✦ Stars Catvent 2022

[Vivika]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two

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

↬ word count: 194 words <3
↬ prompt:

a little list of advice from a regretful older imprisoned otis:


1. do not save the lovely young maiden from the bear. absolutely do not.
2. and if you do, well… be prepared for a lot of life changes. the most important one? a kit. he’s a nice kid, though. a good kid. so maybe save snow from the bear.
3. it’s also probably a good idea to develop some sort of skillset. because… starvation is a thing, y’know?
4. and well, if you forget for some reason, do not ━ i mean, absolutely do not ━ accept the creepy offer from that one cat who asks you to meet him in the forest at midnight. he’ll promise ‘solutions’. don’t fall for it.
5. but if you do anyways, absolutely do not stay when you see two high-ranking commanders from the king’s army in the forest.
6. do not trip over that tree root when you run away.
7. if you trip anyways and get apprehended, keep your jaws shut. tightly.
8. if you ignore all of the above advice, #7 is the most important. for your sake. and your son’s sake. so please.

[Adamented]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two

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

↬ word count: 520 words
↬ prompt:


When Orava arrives, fluffy cinnamon and white karpati coat dappled with thick heavy snowflakes, Harja's not sure exactly sure how to respond. Harja grew up with and even lived through some of Myistera's tales, though he's never seen the mist for which she's named and described, he's seen the halo around the moon that others describe as a sign of her presence. Though, he didn't at that time really believe there were other entities of similar powers beyond average life forms, so it was definitely a shock to stand before her.

Her face was weirdly oval, with low set and wide ears and a flattened skull underneath, Harja remarked to himself that she didn't look like any cat he'd ever seen before, even the white speckles points of her nose, ears, legs, and tail were nothing like he'd ever seen before.

Then, something even stranger happened. Orava introduced herself in a deep, warm, feminine voice, though her muzzle didn't move the sound resounded through his head, she told him she served the wind and held the blizzard at bay the night the Wanderer's had been stranded before they found the barn. Orava's tone reverberated in his mind like a fond memory, maternal and kind, telling Harja how she'd seen his sorrow and his loss during that terrible time. She told him how she had struggled for very long, letting terrible events take place even and to be helpless even with all her power- she wasn't meant to interfere.

When Harja asked her why she had tried to help even if she wasn't to interfere, who decided when she could intervene- she gave him no discerning reply. Orava told Harja she was only there for one thing... now that the worst of the cold was dwindling into late Leaf-bare when the snow would be less dense and wind less wild, she wanted to grant him an opportunity to satiate both of their souls. Orava said she would give him one chance to change the fate of the Wanderers, in his mind he pictured the pale coat of his sibling lost in the snow, a lump of unmoving frosted fur, he could take a moment in his mind to tell his past self anything and she would conduit the wind and snow to deliver his message. Orava's own omen, of sorts.

After thinking about it for a short time, standing under the view of this Goddess, Harja simply shook his head with a warm and melancholy smile. Harja turned away, whispering into the wind before he headed back towards the barn where his family awaited him. Orava stood for a moment stunned, before her heart lifted from the deep sorrowful pit it had sat in since the loss of those five in the blizzard she had unintentionally wrought.

"I wouldn't have anything to say. Everything is as it was meant to be, I accepted that a long time ago- I wouldn't want to change a thing, or else I might not have what I do today. My family today needs me more than the family I once had- things are different now."

[LiLi041]

↬ catvent day: twenty two

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

↬ word count: 113 words
↬ prompt: Santa recalled her prior visit from the ghosts of Christmas, and was about to refuse, before she changed her mind.

"Show me my past self," she commanded.

And upon seeing the form of her past, human form appear before her, she said, "This new world is like no other. Get ready to become a cat."

Before the humanoid Santa could even express his confusion, she turned away. "Also, get ready to be a she-cat, instead of a tom." Then, she ended the call. She wasn't interested in hearing anything from her past self; his wisdom was her wisdom, and her wisdom was more than his wisdom. She was certain it wouldn't be useful.

