[canadianhowl]

Tell me a moment that changed this cat
No limits

Ends 7/23 at 11:59pm MST

Code: Select all

[b]Username:[/b]
[b]Cat Name:[/b]
[b]Gender:[/b]
[b]Rank:[/b]
[b]Clan:[/b] (Please link)
[b]Age:[/b] (1 year or above)
[b]Prompt:[/b]

x
Name:
Gender:
Rank:
Clan:
Description: black marbled mink lynx point with low white
Age:
Edits: [NR] expression
[C] sclera color, fangs, pointed ears, min fur
[UC] muzzle edit, short ears, unnatural eye color, heterochromia
Owner:

[nome senpai]

Username: nome senpai
Cat Name: WolfStone
Gender: Male
Rank: Warrior / Kumotta Sasayaki's Travel Companion/Bodyguard
Clan: Ember Heart Clan
Age: 29 moons
Prompt:

The sound of leaves crunched as WolfStone made his way through the chilled forest. He welcomed the season change as this summer had been a rather hot one. Now fall was here he was feeling so much better. Taking a deep breath he wondered peacefully. Its been a several moon cycles since his clan had been taken by twolegs or cutters, they all looked the same to him. His ears fell at the thought of returning from scouting, and finding his home empty. No one was left, even if anyone got away, they were no longer nearby and their scents quickly faded. All his friends and ally, just gone. He had stayed for a while, hunting and fending for himself in hopes someone would return. No one but the twolegs showed forcing him to leave. He now has been traveling, not exactly a rouge but he also wasnt going out of his way to join a new clan.

WolfStone sighed as be came across a large thunderpath pausing he looked both ways a noticed nothing was coming down them. He crossed easily and made is way through the twolegs territory. He wasn't sure where he was going, he felt defeated. He had no home, no family or friends... All he knew was gone. Je wasnt sure if he wanted to join a clan again. He stopped in a dark space between two buildings. He wasnt sure where he was exactly but something felt off about this place. His ears raised as he listened. There was a soft breeze that shifted the leaves, causing them to tumble around till it settled. His ear twitched before he decided to turn around and find another way. The fur along his spine stood on end as he made eye contact with a rather large, hungry looking dog. It snarled baring its fangs as it lowered its head menacingly. Wolf took a step back, the crunch of the leaves caused the dog to lung. Barely dodging its attack Wolf swiped his claws across the dogs face making it yelp. Hissing WolfStone ran, taking his opportunity to get out of there. He knows he was to weak to fend the dog off for very long. Hunting has been a little difficult, it definitely was not his specialty. Lack of food has weakened him drastically.

Distracted by his escape and lack of knowledge or the twolegs territory he was simply running and taking random turns. This it where he made a mistake and ran into a swirl or silverthorn. Hissing in pain and surpised by the attack he thrashed finding it only worsened his issue he stopped. Looking around at his situation he found himself intangled in the sharp teeth of the silverthorn. He began to panic as his vision began to blur. He regretted not staying with his clan, maybe then he'd know exactly what happened to him. Wolf couldnt help but cry. The last thing he remeber was a four leg shadow hovering over him and thinking that the dog had found him.

- - -

One moon cycle later WolfStone groaned as he shifted uncomfortably. " Stop moving, Your making it harder to check your wounds. " his ear twitched at the smooth voice. He shifted again as he attempted to open his eyes and look at the stranger. His muscled ached and his felt little sharp pains all over. " Do you understand what dont move means. " she spoke again as a soft paw pressed gently against his head, forcing him to settle back down. He opened his eyes to meet a pair of heart shaped pupils looking back at him. He blinked lazily as he watched the she cat. " Where... " he coughed clearing his throat " Where am i? " he questioned. " Good you can talk, I was getting worried that you werent going to make it. " she stated simpled before smiling " looks like its not going to scar, your luck I am the one who found you. Anyone else and you may not have survived. " she chided as she admired her handy work. " Your in my camp! I wasn't planning on staying this close to the human village but it couldnt be helped. I got you as far as I could with the little help of my Companion here. " she gestured behind her. His eyes shifted and blinked to see what looked like a large moth. He blinked before shifting to sit up. This time she helped him sit up and shifted through her items before finding her water pouch and handed it to him " sip this, dont chu- " before she could finish he took it and began to chug the water. " Hey! " she snapped as she watched him. He then gagged and spit up the water. Sighing she shook her head " 'SIP' it... You'll make yourself sick. Its been a while since I found you. " she stated.

