ponz
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Post by ponz on Jul 17, 2021 10:20:17 GMT -8
— 040 — WRITING WIP
- Frost's Sheen announces the fourth tournament and leads the event herself. Buck's Antler, Clay's Vase, Echo, Shadespirit, Young Alyssum, Young Lark, Silknose, Smallwhisker, Wasp's Sting, and Wren's Eye are selected to participate.
- Scorch watches the proceedings of the Tournament from her prison, and ignores Embers' attempts to speak with her. Silknose and Raven's Lament, acting as translators, eventually usher the forlorn monarch out of the den. Hickory mocks Scorch as they go.
- Snippets of agility challenges, stealth challenges, and sparring matches, featuring the competitors in the Tournament.
- Blizzard's Howl and Blackthorn cheer on the competitors next to Stag and Mint's small family. Newly-minted knight Copper's Bend
- A delighted Wren races over to Turtle when his victory is announced. Frost and family congratulate him, offering him the chance to join the Royal Guard. Wren declines so as to spend more time by Turtle's side, earning himself many awws from the crowd.
- Hailglare sneaks into Scorch's den after the Tournament's close, and manages to draw a reaction from her when he asks for her help in destroying The First. She agrees, and an alliance is born.
- Seething over being ignored by their subjects and plotted against, The First surveys their crumbling sky kingdom before deciding to fiddle with the fabric of reality. After selecting an innocent cat to act as the catalyst and depositing them on the Golden Kingdom's borders, they sit back to watch the carnage unfold.
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ponz
Global Moderator
Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Jan 21, 2022 20:30:12 GMT -8
— 041 — WRITING WIP
- Crown of Embers decides to step down as monarch after moons of struggling to communicate with cats outside his family. On the dawn of the new moon, he and Frost's Sheen awaken in the Valley of Stars. The First strips Embers of his remaining lives and presents Frost with nine of her own. Frost is so enraged by The First's flippant disregard for the devastation they have caused that she begins verbally tearing into them. The deity just laughs, sending them back to the waking world with an ominous threat.
- The royal family hosts an official ceremony to transfer the crown. Crown of Frost thanks the kingdom for their support, declaring Aspen's Leaves as her new Royal Advisor and asking River's Melody, Hansel, Turtle's Shell, and Fogheart to consider joining her Royal Guard. The Golden Kingdom ends the day with grand festivities and good cheer.
- Out for a walk to get some fresh air, Ryestalk discovers a half-conscious cat on the borders, reeking of illness. The young knight shoulders them onto her back and drags them back with her to the castle. Ryestalk cheerfully informs the Stranger that her father is a gifted healer and will help them feel better in no time. As she talks, a strange itch forms at the back of her throat...
- Desdemona catches Hailglare sneaking out of Scorch's den. She ignores his stammered excuses, already quite aware of his vendetta against The First, and calmly informs him that she can already feel his energy. Desdemona asks him to continue his efforts, but not to bring her into it. Bewildered, Hailglare allows her to drag him off to the nursery, where Ginger's Root is caring for her young kittens.
- Hansel waits eagerly at the castle entrance for Gretel's border patrol to return, wanting to tell his sister of his eminent promotion. His dreams are shattered when the patrol returns with news of tragedy: both Gretel and Mink's Fur had perished in a skirmish with passing rogues. River's Melody, also waiting for the same reason, is shaken to hear of her best friend's passing.
- Kit of Lavender is ready to become a squire. In memory of her mother, Opal's Gleam and Aspen's Leaves agree that she should be apprenticed to Otter's Fang, and they do so in a private family ceremony. Lavender nearly bounces off the walls as as Otter's Fang ushers her out of the castle for a border tour.
- The Stranger wakes from their stance in the cleric's den as Lily's Grace and Moth's Flight prod at them with various herbs. Delirious, they roll over and recite a frightening prophecy before once again succumbing to sleep.
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ponz
Global Moderator
Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Mar 8, 2022 19:54:04 GMT -8
— 042 — WRITING WIP
- The Stranger has finally recovered after a moon-long struggle with life and death, but his illness (christened Bloodfever by Moth's Flight) has begun to infect the many knights and squires of the Golden Kingdom. Despite Lily's Grace reassuring him that he is not at fault, the Stranger struggles with survivor's guilt as well as his inability to remember anything about his own life.
- The castle's second cellar has been set aside for housing the ill. In the very back corner of the room, Jaggedscar, Wolf's Song, and Clover's Leaf bid a tearful goodbye to Ryestalk, the first Golden Kingdom cat to have contracted Bloodfever, as she succumbs to the sickness. In her dying breath, she begs her father to tell the Stranger she wishes for him to find happiness.
