[Hazelfang]

Username: Hazelfang
Clan: The Blessed Lupus

Quest Number: 1
Response:

The young she-cat's eyes searched the surrounding cats, listening to their hushed murmurs as they began to gather around the sacred tree. Piercing eyes of curiosity peered around as their eager whispers grew louder upon seeing their leader, the Anyara, leap gracefully down from the high branches of the tree. With stunning elegance, the older she-cat stepped towards the young cat, her head held high and her own eyes glimmering with pride. A wave of nausea struck her chest as her gaze met the intimidating older cat's. Guilt and anxiety clawed her insides, as if trying to pull itself free from the confines of her own body. Quickly, she lowered her muzzle to stare at the ground, a gesture seen as respect but simply an escape from the pressure for the young cat.

A raspy yet comforting purr resounded from the Anyara as she grazed her muzzle against the ear of the nervous feline before her. "You may lift your head, little one. This is a moment of great pride you shall always remember." Her quiet words reverberated within her mind. While the intent was to be comforting, it only instilled more fear in her soul. I don't believe I want to remember this moment, she thought to herself as she tentatively lifted her head to look upon her leader once more.

Today was the day Aurelia would receive her constellation-given name as an official member of the Blessed. For most cats of the Blessed, it is a highly revered and sacred moment to be remembered and cherished for the rest of their lives. For Aurelia, however, it meant much more... and much worse. This moment would be a test before the spirits of her ancestors and their god, Lupus. She had practiced with her mother for many moons prior to this day. Her demeanor, her tone, her gestures, and her actions would be eyed by every cat and the spirits themselves in this very moment. She had to be perfect, to seem perfect, if their plan was to ever work.

With a deep breath, she buttressed her resolve and feigned a glimmer of bliss in her eyes. Her gaze seemed to fool the Anyara as she let out a warm purr in response. “Let the constellations bear witness as I bestow their sacred name upon this burgeoning soul." The young she-cat had to force her ears from folding back in disgust. A sacred name... for you fools, perhaps. But it is of no sacred name to me. Yet, as the thought crossed her mind, the Anyara continued to speak. "Aurelia, henceforth, your astral name shall be known as Napkora, born under the morning star, defying the very clutches of death. Once deemed the kit bereft of heartbeat, now you stand before us resolute, with a heart beating with vigor. With a resilience as rare as yours, you shall be granted the echelon of lumination, entrusted with the mantle of guidance and mentorship. May you wield your special gifts for the greater good of the blessed and continue to radiate us with your brilliance.”

Aurelia bowed as the Anyara gently rested her muzzle atop her head, her whiskers tickling her ears. Her heart began to race as she braced herself for the next step. Her own mother's words replaying in her mind...

"Remember, Aurelia. This is the most important part. The Anyara will place her muzzle against your head and say the sacred proverb. You must brace yourself, for the spirits will take this opportunity to grant you their blessed. You mustn't, under any circumstances, reveal our plan to them. Steel your mind and soul at this very moment, just as I have taught you. This is important, Aurelia. To avenge your parents and avenge all those we have lost to the sickening ways of our 'beloved blessings'."

Her mother's voice, wrought with her hatred and contempt for the god she vowed to worship, echoed in her mind. She inhaled slowly, taking in as much air as she could, before allowing herself to exhale even slower. As if dispelling all thoughts from her mind. With each second she exhaled, her mind became further and further clear until there was nothing left but peace. Peace and quiet.

The Anyara, not perturbed by her actions at all, called out the sacred proverb: "“Áldottak a csillagok macskái, akik a dicsőséges Lupust szolgálják.” As the words were spoken, Aurelia held her breath, not daring to allow any of her thoughts enter her mind. She could have sworn she felt a chill pass her body, as if something- rather someone- was entering and exiting her mind. Yet, the feeling passed right as the final words were uttered, like a leaf drifting off into the wind.

The gathering cats erupted in cheers, "Napkora! Napkora! Napkora!" Aurelia took a deep breath, allowing herself to feel once more. I did it... I survived... she thought to herself, her eyes glowing with relief and excitement to have finally achieved what she had spent so long practicing for.

Before her, the Anyara purred in delight. "Welcome to the Blessed, Aurelia." With a polite nod, she motioned for the young cat to return to the crowd. Without delaying a second, she turned and hurried towards her mother, who sat to the side separate from the other cheering cats. Their eyes met exchanging a mutual sense of relief and joy.

"You finally have your name, Aurelia." Her mother meowed quietly, rubbing her cheek against her daughter's. "Now we can finally start working on our plan," she added even quieter, her blue eyes glimmering with a knowing look.

The younger she-cat nodded, returning the same look. "Certainly," she answered, as she sat down beside her mother.

☽...later that evening...☾

It had been a long day of sharing tongues with her fellow Blessed and making idle chat regarding her naming ceremony. The pointless chatter made her weary, exhaustion tugged at her legs willing her to rest, but she knew she still had more to do. More her mother and her needed to discuss. So now, at the peak of the moon's flight, she was sitting along the riverbank with her mother right beside her. The two she-cats staring across the ripping water, listening to the lulling stream.

"You did wonderfully today, Aurelia." Her mother broke the silence, yet their eyes remained facing forward. "You've worked so hard for this, your parents would be proud."

Those words sliced at her heart, reminding her of the lives that had been lost for her to get here. "I wish they could be here..." she murmured solemnly, allowing her words to drift in the breeze traveling along the water's current.

The older she-cat beside her pressed closer, her warmth comforting her ever so slightly. "Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. We will avenge them." The cat's lip curled back revealing a threatening snarl as she continued on, "Those mouse-brained cats follow Lupus so blindly. Oh how I wish they could see the cruelty of our 'god' with their own eyes. Countless lives have been lost in this never-ending hunt to grow the Blessed and for what reason? To simply have more numbers? More mindless worshippers for that.. for that... Fallen." She spat her words out venomously, but Aurelia couldn't help but shiver hearing her mother refer to their god in such a manner. The she-cat didn't seem to notice her reaction as her hissing did not end, "Our god is cruel and heartless. She lets her own die for the sake of procuring more. It's senseless murder at that point! And her 'blessings' are nothing more than empty promises. When has a blessing truly ever helped us? It never saved your parents or my father!"

Aurelia pressed her face against her mother's shoulder fur, "Heed your temper, Mother. Someone may hear you." She murmured into her fur, terrified her mother would be caught and exiled for such treasonous statements.

With a frustrated sigh, she felt the she-cat's shoulders relax and her fur lay flat. "You are right, Aurelia. After all, you already know the truth of this world. I don't need to say it again to you."

She slowly nodded in response, turning to look upon the moon's image glistening atop the river. Her 'mother' had told her the truth only a few moons ago. Of how her real parents had died shortly after her birth. How it was the Blessed's fault for exiling her father for attempting to return home prior to completing his duties as a Hidden and her mother followed him in his leave. And how the Blessed refused a burial for them, asserting that they were traitors unworthy of respect. It made her blood boil to remember everything she had learned, all of the darkest secrets buried within the seemingly holy Blessed. Her mother was right. So much bloodshed for a conceited God. If only she could tell these secrets to her sister who seemed to so passionately follow the rules and whims of the Blessed's word. Surely Elowen could help their plan as well? Surely she would understand, even if this truth would reveal they are not truly sisters?

