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dynoguard · 7 months

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History's Lance - A Side Story

My name is Ronax Tallplume. I am an archivist, class 4, Civilian Logistics, Agriculture and Welfare.

I don't know where I am.

That's not entirely true. I am in my house, or what's left of it, but my house is not all here. Nor is what's here where it should be.

I remember emergency sirens, and an alert broadcast. Someone from one of the Science Towers talking about an emergency procedure. I just remember looking up and seeing a ball of fire in the sky.

Then screaming and then-

The fireball looked at me. No, that's not right.

Then it was very cold, and very quiet.

Then I was here.

The rear half of my home is still entirely intact, as is a section of the yard outside and some of the sidewalk. My kitchen is where the home ends abruptly, cut cleanly through as though by a laser. There's no sign of burns or scorches, but along this line on the ground is a thin ring of irregular cyan-colored crystal growths.

This line forms a circle about 20 meters across centered on the house's capacitor box. Everything within the circle is just as it was before the siren went off.

Everything outside the circle is utterly wrong.

I do not recognize the plant life. There are trees and shrubs, but their leaves are strangely shaped. In place of the carpet ferns are simple leaves that poke up through dry, patchy soil. The air is also dry, and chilly, and it smells wrong.

It's night. I must have been knocked out for half a day at least. And there's no lights anywhere, much less the entire city of Tailspire.

Where the spike am I?

I spent most of the night taking stock of my situation. The recorder is charged for the foreseeable. I have some food from the half of the kitchen that's here, but water will be a problem.

I took the hangar pole from my bedroom closet. I don't have any weapons, so a tail's length hollow steel rod will have to do.

I've set out to find water. I've started hiking downhill. West by the sun's position.

I found a stream after six hexands or so. I've marked the trail with some rocks, and am following the stream. I've spotted more signs of life. Some of the insects seem familiar, but they are a fraction of the size. I've spotted a variety of unfamiliar birds, none of whom seem to have teeth.

No flappers though.

I also saw something else. Some kind of giant vole, I think. It had four legs, was covered in short, flat fuzz, and had curling horns coming from the sides of its head. Instead of scuttling on the ground it stood with its legs directly under it, legs that each ended in a pair of black claws. It barely had a tail to speak of. It'd say it was five, six claws long, muzzle to haunches.

It gave a low, staccato honk and ran into the foliage when I tried to get close.

Is this Primore at all? Did I get thrown to some other planet, or skipped into another universe like on Worldshifters? Something about the crystal ring seems familiar.

There we go... the stream led right to a small lake and...

A village! Little stone and wood houses in the distance. Dromeons by the size of the houses! Thank Zarr!

They weren't dromeons.

They were tailless, flat-faced things that smelled like cittervoles, about half my size. They wore clothing, they had tools, but they're completely alien. I tried to approach slowly to not spook them, but they ran as soon as I spoke.

I'd hoped that my F.I.S.H. would be able to pick up on their language, but the charge is drained and it doesn't use the same cells as the recorder.

I waited a bit to see if any would come out to try and communicate, but after three came out holding what appeared to be large knives or small swords, I decided to attempt again later.

I returned to the pond to try and speak with the creatures again. When I arrived, one of their number came forward with two animals like the four-legged vole-thing I saw on the path. It led them with plant-fiber ropes looped around their necks.

Livestock, I assume.

The creature left the two livestock animals tied to a post next to the pond, a new addition since the last time I arrived, and ran back to one of the houses when I tried to approach.

I'm twice their size, and I can see now that they don't have claws or fangs, or any natural armaments at all that I could see. I must be terrifying to them. The animals are a gift to appease me, it seems. Maybe the pole scared them. I'll leave it behind next time.

I have food enough for now. But that won't last long. If I'm not rescued, I may have to take them up on that.

It has been a thirdmoon. I have taken the creatures' livestock offerings twice, on days were I was not able to trap wild game. The four-limbed voles are gamey but filling when you cook them right. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes. I've been leery to try the plant life since I have no idea what is poisonous.

I've been thinking about Meg a lot. Partially because I miss her, but mostly because she was always talking about StarNest. She loved everything about space travel, especially the science. She'd go on and on about all of it. Especially the stasis thing. Time slip.

"Did you know they use time slip fields to make more chronite?"

I remember her saying those exact words.

"When the field collapses, everything in the space gets shoved out. Anything that doesn't undergoes the Bronzehorne process and forms chronite crystals."

I remember it so clearly. Maybe because she said it. Maybe because of the ring. The dirt just beyond the ring bulges. It's harder than the surrounding earth. Like it was packed together.

I've been in the time slip. I have no idea how long. If Meg was here she'd know. She was good with science and stars and things.

I didn't notice before, but the stars are different. Even I know that takes a long time. Long enough for voles to learn to make swords. How long is that?

They told us in school we weren't the first people on Primore. They told us we probably wouldn't be the last. That was a comforting thought then.

I watched a vidplay once about a big-brain flapper that got frozen in ice and woke up in the modern world. Awful effects, dumb script, lot of plop-jokes.

He must have been so lonely.

The spiking voles attacked me.

They had one of their own tied to the pole when I went down to get water. It was wrapped up in white clothing and was screaming and wailing. I cut the ropes with my claws and tried to tell it calmly I wouldn't hurt it.

I heard weird, hard running steps behind me and before I turned around one of the little monsters had a spear in me. It was on one of their labor animals, both of them armored up like for war. I knocked them both down with my tail and ran.

I'm back at the house. I'm trying to bind the wound but it won't stop. I want to go home. I want the warm air. I want Meg.

Meg. Meg, where are you?

It's getting dark.

I don't want to hurt you! Listen, please!

I'm just lost. I'm like you, I talk, I can feel. Please!

Stop! I'm not a monster!

My arm, you broke my arm! Why are you doing this? You horrible naked little voles! Overgrown garden pests! ANIMALS!

I never did anything to you and you stabbed me and burned my home!

Get back! I have teeth! I'll bite! That's what you understand isn't it? Hurting and biting and killing!?

Come at me then! You're so brave with your rocks and knives when I'm bleeding and tied up! You wanted to feed me one of you, so c'mon!

Do it. Do it you cowards!

