✦ Stars Catvent 2022

[Hush]

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id: Hush 256165
↬ clan archive: X

↬ word count: 50 words
↬ prompt: Apple smiles fondly while looking at the sparkling tree in the center of camp, remembering how the fake tree’s little lights sparkled in the home she grew up in. How she curled up with her mother and her siblings got in trouble for climbing the tree and knocking ornaments off.

[Thani]

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id:Thani#509675
↬ clan archive:Pebbleclan

↬ word count: 000 words; n/a, if only art!
↬ prompt:
Petalstep remembers the first snowfall he ever experienced as a kit. Back before the weight of the world, of responsibilities and duty became weighted down on him. A simpler time, when one could simply just enjoy the changing of the seasons for what they were rather than worrying about what cold would bring to the clans territory. He thought back on a time where he would build snowcats and catch falling snowflakes in his mouth. Simply enjoy the time he had with others, instead of worrying about catching their next meal in the frozen, seemingly dead wilderness that was their hunting grounds.

[craig?]

↬ catvent day: 19

↬ username & id: craig? 629149
↬ clan archive: https://toyhou.se/Almondclans/characters/folder:2689362

↬ word count: n/a
↬ prompt:
Cashewclaw closes her eyes as the memory envelops her.

She was human then- well, she's human now, but... A shudder runs down her spine, all the way through to her tail. She's not sure she'll ever get used to being a cat. But that's besides the point. Her memories of her old life are blurry, and they grow more distant each day, and yet...

She finds herself sitting around a brightly lit and colorfully decorated tree, still a child. She's holding a present, she just unwrapped it and it's-! Her mind fails to supply what it is. But it's just what she wanted, it's everything she could have dreamed of and more, tears swell in her eyes of pure joy as she finds herself lost in laughter, warmth, and love.

She goes to laugh and instead finds her memory broken as a she let's out a hearty purr.

Right.

The warmth lingering but slowly fading nonetheless, she lifts her hand to examine the paw before her.

Flexing her toes, the little voice in her head squirms in discomfort at the sight.

This isn't your body, it whispers. Your true self has been lost, just like your memories.

"Cash? What are you doing out here in the cold?"

And as the voice of her dear friend Lloyd snaps her out of her haze, the warmth grows, and the warmth persists.

Her old life may be gone, but this new one is loving all the same.

[Griff]

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id: Griff 254592
↬ clan archive: Clan Ember

↬ word count: 319
↬ prompt:

The beach never received snow, that much was true. At least... not in the past twenty moons he had been alive. But this night.. it was different. The entire Clan had huddled together in their tree, unsure what to make of the strange sand that fell from the skies. Unsure what to do with the chill of it, the cold trying to nip at fragile ears and noses. And yet, despite all of this, one cat's curiosity got the better of him.

Crowcall stepped out, sticking his tongue out to try and catch one of the falling sand particles. Only... it was not sand of course. It melted upon him, and he found himself oddly at peace despite the cold. Closing his eyes, he remembered his life before Clan Ember had found him. He had... forgotten. but he had a family. An older sister, watching over him. She was a tuxedo cat, with bright green eyes and a smile that seemed to chase away the darkness. Her name was Crowsmile, and she was the light of his world.

...How had he forgotten all of the nights they had stayed together, with only each other for company? Her fond jokes, gentle teases, and the way she always knew how to make him laugh? It was... it was why he wanted so badly to make people laugh, give them a reaction too. He had learned from the best. How had he forgotten someone so important?

He closed his eyes. A screaming Two-Leg ride. The path you never walked. He had been hit, dazed, by something large. The world was a blur, and he tried to run right as the Two-Legs scooped her up and took her away. They never saw him. He swallowed hard, looking up at the falling not sand. Was she... was she still out there? He swallowed hard. He had to know.

...He had to go find her.

