[GraveBlues]

For mystoxxiide!

[mystoxxiide]

FEATURED STORKIES; unnamed kit, muddle, arson
PROMPT: What is an important memory for this Storkie?
WC; 636
POV; third person
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“We should go talk to them.” Muddle mumbled as she peered out of the apprentice’s den. Arson poked his head out next to her, squinting at the tiny kit - who was the newest addition to the colony - that sat dejectedly by the camp entrance. He blinked at them again, before shrugging, mewing, “Not our problem,” and heading back inside the den. Muddle glared at her brother, hissing, “I’m serious! They’re only a few moons younger than us. Think of how they must feel, being that young and losing your parents. Look at all the cats here! We’re lucky to be colony-born.”

The gray-and-brown spotted storkat stopped, sobered by his sister’s words. “...Fine.” He finally said, turning to her yet averting his eyes. “Fine, let’s go.” The fawn coloured storkie beamed and got to her feet, marching across the camp with enthusiasm, her tail intertwined with her brother’s.

The cream coloured kit, who had been a part of the colony for less than a week, rarely spoke and spent every day sitting at the camp’s opening, looking dejectedly over the horizon. After refusing to communicate with any other members of the camp, most had left it alone, with the occasional storkat bringing them something from the prey pile to make sure they ate. So you could imagine its surprise when two cats linked by the tail, one chipper and one reserved, came to sit beside them.

“Good morning!” Muddle squeaked with a large grin. Arson peered over her shoulder, watching the kit with fiery orange eyes. “How are you today?” The astral storkat continued. The kit averted its eyes, and again, refused to speak. Muddle frowned a bit, and decided to go for a softer approach. “Is there… someone that you’re missing?” She asked, more gentle.

The kit looked up at Muddle, almost hopeful. “My sister.” They said quietly. “She said she would come back for me when the others came. With their machines. And crackling devices they used to communicate. She said she would come back for me, but she didn’t. Nobody came back for me.” The kit’s eyes were wet with tears. Muddle’s heart panged. She touched her nose to the kit’s shoulder, wishing she could do more.

“I know she isn’t coming.” The kit said. “I know something happened to her. But it still hurts.” They looked at their paws.

“Hey,” Arson spoke up for the first time. They both turned to look at him. The young male storkie’s whiskers twitched. “If you need someone to talk to… maybe we can be your siblings.” He suggested sheepishly, before realising how stupid it sounded and beginniong to backtrack. “I mean, not like we could ever replace your sister-- I just meant--”

He was cut off as the kit partly bowled him over. “Really?!” They cried, ecstatic, cuddling into his fur. Bemused, the fire storkat touched noses with it. “I guess.” He mumbled, happy, yet confused. Muddle joined in, touching her nose to the kit’s head. “We can help you with anything you need help with!” She mewed happily, and the kit nodded in reply.

While everything wasn’t completely alright after that, the young kit managed to adjust to colony life much more easily with the use of the familiar premise of siblings to help them around. Apparently they’d had lots of littermates growing up, and weren’t quite used to being alone. Muddle and Arson were happy to step in and teach the them the ropes, watching each day as things became easier and easier and they began to fit in more and more. And every day, the kit would happily come back to the two, chattering excitedly about what they’d learned and what they’d seen. It was something special for the three of them to share, and the connection they formed continued well after kithood.

[kiwipen]

Chocolate Merle with snowflake and countershading
Water magic

[mystoxxiide]

moved to this base C: