ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: River Willow
Preference List: lioness, ray, slug
RP & poem:

River Willow was deeply distressed by the vanishing of the light- enough even to leave her precious river undefended for the time being to seek out the ways to restore the light. Every moment she was away from it worried her and gnawed at her, and her poem reflected that.

Every pebble on the riverbed
Every piece of moss where I lay my head
Every stump, twig and shoot
Every bush and every root

Every cloud wishing through the sky
Every fish and tadpole that drifts on by
Every drop of water, every sunny day
Every drop of rain, sand and silt and clay

Everything living surrounding me breathes
If it is sullied or broken I grieve
The whole living world is my family
And they’re always protected, as long as they’ve got me

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Prime Evil
Preference List: Night, Leaf
RP & poem:

What Did family mean to her? Prime Evil didn't have very strong connections to her extended family. She had a bat who she'd named but they were more... a frequent visitor than a bonded pet like she saw with some kin. Her life up till now had mostly been her brother and their mother. Even her sister and their other mother weren't as close to her in her life. To be fair, despite her frequent visits, neither was Nameless Ghoul. Her family, if she really boiled it down, was her brother Anguish. She frowned as she thought about their parting. He had stayed put because their mother told him to when the skies went dim.

"Mother tells stories of her family.
Of their lies and deceptions
Their intense loyalty to one idea at the expense of all others.

She's kept us separate, safe.
She says our fires burn hotter and more passionate
she won't let Him dose our flames.

Sometimes though when she is gone and we are alone
the deep pools of their devotion
sound enticing."

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Speed Racer
Preference List: Night, Leaf
RP & poem:

"Family is safe." Chirped the bright zikwa.

"It's warm and you're never alone.
When the songs echo
and the lights dance
every step
every note
repeats over and over again
how much you are loved."

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: The Choice is Made
Preference List: Night, Leaf
RP & poem:

Choice had followed her ears and her nose towards the clearing long after kin had begun to gather and do their work. Her eyes were only strong enough to see the brightness of the bonfires, and a handful of the brightest of kin who stood out amongst the glowing plant life and motes around the clearing.

"It took me a long time to find my place in my family. My NiNi once told a story of a kin born to a world that was not her own and that she didn't belong in, and for a long time I'd felt that way. That despite the love that was shown me I wasn't truly meant for this life. But family?

Family loves you
Your mind may deceive your heart
But they remain true."

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: In Harmony
Preference List: Night, Space, Leaf, Slug
RP & poem:
In Harmony was a simple doe. She wasn't as eloquent or verbose as others. Nor as intelligent or creative. But she had a lot of thoughts about family and emotions about family. She hoped that in her poem, her feelings would get across to others.

One Animal
Two Animal
Red Animal
Blue Animal

Oddbody
Furbody
Scalebody
Skinbody

Flying
Running
Swimming
Stalking

All are family to Me
and to Me, that's all that counts.

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Fisheye
Preference List: Slug
RP & poem:

What was family to Fisheye? Well, family was everything. Family are those who stand beside you in the tough times, those she’s built her tribe with. Family are all their hardships that they’ve overcome together.

“My family is the tribe.
Founded together.
Fought together.
Grow together.
In darkness we stand together.
My life for the tribe.
The tribe is my light.”

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Venturous
Preference List: Just glow, please!
RP & poem:
Venturous tilted her head, closed her eyes, and breathed in, then out.
She paused, for a beat, then another.
She bowed her head, then stepped back into the crowd encircling, ready to listen to another performer.

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Rotten Liar
Preference List: Slug
RP & poem:

What was family to Rotten Liar? Family was nothing. They didn’t know any of their family, nor have they made any of their own. Some kin may familiarize their pets with family but Rotten Liar had none of that either.

It wasn’t something they wanted but they did enjoy a challenge.

“Family is the most important bond.
Family is like a filling pond.
Family is the one thing I search for.
Family is what I want more.
Family is what makes life worth living.”

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Sea of Butterflies
Preference List: Just glow, please!
RP & poem: Sea of Butterflies loved storytelling and poetry, so when he'd heard that he could help out with the darkness, he'd been quick to volunteer.

