Private Thread It's Not Fair!

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust watched her daughter stomp off like StarClan itself had personally wronged her. The queen didn’t react at first just chewing the last bite of her own meal. Licking her lips, she rose from her nest and shadowed the kit's steps before she stood over her.

"You know when I was your age…I once didn't get a chance to eat a lizard's liver. That's the best part - gives you extra energy. I was so upset...but instead I got to eat the lizard's wiggly fat tail." Her whiskers gave an amused twitch, her short tail flopping on its side just short of Swampkit. The action had meant to be encouraging.

"You will survive missing one bite of prey. Promise! But if you keep sulking this hard your tail might fall off."

"Noooo that's not fairrrr!"

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When Emberdust padded over to her, Swampkit looked up at her. While they had been eating, the molly hadn't even noticed who had eaten her favourite part of the prey but whoever it was she doubted it was her mother. The she-kit sighed when her dam started talking but listened anyways. She had a point after all.

"I guess you're right..." The kitten mumbled. Without a second thought, the kit picked up a piece of moss, throwing it in Wolfkit's direction.

I’m not different. Am I?

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Wolfkit had been enjoying his time simply observing a beetle that had made its way into the camp, while also protecting the small thing from Muddykit’s claws as it explored its surroundings, seemingly unaware that it was being watched, or if it was aware, it didn’t mind Wolfkit’s quiet company.

The scruffy tom hardly noticed the moss ball until the beetle opened up its iridescent wings and fled. Wolfkit waved the beetle goodbye with his tail before letting out a quiet hum of greeting to a fascinating little ant that seemed to be crawling around his tail.

He whirled around to face the ant, orange eyes gleaming with curiosity as he followed the insect. However he wasn’t quite focusing on his surroundings and his nose met with his mother’s hind leg with a small thud. The young tom moved his eyes up to Emberdust and furrowed his brows for a fleeting moment, as if sharing a short but meaningful apology

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust’s ear flicked backward just before the soft thud met her leg. She glanced down only to find Wolfkit staring up at her with those wide apologetic eyes.

"It's alright." She begun, tongue swiping over the tom's head. No matter how she tried to smooth down his fur it always seemed to stick back up, so...she was letting it do what it willed. "I'm made of tough stuff!"

She shifted her gaze toward pouting Swampkit next. Took a low shot at her brother but otherwise did no harm. "And you...you'll probably be named Swampstomp. Don't make me come up with other names for you when you're dramatic." Her paw slapped a bit of nesting material at the small she-cat, while the corners of her mouth teased into a grin.

"Now, since everyone’s so full of energy...How about the two of you bring me something interesting from the nursery. Whoever brings me the best prize gets the first bite at mealtime next."

"Noooo that's not fairrrr!"

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"Swampstomp!?" The molly fussed, offended by her mother's suggestion before realising that she was probably proving her point and going silent, a wave of shame washing over her.

However, when her mother offered a game, the molly nodded, getting up right away to search for something her mother would like in the nursery.

I’m not different. Am I?

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Without much fanfare, Wolfkit followed his sister into the nursery, he knew what he would bring to his mother, he had seen it in the nursery that very morning and he thought of Emberdust. A small orange flower that reminded him of his mother's eyes, eyes that she had passed down to him, though he didn't have the knowledge of his eyes, just that his pelt was a smokey black.

Wolfkit moved to his side of the nursery and shuffled through the leaves with purpose in search of the flower, until the light moved onto a bright orange pelt. Wolfkit beamed and picked it up between his teeth carefully before bounding back out to his mother.

He dropped the flower at her paws, it was small and half-wilted, but it was a bright orange that seemed to glow when the sun hit it, it found it just as beautiful as his amazing mother and he intended to make sure of that.

After dropping the flower, he rubbed his head against his mother's leg and let a purr escape him, the scruffy furred kit let the purr ring clear and loud, something that was more appreciative than anything else. Afterwards he transferred a few loving licks on his mother's fur. If this wasn't a nice gift, he wasn't sure what was.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust hadn't expected either kit to take the challenge seriously but when Wolfkit emerged first her ears pricked.

The flower was wilted at the edges, a little battered from kit handling but they reminded her of her eyes, and his. Wolfkit pressed against her leg, purring so hard his whole body vibrated and Emberdust lowered her head to swipe her tongue between his ears. "That's a very nice gift."

She held him close for a heartbeat longer, tail curling to pull him into her warmth. "You're gonna make your sister furious beating her back here." She teased, eyes lifting expectantly for her daughter to make her reappearance, tail giving an excited twitch.

"Noooo that's not fairrrr!"

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Swampkit found a couple of bright green leaves and beamed, the feline bouncing back over to their dam and sibling with bright, hopeful eyes.

Yes, they had noticed the flower but. They genuinely thought that their leaf was better. It was perfect and bright green.... What else could Emberdust want from them?

I’m not different. Am I?

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Wolfkit turned to his sister and offered her a smile, to him, either gifts didn't have to be better than the other, he was just happy that they were treating their mother with the love she wanted and deserved with the gifts that both thought were perfect for her. 

The young smokey black tom shuffled over to Swampkit and kept his smile, a praise for her find as much as his own. There was no pity or sadness, just pride and joy in his sister's gift that she had chose for their mother. Something that both of them were able to be proud of, something for Emberdust.

His eyes then moved to Emberdust, followed by an expectant look, as if asking her to treat Swampkit's gift with the same amount of approval she did his. "Swampkit's nice too?" He perked up his ears before tilting his head in that curious, kit-like way and widening his eyes in that way that might be able to get him anything he could want. Though he didn't use it often.

But for his sisters, he would do anything.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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When Swampkit returned to her side sporting a bright green leaf in her maw Emberdust was all smiles. Her short tail gave an excited little twitch, clearly pleased with the attention her kits were giving her. Eyes half lidded, the cinnamon hued she-cat bent her head.

"Wow...I can't believe it. Two very special gifts from two very special kits. I'll have to add them to my nest right away!" First she picked up the leaf, cradling it gentle between her teeth so she didn't pierce it, and turned towards the lining of moss and mouse fluff. She stuck it on its flat side, with just enough force so it wouldn't fall off.

The bloom was next, a tender scoop were she half wove it between the branches next to the leaf. Her nest would be the most decorated in the clans at this rate. "There...perfect! Stylish!"