MOLESHADE | SC WARRIOR

Molekit and Mousekit are born to Born a two-kit litter. Two dark toms, identical twins. There's hardly a way to tell them apart until they're old enough to walk and babble. As they learn to walk and waddle and explore, it's clear Mole is the more outgoing of the pair, while Mousekit hangs back, more content to watch or try to restrain his brother's antics.

Molekit's parents were both very respected, senior warriors. As a result a lot was expected from him, but it was easy to see Molekit was the disappointment of the litter. Mouse learned his manners and became a sweet, polite little cat, while Mole liked to stick out his tongue and go PFFPFPFPFFPF to anyone who tried to tell him what to do!

As their sixth moon approached, their father approached and old friend, asking the experienced senior to consider delaying his retirement so he could mentor Mouse. Having an experienced, trusted ally as the mentor to the pair's most promising son was very important to these traditional, strict cats. But rather then show interest in mouse, the old tom, Whitetail, claimed he'd do it if he could mentor Mole instead. It seemed the young cat's rebellious attitude was more 'promising' for the old warrior.

Cloudstar accepts, but shortly after his apprentice ceremony it's made clear that Whitetail judged very wrong. All too often Mole slips away from patrols, training sessions, and skips his chores. He has no sense of work or responsibility, and this does absolutely nothing to better his standing. It takes TWO demotions to kit status to finally whip him into shape.

Even when he tries, it seems Mole has little natural talent for anything but stealth. Hunting crouches and stalking came disturbingly naturally to the young cat, but everything else was lost- in one ear, out the other by no fault of his own. He stops competing with the other apprentices, becoming more and more bitter with every failure.

One morning Mouse, now Mouseheart challenges him to a friendly hunting competition. Mole accepts grudgingly, and by the end of the patrol he's assured he never should have. A natural hunter, Mouse had caught for more then Mole's puny frog. Salty and upset, Mole throws a tantrum and lashes out, nicking his brother's nose before he abandons the patrol to stomp home.

He graduates shortly after at an embarrassing 16 moons of age. It took forever for him to reach the point where both mentor and leader were content to give him his warrior name, and right after, Whitetail retires.

His early warriorhood is no different then his early apprenticeship. Moleshade does everything he can to avoid doing anything of help. He flirts with anyone who'll spare him their time and has several flings during his first few moons. He skips out or bails on patrols, and is constantly lectured by his parents.

At 30 moons, he's given an apprentice. Mole was proud at first, though after a moon he grew bored of training the cat, who's timid and withdrawn nature clashed terribly with Mole's own avoidance and laziness. He tries, don't get him wrong, but Mole's simply too immature at this point to do a good job.

By 33 Moons, his apprentice is reassigned.

One morning while on a patrol with Mapleblaze and Sableface, she suddenly attacks her clan-mate. Mole immediately jumps in to defend Maple- shouting accusations of treason, but as Maple grows more venomous and accuses the cat of being DISOBEDIENT and discordant, Mole has to rethink. Maybe something had sparked this beforehand?

He takes back his actions by turning to shove Maple to the side, leaving a small set of clawmarks on the burly cat's shoulders before he retreats. He stalks the pair just out of sight, watching and being careful that neither is injured too badly, and eventually returns to camp with them.

A few days later, plagued by worry over lieing to his clanmates, Mole corners Sable on another patrol. Infuriated by her lack of cooperation and consistent answers he gets in the she-cat's face, screeching and snarling insults as she returns them. He leaves her whimpering and she leaves him bleeding.

The next couple moons could be compared to life in the Dark Forest, Sable making every waking moment misery for him. He learns to hate the she-cat.

Mole is given a new apprentice, a little calico named Dapplepaw. At first he's confused why the leader would trust him with another apprentice, though Mole soon learns. Any attempt he makes to slip away or shrug off a lesson is met by insistent, scolding squawks from the young cat. Mole soon learns there's no escaping her watchful, critical gaze.

One morning he finds Sable confronting the little cat, generally just acting nasty. It seems neither know he's watching and he's amused to find Dapplepaw spit right back at Sable, putting her, too, in her place and drawing a line. Sable seems shocked, and he can't help but feel smug and proud.

Dapplepaw pleads for him to invite Sable along for their training sessions. Though he can't stand the stark-colored cat, he reluctantly agrees as she uses every dirty, adorable, puppy-dog eyed trick in the book.

Eventually, Dapplepaw graduates and Moleshade couldn't be prouder. By now he's reached an uncertain peace, an impass with Sable- held together only by the little calico whom both clearly love.