With a sigh, she shook her head. It was burden enough to have such knowledge and it was her burden to bear. Her sister seemed happy as she is knowing the world now. She couldn't ruin what little light her sister still held, not now, not ever.

{1,573 words}

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Quest Number: 2
Response:

A Threatened Secret

Word Count: n/a

✧✧✧

Quest Number: 3
Response:

Several nights had passed since Howlburn's exile. The night it was revealed he was a traitor was still fresh on her mind, like an open wound refusing to heal. So many accusations were flung, she had never seen her Kin so furious. It was as if everything she knew, everything she trusted, and everything she loved was shattered before her very eyes in an instant. What compelled her to leave her Kin and join her mate in his exile, she did not know. All she knew now was that her decision was made and there was no turning back. This was her life now.

With each step she took farther and farther away from the territory of the Kin, she could feel her stomach twisting in knots of fear. What was in store for her was completely unknown to her. And it terrified her so. Her mind raced endlessly, wondering what could be waiting for her in the Blessed's territory she had now heard so much about. From what [urlhttps://www.chickensmoothie.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=124&t=4607543#wrap]Stagstride[/url] and Hickorystump's daughter has said, there was nothing left for them there. That a fire had raged the land and scattered the cats of the Blessed far and wide. It seemed as though there was no hope for the Blessed and she couldn't quite understand why they still decided to try and return. Yet, it's not like she had much of a choice, since Howlburn agreed to return as well.

"I think this would be a good spot to rest," Nutmgefluff's voice abruptly interrupted her thoughts, drawing the group of exiles to a halt.

Sparrowwhistle nodded in agreement, "I can take a small group to go hunt while the rest of you prepare some shelter." Murmurs of agreement sounded from the surrounding cats before he continued speaking, "Alrighty then. Hickory and Holly, mind joining me?"

The chipper young she-cat bounced up, her energy seemed boundless throughout this journey, "Of course!" Her less energetic yet bemused father nodded from beside her and the pair slowly walked towards the elder black tom.

"Wait, I am coming too," a fiery red-chocolate tom called out to the three cats.

Hickorystump looked hesitantly from the red tom to Waspsting, "Are you sure, Howlburn? Why don't you stay with your mate?"

The tom's ears flicked indignantly as he continued to walk towards the group, "She'll be fine on her own. Let's go, I'm starving." His words rolled off his tongue with a chilling nonchalance that pierced the spotted she-cat. Hickorystump passed one final sympathetic look at her before shrugging and motioning for the group of hunters to proceed.

She watched the group of cats walk off, disappearing into the shrubbery. He's right, I'll be fine. I like the independence, she reminded herself, doing her best to push back the pang of loneliness she immediately felt upon losing sight of him.

An aggravated growl sounded from behind her, drawing her attention from the shrubbery. "Toms... they can be so dense." Nutmegfluff huffed, her pretty cream-colored tail lashing behind her. "How do you put up with him?" she asked Waspsting, her sharp blue eyes piercing into hers.

The spotted she-cat huffed, "I don't need to put up with him because I love him! Besides, I think it shows how much he respects me and my independence." She puffed up her chest, holding her head up high. There was no way she'd let anyone else know how much her mate's indifference stung her, especially not Nutmegfluff of all cats.

The cream she-cat continued to stare at her before slowly shaking her head, "I guess respect means something different for me, then." Her tail swept along the dirt as she turned her body to face a blue-cream tom. "Stagstride, I will take Vermillion to fetch some bedding for tonight. Watch over Waspsting, will you?"

"I'm not a ki-!"

"Sure, whatever. Don't be long though, I want to go searching for some more herbs for the journey," the tom interrupted her, hardly paying any mind to the irritation emanating from her.

Nutmegfluff nodded as she beckoned her son to follow her into the forest. Once out of ear reach, Waspsting turned to glare as the older blue-cream tom. "You don't have to kit-sit me, you know! I am not a useless kit."

The tom snorted in response while seemingly searching for a good spot to begin clearing for a nest. "Then perhaps you should stop acting like one," he muttered while using his paws to kick away some dry leaves.

The fur along her spine bristled with indignation, her lip curling back into a rageful snarl. "I am not acting like a kit!"

"Sure, sure," he murmured, not taking his eyes off the forest floor as he cleared away the dead leaves. "You don't seem to mind being treated like a worthless kit when it's 'Howlburn' doing it," he added.

The blood in her veins boiled in fury from his mocking tone, "How dare you!" In an instant, her claws unsheathed and she prepared her hind legs to leap towards the infuriating tom. "You don't know me and you don't know Howlburn!"

The tom looked up from the ground to stare at her, his eyes muted and unfeeling. "I've known Scorch far longer than you have. And I also have known you since you were a kit. You're too naive for a tom like him." With an enraged yowl, she leaped towards the tom aiming for his back. Her paws outstretched before her and landed squarely on his shoulders, her claws sinking deep into his tender flesh. As she reared back, bracing her jaws to sink into his back, the tom slowly shook his head. He seemed completely unfazed by the she-cat's attempt at hurting him, "See? Naive."

Before she could question his arrogant tone, a blur of deep red fur barreled into her, quickly knocking her clean off the tom. She skidded across the dirt, her back eventually making contact with a nearby tree. Pain shot though her back and she cried out in agony, her eyes wincing shut from the pain.

"That was too far Hickory! You only needed to knock her off a little. She's carrying kits, for Lupus' sake!" the sound of Stagstride's grating voice was muted amongst the ringing in her ears. Her mind felt as if it was spinning in a violent current, struggling to grab onto land and ground itself. Wh-what did he say? Did he say, kits?

"Sorry, sorry. You're right..." a tom's voice, of which she assumed to be Hickorystump's, sounded from the direction she had been knocked from. Large paw steps vibrated the earth as the tom made his way towards her pathetic, hunched body. "Let me help you up, Waspsting." With a slow effort, she opened her eyes and looked up at the large, furry red tom, his own amber eyes seeming regretful and concerned, yet tinged with a hint of ferocity towards the she-cat who hurt his mate. His paw was outstretched towards her in an attempt to help her get up, yet she swatted it away angrily.

"I can get up on my own," she hissed out as she used her uninjured shoulder to slowly push herself up from against the tree. Yet, another bolt of pain shot through her, bringing her body to slump right back unto the ground. "Rabbit dung!" she spat as the rough bark scrapped her shoulder.

Stagstride slowly walked over, still seeming completely unbothered by the open wound on his shoulder, "Do try to stop being so stubborn, Waspsting."

Her green eyes blazed with fury, "Stop talking down at me! And-and what was that you said about kits?!"

The tom stared at her, his head cocking to its side, "Oh, you didn't know?"

Anxiety and unease rumbled deep within her chest, her heart thumping painfully fast. "Know what?" she asked, hardly able to disguise the pain and concern in her voice.

The two toms before her exchanged a look before turning back to face her once more, their gazes drenched with pity as if they found a lost kit sopping wet in the pouring rain. "Waspsting... you're pregnant."

{1,355 words}

[elliott.]

username: elliott.
clan: the hawthorns

quest number: 1
response:
In The Hawthorns, where the whispers of deities mingle with the laughter of its youth, there's a secret everyone knows but no one talks about openly. The council believes in something bigger than themselves, something ancient and powerful, but they keep it secret, like it's a treasure waiting to be discovered. They have an idea, a faint belief, that there are beings out there, watching over them, but they're not about to slap a label on it or go into detail about who or what they are. They believe that any cat born with unnatural colors in their fur are born with the kiss of a God, a royal bloodline that goes above all the other cats within their sanctuary. It's the reason that Asphodeldance was chosen out of his siblings to be the leader, or why Orchidshriek, the outsider, was accepted as a marriage option for him.