Meg. Meg. I'll see you soon Me-

The last testimony of Ronax Tallplume, previously known as the Singing Stone of Silene, recently translated by and repatriated to representatives of the Granite Mountain Dinosovian enclave.

#short fiction #dynoguard #questionably canon #tragedy #dinosaurs #dino scalie #time travel #dragon slaying #saint george #ai assisted artwork

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funeralcity · 7 months

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fullmoon friendship <3 i saw her a few nights ago in the same area, but she spurned me when i called out to her... tonight she was incredibly friendly though, she came right up to me and immediately flopped on her back and let me pet her lots... then she kept me company and walked with me for about an hour, and showed me her amazing hunting and parkour talents. she caught a little vole and played with it for a while, then gave it to me... it was so tiny and warm in my hand and squeaked weakly, and wasnt bleeding or anything. i hid it back in the grass where it had been when she caught it, i wasnt sure if it might be a juvenile whos mother might come back for it (its tail was so tiny and short). i wonder if i did the right thing, or if i should have brought it home and tried feeding it and giving it water... she did give it to me, after all. she was so sweet and friendly and comfortable around me, and didnt have a collar or anything, so i wonder if she is a runaway. there are many foxes and coyotes in the area. i hope she doesn't get caught by one. although i suppose it wouldnt be that different from her catching that vole. i hope i meet her again

#digicami #i guess lol

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antclan-blogs · 7 months

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MOON 19

Stoatpaw had a disagreement with Slightstar.

This moon’s story under the cut!

Stoatpaw wandered over to the fresh kill pile, nosing it hopefully for any sign of vole—ever since his father had introduced him to it as a kit, it had been his favourite piece of prey. The apprentice pricked his ears as he heard scuffling from behind him, and turned to see Sunleopard carrying a squirming lump of fur in her jaws.

“Hello, Stoatpaw.” She mewed, her voice muffled. “I wanted to show Sunnykit the camp.”

Stoatpaw grinned. Every cat knew that Sunleopard was particularly fond of the pale grey kit after Chaffinchbounce had named her after the ginger warrior.

“You know she’s only a moon old, right?” Stoatpaw asked, deciding on a plump rabbit to take back to the apprentice den. Sunleopard shrugged.

“She needs to get used to clan life.” Sunleopard decided.

Stoatpaw let out a mrrow of amusement as he padded away from the fresh-kill pile. “What about her sister?” He called, and Sunleopard only then seemed to realise what she’d forgotten.

Just as he was about to enter the warmth of the apprentice den and curl up with his prey, Slightstar’s mew sounded behind him.

“Not so fast, Stoatpaw!” The leader meowed. “You’re on sunhigh patrol today.”

Stoatpaw turned incredulously and dropped his rabbit. “But I was on the dawn patrol!” He protested.

Slightstar flicked her tail. “Rules are rules, I’m afraid. You know how short on cats we are.”

“Can’t Gladepaw do it? All he did all morning was some hunting training with Mossgleam!” Stoatpaw protested, shuffling his paws. It wasn’t fair! Why did he have to do all the work while his brother napped in his nest?

Slightstar sighed. “Stoatpaw, don’t make me say it twice. Gladepaw is going on the dusk patrol, and you’re going on the sunhigh patrol.” She told the apprentice firmly.

Stoatpaw was about to give in and return his fresh-kill in defeat, but something stopped him. Why should he have to go on two patrols without the chance to sit down?

“But I don’t want to!” He burst out. Slightstar, who had been walking away to visit Chaffinchbounce and his kits, turned sharply with blazing eyes.

“Stoatpaw! Don’t talk to your superiors that way.” She warned him, flicking her tail. Stoatpaw shrugged.

“Why shouldn’t I? You’re being unfair.” He told his leader, knowing he would end up clearing bedding for the rest of the moon for this small rebellion.

Slightstar took a calming breath and closed her eyes. “This isn’t like you, Stoatpaw. I wouldn’t have expected you to act out like this. Is there something you need to talk about?”

Stoatpaw scoffed. “No! I’m just bored of being a pushover, is all.”

By now, a few other clan members had gathered around the two arguing cats and were watching with wide eyes. It wasn’t every day you saw an apprentice defy the leader, after all.

Suddenly, Stoatpaw felt a heavy tail droop over his shoulders and looked up to see Badgerdust standing over him.

“Sometimes in life, things aren’t fair.” Badgerdust murmured, looking down at his apprentice fondly. “I’ll be on this patrol, if that makes it better?”

Stoatpaw turned away, ashamed of his brazen tone. “I suppose.” He brought himself to mutter, swallowing his pride.

Slightstar seemed to calm down, letting her fur lie flat once more. “I’m sorry, Stoatpaw.” She mewed. “I just want you to be the best warrior you can be, when the day comes. No cat ever said your apprenticeship would be easy.”

Stoatpaw nodded. He knew that Slightstar only wanted what was best for him, deep down. Nerves grew in the pit of his stomach as his actions caught up to him, and the apprentice shuffled his paws on the ground.

“Sorry, Slightstar. Are you going to punish me?” He mumbled apologetically, staring at the ground.

Slightstar let out a small mrrow of laughter. “Not this time, Stoatpaw. But don’t let it happen again, alright?”

Stoatpaw nodded, and Badgerdust gave him a nudge.

“Come on then,” the white warrior mewed, “or the patrol will leave without us!”

stoatpaw is in his rebel era!! ofc sunleopard is favouriting sunnykit too, sorry i thought tunnelkit was a dude but turns out she’s a lady

#warrior cats #clangen #antclan #clan generator #warriors

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cryptidclaw · 2 years

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Thunder Order Allegiances; Arc #2, Beginning

Note: cycle = year, moon = month, Hyrs = Human years; I tried to list the cats under each category in order of oldest to youngest.

