Stars V.2 • Catvent

[Plushbunny]

↬ catvent day: seven

↬ username & id: Plushbunny + 858001
↬ clan archive: BlizzardClan

↬ word count: 45 words
↬ prompt: Pumpkinpatch's dragon, Pepita, approaches the pile of trinkets and pulls out a piece of shiny red silk, to be tied to someone's tail... Jaybite picks out a bright green egg. when asked what he wants it for, he just replies that it's "for the spinners"

[changeling.]

↬ catvent day: seven

↬ username & id: honeyfinnz + 756856
↬ clan archive: hsiin'al

↬ word count: 349 words
↬ prompt:

Coast-pearl stares at the glimmering pile, eyes growing wide. Xe glances back up finally at the magpie, who nods to their collection and then at xem.

"I can take one?" Xe asks carefully. The magpie nods again, and xyr paw slowly reaches out to brush over the pile, curiosity pushing xem to investigate even as xe felt a bit of caution at the creature. Coast-pearl has been described as something of a magpie xemself, collecting pretty crystals from xyr own magic as well as anything shiny and pretty xe finds out hunting. Xyr best hobby has always been jewelry making, after all, and what is xe supposed to do if xe doesn’t have any pretty things to make jewelry from?

Xyr eyes catch on plenty of goods. Xe takes particular interest in a human wedding ring, with what looks to be real topaz and diamonds embedded in the shimmering gold band. Coast-pearl nearly chooses it when something else grabs xyr attention.

A smaller bracelet, glittering bright red. Xe’s never been particularly a fan of that color, but something about this ruby-beaded bracelet has attracted xem. Before xe can question it or agonize over the decision like xe knows xe’s about to, Coast-pearl carefully takes the bracelet, nodding at the avian.

“Thanks. Come by again sometime, I might have something that piques your interest,” the bimetallic tabby offers, gesturing to the necklace xe made a while back that has a constant place around xyr throat. Xe hates having unpaid debts, after all, so it’s only fair to the bird and xyr own sanity that xe offers something in return. Plus, with so many interesting items… well, xe’s certainly interested in having a trade partner like this. The magpie tips their head, glance seeming approving for a moment before they begin to gather their goods again.

Coast-pearl turns to leave, paws already taking xem down the path home, when xe realizes why the bracelet stood out to xem. The rubies look perfectly like Burning-shadow’s eyes.

Dang it. Maybe xe needs to get a life outside of obsessing over them so often….

[faelyn]

all participating users have earned +1 stamp each!

three lucky users have also earned +1 bronze coupon: Whovian5EVA, ArithMedic, and feverrr <3

your catcafe rewards cards are also now updated! please contact
faelyn via dms (in cs/discord) if you spot any mistakes <3

[faelyn]

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★ Catcafe Day Eight ━ Special Release!

No prompts today━enjoy the lil break! Keep an eye out on the Stars' main thread for
our first special release + instructions as to how to enter our first raffle! c:

You'll have 72hrs from when the kitty is posted to enter, so there'll be plenty
of time to enter dw <3

#catcafeprompt

[faelyn]

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★ Catcafe Day Nine

Tell us about a hardship your clan (or a character) endured! Did they
overcome it (or not) + how? As always, art and/or writing is welcome! ^^
(thank you for the prompt, ethium!)

*this is a longer prompt with the chance to earn coupons! <3

Code: Select all

[size=85][list][b]↬ catvent day:[/b] nine

[b]↬ username & id:[/b]
[b]↬ clan archive:[/b]

[b]↬ word count:[/b] 000 words
[b]↬ prompt:[/b] [/list][/size]

#catcafeprompt

[peachpit.]

↬ catvent day: nine

↬ username & id: peachpit. + 857132
↬ clan archive: tideclan

↬ word count: 522 words
↬ prompt:


Sandstar’s eyes flicked open, revealing the slate walls through dim lighting. Her paws ached, revealing the truth of the night before. She had been helping to prepare for Baretide’s Celebration, and the hunting patrols lasted deep into the night. The molly had watched many times before, her own mother ordering around the clan on Baretide’s Eve, as tradition was to send out as many hunting patrols as allowed for a rather large feast. This time, it was Sandstar’s duty, with no parents there by her side.

Grumbling under her breath, the sand-pelted molly took a deep breath in. She would have to uphold her clan with a brave face, though her heart mourned for her parents. This was her first Baretide’s Celebration without them, and her first as leader. Catching a glimpse of herself in a reflective puddle on the stone floor, her reflection revealed a brilliant turquoise adorned in her fur, the color of her family for generations. It was custom on Baretide eve to visit the medicine cat Minnowgazer, in order to receive the “colors” of your family. Simply, he made brightly colored poultices and decorated each cat for the festive holiday. It was a symbol of new and old families alike.

