Rikian Zarooah
May 1, 2014 3:39:00 GMT -5
Post by Crystal M. V. Rosepaw on May 1, 2014 3:39:00 GMT -5
Name: Rikian Jamel Zarooah
Species: Red Fox
Gender: Male
Dibbun Weapon: Though he carries a crudely made wooden sword, it mostly sits unused. On other dibbuns, Rikian is most likely to wield a pillow, and towards elders, his shy demeanor and wide eyes seem to do the job.
Adult Weapon:Upon leaving Redwall, Rikian stole a pair of knives from the kitchen, but, unaware of how to use or care for them, they dulled and became near useless almost immediately. After being 'hired' as a seafaring beast, he was gifted a crude saber and was taught to use it effectively. It holds no adornments, except that he has a habit of tying colorful woven bracelets around the scabbard. Closely kept on his person is a small knife, normally used as a tool rather than a weapon. However, his prized possession is a long bladed dagger (almost a dirk) he had made specifically for himself. It contains a single stone in the hilt, a pink-hued pearl left to him by his late sister, and is always kept in the best condition possible. His long, coltish limbs allow him far more reach than most other creatures have, allowing him quick, precise strikes that he does not need to put much power behind. Though he has the necessary skill to defend himself, he would normally prefer to avoid a fight altogether, as he knows he is not very well versed in combat.
Appearance:Rikian would be summed up as very average in his coloration and markings for his species; rust-orange fur speckled with lighter, almost golden threads coat his body, though his ears and paws are a pitch-like black. His throat, underbelly, and tailtip are the cream-white color his species is known for, and, due to his vianity, these parts of his fur are kept very clean. His claws are kept short and neatly trimmed, and his teeth are a bright white. His eyes, however, are a stormy shade of blue-green befitting of the normal green and gold of his species. He is very tall and thin, which would give him a gaunt appearance if it were not for his bright personality.
As a dibbun, Rikian (typically called Riki by his peers) was very hard to keep clothed. Growing very quickly, he rapidly outgrew everything put on him. It became a bit of a running joke for everyone, claiming the little todd had to find new clothes every time he got out of bed, as the old ones no longer fit. Due to this, his clothing was never very uniform and always seemed to hang off him, as he had to resort to wearing garments intended for creatures much larger than himself. Left up to him, however, he would almost always be seen in red, which was reluctantly accepted by his elders as it was a color more difficult for him to stain. The pads of his footpaws quickly became thick-skinned, as he often refused to wear his sandals since they were typically too small for him (and when forced, numerous pairs were 'lost' to the depths of the pond).
After his employment as a young adult, Rikian was able to purchase clothes that actually fit him, helped by the fact that he finally stopped growing. Standing almost a full head about most of his species, with long, thin, agile limbs (though many more seasons passed before he grew into his oversized paws). Wishing to look more formal and well off than he actually was, he had his garments made specifically. His red shirt has a neat row of gold-painted latches down the front, matching the golden embrodiery around his sleeves and collar. During cold weather, he wears a thick white long-sleeved shirt beneath it, though the sleeves are normally cuffed up past his wrists. His pants are a solid black, and are tapered towards his ankles. Around his waist is a plain belt, woven of dark-dyed materials. From that hangs his saber, which seems to always have a few woven adornments tied around the scabbard. His hatred of footwear remains; though his footpaws are neatly kept, the pads are thick.
Personality:
As a dibbun, Rikian was by and large thought to be a thoughtful, shy youth by his elders. His adoption into the Rosepaw family was generally considered to be a good thing, as it forced the little fox to be social, eventually coaxing him out of his shell. He immediately began a friendship with Crystal, who introduced him to the other Abbey children on a whim. From that day, they were mostly found side by side, Rikian seemingly being the pawn in her schemes. Mischievous, quick-thinking, and a brilliant actor, the little fox proved himself a worthy asset to DAB's plots to steal sweets and terrorize older creatures. However, though he is able to fool older creatures with an act of innocence, most of his peers know him well enough to not fall for the trick; and those who do are likely on the receiving end of some terrible prank of the fox kits.
