WindClan: Life Before 2023's Fire

[Moxie Foxy]

Originally Posted by ~CherylBlossom~

Robinwatcher gently picks the kit up in his jaws.

Tinykit sqeaked as he felt himself being held by his scruff and at the swaying squeeled with delight

[MockingRabbit]

Originally Posted by azu-azulu

his tail flicked and he stretched his long legs, standing. his legs were just a tad bit longer than a normal cats, which gave him only two advantages: he could claw from farther away and he was just a bit faster. the set backs though, were that he was easier to knock over, and he was pretty sure a litter of kits could run under him and he wouldnt know. (sorry about the random leg thing, im kinda hyped up on motivation)

//Yeah, I almost typed up a post about my warrior swishing his tail onceXD I'll make the next post in the territory.

[MockingRabbit]

@azu-azulu
Rabbiteye looked over the moor for signs of prey. He scented the damp air.

[versailles]

@jupiter @Alchemist Kitsune

⋗ GLOWPAW; she/they - 4/100

staring at mud-stained paws, the apprentice grumbles quietly under her breath. she can't help but wonder if she looks weird, positioned in the entrance of the apprentices den, just looking down. one ear twitches in acknowledgement at patrols being organized, and the tabby slowly shuffles backwards, back into her respective den. once they hear their mentors name, though, a small part of them feels like they're going to be added along, for sure.

it seems glowpaw's worries were right, stopping mid shuffle when they hear their name called after another warriors. oh. oh no, she thinks, pelt bristling ever so slightly. she's not ready for this! not mentally! i don't want to cause aspenstrike and snowybreeze trouble by not showing up though..and i'd get in trouble for that. but i don't want to cause trouble for fallownose either just 'cause I'm scared..!! she shakes her head and stands, head and gaze both low as she approaches the pair.

the fact that they're going to shadowclan's border does little to soothe her nerves, and if anything, she feels more nervous and honestly a bit terrified. they've heard horror stories about the fellow clan, though the stories had been spared of any gorey details. letting out a sigh, the fluffball stands close to aspenstrike, flashing snowybreeze a quick glance - unsure of how to greet either of them.

[azu-azulu]

Originally Posted by Rabbiteye

@azu-azulu
Rabbiteye looked over the moor for signs of prey. He scented the damp air.

his ears pricked, trying to see if he could hear anything

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

TW: Internalized ableism

~ TWISTEDKIT OF WINDCLAN ~

The warm smile offered by Fireflame made Twistedkit feel a little better. It made her feel encouraged, welcomed. Loved. Despite her sadness, fear, and the rest of her emotional turmoil, the black she-kit felt a flicker of warmth extend through the darkness and ignite her heart. Fireflame loved her so much. Willowsky had never smiled at her like that. That's because she hates me. I hurt her. I hurt my whole family. Twistedkit loved her mother no matter what, but there was a definite difference between the two queens who had raised her. Twistedkit found herself craving that warmth even more - not just from Fireflame, but from Willowsky and anyone else who might love her. But as she watched the smile die from Fireflame's face to be replaced by a shocked, wide-eyed expression, Twistedkit was reminded of why she could never have it. She was bad. Naughty. Vile. A murderer. Weird. Different. Odd-looking. The emptiness opened within her once more, but it was accompanied by endless pain, and the warmth that had appeared with the smile was vanquished as soon as the queen's face changed.

Twistedkit's paws, round despite her jutting ribs and stick-thin legs, trembled with fear after she told Fireflame everything. What would her foster mother say, do, or think? Surely she hates me. Tears pricked the corners of her mismatched eyes. I don't want her to hate me. But she had to explain why she was hiding. She had to make Fireflame understand that she could never be near anyone again. Will she hurt me? Nip me like Mother does... did... when I was naughty? Twistedkit must be the naughtiest, ugliest kit the lilac she-cat had ever laid eyes on. Will she tell Twilightstar and have me thrown out of the Clan? The thought was even more terrifying, and the stench of fear rolled off of the black she-kit in waves. Please don't hurt me. I don't wanna be kicked out. I'll be good, I promise. I'll stay away from everyone until I'm safe.

