Open Event Camp ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD ✦ The Moonlight Celebration Crafting + Storytime Event

[brightnose!'s icon brightnose! brightnose!]

BRIGHTNOSE | SUN GUARD
"ALWAYS CONFUSING THE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD"

.

As evening sets upon SkyClan's camp, Brightnose places the last bundle of sticks and leaves atop the pile she's been making all day. After Hawkstar's moonlight celebration and her Clanmates' various games and challenges they'd set up for the occasion, it only makes sense that Brightnose follows up with an event of her own. Many of the other events had been energy-filled, so she hopes that something more mellow and relaxed will be a pleasant surprise to SkyClan; she tries to swallow down the nervous lump in her throat before she speaks, still not fully used to addressing large groups the way she is now.

"Attention, cats of SkyClan! We've all partied hard during our first moonlight celebration here in the forest, and I'd like to ask you all to participate in one last hurrah to really bring it all together…" Her gaze flicks between those of the other cats, and she seems to relax a bit. "I… I remember that decorations and gifts were a big part of our celebrations in the gorge, and that's why you see a pile of materials before you. I want us to do that again - to create new memories of sharing gifts and stories while StarClan watches over us from above. To all of you - those who remember the days of the gorge, and those who have joined our ranks in the forest - I hope that you've enjoyed this celebration, and that you're as proud as I am to call yourselves SkyClanners. There's no wrong way to participate in this event, so please enjoy it however you wish. That's all. Thank you."
Brightnose dips her head as she ends her speech, stepping back to watch the others start to mingle and grab supplies from the pile. She wears a smile, and for a moment she glances up at the sky, the first stars flickering into view, before she swiftly rises to her paws and trots to the pile where her Clanmates have gathered.

𓆩✧𓆪‿̩͙‿ ༺ ♰♰ ༻ ‿̩͙‿𓆩✧𓆪​

//"together we are skyclan" ahh speech /silly

Hello and welcome to the final event of the Moonlight Celebration! In this event hosted by Brightnose, all SkyClanners, from kits to elders, can gather around in camp and share stories about the journey, the code, their Clanmates, or anything else involving their Clan! Alongside this will be a crafting circle - make something nice to decorate camp with or a gift for one of your Clanmates!

Here's how you get points:
+1 point for gifting another something you crafted
+1 point for listening to a story (can combine with crafting something)
+1 point for crafting something (can combine with listening to a story)
+2 points for Telling a story about memories of the journey
+3 points for Telling a story about what made the code Real

And here are your post prompts in case you need one!
1. One of the kits is begging to hear a story about the journey to the forest! They're clearly expecting a tale of glory and honor - will you ham it up a bit to appeal to the kits' whimsy, or will you tell things as they were?

2. The forest is great and all, but you find yourself reminiscing about your old home. Tell a story involving your fondest memory of the gorge.

3. Amongst all of your Clanmates, you can't help but notice that a few cats are missing. Share a story about a Clanmate who has passed on to StarClan to keep their memory alive.

4. That cat is sitting alone… do you want to give them a gift to keep the spirit of the festival alive?

5. A kitten is struggling with their craft and seems to be getting upset, help encourage them !

Lastly I just wanted to say that I am very honored to be hosting an event thread as an sHP after such a short time here on Purrgy, this place has genuinely improved my mental health and I have all of you to thank thank you everyone for participating in this event, thank you to the SKC HP team for their hard work on this event, and Happy Holidays / have a good rest of your year!

"SO I CAN'T TRUST MYSELF ANYMORE"

BRIGHTNOSE
SKYCLAN SUN GUARD
22 MOONS
SHE/HER
"SPEECH" | THOUGHTS | ACTION
#61BD6D #00A885

 

[Pearkit]

PEARKIT

ANY PRONOUNS

SKYCLAN

KITTEN

Pearkit has learned so much from their very first moonlight celebration. They've listened to stories of the code and of the journey, though they still struggled to grasp what those things truly were. They got to play and they got to participate in new and exciting activities and bond with their clanmates they haven't had a chance to before. And now, Pearkit felt a little sad about this celebration coming to an end. They decided to make one final memory, for them and Mothkit.

