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Ripples
Aug 15, 2014 0:38:21 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 0:38:21 GMT -5
r i p p l e t a i l warrior, rainclan A slender grey and white cat emerged from the treeline, her intent being the burbling stream a few fox-lengths away. She padded to the water's edge quietly, settling down in a sandy patch of shoreline positioned just so that her shadow wouldn't disturb the waters below. Blue eyes followed the life under the surface of the stream, watching fish dart back and forth within their own communities. She watched river grasses create a hazy shade where tadpoles kept shelter. She saw fish hide under rocks and wait for their next meal. She saw the little nuances of aquatic life teem below her very eyes.
And she was happy. If only for a moment. Rippletail found peace in the waters that made up her home. She loved looking at it. She loved hearing it. She loved swimming in it, fishing in it, feeling it... If Rookfrost were to open her up, he'd see that water flowed in her veins and her bones were covered in scales. She loved the water so much. In the water, she saw her own reflection and used it as a time to think. She would examine her outer self. Smooth a bit of fur here, bite out a tangle there, clean some whiskers. Keep a nice appearance. But sometimes, she knew, inwards maintenance was just as important.
OOC Note: This thread is going to be Rippletail reflecting on her life. For any post following this, assume it is all a flashback. They will be in no particular order, but the header to the post will identify the period of her life based on her name/rank. Prepare yourself for the feels. You've been warned.
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Ripples
Sept 15, 2014 20:53:02 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2014 20:53:02 GMT -5
r i p p l e k i t kit, rainclan
The low fog rolling over camp did nothing to dampen the livelihood coming from a certain den in RainClan camp. “Go play!” The command, issued from this same den, sent three bundles of fur streaking out of the den, one close behind. The bundles stopped suddenly, and the fourth tumbled into its companions, sending them all flying into a puddle and mewling with laughter. A fifth scrap of fur exited the den, walking along the edge of the camp and avoiding the playing group. It disappeared into the elder’s den, leaving the other kits to play.
The fourth kit watched the loner sadly, but turned back to play with his brother and sisters.
“I’m so glad they’re finally out of our fur,” Dustbelly mewed, cleaning her head quietly. Leafstripe nodded her agreement.
“You wouldn’t expect it, but Ripplekit is such a pain sometimes! She tells me your kits are teasing her, but your four are such stars! I can’t imagine them being so mean.”
“You’re lucky you got one kit out of your litter, though,” the other queen reminded her.
“Yes, but if Ripplekit hadn’t gotten stuck, my other two would have survived…” Leafstripe trailed off quietly, licking her stomach briefly before turning to a lighter conversation. The two queens shared tongues and gossiped, enjoying the quiet nursery for once.
Outside, Pebblekit, Tumblekit, Ashkit, and Fishkit played, tumbling and jumping over each other with delighted squeals. They batted at each other, pounced on balls of moss, and basically brutalized each other. Pebblekit proclaimed herself the leader of PebbleClan and led her trusty deputy, Ashkit, on an attack against Tumblekit and Fishkit. The two sides launched themselves at each other, ending with Pebblekit on top of Tumblekit and Fishkit on top of Ashkit. Calling a truce, the kittens went over to the fresh kill pile, grabbed a fish to share, and took it back to the entrance of the nursery to eat.
The elder’s den was much quieter than the playground of the other litter. Ripplekit listened attentively as Snowstream and Grasswind recounted the story of how the Clans came to live in the valley. It was one of the kit’s favorite stories. Hearing about how the Clans worked together to survive… She couldn’t imagine relying on cats from NightClan or TreeClan. They were all so different from each other! And yet, these cats pushed aside what made them different and came together to survive.
It was more than she could say about Dustbelly’s litter. Those kits didn’t like her, and she didn’t know why! But Pebblekit was always causing trouble for her, and she didn’t like it. So she retreated to the elder’s den -- a lot -- and enjoyed the company of two cats who didn’t look at her like some two-headed freak. She listened to Grasswind finish the story and purred a squeaky kitten purr, relishing in the safety of the valley.
And so life in the RainClan nursery continued day in and day out, Dustbelly’s litter playing and Leafstripe’s kit listening to stories. One day, a rainstorm left the camp dripping just as quickly as it had blew in. While Pebblekit, Tumblekit, Ashkit, and Fishkit hid in the nursery from the water, Ripplekit sought solace from her bullies by leaving the den. Settling outside the nursery, she sat on a relatively dry patch of ground. A steady drizzle of rain surrounded her, and she watched as a puddle slowly filled a hollow near her paws.
Drip… drip… drip…
The steadiness of the rain creating ripples on the puddle lulled her into a drowsy state. She felt comfortable here, surrounded by water, cool air, and silence. A warrior patrol leaving camp piqued her interest, but soon enough the silence had returned to RainClan camp and left her feeling relaxed.
“Aren’t you getting all wet out here?”
Startled out of her dreamy consciousness by a kitten voice, Ripplekit stumbled into the puddle she had been watching and turned around, dripping. Noticing it was one of Dustbelly’s kits, she turned again and prepared to race into the elder’s den and hide, but the look on his face and a tail raised in friendliness stopped her, if only for a brief second.
When Fishkit noticed her hesitation, he purred encouragingly. “I’m just trying to be your friend! That’s all.”
The silver tabby’s eyes narrowed as she examined Fishkit. How do I know he’s not lying? she asked herself. Under her unabashed stare, he shifted uncomfortably and pawed at the ground.
“I’m really sorry about what my brother and sisters say about you. I don’t believe a word of it!”
His bold declaration snapped her gaze to meet his own.
“If you don’t believe it, why do you let it happen?” Her quiet voice met his assertion with a pointed question of her own. Fishkit shifted once again, caught in a situation that seemed far too complicated for a kit.
“I don’t know,” he finally admitted, his mew even quieter than her own. Then, determination filled his eyes as he steadied himself. “But I’m tired of them being mean to you! My brother and sisters just say things because our mommy does, too. But I won’t say anything anymore! I’ll be your friend.”
"How do I know you're not pretending?" Her whiskers twitched erratically, betraying the emotion boiling inside her. "Why are you being nice to me?"
“Because you need me.”
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