In the heart of Hawthorns, away from the council's ears, there's a legend that's been passed down through generations. They say that once, long ago, a traveler stumbled upon the village and was greeted by a bright blue-colored cat, its eyes gleaming with secrets untold. Some say it was a messenger from the deities, sent to guide the lost and inspire the hopeful. Others swear it was the embodiment of the village's silent gods. Whatever the truth may be, the legend lives on, whispered in the flickering light of the sunsets and shared in the eager whispers of children under starlit skies. And as each new day dawns in Hawthorns, the mystery deepens, and the mystery of the royally-colored cats continues to weave its spell over the hearts of all who call the island home.
word count: 283 words.

quest number: 3
response:
When Asphodeldance first met Orchidshriek, he didn't like her.

She was a loner, not of Hawthorns descent. He had no idea why his mother had taken her in without the normal rituals they usually had for outsiders joining, or why she kept telling him how great she was, how pretty her purple pelt was. He knew that Orchidshriek was smart, and she was probably a gem to anyone else, with her bubbly personality and her ability to blend in with everyone. In fact, by the time he started actually spending time with her, she had already made herself friends with everyone in the council and royal family, joining his siblings and mother for meals and chatting about what was going on out inside of the group. All drama fell upon her ears, but she didn't use it to gossip to others. Instead, she would simply react and not bring it up ever again. It was almost admirable, really.

Unfortunately, he knew what his mother was doing. She wanted him to wed her, to make her his mate and become the next big royal couple, the only one since his father's death when he was an apprentice. He looked a lot better as a leader if he had a family of his own, not just a formerly royal mother.


Orchidshriek didn't mind Asphodeldance, other than the fact that he hated her guts.

She liked to pretend that she didn't notice his judgmental glances, or the glares he sent her when she chatted so easily with Poppyhowl and Tawnyhound. But she did. His gaze felt hot upon her pelt, the fur along her spine prickling every time he was in her space. It bothered her to no end. Who hates somebody without even knowing them? And she liked to think that she was kind, and smart. He just had a splinter in his paw pad that gave him a bad attitude, that was it.

So imagine her surprise when he started talking with her. Holding conversations through gritted teeth, inviting her to meals to just ignore her for a bit. And then imagine her shock when he mentions the idea of her being his mate, explaining it as a way to appease his mother and make sure she had the best opportunity the Hawthorns could offer her.

And imagine her surprise at herself when she accepted.
word count: 394 words.

[blshys]

Username: Timid-Decidueye
Clan: Hill of Sunflowers

Quest Number: 1

Response:

Elmleaf isn't one for believing in the stars, nor the possibility of a cat earning the title of 'God' given by the stars for a heroic act. He's read the stories that've been written of the previous generations, and he simply can't wrap his head around how cats could live in a separate realm, walking among the stars. He simply doesn't understand. He's tried and tried as he knows his friends are full believers, but it confuses him.

"Hey, Mams... I know you're really into this stuff, could you maybe try to help me understand?" Of course, he doesn't really want or need to understand, but hearing Mammothfluff talk made him happy. He slid over a scroll talking about the Realm of the Gods, more commonly known as Kreocetia.

"Welllll, that's easy!!" And she was off, explaining everything to him. Explaining the realm and how it had been perceived, how the gods sometimes came down to visit cats in times of need, how certain gods were assigned to look after a specific cat until they died.

He really did try to understand, but even after the three-hour rant that Mammothfluff had gone on, he still just didn't understand, and it was then that he'd decided that he didn't really have a need to understand, and he was perfectly fine with that, albeit sad that he couldn't grasp something that Mammothfluff and their leader held dear to their hearts.

Word Count: 239

Quest Number: 3

Response:

Elmleaf stood quietly outside of the caretaker's den, a bundle of flowers he'd found on a recent hunting mission in his mouth. He waited for the sun to rise behind him before walking past the ivy vined curtain, his steps slow and quiet. He placed his paw gently on Mammothfluff's nose, waiting for her to get up. After a few seconds, her eyes fluttered open, and she was met with Elmleaf laying in front of her, his big, beady eyes looking at her as his tail swished behind his body.

She squeaked in surprise and rolled away from him. He stood up quickly and walked over to her, nudging at her. "I didn't mean to startle you, are you alright?" His tone full of worry as he helped her up. He knew she could get up, but he liked being nice for her.

"I'm fine, I'm fine... You need to stop looking at me like that," she muttered, only now noticing the flowers he'd set down next to the nest. She smiled sweetly at them and picked the flowers up nimbly, placing them in the teapot she had on a small shelf behind the bedding. She looked at the rest of the flowers that had been in there with a toothy grin. "I might have to find another twolegged object to fit more flowers in if you keep this up. You're such a sweet friend, Elm."

He smiled, though a small part of his heart clenched at the word 'friend'. Had he not made it obvious enough that he loved her? Was she just clueless? Well, whatever it was, he didn't care. If she was fine being friends with him, he wouldn't budge. After all, he'd never strictly said anything about loving her to her face. "I was thinking of taking you to the pond today? It's still dark enough that we might find that owl you said you liked." He beamed, as if he was almost proud of himself for remembering something about her.

She squealed in excitement, circling around him as she jumped up and down. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!"

Word Count: 354

[dimi.]

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Username: dimi.
Clan: Heart of Decay

Quest Number: #1
Response: Resting among the stars, the concept of after-life, and the eternal damnation of those who oppose the perfect ideals. These are concepts that Envy, the head of the Heart of Decay, could never fully endorse. If a soul was good for most of their life, but made one questionable decision that harms multiple cats near the end of their time on Earth, why should they be sentenced to an after-life centralized around pain and atoning for what one did? If the stars truly dictated everything that happened in the course of ones' life, why do they let horrific things happen? Murder, stealing, pointless battles spilling blood and tearing apart lives, among other things.

These concepts are why Envy could never settle on a traditional belief system. Rather, the beliefs of the Heart of Decay are heavily centralized around what one believes. If a cat believes that the traditional concepts of Starclan and the Dark Forest are real, they will be judged by their respective deities and sent to their respectively deserved after life. Envy, in particular, believes in the concept of reincarnation. She refuses to believe there is nothing after death, and finds the idea of endless after life without impact boring. Envy has always felt as though this life is far from the only one she has lived.

Of course, Envy does like some of the traditions that the concept of Starclan has brought about. Because Envy does not fully believe in Starclan, the leaders of the Heart of Decay do not receive 9 lives. Instead, their bodies are imbued with the Spirit of Leadership. This is a magical embrace that makes the leaders strongest features enhanced and grants them more stamina. If a cat is notorious for being strong, they will gain even more strength, able to lift things no other cat could, and topple opponents well over their size. Or, if a cat is known for being quick and agile, these talents are only enhanced. These are given to the leader so they can aid the clan more efficiently. It is viewed that the leader must be the head of all operations, and participate in all branches, meaning their body will be subjected to more work. This maintains their well-being.

The features of Starclan that the Heart of Decay keeps is primarily the prophetical advantages. The territory does still host a moonpool, and the clan will receive prophecies periodically as potential dangers or major events arise. However, medicine cats aren't responsible for the prophecies like in a normal tradition; instead, the clan has a completely separate role for analyzing prophecies or dreams that other cats have. These dreams are physically and emotionally straining, and Envy felt that putting that upon the medicine cats' shoulders on top of their day-to-day duties was unfair.

