[Butter Dragon]

{mark~}

[MireyaDC]

Username: MireyaDC
Clan: Echeide Clan

Quest Number: 1
Response:

“It's better that nothing happens to Tanausú…” The aforementioned mencey could hear Airám speaking from one of the tunnels and quietly approached to see what was happening. “I don't know what would become of our clan if we lose him.”

“I didn't know you cared so much about the mencey…” Magec commented.

“No! Well… Yes, of course I care just as much and even more about the mencey. He's a respectful, brave, generous, intelligent leader… The best leader I've ever had, and I've commanded many menceyes already, but… That's not what I meant…”

“Then get to the point,” Benchara spoke this time in a somewhat irritable, annoyed voice, as if the conversation had been going on for too long, “what's worrying you?”

“If anything happens to Tanausú, we'll have the heretic Jonay as our leader. A cat who worships the terrible Guayota shouldn't be part of a civilized clan, much less be its archimencey, deputy, heir…”

Airám fell silent when she saw Magec discreetly pointing his head behind her. She turned and saw Tanausú there, watching, his tail slowly moving from side to side and his ears slightly lowered and sideways. Airám took a step back so the mencey could get closer to the group, but she didn't hesitate to continue her protest.

“Surely you've realized that Jonay isn't normal. He breaks the basic laws of the clan by worshipping Guayota, and Gara may seem innocent, but he's still a creation of the devil. No, and we don't know how he might act. He killed the invading cat without any mercy or remorse. Nothing guarantees that he won't turn against us.”

“I assure you.” Tanausú replied, then looked at the other cats around him, calming his posture slightly after a long sigh. “Jonay and Gara may be… A little different, but they haven’t done anything wrong, nor will they. You know that the safety of the entire clan is my main priority, and you know I have good instincts. If I thought any of them could be a threat, I would have expelled them. But they are good. They love this clan as much as I do, and I know Jonay has great potential as a leader. He would make a great mencey.” His words began to calm the spirits of the few cats who were beginning to be overcome by Airám’s fear. “Besides, I don't think praying to a different god is such a serious crime… After all… In this room, there are cats who love those of their own sex, who identify with a different sex, or even with none at all, something severely punished in other clans with expulsion or even death, but not here, because I want everyone who doesn't fit in elsewhere to feel welcome here. If that's Jonay's oddity, then… So be it.”

Benchara calmly nodded her head in support of the leader, and other cats followed suit. Then she spoke, “This clan is a paradise, and we're just… worried about the possibility of losing it. I… I've already lost my home clan. I know what it feels like, and I don't want to go through it again, but… I trust you.”

And little by little, the cats dispersed, returning to their tasks, their business. Except for Airán, whom Tanausú signaled with his tail to stay. "I want to talk to you," he said once everyone had left, and then led him to another, more secluded tunnel.

The walk was silent. Airán thought, from the mencey's calm tone, that he was going to tell him something about Jonar that worried him, or ask him to keep an eye on him or something along those lines. But he was surprised when, as they stopped at the end of the tunnel, Tanausú suddenly lunged at him and knocked him down. His growl was barely audible, but his flat ears, fluffy tail, and paws on Airám with his claws out made it clear that he was beyond furious at the scene Airám had caused. They both snorted, but obviously Airám wasn't going to dare go against his leader, and Tanausú would never harm anyone in his clan. Soon the situation calmed down a bit, enough for them to talk.

“I don't want to hear you spout such slander about your archymencey again. In case you've forgotten, he's still your superior, and you owe him respect… No… You owe him more than that! This clan owes a lot to Jonay and his ideas; I owe my life to him and to Gara.” His words were firm, but without hatred, and his anger was much calmer; it was mostly disappointment, and the tone was one you'd use to scold a child. “You know as well as I do that Jonay would give his life for the well-being of the clan, and Gara is nothing more than an innocent cub who sees us as family and will always be loyal to us, protecting us both, don't you see?” Airám didn't respond.

Tanausú sighed and shook his head before continuing, taking a more blunt and direct approach. “He's the archimencey, Airám, he's the archimencey because I chose him, and if you respect me as your leader as much as you do, you'll respect my decision as well. I don't like this demon of death and destruction more than you do, but… If they both owe their lives to Guayota and consider him not so bad, if that malevolent god has decided to protect those two innocent creatures and with it our clan, I… I'm not the one to contradict them, much less you.”

“I understand, mencey, I'm sorry,” he finally said, looking truly contrite.

Then Tanausú finally stepped back and let him get back up.

“Airám, this is a dangerous and ever-changing world, and the last thing we need is for us to start accusing our own, stabbing each other in the back, and fighting each other,” he said in a calm, but still somewhat reprimanding tone. “This Clan is made up of those who had nowhere else to go, and we've survived together thanks to our unique ways of seeing the world and breaking with the traditions of other Clans. Not just by accepting cats like you and Magec. The idea of ​​accepting Kittypets as allies; limiting the species we hunt so that humans don't try to drive us from our lands; accepting humans, not as a threat, but as a resource... We've changed many things that might seem blasphemous to other Clans, but they have ensured our survival. And if Jonay's worship of Guayota is good for the Clan, if it keeps the demon as an ally instead of an enemy, so be it.”

This time it was Airám who sighed, looking truly remorseful and ashamed.

“Just so you know, I wasn't the only one who heard your outburst. I saw Jonay walking away from the tunnel you were in. You... maybe you owe him an apology.”

Airám: “I’m sorry. I… I’ll go talk to him.”

And with that, Airám walked away.

Word Count: 1174

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Quest Number: 2
Response: I had a bunch of science stickers with on my table and many had cats on them, I couldn't resist, it's the best way to show her interests XD

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Quest Number: 3
Response: [Write about the legacy your character wishes to leave behind after they pass! (Too long term concept)]
Word Count: (If applicable)

[Butter Dragon]

Username: Butter Dragon
Clan: Shadowhatch Clan

Quest Number: Quest #3
Response:
The name “Shadowhatch” was not chosen by Ossis for his clan due to legacy, aesthetics, or even perhaps personal interest. Ossis chose this name because he, as with all the other cats that made up the core of this group, had been through much. They had all faced more than they should rightly have to in their lives, and even when their lives were turned upside down they managed to make it out the other side. They faced their demons, and they lived to tell the tale. In Ossis’ words they hatched from the shadows, and from that the name was born.

