[WinglessSeraph]

user1 + id;; WinglessSeraph + 754450
user2 + id;; ~HєуRєι~ + 398665
archive links;; Seraph | Rei
prompt;;
Red text was written by Seraph
Orange text was written by Rei

Daylight began to dim as the sun sank into the sky as Horizon padded through the desert, feeling a hunger rumble through her stomach. She stretched her wings, mulling over how to find something to eat. As Horizon wandered through the maze of cacti, she caught the scent of fresh prey. She licked her lips and quickly picked up her pace.

A small distance away, Roulette stood within her little camp. “Slowly, slooowly-,” she muttered to herself as she attempted to curate her small campfire, having been lucky enough to catch a healthy cottontail in her travels and eager to have a good sear on the meat. “Aha!” Finally! A spark that had properly started a flame, consuming the wood and grass within its grasp.

Setting her spit at the proper angle over the building fire, Roulette gathered some more dry grass hurriedly to try and keep it going while she prepared her evening feast. Carefully she carved her prey, setting it upon a rock to finish preparing before she heard…

Pawsteps? This far out in the desert? Roulette cautiously turned her body and gazed towards the direction she could hear the approaching creature, or individual- hoping it wouldn’t be too big in hopes of not destroying her little makeshift camp.

Nearing the scent's origin, Horizon's paws began to slow in their trot, eagerness replaced with confusion as new smells began to flood her nostrils. Her fur bristled as the smell of cinder tinged her nose. Her focus on the fire didn't last long before the smell of a stranger caught her attention. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and Horizon shrunk in her place.

The cat's head ducked below the arms of the cacti, peering through the gaps between the plants. Her white eyes scanned the area thoroughly before they finally laid upon the stranger she had detected. With a shiny face and golden feathers, Horizon had never seen this stranger before.

Her gaze soon found the rabbit upon the rock, and her stomach ached again. Horizon wondered if maybe… just maybe, she could sneak by and snatch up that rabbit…

Roulette’s pawsteps lightened as she attempted to peer through the gaps in the large spikey stocks, cautiously awaiting any confrontation.

Then, the sounds of movement came to a halt. Unsteadily, she crept towards the direction she was focused upon, uttering a purposeful “Hello?” with almost some demand in her voice. She made sure her wings were in the position to take to the sky to evade.

Horizon's ears pressed against her head as the stranger called out, sighing to herself for her failed espionage. She cursed herself in her mind before stepping into open view. “Sorry, sorry,” she called out, lifting a paw in a show of peace. “Just passing through.”

Horizon's eyes tried to stay on the shiny-faced stranger, but the rabbit upon the rock tempted her gaze away. Her stomach grumbled, urging her to take the meal for herself. “But, could I have the bones from that rabbit while I’m here?” she asked. “If you don't mind.”

With a bit of surprise and a slight delay in processing. “The… the bones?” Confused, Roulette turned behind her towards the rabbit briefly to make sure she was looking right.

“I mean, sure. I'm not sure what good they’re for, but uh, I see no harm in it,” she cautiously said, turning back to the stranger. “Do you need ‘em cooked or dried or anything?”

Horizon's ears perked up, the growling in her stomach softening as she trotted to the little camp. "A good char on 'em might be nice," she purred, nearly drooling from the sight of food. "Usually, they're all dried up from the sun since nobody else eats." Her tail swished behind her excitedly. "I don't mind the bones bein' crunchy, but there ain't nothin' like fresh bones."

Roulette, confused yet intrigued by this strange cat, began to work on the food. She carefully cooked the meat and bones, sparking up conversation with Horizon as she took advantage of the surprisingly pleasant company. They talked about their lives and their experiences, even sharing some bones when Horizon cracked one open for Roulette.

Eventually, the twilight came to an end and night blanketed the land. Roulette invited Horizon to take shelter for the night in her camp and the red cat accepted gleefully. Despite an awkward first memory, this duo has become a close set of friends and remember their first meeting fondly.

[-Aeris]

user1 + id;; -aeris + 800027
user2 + id;; EchoIre 798835
archive links;; Aeris EchoIre
prompt;;

Friendship gift, made by Mordecai to Leostra


The first hunt


+
Writing entry
The story of how they met.

