✦ Stars Catvent 2022

[Arrikanez]

↬ catvent day: four

↬ username & id: Arrikanez 2105
↬ clan archive: The Dark Carnival

↬ word count: 1,018 words
↬ prompt:
The fire blazed where it had been set in an old monster-truck tire, pushed, pulled, and rolled to a less-flammable place within the carnival's central area. Viperstar sat on a bench that was near where they'd tugged the tire, with his shoulders hunched, and the fur up and down his back bristling in the brisk evening air. The sun had gone down, and that made it very difficult to stay anywhere near warm. His tail curled irritably around his back paws, and his snakes both huddled in one of the holes in the tires to try and keep warm.

Viper's ears flattened to his head as he heard Fortunesend creep up beside him, and jump onto the bench. Fortune seemed to be taking being a cat a lot better than he was. Granted, he was once human - Viper was not. He glanced over at the Pawn, and narrowed his eyes.

"When did it get this hissing cold?!" he complained. "On Juridia, I would be inside, warm, wrapped up with a hot tea..." He sighed, and moved just a little bit closer to the blazing heat within the tire. "Small wonder that we're not frozen to death in this gods-forsaken funhouse of horror." His ears went even flatter so that it looked as though they vanished. "Back there... Well, winter was different than it is here. Comfortable. Familiar."

"How so?" Fortune asked, curling his own tail around his feet. "Back where I'm from..." His ear flicked. "Well, winter wasn't comfortable, but us poor kids always got handouts from the richer ladies and gentlemen. It was fun, for a while. If you didn't have to do something dumb in order to earn it first. It's almost Christmas..." He lifted his head slightly. "I never really got to experience Christmas back home. No presents or anything, but... Maybe this year? Who knew life as a cat could turn things around."

Viper hissed in displeasure. "Xalneas on my planet. Your 'Christmas' - it always was bittersweet for me. Especially after being caught." He snorted. "The family who caught me always brought me warm food for dinner, and made sure I got a gift, even though most of them would have rather seen me dead." The tip of his tail lashed in irritation. "I thought often of asking to join that family of theirs.. just so I could get out of their cage." While he said that, the tone in his voice was wistful.. wishful, even. Perhaps he had wanted that for more than just the freedom. Another sigh from the surly feline, as a cold wind crossed his nose, and reminded him how frigid he was right now. He drew a little closer to Fortune. Just for warmth.

"They used to have huge parties around this time of year. Huge banquets, offered freely to everyone who wanted to attend." He grinned. "Even the villains they had in their 'dungeons' - like me. It was soft, and sweet, and all sorts of kind. Food, songs, gifts... the whole works. They brought the prisoners into the castle, treated us like we were worth something. Small wonder most of us wanted to join them."

Fortune gave his own sort of sad smile. "I used to look in the windows of the big places and restaurants. Sometimes someone inside would give us kids something to eat, or offer us warmth for a while. Once? I even got a scarf from one of the ladies! It was so warm... and made my rounds that evening a lot more pleasant." His own tail flicked. "I hated it out in the cold - but it was nice to be recognized every now and again. Given something to make it less unbearable."

The Ringmaster stretched, and settled a bit more solidly, lowering to his belly, and pulling his feet under him. "What did you used to do anyway?" Viper asked of the Pawn. "I don't think we ever spoke of that. I know we can't say our real names, but... what was it you used to be? Wherever you came from?"

The calico sighed. "... I was an escort. Of sorts. Let's just leave it at that. It wasn't pleasant work for the most part, and didn't pay well. Being a cat is a breath of fresh air compared to that." He glanced over toward Viper. "We're... dead. In those worlds, aren't we. That's how we were brought here, isn't it?"

For a moment, Viper thought about whether or not to agree... then nodded his head. "I think so. We are. Chroma told me my body didn't exist anymore, and that's the only explanation I can think of. But that's... in the past, I guess. Maybe we can make something out of these new lives. This season is meant for happiness and rewriting tragedy. So maybe that's what we need to do with it. Use these new bodies, this new world... make something good of what we used to be. Although it doesn't sound like you really belong with the likes of me, Fortune. You were an angel compared to me."

