Post by Zawki on Apr 25, 2023 17:06:46 GMT
Raven
General Information
Full Name: Cassidy "Raven" Timberwood
Gender: Female
Age: 1 year
Height: 30 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 71 pounds
Pack: None
Rank: Loner
Appearance
Raven's fur is solid black in colour with gentle bluish undertones; thick and plentiful, it almost appears lightly waved where the fur grows longest. She is fairly average in size with a physique built for agility, and her eyes are a pale, silvery yellow.
Scars: A horizontal scar can be seen on the side of her right foreleg, just above the elbow joint.
Personality
Calm and studious, there is little Raven enjoys more than seeking out knowledge about the things she's interested in. Yet, she herself can be difficult to truly get to know.
Strengths & Qualities
- Stealthy. Having practised her ambush techniques from a young age, she is good at staying hidden, and her dark fur helps her to blend in with the surroundings at night.
- Observant. Although she prefers to keep to herself, she will often try to learn what she can through observation whenever she meets someone or something new. She's pretty good at it, too, often remembering plenty of details for later.
- Modest. Not one to seek out the spotlight, she rarely draws unnecessary attention to herself, preferring to simply help out in the background rather than showing off or claiming to be better than anyone else.
- Jack-of-all-trades. Due to her love for exploring different topics, she knows at least a little about a lot of things, making her skillset quite versatile. Although this doesn't make her an expert, sometimes a basic understanding is all you need.
Weaknesses
- Distant. Sometimes, she may seem a little closed-off, rarely sharing many of her thoughts and feelings with others. She will typically avoid socialisation unless there is a good reason to interact with others, though this is not to say she dislikes company.
- Socially inexperienced. Thanks to her reclusive nature, she often has a hard time connecting with other wolves, especially those who are particularly energetic or playful. Most potential friendships and games simply don't interest her much.
- Easily overwhelmed. Being one to rely heavily on observation and forethought, unexpected occurrences can easily catch her off guard, making it difficult for her to judge the best solution quickly. Sometimes this leads to panicked, spur-of-the-moment decisions.
Likes
- Birds. She loves all birds, though she is especially fond of corvids. It is not unusual to see her admiring them from time to time.
- Magic and mystery. Despite her love for facts and knowledge, she has never lost her appreciation for tales about enchanted forests and mythical creatures. She finds them very captivating.
Dislikes
- Arrogance. It frustrates her when some wolves act like they're better than everyone else. She believes that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and will make her own opinion on whether or not they're good at what they do.
- Impatience. Preferring to have a plan for just about everything, she just doesn't understand wolves who rush into things without much thought. Rushing often leads to mistakes, and learning the hard way is not her favourite method.
- Unpredictability. She often likes to know what to expect, so that her plans can go... according to plan. When she doesn't know what to expect, she can't help worrying she's underprepared, even when it comes to something as natural as friendship.
Family
Parents: Forest ♂, Ivy ♀
Siblings: Kestrel ♂ (littermate)
History
0-3 months
Originally known by the name "Cassidy", Raven came from a small pack with just one littermate. Their mother, Ivy, used to tell them stories about the various birds that soared the skies, and inspired by the tales, the two pups would often search for feathers to bring back. When Ivy realised how much the pups loved the stories, she began affectionately calling them "Kestrel" and "Raven" instead. Curious about the bird she had been nicknamed after, Raven decided she wanted to find the feather of an actual raven, whilst her twin brother decided he really wanted to find the feather of a peregrine falcon. Together the pups would run off to the woods, playing games between feather hunting, keeping an eye out for their feathers of choice all the while.
One day when the pups returned from the woods, Ivy told them about a litter of pups around their age who were part of a neighbouring pack. She explained that the pack didn't seem to mind having visitors, so long as they didn't get in anyone's way. Excited by the idea of getting to know the other pups, Kestrel and Raven immediately wanted to meet them. Before long, they had formed a friendship with them, sometimes going over to play whenever they weren't busy searching for feathers or listening to stories.
It had never occurred to Raven just how fragile her pack was. With only two adult wolves, her father was often busy patrolling the territory, whilst her mother handled most of the hunting. When Ivy didn't return from one hunting session, killed by her own prey, everything suddenly began to fall apart.