[unohdettu.lupaus]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two

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

↬ word count: 51
↬ prompt:
Crow was the one who was given a chance to speak to their younger self..they accepted hesitantly.. and the only thing they said to their younger self was “your only limit is your minds creativity” what they meant with that? well thats something for everyone to figure out on their own

[Archaeopteryx.]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two

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

↬ word count: 290 words
↬ prompt:

—and the island shuddered and lurched and they couldn't tell whether it rose or fell out of those midnight-dark waters, but it—

—and for a moment, the tempest of time stood still.

And the Timewatcher saw themselves.

It was as if the curtains had cleared, just for a moment. And in the center of the clearing sat a small kitten with flame-dark fur, hunched and huddled over, eyes screwed shut.

The dirt felt cold and gritty under Timewatcher's paws as they took one snall step forward, and then another, relishing in the realness of it all. Curling their own body around their kitten-self, willing the warmth and comfort of their body to reach their kitten-self.

They didn't react, tiny body still shivering minutely.

"I'm sorry," Timewatcher murmured, tongue rasping over their kitten-self's forehead. "I'm sorry we have to live like this."

A ghost warmth brushed over their forehead, and they shivered, blinking to try and shake off the feeling.

As they sat there, curled around the form of their younger self, a dark shape darted from the mist at the edge of the ceiling. The cat's features were indistinct, but they dragged something along in their mouth, and as Timewatcher watched, they wrapped a blanket around the shoulders of their kitten-self, passing through Timewatcher's body like a ghost.

The shivering stopped, and a softness settled over Timewatcher's shoulders.

They blinked, and opened their mouth to say something

...but words failed them and a wet warmth dripped down their cheeks.

And this time, when the moment faded away, it lingered softly, and a heat remained in Timewatcher's chest until—

—and the sun faded low and soft darkness congealed out of the sand and hungry eyes clustered, always watching always watching always—

[I Like Bees]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two

↬ username & id: I Like Bees 904964
↬ clan archive: The Travelers

↬ word count: 36 words
↬ prompt:

Twist would not accept the offer. It wouldn't be because he doesn't have anything to say to his past self, but rather because he's afraid that somehow, he would make things worse than they already are.

[jay.]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two

↬ username & id: jay. + 688591
↬ clan archive: the aurora borealis

↬ word count: 38 words !
↬ prompt: geckostalk would debate it but ultimately decide against it - it's not as if they could change anything. not to mention they would rather not be reminded of how their life was before everything turned south in the colony.

[ArtMajor]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two
↬ username & id: ArtMajor + 639839
↬ clan archive: blep

↬ word count: 153
↬ prompt:
Silentstep stared through the portal at his younger self. His tail flicked lightly, and his ears pinned backwards. He turned to look at the masked feline that had opened the rift, its jet black wings folded at its sides.

"Close it" Silentstep said quietly. He turned his gaze back to the sleeping form of himself as a young apprentice, eye unscarred, and dreams unbothered. He was sleeping peacefully with Shellkit, and Silentstep knew that he couldn't disturb this moment. He remembered it clearly, the day before his apprentice ceremony, when his and Shellstar's lives had been turned upside down.

He would not ruin his younger self's last night of happiness with his brother.

The masked being stared at him in silence, Silentstep unable to read the being's expression. Finally though, it nodded its head, and the portal shifted close. As suddenly as the creature had appeared, it was gone, and Silentstep was alone.

[changeling.]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two

↬ username & id: K1NGCL3N3NT1N3 + 756856
↬ clan archive: lily meadow alliance

↬ word count: 649 words
↬ prompt:
racing’flame stares at the spirit in front of her. they’re a spirit below, no doubt, no spirit above would be so trusted to offer a living cat this chance. she takes a deep breath and murmurs, “i would, but… i’m not sure she’d believe her ears, or listen to what i’d say.”

the spirit speaks again, and their voice somehow is everywhere around, yet it seems hardly audible as well. “i may deliver the message for you, if that is what you want. it is your choice if you wish to say anything. i can offer this to another cat.” they stare straight through her. it is clear they want a decision soon.

