#vortexcurl

Stingerpaw avoided Vortexcurl’s vigil. Thon didn’t even know him that well, and it’s risky to use thons magic without a Guide by thons side, but thon at least has to try.

Thon pressed thons paws against the grass, creating a faint blue glow. In front of thon, a single star seemingly fell from the sky, and once it landed, Vortexcurl’s ghost appeared. It took a huge toll on Stingerpaw’s energy to summon the spirit, though. Thon has to make this count.

“Do you know what led to that injury? The one that killed you?”

“…Branches fell. They crushed me. I heard pawsteps before they fell, like some cats were running away. Mudthrift told me our deaths were far from accidents. They were not bad luck… they were murder.”

“Murder? By who?”

“Basically an entire Clan. They call themselves “Guardians of The Stars…” and they want to kill cats like you… and Skuashriek… for having this magic.”

“I don’t understand… why would they-“

“STINGERPAW!”

Doodle’s voice rang out, causing Stingerpaw to lose focus and Vortexcurl’s spirit to disappear. Clementine followed close behind, and surprisingly, Doodle didn’t object.

“You idiot! I was talking with Vortexcurl, and you interrupted me! His death was a murder and I’m gonna find out the killers!”

Doodle stepped forward, face uncomfortably close to Stingerpaw’s. “It’s not safe. You’re going to get yourself killed! You’re an apprentice! Vortexcurl was a warrior!”

“WHAT IF I’M NOT LIKE THAT MOUSE-BRAIN? I CAN AVOID MURDER! THE GHOSTS CAN TELL ME WHAT TO DO!”

Doodle and Clementine just stared at thon, Doodle looking unamused.

“If you believe you don’t need to be trained by living cats, then so be it. Now, My Mate and I will be at camp, and I’ll expect you to be here by next morning, alright?”

Stingerpaw looked baffled… Doodle’s mate? Clementine? Didn’t she hate him just a few days ago? Also, why is she acting like thons mentor? Thon eventually snapped out of it, though.

“…Alright.”

What was thought to be an accident proved to be something more: Vortexcurl’s death was a murder at the paws of [REDACTED].

There was no big announcement to the Clan, but everyone noticed how close Doodle and Clementine have been lately… it seems they have become mates!

(Stingerpaw: A long-furred chubby orange she-cat with a darker stripe down thons back (C-class Esper (can see ghosts), Pronouns: thon/thon/thons/thonself))

(Doodle: A short-furred, mostly black tortie she-cat with a white face, paws, and chest and orange cheeks and tail tip)

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

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

“Live your life to the fullest, kid.”

The words still ring in his mind, even now. But something is wrong. He keeps seeing a cat that looks so familiar in the edges of his blurring vision day by day, but now, he sees them more clearly than ever.

The brown fur, tabby markings, and the kind of terrifying look in her star-filled eyes… it’s Mudthrift. Auntie Mud, as he used to call her. He weakly looked up at her as she said one thing.

“It’s time to go.”

Vortexcurl was distraught. He hadn’t even lived, but he couldn’t process it before the starry cat grabbed him by the scruff and pulled his starry spirit out of his body.

“I’m… sorry. I’m sorry you had to go this way. We were family in a way. But…”

Mudthrift wandered over to Cinnamonpuddle, who was just starting to wake up.

“Momma’s ok. She’s strong. They won’t get her.”

“…They?”

“Our deaths weren’t accidents. Far from accidents.”

Cinnamonpuddle perked up, mumbling something about a strange smell. She pulled herself out of the nest and started sniffing around… before her eyes landed on a horrible sight.

Swashbuckler’s jaw was getting infected and Vortexcurl was unresponsive. She touched Vortexcurl’s shoulder. It felt cold. Too cold…

…

“SKUASHRIEK! CREVASSERISE!”

Vortexcurl couldn’t survive his broken back.

Swashbuckler’s broken jaw is getting infected…

Cinnamonpuddle’s lungs are no longer full of water.

(Mudthrift: A medium-furred striped light brown she-cat)

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

(Swashbucker: A short-furred mottled brown tom)

Vortexcurl woke up in the medicine den, sticks and leaves tied to his back. Skuashriek looked concerned. Deeply concerned. Crevasserise was praying.

“Are you feeling ok?” Skuashriek asked.

“Oh yeah, I’m totally alright! How about I just stand up and walk out of the- OH WAIT! I CAN’T!”

Skuashriek just huffed and walked away from Vortexcurl. Swashbuckler looked at her, then to Vortexcurl.

“You know, you remind me of myself when I was a kit. Always gettin’ into trouble, even if I had no reason to. I was just like that. I asked for forgiveness, not permission.”

“Ok, old stuff, maybe stop talking so your jaw can-“

“Hey now, young’un! That’s no way to treat an elder! We got in a lot of trouble when we tried to play with an old lady when we were kits! She’s uh… she’s long gone by now… she was approachin’ 90 years old.”

“90 YEARS? Ok, I call bull-“

“She was a human, Vortex. Humans live longer. Did’ja think I was talkin’ about a cat?”

“…Yes?”

“Well, I wasn’t. We called her Nannie because that’s what the human kits called her. We all enjoyed her company… and I was distraught when she had to go.”

”…Oh.”

Swashbuckler’s face fell. “And she was a lucky one. Our family was poor, so when my jaw broke, they couldn’t quite afford to put me down.”

“Put you down? What does that… mean?”

“They told the kits that cats and other animals put down go to a happy little farm where they can play and have lots of fun… doing everything they like. But now, since I’m older, I know “putting down” is just a fancy way to say “mercy kill.” They didn’t think I would live anyway.”

…

“Live your life to the fullest, kid. I lived mine, and I’m happy with it… but you’re still young.”

