⸙ Seasonal Surveys ⸙ Neverending Night ⸙ SPRING PROMPT

[I Like Bees]

Username + ID || I Like Bees + 904964
Sign-up Post Link || Here
Word Count || 268 words
Prompt ||

There is no real shortage of edible stuffs in the Edge, as the whole world is created from the same magic, shaped into their environment and capable of sustaining life no matter what a cat chooses to eat - from meat to vegetables to grass. Cats can consume dirt if it really comes to it, though everyone much prefers not to. Dirt is rather.. dirty. While there isn't necessarily a future threat of starvation to mourn, smaller rural towns with an agricultural economy tend to be the most affected by the transition from autumn to winter, as their harvests and income for the year come to close. There's nothing to celebrate, just hard work to be done to prepare for the coming season.

In the capital city, fall is celebrated with a large, city-wide collection of feasts, with each wealthy house hosting its own party fully open to the public. While this was once - and still is - a tradition meant to be a celebration of unity and help to dismantle boundaries between social classes, today most wealthy families take it as an opportunity to compete with each other for who can throw the most extravagant party and attract the most guests, rather than true generosity towards the lower classes. Civilians from across the Edge - though most are from large, middle-class-filled cities similar to the capital, where the residents can afford a vacation - come to the capital at this time to enjoy the banquets. While the original idealized meaning of the celebration may have faded over time, it still makes for a fun event for many cats across the Edge.

[Thani]

Username + ID || Thani 509675
Sign-up Post Link || Here
Word Count || 153
Prompt ||

The various families and clans that reside within the Abwood treasure life and abundance, treating every new day like it's a treasure to be had. The abundance of food and shelter that the forest provides is a gift to be used, so they never have to worry about the hard times that are to come. Life in the forest is a calm and safe place, where little to no danger resides. Over the centuries outside forces have tried to take their special canopy from them but to no avail.

Celebrations in the Abwood are frequent and as abundant as the trees that surround the forest that holds home to the many creatures living within. Whether it be the coming of a new month, a new baby, or the return of the hunters. The people of the Abwood would find any excuse to throw together a feast and celebrate the bounties of the forest.

[Aizaka]

Username + ID || Aizaka + 995625
Sign-up Post Link || Here
Word Count || 303 words
Prompt ||

For the Fall Equinox, the clan all gathers by the graveyard in the morning to place bundles of flowers or seeds. Plants that are pretty. Perhaps just something that reminds them of that one that was lost. Be it that year or many years past. It is a time to remember them. The ones that are gathered talk of them and the good times they had together. They remember.

Then they go, a few at a time as they feel like it, to the meeting place where they would eat. Everyone brings different dishes to share with all. The Grannies particularly like this part and being able to share their recipes. There is so much food! The many tables of savory foods and salads, of tart things or sweets. So many pies of every sort! They eat in smaller groups and talk. Wandering from group to group and getting more to eat.

After some of the younger ones have finished and the older still talk amongst themselves, the little ones run outside to play in the leaves and little games around the courtyard. There might be an older one who offers to paint their fur in whatever designs they wish. Perhaps as if Fall leaves are blowing in their fur, or as if they have wings like a crow. Much laughter can be heard as games are played and treats are given to the winners.

It is the Harvest time. To remember what has been lost, as the plants grow dull and pass. But also what has been gained, as the food that will carry through the cold, hard Winter. The young ones that have been born this year will be like the joyous light in the dark. There are still those around us that can carry us through and give us hope.

[Archaeopteryx.]

Username + ID || Archaeopteryx. 334452
Sign-up Post Link || boop
Word Count || 198 words
Prompt ||

Time Where Time Wasn't stands for a long time near the stump, writing in an elegant scrawl, before slipping the following into the basket;

One of our most curious autumn traditions is honored by those living in the Floodplains.

As the last of the summer heat tapers away and the snowmelt from the mountains to the north come slowly trickling back, those living in the Floodplains are offered one last moment of respite before the winter sinks its waterlogged claws into them. During this time, to prepare for the incoming winter, those of the Floodplains experience both scarcity and abundance at once.

They operate underneath a wheel of time, in which every moon a feast is held featuring a specific animal, who is then considered sacred for the following month and is allowed to propagate freely without fear of being butchered. During the first moon of autumn, this animal is the duasaures; the largest animal farmed by the ferraen. Appearing somewhat similar to a feathered goat. Because they are the largest animal farmed by the ferraen, there is often food left over after the feast, which is immediately preserved by the ferraen to help survive the long winter.

