Keppel

• Lives exclusively on his own, although he doesn't mind traveling with a companion or two every once in a while, but he would rather be alone

• Dwells near a coastal town in Maine

• Local humans have come to see him as the town's "good luck charm"; they don't see him often, but good things always seem to happen when they do and they aren't sure why

• Often leaves random gifts for people and other animals alike; not usually things like dead birds or rodents, but well considered gifts specific to the individual

• He has the ability to speak to children, but not adults

• Occasionally he will find a sad child and listen to them, play with them, and comfort them, but he avoids sticking around for too long

• Parents of those he has interacted with often assume their child(ren) simply have a new imaginary friend or they were just making up the story of a talking cat for attention

• Enjoys cold weather and snow

• Doesn't mind getting a little wet, but he'd still rather not swim if he can avoid it

• Grooms his coat regularly; sometimes rubs on trees to de-tangle his fur

• Is not very fast and sort of lumbers about

• He's one who'd rather choose his steps wisely over having to flee from a bad situation or rush into something without thinking

• Usually tries to remain optimistic but he knows the world is nasty and rough and despite his jolly, good-hearted attitude he actually has a very cynical view on life

• Great at climbing trees and rocky terrain

• Prefers sleeping off the ground in treetops or cliffs, or in caves

• Likes making random structures out of wood, rocks, feathers, sticks or whatever else he can find. He calls it "art," but humans who stumble upon his works in the middle of the woods tend to call it "aliens"

• Avoids conflict if he can, but he is certainly capable of holding his own as he is pure muscle

• Skilled at fishing

• The name "Keppel" comes from the green/blue coloration of his eyes

• He enjoys playing tag and hide and seek

• Enjoys making friends, no matter the species 

• He doesn't let himself get too attached to anyone though, due to his firm beliefs that nothing good lasts forever and that his prolonged presence will eventually bring trouble to those he cares for; he'd rather avoid lasting relationships in the first place to avoid pain in the future 

• Never takes credit for anything; when he gives gifts or helps someone he tries to do it quietly

• Sometimes strolls through town and digs through people's trash for food, lost objects, or anything he can collect and gift to someone else

♡ Strolling around; exploring

♡ Calm ambience from either the wilderness or the harbor

♡ Eating fish

♡ Giving gifts to everyone he meets

♡ Solving problems

♡ Nighttime

♡ Napping

♡ Making people smile

♡ Being petted

♡ Snow/Winter

× Thunderstorms (the static makes his fur poof up)

× Being held/picked up

× Mud

× Bees

× Cars/Vehicles

× Hot weather

× Conflict with other animals

× Mean/abusive humans

Keppel began life as a simple housepet. He was purchased as a kitten by a young woman, who gave him as a gift to her six year old son. Keppel quickly grew to love his boy, whose name was Sam, over the first year of his life. Upon year two, he discovered he could speak words to Sam, small words at first, but enough to understand eachother. The pair became inseparable -- and though Keppel didn't realize at the time, he was about the only light Sam had to hold onto...

See, Sam's father was incredibly abusive to both him and his mother, and the hardship only grew worse with time as the family struggled financially.

There were countless nights of tears where the child fell asleep crying into Keppel's fur. Keppel couldn't stand it, and eventually, tragedy struck.

One night, the human family got into an especially heated argument. Although Keppel struggled to understand what exactly it had been triggered by, he knew it was quickly getting out of hand.

Sam's father grabbed a hammer, but instead of breaking something or even attacking his wife or child, he made an attempt to go for the family cat. 

The last memory Keppel keeps locked away in his heart is that of young Sam bolting toward him, scooping him in his arms, and throwing him out the nearest window, all while the house erupted in shouts.

After desperately trying to find a way back in and evidently failing, Keppel was forced to sleep underneath the porch. When he awoke the next morning he tried scratching on the door, but he never received a response.

For days he enacted the same routine, rain or shine, only to ever be met with staggering silence. He dwelled on what wrongdoing he might have done, thinking perhaps it was he who had caused such an uproar in the first place, a burden he carries with him to the present day. 

The following nights, wild animals began to circle the house, hoping to make an easy meal of the young housecat. Then there came a morning where Keppel found the family car mysteriously missing, and for days the house was still left in silence. The driveway was empty for weeks, until vehicles with flashing lights appeared, and men in strange dark uniforms swarmed the house like flies on a carcass.

Starving, exhausted, and cold from the rain, Keppel knew if he waited beneath the porch any longer he'd be on the brink of death. With a heavy heart and a sinking feeling in his gut, he abandoned any hope of being reunited with Sam. And although he sometimes regrets his decision, he moved on toward a coastline village...and never looked back.