Wolfthorn

Art by CaptainMorwen

**Wolfthorn** is a River Colony Ranger and the current mentor of Grey. He is the son of Brightscale and Ashencreek, as well as the younger brother of Gillstripe. Wolfthorn is one of the main characters of Clouded Moon: Shifting Roots.

## Appearance

Wolfthorn is a light gray tabby tom with narrow yellow eyes and long, wiry fur. He is scruffy, with defined brows, a long and slanting muzzle, down-swept chin fur, tufts on his legs, shoulders, and triangular ears, a fluffy tail-tip, and four sharp stripes on his tail. He is thin but muscular in frame.

Wolfthorn's character reference sheet. (TennelleFlowers)
## Personality

Wolfthorn is sly, laid-back, and calm. He doesn’t talk much unless he’s with friends, and isn’t bothered by what others think of him. He’s reclusive and a bit of a loner, but is very keen and observant. When he sets his mind to something, he will get it done, no matter how hard it is or how long it takes.

He doesn’t have many strong bonds, but is fiercely loyal to the few cats that he deems to be important to him. He can come off as arrogant or insensitive at times, but he is in actuality burying and trying to cover up a complex knot of guilt and paranoia that comes from his experiences with Rainfall and the traumatic incident in which Brightscale was killed. He isn't very vulnerable around others and doesn't let his true emotions show all that often, but when even a glimpse of them come through, it can be a bit heartbreaking.

## Biography

### Pre-Series

Wolf was born to Brightscale and Ashencreek in River Colony as the only kit of his litter and his parents’ second son, his only sibling being his older brother Gillstripe. Gillstripe never paid much heed to Wolf, and so the two were not close, but Wolf maintained positive relationships with his parents - particularly with Brightscale, as his father was (presumably) an envoy and therefore someone that Wolf greatly admired and looked up to.

He grew up in River Colony’s nursery for the first six months of his kittenhood alongside the other kittens of his generation: Swift, Minnow, and Pike. Wolf became fast friends with Swift, the other cat’s brave and friendly nature complimenting Wolf’s own quieter personality. Near the end of his time in the nursery, tensions in the Colony began rising as both the Captain and Second edged closer to death, and cats started fighting over who the next Second would be; Brightscale or a molly named Rainfall.

At six months old, Wolf was made into a new-claw, and in an effort to calm the rising tensions between the two envoys, Rainfall was appointed as his mentor. Wolf had nothing against Rainfall at this point, but he was rather put off, as he looked forward to seeing Brightscale become Second. He did have most of River Colony’s support, after all. His outlook on the situation changed drastically and quickly, however, when he one day saw Rainfall confronting Brightscale in private. Frightened by the odd vibes they were giving off, Wolf hid under some nearby bushes and ended up watching as Rainfall attacked and murdered Brightscale right in front of him. Frightened into silence, Wolf remained hidden until she had gone, and upon returning to his base, he found that Rainfall had claimed to have failed to save Brightscale in a freak accident. Rainfall became River Colony’s Second and Wolf was mortified.

In the wake of Brightscale’s death, Wolf’s family only seemed to grow more distanced from him. Ashencreek became withdrawn and depressed, and Gillstripe seemed to resent Wolf; he’d always been touchy over how Brightscale seemed to prefer his younger brother, and with their father now dead, he had someone to take that bitterness out on. Rainfall ascended as River Colony’s Captain almost as quickly as she had become Second, and Wolf was stuck in training with her. She was not necessarily a poor mentor — she trained him quite well, in fact — but neither had the slightest interest in really bonding with each other. Wolf despised and feared her, but he didn’t know what to do or who to tell about her crime. It wasn’t like she could be punished; she was the Captain, after all. The Second was her brother, Iceclaw, and he was just as bad as she was if not worse. The Colony’s herbalist, Orangebrook, could do nothing even if he knew — he had barely any connection to the Spirits Beyond. And Wolf could not bring himself to tell the truth to Ashencreek, Gillstripe, Swift, or anyone he cared about. He did not want to put them in danger. After all, he *was* noticing how outspoken cats who opposed Rainfall seemed to be mysteriously disappearing, one by one, month after month.

