Closed Thread Rippled Whiskers

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

His bristled slightly as he was awakened from his nap from his overly excited sister. He stirred tightening his eyes in an attempt to return to the sleep he had been taken from.

Blinking Open his eyes the toms amber eyes stared a contrast to his sisters bright blue irises that had strayed over to their mother who opened her eye to stare at the small she-cat telling her to lower her voice with just a gentle stare.

His eyes returned to look at his kin his eyes shaped like slits as the other kitten spoke, he yawned waiting for the feline to finish her words “okay…” he meowed still slightly groggy. Pushing himself up with his paws he shook his frosty white fur small strands unlatching to rest on the ground as he followed his siblings her feathery coat blowing slightly as the wind guided the two kits fur.

Looking around at the surrounding camp, he tried to remember what they would call this part of the camp, based on what he had heard it might be Rabbet Warren he would have to ask his mother if that were true or not. His gaze settled on Skykit waiting to find out what game she had in mind for the two

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit led her brother out of the nursery, shaking out her mid-length fur before flicking her tail upwards before turning to face Galekit with a small bounce, however, she did so with the grace of a swan taking flight and sat in front of him with a smile.

"I was thinkin' we could play clans, like.. you can be Galestar, and maybe I can be your deputy... uh..." for a moment she was silent, her eyes narrowing as she tried to think of a hypothetical clan name for herself, but one didn't really stick in her mind.

She then turned to her brother, her pale blue eyes now wide and hopeful. "Galekit, should I be Skystrike or Skyglide? I can't decide" she enquired, tilting her head in that innocent kit-like way that made their mother let out a soft chuckle from the nursery that Skykit didn't really take to heart, if she had noticed it at all.

"Or maybe you can pick what my warrior name is, you're Galestar after all" she cooed, puffing out her chest proudly, however instead of looking like a proud deputy, her looks were closer to that of a freshly plucked thistle.

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

Listening to the kitten across from him, he felt excited he loved playing clans, his eyes lit up at the thought of himself being the leader he would be a good one that was for sure. He thought of leading his clan through battles, being the strongest in the clan with the respect of everyone even those out of their clan. Galestar the greatest and fiercest leader to ever grace the clans the small tom was so enveloped in his thoughts he didn’t even hear his sister speaking to him.

He sat his face slightly pointed up in triumph before his ears perked at Skykits words, his head rapidly looked around before finding what he was looking for. Skidding over to a rock he unsheathed his claws to climb it puffing out his chest he stood on the rock in his small attempt to look like a real leader

“I Galestar chose your name to be..” he paused thinking of the choices that the white kitten had given him “Skyglide!”He purred.

He smiled with a small giggle the tom felt like a good leader giving his sibling her name of course only a good one that he had thought of even though Skykit was the one who had spoken of the name first.

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon had been sunning himself just beyond the warren, his long, curly coat gleaming in the light as the soft breeze teased the tips of his ears. His tail lay curled like a feather around his side, and a dandelion puff was stuck delicately in the curl of his fur, though he hadn’t seemed to notice or care. He’d only half dozed, lulled by the warmth and quiet...until a dramatic declaration came to his attention. One pale green eye cracked open.

He watched with growing amusement as Galekit scaled a rock no taller than a few paws. Then came an announcement of a new name. Skyglide spoken with all the ceremony of a real leader in the making. Tangleloon held his tongue. A rare occurrence, but that didn't last long. He slowly rolled to his paws, stretching long and limber, and padded toward them with exaggerated slowness.

"Well, well, well..." He meowed, voice lilting and theatrical as his shadow crept over the kits. "Have I wandered into a Clan meeting? I hope I’m not too late to swear my loyalty to the noble ...Galestar and his most esteemed deputy, Skyglide!" He bowed low, dipping his head until his whiskers brushed the dust. Then he lifted it with a flourish and a playful glint in his mismatched green eyes.

"I, Tangleloon, humbly offer my service as your... hmm..." His expression shifted into one of thought as he tapped a paw to his chin. "Butterfly catcher? Stone collector? Maybe...! Storyteller! Every great clan needs one after all." Tangleloon sat and curled his tail over his paws, chin tilted with an easy, if crooked, grin.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

Standing on the rock he lowered his flank to sit. He nodded at the small white deputy and sat proudly on not of the small rock his gaze stuck watching as she made her way to sit beside him, he tilted his head slightly up like he was basking in the honor of a leader before he was snapped out of it by his sisters' speech “Of course it does that’s why I picked it” he purred.

