(My second form, this one and the other are still WIPs. ;])
Username:4dogowner
Name:Pheonix
Gender:female
Species:Feral cat
Kennel Number:81
Why would you like this character/What will you do for this character?:This stunning character caught my eye the moment I saw it donated. I was breathless at the sight of it, and I couldn't wait for the next round to start. I just knew I had to make a form for her. She is so gorgeous, from her beautiful design, to her one white eye. Simply breathtaking, and so very unique.. I will give her a home on my character website, where she will never have to fear being left to collect dust. She will be one of the main subjects of my art as I try to learn how to successfully draw felines, and I will write a number of stories about her life.
Personality:Persistant and Determined:Pheonix isn't known for just giving up when times get hard. She learned, while growing up, that it's worth it to keep trying and complete whatever you're trying to do. She always finds a way, in her times of trial, difficulty, or suffering, to somehow keep going. She forces the thought into her mind, that if she just keeps going for just five minutes more, it'll all be worth it. Sure, when she was young, her faith was easily waned, but she realized after certain events that she couldn't just give up.
Loving and Caring:Being rescued by her adopted mother, Fog, as a kit made Pheonix see that there are good people out there. She feels that, because someone saved her life and kept her safe when she was so close to death, she should make Fog's actions worth it. She helps others whenever she sees they are in danger, or need assistance at all. She will comfort those who are fearful, or sad, and she knows that, if needed, she would gladly help save an abandoned kit, as Fog did for her.
Distrustful:Pheonix is slow to trust new people. She knows there are good people out there, but she doesn't know which ones those are. Therefore, she tends to regard others with wariness, until she decides that they are trustworthy. This doesn't usually take too long, as she has a knack at figuring others out in shorts amount of time. She'll help anyone, yes, but if they do anything at all to wane her trust, she'll be done with them permanently.
Unforgiving:She has a tendency to hold a grudge, and due to her already wary nature, Pheonix is quite sensitive. If someone she thinks she can trusts hurts her in even the slightest way, speaks the tiniest little white lie, she is through with them. She feel such an intense sense of betrayal by anything like that, and just never finds a way to forgive them. They could apologize a million times and more, but it won;t make a difference to her. They hurt her once, for all she knows they could do it again, and she just doesn't want to set herself up in that position again.
Ignorant: Pheonix tends not to notice things about others unless they are especially obvious. Vague changes in their temperment or how they act isn't usually comprehended by her, and this often results in others getting upset at her for not realizing that they are upset or something of the sort.
Deny, Deny, Deny..:Pheonix often denies anything she doesn't want to believe, whether she knows it's true or not. She forces herself to believe it'll help keep her from thinking about it and keep others off her back regarding the matter, but it really doesn't help in either case.
Mouthy:Pheonix tends to talk back to others when they say something she finds to be annoying, ignorant, or really just something she generally doesn't like. Sarcasm is a tool she often uses, and it's not uncommon for her to come off as somewhat rude as well.
"The problem is that my mouth moves when I think..":Pheonix has a tendency to blurt things out without intending to. Often, she thinks it's just in her mind that she is saying it, and becomes quite surprised to find out it was out loud.
History: The forest was silent except for the weak mews of a tiny kitten, lying limply on the ground as it cried for it's mother. Her mother was gone, though. When the kit was born, her mother had immediatey cast it from the litter, tossing it with ease out of their little den after seeing it's one blind eye. "She won't be able to hunt.."she yowled to herself, looking over the rest of her litter. "She's better off dead now than starving and slowing us down later.." She gathered her other two kits it her jaws and stepped over the crying kitten on the ground, padding away through the forest. She ignored the frightened kitten as it mewed sadly, shivering weakly in the cold.
The kitten grew terribly cold without the warmth of her mother and littermates. Her stomach ached with hunger, and her mews were hardly audible in her weak state. She felt so miserable, so confused. Despite the fact that she was very young, hardly a day old, she was still shocked by the abandonment she had faced. She didn't know why this had happened. What could she possibly have done in her first day of living to deserve this?
The kitten had given up all hope of survivial, or of her mother returning for her. She could hear the howls of wolves somewhere off in the distance, but she could tell that they were coming nearer. She didn't yet know the risks that the predatory canines could pose to her, but certainly knew that they sounded frightening. She had stopped her desperate cries for help, knowing they weren't helping her at all. The kit curled up weakly in a ball, trying in a futile attempt to warm herself. Shivering in the cold, she shut her eyes, breathing in a strained manner. She began to drift into a cold sleep, shivering uncontrollably. She suddenly heard a faint noise nearby. Something hitting the ground. She slowly opened her eyes and glanced around. She made out a vague, blurry figure slinking past her. Her one blind eye made it difficult for her to tell what it was..Until it stepped closer and peered down at her. The kit blinked and lifted her tiny head weakly, before letting it drop again. She was so hungry, so weak, all she could tell was that it was a furred creature of some sort.. She felt jaws wrap gently around her little body and lifted her into the air, but she didn't have any fight left in her. She allowed herself to be carried away, drifting off into exhaustion.
