Stars V.2 • Catvent

[canadianhowl]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

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

↬ word count: 59 words
↬ prompt: Goblinsnarl was sneaking around camp. The cats who saw him began to try and back away or ignore him. He was going after the cats who were oblivious. Dewlily was talking to one of her friends before he leapt up and tackled her to the ground. “Haha gotchu! You didn’t even see me comin!” In which Dewlily began laughing.

[Kazin]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

↬ username & id: Kazin 3262
↬ clan archive: Forum/viewtopic.php?f=103&t=4216911

↬ word count: 160 words
↬ prompt:

“…and then the marigold can go over here, the tansy over there… but I don’t want the colors to clash…” Lost in his own thoughts, Icebird tends to his garden of herbs, making sure each one is in its place.

“Icebird! Icebird!!” The other cat has a bit of desperation in their voice.

A simple flick of his ear is all Icebird affords his co-healer. Sundrop sighs, trying not to roll their eyes. “You know, one day you could try to help me take care of the clan instead of taking care of your herbs.”

Icebird squints at the other cat. “Well I guess I could… but then who would look after my garden?”

Sundrop does roll their eyes this time. “Honestly…” they scoff, turning their back on him with an annoyed flick of their tail.

Perfect, Icebird thinks, humming to himself as he turns his attention back to his plants. First, garden. Then the clan can have my attention.

[Vivika]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

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

↬ word count: 333 words
↬ prompt:
he never hid in the shadows.

no, that was more his sword’s specialty to sit and sift through shadows, shrouding his presence behind a mask of umbra before striking the final, deafening blow. yet, the shadows also seemed to settle wherever he wandered━falling wherever in the voids they pleased. a courtesy of being a silent observer, perhaps.

ezekiel sipped a glass of gold liquid, the fizz burning on his tongue. with the whorled wood of a table calloused under his paws, he traced the expanse of the banquet hall: the high dome arching overhead in geometric slabs of colored glass and the scattered pillars wound with twists of moonflowers and algal lamps pulsing with a deep blue energy. under the glittering sneer of a chandelier, his sword proposed a toast, smile folded into something formal, yet festive.

a small gathering of nobles milled, raised glasses and soft murmurs signaling their agreement. a tail wrapped around raphael, pulling him close and he leaned into it with a well-timed wink.

a picture perfect moment of young friends.

but he didn’t miss the little things. the split breath’s pause before his sword joined the laughter, those ever searching eyes garnering the rest for approval, easy smile the perfect mimicry of those around him, the tidbits he shared about himself, casual, yet calculated. endlessly superficial.

witnessing this pandering had to be some sort of crime.

thankfully, his shades shielded his eyes, hiding an eyeroll. he never interrupted, never once breached the circle of strength, amity and unity. or rather the illusion of it. he leaned back against the table, but he didn’t take another sip of his glass. his breath misted the delicate framework instead, grip tightening.

raphael could play his game of political chess, painting false truths with an artist’s brush and playing with shifting shadows until the light spotlit him just right. but his sword could never truly hide from him.

across the banquet hall, their gazes locked.

i see you. i see through you.

[Izutsumi]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

↬ username & id: fallendownut 932037
↬ clan archive:Meteorclan

↬ word count: 1 drawing (bigger picture if you click it)
↬ prompt:

[ArithMedic]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

↬ username & id: ArithMedic 1064661
↬ clan archive: the Bronze Fleet

↬ word count: 0 words
↬ prompt:

[feverish]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

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

↬ word count: 82 words
↬ prompt: kessie sighed deeply, her ears slowly folding back as she observed the cats mill about below her window. she was stretched languidly across the window seat in her room, listlessly people-watching as her thoughts drifted to and fro. as per usual, the cat was wondering where she had gone wrong- and though the answer was that she hadn't, kessie knew not of this, and continued agonizing over her miserable failure of a relationship that she feared she would never ever recover from...

[Thani]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

↬ username & id: Thani 509675
↬ clan archive: Central Realms

↬ word count: 444 words
↬ prompt:

"I cannot allow you to marry her!" Elena blurted out, anger lacing her tongue.

