- Feb 14, 2023
- 451
- 96
- 28
THE SOUND THAT LEADS ME HOME AGAIN
OOC- Once again this takes place in twoleg place but is being posted here for Skyclans ease of access-- just in case anyone wants to follow along! :) @crashkit @DASHKIT. @Quailkit @Fidgetkit @Marquette
Johnny wouldn't necessarily say he was 'in over his head'-- his head was perfectly above water, thank you very much– but the collared tomcat was definitely being kept busy.
Stars help me, if you knock another cup off that table–!" he warned, cutting himself off as he caught sight of his other daughter getting ready to gnaw on one of her siblings. "Quail, what did I tell ya about using living things as chewtoys?" he sighed, padding over to drop a squeaky mouse next to her instead.
If he'd thought he was going to be spending his days moping about missing the clan, he'd been laughably mistaken. Sure, he thought of them every day, but the second his kits found their feet they had him running in circles after them, not leaving much time during the days for being sad. Mischievous little things they were, but he could hardly blame them when he knew he was largely to blame for that streak. Besides, he didn't dislike it. It was fun watching them explore and discover the world, even if that world was confined to his twolegs nest for now. And his twolegs adored them all as well, spoiling them rotten just like they had Johnny.
It worried him a little, if he was honest. The plan had never been to have them here, and his concerns about them preferring the soft life of a fulltime kittypet were very real. Going from the warmth and safety of his twolegs nest to the cold, hungry forest that Skyclan was currently dwelling in would be jarring, and it could very well paint the clan to be a 'bad' place to his children. What if they thought it was too much? What if they decided they hated it?
How could he ever look at Silversmoke again if their kits chose to return to twolegplace to pursue lives there instead of the forest?
It was a terrifying thought to Johnny, who had only ever really considered it once the kits were born into the safety and warmth of his twolegs den, sick with the knowledge that the blame would be entirely his own for exposing them to his lifestyle in the first place. Because if Silversmoke had chosen a full warrior as his mate, the spotted tom would never have to worry about his kids longing for a world they didn't know.
So he did his best to prepare them for it. He'd been telling them stories of the forest and it's cats since before they were even old enough to understand him, the names 'Orangestar' and 'Doeblaze', Duskpool' and 'Chickbloom'-- along with so many others– commonly spoken or referred to in his household. He told them about kits growing into brave, strong warriors who protected their clan, of Sangria and Flora and the other daylight warriors. He told them of the ceremonies and of Starclan, of a leaders nine lives and a medicine cats ability to speak to the stars.
He told them of the thrill of catching your first piece of prey and of sitting beneath the full moon on the night of a gathering, when all the clans would come together at Fourtrees to share news under a truce.
Told them of their father, and what an amazing cat he was, and how he was so excited to finally meet them when they were finally old enough to go visit. That their sire would adore them just as much as their dam did.
It wasn't just the good things he shared with them, though. That would be dishonest, and more importantly it wouldn't be preparing the kits for the reality of things. The forest could be dangerous just as much as it could be beautiful, and he did his best to balance both sides in a manner that was acceptable for young ears. He'd told them stories of fighting off foxes and breaking stolen cats out of the shelter. Of warriors valiantly defending their homes from rogues. Of cats from all the clans banding together to journey to faraway lands in search of life-saving herbs. He told them of how lucky Daylight Warriors like himself were to be able to come to their twolegs nest on cold nights like this, while their clanmates bravely endured the harsh seasons, rain or shine.
How it was important that every cat, regardless of origin, did their part to take care of each other. Skyclan would be their home just as much as this place was, after all, it's cats their spiritual kin.
"These days I'd swear you little ones are constantly bouncing off the walls..." he chided, but with a clear note of fondness in his voice as he regarded his litter thoughtfully. They were just about three moons now… Stars, had it really been that long? Somehow, it felt both shorter and longer, and he felt a twist of anxiety as he remembered how he'd left the group.
Who had been lost while he was away? Which faces would he return to find gone, forever?
"I think maybe tomorrow… How would you scraps of fur like to take that trip I've been telling you about? You can see Skyclan for yourself, and finally meet your Father."
It was posed as a question, but in his heart he knew it wasn't one. His kits were eating solid food now and were about halfway to becoming apprentices themselves. And the more Johnny watched them as the days ticked by, the stronger and stronger they were getting.
His paws itched to return to the pine forest.
Sunny eyes shifted to Fidget, watching the youngest of his litter for just a moment. They were the only exception to the group, far smaller and more fragile than the others. Johnny had always been a little protective of him for it, happy to encourage them in just about anything they did, but always quick to step in if play got too rough or the games too bold– he'd gotten quite the shock when he'd found them trying to scale the christmas tree one day on a challenge of who could climb highest.
