pafp face the fire — grooming + storytelling

Feb 18, 2023
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don't raise your voice . improve your argument .
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶
“Come on, sweet girl, sit still for yer grandpa.” He muttered, pausin’ to hold the wigglin’ kit between his paws with a loud chortle, helm shakin’ good-naturally at the sight before him — it was somethin’ else, Duskpool would admit with great mirth at the half-groomed molly nestled between hefty paws. “Pretty soon yer gonna be lookin’ like yer grandpa before ya even hit 20 there, kiddo.” Better than nothin’. Ignorin’ the spiky fur stickin’ out, of course.

Duskpool will admit that he ain’t a saint with daily groomin’, lettin’ his fur grow matted after battlin’ to tear out leaves and twigs nestled within obsidian fur. Other times, someone else took pity on the old warrior and helped him pick out the worst of it before it matted.

“How about this, sweet girl—” He began, timbre a low, drawl against the humid air rainin’ down on them this mornin’ and already dreadin’ the afternoon heat. Ain’t gonna let up, are ya? He thought to no one. “Why don’t I tell ya a story while we finish here?” He prompted, reachin’ up with a paw to brush against Ghostkit’s flank, mangled ear swivelin’.

“Recoken I should tell ya the time I went on the Great Journey with the other clans.” He hummed, tone guttural soundin’ beneath the sun’s mornin’ rays, wooly plumage comin’ to sweep forward and curl around his bulky frame sprawled out on his side, tongue raspin’ over Ghostkit’s frame.

Half-heartedly, Duskpool wondered if this specific tale wouldn’t be age-appropriate, but it ain’t like anyone died. However, the obsidian warrior had nearly given up when the tunnels became too narrow, havin’ resigned himself to livin’ in pitch darkness till the hunger pains ( or dehydration ) killed him. “It’d been a normal day walkin’ past towerin’ rocks on either side of us when it came crashin’ down on us.” He recalled, helm cocked at the memory, brows creased while raspin’ a tongue over Ghostkit’s wooly locks. “None of us had the time to think, boltin’ to the sidelines to find cover when the lot of got separated, findin’ ourselves stuck in a maze of tunnels once the dust settled.” He drew on, timbre a low, monotonous rumble, molten hues far away till they peeked down his muzzle at Ghostkit.

/ please wait for @Ghostkit
thought speech
 
Sitting still was not Ghostkit's strength. Obedience and the boundless energy of youth warred within her, and for every minute she kept herself still she squirmed for two.
"But I caaaan't," she whined, twisting her head as a butterfly wandered past her nose. "There's so many things! And I'm missing them!" She sighed tragically, her head flopping down like she often saw Budkit do during a tantrum. Immediately her spirits lifted at her grandpa's words.
"Really? You think so?" She twisted unhelpfully once more to compare her dark pelt to Duskpool's. Her grandfather's face and chest were split roughly down the middle, as though jagged white lightning had cut him through, and their eyes were mismatched as newleaf and leaffall. Maybe I'll get fur just like his when I'm older! Do eyes ever change colour?

Before she could ruin his progress with further impatience, Duskpool offered her a deal. Ghostkit's mossy gaze shone at the prospect of a story.
"Yeah! she squealed, tucking her paws neatly and staring resolutely forward. The butterfly of moments prior circled back and fluttered right over her head, but Ghostkit mastered her twitching muscles. Not today, butterfly. You won't ruin storytime! It was a good one too, a really good one. Duskpool was going to tell her about the Great Journey, when all the clans came together to save the forest from a terrible sickness. Ghostkit's breath slowed to an enthralled whisper.

Duskpool didn't start small either. Boulders grew in the child's mind, mounds of grey rising up and up before cascading down in wretched BANGS and THUDS on scattering warriors. Ghostkit squeaked at the thought, her tiny ears flying back.
"You guys almost got flattened by rocks? And there were tunnels, like what WindClan's got?" The dark-furred kit could hardly imagine that bit. She closed her eyes, wondering if this darkness came close to the shadows of the earth.
"How did you get out? Were you all by yourself?" she mewed, pale eyes flashing wide open.
 

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A maze of tunnels. A rocky prison that had held Figfeather and her group in captivity for several days. They had found little food and certainly not any water. She remembers the darkness driving her to madness and the rough, cold stones depriving her of her senses.

It wasn’t a story Figfeather could look back on and laugh about. It wasn’t a story Figfeather wanted to relive; even to share with kitten ears.

Relived nightmares flash before her eyes. She’s dreamt of herself dying in that cave system so many times… she’s dreamt of cats who hadn’t even made the journey dying within them. Nightmares were senseless and cruel.

As Ghostkit begins to innocently ask her questions Figfeather has to move away to take the conversation out of earshot. She holds nothing against the kitten for her inquires, nor Duskpool for having the bravery to tell the tale. For Figfeather it was still far too dark of a time to revisit, even now after being in the camp’s safe gorse wall for nearly a full turning of the seasons.
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I can groom myself. His voice has been placid, his mottled green and ice eyes narrowed to his 'grandpa', before beginning. Never once since he's been old enough had he let Duskpool touch his fur- or anyone for that matter. His fur remained always pristine unlike most kits or other members, always free of leaves or dirt, and always flowing long against his body. His form would move further from them, making room for himself in a more comfortable position, and away from his loud sister. he seemed to have no interest in their shenanigans, but as Duskpool seemed to have issues with his sibling, and offer a story, his ears subtly would swivel trying to hear better.

No way did the tunnels crumble on them and they make it out alive. That's preposterous. But, he seemed infatuated as Duskpool continued. He never said he was a bad storyteller, but he definitely wouldn't say that he was listening to kit tales aloud.