"Because I'm such an awful man? I'll treat her well, Elena! You know that!" Alexander was caught offguard by her outburst, he had never seen her get like this. Not this sweet, Quiet princess.

Elena paced her room, fiddling with the wedding band atatched on her finger, frustrated with the way things were turning out.

"It could have been anyone, Alexander. And you chose my sister!...It could have been anyone.." She stopped to look past him, her ears sinking down as she looked out into the hall. She couldn't look at him right now.

"You aren't telling me whats really bothering you about this, Elena.." He spoke softly as he approached her, grabbing her hand in his and forching her gaze upon his.
"Tell me whats wrong."

He really cared about her,and after all this time, to know she didn't trust him to take care of her sister..it hurt.
They stood like that for too long, the silence speaking volumes. elena attempting to speak every so often but her voice just wouldn't escape her lips. She just shook her head, her breath hitching before she weakly allowed hersewlf just a moment of vulnerability.
"You just...you can't marry her, you can't. I cannot bear to see it." She pulled her hand away and turned towards the window in her room, shutting her eyes as a tear escaped down her cheek. She knew what he was going to say before he even said it.

"And you didn't have to marry that prick, but you did. So I guess it's fine, right?" He snapped. "No matter where I am i'll have to see you two together." He began to raise his voice a little as he talked to her, he was hurt beyond anything.
"So I am doing this, it's what she wants. Its what I want. You didn't give me any other choice, Elena." She didn't even turn around to give him her full attention, she knew he was right.

"At least then I won't be the only one having to endure it..." He lingered for a moment before sighing,
"Goodbye, Elena" he then stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him, leaving his post by her door.

Elena collapsed onto the floor, a puddle of fabric and tears. She gave up everything to get here, only to give up even more when finally faced with a choice. Something she's never had before. She didn't know how to respond to that, and it showed.
She would have to live with it, for the rest of her life.

[polaris.]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

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

↬ word count: 54 words
↬ prompt:
as deceiving as a rose bush - the welcoming flowers tricking those around into a sense of comfort. while you can observe the beauty from a distance, don't get too close, for the ugly thorns will encase you and bring you down, damaging your skin and making you yet another victim of mantispetal's harsh ways.

[mrs]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

↬ username & id: mrs 1026844
↬ clan archive: Forum/viewtopic.php?f=103&t=4809453

↬ word count: 2810 words
↬ prompt: Rustedpelt, a brown and red, proud and loyal warrior, lowered his restless haunches as he watched an oblivious bird from a patch of tall grass. His long, slim tail slowly, but excitedly, swayed side to side behind him as he shifted his weight on his paws. He flicked an ear as he listened out for any sounds that could indicate the presence of something more than the small cardinal.

He breathed in deeply and took in all of the surrounding scents. It smelled like euphoria to the young warrior; alongside the tasty scent radiating from the bird, he could smell the damp dirt he stood on, the sharp, emerald blades he hid in, and various herbs that grew in patches throughout his clan's territory. Various, towering trees crowded the area, and hid the darkening sky from those on low ground. Rustedpelt raised his nose slightly upward as he picked up on the trails of various other prey that had undoubtedly come out of hiding from the storm. He grinned a toothy, daring smile. Today was going to be a good day to hunt!

He extended his sharp claws and began to creep toward the bird. As Rustedpelt crept through the thinning patch of grass, the bird spotted him. It swiftly spread its wings and took flight, but Rustedpelt was swifter. He pounced from the grass patch and, with his extended, sharp claws, he managed to take hold of the bird while it was mid air and he were mid jump. Rustedpelt landed gracefully on his four paws and crushed the animal in the process. He leaned down and picked his prey up in his mouth; he proudly held the deceased cardinal in his maw.

He grinned at his accomplishment; the red bird may have been on the small side, but that was expected from that breed of bird! And, Rustedpelt was sure his clan would appreciate it, anyway.

