Halfdusk

***Spoiler warning:** Plot and/or ending details follow.**"...."*
**Halfdusk** is a thin dilute tortoiseshell tom with markings that cover half his face, similar to that of a half-moon.
**Halfdusk** was born to Pansybreeze and Chivepond and raised by his uncle Peonymane.

## Relations

Crush: N/A

Friendships: TBD

Enemies: TBD

Mentor: Twilightplume

## Interests

*Likes*

The scent of fresh, minty herbs, peace and quiet, the feeling of cool, crisp water on his long fur , the slight cold of a fall’s night, the pastel colors of the flowers threaded into his nest, helping others, exploring the many areas known to hold herbs, the sound of birds & various other woodland creatures, the soft texture of snow on his paw pads, the kind warmth of the sun on a spring day.

*Dislikes*

Unfair treatment and bias, fighting & unnecessary violence, tunneling and hunting, arguing, compact area of trees, roaring noises/monsters, the smell of rotting herbs and plants, insects and bugs.

## Skills/Faults

*Skills*

His caring and empathetic nature makes him an effective Mental Medicine Cat. As a good listener, he is quite content with listening to cats list their problems. While he gets few patients, he treats those he recieves with consideration, respect, and empathy. Known to be a hushed and polite audience, his advice is wise and reasonable. Despite his snappy and rude personality, he changes completely while in front of a patient.

*Faults*

His showing personality often forces those around him to shy away, avoiding any conversation with him. His talk-back attitude makes him seem disrespectful and impolite, though in general, he means this in no way. In truth, he simply has a strong opinion, and doesn’t realize the effect he gives when he speaks it verbally.

## Personality

Like many other medicine cats and nurses before him, he has an inclined sense of compassion, and the need to help others. This, however, is not the main quality of his personality. Unlike those before him, Halfdusk has the tendency to become grumpy easily. Whether it's lack of sleep, or some event that went unexpectedly, he is known for his sudden and negative mood changes. His fluctuating mood also is a result of stress. Oftentimes too stressful of a situation will cause him to snap at anyone around him, no matter their role or importance in the clan  . He’s occasionally even been seen grumbling at the leader. This quality of his seemed to come out of nowhere after his apprenticeship ended. Some speculate it was because of his mentor’s passing, though Halfdusk has never acknowledged the rumors.

On the other hand, around potential patients, he has a strong and overpowering sense of both empathy and sympathy. He also has an odd soft spot towards kits, though he wouldn’t tell anyone of such. He goes as far as to do the normal amount of treatment for kits when anyone else is around, but as soon as he’s alone with the young cat, he treats them as his own, with an almost motherly compassion towards them. Of course, he also has a degree of this kindness towards other cats of all ages as well. 1

Along with this compassion and grumpy tendencies, Halfdusk is known for his hidden courage. Whether it's speaking up on a clanmates behalf, or protecting an argument des[ite how little of his peers support it, he’s known for his ability to easily step forward for any task, and defend it well. Along with this trait, he has confidence in what he does, which can backfire if he;s wrong. Most of the time though, these two similar qualities seem more positive than negative and lead to good outcomes. He can be seen defending friends, or arguing with those who disagree with him. Because of the latter, he can come off as rude or cocky, but oftentimes he doesn’t act that way at all. This courage also extends to a point where Halfdusk feels very inclined to protect his clanmates. Whether it’s from illness or other means, he feels it’s his responsibility to keep them safe. He gets this sense of courage from his ancestor, the great Silkstar.

Lastly, Halfdusk is fearful and cautious in odd ways. When treating, or having a discussion of opinions, he seems calm and focused. However, during meetings or conversations that mention anything about war or battle, Halfdusk is known to get very nervous. Visibly, his ears and tail droop, though they seem stiff. His pupils shrink significantly, and his muscles tense. His fur, specifically near his neck, bristles and spikes. He tries to hide this display of fear, but eventually, with close observation, it's easy enough to notice. Few things give him the ability to calm down, but after the stressful situation is over, Halfdusk can be seen collecting himself in the Grotto of Revision, one of his favorite places in Sunlit Prairies Territory.  While here, he washes his face and paws, basks in the sunlight, or relaxes in any plants or flowers nearby. After a little while, he’ll return to camp as if nothing happened, much calmer and more in tune to what is currently happening than before.

