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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 8, 2022 13:33:39 GMT -5
Dapplepaw peered into the water, leaning over to get a better look at what Thunderstep was doing. She jumped back a bit when the fish darted away, her tail bushing out slightly in shock. Taking a small breath, she took another step forward back to the edge of the pond. She followed the swimming of one of the fish that was scared off and was cautiously swimming back towards them. She tried to mentally predict where the fish would go, but when she failed a few times she felt frustrated "How can you predict that?" She hadn't put a paw in the water in fear of scaring off the fish again.
(I will get the other replies in a bit later, I have to run to work)
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Post by Jademist on Mar 8, 2022 14:54:57 GMT -5
(Don't worry about it Ziotsu! Take your time)
Blue grinned at Dawn's sleepy looking face. "We're going swimming I guess." She meowed and stretched out from her nest before raising to her paws. "Are you coming?" The blue she-cat glanced from Dawn to Dark, who didn't look very eager to come yet. Blue was more in the middle of her sisters, on serious matters she'd side with Dark but she had a playful side which connected to Dawn - and her younger siblings - too.
Emmett pressed his fur to Willow's for a moment as they stood waiting. Once most of the cats were moving he turned away to gesture for them to follow. "Let's head off." He announced, the older kits would probably follow behind soon anyway.
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Thunderstep's whiskers twitched in amusement as he watched the apprentice. To him fishing had almost become something so routine, it didn't amaze him as much as it did at first. But it was the first time fishing for Dapplepaw and that always came with a little excitement. The water, the quick fish. It was a totally different form of hunting. "Don't worry, they'll come back soon. As fast as they are, they aren't always that smart." He smiled reassuringly at her. "Maybe you're thinking too far ahead. Think closer, next to the fish. Look where it's head is pointed at." Thunderstep's golden gaze followed the silver creatures as they went. "But don't theorize it too much, you'll get the hang of it. It goes by trial and error and after a while you'll be able to know from their movements which way they probably want to go."
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 8, 2022 17:08:46 GMT -5
Boulder's tail flick was the only indication of his annoyance at the kittypet's offer "That is exactly what I mean by a waste. Why teach you to catch a single small mouse when I can hunt for my own food in half the time" he gave a side glance to Sparrow "teach her all you want. I won't take part in this" he calmly padded away, not bothering to answer her question about his name. He probably won't see that kittypet again anyways.
Sparrow huffed at Boulder, he didn't like the way he spoke to a cat who was obviously way younger. What did he know, anyways? "Don't mind that grumpy old tom" he was quite a bit more emotive "I hate to admit it, but he is right about it being a waste to give up your prey. If you're gonna hunt don't be so eager to give it up. That's your first lesson" He wasn't about to take food from a younger cat, that was certain. "I'm Sparrow, by the way. Tell me your name"
Ember's ears perked up, hearing a slight echo from the gorge. She turned her head to see some more cats across the way. She bumped against Juniper to bring her attention over "can we go over?" She asked with a hopeful smile. Juniper agreed to this with a nod, but as they approached she realized she recognized them as the barn cats "what are you doing all the way out here?" Juniper called over. She never got their names but she had spotted them quite a few times at the barn.
Dapplepaw nodded again to confirm she heard the instruction. She started to follow the head a bit more closely, which did have her guessing a bit better where it would go but she still didn't have the best of luck with it. "Could you show me with that fish?" Maybe asking for a demonstration would help, so Dapplepaw carefully pointed to the fish she was looking at with her paw.
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Post by lorekeeper on Mar 9, 2022 9:41:20 GMT -5
Rose's tail stood high in curious greeting. Coal shrank back against Mist's legs a little. He was always a bit shy and though he had seen these cats before he didn't know them well. "The barn we live in burned." Mist explained as she padded up to greet the other she cats. "We are looking for a new home honestly but I am afraid we are not the best at fending for ourselves." She explained as her stomach rumbled with hunger.
