Random Short Stories

Birthday Catastrophe [🦋]

On the sun-drenched slopes of the Peaks Of Cloudveil, beneath the dappled sunlight and the dew-glazed wildflowers lived a rowdy, family-oriented clan that went by the alias Canyon Colony.

Among them was Poppyseed, a newly made warrior with fur as puffy as a cloud and a personality just as fragile. She had a light cinnamon tortoiseshell pelt that gleamed under the sunlight, delicate white paws and round green eyes that would make any cat swoon.

Once a pampered kittypet, her transition from soft pillows and tidy meals to dense underbrush and hunted prey had been monumental—and much to the dismay of her clanmates, it had all gone terribly awry.

Paired with her appearance was an insatiable need for approval that enveloped her like a suffocating blanket. As the newest recruit to the Canyon Colony, Poppyseed had traded her life of luxury for the realm of thorns and claw, but she hadn't quite let go of her spoiled nature.

To put it simply? Poppyseed lived for attention. For her, approval was the icing on the cake; without it, her world felt like a desolate wasteland.

Every day was a performance, each moment a desperate plea to be the center of attention. Even the most mundane tasks could become her personal stage for her to prance and expect the audience to roar with applause.

A simple hunt would see her prancing about, batting her long whiskers as she narrated her latest tale, often glorifying her own feats to absurd lengths that would make even the kits in the nursery roll their little eyes .

"And then, I VERBALLY THRASHED a rogue cat! You should have seen the way he fled!" she would declare, flipping her delicate tail dramatically. This elicited forced smiles and discreet eye rolls from whoever heard this feat.

It was simple. The spotlight couldn't be on anyone that wasn't her. Every single time there was another cat receiving attention, she would pout, whine and wail to get her way and have all eyes on her.

There was the time she had started loudly bawling during Berrypaw and Scalepaw's warrior ceremony because she wasn't getting enough attention, and the time when she had started rolling around on the ground wailing after the clade's attention was on Sumacdawn's new litter.

Though honestly, who could forget the most memorable time of all where she started screaming and crying when the clan leader praised Balsampaw for an excellent performance during training and the whole clan joined in praising him.

Her reason for this breakdown?

Because she felt like she was 'invisible' and 'no cat cared for her' in that moment.

Today was different. It was Poppyseed's birthday, and she intended to make it a day to remember—at least for herself. The dawn came with beams of sunlight that twinkled through the trees, casting a warm glow across the Canyon Colony.

Unable to contain her excitement, Poppyseed suggested a meeting beneath the Star Peak, her favourite spot. An enormous grin spread across her face, for she was sure this would be a day filled with praise and admiration.

"Gather around, everyone!" Poppyseed squealed, her voice high-pitched and chipper. The warriors exchanged weary glances with one another as they reluctantly dragged their paws over.

Her former mentor, Pistachioheart, a seasoned warrior with fur like burnt umber, rolled her eyes but complied. As they settled into a circle, Poppyseed beamed radiantly with delight, her heart racing in anticipation.

"I have the best idea for today! Since it's my birthday, let's all take turns sharing one thing we love about me!" she declared, her eyes sparkling with expectation. She grinned widely, her tail held high, seemingly oblivious to the hesitance bloating the ranks around her.