Walking slowly to the pile Bitenose had created, Pearkit looked through the different trinkets - mainly sticks and leaves, though there were little stones and bark there too. And a few very special trinkets as well. Pearkit could just imagine it - making a little figurine of mama from the twigs, using dried berries as the eyes and a long leaf for the tail! Tying it all together with blades of grass!

But when Pearkit actually tried to grab the materials needed, suddenly their paws grew clumsy and what they had imagined in their head seemed so hard, impossible even. The twigs wouldn't hold in place, the berries wouldn't stick and the blades of grass simply tore in two under the pressure. Why was it so hard?

"Mothkit?" they asked their sibling, sniffling slightly. "I don't know how to make mama out of this!" Perhaps they were too ambitious, their plans too great.

A new idea struck them, though they feared it was too ambitious as well. One reassuring smile from Mothkit, however, made them want to try at least. They took the sharpest stick they could see and pierced two large leaves through. Once those were safely planted through the stick, they took a berry and placed it on the sharp end of the stick. "There you go, Mothkit!" they spoke proudly, looking at their creation. "It's...um... well it's supposed to be a moth for you."

ʚĭɞ OOC: Interacting with @Mothkit, but open to any other interactions! Fulfilling prompts [craft something] and [gift something] for 2 points. Someone tell this kid a story so we can get our final points! /silly

 

[JACKDAW JACKDAW]

JACKDAW

Skyclan was still so different than what Jackdaw was used to. Conflicts were brief, usually arguments at most, and there was a sense of community here that his home had lacked. All of that compared to the leadership, though. Both Hawkstar and Flowercloud seemed certain in their rule, from what Jackdaw could tell- if nothing else, neither of them seemed constantly on edge from the chance of sudden, bloody challenges.

It seemed safe.

It seemed too good to be true.

Even if he had been the type to be optimistic, old habits still died hard. While the rest of these cats- his clanmates- had gathered close enough to each other, Jackdaw had grabbed the first few things he saw and retreated to a shady spot near the warrior's den.

Even as he prodded at his supplies, though, his ears were upturned and directed toward the rest of the clan. Listening, even if he was sure he had no stories he'd want to tell.

OOC: Feel free to use him for prompt 4!

 

[SWALLOWBREEZE]

the molly hasn't done this in a lifetime, but the weaving skills never left— she uses them every day in her medicinal work. she gathered a small pile of supplies and pushed them into a corner and tried to tie them together into a... shape of some kind. it kind of looked like a mouse, or a bird if she turned it to the side.

as interesting as her freshly crafted creature was, there wasn't anywhere she could put this in her den. it'd collect dust and take up important space, not to mention it was kind of creepy to look at for too long. swallowbreeze looked up, eyes scanning for someone she could potentially hand this off too... ah, perfect.

"hi, um..." she approaches jackdaw, and falls silent for a moment as she tries to remember his name, he was apart of the mountain cats, she knew that. a strange bunch, though skyclan was founded on misfits. "jackdaw. are–are you um, making anything? i tried to make this um... whatever this turned out to be." she holds up the mouse–bird on her paw, and it gently dangles in the breeze like a weird bracelet.

@JACKDAW // +1 for craft

 

[Ptarmiganpaw Ptarmiganpaw]

Ptarmiganpaw had curled their fluffy tail about them as they hummed quietly to themself, amber eyes narrowed, honed in on her task at hand.

She'd been surprised to hear of a crafting event for the moonlight celebration, but she wasn't about to turn her nose up at it either. They didn't know how well they'd be able to make something, but even so, they wanted to try. With some thin branches, pine boughs and some late-blooming flowers--she'd double checked with Swallowbreeze if they were any use to her first, of course--lay out in front of her, Ptarmiganpaw was determined to make a gift for one of the very first cats who had treated her with such kindness.

Carefully, she began winding the thin branches into some sort of braid, uneven and finicky; she wouldn't relent even as the branches tried with all their might to unwind, earning a huff from the sealpoint. Ptarmigan already showed her gratitude every day she could to Swallowbreeze, and as Hawkstar's dutiful apprentice, she was always grateful after every training session and hunt. But there was another cat she wanted to show gratitude for: Tawnybeam.