Thunder Order:

Leader:

Star Fireheart - a short, very chubby, handsome, long furred, bright ginger ticked tabby tom with green eyes. He has a white leader’s mark: a diamond star shaped marking on a leader’s chest. (3 cycles, 8 moons; ~30 Hyrs)

Second:

Sandstorm - a yellowy cream tabby and solid black tortoiseshell molly with one orange eye and one green eye and a distinctive black marking covering exactly half her face. (3 cycles, 10 moons; ~31 Hyrs)

Apprentice: Sorrel

Healer(s):

Cinderspark - sleek, short furred, mostly dark gray tabby molly with orange speckles across her face and back like sparks on cinders and dark blue eyes. Her back left leg is heavily scarred and paralyzed. (3 cycles, 2 moons; ~28 Hyrs)

Apprentice: Leaf

Hunt Charge:

Cloudtail - short, very chubby, fluffy white tom with blue eyes. (2 cycles, 11 moons; ~27 Hyrs)

Guard Charge:

Mousebite - small, short furred, dull brown ticked tabby molly with yellow eyes. (10 cycles, 6 moons; ~58 Hyrs)

Apprentice: Spider

Warriors:

Frostpad - a sleek long furred, beautiful, white molly with blue gray and orange calico patches, and one blue eye and one orange eye. (8 cycles, 10 moons; ~51 Hyrs)

Thornclaw - fluffy, long furred, cream tabby tom with dark blue eyes. (3 cycles, 1 moons; ~28 Hyrs)

Apprentice: Vole

Brightheart - fluffy, long furred white molly with orange tabby patches, and green eyes. Half of her face has a large scar covering it, and her eye on that side is scarred shut, she is missing most of that ear, and has scars on the rest of her body as well. (3 cycles, 1 moons; ~28 Hyrs)

Ashfall - medium spiky furred gray tabby tom with dark gray stripes and blue eyes. (2 cycles, 10 moons; ~27 Hyrs)

Brambleflower - long furred dusty golden-cream tabby tom with amber eyes. (1 cycle, 11 moons; ~23 Hyrs)

Snowshoe - short furred, white tom with blue eyes and folded over ears. (1 cycle, 10 moons; ~23 Hyrs)

Mistletoe - long furred brown and orange sepia color-point tortoiseshell molly with purple eyes. (1 cycle, 10 moons; ~23 Hyrs)

Sootfur - sleek, long furred dark gray, almost black tom with a white under belly and orange eyes. (1 cycle, 9 moons; 23 Hyrs)

Rainwhisker - Sleek, long furred pale gray tom with a white underbelly and blue eyes. (1 cycle, 9 moons; 23 Hyrs)

Caretakers:

Goldenflower - beautiful, long furred, golden cream tabby molly with a white underbelly and golden yellow eyes. (8 cycles, 1 moons; ~40 Hyrs)

Shriketail - tall, long limbed and tailed, pale brown tabby tom with dark black stripes, a white stomach and scarred over cloudy blind eyes. (3 cycles, 11 moons; ~31 Hyrs)

Dustbranch - buff, chubby, dark brown sepia color-point tom with purple eyes. (3 cycles, 9 moons; 30 Hyrs)

Apprentice: Squirrel

Littleleaf - a short, very chubby, long furred brown and orange tabby calico molly with a white underbelly, and green eyes. (3 cycles, 8 moons; ~30 Hyrs)

Brackenburrow - sleek, short furred, brownish red tabby tom with dark blue eyes. (3 cycles, 2 moons; ~28 Hyrs)

Apprentice: White

Apprentices:

Sorrel - a long furred white molly with black and orange tabby calico patches and green eyes. (1 cycle, 9 moons; 23 Hyrs)

Leaf - a short, very chubby, short furred brown and orange tabby calico molly with a white underbelly, and orange eyes. (9 moons; 13 Hyrs)

Squirrel - a slender, long furred dark ginger ticked tabby molly with solid black patches and green eyes. (9 moons; 13 Hyrs)

Spider - slender, long limbed, short furred, dark brown sepia color point tom with purple eyes. (8 moons; 12 Hyrs)

Shrew - a small short furred, brown tabby tom with green eyes. (8 moons; 12 Hyrs)

Yarrow (Whitewing) - fluffy, long furred white molly with green eyes. (6 moons; 10 Hyrs)

Queens:

Ferncloud - long furred, sleek, light gray tabby molly, with a white underbelly, and green eyes. (2 cycles, 10 moons; ~27 Hyrs)

Kits: Birch, Holly, and Larch (½ moon; ½ Hyr)

Elders:

Specklesnap - long furred cream ticked tabby tortoiseshell with gray speckle patches on her back and tail, and golden yellow eyes. (15 cycles, 4 moon; ~77 Hyrs)

Dappledew - round, chubby, short furred, white molly with black and orange calico patches and dappled spots and yellow eyes. (13 Cycles, 1 moons; ~69 Hyrs)

Downnose - short furred, tall, long limbed, white deaf molly with distinctive large floppy ears and blue eyes. (11 cycles, 7 moons; ~62 Hyrs)

#cryptidclaw's warriors au #rise of change #warrior cats #warriors au #TNP #the new prophecy

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kittypets-unite-au · 3 months

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Worldbuilding Tidbits: RiverClan Territory

General description: RiverClan territory is a mix between a grassland and a marsh, with many streams intersecting the territory. Their territory to the very west is a twoleg campsite, but thankfully it’s rare for them to venture far into their land. The grasses range from short to long, and trees, while fairly sparse compared to ThunderClan, are still show up. Trees include willows, magnolia, birches, cottonwoods, maples, cypresses, and hornbeams, with the occasional pine or fir trees growing toward the northeast near fourtrees. Common undergrowth includes yarrow, reeds, rushes, bulrushes, cornflowers, dandelions, spotflowers, baneberry bushes, buckeye bushes, winterberry bushes, dogtooth violets, snakeroot, foxgloves, garlic, leeks, honeysuckles, brambles, cattails, water lilies, sedges, ragweed bushes, asters, chaffweeds, lilacs, thimbleweeds, ferns, goldenrod, goldenseal, marigolds, and wormwoods.