When she awoke, the kit felt warm. She burried her head into the warm body beside her. The scent of milk caught her nose, and she searched for the source. She drank hungrily, then suddenly remembered that she had been abandoned by her mother. She opened her eyes and peered up at the body that was warming her and providing her with milk. She realized that it was another cat. She was a smokey grey color, with dark blue eyes. She watched the little kit closely. "Hungry, aren't you little one?"she purred, her voice light and kind. The kit simply stared up at her, trying to understand what had happened. This strange cat had saved her, a half blind, tiny, and weak kit. Why would someone do that? It would be somuch easier to just leave her, as her mother had, but this cat had chosen to help her, to take a chance on a little lame runt. She drifted off into sleep, nuzzling against the cat's warm belly fur as her unconscious mind tried to understand all that had happened.
The kit soon learned that the kind cat that had saved her was named Fog. She had assumed it was because of her grey fur, but found that it was actually because of her keen ability to travel and hunt, even in the thickest fog, without any difficulty. "What did the others call you before you were Fog?"she asked curiously, the tiny kit sitting down unsteadily and adjusting her head so she could see Fog clearly with her one good eye. Fog paused, adjusting her head thoughtfully. "They called me Dark Ears." The kit peered up at Fog's ears, only then noticing that the tips were the same dark color as the cat's face. "What am I called?" Fog studied the kit for a moment. "Spotted one."she purred with a soft smile. The kitten looked herself over for a bit, suddenly feeling rather upset. Her name was so generic, it just described the spots pattering her golden brown coat. But Fog's name had true meaning. She was named for a great ability the she-cat had. The kitten sighed sadly, and Fog nuzzled her. "I gained my name when the others decided I had earned it. You won't just be a description forever." The kitten looked up at her and mewed quietly,"But I'm useless.." She knew that she wouldn't be able to do anything worthy of gaining a name. With her one blind eye, seeing through thick fog wasn't going to happen. And she was so tiny and thin..She had seen some of the other kits. She was barely half as big as them. A cat that small wouldn't be a very successful hunter. Fog sighed and nuzzled her. The kitten was glad she hadn't tried to comfort her, tell her that she was perfectly normal, that she had just as much ability as the others. She didn't want Fog to start lying to her so soon.
For the next days, the kit stayed close to Fog all the time. Fog didn't mind, and she seemed rather pleased, glad to have someoen to look out for. She told the kit about how she had recently had a litter of kits, but both had been stillborn. She had been terribly depressed, but finding the kit had made her far happier. "Spotted one.."she purred. "You don't mind me acting as your mother, do you?" The kit peered up at her and nuzzled her tiny head into her fur. "You make a great mother."she mewed. Fog smiled, and the kit couldn't help but feel gleeful at the sight of Fog's happiness. As she followed close behind her, watching Fog glance back at her regularly to be sure she was there and safe, she knew she would have been a fine mother to her kits. She just hoped she could be just as good a daughter.
"Spotted one,"Fog mewed to the kit as they passed a few other cats in their clan,"I'm taking you to meet my mate, Leap." The kit hurried forward, excited to meet him. "Is he very friendly? Is he big and strong?" she mewed excitedly, bounding forward on her unsteady little feet. Fog caught the little kit in her jaws to stop her from tumbling. "Calm down."she chuckled. "Leap is quite kind, and yes, he is rather large. Come along now, and stay with me." The kits held in her eagerness as she padded beside Fog, trying to keep up with her with her little feet. Her strides had to be very long and fast in order for her to stay with her, and the little kit ran out of breath rather fast.
They reached a tall tree, and Spotted One peered up into the branches and leaves curiously. "Why are we here?"she mewed to Fog. Fog simply smiled and looked back up. The leaves rustled, and suddenly something leaped from the tree. The kit jumped, cowering behind Fog. She then realized it was a tall dark brown tom. His deep green eyes were fierce, but she saw softness in them as he studied her. "Who's this?"he purred, flicking his ears curiously. Fog nuzzled him and mewed,"She is called Spotted One, dear. I found her in the forest." Leap lowered his head to study the kit closer. She saw his eyes pass over her face, and she knew he was studying her one blind eye. She was somewhat intimidated, but saw that he had a kind heart and would accept her. She smiled hesitantly to herself. She believed she would like her new family.
