Gillwhisker

[`Fahrenheit!]

NAME: Gillwhisker
GENDER: Tom; Male
AGE: 38 Moons
CLAN: RiverClan
POSITION: Warrior


APPEARANCE:

PELT COLOR: His pelt is a dark gray shade, although it isn't anywhere near dark enough to be considered black.
PELT LENGTH: It's of medium length; he has no long hair, and it rarely if ever gets matted up.
MARKINGS: He simply has thick, dark (pretty much black although they aren't much darker than his pelt) stripes that cover his entire body. Also, his paws are a snow white.
EYE COLOR: They are of a brilliant sable color, standing out lavishly against his dark face.
BUILD: Not the most macho tom around, his build is of a typical RiverClan cat: firm yet lithe. He is in no way feminine looking.
OTHER: Gillwhisker's body is as perfect as the day he was born. No scars or bruises worth noting; he's pretty much clean and splendid.

STRENGTHS:

As a warrior of RiverClan, there are two main, important things that Gillwhisker prevails at: hunting and running. First, his hunting skill. The tom has always been known for his impressive ability to toss up fish and swiftly kill them (not to mention a well-captured mouse or two). His pelt blends in well with the rocks and shadows, so as long as he stays quiet he's practically a fly on the wall. He enjoys this perk to his abilities very much, for it gives him a another notch to add to his superiority complex.

Secondly, his speed is to be addressed. Because of his slender frame and short pelt, he is very agile and can cut across glens in a matter of seconds. This may be surprising considering he's a RiverClan cat, but the trait developed nonetheless. He muses that he probably built up strength from all the swimming practices, and he theorizes that probably any cat from his Clan could be as fast as him. Although, maybe not as fast. But close enough. Something else that goes along with this is that Gillwhisker is a very stealthy tom. His grace when padding through the trees, through muddy fields, or balancing on stones is impeccable at best. He often looks rather regal without even attempting to (to his utter elation).

WEAKNESSES:

The only weakness that he'll ever even come close to admitting is that he is a terrible fighter. Well, not exactly terrible; more so out of practice and a bit lame as if his leg is busted. Also, maybe a tad bit clumsy. This is because he shirked his work when he was an apprentice all in order to try and get Minnowleap to tutor him, but it failed and only affected him in the long run. Grudgingly, Gillwhisker will admit that it wasn't the smartest thing he'd ever done, but he doesn't exactly regret it. After all, what can he really do? The warrior would just have to train. But like StarClan he'd ever let anyone see him!

While this is arguably not a weakness, it will be considered one in this case. A bad thing about him is that he has problems expressing himself. It isn't like he can't communicate with others; it's just that he often has issues trying to get cats to understand him and what he really means. For example, when he means to be sweet and consoling, he'll probably sound rude or impatient by mistake. Only cats really close to him know not to take his perpetual frown and condescending words to heart. Although, strangers on the other hand tend to frustrate and confuse him, for they take offense by his personality and refuse to understand him. It's a difficult conundrum for Gillwhisker; one that he can barely grasp and hardly notice is occurring.

PERSONALITY:

POSITIVES:

• He is very brave; he will not back down from a good cause or succumb to fear.
  
• Albeit densely, Gillwhisker is quite informed, being a clever and smart warrior.
  
• The tom is very sure of himself, never doubting his talents or disposition.
  
• He is generally a nice cat, going through periods of generosity sometimes.
  
• Gillwhisker is undeniably out-going, never wary to join the conversation and start some himself.
  
• Despite some rash decisions in the past, he is normally a sensible warrior.
  
• The tom is a good negotiator, being able to persuade his way out of all kinds of things.
  
• Outstanding arithmetic makes up for his 'social awkwardness'.
  

NEGATIVES:

• The warrior shows affection through chastising and teasing (which in some cases winds up going too far).
  
• He is easily angered, not able to tolerate stupidity and obnoxiousness for too long.
  
• He is also quite stubborn. He refuses to give up, and nothing is left unsettled.
  
• As stated previously, he has problems expressing himself appropriately.
  
• He has the tendency to be over-protective with things, whether they be family, friends, or lovers.
  
• Most famously, he has a superiority complex - meaning he has to be in control.
  
• Anyone who says something bad about him is in deep water; he cannot take criticism at all whatsoever.
  