Perhaps once the creation of the Shadowhatch clan was done out of necessity, but as their numbers grow, as Ossis sees those around him live up to their clan’s name and thrive, the more he hopes that the legacy of The Shadowhatch Clan will live on even after they have returned to the stars. He wants to serve as a role model to other cats experiencing their own hardships. That not only are they not alone in those experiences, but that it is possible to not just survive those hardships but thrive beyond them.

Ossis doesn’t feel as if he’s managed to achieve this goal yet. His clan is small, not well known, and the reach of his help has been limited by circumstance. Little does he know that he has already profoundly touched the lives of those closest to him. When Ossis is gone, they will carry on his legacy, continuing the clan, the family, on into eternity.

Word Count: [261]

[ivyy.]

Username: ivyy.
Clan: OceanClan & Ashen Trails

Quest Number: 1
Response: A summoning yowl echoed throughout the caves, reaching even the medicine cat den tucked farther down the tunnels. Still bleeding and battered from the battle that had occurred earlier that day, OceanClan cats began to gather under the highledge, most limping filling the main cave with the scent of marigold and horsetail. Tansystar sat hunched over the stone ledge jutting from the arch of the camp entrance. Her posture was slanted, claws digging into the rock below her paws as she reimagined the threat that the Ashen Trails' leader had uttered before leaving her dangerously wounded. As cats gathered, Goldenleaf weaved through the crowd, still tirelessly tending to the injured with her reliable apprentice Sunpaw following closely in suite.

Blood dripped from a small scratch wound along her foreleg as Tansystar surveyed her cats gathering. Unable to wait another moment, she snarled, "OceanClan, there are urgent matters to discuss, silence!" It wasn't usual of her to have been so impatient. Many cats whipped their heads to her as an uncomfortable quiet swept through the cats. Apprentices hushed their gossip, Elders grumpily paused their chatter, and Sunpaw's ears flattened in alarm. "For far too long, the Ashen Trails cats have been terrorizing us. Not a single one of us made it out of this attack uninjured!" She lifted her right leg to reveal a raw slice still dribbling blood.

This earned a few gasps from the crowd, finally taking a moment to notice the heavy wounds inflicted on the leader they held so dear. Thrushslip, Tansystar's mate, looked particularly disturbed, hurrying towards Goldenleaf weaving amongst the gathered cats to whisper a few words into her ear, most likely an urgent message to tend to his mate when she were to jump down from the ledge. Heart pounding with adrenaline, her ears flattened and her voice grew hoarse with fury of all the terror that the other group had caused her clan, "We need to solve this. We out number them one to four and are still loosing."

Cats began to whisper uncomfortably, unsure where Tansystar was going with this. Drawing in a deep breath, she sheathed her claws and steadied her voice. "We need to find and kill Anala and her wretched second-in-command." At the announcement, the clan erupted in outrage and cries echoed so loudly through the cave system that Tansystar struggled to hear her own voice. Her council, which she had certainly not spoken to beforehand, stared up at the ledge where their leader sat in utter shock. When the shock had died down slightly, a voice clear and commanding could be heard through the clammor. "Tansystar, this is outrageous. We cannot kill anyone, it would be against StarClan's will." The voice belong to Brokenscar. The pale ginger tom stepped forward confidently, only his lashing tail betraying his fury that she had decided this without her council.

Goldenleaf spoke next, "Surely StarClan wouldn't want this? This can't be right." Her call rang with uncertainty. "How can we kill Anala?" Another voice yelled from deep in the crowd. Tansystar screwed her eyes shut and unsheathed her claws to dig them into the stone below once more, as if grounding herself through all the chaos. "This is not up for discussion. Anala can and will be killed, it is much overdue. StarClan has barely ever assisted us through these moons of torment and tragedy, I will not wait for them to speak any longer." Eyes widened throughout the cave as cats fully began to absorb what their leader had so boldly proclaimed. Brokenscar sat closely with two other council members, Rusteddawn and Squirrelscar, the trio unwilling to hide their disappointment.

From the muttering crowd, Dusteye spoke, "I don't know if I completely agree with you, Tansystar, but I can lead the first attack." Another cat formed distinctly from the crowd, a cat she was hoping not to see volunteer for battle. "Florias and I can lead the other attack." Cherrybounce proudly lifted her tail as she locked eyes with Tansystar, her mother. Tansystar hesitated before accepting, "Thank you. I won't force any cat to fight or go with us on this mission but please. For the sake of your mate, kits, friends, and family- for their health and safety, for the hope that one day we'll be able to take our children for a stroll in the forest and be unaffraid of an ambush... please consider fighting for this."

Thrushslip remained silent as he stared at his mate, his gaze unreadable from where she sat. Did he agree with her? Would he fight with her despite her admittedly secretive decision to fight in the first place? She shook her head to clear it, it didn't matter what he thought now- what's done is done and there is no taking it back. Scattered cats among more hesitant clanmates began to slowly step forward, offering themselves as soldiers for what Tansystar hoped to be the end of this drawn out war.
Word Count: 869 words

Quest Number: 2
Response: *art goes here*

Quest Number: 3
Response:
Word Count: (If applicable)

[taichi]

Username: taichi
Clan: house of thieves
Quest Number:1
Response:
He's late...

Was the only thought left dancing in the eerie, hollow silence of Locenhai's mind. Feeble and frail, similar to a lone leaf left behind by autumn's grace; forgotten like the songs of an old choir, with nothing but their voices fading in to the memories of their dearest. Silence swamped his mind, a stillness that pressed against every inch, suffocating and yet unmoving. There was an unsettling presentiment he could not quite kick, and it crawled slowly through his spine until it reached his heart and tightened it's grip. Apprehension clawed on every heartbeat and it only got stronger, and stronger, and stronger. A sharp, rancid taste filled his mouth and laced his tongue with doubt.
He had been disconnected from the world, with the slightest hints of the sun's radiance bleeding and blending in to the dull-toned shadows of the cavern- until suddenly, colour had burst back in to his vision.