## Detailed History

*Dawnstar's Reign*

He is first introduced during the Festival of the Springtide, where he has a conversation with Dusty, a Tourist.

He is later seen during a scene where he grieves Dawnstar after she lost her first life. Petalpaw, alarmed by something she saw, requests his aid in a visit in his den. Though initially he is stand-offish and snappy towards the molly, he genuinely seems concerned and listens intently when Petalpaw floods him with all the information she'd held, involving that of a strange twisted way Lavendersnow suddenly started looking and a mist that clung to the clan's youngest kits.

**Moon 2**

Halfdusk reappears in a scene where he inquires with Dawnstar about speaking to Starclan, though he's incredibly fearful of the Matriarch and what she may say. He mistakes how despondent she is to the conversation as her being irritable with him, and feels as though his worries were justified to some degree despite how calm and even her tone is. She accepts, but asks the tom for a favor in return, one he doesn't pay much mind of. Placing it in the back of his head, he notices a familiar shape wrapping itself around Dawnstar's body. Tearing himself from her den, he speeds off away from the spirit, intending to speak with her out of sight with his clanmates, though he's enraged with the spirit for having been gone for so long. Silkstar appears to him when the tom stumbles over a fallen log, calling out to her irritably in pain. She reveals herself to him and teases him, before she heals his minor injuries with what spiritual power she has.

## Detailed Appearance

Halfdusk is a slim, short-furred tortoiseshell with a split-colored face. One side (his left), is a sunflower-like ginger, with a slight black brindle. The other side (his right), is almost completely black. Even his ear is split-colored in a similar fashion. This coloring spreads to his throat and ears as well, the only difference being his inner ear fur on the left ear, which is an off-white coloring. His eyes are a beautiful green, similar to that of fresh-morning grass. Most of his torso is black, with a ginger brindle spreading across it. The tip of his tail is the same ginger, along with a few of his toes. His short fur gives him the appearance of being skinny and under-fed, though he is quite muscled and well-fed in full truth. Just a bit smaller than those of a similar age group, he holds himself in a confident fashion no matter what.

## Kin

Mother: Pansybreeze

Father: Chivepond

Uncles: Peonymane, Daisymist

Aunts: Pastelskies

Cousins: 2 Unknown Kits

Grandmother: Daffodilflourish

Great-Uncles: Daisykit, Dandeliondrop

Great-Grandmother: Meadowmoth

Great-Great Grandmother: Silkstar

Distant Relatives: Chickadeepaw, Jackdawpaw, Blackice, Crowlament, 3 unknown kits, Ravenstar, Squidspin

## Backstory

“Knowing my kin still wasn’t enough information, hm? You are quite a question-asker. Can’t you stay quiet for one moment!” His snap was quick and brief, before his gaze softened, and his fur laid down once again. “Erm- I told you already. My parents were both dead by the time I was old enough to know. I was raised solely by my uncle Peonymane. I could tell he didn’t like me at first He avoided me as much as he could, only exchanging a few brief words with me. Eventually, he started speaking to me more and more, until he became the parent I never had. He taught be to be strong. He taught me that loss is a sad reality, and it will happen, but that's okay. I guess in reality, he became a mentor more than a father- but I found it to be a fine relationship.” He took a pause, taking a deep breath. It seemed for a moment, he was basking in the memory of his uncle, before his gaze drifted into hints of sorrow. “He passed away towards the end of my apprenticeship.” His topic of conversation turned quickly as he moved on. “My mentor was Twiilightplume. He was fine: distant, snarky, almost rude. But I survived. And now I’m here.” He turned back to you, gaze regretful. “Are you satisfied, foolish one?"

## Trivia

* He has been mistakenly described with long fur.

## Quotes

*“Oh, my family, hm? You really ask personal questions, don’t you? I had a mother and father-  Pansybreeze and Chivepond. I didn’t know them. Chivepond died before I was born, and my mother died while giving birth to me. I have no memory of them of course, though I’ve been told they were noble cats. I was raised by my uncle, Peonymane. The only other family I’ve ever heard of - is my grandmother, Meadowmoth, and my great-grandmother, Silkstar.”*

Halfdusk on his application in reference to his kin.

## Links

Theme Song/Voice Claim

* https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0MgK9okhJWBNlqoPNtwSSk?si=276f0abe7f624bcc&nd=1

*End of spoiler warning*