Mouser

A too-young reluctant leader ruined by his own paranoia.

Basic Info

Name: Mouser

Nicknames & Titles: The Mouser, The Strong

Age & Birthdate: Young adult (>1 year)

Identity: Cis perisex demisexual tomcat

Vi Color: Blue (longing)

Allegiances & Ranks:

• Mouse Catchers
• Tree's Leaves (formerly)

Personality & History

Personality

Mouser was a paranoid cat, constantly fleeing from his own fears. He would do anything to protect himself, even if it meant uprooting his entire life. But beneath that paranoia was a kind and dedicated cat.

History

Summary

Mouser was born in a kitten mill. He found out how to open the door to the building they were trapped in, and became the group's impromptu leader. He was the first of them to learn how to hunt, earning the nickname Mouser for it. Eventually, his group made it to the Ghost Town, where they were welcomed in by the Tree's Leaves. But an accident caused doubt among Mouser's cats, and he feared they would rebel. So, he betrayed the Tree's Leaves, driving them out of their home and claiming it for his group, which he named the Mouse Catchers. He succumbed to an infected wound soon after, though many Mouse Catchers claim he was killed.

Detailed History

• Lio was born in a kitten mill. The human that owned them was long gone, so they were forced to eat one another to survive after they ran out of food. Lio's mother and siblings starved to death when he was barely weaned.
• Lio saw life through the windows of the building and knew it had to be better out there. So, every day, he flung himself at the door, believing he could find a way to open it. Eventually, he succeeded.
• The others followed him into the woods, and despite being a kitten, he became their leader due to his fearlessness. While many of his fellow mill cats were terrified, Lio thought the outside world was beautiful.
• Facing predators and starvation, the mill cats struggled to survive. In a moment of desperation, Lio killed a mouse. He brought the mouse back to the group, and they consumed it. Having never been outside, hunting was a barely-understood concept to them, so they were greatly impressed. He earned the name Mouser for this accomplishment.
• Eventually, Mouser and the mill cats arrived in the Ghost Town. They were greeted by Feder, the Presider of the Tree's Leaves at the time. Mouser was impressed by the Tree's Leaves and Feder herself, but the mill cats were wary. When a mill cat was burned by a cooking fire the Tree's Leaves had started, resulting in death due to the burns, the mill cats grew hostile.
• Fearing that the mill cats would turn against him, Mouser betrayed Feder and the Tree's Leaves after they left the Two-Floor, citing a potential flood. He renamed the mill cats the Mouse Catchers and claimed the Two-Floor as his own, fighting the Tree's Leaves when they returned. The Tree's Leaves, unprepared for battle, surrendered, fleeing into the nearby forest.
• Unfortunately, the Mouse Catchers didn't have any knowledge of medicine. Mouser's wounds became infected, and he fell ill. Eli, his mate, sought Feder's aid, desperate for any chance to heal him. Feder, believing him beyond saving, gave him foxglove-laced water.

Relationships

Allies

• Eli: Eli was Mouser's mate.

Foes

• Feder: Once a close friend, Mouser burned that bridge to maintain his power. He regretted it deeply, but didn't see any other way out.

Misc

• I associate him with Good Boy by Paris Paloma, I Didn't Ask for This by Beth Crowley, Blindness by Metric, and Nonsense Speaker (Rachie Cover).
• I consider Mouser a mythological figure. Because of that, he has no "true" design, only designs based on others' perception of him. A real Mouser did exist, but no one will ever truly know who he was--not even us.

Gallery

Writing

Clowders & Claws: Pre-Story Timeline

A timeline of events leading up to the main story of Clowders & Claws.