A small jagged stone caressed his toes, snapping his from his dazed state. Huh?
Locenhai looked up and a light cocoa silhouette blossomed into view. "Saturn?" he questioned whilst his eyes flickered open and shut in a rhythmic motion, demanding almost instantaneous clarity. The blurred collection of shades snapped in to his vision, but the graduated gradient of the fur before him consoled Locenhai's thoughts, allowing his worry to wither away. There was only one cat in the clan with such a striking yet comforting pelt, it was him. It had to be him.

Saturn briefly held his tongue, it was as if the sound of his own name had sprinkled essences of perturbation on to his skin. Eventually a small honeyed hum escaped his lips, offering a small, weak veil of heart-ease between the two of them. His footsteps were slow, as if he was being weighed down by something. He stepped closer to Locenhai; an overwhelming sinking feeling starting to settle in his chest.

The silence between them dragged on, only to be broken by a resounding thump ringing through the cave.
"Locenhai." Saturn muttered, his voice was as quiet as a whisper. It had now caught up to him, the thoughts he tried to push aside, cast away and avoid.

The blue toms eyes widened in surprise and relief. "You're back, what did you find?" he questioned, with a tinge of hope twirled in his words.

Saturn took a deep breath, he wanted to refuse defeat and escape from all of the connotations which failure would speak, his insides screamed at him to spin the story. Not to tell the truth, but change it a little, however his integrity and rectitude could never escape him. His bright marigold eyes, once full of life seemed to dimmer, as they focused on the trinkets he had returned with. "I tried Locenhai, but I couldn't find him. There is no sign of him."

Locenhai chewed his tongue momentarily, biting back the small surge of frustration and anger that bubbled in his chest. It didn't make sense. He had subconsciously relied on Saturn's return to be prestigious, to bring him a new light of hope and to be the spark in the darkness that had engulfed himself and all of his peers. He had not considered that the possibility that the flame wouldn't light and the spark would abandon them. They were left with nothing but the crippling uneasy feelings that they had begun with. "I...." He stammered, his voice cracking slightly. "I don't believe it, what do you mean there is no sign of him?" Disbelief had coated his words as he continued "You've been out there for so long and all you come back with is failure? You can't even tell me if he's dead or alive!"

Saturn remained quiet, his eyes still hopelessly fixated on the trinkets below his paws. The sting of Locenhai's words lingered like a jagged rock thrust under his skin, painful and unable to ignore, despite how still he remained. He sighed deeply, acknowledging to himself how bad his result would sound. It was an undeniable fact knotted between the both of them: He failed.
His eyes wandered up Locenhai's slate stained coat, his gaze was soft and desperate, suffocated by the newly acknowledged reality. "I'm not a tracker" he muttered meekly, the words were a reluctant admission. "I'm a scout and you know there's a difference..." he stated, wanting to make a point.

The softness of the other tom's voice struck him and cut through the haze of his thoughts, belatedly realising that his words could have been a little too harsh, too sharp, too blaming. Nevertheless, the thoughts in his head still twisted and turned. "You're better than this though" he said with a low and heavy voice, but the frustration wouldn't let go of him. It was stuck like a leech, feeding off his thoughts and dragging him down. "You should have found something, anything..." What Saturn failed to see was the small kitten inside of Locenhai, screaming for help. He also felt defeated.

And so it started building up.
Annoyance trickled in to Saturn's bones, a cold stream that just shocked and froze his thoughts.
How could Locenhai not understand that he had exhausted all options? He had gave this task almost everything he had, pushing himself further than he had ever been. Past lands of comfort and breezes of familiarity and in to unspeakably dangerous situations....Yet.
Why was Locenhai acting like he hadn't even tried?
Saturn's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightened slightly as he observed Locenhai's demeanor. Frustration similar to Locenhai's own twisted around, and around, and around in his chest. This mission was not a requirement, it was a favour. A favour to the clan, so they could continue to prosper and thrive, but in reality he owed nobody anything. Not even an explanation, a word or a thought.
"Locenhai, I told you" Saturn spat, words sharp and venomous. A feeling nurtured by frustration had been brewing and brewing, waiting for a release. "You need to face it, there is nothing out there. He is gone."

Their gazes met, a clash of citrine and prehnite, for a single moment the world seemed to freeze between them. Anger, frustration, disbelief and upset all seemed to simmer between the two. Locenhai's tail flicked sharply, movements becoming faster and slightly more intense.. But then his voice boomed like thunder. The intensity and volume rose so loud it had almost felt like the ground was about to shake.
"The spiritual council says otherwise!" He roared, his words were sharp like a strike of lightning, so sudden and powerful, slicing the air between them. "They told us the king has a son...We have to find him, he is the key!".
Locenhai's voice trembled with exasperation and a trickle of what seemed like urgency. The words were relentless and unforgiving, almost avalanche-like.

It was lost....Any sense of restraint had fled.
"Are you serious? The spiritual council just now decided to tell you this?" Saturn questioned, the air was painted with his skepticism as his body continued to tense, almost like the words were too difficult to contain. His claws slithered out of their sheaths and lightly tapped against the cold cave floor. Disdain drenched his every thought. This was absurd, Locenhai was clinging on to some kind of myth. Something with no foundation, nothing. Just the result of hushed words and fragmented dreams. "And you're going to take their word for it aren't you?" He challenged, the sweet tinge in his voice now crystalizing as his tone became increasingly bitter.

His anger was like a rush, an unstoppable wave that crashed through his insides. Rising quickly from the depths of his chest, drowning each and every rational thought that remained, without an inch of mercy. It was the kind of anger that just explodes, that just breaks free, and now the anchor had finally shattered but contrary to Saturn's thoughts, Locenhai just stood there, still, unmoving; statue-like. Completely motionless in the midst of Saturn's eruption. The gaze had still remained but Locenhai's faced was plastered with an unreadable expression, and this only made the brown hued tom angrier. Silence was infuriating. "Yeah, you're going to take their word for it..."What importance does this son even have Locenhai? Do you really think this so called son is going to fix anything?"

With a slow and reluctant motion, Locenhai let out a soft sigh, breaking his silence, despite the fact that Saturn was still basking in the flames of his own anger. The sigh had carried a heavy weight and something much bigger than their conversation, or what either of them could understand.
"I don't want to believe it" he muttered softly, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. The words scraped against his throat, raw, yet so unwilling to come out. "But the spiritual council has never lied to us Saturn. What if this is our only chance?"

