Event [#event]

**Tallstar** · #11 June 10th, 2025, 11:22 PM

Vinesmoke
16 Moons
He/Him
Tunneler
Vinesmoke had just returned from patrol when he heard an ever so familiar voice. Padding to it he could already see a group of cats forming aswell as a few cats he knew others not so much. Hearing what this event was about he slowly thought about all the cats he had lost..Deadmoon,Featherblossom..Owlpaw though Owlpaw had returned he still had grieved..his mother had died when he was born so he never really grieved her more so the thought of her but the two cats he missed the most were Deadmoon and Featherblossom. Snapping him from his thoughts came a shaky voice looking over he saw cottonpaw a soft spoken and kind apprentice padding over he took a seat next to the tom. “You can definitely talk about your mama..I never got the chance to really know her what was she like?” He asked his tail flicking onto the others shoulder. “I never got the chance to meet mine however miss Deadmoon filled that role I really miss her she got caught in a snap trap she told me to run..me and her were out with apprentices she had asked me to help with a training session..I hope she comes back

@Daragca

**nyme** · #12 Yesterday, 11:19 AM

Event [#event]

AND IT NEVER MADE ANY SENSE, ANYTHING

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ❀ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

MAGGOTPAW . 12 MOONS . IT/THEY . WINDCLAN
SILVER TONGUE T1

Huh. Now, Maggotpaw had already figured that a good pawful of cats would be interested in this. Death and disappearance are so common in their lives that it's more usual for a cat to be born one day and quietly go missing another than it is for any of those little losses to be mourned by the clan at all. That gives everyone common ground, which means that one little piece of every cat is easy to understand, which in turn makes it easy for Maggotpaw to know how to make them do something.

I know that you miss somebody. Come and tell me who they are.

Thinking about it had been one thing. Mosspaw had wanted something, and Maggotpaw knew how to get it for him. But now it's real, it's happening, it's for everybody—and it's a strange, strange feeling. Crowtooth says this is a 'wonderful plan', puts his tail on their shoulders. Maggotpaw tries to make their face into a polite one, but they still wind up staring at the dark tom a little bit like he's sprouted an extra head. They don't hate the gesture; just hadn't expected it. Maggotpaw nearly demands he put his tail back, even, after it's moved, but they pinch their tongue between their teeth to stifle the urge. They're being good right now. Being good is a tricky process with a lot of steps, and not asking for the things they want is one of them.

"You can talk about them then. Everyone will listen. And you, too, Moorsong. You can talk too. And Cardinalpaw..." Maggotpaw pauses, frowns. Cardinalpaw's making sounds like they can't talk good right now. Is he upset, is that why? The stuttering makes Maggotpaw happy in the same way pulling the legs off of bugs makes them happy; it's nice to see somebody squirm. But they're being good. This has to work. So it tries to smile a nice-smile at Cardinalpaw.

"It is okay, Cardinalpaw. You breathe before you talk. All the way in and all the way out. A story is one word at a time, and it can happen as fast or as slow as you need it to, okay? Do you understand? First you breathe." It instructs. Then it moves on, nodding to a silent Cedarpaw, eyes settling on a timid Cottonpaw...a crying Cottonpaw. Maggotpaw stares, quietly amused but working very hard to keep its polite face on. It nods very quickly, patiently shelving its own thoughts of chasing Cottonpaw around to see him cry some more—which are only exacerbated when Mosspaw beelines to him. Yes, Maggotpaw does mind that as a matter of fact...but now is not the time to show it. They have already laid out the expectations for the evening, and angrily admonishing Mosspaw for a perceived slight is not one of them. Maggotpaw will be good and gracious and, in the spirit of this event, respectful tonight.

"You can talk about them, Cottonpaw. That's allowed. If you miss them, if you're upset, you have to talk. That's the stories wanting to come out, did you know? ...Mosspaw will take care of you if it's hard. Don't worry." Why no, they're not bitter. That's a good, friendly smile being worn by a good, friendly cat. Maggotpaw says nothing to Mosspaw. There will be time for that later.

Lightnight, Carppaw, and Swiftstrike approach in silence and are given a similar welcome; Maggotpaw carefully squeezes its eyes shut at them, slow and fond, and does not pry. Some cats announce who they miss, and some don't. That's fine. Maggotpaw knows better than to try and drag it out of them.

