[liightning]

Username: liightning
Cat Name: Sedgepaw
Clan: DeltaClan
Rank: apprentice

Gender: female
Age: 8 moons
Prompt:

[clouds-move-on]

Username:☁Lady Raincloud☁
Cat Name: Goosewhisper
Clan: NocturneClan
Rank: Warrior, Scout

Gender: Tomcat
Age: 40 moons
Prompt:

Goose had lived almost his entire life alone.

Every day, in the park he lived in, the only animals he really interacting with were geese and ducks; hence his name. He'd patrol about them, avoiding attacks from stranger geese, while many of the birds seemed adjusted to him. When hunting was rough, he's even eat bread with the geese, to the amusement of the passing, bread tossing pedestrians who crowded the paths of the place.

He'd been abandoned by his mother at only a few months old, and when he met other cats, they usually picked up a fight with him over food, or water, or shelter. One time he got into a fight by simply looking at another cat.

Embittered by all this, he disliked cats for the most part. Growing up after his abandonment around the geese and ducks, and having had followed around a mother Canada goose and her goslings, who treated him reasonably well, he got along swimmingly with them; he didn't need friends of his own kind. The geese, in their turn, liked that he helped protect their goslings from dogs and other cats. Only the stranger, newcomer geese didn't like him at first, but they warmed up in time.

"Goose Whisperer." Someone snickered one day. It was a few of the alley cats, who would come and stare at him as he patrolled his little territory around the pond. "Hey Susie, ya'know I've never heard him talk? He probably makes duck noises! QUACK QUACK!"

Goose ignored them, long since used to their antics and mockery. In fact, they had named him; his home with the geese caused him to be called 'The Goose Whisperer', or just Goose. He took it as a compliment, and actually lifted his head up a bit higher as he heard their mutters.

"Hey birdcat!" The other tom in the group called, sitting up a bit higher and waving a paw. He looked slightly nervous, but Susie and the other tom goaded him on with gentle shoves "Say, you got any good bread crumbs lately?"

They were definitely running out of insults. Goose snickered as the cast the three lurking rogues a small smile, before padding down towards the water.

Later on he met them again, and still days later they came more frequently. They kept a distance, for a time, but gradually got closer and closer. Finally the most bold of the toms, a cat called Sam, actually tried to see if he could escape with a duckling to eat. He was met with not only Goose's attack, but the duckling's mother too, soon chasing him away from the ducklings. An onlooking Susie and the nervous rogue, name Thompson, watched with interest, before they left. Goose was happy to see they didn't come back for awhile.

Around a month passed without a trace of cats. Goose went back to his normal routine. Then, one of the cats came back.

It was Susie, and she was at the end of a pregnancy. Goose found her one morning after she'd already had her kits, laying in a bunch of reeds and looking completely listless. The she-cat was very weak, and so were her kits, and Goose wasn't sure what to do for them. Why had she chosen to give birth here, of all places?

For several days he provided the weak she-cat with food and water. One of her kits passes away the same night they were born, and Goose comforted her as she wept over him, before carrying out a respectful burial. He asked himself why he was doing this; he didn't like cats. He'd never likes Susie or her friends. Why was he helping her?

A week passed. Another kit of the three fell asleep, and didn't wake up. He was buried beside his brother by the lake. This time, Susie was well enough to get up and attend, leaning weakly on Goose's fluffy form.

Now, only one of her kits remained. His eyes opened and his mother was filled with joy again, comforted in her remaining kit. However, she was still dreadfully weak; her kit grew more and more healthy by the day, but Susie was wasting away. Goose saw it in her eyes and it seemed to stab him in the heart; oddly enough he'd grown to really like her company. It had only been three weeks now, yet he was already so adjusted to caring for her it was heartbreaking to imagine her not being there. And what if she did die? What about the kit?

The kit was a month old when Susie passes away. She admitted to him, before she died, why she'd come here; seeing Goose defend the duck and geese, especially their young, was admirable. She had felt she was dying, or that she could die, and didn't trust her own group to care well enough for the kits. Her mate was too busy bossing around the other cats and fighting; her friends weren't ready for responsibility of kit care, nor her brothers and sisters, and her own parents were dead. She thus entrusted her son, who up until his point was merely called 'Kitten', until he was well enough to gain his official name, to him.

