just called to say i love you | gift giving

[Howlfire]

8. A gift can be anything if it's from the heart! Write about your character giving another cat a gift.

Clan life moved at a constant pace. On and on and on.

It had been a while since they had been able to sit down as a family...in fact, Howlpaw wasn't even sure they had even had a moment to themselves since the family had divided. Which, sad as it was, was understandable too. Howlpaw and Fireflypaw had been busy grappling with the loss of a sibling, of choosing to leave their ThunderClan home and family behind them. Blazestar was dealing with the loss of a daughter and had a clan to lead. Howlpaw lapped up any time she could spend with her father, but she knew he could not dedicate all his time to his family, much as he probably would like to.

Howlpaw came up with the idea to surprise just her father initially, managing to rope Fireflypaw into her schemes by telling him they were surprising Blazestar rather cryptically and hobbling off. She had considered hiding in his den to surprise him but with her sprain still bothering her she thought it might have been wiser to stick to the ground. She knew she had a little bit of time before the both appeared, so she got to work gathering up a little gift for her father, combing over some of the little trinkets and decorations she had around her nest. As she was looking, she found a nice dark feather which caught her eye, its true colour popping under the light. Her initial plan hadn't been to give Fireflypaw a gift as well, but seeing that feather reminded her of her brother's dark markings. With her first gift idea already changed, Howlpaw had to search for something else for her father. But what? It would have to be something good. Amber eyes passed over a few flowers and empty shells, as well as another feather, before eventually settling on a smoothed, grey stone which had a crack running across it like a jagged lightning bolt. Another apprentice had given her the stone after she had hovered over it for a few days, taken by its shape and the unique crack.

Gathering her gifts, Howlpaw hurried to tuck them away under a bush where she had told Fireflypaw to bring Blazestar. Luckily, she had arrived just in time, to give herself a quick breather before Blazestar and Fireflypaw appeared. "You came!" She trilled as she rushed up to bump heads with her father. "I've got you a gift!" And then Howlpaw's gaze snapped to her brother, surprising him with the news that she had a gift for him too. "And I found you one too!"

@BLAZESTAR @Fireflypaw <3​

 

[BLAZESTAR]

Fireflypaw had been insistent, luring him out of camp without saying a word. Blazestar had gone along with it goodnaturedly enough -- perhaps his son just wanted to get away from Dawnglare for a bit and enjoy a peaceful, non-religious walk with his father. He had been listening to Dawnglare's prattle for his entire life -- he certainly knows it can get old! But Fireflypaw is strangely secretive as they walk. Blazestar wonders why... he wonders if the medicine cat apprentice is going to ask him for the talk or something. Is he prepared to give that? He'd been hoping he could pawn that off on Little Wolf, but now...

He's interrupted by a flash of chocolate torbie fur. Howlpaw greets them luminously, and Blazestar's smile breaks through his expression like the sun erupting past stormclouds. "What are you two up to, luring me out here where no one can see us?" He teases, bending down to bump his head against his daughter's.

"I've got you a gift!" Blazestar settles down, patting the earth on either side of him so Fireflypaw and Howlpaw can come closer. "You did? What'd you get me?" He purrs.​

[ PENNED BY MARQUETTE ]​

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[Fireflyglow]

The walk to Howlpaw's hideout was an awkward one; his own ability to keep a secret until his very death coming in handy in moments like these. No matter how much his father pried, Firefly was relentless. No snitching, he'd told himself; his sister had a surprise, and he had to make sure their father came without much issue. Midnight tail flicks behind him, large paws carrying him up a small hill before Howlpaw hops out and announces herself.

His facial expression never changes, not until he sees that bright smile on Howlpaw's face. Calm, stoicism turns to warm adoration; gaze softening. His head pushes against his sister's own, a loud purr rumbling in his chest. I miss seeing her, He thinks to himself, realizing just how much he'd missed socializing with others all the time. He remembered when he could forgive anyone, give any second chances necessary- what had happened to him? He shakes the thought away, focusing on his family in these moments.

Turning to his father, his eyes shut, Fireflypaw smiles at the larger ragdoll. He wished he was as big as Dad was, maybe then he'd be harder to hurt and easier to protect those he loves. He was pretty big already, but he supposed his mother's blood made it a bit harder for him to grow to his father's size. Howlpaw proclaims a gift to their father, and also to him. The thought of another accessory, or a keepsake he could tuck into the wall of the medicine den where he sleeps.. Fireflypaw smiles sheepishly at his sister. "A gift? For me? Howie, you didn't have'ta do that." He chimes, sing-song and yet deep with appreciation. He had to return this favor- find her a gift as well, right?​

 

[Howlfire]

Her father and brother seem both excited and curious at the prospect of receiving gifts. Howlpaw perks up even more seeing their reactions. "Oh hush you," Howlpaw chides her brother playfully, flicking her tail over her brother's face as she moved to get her gifts.

Very carefully, Howlpaw gathered up her gifts and set them down in front of her again. She nudges Blazestar's gift forward first, the smooth stone with a jagged crack. "For you," She said, before shuffling back quickly. A cat once had told her that if she found a smooth stone it meant that it had weathered many storms. And what a fitting tribute that was for her father, who had been through so much, and yet still stood tall and carried himself with the utmost grace. Next was her brother's turn and she takes care to set it beside him herself, lest a sudden gust of wind catch it and blow it away. A mostly black feather to the unseen eye, but under the light, it had a notable sheen to it that revealed subtle hints of green and blue. "This feather reminded me of you," Howlpaw said, smiling at her brother. She looked between the two of them waiting to see how they would respond.​

 

[BLAZESTAR]

Blazestar waits while Howlpaw goes to where she's stashed her gifts. She places his in front of him, seeming almost uncharacteristically shy as she shuffles back. The Ragdoll looks at the present, his eyes soft. A stone, small and polished smooth, worn down by the sands of time. A crack shoots through the center of it, mimicking a sky split by lightning bolts.

"You can see where it almost shattered," he says quietly, touching an enormous forepaw to the stone and running it over the surface softly. "But something is holding it together still."

He lifts his blue gaze to Howlpaw's hazel. She busies herself by gifting Fireflypaw a delicate feather, shot with black and blues. You are the ones keeping me together, he thinks, and he has to surreptitiously brush a burnished-gold forepaw against his eyes.

"That's... it's a very thoughtful gift, Howlpaw. Thank you." He smiles, first at her, then at Fireflypaw. "Do you want some help placing that feather? I think it would look striking near your tail."​

[ PENNED BY MARQUETTE ]​

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[Fireflyglow]

His father takes the stone given to him, cracked down the middle and yet still held together. Fireflypaw smiles as his father explains the appearance of the rock, nodding his head. "That's a cool gift, Howie! Wow!" He chirps, a loud purr rumbling in his chest. Though his own gift, soft and plush against his paws, reminds him of his mother's pelt. His eyes pry open just slightly, squinting harsh against the lights above them. It's barely visible to him through the dark blurriness, but he can see the shape of something dark. "It's very pretty," He dips his head low, sniffing the feather before he lifts it up between his teeth delicately.

His father offers to put it into his fur, and Firefly's ears perk up with excitement. "Will you?" He chimes with a squeak to his voice, setting the feather down in front of his father before he turns to offer the base of his tail for the new accessory. One more wouldn't hurt, right? "I don't look.. Too flashy, do I?" He mumbles, though his pessimism is dwarfed by his appreciation for his sister. As his father adjusts the feather, Fireflypaw peers over at Howlpaw with a big grin. "Thank you, Howie. This means a lot to me.." He's sheepish, blushing just a bit- it's been a hot minute since he got to spend time with his family like this, after all.

Once the feather is secured, Fireflypaw turns back to his family. "It's good to be able to spend time with you two again. I missed this." I miss being a big, happy family. I want my mommy. I want bubba. I want Moonie. Mornie..​