Beyond that, the Heart of Decay doesn't have a traditional set of beliefs. Essentially, every cat is left to choose what they believe. It prevents a lot of conflict and fear amongst cats, not having to worry about appealing to a code of conduct or living a perfect life for fear of damnation.
[518 words]

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Username: dimi.
Clan: Heart of Decay

Quest Number: #2
Response:


The wedding of Onyx and Envy. Also where Onyx was appointed Deputy and promised to never run again.
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Username: dimi.
Clan: Heart of Decay

Quest Number: #3
Response:
Deception.

This was the principle that lead Dove to the Heart of Decay in the first place. Following an act of betrayal made by the clan's own spy, Moon, Dove was sent into the Heart of Decay on a mission of revenge. To seek out plans for what the clan was plotting against her home, and do anything she could to prevent it.

Dove was always a background player -- sticking to the shadows, easy to miss. It's why she was selected to carry out this mission. And so, she was sent to the Heart of Decay, and brought in by Onyx. She would bow her head before Envy and offer her loyalty in exchange for shelter, under the guise she was in desperate need of aid.

But Moon was not as oblivious as Dove and the rest of her clan perceived. Moon never missed a potential foe, and the moment that Dove entered the clan, Moon notified Envy. She informed her that Dove came from the clan Moon had been sent to spy upon, and rather than enraging Envy, this made her curious.

Envy admired Dove's boldness, and the faith her home clan harbored in her. Rather than immediately calling out Dove's plan, Envy decided to make it a game. She was genuinely curious how long Dove could maintain the facade. And so, Dove has stayed in the clan for several moons, acting as though it was her true home.

Over the moons, Dove began to grow more curious about the clan, and began speaking to her clanmates more. She began to develop genuine relationships with them, something Envy found intriguing. Eventually, Dove got to Envy herself, eager to learn more about her. Dove was, in all actuality, afraid of Envy initially. Envy's size and serious demeanor when protecting her clan were demonstrated in full force the night she broke into the camp and threatened her home -- the very event that started Dove's mission.

Envy, on the other hand, finds Dove extremely cunning. The way she seemingly hid her emotions and objective while growing close to all the other cats in the clan was something she admired. She had only seen such traits in her very own Moon. Because of that, Envy was actually quite open with Dove. The two would discuss their backstories, Envy disclosing that she was from a now retired fighting ring, while Dove very vaguely mentioned her old clan.

Dove would end up developing an actual friendship with Envy. Envy's protective and motherly attitude made Dove feel safe, while Envy found Dove's subtleness in conversations intriguing, and fun to listen to. Since the two have genuinely become friends, Envy is less wary of Dove's presence in her clan now. As far as she knows, though, Envy is expecting Dove to one day leave and return to her clan. Because of this, Envy graciously avoids disclosing vital information to Dove, though still vaguely keeps her in the loop.

Dove, however, has grown attached to the clan, as well as Envy, and isn't sure if she will ever return home.
[512 words]

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[Ember the Wolf]

Username: Ember the Wolf
Clan: Willowclan

Quest Number: #3
Response:

Riverpool and Hawkmoth.

Riverpool Looked at Burningpaw apprehensively. She was helping him collect herbs today as Hawkmoth was busy doing something and unable to take her with him. She has endless questions and if it wasn't for the fact that Yellowtail refused another apprentice Riverpool would of said she should become a Medicine cat. She was staring at him expectantly, Her large honey-colored eyes two menacing orbs to the side of him. He had to think about this thought. It wasn't like her normal questions about the different herbs which he could respond to automatically.

"Why aren't you friends with Hawkmoth?" She had asked. It had taken him by surprise and now he stood frozen, pondering an answer. She gently poked at him with a paw and he sighed heavily. "Well, It's Complicated" He responded finally, hoping that she would leave it at that, but also knowing she would prod for more information. She sighed dramatically in response and then flopped down, almost crushing the flowers he had so meticulously picked. "I need more than that Riverpool!" she whined and i flattened my ears. She may be older for an appearance, Her training constantly getting put off for various reasons, but she was still an apprentice.

"Don't whine like a kit"Riverpool scolded gently while carefully picking more flowers. "I have to think for a moment," he added when she looked like she was about to retort. She flicked her tail and then lay her head on her paws, waiting patiently now. Riverpool flicked his tail with mild irritation and focused on the flower in his paws for a moment before speaking again.

"It's not that we aren't friends," he said, he kept his eyes on the flowers "Hawkmoth has always been destined to lead." He said, thinking about the prophecy. "He's always been more reserved anyway. But hawkmoth is the kind of cat who is friends with everyone, and no one." Burningpaw huffed and riverpool shook his head "It's lonely being a leader," he said giving her a sharp look "There's a lot of responsibility, especially since we will probably have to move the entire clan." He flattened his ears remembering the conversations from the past few moons. Burningpaw flattened her ears and looked up at him nervously. "Why do we have to move Riverpool?" she asked softly. There had been a lot of mixed opinions from the clan, None of them wanted to leave the home they had known for so long, but the flooding was starting to eat the rock away, and the camp was slowly getting smaller with each rainfall.

"I know you're nervous." he said reassuringly "But, I trust Hawkmoth to make the right decision for us. And I trust him to keep us safe," he said. " It's not that we aren't friends," he said, turning the conversation back to the original topic "It's that he has too many other things to worry about" he stood and began to sweep the flowers together "We are friends, and i do my part in the clan so that he doesn't have to worry about it," he said. It wasn't entirely false. "And that includes babysitting" he teased making Burningpaw huff again before standing. She leaned into Riverpool for a moment before picking up her half of the flowers.
Word Count: 548

[literal.swag.]

Username: literal.swag.
Clan: wayward

Quest Number: 1
Response:

[1420 words]

flames cut through the shadows, lapping at the crevices of the alcove. the soft hiss of heated wax tumbles from stone walls, lazily reverberating. amalgamations flicker on the walls, silhouettes warped and disfigured, rippling with the rolling waves of light. voices carry easily through the enclosed space; the bodies of the octaves projected shakily. whispers shared between few, bottlenecked and uplifted to whispers of the twisting halls. the moon sat fat and low on the horizon this night hiding shyly behind heavy clouds. while it offered little light for the fields and forest it overlooked, even less reached through the slivers of moss and cracked stone of the ceiling of the apse the cats step into.

in the middle sat an altar darkened and worn with time. behind it rose an even darker sculpture whose features threatened to break through the already fragile ceiling. the sculpture seemed to suck the little light out of the space greedily, matte black and muted. light did not reflect off of it. not even the fickle flames from the lanterns that began to steadily fill the space. their voices no longer carried here, the cracks in the ceilings offering an escape and reprieve of the solidly enclosed space of the winding halls behind them.

the supernatural rested easy on their minds; it was common-place to the felines of wayward. it was rare, nearly unheard of, for a creature to not have some sort of ability on this planet. faes, warlocks and witches, gods, and more inhabit and peacefully cohabitate on this planet. what is considered up for debate though, is the existence of omnipotent spirits; the dark and the light. their existence was so hazy, fog between grasping fingers, that whether or not they really were built into the bones of this planet has turned controversial. many turn their nose up at the thought of “ghosts”, finding it moronic and improbable.

