Bramble Bushes and the Lessons to Follow {open}

Guest

The sun had fallen into the sky with little protest, night sweeping easily over ShadowClan camp. Cinderkit had steadily grown larger since her birth five moons ago, the prospect of apprenticeship growing ever closer with each passing day. Kithood didn't come easily to the she-cat. She'd refused to do the normal activities that would usually entice a young scrap. Spiders and beetles were left uncrushed, mossballs sitting alone in some solitary corner, with no kit to play with them. Cinderkit only wished to grow stronger, to fight and train, to bring honor to ShadowClan. Her father, Flintstar, was ever diligent, steadfast in his own quiet way. The she-cat had come to understand him over her short amount of moons alive. He didn't demand obedience, nor did he preach in the name of greatness, but Cinderkit made it her duty nevertheless. She'd be the best warrior ShadowClan had ever seen. Not for recognition, not for fame, but simply to fulfill her duty in life. It was criminally simple.

Tonight she sat in front of a bramble bush, thick tail swinging to and fro as she contemplated its thorns. Cinderkit often thought a lot about her surroundings, connecting herself to them in silence. The bush obscured her view from camp, blotting out the dark pine trees on the horizon. She herself was much like the bush. Large, intimidating, thorny. Its only purpose was to guard the cats within, something simple that Cinderkit could do as well. It was direct, straight-forward, and meaningful. She narrowed her hazel eyes, nodding to the bush as if to approve of its existence, and then turned away.

Trailing after her family members was a frequent past time of Gravelkit's. She wasn't the most active of kits, and had a hard time keeping up with her larger siblings. Tinykit was the only one she could even remotely keep up with... but even then she worried about accidentally hurting him, as he was notably smaller than her.

So she followed and watched.

It was more interesting watching what her siblings were up to anyway. They did some funny things most of the time, and they never really seemed to mind much when she did follow them around. Tonight she was following her sister Cinderkit. The much larger she-kit often didn't play much, instead opting to stare at things like inanimate objects, other cats, or into space. Meanwhile Gravel stared at her.

That was normal, right?

At the moment, her sister seemed to be transfixed by a large thorny bush in front of Mothglow's den. Gravelkit, of course, had absolutely no idea what it was that was so interesting about the pointy bush. Nevertheless, she sat not far from Cinderkit, staring blankly at it and waving her tail in a mirrored motion to her big sister. Every so often, she would glance at her sister, wondering when they were going to go stare at something else. Obviously, she got no answer to that question though, and so she continued to stare at the bush. Cinderkit was so cool, Gravelkit must just not understand what sort of cool big sister things were going through her head when staring at this big ol' funky bush friend.

This was 100% normal. Obviously Cinderkit knew what she was doing, so Gravelkit wasn't going to question it.

Movement caught Gravelkit's eye, and she quickly hopped to her feet as Cinderkit turned away, preparing to follow her sister to whichever new stare-able object they were going to be travelling to.

That is, until she tripped over her paws and stumbled face-first into the prickly thornbush they had been so captivated by only moments before. She gasped, squeezing her eyes shut in response to the sharp prickles that immediately lodged themselves into her fur and flesh. Immediately, she began to thrash in response, only serving to get herself ensnared partially in the painful brambles. She didn't scream or cry out, but the racket she was making while rattling the bush around was more than enough to catch someone's attention.

Tinykit has been snooping around camp since sunset trying to find some cats to talk to— for a new story or a new fact or anything new. Everything had gotten so old and boring in camp. Even the games he was allowed to play had gotten old, but he was still too small to play any of the newer, tougher games his siblings had made up.
It’s so unfair! He thought with a huff, lashing his tail from side to side as he stalked through camp. I’m just as old as they are— I can handle it!
As he passed by Mothglow’s den, he was ripped from his thoughts when he heard a sound he’d never heard before. His head wiped around, his heart lifting at the prospect of exploring something new, only for it to immediatly plummet as he caught sight of his sister tangled up in the brambles.
“Gravelkit!” He gasped, bounding over to her aid. He quickly assessed the situation and reached out to press his forepaws against her unensnared side to try and keep her from thrashing. “Stop! Stop moving, you’re making it worse!”

