Duskmantle

A large long-bodied, blue smoke mink tom with dark blue eyes and mid-length fur

Duskmantle is a large, long-bodied cat with long legs. His mid-length pelt is of a two-toned silvery blue, with pointed darker areas that make his ears and face a frame, with hooded shaped eyes, against his newly changed cornflower blue eye color, seemingly gifting the kit with an intense sort of stare. The length of his extremities are also this dark, stormy blue against his lighter body, his large paws giving some hint to how large he’ll be in his adult years. The darkest parts of his body, however, are his paw pads and his nose, which near to a shade of black.

Duskmantle is a determined and fiercely ambitious young cat, driven by a strong desire to prove himself and a deep-rooted pride in his abilities. He takes failure personally, often reacting with irritation or frustration when things don’t go his way, but his resilience shines through in his readiness to get back up and try again. This competitive edge fuels him, especially in the presence of challenges, where his confidence and eagerness to succeed push him to meet high standards.

Duskmantle’s determination and ambition, while strong motivators, could evolve into an unhealthy sensitivity to criticism. He would rather avoid situations that could risk failure, which could keep him from progressing in his lessons. Though he might grumble or express frustration, he’s ultimately willing to work to improve, but his ultimate reluctance to accept failure makes him defensive in response to others who may want to guide him.

Duskmantle has a practical streak that makes him partial to shortcuts and minimal effort when he thinks he can get away with it. He’s sharp enough to know where he can slide by and will take the opportunity if it means saving time or energy. However, when he’s fully focused, his sharp eye for detail and patience shine, revealing a cautious, meticulous warrior beneath his often impetuous exterior.

Duskmantle can be intensely competitive, eager to test his limits, and quick to learn from both mistakes and successes. His pride in himself sometimes makes him a bit overconfident, which, while lending him courage, also leaves him occasionally susceptible to frustration when he underestimates a challenge.

• Born in the Moon of Running Prey (2020) 135

Murkkit was born alongside three other siblings in an overgrowth thicket outside of clan territory to a passing Turkish Angora she-cat named Belladonna. He knew little of the outside world and mostly kept to that thicket until a pressing need caused their mother to move them as she saw fit. Every once and awhile another visited her, and while he didn’t really understand who that cat might be, he was one of two significant bodies in his life.

He doesn’t remember much about his sire, but he does recall the scent of pleasant smelling plants when he was around. Raised underneath Belladonna’s watchful paws and entertained by the stories of her youth, as soon as he was able to walk he found he couldn’t stop moving, wanting nothing more to explore the wide world around him. One occasion brought him under the scrutiny of a tawny owl when he pulled out in front of his siblings while playing. He would have ended up in that owls claws if not for his mother, who batted the owl away just in time.

The contentedness he shared with such freedoms was brought to a close on the 14th of Lion’s Glory 2020, when while crossing the thunderpath, a monster roared towards them from around a corner and struck his mother, killing her in an instant. Rain began to fall, covering the scent of the incident, where shortly after picked up by the scruff of his neck. Along with his siblings, they were delivered in the twilight hours, a storm raging on the horizon, to a sheltering thicket within Fourtrees to be awaited by the clans who were fated to adopt them.

During his time in ShadowClan’s nursery, he was adopted by Clovershine as one of her own, although Murkkit didn’t feel very close to her despite her loving nature. He grew closer to his adopted brothers, Redkit and Dazzlekit, and was almost one to lead them into trouble. The first time he snuck out of camp he was caught by Heronsong nearby, who was lenient but later troubled by his nonchalant ignorance of playing with living creatures. The second time he snuck out of camp he caused a stir by climbing the bramble wall with his brothers and leading them to a garter snake. Together the three brothers killed the snake, and were gently admonished by Palestar upon their return.

Murkkit was named Duskpaw on the 5th Day of Leopard’s Rest, apprenticed to Heronsong, who had been taken with the blue smoke tom since their first encounter. Duskpaw had embraced his new name as well as his new life, but it will be on his terms. With more freedom to explore a bit more as he sees fit as well as training himself to become stronger, Duskpaw hopes to eventually find his sire and invite him into Shadowclan.

Under Heronsong’s steady paws and optimistic guidance, Duskpaw toured through the foundations of ShadowClan training. Patrolling and scenting lessons were marked by his quiet attentiveness – he often absorbed more than he let on, preferring to mask uncertainty by giving his mentor the answers she wanted to hear. Still, he quickly proved himself a capable tracker and an acceptable philosopher of the warrior code (when he could properly recite it), if more pragmatic than idealistic.

On the day he and Clovershine discovered Whisperingwind’s body murdered in the marsh, it was an eye opening experience – so close to a grizzly murder and a determination that murderers shouldn’t be given free roam of ShadowClan lands. He became critical of the power of his clan and even StarClan, but it was the first time that Duskpaw’s flippancy shadowed into something more cynical and serious and still has frequent nightmares of blood-scent and murder-rogues, sometimes finding her and killing her himself or even where she gets him instead.

In sparring matches, Duskpaw initially relied on caution, preferring to analyze rather than throw himself into reckless action. Over time, his resilience grew and with it his combat prowess. He conditioned his body, became self aware of his vulnerabilities, and found pleasure in executing advanced combat maneuvers. He needed to become a combatant for his own ambitions – unfeeling murderers couldn’t be talked down. They would need to be rooted out…

Warriorhood

On the 11th day of Running Prey ’21, Duskpaw was named a warrior as Duskmantle, for his resilience and pragmatism.

• A Noon on the Border (17MW'21)
• At Dusk Fall (3FF'21)
• Better Be Ready (2TW'20)
• During the Dazzling Red Dusk (5LR'20)
• Hunt Well While You Can (9LN'20)
• Lazy Daze (4CF'20)
• Mantle on The Lea (13RP'21)
• Noontide Escapade (10CF'20)
• Now Comes the Fun Part (5LR'20)
• Shadows of the Heart (27FF'21)
• Stepping Lightly (14MW'21)
• Whispering Wrath Across the Thunderpath (24TW'20)

Adopted Brothers:
Redpaw (A cream mackerel tabby tom with white paws and copper eyes)

Dazzlepaw (A bright red mackerel tabby tom with light copper eyes)

Foster Mother:

Clovershine (A shorthaired cream lynx point tabby with bright blue eyes)

Name Progression: Murkkit –> Duskpaw –> Duskmantle (unless circumstances brings a change)

Duskpaw has been in 5/6 IC training thread per apprenticeship. Therefore, his merits of a warrior IC will be relatively high with a few notable weaknesses.

Beginning Warrior Training Progress

• Border Tour – ✓ Completed

• First Gathering – ✓ Completed

• The Code (Beginning Level) – Acceptable

• Scenting & Tracking – Good

• Stalking – Good

• Vulnerabilities – Good

• Field Medicine – ✓ Completed

• Conditioning – Good

Intermediate Warrior Training Progress

• Practical Hunting – Good

• Clan Specific Strategies – Acceptable

• Special Hunting Techniques – Good

• Swim – Good

• Chase – Acceptable

• Duck – Very Good

• Fish – Good

• Strikes, Attacks, & Blocks – Very Good

• Basic Practical Combat – ✓ Completed

• The Code (Advanced Level) – ✓ Completed

Advanced Warrior Training Progress

• Hunting Patrols – Acceptable

• Advanced Battle Techniques – Good

• The Art of Teamwork – Acceptable

• Practical Patrol Work – ✓ Completed

• Visit to Highstones – ✓ Completed