Snap.
The fraying knot inside of the young scout snapped. All of the unspoken fears and doubts had tugged numerous ways inside of his heart and pulled him apart. The blood in his veins surged, anger and frustration thrashed violently like an unforgiving wind. The question spun around and around like a tsunami, and he began to pace uncontrollably.
"The only chance?" He questioned, his pulse quickened. His anger was uncontrollable. "You think this ghost of a boy is meant to save us? He's a shadow - a figure. An invisible, figurative heir." He laughed bitterly, syllables dripping with senses of sarcasm and misaligned hatred. "He doesn't have the kingdom's respect and never will."

Saturn's movements evolved past erraticism, almost as if the air around him was too thick and his very paw pads were on fire. His voice dropped to an incredibly low growl. "Do not ask for my help. I will not be part of your fairytales this time".

Just like a blink of an eye, Saturn's blazing hot figure vanished in to the shadows. Each and every one of his fury filled footsteps echoing deep in the chambers of Locenhai's heart, his eyes fixated on the empty space where Saturn had just been. He was now alone, alone with the whisper of Saturn's anger and the realization that he had created a rift that could not close, a wound that would never heal. Their bond had now snapped, and he was left wondering if he had now lost the trust of the only other primordial.

Even if the tales of the ghost child never came to light and remained nothing but hushed whispers, they were clung to like a lifeline. Locenhai never desired power and despised the never-ending pressure that came hand in hand with the crown, but alas, he continued to stand and shoulder the weight of the crown that was never his. Delegation was a brutal process indeed.

Word Count: 1807

[dimi.]

Username: dimi.
Clan: Heart of Decay

Quest Number: 2
Response:



Pop loves repurposing the random junk the other Scavengers find an... unhealthy amount.


Word Count: N/A


Quest Number: 3
Response:


A symphony of giggling filled the forest air as a pink mass of chaos pranced through it, each of her paw steps swaying the rest of her body. Her giggle was occasionally interrupted by a nonchalant hum, alongside the rustle of one shifting through an assortment of things. Baby was sat in the Scavenger's den, sorting through the goodies that the previous patrol had brought back from their venture into the twoleg city nearby. A couple things caught her eye - a jar of what appeared to be sap, a basket with feathers weaved into it, and some dying flowers. Chaos erupted in her onyx orbs, and she quickly plopped the jar of sap and flowers into the basket before carefully prancing out of the den with it.

But her intentions would not go unnoticed. Right outside the den stood Mink, his round ears pricked forward curiously. He looked at Baby's haul and sighed, muttering beneath his breath.

"Wasting resources again?" He seemed to just ask himself, but Baby's ears perked up at the question and she soon put the basket on the ground, shaking her head.

"No, of course not. To bring enjoyment to your life is not a waste." Baby beamed. Mink's brows furrowed for a moment, and before he knew it, he was making conversation with chaos itself.

"Why do you prank us so much?" He inquired. Many cats had asked Baby this question before, to which they were simply met with a quick quip of "it's fun!" or "because I want to!" or, and most cats least favorite, "because I CAN". Yet today, something in Baby's black eyes glimmered, and she sat on her haunches, looking at the things she had collected before her. She understood her pranks were sometimes annoying, but she found enjoyment in them. And what was the harm in telling one cat why she did them? And so, with an ear flick and a gaze towards Mink, she spoke.

"How much time do you have?" She asked, her voice suddenly serious and inquisitive.

"Um... all day? You are kind of holding my spoils." He replied, his head gesturing towards the basket. Baby dropped it, and her maw began to pluck the feathers off the rim of the basket.

"Here, I only need the feathers. The basket was just for transport." Baby explained, but Mink sighed and shook his head.

"Take it. But answer my question." Mink sat on his haunches before the pink ball, his ears pricked forward awaiting her answer.

"I just don't want cats to be so serious all the time." Baby began, looking at Mink's face for a reaction; but so far, it had none. "The Heart of Decay is not my first clan - I was exiled from my last."

Exiled? What could Baby have done that would warrant exiling her? Mink thought to himself, his brows furrowing in thought. "You're probably wondering why I was exiled. Well... long story short, my clan was hosting a gathering with four others. Our clan meetings were nested within a bigggg ol cave. And above that cave were a series of large boulders and rocks. Well, your friendo here decided jumping from rock to rock while waiting for the stragglers of the meeting to arrive would be smart."

"Uh huh..."

"Well, I may or may not have caused all the rocks to fall, trapping all the cats attending the meeting within. All of them thought it was an ambush - an idea to trap all the clans together to starve out the threats; and that my clan would be free to go once all the others were finished off. But really... I was just having fun. So, I spent the next two days digging the rubble aside, and when my leader emerged, she explained that I was nothing but a liability, and that I needed to go." Baby seemed to be almost happy reliving the tail, which confused Mink to no end.

"That doesn't answer my question." Mink remarked, watching as Baby chuckled a bit.

"I know. I'm getting there. Among the cats who agreed with my leader, or stood by when I was silent, was my own mother." Baby looked up at the sky, a small smile creeping across her lips. "She was pretty. She wasn't pink like me, but instead purple, with really cool stripes on her face, paws, and tail. But she wouldn't advocate for her own daughter. What was supposed to be fun for me turned into fear itself for others. I'm not mad at my mom for not saying anything - in fact, I'm grateful she didn't. The Heart has been so much more fun."

"Do you ever miss her?"

"Nah. But she is why I do the pranks. You see, I was raised with a couple of beliefs emphasized pretty heavily. One, my life is more than just a set of duties. Two, I need to have fun - otherwise, it's not a life at all; it's survival." Baby's eyes twinkled as she spoke the words, as though the voice of her mother was chirping them in her head.

"I never want a day to feel boring - not for myself, and not for my clanmates. The pranks are the easiest way to do it. But, I'm hoping that the word of my pranks, my antics, me... will reach beyond the Heart, and maybe find my mother." Baby explained, her paw trailing across the ground as she idly drew a heart.

"That can't be all."

