grace [closed]

ooc; master of conversation littlekit forgets he was asked a question dsblfs

Being a kit was quite a challenge. With the clan settling into a new home, cats had less time than ever to enjoy pleasantries. Not to mention the illness that still ran rampant through all of the clans. Despite the fact his parents had been both been claimed by the illness, something he seldom considered, Littlekit was as happy and healthy as ever. The only sign left of his previous affliction was his clouded eye and a general inflammation of his sinuses. Nothing impactful.

He'd been working on collecting more pebbles. After sharing with Kitespring, he had decided that it was something that helped. Despite her own sickness, the warrior seemed to have her spirits brightened by them. Little paws were sifting through the dirt when another cat approached. The kit's head lifted with a soft chirp of recognition of his own name. It was Poppyshine! His eyes glowed with admiration.

The clan's deputy was one of the cats he looked up to the most, along with Perchstar. Both of them worked so hard all the time. One day he wanted to work as hard as they did to improve the clan. He beamed up at her before pausing. His features screwed up, growing serious and he meowed back, "Poppyshine. I have to give you something very important." Flicking his tail, he turned away briefly to pick something up gently between his teeth. She was so hardworking and strong that she deserved something. With Littlekit being only a kit, he couldn't hunt or fight like the older cats. So this was his great offering.

"This one is for you! I found it for you." A little pebble was dropped at her feet. It was a small grey oval with smooth sides and a sloped edge. Across the center, a little chip had been carved out of the one side, and little groves like teeth marks had been worked into the one edge. The little offering was no bigger than his pad but he presented it as proudly as the biggest freshkill brought back from a patrol. Standing taller and staring up at her, the little kit eagerly awaited her reaction.

Beaming at the appreciation, the gray and white kit stood straight up with a broad grin across his features. Not only had he succeeded at making another cat happier but it was also the deputy! Of any cat who deserved his finest pebble, it was the hard-working Poppyshine. At the mention of a gift in return, he quickly shook his head back and forth, "I don't need a gift, Poppyshine. I just need you to be happy." His eyes glowed with pride as he looked back down at the pebble like it was the most interesting treasure in the world. Littlekit chirped once more as he glanced back at the deputy, "Just make sure to keep it by your nest and it will help you sleep so well. I am certain of it." He nodded alongside the words, a confirmation of his own hypothesis.

Littlekit ducked his head at her words as his ears heated up. Everything felt warm and fuzzy thanks to her praise. He was happy to give her something that would be meaningful. It was the least he could do while stuck in the nursery. At her question, he tipped his head thoughtfully for a moment. Things had been okay. The general circumstance of illness was simply a part of the daily background of his life at this point, all he had ever known, so he considered other things... likely over thinking such a simple question.

"I've been okay. I like talking to the warriors, like you! But some of them aren't so happy with me interrupting..." He thought of Larkspring's cross expression, "I can't wait to be an apprentice so I can finally leave camp." No cat had ever said too much about his clouded eye. Although it made him a little slower to notice things at times, it hardly impacted him otherwise. Surely that couldn't be why he was still in the nursery. His time would come just like any other cat to be an apprentice. Whenever Perchstar and Poppyshine decided he was ready.

He frowned at the reminder. Every cat warned him to stay away from the illness... it was like an echo in the kit's mind every moment of the day. But Littlekit wasn't afraid of the sickness. All he wanted was to spend time with his clanmates, getting to know them, playing, listening to stories. It seemed like a far distant dream. Every interaction he'd had was measured, separate. At times, the kit felt like he was the one with a disease. Sighing, he asked, "Will the sickness ever go away, Poppyshine? I want it to go away."

Her reassuring promise caused his features to brighten. If Poppyshine believed it, then he should too! Littlekit's expression brightened, his green eye shining with more determination than a moment earlier. A meow calling his name came from the nursery and his ear twitched, "I have to go, Poppyshine. Don't forget to keep that by your nest!" The tom-kit started to turn away, ready to dash off but paused, "Thank you."