Private Thread Generational

Hah! You think you can outdo me?
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Bloomfire padded heavily into the nursery, sighing and slumping slightly. For the past four moons she had been almost entirely confined to this Starclan forsaken den. She hated it. Having these kits was to put her in Coldstar’s favour. To make him make her one of his senior warriors, but that hadn’t happened. Frustration prickled Bloomfire’s fur but her frustration that her ambition wasn’t being satisfied, was nothing compared to that with her daughter. The red torbie she-cat’s face took on an angry expression and she barely refrained from hissing aloud.

Cricketkit, Bloomfire’s daughter, was possible the worst thorn in her side out of the many she had faced in her life. Not only was the young she-kit unruly and undisciplined, but now she outright made trouble for Bloomfire. That was, in fact, why Bloomfire had actually retreated to the Nursery for once instead of going out to hunt. She had only just got back from a brief outing to enjoy the peace of the early morning, when she noticed Cricketkit rolling around, chasing a feather, absolutely covered in mud. Horrified by the filthiness of her daughter, she had hastily reprimanded her daughter and told her to clean herself up and act more proper. The last thing she needed was for her kit to ruin her reputation and chances at senior warrior.

Unexpectedly, however, Cricketkit hadn’t apologised and begun cleaning herself up. Instead, she had said no. When Bloomfire had grown firm, Cricketkit had something hurtful. The ruddy she-cat took in a shuddering breath, closing her eyes as Cricketkit’s words rattled in her ears once more. A small whimper escaped the she-cat’s throat and she hung her head. How had it gone so wrong? Beetlekit behaved himself perfectly. He was a kit that she could feel proud of, but his sister was so far from it that she almost couldn’t believe it.

Bloomfire blinked open her eyes, sadness overwhelming her once more as she stared at the ground. Then her ear twitched as she thought of her son. Looking up, Bloomfire’s gaze travelled across the den until she spotted the shadowy form of the little tom-kit. Shock and embarrassment swept through her and the red torbie hastily pushed her emotions down and to the side, hoping that he hadn’t noticed any of it. For a moment, Bloomfire stood awkwardly, feeling like she ought to greet her kit, but also realising that that would feel even more out of place. Instead, she took a breath and then padded over, joining him. Of course he was in here, she should have expected it with the earliness of the day. Cricketkit was always out of the den as soon as possible, but her perfect little son didn’t make such effort to be a nuisance.

Roly poly, topsy turvey, bumble paws

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 𓆣 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Beetlekit's sleepy contentment faded when he noticed his mother approaching, withdrawn and almost sullen...but those words didn't exist in his mind yet. He couldn't quite say what. Bloomfire always seemed to carry herself with such certainty but now there was something different in the way she walked. Her head had been lowered and even after she joined him, Beetlekit couldn't help but study her from the dark bulbs of his copper eyes, once kitten blue.

He never seen many cats come to talk with Mama. Not really. Beetlekit had Cricketkit, but who did Bloomfire have? Maybe she was lonely. The thought made his little chest ache... Beetlekit shifted in his nest, hesitating. He knew better than to bother his mother when she was upset. But he also knew what it felt like when something was wrong and nobody said anything.

So with a cautious little shuffle the little black tom climbed to his paws. His movements were a bit wobbly from just waking, but managed to do so without stumbling. He paused beside her front leg, wondering if this would be okay. With a breath he leaned in and brushed his longhaired flank against her foreleg.

Beetlekit stayed there, his stubby tail giving one uncertain flick. "Mama...?" His little voice inquired. He didn't dare ask what was wrong. So instead he simply remained where he was, his wide whiskers twitching with antisipation.

Hah! You think you can outdo me?
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Bloomfire’s heart warmed a little as her son made his way over to her. Quiet as ever, she made note of his efforts to move with grace and precision despite his exhaustion. Yes, Beetlekit was the one thing in her life that she genuinely felt proud of. Regret that he had such a useless father flickered in her mind but she swiftly pushed it away. Coldstar was the clan leader and although he didn’t keep his promises, that still gave Beetlekit a chance at being something grand as long as he didn’t waste that potential like his sister was.

A jolt of surprise ran through Bloomfire at Beetlekit’s soft voice. She looked down at the young tom and wondered whether she should force a smile of encouragement. Instead the russet she-cat sighed. “I’m fine, Beetlekit,” she meowed plainly. There was no love in her voice. No warmth. Bloomfire just couldn’t work out how to be genuinely affectionate with her kits like other queens. It all seemed so simple and easy to them, and she just couldn’t work it out. “Cricketkit just seems set on her desire to misbehave and act like some fish-brained Thunderclanner. Bloomfire shook her head. The words that Cricketkit had spoken still pricked painfully in her heart.

Moving over to her nest, she let the tip of her tail brush against Beetlekit as a rare sign of affection before circling and laying down as elegantly as possible. Gently Bloomfire let the tension ease somewhat from her body but ensure that she remained poised and regal in appearance. Cricketkit and Coldstar might be too dim to realise perfection when they see it, but Beetlekit had intelligence. “You, dear, are the only cat in this clan with any sense,” she meowed quietly. “Your sister thinks I am an awful mother and has decided to treat Hailstrike,” Bloomfire couldn’t help but sneer the name, “as her mother instead. I hope you can understand why that means she will no longer be joining us in this nest at night.” The mid-furred queen levelled her gaze at her son, the look declaring that he would be a fool to speak out against her.

