Posts by oakstar.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me -

Hello all! Welcome to DarkClan's Spring Celebration Week! This week was planned with the intention of increasing activity on the main boards while also giving members the chance to interact more with one another and celebrate the changing of seasons.

What is Spring Celebration Week?

This is a week long event within DarkClan that mixes in traditions from the Catholic holiday Easter as well as the pagan holidays of Imbolc and Ostara. Nothing within these threads are strictly religious, we are just utilizing traditions from these faiths to make fun activities for everyone to participate in. There will be one event thread that lasts for the duration of the week (April 19th - April 26th), and smaller events that will last the duration of one or two days each. Those threads will remain open for the duration of the week, but to be counted as a participant in the daily event, you have to post at least once during the allotted time period.

What/When are the different events?

APRIL 19: Celebration kicks off/BADGE EVENT opens

APRIL 20 - 21: firefly hunt & vigil

APRIL 22 - 23: flower collection & crafting

APRIL 24: camp decorating & cleaning

APRIL 25 - 26: spring feast

What do the events entail?

- Firefly hunt & vigil is based off of the pagan holiday known as Imbolc that celebrates new life following winter and involves a lot of candles and light to herald in the progressively longer days. This thread will focus on warriors and apprentices of DarkClan going out into the territory to locate fireflies at dusk and observe them in clusters as the night falls. With the lack of stars, the fireflies will symbolize the absent StarClan and offer hope and light to DarkClan.

- Flower collection & crafting is based off the pagan holiday known as Ostara that celebrates the return of nature and spring and relishes in the color that has returned to the world following winter. This thread will focus on patrols that go out into the mountains to collect flowers and bring them back to camp to be scattered around or crafted into decorations that can be left around camp. The focus is to bring color and life to the mountain caves that are made mostly of rock and moss.

- Camp decorating & cleaning is a sort of follow up from the flower crafting thread, done with more intention of decorating for the feast that follows. It is also done with the idea of spring cleaning, of taking out all of the musty, old items that no longer have use, etc. and opening up the camp to new experiences and sunlight.

- Spring feast is intended to celebrate the influx of prey that follows after the winter, new health and new life. It will be a time for socializing, storytelling, and bonding with Clanmates you might not know as well. There could potentially be another Clan invited to the feast, but that is still TBD.

- BADGE EVENT: EGG HUNT will be lasting the ENTIRE week of Spring Celebration. It will not be an actual "egg" hunt exactly, but a sort of Clan wide hunting competition. Each piece of prey that a character catches for the feast at the end of the week counts as an "egg" and the top warrior and apprentice will be honored at the festival. The rules for the badge event are as follows:

-- you MUST have at least two other posts between each of your own. this is an attempt to prevent one or two RPers from flooding the thread.

-- please try to keep it realistic! your character is allowed to miss some prey. you have a whole week to catch as much as you can!

-- mentors can assist their apprentices and utilize this time for training, but whichever character actually catches the prey gets the "egg"

-- prey stolen from other characters or other Clans count as negative points to your character's total

**THE WINNERS will be chosen randomly through a generator of who participated in the thread throughout the week. Your character name will be submitted once for every three "eggs" your character collected.

Participation & Badges

All you have to do to be counted as a participant is post at least once in one of the events during the week. You do NOT have to post in all the event threads to be counted if you are unable to do so. While this event is being done with the idea of kicking up activity, there is absolutely no pressure at all to post every single day. Do what you can and try to enjoy the experience!

There will be a general badge given out for participation for the week. There will also be a badge for the warrior that wins the "egg" hunt and one for the apprentice that wins the "egg" hunt.

Questions

If you have any questions or concerns about how to participate or about certain events in general, please feel free to post them here! Any updates will also be posted here should they be necessary. The HPs of DarkClan sincerely hope that you enjoy this event and get to interact with new characters!

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Pushing out of the leader's den with a spark in his eye and a slight bounce in his step, Oakridge approached the moss stone and hesitated at the base. Eaglestar had said he could announce their idea, had said it was okay to stand on the stone for the moment, but he just couldn't get his paws to carry him up there. He was the deputy, and the blue rosette tom was still struggling with the idea that he was even worthy of that title and it's expectations. Shaking off the thoughts, knowing that now was not the time, the massive tom settled just in front of the stone, figuring it was good enough.

