Post by fable on Jun 24, 2020 20:56:53 GMT -6
ashblaze
@/fable2 - a lithe black tom with striking, golden eyes
| 27 MOONS | male | bisexual | riverCLAN | Warrior |
TRAITS
| + resourceful + charming + independent + intuitive + patient | - cruel/merciless - volatile - manipulative - sly/cunning - delusional |
PERSONALITY
Ashblaze was not always a, well, a monster. In his early days the tom was known to be happy-go-lucky, friendly, and kind. He'd been every bit his mother's son at the start of his life. But things change and not always for the better.
Given to his step-mother to raise was perhaps one of the worst decisions his father ever made. Her fury would leach into the young tom, becoming his own as he grew under her malicious reign. She nurtured his darkness, rewarding him after 'bouts of violence and anger, calling him 'little monster'. And so Ashblaze became crafty and cruel as she directed, hardened by his own miserable existence. Driven by his anger and his hurt, the young tom was taught by his 'mother' that violence was good. And it felt even better. His darkness drove him to hurt for the pleasure of it, to deceive because he could, and to play the puppet's on their strings because it made him feel powerful.
But Ashblaze is of the crafty sort. His clanmates are rarely privy to the tom's darker nature, only experiencing it in the form of a sharp tongue or his dark humor. The fact that he has inherited his father's charm and silver-tongue only help the illusion that Ashblaze is just like everyone else around him. There is, however, something decidedly off about the tom when the mask slips. Something almost eerie in the way he smiles as if there's something he alone knows. And yet, it is only for a moment before the tom has pulled the mask back on and he's a charmer once more. But that hate, that malice and drive to hurt lie just beneath the surface still. He may hide it well for now, but all lies eventually crumble. Everyone shows their true colors eventually and Ashblaze will be no exception.
Given to his step-mother to raise was perhaps one of the worst decisions his father ever made. Her fury would leach into the young tom, becoming his own as he grew under her malicious reign. She nurtured his darkness, rewarding him after 'bouts of violence and anger, calling him 'little monster'. And so Ashblaze became crafty and cruel as she directed, hardened by his own miserable existence. Driven by his anger and his hurt, the young tom was taught by his 'mother' that violence was good. And it felt even better. His darkness drove him to hurt for the pleasure of it, to deceive because he could, and to play the puppet's on their strings because it made him feel powerful.
But Ashblaze is of the crafty sort. His clanmates are rarely privy to the tom's darker nature, only experiencing it in the form of a sharp tongue or his dark humor. The fact that he has inherited his father's charm and silver-tongue only help the illusion that Ashblaze is just like everyone else around him. There is, however, something decidedly off about the tom when the mask slips. Something almost eerie in the way he smiles as if there's something he alone knows. And yet, it is only for a moment before the tom has pulled the mask back on and he's a charmer once more. But that hate, that malice and drive to hurt lie just beneath the surface still. He may hide it well for now, but all lies eventually crumble. Everyone shows their true colors eventually and Ashblaze will be no exception.
HISTORY
- PRE
Ashblaze's story begins with the taboo of a forbidden love affair. Not the kind between clans, no, but the infatuation a young she-cat held for an already mated tom. Robinshine was a charismatic warrior known for his flirtatious tendencies and silver tongue. There were few she-cats within the clan at the time that had not been involved in some sort of relationship with the wayward tom. But when Robinshine finally decided to settle down with a lovely young she-cat named Tigerstep, he put his casanova nature aside and promised to be a devout mate. And, for a few moons, he was. But nature will always win out in the end.
Applefur was young and pretty and innocent, everything Robinshine sought in a partner. There's no telling how long this affair may have lasted if they had not been discovered by his pregnant mate. In a fury Tigerstep threatened to leave Robinshine if he didn't commit to her. But Robinshine, mortified at having been discovered, needed little convincing. Applefur was heartbroken when the tom she had loved turned his back on her. He intended for that to be the last of his affair with the she-cat. But the damage had already been done. Applefur was pregnant.
During her pregnancy, the distraught young warrior did everything she could to regain the affections of Robinshine. But with his own pregnant and furious mate to look after, the tom spared her not even a glance. Perhaps had he been kinder to Applefur she may not have gone into labor with a broken heart. Perhaps then she may not have died giving birth to a single, small son. But her death would hardly seem to faze Robinshine. He could only feel anger. How could she have done this to him? What was he supposed to do with an extra kit? Robinshine was disgusted with the product of his affair, refusing to acknowledge the kit as his own. It was only at the urging of his own parents that he would reluctantly convince Tigerstep to nurse little Ashkit alongside their own kits.
