create a personality or history for two characters falcondream history (610/200) aldertail history (209/200)
write or draw about two scenes of your choice
(315/200)
None of them really knew what to do.
None of them had experienced true death before, not really.
Heather, though had been informally named Heatherpaw, was buried under the dirt and under the snow, peacefully sleeping forever. Hawkpaw was speechless. They’d all just woken up the next morning, and when Heatherpaw didn’t move and didn’t breathe, all three cats knew they were too late. Words failed him when the party held a small vigil for their new friend, and words failed him as they all continued their journey. Hawkpaw could tell by the slouch in his shoulders that Shrewblossom would have been all too content with staying for a while longer to pay his respects. “Is this journey really worth it?” The apprentice finally asked after hours of uncomfortable silence. The two older cats, his current best friends and closest companions, turned to face him. Shrewblossom was still visibly upset, but Tigerstep was masking his feelings significantly more. Hawkpaw assumed this was due to losing his family before. He had to mask himself so others didn’t think he was weak.
Tigerstep’s voice was low. “If Falcondream thinks it’s worth it, then it is worth it.” With that, he turned and continued walking without another word. Hawkpaw opened his mouth to argue, but Shrewblossom shook his head.
“He’s a lot more upset than you probably think he is.” The older cat fell in beside the apprentice, leaving Tigerstep to walk far ahead by himself. “He looked at Heatherpaw like a daughter. Don’t hold it against him for being snappy.” Each step he took, Hawkpaw could feel his paws freezing off. The coldness from Tigerstep’s voice didn’t help.
The younger cat couldn’t think of a decent reply, so opted to keep his mouth shut. His heart ached from Heatherpaw’s passing, but Tigerstep’s distance from the group made it hurt even more. Hawpaw just wanted to go home.
(900/200) from silentwing's winning form
“So you’re the one spreading stones everywhere?” Silentwing’s entire body turned back towards the medicine den at the sound of Aldertail’s voice. The slender tom stared him down, fury blazing in his eyes. “Look, I know you don’t like talking, but these stones are getting really annoying!” Anger vibrated through each of Aldertail’s words. “I’ve tripped over a whole heap since you came into this clan, and frankly I would have thrown them all off Pigeon Point if it wasn’t for Lionstar telling me to calm down.” Fear flooded Silentwing’s body.
“Sorry.” The word was quiet, and Silentwing couldn’t look Aldertail in the eye. Speaking really wasn’t a strength of his, but he knew that he wouldn’t be able to get out of this situation with silence. “I carve for those I like.” Without a sound, the tom walked over to the stone placed near the still sleeping Falcondream, gesturing to Aldertail to follow. He reached forward and traced a claw over the side markings engraved in the stone. “These, wings.” His claw moved to the middle. “This is beak and body.” Silentwing looked back at Aldertail, whose confusion covered his face. “Falcon. For Falcondream.”
An ounce of regret entered Aldertail’s cold heart. “I didn’t realise these had genuine meanings. I thought they were the carvings of someone insane.” Silentwing smiled at the other cat’s comment.
“Many tell me that.” Without a word, he headed towards the dust near the medicine entrance; Aldertail followed without needing to be told. Silentwing draw a small cluster of lines in the dust. Eight lines surrounded a single dot. “Lionstar. A lion’s mane.” Aldertail nodded as he inspected the drawing. “He is kind. He treats me well.”
“He treats all of us well.” Silentwing looked at the other tom. “Lionstar is… He’s a cat that everyone wants to be, somewhere deep down. He has so many good qualities.” Aldertail’s eyes widened at his own words. “Uh, don’t tell him I said that, okay?”
Silentwing chuckled. “I hardly speak. It’s okay.” The other cat sighed, smiling. Even if it was a lie Aldertail knew he wouldn’t tell Lionstar anything. He didn’t even completely understand why Silentwing was talking to him now.
“So, you carve when you appreciate a cat?” Silentwing nodded. “Well it seems like you appreciate everyone in camp. I keep finding stones everywhere, and-”
“They get rid of them. So I make more.” A pang of sadness hit Aldertail’s heart. “I understand why. They do not know what the stones mean.” Silentwing’s head fell, sighing. “I want to tell them, but I cannot.”
The older tom nudged the other. “What if I tell them? Tell them about their meanings and how significant they are?” Silentwing nodded slightly, a smile gracing his face.
“I would appreciate that.” The tom’s voice was quiet, but thanks dripped from every word. Aldertail gave him a gentle nudge.
“Can you show me more of your symbols?” Silentwing’s eyes lit up, and he nodded excitedly. His claw ran through the dust quickly and precisely. He stopped after finishing two small triangles. “Thorntooth. A thorn. A tooth.” He didn’t wait for a comment from Aldertail before starting another. This time, two ovals on top of one another, with the bottom being slightly smaller.
“Stonecloud?” Silentwing was shocked at Aldertail’s correct guess, but his smile didn’t show any hint of it. His next was two triangles connecting at a point, with a circle connecting to that. Silentwing paused for Aldertail’s guess, but it never came.
“Berrysong. It is a berry.” Aldertail smiled softly at the mention of his mate. His claw scraped the dust again and a single circle formed. “The full moon?” Silentwing looked at the other as he spoke his hint.
Aldertail stared at the symbol for a few moments before it clicked in his brain. “Whitemoon!” The two laughed quietly with each other. “Do you have any others?” Silentwing nodded at the question. The first mark was a vertical line, but he paused before continuing. Just under the top of the line, he drew two shorter diagonal lines coming from it.
Silentwing didn’t wait for the other’s guess. “Aldertail. The alder tree.” Aldertail’s jaw dropped. Until today, he wasn’t nice to the new cat. He didn’t care about the new cat. Silentwing was just another clan member to avoid. But he was still lost for words. “Are you seriously going to carve a stone for me?” Silentwing nodded softly.
“I need to find perfect stone, but yes.” Aldertail’s jaw opened and closed, but words still seemed to escape him. “You are strong-willed and scary. But you made me talk. I do not talk often. Or for many.” Silentwing took a step outside without saying goodbye, but Aldertail quickly moved in front of him.
“What can I do to repay you? Sure, I hated them around the clan before, but I know how important they are now.” Silentwing shook his head.
“Nothing. Just tell others their meaning.” Aldertail sighed quietly and nodded, letting Silentwing pass, but the cat didn’t move. “I also like it when others spend time with me even when I don’t talk.” The older tom smiled knowingly and watched as Silentwing slowly made his way up the flat section of rock leading towards camp.
Silentwing just wanted a friend who wouldn’t expect him to talk, and Aldertail was all too ready to give him just that.