"DarkClan! Let all those old enough to catch their own prey gather here for an announcement!" The deputy would wait a few moments until he could scan his golden eyes over a majority of his Clanmates. They looked a little worried, seeing him sitting there, but Oakridge kept his countenance calm and a little eager in an attempt to reassure them.

"Eaglestar and I have planned a week of celebration and events to herald the coming of newleaf. We know that there are tensions and fears running rampant at the moment, and we are not disregarding those. However, we feel that a boost in morale and a reminder of our strength is needed, so we decided this might be a good idea. You are not required to participate, but we hope and encourage you to do so."

Pausing to glance around at his murmuring Clanmates, Oakridge resisted the urge to shift his weight around nervously, not wanting to let them all know his doubts. He worried that they would find this ridiculous, that no one would want to participate and he would be made a fool of, forced to step down out of sheer humiliation and disappointment. But he kept his gaze steady and his head high and let none of that show through. The blue tom had faith in his Clanmates, and he would see these events through to the end.

"The way this will work is that we have a few events planned for the week ahead. Today will start a competition that lasts the entire week and will wrap up at the end with a celebration and the announcement of the winners. There will be one winner from the warrior rank and one from the apprentice rank. The rules and guidelines can be found HERE, but if you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to ask myself or Eaglestar for clarification. We will begin the hunt soon, and I will be back here tomorrow to announce the next event. That is all."

Oakridge stayed where he was, gaze flitting over his Clanmates as he watched them talk amongst themselves and digest the information he had given them. The deputy stuck around for a while longer in case any of them came up to him with questions or concerns.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Making his way over to the entrance of camp, taking up post near the tunnel that would lead out to their territory, Oakridge raised his voice and called into the cavern, "Warriors and apprentices of DarkClan, the hunt for our Spring Celebration begins now! If you have any questions before you disembark, please stop by and ask. I will be here to keep tally of what you bring back each day, so please keep your posts for this event on this thread only! Additional rules can be found HERE as well as guidelines. Good luck to you all, and remember to have fun!"

With his piece said, Oakridge took up a comfortable position near the entrance of camp and watched everyone pass by, hoping that those who decided to participate had a good time and felt the spirit of the competition.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - The week's events so far had only consisted of beginning the hunt. Oakridge was still trying to get a gauge on how everyone in the Clan seemed to be enjoying things, but as far as he could tell, they were still a little lacking. It was alright, because with what was happening among StarClan and the running tensions, the blue tom was genuinely surprised that any of his Clanmates were willing to give him the time of day. He hoped that the event for tonight would go over a little better, maybe raise some hopes among the ranks.

"DarkClan, tonight our event will be taking place outside of camp. Any warriors and apprentices that wish to join me on our trek may do so. We're going to search for fireflies out in the territory." He wasn't sure how many cats would join him, but even if it were just one or two, Oakridge would take pleasure in the company.

// REMINDER this event will run until the evening of April 21st!

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Glancing around at Lilypaw and Tinypaw, Oakridge wasn't one to force cats into performing tasks they didn't wish to do. He wouldn't make Lilypaw come if she so detested the idea, so he turned his golden gaze Tinypaw's way with an encouraging look. "Of course you can come, Tinypaw. This is an open training session."

His attention pulled to Frostfang at the warrior's approach, the deputy watched the exchange and decided not to intervene. If he managed to convince Lilypaw to come, all the better, but the last thing Oakridge wanted to do was force her into training.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Looking around at the assembled cats happily, Oakridge flicked his tail in gesture as he pushed to his paws. "We'll head out now then, and anyone else that wishes to join us can do so along the way."

Leading his tiny troupe of Clanmates out into the forests of their mountain home, the deputy walked with sure steps along a trail he had memorized. While he had been planning these events, the tom had located an area of their territory that seemed to house a decent population of the starry insects they were after. It was difficult to catch them because pouncing usually just squished the bugs under paw, but they were a sight to behold. The whole point of the hunt was to find them in the first place. Oakridge just hoped the little creatures hadn't moved on yet.

Leading his little band of Clanmates through some greening underbrush, the deputy shouldered his way into a clearing where the open area was blanketed with flowers. Sure enough, among the patch of open sky above them and the surrounding branches, there were the beginning hints and winks of fireflies hovering about.

