#owlweb

Vortexcurl’s warrior ceremony was supposed to be exciting, and to be fair, it was. But Owlweb thought there was something more important to tend to.

Cats that aren’t pregnant can produce milk, sure, but usually it’s not by choice. It’s against the Warrior Code to neglect kits in danger, and Grousekit and Cometkit are in danger of starving.

During the ceremony, Owlweb slipped out of camp, approaching the Mooclan border. He talked with her before about this, and she said she’d ask Softstar. Now, she’s back, barely able to look Owlweb in the eyes.

“Well… he agreed, but I’ll have to come back to Mooclan eventually. I hope you can understand, Owlweb…”

“Coco, I didn’t even think he’d agree! This is amazing! Now I just hope Lightclan won’t be suspicious… especially since-“

“They’re yours? Yeah. Half-Clan relationships aren’t exactly a good thing…”

“…I was going to say “especially since this seems extremely improbable,” but… yeah. That too. Just follow me!”

Owlweb started to walk back to camp. The Mooclan cat hesitated before stepping into Lightclan territory. Everything in camp was normal after the ceremony, and Owlweb spoke with Eskerstar.

“This is Cocospeck. Softstar agreed to let her stay here for a couple of moons to feed the kits. She’ll leave as soon as everything’s situated, ok?”

Cocospeck touched noses with Eskerstar. “Pleasure to meet you. I’ll go right to the nursery.” She exposed a slightly swollen belly. “…For both the kits here and the kits that will come.”

Vortexcurl became a warrior!

Owlweb brings a Mooclan cat to camp. Cocospeck agrees to stay… temporarily, of course.

Cocospeck is expecting kits. She moves right into the nursery!

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

(Owlweb: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

(Vortexcurl: A medium-furred white and striped orange tom (PC: Body Biter))

(Cocospeck: A long-furred light brown and white she-cat with dark brown spots)

Yeah… you wonder what Owlweb did on moon 12? I’ll give you a hint: It could rhyme with fate or muck.

It was lonely. She could roam through the territory of these “clans” without being punished, but she can’t join them in what they’re doing. Her son won’t even look at her… not because he hates her, but because he can’t see her. She misses everyone she met in life… Caroline was nice… Safari was silly… Morpeko probably wouldn’t be the same without her… Doodle told the funniest jokes…

It’s just not fair. Is she even a cat anymore? Why is she stuck in this purgatory?

“It’s nice to see you again, Downy.”

That voice… tears welled up in her eyes when she looked at him… that beautiful tom that she… lost her life to… he didn’t mean to… but…

“Flurry? That… that can’t be… you… how…”

“Remember the snowstorm? It… it killed me. But hey, at least we can be together again.”

“I just wish I could have spent more time with Hootsie. It… it’s NOT FAIR! WE JUST WANTED TO HAVE KITTENS! WHY DID IT HAVE TO KILL ME?” Downy snapped. Her wispy fur was seemingly burning with ghostly fire as her anger grew.

Flurry could only do what he could to comfort her… “Can I tell you something? Owlweb’s a great guy. Always there for the other cats… Let me show you.”

Downy’s fire calmed as the Starclan cat brought her to the tunnels. He went over to the nursery, where Owlweb was singing to the kits.

Downy could only watch as Owlweb started to break down and cry… she could only curl around him and purr, just hoping, for once, he can hear her…

Owlweb is having trouble sleeping properly.

(Flurrydancer: A tall, medium-furred white tom with a light grey stripe down his back)

(Downy: A long-furred, grey smokepoint she-cat)

(Owlweb: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

Their first memories shouldn’t have been of their dying mother seeing them for the first and last time. Their first memories shouldn’t have been an argument about where they go… but they had to live.

It wouldn’t be right to leave kits to die. Owlweb was initially against taking them from Mooclan, but it was better than leaving them there alone, crying for their mother. Little Grousekit also protested with angry meeps, but nobody was listening to his side of things.