"It isn't! While I do miss my mama, there's one other thing I want too. I want cats of the future to know that Baby the Menace, as some have dubbed me, is a cat who won't be forgotten. I want cats of the future to look at me as they enact their pranks with smiles on their faces. I don't want to be forgotten or tossed to the wind just moons after my demise. And I want all cats to live by the same principles as me, to some degree.

To have fun.
To make others laugh.
To be free."


Word Count: 1,015

[Thani]

Username: Thani
Clan: Iris Canopy & Pandora

Quest Number: 1
Draw or write about a time a cat disagreed with leader
You may write and/or draw your response to this prompt.

Response:Many moons had passed since Treespirit was the leader of the Iris Canopy. Being the original founder of this strange land he made it his mission to ensure the safety of every single cat who would show up here looking for a new start. Everyone was to abide by the rules, no matter how stupid, silly or insignificant they thought they were. The rules were simple-

Groups on patrol or hunting must always be in pairs of 4, never more, never less.
Groups must stick together and never lose sight of one another in the forest outside the protection dome.
You may not go out on patrol or go hunting if you had done so the previous night.
The only ones permitted to leave the protection of the dome are the Warriors.
Under no circumstances may you approach those that live in the forest.


And for the most part, everyone followed the rules without even thinking about it. The strange essence that radiated through the air outside the dome took its toll on the hunters and patrollers' bodies. They welcomed the day's rest that would come after a long and successful hunt. Most of them also dare not come to learn what would happen if they did disobey any of the rules. Treespirit was kind, but he could also be quite scary.

It had been a terrible winter. Most of the elders were sick and those who had family members that were, did not want to risk going out of the dome and leaving them to fight off their illness alone. Cauliflower was still training one of her kits, Zinnia, how to heal the sick. So realistically it was just her that was up to the task of taking care of them all.

Cauliflower was busy that morning, as usual, doing her rounds and delivering what little supply of herbs she had to those who needed it most. Cats who had just gotten the symptoms of this illness were skipped over. They simply did not have the means to spare any medicine unless the sickness was deeply rooted.
Tansy was on a scheduled patrol as usual, readying themself to head out when they were approached by their mate, Cauliflower.

“I need you to grab as many of those blue flowers as you can, alright? And the white ones that grow on the trees too. They glow, alright?.” She would be talking as she fastened a satchel to Tansy’s side, somewhere they could put the flowers that they would gather.

“Tansy. Tansy are you listening?”

“Huh, yeah. Yeah. Blue glowing flowers I got it. Can I go now, I’m not supposed to let them get too far ahead.”

Cauliflower would go to correct her but she was off before she could get another word in.
“Tansy….” She huffed, watching her run towards the east to catch up with the other hunters.

She knew that they all knew they needed more medicine. However like always when the hunters and patrollers returned, mixed in with the herbs and flowers that could heal..there were also eerily similar ones that could cause harm. Some types of poison mimic flowers, something that only her trained eye could see the difference of. She looked down towards her apprentice, who finally caught up, before laying a paw on her tiny head.

“Mom’s going to go out for a bit, okay? Can you keep making deliveries for me in the meantime?” She pulled her satchel off and wrapped it around Zinnia, watching as her eyes lit up with this newfound sense of duty.

“Off you go, then!” She nuzzled her nose to the top of her head and watched her scamper off back towards the center of the clan.

Cauliflower had only been outside the dome one time in her life, and that was when she was first found by her mother and father and brought to this place. She doesn’t remember anything about that time but for some reason she was not afraid when she decided that she was going to go out today- Against her fathers rule. Cats were dying, and she needed more medicine than could be brought back by the patrol- who’s sole focus was feeding the clan.

She made a quick makeshift bag out of weeds and sticks, something that could carry her herbs, and made her way carefully to the edge of the barrier. She approached the barrier, a glimmering almost hard to see effect washing over her vision and she tried to focus on what was outside of it. She went to take a step forward and felt her body stop. Hesitation? Maybe. Or maybe she was thinking about all the warnings her father had given. If something were to happen to her..would Zinnia be up to the task of taking on all her roles? No…she still had so much to teach the young apprentice.

“What am I doing…” She would talk to herself, pacing back and forth in the dirt just inside the barrier.

“Come on Cauliflower, you come all this way…Think about all those sick cats who need help…” She would try to convince herself that her reasons were enough to leave. And so with a quick huff she closed her eyes and stepped over the line, into the outside. She felt no different once she exited the barrier, so she had to open her eyes to make sure that she actually had. And what she saw was unlike anything the patrols had ever reported seeing.

The patrol had talked about the outside forest often. Everyone has heard tales about the glowing forest and strange almost mystical scent that wafted through the air outside. The strange creatures that walked around out here, and the small-very small- sense of dread..creeping up on you. Nothing could have prepared her for what her eyes actually saw when she opened them.

The light from the trees was no ordinary light. It was a soft, humming glow, almost like a fire was lit up inside each and every flower on every tree. The sounds she could now hear out here were strange and unthreatening- almost like the noises mice would make when they would come into their territory- almost but not quite.
She walked on into the forest as she admired the treetops, her eyes having a hard time focusing on one thing. There was too much to look at.

“I suppose i’ll have to climb these trees…” She would talk to herself, taking careful steps as to not disturb the flora beneath her feet. “Oh maybe this was a bad idea..i’m not the greatest climber..”

She was not afraid to try and climb, totally not afraid at all. There were other reasons she stayed on the ground and kept following the trail- collecting the blue flowers that she needed as she did. Every so often she would come across a mimic flower and would ignore it, making a note that they seemed to grow in a cluster with these small yellow flowers- a flower that was not present with the normal blue flowers that shared an identical look. She would have to pass this knowledge on to the hunters and patrollers, how they did not notice this detail was beyond her.

Time passed by rather quickly as she found herself getting lost in the wonderful maze that was this forest. She continued to study the flora on the forest ground, obviously stalling as to not go up into the trees and grab the white glowing flowers that she needed to mix with the blue to heal the sick. She was snapped from her thoughts when a small rustling in a nearby bush caught her attention. Her ears perked up as her head snapped over to where the noise was moments ago.

She didn’t see anything at first, which made her nervous. She backed up along the trail, eyes focused on the nearby bushes as she got ready to run from whatever it was. Another rustling behind her spooked her and she turned around quickly to try and spot whatever it was. Thats when she saw it, or at least a part of it. A small dark green wisp- like thing was spotted in the corner of her eye, ducking back down into another bush and disappearing just as quick as it appeared.