• Good for others but bad for him, he gets adorably flustered when embarrassed. And he gets embarrassed easily.
  

LIKES:

• Gillwhisker loves swimming. The feel of the water around him is just too wonderful.
  
• He loves cats with a lot of vigor and animation; they inspire him, surprisingly.
  
• Although not deathly strict, he views the warrior code as serious business and likes the things it enforces.
  
• He is an appreciator of nature; he especially loves the water.
  
• He's an avid fan of fish, of course, and loves to eat voraciously when allowed.
  
• Bright, sunny days with vast, blue skies are his favorite.
  
• He really likes birds, especially songbirds with vibrant colors.
  

DISLIKES:

• He hates heights. Being up too high actually makes him nauseous.
  
• He loathes anyone who is way too shy or annoyingly laid-back.
  
• Law-breakers irk him like no other. There are very few who would not be victimized by him if they were to meander from the warrior code.
  
• He dislikes it when cats find it necessary to be incessantly boastful.
  
• He loathes the rain, especially if it's pelting and roaring like an endless torrent.
  
• Another thing would be infidelity of any kind. He believes strongly that the partners in a relationship should be loyal to one another.
  
• Just like his hatred of heights, he hates being underground.
  

Fears:

Although he appears to be the most courageous tom out of everyone, he does have one major fear that he cannot overcome. It's a large phobia, and its a big personality problem. It's something that has to be stressed about him; it s big part of how he acts and interacts with others. So, getting to the thick of the matter, he's afraid of being put in a situation where he has no control. As was already established, Gillwhisker has a fairly noticeable superiority complex. He has to be in charge of everything, including cats that he can hover over. Of course, this condition isn't so bad as to make him want to conquer Clans, but it's worse enough to make him a bit too overbearing for friends and family. He can't have cats he's familiar with toppling him or getting the better of him; he'd suddenly become insecure and unpredictable. Just ask any of his relatives - any cat who infringes on him and 'crosses that line' will often not get out without scratches and bruises.

Habits:

Gillwhisker is most definitely not cute... All right, well maybe he has some adorable habits. One that is sometimes referred to as tres mignon would be his habit of sticking out his tongue when he's sleeping. He doesn't mean to do it, he just does. Don't point it out to him, though! Gillwhisker has been known to get upset and defensive when the topic is brought up; or maybe one would prefer to label it as, 'adorably flustered'. Another thing he does that falls under the same category would be how he tucks his paws underneath him and splays out on his stomach like a piece of cloth. He normally does that with intending to when concentrating.

Another habit is not as cute. He has been noted to pace in circles when anxious or excited. It's almost comical, actually. His tail would be lashing about and his face would be facing the ground, just padding around in an endless circle. Some like to joke with him that he'll burn an oval path into the grass, and he'll reply right back with, "And then the grass still there will have rain water left over for days."

Goals:

He has one goal and one goal only. Minnowleap. The beautiful warrior that eludes his grasp every day as if mocking him. He loves her with every fiber of his being. In fact, he could never describe how much he truly feels affection toward her; it's an immeasurable thing that he and the she-cat will probably never fully understand. Sadly, though, he must come to terms that it is currently an unrequited love affair. It has always been an unrequited endearment. Gillwhisker had had these feelings ever since he was an apprentice. Stubborn as he is though, he won't give up on her. So long as he and she have air in their lungs, he will continue to fight for her, defend her, love her, brood for her, and support her. She is the only one who could ever warp him and flip him upside down - she is the only exception. Screw it. She's everything. It's borderline obsession, but he doesn't care. The she-cat is the blood in his veins, and he will always have her in his mind and heart. So, for as long as he can see, she will be his main goal and want for the remainder of his days.

Dreams:

Like above, his dreams are of Minnowleap. Nothing new. Although, he does have a weird nightmare. It involves a red tom; he can never recognize his face or scent, for the figure is always masked. He's always out of reach, and he never responds to Gillwhisker's calls and yowls. It's an odd feeling of trepidation and foreshadowing, though; it's as if he's looking at the body of a future adversary and enemy. He can never shake the feeling, and he's looking over his shoulder when at gatherings. Any ginger tom is always under his scrutiny. Almost a paranoia, he hopes that his dream is just a silly night time creation and will never become anything more than that.