After sipping some water she gave him some meat. Wolf kept his eyes on her but she let her guard down completely around him. That was dangerous of her, he maybe weak but with her back to him it would take much for him to take her out. She was to trusting. Looking around he noticed he laid on a soft blanket and there were things around them. Things he didnt know of. They looked like twolegs items. She chuckled " I collect things that may help me on my travels. I was on my way to visit my home when I came across you... " she was shuffling around before she pulled out a few items he didnt know the names of " Why did you help me? I dont have anything to gibe you for this. " he said as he looked at his mostly healed wounds.

" Thats a good question that I dont have a good answer for. Honestly, I just felt like it. It would have been on my guilty conscious if I just left after seeing you... I couldnt not at least try. Getting you out of the barbed wire was the hard part. " she was setting up the items she hard. With in moments she made a small flame on a stick, just by swipping it and then used the flame to make another trapped inside another devise. He blinked confused. " this is a lamp and this is a match. They make and trap fire. " she explained before the " match " flame went out. He was in awe of what seemed to be magic. She giggled as she turned something to make the flame bigger. " where did you learn these terms?? " match" , " lamp " , " human village??? " he studied her as she thought of an answer. " I was born in a two leg nest, thats called a " home " to them. I grew up with these terms... We traveled to many places and I learned many things, even other languages... But I was abandoned here ... My twolegs left me behind... I almost didnt survive but a found a good teacher. " she sighed " I guess that is why I helped you ... I will help anyone in need as he had done for me. " she smiled as she slid some more meat " eat slowly, we will break camp when the sun rises. " she giggled as Wolf instead gobbled the meat happily " What is your name? " he asked between a mouthfuls. Shaking her head she stretched and settled on the otherside of the blanket. " I am Kumotta Sasayaki, you can call me Clouded Whisper. " she laid her head down and her companion settled next to her "and this is Ryoko. "

That night he contimplated leavening, but he was intrigued by this she-cat. She let her guard down easily and seemed to care deeply even though she doesnt know him. The conversations they've had have been rather pleasant. It reminded him how much he missed his clan. He stayed awake as she slept staring into the small flame she created. She saved his life wothout a second thought. He could have been dangerous and she still just did it. He then turn to look at her as she slept. She was out in a deep sleep. The birds or crack of the leaves didn't even make her stur. It made him... Worry about her. That was when he made up his mind. He wanted to protect her, learn from her and simply be around her. She felt so warm and pleasant. Her gigle was soft. His tail flicked as her realized he had been starring at her. Looking away he realized this maybe a bit of a problem.

- - -

Since then WolfStone has not left Kumotta Sasayaki's side. She changed his life completely. Hes traveled so much and has met more cats when with her then he had before. He found that the small flame she lit every night kept most creatures away. Her companion was a moth dragon, she met her in a land called China when she lived with her humans. She didnt belong to a clan but had a clan to go to. She was a medicine cat and had helped the Clan during a bad sickness. She was a very skilled negotiater and was good at avoiding conflicts. She didnt need his protection, but welcomed as a travel companion. He very defensive over her and seems to have rather deep feelings for her. She is clueless and probably will never know unless he gets some guts and tells her. He never imagined himself traveling and falling for a she-cat... But here he was sleeping lightly every night in a temporary camp just to ensure her safety.

[ 1,592 words ]
( I may have gone a tad bit overboard seeing there was no limit )

Kumotta Sasayaki

[crexmii]

[b]Username:[/b] crexmii
[b]Cat Name:[/b] larkfang
[b]Gender:[/b] she-cat
[b]Rank:[/b] warrior
[b]Clan:[/b] https://toyhou.se/tofuwofu/characters/folder:4573488
[b]Age:[/b] 70 moons
[b]Prompt:[/b]

“cricketleap, there you are! come on, let’s go do some hunting!” larkfang mewed excitedly. she was a daring, bold she-cat who was too fearless sometimes. she and her littermate cricketleap had just been made warriors a moon ago, and she had not lost any of her excitement. cricketleap bounded over and mewed, “sure, on the ground or in the trees?” “trees! this will be our chance to catch some juicy squirrels and birds for softclan,” larkfang purred.

the two she-cats stepped into the willow forest, the ground dappled with rays of sunlight. cricketleap sniffed the air and gestured with her tail, pointing at a fat-looking starling with the glossiest feathers larkfang had ever seen. she looked at it excitedly and whispered, “let’s catch it, it’ll be really great food for the clan!” cricketleap nodded in agreement and started climbing up the tree toward the starling. larkfang climbed up slowly and watched from a lower branch, ready to help if needed. cricketleap was creeping up rather slowly though. she thought, cricketleap is hesitating a bit, I think I can leap to help catch the starling from this branch!

she didn’t think anymore, she just leaped and aimed for the starling, claws extended. the starling turned its head and saw her, and immediately flew away. larkfang was just about to curse her luck, when she heard cricketleap yowling, “larkfang! the branch-” and then larkfang heard an ugly cracking sound. oh no, she thought in horror. desperate to save herself, she hooked on with her claws and tried to scrabble up the branch, but then cricketleap pushed her away and fell to the ground instead.

“CRICKETLEAP!” larkfang desperately yowled, immediately jumping down and wrenching her leg. please be okay, please be okay, she thought desperately. her sister’s breathing was shallow. she immediately lifted her up with all her strength, and tried as fast as she could to carry cricketleap back to camp.

several days had passed since the accident. “is..is she okay?” she asked the medicine cat. they sighed, “she’ll live, but I don’t think she will be able to move her back again.” larkfang’s relieved look changed to one of horror. “but…but…” she ran into the warriors den and frantically cried, “it was my fault! why did you have to punish her, calythea? I’m sorry for disturbing your tree and your forest! it’s my fault, it’s my fault…”

several moons had passed, and larkfang’s entire personality changed. now, she was no longer bold and daring, instead she was cautious and paranoid, terrified that some cat would get hurt. she regularly visits her sister in the medicine den, and always frets about her. when her apprentice hunted in the trees for his warrior assessment, she tailed him, watching in fear from another nearby tree, making sure he wouldn’t end up like cricketleap. this is also why she never hunted in the trees again.

[jupiter,]

Username: jupiter,
Cat Name: ghost (ghost orchid)
Gender: male
Rank: storyteller
Clan: flora clan
Age: 5 years
Prompt:
featuring : nightshade + primrose

the weather was starting to take a turn. lately, the skies have been smothered in a midnight cloak and the ground is carpeted in a mist like no other. its so strange.

"orchid, wait up!" echoed nightshade, his paws pounding against the shrubbery, "i cant see you, where did you go!?" his worried tone was bouncing off of each tree, circling the woods.
"im here nightshade" a voice responded, "i also told you not to call me that, its ghost to you." his barking tone reflected his annoyance, but the two carried on through the growth.
rain was starting to fall now, it didn't look good.
"where are we?" queeried nightshade, his voice quivering slightly
"beats me, let's keep going a bit further"

the rain started to pick up more, now thudding against the mulch.
"please orchid, i dont know how much further i can carry on for" he whined as a wince shot across his face, "you know i dont like the rain"

"look nightshade, we can stop when we're far enough out of the territory, we cant go back there now, they're all gone" ghost orchid whimpered, skidding to a halt.
the rain was now pummeling to the ground, like thousands of explosive denoting apon impact.
"please night, we have to keep going"

the two toms continued, battling the elements for what seemed like hours, until they'd finally reached a stop. the rain had burst the banks of the river and the flow of the river was going to fast, they both couldnt seem to keep track of it.