She never got a chance to speak these excuses because Fireflame's voice stopped her. Twistedkit hadn't even realized she'd squeezed her eyes shut in preparation for whatever the black-patched queen would do, but now she opened them slowly, tentatively. And... Fireflame's voice and eyes were so soft. So gentle. How was she so calm? I just told her how horrible I am. She should hate me. She should want me gone. Yet that didn't seem to be the case. Confusion and conflicting emotions raged within Twistedkit's too-small body as she gazed up at Fireflame. Her foster mother was different from Willowsky in so many ways. One was overflowing with love that she distributed to her kits, even the ones who were not her own, even the naughty murderers. The other was filled with spite and hate. Despite this, Twistedkit loved them both... and as much as she loved Fireflame, she knew Willowsky was right and she didn't deserve any of this.

Don't be hard on yourself. Willowsky may think you're bad, but to me, you're my brave little warrior who is still learning. Twistedkit's heart twanged painfully, and an emotion she couldn't describe rose within her and clogged her throat. She felt choked. The feeling grew stronger as Fireflame kept speaking, and Twistedkit couldn't help more tears welling in her round eyes. The warmth returned in a different way as she figured it out. It was love. The effect of a true mother's love. The kind everyone talked about and said was right. Willowsky had never loved Twistedkit. Twistedkit had known it to be true for so long, but now the fact was sharper and more painful than ever, stabbing through her chest until she found it difficult to breathe. Twistedkit didn't want to leave Fireflame. She wanted Fireflame as a mother, as a cat who could raise her until she was safe again. But... but...

Willowsky didn't love her for a reason. Twistedkit was bad for a reason. It should be Willowsky saying these words to her... right? An image flashed in her mind, of her and her mother playing together in the nursery. Everything was so vivid: Willowsky's short, silky black fur splashed with gray, her blue eyes shining. Silverkit was there, too: Twistedkit had never seen him before, but she'd been told he looked a lot like her father, and although she hadn't seen Palecloud, either, she'd heard enough about what he looked like. Mottled light gray, his pelt various different shades, just like the clouds in the sky. His eyes were green, too. And speaking of Palecloud... he was there! Walking into the nursery, smiling at his kits. In the vision, Twistedkit laughed, and she immediately noticed a difference: her jaw wasn't crooked. She waved her tail and found that she could move it without limitation; it wasn't mangled or broken in any way. And her vision was fuller! She could see out of both eyes. She was perfect. Normal.

Then everything came back.

Twistedkit had known, but she was reminded again. The vision faded to be replaced with Fireflame's loving patched face and warm brown eyes, but now she didn't feel loved. She felt sad and immensely guilty. If she hadn't been born all wrong, all weird and ugly and bad, everything would be alright. Palecloud and Silverkit would be here. Willowsky would be happy. Willowsky would love me. Pain stabbed through the she-kit, and she took a few steps back. The tears had been sucked back into her eyes, but she felt their burn as they tried pushing out again. I'm bad. I'm naughty. I'm a murderer. "I-I'm sorry, Fireflame. I-I love y-you. But I d-don't wanna hurt anybody. I-I'm bad. I'm w-wrong. I wish I c-could make you happy. B-but I c-can't. I have to b-be alone. I c-can't be with anyone. Wh-when I'm an apprentice, things w-will be better." They had to be. Not that that would stop Twistedkit from being ugly and horrible, but at least she wouldn't curse anyone... right?

