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Forest Was Here 🧡💙💚🧡
11 months ago
Forest was here
It's been over a month since Forest Wolf
forest-wolf / 
spottedsqueak passed away. I debated writing this journal at all since it's been a while and I have already said so much and done a lot of grieving. But the pain is still here in my chest, and I want to remember him, and I want people to know how special he was. Many people have already written very touching journals and messages and I encourage you to read those. Here's my piece:
I had found Forest through his webcomic, Forest Wolf! Adventures, some time around 2009-2010. It was an adorable webcomic that I enjoyed following. Cute and goofy. I soon followed him on here FurAffinity not long after, where I got to see his fun and lovely work. His comic with the Face Beam (https://furaffinity.net/view/3301228) will always be my absolute favourite.
We didn't interact much for a while. But, unbeknownst to me, we floated in similar circles.
And then he started posting stuff on his spottedsqueak account. That's when I started to get to know him better. I joined his patreon, I joined the server, and I got to know Forest for who he truly was.
Forest was a kind-hearted, generous, goofy, and energetic person. He was always pushing himself to work harder, to get stuff done, to improve his skills and learn new things. He was always stressing about doing enough for his friends and patrons, even though we all frequently told him he was doing plenty. He'd come up with the best/worst puns imaginable to make everyone groan, which I loved. He never seemed to rest. I believe he is quoted saying "Give me enough time, and I can do anything." It really seemed to be true. He was full of new projects, new passions. Did you know he was working on learning music? Did you know he could code and was working on a game? This Wolf/Mouse would be a one-person game studio, I swear. He ran an entire funding drive to help Kim-Chee afford her transition surgery, including animations, comics, and other commissions. He used his patreon funds to help his friends out rather than enrich himself. He worked a full time job on top of doing his Patreon!
There was a lot about him that I related to, that I felt we were on a similar wavelength about. I loved his passion, his drive, his goofyness. But we never got too close. We had talked a little over DMs, but not a lot. He was always so busy, I never wanted to steal more of his precious time than he could give. I thought we'd have more time to build a deep friendship.
One day, out of the blue, he asked me to moderate his drawing streams, to help with a bit of the load his discord mods had been handling. Of course, I accepted, and I took the job seriously. He deserved that and more. Though the streams rarely needed anyone to moderate them. He had attracted a group of other incredible, kind, and compassionate people around him. But still he asked. As Katie had reminded me after the fact, he had a hard time trusting people with stuff like this. I am honored to have ever had that trust.
I'm honored to be able to call myself his friend.
On September 3rd, 2024 Forest Wolf passed away. I learned about it on September 4th.
My heart was broken that day. My heart is still broken.
If I counted since I found his comic, I have known of Forest for 16 years. If I counted since I joined the server and got to really -know- Forest, I've known him for 6. But no matter how I break down the dates, he had been a bigger part of my life than I ever realized. His server was one of the few I took time daily to be active in, his streams were the few I'd actively try to attend, even before I was a mod. More than most, I'd make funny pictures or memes to try and make him smile and laugh.
I still cannot believe he's gone. That this wonderful, amazing person could disappear between the blinks. I miss him so badly. I want him back so badly. It hurts. How could he just be...
gone...
He never got the time he deserved. He didn't get the time to really learn music or make his game. His comics are almost all left unfinished. His plans were all cut short. It rips me up inside to think about how all of this passion could be snuffed out so quickly, all these things left, alone.
But not forgotten.
His discord server, his friends, his family, all went into mourning. But more than that, they came together to help each other out. To grieve, to cry, to check in on each other, to make sure they were eating and drinking.
Forest was an incredibly special person and he had brought together a large group of very special people with him. We had a memorial in VRChat, we held calls to commemorate his memory. Kim Chee got him tattooed on her back. I got his paw and (as of writing this - soon to be added) his mouse's spots on my wrist. Art poured in from those affected, those who knew him, who loved him. Together we donated enough money to charity for 269 trees to be planted. So that could be -his- forest.
I've met so many wonderful, talented, loving people through Forest, through his server over the past few years. I can only hold them closer now, and help them out as best I can. to make sure they know that even though Forest isn't there, can't reply, what he built still is, and the love he felt is in those connections. Many of them have likewise reached out to me and helped me when I've been down. And I've been down a lot over the past month.
We will all remember him, we will all re-read his comics, look over his art, we will remember stories and memories of the wuff. I built an Archive of his patreon to make sure it couldn't be lost. We will hold him close, and pass on his light to each other.
I still cry at losing him. I loved that wolf. I loved that mouse. I loved that man behind the screen. He was incredible, he was amazing.
I'm not okay. Not right now. I won't be okay for sometime. But I will be okay, thanks to the community he built, and the kindness he encouraged in all of us.
If I could ask anything of anyone still reading, it's to look at his art, look at his posts, and remember him. Spread his name and work. Let his legacy grow bright across the internet.