"orchid, please dont tell me we have to go through there" nightshade cried, pacing circles.

"its our only chance, we have to seize it and keep going, please, its not long until we reach flora's side of the wood, we hsve to carry on"
but there was no way to safely cross. the river was going way to fast that if either of them jumped in, they'd be carried swiftly all the way down and towards the twoleg boundaries.

"come on night, we can do this together, i believe in us" ghost beckoned, edging closer towards the river banks.
he took a deep breath, and stared at the other side. it wasnt that far, just a jump away. he circled back, and began walking in the opposite direction. without explaining anything, he sprinted, leaping across the rapids, and tumbling down on the other side.

"come on night! jump over, you can do this!" he cried, begging his friend to come join him.
nightshade followed the footsteps of ghost orchid, copying him to the T. he sprinted, leaping across the river.

*splash*

"ORCHID, HELP ME, PLEASE" he gasped, being swept away by the current. "I NEED YOU, PLEASE"
without any hesitation, ghost sped into motion. he bolted down the river banks, chasing his friend as fast as he could. up ahead, he could faintly see a fallen branch, but he knew he wouldnt mske it in time. "night! try and grab hold of the log!"
nightshade battled the current, and lauched himself at the fallen tree, sinking his claws into the bark.
ghost darted across the tree, clutching his friend by the scruff and dragging him out of the river.
both toms lay panting on the ground, gasping for air. and then it went black.

***

"...huh..? where... am i?" ghost muttered, hoisting himself from the ground.
"oh good, you're awake! i was starting to assume the worst" sings a she-cat from the corner, shrouded in darkness. "you're lucky the patrol picked you guys up, it wasnt looking so good for you two kitties" she giggled, stepping into the light. her cinnamon pelt radiated in the moonlight. "im primrose. welcome to flora clan"

[suds]

username: suds
cat name: mothfleck darksong mothstar
gender: molly
rank: elder
clan: cloverclan
age: 126 moons

prompt: (cats mentioned in this story are not real! ty for reading <3)

i. egg x ii. larva x iii. pupa x iv. imago x v. death

beware the back of the moth's wing- for everlasting darkness lies within…

the night mothkit had been born was a gloomy one. it was leaf-bare, and with her mother's last cry, clouds had begun to slip over the full moon. silverpelt twinkled above, and along with it came the whispers of ancestors that crowded above the lone kit.

"where's the other?" a brindled tom mused, before being pushed aside by a gray she-cat mottled with stars. "dont sound so happy," she breathed, clearly in shock. the two cats were outlined in a red and white hue respectively, a paw dipped into the window of a pond below them.

"i suppose darkness does overcome light," he mewed, voice dripping as he turned his head to wipe his chin. "there were supposed to be two, brokenbranch. what will we do? clearly we are now unbalanced". the she-cat was almost metallic looking, with large blue eyes and a large gash down her stomach. brokenbranch touched her back simply with the tip of his tail, more of a pity gesture than comfort.

"she must've absorbed her twin in the womb. my, what a ruthless leader she will be".

— — —

moons had passed and mothkit had bloomed into mothpaw, a strong she-cat with a moral compass rigid like deer bone. patiently she waited for her mentor near the entrance of the warrior's den, tail politely wrapped around her paws. "i know youre there, mothpaw, and we will head over to practice soon" her mentor called, amusement in her tone. quietly, mothpaw cheered internally. fighting was her favorite.

as the two headed to the grounds, her paws itched with excitement, and maybe something more. this feeling was something she could never put a name to. it only happened when she was battling, or hunting, or eating. raw, and animalistic, it seemed as if she lost all control as she swung to her mentors back in an attack.

