- Jun 10, 2022
- 370
- 155
- 43
So often had he seen pelts streaking past the gaps in the leaves, a menagerie of colours... rooted to the ground, Mallowlark was beginning to gather their customs. Tree-scaling; that was their talent, wasn't it? Like WindClan burrowed and sprinted, SkyClan hopped from branch to branch. If Mallowlark was to be one of them- truly integrated, truly pine-cat, like Dandelionwish had apparently managed... he would have to imitate. As he did with his mother's grin, her accommodating eye-contact... he would scale the trees!
Of course, the decision had been made on a whim; he barrelled through the territory with vigour, keeping his balance somehow despite his erratic pattern of moving, despite the angle at which he tilted his head when studying a tree's appropriateness. Finally, finally... one that stretched high and stood sturdy, one that would easily support his weight. He met its facelessness with his bramble-fanged grin, eyes flaring starlike with joy. The tiniest glint of light danced in them, the seldom flicker of his smile touching his eyes.
Mallowlark leapt. Pounced, like he would upon prey- and sprawled spider-like across the trunk. His claws leapt from their inky hilts, locking him momentarily onto the bark- though it was not a hardy hold he had, and soon the domino tom began to slide off of the tree. A claw snagged, and he was toppled backward, spine meeting the dirt with a kick-up of pine needles and dust, an unmistakeable thump of body striking ground.
Oh, what an attempt! Pathetic- and if he'd gotten higher, he'd have ended up a big puddle of claret, tar and ice! Splatted... Blazestar's reluctant acceptance, all for nothing. His body would be painted across the tree-
Giggling, giggling- bubbling up, it soon burst into cleaving cackling. The kind that sounded painful to expel, ripping from his throat! But oh, how could he not laugh at that display? Awful, pale imitation- not like the tenfold mastery of his grin, his mother's expression doubled! A kit could do better, and- he was not that stupid!
Of course, the decision had been made on a whim; he barrelled through the territory with vigour, keeping his balance somehow despite his erratic pattern of moving, despite the angle at which he tilted his head when studying a tree's appropriateness. Finally, finally... one that stretched high and stood sturdy, one that would easily support his weight. He met its facelessness with his bramble-fanged grin, eyes flaring starlike with joy. The tiniest glint of light danced in them, the seldom flicker of his smile touching his eyes.
Mallowlark leapt. Pounced, like he would upon prey- and sprawled spider-like across the trunk. His claws leapt from their inky hilts, locking him momentarily onto the bark- though it was not a hardy hold he had, and soon the domino tom began to slide off of the tree. A claw snagged, and he was toppled backward, spine meeting the dirt with a kick-up of pine needles and dust, an unmistakeable thump of body striking ground.
Oh, what an attempt! Pathetic- and if he'd gotten higher, he'd have ended up a big puddle of claret, tar and ice! Splatted... Blazestar's reluctant acceptance, all for nothing. His body would be painted across the tree-
Giggling, giggling- bubbling up, it soon burst into cleaving cackling. The kind that sounded painful to expel, ripping from his throat! But oh, how could he not laugh at that display? Awful, pale imitation- not like the tenfold mastery of his grin, his mother's expression doubled! A kit could do better, and- he was not that stupid!
☺PENNED BY PIN