a bit of an escape [closed]

Though it hadn’t been terribly long since the events of the forests first gathering since Asylum’s downfall, Ivystar and her mates had found themselves adopting yet another kit. The way the SkyClan medicine cat had reacted to Dennis’s lie wouldn’t stop them from taking in any kit in need, that much was certain. With a gentle smile plastered onto her face, she padded toward the nursery where she knew that Yarrowkit would be waiting. Today, they’d be exploring camp for the first time, and potentially meeting new cats that the little kit had never seen before. Ducking through the entrance, she mewed quietly, ”Yarrowkit? It’s time for us to explore camp, if you’re ready, love.” She sat patiently in the entrance, waiting for a response.

Yarrowkit was a bit of a strange one, though no cat had ever thought much of it; he never seemed to properly respond to any attempt at conversation, rather opting for staring wistfully off into space or playing by himself. However, this time he was quick to respond to another cat's presence, having anticipated this day for weeks now- he finally gets to venture outside of the only home he's ever known. Feeling Ivystar's soft padding on the ground coming closer to the nursery, Yarrowkit quickly bounced up onto his paws, turning around to his adoptive mother and mewling with joy. Yarrowkit never seemed to properly speak, no matter how hard the cats in his short life had tried to make him. Following Ivystar's beckoning tail, the kit happily bounded towards her on stubby legs. I finally get to play!

Ivystar dipped her head slightly as Yarrowkit approached, resisting a sigh. She was fairly certain that Yarrowkit was at least somewhat deaf, but that wouldn't stop her from attempting to speak with him. Dennis and herself agreed that it may help him learn to read lips, as well as preparing him for life as a warrior. Ivystar, while she would continue to hope that Yarrowkit might adjust or regain hearing, was perfectly alright with him being deaf- her love for her children was unconditional, and that did not exclude deafness. "Let's go," She meowed, heading straight toward the middle of camp. There were several dens that they could explore- Tinylegs and Carpsplash would be in the elder's den for sure, and Jayshriek might still be sleeping in the warrior's den. There was also the medicine cat den, where Dennis would be, as well as the freshkill pile full of fun scents and sights to see. With a goal in mind, Ivystar flicked an ear and began padding toward the fresh kill pile, watching behind her as Yarrowkit followed along. Once they reached it she lifted several pieces of freshkill and sorted them, with mice in one pile, fish in another, and finally, birds in a third. Yarrowkit would be able to smell each of them and identify what they were by scent, which would surely help him whenever it was time to learn to hunt! Gesturing toward the three piles with a forepaw, Ivystar crouched down and sniffed the pile of mice, looking to Yarrowkit and hoping he'd do the same.

Yarrowkit watched as Ivystar bent down to sniff the first pile, then righted herself and gestured towards it with her nose, having kept an eye on him all the while. His mother, though never giving up in her attempts in proper communication, had begun to discover ways she can truly express herself to her kit; subtle motions with her body, each symbolic of a task or emotion. This specific motion meant that Yarrowkit was to follow her lead, so the white tom moved to sniff the pile. The scent that hit him was overwhelming, clouding his senses with a familiar musky aroma. He recognized this scent- Yarrowkit remembers being fed these once he had grown large enough- but he never did learn what they were called. After a moment, Ivystar prodded gently at Yarrowkit's shoulder with her paw, grabbing the kit's attention. Enraptured, Yarrowkit watched as Ivystar's mouth moved, slow and steady, in attempt to tell him something. Mouse. It took a few seconds for the word to register in Yarrowkit's mind, but he quickly picked up his mother's meaning; what he was smelling was a mouse. Giddy, Yarrowkit attempted to repeat the word, felt his throat catch on the sound, but nothing seemed to come out. Desperate and searching for validation, Yarrowkit looked up just in time to see Ivystar's face fall, just for a second, before returning to it's usual soft expression. Saddened by this change in Ivystar, he brushed his nose against her shoulder as the leader moved to sniff the second pile, starting the process over again. I tried to say it! I really, really did!

Stormbringer padded into the camp, caring her catch for the day. Fish hung from her maw, making her head feel heavy but she didn't mind since it was going to be feeding her clan. Amber eyes sparkled as she noticed one of her mates, and kit over by the pile. She knew the situation with Yarrowkit, and knew that it was something the leader was trying to work on. She bounded over, dropping the fish in the main pile before rubbing up on Ivystar's side, with a purr leaving her throat. After she was determined the leader had enough attention, she turned her attention to Yarrowkit giving the young one an affectionate nuzzle.

"How is he doing?" She asked Ivystar as soon as she straightened up. "Getting the hang of things I assume?"

Ivystar was hopeful for a moment when Yarrowkit tried to repeat the word 'mouse', but she didn't dare show her disappointment when he was unable to. Leaning into the small tom's embrace, she curled her tail around him affectionately and purred. She was just about to begin working on the second pile- the one filled with fish, mostly with silver scales that reflected beautifully in the sunlight- when Stormbringer padded into camp. Her face lit up and had she not been there with Yarrowkit, she may have run up to Stormbringer and tackled her full-force into a cuddle pile. Instead, she just waited patiently until Stormbringer approached and leaned into her, purring deeply. With a sigh, she responded, "He's trying, love. That's what matters, I suppose."

Yarrowkit watches Ivystar and Stormbringer speak amongst themselves, seeing their mouths move, ears twitch, and eyes twinkle, but never catching a single word. His world stayed silent-- even when he strained his ears to catch Ivystar's sigh-- and nothing he could do would change it. He knew there was a world of sound around him, chirping and whistling, but he was just not privy to it. Was he not worthy- did They not see him as worthy? If that was the case, what did he do to deserve this?

He gives up on trying to hear Ivystar and Stormbringer's words, and instead curls into her embrace, odd eyes catching the flight of a small butterfly. The little creature seems unaware, or perhaps uncaring, of the yips and yowls of the kits chasing after it, instead focusing on fluttering on into the brush. Never straying from it's path, never getting distracted; solely focused on what was ahead of it.

'Maybe I don't need to hear,' Yarrowkit thinks, 'Maybe I just need to focus on other things.' For one of the first times in his life, a genuine smile graces the kit's face.

"Trying is all we can ask for." She could understand the anxiety behind wanting Yarrowkit to do well. They just wanted what was best for their kit in the end. Stormbringer adjusted slightly. She made sure to catch Yarrowkit's attention before gesturing with a paw towards the second pile. The gray warrior did the same thing she did as Ivystar, making sure to mouth the word slowly to the kit. While he might not say it, all she hoped for was the spark of recognition in his eyes. To know what it was.

"We will get him there one day Love. I just know it." She told her mate, while keeping her eyes on Yarrowkit.