Common prey: Trouts, salmon, perches, carps, bass, bluegills, wipers, catfish, breams, pikes, dances, chubs, walleyes, minnows, salmon, water voles, water shrews, wood ducks, ducks, grebe, rails, coots, moorhens, cranes, curlews, loons, and field mice

Rare prey: Swans, rabbits, geese, squirrels, storks

Common threats: Swans, geese, otters, flash floods, things being dumped into water and poisoning the fish, dogs from the campsite, occasional twolegs encroaching on their territory

TERRITORY:

The camp is a wide island surrounded by a gentle stream. The island is in the middle of the territory and is tucked into a grove surrounded by willow and elm trees. The dens are made out of woven reeds and willow branches secured to the ground with deeply-embedded sticks, but they’re designed to float if there’s a flash flood and stick together. The addressing place is a tall rock in the middle of the camp surrounded by water called the Riverstone, and the leader’s den is a large, uprooted bush woven with vines and branches and covered in moss and oak leaves next to a willow that is a few tail-lengths from the Riverstone. The deputy’s den is close to the leader’s den and is a woven mass of branches, reeds, and brambles secured by two branches in the ground. The druid’s den is a thick, hollowed out elm trunk with a roof woven from reeds and branches, and enough room to fit two druids and five patients. The nursery is a woven tangle of reeds and vines with moss plugging the holes situated near the entrance in case of emergencies with room for seven cats. The elder’s den is an old, hollowed log with enough room to fit seven cats. The lorekeepers, warriors, and caretaker dens are thick bushes with reeds and brambles woven in. The warriors den can fit up to 24 cats each, while the lore-keepers and caretaker’s dens can hold up to 12

Tribute Hill- A small hill situated just a little bit from the RiverClan camp, with the top being mostly flat. Lots of lavender, dandelions, and cornflowers grow here, and the top of the hill is the Tribute Stones and the Old Prayer Willow

Tribute Stones- A collection of stones placed on top of the Tribute Hill. Cats come here to pay tribute to passed loved ones, usually through flowers, well wishes, and pretty stones, and some cats even say prayers for the dead

Old Prayer Willow- The Old Prayer Willow is in the center of the Tribute Stones. It’s an old, tall willow whose branches shield the hilltop from bad weather and heat. Oftentimes, cats who are having difficulties in life or need advice from their ancestors go to the willow, as it’s said to be a hotspot for StarClan’s signs

River- The lifeblood of RiverClan, flowing through all parts of the territory in small streams and ponds. The main river wraps all around the territory, acting as a natural border between WindClan and ThunderClan. The river, at its most narrow part, is about 30 feet across, and is full of fish. Certain parts of the river are much more shallow, while some parts are known to flood during spring thaws. The river also gets low during particularly hot summers, which causes RiverClan to hunt on other parts of their land and/or fight for sunningrocks

Swirling Depths- This part of the river has a unique trait of the water swirling and swirling around, but this water is rarely fast enough to sweep away anyone, although it is a bit tricky to navigate. This area is used to help apprentices practice swimming and diving skills, and is an ideal spot to teach water combat

Marshy Shallows- Near the Twoleg Bridge is a marshy area, full of reeds, peat, moss, tall grass, and dogwood bushes. Hidden in the plant life are frogs and salamanders, and fish like to hang out here in the late spring and early summer

Twoleg Bridge- An old but sturdy bridge built by twolegs long ago. The bridge used to be frequented by twolegs as there was a hiking trail from the campsite to Fourtrees, but it has fallen in disuse as the twolegs rarely walk the path anymore. Now it’s only used by RiverClan to get to the gatherings

Twoleg Trail- Connected to the twoleg bridge is an old hiking trail that connects all the way back to the Summer Twolegplace, although it’s mostly grown over and never used nowadays. Seeds tend to scatter in this area during the spring and early summer that attract many types of birds and field mice, making this a valued hunting spot

Rushing Rapids- A little bit away from the twoleg bridge and nearing the gorge is the rushing rapids. The water is powerful and can easily sweep even the best swimmers down into the murky depths, but it is a great fishing spot, especially in the summer when the salmon come. Unfortunately, young apprentices sometimes challenge each other to swim in these waters, and every once in a while a cat dies from such a dare

Gorge- Carving out a natural border between RiverClan and WindClan, the gorge is a steep cut in the ground that contains the river, although the waters are much more wild. The gorge extends to the very outskirts of RiverClan territory and, if any cat feels adventurous enough, they can find the river that feeds into the gorge

Training Stones- A bit aways from the gorge is the training stones, a collection of large stones and soft, loamy earth. It’s a favorite spot for mentors to train apprentices in combat, and the ground is soft enough to cushion harsh falls

Grassy Hills- Gently sloped hills dotted with flowers and the occasional birch or elm. These hills are a great spot for land prey

Dragonfly Pond- In the grassy hills lie a large pond, fed by an underground spring. It has lots of lilypads, reeds, and spotflowers, and the pond is circled by sedge bushes. Dragonflies often flock to this pond, but the pond also contains minnows and shad

Wet Expanses- The grassy hills eventually blend into a marshy expanse of land, called the wet expanses. Many small streams, ponds, and puddles form in to soft, moist earth, and this place is a good spot for frogs, minks, muskrats, trout, and shad. Turtles live here as well, but they are considered sacred and are rarely touched. Catching a frog here in the early spring is considered good luck, and older cats say apprentices that catch them will have a successful moon

Cottonwood Grove- On higher land next to the wet expanses is a forest called cottonwood grove, named for the aforementioned trees that mostly grow here. Unlike ThunderClan’s forest however, these trees are spaced out and have sparse foliage. The forest also contains a few birch, cypress, and willows. Squirrels, mice, and voles roam the forest, but it’s considered bad luck to hunt here during times of easy prey. However, if a flood happens the clan shelters here

Fern Glade- In the middle of the cottonwood grove is a serene glade filled with ferns and wildflowers, surrounded by brambles and baneberry bushes. Here, lorekeeper apprentices learn stories of old and memorize the code, and history lessons are often held in this spot

The Blessed Fields- Right outside the cottonwood grove is a meadow with fertile soil, where herbs are abundant.