The only comfort he found was in his friends, Swift, Pike, and Minnow, but mainly Swift. In the torment that were Wolf’s months as a new-claw, Swift became the closest thing to family that he felt like he had— more of a brother than Gillstripe had ever been, and there for Wolf when no one else was. It hurt Wolf to keep what he knew about Rainfall a secret from Swift and the rest of his Colony, but he didn’t want to risk his mentor catching on to what they knew. And surely, it wouldn’t be long before others started figuring things out as well. He only had to wait and hide his time. He wasn’t in the wrong for keeping his mouth shut... right?

On one occasion, during the latter half of his new-clawship, Wolf was out fishing near the tree-bridge late at night, admiring the island on which Moonlight Gatherings took place from a distance. He needed the quiet and time alone to gather his thoughts. To his alarm, however, he noticed a young molly from Oak Colony slip off the bridge and into the Alliance Lake. Knowing that she likely couldn’t swim, he jumped in after her and pulled her out of the water, saving her life. She introduced herself as Dawn, and Wolf was impressed by how unshaken she was by her near-death experience. After parting ways, they both realized that they had already started developing feelings for the other new-claw, and at every Moonlight Gathering afterwards, they would seek each other out and exchange words, getting to know each other and becoming close friends.

*More coming soon...*

## Relationships

### Brother

Wolfthorn met Brother on his journey to find a place where he and Dawnfrost could live. During his time as an unbound cat, the two traveled together for many months, and although not fully understanding who or what he was, Wolfthorn eventually came to trust Brother as a close companion. Even after they separated, Wolfthorn still felt as though Brother was close by and could sometimes see him in his shadow.

### Dawnfrost

Dawnfrost is an Oak Colony molly, and, in frank terms, Wolfthorn’s ex. Wolfthorn first met Dawnfrost when they were still new-claws, and both of them were sneaking around near the tree-bridge late one night. Wolf spotted Dawn about to drown in the Alliance Lake and rescued her. They fell in love at first sight, and while Dawn was torn between Wolf and her loyalty to Oak Colony, Wolf had no qualms about his feelings for her; he felt out of place in River Colony anyways.

Once they had become Rangers, Dawnfrost finally pledged herself to their relationship, and promised Wolfthorn that if he could go out and find a suitable territory for them to live in, she would leave from the Colonies to be with him. Delighted at the opportunity, Wolfthorn eagerly set off to search. When he finally came back, it had been well over a year, however, and Dawnfrost was angry with him. She claimed that it had been too long and that she’d moved on, and she turned him away, seemingly breaking off their relationship. Their interactions since then, while not particularly cold, have been awkward and brief.

### Swiftmask

Swiftmask and Wolfthorn have been best friends since kittenhood. The two of them are as close as can be, and Wolfthorn loves Swiftmask like a brother. Their views on Rainfall clash, however — Wolfthorn, knowing what a monster his Colony’s Captain truly is, wants to start an uprising and overthrow her. Swiftmask, on the other hand, lawful and ethical as ever, has faith in Rainfall and refuses to think disloyal thoughts against his Captain. Despite this, the two remain tight, and Wolfthorn considers Swiftmask to be his only real family after Brightscale's death and the distance of Gillstripe and Ashencreek. Wolfthorn is rather teasing of Swiftmask, as shown in the first chapter of Shifting Roots. Swiftmask was appointed as something of a guard to keep him in check after he returned to River Colony from his travels.

### Gillstripe

Gillstripe is Wolfthorn's older brother from a different litter. Both toms look like their father, Brightscale, but their personalities are very different. Their difference in ideals made the two resent each other, although each is positive that it's the other brother who's just being difficult. Unknown to Wolfthorn, Gillstripe is also quite jealous of the favoritism their father showed to Wolf before his passing, and he feels as if he is in the shadow of his younger brother, who seems to succeed no matter how little he cares or tries. As a result of this, Gillstripe tries to pretend that he doesn't have a brother.

