APPEARANCE

"I wanna hunt like David, I wanna kill me a giant man"

Pumpkinclaw is a tall, strange cat. He is well muscled and fit, each smooth movement showing his strength. He's a Cornish Rex mix, and his heritage shows in his curled short fur. His pelt is ginger, swirled with red classic tabby markings. He has a few points of white on his muzzle, neck, paws, and tail. Pumpkinclaw is INCREDIBLY soft, but often cold because of his thin fur. He's been known to ask to share nests with fluffier cats in the cold seasons. Pumpkinclaw has a few scars. One that crosses his lip, a nick in his ear, and scratches on his sides. He does not talk about where he recieved them. His eyes are vivid yellow and a little eerie. Pumpkinclaw could be considered handsome if you have the taste for his kittypet looks.

HISTORY

"I wanna slay my demons, but I've got lots of them, I've got lots of them"

Pumpkinclaw was born to a purebred cornish rex and a Shadowclan warrior. His mother was a gorgeous white and black champion showcat who escaped on a few rare times and managed to run into Redheart. The two hit it off amazingly well, Redheart telling her stories of the glory of clanlife and all the adventures that come along with it. He seduced her quickly, and around 3-4 moons later, she returned and presented him with two children.

These two children were dubbed Pumpkin and Squash, based around the things that their mother Cornelia saw around the house at the time. She told Redheart to take them, making him promise that they’d live the noble life of a warrior. The young kittens were both excited to meet their father. However, Redheart used Cornelia for his own gain. He told her he’ll take good care of them, and then cut her throat in front of her young children.

As she bled out, Redheart turned to his son and daughter and laid out the rules. He told them they were not to speak a word of this, that they were to be the best warriors in the clan at any cost, and that they were to listen to him above all else.

Terrified and traumatized, the two kittens were shepherded to Shadowclan. As soon as they walked into the clearing, Redheart put on a show for the ages. He told the clan that he had found a poor loner murdered with her young kittens at her side, and he couldn’t simply leave the babies there in good conscience. It was against the code, after all, to neglect a kit in need. This efficiently painted himself as the hero of the situation.

Pumpkinkit and Squashkit joined the nursery, bonding to one another and remaining quiet as their father had demanded. Publicly, Redheart pretended to grow closer and closer to the kits, visiting everyday and practically raising them as his own.

As they became apprentices, Pumpkinpaw was unluckily faced with his own father as a mentor. His sister received an amateur warrior as hers, and he was quietly jealous of that. Redheart was a ruthless mentor away from prying eyes, training his son fiercely in the art of combat and teaching him to kill. Squashpaw learned at a regular pace, but was often brought in for late night training with her brother and dad, leaving both kids exhausted for more training in the morning.

Pumpkinpaw excelled in combat, much to his own distaste. He’s a pacifist at heart, and each swipe of his paw felt like another weight on his shoulders. His father was immensely proud, but never let up on his son.

One late night, while the siblings were training under their father’s watch, Redheart commanded them to use claws. Both of them hesitated, refusing to do so and hurt the other. Redheart told them they needed to prepare for a real battle, and when that day comes the enemy will be using claws. Still, Pumpkinpaw and Squashpaw wouldn’t budge. Growing enraged, Redheart gave them both scars to remember. Pumpkinpaw on his lip, and Squashpaw on her shoulder.

Scared into continuing, the two apprentices fought. Pumpkinpaw had the skill advantage, and when Squashpaw couldn’t keep up, he slowed. Redheart roared for him to continue. With his heart beating fear quick, he pushed onwards.

Before he knew it, Squashpaw was in a bloody heap on the ground. Still.

Pumpkinpaw had murdered his sister, and only friend in the world.

Redheart was proud, nuzzling his ears and starting to mask his crimes. Pumpkinpaw’s hatred for his father developed further and further, a ice-cold chunk of ice in his chest. He became selectively mute, going from shy to downright silent. Slowly, he started having hallucinations, seeing shapes and dark figures at times. Nothing malicious, but certainly startling.

Squashpaw was said to have been killed by rogues. As Pumpkinpaw watched his father cry crocodile tears over her body, as he looked at his own claws stained with her blood, he discovered a few things. Firstly, that he hated his father, and wanted him dead. Secondly, that he hated himself, and would be okay with dying. Thirdly, that he already killed one cat.

He began to plan.

Pumpkinpaw was named Pumpkinclaw, much to his own displeasure. He never wanted to be named for violence, even if it seemed to shape his life.

He waited exactly three days after his ceremony. Pumpkinclaw cornered his father by the Thunderpath and attacked him. Redheart fought viciously, but was no match for his prodigy son. Pumpkinclaw slaughtered him out of sheer hatred, and left him on the Thunderpath. He told the clan he was killed by a monster, acting mournful as his father did for his sister.

For a while after this, he’s lived the life of a warrior, slipping into the background. Slowly, he’s learning to cope with the traumas of his childhood. His mental issues have not subsided, and may not ever, but he lives with them as best he can.

Pumpkinclaw was only recently made deputy. It came as an utter shock to the tom, who never would have pegged himself for the role. He's convinced it must be some mistake. Pumpkinclaw is struggling to get the respect he thinks he deserves, and is noticing a more short-tempered turn in his attitude. However, he believe that if he was made deputy, it must be from Starclan. Surely he can't be all that bad, right?

​

As ranks fell and the sickness claimed many lives, Pumpkinclaw quietly slipped from this position and is attempting to return to his normal life.  However, the taste of power lingers, leaving him with a hungry streak he can't shake.

PERSONALITY

"A little less like my father and more like my dad"

Pumpkinclaw is snow and ice, all practiced efficiency and chilly demeanor. He speaks little, and shares personal information about himself even less. The words he does allow himself to speak are of great value, trimmed of the fat of glamour and instead thick with mystique. Some may consider him wise, but most would consider him strange. Pumpkinclaw’s eyes drift off at some invisible target when he is spoken to, and he can be seen soundlessly talking to himself. His past is shrouded, the origin of his scars left unsaid like many other things. He may struggle to get respect, due to his obvious kittypet blood and seemingly pushover mannerisms. However, Pumpkinclaw is no soft, quiet tom. He has a constant hum between his ears, a constant thunder that’s always rolling through him. He may tolerate a lot, but he’s finding the limits of his patience very soon.