STS RP | Monsters

[Thistlepaw]

    Thistlepaw had never felt quite so... down before. She'd had her moments before, like when Daphnepaw had refused to groom her because of how "dirty" she was, or when Barkpaw beat her in one of their spars and he rubbed it in her face for most of the day. Those were annoying days, but today...today was bad. Softsong's death didn't bother her as much as she thought it should, perhaps. She didn't know her aunt very well, only having seen her a couple times total in her entire life. The part that really made her day miserable was seeing her mother, broken and sobbing violently in her den. She had never seen her like that before. It left a distinct feeling in Thistlepaw's chest that she couldn't quite place. She was sad, obviously, but there was more to it. Seeing her mother, the leader, Rosestar of MonarchClan, absolutely broken... Her role model..

    Thistlepaw closed her eyes, shoving the thoughts to the side. It was getting later now, and her siblings and mother were mostly asleep in the den. Thistlepaw couldn't keep still though, rising to her paws to leave and get some fresh air and...and... she didn't know what.

    On top of the grief of seeing Rosestar so torn up, she couldn't shake the uneasy sense of dread that seemed to hang around her now. What had killed Softsong? Was it going to kill Rosestar? Was it going to kill her? Thistlepaw peered out of camp, watching the slowly creeping shadows inching forwards from the trees as the sun lowered a little more on the horizon. She swallowed down a lump in her throat, looking away.

    Without really thinking about it, Thistlepaw made her way across camp slowly, absentmindedly going in the direction of the nursery. She couldn't go to the apprentice's den right now. She couldn't go anywhere that was comfortable. Upon realizing what she was doing though, she paused, brows knit. She wasn't a kit anymore. She didn't need to be in the nursery. Her chest felt tight, and the urge to cry fought its way up again. Why did she feel this way? Was it normal to feel like this? Her brain felt like it was short-circuiting no matter how much she tried to think. She sat with a miserable sigh, just off to the side of the den, beside a small feather that one of the kits must have left outside. Thistlepaw stared blankly at the feather, before glancing around to see if anyone was watching her. Satisfied with her more or less empty surroundings (everyone was grieving, so it only made sense), Thistlepaw began to dejectedly paw at the feather. She didn't have it in herself to properly play with it, instead tossing it up into the air by a few centimeters and watching it slowly flutter back down to her paws.

    Her mind was occupied, paws buzzing with anxiety and dread that she couldn't shake no matter what she did. Maybe she'd go kill whatever killed Softsong. Maybe that'd make Rosestar happy again. She just wanted Rosestar to be happy again. Thistlepaw looked back out the camp again, a stupid, idiotic idea on the front of her mind.

[Smallkit]

    Night is always so, so scary. Tonight has been the worst night by far though. Although Smallkit was taken away from the scene before she could get a good look, and despite Sweetmilk's desperate distractions for her children, it wasn't enough to quell Smallkit's fear. She heard the wails of cats. What were they crying about? The commotion has died down, but Smallkit finds the stillness of night scarier than the mourning cats. So frightening, in fact, that she can barely sleep, even among her mother's comfortable fur. The tiny kit separates herself from her family for but a moment; maybe she can find something to play with until she gets sleepy? This is the goal, that is until a noise echoes from the nursery's entrance. Smallkit squeaks before quickly covering her mouth with her paws, attempting to hide the sound. There's a monster outside, isn't there? Is that why cats were sad? She has to hide somewhere- anywhere... Should she go back to her mom? Before the molly has the chance to leave, she catches a sigh... or what sounds like a sigh. Her muzzle peaks out from the nursery, and her eyes just barely miss the figure of Thistlepaw off to the side. "It's not safe out there," Smallkit whimpers cautiously. "You have to stay in here."

[Thistlepaw]

    Distracted by the terrible ideas in her head, Thistlepaw sat, with thoughts of chasing off and killing whatever it was that had killed Softsong. It was ridiculous. Thistlepaw knew it was. But she was hardly thinking straight on good days, and now especially she was feeling reckless. What else was she supposed to do with these horrible, awful emotions? About to get to her paws, she suddenly jumped as someone called out to her, and her head whipped around at an almost worrying speed. Did someone know what she was going to do?

    Her eyes fell quickly to where the voice came from, a small she-cat at the entrance of the nursery. Which one was this one again... There were so many kits, Thistlepaw stopped keeping count around when the rogues showed up. She stood, stiff, taking a couple moments to fully understand what the kitten was saying. Thistlepaw glanced behind her, then back to Smallkit.

    Oddly enough, her words struck a small reminder of fear into her heart. The mutilated corpse of Softsong. Her aunt. Alone in the forest with no one nearby.