Sandstar paused in her reflection, she looked uncannily like her mother. She dipped her head to the puddle below, pressing her nose to the cat on the other side. To her surprise, the puddle didn’t ripple away the reflection. Instead, the cat adorned her mother’s brilliant green eyes and pressed her nose against Sandstar’s very own. “My daughter. What a fine leader you are. Go, face your clan, for I'm deep within your heart, right by your side. Do not mourn for me on a day such as this.” The voice was echoey, warm against Sandstar’s ears.

“Sandstar! May I come in? Merry Baretide! I come bearing gifts!” It was the voice of her deputy Baybreeze. The handsome tom entered into her den, white fur adorned with brilliant reds. The tears that welled within Sandstar’s blue orbs quickly dried, greeting her friend with a half-smile. “Merry Baretide, Baybreeze.” Her voice was sweet, though melancholy was at the end of it. One last glance revealed the reflection of her mother was gone.

“Here! For you, madam president.” Baybreeze shoved a small parcel her way, wrapped tightly in palm leaves. Sandstar giggled, tearing the leaves away and revealing a small bundle of catmint. “To take the edge off.” Baybreeze smiled, bunting affectionately into the side of her head.

“Thank you, dearest deputy. Here-” Sandstar grabbed a small bundle of palm leaves and set it at his feet.

“Will you spend the day with my family, Sandstar?” Baybreeze began, pawing gently at the present before him. “I don’t want you to spend the holiday by yourself, I can tell something is off.”


“No thank you, Baybreeze. I have the whole clan to spend the day with, nothing is off.” Sandstar spoke, rather bluntly. Deep down, her heart ached with the absence of her parents. This Baretide Celebration was to be a rough one, and all she wanted was to be alone.

[daisy,]

↬ catvent day: nine

↬ username & id:daisy,1085494
↬ clan archive:https://www.chickensmoothie.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=103&t=4913291

↬ word count: 37 words
↬ prompt:

Snowflake angrily stomps her paw on the grass. "You ate MY berries"! Snowflake yells at her brother Crumbles. "Well sorry? he yawns "I did not know. "YEAH RIGHT! yells Snowflake. She runs and jumps on Crumbles face and yells "YOU WILL PAY!

[canadianhowl]

↬ catvent day: nine

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

↬ word count: 547
↬ prompt: A lot has happened during the past few moons. It was so overwhelming… not even the silence was peaceful. Dragonfruit rested beside a tree laying on the missy growth that exploded from the side of the base. His small tail curled around as much as it could with his wings doing the rest. He just wanted to be alone right now. At the same time maybe he wanted company, but he couldn’t. No, he had to do this alone.

Pawsteps.

His head snapped up and he gazed around with narrowed eyes. “Who’s out there? You’re on clan territory get out!” He shouted with a loud hiss but calmed when a familiar pink figure emerged. Now his anger was replaced with regret as he backed down and turned his head to the side. “Hollyheart…”

“It’s a coincidence I ran into you right now. We might not be on the best terms but, you seem down Dragonfruit.” She responded back. Her voice was normally loud but this time it was sweet and caring. He hated that. He hated how easy she made him nervous. He just grunted and shrugged.

“I won’t push further but, I’m still your clanmate. If you want to chat then I’m open.” She began to walk away.

…

“Wait-“

Hollyheart turned back around, now facing a trembling Dragonfruit. “Stay.”

She blinked before she began to approach him. The moss was big enough for two; so the two sat together. It was silent for what felt like eternity.

“Hollyheart… maybe there’s something in my mind. My son and my cousins. Everything is confusing right now. It’s so… I don’t know.”

“Yeah… I can tell. The clan in general can tell it’s getting rough between you and your relatives. Why are you telling me this?”

“Holly… look I’m… I need help and… and I’m sorry for being so mean to you all those moons ago. I was stressed back then too and… and I just-“ he hissed and laid flat on the ground covering his face.

“Dragonfruit… look at me. It’s okay.”

…

“How have you been doing?”

Hollyheart stopped for a second before she mumbled, “I’ve seen better days. It’s been tough with Grizzlyhorn’s passing. Bravepaw has been struggling as well. I’m doing the best I can for them.”

“Yeah… Firepaw isn’t doing too well either. I can… try and help?”

That got a small chuckle from Hollyheart. “I mean… If you want. I won’t say no but you also have a lot on your paws.”

