private young and wild and free // duckshimmer

[Swallowflutter.]

CAN'T YOU TELL I'M CRASS?
CAN'T YOU TELL I'M WIRED? ​

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swallowpaw ❀ 07 moons ❀ polygender ❀ any pronouns ❀ shadowclan apprentice​

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Its a rare thing that Swallowpaw approached their mother these days- they have far better things to do after all, now that they're an apprentice. Of course, it's not exactly all that they'd expected - things both better and worse than they'd ever dreamed as a kit. For one, they'd hardly expected to share a mentor with another 'paw - and certainly, hadn't expected to be so immediately reviled. Sure.... Swallowpaw is aware they're not the nicest cat - or smartest, or bravest, or most interesting either to be honest. They've always been a little.... strange, rambunctious and violent even when they'd meant well. It wasn't normal to copy every little thing the adults said, or to beat the daylights out of your siblings in the name of 'love'. But still, reality had hurt, just a little bit.

And so she'd done what she'd done best - watched, learned, copied. And sure, she's still not great at it - but as the moons pass by, sure enough voice grows quieter, taking the opportunity to speak up only when necessary (though her definition most certainly varies from her clanmates). She doesn't go running off on mistimed adventures like singepaw, doesn't end up covered in wounds and scars - no matter how cool they were - and she doesn't throw centipedes or spiders into snowpaws nest anymore - even if that'd been more for scorchedmoons sake. And... it'd worked. Sort of. They'd come to a truce, and she had found it much easier to learn when not fighting for time against the older apprentice - and stars, she'd even made a friend.

Not that he'd call Lividpaw that to his face, surely he thinks the other boy might take offence. But favors owed or not, they had hung out together - bringing sharp-toothed grin to his maw at the thought. And with one battle won, Swallowpaws certainty in his choice only grows - he might be weird and wrong, but he was likable if only he makes sure not to be annoying. Or loud - or... well, there's probably other things he's forgetting, but those are the ones he's working on right now. And so today, he seeks out his mothers attention - her advice. Because surely, a cat as prim and proper as he would have some, or if not then he could simply copy her the way he always does everyone else. " Hey ma' - do you think I'm less annoyin' now? " he asks, tone only holding curiosity - surely, his mother will give him honesty even if others might not.

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━

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T E L L - M E - N O T H I N G - L A S T S ━ ( - L I K E - I - D O N ' T - K N O W ?- )

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[Duckshimmer]

*+:｡.｡ When Swallowpaw was born, Duckshimmer had been disappointed.

Not specifically because of Swallowpaw alone, no, Duckshimmer had been dismayed over having any kits at all! All three were equal amounts of burdensome to her, interchangeably. Still, when Swallowpaw showed his true colors - rowdier than Singepaw with signs of even less capability for empathy, Duckshimmer sighed in dismay. There would be no expecting an easy road with Swallowpaw at all, would there be?

But if you asked her if she'd have had it any other way...

She'd say yes. In a heartbeat.

What?

She loved them with her heart and soul, imperfections and new definition of perfection and all but...she wasn't ever meant to be a mother. It was honestly a miracle she had managed to keep them from wandering off cliffs or eating each other long enough to reach apprentice-hood -
And even then one of them still almost got himself killed-

All this is to say...it truly was a miracle that a woman as pathetic as Duckshimmer managed to give birth and raise such unique little crotch goblins. Swallowpaw, as an individual, was such a charming sight to behold. Although she fits none of Duckshimmer's expectations, the creature that slowly grew before her in size and wisdom made a story this world was truly lucky to bear witness to.

But lately, Swallowpaw's boisterous, almost merciless personality had...quieted. Duckshimmer had been so focused on her own needs, she hadn't noticed until just now. But when her oldest padded up to her - perhaps for the first time since he'd left the nursery - Duckshimmer realized how strange it was to not hear his caterwaul across the way first.

And when she asked her question, Duckshimmer was left taken aback.

Then, without hesitation, Duckshimmer mewed, "Oh sweetheart...you're always annoying to me" She let out a tinkling laugh, reaching out to ruffle Swallowpaw's cute head, "I'm kidding! I'm kidding, but yes, you've seemed to have mellowed out quite a lot as of late. Is that not what you want?" She tilts her head to the side, periwinkle eyes now searching her child for any sign of illness or perhaps evidence of bullying...oh, who is she kidding - her boy is one of the toughest around, no one could bully him!

Swiping his cheek with her tongue, she asks in a soft voice anyway, "is someone stealing your voice, my little bug? Haven't I taught you yet that if someone gives you a hard time, you go straight for the jugular," her eyes flash a cold, freezing blue, "and you clamp those pretty little fangs of yours shut as hard as it takes until their screams give way to a lovely little crack?"

She's pretty sure she taught Swallowpaw that when she was...lets say, two moons old? Or was she confusing that for the lesson she taught her about what to do with a stranger's ear canal if they tried to lure her out of camp? The lessons were pretty similar, after all.

*+:｡.｡ Updated 12/15/23

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• 
  
  
  GENERAL:
  ⚜ Duckshimmer
  ⚜ DFAB— She/Her — Bisexual
  ⚜ 30 moons — Ages 1 moon every month real-time
  ⚜ Mother to Singepaw, Swallowpaw and Sneezepaw
  ⚜ Shadowclan — Warrior
  
  
  
  
  
  COMBAT:
  ⚜Physically hard | mentally hard
  ⚜ Attack in bold #ffa98f
  injuries: None currently

​

 

[Swallowflutter.]

CAN'T YOU TELL I'M CRASS?
CAN'T YOU TELL I'M WIRED? ​

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swallowpaw ❀ 08 moons ❀ polygender ❀ any pronouns ❀ shadowclan apprentice​

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The boy sinks into his mothers touch with relish, eyes closing in contentment even as he soaks up her advice like a sponge. She calls him annoying fondly, in the same way Swallowpaw thinks of Singepaw as annoying, in that same way they accept that they, too, are a nuisance. When Duckshimmer says it, it's kind - simply the truth. And it's not a and thing. So she doesn't understand why, exactly, everyone seems to think it is.

There's a moments pause, however, before he speaks - mind flailing as he struggles to put the right words together. He's never been an eloquent speaker, far to crude and blunt. " No - but.... I don't think it's working, 'cause Snowpaw still hates me, " they admit quietly, insecure even as they admit as much aloud. They don't understand why the other dislikes them - they'd never really interacted before the fateful meeting after all - and she can't exactly figure out why she even cares what he thinks either.

Head shakes, and instead she peers up through her lashes at her mother, nodding along at the rather cutthroat advice she's given. It's sound advice - to Swallowpaw at least, and it makes perfect sense. If Snowpaw is determined to dislike him, then hell just be meaner back. The two-toned point perks up after a moment though, rocking on her paws excitedly as she grins - " I made a friend though, I think! Lividpaw says he'll teach me stuff, if I keep Basilpaw 'way. 'Cause he's an annoyin' mousebrain, and dense, " she chirps cheerily.

Swallowpaw likes Lividpaw a lot after all, and surely Duckshimmer is the perfect cat for him to ramble about him to.

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━

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T E L L - M E - N O T H I N G - L A S T S ━ ( - L I K E - I - D O N ' T - K N O W ?- )

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