3-6 months
For a while, Raven wasn't sure what to do. Her father, Forest, was busier than ever, having to hunt and patrol the territory at the same time. For a moment, feather hunting and playtime didn't seem important anymore. Declining Kestrel's invitations, Raven decided to see if there was anything she could do to help. She wasn't yet old enough to hunt and fight, but she could learn, and patrolling the territory didn't look too hard. Although he didn't seem to have much enthusiasm anymore, Forest soon welcomed her company, and offered to show her a few fighting techniques. Before long, she even noticed him beginning to smile again.
Although Forest wasn't the best hunter, he was managing to provide okay, even joking about his skills occasionally whenever he caught something bigger than he could usually manage. Beginning to miss Kestrel's company, Raven decided it wouldn't hurt to start spending time with him again. She wanted to show him some of the things she had learned so that they could practise together. Kestrel seemed delighted to have her back, and together they practised their ambush and hunting techniques, occasionally pausing to watch the birds and share stories of their own adventures. Neither of them had found the feathers they sought most, but Raven didn't mind; searching was all part of the adventure.
Eventually, Kestrel brought up the subject of their friends from the neighbouring pack, and pointed out that it had been a while since they had last seen them. He invited her to join him, but Raven wasn't sure. Forest didn't seem to like it when they spent too much time with them. Yet, seeing Kestrel's hopeful smile, she couldn't say no. They ended up having a lot of fun together, even playing new games where they could use their new skills. For a moment, Raven lost track of time, until the sun was beginning to set. Her father always used to warn them not to stay out after dark, and they were running out of time if they were going to get back home in time, but when she tried to convince Kestrel they should leave, he suggested one last game of hide and seek to hone their tracking skills before they go. A couple of their friends immediately backed the idea, and she knew there was no point in arguing. She and Kestrel were tasked with seeking out the rest of their friends who swiftly ran off to hide. Deciding they would be able to find everyone faster if they split up, the two pups ran off in different directions. To Raven's dismay, dusk began to set in before the game had even finished, but that became the least of her concerns when she heard Kestrel's desperate howl in the distance. Barely hesitating, she ran as fast as her paws would carry her, only stopping when she arrived at the scene.
To her relief, Kestrel appeared to be okay, but at his paws was one of their friends, and although she couldn't make out many details in the shadows, the strong scent of blood told her they were not okay. Her gaze met Kestrel's and for a moment, they just stared at each other with a look of fear and confusion in their eyes, neither able to bring themselves to speak. Within a few moments, the underbrush began to rustle as more wolves arrived, clearly having heard Kestrel's call. One of the adult wolves rushed straight to their friend, but they were simply too late.
Before Raven even knew what was happening, she and Kestrel were running for their lives. It was clear the pack wolves had chosen to blame the two outsiders, although Raven could never believe Kestrel would be responsible for such a thing. He cared about his friends deeply. Thankfully some of the wolves gave up the chase, but one kept chasing them even once they got back to their own territory. Noticing a familiar dark pelt nearby, the two pups ran closer until Kestrel broke off and came skidding to a halt, leaving Raven to watch as he hid behind their father, who immediately confronted their pursuer. With the two older wolves engaged in an argument, Kestrel quickly slipped away, and Raven padded after him, desperate to know more. Yet, he seemed just as confused as she was.
When Forest approached, he did not seem happy. Apparently the pack wolf had forbidden them both from ever returning to their friends' territory, and although she believed the accusations were misplaced, Raven knew they had no excuse for staying as long as they did. Kestrel immediately tried to explain, but there wasn't much he could say to help anything, when he was still so shaken from the event and Forest seemed intent on blaming him for not coming home sooner. Raven watched them argue for a moment, trying to figure out how to intervene without making things worse, when Kestrel suddenly declared he would return to the woods to find who - or what - was responsible for killing their friend. Before either of them could protest, he turned and ran for the shadows beneath the trees. Raven immediately called out to him, but when she tried to follow, Forest dragged her back.
6-9 months
"He will come back once he's calmed down," he had said. "It's too dangerous for you to go after him." Raven didn't care if she had to face the dangers, so long as it meant Kestrel wasn't facing them alone. He was in no state for thinking straight, yet Forest seemed to believe he would get scared and come running back before long. When he didn't, Forest finally decided to look for him once Raven agreed to stay hidden and not to follow. She knew he was just afraid of losing her; they were both afraid. She just had to trust he would find Kestrel and that they would both be alright.
