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Description

"They say I'm savvy for my age and savage as any devil

But at least I'm no imposter strapped in Jesus sandals"

. . .

A girl is no one.

UPDATE: Added the scars she got in Trial 4!

- - S U M M A R Y - -

Name: Aspen

Age: 3.5 years
Gender: Female
Pronouns: She/Her

Soul Class: Red

Inventory: Divining Dust

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

MBTI Type: ISFP
Voice: Lynn Gunn from PVRIS : www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UgneW…

Playlist: open.spotify.com/user/lmsmith4…

- - A P P E A R A N C E - -

Breed: Moggy

Eyes: Green

Pelt: Mostly white with silver tabby patches. Her fur is medium length, longer in areas like her cheeks, hindquarters, and tail. It is usually messy and unkempt, Aspen does little to keep a groomed appearance. She also sports a little tuft of fur on her forehead.

Build: Lithe and strong. Aspen is small and may seem weak, but under her fluffy fur is pure muscle. She is low to the ground and her powerful legs allow her to move quickly in short bursts of speed.

Scars: Aspen's right ear (her left) is nicked. There used to be an earring on this ear, but she tore it out. The scar on her shoulder was from a dog bite in Trial 4, and made worse by Tobin's poison. The scars along her flank are from Apollo.

Other: Aspen's short tail is not genetic. In fact, she lost most of it in an accident when she was living on her own in the wasteland. Her tail got caught in a jaw-like trap and she had no choice but to amputate it.

- - P E R S O N A L I T Y - -

Loyal | Strong | Resourceful | Fiery | Impulsive | Straightforward | Reckless | Independent | Stubborn | Detached | Temperamental | Self-Serving | Adventurous

Loyalty is Apsen's greatest redeeming quality. If you support a cause that aligns with her values, she will stick by your side until the end. Her fierce loyalty makes her a great friend and strong ally. However, double cross her and you will lose her trust forever. Aspen is not a believer in second chances; once respect and trust are lost, so are all hopes of redemption. A master of cutting ties, Aspen has learned that nothing good will ever last. She has lost too much in her life to waste her time tending to weak links. If something is not serving her, she eliminates it from her life, rather than negotiating the problem. Growing up in the wasteland bred her into a resourceful cat, and one that puts her own needs above all else. To her this is strength– recognizing your own needs and prioritizing them. She would never had made it out alive if it weren't for her physical and mental strength. Aspen does not dwell on the past. Her ability to push emotional trauma aside and focus soley on survival is impressive; however, a strong mind is a weak heart. Aspen is very emotionally detached. She became desensitized to murder at a very young age and finds burying her feelings is the best way to avoid personal conflict. Of course, her methods of concealment always manage to exorcise themselves in fits of rage, anxiety attacks, and other reckless behaviors. As much as Aspen likes to believe she has left the past behind her, it still haunts her in ways she least expects.

Yet, to say Aspen is completely emotionless would be wrong. She is loud, outright, and not a sweet-talker by any means. Her blunt and straightforward way of communicating can be off-putting at first, however, useful in getting her way. Her fiery personality gives her an edge that most would find intimidating. But deep down, under all the layers, Aspen has a soft spot that rarely shows its face. When she is truly comfortable with another, she is an open and empathetic cat.

- - H I S T O R Y - -

In the Wasteland:
Aspen was born in a litter of six: quite large for a family surviving in the wasteland. Her mother and father were a loving pair of felines, and only wanted to raise a tight knit family. Their nest was located in a small gorse patch in the outskirts of a ruined city. Life was simple in the early days of Aspen’s life. She felt safe amongst the warmth of her parents and siblings. Her mother Mara used to live in the city ruins when she was younger and warned her children to never step foot in the city because of its endless dangers. At first these stories scared Aspen, but as she grew older, she felt suffocated by her parent’s smothering. “No hunting after dark!” “No wandering out alone!” “You need our permission before you go anywhere!” Rules, rules, rules. Aspen felt like a bird in a cage, the eyes of her mother and father always burning into her pelt. She loved them, but felt they were overly anxious about everything. Keeping track of six children in an unpredictable world was a tough job. Although being part of a big family had its perks, Aspen also felt overshadowed by her siblings. She was not only the smallest, but also the worst behaved. She often spoke out against her parents rules and disobeyed them. Standing next to her brothers and sisters, she only felt like a disappointment to the family. Her brother Pine was strong and courageous, Cricket was quick-witted, Storm was gentle and wise, Sage was a great hunter, and Wren was smart and diplomatic. Aspen was just a useless mouse compared to the rest. However, everything changed when Mara grew ill. Some strange sickness took over her body and she grew weaker day by day. Suddenly all the rules dissipated and the family did whatever they had to do to try and save her. Unfortunately, their efforts failed and Mara was taken from them. Of all the family members, her death hit Orion the hardest. He completely shut down and sunk into a deep depression. Aspen and her siblings tried to continue holding the family together, but upon everyone’s first tastes of freedom from restrictions and routine, they began to drift apart. The first to leave was Sage, who claimed she could fend for herself and didn’t need the rest of them to hunt for her. The second to leave was Pine, who had found a mate and decided to start his own family. Then left, Cricket, and then Wren. Finally, only Aspen, Storm, and their father Orion remained. Storm was kind-hearted and deeply attached to his family, however he could no longer bear to watch his father waste away. Eventually he left Aspen and Orion.

Of all the children, Aspen always thought she would be the first to leave; but now she was the only one left standing. Maybe she stayed because it was the only redeeming quality she had. Nonetheless, Aspen grew tired of taking care of a cat that would barely speak. The city ruins on the horizon called her name and she thought many times of leaving Orion behind. She was surprised when he was the one to leave first. One day he finally spoke more than two words to her and broke down. “I miss your mother, but I can’t go on like this,” he choked, “I need to leave this place.” “Let me come with you!” Aspen pleaded. An adventure sounded exciting, and she was thrilled to see her father finding himself again. However, her heart broke when he told her no. He needed to find himself on his own. He needed to completely cut himself from his blood to make peace with his past. The next morning, Orion was gone, and Aspen was alone. Months earlier, Aspen would have wanted nothing more than to be alone, but now she felt cold and afraid.

Since she had nothing left to lose, Aspen finally gave into her cravings for danger and excitement: she was going to the city. What once was a grand metropolis was now a pile of rubble filled with lurking thieves and swindlers.She stood at its steps filled with ambition. “I’m not afraid,”she whispered to herself, “this is my city now.” The first few days she spent in the city were… well… this was going to take some getting used to. As she walked through the streets, flea-bitten toms called to her from the rooftops. “Hey pretty kitty, you’re far from home,” they sneered, “want a tour of the city little girl? I can show you a good time!” Aspen was appalled. “One more word and I’ll rip your throats from your neck!” Aspen spat back at them, but they only cackled and disappeared into the shadows.

Days went by and Aspen had found nothing to eat but the flies circling her head. Finally, she noticed a rat carcass lying in the ditch. She approached and sniffed it. The scent was tangy but she didn’t give a shit. Her stomach spoke for her wariness and she opened her mouth to take a bite. But in that moment a large force sent her rolling and smashing into a nearby wall. Blinking away the daze of the impact, Aspen saw two cats standing where she was seconds before. A bulky male with a scarred muzzle held the rat in his jaws, and next to him stood a slim female with bat-like ears and piercing blue eyes. Both of them had a golden ring pierced in their right ear. “Beat it, crow meat,” snarled the female, “this is Rook’s turf and he don’t like intruders.” Aspen squinted at the mangy pair of thieves. “I don’t care who’s turf this is, that rat was dead before I even found it. Now give it back!” She whined and charged at the hefty tom. He swung the rat in the air as Aspen jumped to grab it and his sly companion slammed her into the ground. Long needle like claws sunk into Aspen’s neck and she squirmed to free herself. “Do you have ears, pretty kitty?” she hissed, “I’m sure boss would love kitten fluff for dinner--” Aspen spit in the female’s face. “WHY YOU LITTLE--” she was cut off once again, but this time by the sound of hawks screeching. “It’s Rook, we gotta go Blaze,” mumbled tom around the rat still dangling from his jaws.Blaze loosened her grip on Aspen. “This ain’t finished, powderpuff,” she sneered with squinted blue eyes. The pair ran off down an alley and Aspen lay in the dirt, coughing. Her whole body ached. Dragging her hind legs into a standing position, she limped off to find a place to sleep for the night.

