[O] Reflections

[GnawingOnIce]

Dogear stood beside the waterfall, letting the mist dampen his fur. His green eyes looked out over the forest, observing the changing colors. The leaves were browning and dying as the seasons changed, some turning a bright red or dull orange. MothClan would have to wait a while until their forest regrew.

His thoughts wondered to his newly born nieces and nephews. He hadn’t checked up on them in a while, Clan duties had caught up with him, especially now with being deputy and MothClan and RootClan with their respective disasters. Apparently Eveningstar was going mad as well, and that was a whole other can of worms. He sighed through his nose and closed his eyes, listening. To the chatter of his Clanmates behind him, to the waterfall, to the rustling of the dying forest. To the croaks of frogs and chirps of crickets as the sun set behind the trees.

His mind wondered to his mother. She was getting old, and he had beckoned her to join the Elders, though she refused. He assumed one of these days she’ll finally retire to their den and have her grandkits listen to her stories. He smiled at the thought.

A lump of fur charged into his hindquarters and he jumped up from where he was sitting with a start. Whirling around, he saw Lilykit sitting with a wide smile on her face, staring up at him. She was incredibly tiny compared to him.

“Lilykit,” he sighed in relief, “it’s just you. You frightened me.”

“Really?!” the kit stumbled to her paws, “I knew I would.” she smirked.

“Sure.” he smiled down at her and put one of his huge paws on her head, ruffling her fur.

“Hey! Mom worked hard on that.” she backed out of his grasp and tried to smooth her fur back down with a pout.

“Oh, I’m sure she can fix it in the morning.” he said. “Where are your siblings? Go bother them.”

Lilykit blew a raspberry at him, then turned begrudgingly and faced the camp, searching for her siblings.

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[beatae]

The orange tabby had crept away from the nursery while he had the chance and quickly found himself unentertained. Too many adults were around and not enough toys to keep him occupied. Lemonkit had a thought of peeping into the medicine den and swiping some honey, but luckily refrained.

Instead he noticed one of his denmates walk out to where the waterfall tumbled down over them and curiously followed. He was suddenly face-to-face with her as she turned back inside, noses almost touching. "Hello!" The hybrid greeted out loudly, unmoving. He pretty much had no boundaries at this age. "Who was that you were talking to?"

[GnawingOnIce]

As Lilykit turned, she found Lemonkit’s nose to hers. She let out a frightened ‘eep!’ and backed into Dogear again.

”Hello! Who was that you were talking to?"

She huffed frustratingly then said to the younger kit, “You frightened me!” she heard Dogear snicker behind her. The gray tortoiseshell she-kit sighed.

“This is Dogear, my uncle. He’s also deputy. And no fun.” she growled.

Lilykit’s words didn’t bother him. How could they? Honeywing’s kits were one of the best things that ever happened to him. The big tom observed the even smaller kit. Must be one of Petaldawn’s, he thought. ”Hello, kit.” he smiled at Lemonkit, hoping he wouldn’t be frightened at his size.

Tags;; beatae
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[beatae]

Unfazed by the she-kits surprised squeak, Lemonkit simply tilted his head. What had her so spooked? It was only him. He hadn't even grown enough yet to be as big, or bigger than her... maybe it was his ears? They could look a bit strange sometimes.

"Did I?" Was his only comment, tail-tip twitching in interest. He found it... slightly amusing at her frustration, but his attention turned to Dogear when she mentioned his status. Oh... he was the Deputy. And no fun? That didn't sound right at all!

His caramelized gaze looked the older tom over before nodding his head. "Hello, Deputy." He responded back with a smirk. "I'm Lemonkit. Though, because I'm so far ahead of my denmates, my brothers and sisters call me Lemonspark." He purred, a toothy grin lifting his expression.

"What's your name?" He asked Lilykit next. "Can I guess? You look like a... Skykit! Or maybe Lavenderkit." The hybrid guessed, though there were a million things a mother could name her kit, Lemonkit was sure one of those was right.

[GnawingOnIce]

Dogear nodded to Lemonkit. Lilykit listened as the kit introduced himself. Lemonkit. It started with an L, just like her name. Lemonkit tried to guess her name but unfortunately both of the guesses were wrong.

”Er, no, my name’s Lilykit! Like those that frogs sit on in the water sometimes.” she told him. ”My mother’s Honeywing, and my litter mates are Alderkit, Flintkit, and Carpkit. They’re all pretty great, if you haven’t met them yet.” The deputy took his chance and carefully tiptoed farther into the camp and to the warriors den to try and find Robinheart, his younger half brother.

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[beatae]

His cocky smile had faltered slightly as she gave him the correction, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, Lilykit is a nice name too. Lemonkit agreed with a nod. "I wouldn't think of what frogs sit on though. I saw Whitepaw come in with Daisypetals once holding these pretty pink flowers, and he told me they were lily flowers." He left out the part of them being used for covering the scent of dead cats during mourning vigils, as he had conveniently forgotten that.

His head tilted slightly at the mention of Honeywing. Huh... Weird he had never met any of her kits before now. Or maybe he just didn't remember. So much of his time was spent with his siblings that outside of their little group seemed irrelevant most the time.

"I've met Honeywing! She's really nice, nicer than some of the other queens..." Lemonkit paused, scuffing his paws. "I want my real mom, and sometimes the queens in the nursery try to act like they are." He mumbled, ears folding back.

[GnawingOnIce]

Lilykit nodded at the mention of lily flowers, ”Yeah, those!” and she perked up when Lemonkit told her he had met Honeywing. However, her ears twitched downward when he told her he wanted his real mother, and that sometimes the other queens tried to act like they were.

At first, she didn’t know what to say. How was she supposed to comfort him? Think, Lilykit, think!

”Well, I’m sure they’re just looking out for you all. They do care about you guys, you know.” For a moment Lilykit felt guilty for having a mother. She quickly banished the thought from her mind and told herself to never think that again.

Tags;; beatae
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[beatae]

Lemonkit wasn't all that aware of her pause, momentarily lost in his own thoughts. He found it strange that he didn't know what Petaldawn looked like... But he assumed just like himself. Large ears, long thin legs, and a bright orange pelt with striking patterns across. Maybe he had her eyes, too. Maybe he could ask someone one day... When he could swallow his pride.

When Lilykit spoke up again, her compassion feeling warm. It was genuine and without a hint of pity. "Yeah..." He frowned, still looking down. Lemonkit felt they cared out of obligation. Some sort of code was that no one was allowed to leave kits to die. They'd be breaking it if they had left him and his siblings, that's only why they cared, right?

The hybrid cleared his throat with a fake cough, looking back up to Lilykit. "Oh, hey where's the deputy?" He pondered aloud, already forgetting Dogears name.