athens, at just 4 moons old, lives with all the zeal of a grizzled warrior- that is, to say, none. despite his small size, even by kit averages, athens is deeply sharp and twice as cold, likened best to a blade of ice. he is withdrawn, cautious, and aloof, often keeping his distance from others to protect himself emotionally and physically. athens's demeanor is stoic, and each decision he makes his measured with what little knowledge of the world he has. yet, beneath his icy exterior lies a flicker of vulnerability, a longing for connection stifled by his struggles trusting others or the world.

when winterpaw finds the poor scrap-of-fur on the outskirts, alone, trying desperately to hunt but far from adept enough at it to survive, athens shies away as if the stranger's attention burns him. as if afraid the 'paw will lunge at him. but in his weakness and exhaustion, his fleeing doesn't get very far before his body loses out and he tumbles, face-over-paw, into the grasses to be scooped up.

and for a long time, he doesn't speak. he's quite, observant, and skittish. that deer-in-headlights look to him, where when things get too loud or too much happens he stares blankly, wide eyes, time frozen. but as much as he freezes, he has just as much fight. there's a fire in him, low burning and barely fed, but a fire nonetheless.

a fire that, if stoked, might very well burn into a very nice bonfire. something not so cold. not so unforgiving. something good.

and, when finally, softly, he utters the first words since his entry to the group of cats called WindClan, something changes. just slightly. and athens- no- antlerkit learns to stick close to winterpaw. his only shelter among the storm.

NOTES

selective mute and has c-ptsd
extremely mistrusting and paranoid, and for the first few weeks/moons, he'll likely only talk to winterpaw. and even then, very little.
picky with textures
HATES it when its hot
sarcastic, dry, and rude when he does talk, unless its to someone he trusts.
hopefully, through his kithood he can get a little more open and find the ability to trust again, so he'll be a good apprentice for windclan!
i feel like he works especially well for the whole 'winterpaw gets his paws full with this kit' thing, because athens/antlerkit is definitely quite the pawfull when it comes down to it, and is going to take a lot of time to fully trust anyone.