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 9, 2022 13:18:18 GMT -5
Juniper gave a sorrowful look at the three when she was told what happened to the barn. The kits were so young, and to lose their home? "I am sorry that happened." She wanted to help them get back on their feet in any way she could. "Let's get away from the quarry, it isn't that safe for kits once the twolegs start to work." She flicked her tail a bit in the direction of the forest "We can find a den for you to get rested and fed, okay?" She gave a small smile to the kits, hoping to ease their fears just a bit "I'm Juniper and this is my daughter Ember"
Ember purred next to her, she was used to Juniper's insistance on taking care of those around her so she was prepared to have to help her out the moment they were told about the barn. In contrast to Juniper's small smile, she gave a big grin to all three of them "Do you like bird? They're my favorite thing to catch so I can get you one real quick" She boasted.
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Post by lorekeeper on Mar 9, 2022 13:40:16 GMT -5
Mist nodded at the suggestion of getting away from the quarry and to somewhere safer. "That would be wonderful! I admit I have no idea how to hunt really. I managed to catch a few mice at the barn but at the time I didn't have to worry about keeping myself fed. The two-legs always put out food." She flicked an ear to each of her kits in turn. "This is Rose and this is Coal." She offered. "I am Mist."
Rose and Coal's eyes went round and though Coal stayed next to his mother, Rose moved closer to Ember. "Can you really catch a bird?! That's so cool! I want to learn!" The she kit nearly vibrated with excitement. The small tom looked more nervous but he gave a small smile to the she cats. "I would like to try bird."
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 9, 2022 14:11:13 GMT -5
"It's super easy. We can tea-" Ember started to say, but was cut off rather quickly by Juniper who shot her a warning look. It was too early to start teaching these kits how to hunt birds. "Let's start you off with some moss, birds are a bit difficult." Juniper corrected Ember's words "But first let's get you to one of the dens that Ember and I use. Ember can hunt in the meantime so you can get some full bellies. Then we can talk about teaching you"
The moment that Juniper suggested Ember hunt, the she-cat was already halfway into the forest. "I'll meet you there!" She called back. She started to do the math in her head. Since neither Juniper nor her had breakfast yet today, she should probably get a couple of peices for them. Do the three need two peices of prey or only one? Did the kits want their own or could they share with their mother?
Juniper's head turned to view Ember running off and she called after "It's the den with the leaning rock!" realizing that she hadn't actually told her which den she was planning on taking the three. Hopefully she heard it and wouldn't try going to a different one. "I'm sorry, Ember can act more like a kit than an actual kit sometimes" Juniper purred, shaking her head a bit "Do you two think you can walk" She looked down at the kits, as if she was asking them but also kept an ear out for Mist's response in case she thought her kits needed to be carried.
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Post by lorekeeper on Mar 9, 2022 14:26:43 GMT -5
Rose's ears flattened in disappointment. "I bet I could learn how to catch birds now." She muttered before brightening a little again at the thought of food. She watched Ember move off toward the forest with a sparkle in her eyes. Mist tried to not worry over the kits apparent budding hero worship but she could already see it happening.
Coal looked curious and moved a little away from his mother's side. "We could practice on moss? Is that how you learn?" He whispered to himself but also kind of to Juniper. He wasn't sure he was ready to talk to strangers just yet but he did want to learn.
Mist nodded at Juniper's comment about Ember being like a kit. "I am used to cats with a lot of personality." She tapped her daughter's side with her tail. "Yes they can walk." She answered for the kits. Just as Rose answered, "Of course I am not so little." "Are too." Her brother whispered.
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Post by Mother Dark on Mar 9, 2022 18:21:28 GMT -5
The younger litter all started to jump around and play before hearing Emmett say it was time to go. Then they started walking towards the Pond. Mint jumped on Thyme who feel to the ground with a growl. He rolled around til his sister fell off of him and then got up and continued to walk with the family. Sage and Parsley raced ahead and would stop and wait for the family to catch up.
Willow purred and walked side by side with Emmett happy to be by his side. She sighed in contentment again. Her family had their struggles but they were hers. She loved being a mother to all the kits and mate to Emmett. She hoped nothing would ever change.