The River Cherry- At the end of the blessed field lies a lone, old cherry tree, sitting on a ridge overlooking the river. It’s said that Riverstar died on that hill, wishing to see his beloved river one last time before he died, and when he breathed his last, a cherry tree grew from his body. This tree blooms in the spring and early summer and is very beautiful. There’s a tradition that courtfriends take a part of this tree, be it a twig, a petal, or even one of the cherries to propose

Clear Pond- Next to the cherry tree is the clear pond, a pond full of small tadpoles and minnows. It’s forbidden to fish from this pond, as it’s said that Riverstar himself blessed that pond. When the moon is almost full, the druids travel to this bond to find omens of the clan’s fortune for the next moon

Clear Stream- Running from the clear pond is the clear stream, a small but fast current that runs all the way into a long-abandoned fox burrow.

Flowing Cavern- The flowing cavern is a fox burrow, long since abandoned and having not been occupied in ages. The stream pools in a small crevice on the floor before draining underground. If a cat is struggling with difficulties in their life, they are encouraged to stay a night in the den, as it’s said that the den allows StarClan cats to visit their loved ones and comfort them. Most cats say they wake up with a sense of deep peace and contentedness, sometimes with the smell of a dead loved one in their noses. Druids like to add herbs like lavender and rosemary to give it a soothing smell.

Pastures- A wide, honestly picturesque expanse of grassy meadows where horses are let out to graze and be rode. It's also a common place to have picnics or walk dogs, and kids play here a lot. Generally RiverClan avoids this area due to the high amounts of twoleg activity, plus the dogs pose a danger if they spot a patrol and manage to get loose, and the occasional twoleg kit will spot a cat and take them.

Summer Twolegcamp- At the further edge of the territory lies the Summer Twolegcamp, or called the twolegcamp for short. During the spring, summer, and early autumn, twolegs come in and out of the area and live in tents. The twolegs like to stay up late and play in the surrounding fields, but they thankfully never go too far unless a dog got loose.

#warrior cats #warrior cats au #warrior cats rewrite #warrior cats fanfic #worldbuilding #warriorcatsau

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pleistocene-pride · 15 days

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Mephitis mephitis better known as the striped skunk, seganku, scangaresse, sheegawk, common skunk, Alaska sable, mahcah, guli, Hudsonian skunk, nool'-tsee-a, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk, and prairie polecat, is a species of skunk which is endemic to the United States, southern Canada, and northern mexico. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats including grasslands, scrublands, deserts, montane areas, riverine woodlands, forests, and agriculture lands. For the most part they nocturnal lead solitary lives but will come together to socialize, particularly during the breeding season, and in winter multiple skunks may share a den to hibernate. They are largely insectivores feeding upon grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, worms, arachnids, grubs, centipedes, millipedes, and bees, but are also known to eat crayfish, crabs, fish, amphibians, small reptiles, carrion, apples, berries, cherries, corn, nightshade, young rabbits, white-footed mice, voles, eggs, and bird chicks. Like all skunks, they possess a pair of highly developed musk-filled scent glands which can spray a noxious liquid, known for its irritating foul stench, considerable distances. Because of this formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural predators, however they are known to occasionally be eaten by particularly hungery or determined coyotes, bobcats, wolverines, badgers, foxes, cougars, golden eagles, bald eagles, and great horned owls. Reaching around 18 to 32 inches (46.5 to 81.5cms) in length and 1.5 to 13lbs (.7 to 6.3kgs) in weight, striped skunks are a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail. The feet are plantigrade with bare soles, with the forefeet having five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. The color patterns of the fur vary greatly, but generally consist of a black base with a white stripe extending from the head which divides along the shoulders, continuing along the flanks to the rump and tail. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. Brown and cream colored individuals are also known to occur. The striped skunk is polygamous with the breeding season occurring from mid February to mid april. During this time a striped skunks genitals will grow considerably in size with males testicles swelling up to 4 times there usual size. They typically form harems with one male breeding with several females. After a 59 to 77 day pregnancy mothers will give birth to 2 to 18 kits, which open there eyes at around 3 weeks of age, are weaned by 6 to 7 weeks, and set off on there own at around 2.5 to 3 months old. Under ideal conditions a striped skunk may reach sexual maturity at 10 months old and live up to 10 years.

#pleistocene pride #pleistocene #pliestocene pride #pliestocene #cenozoic #ice age #stone age #skunk #striped skunk

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varverine · 2 months

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◉ HOW THE BEASTS CAME TO BE ◉

Firstmarten shook off her hairs into the Primordial Lake. These hairs turned into beasts and came to the shore. The short hairs became weasels, and those weasels that muddied their tails on the shore became stoats. Long hairs became polecats, sables and martens. A polecat has a dark mask on his face because of the silt stuck on his face. The ferret's skin burned out in the sun, and he began to roll in mud. That's how marbled polecat came to be. The marten, climbing out, smeared her breast with white clay and became white-hearted.

And other Fisrtbeasts followed Firstmarten's example.

Kvolke-Ho, the hero of fox legends, was born from a lump of swallowed fur that was spat out of Firstfox's mouth. All other descendants of Firstfox came out of the Lake.

At the bottom of the Primordial Lake rested the first rod of Mountain Quartz. When creating the Beforebeast, the Darkness had overdone it and put a too dense Dark Clot into it, which was cast to the bottom of the Skynesting along with the Earth. As it so happened, the denser the Darkness, the colder it was, and this solid clot became a frost crystal.

And some hairs touched it and became Snow Beasts.

So from the Hare came the Arctic Hare, from the Bear - the White Bear, from the Fox - the Arctic Fox, from the Vole - the Lemming, from the Otter - the Seal, from the Leopard - the Snow Leopard.

But snow did not exist in those times, the animals living in the primordial world did not know the cold. The Mountain Crystal, which was touched by the hairs, laid the Snow Beginning in the Snow Beasts. And they longed for winter.

Polar Bear, Arctic Fox and Irbis have conspired with the other Snow Beasts to create an eternal winter in Mirolapye. Some animals, such as weasels and stoats, managed to nurture their snowy beginnings themselves by stealing the shards of Mountain Quartz that Frostpelt had broken off to create winter. So weasels and ermines were able to change their pelts to snowy ones as soon as the cold weather came.

But the animals, unfit for frost, wailed from the cold, howling for help from the Sun. But the Sun could not melt the ice, because it spent too much energy shining all year round.

And the Stars intervened. They allowed the White Bear, Irbis and the Arctic Fox to rule only three months of the year, so that the Sun could rest and gain strength. And so it went.