“Okay..maybe I’ll climb up there now.” She looked up at the trees, intending on getting up there to escape whatever was down here. Believing- or hoping- that whatever it was couldn't climb as well as she could. She was doomed.

She stepped back a bit and got a running start, before leaping up the trunk of the tree and grabbing helplessly on the branches above her. Her claws dug into the branch as she tried with all her might to pull herself up to it. That's when another noise caught her ear and caused her to lose focus, making her fall and land on her tail end. She stood herself up and turned around to pick up her makeshift basket that fell off her during the fall.

She nearly jumped out of her fur when she saw a small, unnaturally green kitten sitting in front of the bushes, her bright blue orbs looking at her with amusement in her eyes. They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other in disbelief before the small kitten made a move towards the tree. Cauliflower moved aside, following her with her gaze.

“Where did you come from?” She finally choked out, her body still reeling from the adrenaline of the shock.
“Are you lost? Hurt? How long have you been out here?” She watched as the kitten jumped up the branches effortlessly, ignoring the various questions that were tossed their way.

“Or…ignore me..” she sighed, watching the kitten reach up and grab a white glowing flower before making their descent back down to Cauliflower.

The small green kit looked up at her with this mouthful of white flowers, backing away when cauliflower made a move to go towards her.

“Okay okay…I won’t come near you, it’s okay.” She spoke softly, her motherly tone coming out in full force as she tried to calm the kitten down.

“Do you need those flowers? Are you sick?” She would ask, watching as the small kitten curiously tilted their head, before dropping them on the ground and jumping back up onto the branch just as quickly as she had before.

“O…kay…Thank you” cauliflower would say, reaching down to pick them up and put them in her basket. The kit jumped down once more, mouthful of the white flowers. She sat them on the ground again before jumping back up to grab more.

“These are going to save a lot of lives, you know.” She would say, watching as the kitten repeated this tep multiple times, always dropping them just out of reach of Cauliflower, back down the path that she came.

The two walked along the path together for a while, the small green kitten jumping up into the trees and grabbing flowers, Cauliflower picking them up and putting them in her bag. They got into a groove of it, the bag almost filling up with the flowers from their efforts- well mostly the green kits efforts.

“You know you are helping me and we don’t even know each other's names. I’m Cauliflower. What's yours?” She would ask, keeping the same rhythm going that they had been doing down this path back to the barrier.

As usual with all her questions, she was left with silence from her green partner in crime. She couldn’t help but feel curious about where they came from. If they were alone in these woods or if they had a family that was wondering where they were at the moment.

“You know if you are alone out here, I have a place you can stay. Not far from here. Just down this path, actually.” She would watch to see if the kitten had any reaction to her words, but she remained the same. A look of indifference, with a lace of curiosity.

She must have gotten to her a little however. The next time she jumped down the branches, mouth full of the white flowers, instead of dropping them a few feet in front of Cauliflower she moved around to place them into Cauliflower's satchel before looking up at her.

“I think it's full, what do you think? A good haul?” She would ask.

Another sound could be heard behind them, a snapping branch and a rustle of the bushes.
The small green kittens' ears perked up, a look of panic on their face as they looked up at Cauliflower. That look was all she needed to know that something was wrong- whatever made that noise was not a friend.

She grabbed the kitten in her mouth and began running, as fast as her legs could carry her, towards the barrier-towards home.
She could hear something behind her, creeping. It was not running but somehow keeping up with her movements. The trees around her blurred, the glow from them causing her vision to fail her at the speed she was going. She felt disoriented but had to press on. Whatever was following behind was not letting up and she knew that the two of them would not be safe until she stepped through the dome.

A shrill cry pierced her ears, causing her to stop for a moment. She didn’t know why she did. That sound was haunting, but also eerily familiar to her.

“Why are you stopping, Cauli!! Run!!” She heard Bluefoot’s voice ring out followed by the sounds of fighting. She didn’t dare turn around and did what she told her to do. She ran.

It wasn’t long before she reached the barrier, exhaustion washing over her limbs. She dropped the kitten inside and moved just outside again, frantically looking for any signs of the patrol who just saved her. Tansy was with them, she knew it.
And as she stood there, waiting for any signs of them to come around the bend, she collapsed, her vision going blurry. The spoils of her illegal adventure falling on the ground beside her.

Before Cauliflower even fully woke up she knew she was in trouble. She could feel the piercing gaze of her father looming over her in her sleep. The events that happened earlier that day all came flooding back to her and she sprung up, eyes widened as she gazed around the room looking for signs of the kitten- or of Tansy.


“Don’t worry the kit is safe.” Her father spoke, his tone harsh and concise.

“A-and Tan-..The patrol? Are they all safe?” She moved to get up, her body still aching from the run.

“You’re lucky they are all fine. Just minor scrapes and bruises. Nothing a nights rest can’t fix.” You could tell he was trying his best to remain angry, but that kind disposition was creeping through when he spoke to his daughter, he couldn’t help it.
“Oh good…That..that thing was out there. That thing that killed mom. I heard it.” She grew a little frantic just thinking about it. No one had spotted that thing for many years now, why was it out now?

“Cauli. I need to know what possessed you to leave this barrier. You of all people know better! You know what’s out there! We have rules and regulations for a reason!”

“Okay but I had to do something!” She shouted, tears welling up in her eyes. She was frustrated at herself for doing what she did but also deep down knew she knew if she hadn’t then that kitten would have been toast.

“We NEEDED more supplies! Every time patrol comes back theres more and more mimic flowers in the mix! You HAVE to let me go with them, dad. No one knows how to identify them like I do.” She begged, knowing her efforts were going to be fruitless.

“The answer is no Cauliflower. The rules are rules for a reason. There will be no debate.”

She huffed, wiping at the tears pooling around her eyes.

“Yeah well these rules are stupid!” She emotionally responded with no logic at all. She wasn’t sure why she was so choked up over this. Maybe it was the Kitten, maybe it was the creature…or maybe it was just a mixture of them both.

“Those stupid rules keep you SAFE!” He yelled, his ears folding back as he stepped up to her.

