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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2017 23:08:24 GMT -5
Born to live your legacy,
existing just to fill your needs...
Leaving Dawnkit and Eaglekit in the care of their father, she gave her mate specific instructions to help them with their crouches and work on their coordination. They were nearly old enough to begin conditioning for sprints, but if they couldn't keep from tripping over their own paws it wouldn't do much good, and kits their age still tended toward clumsiness. She would see them broken of that tendency sooner rather than later. She cast a suspicious look at her mate, “Don't let me catch you goofing off with them again, Peregrinewing. Nonsense is not going to shape them into great warriors.”
Her mate sighed softly, resigned, and mumbled agreement that was clearly half-hearted. All he wanted to do was have some fun with his kits, but he didn't want Morningfrost yelling at him again.
With a sharp nod, she turned, tail twitching purposefully behind her as she stalked through camp in search of one cat in particular. Spotting his familiar fur near the freshkill pile, her steps drew her toward her son until she had rubbed up against Harestrike's side in a rare show of affection toward her favorite kit, putting on her sweetest voice, “Harestrike, my dear, you're looking well... it's been far too long since you've come to visit your mother in the nursery, I've missed you.”
She gave him a pointed stare through ice blue eyes, “You haven't been avoiding me, have you?” Her tone was light, teasing, in contrast to the seriousness behind her eyes, “We have so much to catch up on.... Come, take a walk with me.” It was not a request. She drew away from him and headed out of camp, not looking back to make sure her son was following. He would follow. Once they were a suitable distance out of camp, she looked over at him sharply, “Tell me. Why hasn't your pretty little mate joined me in the nursery yet? She seems to be spending an awful lot of time with your brother.... Just what exactly are you doing wrong?”
A casualty of this so called family
that you have turned into a travesty. Fawn
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Post by Fawn on Jun 29, 2017 0:35:02 GMT -5
 28 MOONS LIGHTNINGCLAN WARRIOR Harestrike had just laid three rabbits on the fresh kill pile, when a sweet voice made his heart lurch into frantic, hopeful beats. He pivoted neatly, and a joy he seldom felt dared show itself, as Morningfrost greeted him affectionately. Harestrike purred with pride, basking in his mother's praise - the sound faltering only when she gave him a sharp look, and a question no son wanted to hear.
"Of course not, Mother." He quickly reassured her, falling into step obediently at her side, his bulkier frame dwarfing hers - though he did not give off the impression of being in charge. It was clear in their body language who answered to whom. "I have Desertpaw now, so I'm busy." Busy serving the Clan. Busy making you proud. He didn't so much care about Desertpaw's progress as he cared about Morningfrost's approval.
He had to stay on top. He had to be the favorite - how could he settle for second best? A small seed of bitterness and fear planted itself in his heart as he thought of Eaglekit and Dawnkit. Dawnkit wasn't a threat, so he'd heard, but Eaglekit?
That little punk thinks he's gonna grow up to be better than me... and Morningfrost would encourage him.
With the notion that his ranking was going to slip through his claws like water, Harestrike was no longer smiling by the time they left camp. Good thing, too. If he had been, it would've dropped the moment Morningfrost uttered the second question no son wanted to hear.
"I'm not doing anything wrong!" He retorted. Realizing he'd raised his voice, his green eyes alight with passionate defense, quickly checked his tone to something more appropriate. "It's not me, it's her. She's so fussy and spoiled and expects me to do every little thing for her, like she's useless.."
Bet you're going to say I'm not trying hard enough... Harestrike dug the tips of his claws into the grass, trying not to scowl too heavily in her presence. It wouldn't do him any favors if Morningfrost thought he was directing his anger at her. That was the quickest way to a shredded ear. Or Thrushwhisker becoming the new favorite. Drawing himself up tall, Harestrike tried to look her in the eyes, but ended up gazing just past the whiskers on the left side of her muzzle.
"I deserve better than Dovecloud. She's annoying. I think I should get a new mate." You agree, right? He deserved better, right?
Word Count: 411 WordsTags: @zen @shadow (Eaglekit mention!)I CAN'T SLOW DOWN, I WON'T BE WAITING FOR YOU |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2017 2:02:06 GMT -5
Born to live your legacy,
existing just to fill your needs...
His excuse was satisfactory. He had a new apprentice to train, his very first apprentice. It was good that he was dedicated to the young tom's training. A cat with an apprentice was eligible for deputyship, should the opportunity arise, and now Harestrike and his brother would both have that requirement met. When their apprentices earned their warrior names, they would have proven their ability to lead. Apprentices also offered the chance to train followers. Even if her sons never got a chance at deputyship, there was more than one way to gain status in the Clan.
Eyes briefly narrowing to chips of ice, Morningfrost was pleased when Harestrike corrected his tone on his own after insisting that he wasn't doing anything wrong in his relationship with his mate. The slightest disbelieving huff escaped her jaws, but Harestrike pressed on. Her tail flicked dismissively at his excuses. “Harestrike, she's only trying to make sure you're a proper provider. I put your father through my own tests in the early stages of our relationship to make sure he was a proper mate for me. If a she-cat is going to be confined to the nursery caring for some tom's kits for moons on end, she wants to be sure he's going to be able to provide for her and their family.”