- KIT
Ashkit, his mother's final word before her passing. She had only had the strength to name him, not to live for him. And so it came about that the young bastard kit was to be raised alongside his half-siblings. Viperkit and Adderkit were hardly a week older than Ashkit, but much stronger and larger. As the three grew, Ashkit's two half-brothers became his relentless tormentors. The pair were only urged on in their bullying by their mother, Tigerstep. She delighted in knowing the little brat who had ruined their lives was being punished by her own sons. But it was she that would prove to be much worse. Harshly she would tell the little kit how different he was, what a horrible little monster he was, how much she hated him. Her spite severely damaged the young kit's spirit. Slowly his cheerful nature faded and died, replaced by angry sullenness.
Even Robinshine would turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on the plight of his youngest son. This both confused and deeply hurt Ashkit. Wasn't his father supposed to love and protect him? Wasn't that what he did for Viperkit and Adderkit? The little black tom tried with all of his might to secure the love of his father but, as his mother before him, he failed.
It was at a few moons old that frustration and anger finally boiled over into violence. Ashkit attacked one of the other kits when they tried to take the moss ball he had been playing with. The kit was carted off to the medicine cat den and the leader announced Ashkit's apprentice ceremony would be delayed as punishment.
But it was Tigerstep's reaction to the event that would cement it forever in the tom's mind. As he'd stalked past her on his way back to the nursery she leaned down to whisper in his ear, 'that's my little monster.'
In the coming moons Tigerstep would continue to nurture Ashkit's darkness, twisting and corrupting his young mind. Mother's little monster indeed.
- PAW
Nearly a moon and a half after his half-brother's attained the rank of apprentice, Ashpaw followed suit. He was assigned to an older, strict tom. The pairing came from the hope that the warrior would straighten out the wild, angry young cat. And it appeared to have worked. Ashpaw grew cordial, obedient, and kinder under the careful guidance of his mentor.
But it was nothing but a front. Ashpaw had inherited his father's silver tongue, his mother's intelligence, and been well trained as a crafty monster by his adoptive mother. Nothing had changed about the young tom except for the way he now presented himself to the world. A devoted cat of Riverclan on the surface, a patient monster lurking beneath.
At ten moons of age, tragedy struck. While on a hunting trip with Adderpaw and Viperpaw, Ashpaw and his half-brothers challenged one another to climb the tallest tree they could find. It is unclear what happened in the hours that followed. When the patrol came across the three, they found a distraught Ashpaw bent over the broken body of Adderpaw with Viperpaw cowering nearby, apparently in shock. The incident was ruled as an accident, Adderpaw having fallen from the top of the tree, breaking his back upon impact with the ground. But all Tigerstep needed to know the truth was to look into Ashpaw's eyes. He had killed Adderpaw. He must have terrorized her remaining son into holding his tongue as well. For Viperpaw refused to speak of the event. She had truly created someone - something - to be feared.
A few days later, before she could reveal the truth to the clan, Tigerstep went missing. The clan looked for her for weeks but eventually had to give up the search. It was assumed the heartbroken she-cat had abandoned the clan. And just like that she was gone. Now remained only Viperpaw as witness to Ashpaw's terrible deed.
It was two moons before Ashpaw would act. The newly named Vipereye was on a solo hunting trip - a foolish mistake - when Ashpaw surprised him. The black tom was no longer the same kit Vipereye and his brother had bullied and thrown around in their youth. He was much larger, much stronger, and a much better fighter than his half-brother. The fight that ensued was over quickly with Ashpaw pinning his half-brother beneath him. Terrified, Vipereye begged Ashpaw to let him live, swearing he'd never tell a soul.
Perhaps it was a mistake of his own, but the feeling of power that came with having such control over his half-brother was intoxicating. Ashpaw allowed him to live for the time being.
- BLAZE
At thirteen moons of age Ashpaw was named Ashblaze in honor of his exemplary fighting skills. The next few moons passed in a relative calm. Robinshine succumbed to a passing sickness, to which Ashblaze appeared to grieve. But, in reality, the tom couldn't have been more delighted. Now there was truly nothing to keep him from exerting his power over Vipereye.