Dawn nodded. "I think we should go. You never know what may happen. We could lose one of them and then we will regret not spending more time with them." She said getting to her paws. She shook the moss off her back and licked her calico pelt.
Dark sighed. "I guess I'll come for a bit but I might go off to hunt. I'd just fish but with everyone swimming the water will get all stirred up." She too got to her feet. "Let's go."
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Post by Jademist on Mar 11, 2022 17:59:44 GMT -5
(I’ll try to come up with replies on sunday! Everything has been unexpectedly busy 😫)
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 11, 2022 21:58:28 GMT -5
(Heads up, school has done a good job at removing my creativity, I will try to get something up during spring break)
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Post by Jademist on Mar 13, 2022 14:55:41 GMT -5
Anastasia watched the older tom walk off. She wasn't sure whether he would have appreciated anything she could offer. At least she didn't offer him the pellets from her housefolk. Though, the pathé was really good actually. “I didn’t mean to offend him.” She meowed, glancing back at Sparrow. “Thanks for being open to teach me. I really appreciate it. My name is Anastasia and I came from town but I guess you already noticed.” She smiled a little. "Where did you come from?" The white she-cat asked curiously.
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"Ofcourse." Thunderstep nodded at the she-cat and he moved closer to the edge of the pond. His gaze was fixed on the fish Dapplepaw had selected. Carefully he studied it's movements until he found the right moment to strike. He quickly lashed his unheated claw through the water, hooking the fish onto his sharp nails as he heaved it onto the shore. Pleased with his catch he delivered a swift killing bite.
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Emmett smiled as he watched the younger litter run and play along. He walked close to his mate, keeping his ears pricked for any sign of possible danger or prey. But the prey was probably scared off by the rambunctious youngsters. He didn't mind, they could hunt later on.
"Well, that's a dark thought this early in the morning." Blue playfully bumped her flank to Dawn's. "I wouldn't mind a swim but I might join you to go for a hunt later on." She meowed, glancing over at Dark. After a quick stretch of her front legs she trailed after the group, falling into step with her sisters.
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Post by Mother Dark on Mar 13, 2022 15:07:18 GMT -5
Dawn purred as Blue bumped her flank. "I just worry. Not that I stay focused on anything." She said. She fell into step with Blue a ways behind the others. It was a whole parade of cats trailing in a long line.
Dark shook her head at Dawn's statement but didn't reply. She got to her feet and started walking with them. "Someone's gotta hunt. If those four don't scare away all the prey first." She sighed and kept walking.
The four younger cats paused and waited for the others to get within hearing distance before they started to move forward again. "Come on guys were never gonna get there if we don't hurry up." Parsley said.
Willow chuckled at her crazy second litter. She glanced behind to see the first litter coming up behind her. She looked at Emmett and shook her head. "How did we end up with a family like this? How are we so lucky?"
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 14, 2022 1:31:42 GMT -5
Dapplepaw followed the fish as Thunderstep worked. She was trying to figure out when he would try to catch it, a few times she was certain it would have been a good time, but he still waited. She felt a bit of relief to see that one of her predictions was correct, so she was at least able to do that. "Why did you wait so long?" She breathed, realizing she was holding her breath a bit while watching, as if the sound of her breathing would alert the fish.
Sparrow wasn't too interested in talking about his past, it didn't seem as exciting as helping a younger cat learn. "I used to live around a two-leg place" He wasn't a kittypet, but he didn't bother saying. Instead he continued his own way "But that aside, we have to get your running through the forest like you were before. Boulder and I could hear you really easily, and that means the prey can hear you" He switched over to the first lesson he wanted to teach her, and one that would most likely have the most effect on her learning to hunt "You have to start walking a bit softer if you want hope of catching anything"
Juniper gave a warm smile to the kits "Of course, but even big cats need rest." She stated while walking in the direction of the forest. "My mother taught me with whatever she could get her paws on, moss, some twoleg scraps, a few leaves. Just whatever was around. Ember was a bit of a different case, she became my kit when she was older than you two so I brought her along on my hunts. She didn't catch her first prey till she was 7 moons, and it certainly wasn't a bird" She hoped that Mist didn't mind her talking to her kits about this. She never got to know Ember this young so she felt a bit of excitement at their wonder for the world.
