Profile
Petrichor
Basics
Likes
- Exploring
- Siblings
- Flowers
Dislikes
- Firebending
- Rain
- Getting in trouble
About
Petri is a spare prince of Fireclan. His sister, Mesa, is the heir and future Fire Lord, so he's in an awkward position where he's eventually going to functionally be a regular warrior but is still a prince, son of their leader and potentially could lead the clan if Mesa and his older brother died or abdicated. Realistically, he's third in line and unlikely to be important. Petri would love to be a regular kid though, with none of the regality or expectations placed on him as a Prince who represents his clan.
Summary
Baby
Petrichor was born squirming and wriggling and complaining bitterly. Soon enough, the third and final child was born and each of them were gently guided to the curve of Lazuli’s stomach. Three strong and healthy children, breathtakingly beautiful to their parents. Petrichor was too young to be able to sense the eyes on him as he suckled dutifully. He wasn’t aware that to the Fire Lord and Lady, all three of them were tiny miracles, the birth going so well as compared to their disastrous last one.
Fire Lord Smoke and Avatar Lazuli named their children Pyxis, Petrichor, and Lapis. They had three candles alight outside of the den that this time they did not have to extinguish. Three bright, healthy little flames.
Petri grew up with expectations. He was a prince, after all. He had to learn all the various responsibilities and airs to put on as a potential future leader. But in all honestly, Petri didn't want to be a future leader. Or a prince in general, honestly. He just wanted to sneak out and explore -but with all the eyes on him as a prince he was so rarely able to actually sneak away.
It would be nice if he could be reckless and impulsive and stubborn without being scolded for it being unbecoming. It was like he had to follow an entirely separate set of rules on behavior on top of the regular ones, and he chafed against the restrictions.
Despite it all though, Petri craved his parents' affection and approval. Though you'd never guess if you looked at his misbehavior -many shook their heads at the Fire Lord's headstrong son who seemed determined to shame the family name.
Apprentice
Petrichor was eager to be an apprentice, primarily because it offered far more freedom than being a kit. Or at least, he'd thought so. Unfortunately, being an apprentice came with responsibilities he hadn't considered and a mentor he suddenly he had to heed.
Fire Lord Smoke had probably made Jackal his mentor in the hopes that the sharp and dedicated warrior would tame Petri's wild streak.
Perhaps it is fortunate that Jackal did no such thing. She was a strict mentor, of course. But she was actually very considerate, she played to Petri's strengths. She took Petri's boundless energy and give it a purpose, focus.
It also helped that Petri was allowed to explore and ask questions to his heart's content when Jackal took him to every inch of the territory to show him where to find herbs and plants that they collected for her brother.
There is one thing that shames Petri though: he's not a good firebender. Everyone expects him to be good, because his parents are brilliant and fantastic and the highest ranked cats in the clan. But Petri just - isn't good. Not even Jackal seemed to be able to improve his pitiful efforts. While they continue to work on his bending, to his own great reluctance, he is pathetically grateful that Jackal seems to have kept that fact to herself.
He loves roaming the territory. He loves hunting and patrolling. He even loves learning about herbs, though he can never remember the names or functions even if he remembers what they look and smell like. He loves sprinting through the territory, bouncing off rocks and kicking off tree until he feels like he's soaring through the air.
He just doesn't love firebending. Which is a problem.
Aesthetic
Trivia
- Petri was never formally a character because the group sort of went on permanent hiatus shortly after he was born.
- Petri's whole character arc was going to be based on chafing against expectations and accepting himself as he is - allowing himself to acknowledge that his strengths weren't the strengths that were expected of him.
- Petri has very complicated relationships with his family. He loves his family, but he struggles with what he thinks their expectations are and is jealous of his siblings who seem better able to fill their roles.
- Petri is not a good firebender. He's not and he never will be. He can make little puffs of fire, but his bending is just very weak, no matter how much he breathes and focuses and tries. He hates feeling like a failure more than anything, so he doesn't bend in front of anyone except Jackal and (sometimes) Crusader when Crus accompanies Jackal. Every time he hates it. He practically has to be forced into practicing and he would prefer to do anything else, even cleaning out dens.
Related
Petrichor thought that Jackal would be a square but actually... she's ended up being someone he really counts on and understands him. She doesn't belittle or judge him, just plays to his strengths and helps with his weaknesses. It's... a lot.
Even though he loves his oldest sister, and he does, Petri can't help but be jealous. Mesa is... perfect in his eyes. The ideal heir and daughter. No it doesn't matter that she's two years older, he wishes he could make his parents proud like Mesa does.
Petri kind of thinks Crusader is weird, but in an affection sort of almost-uncle way? Crusader is way too concerned about Petrichor's health, but also teaches him cool things and never judges him for sucking at bending. He's not cool, but not not cool.