Turning his attention to the cats that had followed him there, Oakridge beamed and gestured with his tail upward. "Stay on the quiet side so they aren't spooked, okay?"

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Oakridge sat himself down just shy of the middle of the clearing, head tilted back and craned upward to the patch of sky between the branches. He had been here a few times before, but those adventures had always included StarClan and Silverpelt shining brightly down upon the Clans. Sometimes the moon had drifted across the patch of visible sky here, only adding to the silver glow that usually shone down upon this patch of DarkClan territory.

But now, the sky was empy - void of their ancestors.

This event, however, was not about that. His golden eyes would shine not with the light of the stars and the moon, but with the glow of flickering fireflies darting about above them. If one didn't focus on them, they could be StarClan in passing. They lit up sporadically among the branches above and flitted like shooting stars across the patch of inky sky. Each little flicker was a reminder, a dash of hope among a perilous situation they had never faced before. The fireflies were a light among the darkness, and while they could not guide them the way StarClan did, they could offer some source of light and just a little comfort.

"I know things are scary right now," Oakridge began quietly, his eyes trained on the fireflies above them, speaking to the group in general. "I know you are feeling lost, and scared, confused and hurt. Maybe you're even starting to panic. But everything is going to be okay. We're trying to figure out a solution, and as long as we don't stop looking, there is always hope. StarClan might be distant right now, maybe even gone, but these fireflies can remind us that there is still light and simple hope around us. We just have to be open to finding it. These events are admittedly a bit of a distraction from bigger problems, but they're also a reminder to you all that you're not alone. Lean on your Clanmates, work with those around you to maintain hope, to keep moving forward despite what we may face. If you try to face this alone, you'll find it's much harder than if you were with friends."

Oakridge looked back down, away from the sky, and took in the few Clanmates that had come with him. "Don't give up hope. Be there for each other. Be the fireflies in the darkness."

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - He had never really been one to enjoy flowers or to go out of his way to collect them, but Oakridge could acknowledge that others in his Clan found them fascinating. Sitting among the throng of Clanmates present in the main area of camp, the deputy prepared himself to begin yet another event for this whole thing he had planned. Some - like Spiderpaw - were less inclined to participate, but the mere fact that anyone was acknowledging these events at all was what the deputy considered a step in the right direction.

"DarkClan! It's time for another event. This one consists of going out into the forests of our territory and collecting flowers. You can bring back as many as you want, as many as you can carry! We will be weaving them together to decorate the camp, wear them, or to just scatter among the dens. After the leafbare we had, I think a few pops of color in here would be welcomed. Make sure you don't go out alone, and remember to have fun!" Oakridge hoped the decorations would last until the end of the week when they had their feast planned, but this was just something to be done to lift everyone's spirits.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Oakridge found himself surprised that Cranemask had asked if he wanted to join in. Usually he just began the events and then monitored them, but he was more than happy to participate himself. Giving her a nod and a friendly look, the deputy glanced around before they left. Spotting one of his daughter's with Tinypaw, offering to join her, Oakridge felt a swell of pride. Serenepaw had taken a while to open up, but he was thrilled to see her around camp more now.

"Lead the way," the blue tom gesture to Cranemask.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Finally rejoining Cranemask after having gone a separate way to mark the border, Oakridge found himself not as surprised as he should have been when he happened upon the scene. Another unfamiliar face at their border, and another somewhat tense situation to defuse. Pausing to press his nose fondly to Serenepaw's head, greeting his daughter, Oakridge then came to stand with Cranemask and Spiderpaw where they faced down the newcomer.

"My name is Oakridge, I'm the deputy of DarkClan. May I ask what your intentions here are?" While Oakridge wasn't an overly hostile cat, he was cautious. Once upon a time he had been a little more welcoming of strangers, but after the whole Nathanos debacle a pawful of moons ago, the blue tom extended caution before friendship. He wouldn't let DarkClan suffer like that again.

With the timing of his approach, Oakridge had heard Spiderpaw's response to Cranemask, but had missed the rouge's name. He had to admit, he agreed with Spiderpaw's hesitation, but the deputy went about it a little differently.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Weaving through the territory after Cranemask, Oakridge followed her lead and enjoyed the feeling of being out and about without the weight of duty or expectation. He wasn't out here as deputy of DarkClan, merely just another warrior participating in an event. Leaping down of a rock he had climbed, the blue rosette tom turned to wait for the other warrior to descend after him. "No, these aren't annual. If they go over well, however, maybe they could be. I just made them up for this season, though, hoping it might help give everyone something else to focus on."

