#lovagecreek

[residences-of-the-darkforest]

for the not-so-nice oc asks: failure, mistake, and nightmare for hawkjay, lovagecreek, shiverrose, clawbear, and applefoot?

(picked some of my underrated faves!)

Hawkjay

Failure: What's your OC's greatest failure? Have they been able to move past it? Does anyone else know about it?

In her eyes, Hawkjay's biggest failure were her murders. She let darkness consume her and turn her into something that she wasn't--or at least, into something that she didn't want to be.

She thought she was doing the right thing up until she woke up in the Dark Forest. The fact that she was condemned for her actions showed her that there was no noble reason behind those actions--she was a murderer, and nothing else could be said.

She doesn't really try to overcome it, as she views it more as something to live with than move on from. It's likely she vents to her brother.

-

Mistake: What's the worst mistake your OC ever made? What led to them making it? Have they been able to fix it? How have they moved on?

In technical terms, the biggest mistake that Hawkjay made was telling Rainpaw of her murders, which resulted in her being killed. However, Hawkjay herself views this as a good thing.

-

Nightmare: What does your OC have nightmares about? How do they deal with their nightmares? Do they tell people, or keep it to themself?

Hawkjay remembers those moments of thrill that she felt when she killed, and it terrifies her. She doesn't like being a killer, and she certainly doesn't want to like what she did. But sometimes when she's dreaming, she relives those moments, only it's a little different--sometimes she draws it out. Sometimes she laughs. Sometimes she kills more.

It's not so much subconscious fantasies as it is horror at what she's done replaying over and over in her mind, following her. They were quite frequent in her life and first few moons of death, but now they are rare, and her family help keep her mind focused on happier things.

She keeps it to herself, but...sometimes her family can tell that something is going on when she wakes up shaking.

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Lovagecreek

Failure: What's your OC's greatest failure? Have they been able to move past it? Does anyone else know about it?

Time had greatly eased the burden on his heart, but back when he had lost his daughters to sickness, he believed that he was a failure of a father. He failed to keep them healthy and safe (it didn't matter if the medicine cat said there was nothing that could be done). He failed to protect his mate from the heartache, which he thought about every time she had screamed in agony over their loss.

His family knows about it and comforts him when the memories get bad, but how can he ever really move past something like that?

-

Mistake: What's the worst mistake your OC ever made? What led to them making it? Have they been able to fix it? How have they moved on?

It wasn't a mistake, not really, not when it was intentional, but...

he should have never killed Bluedove.

-

Nightmare: What does your OC have nightmares about? How do they deal with their nightmares? Do they tell people, or keep it to themself?

First it was nightmares of his family.

Sometimes it would be his daughters dying of sickness, and no matter how hard Lovagecreek searched for herbs, they would always die and Aldersun's screams of sorrow jolted him awake.

Sometimes it would be Bluedove's ghost appearing, begging, asking why he had done it. And then he would wake up and look at her kits that he had taken in, the ones that looked so much like her, and he would think about what he took from them.

Sometimes it would be those kits finding out what he had done and turning on him. Not that he wouldn't deserve it, but...

After much time passed, the nightmares slowly stopped. But Lovagecreek would get the occasional dream of losing someone in his family--though this time it was someone in his new, Dark Forest family. His kits falling to sickness, or everyone disappearing, or Ratbirch crying because the kits are gone and no matter how hard he looks, Lovagecreek can't find them and he thinks he's lost them forever--

but then his mate never fails to wake him up, assure him everything is okay, and hold him close.

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Shiverrose

Failure: What's your OC's greatest failure? Have they been able to move past it? Does anyone else know about it?

Shiverrose doesn't regret her actions. Her only failure was not getting the job done, something she's not shy about admitting.

She doesn't pay too much attention to the affairs of the living world. In that way, in a sense, she has moved past it (though she will still jokingly bring up how she could have done it if Kiteburn hadn't killed her when she's in his presence).

-

Mistake: What's the worst mistake your OC ever made? What led to them making it? Have they been able to fix it? How have they moved on?

Shiverrose's first instinct would be to say 'not killing Kiteburn before he had killed her', but she's not all too upset with her death (and she quite likes the crystals embedded in her skull).

If she had to choose something she DOES regret, it would be not killing one by one. Time in the Dark Forest fueled her darkest desires. She regrets not taking it slow so that she could watch as cats suffered one after the other instead of a simple burst of sickness all over. It would be easier to focus on the pain and suffering of the cats she hated then, instead of having to split her attention so many ways.

The again, Kiteburn would have likely killed her before she could manage to take out too many. Oh well.

-

Nightmare: What does your OC have nightmares about? How do they deal with their nightmares? Do they tell people, or keep it to themself?

When she was a kit and young apprentice, Shiverrose would have nightmares about not being good enough due to her bad leg.

Now she knows it would have never meant anything anyway.

(Greyheart, her best friend, would console her)

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Clawbear

Failure: What's your OC's greatest failure? Have they been able to move past it? Does anyone else know about it?

Clawbear believes that his greatest failure was uhm. Well the assessment was really hard and his mentor told him that he would have to try again, but his parents were the leader and deputy and they told him that he passed! So actually no failures, he did good!

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Mistake: What's the worst mistake your OC ever made? What led to them making it? Have they been able to fix it? How have they moved on?

