Stars V.2 • Catvent

[feverdream]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

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

↬ word count: art :3
↬ prompt:

[polaris.]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

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

↬ word count: 503 words
↬ prompt:
the tundra night was cold, and the shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis painted the sky in hues of green and violet. the moon cast an otherworldly glow over the snowy landscape as adderpaw, a small brown tabby with a keen curiosity, found himself drawn to the outskirts of the aurora borealis' camp. the shadows of pine trees whispered secrets, and his instincts told him something was amiss.

crouched behind a snow-covered boulder, adderpaw strained to hear the hushed voices emanating from a secluded corner near the leaders' den. badgerstar, the formidable leader with a dark, scarred pelt and icy blue eyes, stood alongside mantispetal, a striking tortoiseshell beauty with golden yellow eyes. their tones were low, their conversation veiled in secrecy.

"the time has come, mantispetal," badgerstar's voice carried a sinister undertone, "to manipulate the clan from within. the key to our success lies in sowing discord among the cats, turning them against each other. and what better way than a fake prophecy that foretells internal strife?"

mantispetal's elegant head nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the dancing lights above.
"yes, badgerstar. we can craft a prophecy, one that will exploit their fears and insecurities. the very cats who trust in us will become pawns in our game."

adderpaw's heart pounded in his chest as he listened, the gravity of their plan settling like an icy claw around his heart. the bond that held the aurora borealis together was delicate, built on trust and shared purpose. the revelation that his leaders intended to exploit that trust for their own gain filled him with a profound sense of dread.

as badgerstar and mantispetal continued plotting, detailing the false prophecy that would set clanmates against each other, adderpaw's mind raced. the frigid air seemed to echo the chill in his veins as he grappled with the enormity of the situation. the aurora borealis, a symbol of unity and beauty, would be tarnished by the manipulation of those who were meant to protect it.

silently, adderpaw retreated from his hiding spot, grappling with conflicting emotions. loyalty to his clan battled with the moral obligation to expose the impending deceit. the snowy landscape mirrored the turmoil within him, a pristine canvas tainted by the shadows of impending betrayal.

dawn approached, casting its first light upon the tundra. adderpaw knew he couldn't stand idly by; the future of the aurora borealis depended on his courage. despite the fear that gripped him, he steeled himself to confront the harsh reality. the false prophecy threatened not only the unity of the clan but also the very essence of their shared purpose.

as adderpaw pondered his next move, the winds whispered through the snowy pines, carrying with them the weight of responsibility. he was a small tabby in a vast tundra, but his actions would ripple through the fabric of his clan's destiny. with determination in his heart, adderpaw vowed to protect the aurora borealis from the impending storm, even if it meant confronting the leaders he had once trusted.

[Thani]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

↬ username & id: Thani 509675
↬ clan archive: Clan clan

↬ word count: 514 words
↬ prompt:

After everything they have done to preserve the safety of their village on the mountainside, Cherrystar would not allow anyone to come in and potentially disrupt that safety.
So when a small kit was found collapsed in a snow storm and brought back to be treated by Frostbitten, he was furious.

"Do you know what this could mean for us Frost? Do you have any idea what you could have done by bringing her here?" They were speaking in harsh whispers, as the subject of their discussion was thought to be asleep in the next room over, recovering from their wounds.

"I couldn't just leave here there! Do you think me a monster? Whatever is to happen I will deal with it. I will deal with the consequences!"

Truthfully no one knew what exactly would happen if a cat from another territory started living in another, the magic of the land was fickle and not knowing where this kit came from could prove to be problematic...especially if it was one of theirs.

"I know what you are thinking, Cherry, that it could be one of theirs? Right?" She tensed up a little at the thought herself, before pulling herself together again. She didn't want to look like she was regretting her choices, not this time.

"We have to consider the possibility that they will come for her. Think about the other children living here. The elders. We are not in a position to take her on right now. Not even with all 9 lives. You know how she gets, she is your child after all."
Frost's ears went back as she retreated away from the conversation, she knew Cherry was right. The group that was living here they were not fighters...they could hunt, sure. But fighting? They wouldn't stand a chance.

"Fine. I'll tend to her wounds then take her back where I found her...at first light." She ducked her head back into the other room, stopping for a moment before she turned to say her fgoodbyes to her leader.

"There was a time when we helped their kind, it wasn't always easy, but it was the right thing to do." And with that she walked fully into the other room, and out of sight.

