Twisted tails OPEN

[gingersnapsdacat]

The old tabby was sitting outside of the elders den, grooming his paw, which twisted awkwardly to face him. Slowly, he wiggled forward until he had the space to stretch, feeling his spine popping. The leaf-bare weather made him feel even stiffer than usual, but it was nothing that he could not handle.  After all, compared to the other elder, Greyears, he was practically a kitten. 

[KingHarry]

Despite his lack of sight, Milkkit was old enough now that he could navigate the clan camp without many issues - though he did still find himself tripping up, bumping into another cat, or getting lost from time to time. Today was one of those days. Somehow, he'd wandered out of the nursery and ended up... Well, Milkkit didn't know exactly where he was.

The white kitten continued walking forwards until, suddenly, he walked straight into another cat. Huh? Who was that? "S-Sorry." Milkkit muttered, stepping back again before moving forwards once more - gentle this time, and stopping once his head rested against the other just so he could be grounded in his location. "Who- Which part of camp is this?"

[gingersnapsdacat]

Twistedbranch let out a small growl as he felt something run into him. Glancing down, he saw the small face of a kit, whose eyes never seemed to focus. For a moment, the elder chose only to watch the kitten, his eyes never leaving the young cat. He allowed the kitten to re-rientate himself, then answered the question.
"You, little kitten, have wandered close to the den of the most fearsome cats, the elders."


KingHarry

[KingHarry]

The elders den? Oh no! Immediately, Milkkit began cowering. "Don't let- Don't let Greyears shout at me." He mumbled, pressing into whoever he'd bumped into. It definitely didn't sound like Greyears, and it couldn't be Snowpelt, so that made the cat, uh... Twistedbranch? Milkkit had never been the best at names, but he was pretty sure that was right.

"I didn't- I don't want to bother you - I promise! I just... Just a bit lost." It was embarrassing to admit it but the truth was the truth. Anyway, it wasn't like this was the first time he had got lost either, was it? That was the problem with being blind; it meant that it was pretty hard for him to find his way.

[gingersnapsdacat]

Twistedbranch watched the flustered kit curiously. Then, deciding to take the slightest amount of pity on the young cat, he spoke again. 
"Well, I suppose that you will be let off easy this time. I imagine that Greyears has something better to do than scold a wayward kit. And as for getting lost, I suppose that is understandable."

[KingHarry]

Silence fell as Milkkit considered what Twistedbranch had just said. Was he... Was he suggesting that he couldn't find his way at all? Because he was blind? The little kit's fear and confusion quickly turned into anger. He was calling him useless! That wasn't true!

Except... Maybe it was? 

No! No, Milkkit couldn't let himself think like that! He let out a small hiss - both in volume and length - as he headbutted the elder he was using as support. "I'm not useless." He insisted, very much lying to himself in his mind. "I rarely get lost!"

[gingersnapsdacat]

The larger cat tried to hide his surprise at the outburst of the young kit. He felt the fierce nudge against his side, followed by the annoyed mewing. Silently, he rolled his eyes, then allowed himself to impart some 'elder wisdom' on the distressed kit. 
"I do not see how uselessness plays into this. You are only useless if you allow yourself to be."
Twistedbranch glanced at his own foreleg, which had been twisted inwards since birth. Then, he looked back to the kitten, hoping what he said would have effect.
"You will make mistakes. StarClan...If I had a mouse for everytime I `tripped over my own paw, I would hardly fit in my den."
KingHarry

[KingHarry]

"Yeah, well, I don't trip over." Milkit insisted, headbutting Twistedbranch once more. That was definitely a lie. Everyone in the camp had probably seen him trip and fall at least once - especially when he was younger and hadn't quite mastered being able to walk while blind yet. Some could argue that he still hadn't mastered it, in fact.

"And I'm not useless either. I can, uh... I can do lots of things, okay! And I can fight too, so don't make me attack you!" In reality, Milkkit couldn't fight at all. He scrapped with his siblings a little sometimes - every kit did - but, unfortunately for him, he never came out on top.

[gingersnapsdacat]

Twistedbranch shook his head at the kitten's indignation. Clearly, Milkkit was not up to hearing his 'wisdom' at the moment. He knew for a fact that the young cat did trip occasionally, but that was not important right now. Currently, he needed to deal with the 'threat' of the kit's attack. 
"Yes, I am sure that you could claw my ears off. However, you would have to reach them first."
He drew himself up slightly, showing the hight difference.
"Come at me you pinecone."
KingHarry

[KingHarry]

"I'm not a pinecone!" Milkkit yowled angrily. He wasn't! Why was Twistedbranch saying such a thing, huh? Nobody had ever said he looked like a pinecone so that couldn't be the reason why, right? Not that Milkkit knew what a pinecone looked like. He didn't even know what he looked like himself! Olivenose said he was white, but what was that? Something cold, he thought, because she had said snow was white too. 

The kit let out an angry meow again before throwing himself forwards and, rather clumsily, digging his little teeth into the elder's leg. Take that, Twistedbranch!