“Keep ME safe!? What about the ones who are DYING? They need medicine dad! And not enough is being brought back! That's a fact!” She angrily spat back at him, holding her ground.

“You don’t bat an eye when Tansy or Blue leave on patrols back to back but when I leave once you make it into a big thing!” She continued, her tail swishing angrily behind her.

“This has nothing to do with them-”

“They broke the rules, same as me! And here you are treating me like a child! I’m not a child!”

“Something could have happened to you, Cauli!” He was getting emotional now, pacing around the room as he searched for the right words to say.

“Something could have happened to Tansy or Blue, too! But it didn’t! We’re all fine! I’m fine!”

“Why are you so bent out of shape about this, Cauliflower?” He stared her down. “Why can’t you just follow the rules? Huh? Why do you have to argue with me when for so long you have been okay with them?! What changed?! What's different now?!”

She backed down a little bit, her ears folding back in defense as she thought about what she would say next. What changed for her? Did she enjoy the feeling of leaving, of breaking the rules? Was it truly to just help people or did she enjoy the freedom of it all?

“Well when you think of an answer you know where to find me. Until then I don’t want you leaving this den. Do you hear me, Cauli? You stay put until I can figure out a punishment for disobeying the rules.” And with that he turned and left, Leaving Cauliflower alone with her thoughts.



Word Count: 3,053

Quest Number: 2
Draw a cat who has some unusual interests
You may only draw your response to this prompt.

Response: Tenderheart loves forging Love letters for couples she believes are in love.

Word Count: N/A

Quest Number: 3
Write about the legacy your character wishes to leave behind after they pass!
You may only write your response to this prompt.

Response:
WitherWing was witness to the rough family life that her girlfriend, FennelStep , grew up in. Before they even knew each other she could sense that there was sadness behind her feistiness. People always said she was just like her mother, Tansy , Hot headed and emotional. Witherwing just saw someone who was hurting and didn’t know how to express that. Someone that she wanted to help. She, afterall, grew up in a relatively healthy family.

Witherwing had two siblings who she loved dearly. Her mother and father were both long since dead, way before the trio set foot in the barrier separating their new home from the outside. She didn’t have any memory of them but deep down she believed that they were amazing parents who would risk their lives to save their kits. It was probably what happened to them, at least in her mind.

Witherwing and FennelStep both wanted children so very badly. Each one was too afraid to tell the other that they were ready to settle down- worried that their past would somehow disrupt their life or have some sort of effect on them and their relationship with their future children. All worry washed away the moment the two of them reunited after a patrol and met with their child, a sweet and sickly small kit who’s fur matched that of his mothers, Fennel.

Witherwing swore that she would, despite the odds, make sure this kitten had the whole world. She wanted to foster his growth and teach him that no matter what type of family life you come from you can always be kind and loving and have a life that you truly and deeply want. That would be her legacy, breaking the cycle of trauma in her family and giving the world to her family- who would hopefully do the same for their children and grandchildren for all of eternity.


Word Count: 315

[FoxyCipher]

Username: FoxyCipher
Clan: Summerclan
Quest Number: 1
Response:

"You test my patience, Flamesight."

Summerclan's deputy, a slender siamese with a kinked tail by the name of Cedarfang, glowered down from his perch on the Sunrock at the unrepentant tabby in the clearing below. "I don't know what Summerstar ever saw in you."

"What she saw, Cedarfang, was a place worth calling home," Flamesight called back up, earning another look of disdain from the young deputy. "Personally, I had very little to do with it outside of discovering the Sunrock. There's a good reason I wasn't named leader after that mess got settled." Her tail swished back and forth as she absently examined one paw. "Not that I was ever cut out for leadership, mind you. Too much responsibility."

"There's a good reason you should have been exiled, is what there is," the tom replied flatly, picking his way down the rocky slope until he and the tabby were mere paw-lengths away from each other. "What in Starclan's name were you thinking? You know as well as any of us that extra lives are reserved for leaders only - you've disgraced not only yourself, but our entire clan." Cedarfang's whiskers twitched in annoyance. "Some noble founder you are."

Flamesight sized up the siamese in front of her. He was a lightweight, by warrior standards, but made up for it with swift claws and a ferocity rivaled only by the black bears that occasionally disturbed the clan's peace. She could take him, but it wasn't worth roughing up another cat - especially not the clan deputy - just to prove a point. "The only cat I've 'disgraced' in all of this is myself, thank you very much. My actions do not reflect the attitude of the clan at large; merely my own will to survive."

Cedarfang made a face like he had just stepped in wolf droppings. "Will to survive? To die in battle is an honor befitting of any warrior, especially for one wounded as grievously as yourself." He waved a paw at Flamesight's left eye, which was scarred over almost to the point of being nonexistent. "Why in Starclan's name would you want to live the rest of your life half-blind?"

Flamesight wheeled suddenly on the tom, her claws swiping a little too close to his nose for either cat's comfort. "Why?! Why should I throw my life away when there's still more to live? Why wouldn't any injured cat fight to survive when given the choice? If every cat simply gave up when wounded in battle, there would be no clan left to speak of!"

In the silence that followed, Flamesight realized that she was shouting at the poor deputy, whose posture had withered under the weight of her outburst. Taking a step back, she exhaled sharply and tried again. "Crippled cats like myself have as much right to live as any other cat, leader or otherwise. Stealing an extra life was not an acceptable way to go about it, I understand, but I am not willing to abandon the rest of my lifespan to an injury that can be worked around. I am just as worthy a warrior as any other cat in this clan, and you would do well not to forget that. Understood?"

Cedarfang sighed. "Understood." Stubborn as Flamesight was, she did have a point - she had learned to live half-sighted just fine, and was perhaps a better hunter now than she had ever been. Still, having to capitulate to a cat who had stolen a star from Starclan was deeply humiliating in of itself. "You're awful lucky Summerstar wasn't here to see this, you know. What would she think, taking a swipe at your own deputy like that?"

Flamesight snorted. "She'd think you were a real fuzz-brain for thinking that she'd care about something that small, for one." The tabby shot the young siamese a snide smirk. "Then again, it seems like nobody in this clan is capable of respecting their elders."

"Wha- excuse me?!" Cedarfang balked. "You're only a year older than I am, and you know it!"

"That sounds like a you problem, Cedarpaw."