Crowkit stretched out lazily near the nursery, batting at a stray leaf with vague disinterest. The leaf eventually and inevitably reached the limit of entertainment it could provide, and was discarded. Crowkit rolled over and up onto his feet, shaking out his long, dark fur, ready to set off in search of something-- or, hopefully, someone-- more interesting. The little tom was in dire need of some kind of new amusement.

It wasn't long before he found something to occupy his interest. Now, three of his siblings being in the same place wasn't exactly a new, exciting phenomenon-- but one of them being stuck in a bramble? That was new. He immediately approached the group.

"Oh dear!" The kit's voice was slick with concern, but there was a sardonic note buried in its tone, as well. "How'd that happen? Is Gravelkit okay?"

Having just returned from a hunting patrol, Tulipfang would've made her way to the warrior's den to take a power nap if it were for the tiny mewls of kits catching her ears. Looking around, she spotted a group of kits near the edge of camp. Initially, she wouldn't have thought much of their little gathering, but taking another moment observe, and it was evident that some-kit had gotten stuck in the bramble bush.

"Is everyone alright over here?" the white and ginger molly purred as she made her way over to the clowder of kit, keeping her gaze on Gravelkit who was the one who seemed to be stuck. "Tinykit's right, don't move or you'll get more tangled," she mewed, taking a step towards the fuzzy kit to examine the situation and how it would be best to free the kit without ripping all of her fur out.

______________________________________
~ ice ice baby

gym rat ❊ crazy poodle lady ❊ mst

Bramble Bushes and the Lessons to Follow {open} VHQrlk5

Bramble Bushes and the Lessons to Follow {open} 1QYZaRo

Bramble Bushes and the Lessons to Follow {open} Molex311

Number of posts : 1307

Redwolf had been taking a well-deserved break between patrols, and had been cleaning her pelt when Flintstar and Freckleface's kits had come out of the nursery, looking for things to do. She'd kept an eye on the few that had wandered close to Mothglow's den, and smiled as Gravelkit and Cinderkit just stared at the bramble bush that marked the entrance. Before she could blink, things went awry quickly, Gravelkit getting stuck in the bush's sharp thorns, thrashing wildly in a van attempt to escape.

Redwolf popped up to her paws quickly and made her way over to the kits, joining Tulipfang, who had beaten her there. It seemed that Tulipfang was blanking on ideas as for how to help, and she was happy to help. Speaking softly, she murmured to the kit.
"Gravelkit, it's okay, we'll get you out. You just have to calm down and stop moving. We can untangle the brambles from your fur, but you have to hold still."

Guest

As Cinderkit made to pad away from her bush, she noticed a racket that stopped her tracks. The massive she-cat whirled around to find her wayward sister, Gravelkit, stuck in its thorns. The kit's brow furrowed as she made her way back to her sibling, tail lashing in annoyance. "You frog-brain." Cinderkit chided, although her tone was laced with deep concern. "You could've walked around the bush you know. Stop moving!" It wasn't long before most of Flintstar's litter had gathered around their entangled sister, each trying a different tactic to pull her from the brambles. Gravelkit only sat there like a wet mouse. Cinderkit wrinkled her nose in frustration and thought of the most logical solution to their predicament, which excluded the newest additions to their problem. Tulipfang - whom Cinderkit had begrudgingly learned the name of, and Redwolf - who was slightly more familiar in the kit's eyes, made their way over. The large she-cat frowned at the two, her frustrations directed more towards the former, who was actively taking a step towards her sister.

"Stay back!" Cinderkit growled at Tulipfang, shocked at the ferocity in her own voice. Everyone just needed to sit still, and it'd be fine. Why couldn't the group just calm down? Redwolf put words to Cinderkit's frustrations, asking Gravelkit to remain still while they untangled the brambles. Soon Cinderkit's spot of contemplation had become one of frustration and chaos. She brooded in a dark corner, eyes never leaving her sister as she let the others handle the situation. Why couldn't they all behave?

Gravelkit stilled momentarily as Tinykit approached, but her thrashing intensified at the approach of a cat she was far less familiar with. Luckily, Cinderkit's sharp tone and firm words were more than enough to cease Gravelkit's struggles. The kit cringed visibly at her sister's anger, but said nothing. She really didn't want to upset Cinderkit more. So many people were talking to her at once, the poor thing honestly looked overloaded.