### Rainfall

Rainfall is River Colony’s tyrannical Captain, Wolfthorn’s former mentor, and his father’s killer. Wolfthorn hates and fears her, and is one of the few cats who realizes how dangerous she is.

As a new-claw, Rainfall was appointed as Wolf’s mentor, likely in an effort to calm down the rising tensions between her and Brightscale. It obviously did not work, however, and Wolf was unlucky enough to watch as Rainfall ambushed and killed Brightscale one day. From then on, his training was like torture, and he hated being forced to work with the cat who’d murdered his father without the courage to speak up about it. Rainfall trained him well, but neither of them ever had any interest in bonding.

After Wolfthorn returned from his year of traveling outside of the Colonies, Rainfall distrusted him just as much as he distrusted her, and assigned Swiftmask to him as a sort of guard, giving him Grey to train in order to keep him busy. Wolfthorn is hoping to stir up rebellion against Rainfall and is positive that she is behind the disappearances of River Colony’s more outspoken cats.

### Grey

Grey is Wolfthorn’s first new-claw, and the two get along as good friends. Wolfthorn enjoys the company, but is skeptical of why he was made a mentor, feeling like Rainfall had something planned by giving him a new-claw so soon after his return. Wolfthorn doesn't understand just how much Grey really admires and idolizes him.

### Piketail

Piketail is one of Swiftmask’s siblings, and along with their brother Minnowgill, they are the only other cats in Wolf's generation. The four of them often hung out as new-claws, but Wolf was always closest with Swift, never paying Pike or Minnow as much mind. The group eventually drifted apart, however, as Wolfthorn left River Colony and Piketail’s brothers stopped spending as much time together.

Wolfthorn and Piketail have definitely gotten closer after his return to the Colony, however; Piketail is one of the only other cats who recognizes Rainfall as a tyrant and agrees that she must be taken down. They are allies in that goal and hope that together, they’ll be able to kick some sense into Swiftmask. Piketail is also aware of Wolfthorn's feelings for Dawnfrost, though it is unclear if Wolfthorn knows that she knows.

### Minnowgill

Minnowgill is one of Swiftmask’s siblings, and along with their sister Piketail, they are the only other cats in Wolf's generation. The four of them often hung out as new-claws, but Wolf was always closest with Swift, never paying Minnow or Pike as much mind. The group eventually drifted apart, however, as Wolfthorn left River Colony and Minnowgill’s siblings stopped spending as much time together. Not many details have been given about their relationship thus far.

## Trivia

* TennelleFlowers thinks that Wolfthorn wouldn't tell his family about Rainfall murdering Brightscale to protect them from her, as well as Gillstripe not believing him even if Wolfthorn had told him straight.
* Wolfthorn was originally called Rippedstripe.

## Gallery

Wolfthorn's character shot. (TennelleFlowers)New-claw Wolf and Dawn chatting. (TennelleFlowers)Wolfthorn's character page. (TennelleFlowers)Wolfthorn covering up his feelings. (TennelleFlowers)Wolfthorn as one of "River-Lands' Finest". (TennelleFlowers)Wolfthorn and Goldenpelt as the "Draw your favorite Clouded Moon: Shifting Roots ♂♂ ship". (Avalon Roselin)Wolfthorn, Dawnfrost, Spottedshadow, and Wildfur on Star Cat Studio's banner. (Wolfthorn drawn by Audrey (Water))Star Cat Studio's Patreon banner, featuring the main protagonists minus Swiftmask. (TennelleFlowers)Wolfthorn on Shifting Roots' poster. (TennelleFlowers)(Older design) Wolfthorn on Clouded Moon's poster. (TennelleFlowers)Wolfthorn in his Drawing a \_\_\_\_! thumbnail. (TennelleFlowers)Wolfthorn and his cross-Colony friends at the Moonlight Gathering, cheering Larkwing and Aspenbreeze's Ranger names. (Shifting Roots: Chapter 1)Wolfthorn seeing Brother's glimpse through the sky's stars in Clouded Moon's trailer. Art by TennelleFlowersGrey and Wolfthorn out in the rain. Art by CaptainMorwen