He held both his head and tail pridefully high in the air as he began his short journey back to camp. He never did go far - not when he was alone. Rustedpelt's tail slowly swayed back and forth as he trotted toward home. As he made his way to his destination, thoughts of what prey *he'd* get to feast on raced through and filled his mind. Rustedpelt had grown tired of consuming skinny, fatless multi-day old carcasses. He wanted the taste of a fresh kill to generously fill his mouth - to coat his rough, pink tongue!

He couldn't help but begin to drool over the fantasy idea of taking delight in eating something as flavorful as a fat rabbit, or plump bird. Rustedpelt audibly sighed through his nose as he pictured what a more realistic meal for him looked like. He envisioned a skinny mouse with a sickly appearance waiting for him at the bottom of the prey pile.

Younger warriors weren't allowed to take off of the top, after all, no matter how much work they put into refilling it. The freshly caught prey were for the sick and injured, queens, kits, and mainly, the clan's elders. Rustedpelt didn't think this was fair in the slightest! However, he never dare do anything to go against the clan-wide rule. The punishment wouldn't be worth it.

•••

The moment immediately following when he had arrived within camp, Rustedpelt was stopped by a senior warrior, Sandfur. He gazed at him with hardened eyes, though he wore a gentle smile. The signals her expressions gave off were never completely understood by Rustedpelt.

"Ah, I see you've caught a cardinal," Sandfur remarked. His voice was rough as sandpaper from the shouting he'd done throughout his years as a warrior. He nodded toward the prey pile. "It's small, but will do. Take a wing feather as a trophy of your successful solo hunt, then drop the cardinal atop the prey pile. You may help yourself to a prey to devour. You've earned it, Rustedpelt."

"Thank you, Sandfur!" Rustedpelt enthusiastically cheered in response. Momentarily, he closed his eyes and dipped his head out of respect for the senior warrior. After he was sure he had dipped his head for a long enough moment, he opened his eyes and raised his head.

Rustedpelt wasted no more time; he rushed to carry the small, red bird to the prey pile. As he stood in front of the prey pile, he dropped the deceased bird to rest atop the dirt. He dipped his head and stared at it from above as tried to decide upon the best feather to pluck and call his newest trophy. After deciding on a right wing feather, Rustedpelt ruthlessly ripped it from the bird's wing. He tangled the red feather into his brown fur to ensure he wouldn't lose track of it. It was a prize more worthy than a tasty, fatty rabbit!

Despite the unlikeable prey he was to take from the pile, Rustedpelt mood remained high within the sky. He was proud of himself for having offered his clan something to eat! Most solo hunts he had attempted in the past had ended in failure - or worse, punishment due to a mindless accident. Rustedpelt seemed to have perfected the ability to recreate accidents he had done in the past. Today, however, was different! It marked a new era for Rustedpelt. An era that promised success!

He lifted a sickly, almost inedible mouse from the bottom of the pile, then stood straight. Rustedpelt carried the distasteful mouse carefully in his maw as he trotted toward the spot he usually sat and ate. Most days, he would sit and lay beneath a dead tree that had fallen over, but not crushed, the clan camp. It give him a feeling of exhilaration - to know the tree could fall at any moment, even if unlikely, as he sat beneath it. The grass that received permanent shade from the manner of how the tree was laid above it left it feeling softer than average grass.

He stretched out in the soft, patchy grass. Rustedpelt dropped his mouse on his front paws, then leaned down over it and began to eat it. The majority of his meal seemed to consist of hard, heavy crunches, rather than juicy, tasteful munches. As he chewed through the skinny prey's bones, from the corner of his eyes, he spotted a fellow warrior approaching him.

"Hello, Rabbithop," Rustedpelt sighed. He wasn't particularly fond of the she-cat, and rather, he found her to be bothersome to linger near. There was a fine line between fun competitive and pushy, but the she-cat never seemed to acknowledge it. She would always hop over the line and continue on with her day! Rabbithop refused to understand how aggressive she was, even after Rustedpelt had told her time after time. He could remember having those type conversations while they were still young apprentices. Rustedpelt opened his mouth to continue speaking, but Rabbithop interrupted him.