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Post by Jademist on Mar 14, 2022 15:00:10 GMT -5
"Don't worry Dawn, it'll be fine!" Blue grinned at Dark's comment and shook her head as she watched the small shapes in the distance run and tumble. "We won't find any prey along the way, that's for sure. But I bet we can find some near the gnarly tree."
"It's all because of you, I'm sure of it!" Emmett purred and gazed at the youngsters in the distance. He followed Willow's gaze to watch behind them for a moment before returning it on the way ahead of them. "I'm glad the older ones are coming too. I fear they are getting too old to go out with us." He sighed softly. "Those kits grow up way too fast." But in Emmett's eyes they'd always be their young kits. He knew and understood they had to be independent one day but he hoped that day wouldn't come too soon.
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"Sometimes it's better to wait a little longer to make sure you hit the fish just right. Patience is very important with fishing." Thunderstep explained, shaking his paws to get most of the moisture off. "Here, you can have the first catch of the day." He shoved the freshly caught fish towards Dapplepaw. "We need to eat well and make sure we have enough energy for our search tonight."
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"Boulder.. Oh, you mean the grumpy cat." Anastasia nodded, so that was her big mistake. Never she'd expected to hear that her walk was off but she trusted Sparrow that they heard her long before she saw them. "Can you show me?" She asked after trying a few steps of her own. It probably looked very silly and it felt that way too. Maybe because she was doing it wrong.
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 15, 2022 12:03:52 GMT -5
Dapplepaw shook her head a bit violently, she couldn't take the fish before Tunderstep. "I am still an apprentice" She retorted "Apprentices eat last, so you should take it. Plus if we get attacked you need your strength more than me" Shew had tried to stop thinking as if warriors were more important than a medicine cat apprentice-though she was probably considered a warrior apprentice now-but it was one of the things from Birchclan that had stuck itself pretty hard to her. She gently pushed the fish away towards Thunderstep with her nose. On top of that, she ate yesterday so she was fine today.
(there goes sparrows one(1) braincell, using it's full power  ) Sparrow thought for a moment, taking a few steps back and forth which looked like pacing. In reality he was watching his own steps carefully to try to think of things he could tell Anastasia to do. "Well...you shouldn't have to force your paw down. Think of it like..." He glanced around till he saw a leaf, smiling he walked over and pulled it off. He looked around again, and quickly jumped up a tree with the leaf still in his mouth. "Li'e t'i' lea'" He said through it, letting it drop from his mouth just a second later "See how it just goes to the ground lightly?" He jumped down the tree again to grab the leaf to take back up. This time when he let it drop he jumped down, waited for it to get low enough and slammed it down the ground with as much force as he could "If you force it, the leaf falls faster but it makes more noise, same goes for your paw." |
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Post by Jademist on Mar 15, 2022 15:57:05 GMT -5
(Haha aw I love Sparrow's vibe!)
Thunderstep was surprised Dapplepaw still held on to those customs, even though it was just the two of them. It gave him a little comfort though, to see that she kept their traditions and values as close to herself as he did. But with her tossing and turning at night she needed the extra energy. "You know what, let's share." The black tom suggested. "If you want you can have a try at fishing after."
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Anastasia watched the tom with great interest, her golden gaze following his every move. She nodded as he dropped the leaf. "That makes sense!" She exclaimed, buzzed to be learning new things. "Okay, okay, let me try again." The white she-cat's face was serious with focus as she tried to stalk lightly towards a leaf nearby the tree where Sparrow was placed. Getting closer and closer she leapt at it and battered it with her paw. It was far from perfect but certainly an improvement. Filled with pride she picked up the leaf in her mouth to glance back at her teacher.
