ZephyrClan Writings | Rise | DNP

[Kazin]

"Please! Stop it! All of you!"

The cry cut across the territory like a siren, causing each of the three cats to look up, bewildered. Ryepaw gave a quick sigh of relief before he was able to continue, trembling from the fear that a fight was still going to break out.

"There really is no need for any of this," he said as sternly as he could, though his voice betrayed his own fear, quivering.

"Do you have any idea of what she just admitted to?!" Primrosepaw hissed at her brother, her smaller body tense next to her mentor's. The young she-cat always had a very high sense of justice, wanting each cat to get what she felt they deserved. Fallowfrost, not as intense as his apprentice, straightened up beside her, ear twitching. Another sigh of relief from Ryepaw. At least he could get through to one of them, if not his sister.

"It shouldn't matter what she's done before she came here," Ryepaw said calmly, glancing over at his own mentor. Maplespark was still flattened against the ground, her eyes narrowed as she waited for one of the other two cats to attack, her eyes betraying her fear just as Ryepaw's voice had.

"It does matter," Primrosepaw hissed again, causing Maplespark to flinch.

Though Ryepaw was about to react, Fallowfrost was closer to Primrosepaw. He pushed her with his paw, causing her to lose her focus, stumbling over. "Ryepaw is right," the deputy said sternly, giving Primrosepaw a glare. "I know it is a lot to think about, especially as an apprentice, but really there is no need to react this way. I am sorry I did," he added, nodding towards Maplespark with an apologetic look. "I shouldn't have done that. I am sure you had your reasons."

Maplespark nodded back cautiously, raising herself from her crouch. "I did," she said nervously, glancing over at Primrosepaw who was still tensed for a fight. It was mostly to the young she-cat that she spoke. "I was in a cutthroat band of rogues. Their only goal was to cause as much mayhem as they could, and they didn't care how they did it. I was young, and too scared to leave them - they said they would hunt down any cat that tried to go. I am sorry for what I did, but I can't take it back now. I can't make things right, but I am always trying."

Slowly, Primrosepaw seemed to accept this. "I understand," she said, sighing. "I'm sorry too," she added, echoing her mentor. "It's just the elders tell us stories about the mayhem cats, and I always hated them."

Maplespark nodded, smiling sadly. "I do too," she said softly, getting up to budge Primrosepaw. "Maybe one day we can go on our own journey, find them, and disband them once and for all." Primrosepaw's eyes lit up after that, and she smiled at her brother's mentor, nodding earnestly.

The training session resumed after that, Fallowfrost taking Primrosepaw a little ways away to talk strategy for the next stealth routine. It was her turn to be the one to hide, and Ryepaw would be seeking. Maplespark padded over to where Ryepaw was sitting, giving him a sideways glance.

"Thank you," she said to her apprentice, nodding at him. "You have a good heart."

Ryepaw nodded, just glad that the fight had been avoided. His sister was a bit too headstrong for her own good, often acting before thinking, and that worried him. Maplespark's only thought was that the future of the clan was in good hands with Ryepaw around. He would make a magnificent leader one day, and in her heart she knew he would become one. The youngest among them was very well the wisest, purest, and most kind-hearted, and she would forever be changed from being able to mentor this small tom.

[Kazin]

Phoenixwing and Fireflicker breeding scene - 749 words.

"You know you don't have to fight all the time."

The voice drifted out into the training hollow, though Fireflicker chose to ignore it. This scene had played out before, earning her a friend for a short while, but ultimately leading to more heartbreak. She couldn't deal with losing a friend again. No, losing more than a friend. She knew who the voice belonged to, she had seen the looks he had been giving her. Truthfully, she enjoyed the tom's presence, but she knew that she wasn't good for him. She wasn't good for anyone.

"Go away, Phoenixwing." Fireflicker's voice was nearly a whisper, but it carried through the silent night. Still, Phoenixwing came closer, ignoring her. She chose to ignore him as well, crouching to perfect her battle pounce once again. She had to get it right.

