ADAM SCHARF

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Affiliation - RiverClan
Rank - Warrior
Gender - Male (he/him)
Sexuality - Do we even know
Age - death in young 30's
Status: ...

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Former Mentors
Jaggedstripe [NPC]
Blizzardwind [@poppy.]

Current Apprentice
N/A

Former Apprentices
Rapidwhisker - missing
Bluepaw - missing
Frostpaw - missing
Streampaw - missing
Mistpaw - missing
Mistypaw - [@Starry]

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Appearance

Pelt color - Gray/black with dark tabby markings
Build - Medium, sleek, semi-muscular
Eye color - Green
Scars / Deformities - Tip of left ear missing, scarred shoulders, scarred jaw
Signature expression - Sardonic smile


Personality

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Direct
Introverted
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Stormtalon would rather learn the names, faces, and personalities of his clanmates through observation than direct interaction. Mysterious? Not really. He’s an open book, easy to read, selective with friendships because less is more (and less is also less, as far as socializing goes.) Storm’s offputting demeanor is his cat-filter and this suits him just fine.
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Sharp-tongued
Logical
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Regardless of what his friends might say, Stormtalon is capable of holding a conversation. If you want to get on this tom's good side, show off your sarcasm, dark humor, or loyalty and you’re sure to win his attention. On the other hand, Storm might offend those who can’t handle a good jab, so proceed with caution. Not much of a censor exists.
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Loyal
Protector
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Despite the rough exterior, it's difficult to find a more trustworthy or reliable cat. Stormtalon is a workaholic, responsible, and fully committed to preserving RiverClan. He’s particularly soft around kits or younger cats, a caretaker through and through; Stormtalon's pressure point has always been his family. Hurt them and he’ll end you, warrior code or no.
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Judgmental
Independent
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Stormtalon tends to assume the worst about others and believes they do the same in return (which he claims doesn’t bother him, as 'others’ opinions are inconsequential.') He can be harsh to himself and others, remembering wrongs and judging actions before he properly understands the motives behind them. He tries to function without relying too much on his clanmates, strives for independence in all things.
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Disconnected
Cynical
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Looking for someone with social grace? Try Ottersplash. While Stormtalon prides himself on his wit, he can be quite the idiot--particularly when it comes to natural consideration of others (otherwise known as tact.) Perhaps he doesn't mind this shortcoming because aside from a select few, Storm believes the majority of cats are self-interested creatures out for their own gain.


















Family

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Mother - Silverfish [NPC]
Father - Swampstone [@Zero]
Siblings - Brightpaw, Irispaw [@Zero]


History
.
.
.
[ 0 - 5 moons | Stormkit ]

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Memories of his mother are wrapped in warmth and softness. He adored Silverfish. It didn’t matter that his father never showed up, because Storm had everything he needed in his mom, the kindest, most open-minded cat he knew. Stormtalon recalls her long fur and those caring eyes, green like his own; he remembers how cold their nest was when she abandoned RiverClan, leaving a mewling little brother and two stillborn siblings in her wake.

Instead of despairing, determined not to, Storm named his brother Brightkit - a hope this little bundle of fur would carry the same light their mother did. When Silverfish returned? How proud she’d be that Stormkit stayed strong for their family! How excited she’d be to meet her new son. Except their mother never came back. One night, with a sleeping brother cuddled up against his side, Stormkit made a promise to himself: he would never, ever abandon his family like she did.

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Stormkit spent most days in the nursery with Bright. Instead of tossing moss balls, Storm listened to the queens in the nursery talk about their experiences; they were kind, witty, their stories always engaging. (He never felt as if his social life was lacking, what with his best friend Kestrelkit always willing to make daily life an adventure.)

The queens were admirable for more than nursing Brightkit in his mother’s absence. They were the ones who encouraged Storm's questions, strengthened his mind, made him more curious about the world than he’d ever been. Stormkit found himself wanting to be like them. He wanted to sharpen the minds of other kits, encourage them to favor strategy over aggression- but most of all? Storm wanted to help others the same way these queens helped him. 