But reluctantly the Snow rebels left their post, giving way to warmth. They would stay for a month or two.

Then the wise Stars divided the year into twelve parts, giving the remaining nine months to other beasts, so that they replaced each other, and thus the cold time was smoothly replaced by warmth.

Since then each month has borne the name of the beast in charge of that month.

◉ THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS ◉

❄ Whirlheart (Irbis)

❄ Icetail (Arctic fox)

❄ Frostpelt (White Bear)

🌿 Sunglance (Horse)

🌿 Clearstream (Shrew)

🌿 Flowersnuff (Mink)

🌻 Grassypaws (Hedgehog)

🌻 Baskingfur (Reed Cat)

🌻 Redbite (Noctule bat)

🍂 Fairhunt (Badger)

🍂 Goldenmane (Fox)

🍂 Rivergrip (Wolverine)

#mirolapye #writeblr #worldbuilding #art #xenofiction #artists on tumblr #writers on tumblr #animal fiction #mirolapye:kvolke-ho

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subliminallyroki · 9 months

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Here's a little something I wrote based off of my hermitcraft-warriors au. There's more to the world building, timeline, events, and such, so maybe I'll post that sometime later.

Anyhow, enjoy! And if it wasn't clear already, Macaw is Grian before he joined the Hermits' clan and he was given the name Parrotfeather. Also the hermits don't have a clan name, they just call themselves Hermits. They're kinda like a budget clan. Okay, yep, onto the story.

Macaw was tired. He had been walking for practically the entire day in this gods forsaken forest. It felt like he was going in circles, and now his paw pads were sore. It was great, just great.

By no means was he used to forests. All of the new smells bombarded his sensitive nose and caused him to sneeze. There were too many smells and too many pokey things, in his humble opinion. He couldn't tell head from tail. It didn't help that Macaw felt like he couldn't step anywhere without greenery in the way.

But it was a major improvement from whatever the two-legs had going on. Macaw shuddered at the reminder. He was glad to be gone from there. And he refused to remember the time before that.

The ginger cat sighed and paused. He sat down to give his aching paws a rest. Then gave up and layed down to extend fully in the soft grass. Macaw began the methodic task of licking his paws clean.

But he didn't get very far. The golden foliage tickiling his fur was too much to handle. Macaw, irritated and stressed, flicked his tail to and fro.

He had no clue what he was doing in a forest. He couldn't catch a mouse to save his life, much less sustain himself. It was stupid, maybe he should have just stayed with the deranged two legs after all. It was all so stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid-

Macaw froze suddenly. There was noise, voices. His eyes widened.

"Yeah, Mumbo, did'ja see me catch that vole!? It didn't even see me coming!"

"Scar, you ran head first into a tree."

There was silence for a moment. If Macaw hadn't been so terrified for his life, he would be laughing.

"Okay, well, those are just technicalities."

"Are we sure you don't need to see the medicine cat? I'm sure Fuchsiaflower would be happy to tell us if you've scrambled your brains."

"Oh, I'm sure she's already fed up with me. It's no biggie, though!"

The voices were getting louder. They were approaching and Macaw was doing nothing but sitting in the flowers, cowering like an idiot. His breaths were getting cut short. Surely, surely, this would be the end.

It was then that a slender brown and white tabby tom revealed himself from the brush. He was looking back over his shoulder when he stopped and realized Macaw was squatting right there.

Silence again.

Someone spoke from behind the tom, "What is it, Bristlescar? Ah- oh."

Another cat appeared, this time he was bigger and had black and white patches. And Macaw meant a lot bigger. He must've been at least twice his own size.

It was a tense moment of the three staring at each other before the brown tabby cracked a grin.

"Well hello there." The black and white cat glanced at his partner. Macaw couldn't decipher if it was in concern or exasperation.

"Uh, hi?" Macaw hesitantly let himself relax from his crouch. If they hadn't attacked him yet, chances are they wouldn't now.

"HI, hi! I'm Bristlescar! And this here is Mumblenose! What's your name - wait don't tell me, let me guess," the brown and white tom, Bristlescar apparently (seriously, who named these guys? Their mothers must have hated them), closed his eyes in what appeared to be concentration.

The other cat gave Macaw a look that told him this is a common occurrence. Then Mumblenose seemed to realize their situation and quickly broke eye contact. It was a little bit funny, Macaw had to admit.

"It starts with a G! No? Yeah? Well I'm going to call you G. You know why? Because you are in those golden plants and, you know, g like gold. Okay," Bristlescar looked pleased, he smiled at the other cat.

"Uh, my name is actually Macaw." Macaw was having difficulty comprehending what was happening right now.

"Oh! Well, do you mind if I call you G? Because I think I'm going to. You can call me Scar if I get to call you G, deal?"

Before Macaw got a chance to interrupt, the black and white tom butted in, "Scar, er, I really don't think this is going anywhere. We're supposed to be hunting prey and keeping intruders out of our territory."

But, judging by his tone, Mumblenose wasn't all that annoyed.

"Oh, come on Mumblenose! Look at him, look at how cute and small he is! I'm sure Turtlestar would adopt him immediately. Why don't we take him back to camp?" Bristlescar turned back to Macaw. Macaw wasn't sure he liked being called 'cute' or 'small'. In fact, he despised it. "Would you like to come with us to our home?"

Macaw could just barely see Mumblenose smiling and rolling his eyes...fondly? Maybe?

Macaw was just about to say something biting in response, until he actually considered. It would be kind of nice to have a home with other cats. Even if those cats are strange social outcasts and rejects.

And even if they have strange names and even stranger customs and live in the woods. These two were...nice.

Maybe it wouldn't be all that bad. Here in the forest, no one knew they existed. Most importantly, no one could find Macaw. And the two cats were giving him warm, reassuring looks.

Macaw fully stood up from within the golden flowers. He faced them.

"You know what? Sure, why not."

"Ah-maz-ing!" Bristlescar exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Glad to have ya, mate. If you decide to stay, I'm sure you'll fit in just fine." Mumblenose added.

And with that, the two forest cats turned tail deeper into the foliage and Macaw scampered up to follow them. For once in his life, Macaw could put his past behind him and open up to a brand new, and hopefully safe, beginning.

