Stormwind

[attr="class","arrgenMAINTEXT"]Since kithood, it had been apparent that Stormwind was intelligent, more so than the average kit. Born to a litter three, he had been the quietest and least rambunctious of his siblings. From a very early age he was observant, trying to figure out the way things worked, and the purpose behind interactions. During these early moons is when he developed his perceptive nature; guided by his strong intuition. These formative traits would prove to extend into adulthood and shape who he is as a cat.

During his youth he took his training very seriously and was always ready to learn all that he could. He craved to find his place, and to understand all there was about this life. Stormwind has always been an extremely innovative cat, constantly finding alternative ways of doing things and thinking outside of the box. Few were a fan of this, especially strict and traditional cats.

Overtime, being met with criticism from others who didn’t see things the way he saw them caused the young tom to become withdrawn and reclusive. Those who accepted him for his oddness and quirks, however, became cherished friends. Because of how much he struggled to fit in, anytime he makes a friend he is always thoughtful, caring, and supportive of who they are no matter what differences they have.

Stormwind is extremely strong-willed, to the point of being non-conforming at times. He cares little for clan structure and thinks the current way the forest is governed works against the best interest of everyone. Although he’s quiet and doesn’t share all his crazy ideas with everyone, he is not the type that can be bullied into submission. He holds his convictions strongly, and unless someone can give him solid information and reasoning that exposes flaws in his ideas, then his beliefs are usually very fixed.

This tom’s biggest fault, however, is how obsessive he can be. Once he has his mind set on something, it takes up most of his energy and thinking. He also cannot admit to himself that what he once had with Hailbrooke is a part of the past. He clings to the idealized image he has of her, and the life that he pictures them having together again. In turn, this has made him very regretful, another emotion he obsesses over. His head is filled with pointless ‘what-ifs’ and ponders often different choices he could have made in the past.

Stormwind is also, to a fault, a flirtatious creature. Over the moons he’s had many relationships or flings with different toms or she-cats that never quite seemed to work. None of them ever leaving him feeling content or satisfied; nothing ever comparing what he once had with Hailbrooke. His flirtatious nature also knows no borders, and the tom often wonders if he has sired kits in different clans. This aspect of his personality has left many cats heartbroken, and until he can fix what is fundamentally wrong with him, he will continue to leave a trail of heartache wherever he goes.

[attr="class","arrgenMAINTEXT"]It started off as most beginnings do. Splashfoot and Reedwhisker had been in love for many moons before deciding they were ready to have kits. Not long after making that decision, they were blessed with a litter of three. Stormkit was born along with a brother, Rainkit, and a sister, Lightningkit.

The two parents proudly adored and doted over the new life that they had brought into the world. However, something was off about Stormkit, and it became noticeable when the kits began to walk, talk, and interact with the world. While his brother and sister were interested in playing as kits usually do, Stormkit often sat off to the side and observed his siblings as they rough-housed with each other.

Splashfoot thought little of it at first. Stormkit was just a quiet, well-mannered kit in her opinion. He would grow up to be shy, and possibly introverted. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, the new mother thought, as he just seemed to have a deeper perception of the world around him.

And oh, did he ever. The moment his little mind started forming, he would ask endless questions as kits usually did. Stormkit couldn’t help but to inquire about every little thing, as he desired to know exactly how everything worked and why they were the way that they are. It became almost immediately noticeable that his questions delved on a deeper level than did most kits.

At six moons of age he was made an apprentice. At first, he struggled to adapt to the change. Unlike his siblings, Stormpaw didn’t want to leave the familiar comfort of the nursery in order to embrace the new chapter of life that was set out before him. This, in turn, made him anxious, shy, and quiet as ever.

Forming friendships was difficult now as an apprentice. His reserved, and introverted demeanor put a barrier in the way of him being able to connect with others. Stormpaw’s endless questions about every little thing that intrigued him, and the out-of-the-box ideas he could have sometimes easily put others off as well.

Except for Hailpaw. She was a lively, energetic, silver tabby. In many ways she was the exact opposite of him, but they differed in ways that complimented each other. Suddenly, Hailpaw became all that the young tom could think about. Soon, she became the center of the world, and his best friend.

Building up the courage to tell her how he felt was nothing short of a struggle. As fate would have it, and much to his surprise, she had felt the same way about him. For moons the two apprentices were caught up in the magical feeling of young love. It was intoxicating. Addicting. Everything he could ever hope and expect love to be.

Unfortunately, his nagging, and obsessive thoughts got the best of him. Stormpaw didn’t see what they had as something that could viably last in the future. They were just simply too young when they got together. He knew as they grew older, they both would change and become different cats. In his mind, he believed they were destined to fall out of love.

On a day that he can still picture clearly, Stormpaw uttered the words severing their relationship. It would become a memory that is forever burned into his head. Hailpaw, confused and heartbroken, pleaded for him to reconsider but the young tom held his ground. He was certain this was the way things had to be.

Not long after the apprentices were made warriors. Stormpaw received the name Stormwind, while Hailpaw received the name Hailbrooke. For moons they didn’t speak, and Stormwind moved on through life to discover himself and who he really was. During this time he formed many opinions about clan life and structure, in which he renounced his faith in StarClan, and viewed the warrior code as nothing more than a silly, rigid, meaningless outline to life.

As he began to develop his identity, he once again became interested in romance and relationships. This would give way to a series of flings, and surface level relationships that quickly fizzled out. For a while it frustrated him. He wanted to feel the feelings he once had with Hailpaw again. Eventually, he accepted true romance was just a façade and felt satisfied with his flirtatious, and meaningless bonds he developed with others.

Time would heal wounds, or so they say, and Hailbrooke would find her way back into Stormwind’s life. The two would develop a friendship, as she had already moved on with a mate and kits of her own. For a while it was a happy moment for him. Until he started to realize he had never really fallen out of love with her, but now it was too late. For moons he would continue a cycle of pushing her out when it became unbearable, only to end up pulling her back into his life.

Currently, Stormwind finds himself unhappily among the ranks of RiverClan, though it is a secret he keeps as hidden as his true feelings for Hailbrooke. Confined and restricted, clan life does not offer the kind of life he yearns for. Tradition is a meaningless outline set in place by dead cats in his opinion. Lately, the pull to discover what exists outside of their borders and even forest calls to him stronger as time goes on…