Where The Heart Lays

Where The Heart Lays Posted Aug 1, 2021 3:14:04 GMT

Quote

[ New Beginning writing prompt ]

White fur flashed between the trees, catching the rosy, golden tones of dawn that beamed between the trees. Paws thundered against the earth, the lopsided sprint of a hare followed closely by long feline legs. Red and green leaves danced in his wake. The rabbit's warren couldn't be much further, just over that hill of bushy grass he'd bet. Closing the gap as much as he could, the pale cat timed his jump well, pushing off full-force from a subtle knoll in the soil with his claws outstretched.

"Not bad," a voice called from the trees; a taller cat slipped out from between the undergrowth. Cloudpaw panted, looking up timidly as he tried to control his breathing. "But not quite good enough, hm?" His mentor's tail flicked, and Cloudpaw couldn't help but shrink down a little. He was so close! But once again, he had failed to catch anything better than a vole. What if someone went hungry tonight, because of him? A gentle tap of a paw on his head interrupted his thoughts. Wrinkling his nose, he caught the gentle look in his mentor's eyes. "I said it wasn't bad, Cloudpaw. A hare is hard prey to catch for someone still learning. You kept good pace with it, and that's something to be proud of."

Cloudpaw considered his mentor's words for a moment before smiling. He stood and shook his fur out, shedding dried pine needles and bits of broken leaves all around him. "Okay, okay- I believe you," he dipped his head, a subtle smirk on his muzzle as he raised it back up. "But now you owe me some rabbit hunting tips tomorrow." His mentor laughed in surprise.

"Tomorrow? You're on dawn patrol tomorrow."

"And?"

"Ha! Alright. If you're still on your paws after you come back to camp, I'll teach you some tricks," they conceded, giving him a fond shove. Cloudpaw pushed back with a paw, grinning. The two of them lulled into a pause for a moment, standing side by side under the autumn woods. As his thoughts wandered, Cloudpaw's smile fell into a contemplative expression.

He craned his head up to look at his mentor. "Hey, did anyone ever find my mother?" Cloudpaw almost regretted asking, but it had been on his mind for moons, now. He just wished someone could give him an answer. His mentor sighed, closing their eyes to think before meeting his gaze.

"No, we found almost no trace of anyone else around you. We looked, in case there were other kittens lost in the snow somewhere. There may have been some pawsteps from your mother, but they were already fading into the snowfall." The tall cat paused, curling their tail around to rest against the apprentice's side. "I'm sorry, Cloudpaw. It's possible she lives on, but we have never had a visitor asking for you." Cloudpaw nodded, staring at his paws for a few moments as he tried to decide which of his emotions were right.

Anger? It wasn't her fault leaf-bare had been so harsh that cycle. Sadness? Though he missed her still, it was beginning to become something 'past' to him; it rarely troubled his thoughts for long anymore. It couldn't possibly be happiness, but maybe... "I hope she found peace somewhere. Even- even if it's in StarClan, or somewhere else." His mentor rested their chin on his head, leaning close- the cat equivalent of a hug. Cloudpaw didn't stop the tears in his eyes until they dried on their own. As his head cleared and his eyes stopped stinging, he flicked an ear and drew away slowly. "Thanks."

"Life in the clans can be harsh- but you don't have to take it alone. You have a family here, too." Cloudpaw nodded, and his mind finally settled. "Now, let's head on home, yeah? You've still got that thrush to pick back up on the way."

Cloudchaser chuckled quietly at the memory. He had been such a lost little kitten back then. He hadn't found his footing in the clan until that moon, learning how to chase hares from dawn to dusk every day he could. Picking the freshly-caught rabbit back up in his jaws, he began the walk back to camp. With the way the shadows formed on the trees, he could almost picture his old mentor at his side again.

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