Leopardrose

A scarred, sepia, silver charcoal Bengal she-cat with aqua eyes

Echoing her wild heritage, Leopardrose’s frame is a blend of sharpness and athleticism. Long, sturdy legs support a lean, muscular structure complimenting the exotic angles of her face, shoulders, and hind. She has an angular face with sloping cheekbones punctuated by a pair of almond shaped, pale aqua eyes.

Leopardrose is a sepia silver charcoal Bengal cat. The base of her short length coat is a cooler, yet silvery tone. The sepia influence softens the contrast, creating a warm, beige hue over the silver, giving the coat creamy, off-white appearance. The charcoal aspect introduces a darker pattern, and has a coat decorated with bold, inky black rosettes against the silver-beige background. The pointed aspects of her patterning is masked with a sepia colored “cape” of darker fur that runs along her back and dark mask that covers her face, most defined as an outline around the eyes and forehead. This contrast between the eyes and darker facial masks can make her eyes particularly bright.

Her tail is average length but distinctively ringed by sharp black rings and silvery off-white and has dark toe pads and nose. Despite her young age, Leopardrose has gained a few nicks and scars during her time, the most severe including puncture scars on her chest from a large dog and a small scar on the back of her head.

Leopardrose is a dedicated and diligent cat who throws herself into her work, determined to prove her worth within ThunderClan. Her drive to excel often stems from a deep-seated inferiority complex, a lingering feeling that she must constantly prove herself due to her origins outside the Clan. This can make her exceptionally thorough at her best, and obsessive at her worst but always striving to be the best she can be, even if it means she can be her own harshest critic.

To cope with her insecurities, Leopardrose often adopts a playful, flirtatious demeanor, using humor to deflect attention from her vulnerabilities. Her colorful words and lighthearted banter can make her seem carefree, but beneath the surface, there’s a cat who is deeply uncertain about her place in the world. This flirtatiousness isn’t just about charm; it’s a shield she wields to keep others from seeing her doubts and fears.

Despite these insecurities, Leopardrose is fiercely stubborn. Once she sets her mind on something, it’s nearly impossible to sway her. This stubbornness may cause friction, especially when she digs in her heels on a matter of pride or principle. However, it also means she’s unwaveringly loyal and committed, especially to those few she cares about. She may struggle with feelings of inadequacy, but her determination ensures she never gives up, no matter the challenge.

While she’s quick to defend herself, she’s particularly defensive of any friend she may make, partially stemming from a desire to keep others from feeling as out of place as she sometimes does. As a clan cat Leopardrose is a team player and cares deeply about her clan, but she’s used to managing things on her own or assuming that others might not want to spend the time to get to know her. She struggles to ask for help and feels the need to prove herself constantly, often taking on more than she should at her own detriment.

• Born in the Moon of Tiger's Wraith (2018) 117

[KITHOOD: 0-5 moons]

Leopardrose was born in a Bengal cattery in Whitehart (Moon of Tiger’s Wrath 2018), a place where her mother was revered as a prized queen. The early days of her life were marked by the luxury and care of her human owners, who treasured her and her siblings. However, this comfort was shattered when a devastating house fire consumed the cattery from a fallen telephone pole, leaving destruction in its wake. In the chaos, Leopardrose’s mother, burned and wounded, managed to escape the flames. Finding only one kit, she stole her tiny three-week-old daughter away from the ruins. Despite her injuries, Leopardrose’s mother journeyed through the wilderness, eventually collapsing at the border of ThunderClan’s territory.

A passing patrol found the unconscious queen and her sole kit and brought them back to camp where her mother took to the medicine cat’s den. It was barely a day before her mother succumbed to her injuries, and the Clan took in the helpless kit. The kit, newly named Spottedkit, was placed in the care of Wildcry who was already in the nursery with her six week old tom-kittens.

Spottedkits kithood was marked by a blend of struggle, resilience, and a yearning for acceptance. From the moment she was taken in by Wildcry, she felt the weight of her foster mother’s expectations. Wildcry was a harsh and demanding queen who placed immense value on Clan bloodline, and Spottedkit, as an outsider, was constantly reminded of her different beginnings. Though Wildcry provided for her basic needs, the emotional warmth was often absent. Her words were sharp, and her discipline strict, leaving Spottedkit feeling as though she had to earn her place within the family and the Clan.

Sharing the den with Wildcry’s two sons, Foxkit and Kestralkit, only heightened Spottedkit’s sense of being an outsider. Foxkit, immediately curious in the interesting new plaything, was quick to include her in his games but his attention was quickly unwanted as it seemed just another opportunity to push the smaller she-kit around. If Wildcry noticed she always seemed to be on her biological kits’ sides, admonished for the smallest slight, and encouraged them to play together. Spottedkit tried her best to keep up with them, eager to prove herself, but it had gotten to the point where she needed to stand up for herself. When she did, she was lashed out at, and even to this day struggles to stand up to Savagefox if confronted despite being more than capable.

