Lynxear

**Lynxear** is a large, broad-shouldered, stocky brown tabby tom with thick black stripes and big, tufted ears. He has a taupe base colour with rich fawn accents at his face and mane. His fur is dominated by a bold black classic tabby pattern, and to a glancing passerby he may appear a uniform black against the snow. He has long fur, flaxen whiskers, and a carmine-red nose. His eyes are amber and darkly outlined.

## Personality

The gentle giant of his brood, Lynxear assumed his role as big brother from kithood. His genuine concern knows no bounds and it has done little to charm his sisters. He's a disciplinarian at heart, and although Owltuft has always overshadowed him in the intellect department, there were a couple instances where he'd caught her during a midnight escapade, leaping out of a bush to scare the daylights out of her. He's calmed down a bit now since their youth, but still holds a special protectiveness over Owltuft who was always the runt of their litter. He was the first to warn her about Hailstorm's character defects. Not that he'd have to worry... Lynxear has a tender streak of obliviousness that elicits an endearing quality at the best of times and indignation at the worst. He is looking to settle down and rear a bunch of rambunctious kits in the near future.

## History

Lynxkit was born alongside his two sisters to an unnamed mother, and was clearly the largest of his litter. He strongly resembles his mother in both appearance and temperament. At one point as a kit, he was mistaken for a tardy apprentice, and his mother had to intercept the warriors before they could whisk him off. Despite his size he preferred the role of a mediator, and never minded sharing his mossball with any who asked.

He quickly became quite protective of his sisters. During his apprenticeship, EagleClan was hit by the death of Greypaw, after which Lynxpaw became even more protective and would beg Owlpaw not to go out on her evening escapades. This was to little affect until one night Lynxpaw followed her out, hid in some bushes, and sprung out at her pretending to be a rogue. Though she scuffed him up quite badly in her fright, his message was received at last. His sisters ran circles around him in most aspects of training, but Lynxpaw was the only apprentice of his generation to successfully climb Corrigan's Peak, a title which he has never let go of.

Lynxear and his sisters received their warrior names together on a very proud day in early leaf-fall.

### First Leaf-fall

Lynxear grooms himself, irritated that Blazestar sent the young warriors Drizzlemask and Rookflight on the Highlands expedition over Lynxear. Seeing Goatwhisker, he goes over and begins a conversation with her, commenting that Rookflight has been bouncing all over the camp since he became a warrior. Goatwhisker begins to admit that she's worried how the patrol will manage, then trails off uncertainly. Lynxear assures her that he shares her concern, and though he suggests that perhaps Blazestar wanted to give them a chance at such an important mission, he would've expected someone like himself, Goatwhisker, or perhaps Owltuft to be chosen alongside the younger cats. He recalls when he first saw the Highlands, and that Blazestar had set her sights on the territory even then, though he had never liked it being closer to the Bloodhides' camp than theirs.

He points out that Ermineflight will probably keep the patrol in line, to which Goatwhisker agrees. When Goatwhisker mentions Runningwolf, Lynxear hesitates slightly, remembering the long-brewing misunderstanding between Runningwolf and himself. He thinks of how he had always questioned why Grapeclaw had chosen a mate with such unsure ways, and even had three kits with him, though Lynxear believes it an awful thing to think of an elder warrior in such a way.

Lynxear and Goatwhisker take some fresh-kill to the nursery. On the way, Lynxear recalls growing up in the nursery himself with his two sisters. As they enter and give the prey they brought to the queens, Lynxear comments to Grapeclaw that every she-cat should have her mate by their side during the first few moons of their kits' lives, giving a side glance towards Smokefall. He thinks that Smokefall is rather reckless and selfish for bringing half-Clan kits into the world, and doubts Smokefall will be able to wrangle them herself. At Smokefall's mention of missing sharing tongues, Lynxear wonders what sort of riffraff Smokefall had spent her time with, and resolves not to let EagleClan become known for careless lineage.

Leaving the nursery, Lynxear mutters darkly that if they make allowances for cats like Smokefall, soon they would have a whole den of half-Clan cats with no true allegiances. Shadowstreak abruptly runs into them and knocks them down, and Lynxear boxes his ears and scolds him, asking what would have happened if a queen had been leaving the nursery. Shadowstreak apologises profusely, and Lynxear relents, telling Shadowstreak to take more care next time.

He continues with his comments about Smokefall, saying that he hopes no other young Clanmates will follow her path, and if he became mentor to any of Runningwolf's brood it would be the first thing on his agenda. The idea of Smokefall's half-Clan kits fills him with revulsion, and he claims that all the loose energy a father should keep in line would be funnelled into delinquency. This irritates Goatwhisker enough that she points out sharply that the Clan has always worked together to raise the next generation, and that they are kin not only by blood but by choice.

Startled, Lynxear admits that Goatwhisker makes several good points, and apologises. Goatwhisker is surprised but accepts his apology, and continues that though she doesn't want more half-Clan kits either, continuing to shame Smokefall - or her kits - won't make any of them any more loyal to EagleClan. Lynxear suggests that perhaps he sees his mother and sisters in Smokefall, and knows he would not want the same for them, so this is why he was so hard on her. However, he agrees that Smokefall chose to raise her kits in EagleClan, and that counts for something. He tells Goatwhisker that he thinks she would be an excellent mentor for one of Smokefall's kits when the time comes, and Goatwhisker tells him the same.

That night, Lynxear has found a warm spot to sleep in the warriors' den and is anticipating a patrol the next day.

## Trivia

* Lynxear speaks with a hint of an old western accent.