Secrets:

Gillwhisker suffocated his brother. Oh wait, what? Too little information? Well, when he was little, in fact, still in the nursery, he had accidentally stifled his brother in the nest. The tom was much weaker than he, and he was dangerously curled under a bundle of feathers and grass. Today, the warrior barely remembers the incident, but at the time it had been a traumatizing experience that he didn't fully comprehend until he was an apprentice. Luckily, he wasn't charged with murder. In fact, it was passed off as his littermate being too weak and dying on his own. So, he's off clean with everyone none the wiser.

On a brighter but slightly stranger note, Gillwhisker also happens to have a peculiar fetish. While this is not entirely secret, the full extent of his affliction is unknown to most of the populace. As mentioned before, the warrior has a superiority complex where he feels as though he must be in control of everything. None as much so as, surprise, surprise, birds. As one may hear from time to time in old proverbial texts: "The reason why cats hate the birds so much is because they are the only ones that can be above them." This holds true with Gillwhisker in a rather awkward and yet interesting manner. Thankfully, he rarely encounters the feathered creatures, but when he does he instantly becomes infatuated with them, whether they be dead or alive. A quirk, though; when dead, he often stares at them and even goes as far as to 'play' with the battered bodies. He swiped them into the air and watches intently as they fall down. It's an odd, rather abnormal thing to do with his brain. The organ likes to see the creatures flying, and some facet within him likes to be masochistic and try to make them fly, although they never do when he beats them up against gravity. When cats catch him being so peculiar, they normally don't question it, although he has been chastised before for playing with his food when he really wasn't.

RELATIONSHIPS:

MOTHER: Lizardstep - A sharp-tongued, self-assertive feline without a single altruistic bone in her body. Her pelt was dark gray with tabby stripes and blue eyes. [deceased]
FATHER: Rippleheart - Bright and war-like, he was a mastermind on the battlefield. His pelt was a boring gray color, and he had dull eyes. [deceased]
SIBLINGS: Cricketkit - A small, sickly, tom with dark fur and faint stripes. He was accidentally smothered by Gillwhisker. [deceased]
MENTOR: Dapplethroat - An arrogant young she-cat who had a very conceited opinion of the world. Her pelt was mottled and her eyes were a shocking green. [living]
CRUSH/MATE: Minnowleap - Although an unrequited crush, he cares deeply for her and probably always will. She's a calico warrior with lively eyes. [living]
OTHER: None | N/A

HISTORY:

It was a softly lit, Newleaf morning when he was born. The sun had been veiled by low-hanging stratus clouds, but they were translucent enough to allow the light to still filter through without too much of a problem. The temperature had been moderately lukewarm; humidity ladened the air, and moisture seemed to be making up for oxygen. His mother, Lizardstep, gave birth to him and his brother in RiverClan's nursery. The medicine cat was there, and so was Rippleheart, his father. The leader and a few friends of the pair had been lingering outside the den, anxious to see the new life - the first life to be produced that season. The medicine cat had washed him and Cricketkit (his sibling) before pushing him to a rather reluctant mother. Rippleheart had been abnormally placid, watching his mate show distaste and be rude to everyone there in her crotchety way. The others were not affected by this, for they were used to the behavior. All they cared about were the two kits. While their mother and father immediately held them with either disdain or something else of the like, they were unaware and nursing without thought.

Although she didn't like the job or the responsibility, Lizardstep spent her days in the nest tending to her kits. Or, not so much tending but minding. She let them feed from her milk, and she watched them grow. The two kits were alone in the nursery; the winter previous had been rough, and many queens were having late litters. That's why the medicine cat frequently visited despite the she-cat's sharp tongue. She feared the kits wouldn't survive the wet rains of Newleaf or that they were being malnourished by Lizardstep (everyone feared that, and it was the good subject of gossip for some time). Other than that, Gillwhisker can remember very few visitors. He can recall his mother's mother stopping by one time, and he can picture the face of the leader at the time looking at him and his brother. He doesn't remember his father, though, so he determined that he really mustn't have given a darn ever. He didn't; he was too busy for being notorious for neglect. Gillwhisker and Gillkit grew, but the latter being started to show signs of trouble in dark waters.

