Skatestar of Waveclan

[Dreamer]

-Picture-

© Katharina Heinrich

• Name-
• Age-
• Rank-
• Clan-
• Description-
• Appearance-
• Personality-
• History-
  
  Asphodelfur and Nutriafoot were friends and lovers almost from the time they became warriors. Yet, although Aspodelfur wanted kits, Nutriafoot was enamored with her place as a warrior, and didn't want to pause her career to have kits. When Aspodelfur first asked her, Nutriafoot looked thoughtful and then grinned at him “Ask me next newleaf.” Aspodelfur was content with his mate, and didn't mind waiting, so next newleaf he asked the same question, and when she said she wasn't ready, he waited again. Three times they went through this ritual and it was only on the final time which she finally agreed.
  
  Two months later three kits were born, and all were named for water creatures. Skate kit was first, and the parents saw his cinnamon coat as a blessing from Starclan. Second was Troutkit, a lovely toroiseshell she-kit. Last was a small black smoke tom, who they named Eelkit. Unfortunately since he was already small at birth Eelkit did not make it past his first moon. Nutriafoot was saddened, but she and Asphodelfur knew that he would be waiting for them in Starclan. Skate kit and Troutkit were aware that had had a sibling, but they didn't really remember him.
  
  Troutkit and Skate kit were close as kits, and their parents were actively involved in their lives. They were very responsible and popular kits because they caused little trouble. It was when they were apprenticed that things change for the little family. It soon became clear that Skatepaw was not talented in any way, at least not traditionally. Everyone expected him to follow after his mother, and be just as swift as she, after all her body was built for running, but Skatepaw was clumsy and hardly motivated. When he watched himself fall flat in the eyes of the clan, it broke his self esteem and made it even harder for him to focus on his training. It was only after his mentor, Beaverstep, encouraged him to consider his own unique skillset that Skatepaw managed to pull it together and finish his training. Skatepaw focused on encouraging his clanmates, on learning from them, on helping them see their strengths. He helped keep everything in camp organized, starting with when the apprentices did duties, helping them coordinate together to achieve maximum efficiency. His humble attitude endeared him to the clan even as he still struggled to make a place for his unorthodox abilities, and his personality and charm made him an appealing young cat.
  
  Meanwhile on the other end, Trout paw excelled at tracking. She had inherited few of her mother's beautiful looks, but all of her father's practical physiology. The thicker fur helped keep out the cold of the sea and wind, and a practiced nose and mouth allowed her to scent things carefully. She brought in twice as much prey as Skatepaw on his good days, and was praised by her mother for her talent. Secretly, however, Trout paw was discontented. With her talent she had eclipsed Skatepaw and left him behind, and although he did not begrudge her for it, she still felt guilty. Why should she have been given this talent when she cared almost less than he did?
  
  Skatepaw became Skateface, acknowledging his beauty and charisma, while Troutpaw became Troutnose, a nod to her skills of tracking. Unfortunately, Clan life had lost its luster for Troutnose, and when Asphodelfur died from a case of frostbite due to the cold waters and colder nights, and refusing to seek medical attention in preference to other cats, she began to drift. She started hunting closer and closer to the farm borders, catching easier prey and even venturing in close to watch barn cats. One day she met a handsome Tom who lived in one barn. He was changed, but he was not as fat or lazy as other changed cats, still young and agile and curious enough to hold out against obesity. He began to follow her around and they would meet up occasionally as she went on hunting rounds. She made as much an effort as possible to conceal it, bringing back extra prey to make up go her indiscretion, but the more she got to know the outsider tom, the more she wanted to escape.
  
  Skateface was more than happy in the clan. He was popular with other she-cats who saw in him a possible stud for a future litter. He was always very suave in turning them down, even the she-cats who were older by a few seasons, who saw his pelt as blessed by Starclan. He had a few tricky situations, which left him with a few enemies and a few abashed she-cats who couldn't believe that they had fallen for his charm. Instead he had set his eyes on one particular she cat and befriended her and flirted with her. Since he had never really shown any specific she cat extra favor, he didn't really know how to react or tell her. He didn't want her to think he was shallow, or think that he was using his looks to get her attention. As a result it took several moons for him to get up the courage to ask her to be his mate. When he asked, Bluetwhisker at first laughed, thinking it was joke. Skateface, heartbroken, went along with it, but started to studiously avoid her after that. That was when Bluetwhisker realized he hadn't been joking, and went after him. Although she didn't exactly have romantic feelings for him at the time, she did really value his close friendship and presence in her life. She didn't want to lose it, and although she had never seen herself traditionally as a she cat to have a mate, if she were to have one, Skateface was as good a Tom as any. Plus he really cared about her, and the clan, and she saw possibility of greatness in his future. So they became mates, but showed no interest in having kits. He mentored a flighty she-cat, who struggled with swimming. Eventually Skateface got her to the point where she became a warrior, and even though the start was rough, she became an excellent warrior.
  