The small kit had been awake for a long time, her paw wrapped around a small trinket that was tied to a string and dangling down to her chest fur. She listened to the tweo of them talk just outside her room, knowing she was the reason for their argument. She had no idea who they were talking about, being from Beach territory the only reason she was this far out to begin with is because she was an adventurer. Or at least she wanted to be. She never meant to cause any harm to anyone she might have found on her journey, so because of this she decided it would be best to sneak out and leave at first light...before anyone came and got her. It would be best for her to just dissappear and go elsewhere.

[Whovian5EVA]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

↬ username & id: Whovian5eva 328762
↬ clan archive:Cats of the Desert

↬ word count: 530 words
↬ prompt: The glowing crescent moon hung low in the dusty sky. Obscured by the leaves and branches above her head, her tired eyes gazed out from under her small bushy home. A tiny kitten, no larger than a small stone, crouched low to the ground, watching on as, two cats fought near by. One she knew and one that she had never seen before…
Fern gasped as the stranger yowled particularly hurtful things at her one and only friend. The cat that's the sole reason she's alive…
Terror filled her bones as she heard her only support being banished from his home. That cat she would later grow to know as Cinderglow was now gone…

She quivered knowing that she was now on her own, and she also knew that the stranger would chase her out too if she wasn't careful. She knew there was only one thing she could do for now, and that was make the most of the last meal that he'd brought her… She was weak but maybe she could make it off the back of that last meal.
The yowling echoed in her mind, and the chase that ensued after, she knew she had to sneak away from here, as soon as possible.

Her heart raced in her chest as she hurried from bush to bush, hoping it was anywhere away from that awful yowling stranger. She wanted to do nothing more than fall to the ground and cry out, for she had lost her only friend. He was her only family and he was now lost to the cruelty of the desert.

As moons passed by she found she was able to get by munching on insects and bugs, as she herself grew in size, soon being able to handle larger prey such as plains mice. She crouched herself low as she crept towards her target. She stepped silently and carefully towards the little fuzz ball that she might call dinner. She glanced at her paws, her ankles had turned a deep brown with her paws still a bright white, since her friend had been chased out. She snapped out of her thoughts and she lunged forwards and secured herself a hard earned meal.

Many moons and even seasons passed she continued on much like any other cat of the crater, never really growing close to anyone. She preferred to avoid moat other cats, some were just too hostile for her… Often she caught herself thinking about her lost and only friend, he'd given her a name and quite possibly saved her life. Sometimes she wanted nothing more than to thank him, for showing her kindness, and it gave her hope that maybe some cat could be kind.

Before long she'd caught wind that a colony of cats had begun to form, a dozen or two, had all banded together. She let out a sigh, what a life that would be, living with others having friends and all supporting each other…
What's stopping me?
At last she made the life changing decision to seek out and join this mysterious colony, if it was only a myth, she didn't care, it was time for something new

[insidious.wizard]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

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

↬ word count: 674 words
↬ prompt:



Frost slunk through the grass as quiet as possible. Snap was back at camp with Howl, which meant she was on her own for now. Her nerves were getting the better of her, every sound and smell raised her anxiety levels higher and higher. Some of the sounds were beginning to sound like pawsteps.

No, they were pawsteps, getting closer to her right. She crouched low and backed away, but a familiar scent caught up to her. They were Grass Cats. She sighed and made to stand up and make herself known when a snippet of conversation reached her ears.

“….Just think you shouldn’t be so mean to her sometimes, Snarl,” That was River.

“I’m not mean! I just…” Snarl cut herself off with a huff. “I don’t know how to talk. Not well. And not, not to her. I get angry.”

“Just to her? You seem angry to me most times,” Crunch joked. Frost could her the tittering of Crush as he agreed with her.

Frost was inclined to agree as well. Snarl always had such a short temper, even when Frost was trying to be nice! Sometimes she wasn’t so bad, though. She’d brought her some shiny rocks she’d found by the Path of Small Stones the other day, but she did get a little snippy when Frost said thanks. Frost sighed, Snarl was so weird sometimes.

“It’s because i am angry at you, Crunch cat! You and Crush pester me, pester me until i get mad!” The grass shifted suddenly as if the discussion was becoming physical.

“Cats! Stop pushing! We are supposed to be quiet.” A mumbled apology followed. “Besides, we know Crunch is annoying-“

“Hey!”

“-but I wasn’t talking about them. Frost gets her feelings hurt easily, Snarl. If you don’t want to talk to her you should leave her alone, but you always talk and then get all angry.”

Frost held her breath, they were talking about her? Oh, Sun, why? She crept along after them as the voices began to dim. She knew she shouldn’t eavesdrop, she knew Snarl didn’t like her, she’s just going to get sad. She followed anyway.