[nindroidzane]

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id: nindroidzane + 996925
↬ clan archive: frostclan

↬ word count: 326 words
↬ prompt:

littlefog gazed up at the falling snow, fluttering and sparkling and sticking gently to her fur. it wasn't an unusual sight, really. it often snowed on her territory, the sky patchy with greying clouds and clear sky, the air crisp and cool but not too harsh. but the snow today seemed especially fluffy, the flakes falling from the calm sky gentle, rather than a whirlwind of stinging cold.

she sighed, her breath leaving in a small cloud of mist. days like today weren't unusual. but something in the air just felt nostalgic. as if she were back in time, swatting at the snowflakes while her mother sat close by, ears pricked for sounds carried along the breeze, tail soft and warm and ready to shield her from the gently falling snow when it became too cold for a tiny kitten to bare.

it was like the days when she'd sneak out of camp, an easy task when only the three of them lived there. running through the open snow, tiny snowflakes blowing themselves into her eyes and sticking to her ears as she created her own tiny winds. watching the sun sink slowly into the vast expanse of water at the edge of the ice with minkpaw on late nights, the snow shimmering down like the stars had come down to join them.

littlefog gazed up into the sky, snowflakes flittering down, into her eyes, sticking to her ears. some of the others said that her mother was up there, glittering among the stars, watching down over her even if she couldn't see it. she knew the truth - she knew where her mother had really gone. but she could take a mite of comfort in the falling snow, glinting like the stars, sticking to her pelt. a piece of her mother would always be carried along the wind, contained within every flake of snow - and, to littlefog's comfort, the snow was much closer than the stars.

[LiLi041]

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id: LiLi041 925966
↬ clan archive: eNUF

↬ word count: 1516 words
↬ prompt: Santa lifted her face up to the sun, gently nosing away the gentle snowflakes slowly drifting down and settling upon her lashes, covering her vision. "It's a good day today," she remarked, turning to Grecia.

"Why do you think so?" Grecia asked back. Snowflakes were slowly covering his fur too, despite him trying to shake them off as they landed. They caught onto him, mostly on his hanging cheek fur, but the stubbornest ones clung to his white whiskers and refused to let go, slowly blending in like another dot in the lines that were his whiskers.

"I don't know," Santa replied. "But it's just so peaceful today. No noise, just me and you, with the snow everywhere around us." She paused for a second, thinking over her own words. "Well, it'd be even quieter and more peaceful if you weren't here, and it was just me in the snow." He was about to make a grouchy face when she continued, "But then, I'd be lonely."

Grecia felt a little flattered that Santa thought so highly of him. "That makes sense," he agreed, sidling a little closer to Santa, as smoothly as he could. The snow slowly piling up to their belly made it harder to slide over, but he managed, lifting his paws high with each step, and crunching down on the snow only as much as he needed to with each gentle fall of his paw pad.

"I'm also glad you're here," he purred, his eyes curving into cheerful crescents as he turned to look at her.

As soon as Santa heard this, she batted him away with her paws and started trotting off, the little white cotton ball at the end of her hat bouncing wildly with each rapid step. "Don't try your sly words on me!" she called, without turning around. "Try it on one of the princesses back in the clan instead or something!"

Grecia only laughed, and easily caught up, his paws kicking up large arcs of snow flutters, reflecting the light of the sun. It was almost like the light was following him, for a split second. "Don't be mad, my dear Santa!" he laughed jovially. "Today's a good day, don't think of things like that!"

Santa continued forward at her brisk pace, but Grecia refused to be shaken off. "Don't be mad at me, Santa!" he repeated. "Let's have a good day! I'll take you to see the wild mini-reindeer!" Her ears perked up at that. "I'll even help you take one home if you like one!" He offered, the final boon he could give her.

And she stopped, and whirled around. "Alright," she agreed, anger forgotten. "I've always wanted to get a mini-reindeer. Today will be a good day," she nodded to herself. "Mini-reindeer."

Grecia laughed again, and they walked towards the forest, their bodies carving twin paths through the still growing piles of snow, to the place Grecia had once stumbled upon a herd of mini-reindeer.

