Vixenstar of Windclan

What is in a man? Honor? Nobility? Perhaps it is their selfishness that drives their mule like minds to the point of break. Or perhaps it is simply the fact that give them a task - they will likely get it done. When they first spotted the young ginger and white tom exiting the nursery. They spoke of him, told tales of his shortness, and how it would later become a downfall so great that it would break him. But it is not like Vixen to see it as a weakness - for every weakness holds strength in his book. An optimistic in his own right, Vixen is always seeing the class half full rather then half empty. For one to experience such a negative upbringing; not being built like most of the clan, many can wonder why he chooses to see the world with rose colored glasses. But it is in him to do so and he does; watching the world as it flashing by. Compassionate can describe him as he does show it well to all and to whom needs it. Vixen has always been there for his clan; whether it be the lonely kit who needs a playmate to the apprentice whose mentor is to busy. Vixen is there, and being there has become rare among leaders of the past. There duties held them up; captured them and forced them to work endless hours of the day. Whereas Vixen sees it, plans, and then puts it on the back breaker; if only for a moment. Passionate is another word that pops into the minds of any cat who spots the small ginger and white tom. They can see it not only in the way that he moves, but in the way that he speaks. Windclan is his home, his glory and his life - many will see as he dusts off his old boots and strives to keep his clan above all those who wish to see it fail. Kind and warmhearted are words that are used around the tom, and are enough to make him a little flustered should they be spoken to his face. Much like his passion and compassion, you will find that he is indeed a kind and warm hearted fool who would probably fall for the sob story before the real one. However that is when things get nasty. For below every angel, a demon lurks.

Untrusting of other is something that comes to mind when a cat who is not familiar with the tom notices. His body grows rigid and his whole position will have screamed hostile, and to those who have not heard of his kindness and compassion may think Vixen to be a cruel and uncaring leader. It is simply that his trust is to be earned - which leads back to our sob story. Should this sob story turn out to be false, then the cat in whom has told it will have lost all trust that Vixen has placed in it. Stubborn like many cats - males in general - he has this un-canning ability to be so different and yet exactly the same as any other cat that walks this forest. As an apprentice he would get thorns stuck in his paws daily, and it would be his own stubborn self that would refuse to tell the medicine cat, as he did not wish her trouble. It was in fact after the third infection he received from thorns that the medicine cat had his brother watch over him. Icy refers not only to his interior anger and hostility but to that of his tempter and hatred. Those that have seen his anger will know not only the cold shoulder that he gives, but that of the low, ice like voice that he speaks in. Let me paint the picture; you have betrayed him and his voice dips far below a freezing point; he speaks but two words 'Get out.' to which you obey; for his face speaks volumes more then his voice. Where does this leave us now? In the hopes of a personality, or perhaps this is just the surface of a complex character? For that, we will not know; for Vixen will grow and adapt as he explores the world around him.

Picture this. It's about a late autumn night, still warm enough for the two-legs to be out in tank-tops, but not to hot that they could wear shorts. Okay, we got that, good!

Foxstep is your usual bashful, hopeful young tom, whose whole life, he has wanted to be the best damn warrior he could ever be. Doesn't want to be tied down, doesn't want kits, great Starclan, he doesn't even care for any of the she-cat's he's been flirting with. He's young, foolish and free! Then there's Beetlefoot, a she-cat whose paws are tiny and yet are as quiet as a beetle. She's young and full of wonder and innocence, and so when the dashing Foxstep shows interest, her shy little smile captures his interest almost instantly and sparks would fly as they would say. Beetlefoot and Foxstep of course were unaware that those star lit nights together could impact their lives so much - so when the new broke and it fell upon the ears of the lost innocence and the lost freedom, many were shocked to see the two cats saddle up to the plate and prepare. They always said Foxstep would be the calm one, since he had been quick to accept his fate, but they had not expected that on the day of the delivery that he would faint mid-yowl of the first born kit. Beetlefoot had proven many wrong that day; as she delivered four perfectly healthy kits into the world; with the medicine cat's only meow being; 'breath.'