The cinnamon tom watched Fireflicker for a while, until she nearly forgot he was even there. She was slightly impressed that he stayed that long in the night in silence, not giving up and going back to sleep. Finally, when she felt her training session was done, she turned towards him. "Why'd you stay this long? Shouldn't you be sleeping? You have patrol in the morning."

Phoenixwing tilted his head, as if questioning it himself. "You seemed frustrated today, so I wanted to make sure you were ok. That you weren't going to leave the clan. That you weren't going to do something stupid."

"Well, I'm not." Fireflicker snapped, stalking off in the direction of camp. Light paw steps sounded behind her. Of course he was going to follow her, trying to continue the conversation.

"I can tell you're conflicted," Phoenixwing said quietly, causing Fireflicker to stop. How could he see anything? Stupid perceptive tom. He was usually so joking, so jolly; except when he was seeing right through her anger, down to her core. Something no cat had ever done before, until he came into her life, refusing to give the fiery she-cat any other option than being friends.

"You're wrong," Fireflicker tried to mumble, but her voice cracked. It truly had been a hard day, full of internal battles. She had seen Maplespark interacting with Darkcinder, and it hurt. Fireflicker knew there was no chance in getting back what they once had, but that didn't mean she still didn't care for the she-cat. Jealousy still coursed through her, the thought of the silver tabby sending a wave of anger through Fireflicker. Darkcinder could have what she had always wanted. What she couldn't have anymore. Fireflicker closed her eyes, sitting back on her haunches and holding her breath, trying not to let her emotions out.

Phoenixwing shook his head slowly, coming up beside the she-cat and sitting next to her. He sat in silence, waiting for her to be ready. "It is hard," she finally whispered, mournful eyes turning towards Phoenixwing. "And yet, here you are, making it harder, staying with me and trying to help me even though you have no reason to."

"I'm staying because I care. But I'm not going to make it seem like you have to decide to love me back. I want you to know that I'll be here for you, whether you're angry at me or not. No matter what you do. Because I love you, Fireflicker - and I will wait however long it takes for you to decide if you love me too. And even if you don't, I'll be here for you."

Fireflicker said nothing, but allowed Phoenixwing to lean against her, offering his support. She closed her eyes again, trying to block out what had been a bad day. Through it all, the tom stayed by her side, and she was grateful for it, even if she didn't show it. Truthfully, Phoenixwing was the only cat that had the patience to deal with Fireflicker's snappy personality, much to her surprise. She had been ready to leave the clan, had it not been for him. He had been a cat she could count on, a cat that she grew to love, much to her reluctance. She didn't want to repeat history, hurting him and having him leave...

Maybe things could change. Maybe Fireflicker could let herself love again. She knew it would always hurt to see Maplespark, especially as they were in the same clan now, but Phoenixwing made everything better.

And there was a part of Fireflicker, even if she tried to hide it, that knew she loved Phoenixwing too.

[Kazin]

"I, uh, well... I really like you!"

Practically screaming, though he could barely tell through the roar of embarrassment in his ears, the blood rushing through his body. Staring in shock at the camp, he turned tail and fled, letting the roar in his ears guide him wherever they wanted. Anywhere away from here.

________________________________________

Hickoryflame had just come back from his warrior naming ceremony. He had finally succeeded under Coppersplash's mentorship, much to his own excitement. He was a warrior! He could move into the warrior's den! The thought had once made the young tom practically vibrate in excitement and nervousness, finally able to sleep with the older cats and the warriors! But now... the thought gave him nervous jolts instead. Because of another newcomer, another he had gotten to know during her very short training to make sure she was ready to become a warrior.

The clan acted like they all knew her. They acted like she was a long lost clanmate... which apparently she was. She had been known as Sundropkit. Daughter of Coppersplash, his mentor, and Sootmask. Sister to Primrosedust and Ryebreeze, whom Hickoryflame had gotten to train alongside for many moons - cats he considered his best friends, especially Ryebreeze. The pair of siblings, however, never talked about another sister. Coppersplash never mentioned this lost daughter. It confused Hickoryflame, but that was not his concern now.