I miss you, Forest. I love you, Forest. I will never forget you, Forest.
- Forest was here -
P.S.
Kim-Chee put a lot of work in to setting up a Kudoboard that we've filled with loving messages. I recommend you check it out:
- https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/LXM8pyKG
If you wish to read more about Forest and his impact on others, I recommend checking out the journals, writings, and drawings from those who knew him. This isn't a comprehensive list, but it's all I can gather right now. Content warning, all of these posts are very emotional, and some get very dark.
-
ante - https://twitter.com/NotALemur/statu.....34198219108384
-
Maventreecat - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10955992/
-
Kamunt - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10951121/
-
nyn - https://x.com/NynTheWolf/status/183.....13468530143430
-
jizzal - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948466 | https://twitter.com/HuniiHeart/stat.....95500268536019
-
GurgleGluts - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58068382/ | https://twitter.com/Gurgle_gluts/st.....09874327167052
- BlizzieNoms - https://x.com/BlizzieNoms/status/18.....49847190393292
-
lukesnowcat - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58002732/
-
strawberrymog - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948560/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10978667 | https://www.furaffinity.net/view/60324491/
-
murdockthemoogle - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948560/
-
arrathdhron - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948816/
-
jagkitty - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10952207
-
dragga - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58077623/
-
morganstails - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10949264
-
evoc - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10955604
-
cryptor13 - https://itaku.ee/images/930562 | https://itaku.ee/images/950473
-
caudle - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948185
-
lapseph - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10951352/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10952853/
-
damienfox - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57992640/
-
jasonthekitsune - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57998142/
-
samanthaweltzin - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948496/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948758/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10952992/
-
viliam - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948482 | https://x.com/KTCapRat/status/1831430305200402907 | https://x.com/KTCapRat/status/1831448716173345233
-
wolvengamer - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58019380/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948293/
-
eclairtalon - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57995421/
-
preacher18 - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/11000812/
- Hunnter - https://aryion.com/g4/view/1048465
- Mouse - https://aryion.com/g4/blog.php?id=81299
-
fingerbit - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58146060/
-
sohmakitsune - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948768/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58008830/
-
leaf-mithras - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10958725/
- AlanWolf - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58013103/
It's been over a month since Forest Wolf
forest-wolf / 
spottedsqueak passed away. I debated writing this journal at all since it's been a while and I have already said so much and done a lot of grieving. But the pain is still here in my chest, and I want to remember him, and I want people to know how special he was. Many people have already written very touching journals and messages and I encourage you to read those. Here's my piece:I had found Forest through his webcomic, Forest Wolf! Adventures, some time around 2009-2010. It was an adorable webcomic that I enjoyed following. Cute and goofy. I soon followed him on here FurAffinity not long after, where I got to see his fun and lovely work. His comic with the Face Beam (https://furaffinity.net/view/3301228) will always be my absolute favourite.
We didn't interact much for a while. But, unbeknownst to me, we floated in similar circles.
And then he started posting stuff on his
spottedsqueak account. That's when I started to get to know him better. I joined his patreon, I joined the server, and I got to know Forest for who he truly was.Forest was a kind-hearted, generous, goofy, and energetic person. He was always pushing himself to work harder, to get stuff done, to improve his skills and learn new things. He was always stressing about doing enough for his friends and patrons, even though we all frequently told him he was doing plenty. He'd come up with the best/worst puns imaginable to make everyone groan, which I loved. He never seemed to rest. I believe he is quoted saying "Give me enough time, and I can do anything." It really seemed to be true. He was full of new projects, new passions. Did you know he was working on learning music? Did you know he could code and was working on a game? This Wolf/Mouse would be a one-person game studio, I swear. He ran an entire funding drive to help Kim-Chee afford her transition surgery, including animations, comics, and other commissions. He used his patreon funds to help his friends out rather than enrich himself. He worked a full time job on top of doing his Patreon!
There was a lot about him that I related to, that I felt we were on a similar wavelength about. I loved his passion, his drive, his goofyness. But we never got too close. We had talked a little over DMs, but not a lot. He was always so busy, I never wanted to steal more of his precious time than he could give. I thought we'd have more time to build a deep friendship.
One day, out of the blue, he asked me to moderate his drawing streams, to help with a bit of the load his discord mods had been handling. Of course, I accepted, and I took the job seriously. He deserved that and more. Though the streams rarely needed anyone to moderate them. He had attracted a group of other incredible, kind, and compassionate people around him. But still he asked. As Katie had reminded me after the fact, he had a hard time trusting people with stuff like this. I am honored to have ever had that trust.
I'm honored to be able to call myself his friend.
On September 3rd, 2024 Forest Wolf passed away. I learned about it on September 4th.
My heart was broken that day. My heart is still broken.