Of if he had to choose it would be....NOT TAKING THAT BIG RABBIT FROM THE PREY-PILE. He was too tired to eat, but it looked so good...It still makes his mouth water.

-

Nightmare: What does your OC have nightmares about? How do they deal with their nightmares? Do they tell people, or keep it to themself?

Last week he had a nightmare that his rock was just gone! No one could find it anywhere. When he woke up he had to find a reflective surface just so he could see (and feel) that it was still there.

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Applefoot

Failure: What's your OC's greatest failure? Have they been able to move past it? Does anyone else know about it?

Personally, he believes that his worst failure was ever stooping low enough to fall for a non-WindClan cat. He moves past it by focusing on his afterlife now. Nothing else but the present matters (and he for sure definitely doesn't just say that to avoid his own guilt).

Most, however, agree that his greatest failure was the fact that he was born.

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Mistake: What's the worst mistake your OC ever made? What led to them making it? Have they been able to fix it? How have they moved on?

Well, obviously his biggest mistake was become mates with that she-cat! And the fact that he got her pregnant, on top of that! But, well, it takes two to tango, so it's not like he's entirely at fault. But again, nothing he can do about it now, so what does it matter?

It's mentioned in his profile but he liked the attention she gave him because he wasn't getting much of it back home.

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Nightmare: What does your OC have nightmares about? How do they deal with their nightmares? Do they tell people, or keep it to themself?

Of course he doesn't tell anyone! Why would he show anyone signs of weakness?

Why would he tell anyone that he's....

That he's sorry.

It doesn't weigh in him heavily and he doesn't have full-on nightmares, but there's always the nag at the back of his mind, always the lingering sorrow. But he's still an ass

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Remember that time pathetic wet-rat Ratbirch and malewife Lovagecreek had a badass daughter together? (with the help of an unnamed donor)

They also have a son that's also a malewife

Base: Cat Icon [Base] by Mothsome on DeviantArt

[gooseeatsholywater]

Sketch inspiration from @liberhoe

Lovagecreek and Hawkjay from @residents-of-the-darkforest

That moment when you find your sibling in hell. Crazy stuff.

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Crowsage and Hawk have an interesting dynamic

When Hawk arrived at the Dark Forest, he found that he didn’t like his father but did like Ratbirch, so hung around him a lot. So Rat and Lovage technically unofficially adopted him, making him and Crowsage cousins and adoptive siblings at the same time, just not officially, and Hawk was an adult when he was ‘adopted’ + when Crow was born

so he’s probably more of an uncle to her and his uncle is more of a father to him

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Apprentices of The Place of No Stars (short story)

It was hard to believe that this was happening. 

Jackdawfoot hadn’t been a father since he was alive, and he left when all of his daughters were adults. Then suddenly, he had a mate again, became a father again, and now, his fluffy chest puffing out in pride, was watching his kits receive their apprentice names again.

The ceremony wasn’t like that of a regular Clan. Not everyone in the Dark Forest was going to show up, but all the important cats were here, kin to Redkit, Blackkit and Mudkit, and Wormkit’s adoptive parents, and of course, the parents themselves. As well, there were the mentors, making it no real surprise who they would be. There was also Fungichomp, the main caretaker of the ‘Daycare,’ as well as some onlookers.

Jackdawfoot and Ferndoe had discussed long and hard about who they wanted to train their precious son and daughter. They initially wanted to train them themselves, knowing they could protect them and keep them safe, but decided that what Mudkit and Blackkit needed was help from someone they didn’t already know to bring them out of their shells. ‘Daycare’ could only do so much.

Beside him, Wordweaver made a noise–something of a purr. Or maybe a word, because it made Daisysong chuckle. 

Jackdawfoot couldn’t pin down why exactly Wordweaver was here. Was it because Wormkit was her kin? Because Redkit was the kit of her kin? Could it be because Blackkit had been the first voice her mate heard when she arrived in the Dark Forest? Because Ferndoe, Blackkit’s mother, was a good friend of Daisysong’s? Or perhaps it was for their son, Mellowpaw, seated between his mothers’ legs, chattering on about how he wanted to show the new apprentices that ‘realy cool training grove.’

Jackdawfoot hoped it was somewhere safe.

At least Wormkit was doing better. Jackdawfoot still wasn’t too fond of the kit, and he had made his request to keep him away from his kits clear to Fungichomp, but he was still a kit, and Jackdawfoot had to acknowledge how much better Wormkit was doing. He, reportedly, didn’t get in half as much trouble as he usually did these days, and once even helped another kit find their lost pinecone.

He wasn’t all the way better just yet. He still had his moments, but that was why he was beginning training. Jackdawfoot knew that his mothers agreed that the ‘Daycare’ and themselves had helped Wormkit as much as they could, and now he needed one-on-one attention. 

Training would have begun earlier, as well as Mudkit’s and Blackkit’s, if they had not met Redkit. They met because of their parents’ connection, bonding so well that Blackkit cried about not getting to become an apprentice alongside his friend. It wasn’t about a difference in age, more of a difference in readiness.

Ready. His kits were ready. A pang stabbed Jackdawfoot’s chest. He wanted Blackkit and Mudkit to remain as they were, small and able to fit in his paws or climb over his back. He didn’t want them to grow. He didn’t even know that they could.

