Initially blue eyed, like all kittens, but this eventually develops into a golden-yellow that, by a stroke of luck, closely mimics the typical eye colour of his namesake.

Predominantly silver-grey, with darker stripes marbling his head, forehead, and shoulders. These stripes fade into more of a ticking effect further down his back and flanks, somewhat mirroring the markings found on osprey feathers. White is splashed across his muzzle and chest, furthering the likeness. Fur is short, and a little on the thin side.

No scars at present.

Small and a little on the scrawny side as a kit, with paws that are a little too big for him, and a tail that's a little too long.

Even by kit standards, Osprey cuts an unimpressive figure. He's a tiny tom, standing shorter than most others of his age and lacking both the musculature of older cats, and the plumpness so common to the very young. In fact he looks downright scrawny, lacking in any spare fat and, at a casual glance, almost appearing underfed. It's only at a second closer look that one realises that he isn't underweight, but is instead a natural scrap: a kitten who is meant to be small.

At one moon of age it's difficult to determine how his physique might evolve, but it's also difficult to imagine him turning into one of the clan's powerhouses, or even being anything but small. This impression perhaps isn't helped by the fact that his paws are too big for him and his tail too long, making the rest of him appear even scrawnier in comparison, nor by the fact that his fur is short, robbing him of the thick kitten puff that might have made him seem a size or two bigger. Instead he only has fuzz: a fine downiness that confirms his youth but does nothing to mask his small stature. 

His fuzziness does, however, somewhat mask his markings, making it hard to see how he came by his name unless he's freshly groomed. Whilst the fuzz reigns, as it does through most of the day, it breaks up the ticking across his back and flanks such that it appears more like wayward specks: a far cry from the osprey-like arrangement that truly hides beneath. The fuzz also blurs the marbled stripes that mark his front quarters, breaking them into wobbly bands and halfway merging them into the silvery fur that surrounds them. Much the same problem affects the white that daubs his muzzle and splashes across his chest, smudging it erratically into the greys that dominate the rest of his pelt. The end effect is a perpetual scruffiness fit to drive any queen mad, and a ragamuffin edge that, combined with his scrawny physique, has a tendency to raise brows.

Even so, it is easy to see that this kitten is not neglected. Any such worries are quickly dispelled by even the briefest look at his body language and features, for Osprey carries himself with all the happy confidence of any well-loved kit, and his eyes are bright with youthful innocence. His gaze is, however, also intense, and it can often seem as if he's staring right into the heart of you: seeing all the secrets you keep tucked away...

- Tends to lisp, and prone to pronouncing words without 'soft' letters such as 'f', 'h', and 'k' (see 'other notes' for detail).

- Very expressive features and body language, making it easy for others to guess what he's thinking without him actually saying anything. 

- Tends to (i.e. virtually always) scrunches his nose and flicks his tail when he's telling a lie, or when he knows someone else is lying.

Osprey is unusually quiet for a kitten, showing a proclivity to watch and listen rather than run about chattering. Although it can be difficult to draw his attention, and he might sometimes appear just a little spacey, he's already learnt to stop and wait and watch when he realises that another cat has called to him, and he's remarkably good at sitting still and keeping his eyes on whomever's talking. He's remarkably good at patience, too, frequently staying attentive long after most kits his age would start squirming. In fact his attention, once gained, can be downright unnerving, for he gives the impression of a cat clinging on to the speaker's every word, and filing them all away for later examination.

In reality, this impression is only partly the truth. Whilst Osprey does have a good memory, and is absorbing the individual words, his intensity comes mainly from a desire for understanding - and a reluctance to cause upset by misinterpretation or seeming inattention. Osprey is a smart kit, and he learnt early on that other cats usually dislike it when he misses what someone says or misunderstands them, so he listens hard to try and avoid that exact same problem. He's somewhat aware that his resulting intensity can prove a little unnerving, but on balance he's decided this to be better than the fuss that comes with the alternative. An uneasy cat is very different to an upset or unhappy cat, after all, and Osprey's kind little heart finds the latter much harder to deal with.

The fact of the matter is that Osprey is a warm and caring kind of tom, and most need only a short time in his company to realise it. Although he's not talkative, it's the easiest thing in the world to guess at what he's thinking and feeling, for he's too young to have learnt how to mask his reactions, and his body and face tell everyone everything. Osprey is as open a book as it's possible to find, and he's forever betraying his thoughts without ever realising it. Like, dislike, disinterest, and everything in between write themselves plainly across his face, and he's outright hopeless at covering for others or telling an untruth, for he inevitably gives himself—and them—away. This is perhaps a good thing, as far as the rest of the clan is concerned, for it makes it that much easier for them to keep his siblings out of mischief - and acts as an inbuilt guard against Osprey's own considerable intellect. 

It doesn't help them keep him out of trouble, however. Whilst Osprey is good at sitting still once his attention is caught, he's also insatiably curious, and consequently into everything. when his siblings are getting into mischief he'll likely as not be right there with them - not so much for the sake of their schemes, but because they might lead him to something new and interesting. Osprey is a smart kit, and that comes with a deepened need for mental stimulation, and a strengthened drive to learn about everything that's within his reach.

Lynxlaurel & Gustrise (great-grandparents)

Galestar & Desertbreeze (great-great-grandparents)