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S T O R M K I T

It was gone. That realisation alone almost sent tremors passing through the lithe black tom-kit, his whole body suddenly going rigid, amber irises widening with fear, "My feather..." he whimpered, pressing himself against the moss, his eyes focused upon the nest before him. It had been there when he'd awoken, he'd made sure of it, just as he did every morning. StarClan, please forgive me.

Forcing a fake calm to sweep over him, Stormkit sat up taller, his wide amber eyes surveying his surroundings. The den was empty, which was somewhat unusual, but one of his denmates was bound to be about somewhere. Legs quivering a little, the black tom rose to his paws. Someone must have accidentally moved it. Yes, that's what must have happened, he tried to reassure himself, moving purposefully towards the den exit whilst being careful not to step on any mossy nests; he didn't want to risk an even greater amount of bad luck. Losing the blackbird feather had no doubt upset StarClan enough already, he didn't want to push them any further.

His expression read a queer mixture of fear and bitterness. Someone had better not have taken my feather again, it's not funny, it's just plain mean.
Giving a sharp flick of the head, Stormkit paused in the nursery entrance to let his eyes scour the scene before him. The sky was a pale blue and devoid of any rain clouds, the air dry upon the small kit's tongue. Stormkit wrinkled up his nose in disgust, Sunny, dry and no clouds. That can't be a good omen.

Not daring venture further than the dappled shade of the nursery, the black tom stood in a firm stance and ready to challenge whoever might pass about the whereabouts of his feather. His denmates seemed to think it hilarious to take it, they simply didn't understand the importance of this feather. Stormkit clung to his feather like a friend, it was more than a good luck charm, it was there to ensure he didn't stray onto the wrong path and that bad luck steered clear of him. It kept him safe and most of all, it allowed him to breathe easy. Without it, he couldn't help but find his mind reeling with all the possibilities. What if something happens and I don't have my feather? What if I'm attacked by a badger? I might die.

Trembling slightly, Stormkit withdrew into a huddled position, thoroughly unsettled by the many circumstances that could arise if he didn't have his feather. If someone has taken it, he gave a noticeable shudder. It simply didn't bear thinking about.

Tag: @poptart
Word Count: 451
Notes: ---

[Deleted]

    Stormkit was far to kind with his blame, as he had apparently decided to share it equally among his denmates. This was unnecessary as the culprit was none other than his own sister, scandalously she had taken the feather to have a bit of a laugh. Nightkit wasn't a mean spirited she-cat, she just couldn't understand why he clung to the feather as if his life depended on it causing her to be negligent of her brothers feelings. She much too far in to now however, as she had taken his feather sneakily when he wasn't watching, a thing of beauty in itself as it seemed like he was always watching like a hawk. She mused he should be named Hawkfeather a few times, which always gave her a laugh basking in how clever she thought she was. What had made her feel more clever than she ever had this time however was her method of extraction, as she had hidden the feather in her fluff as she walked by him. Black had melded into black and she was clear of his gaze, quickly leaving the nursery to find a place to stash the stolen goods.

    She had looked around, but Treeclans' camp didn't afford any hiding places she approved of; Nightkit knew she was running out of time, getting out with the feather was a miracle but it would only be moments before he noticed that it was missing. She panicked under pressure, yanking the feather out of her fur and dropping it to the floor of the camp before quickly laying on it to cover the evidence of her betrayal. Nightkit knew that her brother would be out to question her at any moment, and started thinking up as many clever lies as she could to explain why she was laying around outside the nursery for no apparent reason.

@littleflower

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S T O R M K I T

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In a very much troubled state of mind, the black tom kit let his eyes sweep the scene before him before amber orbs at last came into contact with another black pelt. Nightkit.
Forcing his legs into movement, the small tom emerged into the light, amber irises wide with fear. He kept sneaking glances up at the sky, an overwhelming fear sweeping over him. A hawk could just pluck me from the ground right now and I have nothing to keep me safe.
That thought only frightened him further and he pressed himself low against the ground, slowly dragging himself to his sister's side.

"Hi... Nightkit," he hesitated, voice tiny, "Have you seen my feather? It's... It's gone missing."
He could help but shoot another glance up at the sky, for a fleeting moment thinking he'd seen a shadow pass over camp.
Eyes passing back over Nightkit, he couldn't help but find it somewhat odd that the black she-kit was sat to still and in such a random place. She was usually always up and about, playing games or causing trouble.
Inclining his head, his eyes narrowed a little, "I thought you'd be playing with the others?"

Did she take it? He regarded her more closely, searching for any tell tale signs of guilt. He didn't want to totally place the blame upon Nightkit, it could just have easily been one of his other denmates, but even so...
Swallowing the lump of fear that had formed in his throat, he sat up a little taller, attempting to look a little more intimidating, "You didn't take it, did you?"
His voice didn't quite turn out as the gruff growl he'd imagined, instead it was more of a squeaky mew. Stormkit sighed inwardly, shrinking back into a crouch.

