Growing

[Scorchstar]

Strikekit knew that the truth was going to hurt his mother. He had known since he figured out that something was wrong with him. Ever since then he had done everything in his power to protect her from the truth. He had also made it a point to be obedient and loving, in the hopes that she would forgive him for not being perfect. He would be doubley perfect in other areas if he could. That was actually his goal, how else would he show them all that he was someone to be proud of?

As he watched his mother's reaction he almost lost his cool and grimaced. As her neck shot upward and she looked as though she were deeply thinking. probably trying to find a memory of him ever making a noise. She would find none soon and he would have to comfort her. He knew that she wouldn't show it and she probably would yell at him for being a failure and loving, but it was only out of hurt. He was ready for the punishment that he would surely receive.

Looking up to her as she spoke to him, telling him to speak. It was even harder to witness as she gave the faintest look of pain before closing her eyes. Pressing a paw into her side, he waited for her to open her eyes before he opened his mouth to show her. That nothing would ever come out, even if he willed it so. After she saw he'd make an effort to get his head and neck under her paw. Nestling closer to her body, he didn't know why, he usually wasn't this much of a momma's boy, but he felt the need to do so. He'd probably be looked down upon for acting so weak, but so what? His mother had just found out one of her kits was imperfect and mute.

Thunderkit gazed about, locking his sights on Lonekit, Battlekit, and Stealthkit. " Well those two brothers will probably have an attempt for leaderhip.. I didn't expect that shadow of filth to plan or pull anything with anyone though." He wondered what it would be like to be a brother to such an imperfect thing that even you were looked down upon as filth. He grimaced that would be terrible. that thought was not far from his mind as he glancedtowards his mother.

He narrowed his eyes in open confusion and disdain as he caught a fleeting glimpse of pain in her eyes. He smirked, not so perfect now, huh? The next sight is what threw him off, Strikekit pressing a paw to her side and opening his mouth. Thunderkit strained his ears to catch wind of what they were speaking of, but he couldn't hear a thing. Confused more he watched as his brother tried to crawl under his mother's paw and nestle into her. What in StarClan was happening over there? Leaping down from his rock, momentarily put off he headed towards his mother and brother.

"What are you doing Strikekit? Have you lost grips on reality? You are embarassing yourself by nestling into every kit in here's worst nightmare." His were were sharp and cruel. It was undetermined if he meant a thing by it however, or whether his confusion had brought him to speaking. Who wouldn't want to know what was going on here? If you didn't than you had no sense of curiousity and aren't worthy to be called a cat.

Calmkit pressed closer to her brother for once. It was nice to know that she had someone whom she could trust. Even if she was uptight, how else was she supposed to survive in this Clan or even Nursery? There were only three she-kits and one of them was not worth the nest she slept on. Furykit and herself had a tough haul if they wanted to become Senior Warriors right off of the Right of Passage. Especially seeing as most of the cats they would be apprentices with were large, tough males.

At his joke she almost purred, but with the thoughts she had just had her gaze glassed over. Though once she was done looking around to make sure no one else was listening in she softly purred to her brother. "Don't get used to it. Things will be back to normal once this adrenaline dies." She ran her tail quickly over her brother's flank before letting her head rest on her paws. her blue eyes caught sight of odd happenings in the Nursery. Mainly the drama over in Jaguarstripe's nest. What was Strikekit doing?

Lonekit would have smirked at Battelkit appearing utterly surprised while his brother kept his cool, if it hadn't been for his almost morbid emotionlessness. Sitting down he began to clean one of his claws cooly. His amber eyes casually watching the two brothers as they both scrutinized him. His tail flicked with the same nonchalance as the rest of him gave off. He appeared perfectly cool with who he was as a cat. He was very in tune with himself and wouldn't easily give up this confident and nonchalant air he had.

"Wonderful, I'm not here to just mooch off your plans though. I have skills to offer the same as anyone. As you have already witnessed." Flicking his tail to the shadow he had camce from. Lonekit responded to Battelkit's narrowed gaze with nothing more than one challenging glance. Battlekit seemed to be the more defensive one, Stealthkit more open to the thought of letting someone in.

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[Thistle]

Battlekit's thoughts were distracted momentarily by the scent of fear and pain coming from Jaguarstripe's nest. When the tabby kit looked over, he saw Strikekit open his mouth and place a paw on his mother's shoulder. Battlekit couldn't be sure from this distance, but it seemed as though no sound was coming from Strikekit. After a moment, he burrowed close to his mother's side. What was going on here? Battlekit glanced at Stealthkit, but the tom was still looking at Lonekit. He would speak to his brother later.

"Wonderful, I'm not here to just mooch off your plans though. I have skills to offer the same as anyone. As you have already witnessed."

Stealthkit figured that Lonekit would want something in return. He exchanged a glance with Battlekit, then looked at Lonekit again. "I think that you could have a high position. Me and my brother could act as joint leaders, then you could be Deputy unless that position is needed to be offered to Calmkit; she might only accept Deputy. Then you would come just below her, but not below anyone else." Battlekit stared into Lonekit's eyes, trying to interpret what reaction he would give. If the tom cat was greedy, Stealthkit would have to reconsider the offer he just made. But Stealthkit still didn't seem fased ((sp?)) by this strange tom, or anything else that was happening in the Nursery. Battlekit turned away quickly to watch as the newly made "Leader" made toward his brother and mother.