Fortune snorted. "Yeah. Right. You go ahead and think that, boss." His tail curled into a squiggle. "But you're right. This season is for cheer. Not despair. So let's make the best of it. Our old stories aren't as important as what comes next. What we can do with what we have - even if it's not much. So..." He nudged Viper's shoulder lightly. "Let's do just that. Let's celebrate. Who we were is in the past. What we do now? That's what matters the most."

"Agreed." Viper said, this time with a little half-smile on his face. "I'll do my best to change. You keep being sweet. Together, we'll figure this out. Although I'm still in charge. I think Chroma would prefer it that way."

Both cats shared a laugh at that, at the expense of the deity in their heads... who was being suspiciously quiet tonight. Maybe it was too cold for him too. Who knew. What mattered the most? They were there in front of the roaring fire, safe, reasonably well-fed, and ready to take on the winter.

[0Zero0]

↬ catvent day: four

↬ username & id: 0Zero0 780482
↬ clan archive: Forum/viewtopic.php?f=103&t=4611663

↬ word count: n/a
↬ prompt:

[Archaeopteryx.]

↬ catvent day: four

↬ username & id: Archaeopteryx. || 334452
↬ clan archive: Enurian

↬ word count: 721 words
↬ prompt:

You spot the campfire from a hundred paces away—how could you not? It is a beacon, after all, a single star in the ever-growing expanse of darkness. You hasten towards it.

On cold nights like this, when the moons are gone and the stars in the sky have all slipped away and the black tar of the night seems to stick to one's fur, it is custom for those with a gift for fire to light these safehavens, to bring about a sparse amount of warmth and comfort to a world otherwise harsh and cruel. You are thankful for this custom, as you draw nearer to the fire and the feeling of too-many-eyes on the back of your neck finally ebb and fade.

You are, of course, not the only traveler here. There are others— two brothers, you think, who raise their whiskers at you in greeting. Another with sparks at their paws, the keeper of the fire. And an ancient silvermuzzle.

You will not learn their names. They will not learn yours. Such is the custom.

The silvermuzzle groans and stands up, and you can hear her bones crack and shift from where you sit. She comes closer to the fire, sparks and cinders landing in her ink-black fur, but her voice is strong and deep and it commands respect as she says, "Listen well, younglings, for the story I will tell you must not be forgotten, for the sands of time devour all not heeded."

"When the world was young and the desert not yet born and we were children of the sea alone, and the crows and the dogs had not yet learned to live as we do now, we awoke from the slumber of beasts and learned we were to be alone in this world. The firstborn children of a world we thought belonged to us and to us alone, and foremost in those beliefs was a young Wildwater. Named for the sea, for it loved her, and she it."

"We were young then, and foolish, and had not yet learned the folly of living in groups. But, then again, we had also not yet learned the folly of pretending that one can be separated from their world, that one can live entirely by themselves."

"Wildwater believed this second folly whole-heartedly. It was her truth, her knowledge. The sea loved her and she it, and she believed they would only ever need each other. She would spend moons beyond the safety of her group, dancing within the waves, allowing it to take her far beyond the safety of the island's young shores. Brash and bold, as you youth tend to be, believing herself immortal."

The silvermuzzle draws herself up, amber eyes catching shards of the fire before her.

"She was not."

"Though we did not know of it yet, the End has always existed just beyond the northernmost horizon. And, even back then, the storms it brought were fierce, teeth biting into our fur and threatening to sink our safehaven, our mother, our island. It caught Wildwater unaware in its fangs, sending her once-friend, once-lover, the ocean, into a bloodthirsty frenzy. And so Wildwater, desperate for life, sunk deep back into the slumber of beasts, believing it to save her."

"And it did. And her group, watching the distant shoreline for any trace of their lost brethren, rejoiced when Wildwater crawled back up out of the ocean. They embraced her, and she, still deep in the slumber of beasts, was unable to recognize friend nor foe, and slaughtered them."

"She did not reawaken until long after their blood had dried into her fur."

The group falls silent, and you allow the message to sink into your fur. It is not an uncommon story to hear, especially not on such a night as dark as this, and you nearly expect its twin to be told. But it seems as though this is not the night for that, for the silvermuzzle only blinks, long and slow, lost in a world of her own. She sinks into the desert sand, staring into those brilliant coals.