[SquareBug]

user1 + id;; SquareBug + 1083007
user2 + id;; lacke + 226850
archive links;; SquareBug | lacke
prompt;;

Floriae leaned back, eyes half closed, the sun warming her fur as the grass whispered past her in waves. The breeze that flowed through the valley, carried the scent of different wildflowers that dotted the valley and the lands beyond. "My favourite memory? Oh, that's easy. The races."

"Races?" Anemone scoffed, tail flicking indignantly as he pawed at the dirt. The salty smell of the ocean still clung to his fur despite the many rivers he had taken a dip in on the way to the valley. "You mean the time you cheated."

"I didn't cheat," Floriae grinned, a mischievous edge to her tone. "I outwitted you."

"You tripped me!" Anemone shrieked, flicking dirt at Floriae, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"Let me tell it!" Floriae swatted at him. Anemone begrudgingly settled down, though his glare promised frequent interruptions. His tail twitched with pent-up energy, already poised to pounce on any inaccuracies.

"It all started when you came to the valley," Floriae began eyes sparkling in the sun. "Strutting about, bragging that you were faster than all the guardians in the ocean. You were so puffed up I thought you'd float away."

"I was faster!" Anemone interrupted, before quickly adding, "I am faster!"

"Hush. So, you challenged me to a race. We stood side by side at the starting line, the valley stretching out before us. You were so excited you were shaking," Floriae teased.

"I was focused," Anemone corrected, his head held high.

"Mhm, focused. I let you take the lead-"

"Let me?" Anemone shot up, stalking away from the hole he'd been digging to circle around Floriae, his tail lashing behind him. "I was ahead because I am faster!"

Floriae giggled. "You bounded ahead, your paws barely touched the ground. I kept pace, close enough to hear your smug little huffs every time you looked back."

Anemone grinned proudly, quickly distracted from his anger by the compliment. "I was glorious."

"Yes, glorious," Floriae reinforced with a giggle. "Until the end. We were neck in neck, the finish line was so close you could probably have tasted the victory if you'd stuck out your tongue. Thankfully, I was there to bring your ego back down to earth. I reached out, caught your leg with my claws and pulled you back."

"Cheater!" Anemone yowled, leaping into the air with a dramatic flourish.

"You tumbled head over tail! The look on your face! Oh, it was priceless! You looked like a fish flopping out of water, paws flailing in every direction."

"I could have won!" Anemone wailed. "I should have won!"

Floriae shrugged, rolling over so she could swat at Anemone's enraged face. "But you didn't. You threw such a fit, flailing and yowling, I thought for a moment that I'd been racing a kit and not a full grown guardian! You demanded a rematch."

"Best of three, and no cheating!" Anemone agreed, dodging each of Floriae's playful swings.

"We raced again. And again Each time I'd win, you'd shout, 'again!' and off we'd go, paws pounding against the earth, hearts racing as fast as our legs. We stayed out racing in the valley until the sun dipped below the horizon. The stars even began to blink awake, one by one, but you wouldn't stop."

"I was determined," Anemone huffed.

"You were stubborn," Floriae corrected, finally landing a hit directly between Anemone's eyes. He stumbled back with a playful bounce, shaking his head dramatically as if the gentle swat had rattled his brain. "Every time I'd win, you'd insist on another race."

"You never beat me fair and square!" Anemone proclaimed, puffing out his chest. "You only won because you cheated."

Floriae laughed. "Maybe. But I remember the wind rushing past us, the thrill of the chase, and your face when I tripped you. And your face each time I tripped you after that. That, Anemone, is my favourite memory."

Anemone pouted, dropping down into a crouch. "I would have won that first race, you know I would have! I am the fastest guardian!" He narrowed his eyes, his muscles tensing. "Race me again. I will win this time!"

Floriae only laughed.

Word Count: 691

[MellowBird]

user1 + id;; Mellowbird + 776513
user2 + id;; Pandacat101 + 587535
archive links;; here and here
prompt;;

The rain had just ended, the fresh petrichor scent hitting Constellation’s nose the second she stepped foot outside. The bright light of the sun, revealed by the clouds parting, caused them to shirk back into the safety of the trees, ensuring his precious eyes would remain unharmed. Yet, he was unable to hide for long, as Amara was already out ahead, playfully batting at some dandelions. The sight reminded her of a few days after they had first met, when the clouds finally parted from days of gloom, illuminating the sights of spring.