"What are you doing Strikekit? Have you lost grips on reality? You are embarassing yourself by nestling into every kit in here's worst nightmare."

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Battlekit was more intrigued by Thunderkit's reaction than by the embarrasment that Strikekit was bringing down upon himself. Now that Thunderkit's guard was down, it would be a great chance to attack! He opened his mouth to suggest this to his colleagues, but then remembered what he and Stealthkit had planned about gathering followers first. He clamped his mouth closed while listening to Lonekit negotiate with Stealthkit.

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[.:{Crag}:.]

Jaguarstripe hid the emotion as she felt it. The pain would have to go away. She closed her eyes, still awaiting the noise she so desperatly wanted to come from her kit's mouth. None came. The deputy felt a poke in her side and opened her eyes, seeing Strikekit with his mouth wide open, obviously making a point. Jaguarstripe wanted to wail out loud, scream at the top of her lungs, and run away from everything she had ever known. This was her worst nightmare; her offspring was born with a deformity. Suddenly, there was a nudge to her paw. She looked down, confused, as Strikekit moved closer to her. Dark brown eyes were still and cold, showing nothing more than had always been shown. Jaguarstripe didin't have much time to react, Thunderkit was there only a few moments later.

"What are you doing Strikekit? Have you lost grips on reality? You are embarrassing yourself by nestling into every kit in here's worst nightmare."

Jaguarstripe felt a growl low in her throat. How dare he think of himself as high enough to insult her, and Strikekit, in front of not only the clan deputy but his own mother! She rose to her paws, towering over Thunderkit with anger flashing in her eyes. "You may be leader of the Nursery," She hissed, fur bristling, "But don't get confused with who the boss is." The she-cat awaited her son's response, claws unsheathing and threats on the tip of her tongue.

--

Ragekit felt his sister's pelt press into his, and he pressed right back. There were only a few, rare times that the tom was on good relations with his sister, and he took advantage of every one. He would protect Calmkit until they were both in StarClan, he had decided at a young age, even if most of the time he was the one needing protecting.

"Don't get used to it. Things will be back to normal once this adrenaline dies."

Ragekit purred softly, hiding his happiness as he had learned to at such a young age. Green eyes lifted as he heard the familiar voice of Jaguarstripe, and she was certainly angry. The tom tilted his head and watched with interest. It would be an interesting show to see the new 'leader' be put in his place.

--

Furykit, sitting next to her brother, was still bristling with anger at the new leader. Thunderkit was such a mousebrain, and would never lead the Nursery as well as even Emberkit. She watched with hatred as he announced Warkit as his deputy. Soon, Furykit told herself, she could lead the Nursery and put him in his place. Dark brown eyes narrowed and scanned the surrounding area for plotters. Well, Lonekit, Battlekit, and Stealthkit were obviously planning something. Furykit looked at Wrathkit and smirked. Standing in the shadows looked a little suspicious to her. Almost amused for a moment, Furykit's eyes stopped on Strikekit and widened. What were they doing? Her brother was attempted to... snuggle with Jaguarstripe.. Something that had never been thought about, let alone attempted. She watched with interest as Thunderkit came over, but could not hear anything.


((I am mucho sorry for uber suckiness. I started this thread with literally no muse, and I promises my next will be better ^^))

[Thistle]

Battlekit gave away a satisfied smirk as Thunderkit was reprimanded by the ScarClan deputy. He couldn't wait to see what would become of this newly appointed leader. Thunderkit would get what was coming to him, hopefully. And if he was punished by his mother this evening, he might even be weakened for a fight in the morning. As he was watching Thunderkit and Jaguarstripe, he felt another gaze burn on his pelt. He tried not to flinch as he turned his head slowly and saw Furykit staring at him, Lonekit, and Stealthkit. She now knew that they were up to something. It was good that they were too far away from her for her to hear them. Before Lonekit could reply to his brother's proposal, Battlekit faced him with a question of his own. "Do you think that you could get Clawkit to join us as well? He might not be eligible for a high position, but if he would support us... Well, we can use all the support we can get if we want to rule."

Stealthkit though momentarily about the tabby kit's question. Although he had been hoping that his brother would hold his tongue, he had to admit that this was a good question. If they could get enough supporters, there would be no question of their rule. Their group just had to be bigger than the other potential leaders'. Even a misfortunate cat like Clawkit, born with more white than was good for him, could support them in even the littlest bit. They just had to have kits who would be loyal to them, which would help keep them in the highest positions. It was posible that they would win this fight by having the majority of the Nursery as their followers.

The biggest question was, would some kits like Furykit and Thunderkit, be able to gather more kits on their side? Stealthkit doubted that Thunderkit would ever get support from more than Warkit, so they wouldn't have to worry about him for long. But Furykit... She was smart, and Wrathkit would most likely back her if he thought she could put Thunderkit in his place. Another problem was that he couldn't guess whose side Calmkit and Ragekit would choose. From a quick glance toward them, he gathered that they would mostly just stick together. But who would get their support first? He, Lonekit, and Battlekit should try, he knew that. And of course, they didn't have to worry about some kits, like Frostkit, Emberkit, and now maybe not even Strikekit, though he could be valuable even if he had some kind of problem.