Bloomfire wasn’t completely certain what she intended to gain from her manipulations of her own son. She thought, though, that at the very least, if Coldstar maintained his dislike of her and refused her the recognition that she deserved, then she could maybe nudge and pull things in ways to have Beetlekit one day take that position. It was as clear as daylight that Coldstar was partial to his two kits, and that meant that he would be more amenable to putting them in positions of power and respect. If that happened… A small smile lit Bloomfire’s face, her eyes sparkling as she imagined herself sitting behind a grown Beetlekit, named as leader. She wouldn’t have to have a rank that demanded her to stress herself out, but respect and power would be hers if he remained this sweet little kit. Silently the she-cat resolved herself to the idea of trying to be more motherly to Beetlekit.

Roly poly, topsy turvey, bumble paws

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 𓆣 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Beetlekit was always a good listener... his ears lowered as Bloomfire explained their family's situation. He didn't really understand why Cricketkit wouldn't sleep with them anymore. The idea of his sister being somewhere else at night made something small but heavy knot in his chest. Maybe...just maybe he understood why she didn't want to be near Mama, but did that mean she didn't want to be near him?

But Mama said it was because Cricketkit misbehaved...So it must be true and even though there was half of an exhalation, partial whine partial wording, it died on his tongue. He didn't dare question her. Instead Beetlekit followed Bloomfire back toward the nest. He watched carefully as she curled herself into the moss, studying the graceful way she tucked her paws beneath herself. After a moment of hesitation he climbed in beside her.

His large black paws tucked underneath his chest, black fur puffed awkwardly around him as he curled his body into as neat a shape his kit shaped limbs could allow. If he could copy how she did things he was sure that would make her happier. He even made sure not to lean too heavily against her, leaving a small space between them even though he wanted the warmth... Cricketkit would have filled that space.

The sadness momentarily eased his restraint."...She won't come back?" His voice quivered, the question escaping before he could stop it. Beetlekit immediately lowered his eyes, paws kneading nervously against the moss. He didn't argue...He simply curled a little tighter, trying very hard to look as composed and proper as Mama did.

"...I can be good." He murmured up at her. "As good as two kits."He wanted nothing more than to curl up against her, but maybe if he was good enough she wouldn't be sad anymore. Then he wouldn't be sad...

Maybe then everything could feel normal again. He swallowed hard, lowering his chin onto the backs of his paws. "Otterwhisker came to visit earlier..."

Hah! You think you can outdo me?
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A small glimmer of pride alleviated some of Bloomfire’s misery as she noted how attentively her son listened to her. He was such a good boy, and she just couldn’t understand why Cricketkit wasn’t the same. Too much of her father’s attitude was all that Bloomfire could surmise. The ruddy she-cat’s ears twitched and her eyes narrowed at the start of whatever whine Beetlekit had been about to let out, but he clearly thought better of talking back at her and Bloomfire was satisfied with his obedience.

Warmth filled the queen’s heart when the little black tom came to join her in the nest. A tiny smile graced her muzzle as she noted the effort he went to in order to sit elegantly. His company was more welcome than she would ever let on and Bloomfire couldn’t help but imagine how far Beetlekit’s poise and effort would one day take him. Not only would this early form of training make him easier to guide for his mentor, but he ought to become a skilled fisher who would waste little effort in his hunts. Fighting too. Where other cats would stumble about and flail, he would have the focus and steady control to aim well-timed and direct hits. Disabling his opponents swiftly. A far more capable leader than Coldstar, if the young tom were to keep working at his self-control and listening to her. Bloomfire’s nose wrinkled as once more she thought of the ungainly and inelegant behaviours that Cricketkit displayed lately.

“She will still be in the Nursery,” Bloomfire replied with obvious distaste. She honestly thought a night or two outside the warmth of the den might do Cricketkit a world of good, but she knew Coldstar would have more than a few harsh words to say about that. “She just won’t be sharing our nest until she starts behaving even half as well as you do.” The last thing she needed was for Beetlekit to say something in accurate and have somecat get all haughty. A sneer crossed Bloomfire’s face before she wiped it away. Hailstrike would probably be that cat when she thought about it. Especially with how Cricketkit seemed to mistaking the useless she-cat as her mother. The audacity of it all. The reddish queen shook her head in exasperation.

Bloomfire smiled lightly, but genuinely at Beetlekit’s claim. “You already are the best behaved kit in the clan, Beetlekit,” she purred. “And I have no doubt that you’ll continue to grow and become a great warrior as long as you continue to behave so well. You have a grand legacy to uphold. Especially with your father being a clan leader. I am only trying to help you and your sister achieve your destinies.” The queen sighed then muttered, “If only Cricketkit was intelligent enough to see that.”

A pause lengthened between them before Beetlekit piped up about Otterwhisker’s visit. The ruddy queen’s ears twitched with interest. “Oh? She did, did she?” Bloomfire meowed gently, intrigue lacing her voice. “What did she want?”

Roly poly, topsy turvey, bumble paws

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 𓆣 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Beetlekit's ears perked slightly at Bloomfire's question, though his paws continued to knead nervously beneath his chest as he fought to get himself fully situated, comfortable even when comfort was right beside him. He thought back to earlier, remembering the gentle she-cat appearing at the nursery entrance. She had a nice scent.

"She...she came to tell us a story. About a clam..." He began shyly, carefully swallowing his anxiety in order not to stutter. Mama had asked him directly. "Me an' Cricketkit...But Cricketkit wasn't here." His eyes blinked down. Neither was Mama. His brows furrowed softly as he concentrated hard in an attempt to remember all of what Otterwhisker had said. Ear tipping forward he glanced back up at her.

"She said..." Beetlekit paused, searching for the words. "She said if you wanted to share tongues with her, you could." For some reason that made Beetlekit hesitate. He wasn't sure why... Otterwhisker had been nice to him. She had wanted to tell them a story, and she hadn't seemed angry or bothered when Cricketkit wasn't there. But Mama had said Cricketkit was a thorn...that she didn't behave like Beetlekit did.

Clan dynamics were still something the little kit couldn't quite grasp, even if he was a good listener. His stub like tail gave a tiny twitch in the moss of their nest. "She wanted you to know..." He meowed again. Did that mean that Mama had a friend? He ventured to ask, although his inquiery was decidedly not about friendship. But maybe it could be. "Wat'sa clam?"

Hah! You think you can outdo me?
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Confusion flickered briefly in Bloomfire’s gaze, though her face betrayed nothing as she echoed, “A clam?” Beetlekit’s reply caused the queen’s tail to flick once in thought as her disappointment in her daughter only deepened. It sounded like the little tom had missed out on an elder’s tale purely because his sister refused to be where she ought to be. The ruddy she-cat let out a light exhale, not a sigh exactly, but close enough.

Bloomfire was debating how to punish her unruly kit further when her little pride spoke once more. The queen supposed that there wasn’t anything wrong with the elder’s visit. Indeed, it would be good for Beetlekit to learn from the former leader’s mate. She would have to encourage him to visit the elder for tutelage. If Bloomfire could guide her son into associating with distinguished members of the clan, he might not become so tainted and wild as Cricketkit had during her associations with Hailstrike. A frown flickered on her face as she remembered that the obnoxious warrior was Otterwhisker’s kit. Boldstrike’s too, though she didn’t act like it.

“Thank you for telling me,” Bloomfire meowed gently as she thought over everything. The young tom’s question caught her by surprise and the ruddy queen looked almost stunned for a heartbeat. “It’s a… well… hmmm…” It wasn’t often that Bloomfire was lost for words, but this was one of those times. How did a cat explain what a clam was? After a moment or two, the queen started trying to explain again. “Well you know what shells are? Clams are the… thing, that those shells come from. Something fleshy that birds like, that sits inside two of those shells and when it’s gone, we get the shells?” The entire time Bloomfire spoke, her nose was wrinkling and she looked utterly baffled about how to answer her son’s question. “Anyway, they’re not worth your time. Some vain cats might collect the shells as though they’re birds, but that’s not right for proper cats like you and I. However, I would like you to start spending time with Otterwhisker and some of the other elders. I want you to listen to their stories and learn from them.”

Roly poly, topsy turvey, bumble paws

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 𓆣 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Beetlekit listened intently as Bloomfire tried to explain what a clam was, head tilting to one side then the next. He tried to picture the strange creature. Something fleshy inside a shell? Shells were...like stones with wings? That shaggy elder with the different sized eyes had some...

"So...'s like a bug in a shell?" he asked, still a bit stumped. Still Mama had explained it, and he was sure it must make sense somehow. He didn't want to ask too many questions and make her regret answering him.

When Bloomfire dismissed the shells as unworthy of proper cats, Beetlekit's ears lowered a little. He'd wanted to hear the rest of Otterwhisker's story and wondered that the clan had done. Why was it interesting enough to have a whole story about it? But if Mama said it wasn't worth his time... then perhaps he ought to stop wondering.

But then she told him the opposite. Time with the elders, Otterwhisker included! His ears perked again, caught between surprise and a spark of excitement. He liked Otterwhisker's gentle voice and she hadn't minded he was quiet...or awkward. Or that Cricketkit wasn't there. ...And she'd offered to spend time with Mama too!

"I can do that!" The little black tom-kit promised, quick. He rubbed one oversized paw against the other as he got a bit more comfortable, finding a coziness settle over him. "Will...will Otterwhisker tell me more stories?" He asked, almost hopefully. If that's what Mama wanted, he'd try and introduce himself properly. Not only did he wanted to learn what kind of things Elders could know, but he wanted to hear a story.

Maybe Cricketkit would be there too.

"Mama...D' you know any stories f' me?" He peered up at her, head on his paws now.