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Dream
Preference List: Slug
RP & poem:

Dream had a huge family. She loved every single one of them from tail feather to paw pad. She wanted each one of them to be able to bask in the sun again. She would try to express her feelings so that the sun might enjoy her love and come back.

“I believe that family is everywhere if you look for it.
It is the first song of spring,
It is the sun hitting your flank.
Family are those who gather around you.
Those who listen to your sadness.
Those who listen to your happiness.
Family is there.
Always.
Family will do whatever it takes.”

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Deftly
Preference List: Just glow, please!
RP & poem: Deftly stepped forward with a flourish, and waited for the silence to begin.

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Life
Preference List: Night, Space, Leaf, Slug
RP & poem:

Family.

Life's ideas about family were probably most infamous.

Not that she was the only one who enjoyed having so many children and seeing their offspring multiply. But if you asked hers, she would say she was a step above other kin.

Still..did her having so many foals mean she knew anything about family beyond a number? She was sure not many thought so. Foals, foals, foals, baby crazy they say. When she was younger, she tried to explain that this was simply her purpose. To multiply so fruitfully was what the Motherfather wanted for her. They nodded, smiled tightly, or rolled their eyes before going on their way. The doe long ago stopped explaining herself. She simply did as she felt she was being guided to do and if no one else liked it or agreed with her ideals, that was their choice.

But, maybe this time her words would help them to understand.

For Me,
Family should be vast like the sea.
In a big family, laughter's song resounds,
A chorus of voices, a love that abounds.

Through every storm and sunny day,
In unity, we find our way.
In the family's warm and gentle grace,
We find our truest, safest place.

In a big family, laughter's song resounds,
A chorus of voices, a love that abounds.
Siblings and cousins, members old and new
In this bustling clan, the bond runs true.

With each gathering, the joy multiplies,
A sea of faces, familiar and wise.
Shared stories and secrets, a connection so strong,
In this grand family, where we all belong.

(259)

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Death
Preference List: Night, Space, Leaf, Slug
RP & poem:

Loss.

Most kin don't realize how much that he thought about loss. Well, more so then most would think. Of course Death thought about loss; he is Death. But loss, the idea of loss, the permanency, the inevitably, consumed him. For every spark brought into the world, the light would be snuffed out. This was a fact that he thought about deeply and often. It coloured how he saw everything and how he interacted with everyone. The love of his existence, the only other feeling that fought against the darkness of loss with its sparkling warmth and light, he knew it would be gone one day. The realty of that terrified him and caused him endless grief. He looked upon his family with a warm smile, but tears always threatened to burst over his facade of a peaceful buck.

It was difficult to express himself. It was a piece of himself he'd rather hide. He was sure no one would understand him, not even Life. They would only hear the surface words and nod sadly in agreement. Maybe the deeper meaning, the deeper feelings would resonate with someone.

In the embrace of family, we find our light,
Yet, sometimes life takes us into the night.
In the depths of loss, we mourn and grieve,
But our bonds endure, they never leave.

Memories of the ones we've held so dear,
In our hearts, they forever appear.
Though their presence may fade from sight,
Their love in our family shines forever bright.

(250)

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Must
Preference List: slug, ray, lioness
RP & poem:

There was a great deal about family, and home, that Must wasn't sure how to put into words. It was a warm, familiar, scent. But she'd stand and try.

"Family eases the heart,
as fire eases the bones.
Drawn together or growing apart,
we all called those dens our home.

A familar scent on the wind,
raises my spirits that day
In danger? I'll rush to defend
You're mine, I won't let you stray.

It's a joyous tumble of kin,
and our muskwolves to round out the pack.
Everyone brings their best to the den
and together, there's nothing we lack."

ME AND MY FAMILY!
Kin Name: Breaking Free
Preference List: Night, lioness, leaf, arrows, space, candy, ray, slug
RP & poem:
Breaking Free hummed for a moment, considering the topic of choice. Family to her, when it really came down to it, had always meant her father. There were friends she had met and made, sure, and others she would consider close to. But when she thought of home, of family, it was always dark fur and quiet, considerate silence. A rough timbre when speaking, and a raised eyebrow at antics.

It was easy to come up with a poem, with that in mind.

"Family is concern and care,
They are freedom and comfort.
They're both pushing for new experiences,
and somewhere to come back to if you need something safe
But most of all, they're forever, even if you're apart."