So Sudden and New [C]

Willowkit

Perchstar’s kits were growing quickly by the day, and it wasn’t long until Willowkit was grown enough to move about. As a result, she was also able to take in more information, and it did not take much to notice how the RiverClan nursery seemed to be absolutely overflowing.

It felt like Willowkit could not go two steps without falling over some other kit, and that led to her spending as much time outside the nurser as she could manage. It helped that her mother was busy in some capacity. She was the leader of this clan, as Willowkit had come to learn. It made sense. Her mother was perfect, and so it made sense that she would be the most important cat in the clan. That meant less time with them overall, even as they were growing, but again, Willowkit did not mind. She would be independent early on, and that was alright by her.

She sat outside, enjoying the warm sun on her pelt as she lifted her face towards the sky. She wondered when her mother would take her and her siblings to learn to swim. She wondered what it would be like to plunge into water.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a disturbance, a slight shadow behind her eyelids. Willowkit opened her eyes and saw a dark-furred cat that she recognized from the nursery passing by. “You,” she mewed calmly before he could get too far. When she had their attention, she explained, “I don’t know your name, yet we spend hours of the day in the same den. I am Willowkit. Who are you?”

RiverClan • Kit • She/Her • 10 | 30 • #6abcde

Credits: code inspiration - 1 2 | image 1 | image 2 | image 3

Rookkit

Rookkit was walking. They had no destination in mind, nor were they doing anything in particular. Searching for something to entertain themself with, maybe. Larkkit was not available and they were not sure how or how often to approach Sunkit. The nursery had become too cramped, besides. The den was already full, then four more fast-growing kits had to appear. It was no longer a comforting place to rest. It was filled with malaise and bodies and noise.

So, they spent most of their time outside, alone or with their brother. When they were alone, they paced. Or walked, as they were now. Padded around until something deserving of their attention appeared. They’d caught sight of one of Perchstar’s kits as they moved by, but Rookkit lacked a reason to stop for her– until she called out to them.

One paw still lifted, Rookkit paused, slowly angling his head to look back at her. Willowkit. He nodded at that, grateful he wouldn’t need to ask– he hadn’t learned (or bothered to remember) her name, either. Glancing down at his raised paw, debating whether this would be worth it or not, Rookkit eventually settled on placing it down and turning fully towards her. “You are Perchstar’s.” He stated with a slight nod. “And I am Rookkit. I do not know for how long I will be Rookkit… but I am Rookkit.”

Willowkit

Willowkit nodded. Rookkit was plain and to the point, it seemed. She could appreciate that. Too often there were cats cooing over her and her siblings, and it was nice to have someone who spoke on her level, even if the cat before her was rather odd.

She replied, “Perchstar is Mama, yes.” She nodded steadily; it was a known fact. “It is nice to meet you, Rookkit.” At mention of how his name will be different soon, she nodded about that too. “You are larger than my siblings. Mama made mention of older cats in the nursery. Why have you not taken a new name already?” She would take hers the second Mama said that she was ready. Why would other cats not do the same?

RiverClan • Kit • She/Her • 10 | 30 • #6abcde

Credits: code inspiration - 1 2 |  image 1 | image 2 | image 3

Rookkit

Rookkit’s head bobbed in another nod, echoing, “Yes. Nice.” He was still and silent under her assessment of size and age, but both ears twitched back at the question. For another long moment, he just stood and stared at her. “I am not excited for it. So I do not mind it being delayed.” Rookkit mewed as he drew himself into a tight sit, tail wrapping around his paws. He had grown tired of the nursery and was, admittedly, eager to move from it, if for no reason other than the oldest kits were far too big for it. He was less eager to actually, finally move forward.

Giving themself a little ruffle, they remembered the question and went on, “Our Father was captured by twolegs. At Fourtrees, when we were young. I had been waiting for him.” Rookkit’s eyes narrowed briefly to slits. Something was not right about that answer. “No. I am still waiting. We just cannot continue to delay,” they corrected after some thought. “There would be no new name if it was not necessary. But I have relented. And so, we will be moving soon on.”

Willowkit

Willowkit listened and her ears flattened at mention of their missing father. “I am sorry to hear that,” she mewed. “That sounds hard.” She did not know her father, but she imagined it was different if she did and he was taken. She could not imagine what she would do without Mama around. “At least it is only an apprentice name. There is not much change. Mama says that the warrior name is the most important, and perhaps he will return by then. Perhaps you will even find him, with newfound freedom as an apprentice.” She did not know where Twolegs took cats, but maybe they did not go far, and Rookkit’s father only needed help finding his way back.

RiverClan • Kit • She/Her • 10 | 30 • #6abcde

Credits: code inspiration - 1 2 |  image 1 | image 2 | image 3

Rookkit

Rookkit only blinked towards the apology. The silent gesture wasn’t unappreciative, but they had little to say toward it. They had heard the same thing many times already. Her next words made their eyes narrow again. Rookkit’s hackles started to bristle, though the fur would quickly lay flat again the longer Willowkit spoke. The change felt quite large to them, enough so they felt the need to comment on the fact, but the passing annoyance was forgotten quickly.

Willowkit was only the second cat to agree their father would come back. Even Lark had long ago decided he was forever lost. Rookkit sat even taller, ears turning towards her and eyes opening just slightly wider than needed. “Sunkit and I have spoke of the idea.” Their voice was still slow, but it lost the drawling hesitance of talking to someone new. “As my father and his parents failed to return with the rest of our Clanmates, we will be searching for them ourselves once we have received decent training.” Rookkit seemed pleased, tail-tip twitching as they spoke, but near the end of their explanation their gaze drifted towards the nursery.

It was slight, but they deflated when they looked toward their den. Sunkit seemed more like himself since Perchstar’s return, and the arrival of her kits with her. But then… he wasn’t quite like himself. But Rookkit did not want to press… and they had not spent as much of their days together lately. They did not know if that promise would be fulfilled as they spoke of. Rookkit stared, then slowly blinked and turned again towards Willowkit. After a quick shake of their head, they mewed, “It is pleasing to me. That you believe in a positive fate. Few do.”