His concern was how truly beautiful and amazing he found her. But how would she ever notice a cat like him when there were others she had to catch up with? Others to talk to, to get to know all over again, to reconnect with... Hickoryflame didn't stand a chance.

When the brown tom had found himself in the middle of the camp, trying to engage Sundrop, as she liked to be called, in a conversation that she didn't seem to be interested in at all, he panicked. He yelled out his feelings in front of the entire camp, their eyes boring into him like he was new entertainment. They must all think him idiotic. They must be laughing at him even now. The new warrior was sitting by the lake, watching a few minnows dart around in the rare Leaf-fall sun, not a cloud in the sky, though Hickoryflame didn't have the energy to crawl his sorry pelt into the patch of nearby sun. He wanted to sit here and sulk by the water all day.

And he would have done just that, if a familiar voice didn't call out a soft greeting and jolt his heart awake, causing him to jump to his feet and whirl around, ready to bolt again if he needed to. He wasn't sure he'd be able to explain himself.

"Hey," Sundrop mewed softly, giving Hickoryflame a heart stopping smile. "I'm sorry I wasn't listening to you back there. I didn't mean to make you, well, embarrass yourself..."

"Forget about it," Hickoryflame mumbled, his usual confidence shut down by his outburst. "No big deal. I shouldn't have done that anyway."

Sundrop started shaking her head, shifting closer to the tom. "No, I was wrong. You've been a great friend to me, Hickory. A great friend, a great training partner, and a great cat in general. You were one of the only ones who didn't want to ask me about where I've been or why I've come back - you just genuinely wanted to get to know me, and I really like you for that. Truthfully... I... like you too." Sundrop let her gaze drift away from the other cat, her own embarrassment levels rising as the words sunk into Hickoryflame's mind.

"I... you... what?" Hickoryflame could only choke out three words, unsure of how to respond.

Sucking in a deep breath, Sundrop steeled herself before looking into the tom's eyes. "Hickoryflame, I really like you and I think we should be mates."

Heart soaring, Hickoryflame nodded enthusiastically. Maybe he didn't make such a bad idea after all... Maybe everything would work out right in the end.

[Kazin]

Prompt one: Describe your cat's recurring dream. What are they seeing in their waking hours, whether it's real or not? You may accompany your writing with one drawn scene.

"We will recreate this world, my dear flower, just you and I. We will show them what we can accomplish, together."

Small paws reached for another larger figure, it's back turned as it was walking away. "Please don't leave me!" She would cry, watching as her mother made no move to acknowledge her words. Why wouldn't she just turn around? "I can save you, just come back!"

Still the cat kept on walking, fading away into the distance, no longer visible. Try as she might, Teaselthorn could never get her feet to carry her forward. She was stuck, just as she always was, her mother's words echoing in her head. We will recreate this world. Teaselthorn would wake up searching for her mother in the early morning haze of grogginess, forgetting momentarily that she was gone forever. Nothing could bring her back.

Teaselthorn had been seeing her mother's back for the past several moons, the scene replaying just as it had happened in her past. Her mother, leaving to talk with the clan's leader, with hardly a good-bye to her only kit - after all, she didn't know it was going to be the last time they saw each other. Teaselthorn had barely been old enough to be on her own. Though the memory was nearly twelve moons old, Teaselthorn could still swear she saw her mother's shadow accompany her when she was alone. Was she a ghost, or a figment of Teaselthorn's imagination? She wasn't sure, but it was oddly comforting to know that her mother was beside her.

Even if they couldn't talk, couldn't share stories of what they would make the world into, it was enough to have her mother by her side. Sometimes the warrior could hear her mother's voice, a whisper on the wind, giving her guidance on what to do. It was that voice that led her to this clan, that voice that told her where to find her killer.

That voice was the one telling Teaselthorn to avenge her death.

[Kazin]

Prompt two: Describe how your cat is responding and what they are doing about it. You may accompany your writing with one drawn scene.

I have to do this. For my mother. To make the world a better place. It is my destiny. It was what I am meant to do.