Upon his arrival into the waking world once more; Foxstep was not at all surprised to spot the kittens nestled at Beetlefoot's belly; four perfectly perfect kits that seemed to do something odd to his heart. He was confused and outraged by the fact, but as his own eyes drifted up to the she-cat he had unwarily 'knocked up' he overwhelmed with pride and pleasure. Where as Foxstep's eyes rested on Beetlefoot's face, she had her eyes on a different prize - her four young kittens in whom had not been named. The eldest, and largest was a soft furred rusty brown she-cat, to whom would own a pair of amber eyes in her future. The second born and smallest of the litter was a ginger and white tom, to whom would own a pair of deep honey eyes. The third was a already striking calico she-cat, whose eyes would turn a brilliant blue one day. The last; a tom with ginger fur would hold eyes as green as his father's. It was that night, they named their kits; Rowankit, Vixenkit, Sagekit and Robinkit.  Foxstep had always thought that the feeling of being a father would come instantly; like Beetlefoot's mothering instincts. In fact, he had even approached his father on countless occasions, pleading for help that wasn't need. You see; it was after the tender age of one moon, when his kits began to open their eyes that he began to feel the change. Their first mumbles of 'Foxstep!' Would bring a warmth so hot to his heart, that he had to take a step back and bask in it. What hurt the most, he would find; was when that Foxstep would turn into a different cat's name, and as his kits grew into their own personality, he watched with pride and happiness for he knew that this, was how a father was supposed to feel.

Vixenkit was probably three moons old when he took his first steps away from his father and mother's shadow and into the real world that was Windclan's camp. It was difficult at first; watching as cats who stood on tree trunk legs, soared above his head - even his siblings hung above him like trees, waiting to come crashing down upon his skull. In fact it was on this day; a mid-moon crisis happened to the young kit of three and a half moons. He stood before his father with a crooked grin and a hopeful smile. 'Take me to the Gathering to Foxstep! You can take me to meet all your friends!' But for Vixenkit that night, he did not celebrate, nor did he attend a Gathering, as his father stepped over him and out of the clearing, with no signs of looking back. The young kit waited; for nearly an hour before retreating into the depths of his den, curling up next to his brother said simply; 'Told you he would say no.' But it wasn't for not - for at dawn the next day Vixenkit returned to his spot, and waited the return of his father as any cat would. It was as Foxstep stepped through the entrance, that Vixenkit saw what he had to become. His father's steps were proud and confident, but held an air of - what was that word his mother would say - ah yes; compassion. For young Foxstep would spot little Vixenkit and rush over, challenging his son to a battle.

So came to be, the bond of father and son. It would last throughout their time together, into the dawn of the stars, but for now - young kit and father would swat at one another as they playfully growled and bounced - and others watched on. Vixenkit would soon become the back burner, as Rowankit would tumble from the den and demand her father's attention; and even young Sagekit would plead with their father to play with her. Vixenkit would watch as he became a tiny ball of trouble; his father tumbling over him; his sisters too. 'I'll play with you later Vixenkit, go play with Robinkit.' Borning. Vixenkit would think as he dragged his paws to wards his mother and brother.

That was how Robinkit and Vixenkit became close. The two kittens would sit beside their mother, listening to her speak highly of not only their father but the clan. It was here, watching as his brother stared up at their mother with such passion and excitement that Vixenkit saw a difference between the glorious roles of the toms and the wonderful and beautiful roles of she-cats. 'Beetlefoot, do all she-cats have kits?' Would be Vixenkit's timid meow, and his mother would shake her head slowly, smiling at her kittens. 'Vixenkit, Robinkit, my sons. You will find a she-cat one day, and I want you to remember something. For me.' Both toms would nod in agreement, they could remember this; for their mother. 'She-cats are not just kit-barers, they are cats, like you, and must be treated with respect. Not toyed with.' With a single nod from each tom's head, Beetlefoot returned to the tale of starry cats dancing across the sky.

It wouldn't be until they turned five moons that they would experience something silly as kitten love. Or a fan crush you could say. Cricketpounce was a beautiful young warrior, who always played with the kittens and when one of the younger kits asked if Cricketpounce would be their girlfriend she would laugh it off and say 'of course you cutie-pie'. However, those words had been directed to Vixenkit and Robinkit only a paw-full of times. That is the first time the brother's fought. Five moons old and Vixenkit thought he could woo a twenty some moon old warrior. His father would sit bemused beside Beetlefoot and whisper words such as; 'My boys. Look at them. Starting young.' But it was Beetlefoot that snapped and angrily hissed at Foxstep to stop being so mouse brained.

Vixenkit stopped that day, his eyes widening as he watched Robinkit listen to his father. 'Yes, Cricketpounce, she was sweet when she was young too. You've taken after me as well Robinkit!' Sicken by his brother's treatment to she-cats, Vixenkit would turn to his mother and smile. 'I haven't forgotten mother, I promised.' As his fifth moon dawned into his sixth he watched his brother grow increasingly enchanted by Cricketpounce, but it was for naught - as only a few days later, young Robinkit came barreling into Vixenkit crying that his one true love was pregnant with another toms kits.