"claws sheathed, mothpaw," the warrior choked, shaking the apprentice off in horror. "they were, i swear," she mumbled, licking the blood off her paws. this, is what mothpaw lived for. "its okay, im sure you were just excited" she said quietly, though mothpaw was no stranger to the edge in her voice, of distrust and fear.

— — —

fear-scent flooded mothfleck's tongue as she stood at her gathering, taking her leaders place. "im afraid thornstar will be unable to make it tonight. as we know, she was on her last life, and greencough has been running rampant" her voice boomed, and she was wary of the other leaders that had flattened their ears at this.

"thornstar was fit as a fat rabbit last meeting," a voice called, and the leaders snapped their heads to silence them. loud mews of approval erupted, mothfleck was not a welcomed face, due to her violent tendencies and border skirmishes. it seems like her claws were always out as she gripped the ground below her in annoyance.

"well she isn't here now. in her place i will stand, and tonight i will travel alongside rubynose to the moonstone", mothfleck stated flatly, tail whipping. thornstar had admired the she-cat due to her loyalty and determination that was misread by others.

her temper was an even counter to the patient, understanding leader. as thornstar lay back in camp, she felt rubynose rest her muzzle against her side. a moth had began to flutter around the leader as she took her shaky breaths, and as the moth landed on the cats lips she began to choke. rubynose stared in disgust and horror as her leader passed, the moth sloppy in saliva hanging out of her opened jaw.

rubynose wailed with her head to the sky.

— — —

the moon was an ochre yellow as the two cats trekked across the wet grass. rubynose kept her eyes on the ground to keep from crying as she pleaded with starclan. but the signs had been adamant- with mothfleck the clear answer to the struggling clan. thornstar was adored, and with what rubynose had seen at the time of death was a warning in itself.

"but why would starclan contradict itself like that?" she sighed, glancing up at the powerful she-cat next to her. mothfleck kept her eyes forward, the moonlight casting an eerie glow that seemed to light her path. rubynose had never met such a spiritually laden cat- how could this be so wrong?

when mothfleck had taken her position she had forbade rubynose from meeting with medicine cats in the bordering clans. the young she-cat had only stuttered out a small mew in agreement before mothfleck had stomped out. without the guidance from her fellow starclan messengers, she felt as if the clan had entered the eclipsed side of the moon.

as the two padded on, the air was thick with weather and rubynose took it as intensity. as they entered, mothfleck pushed her way in first, large shoulders brushing the top of the entrance. normally, rubynose would have said her speech, and guided the leader, but tonight she sat outside in fear. mothfleck didnt seem to notice, or care as she settled down at the stone.

when she pressed her nose to the stone as the moon slid over the top, the stone shone gold instead of stark, white stone. suddenly her body was ricochet to what felt like a running river of scalding water. as she paddled against the current, she heard a voice boom "mothfleck! i bestow upon you strength," and felt the paws of another on her back.

the pads seared into her skin, and she gurgled in pain as she was still tossed through the water. "mothfleck, i give you a life of determination," and she had felt another pair on her stomach. her eyes lolled in her mind, "mothfleck, i grant you anger" a cat called and placed their paws on her back legs.

"is it supposed to feel this bad?" she groaned in her mind, feeling herself fall limp. the boiling water felt as if it were melting her fur off, and she took sharp breaths when she felt as if she was above water. "mothfleck, i bestow you-"

a crack split the air in two. mothfleck screeched as she felt as if a thousand suns had peeled through her, beginning at her nose. lightning had struck the stone, and the smell of burnt pelt permeated around her. rubynose choked back her tears as she flinched at the crack, unscathed as she was outside.

she gagged at the scent, turning her head to look inside the now dark cave. mothflecks body lay unmoving, and rubynose knew by the gentle tap on her shoulder that she should leave. "starclan. thank you," she breathed, taking one last look at mothfleck, she bounded down the trail to camp.

normally, a medicine cat would have done anything to save their leader, but rubynose had broken her oath. she knew this was not the fate starclan had promised her, and began to plan what she would detail to the clans. mothfleck was never meant to be leader, and starclan themselves had made sure of that.

