Aug 20, 2019 12:34:32 GMT -5
Cicadapaw
jungleclan ∙ apprentice ∙ male ∙ 06 moons
Appearance
Description sentence:
A tall brown and white tom with pale blue-grey eyes
Appearance:
Similar to the vast majority of Jungleclan, Cicadapaw tends to look bigger than he truly is. The young male is all awkward limbs and sharp angles, only just covered by a tight layer of multi-hued fur. Long legs leave him standing at a height that would arguably be impressive if he didn't constantly hunker down in consistently failed attempts to hide in plain site. When finally forced to stand tall, Cicadapaw often finds himself at war with his own body, tripping over a paw here or a tucked tail there. Despite such a wiry appearance, it is obvious that the tom will eventually fill between now and his future warrior-ship as most youngsters do.
Although there are certain things bound to change over time, there are also some facets of himself that Cicadapaw is dolefully aware will never go away. His fur, for instance, short and irritatingly soft much to his irritation. The majority of his pelt is the same light shade of brown, darkening noticeably along the bridge of his nose, ears and tail. Breaking up the earthy hues are shocking swaths of white, a stark contrast that flows from his eyes, along his neck, down his chest to finally stop at the underside of his belly. All four paws are capped with the clean, pristine color and Cicada can't help but think it makes him stick out like a sore thumb among the more solid coloration of his clan-mates.
Cicada's eyes are made noticeable by the bright white beneath them, giving the impression that the apprentice has permanent tears flowing down his face. His eyes themselves are a clear blue-grey in color though 'color' is a rather subjective word. But for the darkening around his iris, it could be easily mistaken that Cicadapaw's eyes were devoid of pigment altogether.
Personality
Positive Traits: • Committed • Perceptive • Curious | Negative Traits: • Hesitant • Clumsy • Self-pitying |
Personality:
An odd little fellow to say the least, Cicadapaw is nothing if not painfully awkward. The tom is easily embarrassed, a fact that his siblings and fellow apprentice tend to capitalize on daily. When that bubbly, anxious feeling hits him the male feels as though there's water lodged in his brain. He winds up wide-eyed and lightheaded, mouth opening and closing as he stutters out a vague attempt at apology before swiftly disappearing into the darkest depths of the apprentice den. His mother and elder brother have tried time and again to show Cicada a bit of tough love, but their efforts tend to fall flat as the timid tom struggles to change his ways.
Despite what can only be described as a harsh upbringing, Cicadapaw never fails to remain dauntingly polite. In the midst of being yelled at, the apprentice finds himself unable to do anything but mutter a quick 'yes ma'am' to his mentor before diving back into whatever lesson he's learning. Compassionate to a fault, it's well-known among Jungleclan that he is quick to offer up his meal to another if they so much as hint that they didn't eat enough. Such a giving nature doesn't bode well for the future, as his clan-mates can't help but wonder if Cicada's penchant for helping those he deems 'in need' would cause his loyalties to the clan to waver. Probably not, but you one really knows.
Unfortunately for him, Cicadapaw finds apprentice training to be the most difficult part of the whole shebang. He's exceedingly anxious and has a terrible case of performance anxiety. When it's just himself and his mentor practicing, the tom's hunting skills are nearly unparalleled. Put him in the pretense of another apprentice though, and Cicada goes right back to stumbling over his own paws as all his attention is on his fellow competitor and not the task at paw. Fighting has never - and likely will never be - his forte. Cicada is too easily discouraged and he tends to go into a mock-battle already believing himself to be the loser.
He certainly can't be faulted for not trying, however, as his commitment to his training is nearly all-consuming. Cicadapaw is well and truly scared of being the clan disappointment like his mother says he is and he's absolutely terrified that if he doesn't prove himself useful they'll eventually kick him out. Of course such a thing would never happen - the clan is family and family is for life - but his mother has surely twisted his soft, malleable heart around her claws.
Surprisingly, when left to his own devices or to the company of his siblings, it would seem as though Cicada were another cat altogether. Without the fear of judgement weighing him down, the apprentice is boisterous and rowdy, cracking jokes at his siblings expense with the best of 'em. Not many get to see the more carefree side of him and it takes a cat he feels truly comfortable around for Cicadapaw to let his guard down.
Skills & Combat
Strengths: • Navigating • Agility • Listening | Weaknesses: • Fighting • Sociability • Memory |
Combat:
• Defense: (10-3)
• Attack: 1d20-(3)
Character Background
Family:
Honeyshark. Mother. NPC.
Unknown. Father. NPC.
Caddispaw. Brother. Adoptable.
Scarabpaw. Sister. Adoptable.
History:
It was never a secret that Honeyshark didn't favor kits, nor did she care much for apprentices in the long-run either. She gave her time and energy to three things: Her clan, her looks, and toms. A pretty feline by far, Honeyshark was never one to have trouble when it came to finding a warm body for a bit of company. Truth be told, she was a player and she liked it that way. Nothing to tie her down and an endless pool of options ripe for the taking. She was a careful one though, taking certain measures to make sure kits would remain firmly out of her future. In her case, though, it seems as if she wasn't quite careful enough.
Upon finding out about her impending pregnancy, Honeyshark all but demanded that it be stopped. It was far too late for such measures, however, and the she-cat resolutely found herself succumbing to this new fact of life. There was no telling who had sired the kits, and even after their birth she made no effort to figure out who their father was. Especially considering that each of her kits looked so utterly different than one another. She would be a bold-faced liar if she even attempted to name some cat or another as their sire. Honeyshark was surely many things, but a liar she was not.
Many believed that despite the she-cat's initial dislike at the notion of being a mother, she would eventually grow into the roll. Yet such ideals were ill begotten fantasies. She named each of her brood after insects, creatures she deemed inherently less than and altogether insignificant. Though such things were unknown to the newborns, anyone who'd grown up with Honeyshark and her genuine dislike of anything creepy-crawly was quick to understand the meaning behind names like Caddis, Cicada and Scarab.
Growing up in a world with Honeyshark as his mother should have brought about in Cicadapaw the same results as his older and younger sibling. Her blase attitude and constant irritation regarding all things 'kittish' made Caddis and Scarab into fierce young felines who refused to take shit from anyone. They were quick to learn that their mother would not shower them with affection and sought out friendships among the other kittens instead. Cicadapaw, however, wanted nothing more than for his mother to smile at him just once and tell him he'd done something - anything - well like the other mother's did with their children.
Apprenticeship was something Caddis and Scarab greatly looked forward to. They were more than ready to fend for themselves and they had all the social skills to do so quite easily. Unlike Cicada, the fiery duo hadn't let Honeyshark's harsh treatment stop them from achieving their own personal goals and they were perhaps more like their mother in terms of waspishness than either like to admit. In the shadow of his brother and sister, Cicadapaw is very much a damsel in distress. He is uncomfortable in his own body and the constant berating of Honeyshark has left him with almost no self-confidence whatsoever. He's gone into his apprenticeship with his mother's taunting judgement echoing in the back of his mind, holding very little faith that he will make something of himself in the long-run.
Other Notes