His fur stood for a second caught of guard by the curly coated elder, his back slouched as he sat Skyglide hadn’t mentioned another cat would be playing, his eyes narrowed at the older feline before he looked at his littermate she looked excited to have another cat play with them. Sighing through his nose he looked at the chocolate elder his head dipping towards the sand.

Thinking about butterflies he would love to have an amber one it would match with his eyes he could probably give it to Lilyriver, he wondered if the queen would like a gift like that “You have hmm…” he thought for a moment “cheerfulness, every clan needs motivation” he giggled.

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon lowered his voice and leaned in, mock whispering. "Don’t tell anyone, but you may already be better at this whole leadership business than some full-grown warriors."

As Galekit regarded him with narrowed eyes and a dip of his head, Tangleloon responded with a subtle but respectful nod in return. No teasing, just a flicker of understanding. He knew better than to crowd the stage without permission, even if it was pretend. Still, as Galekit conceded his place with a giggle, something fond sparked in the older tom’s gaze.

"Cheerfulness.... And motivation indeed. A deputy of spirit to match a leader of vision - what a pair. And me?" He gave a dramatic sigh and flopped onto his side in the grass like a fallen leaf. "I’ll catch the butterflies and whisper your greatness to the wind until the whole forest knows of Galestar and Skyglide, the brightest two that never was."

He winked at the bleary Lilyriver, then swept a paw through the grass until it caught a loose leaf. He plucked it up and tried to tuck it behind one ear, then looked toward Galekit. Despite it falling into the mass of curls that was his coat, he continued. "Permission to begin your clan’s first tale, oh noble leader? I promise it’s full of battles, bravery… and one very mischievous beetle."

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit shuffled her paws for a moment, trying to get a better grip on the stone, though it took a few moments to adjust to the stone's texture, her smile was immeasurable and unshakeable, she was more than elated to be spending time with her sibling and a clanmate, after all, RiverClan was soooo much better than the other clans she'd heard of and Galestar and Skyglide led it, at least for today.

Covering her mouth politely with her paw, she let a giggle escape her when Tangleloon had rolled onto the floor "Silly Storyteller!" she purred, swishing her tail with amusement and entertainment. "You'll get sand all over your fur! then Lilyriver will have to clean you up like she does to me and Galekit" she replied, a snicker lacing her tone but there was no teasing in her words, just polite cheerfulness.

As Galekit assigned her a trait to help the clan, the soft fur on her chest puffed out in pride, she shut her eyes and lifted her chin, but she then cracked her pale blue eyes open at the prospect of a story and bounced from her little deputy-like stance and laid her belly on the stone, her eyes filled with curiosity and excitement. "Can this story have you, Galestar and I?" she asked, though it didn't seem encroaching, she even dipped her head softly in respects to the elder as she asked, it wasn't a command, it was simply an optional request. Whether Tangleloon took that request what no longer up up her.

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

His ears perked at the others whisper he was better than full-grown warriors? He felt happy at the thought of being better than cats moons older than himself. He blinked at the curly feline as they fell to the side, with the mention of how Lilyriver would clean the two he grumbled at how long it would take their mother to clean the two taking unnecessary licks that took up too much time. Though ignoring the elders bizarreness way of playing he was quite excited about the idea of a story involving the three, he felt especially curious at the cats last words, a beetle? How could a beetle be mischievous.

He cleared his throat something that he obviously had no point in doing “I give you permission to tell us this story” he mowed lowering his flank to sit beside his sister on the small rock the tiny white furred siblings shared. He couldn’t keep his mind away from the beetle were they all mischievous or was he thinking too hard, his face was starting to burn just thinking about it.

His tail thumped on the rock softly patiently waiting for the chocolate point to start with the story he had teased Galestar and Skyglide with. What would happen in it? And would his kin’s request be accepted? Sitting comfortably on the rock he narrowed his eyes trying to seem more professional than a kit excited to hear a story though his tail betrayed the young tom swaying excited back a forth

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon’s eyes gleamed as Galekit gave his official decree, and Skykit settled in with bright eyes and hopeful words. He saw the way her voice was more request than demand, the gentleness in her head dip. For all their bouncing energy, these kits had a strange little nobility to them. And he intended to honor it.

