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.
[attr="class","hearmenand2"]Orchidbloom made sure she was prompt with their meeting times. She knew Anispine’s schedule was unpredictable, where an emergency could come at any point. She had patrols and an apprentice as well, so both their times were valuable. Neither of them could afford to dally around, especially if they wanted to be as productive as possible.
At first, learning just how many herbs there were was daunting, and she was more than a little doubtful of her ability to retain everything. After several visits, she started to feel more confident, and she quickly began remembering more and more each time. It seemed to reflect, because Anispine appeared more relaxed and quite pleased when she was continuously correct.
Nothing was different about this meeting. Orchidbloom strolled in at the planned time, sparing a glance around until the medicine cat faced her. While nothing was different, there was a look in his gaze that differed slightly from the usual. His verbal challenge hung in the air between them as she comprehended it, and when she did, she blinked. What kind of challenge was he anticipating?
“I can try,” she agreed after a moment. “What would you like me to do?” She was wary, but at the same time she was interested in seeing how well her knowledge applied under pressure.
[attr=class,punkisavelighttext]A voice echoed behind her, and Dragonfly tensed for a moment until she placed who it was. Part of her was surprised that someone else would be this far out, but the other part wasn’t given who the voice belonged to.[break][break]
She considered her thoughts before she answered Tempest. They weren’t on her swabbie trial exactly, but it was easy to think back on it upon its reference. It was a methodical event for her, one she wasn’t as excited for as she wished. Early on in her training she learned that the experience of learning would be overshadowed by the need to exceed no matter what—Ocean wanted that, and even Firefly to some extent. She did what she needed to during her trial to make sure she completed it, and there was little pride in it for her by that point. [break][break]
“I don’t think back on it much,” she admitted. “There isn’t much for me to think back on.” Dragonfly turned halfway so she could look at Tempest as well as the sea. “Though I suppose each navigator experiences their trials differently.” She didn’t know much of Tempest’s trial, and it was hard to picture him as a young swabbie struggling through it. She was curious, but she didn’t try to press for information yet.
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Sharksong shrugged and looked away. He wasn’t Turtlehop. It was hard for him to place just how she felt, especially when he felt like he was all over the place. [break][break]
He did promise that he wouldn’t resist though. It was the simplest thing he could comply to, so he complied. He turned and faced the water, staring at it with trepidation. It continued to roll in and out harmlessly, without any care to anything. If he stepped in, it wouldn’t do anything to him. He wasn’t going to swim. He could always take a step back out of its reach if he needed. [break][break]
Cycling through these thoughts like a mantra, Sharksong extended a paw forward. He let it hover over the surface. His mind spun and he closed his eyes as he lowered it under the gentle waves. The revulsion was immediate, but he kept his paw where it was. It wasn’t harming him. It wasn’t harming him. He needed to remember that. [break][break]
“Is this enough?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Smokepaw & Tangpaw - They’re the same age and Tang is really friendly so I can see them being fast friends. Maybe they were friends in the nursery together? Lemme know what you think/if you have other ideas!
Brindlebear & Orchidbloom - Orchid is by the book and down to earth, but she's also blunt and says what she thinks and isn't afraid to correct others. I feel like the two of them could go either way (friends or enemies). It depends on how Brindle would react, let me know what you think!
Cactusbloom & Sharksong - They are about the same age, so they likely grew up together. Shark also has a big ego and he can be a little aggressive and over-confident, so I could see them actively disliking each other. Or maybe they kinda sorta bullied together and then fell out? Let me know your ideas!
The choice made sense, even if he felt the slightest sense of disappointment himself. There were three of them, so they would need a lot. But it also meant neither him nor Newtstripe made a correct guess, in a sense. It would have made Sharksong feel better if he’d been solely right, but he supposed there was logic in everything.[break][break]
When Tinystar settled next to him, he focused harder on his fish and took an absent bite. Newtstripe was decent in letting her go first, and he was a little disgruntled that he found himself agreeing so easily. It wasn’t the topic, but more so the concept—and the reasons behind it. He was never bothered before about agreeing, but now it made his gut twist in ways he didn’t understand.[break][break]
He didn’t notice Tinystar’s glance, and he almost missed her brief statement. He looked up and quickly nodded. “We are. We’ll only be lucky if we find this much in the coming moons.” The Gods didn’t seem to bless them at any other time, and he always wondered why. Were they truly as good and all-knowing as it was implied? Sharksong shook his head and reached for a piece of the hare.
Sharksong didn’t know that he would struggle for as long as he was. Nothing prepared him for the mental battle that continued to eat away at him. Nothing was easier, but he was starting to figure out how to hide it better. It gave him some semblance of normalcy. Someone could look at him and actually think that he was a true deputy, one without fatal flaws. It was constantly discomforting to think about the possibility that someone besides Turtlehop could find out about his deterioration.[break][break]
The sun was setting as he walked along Crescent Moon Beach. His heart was pounding as the waves went in and out. The mere sound of the water had Sharksong on edge. Bursts of color splashed across the sky, and in the distance, he could see the outline of the shipwreck. The shipwreck that changed his life. Flashes of his deputy trial raced behind his eyes as he looked at the calm scene before him.[break][break]
The air was cooler now that it wasn’t sunhigh. His clanmates would be more active around this time, but he needed to get out of camp before moonrise. The itch to move was too much for him to ignore.
[attr="class","hearmenand2"]Orchidbloom’s expression was growing flatter and flatter the more Rockshade spoke, but she was lucky—and perhaps he was, too—that the scent of prey interrupted him before he could finish. He focused, and any trace of coyness he possessed was gone. Replaced with it was that hidden worth ethic, and she once again struggled with understanding how he could switch so fast.
She screwed her eyes against the drops of water, seeking the tom out as he asked his question against the sound of the rain. It was a good enough plan. She could do it easily. Just as she was about to go find a stick, she heard his voice again. She snorted when he finished, and she called out, “Funny enough, I already have one.”
With that, she turned back the way they had come and nosed around for a stick. Nothing too long, nothing too brittle. It took her a few moments, but she found something suitable. She picked it up and quickly returned to Rockshade.
“Here,” she said once she put it down in front of him. Orchidbloom stood back a moment later and waited expectantly for him to take the lead.
[attr="class","you-i-post"]Tangpaw was surprised when she heard voices below her. Did she somehow pull ahead of them? She shrugged it off after the thought occurred to her, and she continued on. She trusted they would get there, they were all capable fledglings.[break][break]
She finally reached the branch she jumped off initially. It was thick, but not enough to support all of them. She hung back on a nearby branch, instead waiting for Tunapaw and Shellpaw. She didn’t want to do anything without them. Having a high vantage point would also help them look for the mysterious fish, or so Tangpaw assumed. She peered around her branch to watch the water’s surface, and she realized she could only see the water’s surface—not anything beneath it.
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[attr="class","you-i-bottom-text"]123 words // @seaoi @sovereign // notes
Sharksong walked through Coconut Trail for a while, long enough that he began to think that Ivorysplash wasn’t actually there. Just as he was about to give up looking, he heard the snap of undergrowth, and a sound audible and familiar enough that he knew it was from a cat. Could it be…?[break][break]
He went in the direction where the sound originated from, and as he crested a hill, he saw his sister below. Part of him was surprised that he managed to find her at all, while part of him was relieved that he wouldn’t have to look any longer. It took him a moment to realize that she looked flustered, frustrated, and he hesitated on approaching her. Doubt gnawed at him eagerly, and he was quickly tempted to turn around before she saw him. However, he knew it wouldn’t solve his problems, so he had no choice but to face her now. He didn’t know when he would get the chance again.[break][break]
He descended the slope slowly, gut churning. “Ivorysplash.” He called her name firmly, making sure that his voice didn’t pitch as a question. It was a statement, one he hoped was confident and collected. If he started out on the right foot, it would only be easier from there.
[attr="class","hearmenand2"]Much to her pleasure, Ratpaw appeared before her in a decent amount of time. She heard the faint rustle of undergrowth before she saw the brown apprentice. Orchidbloom nodded in a greeting of her own before she began speaking.
“Thank you for being prompt, Ratpaw. We’re going to focus on tracking today. You did well in finding me, so I know you can handle what I have planned.” She took a breath, then continued. “It’s one thing to follow a fresh scent, but sometimes we have to track old scents. Sometimes we have to follow tracks that are deliberately hidden.” The circumstances where they’d have to follow hidden tracks was rare, but it was a skill that was useful in many ways once learned.
“First I want you to tell me what you can detect with your senses. Anything and everything.” Every sense could be used, so she wanted to get her apprentice in the habit of using everything that was at her disposal.