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Tail flicking to curl around his front paws where he sat beside Cranemask, Oakridge nodded quietly along with the rogue's statements. The blue tom, however, took a moment to study the youngster, golden eyes sweeping up and down his figure. Eventually, the deputy spoke, voice calm and steady as always.

"I respect your drive and desire to be part of something bigger. But you have to understand, Clan life isn't just a sense of living with other cats, it is a part of everything we do. We hunt together, we fight together, we share dens, we share food, we share trials and tribulations, celebrations and grief. As deputy, it is my job to make sure the cats we welcome at our borders are trustworthy. So you understand why we cannot just drop tension because you feel you have a noble self-conduct. We have been burned before by strangers claiming the same as you, so whether or not your intentions here are truly good or not, we will remain tense until we have proof aside from your word that you will help instead of hurt our Clan. If you can understand this, we will be more than happy to let you in and assign you a mentor."

As the deputy spoke, his voice remained neutral, calm. He was not trying to be harsh or unwelcoming, merely stating the truth of their hierarchy in a matter-of-fact way. This was how DarkClan functioned, and he would not see his Clanmates scorned in the same way Nathanos had left them.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - There were still a few cats out and about in the territory, collecting flowers and other odds and ends that could be used as decorating, but Oakridge figured now was as good a time as any to get the next event started. Pausing in the middle of camp, he lifted his voice and hoped that his Clanmates weren't becoming tired of him. He had been speaking a lot lately with all the events going on, and he worried they were growing tired of him.

"DarkClan! While we continue to gather decorations for camp, I will need some other cats to assist me with cleaning out anything we no longer need around camp to make room for the new decorations. If you would like to help, see me for task delegation." This would probably be the simplest event for the duration of the week, and Oakridge hoped that he wouldn't end up cleaning all by himself.

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - While he wasn't participating in the hunt, in an attempt to keep things fair, Oakridge sincerely hoped that his Clanmates were having a good time. He wished that Moosepaw was around at least, so that he could offer advice and training to his own apprentice, but the younger tom had been a little absent lately.

//small bump

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - While he often noted Spiderpaw's lack of enthusiasm for most things, Oakridge never held any of it against the apprentice. The blue furred tom knew that some cats didn't find the same satisfaction in things he did. When Sweetpea was still alive, Oakridge and his brother had been two completely different entities. But the deputy had never faulted his brother for that - it was just the way things were. So seeing Spiderpaw acknowledge Oakridge's call and get to cleaning the medicine den was all Oakridge could have wanted from this. He beamed at the younger tom before turning his attention to Tinypaw.

"Great! Why don't you help me start cleaning out the old moss from the warriors' and apprentices' dens? The moss there gets changed out the least, so we'll likely need to replace most of it."

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - It was nearing the end of their celebration week, and while it hadn't been as eventful as Oakridge had hoped, the mere fact that anyone at all enjoyed it was enough for him. The blue rosette tom just hoped that it had brought his Clanmates closer, had given them some kind of hope. If they kept persevering and moving forward, they would see the other side of this hardship.

He had managed to invite two Clans to come and celebrate with them, ThunderClan and RiverClan. Maybe getting to see that they weren't alone in all of this would help boost morale a little.

//this will be the last event thread for the week! make sure you get your posts into the "egg" hunt before 12/noon EST on April 26th to be able to potentially win the hunt! thank you all for participating <3

･ﾟ ✦ ° why do love and hate sound just the same to me - Warmth and pride bloomed in the deputy's chest at Eaglestar's compliment, grinning broadly at the leader. He had been worried nearly the whole week about every event that happened. To hear Eaglestar, a cat he looked up to and viewed almost like a parental figure, say that he had done a good job - it meant everything.

"Thank you," Oakridge said quietly back, hoping it conveyed everything he was feeling. Turning his attention to the Tribe, happy they could make it, the blue tom stood to greet Owl with a gracious dip of his head. "I'm glad you could make it! Welcome to DarkClan's camp."