#hermitcraft #hc s6 #warrior cats au #warrior cats #grian #mumbo jumbo #goodtimeswithscar #hermitcraft fanfic #the story of character Grian except hes a cat #theyre all cats im not sorry

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pickerelstripe · 10 months

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[CM] Mammals - Prey

Third and final mammal post (for now), most of the animals here are taken by ClayClan as prey. They’re the size of or smaller than cats and generally safe to hunt, though there are exceptions. Below are translations for red-backed voles, bog lemmings, eastern chipmunks, and short-tailed shrews, plus several animals with the same name as base Clanmew.

Bats (general) - Fip* There’s several bat species in ClayClan, buuuut I’m yet to look into them, so for now I’m just listing the general term. Bats aren’t hunted (they’re too fast and have too little meat) but are instead enjoyed as nimble predators in their own right. Someday I’ll make a bat expansion with more words!

Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) - Yywaya* Cat-sized or slightly larger. The largest mammal that’s regularly hunted; hares make for a challenging but rewarding meal. They change color depending on the season, bearing a mottled brown coat in summer and a pure white one in winter. The god Chikik is believed to resemble a snowshoe hare!

Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) - Morfaf* Long snake-like body, very similar to an ermine. Both a hunter and the hunted - weasels compete with cats for small mammalian prey like mice and chipmunks, but are also killed to be eaten by the Clan.

Gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) - Chakchak* About a third of the size of a cat. These animals are found all over the forest, especially during fall, when they bury nuts for later retrieval. Hunted year-round as a hearty meal. Typically gray-and-white but sometimes all black!

Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) - Twipip A small, relatively non-challenging prey animal. Easy to find foraging on the ground in open woodland.

White-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) - Nai* White-footed mice are hunted often, but warriors must be careful to inspect the prey before transporting it for one important reason - white-footed mice are a favored host of larval deer ticks! Nobody wants to be the one responsible for bringing those back to camp...

Red-backed vole (Myodes rutilus) - Kakak Common and easy to hunt, but not preferred due to their lack of meat. More valuable in winter when other prey becomes scarce.

Bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi) - Wee Rare! Sometimes hunted when found, but generally considered not worth it due to their small size.

Star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) - Bosgo* Found in shallow tunnels under wet soil. Hunted on occasion. Considered strange for their branching nose tentacles.

Short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda) - Mwsswo (mwssaf*, owo*) Hunted semi-frequently, but warriors must be careful to avoid getting bit, as short-tailed shrew saliva contains a toxin that causes unusually painful bites!

#claymew #mammals #prey

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michaelnordeman · 4 days

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Short-tailed field vole/åkersork. Värmland, Sweden (April 27, 2024).

#short-tailed field vole #vole #åkersork #rodents

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dailyunsolvedmysteries · 2 years

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Disney and The ‘White Wilderness’ Animal Cruelty Case

In 1958 Walt Disney produced "White Wilderness," part of the studio's "True Life Adventure" series. "White Wilderness" featured a segment on lemmings, detailing their strange compulsion to commit mass suicide.

Lemmings are a kind of short tailed vole, a mouse-like rodent that favors tundra and open grasslands. Three kinds are found in Alaska, including the collared lemming, the only rodent that turns white in winter.

According to a 1983 investigation by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation producer Brian Vallee, the lemming scenes were faked. The lemmings supposedly committing mass suicide by leaping into the ocean were actually thrown off a cliff by the Disney filmmakers. The epic "lemming migration" was staged using careful editing, tight camera angles and a few dozen lemmings running on snow covered lazy-Susan style turntable.

"White Wilderness" was filmed in Alberta, Canada, a landlocked province, and not on location in lemmings' natural habitat. There are about 20 lemming species found in the circumpolar north - but evidently not in that area of Alberta. So the Disney people bought lemmings from Inuit children a couple provinces away in Manitoba and staged the whole sequence.

Lemmings are seen flying into the water. The final shot shows the sea awash with dying/dead lemmings that the Disney crew so cold heartedly threw over the cliff. You can see the poor animals being pushed quite clearly and it’s available to watch on youtube if you wish to witness it for yourselves.

#disney #true crime #crime #lemmings #white wilderness #animals

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strelles-universe · 1 year

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Clan Names - Rodents

Beaver: Primarily a RiverClan name. A dark brown cat, someone who is skilled both with crafting and with swimming

Chinchilla, Degu: A New SkyClan and New ThunderClan name. A thick or double-coated cat; chinchilla refers to only silver or gray cats while Degu is general,

Gopher: Primarily a WindClan name. A solid brown cat, someone who is very good at digging

Hamster: Primarily a WindClan name. A cream or orange cat, someone with a short tail, a good hunter

Hedgehog, Porcupine, Urchin: Primarily a ThunderClan name. A brown furred cat, someone who is very good at digging

Mole: A ThunderClan or a WindClan name. A brown furred cat, someone with small ears; a cat who is dense

Mouse: Used by all clans equally. A brown or gray cat, someone who is inquisitive or nosy

Rat: Primarily a ShadowClan name. A gray or brown furred cat, someone who is cautious or intelligent

Squirrel: Primarily a ThunderClan name. A cat with a thick bushy tail, a skilled tree climber

Shrew: A WindClan or ThunderClan name. A small brown or gray cat, someone who is aggressive and with a large appetite, sharp hearing

Vole: A WindClan or a ThunderClan name. A small brown furred cat, someone who is adaptable or easily frightened

#strelles au #strelles naming conventions #strelles worldbuilding #pride names and meaning #strelles the greenwood empire

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residents-of-the-darkforest · 10 months

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Utterly Alone (short story)

Gorseheart felt the cold stares of what felt like everyone in the Clan, icy glares seeping into his bones and around his heart, as if they wished to freeze it to a stop.

Why must he keep making one mistake after another? He had only ever wanted to prevent war between his Clan and Skyclan, and for that he went through complete and utter darkness. It was as if he fell through a pitch-black tunnel, and on the other end were cats that mimicked his friends, but really hated him, and all he wanted was to return to the other side where they laughed with him, shared food with him, loved him.