In the months after Tigerstep's disappearance and their father's death, Vipereye had become noticeably more timid and fearful. He was nearly always to be found at his brother's side. To the clan it looked as if the brother's were leaning on one another for support in the absence of the rest of their family. They could not have been more wrong. But, of course, neither would correct them.
At 20 moons of age Ashblaze received his first apprentice, a she-cat named Curlypaw. Delighted at having yet another opportunity to exert his power over someone else, Curlypaw became one of only two cats that knew of Ashblaze's true self. But she was stubborn and fiery, challenging him in anything and everything.
As she grew older her boldness grew and Ashblaze became nervous. She didn't know about what he'd done to his mother and half-brother. She didn't know what he was currently doing to his remaining half-brother. But she was dangerous none-the-less. When Curlypaw was only eight moons of age, Ashblaze drowned her in the river. She put up quite a fight - Ashblaze sustaining several cuts on his chest and throat that he would later attribute to falling from a tree - but she was still small and inexperienced. Her mentor left her body there for someone else to find. When her body was brought back to camp he played the part of grieving mentor well enough.
In the moons since her death there have been no further incidents involving Ashblaze. But the dark tom is always watching, waiting for another opportunity to arise.
Ashblaze's story begins with the taboo of a forbidden love affair. Not the kind between clans, no, but the infatuation a young she-cat held for an already mated tom. Robinshine was a charismatic warrior known for his flirtatious tendencies and silver tongue. There were few she-cats within the clan at the time that had not been involved in some sort of relationship with the wayward tom. But when Robinshine finally decided to settle down with a lovely young she-cat named Tigerstep, he put his casanova nature aside and promised to be a devout mate. And, for a few moons, he was. But nature will always win out in the end.
Applefur was young and pretty and innocent, everything Robinshine sought in a partner. There's no telling how long this affair may have lasted if they had not been discovered by his pregnant mate. In a fury Tigerstep threatened to leave Robinshine if he didn't commit to her. But Robinshine, mortified at having been discovered, needed little convincing. Applefur was heartbroken when the tom she had loved turned his back on her. He intended for that to be the last of his affair with the she-cat. But the damage had already been done. Applefur was pregnant.
During her pregnancy, the distraught young warrior did everything she could to regain the affections of Robinshine. But with his own pregnant and furious mate to look after, the tom spared her not even a glance. Perhaps had he been kinder to Applefur she may not have gone into labor with a broken heart. Perhaps then she may not have died giving birth to a single, small son. But her death would hardly seem to faze Robinshine. He could only feel anger. How could she have done this to him? What was he supposed to do with an extra kit? Robinshine was disgusted with the product of his affair, refusing to acknowledge the kit as his own. It was only at the urging of his own parents that he would reluctantly convince Tigerstep to nurse little Ashkit alongside their own kits.
- KIT
Ashkit, his mother's final word before her passing. She had only had the strength to name him, not to live for him. And so it came about that the young bastard kit was to be raised alongside his half-siblings. Viperkit and Adderkit were hardly a week older than Ashkit, but much stronger and larger. As the three grew, Ashkit's two half-brothers became his relentless tormentors. The pair were only urged on in their bullying by their mother, Tigerstep. She delighted in knowing the little brat who had ruined their lives was being punished by her own sons. But it was she that would prove to be much worse. Harshly she would tell the little kit how different he was, what a horrible little monster he was, how much she hated him. Her spite severely damaged the young kit's spirit. Slowly his cheerful nature faded and died, replaced by angry sullenness.
Even Robinshine would turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on the plight of his youngest son. This both confused and deeply hurt Ashkit. Wasn't his father supposed to love and protect him? Wasn't that what he did for Viperkit and Adderkit? The little black tom tried with all of his might to secure the love of his father but, as his mother before him, he failed.
It was at a few moons old that frustration and anger finally boiled over into violence. Ashkit attacked one of the other kits when they tried to take the moss ball he had been playing with. The kit was carted off to the medicine cat den and the leader announced Ashkit's apprentice ceremony would be delayed as punishment.
But it was Tigerstep's reaction to the event that would cement it forever in the tom's mind. As he'd stalked past her on his way back to the nursery she leaned down to whisper in his ear, 'that's my little monster.'
