Private Thread Skylit Cinders

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit was practicing her usual hunter's crouch when the warriors had returned from their patrols. She had gotten the stalking part down to the twitching of her whiskers, but there was no moving prey for her to practice on... not exactly.

The clouded skies covered the usual boring heat, for once, Lilyriver had allowed her kits to stretch their legs in this weather. Though the fierce white she-cat never failed to keep an eye on her brood, even from a distance.

A flicking silver tabby tail caught her attention, he fur long and coiled similar to Tangleloon, however it wasn't Tangleloon. Though it wasn't far off! Cinderwisp seemed relaxed at the center of the camp. She had only ever had memories of Cinderwisp as the deputy, although her mother had told Skykit that leadership of the clan used to be governed by Boldstar... who had moved to StarClan much more recently.

Ridding herself of her somber thoughts, Skykit moved closer to the tail, lowering herself silently to the ground in the same way that Merryaster had showed her and wriggled her haunches before darting forward "Cinderwisp!" She cheered before landing on the Deputy's tail. Sure, Skykit played deputy in her and Galekit's games, but there was nothing like being the real thing. Cinderwisp was the best deputy she ever met! Maybe even the only one!

"Run. That is an order."

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Cinderwisp could hear Skykit, even with her eyes closed but she didn't think much of it. At least until she felt pressure on her tail causing her fur to bristle for a heartbeat. "Skykit..." The molly greeted trying to hide the pain in her voice behind surprise.

The she-cat offered Skykit a small smile, tilting her head to the side. "Hello there, Skykit," The deputy began, "How can I help you today?" The questioned, deciding to play along. "Is there a patrol you'd like me to send you on?" Cinderwisp joked.

Cinderwisp couldn't see herself ever being a queen or a mother. It just didn't feel like something that was in the cards for her. But maybe she would be the leader one day. And it was important for the leader to be good with kits. So she had to be kind.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit's pale blue eyes arched with the curl of her smile as she hopped off of Cinderwisp's tail before moving to the silvery deputy's side. Taking a calm and coordinated seat beside the curly coated she-cat. If her little investigation went well, and if fate could have it, Cinderwisp could be kin of hers, but Skykit didn't want to jump into any bold assumptions. She hadn't even started her little mission yet.

"You'd have to argue that with Lilyriver I think." Skykit giggled when Cinderwisp offered to send her on a patrol. The kit would have her whole life ahead of her to go on as many patrols as she liked. But for now, she was happy to stay in camp. In camp with her friends and her kin. Maybe Cinderwisp could be added to one of those lists. "I was just practicing my hunter's crouch." she replied to Cinderwisp's first question before shuffling a little closer to the tabby she-cat.

With a pause, she took a glance at the twin willows, Cinderwisp moves there when it is time for meetings, of which Skykit had only witnessed a few, the naming of Hailstrike, Merryaster, Stormsquall, Mistydawn and Sturgeonwhisker, and the meeting to announce the gathering, one of which she would think she might not go to for some time unless something really special happens.

But regardless, she wanted to focus more on her crouch, so she shuffled back into the position she was in prior to finding Cinderwisp, keeping her tail low and her belly off of the ground like Merryaster had told her. "Do you think you can give me some tips, Cinderwisp?"

"Run. That is an order."

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What a polite kit. How old was she now? She was still so small though. So perhaps three moons old? Definitely More then two moons old. Kittens were rarely so polite at such a young age in Cinderwisp's experience. In her eyes, normally they were noisy and careless.

"Your hunter's crouch, hm? And who taught you that?" Cinderwisp purred softly as she watched the kitten shuffle closer to her.

The molly followed her eyes to the twin willows and back, tilting her head to the side as if asking what was on her mind before Skykit spoke again. "Some tips for your crouch?.. Now tell me. Why do you want to master your crouch now? Why not when you're an apprentice?"

The she-cat was worried that Skykit was giving away her kithood for training. A mistake Cinderwisp had made.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit got to her paws when Cinderwisp asked the question, making sure eye contact and a polite tone was used to communicate with a cat of such high rank, just below Coldstar! How cool was that! "Lilyriver says it makes my games more interesting and realistic. And if I have a good crouch than it will be less work for whoever my mentor will be. To focus on other things." Skykit replied, her pristine, white plume curling around her paws.

"I've been trying to teach Galekit too, he's really good at pouncing on things." Skykit purred softly, he tiny whiskers twitching in amusement at the image of her brother setting up a lack-luster crouch but pouncing like he was flying. She was sure if his hunting crouch got a little better, he could jump much further and land to destroy any fake prey they come across!

The white kit's mind drifted to a few moons ago, Tangleloon had offered to play with them, the three cats had come up with such a fun game before they had gone for a nap! She was Skyglide and her brother was Galestar, and Tangleloon, their faithful storyteller "Did Tangleloon ever tell you about the legend of BeetleClan and RippleClan?" she asked sweetly, turning her pale eyes to Cinderwisp, hoping she would be accepting of her little story.

"Run. That is an order."

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Cinderwisp couldn't help but feel even more concerned at Skykit's politeness. A kit so polite was possible? The molly felt that, it was too authentic and genuine to be an act. "I suppose Lilyriver is correct in those statements..." The molly responded in a mumble. Her politeness was unsettling.

At the mention of Galekit however, Cinderwisp simply nodded, hoping that Galekit would be more childlike. If he was just as polite, Lilyriver must know something otherworldly to raise kits so well-behaved...

Tangleloon? Her brother? "He mentioned it. But he didn't tell me the story, no. I haven't had very much time to spend with him lately. Why don't you tell me, Skykit?"

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit's ears perked up briefly, Cinderwisp hadn't heard it! This means the tale was Skykit's to tell! And by StarClan she would tell it the best that a kit of her size can. "I can tell the story to you!" She purred, shuffling herself closer to the deputy to make sure Cinderwisp could hear all the little details.

"Long ago... Me and Galeki- I mean, Galestar the Unshakable and his deputy, Skyglide the Ever-Seeing ruled over RippleClan, a clan with shining rivers and glittering reeds. It was the most beautiful clan in the whole forest!" Skykit began, her voice beginning quite and soft, but rising in dramatic flare that Tangleloon carried, perhaps his story gave her that ability.

The small white kit glanced up at Cinderwisp, pausing to make sure she didn't have any questions before continuing. "But to the leader and deputy's surprise... a sneaky and clever, shiny beetle snuck into the prey pile and pulled out the plumpest fish. It was gonna steal it! Can you believe that Cinderwisp?!" Skykit's eyes glimmered with enthusiasm and the build up brought her to continue without giving Cinderwisp much time to respond.

"The beetle splashed mud onto Skyglide's paws without her knowing and blamed her for the theft! But Skyglide and Galestar didn't argue with the whispers in the clan!" Skykit continued, her voice raising to an excited but appropriate volume. "Galestar called a meeting and said... '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!’" 

"Galestar and Skyglide scavenged the camp to find the beetle and, not only was it relaxing with the fish, but it's paws were covered in the mud it used to frame the RippleClan deputy!" She exclaimed. "Galestar and Skyglide chased of the fish but RippleClan forgave the beetle for it's misdeeds and helped it make a clan of its own so it didn't have to steal ever again!" she puffed out her chest, proud of the story that her, Galekit and Tangleloon made together, she just hoped that Cinderwisp enjoyed it as much as she did.