She looked up to the tom, an ever kind and thoughtful figure. The one to talk with Hawkstar when she first arrived at Skyclan, checked in on her while she settled. Honestly, if it wasn't Hawkstar as her mentor, she would have been happy for Tawny to be her mentor. Ptarmigan didn't often get to pester the warrior, but she wanted to show her gratitude for his kindness, not as a repayment of any debt, but because she was grateful for her clanmates. And, maybe, if she were any good at this crafting stuff, she could make gifts for more of her friends, too!

While she wasn't as successful as she liked, there was still a small, rumbling purr in the back of her throat. The branches weren't as neatly braided, the boughs were slightly loose, but the pale flowers tucked in the weave made it all look a little more put together. It wasn't a full flower crown; it wasn't the season for it, but it was as good as she was able to make for now, and she was still proud.

Carefully picking the thing up, the tiny seal point scanned the camp before finding the cat she was in search of. With a rumbling purr, she trotted up to Tawnybeam and placed the thing at his paws. "Hiya Tawnybeam! I made this for you to say thank you! You helped me settle into Skyclan, and I haven't really gotten to say thank you for it, so I made you a uh- Sorta flower crown. It's got flowers on it, so it's basically the same thing!" Ptarmiganpaw nodded to herself, a little unsure but still smiling.

---

Two points for crafting something and gifting it to @TAWNYBEAM !!!

​

PTARMIGANPAW They/She/He, Skyclan Apprentice, 7 moons old.
A long-haired sealpoint apprentice with tired amber eyes.
mentored by Hawkstar // mentoring none
littermate to none
NPC x NPC / parent to none / mated to none
"SPEECH" // "THOUGHTS" // ATTACK
penned by Pheo ↛ phoenixwashere on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Mothkit]

mothkit

maybe you feel the same ?

┍

Mothkit watched Bitenose's little speech with wide eyes. Crafting? They weren't sure what that really meant, but they were excited to try. Bounding after Pearkit towards the piles, they took in all the different objects and tried to piece together an idea. They immediately found themself overwhelmed at the possibilities, while also having no real ideas at all. Pear, on the other hand, immediately began to gather materials and put... something... together. Mothkit watched in awe, despite the clumsiness of their paws, as they began to create something. But then, frustration began to wash over them, and Mothkit shook their head at Pearkit's declaration. They'd been trying to make mama? Mothkit tilted their head to one side. They supposed they saw the intention behind Pearkit's attempt.

"That's okay,"

they purred to their sibling, offering a small, reassuring smile. At least they'd been trying. Mothkit was clueless!

Pearkit returned to their crafting, and Mothkit turned their attention back to the pile of materials. With a small frown, they wracked their tiny head for an idea. They remembered, suddenly, the charm Teaselfeather had given mama, which still occupied a space on the edge of their family's nest. Maybe they could make one of those? Tail flicking thoughtfully, they selected a piece of bark and a few blades of grass. Bundling them carefully together, they returned to Pearkit's side and set to work. There was a small crack in the bark, which Mothkit was carefully trying to thread a piece of grass through when Pearkit presented them with a gift.

"A moth!"

They purred loudly.

"Thank you!"

They leaned forward to rub their cheek against their sibling's.

"Hold on,"

they turned away from Pear, hunched over their work to try and hide it from their sibling before it was ready.

It took longer than they would have liked, but they managed to get the grass through the crack, and tied into a loop. They followed that with a few other circled of grass tied into a chain shape that hung from the bark. They tested it by giving the chain a gentle tug. The pieces of grass immediately came untied and fell off. The original piece was still safely wedged in the bark, however. Good enough! They turned back towards Pear with a grin.

"Um, I don't know what pears look like... But I made you a good luck charm,"

they mewed, puffing out their chest proudly.

┙

...the flapping of wings toward the stars...​

shorthaired fawn ticked tabby with brown eyes
agender; they/them
skyclan kit
1 moon
child of rain; sibling to pearkit, flutterkit, songkit; soulbond with pearkit

"speech"

, thoughts, attempted action

 

[Berrypaw]

BERRYPAW

Berrypaw listened to Brightnose speak, pride of being a part of SkyClan filling up his heart. He had lived his entire life here in the forest territory, only ever hearing stories of the gorge and how the code came to be, but he had been taught by the very best - his mommas and all the other members of the clan. And now he was an apprentice, now he could give back to the clan.