  By that point the situation with Troutnose had escalated, and Troutnose spoke to the leader, Haystar, and the deputy, Frogstep. Nutriafoot and Skateface were called to the meeting as well, as Troutnose expressed her desire to leave the clan. The two were shocked, and Nutriafoot looked broken, lost. Skateface supported her, telling her that he still loved her as his sister. The leader and deputy, aceeded to her request, but reminded her that should she do this, she must give up her clan name, and from then onward be known as only Trout, or whatever else she chose. They would rather let her go now, than allow her uncertain loyalty to remain in the clan. She was stripped of her name before the clan, but then escorted kindly to the border. Nutriafoot entered the elders den then, and during the drought refused water and food, insisting it be given to younger, stronger cats, and passed away to join her mate in Starclan.
  
  Skateface was now last of his immediate kin in Waveclan. Oh yes he had a few uncles, aunts, cousins, but his sister was gone, and his parents. He leaned on Bluetwhisker for support, and found strength and purpose he had not found before. After all around his 48th moon, Haystar called him to the leader's den. Haystar informed him that Frogstep was stepping down, and asked if Skateface would like to become the next deputy. Skateface was confused, and asked why he would be chosen. Haystar explained that usually deputies were chosen to replace the leader, and they had to be a model of correct attitude and respect in the clan. Skateface, although not exactly skilled in any specific area, had acquired a decent knowledge of all positions, a jack of all trades of sorts, compared to the highly specialized routines of other cats in the clans. Not only that, but he had a very good relationship and rapport with the clan, and in particular the elders. They liked how deferential he was to them, and how calm and careful he was about making decisions. Haystar informed him, that he had only two remaining lives, and with the rough seas around Rootclan and Ferryclan's rivalry, Waveclan needed a diplomat, a calm and cool-headed cat.
  
  It took Skateface a bit to respond, but eventually he agreed, and the change was announced that moonhigh. Skateface was excited, but also uncertain. Most of the clan approved, except for one or two senior warriors who felt they had been passed up. They all helped Skateface adjust and then he took to the socially heavy rank. After a few moons, Bluetwhiskers approached him. She said that she had been thinking for some time, and knowing what would happen once he became leader, they should have kits now. It was a shock to Skateface, but he readily agreed, excited for the chance.
  
  His kits were born two moons later, three fluffy little furballs that Bluetwhisker named after birds. One was a blue smoke tom, another a black smoke she-cat, and another a black she-cat. Skateface couldn't help but journey outside the clan that evening to meet his sister at her new home in the farms. He told her the exciting news, and she celebrated with him, giving him several fat mice to take back to the clan as an offering. To everyone's suprise, a moon or so later, Trout appeared on the clan border with a kit in her jaws. She convinced the patrol to bring her to camp, where she offered her own son to be raised in Waveclan. Trout explained that she felt guilty for leaving the clan with one less warrior, and so she had decided to bring one of her own kits as an offering. The debate was fierce, but Skateface humbly asked for mercy on her behalf. Haystar and the elders were quiet, but they did eventually agree, and the young ginger tom was adopted into the clan as Cougarkit. Bluetwhisker nursed him, and he was raised alongside his cousins. They all became apprentices at approximately the same time, and warriors together as well. Skateface gave as much time as he could spare to the kits, even as they were apprentices.
  
  A nasty raccoon picked a fight with a patrol, and the infection in his wound took Haystar's last life. It was unexpected, but Skateface took the initiative, going to the Skullstone and receiving his nine lives.
  
  The first three were from the family who had already passed on, his mother, father, and tiny kit brother, then was Haystar, an elderly medicine cat named Cedarleaf, a warrior named Acornheart, two apprentices, and one queen.
  
  Since then, he has led his clan faithfully, but has not yet lost a life.
  
• Family-
  
  Mother: Nutrifoot
  Father: Asphodelfur
  Siblings: Trout and Basskit
  Mate: Bluetwhiskers
  Kits: Two she-cats, one tom
  Extended: One nephew, two grandkits
  
• Genetics-
  Cinnamon, Silver, Solid. Mackerel carries classic.