After his sister, affectionately called 'Mel,' passed away during his teenaged seasons, Rikian grew very cold to those around him. He was no longer content to stay at the Abbey, which, to him, served only as a reminder of his sister's sealed fate. Though he remained thoughtful and kind, his humor grew far darker, resulting in quite a few lectures for making dibbuns cry. After some particularly harsh words, he determined he was never destined to fit in at the Abbey, especially not without the guidance of his longtime friend. Bitter and angry, he stole enough supplies to last him a while and ran away, following the River Moss to the sea.
In his time of piracy, Rikian was oddly cheered. He no longer felt the weight of Redwall's responsibilities on his shoulders; none of his crew expected too much from him. He didn't have to clean his clothing or wash his fur, nor watch his language. However, being raised in such an enviroment, he felt motivated to keep himself neat in appearance, and typically watched his tongue. This earned him some good-matured taunting form his fellows, but not so much that it was unbearable. Though rough-and-tumble by profession, the fox preferred to conduct himself as a gentleman when able. Overall, under his rowdy exterior, he began to feel happy again, bringing back the light-heartedness he had as a kit.
Though Rikian was raised mostly around those of the opposite gender, he tended to be a bit... Bold. Though always polite and sweet to the 'ladies' he ran across, one thing was nearly always certain, and to his crew's amusement: helped along by a bit of ale, it was guaranteed that the fox would change from polite and distanced to flirtatious.
In his youth, Rikian never paid much mind to his lessons, resulting in a very limited ability to read and write; this is something he comes to regret deeply when he is unable to teach these skills to his 'son.' This worried him greatly, as Alexander is the creature he comes to care for most in his life, and he is often seen going out of his way to provide for the kitten, terrified at the thought of being called an unfit father. After Alex ages a bit, Riki becomes frightened that someone may try to separate he and his adopted child, and, as such, normally keeps the little one around, or in the protective paws of someone he trusts. Since the death of his sister, the fox took matters of family very seriously, and often had nightmares of his child subcumming to a similar illness. Though easygoing and content to let things settle themselves most of the time, the fastest way to anger him is by way of his son.
After meeting back up with Crystal in a seedy port town, the impact of what he had been doing with his life hits him hard. The meeting forced him to realize that he was no longer living a life of piracy for the means of survival, but that he actually somewhat enjoyed it. Though his crew were some of the most humane and nonviolent, they were corsairs none the less, and it was against all the teachings he had grown up with. Due to this bitter realization, Rikian, for a time, turned cold to those outside his family and crewmates, going as far as to pick fights to locals. Eventually, after his confrontation with a then-grown Alex, the fox loses his bitter edge and instead has to deal with his shame up front. Though he realizes the emotion is genuine, he comes to terms that he does enjoy his work, and decides to simply leave it at that for then. Though at peace with himself, Rikian would never stick around long at woodlander havens, feeling ostracized. Though he did eventually make a few trips back to Redwall, he refused to stay longer than a day.
From then on, the more he aged, the more docile he became, wearing his weapons out of habit rather than necessity. After his 'retirement,' he stayed with his son, more than happy to serve as a babysitter and grandfather when not out reminiscing with friends. His wildcat family would then have to deal with an overprotective supervisor, but they never seemed to mind.
History:
Rikian was born to a pair of traveling merchants, spending many of his infant seasons traveling. After the arrival of their second child, Melanie, his parents decided that keeping the children with them during their travels was unsafe. Thankfully, the kind hearts at Redwall Abbey took their plea in good faith, taking the kits in without much question. His parents visited as often as they were able, but the pair grew up calling a different set of foxes 'mother' and 'father.'
The Rosepaw family took them in, as they did with many young creatures that did not have much family to rely on. The little fox was warned of their 'hot-blooded' daughter, and told to ignore her temper. The first encounter Rikian could ever remember with Crystal was an argument over the owner of a package of cakes (they had been given to Crystal, though he firmly claimed that, as he took them without her notice, they then belonged to him). A brawl broke out between them, and during their punishment, the pair reconciled, and became near inseparable. She introduced him to the other dibbuns, and from there his involvement with DAB florished, and was, at times, a more active member than she.