"Hey, Rain." he approached his friend, a smile on his lips. Berrypaw didn't think himself creative enough to actually make something, but he could contribute in other ways. "I can tell you a story of how the code came to be. To help you remember better." He knew the caregiver struggled to remember the code and he couldn't blame her - it was just words after all, if one didn't give it proper meaning, proper examples. Anyone who joined their little story circle could listen, though his main goal was to teach the caregiver and the younger kits.

Berrypaw didn't know if any of the stories were true, or just things the elders and caregivers told kids to behave, but he did not care. It gave the code meaning, it helped it make sense.

"There once was a clan under the leadership of Brightstar. Which of the five clans this was does not matter, for it could have been any of the five. Brightstar was a good leader at first, but he had one flaw - his greed. It started out small, back when he was still only a deputy, not letting his brothers share a place with him to eat prey together, chasing them away every time they merely suggested doing so. Then, when he became leader, he'd always pick the juiciest bird or the fattest vole from the fresh-kill pile, always watching for each patrol and not letting anyone else pick before he had his share."

Berrypaw licked his lips, thinking of the wonderful pieces of food - but unlike the cat in his story, he would share it with his siblings and clanmates. "The only exception to this was his mate, Whiterose. The leader and the warrior, always getting their first picks before anybody else. Nobody truly ever minded, for it was only two birds in a pile of food. Nobody went hungry because of this. But when Brightstar and Whiterose grew closer and started a family, it became an issue soon. Two became six and six became eight and in harsh winter, when clanmates needed to share prey together to survive, the family of Brightstar walked with their bellies full while the rest of the clan starved. Elders grew sick and kittens died, because their parents couldn't produce enough milk to keep them fed. The clan started to fall apart."

"Only when Brightstar's mate fell ill, did the leader realise the error of his ways. The clan refused to provide for the sick Whiterose who had never provided for them and Brightstar had grown too soft to hunt by himself each day. He had no choice but to either let Whiterose die or give up his title of a leader and leave the clan with his family."

"Despite all the bad he had caused, Brightstar was not an evil cat. He couldn't just let his mate die due to his own failings and so he did what he thought was best and left the clan life behind, leaving it in the care of his deputy Snakebite. With Snakestar as the new leader, the very first thing she did was declare what StarClan had told her during her leader ceremony; Elders, Caretakers, sick or injured cats and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. It not only became practice, but the code, for no clan could survive without it and no clan would thrive without following the code."

Berrypaw took a small breath, steadying himself. He hoped the story made sense and he hoped it would help Rain remember this part of the code - though to him, it seemed like only empathy was needed to follow its teachings, not a story about morality. But maybe sometimes it was good to have a reminder of what would happen if the code were not.

OOC: Interacting with @Rain but anyone is free to listen in on the story :) Talking about what made Code number 3 real for +3 points​

SkyClan | Apprentice

 

[Dovekit Dovekit]

Dovepaw​

status: calm​

So focused is she on her craft before her that she pays little mind to most around her. She hears Brightnose's instructions of course, but shortly after that she has dived into the pile of objects for what she needs and just as quickly retreated back to her spot with her goodies. Laying before her is an arrangement of plants, vines, and moth wings. The wonderful little creatures that whisper to the stars. The travelers of the night. "Your sacrifice shall be commended." She whispers to the pieces that remain before getting started on her work. A loop here, a loop there, a zigzag across the entire thing, and slowly but surely she builds a most fascinating array of a flower crown. A beautiful peace that is only missing one thing. Her tongue sticks out as she carefully but surely places the moths wing in strategic locations around the crown. The colors accent the rest of the display and bring it all together. At least to her anyway.

As she is admiring her completed object, the voice of her brother reaches her from where he sits, telling Rain a story of the code. Her ears perk, watching the pair before glancing down at the crown. Perfect. Yes it was perfect wasn't it? She creeps forward slowly with her prize, not wanting to intrude or interrupt, but listens with rapt attention as Berrypaw continues. The story of Brightstar and Whiterose is an interesting tale. But it tells them why they should feed the weak and the old. The little and the young, first. Because without it then the entire clan falls about. Generations lost. A warning. A message. All of it together really. She glances once more down to the little crown she has made.