But those tears were dried as the leader Jaystar would meow loud enough for the clan to hear; 'All those who can hunt for their own prey, gather below the rock for a clan meeting!' Joy and excitement would shoot through them as brothers turned to sisters and giggled excitedly. 'Apprentices, I hope I get Cheetahfoot!' Rowankit would meow, followed by Sagekit rolling her eyes. 'Harestep is my favourite; you know the deputy of the clan!' But as the clearing filled with the body of the cats of Windclan, the remaining two kits listened quietly as the leader yowled for silence.

'Rowankit, until you have earned your warrior name you will be known as Rowanpaw. Hawkflight, you are ready for your first apprentice.' Needless to say, Rowanpaw had stuck her nose up to her mentor and only mildly accepted him as her mentor. When Sagekit became Sagepaw - her mentor was that of Harestep; her desired mentor. When it came to Robinkit becoming Robinpaw, he was given the mentor of Rabbitsplash and the two couldn't be more happy. Finally, it came to Vixenkit. 'Vixenkit, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Vixenpaw. Cheetahfoot, you are ready for your next apprentice.' It was then, that Beetlefoot stared at her son as he tumbled forward; eager to touch noses with the clan's hardest trainer.

Vixenpaw's first training session fell on the day that Jaystar would pass. An untimely problem - so when Harestep took up the leadership, it was not odd that Cheetahfoot became deputy. Vixenpaw, overwhelmed with excitement congratulated his mentor repeatedly during that first day. That was his first mistake. Cheetahfoot was harsh, cruel and mean when it came to training. When Vixenpaw asked for a break; Cheetahfoot would force the tom to a break. 'If you must ask for a break, you haven't earned it. Now five laps, go!' It was here, training from dawn to dust that he saw life; it's cruel nature and with each paw hitting the ground Vixenpaw saw that while life could be tough, it made oneself stronger.

On his sixth moon, the young tom cat found himself stepping upon a thorn. He had seen the medicine cat pull thorns out plenty of times; so with a quick tug, he pulled himself free of the pesky object and continued on with his day. It was only a short pain; something he pushed to the back of his mind - he even dealt with Cheetahfoot's harsh temper as he trained the young tom to fight. It was in that moon that his paw began to swell, his eyes began to water and young Robinpaw took a stand to make his brother receive treatment. 'You can lose your paw Vixenpaw! Do you want to be stumpy!' He cried angrily and it would only take one more mistreatment of Cheetahfoot's training to throw Vixenpaw into the medicine cat's den.

It took him nearly three days to heal properly and even then, his parents would whisper; 'He hasn't learned his lesson. Let him learn it Robinpaw!' So when it came to his seventh moon, on the dim, he found himself training harder under his mentor; Cheetahfoot trying to make up for lost time. It was one night that he lay just within the shadows of the rock; where he heard his mentor speaking with Harestar. 'He's just not fierce enough, brother. He will be a weakness to the clan should we ever need warriors to fight.' To this Vixenpaw's ears twitched nervously. 'Sagepaw is doing much better then he; should we need to we will hold him back - he and that brother of his Robinpaw.' Vixenpaw would turn red in the ears, before running lightly back to the apprentice den where he would share the news with his brother. 'We must train harder!' In that day, Robinpaw would acknowledge, that Vixenpaw lost that child-like innocence with the world; swallowed by the belly of the beast. It was then that he grew untrusting of his families encouragements and praise. He turned to his mentor for the reality of his training and that was when it began to happen.

His claws came out quicker then they ever did. Cheetahfoot's praise began to come and with each 'acceptable' he knew he was one step closer to becoming a warrior. So when his twelveth moon rolled around he watched as his sisters were dragged forward, named Rowanclaw and Sagefang. He had thought perhaps he would be made a warrior; or in a moon or two - long before his brother, but when Robinpaw's name was called and changed to Robinpool, a fire boiled deep in the young tom's belly. 'Vixenpaw, my son. We raised you not to raise your claws. What happened to my promise.' Beetlefoot cornered young Vixenpaw a few days after his siblings warrior ceremony and to much to the mother's surprise, her son's shoulder hunched and he weep openly. 'I can't do this mother, I am a failure!' Was simple and quick and in that moment Vixenpaw was surrounded by his family; Sagefang and Ravenclaw as well. His sisters circled themselves around their emotionally beaten brother and whispered encouragements into his ears that night.

By morning light he met Cheetahfoot in the training clearing and kept that cheeky smile on his face until dusk rolled on and night set in. 'Evening Sir!' He would call before leaping away from his mentor and into the happy embracing of his sisters and brother's playful fighting. That was the night Cheetahfoot found his work had been foiled and that the compassionate tom had once more returned to his body. It would be two long painful moons for both toms before Cheetahfoot agreed it was time. When Harestar called the gathering, the cats swarmed into the clearing and waited. 'Vixenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior's code, even if it meant losing your life.' Vixenpaw would meow the custom 'You bet I will!' Before the leader turned to his mentor and bowed his head. 'I do believe Vixenpaw has earned his place among the warriors; should any warrior have earned my respect, it would be this fine apprentice here.' It was settled that night; as his name became Vixenheart - for not only his loyalty to the clan, but to himself.