the ginger molly thinks about it, tries his best to be logical. what would he tell his younger self, anyways? don’t get near rattlesnake, for her sake? leave the group with her before anything can happen and make everyone there suspicious, tear her from her family without an explanation on the word of a spirit cat claiming to be from your future? lie better when everyone accuses you two? do better to control your own powers, even though i already know you’ve been trying your whole life? tell rattlesnake you love her one last time before she leaves that fateful day?

or perhaps he would simply tell his younger self what exactly happened in his future. give him the chance to figure out what he needed to do to fix it on his own.

what he says to his younger self could have effects on his life as it is now. he could be at rattlesnake’s side deep in the forests again. he could be back in that old group that had exiled him. he could be dead and watching over rattlesnake as she lives. they could be caught together. he could be exactly where he is now with nothing he did changing the future, just making him more upset. these thoughts, along with his unsureness of the right thing to say, makes his heart race as he thinks. racing’flame whispers hesitantly, “can i think about it?”

she wakes up in a heartbeat after that. she doesn’t know if the spirit acknowledged her question. the tabby shifts, feels the sunlight on her face, and moves to stand when the weight against her side shuffles in the moss. racing’flame pauses and glances down, sees coast’pearl and remembers last night before she had fallen asleep. coast’pearl had had a nightmare, and when racing’flame had woken xem and settled next to xyr form, offering to sleep close to xem to keep watch, xe had hesitantly leaned into her, fallen asleep much easier. racing’flame carefully touches her nose to xyr head and slips out of the den.

shivering’sea is in the middle of the camp’s clearing already, speaking to firefly’flitter, when their head turns and they spot racing’flame. firefly’flitter follows their gaze, and she excitedly calls, “hey! feeling up to patrol with us?”

racing’flame pads over and agrees, and the three of them make their way out of camp and towards the forest. she falls into conversation with the two others easily, joking around and letting herself be relaxed. a small light form catches racing’flame’s eye, and she drops further behind the others, stops walking as the moth lands on her shoulder.

i think your choice is obvious. the moth doesn’t say but doesn’t have to. racing’flame smiles, says, “i’ll find rattlesnake one day, and we can come back here together. i think, once that happens? i won’t regret how this ended up. if you would though… let my younger self know, somehow, that he’ll be alright.” it’s a lesson he still needs sometimes now, and when he was younger? well, he could’ve stood to hear to much more often than he did. and as the moth flies away he catches back up with the patrol and rejoins the conversation.

[canadianhowl]

↬ catvent day: twenty-two

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

↬ word count: 374
↬ prompt:
“Draco? Is that you?”

The cat looked up upon seeing the figure of a dragon looking down. Said dragon huffed and responded, “My grandson… you have grown wise and big since the last time I saw you. Why you were just beginning to become a full fledged warrior at that time! Though I think there is something that I should grant you a final time. Perhaps this will give you some insight into your life now…”

Dragonfruit tilted their head and with a small meow, he opened his eyes again and looked around. They were floating in a dark void. What was this place anyways? The cat flew around before stopping upon hearing a little giggle. He began to follow it around and around until the voice grew a figure… a baby version of themselves.

“Woah you’re big! Am I gonna be that big too?!”

Those words… it struck him in a way he hadn’t realized… this little version of himself reminded him of someone else as a kitten… Dragonfruit could only chuckle and wrap the kit close to him with their wing. “If ya train well and eat lots of prey you will haha!”

“What about being the leader?! I think when I grow up I’m gonna make sure the clan has lots and lots of food and then we’ll all be strong and amazing!” The little kit exclaimed with another laugh.

“Oooo you’re so smart! I think that’s a great idea.”

“What about… if I have a family one day?! I’m gonna make sure my own kits one day are the bestest and biggest and strongest!”

That… no… little him wouldn’t have been the best father… “well… raising kits isn’t all about making them strong. You must care for their mental needs. For their feelings. You can worry about that later. For now I think you need to go eat your dinner now little one.”

“Of course! Okay big cat! Bye bye!”

And the little kit ran off. Dragonfruit watched the kit fade back into the dark and they were alone again. He sighed before looking around and was about to move but felt a drowsy feeling wash over him. The cat fell asleep and soon woke up again in their nest.