    Thistlepaw tried to bite back another powerful tide of anguish, but she was unable to hide the expression on her face for too long. She felt tears slide down her cheeks, and she quickly looked away from the kit. She was an apprentice now. She couldn't keep crying. That was Lightningpaw's job, not hers.

    Swallowing again, she responded thickly. "I-I'm not gonna let anything hurt us." she meowed, tone warbled no matter how hard she tried. 'Us' was vague, and Thistlepaw didn't really know the full extent of what she meant either, but it was the only thing she could think to say.

    After a moment, she wiped her wet eyes with a paw, trying to blink away the urge to keep crying. "I'm not a kit anymore. I'm- Sweetmilk wouldn't want me in there." It was an excuse, probably, but it made sense to Thistlepaw in the moment.

[Smallkit]

    Smallkit's ears pin against her head as Thistlepaw wipes her tears away. She's crying... Why? At the mention of her mother's name, the white and black she-kit glances behind her to where she sleeps, then back at the apprentice. "Why won't Momma want you in the nursery?" she asks, antsy to give an explanation. "There are monsters outside. I don't want them to get you." Her mind briefly flashes back to the artistic creations of Sealkit, and although he couldn't have known of whatever creature is out there, maybe he was right?

    "I... I don't know why everyone's so sad," she thinks aloud. "First Minnowkit, and now everyone else... I don't want everyone to cry." Her forepaws press together nervously, nose twitching in thought. "Do you think thing's will go back to normal?"

[Thistlepaw]

    Thistlepaw felt an odd mixture of emotions. Anger flared up in her chest for a moment, making her tense up and clench her teeth. It was unwarranted. A moment of confusion and unjustified rage at the harmless question. Even as it was happening, Thistlepaw didn't know why it was happening. Thankfully, the intense moment seemed to subside as quickly as it came, and Thistlepaw deflated a little, glancing over to the leader's den with a solemn expression.

    Would things go back to normal? Rosestar was so... so far from what Thistlepaw knew as her mother. Inconsolable. Trying to steady her breathing, Thistlepaw moved a little closer to Smallkit. She was too tired to care. She sat just inside the entrance to the nursery, glad to see that everyone else in here was asleep. Or at least pretending to.

    "Yeah...yeah, things will be... they'll be normal." She meowed, her tone betraying her words. Maybe things would be fine. Maybe she was thinking about it too hard and all the sadness would just...go away. It would be so much easier to let it go away.

    Monsters outside. Thistlepaw's claws flexed momentarily. "I- uh... yeah." She trailed off, unsure what to say. She'd never felt this listless in her life. She looked to Smallkit. Should she comfort her? It felt weird. Thistlepaw was the one who needed comforting. But...then again, Smallkit was just a kit.

    "It might be sad for a few days. I-I don't know." she paused. Did the little she-kit even know what happened? "You got any idea what happened kid? Or is it just...cats bein' sad around you?" She put it bluntly. Though, even through her prickly demeanor, she felt a twinge of guilt.

    Thistlepaw sighed, and tried again. "Uh- what's your name, kid?"

[Smallkit]

    The slightest bit of doubt in Smallkit's heart dissipates after Thistlepaw's reassuring words. Despite her conflicting tone, the kit doesn't recognize it. Talking to this apprentice is way different than talking to her mom...

    Upon being questioned, the she-kit shakes her head without much thought. "Momma took us away," she mumbles. "She told us a story about pink ducks. I don't think that's why everyone's sad though..." Even without the knowledge of a name, Smallkit lies beside Thistlepaw rather closely, paying mind to the other's expression. Even if Thistlepaw is an unfamiliar figure, it seems to be far from the kit's worries. Perhaps she wouldn't have minded during any other time.

    "Is it safe to be outside? Why are you outside when everyone else is sleeping?" She can't help but blurt out what's on her mind at the moment, despite Thistlepaw slightly changing the subject with another question. It doesn't take long for an apology to slip through. "S-sorry. I'm Smallkit, and... yeah. What's your name?"

[Thistlepaw]

    Thistlepaw glanced to her side where Smallkit had settled, and strangely enough, it was a welcome comfort. Despite not knowing the kit, her naive nature was... well, nice. Thistlepaw wrapped her tail a bit closer to the smaller she-cat, fighting back a sigh that tried to escape her nose. She couldn't protect Smallkit from the rumours and the crying of others, but she wasn't about to go telling a baby all about her horribly mutilated aunt either. She sniffed, hoping she was quiet enough not to bring attention back to her tears.