Teaselthorn let these thoughts propel her through each day, closing her eyes to remember why she came. It was easy to forget her own dreams, so wrapped up in what her mother wanted... Wrapped up in the thoughts of a monster, of someone who had taken the world away from her. It wasn't fair, and something needed to be done.

A haze of anger propelled Teaselthorn forward, always moving towards the end goal of revenge. Icy blue eyes swirled in her vision, on frosty colored fur. The only spot of warm color on the cat was bright red; a scar given by Teaselthorn's mother, a defining feature she recalled from her time as a kit as she heard what had happened on the fateful day of her mother's death. Even when she didn't feel she could move on anymore, she kept going. She needed to keep going, for her mother. For the promise of a better world.

[Kazin]

Prompt three: Explain what the dream is signifying/what it means for your cat/the clan. No drawn extra.

I must rid the world of evil, and I have found the evil in this clan.

One less evil in the world. One less cat to harm others. She was protecting the world, and she was going to see it through. Icethistle was evil. Icethistle had killed her mother, and Starclan knows who else.

Icethistle needed to die.

Her mind was made up. All she needed to do was wait for the right moment. Each time Teaselthorn looked at Icethistle, the brewing storm inside of Teaselthorn's heart would churn, making her ears roar and her blood run hot. But she must wait for the perfect moment. Sometimes she could swear she saw her mother's eyes glinting from the shadows, telling her to wait, that she needed to find a better moment.

She would be sneaky about it, just as Icethistle had been. For now, Teaselthorn did her duties like a proper clan warrior, playing the part of a kind and friendly face, making friends and talking, though she never really could hear any conversations. The only conversation in her mind was with her mother, and it was the only conversation worth listening to.

[Kazin]

Prompt four: Who is the villain? What do they want? What do they look like? What's important to know about them? You may draw a reference for your villain or use free lineart.

The time to make a better world is now.

Roseclaw shuddered in anticipation, trying to hold back the smirk that played at the edge of her mouth. Today was the day she could take over her clan, the day that she could finally start working toward the world that she wanted to live in. No more passive thinking, no more weaklings in the clan... Roseclaw would make the world a better place, a stronger place. A small cat at her side, a fighter despite her young age and her small size; her daughter. Together they could lead the world into prosperity.

But first, she needed to take out the weak leadership. It was all falling into place... But her plan was foiled shortly after she achieved what she had wanted, pushing her leader into the icy depths of a river, swollen from recent rains. A newly made warrior ran at her, pushing her into the same waters that had just claimed the leader, though not before Roseclaw had tried to catch herself on something, anything - her claws had found the warrior's check, leaving her with a scar, and Roseclaw with nothing but darkness.

Revenge. Even in death, Roseclaw would not back down, and would not stand for weak cats. She was not going to stand being brought down by such a weak cat. Her daughter had to avenge her. She had to, for the sake of a better world.

Roseclaw is a cinnamon tabby she-cat with hazel eyes and medium length fur. A small bit of white is visible on her chest and face, as well as her front left paw.

[Kazin]

Prompt five: Wrap everything up neatly. How did your cat make the dreams stop? How did they overcome? What happened to the villain? What was the outcome? You may accompany your writing with one drawn scene.

I must make my own choices and live my own life. I can't live in the past anymore.

"This is your chance, my flower! Do it now!"

Teaselthorn heard her mother's voice echo in her head, staring at Icethistle's back as the other cat was hunched at the edge of the shelter, watching the rain, ears twitching as another crack of thunder boomed overhead. Teaselthorn barely registered the storm herself, too caught up in her mind, with her mother.

It was a freak storm that gave Teaselthorn this opportunity. She and Icethistle had been separated from the rest of the patrol as a tree fell between them, the cats only barely able to jump out of the way. Blindly, both she-cats had run towards the known shelter - an overhanging rock face that now protected them from the rain, and any more falling trees. The other cats had ran the opposite direction, towards the camp. They had probably made it back already, waiting out the storm to find Icethistle and Teaselthorn.

"Hopefully this doesn't last too much longer," Icethistle raised her voice over the storm, wincing as another loud crack echoed above. Teaselthorn said nothing in response, unsheathing her claws.

