Ashcloud

A brown tabby van tom with a ringed tail and amber eyes

While short, Ashcloud’s coat is thick and plush with just a sense of flowing fur. The majority of his pelt is white except for the rusty brown tabby spots that cover each ear, cross the eyes, and the length of his tail. That same tail is ringed in tabby stripes to suggest the tail of a raccoon. His eyes are dark amber and oval-shaped.

He is built in a solid way, with legs a touch shorter than average and a round face with a short muzzle that emphasizes the roundness. The denseness of his coat only adds further to the rotund look of him.

Ashcloud is a thinker more than anything else. He prefers to carefully consider options and implications rather than rushing blindly into a situation. Observation is one of his strongest skills. Ashcloud has honed his ability to notice detail and remember the things those details have taught him.

• Born in the Moon of Leopard's Rest (2019) 128
• The Leader named them Ashkit in ShadowClan during the Moon of Leopard's Rest (2019) 128

[Kittenhood 0 – 5 Moons]

Ashkit was born in the moon of Leopard’s Rest (2019) alongside Sootkit to Hawkfeather, a stern and demanding mother. He was sired by Dawnflurry, one of Palestar’s Senior Warriors.  

Once Ashkit and Sootkit were old enough to be up and around the camp, grown warriors found themselves harassed for early lessons by the intrepid pair. Even as young as they were, they already wanted to learn. During one of these much-coveted lessons at the tail end of the Moon of Promised Prey (2019), the pair had managed to convince Hollyclaw, their half-sister, into giving them a fighting lesson. The practical she-cat demonstrated a few simple attacks and blocks, stressing all the time that claws should not be used.  

Then she had the two kits face off against one another so they could practice and she could observe. The first exchange of blows between the kittens went well, Sootkit attacking and Ashkit blocking. It was the second exchange where things went immediately wrong. Ashkit attacked and caught Sootkit in the face with a clawless paw. Sootkit immediately, probably instinctively, retaliated by pouncing. In the ensuing melee, Ashkit came up with blood pouring from a scratch on his cheek. After a quick trip to the Medicine Cat’s Den, the bleeding was stopped, but so was the lesson.  

The two check the moon every night, waiting for it to be the Moon of First Fishing so that they can be apprenticed.

[Apprenticeship 6 – 12 Moons] 

The day they became Sootpaw and Ashpaw was one of the more exciting moments Ashpaw had ever had! His mentor was even his half-sister Hollyclaw, whom he was confident would be an excellent mentor. His apprenticeship, however, was painfully ordinary. While it was colored by the events of the world around him, it did not reach into his mind much. Ashpaw might have been a thinker, but that thinking focused inward towards his own interests.

Despite the ordinariness of his apprenticeship, Ashpaw was thrilled to become Ashcloud. Palestar’s recognition of his dedication and perception was something he would always cherish.

[Young Warriorhood 13 Moons – Present]

As with so many others, Ashcloud found the transition to being a warrior a shock. Suddenly the various chores and extra tasks expected of an apprentice were no longer a part of his life. His responsibilitlies were suddenly just the patrols and looking after himself that he was already doing as a senior apprentice.

This extra time was focused on putting his mind to use. He observed, trying to learn more about the habits of various prey animals and seeing the details of the seasonal changes. 

• A Nuisance and A Bother (15FG'20)
• Blackout (17FG'20)
• Bouncing Clouds (19FW'20)
• Rising from the Smoke (9FF'20)

Name Progression Plan: Ashkit -> Ashpaw -> Ashcloud