Feeling her heart break, the malnourished WindClan kit turned away from Fireflame and padded back to her dark, shadowy corner. Her stomach growled in protest; she was quite literally starving. But Twistedkit ignored it and curled up in her messy, dirty nest and closed her eyes. She shook all over, and her heart felt like it was breaking, but she tried to shove it aside. I love Fireflame. I'll be nice to her. I won't hurt her. I just have to stay away. Yet she craved to be curled up against the queen's warm, patched fur with Brightkit by her side, feeling safe and comfortable and protected, her stomach full. That can't happen. Not now. I have to wait. I have to wait...

I hope Fireflame knows how much I love her.

@Little Dakota

[vampy]

. ⋅˚̣-: ✧:– ⭒Bumblekit⭒ –:✧ :-˚̣⋅ .

Uh oh...

The sun was beginning to set, fading gray-blues into oranges and reds. He went out at... what, sunhigh? Time really flew while he was out of camp. Which wasn't a good thing, he had to remind himself. Bumblekit wasn't fond of getting in trouble as was any other kit, but there was no way he could avoid it now.

He groaned to himself. "Ugh... I'd just rather stay out here..."

The kit trodded back to camp despairingly, on-edge hair sharp as a porcupine's with the idea of getting scolded. He would probably cry and get super embarrassed.

Upon bumping into Fallownose, he blurted out, "A- um! I was out e-exploring! I'mreallysorryIhopeyoucanforgiveme!"

[ @NinjaBloss ]

[*longfire*]

Fireflame
she/her

Fireflame had lots of urges coming in and out apparently wanting to love twistedkit and curling up next to her happened to be one of them of course duh the Queen loved all the kits but twistedkit just needed more love unlike what twistedkit said about her and her mother the molly hid all the crying and all that surely willowsky could give some more love poor twistedkit the molly felt sadness reaching up to her throat she gulped it down ignoring it as if it wasn't there the molly had given love kindness and warm welcoming gaze, as tears fell from twistedkits eyes the molly sighed sadly thinking what else she could do but as twistedkit spoke her ears perked and listened oh no no twistedkit is now saying all the sad stuff the molly thought real quick thinking what she could say or do to help twistedkit calm down and not think of sad things and ay such of sad words but it was to late the mollies heart shattered just like that after the final word was said better! better! the molly trembled in her heart as it shattered Twistedkits words stung so much the Queen couldn't talk, as Twistedkit walked off to the shadowy corner laying in the messy nest the molly couldn't believe what her ears still heard better...alone... that isn't good her thoughts bursted around like a kit freaking out just because the mossball was gone a memory blasted into her head remembering scalepaw alone to apprenticeship and now look where it brought him fireflame didn't want that to happen to twistedkit what if she stops making friends oh how the worry frightened the soft gentle Queen the Queen loved twistedkit so much but never said that she loved her, the molly sighed"i-i love you twistedkit" she said loud enough for her to hear then curling up the molly sighed sadly

@TheNyanCatMinecart

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

~ TWISTEDKIT OF WINDCLAN ~

Her tail and jaw were beginning to ache. The cold air and the damp mist made her fur feel wet, but not sodden, as if she'd been rained on and was still in the process of drying off. Twistedkit wiggled her toes and tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling. Unfortunately, despite her wild medium-length fur, she didn't have enough meat on her bones to keep herself warm, and her pelt had begun to thin because she didn't take adequate care of herself. She fluffed her pelt out, looking like a black puffball, her extremely small ears barely poking out. She was... a little more protected, she guessed. Not perfect, but it was the best she had. Twistedkit tried not to take her eyes off of Twilightstar, whose lilac-gray fur blended with the misty gloom and the great gray rock, yet the noble silhouette and glinting green eye provided a beacon. I'm scared. It still felt like every cat was looking at her, judging her, hating her. She'd briefly made eye contact with Cinderspirit, but she'd looked away before she could see the emotion in the fluffy gray cat's eyes. Twistedkit didn't want to. She was too scared that it would be full of loathing and hate.

