[Mythz]

While travelling, this cat comes across another creature. What is it and how do they both react?
min. 200 words
max. 800 words + 2 art pieces

ends June 27th

Code: Select all

[b]Username:[/b]
[b]Cat Name:[/b]
[b]Gender:[/b]
[b]Rank:[/b]
[b]Clan:[/b] (Please link)
[b]Age:[/b] (1 year or above)
[b]Prompt:[/b]

x
Name:
Gender:
Rank:
Clan:
Description: Black Ruddy Ticked Tabby with White
Age:
Edits: [c] ear tufts, fangs [uc] mid fur [r] short/curled tail
Owner:

[SilentMelody]

Username: SilentMelody
Cat Name:
Gender:
Rank:
Clan: (Please link)
Age: (1 year or above)
Prompt: Mark!!

[Canis Root Tea]

G'luck all!

[BigFrog4231]

Mark 👁👁

[stqrveil]

Username: stqrveil
Cat Name: Thistletooth
Gender: tom
Rank: Warrior
Clan: VerdantClan
Age: 17 moons
Prompt:

Thistletooth was exploring his newly found surroundings on a brisk winter evening when he came face-to-face with a young lynx, it was slightly larger then him, and it's eyes filled with curiosity, not malice. Thistletooth jumped back, eyes wide with alarm and the lynx did the same. He couldn't help but notice its pointed striped face, it almost resembled a tiger's, and its long tufted ears like he'd never seen before.
"H-hello," he stammered, unsure of the response. It let out a series of meowls (which Thistletooth hardly understood), turned tail and tumbled through the undergrowth loudly with its short bob tail in the air. Almost immediately did Thistletooth remember the danger he was in. The mother must be close.
"Lynxes!" he panted under his breath, sprinting as fast as he could to safety.

[ethium]

Username: ethium
Cat Name: caracalfire
Gender: tom
Rank: warrior
Clan: elmclan
Age: 63 moons
Prompt: (he comes face to face with the shadow stalker >:3)

Gingerly, caracalfire made his way through the forest. He was returning from spiderwort clearing, mouth and nose stuffed full of herbs requested by the healers, when the sun began to slowly set on the horizon.

"oh ancestors-" he exclaimed through a mouthful of plants and began to pick up his pace, eager to get to camp as fast as possible. If night was beginning to fall that meant that danger was coming, and though he would love to keep the herbs he would gladly abandon them if it meant saving his own hide from the shadowstalker... as the forest around him began to become darker, his gait became more frantic, his ears flicking back and forth, desperate to hear the sounds of camp, to see the warmth of other bodies and to smell the warding herbs painted and placed around camp. "please, please, please-" he mumbled, his eyes growing wider the longer he remained in the open woods. Then panic began to settle itself in his chest, like a trapped bird fluttering in his ribcage. He dropped the herbs reluctantly, knowing he would get a verbal lashing for it later but his self-preservation began to kick in. Panting to keep his panic in check, he forced himself to fall silent and listen. All around him, in the darkness he listened to the sound of night birds and crickets in the distance. Chirping happily to themselves. Fireflies danced in the bushes in the distance, small twinkling lights that sparkled up from the earth like stardust. There was noise all around him, but none of it indicated the direction his clan was in.

He was just about to set off in a direction, when the forest suddenly fell silent. The fireflies winked out abruptly, and a chill went down caracalfire's spine. he began to ramble, panicking all the while "ancestors please protect me, please, i'll never do anything stupid again, i won't take from the prey pile early, i won't disobey i'll do anything you ask just please-" his eyes widened as the shadows began to swirl, forming into a menacing, hulking beast, hunched and grotesque it chittered and turned towards him with beady, slick eyes. It's maw opened to reveal rows of slimy, needle-like teeth, matted fur and long claws that had harmed many caracalfire knew personally. He felt his throat dry up at the sight, and felt his blood begin to run cold. "ancestors protect me." he whispered through a dry throat and felt frozen to the spot as the creature let out a low, throaty hiss. It rasped his name to caracalfire's horror

"caaracaalffiirreee-" the air seemed to thrum around them. "I will sssshhowww youu your safffetyy, jussst come closserr" it rasped, dragging itself forward and scratching the damp earth with it's slimed black claws. He couldn't move, he felt mesmerized, like he was being drawn into those black, soulless eyes.. like he could drown in them. He was snapped back to reality when the creature lunged at him, raking it's claw down his shoulder. He yowled in agony, and then seemed to regain his ability to move. Ducking under the remarkably fast creature he dashed past the herbs he had dropped, and then stopped.

the thought came to him so abruptly it felt like he had been hit like a jolt of lightning. There was dill in the herb pile he had gathered! It felt as if the ancestors themselves had come down for his protection, he did a 180, almost freezing as he caught sight of the monster again. It grinned at him from rows of needle teeth, as if confident in victory it stalked ever-closer. The creature seemed cocky, and certain that it would win to the point that it seemed to enjoy tormenting him by stalking ever-closer. Caracalfire charged towards the herb pile, quickly rummaging through it. It wasn't hard to find the dill, and he snatched it up in his mouth, charging at the shadow stalker with a vicious yowl. "get back!" he howled, and the creature, stumbled backward in surprise. It let out a rusty laugh and approached him again, but then suddenly stopped. As if repelled. It made a horrible, enraged hiss and once again tried to charge him. "In the name of my ancestors get back you horrible evil!" he yowled once more, and the shadow stalker growled once again. It watched him from the tree line, thinking for a moment, before finally opening it's needle toothed mouth.

