Softears - M - Warrior

A large, silver tom with black ears.

Softear is massive.  Many cats have jokingly called him a lynx for his size and they are not far off from the truth by comparison.  Part of his size is because if his massively long fur, but most of it actual bulk.  He is thickly muscular due to his constant training and hard work which leaves him very large. 

His long fur is a silvery grey.  He has some darker stripes that technically make him a tabby but most of them are lost int he length of his fur.  His most obvious facial feature he has are his dark ears.  Easily the darkest part of his body, his almost black ears stand out against everything, including his head.  His face is also oddly sleek compared to the rest of his boy; his face fur seems to just fall back flat against his skin.

If this big boy was a cat

In order to fully describe Softears, we must look at the two halfs of his personality - the way outsiders perceive him and the way his Clan sees him.

To the cats of other Clans, Softears is an attack dog.  He is huge and terrifying and he will not hesitate to defend his Clan or his territory.  He is a solid fighter who knows his own skills and weaknesses and after so long practicing, he can manipulate himself to perfection.  He does not tolerate trespassing and he wreaks with pride.

To those that know him he is nothing more but a great cuddly kitten.  While it is true that he is very protective, he is also very spoiling.  Coming from a large amount of kittens, he treats every apprentice as his own - but his real kit, whew is she spoiled rotten.  The best food, the best mentor, the best training.  All he ever does is watch her and smile proudly.  There isn't much of his ferocity to be taken serious as he really wouldn't hurt a fly if possible; everything else is for show.  He hardly ever speaks, but when he does everycat should listen.

In reality, Softears is a to  who would much prefer to hear everyone else's problems then deal with his own.  He is kind and gently to his Clan and family but if someone threatens his happiness he will not hesitate to take them down.  He is loyal to a fault and his size gives him easy (tough unnecessary) intimidation over others.

Redclaw and Nightfall were so deeply in love and everyone even those long gone in StarClan new about it.  There was nothing one would not do for the other and they were always together.  They made each other better warriors so no one ever really complained but the pair were so lovesick that they often thought of nothing else.  It was no surprise (in fact it took longer then most expected) for Nightfall to move to the nursery.  Her first litter was large, four strong toms who would serve ShadowClan well. 

It was but two moons after they became apprentices that she again returned t the warm den to give birth to another set, this time, just two.  Softkit (named for his massive amount of fur) and his sister were born.  The wait between her second and third litter was longer, however after her final litter, Nightfall did not return to the warrior den and instead stayed a permanent Queen.

Softkit had an intense kittenhood.  With four older brothers always looking after you and even younger kits to take care of himself, it was no surprise that Softkit turned out the strong and silent type.  He was not one to push to the front of the line or demand that he be taken out by his mentor.  He never asked to be the leader in their games and he was content to just hang back and watch.even as a youth he was prepared to step back and let someone else have the spotlight.

He was named Softpaw and was assigned to Treestump, the then most senior warrior, to be mentored by.  Softpaw was full of pride for, although he rarely spoke and didn't need to be the center of attention, he did have a love for learning and oh how he loved being a warrior.  He had a very strict self policy to never kill for fun.  he only hunted when the food was necessary and although he enjoyed wrestle-fighting with the other apprentices, he knew that he would never take another cat's life unless there was no other option. He grew strong and large while still an apprentice and his aging mentor was doing his best to keep up.

Softears was given his warrior name early, fir his leader had deemed him ready far sooner then most apprentices.  At the age of only ten moons he sat his silent vigil.  Three moons later, his littermate-sister followed him.  The pair of them were fantastic friends, but there was one she-cat who had always had his attention.  Foxtail was given her warrior name three days after he was given his apprentice name.  He had always been to shy and quiet to speak to her directly, but there was a strange, silent bond that passed between them.  When Softears was made a warrior, the two went off alone together quite often.  Although they rarely spoke even to each other, it was clear to everyone that the affection was strong on both ends.  Yet a litter never came from their love.

At least, not until eight moons ago when, after what seemed like an agonizingly long time to the other cats, Foxtail moved to the nursery.  She gave birth to one, tiny mewling red she-kit whom they named Emberkit.  She was beautiful and she was theirs.  Softears, who had only his own kithood to base after, spoiled his daughter rotten.  With so many siblings of his own, he had never been spoiled and he felt that his only-kit deserved everything and more.  Perhaps it is because of their devotion and love that she has turned out self-centered and ambitious, but if you try to tell Softears that she is wrong in anyway he will backpaw you (as a warning, of course).

See One-eye.

Lyrics: Never Let Me Go by Florence + the Machine