"When I was last there they had a nursery full of kits, too. Maybe you'll make some friends while we're there." he added, his smile encouraging. He would have to stay up tonight to watch for Flora's return, but he was sure he could arrange it…
Johnny wouldn't necessarily say he was 'in over his head'-- his head was perfectly above water, thank you very much– but the collared tomcat was definitely being kept busy.
Stars help me, if you knock another cup off that table–!" he warned, cutting himself off as he caught sight of his other daughter getting ready to gnaw on one of her siblings. "Quail, what did I tell ya about using living things as chewtoys?" he sighed, padding over to drop a squeaky mouse next to her instead.
If he'd thought he was going to be spending his days moping about missing the clan, he'd been laughably mistaken. Sure, he thought of them every day, but the second his kits found their feet they had him running in circles after them, not leaving much time during the days for being sad. Mischievous little things they were, but he could hardly blame them when he knew he was largely to blame for that streak. Besides, he didn't dislike it. It was fun watching them explore and discover the world, even if that world was confined to his twolegs nest for now. And his twolegs adored them all as well, spoiling them rotten just like they had Johnny.
It worried him a little, if he was honest. The plan had never been to have them here, and his concerns about them preferring the soft life of a fulltime kittypet were very real. Going from the warmth and safety of his twolegs nest to the cold, hungry forest that Skyclan was currently dwelling in would be jarring, and it could very well paint the clan to be a 'bad' place to his children. What if they thought it was too much? What if they decided they hated it?
How could he ever look at Silversmoke again if their kits chose to return to twolegplace to pursue lives there instead of the forest?
It was a terrifying thought to Johnny, who had only ever really considered it once the kits were born into the safety and warmth of his twolegs den, sick with the knowledge that the blame would be entirely his own for exposing them to his lifestyle in the first place. Because if Silversmoke had chosen a full warrior as his mate, the spotted tom would never have to worry about his kids longing for a world they didn't know.
So he did his best to prepare them for it. He'd been telling them stories of the forest and it's cats since before they were even old enough to understand him, the names 'Orangestar' and 'Doeblaze', Duskpool' and 'Chickbloom'-- along with so many others– commonly spoken or referred to in his household. He told them about kits growing into brave, strong warriors who protected their clan, of Sangria and Flora and the other daylight warriors. He told them of the ceremonies and of Starclan, of a leaders nine lives and a medicine cats ability to speak to the stars.
He told them of the thrill of catching your first piece of prey and of sitting beneath the full moon on the night of a gathering, when all the clans would come together at Fourtrees to share news under a truce.
Told them of their father, and what an amazing cat he was, and how he was so excited to finally meet them when they were finally old enough to go visit. That their sire would adore them just as much as their dam did.
It wasn't just the good things he shared with them, though. That would be dishonest, and more importantly it wouldn't be preparing the kits for the reality of things. The forest could be dangerous just as much as it could be beautiful, and he did his best to balance both sides in a manner that was acceptable for young ears. He'd told them stories of fighting off foxes and breaking stolen cats out of the shelter. Of warriors valiantly defending their homes from rogues. Of cats from all the clans banding together to journey to faraway lands in search of life-saving herbs. He told them of how lucky Daylight Warriors like himself were to be able to come to their twolegs nest on cold nights like this, while their clanmates bravely endured the harsh seasons, rain or shine.
How it was important that every cat, regardless of origin, did their part to take care of each other. Skyclan would be their home just as much as this place was, after all, it's cats their spiritual kin.
"These days I'd swear you little ones are constantly bouncing off the walls..." he chided, but with a clear note of fondness in his voice as he regarded his litter thoughtfully. They were just about three moons now… Stars, had it really been that long? Somehow, it felt both shorter and longer, and he felt a twist of anxiety as he remembered how he'd left the group.
Who had been lost while he was away? Which faces would he return to find gone, forever?
"I think maybe tomorrow… How would you scraps of fur like to take that trip I've been telling you about? You can see Skyclan for yourself, and finally meet your Father."
It was posed as a question, but in his heart he knew it wasn't one. His kits were eating solid food now and were about halfway to becoming apprentices themselves. And the more Johnny watched them as the days ticked by, the stronger and stronger they were getting.
His paws itched to return to the pine forest.
Sunny eyes shifted to Fidget, watching the youngest of his litter for just a moment. They were the only exception to the group, far smaller and more fragile than the others. Johnny had always been a little protective of him for it, happy to encourage them in just about anything they did, but always quick to step in if play got too rough or the games too bold– he'd gotten quite the shock when he'd found them trying to scale the christmas tree one day on a challenge of who could climb highest.
"When I was last there they had a nursery full of kits, too. Maybe you'll make some friends while we're there." he added, his smile encouraging. He would have to stay up tonight to watch for Flora's return, but he was sure he could arrange it…
