Stars V.2 • Catvent 2024

[Hush]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: Hush #256165
↬ clan archive:The Clan of Roaring Silence

↬ word count: 66 words
↬ prompt:
After getting stuck to an icy rock he didn’t see for hours until the sun warmed things up enough to unstick himself Frogpaw limped back to camp. He’d been missing for hours so by the time he returned he was almost the same color as Blueberrypaw. Someone brought him to Ghosteyes and she called all the fluffiest kitties in the clan to curl around d him.

[dimi.]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: dimi. 908977
↬ clan archive: Heart of Decay

↬ word count: 557
↬ prompt:

A beautiful white blanket cloaked the earth with it's cold, soaking up any heat the ground once had. It was a vengeful energy, seeking to bring cold and danger to the clan's doorstep. But this snow wasn't bringing just danger - it was bringing felines to the Heart of Decay, in need of urgent assistance. Day after day, the clan would tend to loners, treating their cracked pawpads, and giving those who were starving some of their already scarce prey. Winter was the season where the Heart of Decay was most generous, and the cats that called it home could certainly feel the impacts.

On this particular day, Puff was sitting in the medicine den, conversing with the medicine cat, Avia.

"How are your stocks looking? Need me to go on an expedition for anything?" Puff asked, her eyes twinkling in anticipation. She loved adventure and finding resources to aid the clan all at once - she could kill two birds with one stone, as the saying goes.

"No, I think you just need to focus on prey. My herbs are mostly fine." Avia said with a sigh. "I wonder how many loners we will see today."

"I'm not sure, but a cat in need of help will always have us, right?" Puff smiled. "Well, I guess if you don't need me here, I'll go find some tasty food for the clan." With a whirl and a flick of her tail, Puff exited the medicine den, heading for the entrance of the camp. As she began to head forward, she was stopped by one of Envy and Onyx's kits, Crow.

"Puff! I found a cat injured near the camp, I think she got really cold... Her pawpads are all messed up and she has a scratch on her nose.. Can you help me bring her here?" Crow asked, and Puff sighed.

"Of course, Crow. Lead the way."

Crow lead the molly outside of the camp, making his way around a large tree.

"I brought help!" He beamed to the molly laying on the ground.

"Thank you." A voice replied meekly. Puff was on the other side of the tree, with no sight of the molly, but that voice.. It was like honey to her ears. But surely not, there was no way.

Puff quickly rounded the tree, looking down. Before her lay a beautiful white molly, trembling and shivering from the immense cold as the snow continued to pound down.

"Get back to camp, Crow. I'll get her to safety." Crow eagerly nodded before bounding away.

Puff slowly moved closer, inspecting the molly. She had the exact same scar on her leg. The same pale yellow collar. And as her gaze shifted upwards to the molly's head... the same green eyes.

"Lace?"

The molly slowly lifted her head up, her eyes meeting Puff's. Suddenly, it was like the weakness was melted away from her body. She quickly rose to her paws. "PUFF!" She threw herself onto Puff, burying herself in Puff's signature fluffy mane, a large smile across her maw. "You're alive!!!"

Lace was cold to the touch - it was painfully cold. Puff, as tears welled in her eyes, wrapped her tail around Lace. She was willing to give up all her warmth for this molly - her mate whom she long thought dead.

"Lace... I... Welcome home." Puff whimpered.

[knickknacks]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: knickknacks + 815546
↬ clan archive: knollclan

↬ word count: 466
↬ prompt:

“I tried to tell you.” Rainshard’s admonition is more of a sigh, expression caught between worry and fondness as he looks down at his sister.

“It was worth it!” Even sniffling and shivering, Robinblaze’s spirit is undimmed. She tries to say something further, but shivers and curls further into her nest, interrupted by another hacking cough. At her back, Sundance makes a concerned little sound, and speeds up the pace of his soothing licks, pressing close in order to warm his friend up. In the background, Dawngaze and Sagespot bustle about, speaking quietly to each other as they discuss the incident.

“He said I couldn’t do it.” Robinblaze smirks. “That’ll show him.”

“Just like every other one of your contests has definitely done something productive.” Rainshard’s voice drips with exasperation. “Nothing is ever proven, besides the fact that you and Smokebite are idiots who can’t back down from a challenge. Even a dangerous challenge.” With that, he bends to join Sundance in warming her up. “Seeing how long you can go submerged in the snow is stupid, Robin.”

“He didn’t think I would actually do it.” Robin’s defense is weak, and she knows it.