Santa had desperately wanted to know where they were then, but he had refused to tell her. But the one he had brought back to show off to her, had made her eyes burn in envy.

But now, she had the chance, the chance to get her own little mini-reindeer, to pull her gorgeous sleigh. It was so much work getting other cats to pull it for her, and none of the other animals in the forest did a suitable job. Her own team of mini-reindeer... she nearly drooled at the prospect.

And when she parted the snow-covered leaf fronds and peered into the clearing he told her was up ahead, she saw them. A most adorable herd of mini-reindeer, some licking snow off the trees, others play-wrestling, and some even with their heads buried into the snow, voraciously chomping on the last of this year's grass, already dying under the weight of the heavy snow.

She crouched down, content to watch this herd of mini-reindeer for a while. Time flew by before she knew it, as she happily watched them go about their lives in the woods. Grecia thought the muscles in his legs might burst from the soreness when finally, she said, "I like that one."

He followed her claw to see the biggest, mightiest mini-reindeer of them all. So big, the stag was larger than him, twice as large even. This would be tough, he realized, sweating internally.

"Are you sure you don't want a smaller one first?" he asked, worrying if they'd even succeed or not. He didn't like it when the chances of success were so uncertain and so small; it would likely be dangerous. The last one he had gotten, he had been able to tackle to the ground with his body weight. This one...

She shook her head adamantly. "Only the biggest ones are fit to pull my sleigh," she insisted. And without even waiting for them to coordinate a plan, she strolled out into the clearing.

The loud crunching of snow under her paws instantly alerted every mini-reindeer in the vicinity, and heads popped out everywhere; from the snow, from behind trees, and even through tree hollows. Every pair of eyes was trained on her.

"I am the honorable Santa Claus of Christmas, and I want you to pull my sleigh tonight," Santa announced boldly, straightforwardly addressing the stag she admired. "And tomorrow, and all the days after tomorrow. Forever."

Dead silence.

Grecia hid in embarrassment from his place behind the bush, hoping he could blend in. He was white enough, he figured. And if not on his back, then the snow should help. He prayed to not be seen, even as he watched to make sure the mini-reindeer wouldn't suddenly turn aggressive and attack Santa. He'd have to help out in that case, but currently... they would surely attack on sight if they saw him; he was sure they hadn't forgotten him stealing one of their kind only a few moons ago.

Silence still reigned out in the clearing, so Santa repeated her query. And then, pulling candy out from under her hat, she said. "I'll pay you in candy, from my top-notch, most excellent candy store, the best in the whole land."

The loud crinkling of the wrapper as she unwrapped it and offered it to the stag sounded likely thunder to Grecia's ears, and he watched with bated breath for the slightest sign of aggression.

But the stag, to his surprise, dipped his head and took the candy. And then, with a thoughtful expression on his face as he chewed the candy, he finally expressed his approval, and acquiesced to go with Santa. And in the reindeer language, he passed down his command. Grecia didn't understand a word of it, but Santa looked joyful as she turned and beckoned him over. He shook his head, staying down, so Santa walked over with the lead stag following behind her.

And when the entire herd started getting to their feet and follow the lead stag, Grecia knew something was wrong, and he made a mad dash towards the exit, seeking to leave the forest before they could catch sight of him. He could hear some angry chuffs near him in the beginning, but he was sure he had lost any would-be pursuers by the time he reached the rainbow bridges.

Suddenly, the sunlight disappeared, and he looked up, only to see a gigantic swarm of mini-reindeer flying over him, completely blocking out his view of the sun. One descended, and he instantly curled up into a ball, yelling, "Spare me!" He was not spared.

Grecia was mercilessly lifted up, swung uncomfortably in the air by the scruff of his neck, and made to lead them to his home.

The young mini-reindeer he had kept in the back garden came flying out joyfully, reuniting with her herd. Santa strode over then, hopping off the back of the stag she liked so much, and with a smug tone, told him, "You shouldn't have kidnapped the mini-reindeer."