"Brother." She speaks in a slow, almost silent whisper, when he is done. As if she holds the key to the treasure of the soul. "Brother. For your most excellent story telling of the code, the Whisperers, the Travelers, wish to bestow this upon you. So that all shall know you tell the best stories." Because it was true. He always knew how to convey the code through stories in such a way that was easy to understand why the code was the way it is. "Do you not agree Rain?" She glances at the queen next. It was after all for the queen's benefit that her brother told his stories primarily she's sure. So that the other knew and wouldn't be caught unawares later by something or other. She thought it was really nice of him to be honest. She smiles gently at the queen. "If you would also like a gift perhaps the travelers can be persuaded to join the chorus once more hm?" There had been more wings and bugs in that pile she had saw. She's sure she could come up with something else if the other so desired.

you are the dreamer and we are the dream

ooc

information

main ref

• +3 points. 1 for crafting, 1 for gifting, 1 for listening to a story. Giving the crown to @Berrypaw
• 

  DOVEKIT She/Her Fawn tabby with low white and somatic mutation and blue eyes. A sweet whimsical child who loves moths and bird.
  
  ꨄ︎ Kit of Skyclan / Mentored by N/A
  ꨄ︎ Sister to Berrykit and Ducklingkit / Daughter to Chrysalisgaze and Starlingtrail
  ꨄ︎ 6 moons; ages on the 1st of every month (updated 12/8/2025)
  ꨄ︎ speech thought action
  ꨄ︎ peaceful/healing powerplay permitted
• 
  

  ​

 

[stormcrow]

Stormcrow was never a particularly gifted crafter, spending most of her youth in the gorge in the treetops rather than on the ground. Perhaps she was just never good at making things, preferring to take them apart. Still. The occasion called for it, and she was not one to disobey commands, even if she did find them… a tiny bit silly.

She approaches the pile and fishes out a few things that catch her eye as an idea takes form in her mind. Feathers of different colors, a small piece of a pine branch, some flowers, and bark still sticky with resin. Focusing intently, she presses the various objects into the resin, and makes… a mural of sorts. It resembles, albeit vaguely, a pine tree, a blue and purple flowered sky, and greyish brownish ground made of feathers. Their home.

Gingerly, she picks it up, and carries it to the intended receiver of the gift; Skykit. She places it down in between them.

"For you, little bird," she says. "You will be out there soon enough– in the pines– and we will teach you how to fly."

♡ STORMCROW. 54 moons
mentor of stonepaw,
daughter of snowveil
peaceful powerplay allowed
ooc - +1 for craft +1 for gifting, for @skykit :3

 

[TAWNYBEAM]

Just like that, SkyClan's celebration is crawling to a close. It feels like just yesterday that they had begun, and now, it's almost time to bid it farewell once again... still, as much as he enjoys the festivities, he doesn't have it in him to be saddened. His gaze sweeps over the camp, and his heart threatens to burst with emotion. All these cats- they tolerate him, for better or for worse, and he has had the opportunity to befriend so many of them. His relationship with his Clanmates has only seemed to grow ever since he had closed a certain chapter of his life—perhaps the act of saying goodbye to something has really taught him how to be grateful for what he has... or maybe he's just getting too sentimental.

He brushes shoulders with a cat or two, peers over them when he spots someone's paws working hard on a craft, bursts out laughing right into another's ears when he hears them crack a joke. Even if blood does not bind him to any of his peers, they really do feel like family. The circumstances outside of this camp's walls and even past the borders only solidify one fact: he's glad that he is part of SkyClan.

"Oh, @Ptarmiganpaw! Hello!"

Tawnybeam lowers himself, allowing his belly fur to settle on the ground. He has grown quite fond of the little kit—but then, that is no surprise, considering the state that they had been in during that first encounter. Terrified and alone... how far she has come!

"For- for me?"

In quite a cliche fashion, time sleeps to slow down around him. Tawnybeam's eyes widen as he gets to gaze upon the gift- Ptarmiganpaw's gift, created by herself, for him, and the earlier onslaught of emotions only increase further... this time with renewed energy. He knows there are tears lining his eyes now. It'd be funny, if he weren't so caught up in the knowledge that the little apprentice thinks of him like this.

"Oh... oh! This is the best thing I've ever gotten! Quick, help me-"

He bows his head, face turning to make eye contact the ground, his front paws flailing as he drags the flower crown into place.

"Is that right? Not too lopsided?"