[ 6 - 11 moons | Stormpaw ]
tw: abuse
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Unlike the queens, Jaggedstripe was a small-minded cat who resolved problems with his claws. His training was demanding when they were alone, if not downright abusive -- but to the clan? Jagged was the picture of a loyal, admirable warrior who just wanted the best for this poor, "fatherless" apprentice. Jaggedstripe's actions contradicted his words and he got away with it because of power and status -- a very formative realization for Stormpaw. If he was going to strike back, it would need to be at the right time.

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Storm put his nose to the grindstone. He over-suppressed his emotions to cope and worked hard, harder than he’d ever worked for anything because it wasn’t just about success, it was about proving he was strong enough to keep his promise. Storm hated Jaggedstripe but he hated incompetence more. During this time, Storm and his best friend Kestrel began to drift apart.  

Sore longing for his mother's warmth turned into icy determination over the moons. Rumors spread that Silverfish left for a loner tom, regardless of what her kits needed, no matter how much she claimed to love them. Storm's mother was a traitor. He would not forget.

Through his training Stormpaw still tried to be his little brother's sanctuary--one with edges and imperfections, but Brightkit always managed to soften him. Storm often spent his free time with Brightkit in a dim-lit nursery telling stories (or answering questions about their odd family of two). Storm sought his own solace under a sea of stars, indulging random curiosities to pass the time.

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When Jaggedstripe's training intensified Stormpaw was ready for it. He used wits to fight back, tricking the tom into revealing his violent nature at a pivotal moment. It worked like a charm. 

For the sake of clan unity, punishment was administered behind the scenes; officially Jaggedstripe's disappearance was due to a solo-patrol gone wrong. But Storm knew the truth. Jagged was banned from training, banned from advancement, which shamed him enough to prefer an loner life. He felt nothing but bitter contentment when Jaggedstripe left RiverClan for good. 

Thanks to Blizzardwind, a tom he would look up to the rest of his life and consider the father he never had, Stormpaw swiftly earned his warrior name.


[12 - 23 moons | Stormtalon]

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Stormtalon graduated apprenticeship with unhealthy coping mechanisms and a bucket of trust issues (not unlike most cats). He didn't like the idea of being responsible others beyond his brother, but he reluctantly enjoyed taking on his first apprentice--a talented she-cat who drew out his competitive spirit.

After Rapidwhisker, his next four apprentices went missing before their training had a chance to finish. Stormtalon felt…responsible for them. Their names [Bluepaw, Frostpaw, Streampaw, Mistpaw] still weigh heavily on his mind.

Whether good or bad, cats kept leaving, didn't they? 

Watching clan politics unfold soured Stormtalon's worldview. He saw the battles, skirmishes, hatred as some sick confirmation that cats were only out for themselves in the end. He might’ve grown distant from his clan if not for a strange interaction with Fawnsqueak (where they didn’t trespass in ShadowClan territory, why do you ask?) The toms weren't friends. Storm didn't even know the guy, but Fawn challenged him in a language he understood, and the former medicine cat’s words stuck with him. They reminded Storm of his once altruistic aspirations, made a home in his thoughts and wouldn’t stop bothering him.

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Through his doubts Stormtalon stayed grounded, and no one was responsible for this more than Brightkit. Bright lived up to his name, growing up both soft with kindness and sharp with a brilliant mind. Storm's wish came true: every good thing he remembered about Silverfish resurfaced in Brightkit, the only associations he didn’t hate. Stormtalon’s heart swelled when Lionstar apprenticed Brightpaw to Creekflow, mostly because the kid’s smile was so wide, so exuberant, how could he feel anything other than pride?

[ 24 moons - death| Stormtalon ]

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Disappearances, deaths. 

Lionstorm and Fawnsqueak’s murders came as a shock to RiverClan and a severe disappointment to Storm. Maybe Fawn’s challenge wouldn’t haunt him so much if the idiot hadn’t gone and died—but he did, and here Storm was, making another promise: he would not waste his life on self-interest.

But...baby steps.

In a tumultuous season of brewing tension and unrest, Storm made a decision to step up and support his childhood friend turned leader. He became newly dedicated to protecting RiverClan, resolved to fight to keep his clanmates safe (even if he couldn't stand the company of most of them).

Some were better than others, at least. Bumblestep managed to sneak past his walls. Storm...cared for him a great deal, but time would reveal the connection wasn't meant to last. 