- After news of Gretel's death reaches him, charismatic Thanda of the Pride of Aya travels to the Golden Kingdom to offer his condolences to Hansel and to leave offerings of wildflowers by her grave. He meets one of his sons, Young Swan, but is not allowed to see little Goose, who is in quarantine with the other Bloodfever patients.
- River's Melody goes into labor in the nursery. Morning's Dew is there to assist, as well as Lynx's Prowl, who is expecting a litter of his own shortly. Despite the tense atmosphere in the kingdom, River tries her best to make light of the situation and joke around with the two cats in her company.
- Miraculously, Ember's throat heals overnight and he regains the ability to speak. He immediately rushes to find Scorch in her prison, and plies her with questions about her past and The First. Despite being unusually communicative and more like her young self, Scorch is unwilling to open up about her past. She does, however, warn him that The First is a deeply malevolent force and is most likely behind what is happening to his kingdom. Ember agrees, tells his sister that he's missed her, and leaves to contemplate. Scorch watches him go, and for the first time in many years, hears the stirrings of her own voice in her mind.
- Crown of Frost, sick to her stomach with worry for her kingdom, speaks with Aspen's Leaves about Young Cliff, Young Lark, and Young Alyssum's knight assessments. He encourages her to ask them what they want. The three squires choose to go on with their assessments in hopes that the good news of their success will "inspire Young Tumble to recover faster."
- Hailglare is so distraught over his mother and siblings contracting Bloodfever that he manages to dream his way into the Valley of Stars. The First is there to greet him, mocking his dreams of building a new clan, and tells Hailglare that his hatred is entertaining. Furious, Hailglare vows to destroy the "impostor ghost" that is tormenting his new home with Bloodfever. The First laughs him off, and sends him back to consciousness with the words "you're too entertaining to get rid of."
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ponz
Global Moderator
Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Apr 11, 2022 0:59:53 GMT -8
— 043 — WRITING WIP
- Young Coal and the other kingdom ghosts keep trying to communicate with the living, but The First's control is insurmountable. Firefly's Path and Owl's Screech, newly dead, are aghast to learn the truth behind what killed them.
- The Stranger speaks with Crown of Frost about what he can still remember of the prophecies. After he leaves, Frost collapses, blaming herself for bringing suffering onto her clan. When Embers tries to reassure his daughter, Frost spurns his compassion and runs off to seethe in private.
- Morning's Dew and Moth's Flight hide away in the cleric's den for a moment of reprieve. The two clerics speak in hushed tones about the groups of healthy cats leaving the Golden Kingdom and the funeral rites being held just outside before they must return to work.
- Mint's Leaf succumbs to illness despite her kits' and mate's pleading. Stag's Stomp refuses to leave her side as the clerics move her out of the den, while Anise and Buck wail. Shaken by the loss of yet another mother figure, Turtle's Shell flees the scene and turns to Wren's Eye for comfort.
- Fogheart is on death's doorstep, so sick that he can barely think straight, much less mourn for his sisters or wish safe travels for his mother and brother. Ivory's Luster, clinging to his side, chokes out prayers for her beloved's wellbeing. The First, quietly surprised by her devotion, chooses to cure two of the ill that they feel have enough belief. Fogheart takes his first painless breath, and turns to Ivory, who just clings to him even tighter.
- Thanda grows closer with Hansel over the course of his stay in the Golden Kingdom. Hansel grapples with budding romantic feelings, while Thanda struggles with identity issues and secret-keeping in the wake of his clan's disbandment. However, when Young Goose makes a miraculous recovery from Bloodfever and he sees Hansel cry tears of joy, Thanda makes up his mind to stay.
- River's Melody struggles in the nursery, working overtime to care for both her own kittens and Ginger's Root's. Lynx's Prowl helps where he can, but the stress of one of her kits being ill with Bloodfever is getting to her. Newly-made knights Cliff's Edge, Lark's Trill, and Alyssum's Thorn stop by the nursery to help their auntie and spend the whole evening cheering up River.
- Hailglare is torn between righteous fury and profound grief after Hollyspots dies. Making up his mind, he pleads with Aspen's Leaves and Lily's Grace to allow him an audience with Crown of Frost. They are reluctant to trust him given his history, but Desdemona arrives to vouch for his intentions. Hailglare meets with the leader of the Golden Kingdom within the hour, and informs her of exactly what The First has done.
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ponz
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Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Jun 3, 2022 20:43:02 GMT -8
— 044 — WRITING WIP
- In the past moon, Cardinal's Crest, Young Tumble, Rainwish, Blackthorn, Smallwhisker, and Hickory passed away from Bloodfever. Outside the castle, where their graves are located, Hailglare and Desdemona sit together. She tries to probe for his emotional state, and only manages to get through when she asks him about the plan. Freshly-orphaned Hailglare replies, "It ends soon," and then responds no further.
- Fogheart relearns to walk after Bloodfever deteriorated his leg muscles. Ivory's Luster is there to help support. Meanwhile, Young Goose is assisted by Wolf's Song and Clover's Leaf in place of their father. He asks where Jaggedscar is, to which Wolf replies that he's busy coordinating something important.
- Crown of Frost meets with Jaggedscar and Ember's Crown inside the throne room. She accepts the potent sleeping herb from the former cleric, which Lily's Grace told him to bring, and dismisses him. Ember wishes his daughter luck as she drifts off to sleep.
- The First is waiting for Frost in the lavender field. She demands the truth and it is granted-- at the cost of her nine lives (Pure Ice). The First, perhaps better known as Crown of Ice, is caught off guard when an enraged Frost leaps at them. The battle is long and lethal, but Frost emerges the victor and slaughters the ghost. The Valley of Stars begins to shake around her.
- Back in the land of the living, Lily's Grace, Moth's Flight, and Morning's Dew watch in shock as every last Bloodfever patient wakes from their comas. Outside, a great storm of yelling commences. Rabbit's Foot comes running in and announces that there's something coming from the sky.
- Crown of Frost opens her eyes and comes face to face with a tiny black tabby. He introduces himself as Coal and delightedly informs her that she has lifted the generations-long curse of Pure Ice. After some additional exposition and ghost lore, the small ghost gives Frost one final gift before she wakes: three additional lives.
- The Golden Kingdom has become temporarily flooded with ghosts. Aspen's Leaves, Opal's Gleam, and Young Lavender meet with Birch's Bark and Raccoon's Mask. Honeybee and Canary find Goldfinch. Hailglare reunites with his family. Ember and Scorch get closure with Flame. The Stranger's memory returns.
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ponz
Global Moderator
Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Jun 3, 2022 20:43:25 GMT -8
— 045 — WRITING WIP
- The sun rises on a bittersweetly quiet morning in camp. Familiar ghosts phase in and out of the castle walls, while the living begin to stir. Outside, the raw earth of the sprawling graveyard has begun to nurture grass and wildflower growth. Raven's Lament stands beside the graves of his parent and his best friend. He has never before felt so profoundly alone.
- stranger meets their lover.
- hailglare is suffering.
- lynx and his baby.
- the celebration. a selection of an heir.
- alyssum, cliff, lark become knights. goose becomes desdemona's squire. thandahansel. alyssum thinks about tumble.
- aspenopal and lavender. turtlewren.
- scorch meets rabbit.
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ponz
Global Moderator
Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Jun 3, 2022 20:43:37 GMT -8
— 046 — WRITING WIP
- frost and her heirs (alyssum/cliff/swan). the conceptualization of the pilgrimage.
- river's induction to the royal guard.
- stranger and their lover.
- adder and honeybee, plus canary.
- raven meets hazel.
- lily and jagged and morning, plus kids.
- ivoryfog aid ginger with her kids.
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ponz
Global Moderator
Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Jun 3, 2022 20:44:00 GMT -8
— 047 — WRITING WIP
- an announcement of the pilgrimage to the clan.
- river and light talk. she tells him he has cloud syndrome.
- thandahansel are the world's sappiest old men.
- hawk thinks about life and about her squire.
- rabbitscorch ft. a concerned ember.
- hail and desdemona coping mechanisms. superpowers!
- moth thinks about purpose.
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ponz
Global Moderator
Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Jun 3, 2022 20:44:12 GMT -8
— 048 — WRITING WIP
- cats discuss and ponder the upcoming pilgrimage. adder thinks.
- stranger and their lover.
- raven and hazel bffs for life.
- river's kittens notice a strange tapestry in a burned hallway.
- aspenopal.
- ginger rounds up her little ones and heads to islandclan.
- hail and desdemona.
- rusa overhears clay laurel lyre discuss leaving.
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ponz
Global Moderator
Posts: 108
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Post by ponz on Jun 3, 2022 20:44:24 GMT -8
— 049 — WRITING WIP
- frost, swan, alyssum, cliff announce the beginning of the pilgrimage. it is a time of tearful goodbyes and joyous laughter.
- adder is encouraged to find bahia.
- jagged, lily, morning. jagged confesses his desire to leave.
- hailglare and desdemona part ways.
- otter rusa weepy goodbye.
- river gives mink's kits her blessing.
- turtle and wren leaving, stag cries. anise cries too.
- scorch and ember watch light go.
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