He noticed his best friend since kithood settle down in the shade with a squirrel. Rushing to the fresh-kill pile, Gorseheart picked up a vole and raced to join him, slowing when he neared to seem casual. “Halflight! Mind if I join you?”

Halflight looked away awkwardly. “A little bit. I’m just waiting for Primrose.” Hadn’t she just left to hunt?

“Oh. Okay. Maybe later?”

Halflight looked doubtful. His gaze flitted to Blightstar, resting on the highledge. It was only a second’s glance, but Gorseheart noticed it, and he realized the true reason for Halflight’s denial. “You know, you don’t have to avoid me just because you’re afraid it’ll get you on the wrong side of Blightstar’s anger.”

Halflight’s ears flattened defensively. “Yeah, well, he’s angry and for once I’m not the one causing it. Don’t ruin that just because you can’t stand eating by yourself.”

Gorseheart tried not to let his fur bristle. Suddenly he didn’t feel like sharing a meal with his so-called friend. “Enjoy your food,” he said bitterly, padding away.

A little later in the day, Gorseheart spotted Mallowfur. He approached nervously. Neither of them had spoken since Gorseheart nearly–accidently–killed his mate and the medicine cat, Firejay. Gorseheart still had the leaf wrap around his eye from when Mallowfur struck him for it.

But as soon as Mallowfur noticed him approaching, he quickly turned around and headed in the opposite direction. Gorseheart’s hopeful tail fell dejectedly. He wasn’t going to bother trying to speak with Firejay. She was the most forgiving of his friends, but she was still recovering. Guilt weighed his heart down heavily. None of this would have happened if he had just listened to his leader!

Or if his leader had listened to him, a small voice in the back of his head said.

Gorseheart ignored it, mostly, and looked around. He spotted Thorneyes curled beside the warriors’ den. He lifted a paw to walk over, then hesitated. He didn’t want to be ignored or rejected again by someone he cared about. But he also couldn’t stand curling in his and Emberdawn’s nest for another night believing that they now hated him. He knew, somewhere, that it wasn’t true. The problem, though, was that it felt like it was. He had to show himself it wasn’t. He just wanted to get his old, happy life back, and forget all the trauma and hurt that now surrounded him everywhere he went.

“The shade is good here,” Gorseheart murmured uncertainty. “Mind if I join you? I’m sweating in this heat.” He hated that he had to think of a reason.

Thorneyes shrugged. “I don’t own the shadows.”

“No, I suppose not.” Gorseheart sat beside him. He struggled to find something to say. He just wanted to talk as they normally would, but now he was so worried of saying the wrong thing and ruining his chances to be friends again–but they were still friends, weren’t they?

“Uh, do you prefer the cold or warmth? I don’t think I ever asked.” What a stupid question.

“The cold keeps the prey buried in their nests. The heat brings them out,” Thorneyes responded simply.

“Right,” Gorseheart tried to smile. They were talking, which was more than anyone else was doing for him besides his mate, but it still felt awkward, like they were meeting for the first time and had not been close for seasons.

Thorneyes stood, stretching. “They should be hunted before the weather lessens.”

“Can I go with you?” Gorseheart asked a bit too quickly.

Thorneyes blinked at him. “You can hunt all you wish, but I prefer to be alone.”

“I understand,” Gorseheart called after him. His chest squeezed painfully. He tried not to show how much everything was hurting, and for once he was glad that one of his eyes was covered up, so that he only had to hide the pricking of one.

Perhaps he will go on a hunt, and get everything out of his head. But as he neared the thorn tunnel, he was stopped by a voice from behind him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Hope faltering to a near complete end, Gorseheart turned to see Blightstar. “I was just going to hunt.”

“Were you?” Blightstar questioned doubtfully. “There’s already two patrols out, and Thorneyes. Do you want to know what I think? I think you were trying to speak with Greenstar again, behind my back–again.”

Gorseheart shuddered inwardly. No way in Starclan was he ever, ever going to make that mistake again. “I was just going to hunt,” he repeated.

“We have enough food already and we’re getting more,” Blightstar replied. “For once in your life, be useful. Repair the dens.”

“But I–”

“Do it!” Blightstar snapped. Tail twitching, he padded for the medicine den.

By now, Gorseheart struggled not to collapse, not to even tremble. All he wanted was for things to go back to normal, or at least to be able to talk to one of the cats he had been best friends with for seasons–years, really, without constantly worrying about messing up and saying the wrong thing. Now he couldn’t even go to be alone with his agonizing thoughts, because Blightstar didn’t trust him enough to leave the camp on his own.

The only one he had now was Emberdawn, and she was one of the hunters–possibly on the complete other side of the territory. Gorseheart forced himself to breathe calmly and deeply, to not hyperventilate, though it felt very much within reach. How had things happened so that he felt only completely, and utterly alone?

--Odd to make a story while talking about he comes to forgive them, but I’ve been wanting to for a while anyway!

--Base is here by MirAnimates. I would have added the leaf wrap that was mentioned in the story, but tbh it was too hard and my phone was on very low battery so I didn’t have a whole lot of time.

--His scar is redder because it’s fresher.

--While Gorseheart in no way deserves this treatment, they do have fairly good reason.

-When Gorseheart was attacked sneaking into Skyclan territory to speak with Greenstar and hopefully prevent battle, Brownfrond wanted to go with him. Brownfrond is Blightstar’s son and was hurt, so Blightstar is furious at that AND at Gorseheart getting into a fight with a Skyclan patrol and making things worse.

-Thorneyes and his mate, Nettledeer, are going through a tough time, which is why he’s awkward and wants to be alone. Gorse has no way of knowing this.

-In his panic from his trauma, and PTSD, he struck Firejay, thinking she was Foxbreeze, and nearly killed her. That’s why both she and Mallowfur are angry at him.

-Halflight is normally the one Blight snaps at, and he’d do anything to be on Blight’s good side for once.

Of course, NONE of them knew just what Gorseheart went through and how much they were hurting him until he was too far gone.

#gorseheart #tunnel poly #tunnel family #gorseheart story #gorseheart's silence #firejay #blightstar #mallowfur #mallowstar #brownfrond #thorneyes #halflight #wc #wc dark tales #dark forest tales #dark tales

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