The kit found within the next few days that, although her adopted parents were greatly kind, not all of the cats that resided in that area were of the same temperment. She met several other kittens, and was almost immediately mocked and brutally teased for her one blind eye by each one. The series of aggressive comments always send her fleeing in search of Fog, who she quickly had begun calling "Mother". "Mother!"she yowled desperately after the first incident, trying to keep the sorrow and pain out of her small voice as she stumbled forward on her little feet. Fog nuzzled her in concern. "What's wrong my dear?"she asked. The kit was trembling, both from the stress the other kits had caused her and from the exhaustion that she felt after her sprint to Fog. "The other kits.."she mewed sadly after catching her breath and lying by Fog's paws. "They were so cruel.." She stared up at Fog, her good eye wide with sorrow. She had been so eager to make friends, to become "one of the gang." She had hoped that she would be accepted as kindly as with Fog and Leap, but had been so very wrong. Fog sighed. "What were they saying?"she purred softly. The kitten sighed. "They mocked me for my bad eye..and said I'd be a useless hunter.." Fog paused, then smiled and nuzzled her. "Well, then I think you'll just have to prove them wrong, won't you?"
After the conversation with her mother, Spotted One decided she would prove them wrong, even if it meant her working ten times harder than the others to succeed. She accompanied Fog and Leap on hunting trips whenever they would allow her, watching their movements closely and observing the results. She would try to repeat their movements, but her tiny body and blindness on one side left her off balance. She often tumbled to the ground, but each time would pick herself back up, grit her teeth in determination, and try again. When she finally managed to mimic her mother's pounce and land steadily on her paws without falling, the sense of pride that swept through made her even more determined to go on, and made her hopeful that she would succeed.
Many moon cycles passed, and the tiny kit grew every day. With the good supply of meat she recieved from hunting trips, she grew larger and stronger. Soon she was no longer the little kitten she had been, and was no longer considered a runt. Her fur grew long and silky, the spots patterning her pelt more prominent. She had finally learned to hunt on her own, and although she didn't have the agility to hop with ease through the trees like her father, or the eyesight to see through the thickest fog like her mother, she did rather well. She could chase down a rabbit or squirrel, having learned to overcome the weakness her blind eye had given her by using her one good eye to her advantage. But, none of her accomplishments stopped the brutal teasing and bullying she recieved from the other cats her age. They continued to mock her blind eye, making her feel like all she had managed to do was useless. She would never be anything more than a dud in the eyes of her clan.
One afternoon, as she fled from her attackers once again, their vicious comments still flying in her direction, she was stopped by a tall, burly tom. His dark brown eyes swept over her with intrigue, and she tried to figure out who he was. He didn't seem to be an intruder. He appeared far too at home in their territory to not reside there. But who was he? She didn't recall ever having seen the powerful looking tom before, and she knew she would remember him if she had. One of his ears were torn, and a number of scars patterned his coat. "Who might you be?"the tom asked her, his tone gentle, though not affecting his intimidating stature. She murmured,"Spotted One.", eyeing him warily as she did so. The tom smiled softly and replied,"I have heard about you, about how everyone has doubted your survial since you first arrived here.." She was about to spit out a fiery retort at the tom, interpreting his words as yet another series of mockingness. But, he added,"And how well you have improved and managed to impress us all."
She paused, awestruck ."Impressed?"she muttered in surprise, not believing his words. "Nobody has ever been impressed by anything about me..Only surprised that I've managed too live this long.."She grumbled, narrowing her eyes darkly. The tom chuckled. "I don't think so. Even I'm impressed by your improval." Spotted One rolled her eyes and asked with an annoyed sigh. "And what makes you think that the opinion of a random clan cat is going to change anything?" The tom paused, and replied as he turned to leave,"Just make sure to be present at the naming ceremony Spotted One." She pondered what that could possibly mean as she too turned to trot off back to her den.
The naming ceremony was an important event in the clan. Spotted One had yet to witness one, but had heard of them often. Every twelve months, when the kittens from the last year's spring births had grown, matured, and made their skills and personalities evident, the naming ceremony would be held to honor their accomplishments. The title of the event made what went on there obvious: The young cats would be rewarded their permanent adult names. The majority of the adolescent cats will have shown their true colors by then and blossomed into successful felines, and those that have accomplished enough will gain their names, which were chosen by the clan leader depending on each of the cat's accomplishments. But, some, usually those born lame or especially tiny, didn't master their skills well enough to deserve such an honor. These few would not be given a name, and would be forced to wait another twelve months before gaining another chance to earn one. Often, cats not successful during their first naming ceremony would be shunned and cast out by their families for bringing shame to their bloodline. These were often avoided by the rest of the clan as well, preventing them from gaining any assistance in improving. Because of all this, cats who don't get names their first time around rarely wind up getting one at all.
Spotted One just knew she would be one of the unnamed ones. The clan leader, though she had yet to meet him, would surely have heard the rumors spreading about her. Her blind eye, her weak right side, how she had been abandoned by her birth mother, and how she wasn't born into the clan. He would despise her before even seeing her. Despite her mother's attempts at comforting her, at assurring her that she would gain a name, the young cat rejected the possibility. It wasn't going to happen. The entire clan judged her before even seeing what she could do. She had no chance.
