Divergence | Patrolling | Season: Newleaf!

[Kazin]

You may send out a patrol once per week! [If a reply has not been made, you can still send out an additional patrol if you wish]

Patrol results are calculated by good ol' RNG, and change according to the season! Right now, the Newleaf (Spring) percent chances are currently... (subject to change)
1-50 -> no cat
51-90 -> one cat found!
91-100 -> two cats found!

Fill out this form to send your cat(s) on patrol! Remember, writing is optional, but if you do write you get a bonus chance at more cats! The higher the word count [caps out at 1,000+] gives you a higher chance to receive cat(s) (max bonus = 1k words = 25%).

Code: Select all

[b][u]I'm sending out a patrol![/u][/b]
[b]Username + ID[/b]:
[b]Cats Going on Patrol[/b]: [how many cats are you sending? doesn't have to be fancy, just list their names - must send at least one [does not affect rolls]
[b]Writing[/b]: [no minimum or maximum but percent caps at 1,000 words]

♦ Patrols may sent out once per week per user. [resets every Sunday at CS Rollover]

♦ Seasons change every month! January = Newleaf. February = Greenleaf. March = Leaf-fall. April = Leafbare, etc.
--each season has different chances to find cats. Newleaf and Greenleaf have higher chances than Leaf-fall or Leafbare.

♦ Up to six cats can be sent out on patrol - you can send more in your writing, but six is the max that has the potential to affect events happening on patrol Generally, if you send a higher number of cats, you'll have a slightly elevated chance to receive a new cat. - removing this feature as of 1/2/25

[jazz.]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: jazz. 129597
Cats Going on Patrol: Static
Writing: 548 words
Static crouched in the darkness of the soft den his humans unceremoniously shoved him into after tempting him closer with his favorite brand of canned tuna. He was now stacked among many boxes in the back of their van, the rumbling of the trinkets and belongings covering up his disgruntled meows. His claws had already gotten caught up in the mesh lining, so Static sat with his paws folded neatly underneath himself, sneer finding its way onto his face. Usually trips in the van were much shorter than whatever this was, ending up in a bright building with strange humans poking and prodding at him. At least those trips ended in many treats and lots of attention for the rest of the day. And those trips ENDED! This was a continuous quest of bumpy roads and slight motion sickness.
The next time he saw the sun, it was high in the sky and he sneered at the sudden brightness as his favorite boy retrieved him from his spot. His boy talked to him softly in the humanspeak he was used to not understanding as the zipper trapping him was moved and Static sprang free.
Looking around, his band of humans were by the van, conversing and stretching and they weren’t anywhere Static recognized. The boy held an outstretched hand to Static but he turned his head away, hoping his displeasure was made clear. He didn’t approve of any of this! Where was his cat tree? His scratching post? His air conditioning!!! He was a cat of many luxuries, not yet another object to shove back in a box.
Static found himself carefully weaving in between each humans’ legs, nipping at ankles and clawing at shoelaces to further show annoyance. He was sure that this journey wasn’t over by the fact that the van stayed loaded with boxes and nobody wandered far.
He finally relented and let his boy scratch under his chin. He was about allow himself to be picked up when a loud crash startled everybody into scattering in different directions.
Before Static could think about where he was going, his paws had already taken him away from the crashed van and into the bushes, past a creek, through a thicket of trees, and into a patch of wildflowers. By the time he collapsed in exhaustion, his long fur was twisted with twigs and leaves and his paws were raw and clumps of dirt were between his paw pads. Lying awkwardly on his side trying to catch his breath, he took in his new surroundings. There was no way he was going to be able to find his way back to his boy and the van now, the only outside Static was familiar with was his own little square yard with a manicured lawn and pruned flowers and not the wild swaths of grass and thorned fauna that was now his environment.
Once Static’s heartbeat was steady, he clambered to his feet, shook himself off, and sniffed the closest tree. It was definitely a tree. That was all the information he could gleam. Tree, tree, bush, grass, dirt. No specifics were known to him. Static already missed the canned tuna from this morning. This was going to be a lot of work. And Static didn’t like work.

