jayclan writing pieces

[dolly]

jayclan

for writing based challenges on rise.

[dolly]

title. advice for you
desc. Hawkstorm wants revenge. Honeycloud has seen one too many go down this path.
for. write a scene of your choice (leveling up)
word count. 214 words

Hawkstorm glared at the older cat. Honeycloud stared back unphased and unmoved. She sat laid out on a corroded rock looking down through the trees at her.

“This will be the death of you,” she repeated. “Now, I understand wanting to put Shadestar down a peg, but there’s a reason you fear her.”

“I don’t fear anyone,” Hawkstorm said in rebuttal. She stood defiantly, eyes blazing.

“Oh, but you do. Our leader-“

“She’s not my leader.”

“-is a powerful cat. You challenged her once already and lost terribly. Imagine a true fight, my darling.” Hawkstorm’s expression didn’t change an inch.

Honeycloud let out a tired sigh.

“Revenge won’t make you happy. It only leaves you wanting more,” Honeycloud said.

“It will make me happy. What do you know?”

“I’ve seen it before. It won’t. Find something that does make you happy and live for something else.”

Hawkstorm growled, her scowl growing larger.

“You’re on her side, aren’t you? Everyone always is. She’s a monster!”

“She’s not. She’s certainly not good, but Shadestar is not the scum you think she is.”

“Only a monster could do what she does,” countered Hawkstorm.

“Or a leader,” replied Honeycloud, her eyes lingering in distant memory.

[dolly]

title. the meeting
desc. A moonly clan meeting.
for. write a scene of a clan meeting (leveling up)
word count. 208 words

Cats moved in waves towards the arena, the moon illuminating their path. As always, Shadestar sat atop the highest point looking down at her clan. Her large figure casted a harsh shadow across the ground.

“Welcome,” she greeted the entering cats. Swanheart and her other well respected advisors sat along the lower walls. Greetings mixed between cats already seated and newly arriving.

She needed no further introduction for their moonly clan meeting. “First order of business, we have a new cat joining us. For her first meeting I’d like to welcome Hawkstorm personally. In clan news, however, we have much to discuss."

Curious whispers traveled through the crowd. Gossip was swapped and confused stares looked towards Shadestar.

"As the days roll on, I receive more and more word of loners and rouges walking our territory. I want my clan to be prepared if any start drama or wish to join. Hunting parties are coming back with less and less food because of them. We will not go hungry, I will never allow that, but we must work harder if we want to thrive."

"First thing next sunrise I will be leading a hunt for prey. It is optional to join, but I encourage you to come," added Heatherfinch.

[dolly]

word count. 205 words

The land was quiet as Heatherfinch and her patrol stalked across it. The sun, freshly risen, shined on them, their fur glittering in its light.

The patrol wasn’t large by any means, merely two cats being lead by the clan deputy on a mission patrolling the borders as well as a side goal to catch more food. A pair of distant eyes hiding in a bush met hers. She bounded towards them causing the other cat to leap back in a panic.

Heatherfinch instantly recognized the brown she-cat. “Hawkstorm? What are you doing so far from camp this early in the day?” she questioned, not unfriendly.

“I,” she glanced around with a nervous tick in her eyes, “I was just going out for a walk. I had some… unpleasant dreams and wanted to wake.”

Heatherfinch nodded her understanding. She was no stranger to bad dreams, and luckily for her, she had those who wished to soothe her. As a new member of the clan, chances are Hawkstorm did not.
“Well, perhaps would you like to join us? We could always use more eyes,” offered Heatherfinch. Hawkstorm hesitates for a beat.

“Sure. Why not,” she replied, a strange look marking her face.

“Great. Let us go.”

[dolly]

word count. 601 words

A lanky she-cat waddles through the messy brush left by a harsh storm a few days earlier. Her large belly makes her gait awkward and stiff, as well as careful to avoid brushing against the sharp edges of broken twigs. A dull ache makes its way down her legs from a strenuous journey.

She doesn’t bother trying to stay quiet, she knows this territory by heart. There’s no threat of danger with the clan who owns it patrolling regularly. No one but a fool would go against them.

Not for the first time, curious thoughts about her once clanmates filter through her head. What is Swanheart like now? Did she ever win over Shadefang? Have Honeycloud and Thistlewhisker gotten over themselves and admitted everything? Are Snakerock and Goosestream still feuding? Who’s joined? Who’s left? Who’s gone?

She supposes these questions will be answered soon enough. Her body tries to protest her steep climb over the unsteady rubble of an ages old two leg den. The area stinks of fish and mud from the lake she knows isn’t far.

Her heart stills for a minute. Should she go back? Does she want her kits to live in that clan? For a long couple seconds, she’s tempted to build shelter within the rubble. But she can’t.

A clan will provide them a better life than she could on her own. They deserve to be loved by more than her alone, they deserve a family. She’d made it this far in hopes of them having a good life, she refuses to stop now.

Leaves crunch a small distance away. Despite herself, she tenses, readying for a fight. A breath leaves her with the face that pokes out from the brush.

She’s older now, her eyes show it most of all, but she’s still Swanheart. She studies the area, either not noticing or not mentioning Heatherfinch to whoever she’s with.

“Stop dallying, Swanheart, we don’t have much time left. Darling, we need…” She doesn’t really catch much after the other cat comes into view. She doesn’t remember much of Shadefang, only how Swanheart wanted nothing more than to win over the harsh she-cat, but without a doubt it’s her.

And Swanheart did more than that, it seems.

Swanheart steps out, searching the area further for something. Shadefang urges her to finish quickly to which she says, “Hold on, I thought I-“ They both freeze.

“Hi,” says Heatherfinch, discomfort clear on her face. She hadn’t spent much time thinking about how this reunion would go, and maybe she should’ve thought of something to say. “It’s been a long time, huh?”

“Yeah,” she drawls, rather dumbfounded, “I never imagined I’d see you again, if I’m honest. Why are you here again?” Her eyes widen. “Oh, I’m sorry. That was rude of me-“

“No, it’s okay. I understand what you meant.” Heatherfinch shifts a little. “I’d like to say I came here because I wanted to come home, but I can’t. I think the real answer is rather obvious at this point.”

“Oh,” she says as if she’s only now noticing. “You’re… Oh.”

“Mhm.”

Swanheart always knew well. It isn’t a surprise how quickly she catches things, how she can practically read her mind at times. “We’ll take you back to camp.” She grins. “Everyone’s going to love having kits around again. You’re alone no longer, in fact, you’ll never have a moment of peace again. They’re going to be so very spoiled.”

“I will regret nothing as long as they’re loved, and as long as they have a family who loves them as much as I do.”