The medicine cat's visits became more frequent. It got to the point where Lizardstep weened the two kits early just so she could avoid having to be bothered by the feline. Queens who were slowly beginning to become impregnated moved into the nursery then just so they could look after the two, practically abandoned, kits. It was a sad affair, especially since everyone was fully aware of Cricketkit's dwindling health. The tom often had trouble breathing on humid nights, and he got terribly cold in the morning. Gillwhisker would often find him curled under feathers and roots, trying vainly to shield himself and maybe even hide from the world. Gillwhisker at the time had been pretty innocent about the happenings, staying away from his brother's cold body yet watching him struggle to breathe on quiet nights. A very pertinent queen had taken it upon herself to look after him especially, preoccupying her days with washing the kit's fur and watching Gillwhisker while he grew. One morning, though, things went quite wrong. The queens had been out of the nursery; they left the two brothers behind. Cricketkit had been snuggled into the moss as per usual, and his breathing was more erratic than usual. Gillwhisker had been beside him. Without meaning to, he accidentally smothered his sibling; it was bound to happen with how Cricketkit slept and how Gillwhisker was so much larger than him. It is very much a blur, that incident, and he cannot tell one all that much about it. All he can truly recall is of Lizardstep's angry scowl when she charged into the nursery and demanded that she know which queen suffocated her kit. Like she had any right to care.

Shortly thereafter, Gillwhisker was made into an apprentice. He was given the feisty and disrespectful warrior named Dapplethroat as a mentor. She was a very interesting soul; she always had a snide remark or a distasteful look to dish out, and her claws were just as skilled. The apprentice found himself wanting to stay away from the she-cat, not at all too keen on her personality and random abuse/short fuse. She often cuffed his ear for disobedience (the defiant youth within him often wanted to defy her, despite any bad outcomes). She also verbally abused him from time to time, calling him an idiot and other worse things. In retrospect, she is probably the one who gave him his cold vocabulary and volatile disposition. Not his mother, like one would think; she was barely even around to be an influence, anyway. Moving on, Dapplethroat was a source of frustration. Gillwhisker was always on a like/hate relationship with her; one could not deny her uncanny abilities. She was an expert hunter, and her wit was as swift as water falling from precipices. It's basically impossible to not find some merit in the she-cat, but its hard to find in her gargle of insufferable traits.

Throughout dealing with Dapplethroat, he did have a recess to relax with and confide in. As soon as he was apprenticed, he became good friends with a she-cat known as Minnowleap. As soon as he really got to know her and work with her, he immediately became taken with her. Although, for a while, he didn't label it as love or anything like that. For a good time during his apprenticeship, he was merely just good friends with her, and that's what he truly saw it as. (Although, honestly, he did have a sort of crush on her.) He always tried to make it so that he could train with her, and he always liked to share tongues and eat prey with her. In between rants and ravings with his mentor, he would find paradise and comfort with his good friend; he also tried to impress her daily. After all, he was going through some changes: his ego was boosting, his personality was warping (for the worst), and his prioritizes were morphing. It got to the point where he feigned inability to learn fighting techniques just so Dapplethroat would get fed up with him. That would initially clear him from her so he could be able to request tutoring from the calico she-cat. That was the beginning of Minnowleap becoming the exception — she is the only one he'd ever admit or pretend weakness to. But, because of his antics, his fighting skills suffered in effect. His pride won't let him admit that he actually does regret the poor and vain decision.

When he was made a warrior, Gillwhisker took on his full responsibilities with very little difficulty. The transition was not rough, and nothing suffered from the change. Immediately, as soon as he had no obligation to her, separated and distanced himself from Dapplethroat. The two were more than eager to go their different ways, and they didn't really even bat an eye when they became strangers in their own Clan. Gillwhisker still continued his advances on Minnowleap, if one could call them that. More like boastful strutting and huffing. His devotion to the she-cat never feigned nor wavered, and it still goes strong. It maybe even grew, depending on whether one can believe that Gillwhisker has enough room for the love of another in between his narcissism (not that he's all together that way). The tom lives his life as usual, normally spending most of his time sauntering around and hovering about his crush.

OTHER:

(For `Fahrenheit!'s benefit.)

Summary: Gillwhisker is a quirky, out-going tom with a very noticeable superiority complex. He has a fetish for birds, and he has a star-studded crush on Minnowleap. The warrior is not to be trifled with.

[|| SiLVER]

ACCEPTED !!