“I do want to talk! I do! I don’t know how, it’s embarrassing, makes me angry.” Snarl all but whined.

River huffed, “You talk to us just fine, Snarl, even if you push Crunch.”

It’s quiet for long enough Frost begins to think that’s it when Snarl speaks, “It’s different, with her. She is- She’s-“ she cuts of with a growl.

“She’s nicer than you both. I- ugh. I want to talk to her, too much. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Do you….like her?” River asks.

“Of course! I like all the Grass Cats. You gave me a home.” Snarl says.

“That’s not what he meant, Snarl. You sound like you have a crush,” a very foxlike laugh interrupts Crunch briefly, “on her, or something.”

“Would that be bad?” Snarl asks hesitantly.

“No, not bad,” Crunch assures her, “You aren’t doing a very good job at making her like you, though.”

The grass rustles violently again and River gripes at them to “Stop pushing!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Snarl grumbles, “She is- She’s nice. I’m not, everyone thinks so. She wouldn’t like me.”

The silence afterwards is awkward, but Frost doesn’t follow anymore. She stays crouched to the ground. Snarl…liked her? Like, liked her, liked her? Her tail swished through the grass in agitation. She shouldn’t have followed, theres was no way she could be normal after this.

Did she like Snarl? She didn’t know. Snarl was abrasive, and loud, but she was also very brave, and loyal. And her eyes were a very nice color, Frost had always thought so. Like orange of the setting sun. Her voice was nice to listen to when she wasn’t shouting, and she’d heard her sing a song she couldn’t understand once when she was by herself….Oh dear. Frost abruptly stood and hurried back towards camp. She needed to talk to Snap, or Ice, or anyone. She needed help.

[feather ']

↬ catvent day: sixteen

↬ username & id: feather ' + 979911
↬ clan archive: xxx

↬ word count: 509 words
↬ prompt:

her breaths were heavy as the rhythm of pawsteps laced the floors. panic breaching across her chest as she scrambled.

who was coming? no one came here… except the soldiers.
she could not be caught here.

her gaze searched every crevice– scanning the shelves of books and the chairs crusted with dust. before her eyes settled on an blanket. a blanket painted with indigo and neon yellows.

she skittered underneath. eyes squeezing shut as the smokey scent of soldiers wadded in.

please don't see me.
please don't see me.
please don't–

her thoughts cut off immediately at the soft voices broke through…. the soft voices of firefly and orchidsway. she pushed the blanket away from her, creating a tiny indent to peak through.

what were they doing here? shouldn't they be somewhere else, doing their job?

''what on earth did you do to him?'' the soft gaze of firefly wavered toward orchidsway. recognizable braids of horror intertwined within.

orchidsway looked straight back. almost nothing lurking at the back of her eyes. ''i didn't do anything.'' she folded her arms, ''don't you think i'd tell you if i were hiding something?''

she studied them carefully, taking everything in.
from the tenseness of orchidsway's shoulder, to the miniature storms that tickled in firefly.

she held her breath. who were they talking about. she leaned closer, trying not to fidget with excitement.

firefly met orchidsway's eye, chin tilted. ''i know what you did– but why?'' his voice is nothing more than a quiet babble, ''why did you do that to him– i don't understand i–''

'' i didn't do it, you have to believe me.'' orchidsway fidgeted, ''i would never.''

firefly closed his eyes, ''no one can believe you.'' he shook his head, ''the evidence says otherwise– i'm sorry.''

orchidsway rose on her paws, utters nothing more than a faint whisper. ''but do you believe me?'' her gaze is dark… only traces of light found within. '' it's the only thing i want to know.''

firefly watched her, head ducked. ''i don't know.''

'' you either do or you don't.''

'' i don't know.''
a frown curved on her lips, ''is it really that hard to trust your best friend? i promise i didn't–''

'' i can't believe that, orchidsway.'' firefly gritted his teeth, ''i just can't. you're not telling me something. i need to know what it is.''

a pause.

orchidsway shivered, ''i know who did it firefly– i saw it, i.''

''who did it?''

she craned her neck closer. head poking out of the blanket in expectancy. flinching as that gaze of firefly and orchidsway fell upon her.

she was dead. so dead.

orchidsway arched an eyebrow, ''well, look who it is.''

firefly cracked a giggle, ''looks like she finally decided to come out– i was really starting to get worried.''

her heart fell in her chest. ''you were looking for me? how did you know i– was that all made up?''

orchidsway sneaked a glance at her, ''hm, firefly. what do you think?''

firefly tilted his head, '' that this eavesdropper needs to head home?''