The eyes kept burning into her pelt. She tried not to shake with fear and nerves of being out of the nursery. Just keep looking at Twilightstar. Just keep looking at Twilightstar... A sudden rough lick to the forehead made Twistedkit squeal and practically jump out of her skin. She was so on edge, she almost fell over, with her mangled tail causing her to lurch to the side, but she caught herself and turned to see who had licked her. It was... Leechscar! Twistedkit remembered him. She'd talked with him and his sister, Dreamlight, back when they'd been apprentices. But why had he licked her? Fireflame did that sometimes to comfort her when she felt sad. A pang of longing for the black-patched queen shook Twistedkit, but she tried not to let it take hold of her as she looked at the massive tabby, whose dark gray fur blended into the mist. He was smiling at her warmly. Like Fireflame. Feeling a little encouraged, she gave a small smile back, made crooked by her jaw, but the older cat was already turning away and vanishing into the mist. Then he was on the Breezerock, and as Twistedkit angled her head, she noticed another cat up there. Fallownose. She hadn't noticed the deputy before; he must've been on her blind side.

Twilightstar spoke, and Twistedkit's extremely small ears pricked. Instantly, her heart fluttered. It's time for me to become an apprentice. And she was going up with another kit... one she hadn't spoken to before. Not that she'd spoken to many cats in a long while. Butterflykit. The she-kit's working eye flitted to a beautiful fluffy white she-cat who looked old enough to be an apprentice already. Twistedkit wondered why she didn't have her name yet. Had something happened to her? Her pounding heart, the rushing of blood in her ears, and the way her body began to tremble with fear distracted her from her leader's light-hearted tone and the warning not to bump her head on the Breezerock like Badgerpaw, something Twistedkit had not witnessed. Here I go. Slowly, shakily, the skinny black she-kit lifted a paw, about to move forward.

Suddenly, another voice - heartbreakingly familiar - called her name. Twistedkit turned. At first, she couldn't see the source because of the mist; then an energetic bundle of tan-and-white fur emerged. It was Brightkit. Her foster sister looked so happy, her brown eyes sparkling, and Twistedkit felt confused. She also felt sad. The last time she'd spoken with Brightkit, she'd been leaving her behind. But she's happy... she's happy for me. The realization made Twistedkit's heart hurt even more. She'd left Brightkit behind because she'd had to. Because she might've hurt her foster sister because she was bad and naughty and cursed and different. The friendly lick made her eyes brim, but she forced back the tears and offered the best lopsided smile she could at Brightkit. Was it possible to feel this sad and happy at the same time? "Th-thank you," Twistedkit mewed. Her voice sounded worse than usual, and her jaw ached; it was not responding well to the cold and wet. But her voice was distinguishable. "Y-you're a great sister. I-I'm sorry for m-making you sad." The memory hurt so, so much. But we can be friends again since I'm becoming an apprentice, her mind cried, but the entire Clan was looking at her, expecting her to move, and the pressure was too much. Twistedkit attempted a messy lick on her foster sister's cheek, then turned away, toward the Breezerock.

She felt more confident now, happier, as she stepped up beside Butterflykit. But that didn't stop her insecurities. The mist mostly hid her, but surely all her Clanmates knew that she looked different. Certainly they could see the silhouette of her freakishly long tail, which bent and broke in all sorts of disturbing ways, haloing her body. But she stayed in place and tried not to look at the faces of her Clanmates. Focus on Twilightstar. Focus on Twilightstar...

@Moonraven @Cinderspirit (for the Cinderspirit mention) @Kat (technically Flutteringkit mention, with the feeling of eyes burning into her; although she's also imagining it with the rest of her Clanmates) @Undertaker @Rabbiteye

[Moxie Foxy]

Tinykit peered out from his little perch by the nursery entrance, then meowed to the cat hopefully closest to him "Waz going on? was all loud noises about? tiz fire?" the blind kit really didn't get the commotion of what was going on, just sit and listened, trying to understand what they could with their ears