A few weeks had passed since the encounter, and Aspen was beginning to find her footing. She proved to be a great thief herself, preying on the weak and taking what she needed. She began to build up her strength and especially her speed. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop and darting through the dark alleys, she was but a flash of white and gray. She was so quick that her targets barely got a glimpse of her before she stole their food. One day, Aspen wandered down an unfamiliar alley to do some scavenging. The air was cool and damp, and the sound of Aspen’s paws squelching in the mud echoed off the walls. There was a dead end and unable to find anything useful, she decided to turn around and head back. However the sound of paw steps at the other end of the alley caused her to freeze in her tracks. A scent similar to Blaze and the tom hit her nose and fear prickled under her skin. Backing up slowly, Aspen lifted her head to gauge whether or not she could try and scale the walls. The sound of the pawsteps grew louder and Aspen backed into the corner of the wall, her tail brushing the ground. SNAP. CRUNCH. Aspen’s vision blurred as something cold and sharp clamped down on her tail. A hellish scream escaped her lungs as she tried to turn and see what had grabbed hold of her. What appeared to be some sort of shiny, man-made contraption, held her tail between its jaws. Blood poured from where the metal met her flesh and Aspen became irrational in her state of panic. She tried yanking her tail from the metal jaws but that only made the pain ten times worse. She screamed in agony again and barely noticed the cat running towards her. “Stay still,” the stranger mewed in a low voice, suddenly by her side. Aspen looked up at him, her green eyes wide and brimming with tears. The newcomer stood tall above her, his warm amber eyes glowing in the dim light and the sunlight from above the walls creating a halo behind his ruddy fur. For a split second Aspen was captivated by her savior, but then she noticed the glint of a gold ring in his right ear. Aspen frantically squirmed to get away from him and hissed as he tried to get closer. “Get away!” she yelled in warning, “I don’t care if this is Rook’s turf, just let me go!” The tom weaved behind her and pinned her to the ground, pressing into pressure points and immobilizing her. “Stay still, I said,” he growled, and then whispered more softly, “you’re only making it worse. I’m just trying to help you.”

“Who are you?” Aspen whimpered as his weight lifted from her. The tom said nothing as he inspected her tail. “This doesn’t look good,” he replied. Aspen looked at him with worry in her eyes. “Well...what am I supposed to do?” The tom was silent for a moment. “You’re going to have to lose your tail.” Before Aspen could even process what he had just said, two more cats appeared out of the shadows.

“Hey Rook, we was lookin’ everywhere for you,” said a familiar voice, “there was a--” A moment of silence passed. “That little BITCH!” Spat the lanky, bat-eared cat. ROOK? Aspen shrunk back as she looked from the tom cat that stood over her, back to the two heathens she had met weeks earlier. “Blaze, Rome, go get Hazel and come back here immediately,” Rook ordered. “Why I’ll tear that rat meat to shreds,” Blaze hissed, “she’s the one that was tryin’ ta steal from you Rook!” Blaze lashed her tail. “NOW,” Rook called. Blaze and Rome huffed as they slithered back into the shadows. “It’s gonna be okay kid,” Rook looked back down to Aspen who was craning her neck to look at her tail.

Blaze and Rome appeared again after what seemed like ages, this time with a much older looking cat. The skinny newcomer approached Aspen and sniffed over her body. “Eat this,” he commanded, his wretched breath filling Aspen’s nose. She looked at the berries, skeptical, but lapped them up hoping they would take away the pain. “Rome, you amputate the tail. I’ll hold her down,” Rook meowed. Wait, WHAT? Before Aspen could get a word out, she felt Rook’s weight on her again. “Stay. Still.” He growled in her ear. He held a paw over her eyes and muzzle. “Now!” Immeasurable pain surged through Aspen’s entire body as the sound of her tail snapping off echoed in the alley. Red clouded her eyes, then black, and that’s the last thing she remembered.

The next day, Aspen awoke in a strange place. A large metal sheet above her leaned against the wall she pressed up against. Tattered cloth draped the triangular entrance formed by the makeshift shelter. A small amount of sunlight filtered through the holes in the cloth and illuminated the dust particles that floated in the space. Aspen turned to lick her hind leg and nearly lost it when she saw the tightly wrapped stub extending from her rear end. The event came flooding back into her memory and her vision went blurry. Stay calm, stay calm. Aspen stood up, and cautiously stuck her head out of the shelter. The surrounding area was pretty open, filled with many more makeshift shelters like the one she was in. This place is a dump, she thought to herself. Trash littered the area, left behind by the humans, as well as food scraps and bones. High walls surrounded the space and claw marks scored the concrete. There was no sign of any other cats nearby, so Aspen decided to make a break for it. Though when she tried running, she toppled over clumsily. Her tail was no longer there to help her keep balance and she stumbled, crashing into a tall silver garbage can.

“In a hurry?” mewed familiar voice from above. Aspen looked upwards and noticed a strange shelf-like structure protruding from the wall. Another, but much bigger, makeshift shelter sat above in the shadows along with a pair of glowing yellow eyes. Aspen watched closely as the speaker revealed himself. Rook. The ruddy tom jumped gracefully from peg to peg, until he landed on all fours, tail swishing along the dirt floor. The movement disturbed the dust particles and appeared to sparkle around the mystic tom. Aspen blinked out of the trance she had fallen into while watching him. God, why does he have to be so dramatic?

“Uh--” Aspen stammered, “I was--” Rook stalked towards her and circled her, inspecting her tail. “I’m sorry about your tail,” he mewed convincingly. “Why are you sorry?” Aspen questioned him. “The trap you fell into is what we use to catch rats and sneaky little intruders like you,” Rook meowed smoothly. The fur began to rise along Aspen’s spine. “I wasn’t intruding,” Aspen retorted, “and if I were to intrude anywhere I’d make sure it wasn’t such a dump.”

Rook ignored her as he continued to circle the smaller female. “You know it’s not safe for a kid like you to be wandering the streets alone,” he said tipping his head and flicking his thin tail on the bloody stump where her’s remained, “you could get hurt you know.” Aspen winced in pain and anger boiled up inside of her. His remark reminded her of the days she spent under the watchful eye of her controlling parents. Aspen shot up. “I didn’t come her to be bossed around,” she spat, fire burning in her green eyes. Rook sat down and looked at her quizzically for a moment. “Well then, why did you come here?”

Aspen felt small under his unnerving gaze. She dared not look him in the eyes too long in fear of being hypnotized into a trance. “Do you know who I am?” Rook sat tall above her, the gold ring in his ear catching the sunlight. “Uhhh, Rook… Rook the garbage lord?” Aspen responded contemptuously as she scanned the surrounding area for some sort of a clue. Rook chuckled to himself. “Amusing one, aren’t you.” He raised his head again. “I am Rook, the Red Bandit, and King of the East Alleys.” Aspen hated the sound of arrogance in his voice.

“And I should care why?” Aspen responded, growing bored. “Because I own these streets, kid,” Rook meowed more seriously this time, “and you’re on my turf.” The tom licked his paw and drew it long over his ear. “Also, I saved your life, so I think you owe me yours.” Aspen felt anxiety and anger rising in her throat again. “I am thankful for what you did back there, but that doesn’t mean you can just claim me as your own!”

Rook stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. “You can leave if you want, but what we have to offer here can’t be found anywhere else in this city,” he mewed. “And what do you offer?” Aspen responded. “You must miss your family,” Rook seemed to stare directly into her soul, “food in your belly, a sense of belonging, protection…” Aspen was beginning to grow less skeptical. “Whadd’ya say kid, you in?” His eyes were warm and inviting. Living on her own was tough, Aspen could not deny that. Would being a part of Rook’s gang be so bad?

“Fine,” Aspen said, trying to show as little emotion as possible. Rook finally broke their gaze by blinking and bowing his head. “Smart choice, kid. Get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”

. . .

The next day, Rook called a meeting and introduced Aspen to the rest of the gang. She made sure to keep her distance from Blaze and Rome, who were clearly bothered by her presence. “Today Aspen proves her loyalty to me,” Rook spoke loudly scanning the rag tag team of bandits, “and if she gains my trust, she will earn the family ring.” Aspen was slightly nervous about whatever task was before her, but ready to finally prove herself worthy to someone.

Rook lead Aspen out of the hideout. “Stick close to me,” he said in a low voice, fur brushing against her’s, “and don’t think about doing anything stupid, kid.” Aspen shot him a glare, “only if you stop calling me kid.” Rook was older than her, but not old enough to be subjecting her as a helpless kitten. “Prove to me you’re worthy then, kid.”

. . .

Rook had Aspen perform a few different tasks for him: steal a chicken leg from a scrappy kitten, loot someone’s stash of jewelry and set traps in the East Alleys. At first, Aspen felt clumsy without her tail, but quickly adjusted and bounced back to her old self. Rook was impressed with her speed and agility. Spirits were high until Rook assigned her the final task.

“You want me to KILL that poor old cat?” Aspen stared at Rook in disbelief as they crouched together on a rooftop. “He’s been an enemy of mine for years,” Rook whispered, “a nuisance to everything I’ve built up.” Aspen stared at the gray old cat digging through the trash below. “Are you going to disappoint me, Aspen?” Rook questioned her. Aspen sighed and mumbled, “no.”