“I know but, I feel like it’s the least I can do for you after being so mean. You were my only friend! We were training buddies and everything! You were the only one who wanted to be my friend!”

Hollyheart gently placed a paw on his paw and sighed, “I admired you a lot for your strength. You learned so fast and cats couldn’t compete against me. You were the only one who could match my strength.”

“I’d like to try again Hollyheart. You and me being friends. I do apologize and you know I don’t apologize to just anyone! … I mean it Holly I… I lo… I miss you a lot.”

Hollyheart was silent for a second before she smiled. “Alright. One more shot you old lizard.”

[feverish]

↬ catvent day: nine

↬ username & id: satosugu + 762494
↬ clan archive: strife corrino

↬ word count: 758 words
↬ prompt: snow drifted softly from the sky, clinging to treetops and silently traipsing to the ground, each flake more unique than the last and twice as deadly. ambivalent, it fell, winding its way through the wind and frosting the browning grass in sheets- stacking and sleeting until no blade was left uncovered.

leslie lynche, better known as sundown, took a deep breath of the crisp, painfully frigid air and adjusted their cloak.

they weren't sure when it had started snowing, all they knew was that it hadn't stopped-- and wouldn't be stopping either, not for some time, no matter how much, how hard, or how desperately the cats around them prayed.

it was shaping up to be a cruel winter. the most confoundingly wicked snow storm that strife corrino had seen in at a handful of decades had taken hold of the district, with temperatures dipping to the negatives and cats everywhere scrambling and fighting for purchase on both real and metaphorical slippery slopes. and though some of the larger towns and cities in strife corrino were powering through, many smaller homesteads, farms, and settlements were facing bleak near futures and blurry eventualities. there didn't seem to be any relief from the cold.

sundown was sure that it was gnawing on their very bones, eating away at their muscles, and scathing their nerves. still, they walked on.

to their right was lady luck, otherwise known as the roanokes' most skilled tesorero: halaya finch. she was a pretty she-cat with deep, dark eyes, the pale snowflakes on her eyelashes a beautifully sick contradiction to the milky darkness that, while normally so full of life, seemed so empty. sundown's ears pinned tighter to their head as they watched halaya pull their scarf up to cover their mouth, the fabric not doing much to stifle billows of steam as her hot breath met the icy air. they cared deeply for their clan, and halaya was no exception- in fact, lady luck was one of sundown's closest friends. seeing her flick her ears to shake off frost and flinch whenever her tail brushed the cold snow below sent pangs of frustration through sundown's heart. how could this continue so cruelly?

catching their eye, halaya squinted. "what, got a staring problem suddenly?"

sundown snorted but neglected to offer a verbal response, instead facing forward once more and observing the other cats. they were down to only a few horses, the rest having had either been sold for cash to afford food and shelter or... well, not all had made it through the beginning throes of winter. this meant that more able cats like leslie and halaya were left to trudge through the snow on foot, a fact that both detested but neither argued.

they just had to make it to the next settlement. it was small enough to not even be listed on the map, and likely abandoned. the only way that the roanokes had heard about it was via word of mouth from the last farm they came across. though they had been denied reprieve there, the cats living there at least had the decency to point the outlaw clan in the right direction..

there.

sundown felt their shoulders sag in relief at the sight of some dark houses on the horizon, a stark contrast to the white of the snow. so close they could taste it, sundown allowed themselves a smile. halaya, unbeknownst to them, did the same.

--

though it had seemed like it would snow for the rest of their lives (for some unlucky cats, it did), the storm did let up, and the roanokes slowly recollected themselves after the losses they suffered during the great frost. there were deaths and losses throughout the entirety of strife corrino, but the outlaw clans were hit the hardest without proper equipment or places to rest their heads; the eversins nearly diminished, and the roanokes found themselves at the smallest member-wise that they had ever been. still, one thing about outlaws is that they have to be ready to weather these things; loss and extreme weather conditions were part of the program, as much as it hurt. sundown and halaya were two of the cats who handled most of the hunting and corralling for the clan during that fateful winter, which only brought their bond immeasurably closer as they worked together.

all the cats of strife corrino feel a little fear when they consider winter now, but the cats of the roanokes are sure of one thing: they won't be braving it alone.

[feverrr]

↬ catvent day: nine

↬ username & id: feverrr & 412872
↬ clan archive: cedarclan

↬ word count: 45 words + art (>500 words based on the art scale)
↬ prompt: thinking about snowstep lore......... runaway housecat who had to survive a leaf-bare outdoors, alone with virtually no survival skills. then eventually found by cedarclan! hated snow for a while but now they love it bc they know they're safe and are able to enjoy it. :'>