Redfur }{ WindClan's Deputy

[heathclaw]

Redfur

need to know

[/b] 2nd
»clan: WindClan
» age: 48 moons
» gender: Tom
» rank: Deputy
» status: Healthy
» mentor/apprentice: Mothpaw

» description: Bulky long-haired orange tom with copper eyes[/ul]
deeper

[/b] Intimidating. That's the first word that comes into your mind when you first see this cat. As far as WindClan cats go, Redfur's built like a furry, dark orange tank; tall, wide, and muscular. He's a long-hair, as well, which serves to make him look even bigger than he really is. With big paws, meticulously maintained claws, and a long, thick tail prone to thrashing in annoyance, Redfur emits an aura of contained power. Move past the thick ruff of fur around his neck, and we arrive at his broad face, with two stern looking copper eyes, which spark with the fierce flame of life. As a warrior with three years of experience, Redfur has acquired quite a few wounds to show for it, the most obvious being a long diagonal gash across his chest from the battle at Fourtrees. The fur has grown back at this point, but the color will never return.

Sternness is not Redfur's only expression, although it's his default, what he uses to maintain an appearance of self-control and confidence. His moments of kindness and tenderness are rare, and often only shared with his former apprentices, it is only at these times when he seems to be somewhat relaxed. It's only when he's in private does he allow a flicker of doubt to appear in his eyes.

» personality: Without the Warrior Code, how can we call ourselves warriors? This is Redfur's primary struggle. There was a time in this cat's life when StarClan and the Warrior Code were of utmost importance. But StarClan's silence, and the bloody battle at Fourtrees has shaken those convictions. At this point in time, Redfang's primary loyalty is to the members of his clan. He feels somewhat uneasy about the current state of affairs in WindClan, but he believes strongly in Palestar's kindness and willingness to do good, and will do his utmost to support her in this, keeping his unease to himself.

The conflict at Fourtrees was unforgivable to Redfur, it tore at his personal life and his convictions. Since then, he has become highly distrustful of the other clans, bordering on the edge of barely contained hatred.

Redfur prides himself on his decisiveness. In his youth, he was always running headlong into things. Maturity has taught him the value of thinking, planning, and considering his actions, but he'd still much rather be doing things than debating about them. He doesn't deal with emotions well, and often adopts a tough love attitude towards motivating his apprentices and his fellow clanmates. However, he cares for everyone in his clan deeply, even if he can't always find the words to show it. He fears nothing more than losing another clanmate before his eyes.

» background: Redkit and his brother Foxkit were born to Stoneclaw and Firestripe, two cats with a reputation for loyalty and fierceness. From the beginning, the two of them were held to higher standards than other kits. They still had their playtime, yes, but they were also expected to be drilled in the Warrior Code, and to use at least some of their playtime in a constructive manner, encouraged to spend time wrestling and play stalking.

Redkit couldn't wait to be made an apprentice, especially once his older nursery mates started leaving the nursery. He felt that he was more than ready by the time he and his brother reached their sixth moon. He did not, however, expect his mentor to be his father Stoneclaw. By this point, he knew better than to expect any leniency from Stoneclaw, but he was utterly unprepared for the harshness of his training. There was little praise, and much criticism. Stoneclaw would often ask the near impossible from his son-apprentice, always pushing him, always forcing him past his limits. While the young apprentice learned at a prodigious rate, he resented the harsh workouts. He often felt jealous of his brother Foxpaw, who had a much more sane mentor.

Then, in the middle of Redpaw's apprenticeship, Firestripe died. She'd been on patrol with Foxpaw, substituting for his usual mentor when they'd stumbled upon a badger, and had sacrificed her own life to help the apprentice get away. Her body was never found, only a bloodstain remained of the female warrior. Stoneclaw had accepted the news in solemn silence. Redpaw couldn't stop crying. It was hardest to understand Foxpaw, who showed no sadness at all, only pride at his mother's heroism.

The next day, Stoneclaw started training Redpaw even harder than before, much to the apprentice’s outrage.

“Mom just died! How can you get straight back to training as if nothing even happened? Don’t you care?!”

The words leapt out of his mouth before he could take them back. Stoneclaw stared at his son, utterly furious. And then, his mask broke.

“Of course I care. I care so much that it aches right down to my bones. She was my light, my everything. But she’s in StarClan now, and I still have you two. And I don’t intend on letting any one or any thing kill you. And if that means I have to beat the living daylights out of you in training to make you a top-notch warrior, then that’s what I’ll do! Because you can take it. You’re my son.”

From that day on, relationships between Redpaw and his father became less strained. There were still moments when they were at each other’s throats, but they were much less common, and Stoneclaw could not have been prouder than when Redpaw received his warrior name, Redfur.

Moons passed. Redfur began to make a name for himself as an accomplished fighter and hunter, and quite as fierce a mentor as his father. The one thing he never really got the hang of was handling emotions, really only managing to become close with his apprentices and his father. He felt distant from his own brother, Foxtooth, and both Redfur and Stoneclaw were worried about that.

Shortly after Palestar became leader, things came to a head between the family. An argument had broken out between brother, father, and sons, and things were said that could not be taken back. Stoneclaw judged Foxtooth to be a failure, a cat who wasted his talents with sloth and idleness, more content to chase around she-cats than mice. Foxtooth had replied that Stoneclaw was a blind fool, and Redfur would be too, the way he was headed. Foxtooth and Stoneclaw would never speak again, although Stoneclaw gruffly requested that Redfur "look out for his idiot brother," both sides being too proud to apologize to the other.

And then came the time of StarClan's silence, the long period of unrest, and the bloody battle at Fourtrees, where Stoneclaw, who had refused to retire, met a bloody end. WindClan was in turmoil, with so many cats lost, not the least of which was Crowpelt, Palestar's deputy. It came to Redfur as a great surprise that he had been named deputy in Crowpelt's place. At any other time, he would have gladly accepted, but the bloody chaos and the lives that he'd been unable to save then left him in doubt. Of all cats, it was Foxtooth who had found him and convinced him to accept the position, to be an example that WindClan could follow as they rebuilt. "It's what Stoneclaw would've wanted for his son," he'd said. Since then, Redfur has been attempting to mend relations with his brother, while handling the dual tasks of managing the clan and keeping watchful eyes on Palestar and her medicine cat in case anything goes awry.
[/ul]
immediate kin

[/b] None.
» sons: None.
» daughters: None.[/ul]
extended kin

[/b]
» mother: Firestripe (Deceased)

» brothers: Foxtooth
» sisters:

[/ul][/font]