Aspen made it back down to the ground and looked up to make sure Rook was still watching her. I don’t want to kill this cat for nothing. The old gray tom was still rustling amongst the scraps. Aspen stalked towards him and paused when he looked up at her. “Not very sneaky, are you,” he rasped and coughed, “Beat it kid, you don’t belong out on these streets.” Aspen flicked her ear and squinted her eyes. “Neither do you, gramps.” Flexing her claws, Aspen nimbly leaped over the rubble and threw herself on the old cat’s back. The smelly gray tom was stronger than she though-- he reared up and fell backwards on top of her, crushing her stubby tail into the earth. “yyOOWWW!” Aspen screamed in pain, releasing her grip on the old timers neck. Her victim rolled away and tried to stand but Aspen was too quick. She wasn’t about to make Rook feel like she was and unworthy cause. Pinning the old cat to the ground, she noticed him look up at the rooftop where Rook crouched. “You’re making a mistake,” he rasped, staring back at Aspen.

For a split second, Aspen held her claws back, but then lunged forward and sunk her teeth into the gray tom’s neck. He squirmed under her deathly grip, blood seeping from the wound. When he stopped moving, Aspen let go and stepped back. Her white muzzle was stained red, and her mouth sticky with blood. Suddenly Rook appeared next to her, grazing his tail along her spine. “The first kill is always the hardest,” he meowed, then smirked, “but after that it’s all great fun.” Aspen shivered, but then warmth seeped back into her paws. She couldn’t tell if it was from Rook’s approval or from the adrenaline of her first kill. “Let’s head back,” he said turning around, “you’ve earned my trust.”

Back at the hideout, Rook led Aspen up to his lair. Aspen clambered up after him and he grabbed her scruff to help her up after she nearly lost her footing. “You’ll get used to it,” he mewed casually. Leading her into the enclosure, he held up the curtain of the entryway with his tail to let her pass through. The inside was filled with countless cushions, shiny human scraps, and other various looted items. In the far corner was a small pile of gold rings, which Aspen immediately recognized. “Come here,” Rook motioned with his tail. Aspen padded up to where he sat and was taken aback when Rook pinned her to the ground. “What are you-- OW!” Rook grabbed her ear in his jaw and pierced it with a sharp fang. He looped one of the gold rings through the incision and stepped back. Aspen sat up and pawed at it. “Want to take a look?” Rook turned her shoulders and Aspen peered into a mirror hanging on the wall. The new adornment in her right ear glistened in the sunlight that filtered through the shelter. Rook’s reflection appeared next to her, his face close to hers and whispered in her ear, “Welcome home, Aspen.”

Months passed and Aspen grew acclimated to life in the gang. Her days were filled with thievery, looting, and most of all, blood between her claws. Aspen’s hunger for murder and believed justice pulsed in her veins. Rook kept her close to his side, grooming her into the perfect sidekick. Life was good. Aspen felt like she was a part of something important; of course it was ever cat for themself out on the street, yet she still felt safe amongst her comrades. She felt like she had a family again. And Rook… Aspen had mixed feelings about him from day one, but the way he talked, walked, and twitched his whiskers intrigued her. She hated the undeniable power he held over her with a single glance of his golden eyes, yet she felt compelled to please him. Rook saved her from certain death, welcomed her into his family, and raised her into a stone cold killer. Aspen couldn’t ask for more and could not think of any other way to repay him than with her undivided loyalty.

One day when Apsen was out on one of Rook’s missions, she came upon a group of cats surrounding a thin tom who sat higher than the rest. He seemed to be preaching something to them, so Aspen decided to investigate. “Save yourselves from the wasteland!” he rasped, “Follow me to Paradise and you shall never hunger or feel pain again!” Aspen grunted to herself in comedic disbelief. Never hunger again? Impossible. She was about to leave the ridiculous scene when the old geezer stared directly at her. “You there!” he called out to her, “You look like you’re missing your tail!” Aspen turned and paced towards him, all eyes on her. “What’s is too ya, bonehead?” she growled. The frail tom blinked at her and began to speak again, “Follow me to the gate and your wounds will be healed, young one.” Aspen scoffed at him and went on her way. Though she appeared reluctant to heed the stranger’s words, she felt a seed of hopefulness for a better world bury itself deep in her heart.

Later that day, Aspen confronted Rook about the subject of Paradise. “Damn it, more of ‘em?” he lashed his tail, “these freaks have been spreading their fictitious lies up and down my turf, I’m sick of it!” Aspen was surprised at how angry Rook was over these seemingly harmless prophets. “So, it’s not true? There is no Paradise?” Aspen mewed. Rook circled her and sat down next to her. The two sat up on the wall next to Rook’s shelter. “Look, Aspen,” he meowed, pointing at the rest of the rest of the gang down below, “this is as close to paradise as it gets. Don’t let some looney fill your head with lies.” He stared at her seriously, his eyes burning into hers. “It’ll poison you, make your brain rot,” a grin began to spread across his muzzle, “flies will started to crawl out of your ears.” Rook cuffed Aspen’s ear and she shoved him. “Cut it out,” she protested and couldn’t help but chuckle. Aspen liked this side of Rook and wished he didn’t act so pompous and cool all the time. Though, she still didn’t quite believe that Paradise was a hoax. How could it be if there were so many cats speaking of it?

The next morning, Rook ordered Aspen on a special mission with him. However, the subject of the mission left Aspen’s stomach in knots. Rook wanted the prophets dead. All of them. They were beginning to gain more followers, which meant that Rook had more enemies, and he needed to stay on top. The solution? Murder. In Rook’s eyes, it was justice, but murder nonetheless. “How are we supposed to kill all of them?” Aspen meowed, “I only have two paws.” Rook flicked his ear as he stood regally above her on a garbage can. “It’s quite simple, actually,” he replied, “we corner them, and we burn them.”

. . .

It wasn’t hard to find the prophets and their followers. A large group of them stood on the steps of a large building, shouting for everyone in the streets to hear, “Follow us to Paradise! Follow us to freedom!” Rook had some of his gang posted on the rooftops above to keep watch, while the rest covered the perimeter of the scene below. Inside the building behind the prophets and their followers was a special liquid the humans left behind that apparently was good at starting fires. Rook told Aspen that in order to start a fire, the liquid needed to be spilled on the ground and sparked with chipped rocks. Aspen felt honored to be appointed as the fire starter.

Heavy gray clouds began to fill the sky as the gang waited for Rook’s orders. Suddenly, something that sounded like a hawk’s call filled the air and cat’s began to move like fluid around the group of prophets. Aspen knew this call was her queue to prepare the fire room, so she snuck to the side of the building and squeezed through a gap in the wall. After pushing through cobwebs and padding blindly in the darkness for some time, Aspen came upon an opening where light shone through a gap in the ceiling. Rain water dripped through the gap onto her nose and she sneezed. A storm must have come. And more is coming, she thought to herself. Aspen noticed she was surrounded but the shiny silver barrels Rook had spoken of. She approached of of the barrels and sniffed for a place to crack it open. Aspen found a spot that had begun to flack with rust and dug her claws in the decaying metal. After some working at it, dark liquid began to spew out of the hole and Aspen jumped back before any of it could coat her fur. Shrieks and yowling began to echo closer through the building and Aspen hopped up onto a ledge with a stone in her jaw. She watched in satisfaction as the floor began to soak with the dark liquid.

Soon enough, the noise of frightened cats grew even louder and the chamber began to fill with the prophets and their followers. Aspen saw Rook’s ruddy pelt flash near the entrance and new it was time. She scraped the stone against the wall and watched the sparks fall below. In no time, the sparks became flames and shrieks of horror filled the room. The fire spread and began to engulf cats, like some kind of terrible monster consuming its prey. Aspen was frozen as her eyes were locked on the dancing flames. “Aspen!” Rook called from the other side of the burning room, “hurry and get down here!” Aspen snapped out of her daze and scanned for a proper escape. There was a wood frame above the frenzy that looked as if it used to hold a shelter over the barrels. Aspen jumped from her ledge onto the frame, but it swayed unnervingly beneath her weight. Without a tail, it was hard for Aspen to keep her balance, but she dug her claws desperately into the rotting would. She used the momentum to propel herself forward.

She had almost made it to Rook when one of the aging beams gave way and left Aspen to land on the barrels below. The sound of screeching and yowling drowned out Aspen’s own cry of desperation. The barrels rolled from their platforms and crushed her beneath their weight. Aspen tried to escape, but her front paw was lodged between one of the barrels and its platform. Thick black smoke clouded her vision and filled her lungs. Coughing and squinted her eyes, she meowed loudly above the horrendous chorus of dying cats. “ROOK! ROOK HELP ME!”

Aspen’s heart swelled when she saw Rook’s golden eyes peering at her through the flames. “Rook!” she rasped excitedly, “Rook I’m stuck, help me get out!” However, the golden eyes of her once savior remained in the same spot beyond the inferno. Aspen tried twisting her paw out of its hold, but her attempts grew feebler but the second. “Rook!” she cried more desperately, “Rook!” Aspen searched his gaze for any sort of emotion but only saw her own reflection of agony flash in his eyes. In Aspen’s pure shock and affliction, he turned from her and disappeared from her vision. “ROOOOK!” Aspen called one last time but the smoke choked her and she toppled over. Accepting her fate, she curled closer to the barrel, waiting to burn.