In the coming moons Tigerstep would continue to nurture Ashkit's darkness, twisting and corrupting his young mind. Mother's little monster indeed.
- PAW
Nearly a moon and a half after his half-brother's attained the rank of apprentice, Ashpaw followed suit. He was assigned to an older, strict tom. The pairing came from the hope that the warrior would straighten out the wild, angry young cat. And it appeared to have worked. Ashpaw grew cordial, obedient, and kinder under the careful guidance of his mentor.
But it was nothing but a front. Ashpaw had inherited his father's silver tongue, his mother's intelligence, and been well trained as a crafty monster by his adoptive mother. Nothing had changed about the young tom except for the way he now presented himself to the world. A devoted cat of Riverclan on the surface, a patient monster lurking beneath.
At ten moons of age, tragedy struck. While on a hunting trip with Adderpaw and Viperpaw, Ashpaw and his half-brothers challenged one another to climb the tallest tree they could find. It is unclear what happened in the hours that followed. When the patrol came across the three, they found a distraught Ashpaw bent over the broken body of Adderpaw with Viperpaw cowering nearby, apparently in shock. The incident was ruled as an accident, Adderpaw having fallen from the top of the tree, breaking his back upon impact with the ground. But all Tigerstep needed to know the truth was to look into Ashpaw's eyes. He had killed Adderpaw. He must have terrorized her remaining son into holding his tongue as well. For Viperpaw refused to speak of the event. She had truly created someone - something - to be feared.
A few days later, before she could reveal the truth to the clan, Tigerstep went missing. The clan looked for her for weeks but eventually had to give up the search. It was assumed the heartbroken she-cat had abandoned the clan. And just like that she was gone. Now remained only Viperpaw as witness to Ashpaw's terrible deed.
It was two moons before Ashpaw would act. The newly named Vipereye was on a solo hunting trip - a foolish mistake - when Ashpaw surprised him. The black tom was no longer the same kit Vipereye and his brother had bullied and thrown around in their youth. He was much larger, much stronger, and a much better fighter than his half-brother. The fight that ensued was over quickly with Ashpaw pinning his half-brother beneath him. Terrified, Vipereye begged Ashpaw to let him live, swearing he'd never tell a soul.
Perhaps it was a mistake of his own, but the feeling of power that came with having such control over his half-brother was intoxicating. Ashpaw allowed him to live for the time being.
- BLAZE
At thirteen moons of age Ashpaw was named Ashblaze in honor of his exemplary fighting skills. The next few moons passed in a relative calm. Robinshine succumbed to a passing sickness, to which Ashblaze appeared to grieve. But, in reality, the tom couldn't have been more delighted. Now there was truly nothing to keep him from exerting his power over Vipereye.
In the months after Tigerstep's disappearance and their father's death, Vipereye had become noticeably more timid and fearful. He was nearly always to be found at his brother's side. To the clan it looked as if the brother's were leaning on one another for support in the absence of the rest of their family. They could not have been more wrong. But, of course, neither would correct them.
At 20 moons of age Ashblaze received his first apprentice, a she-cat named Curlypaw. Delighted at having yet another opportunity to exert his power over someone else, Curlypaw became one of only two cats that knew of Ashblaze's true self. But she was stubborn and fiery, challenging him in anything and everything.
As she grew older her boldness grew and Ashblaze became nervous. She didn't know about what he'd done to his mother and half-brother. She didn't know what he was currently doing to his remaining half-brother. But she was dangerous none-the-less. When Curlypaw was only eight moons of age, Ashblaze drowned her in the river. She put up quite a fight - Ashblaze sustaining several cuts on his chest and throat that he would later attribute to falling from a tree - but she was still small and inexperienced. Her mentor left her body there for someone else to find. When her body was brought back to camp he played the part of grieving mentor well enough.
In the moons since her death there have been no further incidents involving Ashblaze. But the dark tom is always watching, waiting for another opportunity to arise.
| PREFIX; for his black coat | SUFFIX; for his prowess in battle |
| fable | |
| n/a | she/her |
| MST | FableoftheNight#3792 |
Father :: Mother :: Step-Mother :: Half-Brothers :: Former Mentor :: Falconfang Former Apprentice :: Current Apprentice :: Shadpaw Victims :: Adderpaw, Tigerstep, and Curlypaw | |