Grecia felt wronged, but couldn't get up to talk with her face-to-face. He could only lay on the ground, too tired from the arduous flight to move a muscle. "Didn't realize they liked candy," he groaned. "How perfect they are for you. Is the entire herd staying?"

Santa nodded. "I'm really excited, Grecia," she told him, walking over and looking straight down at him. "I'll feed them candy every day, and they'll pull my sleigh, and they can settle into eNUF with us."

"No..." he groaned again. A herd of mini-reindeer running around the streets every day? He didn't think he could take it.

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "I have a whole herd of mini-reindeer living with me! This is the dream!" Her voice dropped lower. "This is the very best day ever, Grecia. Thanks for making this memory with me."

He could only groan again and nod. "You're welcome," he said, and then he just closed his eyes, too tired to keep thinking about the prospect of mini-reindeer everywhere in his future. At least Santa was happy.

[Tomura]

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id: Tomura + 260167
↬ clan archive: ThistleClan

↬ word count: 928 words
↬ prompt: As Frederick stood amidst the falling snow, distant memories began to resurface. He was just a kitten at the time, only a couple of moons old. The city his humans lived in was bright and vibrant this time of year, the colorful Christmas lights reflecting on the snow. The humans in the neighborhood had all gathered into his yard and were celebrating Christmas day. They threw snowballs at each other, laughing all the while, and Fred attempted to chase the snowballs as if he were a dog. In fact, there was a dog chasing the snowballs there too, a large German Shepherd that he didn't recognize.

It made Fred a little wary that the large German Shepherd, Buddy, was attending the party too. However, the dog actually approached him with his tail wagging, panting and barking happily. Though he could not understand what the dog was saying, little kitten Fred took this as an invitation to play, and the two of them chased each other around every edge of the yard; when Buddy caught Fred, he started licking his face, and the little kitten squirmed at the dog's bad breath. He managed to slip away, laughing as he dashed in between the humans' feet where Buddy was too big to reach. Buddy, however, ran off ahead, skidding to a halt right where Fred had emerged from the group of humans.

This game continued for a long time, an endless repeat of Fred being caught, escaping, and then being caught once again. They played until eventually Buddy's owners had to leave the party, taking him with them. Before they left, the enormous German Shepherd paused and bowed his head a little towards him, a silent goodbye between two new friends. Although Fred didn't understand dog language, he knew that wagging tail meant happiness, so he shook his tail a bit to show Buddy that he was happy. Hopefully he understood! Buddy let out a bark, and he meowed loudly in reply. Then the large dog disappeared, and that was the last he saw of him.

The tiny Kittypet looked around for his own humans; the adults were currently talking with others, no doubt too busy for him. One child was building a snowman with several other little humans, and Fred dashed over excitedly. He wanted them to pay attention to him, so he meowed and meowed. They looked over, gave a little acknowledgement, and then continued to build the snowman. But he didn't just want attention, he needed it. So he jumped up, clawing his way atop the snowman's head and mewling again. This got their attention for sure. One human seemed irritated, scolding him. His own human, however, started laughing, gently picking him up and patting his head. It brought him over to his other tiny human, one that was too young to walk around yet, who was lying down in a monkey-themed bouncy seat with a giant, soft-looking blanket draped over it. The tiny human babbled, a smile on its face as it reached over towards Fred.

The small human placed him onto the lap of the tinier human, and the baby instantly hugged him close, babbling happily. At first, Fred attempted to escape, wriggling around. His claws unsheathed, but he couldn't bring himself to hurt the poor child, especially when he wasn't really mad at being held. He quickly gave up, letting his body relax and purring quietly. The baby giggled, hugging him tighter. Fred leaned forward and gave its nose a little lick, then turned his head around to watch the party. The snow had picked up, and the children were playing around in the snow excitedly. He wanted to join them, but he didn't want to leave his tiny human, who he had already decided on protecting. Plus, he was getting a bit sleepy...