[feverish]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

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

↬ word count: 747 words
↬ prompt: jasminn was never the type of town to have nightlife.

though there was certainly a bit of the populace that would get busy at night, most businesses closed up around eight or nine at night and reopened anywhere from five to seven in the morning the next day-- no, rather than nightlife, there was dawnlife, with cats rising early to metaphorically catch the worm.

kessie faire, however, was not a morning person. she liked to stay up late writing, fantasizing, and occasionally creating art of some sort- though the latter was remarkably more rare nowadays as she she-cat found herself without much motivation. her muse came from her love interests typically, and there had been a sore lacking of that in the recent months; this fact was very well noted by kessie, and was the reason around her current escapade into the night.

kessie pulled her scarf up closer to her snout as she walked, the cold night air biting at her soft nose. she was determined to find someone- hell, even just a friend- and maybe it was a lost cause to search during the day. maybe the best people, just like kessie herself, were up at night. sure, there was not much nightlife, but a few bars did stay open later that she could scope out. kessie wouldn't typically find barfolk to be her choice of companions, but being stuffy and judgmental never got anybody very far at all. so off she went, wondering what kind of people awaited her at the edge of the town.

"..'cuz of the damn roanokes. they're close, y'know."

kessie froze. where was that voice coming from? the roanokes? she sure hoped they weren't close. though she did her best to be an understanding person, real life outlaws scared her. fictional outlaws were fine, though. and hot.

anyway. she strained her ears.

"how close? do you think we have... ...then?" she lost the middle part, which prompted kessie to move again. closer. it seemed as if the voices were coming from a narrow alley that led to the back of one of the bars she was heading towards. pressing herself against the building and peering around the corner, she could see two tall toms- one leaning against the wall, one foot propped up, the other heavily clad and pacing back and forth. just before he turned towards the exit of the alley, which would have exposed his face to kessie, she pulled back. it wasn't worth getting caught.

"i don't. i think you're gonna need some help... now, we can offer our protection. but you know it comes at a price," one of the toms drawled, "so what's it gonna be? answer quickly."

the pacing steps silenced, and kessie's heart jumped to her throat, afraid she had been caught. the wind picked up, causing her to curl her tail around one of her legs coldly, a small gesture to comfort herself as her anxiety kicked in. however, it seemed as if she had nothing to worry about.

"p-protection..? i would have to talk to the counselor," the other tom answered with a sigh. kessie's blood ran cold. her father, the counselor?

"you know he ain't a part of this," the first cat sounded irritated. "and he won't be, either. we did our business with him, and we're done now. don't bring him into anything, got it? you decide right here, right now, whether you want us around."

a pause. kessie clasped her hands together silently at her chest.

"alright. we'll take it. we can't have a repeat of.." he trailed off. kessie leaned forward, straining to hear as they got quieter. unfortunately, this required her peering around the corner. bad timing.

though the light behind her from a streetlamp obscured her face, it was undeniable to the toms in the alley. someone was watching. the three were all still for a moment, silent. then, chaos.

"who's there?" the tom against the wall barked, causing kessie to flinch. she recoiled back, turned tail, and ran.

she didn't stop until she was home, not even checking to see if they were right behind her or not. there was so much to take in- protection? from who? against the roanokes?.. who could stand a chance against them, except the eversins? and why was her father mentioned?

kessie gulped, heart in her throat, and leaned back against the closed door.

she wouldn't ask him.

fearful, kessie scurried to her room.

no more night escapades.

[literal.swag.]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

↬ username & id: literal.swag. + 1047454
↬ clan archive: amaryllis group

↬ word count: 548 words
↬ prompt:

it had been a cold night in the forest that the band of misfits call home; crystalline flakes tap dancing on the branches of withered trees, a duvet of white tucking the ground-laid foliage to bed. bundles of cats huddled together, conversations rang softly in the air, an attempt to ignore the ice biting at their limbs. a chocolate she-cat huddled with another cinnamon she-cat and her winged mammalian companion. her teeth chattered audibly, thick tail tucked tightly about her freezing paws, desperate to soothe the cold ache even the slightest bit. the two were solidly locked in conversation, rambling about the fridge temperatures and the frost biting at the tips of their ears. the chocolate she-cat was particularly vexed by the cold, her ears tall and nearly bare compared to the rest of her well-insulated frame. annoyance laced from every word, exasperation raising her pitch in rolling waves. christmas was within reach, the season of giving lighting the spirits of the group. the ranting caught the attention of a blue tom on his way to the warmth he knew he would find in his den. he froze mid-step, not that he was moving too briskly to begin with, to listen intently. “i don’t know, toesie, i’m not sure how to keep my ears warm. nothing seems to be working, not even when milo sits on them.”

