A Rose and Its Thorn [C]

Fawnpatch

With how much Fawnpatch enjoyed scaring Mistyfalcon with talk of Murkystar or her children, she figured she would actually do as she said. After all, who was going to stop her? The dead mother? The elder that rarely got up from his nest? Batglow could be a problem she dealt with another time. For now, she spotted Rosekit outside of the nursery—a rare moment away from those fretting, overprotective queens—and she took the opportunity. Fawnpatch approached and gave Rosekit a warm smile. “Well hello, little one. How are you doing today?” What would Rosekit be like, she wondered? Could this one be controlled? Oh how she would love to rub that in Mistyfalcon’s face, if Rosekit took to her.

Fawnpatch

Fawnpatch gazed upon Rosekit with pleasant surprise. She was very blunt, which was a bit unfortunate, but it at least meant that Fawnpatch would know exactly what she needed from her. It could be a net positive, perhaps. She had no idea, however, that this kit was going to be one so…mischievous when she approached.

“Certainly,” she replied with a smile. “That stick looks almost as big as you. I do hope you have a plan in how to do this without getting caught. Those warriors will make quite the fuss if they catch you trying to lure ants in.”

Fawnpatch

This is the first section of the paragraph,The energy and spunk that this kit had brought a smile to Fawnpatch’s face. She nodded along to her insistence that she wanted to test Fawnpatch. Obviously this kit didn’t have plan, but she was doing her best to hide it. Fawnpatch could admire that in someone so young.

“Alright,” Fawnpatch purred. “Here’s what we’re going to do.” She leaned in so she could speak softly. “You’re going to go to the warrior’s den and see how many are in there. If there’s more than five, I don’t think this plan will work, but if there’s less, tell them that you smelled fox near the nursery. I’m sure that will work them up into quite a worry, and they’ll all go out to investigate. That will give me time to bring this honey into their den without them noticing. How does that sound?”

With the plan laid out, she added, “I’m Fawnpatch. It is wonderful to participate in this plan with you, Rosekit.”

Fawnpatch

Fawnpatch stayed pressed against the side of the warrior’s den, in the shadows, so she was out of sight. She smiled, pleased at Rosekit’s tearful performance. What a little actress… It usually took a lot of teaching to kits so they understood how to tell white lies to the warriors that they looked up to, but Rosekit already understood—and enjoyed it. Fawnpatch already loved her.

With the warriors hurrying out of the den to go and investigate, Fawnpatch grabbed the stick and darted in before anyone could look back at the den. She dabbed the honey in a few places around the den, especially on the underside of some nests so the ants would end up crawling all over. She dipped a good portion of honey in the area where she knew the deputy slept too, for good measure, and then left the warrior’s den as quickly as she’d entered. After disposing of the stick near the medicine cat’s den, Fawnpatch went to relax in shadowed corner where she kept the nursery in sight. She’d report to Rosekit when the little one approached her, and congratulate her on a job well done too.