Barely at the age to leave the dibbun 'club,' he was met with the grim faces of his surrogate family one night; Helen Rosepaw tried to explain to him that his dear little sister, Mel, was discovered to have some terrible illness, and that the infirmary keepers could not determine how to stop it. Heartbroken, the todd ran sobbing to his sister's bedside, and not even the hardest of Elders could stomach prying him away. For weeks, he slept curled up at the foot of her bed, scarcely leaving the infirmary. As he aged, it became a cycle; Melanie would show signs of getting better before the sickness would return, more crippling than before. Each time, he'd return to her bedside, making a nest of blankets on the floor to be nearer to her, to heed to any whim she had, in the hopes something would make her better. But nothing helped. Melanie continued to weaken as time streched on, eventually to the point that her elder sibling would have to carry her outside when she asked to go to the pond or watch the sunset. The good folk of the Abbey left him be, leaving him to his drawn-out state of mourning, but were unable to explain to him that there was no way she would recover.
During this time, Crystal and her brother decided to leave the Abbey. Though outwardly encouraging, Rikian desperately hoped she would stay; he needed her moral support. However, youthful as she was, she was unable to read between the lines and left him behind, though he never held this against her. He simply carried Mel out to the gates to say goodbye to the white foxes, and carried her back inside when the festivities were done. With nobody left to turn to, he became frightful and bitter, forsaking his quarters in favor of a cot placed for him in the infirmary. During this time, his surrogate parents tried everything to keep his mind off of it, taking him outside the walls when they could, knowing he also wished to explore the world beyond the confines of the Abbey. One day while supervising dibbuns in the pond, a grim-faced Elder came to bring him inside. The long illness had finally claimed his sister's life.
Rikian remained at the Abbey for only a few more moons, lashing out at his peers in his state of emotional turmoil. He waited for his real parents to return, to do something to comfort him, but they did not appear soon enough. One night, the young fox turned his unfair tongue to a group of dibbuns, and was chastised heavily for it. Unable to take it any longer, he made a plan and fled the Abbey that night under the cover of darkness, taking only his few possesions and a knife he stole from the kitchens to protect himself. He could no longer take the stifling confines of his home, and wished to seek his own fortune.
Wandering did not suit him, and he finally decided to chase his dream of seeing the sea. Following the River Moss to it, he found a small port town, at which point he realized he could go no further alone. His stolen knife had dulled and was useless, and he had no food. Turning up at a tavern, the owner took pity on him, giving him work in return for a meal and a place by the hearth. He remained there a while, forlornly watching the fire, not sure of what to do at that point. His life then took a turn his old 'family' would have blanched at.
While scrubbing tables, he overheard a conversation between a badger and a pine martin, a discussion about needing 'young blood.' They came back a few more nights, always carrying on the same conversation. As they started to leave one night, they stopped the fox, who had been set to work moving kegs of ale. They offered him a job and a home; a place on a ship, traveling the waters he had been so enchanted by. Elated, Rikian accepted, and joined them the next day. The badger was a old battleaxe of a lady, a captain by the name of Willowbrine. He respected her immensely, and he rules were few and fair. He could have found no better work, and soon began a life of piracy, gifted weapons and the ability to care for and use them properly.
A few seasons passed, and he took to the nautical life like a duck to water. One night, as punishment for turning up late after a night of drinks, he was told to take stock of the rations. Overturning a barrel, he was met with the sight of a terrified kitten, underfed and hardly more than a babe, staring back at him. Consoling the frightened creature, he turned to his captain, asking what should be done. She had him make a fruitless attempt to find their stowaway's parents, and then considered it heavily before untrusting the 'cat to his care. Willowbrine, wise beast that she was, knew the company would be good for him, and that some sort of 'family' would help to heal his long-broken heart. She named the kitten Alexander, and proclaimed Rikian his father.
The pair grew quite close, and the majority of the crew loved the newest, smallest edition to their ranks. It was rare to see Rikian without his charge, either riding on his shoulders or attempting to help with tasks. However, whereas he had been bold and ready to seek adventure, Alex was timid and more suited to using his intellect. Often, his 'father' would return from trips to ports with gifts of books for his beloved son, educating him to the best of his ability, while his captain handled the rest. Rikian swelled with pride as his young son grew to be a crafty tactician, often commonly referred to as one of Willowbrine's best assets.