— — —

mothfleck startled awake from a drop of cave water that had dropped onto her face. she felt as if she had run around the world and back, and groaned in pain as she lifted her head to peer into the pool below her. her scleras were bloodshot, the deep red looking almost black as all of her blood vessels must have exploded due to the strike.

she remembered nothing, but had feelings of betrayal and anger. from where she did not know. she could almost feel the tension above her, it felt like two cats fighting, and she squinted her eyes to see in the dark cave. "darksong!" it sounded like a crowd of cats had formed in the air around her, but she could not see.

"darksong, welcome," a deep voice purred, and she swiveled her head in fear. "you, my dear, have a paw in each world" he whispered in awe, pacing around her, though invisible to the naked eye. "starclan," she breathed, and flinched at the loud cackle that had surrounded her.

"starclan! no, darksong. the dark forest. your old life means nothing. you are a vessel for us, and will bring mass destruction. the eclipse begins now."

[ArtMajor]

Username: ArtMajor
Cat Name: Solaris
Gender: Male
Rank: Victor
Clan: The Elysian Fields
Age: 34 years
Prompt:

A young tomcat with golden eyes clenched his claws as he looked down at the still form of his opponent.

There was an itch that seemed to crawl under his very skin. He wanted to throw himself into the river, washing away his sins. He'd promised he wouldn't- it went against everything he had ever sworn to follow- he'd just been protecting himself, he'd never meant to-

But the ringing bells couldn't be ignored. He'd known, certainly, that he had made it longer- FAR longer than he'd ever hoped to. But so rarely did Empas see a Champion through to the end, he'd never even thought that-

No, surely, this was a mistake. There had to be someone else in the Arena. Any other cat, tucked away into some hidden cave or secret tree-root.

But the dull throb of the ring around his paw pulsed slightly, as if reminding him to breathe. They had ways of knowing, whether or not cats were alive.

Solaris slowly lifted his gaze from the pale brown tabby fur in front of him. He stared up at the sky, watching the birds he knew had been fitted with small cameras. Watching the hundreds-thousands of cats that must be watching him at this very moment.

"I'm so sorry Lunos" he whispered, knowing that the hidden microphones would be picking up his voice and carrying it throughout the city. "I promised mama- you were supposed to win, not me" he didn't care if the whole city knew. Just so long as his message reached the ears it was meant for.

Solaris didn't believe much in the messages Curan whispered.

But as he slumped to the ground, adrenaline flooding out of his body and leaving him sat next to a form that looked far too much like his own; a form too still, with tear-stained cheeks and sightless eyes...

...then Solaris prayed, to whatever sort of starry ancestors were out there, that they would welcome his brother to them with open paws.

Because he knew that no matter what happened afterwards, even if he married the highest of the princesses, the one who was next in line to be queen...

Solaris knew he would always be remembered as the Victor that had spilled his own kin's blood in order to survive.

[ArithMedic]