They buried her next to her other two kits; now, the kitten was the one digging his tiny head into Goose's fluffy fur to gain comfort. Before Susie died, she'd given him a name; Duckling. That way, there'd be a duck and a goose to guard the lake.

Goose raised Duckling alone; he was old enough to be without milk now, and so he brought him fish, and bread, and whatever mice he could hunt. Early on her taught him out to stalk, and to pounce. He sung to him songs to lull him to sleep, and told him stories he'd heard throughout his moons, from various park visitors. He taught him how to hide from predators, and to defend the ducks and geese.

His proudest moment? It was seeing Susie's son make his first catch; it was seeing his eyes wide with wonder and interest as he told him stories, songs and new tactics to hunt and fight. It was finally feeling he'd found one of his own kind to raise, like his own son; this one kitten redeemed an entire race in his eyes. And he felt his heart filled with pride and joy when Duckling grew into a brave young adult, and he felt he'd fulfilled his promise to Susie, who'd trusted him enough to give her the gift of parenthood.

[~HєуRєι~]

Mark

[Yellow.]

Username: Yellow.
Cat Name: Mistwind
Clan: Ridgeclan
Rank: deputy

Gender: molly
Age: 30 moon
Prompt:
"Are you sure I'm ready?" Mistpaw had asked her mentor just hours before her warrior ceremony was set to take place. She'd been thinking about it for the past few days and just now found the courage to ask her mentor.

The older tom stopped walking, turning to his apprentice next to him knowing that she still had yet to realize what a fine warrior she’d become. She’d probably be his last apprentice before he joined the elders shortly. “You’re as ready as any apprentice before you. You’ve learned everything I have to teach you and even more on your own. You are more ready than I ever was to be a warrior.”

Stunned by her mentor's words Mistpaw could only stare in at the aging tom, before finally responding with a smile and then a laugh. “You’re right!” She yelled out, continuing on the forest path at a faster pace than before they’d started talking. “I’m ready to be a warrior for the clan, I’m more than ready.”

Later that day Mistpaw’s name was changed to Mistwind not for her speed but for her quick mind. While she was proud to now be a warrior, she had already had her proudest moment earlier that day. To know that her mentor was proud of what she’d done, made Mistwind proud in herself. It gave her the confidence to accept her warrior name with a high head and the knowledge that she could do this and much more.

[zippo.]

Username: zippo.
Cat Name: vanilladream
Clan: land of three crows
Rank: warrior | warden

Gender: molly
Age: 60 moons
Prompt: finding her missing mate, 398/400


Vanilla let a heavy sigh escape as she trudged along the grass-trodden path. The crow she had followed through the mountains had long sense disappeared, leaving her to question her choices of leaving the Village. The older molly found herself stopping as she glared into pool of water before her, glaring towards greying solemn expression. Finally she closed her eyes and thought back to what had brought her to this point.

She remembered her mouth, of the plague that wiped out her clan, of her mothers' sacrifice - the distinct smell of vanilla that clung to her fur as the humans found her. She thought of the hectic times of her prime in in the Village, of adopting the black and white fuzzball she came to know as Storm, of protecting a young overly brave grey cat who both would evolve into the most important people in her life. Her memories drifted to the day she woke up and the grey tom was gone; leaving so little trace she was left to think she had imagined the whole loving trance he brought. A ripple broke her from past, as she was met with the lasting effects of a fish breeching the surface of the lake. She looked over her shoulder, contemplating turning around and returning to what she knew; the demanding hierarchy of the Village. Vanilla huffed, turning back towards the tree line before the distinct caw of a black-feathered friend garnered her attention once more.

"Well, nice of you to show your face again" She teased as it fluttered to her side, hopping along the ground to pull her gaze to a downward path. She glanced over her shoulder once more, shaking her head to clear her thoughts as she followed the bird down the rocky path. A waterfall roared next to her, falling into a pool that then stretched into a river. She caught glimpses of the yellow meadow before her, finally circling around a large rock to see various cats wandering about. The crow perched on the rock above her, letting out a ear-shattering shriek to draw attention to the molly under them. Her eyes locked with that of a grey tom; orange eyes that seemed all too familiar as the magnetism drew them closer.