If I counted since I found his comic, I have known of Forest for 16 years. If I counted since I joined the server and got to really -know- Forest, I've known him for 6. But no matter how I break down the dates, he had been a bigger part of my life than I ever realized. His server was one of the few I took time daily to be active in, his streams were the few I'd actively try to attend, even before I was a mod. More than most, I'd make funny pictures or memes to try and make him smile and laugh.
I still cannot believe he's gone. That this wonderful, amazing person could disappear between the blinks. I miss him so badly. I want him back so badly. It hurts. How could he just be...
gone...
He never got the time he deserved. He didn't get the time to really learn music or make his game. His comics are almost all left unfinished. His plans were all cut short. It rips me up inside to think about how all of this passion could be snuffed out so quickly, all these things left, alone.
But not forgotten.
His discord server, his friends, his family, all went into mourning. But more than that, they came together to help each other out. To grieve, to cry, to check in on each other, to make sure they were eating and drinking.
Forest was an incredibly special person and he had brought together a large group of very special people with him. We had a memorial in VRChat, we held calls to commemorate his memory. Kim Chee got him tattooed on her back. I got his paw and (as of writing this - soon to be added) his mouse's spots on my wrist. Art poured in from those affected, those who knew him, who loved him. Together we donated enough money to charity for 269 trees to be planted. So that could be -his- forest.
I've met so many wonderful, talented, loving people through Forest, through his server over the past few years. I can only hold them closer now, and help them out as best I can. to make sure they know that even though Forest isn't there, can't reply, what he built still is, and the love he felt is in those connections. Many of them have likewise reached out to me and helped me when I've been down. And I've been down a lot over the past month.
We will all remember him, we will all re-read his comics, look over his art, we will remember stories and memories of the wuff. I built an Archive of his patreon to make sure it couldn't be lost. We will hold him close, and pass on his light to each other.
I still cry at losing him. I loved that wolf. I loved that mouse. I loved that man behind the screen. He was incredible, he was amazing.
I'm not okay. Not right now. I won't be okay for sometime. But I will be okay, thanks to the community he built, and the kindness he encouraged in all of us.
If I could ask anything of anyone still reading, it's to look at his art, look at his posts, and remember him. Spread his name and work. Let his legacy grow bright across the internet.
I miss you, Forest. I love you, Forest. I will never forget you, Forest.
- Forest was here -
P.S.
Kim-Chee put a lot of work in to setting up a Kudoboard that we've filled with loving messages. I recommend you check it out:
- https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/LXM8pyKG
If you wish to read more about Forest and his impact on others, I recommend checking out the journals, writings, and drawings from those who knew him. This isn't a comprehensive list, but it's all I can gather right now. Content warning, all of these posts are very emotional, and some get very dark.
-
ante - https://twitter.com/NotALemur/statu.....34198219108384-
Maventreecat - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10955992/-
Kamunt - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10951121/-
nyn - https://x.com/NynTheWolf/status/183.....13468530143430-
jizzal - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948466 | https://twitter.com/HuniiHeart/stat.....95500268536019 -
GurgleGluts - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58068382/ | https://twitter.com/Gurgle_gluts/st.....09874327167052- BlizzieNoms - https://x.com/BlizzieNoms/status/18.....49847190393292
-
lukesnowcat - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58002732/-
strawberrymog - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948560/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10978667 | https://www.furaffinity.net/view/60324491/-
murdockthemoogle - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948560/-
arrathdhron - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948816/-
jagkitty - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10952207-
dragga - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58077623/-
morganstails - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10949264-
evoc - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10955604-
cryptor13 - https://itaku.ee/images/930562 | https://itaku.ee/images/950473-
caudle - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948185-
lapseph - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10951352/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10952853/-
damienfox - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57992640/-
jasonthekitsune - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57998142/-
samanthaweltzin - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948496/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948758/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10952992/-
viliam - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948482 | https://x.com/KTCapRat/status/1831430305200402907 | https://x.com/KTCapRat/status/1831448716173345233-
wolvengamer - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58019380/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948293/-
eclairtalon - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57995421/-
preacher18 - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/11000812/- Hunnter - https://aryion.com/g4/view/1048465
- Mouse - https://aryion.com/g4/blog.php?id=81299
-
fingerbit - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58146060/-
sohmakitsune - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10948768/ | https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58008830/-
leaf-mithras - https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10958725/- AlanWolf - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58013103/
It's good to see your words and feelings on this. It's not easy.
We are all still here for each other. I am here for you as well. He won't fade as long as we carry him with us.
You have always had a really big heart and it can also really hurt and take time, you will always have friends here for you <3
I'll probably never get over that.
But now, I love you, as well. It is a damned shame that I've only gotten to know you because of his passing, but as I've said before, the last gift Forest gave to us was each other.
Forest was here; but moreover, he's still here. He is eternal, like we all are.
I'm very sorry for your loss and those closest to him. Though I never really met him, I felt a deep sorrow learning of his passing.
A spark I will miss seeing.
May he rest in peace and comfort.