
Castor: "There is a time and place for such conversations, Anova. In front of the entire Noxial court is certainly not one of those times."
Anova: "Then when is a good time, brother? You have avoided me for long enough and I seek answers!"
Lorens: "She is not the only one. You have kept us in the dark for long as well. I have half a mind to live in the swamps with Salis, as there seems to be no future here where you had promised there would be."
Castor: "You all lack patience and discipline. Has Father not taught you better than this? Or did he give up any and all paternal duties once I was chosen to be heir?"
Lorens: "How Father did or did not raise us is of no concern right now. You cannot change the subject just to dodge our questions. Now, tell us- when will you be making your move on the Noxial heir? Surely you won't continue this charade of courtship much longer?"
Anova: "It is certainly becoming quite the nuisance, if you ask me!"
Castor: "A nuisance, perhaps. However, a necessary step to the grand plan, as you both are very much aware. Without this 'charade of courtship', how could I possibly get close enough to the sovereign night family to learn their weaknesses? How would I gain the trust and loyalty of their Noxial court? The only way in which we can usher the era of perpetuality is by commandeering the Noxial throne. Which requires a scrupulous plan and a commitment to every step- including even the steps you may find slow and boring."
Salis: "I still don't understand why we need to take the 'slow and steady' route. If Kaos is so powerful, why can't xe just kill the Noxial royals ximself? Surely a kingdom without its monarchs would be easy to overpower."
Castor: "Speak ill of Brother Kaos one more time and I will ensure you no longer have a tongue to spew such nonsense from ever again!"
Lorens: "Salis didn't mean it in disrespect, brother. Forgive him- there is still much more for him to learn and understand."
Castor: "See to it that he does learn. And soon."
Anova: "I still don't understand what more you could need to learn from the Noxial court... we already have all the information we need, no? So why can't we make our move now?"
Castor: "Information was the easiest to collect. It is absolute trust I seek now. Once I have the minor court in my paws, we will prepare to strike. Continue to rally more puppets in Vygor territory in the meantime. And do try to stop wasting my time with these pointless questions. We proceed when I say so- no sooner and no later. Understood?"
Anova, Salis, Lorens: "Yes, brother."
Farkasis AMA
NummyNym asks: "What is your favorite part about being a demigod?"
------------------- There are many aspects of being a demigod I enjoy, it would be difficult to pick a single one. I think right now my favorite part is travelling amongst the dreams of my beloved community. It can be bittersweet sometimes, you know- I wish I could walk amongst all of you in the daylight. But at least I can cherish the moments we share behind closed eyelids.
DappleDoubleDare asks: "Would you ever want to evolve into a full goddess? Like Terra?"
------------------- The simple answer is no- absolutely not. I would never wish to live like Terra, full goddess or not. However, becoming a 'full goddess' is something one cannot truly evolve into. Think of it like this- gods and goddesses are bound to individual, unique souls. There are only a limited number of these souls, and they cannot be created or destroyed. They are the life force of the universe, in a way. Some of these souls can choose to share aspects of their life to those they deem worthy- akin to how Terra turned me into a demigod. But, the only way to become a full goddess is to fully embody the entire god-given soul. Which would, for example, mean Terra dying and her ethereal soul then occupying another living being. I hope that made sense! I fear I rambled there for a moment.
LautiTia asks: "What is it like in the Noxium Mondae? Do you ever miss the real world?"
------------------- The Noxium Mondae can be anything I want at any time, so it depends on the day you're asking! Though, I would generally describe my home as an endless twilight sky. The only source of light comes from the twinkling stars that each house the dreams of my Noxial kin. It is rather spectacular, if I do say so myself. My goal was to create a peaceful midnight paradise, and I think I accomplished exactly that. As for missing the 'real world', it depends on what you consider to be 'real'. The dreams that occupy the Noxium Mondae are very much real to my kin. They're the deepest desires of my beloved, their worst fears and even greater passions. To me, they are the real world- the one found in the hearts of each and every denizen of the Shallows. So, no, I would not say I miss the real world, as I get the honor of witnessing it every day.
KaosInkarnate asks: "When are you going to stop hiding around in that little cave of your's, Created One?"