Suddenly, a strange scent overcame her and fur brushed her nose. “Stay still,” rasped a voice, “I’m here to help you.” Aspen tried to make out the newcomer but the atmosphere had dumbed her vision to blurriness. The wait lifted from her paw as the barrel was rolled from its stuck position. The stranger grabbed Aspen by the scruff and dragged her from the rubble. Aspen blindly fought through the smoke as the cat pushed her from behind, leading her to the hole in the wall in which she originally entered. Upon finally exiting the fire scene, Aspen collapsed and her vision clouded. “Rook…” she whispered.

. . .

The next day, Aspen woke in a strange place with many strange cats. They looked like the prophets she tried to kill, and the whole scene overcame Aspen in a wave of grief. Rook turned his back on her in her time of need. Her comrade. Her family. Everything she held to be true had burned in the flames. Aspen was nothing now, and had nothing to live for. Rook’s voice replayed sweetly in her head, “Don’t let some looney fill your head with lies.” Yeah, right. The only looney filling her head with lies was Rook. Everything was a lie. Aspen felt the crushing realization like a blow to her chest. She was a fool, god damn she was such a fool.

"Mind if I sit by you?" rasped a voice from behind her, followed by a fit of coughing. Aspen turned her head and noticed Rome was staring down at her. The fur on Aspen's back bristled with fear and contempt. "It was me, you know," he meowed, ignoring her hostility, "I was the one that saved you from burning alive." Aspen stared at him quizzically. "Why would you do that?" Aspen couldn't think of anything else to ask him. Rome sat down next to her and groomed the ashes that still stuck to his fur. "I'm tired of seeing cats getting tangled up in his games," Rome rasped, referring to Rook, "and I wasn't about to go back with him after I witnessed what he had done." Aspen flexed her claws, more questions popping up in her mind. But before she could respond, Rome spoke again. "He told me everything, Aspen... and you're not gonna like what I have to say," he started out, "I know you two were... close."

Aspen stared up at him, confusion painted on her face. What is he talking about? "Rook told me everything before the attack," Rome meowed hoarsely, avoiding Aspen's gaze, "about the lies, about her, about... everything, really." Aspen's ears flattened. "Her?" she growled. The mention of another love interest in Rook's life instantly formed a pit in Aspen's stomach. Rome sighed. "Let me backtrack for a moment. Start from the beginning. Rook loved a cat named Natalia long before all of this. She was taken by the prophets and never to be seen again, so Rook made it his life's duty to find her and bring her back to him. He assumed that they took her to their headquarters in the city, so he roamed around the streets for a while gathering as many cats under his wing as he could. He told them he could help them be something. Told them that they had a future with him. They were all lies, though. What he really was doing was trying to spread his line of sight throughout the city in the form of other cats that would do his dirty work. It was his mission to kill every prophet until Natalia was once again at his side." Rome paused to take a raspy breath. The smoke from the fire must have damaged his lungs and he coughed fitfully for a moment. "This here?" he flicked the golden ring on his ear and then on Aspen's, "this is an ode to Natalia. He said she had the most beautiful golden fur you ever saw. When she was taken, all that was left was her golden ringed necklace. It's why Rook makes us all wear one upon initiation." Aspen let Rome's confession sink in for a moment. She felt even more betrayed than the moment Rook turned his back on her, and a new wave of regret washed over her. She took his words and buried them deep in her heart. It didn't matter anymore. Aspen would never go back to him. He could rot in the wastelands searching for Natalia.
. . .

The surviving prophets planned out the final leg of their journey to the gate and Aspen decided to join them. She had nothing left to lose, there was no way that she would be limited by Rook’s lies anymore. To her surprise, one cat joined that group that she least expected. Back from his endless travels, Aspen’s father was among the ranks journeying to paradise. He was much older now, and weathered from his travels, but still recognizable. He and Aspen reunited with joy and uncertainty about the road that lie ahead. Everything was about to change for Aspen, and she hoped for the better.

In the Trials:

Aspen felt cheated when she met Ordeel after passing through the gates. His plan to treat the cats like pawns in his life-or-death trials infuriated her. Yet, she was determined to prove herself once again. For the first trial, Aspen was grouped into a team of several other cats, one of them being her father. She felt lucky to have at least someone she could trust by her side in this strange place. The groups of cats were tasked with finding keys to escape the torrential rain and rising water that plagued this world.

Unfortunately, there was one cat in Aspen's group that rubbed everyone the wrong way. His name was Dante. Let's just say, Dante liked to do things his own way. He was by no means a team player and was extremely arrogant in his abilities. He made it clear to the rest of the group that he did not intend to make friends here. He just wanted to make it out alive. Dante's thought process was understandable, but where he went wrong was the fact that he thought he could do it all alone. With the rising tides, time was running out, and Dante's antics were seriously putting Aspen's team in a critical spot. Aspen and Dante got in many fights over the course of Trial one. Her electric reactions to his "fuck you all" demeanor did not make things any better. The team was being torn apart, cracking under the pressure of Ordeel's expectations.

Along with this, Aspen felt the need to look after her father, who was old and struggling to keep up with younger cats. Aspen could not bear to lose another cat she cared about. Orion was the last one alive that she created space in her heart for, and was not about to lose him under the account of Dante's foolishness and Ordeel's injustice.

The trial was nearing the end and the rising water was up to each cat's chest. The current pushed and pulled and there was little high ground left to find momentary refuge upon. Everything was being swept away. Aspen had found the final key and she and her team began making the trek to the locked door. One particularly stormy day, Aspen and her group were attempting to reach higher ground by climbing a large pile of rocks and boulders. The rocks were slippery and wet from the torrential rain, and the water below was growing more unpredictable; swirling and splashing recklessly. Aspen struggled to keep her grip as she searched for paw holds in the jutting rocks, when she heard the scraping of claws and a cry for help. Whipped her head around and squinted through the rain. Orion! Her father was dangling from a slippery boulder with half of his body being pulled by the relentless waves. The closet cat to him was Dante, who stood one boulder above him.

"HELP HIM!" Aspen cried out in agony as she watched her father's feeble grip loosen. However, Dante held his position and seemed to stare past Orion as if he weren't even there. That son of a bitch. Aspen scrambled and slipped down the pile of rocks to where Dante stood and shoved him out of the way without even caring where momentum took him. He screamed as he slid from where he stood, but Aspen had her eyes locked on her father, who was now only holding on to the rock with one paw. Water choked him as he struggled to hang on, but the tides won, and he vanished in the crashing blue waves. Out of pure instinct, Aspen jumped in after him, still holding on to the last key. It was nearly impossible to keep her head above the water, and every time she got the chance to breathe, her breaths were sharp and short. Water filled her nostrils and completely drown out her hearing. Tossed around like feather in the waves, blackness clouded her eyes, and that is the last thing she remembered before accepting her cold, dark fate. She failed her team, her father, and herself. So this is how it ends...

- - R E L A T I O N S H I P S - -

TPT - Aspen's Relationship Tracker

- - R P E X A M P L E - -

Stella huddled near the edge of the camp, close enough to her fellow Oluman to hear conversations, but far enough for her own comfort. She was still getting used to sharing a home with these strange cats, and learning to let herself trust them. A pin prick of pain tinged her heart as she watched friends sitting close to one another, sharing stories about their dreams from the night before and excitement about the day that lie ahead. Stella missed the close knit feeling she had when she was with her family and hoped that this stage of awkwardness and wariness would pass over quickly. However, the excited chatter quickly turned to hushed fear as a voice cracked through the chilly morning air.

"The Matriarch!"

Stella looked towards the direction of the voice and a tawny colored cat burst into the camp. Eyes wide and breathing heavily, the newcomer carried the scent of fear that washed over everyone. Stella stood up, ears perked forward and expecting the absolute worst.

"Ariadna is dead!"

Stella's heart shrunk in her chest. A collective gasp echoed around the camp and Stella paced forward, not minding the distance anymore. A mixture of shock and confusion wracked her brain. Adriana had barely been leader longer than Stella had become an Oluman. Was this normal? Did cats regularly die out here? Anxiety crept over her body as she thought back to her final encounter with her ex mate Altair. Did his group of Bounty Hunters do this? The snow leopardess couldn't tell if she was was shaking from the cold or the reality of the situation. Nonetheless, she inched closer to the group that was now on their feet, waiting to hear the rest of the news.

Availability: Discord works best for me! I also like to work in Google Docs to keep things organized!

- - Q U E S T I O N S - -

What was your character's stance about Paradise before the gate, and how has their opinion changed?

Aspen was a skeptic, but had nothing left to lose when the time came to entering the gate. She had lost most of her family and closest friends. Paradise seemed like the only good thing left to happen in her life.

After entering the gate, she felt like a fool for jumping to conclusions too quickly. Paradise was not like what she had been told... It feels more like hell than anything. However, Ordeel makes things interesting and she would rather be fighting alongside other cats for the chance at Paradise than fighting for her pitiful survival in the Wasteland.

How has your character emotionally and mentally handled attempting and failing the Trials?

To put it lightly, Aspen is pissed. She feels cheated, ashamed, lost... the same feelings that she felt when Rook left her to die in the fire. Aspen thrives off of victory, and failing in the trials has left her feeling defeated and worthless. She wants a rematch.