His eyes returned to the sky sub-consciously. As much as he desperately needed his feather, he wasn't sure if it was safe to stay out here too much longer, not when there was so much that could go wrong. Perhaps he could wait in the Nursery and see if it turned up? His gaze shifted to the Nursery Entrance.
A voice in his head scolded him at the thought, Don't be such a coward, you owe it to StarClan to find this feather, they'll be angry if you don't.

Drinking in a gusty breath, he met Nightkit's gaze, searching for any concealed emotions. Surely, even if she hadn't seen it, she might have some idea as to where it was?

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Tag: @poptart
Word Count: 430
Notes: ---

[Deleted]

    Just as Nightpaw had predicted her brother stumbled out of the nursery and looked positively skittish. She had no idea what was going through his head, and she wondered if she had a clue it would prevent her from terrorizing him. She fought hard to keep a straight face, as a smile wanted to crack her cool exterior. As he spoke, clearly panicked indicated by the volume of words he tossed at her, she remained silent fearing if she didn't let him finish and take her time she would begin to giggle. Exhaling slowly she formulated her response, deciding it was only really worth her time to answer his last question. "Why would I take your feather Stormkit? I have no use for it..." She wasn't sure he actually had a use for it either, but she wasn't going to say that to him... that would be just mean. "Maybe you lost it yourself? Why do you have to blame others?" Apparently not being mean had lasted for an incredibly short amount of time as he had good reason to suspect someone had taken his feather, and she in fact had.


    She hoped her refusal to move and her less than exuberant behavior which was nothing less than out of character didn't give her away. It was a carefully constructed plan that took her a whole moment to think up and perfect, she couldn't afford for it to fall apart now. However in that moment her plan was greatly expanded and revised, if she could get him to leave and search elsewhere she could return to deposit his feather back in his nest. It was the perfect plan, as he would blame himself for not looking harder and he would never learn that she had betrayed him in the most unfair way.

@littleflower

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S T O R M K I T

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"Why would I take your feather, Stormkit? I have no use for it?"
No use for it? The little black tom, were he not so timid due to the absence of his feather, would have rolled his eyes. His denmates often laughed and teased him for his attachment to his blackbird feather, but he knew that, underneath their jeering masks, they were really just jealous of all the fortune and luck it offered him. It certainly explained why they were so prone to taking so often, rather than just to get their kicks out of his reaction.
Even so, letting his eyes flicker tentatively over his sister, he came to the conclusion that his sister hadn't in fact taken it. She seemed far too laid back to be squirreling it away somewhere.

Her next words, however, sent a sudden rush of guilt flaring in his heart, "Maybe you lost it yourself? Why do you have to blame others?
Swallowing nervously, he ducked his head, ears flattened, "Sorry," he mumbled apologetically, amber gaze lingering upon his paws, "I just get... anxious when I don't have my feather," his voice dropped to a slight whimper. Every further heartbeat without his precious feather unsettled him even further and he fought to keep his heart from beating too fast from within his chest.

Amber eyes straying beyond his sister's dark pelt and to the camp around him, he inhaled a gusty breath, legs quivering, "P-Perhaps Mottledkit has seen it?" he stumbled over his words a little, "I definitely didn't take it outside, so if n-no one else has taken it, it must b-be in the N-N-Nursery," he tried to assure himself, letting his gaze fall back down to his sister, "W-Would you be able to h-help me look for it?" he asked hopefully.
They could check the nursery together, or so he hoped, but if it wasn't in there, then she could help him look around camp; someone might have misplaced it accidentally and being without his lucky charm, he didn't fancy his chances wandering about camp alone, he would feel a little more secure if he had his sister at his side.

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Tag: @poptart
Word Count: 361
Notes: ---

[Deleted]

Nightkit felt an odd feeling welling in her chest, and she had to conclude it was guilt. Her brothers state was pitiful and hard to observe, she felt positively awful at that moment for causing such damage even if it was just a simple prank. Weighing her options, Nightkit wasn't sure whether it would hurt him more to reveal she had taken the feather or decline to help him. The first instance would call to light that she had lied to him and convinced him to doubt himself. The second would involve her letting him down when he needed her, refusing to help so she could deposit the feather back in the nursery without being noticed. Both options seemed awful and she had to formulate a new plan, subtle deception had helped her steal the feather and now it would help her put it back. "Go check with the our other denmates, and if they haven't seen it I will help you look for it." It was a solid plan, she didn't need much time to hide the feather in an out of the way place to sell her story. She knew he wasn't going to jump at the idea but she had to pressure him to agree, "Just run and check real quick, then I'll help you. Okay?" She pushed with a pleading note entering her voice. She was certain she would never be taking his feather again, and wouldn't let the others do so if she could help it. Stormkit was strange, and got worked up over the simplest things but he was still her brother.

@littleflower