------------------- I don't quite understand this question and, unfortunately, this is all the time I have for today! Be sure to submit anything you'd like to ask me next time via the dreamscape. Buh bye!
"It is lovely to meet you, Imogen. Please, come in and take a seat," the tall golden feline offered an inviting smile to the nervous young molly, though it only seemed to make the poor youngling more anxious. The lilac she-cat's eyes darted from the tall feline towards the flattened bed of grass she gestured towards. Another cat sat beside the grass with a tilted chin, aer sharp pink gaze focused on Imogen who visibly swallowed down her fear. Hesitantly, she finally stepped forward, settling awkwardly before the intimidating stranger. "We truly are grateful that you reached out to us when you did! With the winter season quickly approaching, it is imperative that we fix up the royal garden."
The stoic stranger in front of Imogen gave a solemn nod, aer eyes still trained on the young feline. "O-of course," she stammered, heat rising beneath lilac fur. "I am honored you even wanted to interview me, your highnesses." She offered a reverent bow of her head, earning a disapproving tsk from the golden feline.
"Don't worry about such pleasantries right now, darling. If things go well with this interview, you will soon become a member of our little family and won't have to worry about honorifics any longer," the corner of the golden she-cats eyes wrinkled as her smile broadened. "Now then, tell us a bit about yourself. What sort of jobs have you worked before?"
An easy question... I got this, I was ready for this, Imogen thought to herself before replying, "Well, I have lived in the eastern corner of the Shallows all of my seasons. I am sure you both know this, but my village in particular is full of farmers. It's what everyone seems to do night in and night out. Naturally, I became a bit of a greenpaw myself and it's all that I have done since. Tending my mother's garden, harvesting my uncle's fields, and I started a little orchard of my own as well not too long ago."
"Oh how lovely! I simply adore the fresh produce of the eastern Shallows. Your village always grows the most delicious moonberries. We get them specially imported every fourth season for our darling Lyn's birth celebration. Isn't that right, Ari?" the golden feline flashed her dazzling smile in the direction of the impassive queen beside her.
Ae nodded slowly, clearing aer throat before asking, "You certainly have experience, but you also admitted that your village is full of equally, if not more, qualified individuals." The words lashed at the young feline's battering heart, embarrassment trickling up her paws as she glanced down. "So tell me. Why would you in particular, Imogen, be a good fit for this role."
"Ari, no need to be so sharp with the youngling," the golden she-cat scolded at her partner, Imogen could just barely hear the gentle slap of a tail following her indictment.
"It's alright, your highness. Queen Aurelia makes a fair point," the lilac feline swallowed down her nerves, lifting her head to meet aer intense gaze. For a color considered to be gentle and reassurance, Imogen found no solace amidst the pale pink. "While there are certainly many folks in my village who are far more experienced and talented than I, they are also entirely devoted to their own gardens and farmlands. You would be hard-pressed to find someone willing to part with their land, even at the order of aer royal highness. I, on the other paw, do not truly have a land to call my own. I had mentioned my own orchard that I started a season or two ago, but it exists on the land of my aunt's and uncles. It is not truly an orchard to call my own. If I were be hired to tend to the royal gardens, I will finally have a land I can truly devote myself to."
There was a glimmer of interest hidden in the stoic queen's gaze as ae peered at the youngling, the smallest tilt of her head echoed this curiosity. "You make a fair point, youngling," aer's approval soared through the feline, lessening the suffocating feeling of dread that clung to her.
"Thank you, your grace," she mewed, bowing her head once more.
"Fair indeed!" the golden queen chirped, tossing a look of "I told you so" in the direction of her mate. "Last question, my dear. If we were to hire you, how would you first tackle the restoration of our royal garden?"
Imogen sunk a fang into the soft flesh of her lip. The question was not exactly what she anticipated, but not impossible to answer. "I would start by clearing out the existing plants. From what I glanced, it seems many of the current plantbeds are covered in dead or dying life. No new life can be created amongst the dead, so they would need to be removed before anything further can be done. It is after these garden is cleared that I can begin introducing native species to the land and develop a small ecosystem. After all, a garden requires all manners of life, not just flowers and foliage."