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Post by Hawkeyes258 on Mar 15, 2022 21:50:07 GMT -5
Harry takes a deep breath and lets out a small sigh. He liked the peace that the morning usually had on the forest. Harry preferred the forest over the twolegplace. That place made him anxious and the twolegs would always try and convince him to come inside their dens or try talking to him all weird.
Dante forces himself to sit up and lets out a yawn. He does a quick stretch then decides to head in a random direction. He wasn't sure what he was going to eat but he would figure it out.
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 16, 2022 15:25:34 GMT -5
Dapplepaw thought for a second, not sure if she was completely satisfied with that. When she looked at Thunderstep, she could tell there was probably no way to change his mind beyond this. "Okay" She agreed, getting herself a bit more comfortable sitting. "I hope I can catch another one, we can share that one too" She was waiting for Thunderstep to take the first bite, shifting a bit more as if she was still uncomfortable.
Sparrow watched her carefully, keeping an eye on her steps and seeing how it was. Her steps were better than before-not perfect for some reason-but better. He thought his leaf thing would be the perfect solution. Whatever, she may just need a bit more time, his leaf thing was great. "That was better. Your stance is a bit off. Let me show you so follow my lead" He walked up to her to stand beside her. He quickly got into the crouch he was accustomed to taking, making small quiet adjustments till he was satisfied it was perfect.
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Post by Ivy on Mar 16, 2022 18:00:16 GMT -5
Spider and Web Spider woke up from a deep sleep and crawled out of the small bush he and his sister Web shared as a den. He sat down to groom the debris from his fur and then sniffed the air. He started to pad off toward the scent of a shrew. He got to where the shrew was in view and then stepped on a twig. He cursed and stalked off as the creature fled. Web woke up and left the den in time to see her brother dissappear into the brush. She walked in the opposite direction scenting a vole. She flicked her tail in excitement as she loved vole. She stalked up close to it and pounced. The creature didn't have time to make a noise. She padded back to the den to enjoy her catch. Crowley The massive black and gray tom sat outside his twoleg's den in the forest munching on the kittypet food his twoleg left out for him and any strays that came around. He wondered what if anything would happen today. Would one of the wild cats cross his path or would he just wander the clearing around the den and patrol for any critters that strayed too close. He could catch a mouse. Anyone got a free character?) |
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 16, 2022 21:17:33 GMT -5
(boulder is technically free, but it looks like hawk has open characters)
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Post by Mother Dark on Mar 17, 2022 8:39:28 GMT -5
Dawn nodded knowing that Blue was right. She laughed at the younger cats acting wild. She remembered when she and the others would do the same thing when they were that age.
Dark nodded. "The Gnarly Tree sounds good. Let's stick around for a bit though. Just to appease everyone. Then we can go hunt." She chuckled and kept padding along.
Willow purred at Emmett's comment. "I couldn't have done it all alone." She said bumping into him. "Leafbare has been long and cold and I couldn't raise these kits in it by myself. Especially not over the multiple we've been through." She purred.
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Post by lorekeeper on Mar 17, 2022 10:06:45 GMT -5
((Hey guys sorry but I am going to be absent for at least the rest of this week I think. One of my library ladies that worked with me is having a bit of a crisis so things are a little crazy. Her son and daughter in law were killed.))
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Post by Hawkeyes258 on Mar 18, 2022 14:10:29 GMT -5
(Harry and Dante are open and Cindy as well)
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Post by Jademist on Mar 21, 2022 6:55:30 GMT -5
(I’m a little sick so I’ll try to come up with replies soon but I’m gonna be a bit slow 😞)
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Post by lorekeeper on Mar 21, 2022 11:32:17 GMT -5
Coal and Rose listened interestedly to Juniper as they followed her lead. Coal stayed next to Mist but watched the she cat carefully. "Ember is your kit by adoption?" He asked curiously.
Rose was to busy focusing on the information about learning to hunt. "I bet I could catch a bird. She commented. "Mamma says she doesn't know how to hunt either but I am going to learn and be the best at it!"
