09.30.2019 → There has been some exciting changes on CD lately! We've added a new monarchy to the groups of cats on the islands, as well as restructured the boards a bit to allow for some space - thus, redrawing the map! We've also promoted Nifty to Global Mod! There are some auditions open right now for JungleClan Deputy as well as for all of the new Kingdom of Mokuhau high ranks - Artemis
09.12.2019 → Unfortunately Elaedria is stepping down as administrator due to life being too busy to keep up! The site will be going through some restructuring in high ranks as well due to this. Effective immediately, the word count is now 100 minimum. Some more changes will be coming in the future - members have been emailed a survey to help us figure out what to change and how to get better. Thanks for your patience! - Artemis
WEATHER
Year 55, Scorching Sands 09.05.2019 → The temperatures of the islands are a steady 98° F on land/ high 80s in water. There is almost no breeze, the sun is uncomfortably warm.
Prey during the day is pretty scarce due to the heat, however is quite active after the sun goes down.
Lost in the dense jungles of scattered islands, facing perils unimagined by their ancestors, are three warrior groups - The traditional JungleClan, descendants of the original clans carried aboard a twoleg contraption from their home long ago and breaking new ground on old beliefs. Second, the curious TidalClan, made up of kittypets who chose to abandon their long since passed twoleg civilization ways for those of true felines. Lastly, the mysterious Tribe of Twisted Roots, hidden in the mist from others with their strange ways and a deeper knowledge of the land around them. Together they must learn how to take their fate into their own paws if they wish to survive this land of erupting mountains and roaring waters.
Join our crew and dive into an island-based Warriors roleplay - a twist on the original series by Erin Hunter. We are a semi-literate site with a minimum of 100 words per post.
THE camp had been a rather quiet one. Cats were returning from their day's duties as the sweltering heat finally began to wane. Fledglings, exhausted from a day's training, flopped down around the fresh-kill pile or in their dens. It was a rather peaceful scene.
A hairball of black and white bumbled through the camp entrance, breaking the golden evening silence and causing many cats to raise their heads in the direction of the noise. Unsurprisingly, this one Fledgling had not walked home with his mentor after training, and instead, crashed through the camp with thorns in his pelt. Tunapaw somehow had not lost any energy from a day's heat and work. Instead, he was excited as ever to report back to the other Fledglings.
Dropping a fat fish into the fresh-kill pile, Tunapaw raced to the Fledgling and Fighters' Den to boast about his kill. Of course, his first victim was his nursery friend. "Smokepaw! I'm home! Come look what I caught! Guess what Kraiteye and I did today!" he yowled into the den much louder than necessary. He sat down and began plucking all the thorns and debris out of his pelt. Surely, his friend was around.
mokepaw had already gotten back into the den for today. His mentor, Bayfur, had already gotten him through some basic hunting steps, and, under his supervision, gotten a nice fish and mouse!
The bird he had tried for flew away... along with the other prey he tried to go after. If there was any, anyway.
The day's heat was finally fading, and the black-furred fledgling relaxed into his bedding, sighing relief as his muscles and bones untensed from the day's work. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon, orange and pink coloring the sky in waves. Smokepaw liked this part of the day; he loved to watch cats go by and chat, and he sometimes even observed the Fighters that came into the den. Were their hunts more successful then his?
Then he heard the noise from the front of the camp, and his green eyes darted to slightly outside. If the noises and, obviously, the fur color was any indication, it was his nursery friend, Tunapaw.
When Tunapaw rushed into the den and flopped down by Smokepaw's side, Smokepaw's ears were already pointed upwards, leaning in closer to hear what Tunapaw was saying... not that he needed it, but it was still polite!
"You did hunting practice?" He asked, knowing that to be the correct answer. He did some hunting, and he did okay, he would say that much. "What did you catch?" He asked, eyes gleaming. It seemed even the quiet one got a bit excited around his friend!
His eyes glanced to the thorns attached to Tunapaw's fur. "You need help with that?"
IT took Tunapaw only a second to get settled in his nest. His spirit was unbreakable, but his Fledgling limbs were certainly tired. Even after a moon of training, he was not nearly as fit as his mentor and still had some trouble navigating the TidalClan landscape. "I'm good, you'll just mess up my fur!" Tunapaw teased and ruffled up his chest to find more thorns. "I caught a ba... bass! Like one of those greenish things? They're huge. Much bigger than those fish in the lakes... I thought it was big enough to bite off my paws," Tunapaw was clearly using words his mentor had fed him earlier today.
"I learned that sometimes you can throw little bugs or disturb the shrimp and other stuff to attract bigger fish if you're patient." Ironically, the black and white apprentice was not very patient. He tugged at the thorns in his unkempt fur, messing it up further. After all the thorns were out, he began to furiously groom himself. Fur got quite gross and salty after fishing at sea.