Both queens nodded, one more enthusiastic than the other, before sharing a silent look. The lilac feline held her breath as the seconds passed, the pair continuing to stare at one another in a wordless conversation. Before, abruptly, the golden feline meows in delight, "Thank you, Imogen! We are so impressed with your answers, we would like to offer you the position right now!"
"We simply cannot delay any longer in restoring the garden, so a prompt response is of upmost importance," Queen Aurelia added coolly.
Before Imogen could open her mouth to respond, the golden she-cat began ushering her out. "Come, come! We can discuss details in the garden. We have no time to waste!"
It's difficult to find a future with a past so shrouded in darkness. It seems no matter how many steps you take forward, no matter how many paths reveal themselves to you- it is never enough. You are but what your past has defined you to be. You are never enough and never will be. At least, that is what I used to believe.
It was perhaps six seasons ago when I first began to challenge this belief. When I questioned what exactly it had meant to be "enough". At the time, I had begun volunteering at a local apothecary every other moon cycle. It was the only place I could volunteer at- everywhere else had turned me away. Citing my lack of experience or them needing someone with more 'potential'. It seemed no matter which direction I faced, the sun continued to cast its shadow ahead of me. Blocking anyone from seeing the real me. So, when I was accepted for this apothecary job, I was equally elated and confused. I mean, every other place had some reason to deny me, so surely this had to be some sort of mistake? I would soon learn that it was not, in fact, a mistake. But a very intentional decision.
The owner of this apothecary is a rather strange fellow. A recluse by all definitions of the word. In the 3 seasons I worked under him, I had only ever seen him communicate with one other feline outside of word-related business. That was also the only time I ever saw him smile, though I don't believe he ever intended for me to see. Anyways, it was him that taught me to stop valuing myself through the lens of others. That, in doing so, I was only hurting myself further. A self-inflicted anchor to the past I so longed to free myself from. It was with him that I learned to truly take control of myself and my life, which is what brings me to today.
Without my time serving under Salis, I wouldn't have become the feline I am today. I want to continue to learn, to develop, to grow. I want to experience the world in a broader sense, without worrying about what my past says, but what my future holds. I feel that this experience I desire can be found at your institute. That, as a follower of the Harbinger of Perpetuality, I would have the opportunity to continue to evolve. To be elevated to the ranks of enlightenment with the teachings of Kaos. If you would consider accepting me in your ranks, it would be greatly appreciated and I can assure it would not be regretted.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
With the sincerest respect,
Sunder
Silas' Selenic Reprieve Frostbites
Prep Time: half a moonrise
Simmer Time: two moonrises
Cool Time: quarter of a winter
Ingredients
-----------✧ 12 petals of an evening primrose
-----------✧ 2 stalks of lavender
-----------✧ 4 dollops of aloe vera
-----------✧ 4 leaflets of twilight dew
-----------✧ 2 claw pinches of dampened earth
-----------✧ 5 moon-soaked lamb's ear leaves
-----------✧ 1 stick of cinnamon
-----------✧ 1/2 of a crow feather
-----------✧ 10 leaflets of silver water
Directions
-----------1. Prepare a cauldron with the silver water and set it low on the fire to reach a simmer. While the cauldron simmers, begin grinding down the primose, lamb's ear leaves, and lavender into a pasty dust. It should be thick enough to smear, but mixed well enough that it cannot be separated. (It is imperative that everything is mixed THOROUGHLY with no separate between ingredients.)
-----------2. Slowly begin mixing the dampened earth with the plant paste. The paste should start to turn a brownish-green. If it is not, you have not thoroughly mixed the paste and will need to begin anew with fresh ingredients.
-----------3. Once the silver water has begun to bubble, place the crow feather in. The feather should float atop the silvery water, but not be completely submersed. Ensure the crow feather stays floating as the water continues to simmer.
-----------4. Mix the aloe vera into the dirt and plant smear. The mixture will begin to get sticky after mixing for a few blinks, this is normal! The sticky mixture will need to be smeared onto one of the leaflets to rest. Place the smeared leaflet in a cool spot while returning to the simmering water.
-----------5. Using the cinnamon stick, begin stirring the simmer water until the crow feather begins to submerse. Once the feather is completely covered, raise the cauldron a few paw lengths above the flame.
