Mintclaw // Iceclan

Appearance

Simple Appearance: Large smoke-grey tom with green eyes.


Paragraph Appearance: He has always been a big cat- when he was born, he was an unusually sized kit, even. To this day he does tower over the average cat. His size is emphasized by his fluffy, silken pelt.
His coat is not unusual for an IceClan cat. Deep grey tones cover his muscular form. Though not quite tabby, there are variations in the grey with his base coat being a much deeper smoke shade than the tips of the fur, which has an almost silvery sheen to it. He does have stripes dashed across his brow and the lower portion of his legs. Mintclaw has an enormous plume tail and huge paws. His gaze is a common shade of olive-gold, his claws are jet black, nose a soft mauve shade.

Personality

With his clanmates, Mintclaw is just a big softy. His personality among others is often seen as somewhat paternal, as he likes to look out for others and help in any way he can. Mintclaw doesn't see it above himself to collect moss for elders, gather herbs for the medicine cat, or even babysit kits. IceClan comes first, always.
Mintclaw loves mentoring. While he is a quiet cat and could even be considered a bit reserved, he loves spending time with the youth, and flexing his skills for them. Sure he's modest, but he has always had a natural knack for hunting and fighting, and he relishes the awe he can inspire in an apprentice. He's protective and naturally kind, so it makes sense for him to enjoy training others.
Mintclaw's kindness and blind loyalty can make him passive in times of indecision. He's wise, but can be blinded by the need to do what is most 'right'.

FOUR STRENGTHS
- wise
- patient
- courageous
- soldierly

FOUR WEAKNESSES
- aggressive
- prone to depression
- passive
- quiet

History

Mintclaw was born to a litter of four. Mintkit, Thymekit, Fallingkit, and Sootkit. Mintkit, being the largest, often led this little gang on their adventures. Thymekit was his second in command, while Fallingkit was the runt (and often tattle-tail). Sootkit- always a follower, and torn between Fallingkit's sense of right and his older brothers' hi-jinks, seeming 'cool' to them.
Once, in their fifth moon, the whole litter did venture out of camp (as naughty kits are prone to do) on the eve of a snowstorm. Any experienced warrior would have seen it coming, but the naive kits paid the ominous black skies no heed. As if IceClan's rocky territory weren't dangerous enough to 'explore', the kits were suddenly faced with vicious winds that ripped at their delicate pelts and tossed sharp ice and snow in their faces. Of course Fallingkit made her way quickly back to camp, but before the others could follow they became trapped in a rocky pit when a snowslide buried them in. They spent the night there, nearly suffocating and freezing before the storm passed, and Fallingkit could lead a group of warriors to them to dig them out. Sootkit did not make it, and Thymekit never truly recovered after the bout of whitecough he suffered. Fallingkit was made an apprentice early for her good sense and bravery. Mintkit was punished enough, and would never shake the sense that he had somehow murdered one brother and ruined the life of another. Of course, it hadn't been his scheme alone, but he felt a responsibility as the biggest kit to protect his siblings. Even then as such a young soul, he would be awash with a solemnity that never quite left him.
When Thymekit finally recovered enough to become an apprentice, Mintkit would join him. Fallingpaw was already a moon ahead of them in training, but Mintkit had begged their mother to have his ceremony postponed until Thymekit was ready. Fallingpaw was not speaking to her brothers, and did not cheer when they earned their new names.
Mintpaw's mentor was a tough, hearty old she-cat called Talonfoot. She cared not for his feelings, his compassion, his intelligence. She trained him long and hard to be the best he could be, physically. He relied on his mother, Greyfeather, to teach him strategy, intelligence, patience, and wisdom. He did bond with Talonfoot as if she were a kind of celebrity. In some aspects, she was. Undeniably a war hero, at least.
Not surprisingly, studious and driven Fallingpaw would become a warrior one moon before he and his brother did. She became Fallingfrost and after her overnight vigil she sought out Thymepaw and Mintpaw (still lovingly close partners in crime, though Thymepaw was now undeniably the leader) and forgave them for Sootkit's death, and the brothers began to forge a relationship with their sister once more.
Mintpaw would become Mintclaw for his skill in battle, proved twice over in border scuffles. Thymepaw became Thymeheart for his determination and strong will. His lungs are still weak from his bout with whitecough, but he is no less ferocious of a warrior.
Mintclaw's struggle with depression was worsening after he no longer had the kinship of other apprentices, and Thymeheart and his own lives became so hectic with the duties of brand new warriors that he couldn't depend on his brother to help keep him sane. Visions of Sootkit's last ragged breath leaving his freezing body continued to haunt Mintclaw, as well as cruel thoughts of self-doubt and fear of the unknown. He began to isolate himself from others as much as he could, his adolescence fading into a gloomy adulthood. His leader must have noticed, for his life changed when he was assigned his first apprentice at just 13 moons. It felt odd to train someone so close to his own age, but natural, too. They bonded immediately, turning to the best of friends. Mintclaw was able to demonstrate the things he at least knew he was really good at, and helping another cat felt refreshing after doubting himself for so long.
After his apprentice became a warrior, the rest is history. He's trained several apprentices, and always served IceClan to the best of his ability, keeping busy to stave off unwelcome thoughts.