His eyes began to close, and he snuggled into the warmth of the baby human. He wanted this to last forever.

"Frederick."

The sound of his name jolted him back to reality, and he turned around to see Thistlestar walking towards him. "What's up?" the ex-Kittypet asked.

"Where'd you put the lights?"

Lights? For a moment, he was confused, but then he remembered that they were going to string up Christmas lights around the camp, a reminder of the beautiful tradition that the humans of his old city had kept up every year. "They're in that box in the medicine den," he replied. The leader gave a nod, disappearing into the medicine den.

Frederick looked back out towards the forest, watching as the snow fell gently onto the white-covered ground. He let out a quiet sigh, closing his eyes.

"Are you okay?"

The voice was Willowheart's this time. He turned to face her; the she-cat's head was tilted slightly, and she had a concerned look on her face. "We should have the decorations ready by Christmas time. It won't be like exactly like your Twolegs', but..."

He reached a paw up and touched the rim of his hat, then let his paw fall back to the cold ground. "I'm not worried about that," he told her. "I was just reminiscing. You know, my Twolegs always made everything so fun, I loved being around them and I miss them every day. But..." He looked at her, then his eyes trailed towards Thistlestar, who had found the lights and was busy stringing them up onto a tree. "Well, my Twolegs were my family, but I have a new family now. Now I would never dream of being anywhere else."

[Vivika]

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id: vivika + 966947
↬ clan archive: azeryn

↬ word count: 440 words <3
↬ prompt:
i remember when everything changed.

i remember how a scarlet letter brandished in the king’s seal was our saving grace, but also our greatest curse. it it possible? for the best moment of your life to also be shadowed with the darkest moment? some say it’s impossible. but it is entirely possible.

i’ve lived it.

because in our case… that letter was life. it was the kiss of summer’s warmth, the prelude of a spring song, the gatherings of autumn’s harvest. it was hope against the bitter bluster of winter’s snap.

i didn’t understand it then. only watched his numbed, shivering claws crack open that obsidian seal and unfurl the papyrus. only watched the quick dart of his eyes over the elegant scrawl of the letters. i only watched the moment where his eyes lit ━ an azure flame against the quiet chill of the cobbled stones. then, the rolling darkness.

it rushed over, a storm gusting and dampening those blue, blue flames. but at the end, that fire came back stronger. determined, hardened and crystallized. there was still that fire - it never did fade - but it was different. perhaps the first sign that after that, things were different, too.

he left.

the letter held life. my life, mami’s life, otis’s life. it gave us the peças we didn’t have, the food we didn’t own, the warmth against the winter’s snap. and by accepting the offer, he gave us a second chance at life.

but did he know?
could he have known?

by giving us sustenance, he killed us. in… a different way. mami was never the same after he left. otis wasn’t either - plagued by guilt and launching into a lifetime of trouble to quell it. and as for me, i… i don’t know. perhaps i’m the least affected, untouched to the outside world, as i never did understand at the time.

but i just know that i can never see winter the same again.

because when winter comes, i don’t see what others see. i don’t see the lovely ivory flakes falling like a thousand moths, nor the watercolor lights that illuminate the solstice, not even the dance of the flames around the hearth.

i see…
shivering claws shattering a seal.
the warble of an unfurling papyrus.
azure eyes crystallized by a storm.

i see a turning form, leaving out the back door in tandem to pleas to stay. a small, shivering shadow retreating into the falling snow, shoulders firm. i see a snapshot. a freezeframe. a slow motion picture.

of hooded azure eyes framed by mistened windows, his claws curved around a scarlet letter.

