[APP] Spectresight [Galeclan]

[Dusk]

spectresight
she-cat, fifty-four moons, medicine cat, galeclan

appearance
;;a short-haired calico with a missing, stitched-up eye.

;;When meeting Spectresight for the first time, most cats will immediately be struck by the most obvious malady about her: a missing eye. The wound mars an otherwise potentially pleasant face, sealed closed with some twoleg thread and fur refusing to grow in a thin outline of where the eye once was and scar tissue now lies. Although the most prominent feature about her, there is more to this older feline than being one-eyed. For one, there's her other eye, a glaring orb of blue-gray always seeming to stare out from a furrowed brow. It's clear that, as a younger cat, Spectresight held the potential for a good amount of beauty, but age and life -and her own choices- have not been good to this she-cat. Her fur is short and surprisingly soft where guard hairs do not overtake her pelt, but long exposure to the elements has left much of her fur coars. Her pelt is mainly white, with only the patches of ginger and faded gray on her head along with some stray splashes on her hind legs and tail as the only source of alternate colors. Physique-wise, she's a bit smaller than the average Galeclan cat, but plenty brawny all the same. Not wiry or lean, but not overly bulky either; she's still got the build of a fighter, unexpected of a medicine cat. Spectresight's pelt supports a surprisingly large amount of scars for a healer, and many appear to be made by tooth or claw. Especially on her right hind-leg is a profuse amount of scarring. It's clear that, at some point in her life the she-cat lived quite rough and tumble.

personality
One might expect a medicine cat to be warm and friendly, welcoming and inviting and always there for a cat in need. With Spectresight, this couldn't be further from the truth. She's anything but ideal for the role of a medicine cat. The first words you'll receive after wandering into her den will likely be an irritated mention of how you'd best not be wasting her time. If you come in wounded, then prepare to be mocked. She takes a savage delight in criticizing cats who happened to get hurt; throughout treatment the calico will rib her patients and make assumptions -often exaggerated- about how they came to be damaged. It's not uncommon for her to think up all the derogatory names possible, and she'll use them frequently and often in place of a cat's true name. This goes for anyone, not just warriors and apprentices. Spectresight prides herself in being an equal opportunity offender, and her lack of respect is even applied the higher ranks of deputy and leader. Crass is an understatement for this not-so-typical healer; her comments often ride the fine line between blunt and overly offensive. Callousness is simply hardwired into her nature, as a sharp tongue has always been necessary in her long life. She can't be bothered to sugar the pill, and why bother? Harsh words make for a tougher cat in the end. In the end, it's good advice for a cat to prep themselves for verbal abuse before entering her den.

Aggressive is an apt description of her usual nature, but not "aggression" in the form of violently going after everything she spots. Rather it's that sort of grumpy, sarcastic habit as though she's always looking to argue; yet she'll rarely instigate a fight unless she's already decided she dislikes you. There's zero interest in Spectresight of making friends with the other cats inside or out of Galeclan, and she couldn't care less what others think of her, either. The healer knows herself far better than any young fools. The most a warrior can ever hope for is a form of grudging respect that she grants only rarely. She's high standards in "companions", and few find it worth the time to try endearing themselves to her in the first place, thus making it more common for the calico to spend time alone sorting herbs.

Whining and complaints of any sort will not be tolerated by the stern medicine cat. It'll only earn an impatient glare and probably a good amount of foul language. In Spectresight's eyes - or eye - cats that are foolish enough to become wounded don't deserve special treatment. A bit more caution, a smattering of forethought, and damage likely could have been avoided in the first place. So don't expect any grandmotherly doting when seeing her for medicine. In fact, she'll rarely administer herbs that kill pain; a sort of punishment so that her patients will be more careful next time. Nor can she be bothered to take the bitter edge off any consumed treatments. She just says to tough up and take the medication as it is. Only in extreme cases -and sometimes for the elders- will the feline offer a dose of poppy seeds to help dull the pain. Otherwise it's stinging salves and cobwebs to keep the wounded from bleeding too much or contracting infection. With sickness, she's a bit more gentle. It's not as simple to avoid illness as it is evading physical damage. Taking that into consideration, she'll more willingly offer assistance in the healing process, and perhaps even ease up on the usual flurry of criticism that flies from her jaws daily.

Spectresight started her life as a cat destined for the rank of warrior. As a kit she dreamed of being a warrior, as an apprentices she worked her hardest towards that goal. And for a single fleeting moon she fought valiantly for her clan as one, but fate ripped it all away. Acting as a healer was never a goal for her, and a role which she took to only over the course of moons. The she-cat still dreams of victory and battle, and likely a good part of her constantly frustrated nature is due to waking up daily and knowing that glory in fighting will never be hers. Needless to say, she can hold her own well enough in a fight, although she's ever cautious of being approached on her blind side. There'll be no preaching of peace and good will from Spectresight.

history
How did a cat such as Spectresight become a medicine cat, even a healer of the ever infamous Galeclan? Trying to put things in a logical order makes little sense. One has to dig far back in the history of not just one clan, but two, to gather the full story of this bitter, old calico.

'I can't wait to be an apprentice, fighting battles and taking on big warriors and-'
'Settle down, you need to finish being a kit first.'

Spectrekit was born healthy and normal, one of four kittens born to Ashenstep and Redsplash in the time of Dancingstar. Gemkit, Stonekit, and Ebonykit were her siblings, all born in Timberclan. She was named for the ghostly white that was the dominant color of her pelt, although later it appeared it also suited the shade of her eyes. Both parents cared well for their children, encouraging them to be loyal to their clan, and Ashenstep, the proud and ambitious father, was always telling them stories of great warriors and leaders past. Daily he would stop by the nursery to see "how his little fighters were doing" and generally influencing them to be strong and powerful warriors. He held greater sway over Spectrekit than her gentler mother. Especially considering the way he pranced about the clan bragging about his beautiful and talented kits, it's no wonder the young calico wished to impress her male parent. He meant the best for all of them, hoping to get them sped up on their training before they were even six moons old. She and Ebonykit would often practice what their father taught them together, it wasn't uncommon to see a flurry of black and white tumbling throughout the camp. The brother and sister became a well-known duo, always competing to see who would grasp a new skill faster. Eventually they made a pact that, whoever became leader first would make the other their deputy. Silly kit-stuff, but it fueled Spectrekit's hunger to become the greatest warrior the three clans had ever seen.

'Try again Spectrepaw, but do it right this time. Like Ebonypaw over there.'
'I'll be better, after all, a leader has to be the best, right?'

Six moons of life were busy and filled with learning as much as she could about being a warrior, so it didn't feel too long before the siblings were apprenticed. For the calico, though, apprenticeship couldn't come soon enough. Dancingstar assigned her to a capable and experienced tom who went by the name of Sunstreak. The golden tabby lacked her father's ambition and drive, but was a no nonsense sort of warrior with high standards for his apprentices. There would be no time for Spectrepaw to slack off from her training regime. Long hours were spent training in the forests, climbing up and down trees to build up stamina an grow accustomed to the territory; the growing warrior took best to the battle practice, however. Hunting and tracking were secondary, first and foremost on the tricolor's agenda would always be perfecting her fighting skills. She even began to spend time outside of mentor-apprentice training honing her favored trait, growing further from the others in her clan. Except, that is, for Ebonypaw, as he would often join her to exchange ideas and lessons.

Eventually, they got what they'd always wanted. A real battle. Not one of those petty skirmishes over prey, but a fight to defend territory from Galeclan invaders. It happened during an assessment, Stonepaw, Ebonypaw, and Spectrepaw were all out hunting through the forest when the trespassing patrol was found by Stonepaw. They outnumbered the poor gray tom and overwhelmed him before any of the mentors or two siblings could come to his assistance. He was grievously wounded, and his mentor had to stand by and defend the apprentice as his brother and sister attacked the offenders with a vengeance. Ebonypaw's ear was rather mangled, Spectrepaw recieved a nasty gash the only just missed her left eye. Alongside the adult cats, they managed to drive out the Galeclan warriors and get Stonepaw back to camp. That evening, Dancingstar named Spectrepaw and Ebonypaw warriors a moon early for their valiant efforts in defending their home and kin. Stonepaw died of his wounds the next day.

'Well, then Spectresight, it seems you're quite the capable warrior.'
'I could say the same to you, Ebonymoon.'

With the loss of her other brother, the fresh named Spectresight threw herself into her warrior duties with a fresh vigor. One day she'd make the Galeclan cats pay for killing Stonepaw, even if it meant years of pain and work to become the leader of Timberclan. Gempaw eventually became Gemshatter, but she'd always been the weakest of the bunch. Ebonymoon was easily her equal when it came to battle, but he was losing sight of the path Ashenstep had set them on as he fell for a she-cat. It appeared it would be up to the calico to be her brother's avenger. Daily she patrolled the border between Galeclan and her own, always waiting and watching to see if any warrior was foolish enough to try invading again. With leaf-bare setting in, it wasn't long before a patrol came by to steal prey from the forest. Only a moon had passed. The calico happened to on a patrol when they caught the Galeclan invaders. It was another ruthless fight, and they drove the enemies back again, but this time there was nothing to stop Spectresight from pursuing the cats past the hot springs and over the borders into Galeclan territory. The blind chase continued until one of the Galeclan cats turned and struck her, blinding her in the left eye. Pained and unable to see, she stumbled into the river and was swept away by the current, bashed mercilessly into the rocks. She was thrown badly against one particular outcropping in the water, pain lancing up her leg as something broke. Starclan must have been with her, though, for she managed to fight through the pain and drag herself onto a stretch of shoreline before passing out.

When she next awoke, she was back in Timberclan, in the medicine cat's den. The news was grim, her eye was likely to have lost all sight. But cat's could manage with a single eye. More importantly, though - and more devastating - her right leg was badly broken. The likelihood of it healing properly was low, she'd never have full function of the limb. The general statement, once she healed she was destined to early retirement to the elder's den. The idea horrified Spectresight. All her efforts... wasted. She couldn't except that. Once her leg was healed enough that she wouldn't collapse from pain, the she-cat escaped. In the dead of night she slipped out of the camp, with a messy bunch of cobwebs stuck over her lost eye and a leaf filled with poppy seeds clamped between her teeth. The clans wouldn't see her again for quite sometime.

'So then, who're you?'
'Just a loner, now back off or would you like to end up one-eyed like me?'

Spectresight escaped into the Twolegplace, living in the rural outskirts as she healed. She lost weight, nearly starved, and was saved -although she hates to admit it- by Twolegs. At some point while she was still only recently made a rouge, a group of Twolegs captured her and took her to a large building with other cats, kittypets and the sort. She didn't realize at first that she'd been taken to a vet. They removed her bad eye, which had begun to gather infection, and stitched up the socket, also better setting her broken leg. Spectresight remembered none of this, though, only that she awoke with fuzzy memories and an eye that was sealed closed forever. She stayed with the Twolegs who had captured her for a while, until her leg healed, but then escaped back into the wild. Had it not been for the humans, however, her leg never would have healed as well as it did. Still she'd walk with restricted movement for the rest of her life.

She made her way into the metropolitan part of Twolegplace. She fought tooth and claw with other loners and rogues that lived there, and spent her young adult life learning to support herself. Eventually, though, the city grew tiring, and the she-cat began making her way back towards the clan lands. For some time she lived on the outskirts, where she met a she-cat who'd grown wise in the ways of healing. Living with the old loner, Spectresight learned to use herbs and treat various ailments; when the old one died, she made her way back to the clans. Rumor had it that Galeclan was in need of a new medicine cat after some incident with their former one and deathberries. There was a curious irony to it. Fitting that the clan which had caused so much strife should be the one now in need of her own services. After all, Littlefright had never trained an apprentice. So she went to Bloodstar and introduced herself as capable in the ways of warrior medicine, and even some less conventional treatments. Galeclan only grudgingly took her in, but she assimilated well enough. Living with the bitter cats wasn't much different than living in the streets, alone. And so she's lived alongside these former enemies for many moons.

sample
{not necessary i believe}

other
here's hoping everything's alright. had to rush the last part of the history a little when i realized how long it was getting.