“Yeah, because he assumed you were an adult warrior with a sense of self-preservation.” Sundance chimes in, uncharacteristically sarcastic. “Mistakenly. Smokebite may be a furball when it comes to you, but even he doesn’t want you dead.”

Robinblaze sinks further into her nest, disgruntled, and soothed in spite of herself by the grooming of her denmates.

“I still won, though,” is the last thing she says before falling asleep.

–

“Will she be okay?” Outside, a fourth cat stops his pacing as pawsteps approach. Sagespot ducks out of the den, smiling wryly at her friend.

“I suppose this will teach you to underestimate Robinblaze’s commitment to the rivalry,” she sighs. Smokebite stares back at her, his typically solemn face shadowed with worry. Sagespot lets out a small laugh and nudges his shoulder with her own.

“It was stupid, but not that serious,” she says. “But it’s a good thing you and Rainshard hauled her out when you did. He and Sundance are with her now.” Smokebite nods tersely, and the two of them lapse into silence.

“You could go in to see her, you know,” Sagespot teases. “I’m sure she’d welcome the change to gloat.” Smokebite sighs, the faintest of purrs rumbling up.

“She probably would.” He stands up, turning briefly to peer through the entrance of the den. Sundance and Rainshard sit curled around a slumbering Robinblaze, with Dawngaze keeping a watchful eye from further off. Smokebite stares for a moment, visibly torn, before huffing and turning away.

“-no. I won’t disturb her any more.”

And then he is gone, to a den that feels much quieter without his rival in it.

[Baobabel]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: Baobabel + 39277
↬ clan archive: SecludedGlade

↬ word count: n/a->art (107 words)
↬ prompt:

After getting caught in a blizzard, Silvergaze evtually made her way back to the base but she ended up with freezing toes and a frost covered face. Snowscape helped Silvergaze warm back up by helping (half carrying) Silvergaze all the way to the clan's hidden hot spring in an underground cave where Silvergaze gratefully sank into the water and began to defrost and warm back up. Snowscape is even offering her beloved scarf for when Silvergaze eventually emerges from the water.

[Whovian5EVA]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: Whovian5eva 328762
↬ clan archive: Cats of the Desert

↬ word count: 259 words
↬ prompt:The firey earth rumbles beneath their feet, smoke billowing up into the scorching sky. Daytime in the lava lands was not for the faint of heart. Flamecatcher stumbles into their lava tube his heart racing, “Amberblitz! I need your help!” I slipped and the lava…” He holds out his paw, this was much worse than anything they’d run into yet! He’d touched some lava oozing out of an crack in the earth, and he'd managed to get the lava off, but the burn he'd gotten still remained.
Amberbliz hurried amongst their herb stores looking for anything to cool or take the heat out…
They were flat out of anything cooling, all their herbs were dry from the heat of the lava tube… Amberblitz really started to worry, “Flamecatcher let's hurry to the creek cool that burn!!”
He leaned on her side limping the fastest he could, his injured paw stinging as he held it close to his chest. He winced with every step, not accustomed to walking on three legs.
Later, once the burn was cooled And they were back in their lava tube Amberblitz curled herself around his paw purring hoping to help him feel better. She gently licked his forehead willing him to recover quickly. They didn't have much out here, and as exciting as the Lavalands were this was when it got hard, it tumbled about in her mind, that if it had been any worse she could have lost him… Flamecatcher and her were a duo she couldn't live without him, they needed each other!

[kyeza]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: kyeza 803669
↬ clan archive: here!

↬ word count: 304 words
↬ prompt:


"amber, c'mon, we've been at this for hours and—"

"just.. a few... more... minutes," a caramel tom huffs, trudging through the snow and lugging a hefty leather sack behind xem, leaving a trail in xyr wake.

the other's brow furrows. "amber, you're going to catch a cold at this rate, it isn't worth it." he shakes his head before amberdusk can even begin to protest—he knew it was coming, this was his sibling he was talking about after all—and lets out a long, drawn out sigh. a puff of frosty air follows his breath.

"amber, you're shaking... can you even feel your paws??"

his sibling pauses in xyr tracks and glances down before pulling xyr gaze back up sheepishly. "uh, well... they are pretty cold," xe mumbles, to which goldrush pinches the bridge of his nose to avoid giving in to the annoyance pestering him from his sibling's carelessness.

"that's it, up on my back with you," he grumbles, voice gruff but laced with concern. he slings xyr thin frame across his own with ease, amber's trembling paws too weak to put up much fight. "let's get you home."


———————

the moment they set foot in their den, their mother flings herself up from where she'd been curled up next to the fire, eyes wide with worry.