"Now!" Her mother's voice cried as thunder wreaked havoc on the cats' ears. Teaselthorn pounced at Icethistle, letting out her own growl, pinning the lilac she-cat to the ground. "What are you doing!" Icethistle cried out, struggling underneath Teaselthorn's claws, fear reaching her eyes. Eyes flashing, Teaselthorn loomed over her victim, glaring down at her in anger.

"You killed my mother," Teaselthorn spat, her claws digging into Icethistle's pelt, causing the other cat to flinch slightly.

"I don't know what..." Recognition came into Icethistle's face as Teaselthorn's eyes flashed again. Roseclaw. "Your mother... you're... Roseclaw's daughter?" Icethistle stumbled through her sentence incredulously, confusion muddling her senses.

Teaselthorn's response was another hiss, leaning back to bite Icethistle as the storm raged outside. The younger she-cat only stopped when Icethistle went limp underneath her, closing her eyes. "Do you worst," Icethistle breathed, nearly inaudible over the rain. "I'm not going to hurt another cat again. I do want you to know one thing, however, if you are chasing after the dream that your mother wanted. She killed our leader, a kind and gracious cat. She only wanted control, and she was not going to treat the clan well." Icethistle opened her eyes, though they didn't seem to be focused on the rock overhang anymore. "Just don't hurt anyone else. It'll haunt you for the rest of your life."

The look of utter defeat gave Teaselthorn pause, loosening her grip on the cat beneath her, sitting back. Icethistle remained on the ground, eyes screwed shut again. "If I could bring her back, I would. I never wanted to hurt her; I reacted mostly out of fear. I saw her push our leader into the river, and I panicked. I killed her, and I don't blame you for hating me for it. I hate myself."

Flashbacks whirled in Teaselthorn's mind. Her mother, never truly looking at her but looking past her, talking about a new world and a new clan under her leadership. Her mother, never showing any affection, the only time the pair interacting when she visited the nursery to vent about how her plan wasn't working. Her mother, giving her to a different queen to raise, refusing to give up her warrior position for her own kit.

"You're just as weak as the rest of them!" Roseclaw snarled in Teaselthorn's mind. The she-cat closed her eyes, focusing on the cruel stare of her mother; never loving as she had wanted it to be. She couldn't chase after a mother's wishes who never loved her.

"You're the weak one," Teaselthorn whispered out loud, anger turning to a cat that had led her down the wrong path all these moons.

"Worthless! Coward! I never raised you to be like this!"

"No, you didn't raise me at all! You were never my mother, and I should have seen that sooner! Get out of my head!"

Teaselthorn yowled as the worst of the thunder crashed, causing Icethistle to jump. Teaselthorn looked over to the other cat, feeling empty and hollow inside. "I'm sorry." She said, looking out into the forest, not able to meet Icethistle's gaze.

Icethistle said nothing in response for a few minutes as the rain let up. Finally, as the sun poked it's rays out from the now soaked trees, she turned back, clearing her throat. "Let's go back home," she said, giving Teaselthorn a nervous smile.

The brown cat nodded, though she didn't return Icethistle's smile. She had lost the only thing she had ever known, the only thing she fought for.

But the only direction to go now was up.

[Kazin]

The night was cold for the normally warm Greenleaf. The birds that usually sang out on clear nights such as this were gone, huddled up in their nests with their chicks, feathers ruffled to keep out the cold. Fallowfrost wondered briefly why he wasn't curled up in his own nest, nose tucked underneath his tail, but he had a job to do. He had others that needed him, and no one could know about them.

He didn't know where they came from. He wasn't even sure if this was a good idea. But they were scared enough of him; he would never be able to bring them into the camp. It would cause an uproar - what would his clan mates think of their deputy, should he bring back kits to his clan, coming up with such a far fetch'd story of 'I found them in the forest, I swear.'

Fallowfrost never even wanted kits. His sister was the one who had decided to start a family, something the chocolate tom thought was better left to her. He was awkward around the small cats, not knowing how to interact with them. Raptorstrike was always in the nursery with Icethistle and her kits, proving to be the better uncle than Fallowfrost could ever hope of being.