Their attitudes stung deeply, and though Wildcry was tough and unyielding, her care provided the foundation needed for Spottedkit to face her clan as an apprentice.

[APPRENTICESHIP: 6-13 moons]

Spottedkit was apprenticed as Leopardpaw in the Moon of Long Sun 2019 to Egretcry the current deputy. Leopardpaw was a bit tenative at first, mainly because she expected the worst from another one of her clan. A kittypet born clanner was barely tolerated (so she was made to believe) so she more or less expected the same sort of attitude from her mentor. Leopardpaw believed him to be a bit short and distant with her at first, but was pleasantly surprised he didn’t admonish her at every moment.

Without the distraction of others in the nursery and thankful that they seemed also busy under their own apprenticeships, Leopardpaw was eager to learn everything she could – and be the very best. Perhaps then she could take pride in her hard work. She much preferred hunting lessons over border patrolling. And relished the idea of combat for the sake of pooling her frustrations and being better able to stand her ground. It was during a standard patrol when she was 9 moons old with Moosestride and Egretcry by the orchards that a dog was scented on the breeze. Before long the harrier attacked, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake. Egretcry was killed, and Leopardpaw was grappled by the chest. If the dog hadn’t gotten called back by their frustrated owner, she may not have escaped.

Deep puncture wounds bled from her chest were the dog had gotten her, and her ribs were bruised from the struggle. She recalled hitting her head in the scuffle, and when she was assessed by the medicine cat, she also had a mild concussion. It nearly took a full moon of healing before she could return to duties, and the fact that Egretcry, her mentor was dead meant that another would have to step in to take their place. It was determined that Moosestride, the newly named deputy after Egretcry, would be her new mentor. It was during her healing (Moon of First White 2019) that she inevitably shared the medicine cat’s den with a critically injured Bravesong after another attack, this time from a fox. It was during these times she got to know the injured elder in their quiet moments when he chose to talk, and their days were punctuated by the occasional visits by Bravesong’s old apprentice, Pebblepaw, soon to be Greypebbles. It was nice to have someone to talk to, and eventually became close to the quiet tom who had shared her apprenticeship but little more.

Delayed as she was, at the end of (Moon of First White 2019) the rest of her apprenticeship was uneventful… and approached her warrior ceremony. There was some upset when Foxstream brought back a dog and added it to the freshkill pile. She thought Savagefox was a fitting name change for her clanmate, and secretly enjoyed seeing the dog dead even if it wasn’t the dog that had taken her mentor and injured her.

Leopardpaw became Leopardrose for her diligence and became a full warrior in the Moon of Melting Waters 2020 after a tough, unforgiving Leaf-Bare.

[WARRIORHOOD: 13 – current moons]

Leopardrose was pleased with her newfound freedom and found some comfort in her abilities, even if she felt as if it had been her fault that Egretcry came to their end. Her time with Moosestride had prepared her for life serving her clan and she makes due with what she has. Relying on her clanmates can be hard sometimes, but she does so with the strength of Starclan on her back and her vision shared at the Moonstone.

During the interesting conclusion of the Gathering of Lion’s Glory 2020, Thunderclan brought back a kit – an outsider taken in by the clan. She was intrigued by the kit, and while she had her reservations, she wanted to get to know little Coyotekit. One who started out much like she did, even if she was a little younger and barely remembered her own mother. She tries to make the kit’s life a little easier when not under the scrutiny of her foster-dam, Wildcry, and hopes that her transition into Thunderclan will be easier than hers.

[MENTORING: 24 – Current]

Leopardrose was a bit taken aback during the moon of Leopard’s Rest 2020, when Coyotepaw’s apprentice ceremony ended with Moosestar announcing that she would become Coyotepaw’s mentor. She had mixed thoughts about this decision, as she believed her outsider blood could cause her to doubt her abilities when it came to teaching a fellow outsider-born cat. So far, she seems a bit awkward around her apprentice, a bit like a fish out of water, as she tries to become more confident in herself as she keeps telling herself that Moosestar wouldn’t have chosen her if not for a good reason.

During the first moon of Leopard’s Rest…

• A Little Snowbound (26LN'20)
• A Rose in Winter (28LN'20)
• As the Cold Settles In… (14LN'20)
• Basking with the Sun (6LR'20)
• How is the View from Hell? (22TL'20)
• Roses Grow On Trees (20TL'20)
• Training The Brain (26TW'20)
• Where Pebbles Lay (20FW'20)
• Where Pebbles Lay (20FW'20)

Leopardrose – Extra Character Slot $5 + Ignore Bans List (Unlimited) $10

Got permission for mentions from Splashy (Moosestar), Kit (Savagefox) and Bee (Greypebbles)!

• Dam: Sepia Charcoal Bengal
• Sire: Sepia Silver Charcoal Bengal