“Hey! Why’re you staying back there? I get your eyes aren’t great in the light and all, but normally they would’ve adjusted by now.” Amara called out, small signs of worry showing in her body language.

“Ah, you needn’t worry! I was reminiscing upon our past. Do you remember your first spring here?” Constellation hurried out of his cover, moving to be at Amara’s side.

“Oh, that was awhile ago! But of course I remember it. How could I ever forget something so important? You really were uh…” Amara trailed off for a second, trying to find the least insulting way to describe her friend’s struggles.

“A significant detriment towards your survival efforts?” Constellation quipped, not giving her time to finish her thought.

“Well! I mean! No. I wasn’t talking about that,” Amara lied, “just about how you were…” she paused, now needing to find a plausible excuse for what she was going to say, “a good source of companionship during that difficult time.”

“Extrapolating from the large pause before your explanation, you were, in fact, ‘talking about that’. I am fully aware of just how unaware I was during that time period; you needn’t sugarcoat it.” Its tail swished in annoyance as he remembered just how much of a hindrance it had been. “I hadn’t attempted hunting before setting out upon my journey, and you had to provide meals for me!”

“You were helpful too though! I wasn’t familiar with the terrain here, and you had to find us the best places to sleep, remember?” Amara reassured, nowhere near convincing her. “Seriously though, I’m really grateful you were there with me. After leaving the tundra, I was all alone. My own friends and family betrayed me, letting them exile me for protecting someone who needed help. Then I met you. Took a while to get used to how you talk, but I’d be willing to do that a thousand times over if it meant I could keep being your friend.”

A soft rumbling began in Constellation’s chest at Amara’s declaration of friendship. “I was also highly grateful for you. I hadn’t yet met many from outside my clan, and the people I had decided it wasn’t worth the effort to know me. I thank you.” Constellation watched as Amara hit another dandelion, scattering fluffy seeds into the air. “That day after the rain was a truly memorable one. You held such excitement within you.”

“Of course I was excited! It was such a beautiful day that day. The ground smelled of rain, and the clouds had parted to allow the warmth of the sun through. It had been gloomy the entire time I had been here, so I thought that was just how it looked.” She hit another dandelion, the puffs flying up and sticking to the thick fur on her chest. “But with the sun shining overhead, I finally got to see how wonderful the valley could be. The birds were singing, the bees were buzzing. That was my first time seeing a bee, y’know? With so much beauty right before my eyes there was no way for me to not be overwhelmed with excitement.”

“I remember watching as you jumped about, pouncing on dandelions, just like today. I was unsure of whether or not to join you, as I feared you would dislike my company. But of course, you called me over, wondering why I would abstain from the joys of spring.” She grabbed a dandelion, shaking it at Amara.

“Hey! You’re gonna get seeds all over me!” Amara jumped back and flapped her wings, creating a gust that blew all the dandelion seeds onto Constellation. “Revenge!”

Constellation retaliated by taking off and diving into Amara, playfully knocking her over. Amara scrambled to get up, readying to pounce on constellation, who flew off as soon as he realized, escaping. Amara took off after Constellation, the sun slowly setting as they played in the air.

750/750

[Clementine Cloud]

user1 + id;; Clementine Cloud + 476020
user2 + id;; B0netoB0ne + 1091921
archive links;; Clem's + Bone's
prompt;;

Dune circles the border of his oasis, his daily routine. As his eyes scan over the desert ground, he notices someone. It's a she-cat, whom he assumes to be from the valley. The she-cat looks to have an injured wing. He circles her for a moment to check for danger, then lands roughly in front of her.

“You. What are you doing so close to my clan? I can assure you that we do not treat thieves kindly. Now explain yourself.” Dune glares down at Clear Sky for a moment, before his expression softens. “You do not look like a thief. Nor do you look harmful.” He observes.

