's authority when she was a deputy. Through these challenges, Saltstar became stronger, and also grew a certain respect for Tarfoot. He was taken by illness shortly before Cherrystar himself died. While Saltstar was surprised when he gave her a life, she was not displeased or disappointed.
- Family -
Mother: Sorrelflower
Father: Willowfang (Ginger cat tom)
Siblings: Larksong (Calico she-cat), Emberclaw (Tortoishell she-cat), Avenspaw (Calico she-cat)
Mate: Glasscloud (Cream tabby tom)
Kits: Cardinalpaw (Ginger tom),
Extended: ???
- Genetics -
Manifests red, black, white, tortoiseshell, heterochromia, blue and green eye color, grade 7 pibald, long fur, thin fur. Carries mackerel tabby.