[Macabre.]

Username + ID Macabre. + 653516
Sign-up Post Link Link
Word Count 95 words
Prompt

BirchClan only has two small traditions around the changing of seasons, one is on the first snow. Typically the day the first flakes fall is a rest day for the whole clan, no patrols, no hunting (unless absolutely necessary). Everyone in the clan can spend the day playing in the snow or just resting. The second is the night of the solstice, the clan leader and the medicine cats have a special meeting with CelestialClan. The rest of the cats tend to spend the night sitting vigil on the graves of passed loved ones.

[canadianhowl]

Username + ID || canadianhowl + 523964
Sign Up Post Link || xx
Word Count || 258
Prompt ||

A celebration is in order for this clan! It’s the last hurrah before winter gets here. The celebration is a little late into the season. It’s a chance to get food into the clan while they start to begin the strenuous work that goes into winter hunts. Fish and berries are especially celebrated as it will be nearly impossible to fish once all the water freezes over and no more fruit will be growing. Some dishes prepared are fish stuffed with nuts and berries while others will make pinecone jams and mix those up with the berries. It’s a sweet and savory celebration. You must keep your heads held up high. Winter is tough but the clan celebrates in knowing they can get through another together! Aside from the foods, activities involving leaves and last minute fishing happens. The kittens and trainees make costumes and toys from the fallen leaves and adults love to have contests in who can catch the largest fish. Any rank can participate which makes it interesting to see if anyone can beat the hunters (a few times they have been defeated).

During this celebration, the constellations of course aren’t forgotten. The head ranks will often travel towards the Nebula Mountain and give thanks to Pisces for the fish, Cygnus or Aquila for the prey or a successful migration, and a few other constellations. Sure the festivities are about abundance but the clan doesn’t forget to thank where their success has come from. Without them, they wouldn’t be as strong as they are today.

[razr]

Username + ID || razr + 1021614
Sign-up Post Link || here <3
Word Count || 288 words
Prompt ||

renatulus has a lot of holidays, and autumn in particular is full of them! some are festivals full of games, races made out of the necessity to gather as much food as possible, and some are huge feasts and parades dedicated to celebrating as much as possible before the brutal winters lock everyone inside.

lacewing's personal favorite autumn holiday is lachentide, a two day long holiday that takes place in late october. it gained its name from lachen meaning "to laugh" and tide shortened from "eventide" !

owls are particularly active around this time of autumn, and renatulus considers them to be especially somber spirits. they're said to work with deathwhistle himself, and their call of "who?" is spoken as they search for the souls they're sent to reap.

lachentide is a festival originally intended to appease the owls and hide in clear sight from them-- someone laughing and partying couldn't possibly be about to be taken to the afterlife, right? children are especially pushed towards the days' festivities, as it's believed that enthusiastic participation will promise them a longer life.

as years passed and the holiday evolved, it took on a more positive meaning-- some of the kingdom still believes owls to be reapers, but instead of celebrating to escape their wrath, they celebrate to honor the souls they do take. death isn't something to fear so much anymore, rather a respected part of nature's cycle. cats dress up as owls and dance and sing, and anyone can join in to honor lost loved ones.

lacewing, of course, doesn't have any personal connection to the holiday-- a princess doesn't have much to honor the loss of-- but she loves the joyful celebrations and the laughter of her citizens !

[PeepinBones]

Username + ID || PeepinBones + 1045189
Sign-up Post Link || X
Word Count || 146
Prompt ||

In the region where Fractured-Crag sits, the brief leaffall season brings a wave of vibrant color that paints the trees and foliage alike. The change prompts the clan to rush to scrape up the remaining summer harvest before the harsh blizzards of leafbare take hold. They'll have to cut back on their rationing and be more mindful of herb uses, but if the greenleaf moons were good, they should have enough resources to make it through the cold. In one last hurrah, they hold a mostly conservative feast before they have to cut back. The event lifts the clan's spirits and sets them off on the right foot to face what's to come. In true clan fashion, all the members climb their home mountain after the feast to bring the slumbering beast its portions of food so that it remains strong and protects them through leafbare.