As he continued to age, the fox was confronted with a problem he should have foreseen; though he met up with her a few times over the years, he began metting with Crystal more frequently. Though he loved her since his youth, there was now a barrier between them that they could not have a hope to cross: their professions. While he had turned a blind eye to the Abbey's teachings, she had gone further with it, earning her title of 'hero' through literal blood and fire. Eventually, the secret became too much, and his confessed his piracy to her. She was horrified, and told him to leave. Rikian misunderstood, thinking she hated him, when in fact Crystal did so to prevent having to take him into custody; forcing him away was the only way she would be able to protect him from the possibility of the hangman's noose. Though he did not have the heart to prevent Alex from seeing his 'Auntie Crys,' it would be a long time before the childhood companions spoke again.
Also, during this time, another problem arose. He and Alex seemed to be growing distanced, and he finally discovered why. His son was creating a family of his own. Alex had met a young 'cat named Molly, but was afraid his - somewhat overprotective - father would reject her. After some time, Rikian did indeed give his blessing, and the pair were married. Though it broke Rikian's heart all over again to part with his son, he was glad to see him happy. Willowbrine, sensing his distress, eventually met up with Alex, and discussed matters with him. It was decided that Rikian would retire and live out his days with his son. Given quite a generous sum, Riki turned away form his life at sea and found his land legs again.
Having stopped his piracy, he and Crystal eventually reconciled, though he vehemently turned down her offers to return to the Abbey with her; any future they could have had had long since passed, and he knew her to be unable to care for him in the same way he did her. Instead, he stayed with Alex and Molly, taking care of his grandchildren. He was quite content and happy, enjoying nothing more.
However, tragedy struck. One winter, his granddaughters were playing on a frozen lake when the ice broke, pulling one of the kittens under into the cold water. Before Molly or Alex could react, the aging fox had taken off like a shot, diving into the frigid depths to save her. Though he managed to get her out, and Alex eventually pulled him free, he had stayed under too long. Sickness wore him down, and after a few days, Rikian passed on, though satisfied with his sacrifice.
Species: Red Fox
Gender: Male
Dibbun Weapon: Though he carries a crudely made wooden sword, it mostly sits unused. On other dibbuns, Rikian is most likely to wield a pillow, and towards elders, his shy demeanor and wide eyes seem to do the job.
Adult Weapon:Upon leaving Redwall, Rikian stole a pair of knives from the kitchen, but, unaware of how to use or care for them, they dulled and became near useless almost immediately. After being 'hired' as a seafaring beast, he was gifted a crude saber and was taught to use it effectively. It holds no adornments, except that he has a habit of tying colorful woven bracelets around the scabbard. Closely kept on his person is a small knife, normally used as a tool rather than a weapon. However, his prized possession is a long bladed dagger (almost a dirk) he had made specifically for himself. It contains a single stone in the hilt, a pink-hued pearl left to him by his late sister, and is always kept in the best condition possible. His long, coltish limbs allow him far more reach than most other creatures have, allowing him quick, precise strikes that he does not need to put much power behind. Though he has the necessary skill to defend himself, he would normally prefer to avoid a fight altogether, as he knows he is not very well versed in combat.
Appearance:Rikian would be summed up as very average in his coloration and markings for his species; rust-orange fur speckled with lighter, almost golden threads coat his body, though his ears and paws are a pitch-like black. His throat, underbelly, and tailtip are the cream-white color his species is known for, and, due to his vianity, these parts of his fur are kept very clean. His claws are kept short and neatly trimmed, and his teeth are a bright white. His eyes, however, are a stormy shade of blue-green befitting of the normal green and gold of his species. He is very tall and thin, which would give him a gaunt appearance if it were not for his bright personality.