"That's Cedarfang to you!"

"Whatever you say, Cedarkit. Have fun playing leader until Summerstar gets back."

Word Count: 697 words

[StormSerpent]

Username: StormSerpent
Clan: Universes Eclipse

Quest Number: 2. Draw a cat who has some unusual interests
Response:

Word Count: n/a

Quest Number: 3. Write about the legacy your character wishes to leave behind after they pass
Response:
Jessie’s hands shook, their unbeating heart would be racing if it could, as their nonexistent surroundings warped and swirled. A nauseous feeling rising in the pit of her stomach as she tumbled back into reality, dreading to know which reality it was this time around.

Their hands were quickly grabbed and they were dragged to their feet. They raised their tired gaze to see who awaited them in this hell. It was a bedraggled young man with violet eyes and long, messy hair. They didn’t recognize him.

“AHA- haha- it.. WORKED- I predicted you’d show up again here and now- and look, here you are!” The stranger seemed a little maniacal.

“Who are you..?” He asked, pulling away from the stranger. He felt a strange sense of deja vu shoot down his spine.

The mad stranger’s face fell as he crumpled in defeat. “Jessie… not again, please… please-“

Their eyes flicked down to the chain around their neck, and the pendant hanging from it. That was familiar, Jessie was the name engraved on their necklace. “You know my name. But I don’t know yours.” They state absently, they don’t, really care. It’s just an observation.

“You do, please, we grew up together… and even after you- I’ve told you so many times. Please recognize me.” His voice was wracked with desperation, but it was in vain. He sighed, he was used to this expressionless face of pure unrecognition by now. “Fine, you forgot again. Of course you did.” Jessie frowned at this unnecessary jab. They didn’t even know this guy. “I’m Alexander, you know, your big brother, Lexie? The guy who promised to always protect you?”

“Okay. Is there something you want from me?” Jessie turned to leave now that that’s settled.

“Jessie WAIT-“ He reached out in a motion as if to grab their arm and stop them. But he hesitated and his hand froze an inch away, and with a sigh he let his arm drop, hand falling back in place at his side.

“Why do you care what I do? I don’t even know you.”

“You’re my little sibling- and it’s my fault you’re like this, I need to save you…” He was tripping over his words, stumbling with every thought. His voice wracked with all sorts of emotions but Jessie couldn’t tell you what they were even if they wanted to.

“Do you think you owe me something? Forget it. One sided debts are meaningless.” They hardly knew what they were talking about, everything felt meaningless. The universe was vast, and cold, and empty, but most of all, utterly meaningless. So why was this strange man so hung up on something so unwanted by the one he claims he wants to help.

“What are you asking me to do? You may be dead- but you’re still here! And you still need my help!” He wasn’t thinking, it was a slip of the tongue and Jessie’s eyes flashed with a spark recognition.

“You’re right, aren’t you. I’m dead.” It was a brief moment of clarity in the foggy abyss. This realization wouldn’t last long, and she knew that. The scientist was about to speak but Jessie interrupted.
“No. You, Alexander. I want you to hear me and listen. I may exist here and now in this form. But your sibling is dead, they’re gone. You need to accept that, and stop chasing memories and delusion. Please move on with your life. You don’t need to forget me. Mourn and hold your vigil if you wish. But please don’t cling to broken fragments of what once was. I don’t want you holding onto a concept of long gone love.”

Alexander was just shaking his head, repeating the same words of “no, it can’t be true” it didn’t seem that he was really listening.

But time is up and Jessie can feel the world shifting, rearranging piece by piece, just like his mind. He could only hope that his words, of which he’d already forgotten, might stick better in the heart of that strange man.
Word Count: 676

[faelyn]

hello! i will be taking over judging and exp for the may quest board results! since this was a fairly large round, please dm me if anything is missed! our special supernova winner is skywishes21 who won blue-ginger myth edit!

Quest #1
cecro - 20xp
kazin - 35xp
dimi. - 65xp
hazelfang - 60xp
mireyadc - 230xp
nektar - 40xp
Archaeopteryx.- 30xp
thani - 35xp
skywishes21 - 80xp
stormserpent - 65xp
Polluux. - 45xp
anpu - 35xp
clouds-move-on - 40xp
osamu - 30xp
harvestberry - 35xp
kyeza - 30xp
sushifoxx - 60xp
aizaka - 30xp


Quest #2
cecro - 35xp
dimi - 80xp
hazelfang - 60xp
mireyadc - 160xp
nektar - 45xp
Archaeopteryx.- 35xp
spideysense - 45xp
thani - 50xp
stormserpent - 35xp
Polluux. - 50xp
crexmii - 50xp
anpu - 115xp
clouds-move-on - 50xp
osamu - 25xp
harvestberry - 65xp
feverrr - 35xp
sushifoxx - 50xp

Quest #3
kazin - 50xp
dimi - 45xp
hazelfang - 50xp
mireyadc - 85xp
nektar - 35xp
thani - 45xp
skywishes21 - 80xp
stormserpent - 55xp
Polluux. - 30xp
anpu - 60xp
clouds-move-on - 50xp
harvestberry - 35xp
mahogany - 75xp
kyeza - 25xp
sushifoxx - 35xp


"And here are some special prizes for those who put extra effort into their entries!
You can use this to buy some cool stuff from StarClan's shop!"

cecro - 110sd
kazin - 170sd
dimi. - 380sd
hazelfang - 340sd
mireyadc - 950sd
nektar - 240sd
Archaeopteryx.- 130sd
spideysense - 90sd
thani - 260sd
skywishes21 - 320sd
stormserpent - 310sd
Polluux. - 250sd
crexmii - 100sd
anpu - 420sd
clouds-move-on - 280sd
osamu - 110sd
harvestberry - 270sd
mahogany - 150sd
feverrr - 70sd
kyeza - 110sd
sushifoxx - 290sd
aizaka - 60sd


"Thank you all for participating! I loved hearing about each of your Clans!"

"While I loved all of your entries, these ones were my favorites! Here's something extra for your hard work!"

Quest #1 - Hazelfang and MireyaDC
+1 UR MYO each

Quest #2 - spideysense and harvestberry
+1 UR MYO each

Quest #3 - Kazin and Stormserpent
+1 R MYO each