Brows lifted in mock contemplation as he slowly rolled back upright and gave his fur a great, theatrical shake sending the leaf stuck in his curls flying off like a startled moth. "Well, how could I refuse such a request?" He cleared his throat, sat tall, and narrowed his pale green eyes to slits, letting his voice drop into a mysterious purr.

"Long, long ago - not so long as to be boring, but long enough to make it important - there lived two kits of great promise: one bold and proud, called Galestar the Unshakable, and one wise and swift, Skyglide the Ever-Watching. They ruled over the shining reeds and shallow waters of RippleClan, the most curious and beautiful of all the forest clans." He shot them both a grin, clearly proud of the name he’d conjured.

"But little did they know…" He dropped his voice, leaning in, whiskers twitching. "A beetle had crept into their camp. Not just any beetle...oh no. This one was sneaky, clever, and very, very shiny. Its shell shimmered like a puddle at sunrise. But this beetle didn’t just want to scurry and skitter… no, no. It had a plan to unravel the greatness of RippleClan."

Tangleloon began to pace around the kits like a ringmaster preparing his stage, tail swishing in rhythm with his words. "It snuck into the prey pile and stole the plumpest fish! Then it rolled it beneath a leaf to hide it, laughing all the way. Then when Skyglide wasn't looking, the beetle splashed mud on her paws...The clan began to whisper...'Was it her? Did the deputy steal the plump fish'?"

He paused for dramatic effect, eyes wide with mock horror. Then he turned to Galekit, giving a knowing nod. "It was up to Galestar to uncover the truth. But what would he do? Blame his deputy? Or seek the truth? And so, young kits… what did Galestar do when faced with whispers and missing fish?" His smile was sly now, the stage handed back to them.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit's eyes widened as Tangleloon spun his tale, her tiny paws kneading excitedly against the rock they sat on. She leaned closer, practically holding her breath as the beetle's mischief unfolded in vivid detail. When Tangleloon revealed the accusation against her play-name, her little mouth fell open and she let out a gasp so soft is sounded almost real.

"I would never steal the plump fish," she declared earnestly, tail flicking with the weight of imagined injustice. Her whiskers twitched, and after a heartbeat, she turned to Galekit with bright determination. "Galestar would know his deputy is loyal. He would look for the real culprit." Her voice was warm, sure, like the story's moral was already settling in her heart.

Lifting her chin slightly, she added with a polite little hum, "but if I may... I think the shiny beetle should leave a trail. Like... drops of water from the fish." Her tone was thoughtful, almost mentor-like for a moment before dissolving into a giggle. "That way, Galestar could follow it, and oh! maybe the beetle trips into a puddle and gets its shiny shell all muddy."

She shifted closer to Tangleloon, eyes gleaming with quiet delight. "That's what I would do, if I were Skyglide. Hunt the beetle, not argue with the whispers." Then softer and sweeter, like she couldn't help herself, "And... maybe give it a smaller fish, so it doesn't have to steal anymore."

With that, she nestled neatly beside Galekit, tail curling around her paws as her gaze flicked back to the older tom, glowing like moonlight on still water. "What would you do Galestar?"

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

The sides of his muzzle lifted at his sister’s request was approved by the curly elder, excitement slowly creeped through him as he watched the older cat clear his throat to begin the tale. His body slowly leaned forward to listen more clearly before straightening his back and lifting his head at the words of the feline feeling the need to fulfill the words that the cat meowed.

His head dropped to stray his gaze away towards his kin as she was also mentioned in the story, his eyes retired to Tangleloon as the cat continued. The white ears perked at the mention of a beetle the one thing he had been interested in when the tom had first mentioned it, his eyes slightly widened as the cat described the theft how could a beetle be so sneaky and why would it want to unravel their clan? The small tom was burning with curiosity as to how a beetle could be so evil.