toeserina pondered for a moment, the turning of the gears evident to those looking in on the outside. she hummed softly in thought before proposing an idea, “why don’t you just cut them off bat? you’re still gonna have your hearing holes, just not the other part.”

agreement morphed bat’s features as she nodded slowly. chomper, on the other hand, was doused with terror. despite his lack of smarts, he knew how bad an idea this was at the very least. determined to save his friends ears he hurried back to his den, ideas on how he could help flooding the crevices of his mind.

…

it had been a few days since the conversation he had thankfully eavesdropped on and chomper had exactly what bat needed. everyday he had returned to the place where he had found his dinosaur onesie and his following dinosaur plushies in search of something that could help. finally, he had found it, just in time for the day of the exchanging of gifts. he trotted up to bat, giddiness lighting his steps, carrying him along easily. two white pieces of felt dangled loosely from his maw. “bat!” his muffled exclamation reached the chocolate she-cat anyways. she looked up confused, ears alert and head cocked.

“what is it chompie?” she responded gently.

he dropped the socks at her feet excitedly. “i got ya somethin for your ears! try ‘em on!”

bat squealed softly, eagerly adorning her ears with the aid of her friend. “i love them! thank you chompie! my ears will never be cold again.”

[faelyn]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

↬ username & id: faelyn #967122
↬ clan archive: faerie

↬ word count: 588
↬ prompt: do you hear me beneath the melancholic blues of the crescent moon?
do you remember our bluemoon sonata? how it ravished the blistering kiss of midnight and the sickening shade of alabaster as the stars wept?

because i do, darling. i do.
i remember the staccato resonance of your voice and the soprano lilit of my own, forever intertwined where the stars had aligned. i remember the crescendo of midnight and its madness. i remember you. i remember you, orpheus. i remember the nightmares that had long since ravaged your features and the bloodshot hysteria within your eyes. i remember my name upon your lips, ever-so fleeting as if it were a sunrise.

because that is what we are, darling. together, we are a sunrise and you are the bluemoon that shines tonight--- our existence are always filled with goodbyes.

you are everywhere and nowhere all at once.
you are the the saltwater upon my cheeks. you are the insomnia that infatuates me on sleepless nights. you are in the incandescent rage that devastates my entire being. for you are the flame, my darling orpheus, and i am the cinders that are left behind in your wake. i am the ash that taints reality a desolate shade of pallid grey… the ash so close to being nothing but still on the brink of existence. if only your flame had burned a little hotter… and burned away the my heart too.

i despise you, orpheus.
i despise the way you have made a ruin out of me. you are the neon god of lust for you haunt me in my waking hours and my sleeping ones. in my dreams, i idolize the mere glimpse of your inkdrop curls and am utterly hypotized by the periwinkle whorl that adorns your frame. and for that, i despise myself as much as i do you.

i scream at the sky at the thought of you, darling.
i remember the times we had played connect the dots with the constellations and i swear i can hear our voices trapped within the alabaster shimmer of the stars above.

you drive me mad.
i am hysterical at the mere thought of you because i cannot bear to look at our daughter. for the freckles upon her face are wrought from supernovas and dying stars--- and purely of you. i have made sure she will never know the memory of you… i owe her that much.

and yet i beseech you again, my darling orpheus.
do you hear me beneath the melancholic blues of the crescent moon? do you remember our bluemoon sonata? how it ravished the blistering kiss of midnight and the sickening shade of alabaster as the stars wept?

i do not think so.
because i look into your eyes and i do not see a trace of the little drummer i had fallen in love with. and yet, you are the same in all the wrong ways. you are the same in the bloodshot hysteria that poisons your eyes ever waking hour and the nightmares that ravage your features. i want to gravitate towards you because together we were the sunrise and you wore the sun. i want to fall into you and burn. but i do not.

because i do not see the one who i had craved to sing with… the one who i had composed a sonata beneath a bluemoon.

instead i see a monster made by monsters.
and i scream as you sink your teeth into our daughter’s neck.

[néktar]

↬ catvent day: sixteen

↬ username & id: néktar + 217991
↬ clan archive: pondclan

↬ word count: 000 words
↬ prompt: ft. twigpaw & dovepurr & bone