Description

"They say I'm savvy for my age and savage as any devil

But at least I'm no imposter strapped in Jesus sandals"

. . .

A girl is no one.

UPDATE: Added the scars she got in Trial 4!

- - S U M M A R Y - -

Name: Aspen

Age: 3.5 years
Gender: Female
Pronouns: She/Her

Soul Class: Red

Inventory: Divining Dust

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

MBTI Type: ISFP
Voice: Lynn Gunn from PVRIS : www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UgneW…

Playlist: open.spotify.com/user/lmsmith4…

- - A P P E A R A N C E - -

Breed: Moggy

Eyes: Green

Pelt: Mostly white with silver tabby patches. Her fur is medium length, longer in areas like her cheeks, hindquarters, and tail. It is usually messy and unkempt, Aspen does little to keep a groomed appearance. She also sports a little tuft of fur on her forehead.

Build: Lithe and strong. Aspen is small and may seem weak, but under her fluffy fur is pure muscle. She is low to the ground and her powerful legs allow her to move quickly in short bursts of speed.

Scars: Aspen's right ear (her left) is nicked. There used to be an earring on this ear, but she tore it out. The scar on her shoulder was from a dog bite in Trial 4, and made worse by Tobin's poison. The scars along her flank are from Apollo.

Other: Aspen's short tail is not genetic. In fact, she lost most of it in an accident when she was living on her own in the wasteland. Her tail got caught in a jaw-like trap and she had no choice but to amputate it.

- - P E R S O N A L I T Y - -

Loyal | Strong | Resourceful | Fiery | Impulsive | Straightforward | Reckless | Independent | Stubborn | Detached | Temperamental | Self-Serving | Adventurous

Loyalty is Apsen's greatest redeeming quality. If you support a cause that aligns with her values, she will stick by your side until the end. Her fierce loyalty makes her a great friend and strong ally. However, double cross her and you will lose her trust forever. Aspen is not a believer in second chances; once respect and trust are lost, so are all hopes of redemption. A master of cutting ties, Aspen has learned that nothing good will ever last. She has lost too much in her life to waste her time tending to weak links. If something is not serving her, she eliminates it from her life, rather than negotiating the problem. Growing up in the wasteland bred her into a resourceful cat, and one that puts her own needs above all else. To her this is strength– recognizing your own needs and prioritizing them. She would never had made it out alive if it weren't for her physical and mental strength. Aspen does not dwell on the past. Her ability to push emotional trauma aside and focus soley on survival is impressive; however, a strong mind is a weak heart. Aspen is very emotionally detached. She became desensitized to murder at a very young age and finds burying her feelings is the best way to avoid personal conflict. Of course, her methods of concealment always manage to exorcise themselves in fits of rage, anxiety attacks, and other reckless behaviors. As much as Aspen likes to believe she has left the past behind her, it still haunts her in ways she least expects.

Yet, to say Aspen is completely emotionless would be wrong. She is loud, outright, and not a sweet-talker by any means. Her blunt and straightforward way of communicating can be off-putting at first, however, useful in getting her way. Her fiery personality gives her an edge that most would find intimidating. But deep down, under all the layers, Aspen has a soft spot that rarely shows its face. When she is truly comfortable with another, she is an open and empathetic cat.

- - H I S T O R Y - -

In the Wasteland:
Aspen was born in a litter of six: quite large for a family surviving in the wasteland. Her mother and father were a loving pair of felines, and only wanted to raise a tight knit family. Their nest was located in a small gorse patch in the outskirts of a ruined city. Life was simple in the early days of Aspen’s life. She felt safe amongst the warmth of her parents and siblings. Her mother Mara used to live in the city ruins when she was younger and warned her children to never step foot in the city because of its endless dangers. At first these stories scared Aspen, but as she grew older, she felt suffocated by her parent’s smothering. “No hunting after dark!” “No wandering out alone!” “You need our permission before you go anywhere!” Rules, rules, rules. Aspen felt like a bird in a cage, the eyes of her mother and father always burning into her pelt. She loved them, but felt they were overly anxious about everything. Keeping track of six children in an unpredictable world was a tough job. Although being part of a big family had its perks, Aspen also felt overshadowed by her siblings. She was not only the smallest, but also the worst behaved. She often spoke out against her parents rules and disobeyed them. Standing next to her brothers and sisters, she only felt like a disappointment to the family. Her brother Pine was strong and courageous, Cricket was quick-witted, Storm was gentle and wise, Sage was a great hunter, and Wren was smart and diplomatic. Aspen was just a useless mouse compared to the rest. However, everything changed when Mara grew ill. Some strange sickness took over her body and she grew weaker day by day. Suddenly all the rules dissipated and the family did whatever they had to do to try and save her. Unfortunately, their efforts failed and Mara was taken from them. Of all the family members, her death hit Orion the hardest. He completely shut down and sunk into a deep depression. Aspen and her siblings tried to continue holding the family together, but upon everyone’s first tastes of freedom from restrictions and routine, they began to drift apart. The first to leave was Sage, who claimed she could fend for herself and didn’t need the rest of them to hunt for her. The second to leave was Pine, who had found a mate and decided to start his own family. Then left, Cricket, and then Wren. Finally, only Aspen, Storm, and their father Orion remained. Storm was kind-hearted and deeply attached to his family, however he could no longer bear to watch his father waste away. Eventually he left Aspen and Orion.

Of all the children, Aspen always thought she would be the first to leave; but now she was the only one left standing. Maybe she stayed because it was the only redeeming quality she had. Nonetheless, Aspen grew tired of taking care of a cat that would barely speak. The city ruins on the horizon called her name and she thought many times of leaving Orion behind. She was surprised when he was the one to leave first. One day he finally spoke more than two words to her and broke down. “I miss your mother, but I can’t go on like this,” he choked, “I need to leave this place.” “Let me come with you!” Aspen pleaded. An adventure sounded exciting, and she was thrilled to see her father finding himself again. However, her heart broke when he told her no. He needed to find himself on his own. He needed to completely cut himself from his blood to make peace with his past. The next morning, Orion was gone, and Aspen was alone. Months earlier, Aspen would have wanted nothing more than to be alone, but now she felt cold and afraid.

Since she had nothing left to lose, Aspen finally gave into her cravings for danger and excitement: she was going to the city. What once was a grand metropolis was now a pile of rubble filled with lurking thieves and swindlers.She stood at its steps filled with ambition. “I’m not afraid,”she whispered to herself, “this is my city now.” The first few days she spent in the city were… well… this was going to take some getting used to. As she walked through the streets, flea-bitten toms called to her from the rooftops. “Hey pretty kitty, you’re far from home,” they sneered, “want a tour of the city little girl? I can show you a good time!” Aspen was appalled. “One more word and I’ll rip your throats from your neck!” Aspen spat back at them, but they only cackled and disappeared into the shadows.

Days went by and Aspen had found nothing to eat but the flies circling her head. Finally, she noticed a rat carcass lying in the ditch. She approached and sniffed it. The scent was tangy but she didn’t give a shit. Her stomach spoke for her wariness and she opened her mouth to take a bite. But in that moment a large force sent her rolling and smashing into a nearby wall. Blinking away the daze of the impact, Aspen saw two cats standing where she was seconds before. A bulky male with a scarred muzzle held the rat in his jaws, and next to him stood a slim female with bat-like ears and piercing blue eyes. Both of them had a golden ring pierced in their right ear. “Beat it, crow meat,” snarled the female, “this is Rook’s turf and he don’t like intruders.” Aspen squinted at the mangy pair of thieves. “I don’t care who’s turf this is, that rat was dead before I even found it. Now give it back!” She whined and charged at the hefty tom. He swung the rat in the air as Aspen jumped to grab it and his sly companion slammed her into the ground. Long needle like claws sunk into Aspen’s neck and she squirmed to free herself. “Do you have ears, pretty kitty?” she hissed, “I’m sure boss would love kitten fluff for dinner--” Aspen spit in the female’s face. “WHY YOU LITTLE--” she was cut off once again, but this time by the sound of hawks screeching. “It’s Rook, we gotta go Blaze,” mumbled tom around the rat still dangling from his jaws.Blaze loosened her grip on Aspen. “This ain’t finished, powderpuff,” she sneered with squinted blue eyes. The pair ran off down an alley and Aspen lay in the dirt, coughing. Her whole body ached. Dragging her hind legs into a standing position, she limped off to find a place to sleep for the night.

A few weeks had passed since the encounter, and Aspen was beginning to find her footing. She proved to be a great thief herself, preying on the weak and taking what she needed. She began to build up her strength and especially her speed. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop and darting through the dark alleys, she was but a flash of white and gray. She was so quick that her targets barely got a glimpse of her before she stole their food. One day, Aspen wandered down an unfamiliar alley to do some scavenging. The air was cool and damp, and the sound of Aspen’s paws squelching in the mud echoed off the walls. There was a dead end and unable to find anything useful, she decided to turn around and head back. However the sound of paw steps at the other end of the alley caused her to freeze in her tracks. A scent similar to Blaze and the tom hit her nose and fear prickled under her skin. Backing up slowly, Aspen lifted her head to gauge whether or not she could try and scale the walls. The sound of the pawsteps grew louder and Aspen backed into the corner of the wall, her tail brushing the ground. SNAP. CRUNCH. Aspen’s vision blurred as something cold and sharp clamped down on her tail. A hellish scream escaped her lungs as she tried to turn and see what had grabbed hold of her. What appeared to be some sort of shiny, man-made contraption, held her tail between its jaws. Blood poured from where the metal met her flesh and Aspen became irrational in her state of panic. She tried yanking her tail from the metal jaws but that only made the pain ten times worse. She screamed in agony again and barely noticed the cat running towards her. “Stay still,” the stranger mewed in a low voice, suddenly by her side. Aspen looked up at him, her green eyes wide and brimming with tears. The newcomer stood tall above her, his warm amber eyes glowing in the dim light and the sunlight from above the walls creating a halo behind his ruddy fur. For a split second Aspen was captivated by her savior, but then she noticed the glint of a gold ring in his right ear. Aspen frantically squirmed to get away from him and hissed as he tried to get closer. “Get away!” she yelled in warning, “I don’t care if this is Rook’s turf, just let me go!” The tom weaved behind her and pinned her to the ground, pressing into pressure points and immobilizing her. “Stay still, I said,” he growled, and then whispered more softly, “you’re only making it worse. I’m just trying to help you.”

“Who are you?” Aspen whimpered as his weight lifted from her. The tom said nothing as he inspected her tail. “This doesn’t look good,” he replied. Aspen looked at him with worry in her eyes. “Well...what am I supposed to do?” The tom was silent for a moment. “You’re going to have to lose your tail.” Before Aspen could even process what he had just said, two more cats appeared out of the shadows.

“Hey Rook, we was lookin’ everywhere for you,” said a familiar voice, “there was a--” A moment of silence passed. “That little BITCH!” Spat the lanky, bat-eared cat. ROOK? Aspen shrunk back as she looked from the tom cat that stood over her, back to the two heathens she had met weeks earlier. “Blaze, Rome, go get Hazel and come back here immediately,” Rook ordered. “Why I’ll tear that rat meat to shreds,” Blaze hissed, “she’s the one that was tryin’ ta steal from you Rook!” Blaze lashed her tail. “NOW,” Rook called. Blaze and Rome huffed as they slithered back into the shadows. “It’s gonna be okay kid,” Rook looked back down to Aspen who was craning her neck to look at her tail.

Blaze and Rome appeared again after what seemed like ages, this time with a much older looking cat. The skinny newcomer approached Aspen and sniffed over her body. “Eat this,” he commanded, his wretched breath filling Aspen’s nose. She looked at the berries, skeptical, but lapped them up hoping they would take away the pain. “Rome, you amputate the tail. I’ll hold her down,” Rook meowed. Wait, WHAT? Before Aspen could get a word out, she felt Rook’s weight on her again. “Stay. Still.” He growled in her ear. He held a paw over her eyes and muzzle. “Now!” Immeasurable pain surged through Aspen’s entire body as the sound of her tail snapping off echoed in the alley. Red clouded her eyes, then black, and that’s the last thing she remembered.

The next day, Aspen awoke in a strange place. A large metal sheet above her leaned against the wall she pressed up against. Tattered cloth draped the triangular entrance formed by the makeshift shelter. A small amount of sunlight filtered through the holes in the cloth and illuminated the dust particles that floated in the space. Aspen turned to lick her hind leg and nearly lost it when she saw the tightly wrapped stub extending from her rear end. The event came flooding back into her memory and her vision went blurry. Stay calm, stay calm. Aspen stood up, and cautiously stuck her head out of the shelter. The surrounding area was pretty open, filled with many more makeshift shelters like the one she was in. This place is a dump, she thought to herself. Trash littered the area, left behind by the humans, as well as food scraps and bones. High walls surrounded the space and claw marks scored the concrete. There was no sign of any other cats nearby, so Aspen decided to make a break for it. Though when she tried running, she toppled over clumsily. Her tail was no longer there to help her keep balance and she stumbled, crashing into a tall silver garbage can.

“In a hurry?” mewed familiar voice from above. Aspen looked upwards and noticed a strange shelf-like structure protruding from the wall. Another, but much bigger, makeshift shelter sat above in the shadows along with a pair of glowing yellow eyes. Aspen watched closely as the speaker revealed himself. Rook. The ruddy tom jumped gracefully from peg to peg, until he landed on all fours, tail swishing along the dirt floor. The movement disturbed the dust particles and appeared to sparkle around the mystic tom. Aspen blinked out of the trance she had fallen into while watching him. God, why does he have to be so dramatic?

“Uh--” Aspen stammered, “I was--” Rook stalked towards her and circled her, inspecting her tail. “I’m sorry about your tail,” he mewed convincingly. “Why are you sorry?” Aspen questioned him. “The trap you fell into is what we use to catch rats and sneaky little intruders like you,” Rook meowed smoothly. The fur began to rise along Aspen’s spine. “I wasn’t intruding,” Aspen retorted, “and if I were to intrude anywhere I’d make sure it wasn’t such a dump.”

Rook ignored her as he continued to circle the smaller female. “You know it’s not safe for a kid like you to be wandering the streets alone,” he said tipping his head and flicking his thin tail on the bloody stump where her’s remained, “you could get hurt you know.” Aspen winced in pain and anger boiled up inside of her. His remark reminded her of the days she spent under the watchful eye of her controlling parents. Aspen shot up. “I didn’t come her to be bossed around,” she spat, fire burning in her green eyes. Rook sat down and looked at her quizzically for a moment. “Well then, why did you come here?”

Aspen felt small under his unnerving gaze. She dared not look him in the eyes too long in fear of being hypnotized into a trance. “Do you know who I am?” Rook sat tall above her, the gold ring in his ear catching the sunlight. “Uhhh, Rook… Rook the garbage lord?” Aspen responded contemptuously as she scanned the surrounding area for some sort of a clue. Rook chuckled to himself. “Amusing one, aren’t you.” He raised his head again. “I am Rook, the Red Bandit, and King of the East Alleys.” Aspen hated the sound of arrogance in his voice.

“And I should care why?” Aspen responded, growing bored. “Because I own these streets, kid,” Rook meowed more seriously this time, “and you’re on my turf.” The tom licked his paw and drew it long over his ear. “Also, I saved your life, so I think you owe me yours.” Aspen felt anxiety and anger rising in her throat again. “I am thankful for what you did back there, but that doesn’t mean you can just claim me as your own!”

Rook stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. “You can leave if you want, but what we have to offer here can’t be found anywhere else in this city,” he mewed. “And what do you offer?” Aspen responded. “You must miss your family,” Rook seemed to stare directly into her soul, “food in your belly, a sense of belonging, protection…” Aspen was beginning to grow less skeptical. “Whadd’ya say kid, you in?” His eyes were warm and inviting. Living on her own was tough, Aspen could not deny that. Would being a part of Rook’s gang be so bad?

“Fine,” Aspen said, trying to show as little emotion as possible. Rook finally broke their gaze by blinking and bowing his head. “Smart choice, kid. Get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”

. . .

The next day, Rook called a meeting and introduced Aspen to the rest of the gang. She made sure to keep her distance from Blaze and Rome, who were clearly bothered by her presence. “Today Aspen proves her loyalty to me,” Rook spoke loudly scanning the rag tag team of bandits, “and if she gains my trust, she will earn the family ring.” Aspen was slightly nervous about whatever task was before her, but ready to finally prove herself worthy to someone.

Rook lead Aspen out of the hideout. “Stick close to me,” he said in a low voice, fur brushing against her’s, “and don’t think about doing anything stupid, kid.” Aspen shot him a glare, “only if you stop calling me kid.” Rook was older than her, but not old enough to be subjecting her as a helpless kitten. “Prove to me you’re worthy then, kid.”

. . .

Rook had Aspen perform a few different tasks for him: steal a chicken leg from a scrappy kitten, loot someone’s stash of jewelry and set traps in the East Alleys. At first, Aspen felt clumsy without her tail, but quickly adjusted and bounced back to her old self. Rook was impressed with her speed and agility. Spirits were high until Rook assigned her the final task.

“You want me to KILL that poor old cat?” Aspen stared at Rook in disbelief as they crouched together on a rooftop. “He’s been an enemy of mine for years,” Rook whispered, “a nuisance to everything I’ve built up.” Aspen stared at the gray old cat digging through the trash below. “Are you going to disappoint me, Aspen?” Rook questioned her. Aspen sighed and mumbled, “no.”

Aspen made it back down to the ground and looked up to make sure Rook was still watching her. I don’t want to kill this cat for nothing. The old gray tom was still rustling amongst the scraps. Aspen stalked towards him and paused when he looked up at her. “Not very sneaky, are you,” he rasped and coughed, “Beat it kid, you don’t belong out on these streets.” Aspen flicked her ear and squinted her eyes. “Neither do you, gramps.” Flexing her claws, Aspen nimbly leaped over the rubble and threw herself on the old cat’s back. The smelly gray tom was stronger than she though-- he reared up and fell backwards on top of her, crushing her stubby tail into the earth. “yyOOWWW!” Aspen screamed in pain, releasing her grip on the old timers neck. Her victim rolled away and tried to stand but Aspen was too quick. She wasn’t about to make Rook feel like she was and unworthy cause. Pinning the old cat to the ground, she noticed him look up at the rooftop where Rook crouched. “You’re making a mistake,” he rasped, staring back at Aspen.

For a split second, Aspen held her claws back, but then lunged forward and sunk her teeth into the gray tom’s neck. He squirmed under her deathly grip, blood seeping from the wound. When he stopped moving, Aspen let go and stepped back. Her white muzzle was stained red, and her mouth sticky with blood. Suddenly Rook appeared next to her, grazing his tail along her spine. “The first kill is always the hardest,” he meowed, then smirked, “but after that it’s all great fun.” Aspen shivered, but then warmth seeped back into her paws. She couldn’t tell if it was from Rook’s approval or from the adrenaline of her first kill. “Let’s head back,” he said turning around, “you’ve earned my trust.”

Back at the hideout, Rook led Aspen up to his lair. Aspen clambered up after him and he grabbed her scruff to help her up after she nearly lost her footing. “You’ll get used to it,” he mewed casually. Leading her into the enclosure, he held up the curtain of the entryway with his tail to let her pass through. The inside was filled with countless cushions, shiny human scraps, and other various looted items. In the far corner was a small pile of gold rings, which Aspen immediately recognized. “Come here,” Rook motioned with his tail. Aspen padded up to where he sat and was taken aback when Rook pinned her to the ground. “What are you-- OW!” Rook grabbed her ear in his jaw and pierced it with a sharp fang. He looped one of the gold rings through the incision and stepped back. Aspen sat up and pawed at it. “Want to take a look?” Rook turned her shoulders and Aspen peered into a mirror hanging on the wall. The new adornment in her right ear glistened in the sunlight that filtered through the shelter. Rook’s reflection appeared next to her, his face close to hers and whispered in her ear, “Welcome home, Aspen.”

Months passed and Aspen grew acclimated to life in the gang. Her days were filled with thievery, looting, and most of all, blood between her claws. Aspen’s hunger for murder and believed justice pulsed in her veins. Rook kept her close to his side, grooming her into the perfect sidekick. Life was good. Aspen felt like she was a part of something important; of course it was ever cat for themself out on the street, yet she still felt safe amongst her comrades. She felt like she had a family again. And Rook… Aspen had mixed feelings about him from day one, but the way he talked, walked, and twitched his whiskers intrigued her. She hated the undeniable power he held over her with a single glance of his golden eyes, yet she felt compelled to please him. Rook saved her from certain death, welcomed her into his family, and raised her into a stone cold killer. Aspen couldn’t ask for more and could not think of any other way to repay him than with her undivided loyalty.

One day when Apsen was out on one of Rook’s missions, she came upon a group of cats surrounding a thin tom who sat higher than the rest. He seemed to be preaching something to them, so Aspen decided to investigate. “Save yourselves from the wasteland!” he rasped, “Follow me to Paradise and you shall never hunger or feel pain again!” Aspen grunted to herself in comedic disbelief. Never hunger again? Impossible. She was about to leave the ridiculous scene when the old geezer stared directly at her. “You there!” he called out to her, “You look like you’re missing your tail!” Aspen turned and paced towards him, all eyes on her. “What’s is too ya, bonehead?” she growled. The frail tom blinked at her and began to speak again, “Follow me to the gate and your wounds will be healed, young one.” Aspen scoffed at him and went on her way. Though she appeared reluctant to heed the stranger’s words, she felt a seed of hopefulness for a better world bury itself deep in her heart.

Later that day, Aspen confronted Rook about the subject of Paradise. “Damn it, more of ‘em?” he lashed his tail, “these freaks have been spreading their fictitious lies up and down my turf, I’m sick of it!” Aspen was surprised at how angry Rook was over these seemingly harmless prophets. “So, it’s not true? There is no Paradise?” Aspen mewed. Rook circled her and sat down next to her. The two sat up on the wall next to Rook’s shelter. “Look, Aspen,” he meowed, pointing at the rest of the rest of the gang down below, “this is as close to paradise as it gets. Don’t let some looney fill your head with lies.” He stared at her seriously, his eyes burning into hers. “It’ll poison you, make your brain rot,” a grin began to spread across his muzzle, “flies will started to crawl out of your ears.” Rook cuffed Aspen’s ear and she shoved him. “Cut it out,” she protested and couldn’t help but chuckle. Aspen liked this side of Rook and wished he didn’t act so pompous and cool all the time. Though, she still didn’t quite believe that Paradise was a hoax. How could it be if there were so many cats speaking of it?

The next morning, Rook ordered Aspen on a special mission with him. However, the subject of the mission left Aspen’s stomach in knots. Rook wanted the prophets dead. All of them. They were beginning to gain more followers, which meant that Rook had more enemies, and he needed to stay on top. The solution? Murder. In Rook’s eyes, it was justice, but murder nonetheless. “How are we supposed to kill all of them?” Aspen meowed, “I only have two paws.” Rook flicked his ear as he stood regally above her on a garbage can. “It’s quite simple, actually,” he replied, “we corner them, and we burn them.”

. . .

It wasn’t hard to find the prophets and their followers. A large group of them stood on the steps of a large building, shouting for everyone in the streets to hear, “Follow us to Paradise! Follow us to freedom!” Rook had some of his gang posted on the rooftops above to keep watch, while the rest covered the perimeter of the scene below. Inside the building behind the prophets and their followers was a special liquid the humans left behind that apparently was good at starting fires. Rook told Aspen that in order to start a fire, the liquid needed to be spilled on the ground and sparked with chipped rocks. Aspen felt honored to be appointed as the fire starter.

Heavy gray clouds began to fill the sky as the gang waited for Rook’s orders. Suddenly, something that sounded like a hawk’s call filled the air and cat’s began to move like fluid around the group of prophets. Aspen knew this call was her queue to prepare the fire room, so she snuck to the side of the building and squeezed through a gap in the wall. After pushing through cobwebs and padding blindly in the darkness for some time, Aspen came upon an opening where light shone through a gap in the ceiling. Rain water dripped through the gap onto her nose and she sneezed. A storm must have come. And more is coming, she thought to herself. Aspen noticed she was surrounded but the shiny silver barrels Rook had spoken of. She approached of of the barrels and sniffed for a place to crack it open. Aspen found a spot that had begun to flack with rust and dug her claws in the decaying metal. After some working at it, dark liquid began to spew out of the hole and Aspen jumped back before any of it could coat her fur. Shrieks and yowling began to echo closer through the building and Aspen hopped up onto a ledge with a stone in her jaw. She watched in satisfaction as the floor began to soak with the dark liquid.

Soon enough, the noise of frightened cats grew even louder and the chamber began to fill with the prophets and their followers. Aspen saw Rook’s ruddy pelt flash near the entrance and new it was time. She scraped the stone against the wall and watched the sparks fall below. In no time, the sparks became flames and shrieks of horror filled the room. The fire spread and began to engulf cats, like some kind of terrible monster consuming its prey. Aspen was frozen as her eyes were locked on the dancing flames. “Aspen!” Rook called from the other side of the burning room, “hurry and get down here!” Aspen snapped out of her daze and scanned for a proper escape. There was a wood frame above the frenzy that looked as if it used to hold a shelter over the barrels. Aspen jumped from her ledge onto the frame, but it swayed unnervingly beneath her weight. Without a tail, it was hard for Aspen to keep her balance, but she dug her claws desperately into the rotting would. She used the momentum to propel herself forward.

She had almost made it to Rook when one of the aging beams gave way and left Aspen to land on the barrels below. The sound of screeching and yowling drowned out Aspen’s own cry of desperation. The barrels rolled from their platforms and crushed her beneath their weight. Aspen tried to escape, but her front paw was lodged between one of the barrels and its platform. Thick black smoke clouded her vision and filled her lungs. Coughing and squinted her eyes, she meowed loudly above the horrendous chorus of dying cats. “ROOK! ROOK HELP ME!”

Aspen’s heart swelled when she saw Rook’s golden eyes peering at her through the flames. “Rook!” she rasped excitedly, “Rook I’m stuck, help me get out!” However, the golden eyes of her once savior remained in the same spot beyond the inferno. Aspen tried twisting her paw out of its hold, but her attempts grew feebler but the second. “Rook!” she cried more desperately, “Rook!” Aspen searched his gaze for any sort of emotion but only saw her own reflection of agony flash in his eyes. In Aspen’s pure shock and affliction, he turned from her and disappeared from her vision. “ROOOOK!” Aspen called one last time but the smoke choked her and she toppled over. Accepting her fate, she curled closer to the barrel, waiting to burn.

Suddenly, a strange scent overcame her and fur brushed her nose. “Stay still,” rasped a voice, “I’m here to help you.” Aspen tried to make out the newcomer but the atmosphere had dumbed her vision to blurriness. The wait lifted from her paw as the barrel was rolled from its stuck position. The stranger grabbed Aspen by the scruff and dragged her from the rubble. Aspen blindly fought through the smoke as the cat pushed her from behind, leading her to the hole in the wall in which she originally entered. Upon finally exiting the fire scene, Aspen collapsed and her vision clouded. “Rook…” she whispered.

. . .

The next day, Aspen woke in a strange place with many strange cats. They looked like the prophets she tried to kill, and the whole scene overcame Aspen in a wave of grief. Rook turned his back on her in her time of need. Her comrade. Her family. Everything she held to be true had burned in the flames. Aspen was nothing now, and had nothing to live for. Rook’s voice replayed sweetly in her head, “Don’t let some looney fill your head with lies.” Yeah, right. The only looney filling her head with lies was Rook. Everything was a lie. Aspen felt the crushing realization like a blow to her chest. She was a fool, god damn she was such a fool.

"Mind if I sit by you?" rasped a voice from behind her, followed by a fit of coughing. Aspen turned her head and noticed Rome was staring down at her. The fur on Aspen's back bristled with fear and contempt. "It was me, you know," he meowed, ignoring her hostility, "I was the one that saved you from burning alive." Aspen stared at him quizzically. "Why would you do that?" Aspen couldn't think of anything else to ask him. Rome sat down next to her and groomed the ashes that still stuck to his fur. "I'm tired of seeing cats getting tangled up in his games," Rome rasped, referring to Rook, "and I wasn't about to go back with him after I witnessed what he had done." Aspen flexed her claws, more questions popping up in her mind. But before she could respond, Rome spoke again. "He told me everything, Aspen... and you're not gonna like what I have to say," he started out, "I know you two were... close."

Aspen stared up at him, confusion painted on her face. What is he talking about? "Rook told me everything before the attack," Rome meowed hoarsely, avoiding Aspen's gaze, "about the lies, about her, about... everything, really." Aspen's ears flattened. "Her?" she growled. The mention of another love interest in Rook's life instantly formed a pit in Aspen's stomach. Rome sighed. "Let me backtrack for a moment. Start from the beginning. Rook loved a cat named Natalia long before all of this. She was taken by the prophets and never to be seen again, so Rook made it his life's duty to find her and bring her back to him. He assumed that they took her to their headquarters in the city, so he roamed around the streets for a while gathering as many cats under his wing as he could. He told them he could help them be something. Told them that they had a future with him. They were all lies, though. What he really was doing was trying to spread his line of sight throughout the city in the form of other cats that would do his dirty work. It was his mission to kill every prophet until Natalia was once again at his side." Rome paused to take a raspy breath. The smoke from the fire must have damaged his lungs and he coughed fitfully for a moment. "This here?" he flicked the golden ring on his ear and then on Aspen's, "this is an ode to Natalia. He said she had the most beautiful golden fur you ever saw. When she was taken, all that was left was her golden ringed necklace. It's why Rook makes us all wear one upon initiation." Aspen let Rome's confession sink in for a moment. She felt even more betrayed than the moment Rook turned his back on her, and a new wave of regret washed over her. She took his words and buried them deep in her heart. It didn't matter anymore. Aspen would never go back to him. He could rot in the wastelands searching for Natalia.
. . .

The surviving prophets planned out the final leg of their journey to the gate and Aspen decided to join them. She had nothing left to lose, there was no way that she would be limited by Rook’s lies anymore. To her surprise, one cat joined that group that she least expected. Back from his endless travels, Aspen’s father was among the ranks journeying to paradise. He was much older now, and weathered from his travels, but still recognizable. He and Aspen reunited with joy and uncertainty about the road that lie ahead. Everything was about to change for Aspen, and she hoped for the better.

In the Trials:

Aspen felt cheated when she met Ordeel after passing through the gates. His plan to treat the cats like pawns in his life-or-death trials infuriated her. Yet, she was determined to prove herself once again. For the first trial, Aspen was grouped into a team of several other cats, one of them being her father. She felt lucky to have at least someone she could trust by her side in this strange place. The groups of cats were tasked with finding keys to escape the torrential rain and rising water that plagued this world.

Unfortunately, there was one cat in Aspen's group that rubbed everyone the wrong way. His name was Dante. Let's just say, Dante liked to do things his own way. He was by no means a team player and was extremely arrogant in his abilities. He made it clear to the rest of the group that he did not intend to make friends here. He just wanted to make it out alive. Dante's thought process was understandable, but where he went wrong was the fact that he thought he could do it all alone. With the rising tides, time was running out, and Dante's antics were seriously putting Aspen's team in a critical spot. Aspen and Dante got in many fights over the course of Trial one. Her electric reactions to his "fuck you all" demeanor did not make things any better. The team was being torn apart, cracking under the pressure of Ordeel's expectations.

Along with this, Aspen felt the need to look after her father, who was old and struggling to keep up with younger cats. Aspen could not bear to lose another cat she cared about. Orion was the last one alive that she created space in her heart for, and was not about to lose him under the account of Dante's foolishness and Ordeel's injustice.

The trial was nearing the end and the rising water was up to each cat's chest. The current pushed and pulled and there was little high ground left to find momentary refuge upon. Everything was being swept away. Aspen had found the final key and she and her team began making the trek to the locked door. One particularly stormy day, Aspen and her group were attempting to reach higher ground by climbing a large pile of rocks and boulders. The rocks were slippery and wet from the torrential rain, and the water below was growing more unpredictable; swirling and splashing recklessly. Aspen struggled to keep her grip as she searched for paw holds in the jutting rocks, when she heard the scraping of claws and a cry for help. Whipped her head around and squinted through the rain. Orion! Her father was dangling from a slippery boulder with half of his body being pulled by the relentless waves. The closet cat to him was Dante, who stood one boulder above him.

"HELP HIM!" Aspen cried out in agony as she watched her father's feeble grip loosen. However, Dante held his position and seemed to stare past Orion as if he weren't even there. That son of a bitch. Aspen scrambled and slipped down the pile of rocks to where Dante stood and shoved him out of the way without even caring where momentum took him. He screamed as he slid from where he stood, but Aspen had her eyes locked on her father, who was now only holding on to the rock with one paw. Water choked him as he struggled to hang on, but the tides won, and he vanished in the crashing blue waves. Out of pure instinct, Aspen jumped in after him, still holding on to the last key. It was nearly impossible to keep her head above the water, and every time she got the chance to breathe, her breaths were sharp and short. Water filled her nostrils and completely drown out her hearing. Tossed around like feather in the waves, blackness clouded her eyes, and that is the last thing she remembered before accepting her cold, dark fate. She failed her team, her father, and herself. So this is how it ends...

- - R E L A T I O N S H I P S - -

TPT - Aspen's Relationship Tracker

- - R P E X A M P L E - -

Stella huddled near the edge of the camp, close enough to her fellow Oluman to hear conversations, but far enough for her own comfort. She was still getting used to sharing a home with these strange cats, and learning to let herself trust them. A pin prick of pain tinged her heart as she watched friends sitting close to one another, sharing stories about their dreams from the night before and excitement about the day that lie ahead. Stella missed the close knit feeling she had when she was with her family and hoped that this stage of awkwardness and wariness would pass over quickly. However, the excited chatter quickly turned to hushed fear as a voice cracked through the chilly morning air.

"The Matriarch!"

Stella looked towards the direction of the voice and a tawny colored cat burst into the camp. Eyes wide and breathing heavily, the newcomer carried the scent of fear that washed over everyone. Stella stood up, ears perked forward and expecting the absolute worst.

"Ariadna is dead!"

Stella's heart shrunk in her chest. A collective gasp echoed around the camp and Stella paced forward, not minding the distance anymore. A mixture of shock and confusion wracked her brain. Adriana had barely been leader longer than Stella had become an Oluman. Was this normal? Did cats regularly die out here? Anxiety crept over her body as she thought back to her final encounter with her ex mate Altair. Did his group of Bounty Hunters do this? The snow leopardess couldn't tell if she was was shaking from the cold or the reality of the situation. Nonetheless, she inched closer to the group that was now on their feet, waiting to hear the rest of the news.

Availability: Discord works best for me! I also like to work in Google Docs to keep things organized!

- - Q U E S T I O N S - -

What was your character's stance about Paradise before the gate, and how has their opinion changed?

Aspen was a skeptic, but had nothing left to lose when the time came to entering the gate. She had lost most of her family and closest friends. Paradise seemed like the only good thing left to happen in her life.

After entering the gate, she felt like a fool for jumping to conclusions too quickly. Paradise was not like what she had been told... It feels more like hell than anything. However, Ordeel makes things interesting and she would rather be fighting alongside other cats for the chance at Paradise than fighting for her pitiful survival in the Wasteland.

How has your character emotionally and mentally handled attempting and failing the Trials?

To put it lightly, Aspen is pissed. She feels cheated, ashamed, lost... the same feelings that she felt when Rook left her to die in the fire. Aspen thrives off of victory, and failing in the trials has left her feeling defeated and worthless. She wants a rematch.