[chaotic creativity]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: chaotic creativity [784016]
Cats Going on Patrol: basiliskstar
Writing: 871 words
xxxbasiliskstar stretched her nose upward, the thick smell of humidity washing over her in waves. water dripped through the leaves, their tinkling adding to the chorus of frogs and birds relishing in the aftermath of the afternoon rain. the wet season had arrived in full force, each afternoon filled with downpours occasionally accompanied by thunder and lightning, and the world was alive once more. dried grasses turned green, funneled leaves pooled water near their base, and water raced across the recently-dry stones of creek beds. mist sizzled upward from the leaves and ground, tickling basiliskstar's nose as she eventually turned her gaze back to the ground.
xxxone paw in front of the other, she wove between the undergrowth until eventually reaching the edge of the rainforest. fields of twoleg farming stretched before her, making her curl her nose in disgust. what creatures would ever think to remove all the wonderful trees that provided for the creatures of this land? basiliskstar shook her head as she eventually turned back into the forest, snorting the stench of the farm from her nose. she sidestepped a bright red frog, grinning at its blue hind legs that reminded her of those strange pelts the twolegs wore around their hind legs. she wondered if they'd gotten the idea from the strange little frogs that could kill a cat if they ate one.
xxxher paws carried her deeper into the forest, the ground angling upward beneath her as she began to climb the side of the steep mountain that she had called home for as long as she could remember. a short stretch of flat ground existed, but the majority of her territory was on this slope. she'd burrowed into the side of one particularly steep bank, creating a den out of a pre-existing motmot nest. if others joined her, they would make their own dens out of the several other motmot nests up and down the path. luckily at the beginning of the path was a wide plateau at the base of a waterfall that those unable to make the climb could remain. she shuddered at the thought of kits scrambling up the path, one side a sheer drop down to a river far below. she supposed that was the end of the path as it extended farther than she had ever traveled, but she'd forged her own path from the waterfall out into the rest of her territory.
xxxshe stretched her nose up and peered through the branches overhead. it was dangerous to be a cat living here, so her ears were constantly listening for the sudden silence that always heralded the arrival of something deadly. even as she remained on alert, she took comfort in the well-worn paths that her paws followed. the paths that her mother and her mother's mother had walked nearly every day of their lives before she had even been born. it was almost sacred, she supposed, continuing in their legacy but with dreams of welcoming others to join her. soon many cats' paws would tread these same tracks. basiliskstar raised her eyes to where the sunlight dappled the leaves, and she felt tears burning in her throat as she thought of those last few moons with her mother. the deterioration had been slow, but she'd promised to keep their home safe. she'd promised to finally do what generations of her ancestors had dreamed of. she'd promised to find the fabled jaguar stone and receive the nine lives left there by ancient beasts long since gone.
xxxthe day she'd found the stone, hidden in a cave behind the waterfall so deep that she couldn't see her paw in front of her muzzle, had been like no other. the agony of the ordeal had left her sobbing, but a new strength had filled her to the brim. the strength flowed through her now, and she'd learned that she carried the strength and might of the jaguar in her bones. she was faster than any cat ought to be, she could leap great distances, she could last longer in a fight than ever before, and she damaged her opponent far easier. she knew this blessing would come to haunt her one day, but it was hard not to revel in her newfound prowess. she hunted leisurely, waltzing up to prey no other cat could here. she walked the borders twice a day, her muscles never tiring. even today, just wandering around the territory to keep an eye on things, she had taken to leaping from tree to tree. each leap was farther than the last, until she could barely grab on to her destination with her outstretched claws.
xxxbasiliskstar shook water from her pelt as she came back to the present, realizing the forest around her had grown still. something was up ahead, but she couldn't quite tell what. as she dropped to the ground, her belly fur just barely dragging against the leaves under-paw, she tensed her muscles into a position where she could spring forward at the slightest urge. whatever was ahead, she needed to know. the urge was so deep in her bones that she could barely think about anything except creeping forward until she knew what was there.

