Post by ladyspectral on Feb 8, 2018 6:57:57 GMT
"Catch this, Dapplekit!"
"Hey, no fair! That was mine!"
"Shut up and catch it, or you're a three legged badger!"
Doeleap watched the trio of kits scatter her moss nest about with a wide smile, tail resting delicately on her paws as she sat back on her haunches. Sure it would send searing aches down her body later when she had to clean their mess, but how could the elder possibly refuse kits? No, she'd put up with any level of grief to watch them play happily.
Her voice rose, croaky and words slow as she spoke up. "Now now, settle down. You came for a story, yes? Lilykit, I believe I recall you pleading me to tell one just a few moments ago, yes? Before Mosskit swatted my bedding at you." She chided with a gentle purr, glancing to the sheepish looking tabby tom kit with a good natured glare. "I think I have a good one, this time."
Lilykit straightened herself up, the fawn she kit rushing over toward the elder while her den mates dragged their large paws dramatically. For a moment as the tiny kitten nuzzled against the elder's side, Doeleap found herself enraptured in the nostalgic bliss of a time long past.
The moment passed, and Doeleap gave Lilykit a gentle lick atop her furry head, between her large ears. "Tell me, now." She began, leaning down. "Have you ever heard of Roseclan? The third clan of the old forests, memory list to time. Their warriors were with Starclan before even Greyears was a kit." She meowed, the trio muttering. Only Lilykit shook her head, eyes wide in curiosity. "They were a brave group, indeed. Some say Rosestar was the most beautiful cat to ever walk the forests, but his claws were as deadly as a dog's fangs. Nice to look at, but pricky when you get up close. He led his clan well, some would say too well even. When he passed, nobody was prepared to take his place. But, that's a story for another day. Perhaps when you come back?"
The tabby she cat cleared her throat. "Anyways, within Roseclan lived a warrior named Thornfang. It's said he could snag a fly from the air with her eyes closed, relying only on his ears to locate the insect. The prey pile was always stacked high, and with the mound of food so did his pride. He boasted of being the best hunter there ever was, claiming to be even better than Starclan themselves. He shunned the stars, believing he no longer needed the advice of his ancestors."
"Thornfang boasted so loudly, a cat with fur as bright as the moon descended. She challenged him at the gathering, catch a red tailed hawk. Then, and only then, he would be granted powers beyond that of any cat before him. He would become akin to Starclan themselves." She meowed, the kits leaning in closer as her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "A challenge Thornfang could never refuse, of course."
"He set out in the morning, seeking this hawk. He watched the beasts circle above and swoop down to snag rabbits from the ground. And that's when he realized his master plan, wait for one to reach the ground and leap upon it's back. Then he could easily dispatch it. However, he failed to account for one thing." She let the silence hang for a moment. One could practically hear a worm burrowing beneath their paws in the silence.
"What did he forget?" Lilykit, as expected, broke the silence. "The hawk didn't want to be hunted, of course." Doeleap replied with a purr. "He landed upon it's back, and as soon as he did the beast flung poor Thornfang off. And as a reward for the warrior's efforts, he earned a deep gash on his side. It's said even the stars themselves laughed as he returned to camp, empty pawed and thoroughly humbled. Never again did he claim to be better than the stars himself."
"What did Rosestar do?" Dapplekit suddenly meowed,"Why did Starclan trick him?" The elder pondered for a moment,"I suppose we all need humbling, sometimes. Some cats more than others. Now, it's getting dark isn't it? Your queens will keep you in the nursery until you're apprentices. Go on, now." With that, the kits scurried off into camp.
Doeleap let out a sigh of relief as the kits left, glancing to the ginger tom that had been awoken by the trio of kits. "You made all of that up." He accused with a roll of his blue eyes as he rolled over. "Every word." Doeleap admitted sheepishly, slowly gathering her nest back together.
"Hey, no fair! That was mine!"
"Shut up and catch it, or you're a three legged badger!"
Doeleap watched the trio of kits scatter her moss nest about with a wide smile, tail resting delicately on her paws as she sat back on her haunches. Sure it would send searing aches down her body later when she had to clean their mess, but how could the elder possibly refuse kits? No, she'd put up with any level of grief to watch them play happily.
Her voice rose, croaky and words slow as she spoke up. "Now now, settle down. You came for a story, yes? Lilykit, I believe I recall you pleading me to tell one just a few moments ago, yes? Before Mosskit swatted my bedding at you." She chided with a gentle purr, glancing to the sheepish looking tabby tom kit with a good natured glare. "I think I have a good one, this time."
Lilykit straightened herself up, the fawn she kit rushing over toward the elder while her den mates dragged their large paws dramatically. For a moment as the tiny kitten nuzzled against the elder's side, Doeleap found herself enraptured in the nostalgic bliss of a time long past.
The moment passed, and Doeleap gave Lilykit a gentle lick atop her furry head, between her large ears. "Tell me, now." She began, leaning down. "Have you ever heard of Roseclan? The third clan of the old forests, memory list to time. Their warriors were with Starclan before even Greyears was a kit." She meowed, the trio muttering. Only Lilykit shook her head, eyes wide in curiosity. "They were a brave group, indeed. Some say Rosestar was the most beautiful cat to ever walk the forests, but his claws were as deadly as a dog's fangs. Nice to look at, but pricky when you get up close. He led his clan well, some would say too well even. When he passed, nobody was prepared to take his place. But, that's a story for another day. Perhaps when you come back?"
The tabby she cat cleared her throat. "Anyways, within Roseclan lived a warrior named Thornfang. It's said he could snag a fly from the air with her eyes closed, relying only on his ears to locate the insect. The prey pile was always stacked high, and with the mound of food so did his pride. He boasted of being the best hunter there ever was, claiming to be even better than Starclan themselves. He shunned the stars, believing he no longer needed the advice of his ancestors."
"Thornfang boasted so loudly, a cat with fur as bright as the moon descended. She challenged him at the gathering, catch a red tailed hawk. Then, and only then, he would be granted powers beyond that of any cat before him. He would become akin to Starclan themselves." She meowed, the kits leaning in closer as her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "A challenge Thornfang could never refuse, of course."
"He set out in the morning, seeking this hawk. He watched the beasts circle above and swoop down to snag rabbits from the ground. And that's when he realized his master plan, wait for one to reach the ground and leap upon it's back. Then he could easily dispatch it. However, he failed to account for one thing." She let the silence hang for a moment. One could practically hear a worm burrowing beneath their paws in the silence.
"What did he forget?" Lilykit, as expected, broke the silence. "The hawk didn't want to be hunted, of course." Doeleap replied with a purr. "He landed upon it's back, and as soon as he did the beast flung poor Thornfang off. And as a reward for the warrior's efforts, he earned a deep gash on his side. It's said even the stars themselves laughed as he returned to camp, empty pawed and thoroughly humbled. Never again did he claim to be better than the stars himself."
"What did Rosestar do?" Dapplekit suddenly meowed,"Why did Starclan trick him?" The elder pondered for a moment,"I suppose we all need humbling, sometimes. Some cats more than others. Now, it's getting dark isn't it? Your queens will keep you in the nursery until you're apprentices. Go on, now." With that, the kits scurried off into camp.
Doeleap let out a sigh of relief as the kits left, glancing to the ginger tom that had been awoken by the trio of kits. "You made all of that up." He accused with a roll of his blue eyes as he rolled over. "Every word." Doeleap admitted sheepishly, slowly gathering her nest back together.