Username: ArithMedic
Cat Name: Gaze that Follows the Light
Gender: Tom
Rank: Stargazer
Clan: Celestials
Age: At least 26 constellations (2 years)
Prompt:
Gaze was born on the Winter Solstice, during the last quarter of the Hunt Constellation. His kit name was Antler of the Stag. Although being born in the winter is a sign of bad luck, cats born on a solstice are believed to have good fortune and are sought out for leadership positions in the clan. The mere timing of his birth put him on a path above that of others, but that event was compounded upon when he opened his eyes for the first time and they bore the colors of the Lion, gold for the pelt of a lion and purple for it's position as King over the other constellations. Everyone who saw him believed that he was on the path to become a Ruler of the clan, or at least a Commander (the second most powerful position). However, that would not be his path.
It was a fateful day during last quarter of the Lion, Antler's 8th constellation, when he was being trained by a Commander of the clan in order to become one when he reached his 13th constellation. This day had begun like any other since he became a Trainee, nothing had been out of the ordinary. It could almost be described as too ordinary of a day, where the world itself knows something is going to happen, like the calm before a storm. Perhaps it would be wrong to describe the day, which was so ordinary, when the night that followed would be so altering, but the complete obliviousness to anything amiss feels like it must be stated. To put all of this simply, Antler had no idea that his life would be changed forever after that night.
Antler was returning to his parents' den after dark as he was oft to do, exhausted because he had headed out shortly after dawn that morning. At least, he had been exhausted until he stepped underneath the night sky and suddenly he began to feel invigorated. He was filled with so much energy that he lost control of himself, following a pull on his very soul calling him towards the stars. He ran to the tallest location in the clan, the star gazer's pavilion, and climbed to the top with a speed he should not have been capable of if not for the strange energy within him. Once he had reached the absolute highest point, the energy drained so that he could not move a muscle and the stars began to whisper to him. They whispered of the past and the present, and even of the future. His mind swirled with understanding that he'd never had before. He became overcome by the messages and was found there the next morning, so deeply asleep that he was not woken even when he was taken back to his family's den.
After that night, Antler's Commander training was dropped and he was instead trained to become a Star Gazer. He was trained on how to control when he listened to the stars and when he blocked them out, and how to filter and interpret the messages such that they were able to be relayed to others and that he would not very overwhelmed like the first night. At his graduation ceremony, his name was changed to Gaze that Follows the Light in order to reflect his new status as a Star Gazer, the most important position in the clan, even over the Rulers and Commanders.

[WinglessSeraph]

Username: WinglessSeraph
Cat Name: Claw That Scrapes Earth "Claw"
Gender: Male
Rank: The Southern Cross
Clan: Survivors of The Sky
Age: 86 moons
Prompt:
Orange eyes gazed across the land as the sun began to set in the horizon, tired paws hardly being able to continue forward. Claw's breathe was heavily while he looked upon the bodies of those he once knew. His mind flashed images of the battle he had taken part in the day prior, remembering the starry soldiers that descended from the heavens. Despite being a born and raised tribe cat, Claw never had quite the connection to his ancestors like most of his tribe. Seeing them before him made him believe in their existence.

The caw of a crow snapped Claw out of his memory, bolting his eyes towards a sickly familiar pelt. Though exhausted, he walked forward. Dread seeped into his being, hoping the cat before him wasn't who he thought it was...

They had only welcomed their first litter a few sunrises ago.

Soft fur rustled in the wind as Claw stared down at the peaceful face of his mate. Her eyes were closed as if she had been just resting and a sweet scent lingered on her fur. A sob caught in Claw's throat as he lowered his nose down into his mate's flank. He could smell the milk that was designated for their kittens, who would no longer have the opportunity to grow.

He wailed for hours. Claw wailed for himself, wailed for his family, and wailed for his tribe. He had been punished by the stars for simply living his life. The moon had rose into the sky by the time the tom's voice grew hoarse, simply laying exhausted on his mate's body. Claw fluctuated between sleep and consciousness, before an unfamiliar cat began to approach.

His fur bristled, though he was too exhausted to prove much of an intimidating presence. The cat stepped before Claw, staying a respectful distance from him. The cat's gray pelt shimmered in the moonlight as she gazed sympathetically upon the tom. "The skies have punished you as well," she meowed quietly. "You are not alone. Come with me, you will find salvation under the moon."

Claw curled closer to his mate, unwilling to leave her alone. "She can be buried with our settlement," the cat murmured. "Many of our kin bury their loved ones among their new home." The tom kept his gaze upon his love, unsure if she would be okay with this. The gray cat dipped her head respectfully.

"Follow the moons carved upon the rocks if you wish to join," she meowed before turning and leaving Claw within the field. He carefully watched the she-cat leave, still intertwined with his mate. His mind was adrift with thoughts as he began to fade into sleep, wondering if the she-cat was trustworthy. Even then, joining her settlement wouldn't bring his family back, but being near his love's grave would bring him peace of mind.