a deep, steady voice filled the chamber. “greetings, my brothers in belief! i’m deeply grateful that you were able to attend tonight. the moon is quiet, it is the time of the cycle to strengthen our bond with Anasi.” murmurs and quiet cheers rippled through the crowd of felines. before the statue stood a dark-furred tom with piercing amber eyes moving methodically through the crowd. he addressed the group with a carefully muted fervor. his sleek tail raised high with excitement. “it is the day we long for in the cycle, to reconnect ourselves and further strength our bond with them after the night of the bright moon. it will hold us over until shattered moon, and those who really open themselves to the spirit will feel them.” he dips his head in a practiced motion, looking at the crowd through his lowered upper lashes. “i humbly offer my service to you as a guide tonight. to help you offer yourselves to It, to find the truth of the world. to find clarity and peace.”

just as it does every time, the bid for recruitment and retainment smooths over the crowd. it fills their thoughts sweetly and slowly, honey from a comb. one of the many practiced disciples was the first to respond. “i pledge myself to the Shadow Spirit, in this consciousness and the next. i open myself to see the balance of the world, no matter how ugly. i open myself to the truth.” snowballing, his words gained momentum and ripped themselves from every member of the crowd until the apse seemed to echo their faith. then the whole structure began to quietly tremble. the cats all stomped one of their front paws, cheering or speaking their own words to the spirit. the dark rosette tom allowed this to continue for short while more before putting an end to it with a measured shout.

“my brethren!” a hush quickly fell over the crowd. “the spirit is pleased with the humble beginning of this meeting! but we must do more to prove our loyalty. we must spread more enlightenment, both in ourselves and others. we must offer those unsure with open and welcoming arms.” he received quiet murmurs of agreement. “the Shadow Spirit does not wish to harm, its nature is not in harming others or bringing about a malicious darkness, it is to keep balance. without shadows there could be no light, and without light there could be no shadows.”

a question cut the air. “then, tynan, why do we not praise the Light Spirit?” silence rippled through those that have gathered. the question played in everyone's minds, having curled through many at some point but never voiced. some of the more dedicated silently seethed, for they knew the answer in their own beliefs.

peach met amber in an intense silent battle for control. icy flames lapped at tynan’s bones, annoyance in every vein. it was obvious to the street tom, he could confidently guess what was raging through the other’s mind. how dare someone question him? his assumption rang true as the words the dark tom then spoke dropped with disdain. “what is your name, young one?”

“ezekiel.” short, sweet, and sneering. the fellow tom had no need to offer so many words to a cat he feels is delusional. ezekiel was not a stranger to darkness; having lived his life on the run and thieving whatever he could. he had dragged his sister into this corruption, forcing her into a life of uncertainty alongside him. he had heard murmurs of such a cult existing but had never paid much thought to such claims. except for now. he had grown bored today and just so happened to be in the area of the rumored shrine. his curiosity was too strong to fight, seeing as though he now found himself locked in a staring contest with the leader.

annoyance dropped from every syllable. “well, ezekiel. we do not believe the same for the Light Spirit because it does not follow the same principle. the light spirit only seeks to devour. with its warmth and light it seeks to destroy the shadows and the cold, to strip the balance from the world. if we lived in such a world we would never get rest, those who cannot survive in the light would be no longer. there’d be no difference, no change. there would be no reprieve from the heat; it would continue to accumulate and swelter.” the words were slow and sure, as if this concept was obvious, and the other was explaining such to a child. they rolled easily from ezekiel’s ears. he had closed himself off from such nonsense, only filtering in enough to satiate his biting curiosity.

beside him was his sister, of course. although he was sure he would not be swayed from such words, he was not sure his sister wouldn’t be. she was easily gullible, eager to believe whatever was told to her and trust whoever she was with. her eyes ticked back and forth — between the statue and the speaker, her turning internal gears easily visible to him. he could see the wonder in her orange gaze whenever she trained it on the greedy statue. ezekiel sighed quietly to himself, nudging her with his hip as he returned his attention back to tynan.

“i find that thinking idiotic.” incredulousness rose into the space. “you could say the same about the Shadow Spirit. it overtakes the sun every day. it threatens to consume us once a cycle. it corrupts and overruns. it is sneaky and quiet, creeping on us without any indication of its presence. how are you able to keep such a spirit on that pedestal while denouncing the other and commending them to disdain?” each question cut like a knife, each word a dagger. they singed through the group, burying themselves in each feline present. it infuriated some while placating others. some remained unphased or bolstered, having already been questioning.

from the corner of the group, wrapped in the smothering shadows, emerged a fellow feline he had not previously known was there. their fur grew in cloudy patches, coarse and thick plumes, while the rest of them was furless. their eyes were piercing despite their dark hue and struck him frozen even though they held no venom. like the other, their words were slow and carefully chosen. but this time the words easily pushed past ezekiel’s barrier, worming themselves deep in his chest. “because, i have seen the Shadow Spirit. i know them, and i have been there. i have seen what they’ve done.”

Quest Number: 2
Response:

the birth of the fated twins! born to get up to some...trouble... (#sorry fysi #justice for my girl)

Quest Number: 3
Response:

[1110 words]

heat raced across his cheeks, climbing up to the tips of his ears and down to the barrel of his chest. it wasn’t often he was grateful for his naturally mused fur but he couldn’t help but to be as it hid the now rosy hue of his skin. the sunshine tom, both in coat and in personality, shifted shyly from paw to paw. while he was so confident when on the job, movements sure and light, the relaxation of home and the presence of a certain tom made his frame run warm and his actions flustered. he tried to ground himself, wiggling his toes in the dewy grass and breathing in deep the brisk morning air. the sun was low in the sky, large but quiet in its heat. birds had long since risen but tiredness still laced their calls. “hermes.” light, airy, and excited. the tom lifted his amber gaze from the floor. “look at what i made!” the other spoke only once he was certain he had the sunshine tom’s attention. “it’s for you, you can have it!” enthusiasm brightened and lightened his tone, turning it airy as it floated between them.

the object was some sort of copper contraption. it was spherical with sharp precise thorn-like pieces that seemed to float around it. the ball was lightly encapsulated in two overlapping rings that, too, seemed to float. beneath it was a base on which it rested heavily. the whole piece, despite how intricate it was, with both swirling and scratched designs somehow meticulously crafted to meld sensibly together, was no larger than a papaya. there was something more to it, some other metal than what met the eye, as light dissipated on its surface, rippling iridescently across the sphere almost liquified. hermes studied it carefully, trying to spot the secrets, the magician’s touch, but they refused to reveal themselves. he hummed quietly as he got closer, nearly touching it with his nose. as he breathed out and his gentle breath fanned across its surface the sphere began to melodically spin. hermes jumped back, startled, yet rapt with curiosity. it’s rotation was slow and calculated, and a subtle glow emanated from within its core. warmth ebbed from the spinning sphere as its lights danced on the air before them. with its gentle, fiery glow, it clicked. this was a sun. his sun. his beloved sun.

gathering enough strength, hermes tore his gaze away from the other's invention to look him in the eye. he was met with genuine excitement. so pure and intense ir could almost pass as childlike. another wave of warmth washed through him, much faster and stronger than the last. “heph, you didn’t have to make me this.” quiet and unsure yet desperately appreciative, the words tumbled forcedly from hermes’s muzzle. hephaestus simply grinned, large eyes wide.