The silence after the story makes your fur stand on end, and you inch closer to the fire, itching for morning to arise so you may make your way further in this strange world.

[Tomura]

↬ catvent day: four

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

↬ word count: 818 words
↬ prompt: Thistlestar told stories of him founding the Clan. Though the others had heard bits and pieces, the leader told a more in-depth story of how he'd left his old Clan early in the morning, travelled through mountains, rivers, Twoleg towns, and caves, and faced trials more difficult than Willowheart and Frederick could ever imagine. The others were in awe of his bravery and perseverance, excitedly listening to him ramble on and on about the times he spent journeying to find the perfect location to start his new Clan.

Willowheart, on the other hand (or paw), attempted to one-up Thistlestar. She told grand tales about how she fought bears alone, swam to the bottom of the ocean to save a litter of kittens, dug out an entire cave system by herself, and even resolved a fight between two groups of Twolegs. The others knew that they were all made up, but the way she told each story was so captivating that they still hung on every word, letting out an occasional "wow!" at her incredible endeavors, or wincing as she described scary, tense scenarios.

And as for Frederick...

--

"Fred, Fred! Tell us," Willowheart began, "How did Christmas start? It's so weird, how did the Twolegs even think to start doing all that stuff?"

Frederick paused for a second, staring into the flickering campfire flames as he pondered the answer. "Well," he began, "my Housefolk mentioned it a time or two. I don't know a whole lotta the Housefolk language, but I did pick up most of it. Wanna hear?"

Willowheart and Thistlestar leaned closer, ears perking up to listen. Fred took this as a sign to begin his story: "Many, many moons ago, there lived a 'Twoleg' named... Jeski? Jeski was loved by a lot of Twolegs, but hated by many more. He was a ghost, able to possess a Twoleg body."

The two listeners glanced at each other, eyes wide. A ghost! They turned back to Fred, awaiting the next part of the story. "Jeski travelled a lot, and used the powers of... well, I'm assuming StarClan -- he used the powers of StarClan to give prophesies, and also gave Twolegs a lot of freshkill, especially fish. Yum! He was a great fisher, like Thistlestar... but better!" The leader opened his mouth to protest, but Fred only continued his tale. "One day, he became very cross. He didn't like the Roamers very much, and they hated him too, so they made him very, very cross. However, the Roamers actually elected him 'king' -- that is, basically like the Clan leader, but even more powerful -- and gave him a beautiful crown."

"What?!" Thistlestar asked in disbelief. "There's no way they'd elect him king. Were they tricking him? Did they lead him into a trap? And who are the Roamers?"

"Um, a group of nomads, I'd say," Fred guessed, though he sounded unsure. Maybe his Housefolk never elaborated that part. "Twolegs didn't really like the Roamers, or at least my Housefolk didn't. And, uh, I don't know if it was a trick. But they definitely made him king. So anyway, Jeski was betrayed and overthrown by his best friend, who probably became king in his place, and then he died of unknown causes. After his death, the Twolegs were sad, and started celebrating his death by giving others gifts in memory of all the gifts he gave to everyone... I think. And after many more moons, Twolegs began to refer to Jeski as 'Santa', and they claim that Santa appears in ghost form to either give wonderful gifts to those who are good, or to give poisoned rocks to those who are bad."

The two listeners sat there in silence. What a story! After a few moments, Willowheart asked, "So does he really appear in ghost form now and then?"

"Yup! He sure does," the former Kittypet answered confidently. "I saw some gifts under the Christmas tree addressed from him! I don't see why anyone would pretend to be him, seeing as he was overthrown and all. Santa actually gave me this bandanna! And only a magical ghost would know the exact size and color that would fit me!"

Willowheart and Thistlestar were awestruck. It was a beautiful story, and it was all true? But there were so many questions left unanswered. They bombarded Fred with question after question -- Is Santa really benevolent? Why did the Roamers hate him, and why did he hate them? Did he or would he ever visit Clan cats, even though they live so far from Twolegs? -- but unfortunately he didn't have an answer to most of their questions. He did, however, have one thing to say -- "Regardless of whether or not Santa visits us, we can still celebrate! We don't need some ghost to give us gifts, because we can all be Santa for each other. Merry early Christmas, friends!"

