Post by Birchbark on Jul 19, 2013 13:30:30 GMT -5
BIRCHBARK
PINECLAN x MEDICINE CAT
GRUMPY ● LOYAL ● FAITHFUL
General Knowledge
AGE: 60 Moons
GENDER: Male
BREED: Lynx Point Siamase/Tabby mix
SEXUALITY: Pansexual
REASON FOR NAME:prefix
The prefix “Birch” is a reference to the stripes on his legs, face, tail, and underside, which resembles the dark stripes found in the bark of birch trees.
suffix
The suffix “bark” gained its place in reference to Birchbark’s coarse personality. Tree bark is rough and unyielding, much like this tom.
Appearance
Birchbark is a lynx point siamese and tabby mix. Most of his features prove the mixed Siamese heritage, but his tabby heritage can be found in the stripes that extend past his legs to his belly as well. His ears and tail are the darkest parts of his pelt, while the mantle around his neck and shoulders is the lightest. The stripes on his forelegs are darker than the stripes on his rear legs.
Birchbark is not the young cat he once was. Since his apprentice days he has lost the lanky limbs of youth, exchanged instead for brawnier bulk of age. Birchbark is one of the shorter cats in the clan, though his broader body makes him weigh about as much as an average cat. Blue eyes and a pink nose might at first make him seem like a friendlier cat, but with ears swiveled to match his seemingly permanent scowl, body language from Birchbark usually makes him seem off-putting.
Personality
Personality is a defining factor for Birchbark, enough so that he gained his name for it. At the very least, he’s known as a grumpy fellow. At the most, he’s stubborn, unyielding, and he knows that his way is the right way. He doesn’t waste his time on nonsense outside of his duties. Along with the properties of plants, Birchbark understands everything about StarClan as solid fact. He carries a slight amount of resentment from his achievements being hidden under the controversy of a second Medicine apprentice, but reminds him that ultimately, it does not matter, only that helping others does.
Under the gruff facets of his personality, there are redeeming qualities. Such a gruff, stubborn nature also lends itself to grim determination, and Birchbark refuses to give up, even if some of his patients do. He puts a lot of time into weighing commitments and once his loyalty is captured, it remains. He is a loyal servant first to StarClan, second to anyone who needs his talents, and third to his clan, and Birchbark intends to keep this loyalties religiously until the day he dies.
History
FAMILY:Mother: Mothfur
Father: Kestreltail
Sister: Ivythorn
Birchbark was born in a time that was trying for PineClan. Drought set in a month after his birth, only to be ended by flooding moons after that, which quickly froze. As a young kit, Birchbark hoped to one day be a warrior, but his dreams were only momentarily dashed upon being named Medicine Cat apprentice. It wasn’t his original hope, but he took to the new knowledge well, and worked diligently. Being a Medicine Cat, he would feel just as accomplished in this as he would if a Warrior.
His apprenticeship was filled with experience that makes him one of the most well versed medicine cats around. He saw the maladies and remedies to accompany droughts, fires, floods, freezes, and illnesses.Birchbark gained his name in Year 7, Moon 12, when he was 19 moons. The ceremony where Birchbark gained his name and rank was coincidentally the same as when Emberkit became Emberpaw. The controversy of a Loner-fathered kit coming in and being singled out as the second Medicine apprentice was far more interesting than the moons upon moons of hard work Birchbark put into his training, and he still carries a chip on his shoulder from having his accomplishments shadowed.
Birchbark became the full-fledged Medcine cat in the ninth moon of year nine. After the insect carried illness had struck its harshest blows, his mentor Redleaf fell as well, and Birchbark took his place. His first few moons of duties mainly involved guiding those precious few that had survived the illness back to health. As for Emerpaw, Redleaf did want to give her her name six moons earlier than Birchbark received his, but that was delayed by the unrest and unwillingness of PineClan to trust. In respect for Redleaf, Birchbark kept Emberstorm as an apprentice after his death.