It was a mistake to think he'd put the worst behind him. In one foul swoop, Stormtalon's life twisted into something unrecognizable. He gained one sibling and lost another. Iriskit--another child mistake of his runaway mother--was found in the woods, sent by Silverfish to live with her RiverClan family. Soon after, Brightpaw died in a tragic training accident.

Overwhelmed by grief and anger after burying his brother, Stormtalon suffered something of a mental breakdown. He committed unspeakable crimes alongside Plumstorm and Kestrelstar under the latter's orders. Sense returned (oh too late), and Storm would struggle with what he did that night for the rest of his life. When Snakeheart called together a meeting of RiverClan's most trusted, asking them to dip their claws in poison? Stormtalon refused. He fought in the ThunderClan raid with clean claws and a soiled conscience.

Atonement. Recovery - these were on Stormtalon's mind following the battle where every side sustained casualties. Iris was nothing like Brightpaw, but she challenged him in the best of ways. Held him to high standards. Storm became more involved, bonded with Snakeheart, spent time with clanmates he never took the time to speak to before. When Kestrelstar disappeared on a StarClan-given journey, Stormtalon was the one to bring him home after a fiery reunion. The two never truly mended..but he was proud of the way Kestrelstar tried to redeem himself.

It was Brightpaw on his mind when he sacrificed himself for Morningpaw, accepting the embrace of owl talons. Entrusting Iris to her mentor's care, Storm hoped that if StarClan was real, his brother would be able to forgive his mistakes. 

Regrets play on a never-ending loop in Storm's head, even now.

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Notable Roleplays

Iris Collection

1. Brother of Mine
2. That day had been a nightmare
3. heart of glass, minds of stone

Kestrelstar Collection

1. We'll always be friends forever, won't we?
2. Reckoning

Bumblestep Collection

1. Class: Emotions V01
2. Peachpaw's Homecoming
3. Goodbye, Apathy
4. It's time to leave this home & go on your own
5. Save Yourself

Fernpaw

1. Repeat

Miscellaneous

gave all I could but it never really was enough
Faithful
Someone's Got Blood on His Hands
smoke and mirrors
pals in poison
 A Song Amidst the Storm
Get Used to Disappointment
Please
A mouth full of poison and a heart full of hate

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Relationships

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Positive

Brightpaw
Will always be closest to Stormtalon's heart.

Mistypaw
Smart & intuitive. Storm trusts no one more than Blizzardwind to complete her training.

Snakeheart
Hates his actions, but then again, Storm's learned not to be judgmental. A younger brother of sorts, would protect with his life. 

Irispaw
Rambunctious little sister - loves. Guilty he wasn't better for her. 

Morninglily
She reminds him of Brightpaw sometimes...must be the eyes.

Bumblestep
Deeply cares for. 
An almost.

Fernpaw
Old soul, young eyes. He was kind.

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Neutral

Sparrowskip
Judged at first, but after carrying bodies with the guy, less antagonistic. Uncertain.

Petuniaflame
"Too Nice: A Cautionary Tale."

Junipersong
Deserved better.

Plumstorm
Reminds him of everything he regrets.

Kestrelstar
It's...complicated. The line between love and hate blurred.

Tumblepaw
A reminder of RiverClan's failures and inspiration to do better.

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Negative

Blizzardsky
Storm would sell his soul to the Dark Forest for one moss ball.

Silverfish
She forfeited her right to call him family. 

Jaggedstripe
...

Fawnsqueak
Went off and got himself killed. Rude.

Spiderstorm
NO boundaries.

Sweetsong
Sadistic psycho.

Yarrowshade
Regular psycho.

Frozenberry
Leech. Unnerving presence.

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Bonus Facts

Personality: INTJ-A, 5w6
Sign: Sagittarius
Scent: Rain; Fresh grass

Playlist Shuffle

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BACKBONE - DROELOE, Nevve (explicit)
Lovely - Billie Eilish, Khalid
Bury Me Face Down - grandson
Five - Sleeping at Last
Things that Hide Away - The Dear Hunter
Start A Riot - BANNERS
Run to You - Pentatonix
Goodbye - Ramsey
Guns for Hire - Woodkid - (Kestrelstar's Murder Patrol Theme)
Crying Lightning - Arctic Monkeys