He turned his head as his sister declared her innocents, he nodded his head quickly “Of course I wouldn’t that beetle wasn’t going to get away with stealing a fish!” He announced. Standing as he spoke quickly sitting down afterward his chest puffed. The tom looked over at the tom excepting the story to continue. Before he was caught a bit of guard by his sister’s silent chime.

He nodded agreeing with what the white kitten said “Exactly that! Especially getting its shell dirty no beetle like that deserves such a shiny shell” he spoke.

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Tangleloon’s expression lit with mischief and pride as the young leader leapt to his paws, his declaration ringing through the camp like a war cry. The elder didn’t interrupt, only gave a slight nod of approval as if this were exactly what Galestar the Unshakable would have done.

"Ohhh yes..." He breathed dramatically, resuming his prowl with renewed gusto, "Galestar would not stand idly by while shadows danced through his reeds. Not when RippleClan’s honor and its juiciest fish was on the line!"

He swirled his tail behind him like a cape, and his tone shifted to something rich and layered, as though he could hardly believe what came next. "And so, Galestar summoned his deputy and declared ‘You, my loyal right paw, have been framed! And I, noble and bold, shall uncover the truth, even if I must follow every muddy pawprint to the end of the world!’"

With a flick of his paw, Tangleloon mimed sweeping aside brambles. "They searched the camp, you see. Beneath reeds, behind dens, even under river lilies! Just beyond the river bend, they spotted it: the glint of sunlight bouncing off that devious beetle’s shell!"

"But this beetle wasn’t just hiding… oh no. It was sunbathing. Sunbathing while it's little paws were covered in the very mud it had used to frame Skyglide!"

With a springy hop, he spun to face them both again. "Skyglide, filled with grace but not above a good pounce, leapt forward! So did Galestar! The beetle scattered! But not before dropping the plumpest fish...it was slippery, but still whole!" He shuddered on his toes, proclaiming his excitement despite not declaring it himself.

"Now Galestar must make the announcement to all of RippleClan. The beetle, exposed and defeated! What does Galestar say to the clan?" It would be perfect to foster a comraderie between the two young kits before even becoming apprentices - if Tangleloon had any say in it! He only wanted his own sister, Cinderwisp to succeed, too, after all.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit's pale blue eyes widened as Tangleloon's story reached its peak, her tail curling tightly around her tiny paws in anticipation. She glanced towards her brother, her expression glowing with encouragement as if to say, You've got this, Galestar!

"RippleClan would cheer for you, I know it" she mewed softly but with certainty, her voice carrying that gentle warmth that she always had. "And I'd stand right by your side to tell them how brave you were, how no beetle could ever outsmart our leader." Her whiskers twitched with a bright, shy smile, her head tilting just a bit toward the curly elder.

"But... I think I'd say something too" she added after a heartbeat, her tone thoughtful, almost ceremonious in its own small way. "I'd tell them that every beetle, even the shiny ones, can be forgiven if they just promise to leave the fish alone." She gave a tiny giggle at her own words, the sound soft and airy like a bird's song.

Skykit's gaze shifted back to her brother, a playful sparkle dancing in her eyes. "But you're the leader, Galestar. I think RippleClan's waiting for you." Her voice lowered with quiet excitement, like she was truly waiting for his heroic speech to save the day

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

As he giggled with his sister he rapped his tail around himself to make himself more comfortable, a rock couldn’t beat a nice nest in the nursery he was starting to get a bit annoyed with how uncomfortable he felt sitting on it too long, he was starting to feel bad for the leader of the clan, whoever that was he hadn’t made an effort to remember names only faces.

His head snapped back to the elder scooting closer to listen to how the story would continue with the two kits answers of how they would deal with such a pesky beetle. Listening intently his started to slightly nod repeatedly as the tom continue, he had completely been developed in the story that he questioned why the elder stopped having to remind himself that he was in fact Galestar.

He blinked looking between the two felines before he lowered his head pondering on what he could say to his clan, he had led them, proved his deputy’s innocence, and got rid of a pest. What could he say that would fit right, he could feel his face slightly burn with how hard he was trying to think of a thing to say, looking up he smiled at his sister’s enthusiasm.

He sat up his chest puffed as he smiled “I would say!” He paused for a dramatic moment similar to the elder “that as long as I’m leader no one, and I mean no one! Will ever bother Rippledclan and get away with it!” He declared. He had tried his best to think of what to say and at that moment that was all he could muster. The small kit had a small feeling that he wouldn’t get much better at speeches.

