Birchwillow

## i. appearance

Birch is a towering cat with smokey gray painted across his body and a cape of black running from his forehead down to his tail tip. His long, supple legs and neck give the impression of a deer along with the small puff of silky fur found at his rear. The feline has curled white whiskers that stretch far out to make up for his lack of sight, and he can also be seen with moth wings strapped around his head and veiling his lack of eyes. His fur texture is soft and wooly at his flank and back, but coarse around his neck and legs. Several dark spots splatter his face and color his large ear tufts. Beyond that, he has white stripes along his thin legs which travel up to his shoulders and thighs. These pale markings can also be found at the top of his large ears, like clouds overlooking a kingdom below. He is thin and brittle for his size, looking rather similar to a branch that's always about to snap in half. His markings are not symmetrical.

## ii. personality

Birch is a resourceful cat who knows how to get what he wants. He's a skilled negotiator and tactful in a borderline manipulative way. The feline is free-spirited and doesn't care for a lot of responsibilities in his life, although he does oblige to any he has. He can be rather forgetful and has trouble understanding what others need or want from him. Other cats confuse him greatly and he has trouble communicating with them, which he tries to hide by his usual silence. Instead of doing the talking, he prefers to listen to the words of others or just sit in a peaceful quiet. His approach can be rather awkward and strange, although it isn't without forethought. Birch is the type of cat to spend hours observing and taking notes before acting, which can lead to him missing a lot of important opportunities. Additionally, he struggles to think fast on his feet and gets overwhelmed when forced to do so. He absolutely hates having pressure put on him and it makes him perform worse than if he was oblivious to this fact. Grumpiness isn't something rare to the feline, but most of the time you would never know how's feeling unless you were to talk to him. He doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve and he's quick to retract it if he's feeling uncomfortable. Most of the time his irritability shows by being far away from the crowd and spending time with his plants, which he considers his friends in a way.

Birch loves to learn, although he doesn't like to be forced to do anything. If he feels forced, he'll immediately throw up a fight and be the most disobedient little thing you could possibly imagine. Learning is something he doesn't want to do in a big group, which he feels more vulnerable around, and would rather discuss things one on one. Philosophy is of great interest to the silver cat, and he hopes to eventually find a cat that would be willing to discuss ideas for hours on end. However, until that dream presents itself, he's mostly quiet and reserved. In truth, Birch values feelings more than words. He would rather go on a walk with someone instead of listening to them drone on with small talk, which he tolerates but does not enjoy. If he likes a cat, he is much more likely to present them with a gift than to tell them outright. This strategy can come off as uncaring to some, and his large amount of apathy can be startling at times. He's not willing to put his energy into caring about a lot of things, as he finds it rather draining and pointless, so he keeps only a few passions in his life. These are things he is largely loyal to, to the point of being overprotective and possessive.

If he were to be one of the seven deadly sins, he would most definitely be Greed. This is in part due to the amount of loss he's experienced, and his desperate need to hold onto something, anything at all. That's why he is very gentle with his belongings and loved ones. He keeps his eyepatch clean, doesn't wear it in the rain and tucks it safely under his moss nest when not in use. This order is quite important to Birch, and he would probably lose it if someone were to mess it up. He doesn't like when others even go so far as to touch his stuff, or him for that matter. Being touched causes the feline great discomfort in most cases, especially near his face or neck. When Birch experiences this sort of feeling, he usually doesn't comment on it. Instead, he just leaves. If he can't leave whatever situation he's in, he slowly starts to panic. This can lead to a lot of miscommunications between him and other cats, especially when he refuses to reveal his feelings.

Birch is respectful, at least outwardly. He'd never really insult you to your face but instead he'd do subtle things to indicate his dislike towards you. Birch uses a lot of tail signals, expressions and movements to display his feelings. Talking is almost always his last method of conveying... anything. Beyond being respectful of other cats, Birch is rather respectful of other creatures and plants. He knows what a delicate balance life must have in order to be sustainable, and he feels somewhat responsible for keeping this balance. This can be seen by him choosing the smallest prey in the pile, burying anything he doesn't eat and being careful not to crush any plants he's walking past. He's not going to try to impose this same care onto others, but he will silently judge you for not practicing such behaviors. Don't let this fool you into thinking that Birch is a humorless icicle of a cat, however. The few words that come out of his mouth are usually self-deprecating jokes.

Birch knows when he needs to be quiet and watch himself when interacting with others that have far different opinions. The term "agree to disagree" resonates with him highly. On top of that, he also believes that no news is good news. Upkeeping relationships isn't exactly... his best ability. He'd rather assume the status quo that he's in with said cat and not try to expand upon it. Either that or he just forgot. Again, social conventions aren't something he's entirely caught up in. Tends to happen when you grow up as an orphan on a mountain full of nothing but predators.

His days in the circus affected the cat's tolerance, although not in the ways you might think. Yes, he knows how to appease a crowd but is he going to do so just for fun? No, not at all. He's grown tired of expectations and his ability to listen to others has been drastically affected since his days as a performer. Why should he listen to others that are no better than he is?

Another reason why Birch has trouble speaking is due to his upbringing. The only other cats he had spent a long time around had been his parents, and that was when he was a mere kitten. Twolegs don't bring him much fear, although he prefers the ones that are quiet like he is. The busy streets full of darting monsters brings him nothing but disgust. Similarly, he absolutely hates camp and finds it absolutely suffocating with the amount of cats present. He can usually be found deep in the territory or in his moss nest that lies hidden behind the warriors' den. Although, he has been known to wander even further past these boundaries. Let's make it clear right now, Birch has no ability to understand clan borders. He doesn't understand how cats can "own" land. Has this land not existed before them, and will it not continue to exist past their own lifespans? Territory is one thing the feline isn't greedy about, because he simply can't fathom it.

Birch can come off as a bit ungrateful due to his skeptical nature. He's used to everything having a catch, so he doesn't see why it should be any different now. You would probably be right if you were to think him a pessimist, but that usually applies to cats and not situations in general. Does he think coming to the clan is going to end horribly? No. Does he think the cats in the clan are going to disappoint or upset him? Yes, definitely. He detests love like an annoying fly, and doesn't feel ready at all for any relationship that has a deep amount of love put in. Not after the love he had experienced in the past.

Birch doesn't like kits and if you were to ever see him in the nursery it'd be once in a blue moon. He doesn't like to be treated any differently for any reason, nor does he enjoy being coddled. Dishonesty isn't his middle name, as he usually bends the truth or stays silent instead. He isn't super logical; he just doesn't show his emotions very often. Birch doesn't like loud and abrasive atmospheres and prefers intimate ones where he isn't bound by the usual social expectations. He suffers from ptsd after the death of his parents and the sound of a dog barking or howling will send him into a full-blown panic attack. He gets gruesome nightmares as well, which causes his insomnia. Seeing anyone in danger is another trigger, which is part of the reason he avoids relationships like the plague. The word "snow angel" or the mention of his parents will cause him to get snappy or leave. Being touched by his haunches or tail reminds him of when the coyote ripped his tail off, so he tries to face cats by the head at all times.

He's very goal oriented. His survival instincts can lead to him throwing other cats under the bus or running away when he's needed most. He tries to find meaning in literally everything. He has trouble accepting his mistakes and would rather run away or get angry.

## iii. skills and weaknesses

hunting : 5/10

fishing : 1/10

offense : 1/10

defense : 7/10

speed : 6/10

agility : 9/10

strength : 2/10

stealth : 9/10

stamina : 4/10

climbing : 7/10

swimming : 1/10

leadership : 0/10

clan loyalty : 1/10

herbs : none

## iv. life

### Backstory

**Moons 1-19 - 1 / 27 / 22**

Birch began his life at the snow-touched foot of Grouse Mountain; his only family, Holly and Boots, being two young and inexperienced parents. They had been cast aside into the wilderness by their twolegs, who were planning to move to a small apartment that wouldn’t allow pets. It seemed like their fate was sealed, intertwined with the bitter hands of death. However, the two unbound wanderers refused to accept this ending, and so they took lodge inside a secret cave nestled deep in the dark crags. Hikers passed by and noticed the starving family; some threw rocks at them and yet others brought food. They learned from the herds of black-tailed deer how to avoid predators and find shelter in the frost ─ how they concealed their young within the thick wild grass. Holly never wavered when teaching her blind kitten, and for several moons the three grew wiser and more athletic than they had ever thought possible.

One night the incessant baying of a distant coyote pack grew loud, like an orchestra in your backyard. Birch had caught a young rabbit that starless night and decided to bring it home before eating it. The fresh smell led one of the canines right to the concealed haven; soon it burst through the thorny vines and cast a foreboding shadow across the floor. Boots was the first to wake, his whiskers trembling with an unearthly fear. “ Birch, you have to run. Promise me you aren’t going to stop running until you can’t see us anymore, ” he shook his kitten awake, his eyes glistening with pain. Birch considered objecting, but as he saw the drool dripping from the wild creature’s mouth, he knew that this was his only option. It sprang for Holly and Boots, smashing the latter against a wall that held cave paintings of Birch and his assortment of toys. The youngest began to dart past, his long legs easily carrying him across the row of beds and decorations he had helped to make. A scream escaped his mouth as the coyote whipped around and grabbed hold of his tail, tearing its teeth through the soft fur. A panicked Birch held his unsheathed claws to the air then swiped down against the base of his tail, causing the lacerated limb to fall off. He tore through the night, his bright pelt like a blade coursing down the mountain trail. Birch never saw his parents again.

It was an unusually warm day amongst the stones as an older Birch threaded through the winding slopes, his stumpy tail wagging slowly. A familiar face greeted him as he trotted into a secluded rest area for the hikers of Grouse Mountain. Edward. The young ginger-haired man flashed Birch a grin before revealing a porcelain bowl filled to the brim with kibble and shredded chicken. “ I got this for you at the store yesterday. I figured it’s better than eating off the ground, “ he spoke, watching as the spotted feline circled around him warily. He had known this man for probably two moons now; he had always come to feed him each day after work. His gentle hand placed the bowl down on the aromatic soil and soon Birch was slinking over and scarfing down the food. He then set his silver chin on the man’s hand and purred quietly. Edward’s hazel eyes softened before beginning to pick up the skinny creature. Birch obliged, although he wasn’t too fond of being touched. “ I don’t want anything to happen to you. Can I take you home? “ he inquired before stroking the cat’s cheek. And so, the young loner took refuge at Edward’s quaint abode. The biologist spent many hours in his study, his hand sweeping across a keyboard until the screen was bursting with words. Several plants and curious trinkets lined his shelves, which Birch explored with great intrigue. Despite their language barrier, the sooty cat learned much from his comrade. What plants can be found in what biomes, what animals eat said plants and which ones are poisonous.

Love struck the young man, a blind love that sunk deep into his bones. He was always cavorting off to a diner or park now; buying roses instead of cat toys. Although Birch tried to deny the loneliness that began to wash through him, it was soon apparent that he had been forgotten about. Now, with a great distaste for romance, Birch sprang from the windowsill and off into the bustling streets of Vancouver. As it was and always will be, the nomad was on his own. Yet, in this time, another nomad had grown interested in him. Marcy, the CEO of a failing circus, grasped her wrinkling hands across his spine and threw him into her painted van.

## Relationships

biological family :

─ holly . mother . " ive never seen someone so perseverant , especially when it comes to me . "

─ boots . father . " i love him , and i refuse to acknowledge the less favorable parts of him now that he's gone . "

adoptive family :

─ edward . former owner . " it's him i feel safest with . too bad he was blinder than i am . "

─ marcy . former owner . " expectations are always written on her face . yes, i know i can't see her but i can just feel her burning stare even now . "