-----------6. Now gently place the leaflet onto the silvery water surface. The water should have a bronze hue now, but still be shimmering. If this is not the case, you must start over from the beginning.
-----------7. Leave the mixture to simmer for two moonrises, periodically checking to ensure that the leaflet continues to float.
-----------8. After two moonrises, the mixture should be congealed atop the leaflet. There may be some dampness atop the mixture- this is normal! If the mixture drips silver water once removed, it means the leaflet got too wet at some point and the elixir will not be as effective. Once fully removed, place the congealed mixture in a fresh leaflet (ideally a waxy leaflet so as to ensure nothing gets stuck to the leaf surface).
-----------9. Leave the leaflet and mixture outside beneath fresh snow for a quarter of a winter. The mixture will have become hardened at this point with a shimmery silver-copper surface. Your delicious elixir bites are now ready to devour!
Finn
OMG OMG BEX WREN !!!!
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
-----------------------------------------------------??? u good??
Finn
DSKJHGFADSHGFHJSLDEF
Wren
I think he just exploded?
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
-----------------------------------------------------I think so too😭
Finn
NOT EXPLODE
YET
Wren
Then what did happen??
Finn
DID YOU SEE WHAT Jasper SAID ABOUT Alysar?
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
-----------------------------------------------------what just happened to your caps lock ?? fsfjdkhl
Finn
NOT IMPORTANT!!!!
Wren
Well, I didn't see or hear anything. What happened??
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
-----------------------------------------------------same here!
Finn
OKAY SO Jasper saw Alysar sneak out last night!!! He said she was acting super dodgy
and suspicious- she even BRIBED onme of the guards !!!!!!!!!!!!!
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
----------------------------------------------------- .... okay?
Wren
??
Finn
YALL this is big!!! Remember when Veris said he had seen Alysar with
some cloaked figure the other morning?!
Wren
Yeah, nobody believed him because he is a notorious gossip
Finn
EXACTLY
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
----------------------------------------------------- I am still lost, Finn.
Finn
UGHHH
YOU TWO
sfdikljhgfshjfssjhfjh
LISTEN if Jasper saw Alysar sneaking out, doesn't that mean Veris may have been telling the truth?
AND if Veris was telling the truth, could the other rumot that Alysar
is meeting with a Noxial princess be true?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!
Wren
I guess so
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
----------------------------------------------------- It could... but we don't know that for certain
----------------------------------------------------- What if she just wanted to be alone?
Finn
Then why bribe the guard?! HMM
Wren
🤦♀️
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
----------------------------------------------------- I guess you have a point...
----------------------------------------------------- I just don't see the value in talking about it
-----------------------------------------------------That is Alysar's business, not our's
Wren
I agree w bex! why does it even matter if she was seeing a noxial princess?
Finn
THINK ABOUT IT!!! The Noxial heir is currently betrothed to the Vygor heir!!!
IF Alysar is having an affair with a Noxial princess, what if it is the heir?!!
What if their affair sabotages the wedding?!!?
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
----------------------------------------------------- idk...
Wren
you are aware there are three noxial princesses, right?
couldn't it be just as likely she is seeing one of the other ones?
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
----------------------------------------------------- fair point! 🤔
Finn
NO NO NO
It HAS to be the heir!!!!!
Princess Seraphina is still a youngling
Princess Samara is presumed to have a lover already
That means it MUST be Princess Selyne!!!
THE HEIR
Wren
I still find this ridiculous to even talk about
The Vygor and Noxial heir will still have a wedding, with or without an affair
I mean, isn't polyamory super normal amongst the Vygors?
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
-----------------------------------------------------they are! maybe it is mutual and consensual?
Wren
💯
Finn
...... you two are no fun at all
I hate you
-----------------------------------------------------Bex
-----------------------------------------------------love you too, Finn~~!!


