Johnny Cooper Ghosthorse - District 8

[/b]: Johnny Cooper Ghosthorse
Age: 15
Gender: Male
District/Area: District 8
Appearance:

If you took a quick glance at Johnny, you certainly wouldn't see him as a threat. He stands at about 5'6" and his build is a happy median between bulky and lean, proportionate to his height. His black hair with faint dark brown highlights seems to always be unkempt, though never out of control. His calm burgundy brown eyes almost seem like a portal to his soul, portraying almost every emotion that sweeps through him, whether it be an overwhelming sadness or an uncontrollable happiness. On his left cheek, underneath his eye, are two scars: one long one, running from under his eye, down his cheek, under his jaw bone, and nearly halfway down the side of his neck. The other one runs the same direction, though it's just shorter. Also, on his arms is a series of bite marks, some of them noticeable and some of them not as much.

Personality:

Johnny, because he spends a lot of time alone with his flock of sheep, tends to be shy near other people. Not that he's nervous around them (though he most certainly is nervous if he's around a girl he's fond of), it's just that he's become accustomed to never getting an answer -- which was also what got him into the habit of talking to himself. Because of this, a lot of times when he is by himself, he will carry on conversations with just himself, and to him this is completely normal. If he saw anyone else doing what he does, he wouldn't see them as weird like others may perceive them to be.

Because of an encounter a few years ago, Johnny isn't fond of dogs or wolves. Whenever he sees one, he usually stands still, petrified, even if it's a friendly canine. His ultimate fear is that the canine will attack him, even if it's just licks. And also because of the encounter, he always carries a pocket knife around with him wherever he goes. He also doesn't like being in large crowds, seeing as he's claustrophobic. He much prefers the forest or open spaces, tending a flock of sheep or just hanging out with a few friends.

History:

Johnny was the youngest of five, and his only job was simple for someone like him: watch over the sheep. He started supervising about five little lambs at first, but as he grew older and more experienced, his parents entrusted him with more and more woolly creatures. Johnny quickly grew to love each of the sheep, memorizing their personalities, distinctive traits, and their habits. He knew which ones befriended who, which ones hated each other, etc.

As he was watching over the grazing flock, Johnny took the time to find a thick stick, peel off the bark, and carve symbols into the wood. He used it as a walking stick, to poke mysterious looking things, and most of all to help him defend the sheep -- and he used the walking stick well.

About his second year of watching the flock, the sheep were grazing at the edge of a group of trees, lazily basking in the afternoon sun. Johnny was perched on a rock, walking stick across his lap, watching the animals. They didn't seem to be anxious about anything, and he heard the barks and whimpers before he saw them: a small pack of dogs barreling through the forest. By now the flock had become utterly confused and horrified. Getting up and grabbing his walking stick, Johnny quickly lept between the pack of feral dogs and his sheep; the dogs were no thing but skin and bones, obviously starving. As the first dog lunged at him, he swung the stick, smacking the animal to the side. However, before he could reach back around to swing at the other dogs, they were all on top of him. The sheep shrieked, scampering in all directions as some of the dogs tore after them, snarling and snapping. Johnny raised his hands to protect his head and kicked out with his feet, managing to knock off one of the ravenous creatures; however, it wasn't enough. One of the dog's paws hit his face, creating two long gashes on his cheek and neck. Before he could hardly emit a yelp, the other dogs had smelled the blood and went running over, pouncing on the shepherd boy, ripping and tearing at him with their teeth and claws. The next thing Johnny knew was darkness.

When he woke up, he was back at his small, run-down house, bandages wrapped all around his wounds. The first thing he asked was if the sheep were okay, but nearly half of them had been killed by the feral dogs. Saddened by the loss, the boy vowed to be better prepared for any sort of attack, so he began carrying a pocket knife around with him everywhere he went.

Codeword: Muttations
Comments/Other:

I kinda-sorta based him off Johnny Cade from The Outsiders, just because I luff him. <3 Anywho, I was sure to not completely copy Johnny Cade. :3 Bleh, his history isn't really that good, but it's all I could come up with so I ran with it. x3

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