Vinesmoke is the last to come forward for now. He's one of the types who knows who he misses. He is also helping Cottonpaw, which is fine; it's far more forgivable than when Mosspaw had done it. Objectively, Maggotpaw knows that it should be encouraging this kind of thing. Hadn't they said it themself? Our lives are all about living together and talking together. Maggotpaw watches the interaction for a moment, not butting in, then decides to let these stories all breathe.

"Okay. I want you all to start now. Everyone will listen when it isn't their turn. You have to listen or else it doesn't work. Nobody can fight or be angry about somebody else's stories either. If you decide that something is the matter with somebody's story, or if they have a story about a cat you don't like, then you wait until tomorrow to talk about it okay? You wait. I'll only tell you to stop once, and then I'll hit you and I'll chase you out of camp if you don't listen." Maggotpaw fidgets, biting the insides of their cheeks. It feels pretty nice to get to lay down rules like this. It's fun to be the boss of others.

"There is no such thing as bad cats tonight. There are only stories, and you have to listen to all of them the same and be good to each other. Okay? Go."

**Aroogi** · #13 Yesterday, 12:23 PM

BIRCHFAWN
❀∗ [ he/him | WindClan Warrior | 17 moons ] ∗❀
✿⋆ [ Apprentice(s): Shrikepaw ] ⋆✿
✿⋆ [ The Collector | N/A | N/A ] ⋆✿
♡▹ The Warm-Hearted ◂♡

The tabby tom padded up and sat beside Cottonpaw, offering a gentle paw on the young tom's own before he spoke up. "My first mentor, Sunburst. I.. want to talk about him." He mewed, tears pricking the edges of his eyes. He missed the tom terribly and he would always have a place in Birchfawn's heart.

↠ [ Maggotpaw | @nyme ]
↠ [ Cottonpaw | @Daragca ]
↠ [ Vinesmoke | @Tallstar ]

**StrawberryMangoSmoothie** · #14 Yesterday, 01:33 PM

@nyme
Lightnight gave a gentle shift of his paws. "Perhaps....I'll speak of my mother. Yarrowleaf"

**Stone'Paw** · #15 Yesterday, 02:02 PM

Swiftstrike stays silent, looking down at her paws.

**Rustleaf** · #16 Yesterday, 03:43 PM

Mosspaw meowed “I would like to speak about my mother, a former clan cat, Catchingflame…”

**Crown_Sage** · #17 Yesterday, 06:45 PM

Maggotpaw. Fallensky hadn't spoken with it in a long time. She missed a lot of people, too. Her grandmother had left, and she hadn't seen her since. She could be hurt, or worse, dead. The queen shook her head sadly. Daf would be proud...

***Rani*** · #18 Yesterday, 07:16 PM

Crowtooth
Windclan Deputy | He/him | 55 Moons

Power Card: Cold Gust

Once upon a time Maggotpaw had created his share of trouble, reluctant to do... Well much, but it was hard to see that cat in him now today. The kid had really come far, matured and was showing a level of reflection not found in some warriors at times. He obviously was still a kid in many ways, but if this was the sign of the warrior to come it was one Crowtooth was excited to see one day.

Trying to offer some reassurance for managing such a fragile and fraught (but important) event the deputy murmured a "Yer a good kid Maggotpaw, if ya wanna talk privately 'bout anything after come find me. Life aint easy, Im sure ya know, but Im sure ya also know its easier wit' help." before stepping forward.

So far the cats gathered were hesitant to go first, understandable for such touchy and painful subjects, hard to share. So Crowtooth decided to take the plunge first.

"Wit' so many loved ones lost I think Ill talk 'bout 'em one at a time in the order they came inta my life fer ease.

So first... I wanna speak o' Creekdash. My mentor, my older brother.

I dont recall as much as I wished I did, my memory is fuzzy, but I think I met 'im as a kit. I was an awkward thing, didnt get along wit' most kits but stumbled on Creekdash, Creekpaw at the time. I dont think he had many friends either, a rising star who was gainin' notice from older clanmates an' it set him apart. I-I think he was lonely too, so took a chance on an annoyin' scrappy kit who was the same.

He was kind, attentive an' bold an' when I got sick, the sickness that made my breathin' an' voice so warped, he noticed where queens an' warriors didnt. Prolly saved my life really.

Just the same when I was an apprentice, saddled wit' a cruel mentor who scorned me fer not bein' able ta run like a 'proper' windclan cat Creekdash was the only one who noticed. He trained me when I was neglected between fightin' shadowclan among the best o' them, even bein' appart o' the patrol that drove shadowclan outta their camp.

An' when I snapped an' attacked my first poor mentor fer his actions he assured me Twilightstar wouldnt hate or exile me fer it if I was honest an' showed growth. He was right an' I became his apprentice as I always shouldve been.

Creekdash was kind, valiant, perceptive, brave, an' supportive. He faltered like everyone does but stood up afterwards. Sickness took 'im too soon, but.... Well personality alone Im aware Im a bit odd o' a deputy, perhaps not the best most natural choice. So when I feel Crowtooth aint enough fer what I do, Ill admit I ask what Creekdash would do if he was in my place. He wouldve made a great deputy, an' that idea has never guided me wrong."
He wished he had more to say, but the amnesia that took him from windclan had taken most memories of his brother. It was painful, but maybe if more cats remembered what he had left of Creekdash, even if he forgot someone would remember.

The tom sat back after speaking, eyes a bit wet and expression solumn but almost lighter. He had more to speak on, Stagleech, Bravebird Wolffang, but he'd let others speak first before talking again.

@nyme @Fenrir @olliebones @calix_is_silly @Daragca @Rustleaf @StrawberryMangoSmoothie @Rudie @Stone'Paw @Tallstar @Aroogi @Crown_Sage

**Daragca** · #19 Today, 05:18 AM

Cottonpaw
he/him | Windclan Apprentice | 13 moons
The Collector - Lucky Duck T3 - Survival Instinct - Chill of Death
The Stowaway Child

Cottonpaw was surprisingly overwhelmed by the support that was offered to him and he couldn’t help but fill with warmth and belonging. Knowing that they all had his back, he wouldn’t be shut down. He would be helped to speak and get it off his chest. He nodded kindly towards Mosspaw and took a seat, Vinesmoke coming close by shortly after. His heart twanged once more at the mention of a snaptrap claiming another cat and he looked down towards his leg. He’d been so lucky, so so lucky. Why did he escape and not them? It was an initial bubbling of guilt.

Then Maggotpaw spoke once more, inviting them all to take their turn. Birchfawn approached and held his paw over Cottonpaw’s own. He was thankful for the touch. Crowtooth started, with fond stories for those who had been lost. He spoke of them with overwhelming dignity and affection, easing his worries that he wouldn’t be the one to go first. Cottonpaw smiled ever so softly and threw another prayer to Starclan in their memory. He didn’t know them, but they were Windclan, they were family non the less.

When it finally concluded he took first a moment of silence, then began to work up the courage to speak. Slowly willing himself to cherish and share what he knew about his birth mother.

”I…I” His maw closed and he felt his spirit failing him. But the apprentice dug deep, willing himself to muster the courage he must to share. Just so they knew. Just so he knew and could be at peace. ”I.I didn’t k.k.k.k.know m.my b.b.birth m.mother, I was f.f.f.f.found a.as a n.newb.b.born on t.the e.edge o.o.o.of t.t.t.territory.” A deep calming breath heaved into his lungs as he continued. ”I h.h.h.had s.s.siblings w.with me t.too, it w.w.was a c.c.c.c.c.cold w.winter n.n.night. I d.don’t r.r.r.remember m.m.much a.a.about her a.a.at all, n.n.nor my s.s.s.siblings. B.b.b.b.b.b.but they all t.t.tried so h.h.hard to s.survive, s.s.s.she m.m.must h.have f.found a w.w.way to b.b.bring m.me to W.w.wind.c.c.clan.” There was a long pregnant pause as he thought about what next to muster himself to say. ”I.I’m s.s.s.sad I n.n.n.never g.got to k.k.know t.them p.p.properly, b.but I.I l.like to t.t.t.t.think they’re a.a.at p.p.p.p.peace n.now s.somewhere. M.m.m.maybe not S.s.starc.c.clan, b.b.b.but s.somewhere p.pretty.”

”I s.s.still l.l.love t.them a l.l.lot, e.even t.though w.w.w.we d.didn’t g.get m.m.much time t.t.toget.t.ther. I’m t.t.t.thankful t.they b.brought me h.h.h.h.here.” Little tears welled in his eyes once more but his voice grew strong. ”I’ll a.a.always t.t.try m.m.m.my b.b.best t.t.to t.think about t.t.them and b.b.b.b.b.b.be brave l.like t.they w.w.were.” His grip strengthened on Birchfawn’s paw without realising it.

”I w.w.will l.l.live f.for their m.memory, s.so it wasn’t in vain.”

[ @Rustleaf @Tallstar @Aroogi ]