Mist shook her head but didn't correct the she kit's boast. She gave Juniper a look that clearly said kits will be kits. Before making her own comment. "I did manage a few mice once but I am afraid most things see me coming."
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 21, 2022 20:25:44 GMT -5
(Hope everything is okay, Lore. Take all the time you need)
(No worries jade, being sick sucks. Hope you feel better soon)
"Yes, her parents...needed some help so I took her in." That was mostly a lie, Juniper didn't want to tell the kits that Ember was all but abandoned by her parents. Old enough to know she was along but too young to not fully grasp the situation. She let out a purr at the conversation that continued beyond her, listening into the kit's ramblings about their family. "There are many cats who can't hunt. Maybe when you learn, you can teach your mom, then she'll be the second best." She shot Mist a bit of a sympathetic look, she was probably used to being fed by two-legs. Hopefully their adjustment to being wild cats will be smooth or they find a new two-leg home to live in.
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Post by Jademist on Mar 22, 2022 15:38:05 GMT -5
(Thanks Ziotsu! I'm feeling a little better)
Thunderstep could see Dapplepaw didn't fully agree, which was understandable. Though, he hoped she knew he had her best interests at heart and without her.. well, he wasn't sure what he'd do without Dapplepaw. So as long as she was healthy, he would be fine himself. "Sure, that would be great." He gave a soft pur and took the first bite from the fish, shoving it towards the she-cat after.
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Anastasia nodded and watched in awe how natural it seemed to come to Sparrow to drop into a perfect crouch. Carefully she tried to mirror his movements. The way she did it felt rusty, but maybe because she wasn't used to it. "Do you think I'll ever be as good as you?" She wondered out loud. What would it be like to have your movements flow so nicely that catching a mouse would be easy?
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"Yeah I guess we need to give them some attention first, they've been begging us forever to do something fun with them." Or at least Dawn and herself, the younger kits were often a little apprehensive about Dark because she was so serious. But surely they'd warm up to Dark once they're older and vice versa.
"Well, of course you need a little help. But you're the center of our family that's for sure. And you've done great so far." Emmett smiled at her. They were nearing the pond now - or at least the kits running in front of them were. He hoped there were no other animals there having a break to drink but usually there were no predators. Or they would've picked up their scents already.
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Post by Mother Dark on Mar 23, 2022 9:05:34 GMT -5
Dawn smiled and nodded. "They are quite persistent. I wonder what trouble they will get into today." She said watching them play.
Dark laughed a little. "Oh yeah they cab definitely be trouble. Eventually they will grow out of it I think." She said following the trail of cats.
The four younger kits bounced along and came into view of the Pond. On the far side could be seen two cat figures.
"Emmett." Thyme called out. "There are other cats here." He said turning and heading his sister's back toward their parents.
Willow purred and flicked her tail. "I guess I can be the center of the family. None of them would be here if not for me." She looked up and saw Thyme leading the others back toward them. "Oh. Other cats. That's interesting"
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Post by Ziotsu on Mar 23, 2022 13:06:28 GMT -5
Dapplepaw took a decent sized bite from the fish, which seemed to persuade her body into wanting to eat more so she ended up taking a few more bites a bit larger than the first. "Oh" She said, gulping down the rest of the last bite ears burning a bit with embarassment "Sorry you should take a few mo-" She cut herself off, hearing something that she couldn't quite make out from the other side of the pond. Her head whirled around to view it, making out the figures of a group of cats. Her ears flattened against her head as she shrunk back and away from the group. They were still a decent ways away. "Uh..Th-T-Thunderstep" She would have flicked her tail towards the cats she was staring at, but it was tucked neatly between her hind legs.
Sparrow thought for a moment about her question, standing up to take a bit of a look at her stance. "With practice, I am sure. As a kittypet I don't know how much practice you can get" There was still that barrier with the fact she didn't have to hunt for her food everyday "Your stance screams first lesson. It's not bad, though so you may be able to catch something today" He took a few steps away, wanting to get moving onto the next thing "Let's go, you can practice on some prey we find. Just remember to step softly, or else we wont find anything"
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)