When the day of the naming ceremony came around, Spotted One had no interest in attending. She remain held up high in a tree, watching as the rest of the clan made their way to the the clan leader's den. She didn't want to be there when the clan leader called up all of the kits born the last year, when he gave all of the successful ones their names, when she wasn't one of them. If she was going to spend the rest of her life in potential exile, she didn't want to be present at the start of it. She sat balanced on a high branch, feeling breezes sweep through her fur. Suddenly, she felt the branch shift, and turned to face her father. He sat down on the branch with her, balancing so evenly that the branch didn't even sway from the the large tom's weight. He studied her curiously. "Why aren't you going? This is a very important day for you." Spotted One released a large sigh that she had been holding in. "There's no point." was all she told him, avoiding his steady gaze. Leap sighed. "I can't say I fully understand where you are coming from, having never been in this situation before.." His words were rather awkward, and Spotted One knew her mother must have sent him up to get her, against his will. Leap was never really one for words, and one on one conversations often made him uncomfortable. "But.."he continued. "Just know that we will always be here for you, and our love for you won't be affected, no matter what the results of today's ceremony are..."
Spotted One studied his countenance for a short while, seeing the grief and anxiety he felt sweep across his expression. She knew she was the reason for his stress, and felt awful for it. She sighed, leaning forward to nuzzle him. "Alright.."she murmured quietly. "I'll go.." Leap released a sigh of relief. "Great. I know you'll do fantastic." Spotted One didn't reply, not really wanting to upset him again by speaking her thoughts.
The entire clan crowded around the tall, wide oak tree that the clan leader made his den beneath. Excited voices were all around, and as Spotted One followed her parents through the crowds, she watched other families. Mothers tidying up their offspring's fur in preparance for their names being announced, father's giving pep talks to their sons, mothers cheerily telling of the number of suitors coming after them after their naming. Spotted One glanced towards her mother and father, curious as to whether they'd be doing similar actions with her.
Her thoughts were interrupted as a booming voice swept across the crowds, silencing each cat. It sounded familiar, and she turned to face it's source. Her eyes widened in surprise, seeing the same tall, brawny tom she had met only a few days before, stepping out from the large burrow beneath the towering oak tree. "Is that.."she began, her eyes flashing up to her parents. Her father nodded,"The clan leader? Yes, that is Thunder." Spotted One vaguely wondered about his name, curious as to whether it was because of his powerful voice. Maybe it's louder than thunder? But again, she was forced back into reality by his loud voice. "Today, we honor the accomplishments of our yearling cats. For those who have excelled at hunting, gathering, or any other admiral skill, names will be given to permanently honor how they have grown and improved."
He went on to call up individual young cats by their current "names". Spotted One watched the cats stride up to join him at the sound of their names. She recognized several of them, and was pleased to finally be able to put names to their faces, after never knowing what they were called. She listened to them being given names, as well as explanations behind why they gained the names. This went on for what seemed like hours to her as she grew rapidly more bored and antsy, wishing she didn't have to be there. As more and more cats were named, she became even more depressed, well aware that she wasn't going to have the honor of being one of them. Only when Thunder called out,"There are no unnamed yearlings this year." did she halt her dejected thoughts, replacing them with questionable ponderings of confusion.
She heard confused voices rise up, and knew they must be thinking the same as her. Spotted One couldn't possibly be getting a name..Maybe he just forgot all about her? Thunder's powerful voice silenced the clan. "Spotted One, please step forward." The young feline froze, glancing around as the entire clan fell silent and turned to face her. She swallowed and slowly began padding through the crowds towards Thunder. As she reached him, she peered up at him warily, once again feeling intimidated by the brutish tom, despite the gentle expression on his face. "Spotted One, you joined this clan an abandoned kit. Half blind and the smallest of the year's kittens, few believed that you would live through your first week." The clan remained speechless, hanging onto every word he spoke. "But you prevailed. Yes, you were slow to develop, and were the smallest of your age for quite awhile, but you were learning and growing, working through your weaknesses to improve all you could. You rose from the ashes of a broken, near death kit, and grew to be an admirable accomplishment in yourself and everything you have managed to do. For this, you are called Pheonix." The awestruck silence remained for several seconds, until a cheerful yowl broke through the silence, and more erupted all around the crowds of cats. Spotted One was no longer just the generic Spotted One. She could now walk proudly and boldly through the crowds of her clan mates, her head held high. Their taunts couldn't hurt her anymore. Nothing they could possibly say could change who she was. She wasn't a runt, she wasn't useless, she wasn't a mistake. She was a Pheonix.
Other:Ginger ale
by Solanum » Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:27 am 