She was sure her son was overreacting, and was rather pleased to hear that Dovecloud wasn't going easy on him. It would bode well for their future kits. Her ears flicked back as Harestrike referred to his mate as annoying, claiming he deserved better. “You just don't understand life from the perspective of a she-cat, dear,” she mewed simply, as if Harestrike was nothing more than a kit and trying to explain this particular thing to him was pointless as it was just too far beyond his ability to grasp, “If she can't count on you now, how is she supposed to count on you when she has your kits to care for?”
She paused to look him over appraisingly, cutting in front of him to halt his steps as well. “Harestrike. Surely a little she-cat isn't too much of a challenge for you? Are you telling me you're giving up so easily?” Her voice was sharp with disapproval and she sniffed dismissively, turning away from him, “Well, clearly your brother rises to the challenge rather than shying away from it. That must be why Dovecloud seems to prefer Thrushwhisker.” She tossed a glance back at Harestrike, the chill from her icy gaze creeping into her tone, “I can't say that I blame her.”
A casualty of this so called family
that you have turned into a travesty. Fawn
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Post by Fawn on Jun 29, 2017 17:16:26 GMT -5
28 MOONS LIGHTNINGCLAN WARRIOR Harestrike clamped his jaw shut, the swish-flick of his tail in a steady rhythm behind him the biggest indication that he didn't like what he was hearing. So she put Peregrinewing through the same stuff. So what? I'm a better fighter than father. Why should I have to cater to Dovecloud's every fussy little whim?
“You just don't understand life from the perspective of a she-cat, dear."
It took every ounce of impulse control he had not to roll his eyes. Of course he didn't understand life from the perspective of a she-cat -- especially not one this high maintenance! Don't you care at all if I'm happy with this arrangement? But just as she finished chiding him for being a foolish, narrow-minded tom who just didn't understand, the ice crept into Morningfrost's voice.
Even before her words reached his brain (and, more violently, his heart), Harestrike inwardly shuddered, becoming 3 moons old again - 3 moons old, and standing in front of a cat whose love and acceptance came at great cost. He had to win her favor. Always, or else he'd be nothing more than another Larkfeather.
"I'm not giving up too easily!" He replied hotly, feeling the ice pierce his heart. His temper cooled immediately as Morningfrost turned away from him - withdrawing from his life as if he were nothing more than a pile of old hare bones. His stomach lurched, and panic clawed its way up his throat to settle behind his eyes. No!
"Dovecloud will change her mind," Harestrike insisted, striding forward hastily to stand in front of his mother. Refusing to let her shut him out. He still had some fight left. "Because I'm going to be even better from now on. She'll see that she chose the best, not Thrushwhisker. Dovecloud will join you in the nursery this season, mother. I swear." It was a temporary high, being able to tell Morningfrost exactly what she wanted to hear. He waited, anxious for the approval to reappear in her eyes; it was like watching the night sky to see if the clouds would part to reveal the moonlight again.
His guiding light. The one thing he needed to see by. It was a cold, unfeeling light.
But without it, his world was steeped in darkness, and he didn't know where to place his paws, what to feel, what to do, if she didn't illuminate the right path for him to take.
Word Count: 404 WordsTags: @zen I CAN'T SLOW DOWN, I WON'T BE WAITING FOR YOU |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2017 23:01:03 GMT -5
Born to live your legacy,
existing just to fill your needs...
Her words had the desired effect. Harestrike protested; being compared to his brother, losing to his brother was something she knew Harestrike could not tolerate. She had made sure of it, after all. She had not needed the motivation of a sibling to compete with, she had been the only kit her parents ever had, but when she had her own kits she had found it so very easy to motivate them, pitting them against each other with her affections as the reward.
Morningfrost did not have time for the softhearted nonsense other queens wasted on their kits. She was capable of it, but she detested it. Yet her kits had always clamored for it, much to her displeasure. She had never received such kindness from her own parents unless she had earned it, and so too must her own kits.
Harestrike forced himself in front of her, telling her exactly what she wanted to hear. Her gaze softened in the slightest and she let out a soft purr, reaching forward to rub her cheek against his, “That is good to hear. I knew you were better than that, Harestrike.” She stepped back and purred again, her tone pleasant once more, “I cannot wait to finally meet your kits. I'm sure they will be beautiful and strong, just like you.” He had begun to slip from her favor, but he had secured himself again, for now.
Actions spoke louder than words for Morningfrost. She reserved her judgment for when her son either kept his word, or proved a liar. If Dovecloud did not join her in the nursery this season as he said, she would have to re-evaluate. If Harestrike was not willing to put in the effort for a she-cat like Dovecloud she would have a word with Thrushwhisker about her instead. Dovecloud was a good catch, and if Harestrike was too thick to see it, then perhaps his brother would see sense.
She turned back toward camp, tail waving in the air, “Well, I should get back to Eaglekit and Dawnkit, and you've got an apprentice to train.” She glanced back at him, “I do hope you'll find time to visit me more often, Harestrike. I would love to hear about your progress with your apprentice, and it would do your little siblings some good to see what a fine warrior their brother is.” Hopefully it would help keep them motivated, especially Dawnkit. She waved her tail once more in farewell and trotted back home, satisfied that Harestrike was back on the right path for the time being. Kits did require gentle nudges in the right direction every so often, after all... and sometimes a hardy shove.
A casualty of this so called family
that you have turned into a travesty. Fawn (end thread if you want, unless you feel the desire to post a final response lol)
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