“Welcome, everyone,” Alderstar spoke up from where he stood on a tall, jagged stone, cutting into Jackdawfoot’s thoughts. Jackdawfoot couldn’t suppress an amused grin. Being Alderstar’s friend, he had found it funny that so many looked to the golden leader for advice and ceremonies, as if he hadn’t also been a serial killer. Alderstar had never forced a meeting or respect. Perhaps that was why he always seemed to get it.

“This moon, we welcome four young cats into our ranks of warriors. They will learn skills the Clans were frightened of teaching. They will be taught lessons in sonderness and survival, fighting not for cats who would have asked them to give their life for the greater good, but for themselves, their own worth, and their own loved ones. Redkit, step forward.”

At the front of the crowd in the line of kits, Redkit visibly shook. From nerves or excitement, Jackdawfoot couldn’t be sure. All the same, she obliged. 

“With request of your father–my son, your dad, and Fungichomp, your mentor shall be Hootpetal. I know her as a strong and compassionate warrior, and trust that she will protect you and allow you to thrive in ways that will thrill you.”

Redkit’s tail flicked. She was clearly much happier now, touching noses with her grandmother with a little chirp, before settling down next to her. Hootpetal turned to Perchclaw on her other side. “I’m so proud of you!” she exclaimed, licking at his ear.

“Mom!” Perchclaw complained, ducking away, but try as he might, he couldn’t hide the grin.

“Wormkit, step forward.”

Jackdawfoot held his breath. He scanned the crowd, wondering which of them would receive the kit. 

“With request of your mothers and Fungichomp, your mentor shall be Snowwing. He is a passive, skillful warrior, whom I expect will pass on everything you need to know.”

Jackdawfoot heard the hint in his words. It wasn’t just about skills in fighting, but in other things Wormkit needed a lesson or two about. But it had been stated in a kind way, disguised as to not embarrass or anger the kit.

He realized that Snowwing, Wormkit’s adoptive brother, was probably the best choice anyone could have made. He visited his mothers often and likely met Wormkit before, but not so much that that could soften his lectures for Wormkit. Too, he really was passive, always having a resting bored face and never feeling bothered enough to fight. He was the kind of cat that would respond to an insult with “well, I don’t think that,” and move on. It would certainly help to focus Wormkit on his duties, and on not trying to hurt someone’s feelings once he figures that that is an impossible thing to do.

“Mudkit,” Alderstar spoke again. Jackdawfoot and Ferndoe both straightened as high as they could. “With request of your parents and Fungichomp,”--Jackdawfoot and Ferndoe exchanged a nervous glance. He hoped their choice was the right one– “your mentor shall be Hawkjay. A clever convergent thinker, I trust her to keep you safe and teach you well.”

Jackdawfoot narrowed his eye, paying close attention to Hawkjay’s and Mudkit’s actions as they touched noses. Mudkit’s ears were flat, but that was to be expected. Hawkjay bent down carefully to reach her, blue eyes warm. “I look forward to getting to know you,” she said in a low voice so that only Mudkit, and the parents close by, could hear. 

Jackdawfoot relaxed.

“Blackkit,” Alderstar went on. “With request of your parents and Fungichomp,”--the nerves returned– “your mentor shall be Lovagecreek. A warrior with a big heart is something of interest in a place like this, and I trust that he will use it to make you feel safe and happy to the best of his ability, until you are able to do so on your own.”

On your own. The pang pricked deeper. Blackkit and Mudkit weren’t just becoming apprentices, they were growing up–growing apart from him. He forced his muzzle straight and not quivering as Alderstar finished. “We welcome you as apprentices of the Place of No Stars!”

To a Clan cat, to Starclan, maybe even to kittypets, that would have felt like a thing to be ashamed of. But Alderstar managed to speak as if it was an honour only the best of cats get to experience. Maybe it actually was. 

“Redpaw!”

“Mudpaw!”

“Blackpaw!”

“Wormpaw!”

============================================

--Daycare in quotations because it’s Jackdaw’s POV and he doesn’t know where the name came from and doesn’t know what to make of it.

--Jackdawfoot doesn’t know about the water incident with Wormkit/paw.

--I was going to give Mud and Black to mentors that weren’t my characters, since Red and Worm already were, but then realized that Lovage and Hawk haven’t been seen in a while.

--Snowwing is the kind of person to respond to “I think you look like shit” with “okay. I don’t think that.” and his opinion on the matter is the only one he should care about, so it doesn’t bother him.

--The ceremonious words are a little different than that of the Clans (and also with some shade). While the Clans view importance in the group (protect this Clan even at the cost of your life), the Dark Forest views it in the individual. 

As well, because they’re in Hell, they do need to know extra fighting skills that are more....violent than Clan cats would have learned, in order to stay safe. I don’t know how much hunting they would learn, considering there’s no food, but there’s probably lessons in other things that wouldn’t have been taught to living cats (like sonder).

-- @ambitiousauthor

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

hear me out part 2

Snooktail x Lovagecreek

they can get a third member to their poly later

oh yeah I can definitely see them together

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Really happy with how I mixed the features of their kit / surrogate kit well, gotta say!

----

Refs by Turukhan and Yarrowleef on DeviantArt!

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

@starfalcon555 the girl!

gonna make a kit that takes after Lovage when I get home

—

refs by turukhan

[residences-of-the-darkforest]

more not-so-nice oc asks because I really liked the first one!

alone, break, guilt, and pain with batroot, ratbirch, cloverfox, poppyhill, robinmask, and nettledeer?