There is meticulous care put into wearing it properly. When both he and Ptarmiganpaw feel satisfied enough, Tawnybeam raises his head slowly, as to not jostle his new decor.

His suffix is rather on the nose right about now. The grin that spreads from one side of his face to another is positively beaming.

"Thank you! I swear I'll wear this until it wilts- and then even after that!"

Suddenly, like a rain cloud pulling over a bright sky, Tawnybeam's expression turns serious.

"And now... it's my turn. Wait here! No peeking either, I forbid it!"

Tawnybeam had known that this occasion would come, but he is nothing if not a serial procrastinator. He finds various bits of trinkets and other items from nature itself right beside his nest in the warriors' den, hidden from immediate view—he had multiple cats in mind, but he had not finished anything on time. No matter! He knows Ptarmiganpaw will stay put, so he only needs to put on the finishing touches now.

What would Ptarmiganpaw like? Tawnybeam has to rely on his instincts: something that would be personal, even if not objectively useful. His paws hover over the bundle of various feathers; none of them fit the apprentice's namesake, but it is as close as he can get with what he has. After a few clumsy tries—worsened by his excitement and hope that she would like his gift—, he manages to weave them together tightly at the ends with bits of vines and flower stems. In the very middle of the bunch, he inserts a lone porcupine spine that he had found amongst the leaf litter out in the forest, and some flowers that have not yet died despite the frost. It's... more meaningful than anything, certainly not as wearable as Tawnybeam's little crown. But it's the thought that counts, right?

"Aaaand here I am! Voila!"

He presents his craft to Ptarmiganpaw, bounding over to them to avoid wasting yet another second.

"This is for you, Ptarmiganpaw. It's, umm... symbolic, I guess? The feathers represent you. The flowers, too, but those are for your soft side. The cute side that we know you as! And the porcupine spine is for what you will become—a fierce and loyal member of SkyClan!"

NOTES
+1 point for crafting and +1 point for gifting it to @/Ptarmiganpaw!

 

[Cloudbearer]

CLOUDBEARER
HE/HIM
34 MOONS
SKYCLAN WARRIOR
SPEECH |

THOUGHTS

| LUCIDITY

PENNED BY PLOT

There was one cat who Cloudbearer hadn't spent much time with since his return - someone who he owed a lot to. He looked across the clearing at his former mentor, then back at the pile of goodies Brightnose had presented for her Clanmates.

He wasn't particularly skilled with this type of thing, but he was going to do his best. The older warrior's fur was usually already stained, so something to complement the color of blueberries against his fur.... And he usually ended up with leaves in his tail fluff. Maybe something for the mane around his neck? Or something for his nest...

Ah! There were some blueberries in the pile. He gently grabbed a stem with a few hanging off, and carefully plucked the leaves from it. Next, he collected a few feathers and dabbed honey on them before sticking them down the length of the stick, picking ones to match the warrior's pelt.

He grabbed the end of the stick and padded over to the other warrior, setting it down before his mentor.

"Victoryscorn," he mewed respectfully, dipping his head. "I made a nest marker for you - for the color of your pelt." He smiled, almost feeling self-conscious at the display of affection.

"When I got lost on the journey... so much of what I learned from you is what helped me survive in order to come back home. It was like I could hear you scolding me when I did something stupid, or advice when I was having trouble figuring out a path. I worried... I worried that meant you were watching me from StarClan. But I'm so happy you're still here among us, and that I can thank you for being my mentor."

​

OOC: For 4 points - crafting, gifting, memory of the journey
Gifting a nest marker to @Victoryscorn !

 

[Rain Rain]

R A I N
​ what a shame we all became ​

Rain fiddled with the bits she'd taken from Brightnose's piles, face scrunched in concentration as she tried to figure something out. She'd never done anything like crafting before - there hadn't been time as a wandering loner, always too occupied with her next meal would come from or where to sleep safely. Her paws were used to hunting, not creating. Every few heartbeats, she would glance around and covertly peer at what the other cats were working on. Even little Pear and Moth were doing their best to make gifts for one another - she couldn't let her kids outdo her!

As she was puzzling, Berrypaw approached with the promise of a story of the code. She looked up, purring, and gave him a small nod.

"Please do!"

