CODE

COTTONPAW

If Elkstar was simply lighter in color, you'd have Cottonpaw. In build, he's identical to his father: lean, graceful, and well-muscled, though this hides behind layers of cascading, feathery fur. He has large ears and an elegant appearance overall. He's close to average in size, though tends more towards being on the smaller side of average. His tail is plumy and long, often brushing against the forest floor. Despite the length of his fur, he keeps it meticulously clean. It often has a shimmer to it as he moves. Cottonpaw's fawn pelt appears mostly solid, but sports a hint of stripes around his head and tail. Long white whiskers sprout from his head, cheeks, and muzzle. His eyes are a vibrant golden-green that often appear more gold in sunlight, though always seem to remain calm and cool despite their bright color. He has reddish paw pads, and a matching reddish nose.

In terms of curiosity and a propensity for accidental trouble, Cottonpaw stands out against other cats of his age. It's easy to point at Cottonpaw's intellect and curiosity as the typical catalysts for the things he typically gets himself into, but they're just as good at getting him out of trouble as into it. Cottonpaw's unique solutions to problems often work, however driven on by pressure they may be. Perhaps it's a downside that things typically work out for him, as the apprentice tends to assume he'll figure it out rather than taking measures to plan or prevent himself from getting into situations. And unfortunately, he's usually right. Cottonpaw is often sneaky enough to make his rebellions work without consequence.

Despite this, Cottonpaw's curiosity also makes him a very open cat, often interested in what others around him are up to. While he isn't the most social cat you've ever seen, he's someone who loves to ask questions and learn more regardless of someone's creed. This includes cats from other groups, who he's far more likely to talk with than fight. Why bother fighting when you can focus on learning more?

Though his views are very different, Cottonpaw at his core shares some similarities with his father. Often capricious and impulsive, Cottonpaw's mood is often a matter of which way the wind blows on any day. It's difficult to predict how he'll be feeling, but he'll make it blatantly obvious as soon as you begin talking to him. However, these moods are often subject to change, as the smallest positive or negative interaction can seemingly change Cottonpaw's outlook on his entire day. Impulsivity is a core tenet of Cottonpaw's being, often pushing him into situations he otherwise wouldn't get into. While he rarely dabbles in violence, one might not be surprised to see Cottonpaw punished for an accidentally disrespectful comment, or deciding now is the time for him to hunt, even if he wasn't directed to do so.

Cottonpaw holds similar abilities to Elkstar in terms of speaking and strategy. Cottonpaw's a good speaker, quick with words and often good at negotiation, at least for an apprentice. As he ages, it's clear he'll only improve, potentially becoming a good cat to go to for advice in any given situation.

When it comes to religiousness, he somewhat mirrors his father's beliefs. StarClan is a framework, but why do they allow rebellion to go unpunished? If they were truly all-powerful and omniscient, they wouldn't allow him to do such things. Yet, they do, and thus, they must simply like watching. He respects his ancestors, but ultimately believes the Warrior Code is mutable, especially since he doesn't necessarily agree with some of the rules...