[Adamented]

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id: Adamented + 670829
↬ clan archive: [x] Gladewood

↬ word count: 249 words
↬ prompt:


Syva is shaken deeply by the cold Leaf-bare breeze, the chill digging deep below his fur. When this time comes around, he can't help but think about the family he left behind some time ago. It's not that Syva is a jealousy kind of guy, it's just that he felt... pushed aside. When his sister was too young to compete in the cat shows his owners always took him to, they had treated him so well. Then, when she began to compete too and he was awarded only second place ribbons, the twolegs who once adored him turned all their love to her.

Of course, Syva loved his sister, but in the competitive life they lived she became rather bitter. She was full of herself and even at times... quite mean. They were out at a show in another place far from their true home during the last holiday season he spent with his family, he thought he'd just get some air so he snuck out of the window... his movement must have stirred the young twoleg in the bed over, because she closed the window.

He waited and waited, for someone to notice he was gone, but nobody did. He wandered into the night, up and down harsh, cold streets until he arrived at a dirt road that eventually led him, many hours later, to a big red barn. It was here he discovered a home where he really did belong, where there was no place for competition.

[feather ']

↬ catvent day: twenty

↬ username & id: feather ' + 979911
↬ clan archive:the still waters!!

↬ word count: 588 words <3 a little scene between morningflame and waterwisp!! <3

↬ prompt: ''Have you heard the news?'' Soft eyes rest on him, a gentle voice whispering into his ears, '' They've finally found them!'' She closes her eyes, releasing her excitement, as a puff of air floats of out of her mouth, '' I was so worried they weren't going to come back… weren't you?''

He pauses, a small blink, ''Yeah, they seem like nice cats… I was hoping I wasn't going to run out of patients.''

Her eyes widened, ''What?'' A gasp, ''You were worried about that? I'd be worried about…'' Her voice dies down, ''Wait… you're joking aren't you?''

He offers a grin, ''Yeah.''

She lets a smile fade onto her lips, ''Do you want to watch the light show tonight?'' A paw taps against his shoulder, soft hazy eyes shift to roam the floor no longer meeting him, ''I heard Kestrelswoop is working hard on making the preparations, it'll be very colorful and–''

And he was lost in a never ending vortex of thoughts… colors and shapes seemed to subside into auburn flame, as it rose higher into the skies, licking the clouds, and here… in this world… things were different. Where he could peer closer into the flames, without the sting against his cheeks.

Where his dreams… wishes and hopes would come true.

But today in this world things were different.. Where there was the sting of flame against his cheeks was there. Where nightmares, terror and fear wanted to chase him away, but he couldn't, not now. In places like here, there was no chance of escaping. Where his eyes were always open, seeing all the wrong choices, and decisions he made in a flicker of a flame.

He calls, and just like water and flame, with an engulfment of a golden wave, he was swept into another world.

Her once lived life with him was here, the angle and the lighting all perfectly matched to that day… the day she ran away from him, lied about a cat watching from the shadows, never noticed that he only wanted to help her, but what she wanted was different. To keep hiding and running from him.

Everything seemed to skip, it all sped up until the moment, that moment where she hid from him, never to be found again, forever gone as soon as she entered flame.

The desperation, as he tried to turn back to see her, but the only view was her running into the fire.

The horror of her choice of death was greater than running from him.

The betrayal from all the lies she'd told him.

He couldn't let that scene go, the trees swaying to the grabbing of the fire. The nighttime moon and stars watching from above, doing nothing… nothing. And her… as she runs into the fire, disappearing from his sight.

Then only then he could escape, only when he'd seen the worst.

''Waterwisp? What's wrong?'' Her voice is urgent, ''Waterwisp?'' She gives him a light touch on the shoulder, and at her touch everything seemed to fall back into place,

''I'm fine.'' He trembles, each paw shaking,

''Is it about her again? The one you said died…''

He remained silent, but that silence… was enough for her to know. She tucks him closer with a gentle sweep of her tail, ''It's alright, you're safe now… and she still loves you, she didn't leave because of you… Shhh,''

He manages a quavering breath, voice broken, and raw,''Okay…'' A pause, '' We can watch the lights tonight…''

''If that's what you want.''