“this isn’t even the best part! you should see it at night, ooo or especially during the sun’s descent. or even maybe…hmm….” quickly the inventor found himself in a snowball of ideas each one better than the last. he muttered to himself quietly as he shifted his gaze to the amber grass beneath them. hermes could tell the other was racking his brain for the most opportune time for his invention to shine and had possibly even stumbled into a whole conglomeration of new ideas.

hermes’s involuntarily gentle prodding lured the other tom from his thoughts easily. “what does it do during those times?”

“the rain!” hermes blinked, confused. the…rain? what does the rain have to do with- “you should use it in the rain! it’ll look like a million gems are steaming in the air. and the steam will form shapes and artwork!” once again, like usual when he found himself in hephaestus’s presence, hermes found himself speechless. just how intricate is this design? he couldn’t help but soften further, early melting under the kindness and thoughtfulness of the other.

“thank you, heph, i will cherish this forever. i can’t wait to see how it looks in all different sorts of weather.” hermes hummed gratefully. he studied the larger tom before him. he had know him for as long as he could remember, but he was still always somehow surprised by the other. whether it was each new level of generosity and kindness hephaestus revealed, even so much time later, or the new minuscule details he found in his features. he just never ceased to be impressed by the other. “what made you think of this?”

hephaestus blinked incredulously, as if the reasoning was completely obvious. “well, because you worship the sun. you work in tandem with her and she obviously means a lot to you. and i just wanted to make you something that you could enjoy and appreciate.” his words were teetering on monotonous but genuine. there was no annoyance, no malice in his explanation. just the truth. such knowledge nearly brought tears to the other’s eyes. the feeling of being seen biting at the back of his lids, pinpricks of tears threatening to overflow. “i’m glad you like it though, i was nervous you weren’t going to. i had spent a long time trying to make it perfect. you can also use it as a nightlight! since you’re not the biggest fan of the dark.” such kindness, such caring nearly made hermes have to turn away to shield the tears threatening to spill.

“thank you again heph, you have no clue how much this means to me.” hermes murmured, barely above a whisper. it was all the strength he could muster and words he could gather without letting his emotions truly get the better of him. when he looked back down at the sun, it had slowed to a halt, though streams of iridescent light still lapped lazily across its surface. the sun was higher now, the pastels predominantly faded, merely a whisper. wispy clouds took over the sky, numerous but thin, a welcomed buffer from the sun’s warmth without turning the air cold. dew no longer clung to the amber strands of grass. “would you like to help me find the perfect place for it?” hermes questioned hesitantly. the blush had returned full force and it made him wildly comfortable knowing the other could possibly see it.

hephaestus jumped to his paws eagerly. “yes and i can run all my new ideas by you at the same time!” hermes chuckled softly, turning away as hephaestus moved to be by his side. the two headed in the direction of hermes’s home, the sculpture surprisingly light and fitting in his gilded scarf, wide smile plastered on his muzzle, and the inventor excitedly chatting away.

[crexmii]

Username: crexmii
Clan: both clans here

Quest Number: one
Response:

let’s just say that after being visited one too many times by a certain deity, she’s gotten very, very sick of them.
in other words, mania, god of chaos has driven belladonna insane with their frequent “visits” to her dreamscape.
Word Count: [ # 40 words ]

[faelyn]

[ Start of June Round ]

"Thank you all for your replies!! I'll have your prizes figured out soon!"

The current round has ended.

Quest #1
Archaeopteryx. → 65exp
Wretched.Felidae → 60exp
Hazelfang → 85exp
elliott. → 20exp
Timid-Decidueye → 20exp
dimi. → 35exp
literal.swag. → 80exp
crexmii → 5exp

Quest #2
Archaeopteryx. → 50exp
Macabre. → 165exp
Wretched.Felidae → 40exp
Hazelfang → 60exp
dimi. → 40exp
literal.swag. → 60exp

Quest #3
Macabre. → 35exp
Hazelfang → 75exp
elliott. → 25exp
Timid-Decidueye → 25exp
dimi. → 35exp
ember the wolf → 35exp
literal.swag. → 60exp

Please remember to link to this post in your next explore post to use your exp!

"And here are some special prizes for those who put extra effort into their entries!
You can use this to buy some cool stuff from StarClan's shop!"

Archaeopteryx. → 230sd
Wretched.Felidae → 200sd
Hazelfang → 440sd
dimi. → 220sd
literal.swag. → 400sd
Macabre. → 200sd

"Thank you all for participating! I loved hearing about each of your Clans!"

"While I loved all of your entries, these ones were my favorites! Here's something extra for your hard work!"

Quest #1 - Hazelfang and literal.swag.
+1 UR MYO each

Quest #2 - Archaeopteryx.and Macabre.
+1 UR MYO each

Quest #3 - dimi. and Ember the Wolf
+1 R MYO each

"Wait wait wait, I have more questions, don't leave yet!"

A new round has begun!

QUEST #1
Draw or write about the hierarchy of your cats.
You may write and/or draw your response to this prompt.

QUEST #2
Draw about a spot in the territory that elders like to rest on/around
You may only draw your response to this prompt.

QUEST #3
Write about the legacy your character wishes to leave behind after they pass
You may only write your response to this prompt.

[Hazelfang]

Username: Hazelfang
Clan: Kin of the Vixen

Quest Number: 1
Response:

The sun was slowly setting, it's warm violet and orange hues settling gently upon the bustling camp. Cats of all sizes and colors were scattered about, enjoying the vibrant sunset in their own individual ways. Mates laid side-by-side, sharing tongues and exchanging stories of their day's adventures. Elders yawned lazily outside their den, their tired eyes gazing upon the youthful glow of a group of boisterous softpaws, too eager to rest. Just beyond the elders was the nursery, hidden and protected well within the camp. Sitting outside the nursery entrance was a golden fawn she-cat, her red eyes tracking the movements of a pair of kittens tumbling in the grass. The she-cat let out a warm purr, "Come on, little ones. It's time for bed."

A small black kitten poked their head out from beneath the thick brown fur of their sibling, his green-blue eyes rounding in dismay, "But I don't wanna sleep!"

"Yeah, me neither!" mewed the brown kit as she slid off her brother.

The golden she-cat looked at them thoughtfully, her gaze remaining warm and tender, "How about I tell you a wonderful story about Cloudroar's adventures?" She offered, hoping to tempt the little rascals at least into the nursery.

The two kittens exchanged glances, seemingly displeased by the offer. "We don't want anymore adventures about Cloudroar!" the small black kitten squeaked first.

"Yeah!" the brown kit echoed once more, shaking the dirt from her fur as he stomped towards the older she-cat.

"I see..." the she-cat nodded at the kittens, glancing around the camp for an idea of what could possibly convince them to come inside the nursery. Not too far away, she noticed Violetshade and Lostwind talking in a hushed whisper, their heads close together as they spoke. She couldn't quite hear what they were saying, but she already knew what it would be. Just as she was watching them, an idea struck her. "I know," she mewed, "How about I tell you more about the Renatus Ceremony?"

The pair of kittens' eyes lit up in excitement, their ears pricking at the mention of the wondrous ceremony they heard in passing by the senior cats. "Yes!"

"Yes please!" the two mewed in unison, sprinting into the nursery before the golden she-cat could even get another word out.

She let out a soft chuckle as she followed them in, sitting beside the nest the duo were already snuggling into. "Eager beavers, you two are," she commented, her eyes glimmering humorously.

"Come on, tell us about it!" the black kit mewed impatiently, her paw kneading into the moss lining of his nest.

The golden she-cat placed her paw atop the young cat's heading, gently roughing up her fur, "Alright, Panther. Let's start with who the Renatus Ceremony is about... As you both know, Kestrelspirit was our leader, known as our Magister." The two kittens nodded eagerly, their eyes glued to the Ministra. "However, right now, our Sybil Superior, Larkblossom, is temporary leader. Do you know why that is?" This time the kittens shook their head, a look of confusion spreading on their little faces. "That's because the Kin actually have two leaders: the Magister and the Sybil Superior. You see, the Magister handles the day-to-day responsibilities. They help coordinate what roles Softpaws train under and assign cats to help in their mentorship. Sometimes they even help in the training themselves, after all, a Magister is trained and experienced with each and every role- even roles like mine, the Ministra."

The two kittens listened in awe, their eyes reflecting the final rays of sunlight piercing through the brambles of the nursery walls. She continued on, amused by their investment, "On the other paw, the Sybil Superior does more help leading in the background. Our Sybil Superior is our direct connection to Terra, the goddess of our forest, and her Nine Spirits. The Sybil Superior is able to talk to them even in her sleep! She takes their messages and gives them to the Magister, aiding in making big decisions."

"Along with this leadership role, the Sybil Superior is also tasked with training all of the Servus in the ways of medicine. The Servus that work under the Sybil Superior do not talk to Terra or the Nine Spirits. Only few will receive messages from them on very rare occasions. More than anything, the Servus focus on medicine and mediating Kin-related disputes. Their job is to not only heal the body, but to also heal the heart and the mind."

As she spoke, the pair of kittens seemed to grow a little uninterested. "Yeah, yeah. We know about the Servus, they are always in here messing with our fur!" Panther huffed, indignation flickering in his eyes.

His sister nodded her head, "What about the Legatus? Like Mommy! Don't they lead too?"

The golden she-cat nodded, brushing her tail against the brown kit's head, "That's right, Shadow. Your mommy is a Legatus Marauder and the Legatus do have leadership roles as well. However, it's not quite as... large as the responsibility the Magister has. Instead, the Legatus lead specific roles within the Kin. For example, your mommy, Hiddenmoon, is the Legatus Marauder. She watches over the other Marauders within the clan, planning when they will go on their missions and figuring out what Guardian will join them on their journeys. The Legatus Guardian, Dovecloud, has a similar job with the Guardians. She picks which Guardians will patrol where and will coordinate their training. And the final Legatus is Flameleap, the Legatus Stalker. Just like Dovecloud and Hiddenmoon, he leads the Stalkers and will plan hunting patrols and ensure the camp is well-fed."

"The three of them work together, with the guidance and cooperation of the Magister. So you could think of the Magister and the Sybil Superior being joint leaders and the Legatus being a team of deputies. It's an entire system so that all of us can go to sleep feeling safe and with full bellies." She let out a gentle purr, smiling brightly at the kits.

Panther tilted his head inquisitively, "What about the other roles? You're a Ministra, do you have a Legatus too?"

She shook her head before speaking once more, "While yes, I am a Minisitra, we do not have a Legatus. A Ministra's role is to care for the kits of the Kin. While it is certainly an important role, it's not one that needs a lot of planning or coordination. So we work as our own team and answer to the Sybil Superior mainly. Especially since we work so closely with the Servus to make sure each and every one of you are perfect and healthy." Her golden tail softly pressed against each of their noses, bring the small brown kit to a sneeze. "And soon, when you are big and strong, you'll become Softpaws of your own. With the guidance of the Magister and the Sybil Superior, you'll be given a role and will train as a Softpaw in that role until you're ready.

A look of distress crossed their eyes as the two kittens shuffled anxiously in the nest. "But there's no Magister right now, right?"

"Kestrelspirit is... is dead.. so we won't become Softpaws?" the little black kit squeaked after his sister, tears already beginning to form beneath his round eyes.

A pang shot through her heart for the two sad-looking kits. It was unfortunate they would be born so soon after the death of Kestrelspirit, never to learn of what a wonderful leader she was. "Fret not, little ones," she spoke tenderly, stroking her tongue along the fur between their ears in a comforting fashion. "That's what the very Renatus Ceremony is for. For us to name a new Magister. And you're in luck, as the ceremony will soon be over." Her words seemed to perk the siblings up, "The Renatus Ceremony is a very wonderful ceremony, the first the Kin have ever had. You're very lucky little kittens to experience it."

"You've already seen a little bit of what the Renatus Ceremony is. It's a series of intense competitions in which six cats, chosen by the Legatus and the Sybil Superior, participate and show off their skills. These six kits were chosen a couple moons ago: two from each primary role- Guardian, Stalker, and Marauder. One she-cat and one tom are chosen from each of these roles carefully, their skills, experience, and personalities all taken into consideration."

Panther mewed, interrupting the Ministra, "What about the Ministras or the Servus?"

A purr rumbled in her chest, "Excellent question, Panther. No Ministra and Servus are chosen for two reasons. One such reason is that they are bound to their role. A Ministra and Servus are special in that when they become one, they are unable to change roles. This is because it takes a lot of special training that doesn't translate very well into the other, more physical roles. For example, Ministra and Servus are taught very basic fighting skills. So a it would be very dangerous for a Servus to go on a Marauder missions. However, a Marauder wouldn't be in any danger if they decided to live their life as a Ministra instead- they would just need special training on how to handle little pawfuls, such as yourselves."

"Now, the second reason is because a Magister needs to have the fighting skills and experience of a Marauder, Guardian and a Stalker. The responsibilities of the other two roles don't apply to them, as that would fall under the tasks of the Sybil Superior instead. This allows the Magister to focus on those specific roles instead of all of them. This is why it is so important for all six of the participants to go through so many different competitions and trials. They all receive training as if they are going to become a Marauder, Guardian, and Stalker all at once!"

Her answer seemed to please the kittens, who nodded their heads at her. "And what happens to the other five cats who don't become the Magister? Do they just become.. normal again?" Shadow asked, his head tilted to the side.

"Well, normal is one way to put it. But not all of them do. After the Magister is chosen, three other cats of the remaining five are chosen to be Legatus instead."

"What?!" Panther let out a squeal, "But mommy is a Legatus!"

The Ministra nodded at her, "That's right. But when a Magister passes away, the Legatus will retire and become Doyen along with the other elders."

Panther's nose wrinkled, "But mommy isn't old!"

"Yeah! It's mean of you to call her old, Sunblossom," Shadow pouted, her ears pinned back against his head.

Sunblossom smiled at them affectionately, "Now, now. We all know your mommy isn't old. And Hiddenmoon would certainly bat my ears if she heard me say otherwise. But it is an absolute honor for your mother to become Doyen. It signifies the time she spent as Legatus and allows her to be honored by the other Kin who will care for her and treat her with the respect she and the other Legatus deserve. Besides, I think your mother definitely deserves a break. Don't you?"

The small brown kit looked down sheepishly, her paws digging into the dirt. "Yeah..."

"Chin up, little one. I can assure you, your mother won't sit still for very long. I am certain she will still be working hard as she currently does, giving the new Legatus all of her wisdom. Now.. where was I? Oh, yes! So three of the cats will become Legatus, all to serve under the new Magister. That does leave two more cats and while those two don't become Legatus or Magister, they will be remembered as experienced warriors and will often become a source of wisdom and guidance for even the new Legatus and Magister. And once each chosen cat is revealed, we will all celebrate at a grand feast! With the gifts collected and given to the new leaders."

A deep yawn escaped from Panther's parted jaws, his eyes looking more drowsy than before. "A feast, that sounds yummy..." his words trailed as it seemed sleep threatened to overcome him.

"That does," agreed Shadow, seeming less tired than her brother.

Sunblossom nodded, slowly standing and positioning herself to wrap around the two kittens. "It certainly is. There will be lots of food and fun for everyone, even for you two." With the tenderness of a loving mother, she began to groom the kits, her warmth lulling them to sleep. "But that will be for another day to tell you all about. It's about time you two got some rest.... good night."

2,119 words

✿✿✿

Quest Number: 2 (Draw about a spot in the territory that elders like to rest on/around)
Response:

✿✿✿

Quest Number: 3
Response:

A golden-silver she-cat let out a quiet sigh, her eyes looking down upon two bundles of fur pressed against her belly. One kitten, a warm brown tabby, was latched to her side, nursing themself peacefully. The second kitten wasn't as peaceful, a silver-black kitten wriggled against her, restlessly trying to find a spot to latch. Gently, her tail nudged the feisty kitten, presenting them a comfortable position to feed. Once both were settled and seemed to be feeding with no qualms, she allowed herself a moment to look up at the sky.

Shimmering lights of yellow and white twinkled against the deep blue night sky. It's vastness both comforting and frightening for the nursing queen. Her mind wandered, as it often did, into the memories of the nights that lead up to this one. Many moons had passed since she herself were a kit, curious of everything yet knowing of none. There were many mistakes strewn about in the wake of her passing. Many secrets that remained untold, many dreams that were shattered. Yet, among it all, there was one thing she was certain of. Becoming a mother had never once been a mistake. This she knew with certainty.

Despite this being her second litter, the she-cat felt just as much love and joy as she did for her first. Seeing these innocent and curious bundles of life only furthered her resolve to become the perfect mother. She wanted her kits to not only grow to never experience the hardships she endured, but to become the cat she wished she could be. A legacy of life to be passed to a new generation. Yet, she didn't want for them to simply be her legacy. It was not her desire for them to be echoes of her mistakes, even if they became the perfect cat she always dreamed she could be.

No. It wasn't just a legacy for her. Her kits were special, she was certain of it. The legacy she wants to pass on is new legacies of their own. For her kittens to be remembered as themselves for their accomplishments, not of who their parents may be or of where they came from. Their legacy would become her legacy, without her own true legacy being a stain upon their future.

381 words

[canadianhowl]

Username: canadianhowl
Clan: galactic skies

Quest Number: 1
Response:

For many moons this ranking system has been a great way for the cats to each play a role in the group. Even when the group had an explosion in population the system held up. The typical ranking is followed here with a few extra branches;

The leader is the main cat, the face of the group. They mostly answer questions and settle debates between their own cats and from other regions. They are the most in tune with their constellation as they have the highest rank. They will get words and advice specifically from their guide and only their guide. One must be resilient to be able to manage a group of over 100.

A leader without a deputy means nothing. They need to have someone by their side to keep things in order. The deputy is their right hand man and keeps things running. They help organize any tasks the leader isn’t able to do due to how busy they are with negotiations. This could mean patrols, check ins, and more with the cats of the group. They too must have a good sense of patience to be able to handle the population. The group had only had one deputy for eternity until now where the group has 2 active deputies.

Medics work close to another rank. They are the most in tune with the guides just like the leader. They receive word from all the stars. They must have sharp memory and a wanting to care for the community. There are many herbs and many grow pretty far so they must be willing to make the journey sometimes. They do the herb collecting and sometimes get guidance from the gatherers on where herbs are now growing.

The ranks split here from the in charge to the main population.

Guards are the core of the group and are the second most popular role. They are the defense up close to camp and are made up of cats with the most strength and great fighting skills. They also are fast and some used to be previous border cats. Guards are very sturdy and training is difficult but many have made it through. Seeing how large the clan is, its great there are many guards. They are there incase of any surprise attacks that get past the border cats too. Training involves ton of physical force and smarts. It’s why you’ll see a majority of guards are so bulky and large. A kitten destined to be a guard is shown to be very playful and determined. They must want to battle a lot and have a passion for protecting their clan.

Gatherers are known for knowledge and keen smell. They are similar to medicine cats though they dont need to know effects and purpose. For herbs, they need to know looks and scent. They also gather items to repair camp or for decoration. They might also track scents and alert of migration patterns in predators or prey. This role isn't too popular as it’s more relaxed with not as many tasks to fulfill. It’s common for cats primarily a gatherer to pick up another skill alongside and have two ranks attached to them. Many often go into being hunters if they leave their rank all together. Kittens to be trained to this rank must have an affinity for wanting to learn and gather. They aren’t too keen on battle and tend to be more reserved.

Hunters are the most diverse. They specialize in normal hunting skills, fishing, and agility. They are either the speediest cats who can navigate in tiny spaces or the most skilled swimmers who have a quick reaction to catch fish. Hunters have the most tiring role as for a clan as large as this one, one needs to hunt a lot. Thankfully the clan has a lot as this is the most common role to be apart of. Patrols are sent often with more being sent in the spring and summers. A group of 5 is sent at a time to head out and return with whatever they can get. When the deer herds are nearby, group of up to 15 are sent out to try and get a huge kill. It’s very rare but has happened before. Kittens not suited for either other path are usually defaulted to a hunter.

Border cats are specialized in their agility and speed. They're the first in line if an enemy is at the border and their speed is needed to alert the main clan as fast as possible. Their agility is used to help check for predators and scents in any crack or crevice. There aren't many at the moment as this is a hard role to commit to. Cats mostly back away being too afraid to be the front line of defense or approaching danger. While they are trained in fighting they are taught to rely more on their speed. Kittens who are brave and fast are able to be assigned to the border rank pathway, They must not show fear often or else they’ll be assigned to a hunter instead,

While all these ranks specialize in something they all must know basic battle, tracking, and hunting moves in case they’re ever lost. This is taught down to trainees who are specialized in a certain path the leader selects for them.

Trainees are learning how to be involved in the clan. Once they’re assigned their path, a cat in that rank will mentor them and teach them everything there is to know. They will assess and make sure learning is running smooth and update the leader and deputy about progress or if any concerns rise. These also include trainees who wish to go down the medic path instead. The same rules apply to them too.

The ranks following are below the main order but aren’t disrespected

Mothers are the caretakers of the kittens. They are either currently rearing kittens or babysitting. Usually this rank is temporary and for the time being you’ll preform no task of your original rank until recovered. This leads to the kittens who’s only task is so play and explore what they enjoy. They’re watched by the leader and deputy and whatever skills they shine in will determine their life. Kittens are assigned a guide up to a week after their birth who will watch over them for the rest of their life.

Elders are on the same bar as Mothers and Kittens. They hold the tale of the past and rest as a way to show thanks for the services they have given to the clan. Kittens love spending time with the Elders and often learn what they like through their stories.



Overall;
Leader
Deputy
Medics
Gather, Guard, Hunter, Border
Trainee
Mothers, Kittens, Elders


Word Count: 1132

Quest Number: 2
Response: wip

Quest Number: 3
Response: wip
Word Count: