Everything is Okay and You're Doing Fine [c]

Rainkit

Rainkit was still a little shaky on his paws, but he’s been released from the medicine cat den and given a clean bill of health. He’s also allowed to leave the nursery on his own, and he’s been taking advantage of that freedom to explore his new home a little more now that his head isn’t a clouded mess.

He watches a beautiful orange leaf flutter down from the trees above them. He reaches over and bats at it half-heartedly, knocking it down to the ground. He starts to wiggle as if he’s going to pounce, before he just sort of sighs and shakes his head. He couldn’t muster up the energy to play, not really. He thought about just going back to the nursery, curling up in a comfortable, mossy corner, and going back to sleep. Maybe when he woke up, things would make sense again.

With a yawn, Rainkit turned to do just that, when he spotted a familiar face. Crimsonflame. He met Crimsonflame when he first arrived. He’d had a few visitors when he was sick, with Birdchaser visiting him every day, but his head was so fuzzy during that time it was hard to remember who visited and when. It surprised him. But Crimsonflame had been so nice to him when he arrived, and while Birdchaser had been answering all his questions, he supposed he couldn’t hurt to ask more of someone else. Besides, Rainkit really did want to get to know the cats here. They had been so kind to take him in.

Taking a breath, Rainpaw walked over cautiously. “Hullo,” He mewed softly, looking up at the much larger warrior. “Are you busy…? Would it be alright if I talked to you for a few minutes?” He was a bit stiff, trying to remember all the manners his mother had been trying to teach him. He didn’t want to offend the cats who had taken him in, or make them change their minds.

Rainkit

Rainkit relaxed when Crimsonflame seemed welcome to the company, taking a seat in front of the big warrior and tucking his tail beneath his paws. He sat stiffly, but he felt a little more relaxed around Crimsonflame then most of the new or semi-new faces around.

"Better. Thank you for asking," Rainkit said. "I've moved out of the medicine den now. I'm in the nursery." And then, a tiny smile appeared on the kit's overly serious face. "I even made a new friend there, I think. Crookedkit. He's really nice and friendly. He's taught me some cool new games. I like the nursery. It's really comfortable."

"How about you? What is... being a warrior like? I mean, what do you do most of the time?" Rainkit asked, looking up at Crimsonflame with eyes that shone bright with curiosity, though he tried to remain stiff and serious.

Rainkit

Rainkit listened to Crimsonflame closely, determined to show that he's a good listener, when something Crimsonflame said caught his attention immediately. Rainkit's ears pricked up and his eyes went wide, though he stayed still and quiet while Crimsonflame finished speaking. "You were a rogue?" Rainkit blurted, unable to keep his excitement inside for much longer. "You were an outsider like me?" Of course, from the sound of it, Crimsonflame lived a very different life to the beginning of Rainkit's. By now Rainkit had learned the difference between a 'kittypet' and a 'rogue', but that didn't change the fact that Rainkit wasn't alone in his experience of an outsider coming in. Someone else probably understood how overwhelming and stressful it could be, as well as how nice it could be. A purr rumbled out of Rainkit's throat, quiet but still making his little body vibrate slightly.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to focus on just one thing, but it's just nice to know. That somebody else is like me." Rainkit smiled brightly at Crimsonflame. "That sounds really nice. Everyone's been really nice since I got here. I didn't know so many cats could live in one place before." Rainkit rambled, the floodgates thrown open and he couldn't quite curb himself. "What are your apprentices like?" He asked curiously. "Is it overwhelming having two at once? It seems like that would be a lot to manage. It's really impressive that you can teach both of them all on your own!" And then, shyer, Rainkit asked, "Do you think I could meet them sometime?"

Rainkit

Rainkit frowned as Crimsonflame described his experience upon joining Skyclan. Rainkit thought that wasn't very nice of the cats that had rejected Crimsonflame at first. It wasn't like the actions of Crimsonflame's father had anything to do with Crimsonflame himself. Or at least, that's the way Rainkit saw it. Maybe things were different here. He was happy that at least Crimsonflame was happier now and had found a home in Skyclan regardless. Privately, Rainkit hoped that his own situation would stay stable.

Rainkit's eyes widened as he focused on Crimsonflame's description of his apprentices. He shook his head in response to the question about Nightbird. "I haven't met him yet, but I hope I do soon. I hope I get to meet all three of them soon. I bet they're great, since you trained them, Mr. Crimsonflame. I didn't know you had kits. Is Asterpaw your only son, or do you have others?"

Rainkit

Rainkit frowned when Crimsonflame spoke about Bristlingkit. He wanted to say something, he could tell that Crimsonflame felt sad at the mention of the kit, but he wasn't sure what to say. He knew what loss felt like, but he didn't know how to help someone else with it. He barely even knew how to deal with it himself. But Crimsonflame changed the subject quickly, and so Rainkit let the subject lie. 

"Oh," Rainkit blinked at the question. "Yeah, I think I am." He smiled a little bit. "Crookedkit says we're gonna be cool apprentices together, so that's very exciting. I'm sure it will be fun." He flicked his ear. "I hope I'm gonna be a good apprentice. I'll try my best." Rainkit's ear twitched. Lingering doubts about weather he could be a good enough warrior, having come to the clan how he did, plagued his mind. Nobody said it, but he could tell how the other cats spoke about Kittypets in particular, even Birdchaser. But Crimsonflame had done it, so that meant it was possible, and Rainkit was not going to let anything or anyone stop him from being the best he could be for this clan. His clan now.

Shaking himself out of those thoughts, Rainkit focused on Crimsonflame's other question. "Mentor?" He repeated dumbly, blinking. "I haven't thought about it yet." The first cat that popped into his mind was, of course, Birdchaser, but he chased the thought away. He wasn't anywhere near special enough to be the deputy's apprentice, even if he liked her a lot. "I think just someone that I know. Like you, which I know you already have two apprentices already, or someone else I know."

Rainkit

Rainkit nodded seriously, feeling warm at the compliment about becoming an amazing apprentice. Silently, he made a vow that he would not let Crimsonflame down. "I'm sure you're right." He said. 

Despite himself and his eagerness to talk to Crimsonflame, Rainkit found himself rapidly growing tired. He hadn't been out of the medicine den very long after all, and he still had a sense of lingering lethargy. Fighting a yawn, Rainkit settled down with his paws tucked under his chest, curling his tail around his side. "Would it be too much trouble if you told me a story, Mr. Crimsonflame?" Rainkit asked softly. "About being a warrior?"

Rainkit

Rainkit settled comfortably with his eyes focused completely on Crimsonflame, listening closely. He was polite and didn't interrupt, but he had big reactions to the things Crimsonflame was telling him. His eyes went wide as Crimsonflame described falling into the river, shuddering at the thought of that. He was glad that the Riverclan deputy had rescued him. Maybe when Rainkit was old enough to attend gatherings and the like, he could met Poppyshine too, or make other friends. It was a marvel thought.

His yellow and blue eyes only grew larger as Crimsonflame talked about Bloodstar. He sounded scary. The whole experience sounded scary. How could someone kill a medicine cat? Didn't the clans need those? It was because of the medicine cats that Rainkit was feeling better at all. Then again, Rainkit couldn't imagine wanting to kill another cat period. He was glad at least that both this murderer and Bloodstar were no longer in the clan, and instead Crimsonflame was able to come back and Briarstar was in charge now. He hadn't really gotten to spend much time with Briarstar, but he knew that if Crimsonflame was still exiled, he likely wouldn't have met him. Which made Rainkit a little sad to think about.

Rainkit smiled a little as Crimsonflame talked about Frostbite. He followed Crimsonflame's gaze to the medicine den and said,"I'd like to meet her." He rested his chin on his paws. "I hope she feels better soon so I can."