[Yellow.]

Username: Yellow.
Cat Name: Owlmask
Clan: Ridgeclan
Rank: warrior

Gender: tom
Age: 52 moons
Prompt:
"Are you sure it's okay to be doing this?" Owlpaw asked the younger apprentice as they followed the cliff line down towards the river.

The pair had slipped out of camp after cleaning out elder’s den, they’d been given some free time by there mentors. It was Nightpaw who’d decided they should go explore the caves, something that they were forbidden to do.

But the younger she-cat had made a compelling argument, “You’re going to be a warrior in a couple of moons and you know how the elders told us stories about them going in before they became warriors. Don’t you want to be brave?”

Unable to argue with her words Owlpaw resigned to going with the she-cat, not wanting her to say he wasn’t brave.

Stopping at the first cave they came across, both apprentices stopped at the mouth to peer inside the darkness.

“Maybe this isn’t a good idea.” Nightpaw voiced now, having only just become an apprentice she’d probably never been this close to the caves, only listened to the stories as a kit.

“Too late to back out now we’re already here,” Owlpaw told her with a shrug before stepping on the colder stone inside the cave.

The drop in temperate was immediate where the sunlight couldn’t reach, both apprentices shivering at the quick drop intemperate. There eyes taking a moment to adjust to the darkness before they could see well enough to continue farther into it.

For the first part, the trip was fine, they happened to pick a straight shot cave and didn’t have any turns to worry about. They hadn’t run into any other animal inside of the cave, but of course, this luck couldn’t last long. There was, of course, a reason the clan had a rule that no one was allowed inside the caves, even warriors were forbidden without the leader's permission.

Nightpaw’s scream startled the older apprentice, the copper tang of blood filling the air. Unable to see the damage he could only lead the younger apprentice back out of the cave. Once out they discovered part of her ear missing, apprentice she’s scrapped it on a low hanging rock unable to see it in the dark. Owlpaw vowed from then on not to enter the caves anymore, learning to fear the place that seemed so calm and quiet but held many unknown dangers.

[.forever.]

Username:
Cat Name: Branchfeather
Clan: Tribe of Crashing Waves
Rank:

Gender:
Age:
Prompt:

[CertainNorth]

This comp is now closed for judging!

[CertainNorth]

Congrats SurgeFire! I really enjoyed your story and the fear you chose for your cat! Hopefully he doesn't end up like his mom!

Username: SurgeFire
Cat Name: Larkwhisker
Clan: AsterClan
Rank: Warrior

Gender: Male
Age: 16 Moons
Prompt:
Even though he was young, he could never forget his memory. How could he? Even though he had a much better life, there was something about it that nagged and nagged at his soul, tearing him down for his life...
"You can't leave me," his mother had snarled, drawing her only kit back. "What about Lark? Is he simply dirt, Ace?"
The young kit already heard his answer, although no words would come out.
The other tom simply glared at the two and left.
They had been wandering aimlessly in the forest now, searching for food that would not come. The snow seemed to laugh in his face, brushing against him in the short gusts of wind that would find its way down to the forest floor.
Nights passed, and the two could only survive on small morsels and scraps.

Clouds had already dimmed the morning sky by the time he opened his eyes. Snow - the bane of his short existence, something that only led to confusion and darkness.
Yet Lark's mother was nowhere near.
Something was dearly wrong. She would never hunt in the morning. She would never leave without letting him know... right?
He scrambled to his paws. I must look for her. Could she be lost? Without truly thinking, he left the safety of their makeshift den and ran, ran towards the spots he knew she could be... nothing.
Snow was already drifting down by the time he knew there was no going back.
Lark's paws were wet and sore, and he could take it no longer; he was lost and afraid, surrounded by snow and hunger.
Collapsing under a tree, he heard the faint noises of paw steps. Could it possibly be her?

"We found this kit nearly frozen to death, Thistlestar. He doesn't smell of any Clan. I'm sure he's a loner."

He didn't object to joining this "Clan" when they gave him the option.
Ever since then, he would feel a twinge of fear by the time leaf-bare would arrive. He was deathly afraid of getting lost in the maze of trees and snow, petrified of starving or freezing to death lost and alone.
He never wanted to end up like his mother.

[SurgeFire]

Thank you so much!!
<3 Everyone else did such a good job as well!!

[CertainNorth]

Scars and blindness added with tickets.