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon let out a sharp, delighted gasp at Skykit’s words. "Forgiveness!" He whispered, wide eyed. "What a twist!"

He looked between the siblings, clearly savoring the moment, then dropped dramatically to the ground once again, rolling onto his back and flailing his legs in the air like an upturned beetle. "Skyglide the Merciful. Galestar the Unshakable. RippleClan has it all!"

Rolling back onto his belly, he gave his curls a little shake, as if resetting himself, then sat tall and proud, his eyes shining with admiration. "You know..." He said with a purr that rumbled like river stones. "I thought this would be a tale of vengeance and justice. But Skyglide - you reminded me that even the shiniest troublemaker might just need a second chance."

He stood now, his tail flicking behind him like a brushstroke. "And so, with the fish returned, the truth revealed, and the shiny shelled thief trembling before RippleClan’s greatness, Galestar made his proclamation!" His voice rang clear and triumphant: "‘Beetle! Your crimes are known, but so is your remorse. Go now, and build a better clan - one with truth, and not trickery!’"

His toes tapped. "And the beetle did. It skittered off and founded BeetleClan. A tiny clan - very tiny, but very determined. And though they mostly scavenge and get stuck in tree sap, every greenleaf, RippleClan and BeetleClan meet for the tiniest Gathering there ever was, where the beetles buzz and the kits dance and no one steals the fish."

With a final bow, he spread his paws like he was revealing a masterpiece. "And that, my dear Galestar and Skyglide, is the tale of how forgiveness turned a thief into a neighbor… and how RippleClan gained a small, but shiny friend!"

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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As the story came to a successful end, Skykit let out a satisfied and proud hum, as if she had actually been the deputy in the story and she had helped sold a near war starting level of crimes, and then made an ally in the process. What an amazing Leader and Deputy Skyglide and Galestar were!

She then hopped down from the rock she was standing on, padding in front of the curly coated elder and placing a paw on top of his head. She gave her brother an expectant look before glancing back at Tangleloon with a gleam in her eyes. "If Galestar agrees, we will be more than happy to promote you, Tangleloon, from RippleClan's storyteller to our Senior Storyteller because of your story of sharing and peacemaking!" She cooed softly before placing her paw down against the camp floor and casting another look at her littermate.

And for a moment she was silent, kneading at the floor as she glanced thoughtfully at the ground, now with the story and the promotion ceremony completed, she wasn't sure what else deputies did, what else Skyglide could do... so she took a few steps back so both her brother and the flamboyant elder were both in view. "So, what now?"

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

His tail swayed on the small rock content with the story’s conclusion of forgiveness and the beetle decision on being a better insect and a leader of the so-called clan Beetleclan. His ears perked at his sisters leaving his side by the rock to go close to the elder, Galekit slowly stepped down from the rock almost slipping as his paws hit the soft ground.

His confusion grew slightly as the other white kit gave him an excited look, listening as she meowed he gave her his nod of approval he would like to hear more of Tangleloons stories even if they weren’t going to be about him or his sister. He wondered what other stories the elder had to spare to tell the two kittens, with the completion of the premonition ceremony.

Looking at Skykit he wondered what they could do, usually when they played Sky could always think of what to do next but with the small kitten also stumped on how they could continue he could only let Tangleloon think of a way to continue

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon didn’t move a whisker as Skykit placed her paw atop his head. He simply froze, eyes wide, as though receiving an ancient and sacred honor and gave a small, dramatic gasp and pressed his curled tail to his chest.

"I accept this promotion with the deepest of humility and an even deeper fondness for RippleClan." He gave a playful flick of his ears as Galekit nodded in agreement, then dipped his head to both kits. "Galestar and Skyglide, I shall never forget this day. I will speak of your wisdom to every kit who listens and every warrior who pretends they’re not listening."

Then, with a quiet hum, he glanced at Skykit thoughtful now, even a bit earnest beneath all the curling playfulness. "Now comes the most important part of clan building..." He leaned closer and tapped one paw to the earth between them. "Exploration. Discovery. A territory doesn’t name itself, you know. You’ve got rivers to name, secrets to uncover, patrols to send..."