Forest had followed Kestrel's trail, but lost it eventually and been unable to pick it up again. Raven could tell he was beginning to lose hope, but he searched multiple times the next day, still to no avail. Unable to bear it any longer, Raven tried to sneak off and search for him herself, but even that was in vain. Forest seemed to think something had taken him, yet he couldn't find any traces of blood. Without a clear answer, Raven couldn't help thinking he might still be alive, but after a few days, she was beginning to wonder if she would ever see him again.
It wasn't long before Raven found herself training with Forest again, trying to take her mind off everything for a while. Although she didn't know what to do about Kestrel's disappearance, she could at least help out around the territory, and look out for any signs of him on patrol.
As Raven continued to help, she could tell it was taking a bit of weight off Forest's shoulders. She wasn't the best hunter yet, but together they had managed to bring down elk calves and other prey which would be enough to sustain them both, and whenever he was busy patrolling without her, she could help with locating new prey. Her fighting skills were coming along quite nicely too, to the point where she felt capable enough to chase off a few other predators on her own. Once or twice, she even surprised him with some small prey she had caught whilst he had been away.
Although Forest had confided in her about increased signs of activity from rival wolves before, knowing he was an experienced fighter, it had never concerned her too much. It was only when they ran into some of these wolves that Raven realised just what a mistake that had been. Forest was just too stubborn, refusing to back down and lose territory to them even when the odds were against him; all Raven could do was try to hold off one or two whilst he drove them out, but that wasn't exactly what happened. With a flash of fur, another wolf came flying out of the shadows, barely giving him time to react as it hurtled right into him. Already wounded from the fight, Forest didn't stand a chance against them, and within moments, it became clear who had won. Raven trembled as he fell still, and the wolves suddenly began to turn their attention to her. There was little she wanted to do more than stay and fight, but she knew she would only be next. As soon as they came after her, she turned and fled, feeling a sharp and sudden pain as teeth caught the side of her leg. She didn't dare stop until she knew they had stopped chasing her. Although she had escaped with her life, she couldn't help feeling like she had lost everything.
9+ months
Unable to return home, Raven ended up staying with a couple of other wolves for a while, who had been generous enough to let her join them. They seemed quite old, but no less capable at hunting because of it. A few times they offered her a share of what they had caught, but she simply didn't have the appetite at first; usually she just slept or looked around the territory alone, letting them know whenever she saw anything that might pose a threat. After a while though, she couldn’t deny her hunger any longer. She accepted their gift, but not without offering to help out in return.
Although nothing was the same as before, Raven soon found comfort in the routine of assisting the two wolves with various tasks. She knew she could rely on them for food and shelter, even when she failed her own hunts or spent most of the day on patrol. Neither of them seemed keen on fighting, so that wasn’t something she got to practise very often, but it was the perfect opportunity to focus on learning about other things nonetheless.
Once her hunting skills had improved enough for her to feel more confident on her own, Raven couldn't help wondering what more was out there. As much as she had come to like the wolves she stayed with, she knew they would be alright without her, and if the stories she had heard were anything to go by, there were so many new opportunities just waiting beyond the horizon. Eventually, she had made up her mind.
With a fond farewell, Raven set off over the border. Her adventure had begun; a chance to seek new knowledge, and a place to call home. For a moment, it felt like everything was going to work out right. ...Yet, as she padded off into the unknown, a small voice spoke in her head, making her want to howl out in lament. I’ll never see Kestrel again.
Originally known by the name "Cassidy", Raven came from a small pack with just one littermate. Their mother, Ivy, used to tell them stories about the various birds that soared the skies, and inspired by the tales, the two pups would often search for feathers to bring back. When Ivy realised how much the pups loved the stories, she began affectionately calling them "Kestrel" and "Raven" instead. Curious about the bird she had been nicknamed after, Raven decided she wanted to find the feather of an actual raven, whilst her twin brother decided he really wanted to find the feather of a peregrine falcon. Together the pups would run off to the woods, playing games between feather hunting, keeping an eye out for their feathers of choice all the while.