"Hey, Rustedpelt! You're still eating your mouse? I swallowed mine whole," Rabbithop excitedly boasted. She lowered herself to sit beside Rustedpelt, then curled her tail around her front paws. "I hunted mine, actually. It was delightfully fresh! Oh, and before you ask, yes, Sunstone gave me permission. I didn't get to keep a trophy, but I'm still happy! What about you? Your mouse looks like it's miserable."

"I'm enjoying my food," Rustedpelt hissed. He didn't know if he believed she'd gotten to eat prey she'd hunted, but he didn't feel up to arguing about it with her. "You didn't even taste yours, did you? Scarfing it down? You're like a mindless dog who rushes through everything."

"You think I'm like a dog? I think I can be mean and viscous, but I'm glad to hear you believe I'm beyond viscous, and that you think I'm a large predator!" Rabbithop proudly purred. She leaned against Rustedpelt and had the biggest smile on her face as she did so. "I must be the most feisty cat in the whole world for you to say that. Thank you!"

Rustedpelt grumbled something under his breath in response to her enthusiasm. He took the remainder of his small mouse into his mouth, and ate it. There was no joy in his last bites, and that was all thanks to Rabbithop's mere presence, let alone what she had to say. She always had to twist his words, which bothered and annoyed him.

"You're not the most feisty cat!" Rustedpelt snapped. He jumped to his feet and faced her, his eyes wide. "You haven't faced your first monster, have you?"

"A monster?" Rabbithop whispered with a slightly confused tone. She turned her head slightly to the side as she gazed into Rustedpelt's golden eyes. "What monster?"

"You can't be the most feisty cat if you don't know what a monster is," Rustrdpelt dismissed as he shook his head in response to her obliviousness. "A monster makes loud, roaring noises, and unexplainable putrid scents follow it. They're huge - at least five foxlengths tall, if not more! I've seen one before. It was consuming everything in its path - grass, flowers, trees, everything! Even rocks! And worst of all, those disgusting twolegs were working with it. There was one who was getting a ride from it! When that twoleg got off it, the monster laid down to take a nap. It was scary!"

"That does sound scary," she whispered, but her words were lost to the wind from how quiet she was. Rabbithop stared into Rustedpelt's eyes with an expression of utter disbelief on her face. Her whiskers drooped and she tensed up at the idea of such a thing existing, let alone being in their forest. "And you faced it, right? You stood up to the beast??"

A glint of deviousness sparkled in Rustedpelt's eyes as he realized he had an opportunity to one-up Rabbithop. He didn't like to lie, but he believed it was okay, so long as spoken sparingly. It wouldn't be a total lie - he'd mix half the truth in it, and then it would be as though it were no lie at all!

"Of course, I did. I stood up to the beast, and though my tail was tucked beneath my hind legs, I puffed out my chest, and exposed my teeth. I pinned my ears in a defensive manner. In my readied battle stance, I roared at the shiny monster. The monster must never have heard a roar as good as mine, because *it* turned tail and began hurrying away!" Rustedpelt explained with widened eyes. He lowered his haunches to sit down in front of Rabbithop. He smiled pridefully at her, then raised his nose to the air. "And that's how I scared a monster away from the forest."

"I didn't know you were as brave as me. No, I think you're braver!" Rabbithop's eyes twinkled at Rustedpelt's story. She smiled excitedly at him, and pranced to her paws. "Does anyone else know what you've done? Or is it a secret? I think such actions warrants popularity, if you ask me. You should tell the other cats!!"

"Oh, no!" Rustedpelt fearfully exclaimed. His heart jumped into his throat as he pictured being assigned to apprentice tasks for moons on end for coming up with such a juvenile story. "You can't tell any other cat. I heard rumors the monster can hear when you talk about it. If we talk about it too much, then it might come back. I get to decide who does and doesn't get to know. It's my secret, Rabbithop, and you can't share it!"

"But, Rustedpelt, I just think if..." Rabbithop frowned at him, but relented. At least she could admire him, even if no one else. She simply believed he deserved the highest of praise for his courageous actions! "Okay. I think it's so cool you did that! Thank you for telling me!! We're going to have to go out and do more things together so I can learn from true greatness - you!"