Once the patrol made it back to the clan, Owlweb approached Eskerstar, so she could have a say. She’s the leader, after all,

“We have a problem. We had to help a Mooclan queen give birth, but she died during the process. Her kits are alive, but we’re stuck on where to bring them.”

“Well, where was she?”

“The border. She was crying for help, too… there was no one with her, either.”

Eskerstar pondered for a moment… he made some points against Mooclan, but it still felt… a little wrong. So she decided to compromise. “We’ll keep them here for now, but if we find either parent or Mooclan warrior searching for them, we return them, alright? If not, they’ll grow up to be Lightclan cats. Is it ok if I see them?”

“…Of course!”

Owlweb led Eskerstar to the nursery, where Auburnkit and Clementine were having a small argument.

“There’s no way these are cats!” Auburnkit said. “They’re too small and weird-looking!” He shoved his face against Cometkit’s, who was currently under Grousekit. “Hello? Do you know what I’m saying, little mousie?”

“If his ears were open, he would have been really upset. These are baby babies! Before you know it, they’ll be able to see, hear, and play with you!”

“Nuh uh! They’re gonna be so weak!”

Eskerstar turned to Owlweb. “So… how are we going to get milk to them?”

Owlweb looked like he already knew the answer, but he still responded with… “Good question.”

Grousekit and Cometkit joined the clan.

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

(Owlweb: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

(Clementine: A short-furred dark grey and white tom wearing a blue harness on his back)

(Auburnkit: A medium-furred tom whose fur is various shades of reddish-brown (Pronouns: He/him/his/himself, hiss/hiss/hisses/hissself))

(Grousekit: A small, medium-furred tom whose fur is many shades of brown)

(Cometkit: A short-furred dark brown speckled tom)

Owlweb decided to mark the borders today. It was a pretty boring task, but some cat had to do it, and some other cats liked him. He wasn’t thinking much, but then he heard a scream on Mooclan territory.

He ran over to the source of noise and saw a white she-cat laying close to the border. She was clearly in a lot of pain, and when he saw her back end starting to bleed, he realized something bad.

She was pregnant, and there was no one to help her kit.

“P-please… help me… get a medicine cat! It hurts too much!”

“Ok! Got it! You stay right here and I’ll get Crevasserise!” Owlweb ran off without a second thought. He knew Crevasserise was on patrol with Clementine to gather herbs, and he needed to find them.

It felt like it was only a second of searching, but he caught a glimpse of them. He yowled for them, and the cats ran over.

“What in the name of Starclan is going on here?” Crevasserise asked.

“Mooclan queen! She has no one to help her! She’s in labor!”

“Holy shit…” Clementine said. Owlweb ran over to where the queen was, and Crevasserise and Clementine followed him. Crevasserise was a little skeptical, but when he saw what was going on, he immediately jumped into action.

“Come on! Push! Push! You can do it!”

Owlweb closed his eyes and put his paws over them. He can’t watch… it only reminds him of what he had lost.

“There’s a tom! A healthy tom! Now keep pushing!”

Crevasserise was desperate too, seeing how much this poor cat was bleeding. Clementine, for a lack of a better word… was very, very disturbed. Why did he get roped into this?

The cat had two kits: Both brown toms. Although the cat was weak from blood loss, she still looked at her kits in awe. “Can I… c-c-can I name them?”

“Of course.”

“Um… Grousekit… and… C…Comet…kit… Oh, my sweet babies… I wish… we could get to know… each other…”

The queen curled around her kits, and Crevasserise realized that he should have brought cobwebs once she fell limp.

But what could he have done more than ensure that the kits live?

An herb-gathering patrol helps a queen in labor… Frozendancer’s ghost is wandering.

(Crevasserise: A short-furred orange rosette tom)

(Owlweb: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

(Clementine: A short-furred dark grey and white tom wearing a blue harness on his back)

(Grousekit: A small, medium-furred tom whose fur is many shades of brown)

(Cometkit: A short-furred dark brown speckled tom)

(Frozendancer: A large, medium-furred white speckled she-cat)

Slipping out of the darkness

The darkness that wants him.

It’s challenging, but worth it.

He checks where the light touches

and slips into the unknown.

It cannot reach him.

They cannot reach him.

They cannot know.

It was all from curiosity

but there was one that saw him.

Like a cuckoo, she shared a devious mind

For she was looking for a chance to explore.

To explore a different kind of map

than what a young cat’s eyes can see.

Maybe they’ll meet again someday.

Whether under the stars they dance and play under

Or within them.

It’ll always be their secret.

A secret that could never escape.

A secret from both ends

As the blood runs freely.

Relationships with ???clan have improved.

(Owlweb: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

(???: A long-furred light brown and white she-cat with dark brown spots)

There, my unhinged cousin who cares about Owlweb. He’s happy.

Rimeheart’s plan was a little… odd, to say the least. Owlweb, Cinnamonpuddle, and Trinity were sent to look for Skua after a hunt so they can talk to her, get to know her, and possibly get her to join the clan. Owlweb was carrying a large rabbit, while Cinnamonpuddle and Trinity were talking.

“I’m surprised that he didn’t tell us beforehand! Isn’t our whole goal to help them?” Trinity asked.

“Yeah… but he said that he would have only gotten help if he stayed silent! He would have died if he didn’t agree! And losing my best friend… I don’t want to wish that on anyone. We’re lucky that she wanted to help him.”

Trinity just nodded in acknowledgment, and continued wandering around the territory.

While the cats were aimlessly walking around, another set of paws seemed to join them. The cat looked like Skua, and smelled like Skua…

“What are you guys talking about?”

…But part of her didn’t seem entirely like Skua. And the patrol noticed. Owlweb dropped the rabbit in front of her, provoking a “thanks!” out of her.

“Are we sure this is the right cat?” Cinnamonpuddle whispered to Trinity.

“I think so. She fits our description perfectly. Now shut up.” Trinity replied, also in a whisper.

“What’s going on here? I get that I might be a little shocking to some, but I am great at what I do! You guys are clan cats, right? Are you the green cat’s friends?”

Trinity composed himself when he heard the questions. He was prepared for a depressed cat, not this… “Um… yeah. We’re… we’re Lightclan cats, and our leader got a sign from Starclan that said that you… kinda need to join. I know this is probably sudden and all, but we’re not all that bad.”

“Well then. I’d be happy to join you! I’ve been feeling like a bear in winter these past few months, except for the fact that bears get food.”

“Tried?” Owlweb asked.

“Precisely, young kit! But that’s changed and I can help like I’ve never helped before! Now, where’s your camp? I can’t wait to be in a nice place for once!”

“We’ll bring you there.” Trinity said. “Follow us.”

Skua has joined the clan.

(Trinity: A tall, medium-furred black and white tom)

(Cinnamonpuddle: A medium-furred brown she-cat)

(Owlweb: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

(Skua: A long-furred black and white she-cat with mist gathering at her paws (B-class Guide))

Rimeheart, Taffy, Trinity, and Owlweb decided to at least have a chat while the sadness was going on.

“If I was completely honest, I’d have this leg of mine removed if it meant I’d be able to save a cat… I don’t get why Starclan even took him of all cats.” Rimeheart gestured over to his, still very broken, leg.

“…Would you? I mean… would it be bad to have a… um…”

“Disability?”

“Yeah… a disability like that?” Of course, Taffy’s case of brain fog meant that he needed help from Trinity every once in a while.

“It won’t make me less of a cat! It’s like saying Vortexpaw can’t be a warrior because he bites his claws without even realizing it!”