As a dibbun, Rikian (typically called Riki by his peers) was very hard to keep clothed. Growing very quickly, he rapidly outgrew everything put on him. It became a bit of a running joke for everyone, claiming the little todd had to find new clothes every time he got out of bed, as the old ones no longer fit. Due to this, his clothing was never very uniform and always seemed to hang off him, as he had to resort to wearing garments intended for creatures much larger than himself. Left up to him, however, he would almost always be seen in red, which was reluctantly accepted by his elders as it was a color more difficult for him to stain. The pads of his footpaws quickly became thick-skinned, as he often refused to wear his sandals since they were typically too small for him (and when forced, numerous pairs were 'lost' to the depths of the pond).
After his employment as a young adult, Rikian was able to purchase clothes that actually fit him, helped by the fact that he finally stopped growing. Standing almost a full head about most of his species, with long, thin, agile limbs (though many more seasons passed before he grew into his oversized paws). Wishing to look more formal and well off than he actually was, he had his garments made specifically. His red shirt has a neat row of gold-painted latches down the front, matching the golden embrodiery around his sleeves and collar. During cold weather, he wears a thick white long-sleeved shirt beneath it, though the sleeves are normally cuffed up past his wrists. His pants are a solid black, and are tapered towards his ankles. Around his waist is a plain belt, woven of dark-dyed materials. From that hangs his saber, which seems to always have a few woven adornments tied around the scabbard. His hatred of footwear remains; though his footpaws are neatly kept, the pads are thick.
Personality:
As a dibbun, Rikian was by and large thought to be a thoughtful, shy youth by his elders. His adoption into the Rosepaw family was generally considered to be a good thing, as it forced the little fox to be social, eventually coaxing him out of his shell. He immediately began a friendship with Crystal, who introduced him to the other Abbey children on a whim. From that day, they were mostly found side by side, Rikian seemingly being the pawn in her schemes. Mischievous, quick-thinking, and a brilliant actor, the little fox proved himself a worthy asset to DAB's plots to steal sweets and terrorize older creatures. However, though he is able to fool older creatures with an act of innocence, most of his peers know him well enough to not fall for the trick; and those who do are likely on the receiving end of some terrible prank of the fox kits.
After his sister, affectionately called 'Mel,' passed away during his teenaged seasons, Rikian grew very cold to those around him. He was no longer content to stay at the Abbey, which, to him, served only as a reminder of his sister's sealed fate. Though he remained thoughtful and kind, his humor grew far darker, resulting in quite a few lectures for making dibbuns cry. After some particularly harsh words, he determined he was never destined to fit in at the Abbey, especially not without the guidance of his longtime friend. Bitter and angry, he stole enough supplies to last him a while and ran away, following the River Moss to the sea.
In his time of piracy, Rikian was oddly cheered. He no longer felt the weight of Redwall's responsibilities on his shoulders; none of his crew expected too much from him. He didn't have to clean his clothing or wash his fur, nor watch his language. However, being raised in such an enviroment, he felt motivated to keep himself neat in appearance, and typically watched his tongue. This earned him some good-matured taunting form his fellows, but not so much that it was unbearable. Though rough-and-tumble by profession, the fox preferred to conduct himself as a gentleman when able. Overall, under his rowdy exterior, he began to feel happy again, bringing back the light-heartedness he had as a kit.
Though Rikian was raised mostly around those of the opposite gender, he tended to be a bit... Bold. Though always polite and sweet to the 'ladies' he ran across, one thing was nearly always certain, and to his crew's amusement: helped along by a bit of ale, it was guaranteed that the fox would change from polite and distanced to flirtatious.
In his youth, Rikian never paid much mind to his lessons, resulting in a very limited ability to read and write; this is something he comes to regret deeply when he is unable to teach these skills to his 'son.' This worried him greatly, as Alexander is the creature he comes to care for most in his life, and he is often seen going out of his way to provide for the kitten, terrified at the thought of being called an unfit father. After Alex ages a bit, Riki becomes frightened that someone may try to separate he and his adopted child, and, as such, normally keeps the little one around, or in the protective paws of someone he trusts. Since the death of his sister, the fox took matters of family very seriously, and often had nightmares of his child subcumming to a similar illness. Though easygoing and content to let things settle themselves most of the time, the fastest way to anger him is by way of his son.