And this answer was satisfactory.

[Whovian5EVA]

↬ catvent day: four

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

↬ word count: 163 words
↬ prompt:

Despite the hostility of the desert’s heat, the coolness of its winter nights allowed animals from all across the crater to share stories that seemed to have no beginning or end. The only thing that danced the same throughout these stories was the heart of them all. A lone soul that roamed the plains, strong and fierce, but also caring and soft all together. This soul lived in balance and had a heart of gold.
Some believe that they lived long ago but their stories lived on. Some believe that they are just a myth, and others believe that they live forever and maybe, in times of need, you might spot them lending a hand to those that need.
Little did anyone know, they were all wrong, the most consistent part of the story was all wrong… It was not one soul, but two starry visages that roamed the plains. Emberstorm and Opalflight continued to watch over the Crater, among the dancing stars.

[coffee.berry]

↬ catvent day: four

↬ username & id: coffee.berry, #1008279
↬ clan archive: Peaceclan

↬ word count: 122 words <3
↬ prompt:


There is a story that has been told over and over again, for centuries.
It has earned the title of All-Time Favourite in Peaceclan.

'The Cat & the Mouse' is a fairy tale about a winged calico cat and a mouse god.
The winged calico cat, Lumi, tries again and again to eat the mouse god, Ai, but Lumi learns her lesson
when Ai creates the very first Hole and hides in it just before Lumi arrives - one of the TwinkleClan cats
find out that Lumi had hunted a god and removed her wings from her.

This story teaches the cats to respect the higher powers and their elders, or else TwinkleClan just might
curse them, too - by giving them cheese allergy!

[littleminicooper]

↬ catvent day: four

↬ username & id: LittleMiniCooper 734624
↬ clan archive: Flowerclan

↬ word count: 192 words; n/a, if art
↬ prompt:
Brokenstar gathered with her small clan around the crackling of the fire they had built. It warmed their pelts as the snow fell all around them. The tiny flakes that dropped onto their fur melted quickly with the heat of the fire. A small howling of wind could be heard, but was buffeted by the walls of the camp.
Brokenstar was curled up, all four legs tucked beneath her. Her soft, warm voice was speaking to her clan. She was telling them stories about the life she had lead before starclan had called her to lead Flowerclan. Brokenstar told about the time a fox got into camp when she was a kit! That was many moons ago but she remembers it vividly. It was a cold winter night just like this, and there were fox prints in the snow for days! The fox stentch didn’t go away for a while either.
Brokenstar also told of the first holiday she remembers, Christmas! She woke to her mother surprising her and her siblings with little handmade gifts. The kits played and played for hours before eating a big meal and drifting off to sleep.

[unohdettu.lupaus]

↬ catvent day: four

↬ username & id: Unohdettu.Lupaus | 946652
↬ clan archive: x

↬ word count: 404


↬ prompt: theres so many stories from everyone to tell, everyone decides to do a vote to vote who should tell their story first

the cats and their stories that were voted from:

sparrow/sparrowpaw and his story of hís old colonies story of how stars disappeared oen day
ferret and his stories of how the phantoms have tried tricking him

beeskip and their story of how they got their flower crown

citrine and his story of when he traveled on a twolegs boat

ebony and his story of how he escaped from twolegs that had caught him




the one that was voted to be told was:
sparrows story


“alright.. im not sure if i remember it completely but ill try my best to tell the whole story! though i'm not a great story teller ” sparrow said as he laid down next to korppi who was shivering from the cold to warm her up

“it all happened many, many moons ago..when there had been winter for thousands of moons..the cats of the past..our ancestors were struggling to shelter from a massive snow storm..and as the cats started forming big groups to help each other they started praying to the sky for the storm to end.. as more and more cats started praying the storm started to disappear… after many moons of praying the storm disappeared finally..but when the cats looked at the sky..there were no stars..the cats started panicking..as they tried to figure out what happened to the stars..one old and wise cat figure out it pretty quickly.. he said that the stars had disappeared because there had been a powerful spirit born with all of the stars powers to stop the storm..and that the stars would return little by little as they needed to gain their powers back..

