Nevertheless, She Persisted

[Ezi]

Cold.
Dark.
Bad.
Mama stopped.
Bad Red left.
Mama, wake.

Brothers stopped.
Brothers left.
Red made them stop.
Cold.

Roots.
Dark.
Scared.
Scarred.
Help.

*Asterkit is under the roots of a tree, surrounded by her dead family members. She is two weeks old. Her family was killed by a fox 3 hours ago. She managed to be far enough under the roots that the fox was unable to reach her and left.*

[Mama]

Desperate to get food for her clan, Briarfrost had set out on a solo hunting patrol. Of course she didn't know that she was expecting kits of her own, and only assumed that the sweet scent was from something in her nest, as to her every other cat scented of it also. But little did she know the odor was coming from herself, and what she thought was overeating was really... a family of her own.

However, the tiny warrior wanted to prove herself useful to the clan, useful to her mate, and show she didn't lay around. Perkin her ears up, she tasted mouse and crept towards the smell.. before something else hit her nose with a dull metallic scent. It was blood, cat blood, and it was very fresh. Giving a light gulp, the tabby decided to head towards the cats instead, nearing the dead queen and kits with every pawstep.

After a moment or two, Briarfrost peeked her head through the bushes... and her heart almost stopped. "O-oh Starclan.." She murmured, shock going through her body. Shakily approaching the remains, her paws sunk through the snow and made it hard to walk due to her increased weight, but she was more worried about the situation before her then shaking snow from her feet. Glancing towards the mess, she looked for a sign of life, a sign of something.

[Ezi]

Sound.
Mama?

The small Burmese kit let out a tiny meow, shaking from the effort. Shivers rattled her tiny body. She squeaked as hard as she could, hoping to alert her mother that she was here.

Mama?
Mama?
Are you awake?
Wake mama.
I'm here.I'm here now.

The girl squeaked again, and once more, until all the energy was nearly drained from her body.

Cold.
Cold ma.
Come get me.

[Mama]

At the sound of a kitten's crys... Briarfrost's heart practically shattered. As her head snapped towards the noise, she saw a tiny kit buried in some snow, and they seemed to look as if they were frozen. Determining the others were dead, after tasting the fox in the air, the warrior decided to focus on the survivor instead. "Oh, s-sweetie.." The tabby mewed, before picking up the kit and getting them out of the snow. While holding her in the air, Briarfrost started to walk in circles to flatten the snow to make a small crevice. This kit would die if she didn't get warmed quick, and there wasn't any time to waste trying to run back to camp.

Placing her in the center of the ring, the shivering feline quickly curled around her, making sure she wasn't touching the snow. Her own body was cold due to her very short fur, but the part where they had touched was warm and her velvety fur was soft. Using her tongue, the warrior groomed their pelt soothingly, trying to get them to relax a little. Who cared about the cold, about the snow, when there was this kitten who has so quickly stolen her heart.

[Ezi]

     The tiny kitten immediately reacted to the warmth surrounding her, mewling pitiously.
Warmth.
Warmth.
Not mama.
Other warmth.
New Warmth.
Yes please.
     The babe started moving her legs, slowly waving them in a swim-like manner, circling them round and round as she warmed up, continuing to meow. Who was this? Who...was this? Where was mama? Why wasn't mama here? But...but it was still warmth. She was still alive. And she was warmer, much, much warmer.

[Mama]

Briarfrost listened to the mewling, her heart growing more and more sore from the cries. However, it started to warm her up on the inside, towards the cute swimming pattern the kit was doing. Reaching her tongue down, she softly groomed their head, purring lightly. Something inside of her stirred, but she was too busy smothering the kitten with love to notice her own kits stirring inside of her. "What will Wolfclaw think of you..." The warrior murmured after a moment, before giving a light sigh. If there was queens with milk, then they could take care of the kitten.

But something tugged inside, was it her motherly instinct kicking in? This kit had lost so much without knowing it, and she felt that she would fight hundreds of cats, dogs, or any other animal to protect the fuzz-ball. Of course... she was only a warrior and couldn't make up lies to stay with the kitten though.

Or so she thought.

[Ezi]

     The kit settled contently as a warm tongue washed over her head, infusing her with strength, and...kitten hope. Yes, that is the only way it could be described. Young, unaware, yet somehow, hope.

Okay.
New...good.
Good new.
Warm, alive.
Safe?
'sweetie'?
Yes.
Safe.

     The kit's blue eyes peeped open just the tiniest bit, but quickly shut at the bright reflection of light on the snow around the two. She had accepted this new stranger as safety, so was there really a need to open her little, developing eyes and look at them?

[Mama]

After a moment of letting the kit warm up... and to keep herself from staying there forever, the warrior hesitantly got to her paws. Picking up the she-kit in her jaws softly, she pressed her against her chest and between her egs to keep her warm, as Briarfrost started to pad back to camp.

It was hard for her to get there, and her paws continued to sink deeper and deeper into the slush, but after a few moments the Ivyclan cat neared the camp more. What would the clan think, of her not bringing back food but another mouth? W-what if they blamed her for the death?

It didn't matter though. She swore to protect this kit, even if they didn't remain in her possession for long. With a twirl of her tail, she strode into camp with her head tucked around the kitten.

[Ezi]

     The kit let out a surprised squeak as she was moved from her comfortable fur mat and into the swinging jaws of the new scent.

Where?
Fast?
Why?

      Although she had not the slightest idea of why are where she was being moved, the young one decided that she would have to trust this new scent to ensure her survival. It had taken care of her so far, just like mama. Now, she had to make sure that it continued to care for her. The kit became less restless when she was moved into a warm spot as they traveled towards their destination.
      Her little mind, though not in the correct words, pieced together a thought that was something close to: Where the hell am I going?