"are you two mad?! why on earth have you been out so long, it's freezing outside—!" she freezes at the sight of her younger son draped across xyr brother's back, eyes closed and limbs ever-so-still, awful conclusions clearly drawing themselves in her mind.

"mom, stop!" goldrush exclaims before she can pass out on the floor in shock. "xe's fine, just cold and tired. could you get xem a warm bowl of soup maybe? i'm gonna set xem down by the fire to defrost. xe'll be fine. i promise."

[EchoIre]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: EchoIre 798835
↬ clan archive: https://toyhou.se/EchoIre/characters/folder:5352392

↬ word count: 308 words
↬ prompt: Yantar had been out too long. There was a thick layer of snow on the ground - a few inches at least - and the snow was still coming, but he felt warm. Hot, really, though he couldn't feel his paws or ears. Too long, but he had caught nothing. Shame burned inside of him hotter than the frostbite's lies. He had considered not returning home at all, but fear of dying alone sent him trudging back to camp with ice making his whiskers droop.

Somewhere in the white haze, Yantar heard voices calling out his name. He didn't look up. Not until something crashed into his side, nearly tumbling him over. Yantar yelped in surprise and began to flail, trying to free himself. It was far too hot.

"Yantar!" He finally recognized one of the voices. He stopped, blinking blearily at the face peering down at him.

"...Idalia?"

~

A search party had been sent out for him after Dinara returned to camp without him. They had apparently been looking for a while, which is why his sister was so concerned. It meant that the healers had time to set up a nest and warmth runes, though. Yantar was sat there now, wishing the ground would open and swallow him whole.

Dinara had gotten in trouble because of him, even though he had asked to stay out longer. The others had risked frostbite just to save him. The healers were wasting precious materials just to keep him warm, and he hadn't even found anything. Yantar curled tighter into himself, clenching his teeth. What a waste.

His two sisters were leaned against each of his sides, sharing their warmth. Idalia was purring loud enough to fill the entire healer's den, while Willow was just quietly grooming his fur.

"I'm glad you're okay." Idalia purred. Willow hummed her agreement. Yantar didn't answer.

[LOSTINUNKNOWN]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: LOSTINUNKNOWN 1002427.
↬ clan archive: Astron.

↬ word count: 359 words.
↬ prompt: The firm culminations of interwoven muscle and sinew threading the seams of Towhee's limbs constrained in tremorous convulsions permeating in mercilessly bestowed waves of sheer ache whilst they strenuously willed themselves past the firm pillars of moss and wooden permeate serving as the threshold of Astron camp merely a glorified hour suceeding Owl's cowardice amidst the patrol, her breathing escaping herself in sporadic pufts of vaporized air befilling the crest of her tongue with each comprehensive beat whereupon the pungent aroma saturating her wounds furiously smothered her adrenaline-laden senses and her heart sputtering in desperate spurs fostered deep within her chest, scarcely illuminated pools born from the cresent moon aloft stroking the faint clots of dried crimson once frothed from the aforementioned wounds; languidly settling against the softened moss outlining the prey pile thereafter, lest she aggravate her wounds further in merely assessing the damage of them. A still hum of irration vibrated against her throat once the rush of her pulse gradually waned upon her being and the frigid embrace of winter bled into taut muscle, noting the sown slices etched into the darkened brown tufts threading her pelt and cautiously wreathing the acuminated arcs of her fangs around the bundle of moss perched directly beneath herself prior to drawing it tight against the more prominent ones, wincing subtly at the sharpened sting born from such an action. She abruptly halted her motions at the prompt of a faint susurration resonating behind, lazily tilting her head as a means to acquaint herself to the noise - in consequence of her lack thereof in ears.

"What happened?" The familiar rhymth of Ptarmigan's Russian accented voice questioned.

Towhee calmly replied, "Owl left me to deal with a creature, of our size yet much swifter."

"I see." Ptarmigan mumbled, promptly manuevering closer in proximity. "You are awfully cold, yes? Wounded too? Come, let us to Iatros."

"Ptarmigan, there isn't-" Towhee began, only to be interjected by Ptarmigan's tail flicking atop her muzzle.

"No. No more words from you, Towhee." Ptarmigan firmly stated, urging Towhee to her paws.

"She isn't awake." Towhee stated, reluctantly trailing Ptarmigan's shift.

"A temporary state." Ptarmigan murmured. "Come."

