Icarus

**Icarus** is a larger-than-average, muscular red-silver classic tabby tom with yellow eyes.

## Personality

As a youngster, Icarus's head was always trapped in the clouds. Easily distracted and malcontent with the order of the Bloodhides, he commonly ventured out on his own as a Tadpole. When his antics endangered the life of another Bloodhide member, he was quickly forced back into order and became sharper and more serious as he matured - eventually earning him advancement from Tadpole to Hunter. While he maintains his facade around other members, his mind still constantly wanders and hunts alone grant him the freedom of letting his guard down. His propensity toward recklessness may become a problem even now - especially after his dalliance with a certain Scrapper.

## History

Icarus was born to Seraphina shortly after she had joined the Bloodhides. His father is unknown and presumably was a part of the life she left behind, which she has hardly spoken of even to Icarus himself. As a Tadpole he was distractable and reckless, until one incident endangering a fellow Bloodhide member forced him back into order. At some point he became involved with Volita and unknowingly sired a litter of kits that she later miscarried.

### First Leaf-fall

While Icarus is speaking with some defenders, he is approached by Volita, who asks him out on a patrol up the Crest of the Plains. She complains about wanting to get out of camp, and about Pavla's rambunctious litter. Icarus defends the kits, though comments that Rasmus could stand to remember he's only six moons old. As they climb the Crest, Volita stretches out over a ledge and wonders what might happen if she fell. Icarus is concerned and wants to protect her, offering his companionship if nothing else.

Continuing to the top, Volita asks Icarus if he grew up in the mountains. Icarus tells her that he had been a member of the Bloodhides for as long as he could remember, his mother coming from elsewhere and his father a part of what she left behind. He says that though he daydreams about travelling, he couldn't imagine truly leaving, as he has too much he's not willing to lose. They discuss the mountains and the Bloodhides, and Volita asks what Icarus might imagine for himself if he had never come to the Bloodhides. Icarus says that he envisions views like the ones from the Crest, and paths to the horizon and back that he could travel in a day. When Volita asks if he pictures a family, Icarus says that he had never thought of one before, but does now. He suggests that he might name a kit of his Eos or Hemera, for the sun, and describes a hypothetical mate much like Volita. This offends Volita, who believes him to be placating her, and the two return to the Underpass in a significantly colder mood.

They re-enter the Underpass at the end of Mackerel's announcement of war with EagleClan. Icarus is more eager than battle for usual, feeling restless and reckless. He and Volita sit with Vesper and discuss the goings-on. Mackerel assigns **Icarus** to a patrol that will wait by the Highlands overnight to ambush the EagleClan patrol, alongside Erebos, Vesper, and Athena.

As the patrol makes their way towards the Highlands, Vesper lightly teases Icarus about Volita, unknowing of their earlier argument. Icarus remarks that he stuck his paw in his mouth with her earlier and will have to make it up later. They arrive at the ditch and wait overnight for the EagleClan cats to return, Icarus too on-edge and alert to doze off like he had feared. As the EagleClan cats approach, Icarus tenses in preparation to attack.

When Athena is attacked by Ermineflight and Rookflight, and begs the two not to kill her, Icarus jumps in to knock Ermineflight away. Rookflight bites Icarus' tail to distract him, and Ermineflight scratches Icarus' face to force him to release her, so that she can help Runningwolf. Icarus turns on Rookflight and batters his muzzle with unsheathed claws. As Athena wrestles with Runningwolf, Rookflight barges Icarus with a shoulder, and the two fall to the ground tussling themselves. Icarus is rescued by Erebos, who drags Rookflight off of him and cuffs his jaw. Pinning Rookflight to the ground, Erebos offers the kill to Icarus.

EagleClan's reinforcement patrol arrives, and Icarus prepares to attack one of the newcomers, dismissing Rookflight as already half-dead. Rookflight and Runningwolf recover themselves and attack Icarus in tandem, Rookflight knocking him down and Runningwolf delivering a fatal bite to Icarus' throat. As Icarus dies, he sees Volita running towards him. He whispers her name and focuses only on her as he weakens, promising to find her in another life.

## Trivia

* Icarus' name comes from the Greek mythological figure, as do some of his personality traits.