Batroot

Alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

The first time Batroot was truly alone, other than the moments leading to his death, was when he woke up in the Dark Forest.

Batroot doesn't like being alone, but he became used to it. He'd mope a lot, especially the first moons after his death. He's one of the cats that wouldn't adapt to life in the Dark Forest, and continued to 'live' without giving himself a purpose. He'd simply walk, sleep, and try to keep out of dangerous cats' way. He wouldn't try to speak unless he was spoken to.

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Break: What would cause your OC to break down completely? What do they look like when that happens? Has anyone ever seen them at their lowest?

Batroot did break down completely twice:

once was when his kits died, and his breakdown was witnessed by Doveflame, his brother, and everyone who was in camp when he publicly attacked his brother (though they didn't know why)

The second time he was completely alone, when the shock of dying wore off and the realization of everything set in.

Both times had something in common--he lost everything.

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Guilt: What is your OC guilty about? How do they handle their guilt? Do they try to avoid guilt, or do they accept it?

He still doesn't like his brother, but he does deeply regret killing him--brutaly, at that--after discovering that Ratbirch wasn't responsible for his kits' deaths after all.

He wishes that he had never attacked Ratbirch. Then maybe he himself could have lived, could have found his kits (who he had later found out were alive) and raised them like he had planned to.

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Pain: What's the worst pain your OC has ever felt? Do they have a high pain tolerance?

He can feel the splitting headache of his skull cracked open every second of every day. It took a while to get used to it, but at least it keeps his mind distracted.

His pain tolerance is average-to-high, but his desire to take risks in the Dark Forest is low, so if someone scratches him once, he's out.

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Ratbirch

Alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

It eats him alive. Ratbirch's thoughts are not kind to him, and any moment of silence is a moment of negative thinking (this got better when he met Lovagecreek and almost stopped completely a while after his kits were born, but still occasionally occur).

Though he wasn't technically alone in life, he certainly felt like it. Never noticed more than Batroot, not even special to the one cat he thought loved him.

He just...sinks into the darkness.

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Break: What would cause your OC to break down completely? What do they look like when that happens? Has anyone ever seen them at their lowest?

Doveflame was the witness to his breakdown when he attacked her.

What breaks him is knowing he means nothing to anybody. He's second-best, the shadow, the 'who?'

It frustrates him, makes him angry, but while that rage is true, it also protects him from the true feeling, sorrow.

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Guilt: What is your OC guilty about? How do they handle their guilt? Do they try to avoid guilt, or do they accept it?

He doesn't regret attacking Doveflame. He did, momentarily, when he thought that he had killed her kits, but after discovering that she had left them to die?--Especially when one of those kits became like a son to him? He should have been more harsh.

There was a moment in his life, though, that he did show deep regret in. That was when he had killed Pinefeather in a battle. He fought harshly because he thought it would help him stand out from Batroot, but when he ended up killing her, it ate at him until he threw up from the guilt. In a sense, then, he can't avoid it.

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Pain: What's the worst pain your OC has ever felt? Do they have a high pain tolerance?

His pain tolerance fluctuates with his mood. If he's fighting and there's a lot of adrenaline, or he's incredibly angry, it's fairly high. Normally, though, it's just below average.

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Cloverfox

Alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

She doesn't like it, but she's at least better at it than the previous two. She's...good at blocking things out.

In the Dark Forest, it's hard not to be alone. Those first moons of life specifically, when no one knows nor cares who you are. That's when she really thought about all she did.

She looks normal on the outside, similar to Batroot only without the sadness in her eyes or movements. Just...walking.

In life, the moment she was most alone was after she gave birth to her kits. Alone in the nursery, Cloverfox allowed herself to cry. Then she burrowed in frustration, because her anger at others prevented her from realizing her mistake, and how horribly she messed up.

When her mind was weak, she would ask if they really deserved what they got? What she did? When it was stronger, she was able to ignore them, able to pay attention to the present and forget what was already done.

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Break: What would cause your OC to break down completely? What do they look like when that happens? Has anyone ever seen them at their lowest?

The one who had seen her at her lowest was Slateshade, former victim of her bullying-turned-best friend when they were both queens at the same time.

Cloverfox didn't tell her exactly what weighed on her mind, but she did tell the other warrior about all the guilt she felt crushing her, how she felt that she cannot possibly be a good mother, how sorry she is for hurting her, and Slateshade held her and reassured her until she calmed down.

There was also her ThunderClan mate, Scorchheart, who she snapped at when he refused to raise her kits with her. She had killed someone to keep their secret, killed another so that they could be together, and it was all for nothing because he didn't want her. It made her question what value she really had. Cats only befriended her because she was mean and they didn't want to be a target. Did anyone really like her? Did anyone really love her?

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Guilt: What is your OC guilty about? How do they handle their guilt? Do they try to avoid guilt, or do they accept it?

Cloverfox hates the cat that she was in life. She started hating her when she was still alive, a mother in the nursery, when a new life opened up for her and she could leave the old one, the old her, behind.

She accepts her guilt, but can still get defensive if it's brought up (with negative intent). She doesn't want to be reminded of it.

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Pain: What's the worst pain your OC has ever felt? Do they have a high pain tolerance?

