Trickthorn

        Trickthorn is a part of the Dark Forest. He's extremely stealthy, almost supernaturally so.

        Trickthorn is cruel for the sake of his own entertainment, though he's never actually killed anyone. He keeps up a cheerful and subservient act that keeps others from paying attention to him. Despite his lack of regard for others, he can be very helpful when he chooses to be.

        He doesn't know how to form genuine connections. He becomes frightened in the rare moments someone can see through his mask. He used to be wholly confident in his own skills, but now fears Douseflame, the only one who sees through him.

        Trickthorn was born in CedarClan. He always saw a fundamental divide between himself and his clanmates; they didn't seem to see as clearly as he did. Other cats didn't notice him--when his mother died, when he was alone, when he got hurt or snuck out of camp. He began testing what he could get away with. He put on a smile and charmed his way into being deputy, refining his acting into an artform. He became addicted to pushing boundaries. He felt invincible; nothing he did mattered to anyone. Did it matter, then, if he hurt others?

        He kidnapped Errantpaw, keeping him in a cave and torturing him for moons. The only one who figured it out was Douseflame, a young, unusually observant warrior. Trickthorn kidnapped him as well, but underestimated him. Douseflame had let himself get kidnapped intentionally. Trickthorn never expected anyone to go to such lengths, which allowed Douseflame to ultimately kill him.

        Trickthorn is now a part of the Dark Forest. Since Douseflame is now the leader of a Dark Forest faction, Trickthorn avoids groups whenever possible. He spends his time hiding in shadows, in constant fear that his killer will find him again.