[SushiFoxx]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: SushiFoxx 1005758
↬ clan archive: Fallen Rose Kingdom

↬ word count: 600 words!!
↬ prompt:

It was so, so cold. Her paws were numb and her shivering had stopped.. An empty expanse of land was bestowed in front of her, there was nothing, only the darkness that coated the land like a blanket. The walls were out of range and creatures bellowed their rest. She was stuck, her paws felt so weak and everything seemed too hard. Any wails had long since died on her tongue, any bleat for help had gone unnoticed, unrewarded. Her paws had started to drag, leaving a clear path behind her, a path that was soon being filled with the snow that raged above.

She felt so insignificant, not even her thick fur could shelter her from the fierce wind. Her small legs threatened to buckle as she pushed through the harsh wind. Through the push of wind she saw the familiar figures sprinting over just as her vision went black and the last thing she saw was those panicked eyes.

Voices swirled around her, the rustling of paws, the panicked sounds of those she loved. The darkness wanted to drag her under once more, the tiredness that seemed to gnaw at her bones at all times. There was a black sludge that covered her consciousness, one that threatened to consume her.

Suddenly she was tugged back to reality with the familiar tangy scent she had learned to love after all these months. The moment she tried to shift, she was able to recognize the familiarity of dragon scales that now warmed her achy bones. There was a pause before she reluctantly opened her eyes, her momma..

"ELAIN!" Althea cried desperately, nudging Elain with her nose. The moment Althea spoke up everybody flocked around Elain anxiously.

"Momma.. I was so cold.." She barely managed to whisper out, her throat still aching.

"Shh.. You're safe my love.. It'll be okay.." Althea murmured. Even in the haze of consciousness Elain was able to recognize the familiar dampness in her coat.

"Momma don't cry.."

"You were gone.." Althea whispered. Althea didn't tell Elain about her scream of fear had nearly woken up the whole kingdom, or the fact that Althea had nearly ripped the King's head off.

"Momma I can't feel my paws.." Elain whispered, everything felt like a fog she couldn't quite push through. She just wanted to sleep until the next whisper of the moon. Everything was so hazy..

"I know.. I know.. just.. don't rest yet.." Althea pleaded softly, her eyes darting to Everbound desperately. Elain could barely make out the rusting around before Eirine and Avalon came wandering over anxiously.

"Mum is scared.." Avalon mumbled anxiously, having weaseled her way into her mother mind. "I think your heart stopped from the cold and mum is really, really scared.." Eirine shifted on her paws as Avalon spoke, obviously agreeing.

Elain just deflated into the comforting bed, "I'm just so sleepy.." She whispered softly, everything was so thick. Even the air felt fake, the leaves she loved felt like wax, the gazes of her siblings simply marbles in a world too big to have meaning.

The screams were even louder this time but she couldn't help it as sleepiness dragged her under, the darkness soothing her aches.

A warmth being draped over her like a warm blanket woke her once more, the terror in Althea's eyes evident, even the level headed Atlas appeared anxious.

"Momma.. what happened..?"

"Nothing my love.. just.. sleep.."

Elain reluctantly accepted those words and dozed off once more. Althea knew she wasn't ready to hear about the figure that had loomed over her, soothing the shivering youngling.

[Derpy.]

↬ catvent day: thirteen

↬ username & id: Derpy. 918438
↬ clan archive: here

↬ word count: 307
↬ prompt:

Achoo!

a loud sneeze sounded from chancestar's quarters, audible enough to shake the house maybe, and it echoed down the hallway. the paw steps of tigerspirit quickened as he did not want to waste any time getting to his friend's room. he had some herbs to ease chancestar's symptoms, but there wasn't much else he could give or do. the deputy pushed aside the wooden door to the leader's room; it was dark and gloomy inside, with only a lantern lit on the desk. the black cat lay on his bedding, curled up into a black ball of nothingness. or maybe dread.

"chancestar, i've brought you some herbs to help."

the leader made no attempt to move. his body must've been sore, a common symptom of the cold. tigerspirit stepped into the room and gently placed the herbs in front of the cat. "let me know if you need anything else, friend." and with that, he left the room.
tigerspirit wasn't typically soft like this. he preferred being authoritative and demanding. but he knew there was a time and place for everything and chancestar likely wouldn't appreciate his forceful attempt to get him to eat the herbs or his snarky remark of "i told you so."
tigerspirit had reminded chancestar time and time again to NOT go out into the blistering cold without some protection. or at the very least, a hat. but noooo. chancestar wanted to argue him down about it.

"i'll be fine!" the black cat protested, rolling his eyes. "you think you'll be fine, but i swear. if you come back here coughing and sneezing up a storm, don't come complaining to me!" tigerspirit glared at the leader.
"yeah, yeah, yeah. i'll be back soon." chancestar pulled the front door handle behind him, leaving the deputy alone in the living room.

he never listens.