Vortexcurl was sarcastic to Skuashriek at an inappropriate time.

Swashbuckler told a story to Vortexcurl.

(Crevasserise: A short-furred orange rosette tom)

(Skuashriek: A long-furred black and white she-cat with mist gathering at her paws (B-class Guide, PC: Lunar Shifter))

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

Lightclan sent a border patrol to the wooded areas where Zinniaclan stayed. Not for anything harsh, just to see what they were doing. Zinniaclan was strangely quiet for a clan as large as they were, so Vortexcurl went alone. It shouldn’t be too bad just to check, right?

He did see a Zinniaclan cat after a short walk. She had a pitch-black pelt, piercing yellow eyes, and a bird right by her side that he thought was easy prey. Vortexcurl lowered his body into a hunting crouch, and-

“WAIT!”

The cat arched her back, and Vortexcurl stood up. Was she… protecting the prey? After a moment, the cat calmed down, though she still looked a little tense.

“Skip’s my friend. He helps with my feelings.”

“…What? I think I need a bit of… explanation. Who… are you?”

The cat awkwardly shuffled her paws and twitched one of her ears. “I’m… I’m Cricketstar. I still have all of my lives, and I’m just… listening to the sounds of the trees. Leading… stresses me out. There’s always so much going on at once. There’s been a strange creaking noise in the branches recently. I hope it’s not a badger.” She twitched her ear again as she finished speaking.

Vortexcurl sat and listened. There was a creak, but also the sound of cats running… and then… a snap. No, a crack. Lots of cracks.

SMASH!

Vortexcurl almost thought it was a trap as he felt the branches fall on top of him, but as he saw Cricketstar look at him with pain in her eyes, he knew it… probably wasn’t.

Vortexcurl tried to move from underneath the branches, but he found out something terrible.

He can’t feel his back legs.

Vortexcurl’s back was broken on patrol.

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

(Cricketstar: A short-furred black she-cat with a pet magpie (PC: Prismatic Mind))

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.

Doodle was getting used to her new clan. She had a lot of time to think about what she wanted to do when her paws eventually healed, and looking at the state of the prey pile… she’d probably want to tend to the rest of the cats here the best she can before they starve.

She watched Eskerstar and Flurrydancer go out for a hunting patrol and sighed. She wanted to help them, she really did. But even though her paws aren’t hurting as much, her claws are still in rough shape and she might need another moon to completely regrow them and get them sharp enough to use. At least she has Rimeheart for company, especially when they do exercises to help both of their injuries. Vortexpaw also stayed in camp most days, too lethargic to go on patrols.

Doodle was pacing around the prey pile with nothing better to do right now. She worriedly looked at the amount of prey left… it might not be enough to feed the whole clan. She didn’t notice the blur of white and orange fur reach for the pile…

Until she tripped. Vortexpaw caught her in the middle of her fall, but still let out groans of pain as he lifted her back up. Doodle noticed that his fur was looking more patchy than when she last saw him, but made no comment of it.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry, Vortexpaw! Are you doing ok?”

“…I’m fine. Can I go back to my nest? I’m tired.” Vortexpaw clearly was not fine, but the last few moons were hard on the poor guy.

Rimeheart spoke up from the medicine den. “IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER, YOU SHOWED PRETTY GOOD STRENGTH THERE! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, ALRIGHT?” Doodle was a little embarrassed upon hearing that, but it all faded once she saw a small smile appear on the younger cat’s face. Good to know that the old Vortexpaw was still there, even when the smile turned to a look of discomfort. He rushed towards the apprentice’s den, and Doodle cautiously looked to see what was going on this time…

What she saw was him scratching his pelt, sending a few white flakes into the air, muttering to himself about why his skin’s so itchy.

Honestly? It was way better than what she was expecting.

Doodle nearly tripped, but was caught by Vortexpaw.

Rimeheart compliments Vortexpaw on a skill he worked hard on.

Vortexpaw has a rash.

(Doodle: a short-furred, mostly black tortie she-cat with a white face, paws, and chest and orange cheeks and tail tip)

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

With Cinnamonpuddle’s announcement, the entire clan went to look for the missing cats almost immediately. Crevassrise asked the other clans where they were, Cinnamonpuddle asked her old friends, and Vortexpaw was… looking under rocks. His expression was blank, but something was definitely wrong… he just can’t describe it. He decided to hide how he really felt from the rest of the clan for now.

After what seemed like hours of searching, it was Eskerstar that found them… neither of them in a great state. Rimeheart was limping because of his broken leg, while also in tears. Lightningpaw was dead, a few flies taking the opportunity to feast on his newly-decaying flesh.

“What… what happened?”

“Lightningpaw tried a to catch a rabbit while going across the Thunderpath… and I got hit as well when I tried to chase him off… I would have much rather died if he got to live… I… I’m so sorry… I know he was supposed to become a warrior, and… where are you going?”

“I’ll get the rest of Lightclan. You stay here, alright? I’ll make sure Crevasserise gets rosemary for the body… I think there’s one more thing we should do before the burial.”

“Um… ok… Leader’s words…”

“I won’t take too long, ok? I promise.” Eskerstar turned around and left… Rimeheart didn’t want to be left with the body… but he knew that the vigils are important… Vortexpaw eventually found him, looking extremely tired.

“Oh, thank stars you’re… hic… you’re… you’re not ok… what am I saying? Is… is he…”

“Yes… he’s dead… I’m sorry…”

Vortexpaw broke down crying… he looks sadder now than… any other day Rimeheart has seen him. He should probably talk to to Crevasserise about this.

Vortexpaw is grieving Lightningpaw. (In game, it’s seasonal lethargy, so he won’t heal as soon as he would if he was actually grieving him.)

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

(Rimeheart: a short-furred greenish-yellow and white 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.