[Maniacal_Ferret]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: Maniacal_Ferret // 1087774
Cats Going on Patrol: Emberstar
Writing: 516 Words
IndentationEmberstar crouched, waiting in the bushes. There was something not quite right about the scene. But what it was, she couldn't place her paw on. The birds were chirping in the branches and she could hear the rustling of squirrels as they jumped from tree branch to tree branch above her head. In the clearing a head of her she could see something silvery glinting in the tall grass, not three fox lengths away from where she was crouched, concealed by a patch of brambles. What was that? Some sort of weird two-leg thing? She would have to investigate. Once she made sure that there were no two-legs around. She wasn't aiming to get trapped and taken away to starclan knows where. Her ears flicked as there was a rustle to her left, but she didn't startle. If she did her position was sure to be given away and she would be caught faster than a rabbit could run.
IndentationForcing the fur on her back to lie flat, Emberstar waited patiently, listening for any other signs that she wasn't alone. There wasn't any unusual scent, but that didn't mean that there was nobody there. Her ears flicked again as she heard a twig snap beneath something heavy. What was that? Emberstar could feel her heart accelerating, pounding in her chest, she could hear the blood roaring in her ears as she sat, and waited. Out hopped a large rabbit and Emberstar let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding. That was what had made the sound. She was such a mouseheart. She shook her head and was about to step out when the rabbit tensed, it's eyes wide. Had it seen her? Smelled her? I couldn't have, she was downwind, and he hadn't made a sound. Emberstar's heart dropped into her stomach when a red fox emerged, crashing through the undergrowth. The startled rabbit took off in a flash and the sharp nosed, russet creature barreled after it. Not a very stealthy hunter that one. She was lucky that it hadn't seen her, but it was much too intent on the rabbit it was after to notice her.
IndentationEmberstar slowly crept out of the brambles where she had been hinding. She raised her head, opening her mouth to scent the air. Nothing. Nothing but the lingering and fading scent of the fox that had just passed through. Emberstar made a mental note to check later and make sure that the fox had left the territory, otherwise it could present quite the problem for her in the future. But first she wanted to find out what that silver thing in the grass was. There had been a couple two legs camping here the past could days, but all their stuff was gone and there seemed to be no sign of them. The only evidence that they had been there was a darkened pit smelling of ash and fire, which made Emberstar uncomfortable. Fire was never good. And there was also a set on monster tracks. That mush have been the way that they left.

[I Like Bees]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: I Like Bees 904964
Cats Going on Patrol: F7 - Polaris
Writing: [ 361 words ]

"Mother, what are stars?"

Tucked between the roots in the shadows of a great tree, a molly looked down at her young kit, then up at the night sky sprawled out above them.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart," she answered. "Some cats say they're the spirits of our ancestors watching over us, guarding us and making it safer to travel at night by providing light. Some cats say they're images of other suns looking over other forests just like ours, but far far off in the distance. I've heard cats call them the sky's eyes, and others fragments of the moon. This one cat I met even called them fish swimming in the sky - which they think is actually a giant lake above us."

The kit crinkled their nose at that idea. Fish were gross. "Which one do you believe?" they asked.

"I like the idea of our loved ones looking out for us," their mother mewed, "but I'm not sure it's true. I do know, however, that that star riiight over there-" she paused to lean her head down, pointing a paw at the sky to direct her kit's gaze- "is very, very special."

"Why's that?" the kit chirped.

"Well, cats say you could follow that star to the very end of the earth. Cats use it to guide themselves through unknown lands, like a landmark in the sky that you can always identify and rely on. You're named after that star, you know. Polaris."

"Polaris..," the kit repeated, eyes shining as they stared up at their namesake. What a beautiful thing to be named after.

---

Some years later...

With the night sky glittering above them, Polaris trotted through the forest with crickets at their heels. They were about a week into their journey - the lifelong trek they'd begun in order to follow their namesake star.

They weren't really sure what they were looking for at the end - the end of the earth? some grand treasure waiting just for them? - but they'd decided, and they were determined, and so there they were, no other goal in mind than simply walking.

Their stomach growled. Okay, and maybe finding something to eat, too.

[Kazin]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: jazz. 129597
Cats Going on Patrol: Static
Writing: 548 words
-snip-

Your patrol stumbles upon an adult aged cat looking for a new home!

Genotype: ll, Bb, Xo-, Dd, dmdm, AA, mcmc, spsp, tata, bmbm, II, CC, Wsw
Silver classic tabby with low white.
*you may choose if this cat is XoY [amab] or XoXo [afab]; be sure to note which you choose down if you plan to use this cat for breeding!*

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: chaotic creativity [784016]
Cats Going on Patrol: basiliskstar
Writing: 871 words
-snip-

Your patrol stumbles upon an adult aged cat looking for a new home!

Genotype: LL, Bbl, Xo-, DD, dmdm, aa, Mcmc, spsp, Tata, Bmbm, ii, cscs, Wsw
Seal point with low white.
*you may choose if this cat is XoY [amab] or XoXo [afab]; be sure to note which you choose down if you plan to use this cat for breeding!*

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: Maniacal_Ferret // 1087774
Cats Going on Patrol: Emberstar
Writing: 516 Words
-snip-

Your patrol stumbles upon an adult aged cat looking for a new home!

Genotype: ll, blbl, XOXo, dd, dmdm, aa, mcmc, spsp, tata, bmbm, ii, Ccb, WsWs
Fawn-cream calico.

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: I Like Bees 904964
Cats Going on Patrol: F7 - Polaris
Writing: [ 361 words ]

-snip-

Your patrol stumbles upon an adult aged cat looking for a new home!

Genotype: Ll, bbl, XO-, Dd, dmdm, aa, Mcmc, Spsp, tata, bmbm, ii, CC, WsWs
Red broken mackerel tabby with high white.
*you may choose if this cat is XOY [amab] or XOXO [afab]; be sure to note which you choose down if you plan to use this cat for breeding!*

[eagle,]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: eagle, 300123
Cats Going on Patrol: clouded skies
Writing: wc: 762

xxxxsoot puffed up from the ground with each step that clouded skies took, and his pale pelt was stained from the remnants of the burned forest. still, there was a strange glint in the tabby's eyes - a look that one likely wouldn't expect to see in one surrounded by the smoldering remains of their home.
xxxxbut clouded skies wasn't a cat to lie down in the face of tragedy. it had been nearly a moon since the fire swept through the pine forest, replacing the cool mud and neetle-laiden ground with dry ashes and brittle remains. clouded skies paused mid-step, his nose lifted, and it was only for a brief moment that he imagined the scent of mouse. but he knew better. the prey had either gone up in flames with the trees, or had left to find greener pastures.
xxxxnot even the thickness of his pelt could hide the way clouded skies' ribs began to show, making his hunger all too clear for anyone to see. but he'd managed the moon with the same bull-headed grit that had gotten him cuffed a few too many times over the ears when he was younger. back then, it was seen as something that he would outgrow. surely no cat could be so stubborn to disregard all the clear signs that his home was gone for good. any other cat would likely leave the smokey forest behind, but clouded skies was determined to see it through.
xxxxso he'd spent his time on the edges of the nearest twoleg place, daring to sneak closer for any scrap of food he could get his jaws on. he waited at the edges of ash-flecked ponds to see if fish would appear. he chewed plant roots in an attempt to wear the edge off of his hunger. and it took its toll over the moon, as his once shiny pelt grew dull and his stomach grumbled through the nights. but he made do and, at last, it seemed that he would be rewarded for his patience.
xxxxclouded skies ducked his head low to the ground, allowing himself a spark of hope that yes, a small bud was beginning to breach from underneath the soil. the first sight of the forest begin to heal after too many days of destruction. it was small, just the first sign of green growth, the first blade of grass beginning to uncurl from underneath the ash. clouded skies didn't smile, but he paused and sat back on his haunches to take in the sight. at last, he huffed out a sigh - not a sound of frustration, but of resignation.
xxxx"alright then," clouded skies said. "if the forest will fight, then who am i to leave it behind?" there was no one around to hear him speak to himself, but clouded skies didn't mind. when he got to his paws again, it was easier to believe that there was less soot coating his paws, that the ash wasn't as thick. for the first time in a moon, clouded skies' pace picked up from a slow, plodding walk to a trot, then to a run that stretched his muscles and let him feel the warm wind brush his pelt.
xxxxwhen he finally stopped, he reached the edge of his former clan's territory. smokeclan had been small, with little might and power to speak of. and the forest fire made it feel like the clan would drift away forever. but though clouded skies was alone and hungry, he felt anticipation prick at his pawpads. he felt as though he might just be on the edge of something exciting. above, the stars twinkled, looking down on clouded skies through the gaps in the barren tree branches. clouded skies watched as the sky morphed from navy to pitch black, and he dipped his head. "i'll make you proud, i'm going to try my best with what i have." he didn't have much, that was true, but it wasn't the first time clouded skies had walked his own path, and it didn't scare him.
xxxxwhen he turned around again, clouded skies felt no fear. instead, he felt energized by the mysterious path stretched before him. as night descended, the forest took on a ghostly quality from the ashes that lingered in the air, making it seem like clouded skies was walking through wisps of smoke. strangely, he felt comforted by the feeling, as though the soot was his ancestors walking beside him. and he didn't feel so alone as he went to mark the borders for smokeclan - his clan.

[jazz.]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: jazz. 129597
Cats Going on Patrol: Static and Flicker
Writing: 760 words
Static sniffed the air. He wasn’t used to the barrage of scents that filled his nose and head. Instead of the usual scent of the sterile citrus of his old household, there were overlapping notes of dirt, moisture, greenery he couldn’t immediately identify, gamey hints of creatures, sour whiffs of insects, and the refreshing breeze ruffling his fur. He spent the first few hours poking around different bushes, quickly and painfully learning which ones had thorns, and it wasn’t until the sun was touching the horizon that Static realized he was becoming quite hungry. As the forest got darker, however, his uneasiness outweighed his stomach and he scraped together a makeshift nest of fallen leaves underneath a vibrant green bush.
He didn’t get much sleep throughout the night; Static learned that while he was supposed to rest, the rest of the forest didn’t seem to get the memo. Between little scuffling critters and insects buzzing, there was too much noise for Static to fully relax. He was used to his favorite boy’s white noise machine droning on at a constant rate, not the nocturnal sector coming to life.
As the sun rose, Static winced at his new hunger pangs. In reality, he wasn’t THAT hungry but the tomcat had never gone without free access to easy to catch kibble and tuna on demand. A night without food was a foreign concept. As light streamed through the bush’s leaves, Static noticed clusters of dark berries and hesitantly licked one. It was very ripe and fell at his paws. With little concept of the possibility of poison, he put the entire berry into his mouth and startled at the sudden burst of sweetness. It was quite delicious so Static spent the rest of the early morning eating the ripest berries.
When the sun was high in the sky, Static ventured out of his blackberry bush and investigated his surroundings a lot more closely than the other day. There was a circular patch of soft short grass that was surrounded by other blackberry bushes with smatterings of weedy wildflowers. Outside the ring of bushes were a variety of green trees, old, thick, and sturdy. While it was all very nice and peaceful, Static wanted to go back to his humans; at this point, he’d even welcome the cramped van. So he picked a random direction and set off, convincing himself that if he tried hard enough and wanted it had enough, he was certain to find his way back.
Static plodded on, trying his best to stick in a straight line but soon found himself back in the circular clearing again. Thinking he must have veered off somehow, he tried again, noting specific landmarks along the way to make sure he wasn’t
doubling back, he eventually found himself staring at his blackberry bush in confusion.
No, this must be a different ring of grass and blackberries…but there was his sparse nest from the night.
Static took off in a run once again seeing the landmarks he saw an hour earlier: large flat rock, split tree, large charred tree trunk, a tangled yellow rose bush…and then right back to the clearing. But at least this time, something was a bit different. There was a silver tabby standing in the center.
“Oh, I think you’re new!” She ignored the wild look in his eyes and walked over to sniff his ragged coat. “It can be a bit difficult to meet other cats in here. If you split up, it might be a while before you sync back up again.”
“I’m not supposed to be here,” Static stammered. He didn’t know what she was talking about and didn’t care. He wanted to go home!
“Well, I haven’t found the way out yet but maybe it’ll be better working together?” She sent a pointed look to his blackberry nest. “I bet some feathers could spruce up the place.”
“I don’t want to stay here,” Static insisted.
“Oh, I don’t think you can leave,” she smiled sadly, “none of us can. I mean I’ve met a few other cats here and there, but we all seem to be stuck in some sort of strange glitch.” Static was sure his brain short circuited. What on earth was this cat talking about? “Anyway, my name is Flicker. It might be best to keep each other in sight to make sure we stay in the same loop, okay? Just to be safe.”
Static just shook his head and sat in his meager nest. Everything would go back to normal tomorrow, right?

[DaisieGames]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: DaisieGames, 273
Cats Going on Patrol: 1, Sun.
Writing: 184 words Sun sat silently under what she was named for. Flicking her ears, she tried to listen to the sounds around her, hoping to either be able to hunt or at least protect her new territory. Shaking her head, she turned to the sound of small scuffling and crouched down in a way that was instinctive to her. After a while, she caught a couple of mice and buried them safely away to keep from other cats getting to her food. Seeing that she was happy, she decided to explore her territory, as she still wasn’t entirely familiar with it. Traveling through the forest, she sniffed at the trees to ensure there was no more food to be caught. Hearing a cry from above, she glanced up and saw a crow above her, and she shook her head. “I may not be used to being alone as I’ve always had company with me before,” she murmured, trying not to calm down and relax. “We are just exploring; maybe I’ll find a new companion, maybe not,” Sun murmured to herself, knowing fate would allow whatever happened.

[Kazin]

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: eagle, 300123
Cats Going on Patrol: clouded skies
Writing: wc: 762-snip-

Your patrol stumbles upon an adult aged cat looking for a new home!

Genotype: ll, blbl, Xo-, dd, dmdm, aa, Mcmc, spsp, tata, bmbm, ii, CC, Wsw
Solid fawn with low white.
*you may choose if this cat is XoY [amab] or XoXo [afab]; be sure to note which you choose down if you plan to use this cat for breeding!*

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: jazz. 129597
Cats Going on Patrol: Static and Flicker
Writing: 760 words
-snip-

Your patrol stumbles upon an adult aged cat looking for a new home!

Genotype: LL, bb, XO-, dd, dmdm, Aa, Mcmc, spsp, TaTa, bmbm, ii, CC, Wsw
Cream ticked tabby with low white.
*you may choose if this cat is XOY [amab] or XOXO [afab]; be sure to note which you choose down if you plan to use this cat for breeding!*

I'm sending out a patrol!
Username + ID: DaisieGames, 273
Cats Going on Patrol: 1, Sun.
Writing: 184 words -snip-

Your patrol stumbles upon an adult aged cat looking for a new home!

Genotype: ll, blbl, Xo-, DD, dmdm, aa, McMc, Spsp, tata, bmbm, Ii, Ccs, ww
Cinnamon smoke.
*you may choose if this cat is XoY [amab] or XoXo [afab]; be sure to note which you choose down if you plan to use this cat for breeding!*