On a hilltop, covered in the dark shadow of the pine forest, a junkyard sits, far from abandoned. The humans may have left it, but the cats stayed ever loyal to their home. They’ve overrun this yard and heavily fortified it, making it the most dangerous clan in Mountain’s Glade: Defiant-Storm. Piles of rusted metal take on new life as sacred objects, highly utilized by each and every cat. Everyone who calls this clan their own is decked out with glittering metal armor, fierce oxidised weapons, and sharp claws, always ready for a fight. They’re wild, yet firmly structured with strict laws and regulations that forcefully guide lives. Defiant-Storm is a force to be reckoned with, whether you live within its walls or outside them.
Defiant-Storm is positioned on a large flat hilltop near the base of a towering mountain range. They’re further from the mountains than their rival clans, but one can still see the peaks where the tree line breaks. As the land descends from the hill, sharp boulders are woven in between the dense forest that stick up like spikes, waiting to impale someone. They make it a treacherous trip up and down the hill, with both scenarios having a high risk of slipping and falling onto one of the deadly rocks. The boulders protect the clan from sneaky rogues or invaders trying to close in on their territory, but they hinder the clan’s own scouting spies just trying to do their job. As such, all spies have to be thoroughly trained to traverse the steep landscape without injuring themselves.
The flat top and center of Defiant-Storm’s territory take little effort to navigate, footing-wise, but the densely packed pine trees prove to be an irritating obstacle for any cat trying to find their way. There are some large rock formations near the mountains, but most of the forest is free of major landmarks. It’s again another dizzying trait of the territory that can easily confuse foreign cats that find their way into Defiant-Storm.
Due to the thick population of trees, their constant shade keeps the sun from drying out the soil when it rains or snows, leaving the territory a muddy and moist mess at all times. It would be impossible to wade through if layers of needles and other debris from the pine trees didn’t form solid patches to walk on. The soil itself is also particularly red and stains most things and fur easily. Clan cats are used to having muddy paws and dirty fur from any type of excursion, so much so that some don’t even bother to clean it off and just stay stained in red-tinted dirt constantly.
Where the sun does shine through the mass of tree limbs, moss and other moisture-loving plants crowd the limited space in droves, but other than that, the ground stays mostly dirt with thin grass here and there. The ground itself isn’t prime for growing most anything other than moss. Even healthy herbs in the sunniest spots tend to wilt; this means medicinal remedies practised in the clan are makeshift at best. What does grow is nowhere near the same quality as in other territories, so the menders of the clan do a lot of outsourcing for the needed resources.
Tall pine trees cover Defiant-Storm’s territory in constant shade with very sparse ‘sunspots’ that show up at specific times of the day. This has its pros and cons for the landscape, most notably, on the positive side, the shade keeps the metal strewn about from heating up in the sun and burning or catching dry grass on fire. The shade does mean that on colder days and in leafbear, the few sunspots that are available are overcrowded with grumpy cats all fighting for space. The most constant spot lands on top of the den of the clan’s leader. This is the only spot that is exclusively occupied by one cat.
During the dimmer parts of the day, most of the light comes from raging furnaces made within the old station house at the back corner of the camp. Red and orange light shines brightly through broken glass windows of the building, illuminating the junkyard until the fire goes out at the end of the day. At night, moonlight rarely peaks through the trees, except in some of the aforementioned sunspots, masking the clan in pitch-black darkness. Any light that does sneak in reflects and scatters off of the strewn metal, making it difficult to traverse even with a cat’s natural night vision.
Ironically, the climate stays calm and cold inside Defiant-Storm’s territory. The only time they see major storms is in the heat of greenleaf. The valleys below their hilltop position take the brunt of the extreme weather, while their dense forest protects them from heavy snowfall and dangerous storms above from wiping them out. Lightning does frequently strike tree tops during peak storm season, and can, at times, send limbs or entire trees falling down to the ground below. Any cat caught under them can kiss their life goodbye, as hardly any survive being hit by such a heavy force. Because of this fact, storms are well known as something that cannot be trifled with when their season hits.
Throughout the changing moons, blocked sunlight from the surrounding forest keeps the territory cool at all times, even on the hottest of days. This proves helpful when the temperature is high, but when the season changes to bareleaf, the bitter cold can be deadly. Only the heat from the clan’s furnaces can warm their bodies then. The tree cover does keep falling snow at bay when it hits their hilltop. Deep accumulations are few and far between, allowing clan cats to have more freedom of movement during the season.
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