"How was your day? Were you hunting too? Did you catch anything?" Tunapaw grew frustrated at the patch of fur around his scar and decided to take a break from grooming. He tucked his paws under him and enthusiastically waited for Smokepaw's adventures.
he black-furred fledgling pouted a little at Tunapaw's rejection of his help, but that was fine. Smokepaw knew Tunapaw was always like this- hopefully his friend would go to the Healer's Den whenever he actually needed help...
But for some thorns that were easily torn out? Smokepaw would worry, just a little bit, but mostly, he focused on Tunapaw's words.
That trick was something he hadn't heard of before! Then again, he was a newer Fledgling, perhaps that trick would've been taught later. Smokepaw's smile remained on his face as Tunapaw mentioned being patient. That was fine for Smokepaw... but for Tunapaw?
Smokepaw was thinking this as a friend... Tunapaw was awful at waiting.
Tunapaw had managed to catch a big bass, though! Smokepaw wasn't sure what that looked like, but he could licked his lips a little upon the thought of a big fish. Mmm... fish. Probably one of his favorites to hunt, but today wasn't a fish hunting day.
"Oh? Me?" Smokepaw blinked, surprised, but he settled back into his nest, ears drooping as he focused on what happened that day.
"I caught a fish on my own- just claw swiping, no attracting trick..." Smokepaw smiled. Yeah. Fishing was great. "And, with help, I also got a mouse! Both in the fresh-kill pile. Nothing too exciting, really. "
Now, for an important question. "Tunapaw, why did you have thorns all over you?"
NOTHING too exciting? Tunapaw grumbled himself in confusion. Why was Smokepaw always so mellow? They had so much to learn and so much to explore. Certainly there had to be something exciting about his day! "What kind of fish did you catch? Kraiteye was only teaching me tricks because I'm sooo clumsy at regular swiping and fishing," he rolled his eyes. Fish were as slippery as frost on morning grass sometimes. His claws always felt much too slow for it. As for the thorns... "Well I was really excited about the bass," he began slightly bashfully. "So Kraiteye said I could sprint home and show it to everyone if I had the energy."
"But then on the way back... I saw this bush moving... I thought there was definitely some sort of prey there. Like a mouse or something, you know? But then when I pounced on it...!" His momentary shyness faded away quickly. Tunapaw leaped forward in a demonstration and then faked a fall on his side. "...the bush moved on its own! I think that's called tumbleweed." "So I tried to untangle myself... but that bush had no stalk holding it to the ground! It just moved with you and it took me for-ev-er to get free. And it certainly was prickly," Tunapaw bared his teeth and began the tedious endeavor of grooming himself again. He swore that plants could attack cats, even if it sounded ridiculous.
mokepaw was never going to really respond to Tunapaw's question. He was the type to let others have their achievements. Besides, it was just a small fish. Smokepaw didn't know what kind of fish it was at all, so instead... deflect. Yeah.
He felt proud for catching a fish at all, but the thorns on his buddy were more important. He leaned in as Tunapaw started his story, grinning as the other described as a plant he thought was holding prey uprooted itself from the ground and stayed connected to his poor buddy.
"Well, if there was prey, you would scent it, right?" He asked, taking on an amused tone with his words. "But I think I would have made the same mistake- I'm glad I didn't, because I don't think I would have done very well to get the tumbleweed off of me. That's what that was called, right?"
He laughed, letting his rounded ears twitch a bit. "I likely would have just walked into camp and headed straight for the Healer's den!" And hurt all the way there, but hey, he would have some help!
HE was not normally a cat of logic, but Smokepaw brought up a good point. Smokepaw always brought up good points! Tunapaw had gotten into the groove of fishing, and forgot to scent his land prey before pouncing on it. The eager young Fledgling was amused at himself for how much he had to learn. He was not a modest one, though. "You're right Smokepaw. I bet that's what Kraiteye will scold me for when I get back!" he agreed in amusement. He was not actually scared of his mentors scolding, or anyone's, really. "Shhh, I can't go to the Healer's Den!" Tunapaw growled shamelessly and recalled his last conversation with the Clan Healer. "She told me I'm her favorite Fledgling! I wouldn't want to ruin my image with her. Sometimes she even does my tick duty for me."
Surely, Turtlehop would trust him to take care of himself. Tunapaw did not really notice that Smokepaw had avoided his question and continued to ramble on as per his usual self.
You can't?" Smokepaw meowed, an amused tone on his voice. Of course Tunapaw would think that going to the healer's den for spikes being in him was going to make someone not like him. Smokepaw admitted that he had a similar thought, but Smokepaw would always counter that thought by saying the Healer would always want them to be healthy, not infected. "I would. Who knows what the tumbleweed could have!"
There was another detail of Tunapaw's rambling that brought his attention, more than the fact that Kraiteye still wasn't here yet.
"Wait... She does your tick duty?" He didn't remember anything like that happening! With Turtlehop, of all cats? He flicked his ears, frowning. Was he just... asleep during that time? He could never reach his back, and would always distantly worry about ticks on his back.
He must've been sleeping. Back to the topic. "When does she do that? If I knew that was available, I would have taken it- my fur is hard to pick ticks out of..." He laughed, giving his shoulder a nervous lick.
THERE was no doubt Tunapaw's feisty attitude sparked some warmth in the hearts of older cats in the Clan. In fact, he quite enjoyed the attention from older cats. He was not afraid to speak out, even with the Healer and the Chief. Naive and inquisitive were traits he enjoyed despite their annoying side.
"Turtlehop does tick duty for me all the time! Then I don't have to bother the grumpy elders." he bragged. "Although, I should probably visit them more so they at least know my name."
That being said, Tunapaw did not exactly have the patience to listen to older cats and their stories. He was much too inattentive for that. "Besides, that stuff, mouse bile or something, is absolutely disgusting," he remarked, glad he was training to be a Fighter instead. He had spent a decent amount of time in the Healer's den due to all the trouble he gets into. Every time, he could not help but retch at the smell of herbs. "I don't know how Shellpaw could possibly handle it."
Wow. You're very lucky." Smokepaw blinked, mulling over this fact. He didn't like having to pull the ticks out himself, or having to go ask someone to get them- but he did so, because his body was more important than the pride from asking a favor. Either way, he was smiling at Tunapaw. He got something good, and that was wonderful! "The next time that happens, you'll have to grab me. Please!"
The elders. Smokepaw very much enjoyed listening to their stories as a small kit, whenever his father and mother were not busy telling their own stories to him. Made him a good listener, which he was putting to very good use with his friend group.
He huffed, still smiling. "Shellpaw can handle it probably because she's had worse than that." He doesn't know this for a fact, but Shellpaw was definitely having a good time in the Healer's Den. While he was a kinder cat, he felt like he would only trip around if he was the Fledgling Healer. "Sick kits, perhaps!" He doesn't know anything, but he'll stick up for his Healer friend!
TUNAPAW was not the most insightful cat. He could not imagine giving up his life of hunting adventures and battle training for something as intellectual as gathering herbs. He could not even tell a daisy from a tulip! There was no question where his strengths, and weaknesses, lie.
"Sick kits? Even worse!" he growled jokingly, and made a pouty kit face. "Do you know how much I complained when I got sick as a kit? Even more than I do now!" "Anyway," Tunapaw's pouty face morphed back into a more mature one and he sat back up in his nest. As he did so, his stomach gave a loud, non-discrete rumble. Once again, the giddy tom's composure broke down and he gave a sheepish smile. He glanced at Smokepaw in embarrassment and then had a good laugh. "Well, looks like I'm hungry! I'm going to go grab a bite. Do you want anything to eat?"
Oh, I know... whining about how you wanted to get out of the nursery, if I remember." Smokepaw was one of Tunapaw's friends- of course he knew how he complained!
At Tunapaw's very... loud... grumbling stomach, Smokepaw's stomach decided that it would be a good time to speak up, as well. The large Fledgling's stomach growled like it was competing with Tunapaw's stomach, and Smokepaw laughed with Tunapaw about their stomachs.
"Well," Smokepaw meowed, embarrassment slipping into his voice. "If you're going to grab food..."
Smokepaw remembered an earlier point of discussion- the bass. "I want to see that bass you caught!" He got to his paws, smaller tail pointing towards the outside. "Maybe we can share it, since it is huge, and I doubt you can eat it by yourself." Smokepaw could try, but he was still a Fledgling- still growing he may be, but a big fish was not meant to be eaten in one bite.
TUNAPAW shot up quickly and eagerly. Smokepaw had agreed, and Smokepaw's stomach certainly agreed as well! It made his grumbling hunger a little less embarrassing. He did not know how the older warriors went a whole day without eating in between; by the time he returned from training, Tunapaw always felt like his stomach had turned inside out from hunger. "Do you think my bass is still there?" Tunapaw mused. He felt a little weird about catching and then eating his own piece of prey, but that definitely had to happen at times. Nothing better than grabbing a meal together with his ol' friend. "I bet one of the hungry senior warriors have devoured it by now! But let's definitely go check."
Tunapaw's newly groomed fur ruffled itself up again and he had a wicked idea. He glanced back at Smokepaw, "You got some energy left in you? I'll race you there!"
Without turning around to see if Smokepaw was following, he bumbled out of the nursery, slipping on some moss on the way out.
mokepaw was not a cat to race. Call him bumbling or call him slow, this fledgling wasn't the best build for races. Before Smokepaw could claim that a warrior would also have to share for something big, Tunapaw was already out of the den.
Leave it to the outgoing fledgling to be the outgoing fledgling. Smokepaw jumped to his paws, having just let them relax after his day out. He knew he wouldn't win, but he had to try! Especially since Tunapaw decided that they were going to race with no questions asked.
"H-Hey, Tunapaw!" Smokepaw called out, starting to pad faster as Tunapaw slipped on a bit of moss. "Wait up, I can't run fast!"
