For example, an old wolf character of mine (Cosmos, who was my old RP Allegra's long-lost daughter) was very friendly and bright when learning about herbs, etc. However, she was also selectively oblivious to cruelty, and so she had a tendency to find herself under the care of those who had bad intentions for her (to which she was unaware).
Her "type" or "theme" was blissful ignorance.
Another character of mine, Aithne (clouded leopard) has actually been the personality inspiration for several other characters of mine, most notably a warrior cat named Fawngaze. They're both essentially the same personality overlaid onto different background and characters, largely because I had so much trouble finding a long-lasting RP for Aithne. However, regardless of which one I'm playing on, both of these girls are playing a little off of the "gypsy" stereotype (though it's not accurate or true to the Gypsy/Roma people, it's still a fun character archetype to play with), as they're nomadic, and tend not to stay in one place. In the case of Aithne, she's incredibly social, but a little wired and tricky to figure out, though her intentions are usually benevolent. She has zero conception of the "personal bubble," and it's likely that the moment you greet her, she'll be touching you in some way or manner, usually playing with your tail or cradling your face in her paws as she swoons over your eyes.
She's just.. I don't know. Extremely flirtatious, but doesn't ever choose a mate. She doesn't stay in one place, and while she has the solid (if a bit reserved on deeper levels) personality that might do well leading her own tribe or group, she's not loyal enough to be grounded, I don't think. Nor do I think this character would be a good role model for cubs or pups, either (too unstable). I'm still figuring Aithne/Fawn out, to be honest. xD
Fawn and Aithne's theme is... Frick if I know. Flirtatious wingnut? Yeah, we'll go with that.
Although, sometimes I will play off of a darker character, as well, such as the case of Lightmare, one of my warrior queens. Personally, I don't care much for the "dark-souled scary rawr rawr" critter unless they're written out well, and have a reason for their being that way (and I think it should be done consistently if you do choose that type).
So, Light was an odd duck to pull together, but I think I really like how she worked out.
Originally, Lightmare was called Lightbreeze (by all technicalities it still is), and she was a kind and well-respected queen in her birthclan, BlazingClan, under the late Sunstar, who had watched her grow. I think she had perhaps two or three litters of kits, until Sunstar died, and the next deputy stepped up to lead BlazingClan. However, playing off of the "big scary evil clan" thing you sometimes see in Clans across FH, I imagined Lightbreeze being one of the bystanders as her Clan fell into this vicious cycle of power-hunger and bloodlust under the new leader's "guidance." Like many of the "evil" clans you see, they'd glorified the battlefield, made it an honor to kill cats from other clans, to kill or steal their kits and murder their queens, to bring that clan to utter ruin to for their territory.
Of course, not all cats agreed to this, and those who rebelled were either banished or killed on the spot. Afraid, and knowing that leaving the Clan meant starvation or death at their claws, Lightbreeze cowered and kept up the act of being supportive of the fighting--but she feigned pregnancy for many moons to keep herself from being sent out into battle. She cowered, and watched as her own kits were turned into bloodthirsty monsters under the guidance of their mentors and new leader.
It was here she decided that, since she herself could not take on the new leader, nor try to gather support from the clan against him (as it would mean revealing her intentions, which would certainly result in something bad for her), she decided that she would try to guide the kits--the Clan's future--into becoming less bloodthirsty, to respect life. However, with only her fighting the mindset of the entire Clan, she discovered that her efforts were in vain, and these kits would be raised to become new killers.
So, vastly apart from her past as a queen, Lighbreeze began to sneak out of camp while warriors took kits or young apprentices on outings. She would disguise herself, or find a way to take the kit out of the way of the warrior, and the kits would simply disappear. Lightbreeze was killing them, her own way of protecting the forest from becoming infested with the tyrannical and bloodthirsty cats thathad become her clan.
However, when suspicions started to arise, she fled BlazingClan, forfeiting her dignity. Thus, she went by Lightmare in testament to this time and trial. To this day she's a Clan-hopper, and I suspect that over time she's been on the watch for kits she deems "beyond help" on the track to becoming a bloodthirsty killer, and will dispose of them if she sees there is no other way.
But beyond this, if the kit she deems worth saving (or not at all in trouble of becoming a murderer), she is a very talented, loving, but firm queen.
And I love her. x3 (My dark character. ;-; ) This makes Lightmare's theme more of a "hypocritical guardian." She kills young ones to prevent them from growing up to be killers? (Is her judgment correct on these young kits before they're grown, though? Or is she right by killing a potential murderer, in turn saving many more lives than just that of the kit she's killing?)