Hello up There

The lanky golden tom had returned from a partially successful hunt. The pitiful mouse that hung from his jaws seemed a poor reward for his aching pads and the snow clumped in his fur. He gently shook off what he could, but he was wind-ruffled, damp, and absolutely freezing. Tallshadow had a narrow-minded focus on his warm nest. He would offer up his pitiful catch to the freshkill pile and then he would find somewhere slightly dry to curl up and catch up on what little sleep he could manage.

And then a tiny bundle of fur knocked into his leg. A sudden overwhelming wave of affection nearly bowled him over. It was Rapidkit, in all her pouting glory. She was growing fast. The tall warrior gently set his mouse in the snow, and sat down in an attempt to make himself just a little smaller. “I didn’t see you there, little sister.” He purred in a deep rasp. He gently brushed his long golden tail over her curled ear. The kit’s tears made his heart squeeze. He hated that look on her face. “I was taking this mouse to the freshkill pile, but maybe you’d like to try some?” Tallshadow gently nudged the mouse towards her. A peace offering, and hopefully a distraction from her building tears.

Tallshadow cast his amber gaze over the small zig-zagging trails through the snow. Rapidkit had been practicing. He thought he might actually melt at the commitment the kit had, her speed would certainly be an asset to WindClan when she was older.  “You’ll have to forgive me. I didn’t mean to interrupt your training.” He rumbled very seriously, though one large ear twitched in silent amusement. Tallshadow felt a small burst of relief when his sister’s mood lifted. But instead of immediately showing interest in the mouse like he’d expected, the kit seemed more excited about his presence.

She was so small and bright and still vibrant with youth. The lanky warrior felt the foreign, slow-crawl of something close to joy coat his ribs. He loved her so much, so deeply, already the affection surged through his grief-heavy veins. His stubborn heart just kept on welcoming his family, no matter how many times over he lost them.  “Yes, I’m your brother.” He said, softer, like it was something fragile he had to ease out from between his teeth, like admitting it out-loud would only bring ill-luck. But he was, and he loved her with every inch of tall lean frame. He would splash his blood into the dirt for his little sister. He would go to war for her.

Tallshadow nodded, chest still feeling tight with emotion.  “Most WindClan warriors are swift, but the fastest of us can plan and navigate around hazards without breaking stride.” He flicked his long golden tail across her nose.  “It’s all practice, I bet next time no one will be able to slow you down, even if they cross your running zone.” He purred encouragingly. Just when he thought he couldn’t possibly take any more of Rapidkit’s adorable antics her tiny voice spoke up in praise. It was just a mouse, a skinny, snow-dusted mouse, but the tiny she-kit looked at it like it was the finest prize he could have brought her.  

“Yeah, it’s all for you.” He said gently, taken aback at how easily she snuggled right into his fur. Like he didn’t have the ghosts of den kin following him. He wrapped his feathery tail around her. She was so small. Tallshadow stretched his ridiculously long legs out in front of him, settling down to watch over Rapidkit as she crunched away on the mouse. She would be warm and safe and full-fed, snuggled into his short golden pelt. His amber eyes were misted with emotion as he looked out over the snowy landscape. He would get to show her the moors, and the best sunning spot in camp, and the Tallrock, and the closest rabbit warrens. Tallshadow set his jaw in determination. All of his family would make it back to WindClan’s ancestral home, he would pay that price in blood and flesh and even his soul if it meant his sisters and brothers could taste heather on the breeze and feel the moor grass beneath their paws.

Tallshadow glanced down at his sister, eyes softening. “Yes.” He said softly. “So much better than here.” He sighed, rasping his tongue over Rapidkit’s head as he thought about how to answer that. “WindClan has lived on the moor for generations. But the forest was sick, and the two-legs were appearing in our territory. All the prey left, and it was hard to hunt. StarClan gave a message to the medicine cats, about how we needed to leave our camps and let the territories recover, so all the clans journeyed to the southern lake together. We stayed there for a while.”

He didn’t mention just how bad the starvation got, the lives it took before they finally abandoned their homes, or the plague, the horrible suffocating press of death that lingered just out of sight. Close enough to smell, but not quite close enough to pounce. “And right before you were born wolves chased us out again, so now we’re here, going back home.” Tallshadow wouldn’t scare her with those stories, not when they were so fresh and raw. It was better to think of the golden sway of the moorgrass and the sweet scent of heather on the breeze. The way the wind felt when it brought storms, singing a siren-song that begged his paws to chase the gathering clouds.

Her eyes were still so bright, wide and shining with youth. She didn’t need to have shadows cast over them yet. “You’ll like the moors. Lots of room to run. When we get home I’ll take you out to look for wool to line your nest with. Once you’ve had wool in your nest you’ll never want to go without it.”