Tarantulashadow

Having grown up in a rather large family she learned to trust and love those around her. Not having interacted with many outside said family she was in for a rude awakening when she left her family group. Cats used her for their personal gain, leaving the she-cat socially bruised and hurt, causing her to be distasteful and untrusting of many cats. Outwardly she seems rude, brash and defensive- and in a sense she is- but she enjoys and does desire strong companionship.

She may be overbearing to those she finds close. Tarantulashadow having been delt the cards she has, tries to hold on to those she believed she can trust. If she speculates any sort of dishonesty or lies she will act aggressively from a place of hurt.

Tarantula was born to a pair of happy parents along with 4 other kits. Along with her littermates, she had 3 older siblings that were warrior aged. The family had settled themselves at the edges of the ruined city, enjoying the bounty of nature and shelter of the two-leg structures. The trio of older siblings had helped feed and play with her and the other kits, acting as unofficial nannies. Tarantula came to love them all, the she-cat growing and maturing in this safe, trusting, and co-operative environment. Needless to say she developed a false sense of trust towards many cats outside her family group.

At around 19 moons she left her parents and siblings to explore what the world around her had to offer. The molly had managed to get by for a couple moons, surviving off small rodents and scraps. Her trust of others had led her to be backstabbed and ditched by “friends'' many times, causing a disdain for many. Though she eventually got a break, meeting a kind tom who found the thin she-cat and offered her food. Even though she was initially untrusting and cautious, they had formed a friendship. One that Tarantulashadow was certain to end with deceit, yet it never came, eventually warmed up to his honest caring nature. The large feline came to trust the tom over the course of moons, forming a closer bond. They were practically inseparable, rarely seeing one without the other. The two felines had come to a slow understanding of stronger feelings of the other. Confessing, the two officially became mates. As such, the two did everything together, hunting, sleeping, fighting- determined to face whatever challenge was thrown their way.

At about 31 moons of age, one evening the pair had been traveling their normal hunting route along the cement roads. Suddenly, Tarantula was caught off guard as something grabbed her by the tail and yanked her back, beginning its assault on the calico. Wanting to protect his mate, Finchdust turned and lunged at the threat, fighting ferociously as he found himself face to face with a dog. Tarantulashadow having fought her way out of its maw, slipping into a crawl space, watching in pain as Finchdust tried to fend off the dog. There was hope, silently pleading for the tom to win- only to have it immediately crushed as the dog got a grasp of Finchdust and Tarantula could only watch. Crying in both pain and horror as her mate was mauled and maimed just a few feet away. She waited until nightfall, then sunrise and evening of the next day before she dared to move. The molly pitifully crawled from her hiding place, nose brutally attacked by the scent of blood. She didnt want to see Finchdust’s corpse, but she had to know. The molly couldn’t live with herself if he somehow had survived and she left him… so, she looked. Her heart broke, letting out a horrid sob at the sight of her mate's corpse. She mourned, eventually gathering the strength to bury his remains in a grassy plot they frequented together, hoping he could find peace here.

The molly had struggled to continue on in her life, not only was she alone again for the first time in many moons, she was grieving the loss of her best friend and mate. Days of barely fending off starvation and nights of crying in grief for Finchdust. Tarantulashadow had come to notice that regardless of her constant fight against starvation, she hadnt lost weight. Eventually the she-cat had come to realize; Finchdust’s legacy would continue on. Granted it wasnt what she needed at the time- but the calico was overjoyed. She had weighed her options, the feline had recollected the clans- certainly they accepted loners before? Surely. Set on a plan; though hesitant, the feline began her journey.

Fear of the beast that took Finchdust drove her forth, worrying it would come for her too. The molly had carried her worn paws beyond the maze of concrete and debris, refusing to stop for the safety of herself and her expected kin. Tarantulashadow had carried herself further and further, unease and uncertainty grasping the she-cats mind until her eyes settled on the vibrant lavender hues of flowers hanging above her. For the first time in a while, she felt somewhat eased. The moment soon interrupted as she stumbled and fell, hunger and the fading numbness in her paws wearing off hitting her; she winced.

With shaky legs, she rose to her feet, continuing throughout the territory until she caught the scent of cats. A brief knot forming in her stomach made her question if this was a good idea- but it quickly subsided as she called out to the border patrol.