He opened his paws as if revealing the world. "That's your call - as long as we stay in camp!" He added, knowing Lilyriver would have his tail if he allowed them free reign outside camp. 

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit let out a soft giggle as Tangleloon gasped beneath her tiny paw, her eyes bright with delight. "You're very brave to take such a big role" she mewed warmly, tail curling around her paws as she moved to sit back next to Galekit, looking very serious for a moment... well, as serious as a little white kit could look. "RippleClan is lucky to have you"

She watched with quiet wonder as Tangleloon painted the world around them with his words, her gaze flicking around the camp as if she could see rivers, thickets and mossy hollows forming just beyond the brambles. "We should name a river after Tangleloon" She whispered to Galekit, sure the elder wouldn't hear "He's got a cool name and I bet the water twists and turns like his fur."

But then Tangleloon mentioned patrols, and her little brows furrowed. Skykit tilted her head, thoughtful, and looked down at her own tiny paws. She pressed them onto the stone, as though testing her weight. "But... there's no warriors" She mewed softly, blinking at Tangleloon with quiet logic. "How are they meant to patrol anywhere, silly?"

She giggled again, her voice light, but a tiny yawn escaped between her words. She blinked slowly, her warmth and spark were still present but flickering like a soft lantern. "Maybe we could... name a leaf pile for now. O a really shiny stone. That could be the border rock, right?" She leaned into Galekit a little, paws beginning to tuck under her chest. "We can patrol after naptime. RippleClan needs rested leaders..." she mumbled sleepily, eyelids drooping "...cause sleeping ones forget where the borders are..."

Her voice trailed into a quiet hum, tail flicking once before curling neatly around her side.

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

Blinking himself out of his thoughts as the curly furred elder happily accepted his role as the clans prestigious storyteller his ear flicked flashing the feline a smile happy the cat accepted the kittens offer. His head tilted at the older cat speaking of clan building, watching the tom tap their paw on the ground between them, he thought for a moment what could they name for Rippleclan?

His thoughts were interrupted by his kin’s whisper, hearing what Skykit had to say he quickly nodded rivers have all kinds of things that made them different. But with patrols, he could have himself go on one with no warriors like his sister said he would have to go by himself, he giggled with his sister as she spoke with logic, his smile slightly fell at the sound of a yawn escape Skykits muzzle, he blinked letting the small white kit lean into him.

“Maybe we could name it the… Sheeny pebble” Galekit giggled before blinking lazily Skykits fatigue was starting to rub off on the small tom. He thought about his mother resting in the nursery all comfortable on in the soft nest, without even noticing he had leaned into his sister struggling to keep his eyes open.

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon’s eyes softened, watching the two kits’ energy ebb into that warm drowsy quiet. He swished his tail slowly, drawing an invisible map in the dirt beside them. "Here it lies, beside the Great Nursery Hollow, under the watch of the Mossy Bramble Wall. And here. " He tapped the ‘Sheeny Pebble’ spot with a claw. "Is where two wise leaders decided that even rivers wait for rested paws."

His voice dropped to a quiet purr, rhythmic as a distant current. "Sleep, and dream of borders yet to be walked and prey yet to be caught..." The elder curled his own tail around his paws, posture loosening but eyes still watchful, a silent guard as the new ‘leaders’ drifted off to sleep.

I am shaped by the trials I refuse to surrender to.

✧✦✧༄༅:･ﾟ🕊️･ﾟ:༅༅༄✧✦✧

Lilyriver had been watching dutifully from the nursery, having clear view of where her kits were and what they were doing. She watched Tangleloon with the eye with the sharpness of a hawk on the hunt for prey, but there was no malice there, just scrutinizing observation before she noticed her litter becoming drowsy. 

She rose to her paws and slipped out of the rabbit warren and moved over to Tangleloon and her kits glancing to the curly-furred feline and flicking her tail before giving each kit a few generous, affectionate licks. "You did well, watching them, thank you Tangleloon" she stated, a rare softness in her tone that shouldn't be taken for granted.

Without another word, she scooped up both kits in her mouth gripping the scruffs of the necks in her teeth before making her way back to the nursery to get them settled somewhere more comfortable, it is about time for their nap anyway.