The thought of dragging Rabbithop through any sort of thing he could otherwise do solo didn't particularly cause Rustedpelt to feel excited. He let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes at the idea of it.

"You can't," Ruatedpelt casually stated as he raised himself to stand. He didn't understand why Rabbithop was oblivious to the fact he didn't want to hang with her. "Monsters are more likely to come back when cats hunt in duo groups. It's strange because not solo or any other group size effects their likelihood to return. I don't think it's a good idea for you to hunt with me."

"You can scare it away if it comes back!" Rabbithop excitedly cheered. She followed his gaze across the camp and caught glimpse of the deputy. If Rustedpelt had been looking to see if he could spot the deputy, he must have wanted to head out of camp again! "I think it's a great idea. I want to learn from you, anyway, so if the monster returns to this forest, you can teach me how to properly frighten it. Right now, I don't have anything else to do, so I think it's the perfect time to go!"

Exasperation continued to take over Rustedpelt's mood. From annoyed, prideful, fearful, and now back to irritated, Rustedpelt did not have the required attitude to go out to do any activity with Rabbithop. He let out a huff, but Rabbithop didn't feel even the spark of discouragement; she didn't seem to notice how annoyed Rustedpelt was.

"I don't know," he mumbled in response. Rustedpelt cleared his throat as he glanced toward Sunstone, the clan deputy. "I don't feel like heading out right now. Especially not when I know I will have to deal with the monster. Why are you so enthusiastic about the potential to face it? They're deadly! And they're bigger than bears, so you should *not* take the information I told you lightly."

"I want to, though. The fresh rain could have scared it far, far away and into hiding?" Rabbithop softly asked, a tone of hope to her voice, but frowned at Rustedpelt's distastefulness. "How long ago did you scare it?"

Rustedpelt let out another irritated huff in response to Rabbithop's constant questioning. He was tired of describing this in-depth lie to her, but didn't know how to break lose from the interaction. He didn't want to be talking with her at all! Rustedpelt had been sat with nothing to do but speak with this aggravating she-cat warrior for what felt like one hundred moons!

He didn't want to spend time with her, but also didn't want to cause a scene and attract more attention. Realistically, Rustedpelt knew he couldn't trust Rabbithop to not squeal his lie, even if he had warned her not to, to every feline that was willing to listen. She'd probably yell it out at a frog if she had the opportunity!

"Fine, Rabbithop," Rustedpelt angrily flared. He raised himself to his paws and his tail was held motionless in the air. He casted her a sideway glare as he, otherwise wordlessly, began to trot toward the deputy to seek permission to leave camp.

Although Rabbithop felt twinges of uncertainty and doubt blossom, she silently followed Rustedpelt along. Her tail was only held high enough in the air to avoid dragging it through the dirt on the ground. She followed him, and only stopped when they had approached Sunstone.

"Sunstone," Rustedpelt respectfully greeted. He dipped his head and closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and raised his head. "Me and Rabbithop want to race in the thick foliage outside of camp. May we have your permission to leave?"

"Dark clouds are forming overhead. Whitecloud believes the storm will be an unfortunate one. You may leave, but ensure you return before it begins to storm heavily. The tickling sprinkle of light rain should be your signal to begin your return to camp. Don't go far enough you will not be able to make it back in a timely manner as it sprinkles," Sunstone agreed with a reasonable request. He looked from Rabbithop, then returned his gaze to Rustedpelt. "Stay away from the boundary lines. Those are too far from camp for you to visit. I don't want to hear that you have crossed the borders. Otherwise, stay out of trouble. Stay away from predators. A duo of inexperienced warriors is no group set up to hunt anything aside from a measly prey."

Rustedpelt let out a slight sigh as Sunstone's words bled into a short lecture. When he and Rabbithop were finally given the full clear to leave, he was quick to turn away from Sunstone. Although begrudgingly, he padded away and took his leave. Rabbithop was quick to follow and pad alongside him.

[insidious.wizard]

↬ catvent day: fourteen

↬ username & id: Marz-Barz + 890614
↬ clan archive: CotDG

↬ word count: 000 words
↬ prompt: