Early line rendering

Licorice has always made his own adventure.  He is the true adventurer of the Whisper Kids.  This Raccoon kid thrives on challenge and adventure.  His curiosity and sense of fun often leads the other Whisper Kids into trouble.  He fancies himself an explorer in the Indiana Jones mold, and comically parodies what he thinks a wisecracking adventurer ought to be.  He is seldom seen without his belt full of adventurer gizmos.  Licorice wants to be an inventor like his father Paw Paw and grandfather Caraway, and has the imagination for it but perhaps not the patience.  Like Huck Finn, he would rather be adventuring than working.

Leads by Instinct

Licorice is brave.  His street-smart reactions are more instinctive than intellectual.  He questions things with a skeptic’s cynicism.  He can be restless and ornery, but when the going gets tough, he rises to the task with energy and a sense of humor.  The other kids often look to Licorice for leadership, particularly Hops, who idolizes him.  However, Licorice sometimes annoys his friends by being aggressive and short-tempered.  He is extremely competitive too, and always has to be first.  As Moonflower’s little brother, he is always trying to break out of her shadow.

Skeptic

Licorice, along with Moonflower and the rest of his family, emigrated to Whispering Gardens.  Hence, he is skeptical of the mythology of Whispering Gardens and must see their magic and wonder before he will believe in them.

Licorice is often oblivious to the beauty of nature, as he tends to take his place in the world for granted.  When he hears the Whispers, his confidence builds, allowing him to rally the troops and inspire confidence in them as well.

Heroes are getting younger these days…

Tools of the Trade

Licorice seldom goes anywhere with this trusty belt full of adventurer’s tools ad weapons.  He has a braided vine bull whip that he uses to fight enemies and swing from tree branches, his grandpa’s spyglass, an arrowhead, a saw, a hammer, and an amazing invention in his three-shooter sling shot.  The sling shot has three slings.  One shoots straight and the other two shots curve right and left to intersect with the straight shot for a triple whammy.  Attached to his belt on a willow braid, is a nifty pocket knife with scissors, screwdriver, can opener, and stapler.