Aras

Aras was born in the heart of the Twisting Crescendo, and the song of the winds called to him through every moment of his childhood. Restless and unsatisfied, he was a solitary child - friends with everyone thanks to his bright nature and swift witticisms, but close to none. The son of artists and musicians, he lacked any innate creative talent and was a constant disappointment to his parents; as such, he preferred to spend his early years clinging to other adults, passing his days learning to fight from the various warriors and heroes of his birth clan. The second he was old enough to fly, he left the clan and went wandering, hoping to find a permanent home and perhaps even close friends or a family. Fighting off enemies alone as he traveled, he became quick and clever but also overconfident of his skills.

Enter Sirce, a fellow youngling, desperately alone and floundering beneath ever-growing cycles of paranoia, depression, loneliness and pride. At the sight of her Aras knew he had met his match. The night after he arrived at her clan, she cornered him and challenged him to a duel. Skin encrusted with gemstone scar tissue from both her own and other's claws, body thin and razor-tough from weeks of late-night training and no sleep; in her empty red-rimmed eyes Aras saw his own death and was terrified. He rued the day he had been foolish enough to enter her territory. Yet he could not refuse the duel - his childish arrogance and honour prohibited it. They fought through the night, long and bitter and terrifyingly even-matched, but slowly the endurance built up from Aras' months of lonely travel began to win out. Yet at the very moment he began to gain confidence that he could actually win the duel, Sirce took advantage and pinned him to the arena floor. He had but one chance to escape - his left leg was only pinned in one direction, giving him the opportunity to impale his hind claw directly into Sirce's spine, winning the duel at the cost of her life. He couldn't do it. Instead, he resigned himself to death.
At the last second, she released him.

Having lost the duel through his own cowardice, Aras knew he was entitled to nothing but death. He owed her completely for his continued existence. Grateful for such a mercy, he turned to leave, but Sirce, apologising, begged him to stay. She was broken, and he owed her his life. He didn't know if he could save her from herself, but he would try. He asked her to leave with him, and she fell apart. He stood guard while she cried, held her while she collapsed. Only when everything was silent did the warcats attack. Though tired from his long battle, Aras held out long enough to drive away the first cat. Its brother, though, only grew stronger.

He didn't know if he could save her, but he would die trying.