The first few moons of warriorhood were much different then apprenticeship. Vixenheart would stay close to his mentor still; listening as he spoke to other clanmates. It was his first Gathering as an apprentice that rocked him to his core. Stumbling into the clearing he smelt the familiar scents of the other clans; and spotted former friends and former rivals and as they all came together; he sat beside a petite white she-cat from Shadowclan. 'My name is Ivorypaw, who are you?' She asked in a naive little voice and Vixenheart smiled sheepishly. 'The name is Vixenheart, first gathering?' Ivorypaw would nod and the two chatted the rest of the night away, giggling at tales and it was as the Gathering came to a close that young Ivorypaw lifted her blue eyes to his and meowed; 'Hey, will I see you here next time?' Vixenheart shrugged before meowing softly; 'You never know with Harestar as your leader... oh I got to go. Nice meeting you Ivorypaw!'

It was the last time he ever saw Ivorypaw. For by the next gathering he heard the terrible news that she had passed away from an infection in her paw. A thorn mishap gone wrong. It pained Vixenheart, but when Robinpool offered comfort, the two listen softly the the whispers of the wind as if waiting to hear the young she-cat whisper she was safe up in Starclan. But no whispers rang, no sound of her voice and Vixenheart vowed to keep her in his mind, to be a warrior for the both of them - it was the least he could do. And as the moons dawned on, he was surprised to wake one moment with Cheetahfoot standing in his face. 'Harestar request your presence.' He was off of course, anything Harestar had to say must be important. 'I have thought it high time you were given an apprentice Vixenheart. You have shown me you are worthy.' It was quick; for the next morning he was announced Vixenheart - Mentor! 'I trust you with Ferretpaw's training. You are a fair and trusted warrior, do us proud.' Once their noses had touched, it was done.

Vixenheart was only twenty-four moons when his leader Harestar saw something in him that made him worthy of an apprentice. What or why the leader chose this time, was beyond many cats, as Vixenheart was still the happy go lucky, reckless cat, who didn't care much for his personal health. So when young Ferretpaw was placed into his care, it was surprising to him. It was even more embarrassing to know that on their first outing as mentor and apprentice, Vixen wounded up staring at his apprentice in a bewildered expression. How the two ever got anything done would become known to the clan only three moons into Ferretpaw's training. Vixen was kind to his apprentice, patient and sturdy, and when she requested a harsher tongue, Vixen was there to speak icily to her, and her performance grew steadily to a healthy pace by their fifth moon of working together. By Ferretpaw's thirteenth moon, she was named Ferretface and would stand among the clan as a well behaved, but fierce she-cat.

It was only a few moons before the journey, he was 38 moons old, when Harestar's deputy, Cheetahfoot (and Vixen's former mentor) passed away from an illness. Harestar was grieving, and it was there that the smaller tom offered his compassion. Cheetahfoot had been a harsh mentor, but it would seem that Vixen had been a sticky student. For Harestar and Cheetahfoot were brothers of blood, and for Vixen to speak so highly of a tom to whom the clan had disliked, brought happiness to the elder tom's face. It was hours later that as the moon rose, and shown down on the deceased body of Cheetahfoot that Vixen was called up as deputy of the clan. Many were silent for a moment as the young tom stepped forward to bow his head. 'I wish not to take his place, for his pawsteps are to vast for me to follow. I hope you succeed in attempting to though.' It was then that Hailstar would jump down to touch noses with him; and his fellow clan mates would chant his name.

The problems would begin almost after his way into the deputy position. Many whispered, but as they watched their leader and new deputy speak and prepare they could not think of a reason not to trust the leader's choice. Starclan would of sent clouds to cover the moon had they wished to protest. So when the clans decided to move, it was no shock to anyone that the four clans chose to move together. Vixen was only 40 moons old when the move began truly began, and so when the cats made their ways through the wilderness, he kept a light heart and tried to humor most. 'Did you see that cloud, it looked like a rabbit!' Much laughter from kits and young apprentices were heard as he danced about his paws, fake tumbled over twigs, anything to keep the hope shinning in the younger generations eyes. However, life was a cruel one, for on the first few days of having a home, Harestar passed away - becoming the first cat to be buried in their new home. It was as Vixen stood, over looking the clan that he stared into the sky; praying. 'I do hope you are there Starclan. I don't know what to do.'