And yet, it was Fallowfrost who found himself being a father first.

He was only lucky the kits he found were weaned, able to eat solid prey. He would never be able to take care of them if they weren't. They had even started calling him 'dad,' a title he never thought he'd obtain in all of his life. But his heart leaped every time he saw the small bundles of fur, attempting to keep each other quiet in the bush he had told them to hide in.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Impossibly large eyes stared up at him, their attempts at quieting each other coming in nervous a few nervous 'sh,' voices quivering at the thought of being found by a cat other than Fallowfrost. They were scared of other cats, nervous that they would chase them away or hurt them. To keep them from growing too nervous of his approaching pawsteps, he had taught the young cats a special signal to let them know he was coming. Three scratches in the grass, three scratches on the nearby tree.

"Hi, dad," one would greet softly, tentatively reaching out a small nose and touching at against Fallowfrost's in appreciation as he dropped a few pieces of prey off for them. It was the complete innocence in their eyes that made Fallowfrost realize he needed to protect them. He couldn't just throw them to a queen who barely had time for her own kits, and definitely couldn't leave them in the forest by themselves.

"Hi," Fallowfrost would give in return, equally as nervous as the kits he now came to think of as his own. They weren't his by blood, but they were his by heart.

As he watched the kits eat their prey, a raging fire rose inside of him, burning his heart. He had to keep them safe, and he couldn't do that by keeping them out here in the forest, especially on a night like tonight. They did have each other, but they were all shivering as they ate their prey nonetheless. He had to get them to a nest. He knew he needed to tell the clan about them, that he needed to reveal them for their own safety. He had to do it because he loved them, and he was glad he had taken on the role of their father.

[Kazin]

Earn Rare Trait Submission
Username: Kazin
Link to Clan: Zephyrclan
Link to Cat: Raptor
Trait Ticket Desired: blind in one eye (one that is scarred)

Prompt 1:
Prompt 2:
Prompt 3: (choose 3a or 3b. do not do both)

Prompt 1: While these traits make life in the wild a challenge, how do they overcome and live a normal life within their clan? (250+ words)
Half of the world was gone. It was so chilling, how easily his sight was taken from him. Raptor thought he would never be able to live a normal life again, staying away from anyone else, living in isolation, living with his lack of sight. He was embarrassed, he was cursed, he knew it. He would either be treated as a threat, a terror, ostracized because of his eye, or he would be considered easy picking, always the target of attacks.

It was better to be alone.

But when Raptor found himself in a clan, somewhere he never thought he'd be, life changed once again. For the better. He had cats that cared about him, that helped him, that treated him like he was perfectly... normal. It was a hard adjustment for the tom, to realize that just because he could only see out of one eye, it didn't mean he was damaged or worthless. He was still useful, he could still do everything that the others could do. He was needed.

And he had friends.

There were those that helped him if he should need it, though it wasn't often that he required anything. Fallowfrost in particular had proven to be a friend, sticking by his side, always conscious of his blind spot. It felt good to be in a home, to have a family. It felt good to finally feel normal.

Prompt 2: Explain to me their role in the clan and how they contribute. What makes them an asset to their clan? (200+ words)

Raptorstrike is a warrior of his clan. When he first came to Zephyrclan, it was during time of turmoil, of battle, of unrest. The clan had been attacked by strange shadows, killing multiple of them. Starclan was weakened, unable to communicate with the clan as the shadows grew stronger. The final prophecy they were able to give before Zephyrclan was about to face another battle with the shadows was one that spoke of a cat with limited sight, guided by a crow called Night. It was Raptorstrike who was able to figure out how to defeat the shadows, and it was his crow that paid the ultimate price to get rid of them. Without Raptorstrike, the entire clan would have been wiped out, and the tyrant Roseclaw would have been able to take over.

After the battle, Raptorstrike is a trusted warrior. He is held in great regard by almost every other warrior in the clan.

Prompt 3a: Write or draw a scene about the character/from the character's perspective(not necessarily focusing on the trait) if the cat is existing. (500+ words, or flat-colored full body with a simple background minimum)