the -mist suffix

[maddie]

"The fog creeps in
on little cat feet
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on."

- "Fog" by Carl Sandburg

Although different in name and consistency, mist and fog are essentially the same thing-- water droplets suspended in the air, almost like a cloud close to the ground. Many a poet have remarked on the beauty and mystery of these phenomena, and, in doing so, have given these inanities certain properties-- although it is agreeable that the properties were there of their own accord long before poets saw them.

When you think of fog or mist, you are likely to reminisce an early morning. The sun has barely kissed the horizon, or perhaps it hides behind an unsuspecting cloud. The world is awash with early morning life; birds sing, late crickets chirp, but you, you are entirely alone. A veil of fog caresses you, and, in it, you feel safe. Secure. It's almost like you are the only person alive.

Have you ever listened to the quiet of an early fog-enshrouded morning? Certainly you've experienced one. In that moment, although you walk to your car or start on your other early morning tasks, it seems like the world stands still. It is serene, silent, a soothing sanctuary.

This is where we-- or I, at least-- draw a connection.

Names are not always taken in a literal sense, but sometimes they are. For example: Whiteclaw. Upon first glance, you infer a cat with white fur and fighting skills, correct? However, to, say, an on-looker who had no experience naming cats, 'Whiteclaw' could be taken quite literally to depict a cat with a white claw.

It goes the same way with -mist.

-Mist is not to be taken literally. There is a meaning behind the word, and it is quite easy to find if you give it a chance. Mist is subject to vivid imagery. It is quiet, it is sneaky, maybe it's even a little mischievous. Alternatively, it could be quiet and shy.

I could spend forever and a day writing picturesque scenes of the anthropomorphic qualities of mist, but I believe that Mr. Sandburg did so more concisely and eloquently in the poem above than I ever could, and although I personally would never use -mist for one of my characters, I do believe it to be an acceptable name in that it does describe the personality of the cat.

[Grey]

Sup, Maddie. I'm Grey.

I have to commend you on your enthusiasm - few people are so keen to put up their first posts. It takes a lot of courage to do that, so thank you for sharing your insights with us (I hope no one minds my thanking Maddie on their behalf).

I also hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I'm going to disagree with you on this one.

When you think of fog or mist, you are likely to reminisce an early morning.

No. Not really. Mist is typically seen in early mornings around water, fog is more typically in lowlands and dark hollows in the evening in cold weather, to my mind at least.

In any case, none of this is particularly relevant to the suffix -mist. Certainly the poetry is nice and you clearly have a fondness for it, but as a suffix - no, no, definitely not.

I'm a traditionalist, you see.

However, to, say, an on-looker who had no experience naming cats, 'Whiteclaw' could be taken quite literally to depict a cat with a white claw.

This is true, but it's a pretty widely accepted concept that -claw is the fighting suffix, especially among traditionalists. I understand looking at a suffix from an outsider's perspective or suggesting that some people will have little to no knowledge of Warriors tropes. However, I think it's safe to assume that many of the people (especially here on Fourtrees Resurrected) will already have their own systems of working out names and that, for the most part, they will want to discuss those, rather than how warrior names appear to onlookers. You're definitely right that people new to the fandom tend to take all names literally, but I think it's safe to say that we're all well-versed fans here.

It is quiet, it is sneaky, maybe it's even a little mischievous. Alternatively, it could be quiet and shy.

-mist is a terrible suffix, for this very reason. According to the above quote, -mist could represent a sneaky cat, a mischievous cat, a quiet cat, a shy cat or any combination of those. That's great, except in representing such a broad spectrum, it effectively means nothing.

In that context, -mist means "this cat has a certain type of personality (but I'm not telling you which, teeheehee)". The reason a warrior name exists is to give a short, sharp and distinctive image of the cat's most prominent features - especially their personality, appearance and skills. -mist does not do that. It does not perform the basic function of a suffix.

In addition to that, the potential meanings of -mist aren't crash-hot either. A suffix works best when representing either personality or skills (and in some ways, the two can overlap). -mist, according to your analysis, is personality-based. A personality suffix should only ever highlight the dominant and distinguishing trait of a cat's personality, and often in the sense that it contributes to the clan in some way. No suffix should ever be derogatory or negative.

So:

it is sneaky

There's a couple of things I'm getting from this. One, that the cat is untrustworthy and sinister; two, that the cat is some sort of spy; three, that the cat is talented at prowling and is light-footed.

The first is invalid already - it's a negative trait and should never be used in a name, ever.
The second is bemusing - how does a cat spy on another clan in the first place? I honestly doubt that's possible (with any great success). As well as this, it seems to be very similar to the third.
The third is, of course, unnecessary - if a cat is very stealthy, then it will be an excellent hunter or very light-footed and agile, and there are completely reasonable suffixes existing for those traits.

maybe it's even a little mischievous

I have absolutely no idea where you're getting this, I'm sorry. Mist is just a vapour. It's about as mischievous as a shoe. Maybe even less mischievous. If someone writes a poem about how cheeky some piece of mist is, that's great.

Many a poet have remarked on the beauty and mystery of these phenomena, and, in doing so, have given these inanities certain properties-- although it is agreeable that the properties were there of their own accord long before poets saw them.

But these are cats. They don't read poetry. Context is very relevant here.

could be quiet and shy.

"I could name you for your skills, or the fact you will always do what you believe in, or the fact you're patient beyond your years - but instead, I am going to name you for the fact you don't know how to interact with other cats." - said no leader ever, I hope.

If you look at it that way, shyness is a pretty negative trait to have in the cooperation-oriented society of the clans. Being quiet is great when you're hunting or on a sneaky patrol mission, but in day-to-day life, reticence is neither here nor there. As long as you can communicate when you need to, that's all that's required.

For that reason, I see shyness as a negative trait (hence, should not be implied in a suffix) and I see "being quiet" as something not significant enough to deserve a suffix.

To cut a long post short: no. -mist is not a reasonable suffix.

I do have one question, though.

and although I personally would never use -mist for one of my characters, I do believe it to be an acceptable name in that it does describe the personality of the cat.

Why wouldn't you use this name for your characters? If you believe it's acceptable, why choose not to use it? The only reason I could imagine avoiding a name would be if you:

- thought it sounded weird and hated it (which you obviously don't when it comes to mist)
or
- thought it didn't make sense as a name.

The allegory to that would be the swindler that puts poison in the king's cup. The king, seeing that the cup is tainted, switches the two and says, "My good friend, let us have a toast to celebrate our trust in one another."

The swindler, having seen the cups be switched, is then in a very unpleasant situation. To drink the poison he placed and die, or confess to the attempt of murder and probably be hanged for it. Either way he can't win.

So if you think the name is fine, why wouldn't you use it? I'm curious.

[cloudbat]

"If someone writes a poem about how cheeky some piece of mist is, that's great."

PFEHEHEHEHEHE I lawl'd.