She couldn't believe the apprentice before her was the same little kit she'd met when she first arrived. He'd grown up so much just in a few moons, grown so confident. And big, already! She could hardly believe he used to fit in the curve of her belly. She settled, listening to his tale while she reminisced on the couple moons they'd spent sharing the nursery. It was quiet without him and his siblings, even with Duchess' new litter. Then, an idea struck her.

While he spoke of the distant past, of the importance of caring for those who could not care for themselves, Rain set about rolling a ball of moss together. She gathered it under her paw, making sure it was tight enough that it wouldn't shred apart when it moved, but loose enough that it still had some give, some squishiness. She then set about tucking small bird feathers into one side, flaring outward. It was almost reminiscent of a small bird, with a soft round body and a feathery tail sticking out. It was soft to the touch, and could be used as either or a toy for playing or cuddling with. She knew he was likely too old for such toys, but she hoped it would bring him comfort if he ever found himself lonely in the apprentice den. He was just wrapping up his story, so she focused on tying a piece of grass around the contraption to help the feathers stay in place while Dovepaw presented him with a beautiful crown of plants and moth wings. She peers down at her little gift, second-guessing herself.

"Of course,"

she purred, hoping to hide her embarrassment.

"He is a wonderful storyteller."

When Dovepaw offered to make her a crown of her own - at least, that's what she thought she was offering - Rain straightened in surprise.

"O-oh, I mean, that would be lovely,"

she mewed.

"Actually, here,"

she nudged the small toy toward Dovepaw. She didn't know the other apprentice as well as Berrypaw, but she'd known her just as long. She'd just always been a bit... particular, to Rain.

"It's no crown, but it's soft and I hope it can keep you company in the apprentice den,"

she smiled, a small sheepish thing.

such fragile

✦

broken things

• OOC: listening to Berrypaw's story, crafting, and gifting to Dovepaw!
• KEY:
  

  "speech"

  
  

  thoughts

  
  attempted action
  

  "other character's speech"

  
  
• 
  

  sleek grey she-cat with white paws, tailtip, face, and chin
  she/her
  loner
  16 moons
  
  

 

[brightnose!'s icon brightnose! brightnose!]

BRIGHTNOSE | SUN GUARD
"ALWAYS CONFUSING THE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD"

.

SkyClan is quick to settle right into the event that's been prepared, with a wide range of cats having already taken some things from the pile and crafted some gifts for those they care about. Brightnose is of course doing the same, precariously weaving together the materials she had found while collecting whatever she could find for the pile. This is a gift she has been thinking of for a while now, something that's finally coming to fruition; Brightnose smiles as she looks down at the finished product before she gingerly scoops it up and brings it to a cat who's very dear to her.

"Quailstep!" Brightnose calls, sitting before her best friend to present her gift. It's a little wreath, a circular flow of twigs, leaves, and aptly-chosen quail feathers. There are some smaller bits of flora that have been added as well - most of the flowers have wilted away in leaf-bare, but there are some that remain even in the harsh cold. Brightnose thought it would be a good touch to represent how their friendship will endure through anything.
"I, um… well, you mean a lot to me, so I wanted to make you a gift. It's just a decoration, but I hope you like it… being your friend has really helped me through these past several moons, and I don't know what I would do without you anymore." Though Brightnose has expressed as much before, she is always eager to make sure Quailstep knows that they've changed her life for the better. If only I had known back then that making friends is so easy… that I didn't have to be alone all the time. What's done is done, and now Brightnose has a friend in several of her Clanmates. But Quailstep… she is someone that Brightnose knows she can always rely on. That, in and of itself, should be celebrated - what better time to do so than now?

𓆩✧𓆪‿̩͙‿ ༺ ♰♰ ༻ ‿̩͙‿𓆩✧𓆪​

//gifting a craft to @Quailstep

"SO I CAN'T TRUST MYSELF ANYMORE"

BRIGHTNOSE
SKYCLAN SUN GUARD
23 MOONS
SHE/HER
"SPEECH" | THOUGHTS | ACTION
#61BD6D #00A885

 

[Starlingtrail Starlingtrail]

The molly watched with a softness in her gaze, Dove and Berry telling stories and making little trinkets, Rain's little darlings getting stuck into the crafts too. She couldn't even help herself, grinning warmly as some of the warriors tried too--with varying success-- but that was the joy of the celebration. It wasn't a competition, simply a time to spend with cats you care about.