After meeting back up with Crystal in a seedy port town, the impact of what he had been doing with his life hits him hard. The meeting forced him to realize that he was no longer living a life of piracy for the means of survival, but that he actually somewhat enjoyed it. Though his crew were some of the most humane and nonviolent, they were corsairs none the less, and it was against all the teachings he had grown up with. Due to this bitter realization, Rikian, for a time, turned cold to those outside his family and crewmates, going as far as to pick fights to locals. Eventually, after his confrontation with a then-grown Alex, the fox loses his bitter edge and instead has to deal with his shame up front. Though he realizes the emotion is genuine, he comes to terms that he does enjoy his work, and decides to simply leave it at that for then. Though at peace with himself, Rikian would never stick around long at woodlander havens, feeling ostracized. Though he did eventually make a few trips back to Redwall, he refused to stay longer than a day.
From then on, the more he aged, the more docile he became, wearing his weapons out of habit rather than necessity. After his 'retirement,' he stayed with his son, more than happy to serve as a babysitter and grandfather when not out reminiscing with friends. His wildcat family would then have to deal with an overprotective supervisor, but they never seemed to mind.
History:
Rikian was born to a pair of traveling merchants, spending many of his infant seasons traveling. After the arrival of their second child, Melanie, his parents decided that keeping the children with them during their travels was unsafe. Thankfully, the kind hearts at Redwall Abbey took their plea in good faith, taking the kits in without much question. His parents visited as often as they were able, but the pair grew up calling a different set of foxes 'mother' and 'father.'
The Rosepaw family took them in, as they did with many young creatures that did not have much family to rely on. The little fox was warned of their 'hot-blooded' daughter, and told to ignore her temper. The first encounter Rikian could ever remember with Crystal was an argument over the owner of a package of cakes (they had been given to Crystal, though he firmly claimed that, as he took them without her notice, they then belonged to him). A brawl broke out between them, and during their punishment, the pair reconciled, and became near inseparable. She introduced him to the other dibbuns, and from there his involvement with DAB florished, and was, at times, a more active member than she.
Barely at the age to leave the dibbun 'club,' he was met with the grim faces of his surrogate family one night; Helen Rosepaw tried to explain to him that his dear little sister, Mel, was discovered to have some terrible illness, and that the infirmary keepers could not determine how to stop it. Heartbroken, the todd ran sobbing to his sister's bedside, and not even the hardest of Elders could stomach prying him away. For weeks, he slept curled up at the foot of her bed, scarcely leaving the infirmary. As he aged, it became a cycle; Melanie would show signs of getting better before the sickness would return, more crippling than before. Each time, he'd return to her bedside, making a nest of blankets on the floor to be nearer to her, to heed to any whim she had, in the hopes something would make her better. But nothing helped. Melanie continued to weaken as time streched on, eventually to the point that her elder sibling would have to carry her outside when she asked to go to the pond or watch the sunset. The good folk of the Abbey left him be, leaving him to his drawn-out state of mourning, but were unable to explain to him that there was no way she would recover.
During this time, Crystal and her brother decided to leave the Abbey. Though outwardly encouraging, Rikian desperately hoped she would stay; he needed her moral support. However, youthful as she was, she was unable to read between the lines and left him behind, though he never held this against her. He simply carried Mel out to the gates to say goodbye to the white foxes, and carried her back inside when the festivities were done. With nobody left to turn to, he became frightful and bitter, forsaking his quarters in favor of a cot placed for him in the infirmary. During this time, his surrogate parents tried everything to keep his mind off of it, taking him outside the walls when they could, knowing he also wished to explore the world beyond the confines of the Abbey. One day while supervising dibbuns in the pond, a grim-faced Elder came to bring him inside. The long illness had finally claimed his sister's life.
Rikian remained at the Abbey for only a few more moons, lashing out at his peers in his state of emotional turmoil. He waited for his real parents to return, to do something to comfort him, but they did not appear soon enough. One night, the young fox turned his unfair tongue to a group of dibbuns, and was chastised heavily for it. Unable to take it any longer, he made a plan and fled the Abbey that night under the cover of darkness, taking only his few possesions and a knife he stole from the kitchens to protect himself. He could no longer take the stifling confines of his home, and wished to seek his own fortune.