[feather ']

Username + ID || feather ' + 979911
Sign-up Post Link || ✧
Word Count || 270 words
Prompt
considering that the cats of the still waters dwell in a rainforest, there is not particularly a scarcity in food. the temperature is stable throughout the year, neither plummeting, nor rising. that said, there are a collection of odd creatures that decide to come out during each season, the autumn's collection being by far the worst. citizens have given them the name of, harvest beetles. they are too small to be seen, and yet cause a mass amount of damage to gardens— one of the few reasons why many newly founded food-based businesses die out in the autumn.

despite the fact that you cannot see these beetles, you can certainly feel them. their touch is like acid upon skin, its poisonous chemicals searing through whatever it has landed on. it does not pose much of a threat to cats, more so the flimsy crops that wither at its touch. to prevent this from happening to gardens, it is advised to harvest during summer. unfortunately, many do not heed this advice, preferring to let their plants remain fresh for the lovely autumn festivities. this includes a food fair, where tiny businesses take a trip to the core of the city to show off their fancy handmade goods. if all goes well, many cats will bring back sacks stuffed with an absurd amount of coins. and if a business is especially promising, ambitious nobles will occasionally forge business deals (that are often rigged in their own favour). despite this, autumn is and always will be considered to be a season of hope and opportunity, especially to the naive that dare to dream.

[Derpy.]

Username + ID Derpy. 918438
Sign-up Post Link here
Word Count || 589
Prompt

In Aspenville, no cat ever gets the chance to mourn over autumn because Chancestar is always there to have them appreciate the good sides and celebrate what they have: each other! Which... Admittedly, may sound cheesy but it's true.

The weather grew bitter as the days dragged on. Cats retreated back into their homes more often and barely came outside anymore. This made sense considering nobody really liked the biting teeth that signaled the slow, creeping arrival of... Ugh. Winter. To most of the cats in the village, the only upside to such a dreadful season were the holidays.
Thank Starclan that there were still a few months before winter would rear its ugly head. Autumn wasn't nearly as bad, but it did still get quite chilly on some days.

"Urgghhh." Cacao groaned, tail flicking in annoyance as she pawed at the flame colored leaves on the ground. They were getting more and more frequent, becoming a hassle to clean up to keep the place looking nice. "It's autumn. Y'know what that means..." Snö, whom was helping to clean up the leaves that had piled up around the village (and was doing most of the work while Cacao whined), hummed in thought. "It means Christmas is coming and the clan will get to spend more time together while exchanging gifts?" She perked up. "Oh! Or maybe it means that Turkey Day is soon and we'll get to eat as much as we want?" Cacao deadpanned before scoffing and shaking her head. "No. It means snow is its way veeeery soon." Snö monentarily paused her tail-sweeping and raised a brow. "But... Winter isn't due for another.." she trailed off, peering up and squinting at the slightly dimming sky before looking back towards Cacao and continuing. "Three moons?" The brown she-cat groaned once more and rolled her eyes, plopping down onto the grass (or lack thereof). "Three moons too short! Please Starclan, just give us a bit more time to enjoy the sun, the prey, the soft grass." She fake-wept, running a paw over the browning grass as if that would suddenly bring it back to life.

Chancestar padded up to the two cats to check up on their progress with the leaves when he noticed Cacao sprawled out on the ground. He shot a confused glance towards Snö before clearing his throat and nudging Cacao on the shoulder. "Erm... is everything alright?" At first he was worried that she might've been hurt, but his worries quickly disappeared when he heard her let out an overly dramatic sigh. "No! Everything is not alright!" She mewed, stuffing her face under her paws. "Autumn is here! Which means winter is almost here too! I HATE the winter..." Chancestar huffed. "But... winter isn't for another three moons." Snö flicked her tail, chiming in with an exasperated expression. "That's what I said!"
Shaking her head, Cacao sat up. "It's just... autumn can be really cold. Prey gets scarcer. Life starts to get harder." The leader nodded his head as she spoke before placing his tail on her shoulder. "I get it. cold seasons can definitely make it harder for us. But listen. As long as we have each other, we can get through it. This isn't our first rodeo getting through autumn and this definitely won't be our last." Snö nodded her head in agreement.
Cacao sighed once more before giving Chancestar the tiniest smile. "I.. I guess you're right. If I could make it through previous autumns, I can make it through this one."