She drifted away from coddling her sweetlings, letting them have fun talking amongst their fellow apprentices and the warriors, instead turning to Pearkit and Mothkit with a purr. "What wonderful little gifts you've both made." She smiled, their little trinkets made with careful little paws and so much love. Starlingtrail glanced over to Rain, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "How about I help you make that gift you wanted to make for your Mother, and I tell you a little story about the code in the meantime?" She suggested that she'd overheard Maplemouse trying to gently teach the kittens the code during the scavenger hunt, so any opportunity to teach them the code would be a little less to learn once they were apprentices.

Starling carefully grasped some thin branches, easier to bend and weave, as she began to speak. "Once, a very long time ago, there was an apprentice called Elkpaw. He was strong yet foolish, often getting into trouble, but loved his clan more than anything." She curled the branches into a circle, carefully weaving grey feathers in the woven strands. "His mentor was Icehaven, a stern tom, respected and feared by many, and to anyone else, they would have seemed as fire and water. But Icehaven took Elkpaw beneath his wing to help him grow."

The caretaker wasn't the best with her paws, but slowly, the thin branches and feathers were woven into a thin grey circle. She slid it across to the kittens with a smile. "That's the harder part done, you can decorate it now to look like your mother." She purred, tucking her paws beneath herself. "Now, where was I.... Ah, yes."

"Elkpaw trained beneath Icehaven for many moons, growing from a brazen, hot-headed young cat into a respectful yet strong tom, with his warrior ceremony soon to come. But the night before, on a patrol with Icehaven, tragedy struck: a tree collapsed, and Icehaven pushed Elkpaw to safety, only for the mentor to be injured." Carefully, the caretaker pushed some more crafting materials to the kittens, but still smiled at them warmly, not to frighten them with the story. "Elkpaw was able to get help, and Icehaven was brought to camp, alive but unconscious. The apprentice was beside himself with guilt, and when his mentor had still not awoken the day following despite his warrior ceremony, the now warrior Elksnow vowed to keep watch for his mentor, refusing another word until he had the chance to tell Icehaven the good news."

Starlingtrail watched with a warmth as the kittens worked together on their craft, but was still transfixed on the caretaker's story, and as their craft was completed, so was the story. "A night without words, once the sun rose, Icehaven finally stirred awake, dazed but alive. Elksnow was the first to greet him with his new warrior name. His clan was so moved by the devotion to his mentor and clan that from that day forth, every warrior upon receiving their name is to take a silent vigil for a night following their ceremony. It is to honour our mentors and clan, and to reflect on the six moons of training that lead a warrior to their new name. It is also a time to pray to Starclan as gratitude for their warrior name and the devotion we have to our ancestors to continue their legacy." With that, Starlingtrail gave a grin, tucking her tail about herself as the kittens had completed their craft. "Would you look at that, perfect timing!" She purred, rasping both kittens affectionately on the top of their heads. "You've both certainly got good paws for crafting, haven't you!"

Her heart warmed. Starling's adoration for her clan and clanmates spread in a grin across her maw. Cats she had grown up with, cats who had only recently joined, and of course, the newest generation to join. Even if the last year hadn't been easy, discordance from the journey, settling into a new home, losing so many cats and the toll of carrying her kits, in the end, she couldn't have asked these last moons to go any differently. For all the bad, there was so much more good, for all the loss, there was so much more gained.

---

Telling a story to @Mothkit & @Pearkit, but anyone can listen in! Also helping craft something for Rain with the kittens!
+ 3 points for telling a story about what made the code real
+ 1 point for crafting something

˗`, ˖ ݁ .✶ ݁₊ . . ݁₊ ✶. ݁ ˖ˎˊ˗

​

STARLINGTRAIL she/her, Skyclan caretaker 35 moons old.
A short-haired black and white molly with soft, blue eyes.
mentored by none // mentoring none
littermate to none
Larkvine x Greyduck / mother to Berrypaw, Ducklingpaw, Dovepaw and Veritykit / mated to Chrysalisgaze
"SPEECH" // "THOUGHTS" // ATTEMPTED ACTION
penned by Pheo ↛ phoenixwashere on discord, feel free to dm for plots.