“Eek! Sorry, I didn't mean to come to your clan! I got lost and just kept flying… then I fell and hurt my wing. Could you help me find my way home?” Clear Sky asks with a sheepish smile.

Dune eyes her for a moment, deciding on what to do. After a moment, he comes to a conclusion, “Yes, though it'll be dark out soon. You may stay with me for safety until you're healed.” Dune begins to walk to the oasis, having full confidence that Clear Sky will follow.

Clear Sky quickly jogs to keep up and walks next to Dune. “I'm Clear Sky, by the way!” She gives Dune a bright smile.

“Good to know.” Dune says with a slight nod.

Clear Sky waits for a moment for Dune to introduce himself, before deciding to just ask, “And your name?”

“Oh. Yes, my name is Dune.” He says dismissively, his attention focused on the goal of getting home.


The two spend the next twenty minutes walking to the oasis in comfortable silence. Once there, Dune looks back at Clear Sky with an arrogant smile, “This is my oasis. I will show you around and help you get situated.” Clear Sky happily agrees and they begin to walk around together.

“This is the medicine den. And over there are the sleeping quarters.” Dune explains as they walk.

“It's all so pretty! Oh! let's go up there so I can get a full view of the place!” Clear Sky says excitedly, pointing at the highest cliff in the oasis.
Dune nods, and Clear Sky is already scrambling up the cliff. Dune flys up after her to reach the cliff and lands with a graceful thud.

Once Clear Sky is up, she looks down with a smile, “It's beautiful up here!” She gets closer to the edge, and before either of them can react, the rock underneath her cracks and breaks off, bringing her with it.

Dune immediately jumps out and is able to grab Clear Sky before she falls and grabs her back onto the ledge, “You alright?” He asks as Clear Sky catches her breath and gets up. “Yeah, yeah I'm fine,” She smiles reassuringly.

The two cats watch the large rock tumble down and wince as it hits the ground with a THUD. Clear Sky grimaces as she peers down, Dune simply sighs and the two quickly climb down to make sure nobody was hurt.

“Is everyone alright?” Dune calls out, his clanmates affirm that nobody was injured.

As the dust settles they look at where the rock landed, jutting out from underneath is a large rattlesnake rattle. Dune looks at Clear Sky and back down at the snake’s tail a few times, jaw dropped in shock.

“How did you… how did it…” Dune was at a loss for words, looking at Clear Sky with confusion. “I honestly have no idea. These things just happen!” She responds with a sheepish smile. The two cats can only laugh at the ridiculous but happy outcome.


The rest of Clear Sky’s stay at the Oasis passes by uneventfully. Her wing heals quickly with the proper care given by Dune’s clanmates and before they knew it Clear Sky was all set to return home.

“Thank you again for letting me stay,” She said, gratefully
Dune nods, and replies “Thank you for solving our rattlesnake problem.” His expression is firm, but there's a soft teasing glint in his eye.

Dune leads the two back out of his territory. Dune was able to tell her a few landmarks to look out for and the ways she should go that would lead her back to her valley.
The two bid each other farewell as Clear Sky takes flight heading for her home, parting ways as unexpected friends.

(740)

[kageyenova]

judging soon

[kageyenova]

user1 + id;; SquareBug + 1083007
user2 + id;; lacke + 226850
archive links;; SquareBug | lacke

apologies for how late I'm judging this,
I must admit I had such a difficult time choosing a winner for this competition. There was so many really stunning entries; beautiful art, incredibly written interaction between founders - every single answered prompt was such a fun read guys 😭
"how we met" stories are always so good, there's sm creative room for first impressions, and easily shows the development of the characters since that time as they recall that interaction.

With that said, I'm (finally) going to be handing these guys off to @SquareBug and @lacke! I love how naturally written the dialogue was as your founders playfully argue about the race, it was like going through the closed captions of a live conversation. I hope to see more from your founders in the future!

to all who's entered;
add 50exp to your founder,
and 100F to your archive!
tysm for participating in Guardians' first adopts!

[SquareBug]

AHHHH! WHAT!? Thank you so much!! This is SO, SO exciting, they're both so lovey! <3 <3 <3
All the entries were so much fun to look through! Everyone is so creative! :3