Here's my DTA entry! No animations (except for the blinking and snow falling), just a cute drawing and a SUPER long backstory! (see notes and credits) Note: I didn't change the name because "Penguin" fits this cat so well!
Backstory: Penguin was a kit when her parents gave her up in hopes that she might be raised in a better clan. She was regarded as an outsider for many years because of how different she looked. While the other cats of the Iceclan were nearly all light blue and white, she bore markings that bore no resemblance to the Iceclan markings. She grew up as the adopted kit of the Ice clan's healer. When Penguin turned two, she was sent on a mission. While most of the Iceclan cats were sent on mundane missions to go collect something from a mountain, or travel to the edge of the territory, Penguin was given a much more difficult mission. The ruling cats assigned her the mission of finding the Snowclan and making peace with them. To prove her success, she had to bring back one of the rulers of Snowclan. And so, our hero departs... After many moons, Penguin arrived at the edge of Snowclan territory. For the first time since she was introduced to the ruling cats, she felt afraid. Raising her chin, she strode into the middle of Snowclan territory, secretly terrified. She was confronted by a troop of guards, and told that she had to leave or face the consequences. Mustering all of her confidence (which wasn't much), she asked to see their leader. The Snowclan guards all looked at her nervously. "You can't. She doesn't see other clan members," One guard told her. Penguin retreated to the edge of Iceclan territory, disappointed. That night, as the moon rose, she noticed a trail of footprints leading into the woods. She had been told very explicitly never to set foot in the woods, for they were haunted. Forgetting any warnings she might have heard, she began to track the footprints. She made it past the outer, smaller trees of the forest, but the footprints disappeared shortly thereafter. She was lost. No matter where she looked, she only seemed to find herself deeper in the forest. That was when she heard the first howl. It sounded as though it came from one of the trees that had been burnt in a fire. She stepped closer, intent on figuring out what the sound was. A ghost cat flitted out from the tree. Penguin squealed, and jumped back. "You're a brave kit." The ghost said, settling down near Penguin. "Um... Who are you?" Penguin asked, absolutely terrified. "I was the leader of Snowclan. They've yet to find a new one." The ghost looked at Penguin suspiciously. "You aren't here to claim the throne, are you?" Penguin shook her head. "I'm here on a mission from Iceclan. I was supposed to form an alliance between Snow and Ice, but..." "But they don't have anyone to talk to. Where are you from again?" The ghost asked. "Iceclan," Penguin replied, becoming sleepy. "You don't look like an Ice cat." The ghost faded from view. Penguin woke to find herself on the edge of Snowclan territory. She found a note beside her, evidently from the ghost. "Take this to the guards, and you will have completed your quest." Penguin read the note, smiling as she did. "The forest isn't that bad after all," She told herself, marching into Snowclan territory again. The guards stopped her as they had previously, and asked why she'd dared to return. "I have a message from your late ruler." She said, holding her head high. "Really?" one of the guards seemed excited. Penguin handed over the note, and as the guards took turns reading it, they asked her, "Did you read this?" "Well... only the first sentence." Penguin replied nervously. "It says, 'on this day, recognize the cat who brought you this note as your new leader. Signed, your old queen.'" The guard looked at ehr in amazement. "You talked to her?" "Well... yeah." Penguin smiled. "Does this mean we can call Ice and Snow at peace?" "If you're an Ice cat, which you don't look like one-" Penguin interrupted the guard. "I was adopted." "Ah. well... if you're from Iceclan, and you lead Snowclan, then... yes, I guess that would make us at peace." The guard whispered something to another guard, who nodded. "Welcome to Snowclan," the first guard told Penguin. Epilogue: After much contemplation, Penguin gave her postition to her adoptive mother, and explained to Ice and Snow that she wanted to be a kit for as long as she could, and leading wasn't a kit's job. She lived happily ever after as the very first Ice-Snow cat. Hope you like the story! Sorry it was so long... I couldn't stop writing.