"Vanilla?" His hopeful voice cooed, deeper than she remembered.

"Told you I would find you" She giggled with tear brimmed eyes.

[MeltiTheDragon]

Username: Diamondshine101
Cat Name: Lilyblossom
Clan: Cascadeclan
Rank: Warrior

Gender: Female
Age: 53 Moons
Prompt:


"Plumpaw, you will now be known as Plumbranch. Starclan honors your calmness and free spirit. Pearpaw, you will now be known as Pearclaw. Starclan honors your strength and unwavering loyalty. We are very pleased to welcome you both as full warriors of Cascadeclan."

There's nothing quite like watching your kits all grown up, now with warrior names and a wonderful life ahead of them. She couldn't help but smile a bit. She just knew they'd do something great one day.

Both new warriors leaped off Highledge full of excitement and youthful vigor. They immediately ran share tongues with their mother.

"I've missed having you cuddling with your mother at night! It's been cold and lonely being the only one in the nest!" Lily purred. Plum and Pear shook their heads and chuckled. They'd forgotten that being warriors meant they'd be in the same den as their overly loving, doting mother. Giving her one last lick each, they ran off to hear Owletfur announcing midnight patrols. Sure enough, they were both in it. As they trotted behind patrol leaders Shadowfang and Sleetstorm, Lily ran behind to add, "Don't wear yourselves out too much! You have silent vigil all day tomorrow!"

"We won't!" Pearclaw yowled back.

Their beaming smiles stuck in her mind's eye, she whispered behind their backs. "I'm very proud of you both. May Starclan watch over your pawsteps when I can't." The curled corners of her mouth turned the opposite way, in an unsure frown.

Mottlenose came up next to her. "Though they're movin` into your den, you still feel like an empty nester don't ya?" she meowed.

Lily nodded sadly. Though she was proud, she still had her doubts and worries as any mother does. It was just, since their father had started walking the stars, she couldn't shake thoughts of the possibility of the same happening to her kin without her knowledge because she couldn't constantly monitor them anymore.

"Most mothers feel that way," the medic assured. "But, I know your kits will be just fine."

"You think so?"

"I know so," Mottlenose said, patting her on the shoulder before slinking back into her den. She didn't question how the medic knew, but it encouraged her thoughts away from the anxiety and back to the warm glow of pride in her kits.

[385/400 words]

[CertainNorth]

This comp is now closed for judging!

[CertainNorth]

Congrats, Yellow.! Sorry for the delay in judging! Thanks for all the awesome answers everyone!

Username: Yellow.
Cat Name: Mistwind
Clan: Ridgeclan
Rank: deputy

Gender: molly
Age: 30 moon
Prompt:
"Are you sure I'm ready?" Mistpaw had asked her mentor just hours before her warrior ceremony was set to take place. She'd been thinking about it for the past few days and just now found the courage to ask her mentor.

The older tom stopped walking, turning to his apprentice next to him knowing that she still had yet to realize what a fine warrior she’d become. She’d probably be his last apprentice before he joined the elders shortly. “You’re as ready as any apprentice before you. You’ve learned everything I have to teach you and even more on your own. You are more ready than I ever was to be a warrior.”

Stunned by her mentor's words Mistpaw could only stare in at the aging tom, before finally responding with a smile and then a laugh. “You’re right!” She yelled out, continuing on the forest path at a faster pace than before they’d started talking. “I’m ready to be a warrior for the clan, I’m more than ready.”

Later that day Mistpaw’s name was changed to Mistwind not for her speed but for her quick mind. While she was proud to now be a warrior, she had already had her proudest moment earlier that day. To know that her mentor was proud of what she’d done, made Mistwind proud in herself. It gave her the confidence to accept her warrior name with a high head and the knowledge that she could do this and much more.

[Yellow.]

Awww thank you so much! She's just a warrior right now as I work on renaming my clan ranks because why not, I ended up buying a cat for deputy just yesterday.

[MeltiTheDragon]

Congrats Yellow! :3