Her pain tolerance is high, likely due to the fact that her pain threshhold is also above average (not shockingly so, but it definitely helps)

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Poppyhill

Alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

She becomes angry. When she's alone--and there's nothing great enough to distract her--she thinks and thinks. She thinks of her kits and how their lives were cut short, she thinks of Goldennose's smug face.

Now, though, she's angry at herself. How could she have been so evil? How could she have sunk so low? She deserves to be alone, to be hated. Innocent lives were ruined or ended because of her.

She keeps out of cats' way, in fact she goes out of her way to do so. If she hears anyone else near, she's out of there. She keeps in the darkness. It's what she deserves.

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Break: What would cause your OC to break down completely? What do they look like when that happens? Has anyone ever seen them at their lowest?

When her kits died. She wouldn't groom herself, wouldn't sleep--which was rather noticeable to anyone in the Clan. The only thing that mattered was avenging them.

She only sunk deeper since.

(In a sense, she's the opposite of Ferndoe. No one knows her.)

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Guilt: What is your OC guilty about? How do they handle their guilt? Do they try to avoid guilt, or do they accept it?

She doesn't feel guilty about killing Goldensun's spirit, but the guilt of killing Goldenkit and manipulating Ferndoe to kill her kits eats her alive. She can't avoid it, but it's hard to say that she accepts it. That would entail she tries to get better, but...she just wallows in it.

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Pain: What's the worst pain your OC has ever felt? Do they have a high pain tolerance?

Poppyhill's pain tolderance is incredibly high!

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Robinmask

Alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

She forces herself to work, to do anything but listen to her thoughts.

She felt most alone after her mother died, and even worse when her father passes as well.

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Break: What would cause your OC to break down completely? What do they look like when that happens? Has anyone ever seen them at their lowest?

She screamed a lot when she woke up in the Dark Forest. She was able to force her thoughts and grief away while she worked, but when she died, there was no dens to be reinforced, no prey to be hunted and no battles to be fought. It was only her and the darkness.

Did anyone see her? She's not sure. If they did, they didn't care enough to speak with her. Or maybe they felt bad and decided not to bother her. She's not sure. She's not sure she would have even noticed.

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Guilt: What is your OC guilty about? How do they handle their guilt? Do they try to avoid guilt, or do they accept it?

To say that Robinmask felt extremely guilty for getting her parents killed would be putting it lightly.

She does not handle it well (as mentioned when she screamed uncontrollably), and avoids it to this day, doing anything to keep her mind busy. That was part of the reason she agreed to become a surrogate for Ratbirch and Lovagecreek.

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Pain: What's the worst pain your OC has ever felt? Do they have a high pain tolerance?

Robinmask has a low pain tolerance!

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Nettledeer

Alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

Though his mind can be cruel, it's not nearly as cruel as anyone else on this list. But he doesn't like to be alone, either. If he's not thinking about the bad thing he did, he's thinking about how bored he is, and tries to entertain himself. If he's unable to do that, he simply sleeps.

He acts silly, whether or not there's anyone to see him.

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Break: What would cause your OC to break down completely? What do they look like when that happens? Has anyone ever seen them at their lowest?

Technically there were the witnesses at the gathering when he realized he had killed a pregnant queen, but he was too shocked for it to really count.

It was the days following, when he left the Clan and his friends and mother, and the shock wore off and it all came rushing to him what he had done, the lives he had ended, the lives he had ruined. He was unable to do anything but curl up and cry.

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Guilt: What is your OC guilty about? How do they handle their guilt? Do they try to avoid guilt, or do they accept it?

He's guilty about that queen and those kits, and whatever friends or family that grieved for them.

He pretends it doesn't bother him, smiling, having fun, because if he acknowledges how he feels about what he did, he's not sure he'll ever be able to recover.

-

Pain: What's the worst pain your OC has ever felt? Do they have a high pain tolerance?

Nettledeer's pain tolerance is incredibly low. A thorn in his paw and he's out for the hour.

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

My top favourite of my OCs (based on characters from other series)

In no order:

--Gorseheart (and Emberdawn)

--Myrtlewing + Alderstar (and Hoot and Grouse)

--Ferndoe

--Cricketfur + Martenstep

My top favourite of my OCs (completely original)

In no order:

--Jackdawfoot

--Basiltooth + Smalljump

--Loonfur

Runner-up Favourites

In no order:

--Aspenroot

--Jaggedbriar

--Snowfringe

--Midgespring

--Hawkjay + Lovagecreek

--Ratbirch + Batroot

--Skunkspots

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Mentors and Apprentices

*if in parantheses, it says ‘bio’ it means those parents are no longer taking care of the kit. If it doesn’t, and also has the + next to more names, then the kits are poly born and the adoptive parents in that case are simply more parents, not replacement.

Alderstar

--mentored Webfang  (WebLily bio son, ScaleIvy adoptive)

--mentored Magpieshine (his and his poly’s adoptive daughter) along with Myrtlewing

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Aloemist

--mentored Slugwing (BegoniaWeb bio son, her adoptive son)

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Avery

--mentored Hawthornfrost (BegoniaWeb bio son, Aloe adoptive)

.

Batlight

--mentored Stonefrost (son to KiteRootAspen, surrogate kit of Shiverrose)

.

Bristleblaze

--mentored Petalstripe (WebLily bio son, ScaleIvy adoptive)

.

