How my cat's death re-inspired me to Warriors

Via Flickr


Greetings, everyone. Hi, my new Mods! First, a bit about me: I am not new to Warriors or the old Boards. I believe I first picked up Warriors in the year of 2009 or 2010, though I know it wasn't until June 14th, 2012 until I finally made the Forumsversary leap to the fantastic, welcoming online community. You may recognize me as ‘Spottedeyes from ShadowClan’, my past screenname.

As the title suggests, I have very recently grieved the loss of one of my cats, called Bear. Affectionately named for his three black stripes down his nose (like a claw mark), and on account of his thick fluffy hair. He was more fur than muscle, but he was the king and he knew it. He was almost 15 years old, which made his passing a little easier than if he had passed in the prime of his life like other littermates of his. Tumor in his brain behind his left eye caused a stroke and slow, subsequent decline of his nervous system (complete discoordination and inability to walk or sit for long without tumbling over) - but for the last two weeks, he was still my Bear in attitude , and I near-constantly cared for him to make him comfortable. Out here, it's country, and he loved best the barn (I called it his 'bear' cave); he would stay up there many hours through the years, catching mice, looking after the land or protecting the animals, walking around in the fields, and climbing up the hay bales. Bear lived a fantastic life, and I can't imagine him living or dying with more honor. He survives by his sister, and two younger half brothers. This is actually the first cat burial I've had in many years for a cat, because too often they disappear around age 8, and there is no memorial. This is a good kind of closure that I'll remember more with fond memories than with tears.

Well, it just so happened that, as I was contemplating what funeral I should give Bear (pyre or burial), I remembered I still had had a list of medicine cat herbs that I hadn't touched for years. It was then that my old, familiar interest in Warriors began to return like an old friend. As I looked up again what herbs medicine cats used for burial, I decided I would give him something resembling that. I had fresh rosemary and mint from my herb garden, and found my old collection of moss I once collected from Arkansas. Using those, I buried Bear, and planted a young red oak tree over him. Fitting, I thought, because if he wasn't climbing hay bales, he loved his trees.

Afterwards, the idea of Warriors just didn't fade. So, after attempting 2 years ago of trying to find where everyone had migrated to since 2016's fall of the Forums - I tried again today, and found this site.

I am beyond grateful to see the amount of commitment and love that such a thing has inspired 'by the fans for the fans'. These new Boards, though they have been faithfully going for 4 years now, look just like the originals with only slight differences. It feels like coming home again. Thank you, to each and every one of you, no matter how small the part you played or continue to play, for 'being the cats' that started us and kept the courage on this Great Journey to our new home.

That said, I am so happy to reintegrate, and get myself slowly back on 'my own four paws' towards perhaps a bit of RP. Hopefully, I'll find some of my old friends here, catching up, and I look forwards to making virtual new ones. For Bearclaw!