Step

Personality: Step is a very quiet, nervous cat. He finds it hard to trust others, which is why he remains a loner. Despite this, once his trust is earned, while still being quiet, is very kind if not a little sarcastic. He tends to mutter often and is hard to understand, and typically chooses to remain completely quiet instead. He avoids fighting as often as possible and would much rather flee than fight, which is what his small paws but strong legs are good for. He dislikes bloodshed and even hunting makes him nervous. If given the chance, he would rather eat kibble than catch himself an animal, but he's sensible enough to know he can't survive being so picky. He's equally sensible about most things, although his nervousness can cause him to make split-second, regrettable decisions. He's not overly smart, however, and would be about average for a cat. He prides himself more on common sense than anything. He's not an exceptionally loyal cat and can hardly be counted on to do much due to his fear of most things. He would try his best for a good friend, though, and believes he holds a strong sense of justice- he just has some trouble acting on it sometimes. Over all Step is quiet, fearful, but not useless. He knows how to behave and who to stay away from to avoid trouble.

History: Step was born to a loner she-cat, along with his brother, Fox. It was always assumed that Fox had taken the spunk and attitude of the litter, as Step had been quiet and fearful since birth. The brothers got along well, however, and in a scary world with no one but their family beside them, they became very close. Their birth had been hard on their mother, and her health never improved from there. She watched as her sons grew strong and taught them as much as she could. When she grew too weak to move, her sons hunted for her. Eventually she had no strength left and had to leave her dear sons alone in the cold world. They were both devastated, but Fox took it upon himself to care for his so-called 'little brother'. Step hardly ever complained about this, and instead found it extremely comforting to be babied by his brother. They grew only closer. A year after their mother's death, the cats were a year and a half old and encountered their first serious altercation. Another group of loners stumbled upon them and attacked without much discussion. Fox instructed Step to run, and though Step was hesitant, he eventually obeyed his brother and took off. He never saw Fox again, and to this day still wakes from his sleeps to the sound of his brother's yowls of pain.

Season born: Winter


RP Sample: Step awoke blearily to a sharp claw in his side. He blinked slowly until he could make out the ginger pelt of his brother, Fox. He was nudging Step to his feet and wouldn't stop until the cat was finally standing.
"What is it?" Step murmured, his jaws cracking in a huge yawn. Fox flicked his ear back in his only response, pressing up against Step's white side before hissing in his ear.
"Follow me!" The ginger and white tom disappeared from their makeshift nest in an old, crumbling human den. Step felt familiar fear grip him around the belly and forced away his paralysis to follow his brother. He caught a glimpse of his brother's bushy, white-tipped tail and hurried to catch up, his own short tail hardly hindering him. He hesitated once he heard the drumming of paws behind him, but didn't bother to turn before bursting away from the spot and reaching his brother.
Fox had reached the dead end of an alley way, a grim look on his face. But he quickly grinned at his smaller brother when he came beside him. Step turned around and pressed himself against Fox's shoulder nervously, trembling.
"Who are they?" He wondered.
"I don't know." Fox admitted, glancing furtively around at their surroundings, like he was hoping a brick would magically fall loose and they could scramble through. Finally, their pursuers came into view. Four olders cats, two built much thicker than Step or his brother, approached the young brothers.
"Why did you run?" The lead cat wondered, eyes fixed on the cats like two pieces of prey."We just wanted to talk to you." Step crouched lower and Fox hissed, stepping towards the cat until he was nearly nose to nose.
"Leave my brother and I alone. We haven't done anything to you." The lead cat swiped a pink tongue over his jowls, not breaking his stare with Fox. Step silently wished that his brother would step back from the other cat and stop leaving his throat so exposed, but he didn't dare say a word, the only thing even keeping him here his worry for his brother.
"You're on our new territory. So leave or die." The lead cat growled. Fox stood his ground, unsheathing his claws.
"Fox!" Step murmured as loudly as he dared.
"What, are you going to fight?" The lead cat asked, sounding hopeful. Without waiting for an answer, he leaped forward and sunk his claws into Fox's shoulders. Step's mouth fell open in a horrified, silent scream. Fox yelped and forced his back paws into the other cat's belly and threw him off his ginger body. Struggling to his paws, blood streamed from Fox's shoulder. Step nervously licked at the wounds, ears pinned back.
"Step, I want you to run, now. I'll distract them- you were always the fastest." Fox whispered hurriedly as the lone cats recovered from the resistance. Step froze, horrified by what his brother was suggesting. They had never been seperated!
"I-I can't le-" Before Step could finish, two of the other cats had rushed forward. Fox shoulders his brother out of the way and slashed at the first cat, but was overtaken by the second.
"Step, please! Run! I'll be okay!" He gasped, sinking his teeth into the cat's leg. Step hesitated for one more second. "Step!" His brother shouted again, and Step was off, nimbly leaping aside the fourth cat and disappearing down the road. He squeezed his eyes shut and ran blindly as the terrified, pain-filled cries of his brother filled his ears.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Step's voice rose to a caterwaul, the loudest he had ever spoken as he continued down the road, filled with the immense burden of a broken heart.

Link to image of character: Here and Here