Butternut-Squash / Shatteredbreeze

--mentored Hawkflight (son to KiteRootAspen, surrogate kit of Shiverrose)

.

Clawbear

--mentored Sandspark (BasilJump son, surrogate kit of Sparktail)

.

Cloverfox

--mentored Carnationleaf (BegoniaWeb bio daughter, Aloe adoptive)

.

Cricketclaw

--mentored Eelstream (his apprentice in life as well, adoptive kit of AveryBristle) 

--mentored Crowpine (kit of JackdawFern)

.

Cricketfur

--mentored Treespall (son to AlderHoot, +GrouseMyrtle adoptive son)

--mentored Spiderspots (BegoniaWeb bio daughter, Aloe adoptive daughter)

.

Doesong

--mentored Dusksong (son of Grousemane, +MyrtleAlderHoot adoptive, surrogate kit of Brownmouse )

--mentored Cypresstail, Badgerfoot, and Pebblespots (hers and Sparktail's adoptive kits) along with Sparktail

.

Emberdawn

--mentored Proteafang (her and Gorseheart’s bio daughter)

--mentored Drizzlestare (daughter to AlderHoot, +GrouseMyrtle adoptive daughter)

--mentored Ashmint (her adoptive son) alongside Gorseheart

.

Fadingstar

--mentored Leafcurl (BasilJump daughter, surrogate kit of Sparktail)

.

Ferndoe

--mentored Fawnheart (Begoniaweb bio daughter, Aloe adoptive)

.

Foxflake

--mentored Honeyflower (son to KiteRootAspen, +her mate’s surrogate kits)

.

Frondecho

--mentored Goosestep (bio WebLupine, DahliaLupineSwanCam adoptive)

.

Grousemane

--mentored Stonefern (his and his poly’s adoptive son)

--mentored Owlgaze (WebDahlia bio daughter, DahliaLupineSwanCam adoptive)

.

Gorseheart

--mentored Doefire (his and Emberdawn’s daughter)

--mentored Ashmint (his adoptive son) alongside Emberdawn

--unofficially mentored Smalljump

.

Hawkjay

--mentoring Mudpaw (adoptive daughter to JackdawFern)

.

Heronclaw

--mentored Blazestrike (son to KiteRootAspen, surrogate kit of Shiverrose)

.

Hillfeather

--mentored Yellowear (son to Basiljump, surrogate kit of Sparktail)

.

Hootpetal

--mentoring Redpaw (her adoptive granddaughter)

--mentored Perchclaw (her adoptive son)

.

Jackdawfoot

--mentored Lilyclaw  (WebLily bio son, ScaleIvy adoptive)

.

Kiteburn

--mentored Smokyflame (BasilJump son, surrogate kit of Sparktail)

.

Lightningspring

--mentored Spruceplum (her and Redbloom’s adoptive son)

.

Lighttail

--mentoring Beampaw (his, Stonesun, and Volenight’s adoptive son)

.

Loonfur

--mentored Breezewhisper (WebDahlia bio daughter, DahliaLupineCamSwan adoptive)

.

Lovagecreek

--mentoring Blackpaw (adoptive son to JackdawFern)

.

Magpieshine

--mentored Cloudstep (daughter to EmberFox, +BirchGorse adoptive daughter)

.

Mottlecry

--mentored Shellminx (BirchFox’s son, +GorseEmber adoptive son)

.

Myrtlewing

--mentored Silktangle (WebLily bio son, ScaleIvy adoptive)

--mentored Magpieshine (his and his poly’s adoptive daughter) alongside Alderstar

.

Perchclaw

--mentored Adderclaw (son to BirchGorse, +EmberFox adoptive son)

.

Pitchfang

--mentored Barktail (Basiljump son, surrogate kit of Sparktail)

.

Poppyhill

--mentored Turtlebreeze and Otterheart (her adoptive sons)

.

Primrosepetal

--mentored Feathergale  (BirchFox daughter, GorseEmber adoptive daughter)

.

Proteafang

--mentored Maplefang (her adoptive/poly sister, BirchFox daughter, GorseEmber adoptive daughter)

.

Redbloom

--mentored Kindlehill (her and Lightningspring's adoptive daughter)

.

Robinmask

--mentored Deertongue (BasilSmall son, surrogate kit of Sparktail)

.

Sharkstar

--mentored Starlingstrike (son of Grousemane, +MyrtleAlderHoot adoptive, surrogate kit of Brownmouse)

.

Snailstar

-- mentored Aspenlight (daughter of Grousemane, +MyrtleAlderHoot adoptive, surrogate kit of Brownmouse)

.

Snowwing

--mentoring Wormpaw (his adoptive brother)

.

Sparktail

--mentored Beechblaze (WebLupine bio daughter, DahliaLupineSwanCam adoptive)

--mentored Cypresstail, Badgerfoot, and Pebblespots (hers and Doesong's adoptive kits), along with Doesong

.

Stoatspeck

--mentored Buzzardblaze (daughter of Grousemane, +MyrtleAlderHoot adoptive, surrogate kit of Brownmouse)

.

Stonefern

--mentored Larksnow (son to BirchGorse, +EmberFox adoptive)

.

Stumpstripe

--mentored Haretuft (daughter to BirchGorse, +EmberFox adoptive)

.