______________________________________

^{_{★☆★ Take what you can ★☆★}}

Bramble Bushes and the Lessons to Follow {open} QNTjwT2

Last edited by Holly on Fri 7 Aug 2020 - 16:42; edited 1 time in total

Mothglow was in her den, sorting through herbs as she often did - a convenient excuse to avoid anything of substance, and sort through her oft-wandering thoughts; things like when and how to choose a new apprentice after Eveningpaw's disappearance - when a commotion just outside her workspace caught her attention. Gently nudging the catmint she had been staring blankly at back into its alcove, she went to investigate the cause.

The sight of a kit in the thornbush outside her den was a shock to be sure, but it wasn't all that surprising - she'd maintained for moons that it was a hazard, however quietly she muttered insults to herself as more and more thorns found their way into her fur. More kits surrounded the bush - Flintstar's, she noted as she got a closer look; her nieces and nephews - as well as Tulipfang and Redwolf. She nodded a greeting to her clanmates before fixing her eyes on the kits - Gravelkit, who had found herself so unlucky as to be caught in the thorns, in particular. "Oh dear... That bush is certainly a nuisance, isn't it? Tell me, Gravelkit, what happened here?" A tiny hint of mischief sparked in her eyes, a little bit of humor that might cheer her up. "We might have to rename you as Thornkit, now."

To even joke about her late mother's name felt a little freeing, honestly. A sign that long enough had passed, now that the name could roll off her tongue without tears.

______________________________________

[Only mods are allowed to see this link]
[character pages]
Leopardstar ~ Nightdancer ~ Lightningbreeze ~ Mistflower ~ Scarletflare ~ Mint
ShadowClan ~ ThunderClan ~ SkyClan ~ SkyClan ~ RiverClan ~ Guardian of Twilight
Leader ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Rogue
Tier 5 ~ Tier 5 ~ Tier 3 ~ Tier 3 ~ Tier 1 ~ Tier 1

Crowkit would've been content to just sit back and watch Tinykit try to help Gravelkit out. But the second that some warriors arrived he was up on his feet, ready to be helpful, hoping to impress them.

"Aw, Cinderkit-- you shouldn't be so mean to Gravelkit! We all make mistakes. And you shouldn't yell like that at a warrior, either! They're here to help," He chided, trying to give an impression of responsibility and understanding. He turned his attention to the three older cats who had joined them near the bush. "I want to helpful, too. Is there anything I can do?"

Privately, though he did genuinely feel bad about his sister's predicament, he was rather pleased about everything going on. What had started as just a distraction from his boredom had turned into an opportunity to try and make a good impression.

Relief swept over him as Gravelkit stilled under his paws— that was, until she began wildly thrashing once again as Tulipfang and Redwolf came to see what had happened. He had barely opened his mouth when Cinderkit barked out an order; he flinched at his sister’s tone, and he wiped his head around to make sure it wasn’t directed at himself.
His little tail was already starting to thrash from side to side in frustration. Why couldn’t every cat keep their nose out of his fur? He could handle this by himself— Tinykit was sure of it. At least Gravelkit wouldn’t have gotten so stuck now if it was only Tinykit solving the problem.
”It’s okay, Gravelkit, I’ll get you out,” he mumbled reassuringly to her, pulling his paws back to try and begin to untangle the brambles.

Ears pinned back as Cinderkit snapped at her, Tulipfang turned her gaze towards Redwolf who'd entered the scene and started working to get the kits free. She was going to help, but after Cinderkit's little "comment," she decided that she'd would let the others deal with it.

Turning her amber gaze back to the small, fluffy kit, Tulipfang let out a huff. "Alright, if you say so. But don't start wailing because you denied my help," she chuckled, a hint of playful impudence in her tone. Taking a couple steps forward, the white and ginger warrior stuck out a paw and ever so gently prodded the she-kit backwards so that her puffy tail made contact with the brambles. She loved kits, but not the ones who weren't taught any respect. Of course, that didn't mean she would put a kit into harm's way, but that didn't mean she couldn't give them a taste of their own medicine, to some degree...

______________________________________
~ ice ice baby

gym rat ❊ crazy poodle lady ❊ mst

Bramble Bushes and the Lessons to Follow {open} VHQrlk5

» Brindle Bushes [OPEN]
» Bushes rattle beneath my paws. (Open)
» Little Lessons ((Open to Bear's Group))
» How Can I Lead, If I Only Follow? [OPEN]
» follow the light [windclan's return, open]