FogEdge

FogEdge is a slender, scrappy tom with a handsome coat he rarely tends to. His mate is far more likely to tidy his pelt. His limber build favors agility over brawn. He has trained intensely, building muscle over many moons. Across his pelt are several old scars, starting in his apprentice days and continuing through his lifetime as a warrior. He always holds his head high and his shoulders square. It's rare to see the silver tom without his trademark smirk.

FogEdge's legendary confidence is the result of moons faking it until he made it. Abandoned by his birth parents, he longed for approval and attention more than anything. He is talkative and energetic - preferring to be playful and teasing with his interactions. In dangerous situations, his impish nature disappears. All of ShadowClan is his family, and he defends his kin with reckless abandon. He takes his responsibility as Deputy very seriously, but masks it behind jokes and sneers. Since becoming LarkFrost's partner, his demeanor has softened. FogEdge does not hesitate to be affectionate in public. Nowadays, his fears of rejection are far from his mind. He does not refrain from speaking his mind, but reserves his innermost feelings for those who have earned his affection.

Fog was born into ShadowClan. His mother's name was MistWalker. At her best, MistWalker was uninterested in her Clan duties. At her worst, the she was absent from camp and fraternizing with the local rogues at Carrionplace. When she became pregnant, MistWalker took advantage of her new role as queen to lounge around the camp and have prey brought to her. Her litter consisted of a single kit: a silvery gray male with a speckled pelt. She named him FogKit, and expressed a short-lived interest in raising the kitten. After a week of nursing, she began to neglect the kit and wander off whenever possible. FogKit kneaded the bellies of other queens in the nursery and begged for food. Some nights he went hungry. He weaned off milk rather quickly compared to the other litters. Even before FogKit could became an apprentice, his mother left the Clan to pursue the life of a free-roaming rogue. The Carrionplace inhabitants moved on to their next venture, leaving FogKit without so much as a goodbye.

The abandoned kit became a rambunctious apprentice. FogPaw was desperate for any form of attention - poking and prodding at the other apprentices at every opportunity. He would even patronize the warriors and elders if given the chance. One apprentice in particular, a stern she named EaglePaw, seemed immune to his bullying and went out of her way to call FogPaw out on his aggressive behavior. Initially, this increased his aggression toward her. Throughout their training his frustration shifted to respect, and EaglePaw became one of the few cats he could confide in. He was also fond of fellow apprentices - LarkPaw, CherryPaw, and HollowPaw - although his way of showing appreciation consisted of playful teasing.

The clan had low expectations for the son of a deserter and rogue. This became most apparent with the assignment of his mentor; an irritable ex-rogue named FrostEdge. The warrior was rough on FogPaw, but it honed the young tom's petty abuse toward his clanmates into fierce battle skills against enemies. Quick on his paws and fierce with his claws, FogPaw excelled in both offensive and defensive combat styles. His instincts in battle were sharp. He had average hunting abilities, and preferred patient hunts and frogs as his prey. He was both confident and reckless, a dangerous combination for both himself and his opponents. He was eager to participate in any form of combat - from sparring with other apprentices to border skirmishes with ThunderClan. The apprentice was already starting to earn battle scars, which he wore proudly. To him, injuries were a sign of his loyalty and dedication to ShadowClan. He longed to be recognized not only as one of ShadowClan's best warriors, but he had his eyes set on the highest position atop Shade Rock.

Although FrostEdge's training regiment was strict and harsh on FogPaw, the apprentice was thankful to finally have an adult that saw his potential. He looked up to FrostEdge not only as a mentor and warrior, but also as a father figure. Some members of the clan scoffed and the pair, solidifying their opinions that FogPaw was more rogue than clan cat. Others were grateful he had an outlet for his antagonistic behavior, as FrostEdge kept FogPaw busy with training and left little time for bullying. FogPaw still went out of his way to harass the other clan cats in downtime, but always preferred to be serving the clan on patrols, hunts, and training.

Toward the end of their apprentice training, FrostEdge, (Lark's mentor), FogPaw, and LarkPaw went out on border patrol around CarrionPlace. A storm poured down on their pelts and the earth was slick with rainwater. A terrible rockslide bore down on the patrol. FrostEdge tossed LarkPaw out of the way of the worst of it, and the apprentice fled a mangled and twisted front paw. FrostEdge was crushed under the rubble. It took three days for the storm to recede and the clan to dig out his remains. FogPaw and LarkPaw took vigil for the fallen warrior. Both felt tremendous guilt - LarkPaw for FrostEdge's sacrifice, and FogPaw for feeling helpless. The two young toms settled together in the chill of the night, nearly silent apart from their occasional sobs.

The loss of FrostEdge took its toll on FogPaw. His playful teasing turning to outbursts of raw anger and frustration. The other apprentices gave him a wide berth, with EaglePaw and LarkPaw trying to comfort the grieving tom, but it was nearly impossible to reach him. (Lark's mentor) helped FogPaw finish his training unofficially, as FogPaw refused to accept another mentor. At his warrior ceremony, FogPaw was named FogEdge in honor of his deceased mentor.

When ShadowClan's deputy(Name?) passed away from (Greencough?), FogEdge was eager for the naming of the next deputy. While hopeful for the position himself, he expected the role would go to HollowGaze. The large tom was powerful yet level-headed - perfect material for a future clan leader. Yet to his surprise, EagleStrike was selected as BrambleStar's next deputy. FogEdge suspected the leader had a soft spot for the she that may have influenced the decision, but he could not deny that EagleStrike was a cat worthy of the title. He just wished his name had been called.

After several moons, FogEdge began to suspect that he was disliked as a warrior. He was not chosen as a mentor, even though many apprentices have received their assignments. FogEdge was popular with the she cats, but none of them pursued his company beyond the intermittent flirting. Cats grimaced when selected for patrol with FogEdge. Most days he ate alone, glaring at the other cats from afar. When HollowGaze's father, MurkStrike, returned to ShadowClan and brought death and chaos to the camp, FogEdge was surprised when HollowGaze turned on his family and fought tooth and claw. The silvery tom expected the clan to look down on HollowGaze, especially when BrambleStar renamed him HollowScar for the jagged scar across his face he had earned from his battle with MurkStrike. Instead, the clan was understanding and sympathetic toward the large black tom, and spent more time with him, not less. Bewildered, FogEdge stayed in the shadows of the camp, spiteful, analytical, and frustrated.

Moons passed, and BrambleStar fell in battle. EagleStrike left for moonstone to received her nine lives, and FogEdge sat with baited breath. His second chance to become deputy, and this time the leader was a cat he appreciated. He only hoped the feeling was mutual. Upon her return, EagleStar named HollowScar as her deputy. FogEdge was devastated, offering no congratulations for his clanmate. How could HollowScar be worthy of the title, but not him?