as the moons went by the stars started returning.. yet nobody still knows what actually happened that day..did the wise cat speak the truth or was it something else..”

the others had already fallen asleep as it had been late once the story had been chosen.. but to sparrows surprise korppi was still awake

“that was a nice story.. you are a great story teller! “ korppi said with a yawn

“shouldnt you be sleeping? “ sparrow asked as he looked at korppi

“yeah.. but i wanted to hear the story to the end!” korppi answered

“alright..lets just sleep now.. we never know what will happen tomorrow..”

[canadianhowl]

↬ catvent day: four

↬ username & id: dascanadiansparkle + 523964
↬ clan archive: galactic skies

↬ word count: 432
↬ prompt: “I think this is the perfect night for a story! Magpiewhisper go round up the kits and some other cats who’d like to join us.” Bullheart laughed.

The two were sitting in the clearing on a nice cool evening. The little she cat nodded her head and scampered off. She brought back quite a few cats and of course the clan’s kits. Little Lionkit and her own kits, Salmonkit and Badgerkit. Her older kits Wolfpaw and Dogpaw accompanied them. Soon Fruitpaw and Foxpaw also approached with their father Windwhisper. Despite being older, Goblinsnarl was just as eager to join in on the fun.

“Now that everyone is here I think it’s time. I think we’ll start with a classic. A story about the stars! Which guide should I tell abo-“

“Canis Major!”

Bullheart stopped and looked down at the eager little Dogpaw. He laughed and flopped over onto his side.

“Eager are you? Alright, we’ll start with Canis Major then. As it begins, Major was sent off to go hunt down a tricky fox. This fox was no ordinary fox. Rather this fox was agile and skilled and very very very clever. This would not be an easy feat to achieve. Major was sent out and for days and nights the dog kept tracking and hunting down the tricky fox. Yet even if Major was one of the best hunting dogs out there, the fox still always knew a plan to trick the dog. They went through snow and rain and forests and plains but no luck could be found. Seeing they were doomed to end up forever in this cycle, the mighty paws of the sky granted them the passage to become constellations in the sky to forever continue their hunt.”

The young cats were all so engaged in the story. Even so little Salmonkit and Badgerkit began to play around like the legend giving the older cats a laugh.

“Well if we’re already on a roll here… Bullheart could you maaaaybe tell us a story about Cetus?” Goblinsnarl hesitantly asked. He wasn’t a lot that’s for sure, it wasn’t his part to ask for a story but to his surprise, the fluffy tom agreed and after settling the kits down, he began. The stories lasted until the kits and apprentices began to grow tired and their parents guided them back to their dens to sleep. Goblinsnarl thanks Bullheart leaving the bulky male by himself. What a lovely night. It was always a honor to tell the stories of the guides to the kits especially the ones they are protected under.

[Griff]

↬ catvent day: four

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

↬ word count: 229 Words
↬ prompt: The clan looks at one another, as they huddle around a small campfire of sorts. It was not snowing, but winter brought what to them felt like chilly temperatures just the same! "So.... what sort of stories do you guys want to tell?" Ember star asked, tail flicking idly as he sat close to Feathernose. The latter wrapped her tail around his, content to simply take everything in without stories. But alas, she knew the other cats of the clan might get bored just looking at one another.

"Ooooh! Ooooh! I know one!" Crowcall replied. "It involves-"

"HARD PASS," Crowtail replied. "Knowing you it involves eating a seagull or something and finding something wierd in its stomach..."

"Well that was only part of it!" Crowcall protested. "I-"

"PASS!" The entire clan said in unity. Well, all but Blossomcrown who gently nudged Crowcall's shoulder.

"You can tell me the story sometime," she reassured him, bringing a smile back to Crowcall's face.

"Anyone else?" Emberstar asked, humming thoughtfully.

In the end, many cats told stories about their favorite encounters or hunts, how they got their name, or how they left the Two Legs to start a new life. Grimwhiskers spoke of the circus, while Alex and Archie talked about how they met each other. Together they all relaxed, and in the end fell asleep around the fire together in a pile.