Daisy Chains

"Daisykit. Time to awaken love." came a soft voice as its owner looked over at a bundle of fur by her side. It had been moons when Birdflight had slept last slept in the nursery. Not too long ago, the nursery had been fixed up with the rest of the camp. The flood had done damage but they managed to clean the mess. It was honest work.

The calico she-cat had recently given birth to a tom-kit who was as healthy as can be. He was now old enough to leave the nursery and enjoy the whole camp. Despite how happy she felt, her heart still ached for the loss of her daughter Mothpaw. Her brother Wasppaw had informed the she-cat that Mothpaw had sadly drowned during the flood. Birdflight continued to mourn her even now, despite her tears having dried up. The ache wasn't going to leave her for moons. Wasppaw seemed to be equally distraught. However, she wan't going to project her emotions onto Daisykit. This was probably Starclan giving the distressed mother decent comfort and peace. She also still had other family left. They alleviated her pain. She was thankful for each and every one of them. She was also thankful for her clan's safe return. The flood had been one event the she-cat never wanted to experience ever again.

In many ways, Daisykit was a fortunate little kitten. To name one, he had his mother, when many other cats had lost their family to the water; to name another, he had no memory of the flood that had very nearly destroyed all five Clans in a matter of days. The nursery was clean, warm, and safe enough that he didn’t want to leave the soft, comfortable moss that made up its floor for the colder world outside. Lastly (and very, very importantly), ThunderClan had squirrels and mice, and Daisykit was old enough to know just what a great thing that was. All in all, his life had been good.

At the sound of his mother’s voice, he uncurled, stretching out his long tail, and mumbled, ”Do I have to?” without sitting up. There was no point in arguing; he'd gone from asleep to wide awake in an instant, as he usually did. He'd proven himself to be a surprisingly light sleeper. In a clearer voice, Daisykit mewed, "Are we doing something today?" His expression, as he rolled over enough to meet Birdflight's eyes, held equal amounts of excitement and apprehension on the off chance the answer was "yes."

"We are certainly doing something today!" The she-cat sat up and nudged her kit onto his paws. "Would you like to go out and see the camp? You're old enough to do so." Birdflight gave him a reassuring smile as she awaited his response. She could sense that he was excited to be doing something but she needed to know if he was okay with going out of the nursery. This was generally a time where kits developed and learned the most. If he wasn't quite ready to see and learn new things, she wasn't going to force him. Daisykit needs to be comfortable with his surroundings and with other cats.

As Birdflight urged him to stand, Daisykit gave a small mew of protest but otherwise went without resistance. He weighed his mother’s question with the grave air of a leader choosing whether or not to go to war, pitting the prospect of getting to see the camp he’d lived beside at last against remaining in the nursery’s solid security for one more sunrise. He knew he’d have to leave sometime… Could he still get an apprentice name if he never left? What if he got stuck in the nursery forever? No training, no warriorhood—he'd be the oldest kit in the whole forest!

That settled it. Today was the day. ”Okay,” he said slowly, nodding, ”as long as you’re there too.” He couldn’t explain why, but if he was going to poke his kit-sized nose into an entirely new world, he wanted a piece of the old one beside him. With that, Daisykit took a few steps toward the nursery's entrance, then turned around to make sure Birdflight was following.

Birdflight gave her son a patient and warm smile before fully standing up. She stretched slightly before turning to look at Daisykit once more. She nodded and proceeded to walk out of the nursery but making sure that the kit was close by.

"What do you think? It's much bigger than the nursery but a busier. Is there any place that catches your eye first?" Birdflight couldn't keep the fondness out of her voice. She remembered when she was first introduced to the outside world. All she wanted to do was see everything. She changed quite a bit since then. She would be there for her kits for as long as they needed her. All she wants is their comfort and security.