One day when the pups returned from the woods, Ivy told them about a litter of pups around their age who were part of a neighbouring pack. She explained that the pack didn't seem to mind having visitors, so long as they didn't get in anyone's way. Excited by the idea of getting to know the other pups, Kestrel and Raven immediately wanted to meet them. Before long, they had formed a friendship with them, sometimes going over to play whenever they weren't busy searching for feathers or listening to stories.
It had never occurred to Raven just how fragile her pack was. With only two adult wolves, her father was often busy patrolling the territory, whilst her mother handled most of the hunting. When Ivy didn't return from one hunting session, killed by her own prey, everything suddenly began to fall apart.
3-6 months
For a while, Raven wasn't sure what to do. Her father, Forest, was busier than ever, having to hunt and patrol the territory at the same time. For a moment, feather hunting and playtime didn't seem important anymore. Declining Kestrel's invitations, Raven decided to see if there was anything she could do to help. She wasn't yet old enough to hunt and fight, but she could learn, and patrolling the territory didn't look too hard. Although he didn't seem to have much enthusiasm anymore, Forest soon welcomed her company, and offered to show her a few fighting techniques. Before long, she even noticed him beginning to smile again.
Although Forest wasn't the best hunter, he was managing to provide okay, even joking about his skills occasionally whenever he caught something bigger than he could usually manage. Beginning to miss Kestrel's company, Raven decided it wouldn't hurt to start spending time with him again. She wanted to show him some of the things she had learned so that they could practise together. Kestrel seemed delighted to have her back, and together they practised their ambush and hunting techniques, occasionally pausing to watch the birds and share stories of their own adventures. Neither of them had found the feathers they sought most, but Raven didn't mind; searching was all part of the adventure.
Eventually, Kestrel brought up the subject of their friends from the neighbouring pack, and pointed out that it had been a while since they had last seen them. He invited her to join him, but Raven wasn't sure. Forest didn't seem to like it when they spent too much time with them. Yet, seeing Kestrel's hopeful smile, she couldn't say no. They ended up having a lot of fun together, even playing new games where they could use their new skills. For a moment, Raven lost track of time, until the sun was beginning to set. Her father always used to warn them not to stay out after dark, and they were running out of time if they were going to get back home in time, but when she tried to convince Kestrel they should leave, he suggested one last game of hide and seek to hone their tracking skills before they go. A couple of their friends immediately backed the idea, and she knew there was no point in arguing. She and Kestrel were tasked with seeking out the rest of their friends who swiftly ran off to hide. Deciding they would be able to find everyone faster if they split up, the two pups ran off in different directions. To Raven's dismay, dusk began to set in before the game had even finished, but that became the least of her concerns when she heard Kestrel's desperate howl in the distance. Barely hesitating, she ran as fast as her paws would carry her, only stopping when she arrived at the scene.
To her relief, Kestrel appeared to be okay, but at his paws was one of their friends, and although she couldn't make out many details in the shadows, the strong scent of blood told her they were not okay. Her gaze met Kestrel's and for a moment, they just stared at each other with a look of fear and confusion in their eyes, neither able to bring themselves to speak. Within a few moments, the underbrush began to rustle as more wolves arrived, clearly having heard Kestrel's call. One of the adult wolves rushed straight to their friend, but they were simply too late.
Before Raven even knew what was happening, she and Kestrel were running for their lives. It was clear the pack wolves had chosen to blame the two outsiders, although Raven could never believe Kestrel would be responsible for such a thing. He cared about his friends deeply. Thankfully some of the wolves gave up the chase, but one kept chasing them even once they got back to their own territory. Noticing a familiar dark pelt nearby, the two pups ran closer until Kestrel broke off and came skidding to a halt, leaving Raven to watch as he hid behind their father, who immediately confronted their pursuer. With the two older wolves engaged in an argument, Kestrel quickly slipped away, and Raven padded after him, desperate to know more. Yet, he seemed just as confused as she was.
When Forest approached, he did not seem happy. Apparently the pack wolf had forbidden them both from ever returning to their friends' territory, and although she believed the accusations were misplaced, Raven knew they had no excuse for staying as long as they did. Kestrel immediately tried to explain, but there wasn't much he could say to help anything, when he was still so shaken from the event and Forest seemed intent on blaming him for not coming home sooner. Raven watched them argue for a moment, trying to figure out how to intervene without making things worse, when Kestrel suddenly declared he would return to the woods to find who - or what - was responsible for killing their friend. Before either of them could protest, he turned and ran for the shadows beneath the trees. Raven immediately called out to him, but when she tried to follow, Forest dragged her back.
6-9 months
"He will come back once he's calmed down," he had said. "It's too dangerous for you to go after him." Raven didn't care if she had to face the dangers, so long as it meant Kestrel wasn't facing them alone. He was in no state for thinking straight, yet Forest seemed to believe he would get scared and come running back before long. When he didn't, Forest finally decided to look for him once Raven agreed to stay hidden and not to follow. She knew he was just afraid of losing her; they were both afraid. She just had to trust he would find Kestrel and that they would both be alright.
Forest had followed Kestrel's trail, but lost it eventually and been unable to pick it up again. Raven could tell he was beginning to lose hope, but he searched multiple times the next day, still to no avail. Unable to bear it any longer, Raven tried to sneak off and search for him herself, but even that was in vain. Forest seemed to think something had taken him, yet he couldn't find any traces of blood. Without a clear answer, Raven couldn't help thinking he might still be alive, but after a few days, she was beginning to wonder if she would ever see him again.
It wasn't long before Raven found herself training with Forest again, trying to take her mind off everything for a while. Although she didn't know what to do about Kestrel's disappearance, she could at least help out around the territory, and look out for any signs of him on patrol.
As Raven continued to help, she could tell it was taking a bit of weight off Forest's shoulders. She wasn't the best hunter yet, but together they had managed to bring down elk calves and other prey which would be enough to sustain them both, and whenever he was busy patrolling without her, she could help with locating new prey. Her fighting skills were coming along quite nicely too, to the point where she felt capable enough to chase off a few other predators on her own. Once or twice, she even surprised him with some small prey she had caught whilst he had been away.
Although Forest had confided in her about increased signs of activity from rival wolves before, knowing he was an experienced fighter, it had never concerned her too much. It was only when they ran into some of these wolves that Raven realised just what a mistake that had been. Forest was just too stubborn, refusing to back down and lose territory to them even when the odds were against him; all Raven could do was try to hold off one or two whilst he drove them out, but that wasn't exactly what happened. With a flash of fur, another wolf came flying out of the shadows, barely giving him time to react as it hurtled right into him. Already wounded from the fight, Forest didn't stand a chance against them, and within moments, it became clear who had won. Raven trembled as he fell still, and the wolves suddenly began to turn their attention to her. There was little she wanted to do more than stay and fight, but she knew she would only be next. As soon as they came after her, she turned and fled, feeling a sharp and sudden pain as teeth caught the side of her leg. She didn't dare stop until she knew they had stopped chasing her. Although she had escaped with her life, she couldn't help feeling like she had lost everything.
9+ months
Unable to return home, Raven ended up staying with a couple of other wolves for a while, who had been generous enough to let her join them. They seemed quite old, but no less capable at hunting because of it. A few times they offered her a share of what they had caught, but she simply didn't have the appetite at first; usually she just slept or looked around the territory alone, letting them know whenever she saw anything that might pose a threat. After a while though, she couldn’t deny her hunger any longer. She accepted their gift, but not without offering to help out in return.
Although nothing was the same as before, Raven soon found comfort in the routine of assisting the two wolves with various tasks. She knew she could rely on them for food and shelter, even when she failed her own hunts or spent most of the day on patrol. Neither of them seemed keen on fighting, so that wasn’t something she got to practise very often, but it was the perfect opportunity to focus on learning about other things nonetheless.
Once her hunting skills had improved enough for her to feel more confident on her own, Raven couldn't help wondering what more was out there. As much as she had come to like the wolves she stayed with, she knew they would be alright without her, and if the stories she had heard were anything to go by, there were so many new opportunities just waiting beyond the horizon. Eventually, she had made up her mind.
With a fond farewell, Raven set off over the border. Her adventure had begun; a chance to seek new knowledge, and a place to call home. For a moment, it felt like everything was going to work out right. ...Yet, as she padded off into the unknown, a small voice spoke in her head, making her want to howl out in lament. I’ll never see Kestrel again.
Relationships
Coming soon!