The next day, Claw carried his mate to their new home within the settlement, hoping to be at peace like they had once been.

(500 words)

[KittyandCat]

Username: KittyandCat
Cat Name: Cougarstrike
Gender: tom
Rank: warrior
Clan: HollowClan
Age: 19 moons
Prompt:

xxxCougarstrike was very by-the-books. He was the ideal warrior. Fiercely loyal to the warrior code, even at a young age. To break it, to him, was among the worst sins a cat could commit. The code was everything. Following it was everything. Pleasing his ancestors was everything.

xxxHe never found it difficult. To patrol and defend his borders with dignity and honor was simple. To feed his clan before himself was no difficult task. To thank StarClan after a swift kill was second nature. He didn’t see how any cat could struggle with the code. He couldn’t even imagine it.

xxxWhen the Star Seekers, a group of rogue cats claiming to be led here by StarClan, moved in next door it changed nothing. Cougarstrike was proud to mark his borders to remind these newcomers what land was theirs. He was excited to meet with these likeminded cats once a moon. He couldn’t see anything going wrong.

xxxAnd so the first meeting of the clans happened, and Cougarstrike proudly trotted into the clearing to meet these new cats. But, like all good things do, his easy following of the code came to an end. As he looked around the clearing, his eyes locked with a cat, not a HollowClan cat, and he felt his heart skip a beat.

[justice.t]

Username: justice.t
Cat Name: tigerleap
Gender: male
Rank: warrior
Clan: the mountains
Age: 3 years
Prompt:

It was the final one.

If I succeed in this test, I will become one of the warriors in my clan. If I fail, I will be expelled from my clan. I cannot fail.

Our final test will be one of teamwork.

The test consists of teams of two. One cat will have to hold their breath underwater, while the other attempts to find a piece of borage, one of the most common herbs in our forest. When the teammate returns with borage, the other can surface. If the cat holding their breath surfaces before their teammate returns with borage, they both lose.

While our leader Potatostar starts assigning teams, I pray for a good partner.
Please don’t be Porkpaw, please don’t be -
“What was that?” Potatostar asks. Oops, I said that aloud.
“Nothing,”
“Well in that case, your partner shall be Porkpaw.” I groan. Porkpaw is the dumbest, most foolish cat I know. I don’t even know how he passed all the other tests. I walk over to Porkpaw.
“Can you hold your breath?” I ask Porkpaw.
“No,”
“Can you find borage?”
“Maybe.”
“Great,” I meow, “we’re screwed.”

I stand in the river, waiting for the test to start. My heart pounds in my chest. Maybe Porkpaw is less brain-dead than he looks.
“Start your test!” Potatostar yowls. I plunge my face into the freezing water of the river as Porkpaw speeds off in the worst direction to find borage, toward a twoleg city.

Seconds pass. Maybe a minute. I hear some teams return with their borage. More time passes and my lungs begin to burn from the lack of oxygen. I squirm in the water. I must continue on. I need to be a warrior. My body screams for air but I force myself to stay down. I start to feel lightheaded and my stomach starts to convulse and contract. My body starts to vibrate. Where is Porkpaw? The edges of my vision begin darken and I black out.

I feel paws pushing on my chest and water spout from my jaws. I wheeze and open my eyes.
“Did Porkpaw get the borage?” I ask. Potatostar’s face is grim.
“No.” I turn my head and see Porkpaw standing there, holding a piece of chamomile in his jaws.
"Goodbye Tigerpaw," Potatostar meows, "you were a promising warrior."

I feel rage rise up in my throat. “This test is so dumb! Why do I need to hold my breath?”
“It’s a teamwork exercise,” Potatostar meows in an even tone.
“Well my teammate has less brain cells than a turkey!”
“You should have chosen a better partner.”
“You chose for us!” I yowl I trudge away, toward an empty land, off to a new life of wandering uncertainty.