[Hazelfang]

October quests have been judged and results are posted here <33 lots of lovely entries & congrats to the winners!!

[Hazelfang]

Username: Hazelfang
Clan: The Blessed Lupus

Quest Number: 1
Response: Draw or write about a cat who gives good advice.
You may write and/or draw your response to this prompt.

"I just don't know what to do, Fy. That child is out of control," her voice echoed through the corridor, etched in weary dismay. Delicate purple bangs bounced between her ears with every aimless step, it's pale gaze fixed upon the marbled floor. The ground's frigidity bit into the pads of it's paws, each chilling nip grounding the royal feline in the reality of their despair.

"Is the child truly any of your concern, your Gracious?" an emotionless voice replied, as cool as the very marbled floor they walked along. "Are they not the true offspring of that mistress and, thus, not your responsibility?"

The colorful feline came to an abrupt stop, sharpened claws screeching to a halt. It whipped their head around rapidly, lips pulled back revealing a threatening snarl, "Fyra, how many times have I told you that Eritha is not simply 'that mistress.' She is mine and Acer's mistress- our love. And any child of her's becomes one of mine." Their tail flicked fiercely, ruffling the many white ribbons adorning the lilac-colored fur.

Fyra lowered xer muzzle humbly, sharp red eyes averted so as to not meet her's. "Forgive me, your Highness. I misspoke." A momentary pause followed xer words, hanging between the two felines.

A sigh escaped Prisma's lips, her muzzle turning to face away from the kneeling priestex. "Either way, Fy... a child of mine or not, Castor is still the heir apparent. That makes him my responsibility no matter what."

The feline remained lowered, hiding the clench of xer jaw at it's statement. While xer didn't enjoy hiding anything from her royal highness, it certainly was not the time nor place for any bold declarations. Especially not one concerning the legitimacy of the bastard prince's right to the throne. "Of course," was xer simple, brief response.

# WIP words

✧✧✧

Quest Number: 3
Response: Write about a kitten or young cat encountering something new for the first time.
You may only write your response to this prompt.

Since the moment I was born, all I have ever known is silence. I've never known the sound of my mother's voice; never listened to the songs of my beloved birds; never heard the calls of the lawless grove. Only silence. A perpetual stillness occupies my mind. A complete and utter absence of all and any noise. And yet, how could one mourn the absence of something they've never known?

# words

[néktar]

Username: nektar
Clan: the lost isle
─────────────────────────

Quest Number: QUEST #1
Draw or write about a cat who gives good advice.
Response: from ivory to silk

their paws hurt, leaving them to limp feebly by their mother's side, her wheezing breaths were the only thing keeping him moving. he had splinters in their claws and paw pads, escaping from their home had been a whirlwind of fur and claws. they were thin from lack of food; prey had been scarce in the tall pines, and they were the last to be fed. silk was seen as the weakest young cat of the clowder, not worth feeding in the eyes of the higher ranks of the clowder. thaw was sick, very sick, they had sailed from the mainland where there were pools of murky water and thick sludge, she had eaten a bit of bad prey. swamp sickness is what they called it, sickness of the chest. her eyes had once been a brilliant blue now turned a nauseating green. redrum offered no aid to her so they sought to leave.

silk knew of the wild clan cats that lie over the steep ridge, though he worried that they would kill their mother before they even spoke.

in that moment silk's paws gave and he yowled as he hit the mossy floor. he sighed heavily laying still, with his body refusing to get up, he began to cry. thaw stopped and stooped down to sniff them offering a hoarse and raspy purr. she didn't dare lick him for fear the sickness was contagious she was hardly ever this close to him while with the clowder.

just then the silence was broken by a cat clearing his throat. a tall earred cat pushed his way through a small bundle of bushes, his one showing eye was a bright green, soft like a summer night's breeze. he offered a gentle smile at the two cat's, dispite thaw bristling and baring her teeth to the stranger. she stood over her kit as he quickly flipped onto his belly, also bristling but intimidated by the size of the tom he shrank under their mother.

"i do not wish to harm you, i offer help. shelter and food if you would please accept." the tom then sat on his haunches, no tail wrapping around his paws. "i know where you come from, you smell of the rouge clowder that pirates that fire blackened ship. i-" his voice faltered out, and he started again in a softer tone. "i have seen the way they treat you. it is disgraceful."

with these words thaw relaxed and stepped away from her kit, looking to the younger cat for his final decision about this stranger. silk stood up and eyed the cat, "first, i would like to know your name." he said trying to sound confident, his mother would usually talk but when she did, she would break out into a horrible fit of coughing.

"ivory" the large tom spoke, a smile appearing on his maw. "come, i have freshly caught river fish and two warm nests in my cave. with this he got up and turned towards the thicker part of the pines. he walked at their pace offering thaw his left shoulder and silk his right one. he spoke calmly,

"you know.. the clan cats could possibly cure your mother young one. they have more herbal knowledge then i, though i can offer some to you. they aren't as vicious as the clowder has told you. many of them are kind, patient and understanding. their leader is noble and i know the shaman would be the best chance for your survival." silk looked up at him in awe, butterflies fluttering in his stomach and rising to his chest. ivory continued while looking onward, "and they do not let any of their cats starve for any reason. they would take care of you if you wished to stay."

the young cat did not respond, and ivory did not make him. they arrived at the cave, it was covered by a thick wall of ivy and a few thorny bushes. ivory motioned for the pair to go inside first, as they entered the dim light streamed in from a few holes in the dirt ceiling. it was warm and smelled of fish and rabbit, along with another cat scent. their was a large nest in the back of the cave where four bundles were curled up fast asleep. two other nests lay beside the large one, both big enough to fit two cats in each, thickly layered in down feather and moss. silk could hardly believe their eyes. he felt thaw's muscles finally relax, she limped to the nest nearest to her and settled in. silk noticed the fish in the middle of the cave, he turned to see ivory grabbing the biggest one and laying it in front of thaw, nodding to silk before going a sitting near the other occupied nest.

silk limped over to their mother, settling down to tuck into the fish. his first taste of food in many days, tears streamed down their face as they ate. purring rumbling from them both.

Word Count: 841 words
─────────────────────────

Quest Number: QUEST #3
Write about a kitten or young cat encountering something new for the first time.
Response: tunakit & the sea

Word Count: (If applicable)