Owlweb interjected. “Well… that’s not really a fair comparison. I mean… it’s a whole limb gone versus bad habits you don’t realize you’re doing. But… I guess I still see your point. Besides… we need all of the warriors we have right now… Starclan, what if my first apprentice dies?”

Trinity spoke up. “Well, you got the rest of your life to train a cat to be as wonderful as… I fucked it up, didn’t I? Don’t listen to me, that was probably the shittiest advice I’ve ever-“

“No… you’re good. You haven’t really gotten used to clan life yet… and we all make mistakes. Sometimes we make bad choices because all other options are worse… and… no, I can’t listen to grr again!”

Taffy seemed confused. “What’s with the… the… growling… stuff?”

“Grr snapped at me for disrespecting grr… I just wanted to ask for grr’s pronouns, but grr just growled at me…”

“So you’re just… accepting growls as your answer?” Rimeheart said.

“…Yeah. Kinda. I’m too scared to try and ask grr again.” Owlweb admitted, defeatedly.

Rimeheart and Taffy share stories about a clanmate they didn’t realize they both miss.

Trinity gives pretty bad advice to Owlweb, but he appreciates it anyway.

(Taffy: a short, medium-furred rosette dark brown tom with lighter brown highlights)

(Trinity: A tall, medium-furred black and white tom)

(Rimeheart: a short-furred greenish-yellow and white tom) 

(Owlweb: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

Owlweb doesn’t know why he’s here again. The muck-covered surroundings still reek of blood, and he hates the feeling of it against his paws. He just wants to get out. He wants to see the stars call for him again.

But for now, he’s face to face with it. And it looks pissed. The muck melts off of its body, revealing a grey, long-furred she-cat beneath.

“I’m disappointed in you, Owlweb. Don’t you know that you belong to me? Lightclan can’t save you, Starclan can’t save you, Sparklefang can’t save you, yadda yadda yadda. And to think, I made the mouse-brained decision to take the form of your own mother in these conversations just so you’d listen to me.”

It approaches Owlweb, who backed up into a tree.

“If you disrespect me again, then I’ll make sure that you stay here forever. I’ll make the others remember you just so you’ll suffer for longer. Don’t ignore me. Don’t pretend I’m not there. Don’t call me “it” like I’m a meaningless piece of fresh-kill! I won’t bother to drown you. It won’t even be fun for me to take you out in such an easy way.”

“Wh-what do you-“

It growled it Owlweb, not letting him complete his sentence. From somewhere, there was also a voice calling his name. He tried to find where that voice was coming from… but it seemed to be coming from a different direction each time his name was repeated.

“Do not disrespect me. You won’t go to Starclan when you die, but we don’t treat kits very well over here…”

“Sh-shut up…”

The creature bared its teeth when it heard that, and the muck started coating its body again. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“SHUT UP!”

The creature lunged towards Owlweb… its teeth quickly going around Owlweb’s neck…

…At the same time he woke up due to Vortexpaw’s nagging and kicked him off of him.

“What was that for? I wanted you to teach me some cool battling moves! My paws are clean too! Look!” Vortexpaw holds up a completely healed paw once he got up from being knocked down by the kick.

Owlweb didn’t say anything, having just realized what he was preparing to do.

He was ready to kill him, just because he showed up at the wrong time.

Owlweb dreams of the Dark Forest and wakes up with shock.

Vortexpaw’s paw pads have healed.

(Owlweb: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

(Creature: A large, cat-like being covered in muck. (Pronouns: grr/grr/grrs/grrself))

(Downy: A long-furred, grey smokepoint she-cat (form taken by the Creature))

(Vortexpaw: A medium-furred white and striped orange tom (PC: Body Biter))

I can’t help myself, I need the OC creation to live.

For more context on Downy… she’s been dead for a while, and wanders the Unknown Residence. The Downy the Creature becomes is not the real Downy, but only a disguise. Because Owlweb can only speak to Dark Forest cats when it comes to his connection to the afterlife, he can only talk to the fake Downy.