"I will find you caracalfire.. and when I do, you will be mine."

and with that the shadow stalker disappeared into the woods, sparing caracalfire of darkness that evening.

[776 words]

[houndjaw]

Username: houndjaw
Cat Name: Martenfang
Gender: Molly
Rank: Deputy
Clan: Briarclan
Age: 3 years
Prompt:
Martenfang had just pushed past the wall of brambles blocking the camp from the back-barrier flats when she stopped to take in the view. The small bubbling stream was frozen over, to the ground it appeared. The river beyond flowed freely, great gashes of ice drifting along. Snow heaps washed ashore the same time she approached. The molly let out a tired, dramatic groan. Early snowfalls always meant long winters.

A sound far off in front of her made the cold jump from her body. Crouching so low her belly brushed the freezing pebbles, Martenfang tensed all her muscles. Whatever threat had come upon her so suddenly, she wouldn't give them an easy meal.

The bushes across the wide river rustled again, the tips dropping snow onto its lower branches. This went on for several heartbeats before a lean figure slid out into view. Dread welled up inside Martenfang's throat as she realized just what had taken shape: a bobcat, jowls hanging low and paws as large as her head. Its pelt was laced with scars, some ragged with age and others new and pink. The bobcat had a look of maturity, but more so just seemed tired. Its heavy scent filled up Martenfang's nostrils.

It bent low to drink from the river, taking time to let the freezing water warm in its mouth. Martenfang was petrified, unsure what to do. Did she chance making herself known, running back to camp? Or did she stay as still as the rocks below her? In the end, it didn't matter, because just as the bobcat was raising back up it caught Martenfang's eyes.

Its eyes, so similar to a cat's, seemed so much deeper and primal. These were the eyes of a true predator. And Martenfang felt her stomach drop. Oh gods, please don't let me die! she pleaded, gripping the ground with all of her claws unsheathed. So many cats, so many clanmates, had met their end under the fangs of a bobcat. They were dangerous, especially in the winter when food was scarce. And cats were lean and slow compared to a bobcat. Martenfang let fear seize her body.

"Early snowfall, eh?" The bobcat had spoken, its voice low and effortless. It held Martenfang's gaze, and in turn the molly felt imprisoned like a moonstruck hare.

It spoke again, "I'm not going to eat you. Too much effort." With a sigh, it straightened from its crouched position. Rasping a paw over its tufted ears, it shot needle-point eyes over Martenfang. He was waiting for her to speak.

Throat still seized with terror, her voice came out as a hoarse whisper. "What do you want?" It sounded more pleading than questioning in her ears. She was already begging for her life.

The bobcat settled back with a tired sigh. "Hmm..." he took a moment, if anything than to savor the moment. "To pass this land before the cold truly sets in." A rattling, low chuckle escaped him. It ended in a huff, as if it had taken all his energy to laugh. "I do not have long in this world," he added. "I want to be warm when I go to the stars."

Martenfang was startled by this. Her brows furrowed, she sat in silence. The river gently gurgling was the only sound to pierce the silence.

After a few quiet moments, the bobcat rose to his feet. "Well, cousin. I must be on my way. This land is quite dangerous." He cast her a curious glance. "Alone, anyway. Farewell." With a tip of his head, the looming creature meandered down the river. Martenfang watched him until the figure disappeared behind the bushes, then slowly got to her feet. What had she just witnessed?

On her way back to camp, the encounter played back in her mind. Never in her years had she encountered such a fierce animal that did not instantly kill, either for prey or for sport. Wisdom and exhaustion had shone in the old bobcat's eyes. Maybe it had realized that Martenfang was too much of a hassle. Or maybe...He had met a fellow traveler in the dead of night. Alone and freezing, he had seen himself in his smaller cousin.

Martenfang shook out her pelt as she entered camp. Everyone was still blissfully asleep, and as she settled down to attempt rest once again, she thought of the bobcat. Inwardly, she prayed to her ancestors that he met his own in the end. She prayed that when the time came, he was met with sunshine warming his fur.

[ 761 words ]

[Mythz]

Congrats! A RU will go to houndjaw

Username: ethium
Cat Name: caracalfire
Gender: tom
Rank: warrior
Clan: elmclan
Age: 63 moons
Prompt: -snip-

[houndjaw]

thanks! congrats, ethium!! <3