Tanglestar

--mentored Wollysun (son to BasilJump, surrogate kit of Sparktail)

.

Vireosong

--mentored Sootshade (son to EmberFox, +BirchGorse adoptive)

.

Volenight

--mentoring Lunarpaw (his, Stonesun, and Lighttail’s adoptive daughter)

.

Warblermoon

--mentored Toadjay (BirchFox son, +GorseEmber adoptive)

=====================

I’m sure I’m missing some, so let me know! There’s also plenty who need mentors.

Tag list:

@ambitiousauthor @starfalcon555 @wills-woodland-warriors @elementaldeityoffood @liberhoe @umbranoxs

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Also I recall suggesting a while back that Ratbirch and Lovagecreek should become mates

Maybe Crowsage is one of their kits?

I thought so!

I imagine she looks like Ratbirch but with darker shades even though she’s called ‘Crow’ and would logically be black like the spots on Lovage

unless she just had a black spot on the top of her tail

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Who all would go to creaturefall’s therapy/support meets? I might write a thing - @wills-woodland-warriors

those who would stay after finding out what those sign-things are for / those who decide to join after hearing about it:

--Martenstep (it's still hard knowing his brother is a killer)

--Furzeflower (guilt, bad past relationship)

--Hawk (lots of family issues)

--Hawkjay (guilt)

--Lovagecreek (guilt)

--Berryfreckle (still obsessed with Myrtle and doesn't understand why their relationship isn't progressing. Either joined by self or was pushed to by a friend)

--Robinmask (major guilt)

Others who need it likely don't like the group aspect and op instead for confiding in one close friend

I do like bringing back the therapy thing, since for a while, Gorseheart was the one to go to, but that likely faded away after his family grew

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Him! His bio father is Lovagecreek and his surrogate mother is Robinmask. I couldn’t decide which eye colour to choose, so heck why not both?

He’s twenty-four moons younger than his sister, Crowsage, but they act and squabble as if they were siblings close in age.

Thanks to @starfalcon555​ for coming up with Scorchbeetle’s name and existence

Link to base: https://www.deviantart.com/yarrowleef/art/Free-Cat-Lineart-802898923

Parents ref bases just for fun:

https://refsheet.net/Oovvil/robinmask

https://refsheet.net/Oovvil/lovagecreek

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Crowsage's sibling should have the suffix -beetle, bc Lovagecreek is scared of beetles

For some reason I'm feeling a fire-based prefix... Maybe Scorchbeetle?

ooh yes!

The names have such different energies too, one dark and calm, the other heat and tough

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

Dark Forest Residences: Hawkjay & Lovagecreek

HawkJay

Aliases / Nicknames: Honeybunchies, Dear, Murderer

Gender: she-cat

Sexuality: pansexual, panromantic

Family: Yellowsong (mother), unnamed father, Berrytwig (sister), Lovagecreek (brother)

Other Relations: unnamed mentor

Clan: Skyclan

Rank: warrior

Characteristics: believed she was protecting her Clan, kills due to stress

Number of Victims: 2

Number of Murders: 2

Murder Method: poisoning, tearing chest

Known Victims: Mosseagle, Bayjaw

Cause of Death: killed by Rainpaw

Cautionary Tale: ??

Story:

There isn’t much to say about her backstory, as it was simple and ineffective to her future murderous deed. Or, perhaps not entirely. It is, after all, in early childhood that the importance of protecting one’s Clan is driven into a cat’s mind.

Other than this, her growing up was mainly filled with playing with her sister and brother, training, and trying not to laugh with Berrytwig during their silent vigil as Lovagecreek tried not to screech in panic when they placed a beetle atop his head.

Her relationship with the two is the same as most siblings, which is to say they teased and bullied and poked fun at each other once a day, but did care deeply for one another.

When Lovagecreek and his mate were having problems, it was Hawkjay’s advice he would seek. When she had misgivings about the newly named deputy, Mosseagle, it was her littermates she went to to speak about them, to poke fun at the tom, if not to let it off her chest.

But simply talking couldn’t put her at rest. Mosseagle, ever since he was a kit, was prone to aggression, and always bragged about how he would steal so much territory from all the Clans when he was leader.

Of course he was exaggerating, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t bring Skyclan to war, battle after battle that could cause the deaths of her beloved Clanmates and family.

She almost went to the leader to express her worries, then realized that if it came down to having to do something herself, something she wouldn’t be proud of, she didn’t want anyone to suspect her.

Moons passed with relatively no issue. Hawkjay began to believe that perhaps she had been wrong. Then the leader fell sick and Mosseagle temporarily took over, with the first thing on his agenda being leading a patrol into Shadowclan territory to take a worthless strip of land. No one was killed, thank Starclan, but a Skyclan warrior was badly injured.

Hawkjay saw no other alternative. Hunting down a robin, she stuffed it full of deathberries before delivering it personally to Mosseagle, telling him it was a celebratory thank you. He was resting just outside of the camp, as he often did, because the shade was better there.

No one could believe the sudden death! They found the deathberries in his mouth, but none remained in the bird. Without fully intact berries to prove they had been planted, everyone assumed the bird had eaten them.

Hawkjay hated it, but she felt a thrill. A part of her wanted to do it again, and she tried so hard to pull it out of her.

Before she knew it, another Clanmate was dead at her paws. Bayjaw was alone with her in the forest, talking too much about the death of their deputy, how he believed it was suspicious, but how he was secretly glad Mosseagle was dead.

He wouldn’t shut up! Hawkjay had attacked him, and, well, the rest is clear.

Hawkjay could hardly live with herself, unable to be the supportive or even bullying littermate to Berrytwig or Lovagecreek, not even after the deaths of Lovagecreek’s kits or their friend, Bluedove.

She couldn’t keep it inside of her any longer.

She took Rainpaw, Mosseagle’s son, on a walk. She was ready to spill everything, but before she told the Clan, she knew to tell the cat who had suffered most of all by the death first and in private.

Rainpaw was reasonably and incredibly furious. Hawkjay couldn’t blame him for her death.

Lovagecreek

Aliases / Nicknames: Little Kit

Gender: tom

Sexuality: bisexual-demisexual, biromantic

Family: Yellowsong (mother), unnamed father, Hawkjay, Berrytwig (sisters), Aldersun (mate), Dawnkit, Snowkit (daughters), Bluesong, Stripemouse, Beetlecreek (foster sons)

Other Relations: unnamed mentor, unnamed apprentice

Clan: Skyclan

Rank: warrior

Characteristics: killed a queen to give his mate kits to look after

Number of Victims: 1

Number of Murders: 1

Murder Method: neck snapping

Known Victims: Bluedove

Cause of Death: tail skinned by fox-trap

Cautionary Tale: ??

Story:

He was the runt of his litter, simultaneously bullied and protecting by his sisters throughout their kithood and apprenticeships. He had a fear of beetles, which was often used against him, even during their warrior vigil.

Due to being the smallest, Lovagekit was coddled by their mother often, much to his annoyance and secret enjoyment.

He fell head over heels for Alderpaw the moment he saw her. Over and over again, he tried to win her over, impressing her in training or hunting for extra long to make sure he brought her the prey he knew she liked.

He could have leaped over the moon when Aldersun finally agreed to be his mate. Not even the death of their deputy could bring them down. Lovagecreek had talked to Hawkjay about it, who seemed more stressed than usual, but his mind was on Aldersun. His mate, at last!

It wasn’t long before she fell pregnant with his kits, and they--together--moved into the nursery, where Bluedove was already preparing their nests.

He talked to everyone in his family about it. Yellowsong was more obeying of Aldersun’s needs than Lovagecreek was, eagerly preparing the mother of her grandkits. 

Lovagecreek’s father talked to his son often, telling him the dos and don’ts.

But none of it mattered.

The kits, their darling daughters, their Dawnkit and Snowkit had been born sickly. The medicine cat’s constant care wasn’t enough, nor Hawkjay or Yellowsong fetching wet moss twice a day. They were dead before the third day.

Lovagecreek’s heart was torn apart, tearing more at the sight of Aldersun, screaming in agony in their moss. The next moon, nothing thawed the numbness that surrounded her. She wouldn’t leave the nursery, wouldn’t eat. 

The only thing that came close to melting the newfound coldness was the birth of Bluedove’s three kits, who she decided against naming yet for reasons Lovagecreek was unsure of. 

Aldersun at last had a her spirit back, at least a piece of it. She always volunteered to look after the three if Bluedove needed rest, or even if she was energized. 

Aldersun admitted to him that sometimes, she wished those three miracles were her own.

They made her so happy, and every time they were taken away, the familiar pain shone in Aldersun’s eyes and pierced Lovagecreek’s heart.

He had to do it for her.

He knew Bluedove’s death would hurt her, but it would be worth it. Besides, the kits were too young to remember their birth mother after a moon. 

They named the toms Bluekit, after his mother, Stripekit, after the pattern on his pelt, and Beetlekit, after Lovagecreek’s fear. That one was Hawkjay’s idea.

Lovagecreek loved that Aldersun was so happy now. And he loved the kits just as though they were his own, much as he missed his daughters.

But there was always that nagging thought when he saw Bluedove’s empty nest or smelt her remaining scent, or looked at Bluekit, so much like his mother.

Before, Lovagecreek was able to bury himself in his family, to avoid his guilt and his grief for his sister. But then they became apprentices, and everything was suddenly so silent-- aside from his own mind.

One, clear night, he nuzzled his sleeping family before going out into the night. He looked to the sky and asked if he was wrong to do what he did. Startled by a sudden gust of wind, he backed up into a fox-trap.

It would seem he found his answer.

Additional Information:

--Bluedove wanted Starclan to tell her in a dream what to name her kits. Yes, she’s a religious weirdo.

--Lovagecreek truly did care for his old and new kits, they weren’t just things to keep Aldersun happy.

--Aldersun initially saw Lovagecreek as a cute, but young apprentice. It wasn’t until he was a warrior that she saw him as a love interest.

--Hawkjay and Lovagecreek were killing at the same time, but neither knew, at least not until they wound up in the Dark Forest. They were involved in each other’s lives, but were so distracted by their own guilt that they didn’t notice anything weird about the other.

--Yes, Beetlecreek’s suffix is after his father. Bluesong’s is also after Yellowsong, who I imagine doted on the kits even more after the deaths of two of her own.

--Lovagecreek didn’t think he was going to die, but just to be safe, if he was to die or be sent into exile by the stars, he wanted to nuzzle goodbye to his family first.

--Picrew: https://picrew.me/image_maker/164475