Wandering did not suit him, and he finally decided to chase his dream of seeing the sea. Following the River Moss to it, he found a small port town, at which point he realized he could go no further alone. His stolen knife had dulled and was useless, and he had no food. Turning up at a tavern, the owner took pity on him, giving him work in return for a meal and a place by the hearth. He remained there a while, forlornly watching the fire, not sure of what to do at that point. His life then took a turn his old 'family' would have blanched at.
While scrubbing tables, he overheard a conversation between a badger and a pine martin, a discussion about needing 'young blood.' They came back a few more nights, always carrying on the same conversation. As they started to leave one night, they stopped the fox, who had been set to work moving kegs of ale. They offered him a job and a home; a place on a ship, traveling the waters he had been so enchanted by. Elated, Rikian accepted, and joined them the next day. The badger was a old battleaxe of a lady, a captain by the name of Willowbrine. He respected her immensely, and he rules were few and fair. He could have found no better work, and soon began a life of piracy, gifted weapons and the ability to care for and use them properly.
A few seasons passed, and he took to the nautical life like a duck to water. One night, as punishment for turning up late after a night of drinks, he was told to take stock of the rations. Overturning a barrel, he was met with the sight of a terrified kitten, underfed and hardly more than a babe, staring back at him. Consoling the frightened creature, he turned to his captain, asking what should be done. She had him make a fruitless attempt to find their stowaway's parents, and then considered it heavily before untrusting the 'cat to his care. Willowbrine, wise beast that she was, knew the company would be good for him, and that some sort of 'family' would help to heal his long-broken heart. She named the kitten Alexander, and proclaimed Rikian his father.
The pair grew quite close, and the majority of the crew loved the newest, smallest edition to their ranks. It was rare to see Rikian without his charge, either riding on his shoulders or attempting to help with tasks. However, whereas he had been bold and ready to seek adventure, Alex was timid and more suited to using his intellect. Often, his 'father' would return from trips to ports with gifts of books for his beloved son, educating him to the best of his ability, while his captain handled the rest. Rikian swelled with pride as his young son grew to be a crafty tactician, often commonly referred to as one of Willowbrine's best assets.
As he continued to age, the fox was confronted with a problem he should have foreseen; though he met up with her a few times over the years, he began metting with Crystal more frequently. Though he loved her since his youth, there was now a barrier between them that they could not have a hope to cross: their professions. While he had turned a blind eye to the Abbey's teachings, she had gone further with it, earning her title of 'hero' through literal blood and fire. Eventually, the secret became too much, and his confessed his piracy to her. She was horrified, and told him to leave. Rikian misunderstood, thinking she hated him, when in fact Crystal did so to prevent having to take him into custody; forcing him away was the only way she would be able to protect him from the possibility of the hangman's noose. Though he did not have the heart to prevent Alex from seeing his 'Auntie Crys,' it would be a long time before the childhood companions spoke again.
Also, during this time, another problem arose. He and Alex seemed to be growing distanced, and he finally discovered why. His son was creating a family of his own. Alex had met a young 'cat named Molly, but was afraid his - somewhat overprotective - father would reject her. After some time, Rikian did indeed give his blessing, and the pair were married. Though it broke Rikian's heart all over again to part with his son, he was glad to see him happy. Willowbrine, sensing his distress, eventually met up with Alex, and discussed matters with him. It was decided that Rikian would retire and live out his days with his son. Given quite a generous sum, Riki turned away form his life at sea and found his land legs again.
Having stopped his piracy, he and Crystal eventually reconciled, though he vehemently turned down her offers to return to the Abbey with her; any future they could have had had long since passed, and he knew her to be unable to care for him in the same way he did her. Instead, he stayed with Alex and Molly, taking care of his grandchildren. He was quite content and happy, enjoying nothing more.
However, tragedy struck. One winter, his granddaughters were playing on a frozen lake when the ice broke, pulling one of the kittens under into the cold water. Before Molly or Alex could react, the aging fox had taken off like a shot, diving into the frigid depths to save her. Though he managed to get her out, and Alex eventually pulled him free, he had stayed under too long. Sickness wore him down, and after a few days, Rikian passed on, though satisfied with his sacrifice.