- Dec 8, 2023
- 60
- 11
- 8
Bloodpaw couldn't claim to be a perfect cat, and one place she perhaps fell short was spending time with her little siblings. It wasn't that she didn't love them, quite the contrary, it was just that... well... babysitting was far less up her alley than some of the duties that took her outside of ShadowClan's camp. There was little different about that day - the sun rose as normal and the temperature lit up the marsh in a way she hadn't expected, but, on impulse, the cinnamon tabby found herself closer to the Nursery than ever before. Outside the confounds where Needledrift rested, she was watching Branchkit, half-playing with her brother through exaggerated crouches and leaps whenever he looked her way, half-letting him do his own thing. She felt an excited thrum in her heart whenever she did get to engage in some play, but all too soon was replaced with an awkwardness whenever it stopped.
She'd heard about Shadepaw and Bonepaw telling him about Splashpaw, or rather, fumbling to, and should the question come up again, the one-eared she-cat knew that lying would be the trickiest thing ever. Even if it was to protect themselves and mother, it didn't feel right, and within that silence, guilt gnawed at her belly like a parasite begging to burst free. Then, she would grow distracted by his antics again, and the cycle would repeat. It almost seemed endless, until Branchkit paused whatever they were doing and looked to her with a different look than before. More insightful, or rather, more curious, about what? Only StarClan could decide. She feared the worst for his questions, but offered a toothy grin all the same, hoping her wide eyes did not betray her uncertainty too readily. "Hmm? What is it squirt?"
@BRANCHKIT