    At the mention of pink ducks, Thistlepaw couldn't help but laugh. It was abrupt, and almost disbelieving. Something so silly to think of at a time like this. It felt...wrong almost. Pink ducks. Rosestar wailing in her den, holding Thistlepaw and her siblings close and repeatedly telling them how much she loved them. Like she was going to die.

    Thistlepaw blinked, gaze coming back to Smallkit. She wiped away another tear she hadn't realized was falling. "There's... there's guards keepin' watch. It's safe." More or less. "Don't go wandering though. Its easy t' get lost when you're a kit like yourself." Thistlepaw felt a little silly, talking to a kitten at a time like this. Maybe she should have left camp.

    She couldn't even begin to imagine the fury she'd face if Rosestar found out, though. The thought sent shivers up Thistlepaw's spine. "I was just out because I needed to... think. My...my ma' was really sad today, n' she just fell asleep so..." StarClan, Thistlepaw hoped Barkpaw would never find out about this. Talking about this kinda stuff? To a kit no less? She sighed again, heavy and tired.

    "Smallkit, huh?" Thistlepaw looked the tuxedo molly up and down, before nodding. "Mhm... good name. My name is Thistlepaw. Rosestar's...daughter.... one of 'm." Her usual enthusiasm was hard to reach. Thistlepaw settled down into a loaf beside the little kitten. "You aren't tired? Those your siblings over there?" The apprentice motioned with her nose to where Sweetmilk and her other two kittens slept quietly. Thistlepaw was up late most nights too, so she understood why. "How'd that story of those ducklings go?" She asked after a moment.

[Smallkit]

    Guards keeping watch... monster guards. There'll surely keep the clan safe, right? Smallkit gives off a faint smile when Thistlepaw lets out a laugh, and her curled tail wags a little. Her cheerful exposition soon fades as Rosestar is mentioned. "Oh..." she whispers, though still audible due to the proximity. "Even though my momma was telling a story, I could tell she was a little sad too. Something really bad must've happened."

    The kit rests the side of her head against Thistlepaw's shoulder, staring off in the distance that's delved in darkness. "I want to know what happened, but I also don't want to know. If Momma didn't tell me, then maybe I shouldn't know..." Her attention is caught when the apprentice's gaze lands to somewhere behind them; Smallkit's eyes follow to the back of the nursery where her family slept. "I tried to sleep, but... I was scared something was going to get me. Nighttime is always scary. That's when birds stop chirping and there's no more butterflies. I think they're hiding from the evil monsters."

[Thistlepaw]

    Thistlepaw glanced down again when Smallkit’s head came to rest on her shoulder, which she followed with a small nod. She didn’t feel like an apprentice, in the moment. Not really. In fact, she wasn’t sure she ever did, but with the weight of everything that had happened today, Thistlepaw had never wanted to be a kit again more than now. Part of her envied Smallkit. Her ignorance was a blessing that Thistlepaw didn’t have, and probably never would have again. Death was real now, and it could reach anyone in her life, including Rosestar. Including her siblings. Including her.

    Thistlepaw broke out of her thoughts with a hard blink. “You’re young, I think you’d be better off not knowing.” She admitted, adjusting her weight briefly. “Just be glad y’ don’t have to know. I think pink ducklings is more fun t’ think about anyways.” After a pause, Thistlepaw set her chin down on her paws and stared out into the closing darkness around camp. Whatever killed Softsong was still out there. Monsters in the dark, like all the scary stories cats told kits. No cat even knew what killed Softsong. Maybe Smallkit was right, and that’s why everything hid during the night.

    “Well, as long as you don’t go out alone at night, no scary monsters are gonna get’cha. That’s why we have warriors, right?” Thistlepaw nudged her smaller companion. “You’re safer than any cat in the nursery, so you don’t gotta worry.” She’d pause. “And the butterflies and birds like t’ sleep just like you an’ me. They’re always back the next day.” She wasn’t very good at comforting cats. She’d never done it before today, but she wasn’t cruel. Thistlepaw licked Smallkit’s ear comfortingly. “MonarchClan is gonna keep you safe, Mousie.” She’d give her a little grin.

[Smallkit]

    Smallkit smiles softly at the nickname. Mousie... Even the slightest bit of hesitation disapates, and the black and white molly purrs in reaction. With a lap against her ear, she giggles. "Thank you, Thistlepaw," the kit responds. "I feel a little better now... If you ever want to sleep with me and Momma in the nursery, you can."

    Unable to pull herself away from the apprentice's touch and warmth, Smallkit decides to stay where she lies, shutting her eyes for but a moment. Unbeknownst to her, and despite feeling contradictory, her body swiftly drifts off to sleep. The chilliness of leaf-fall night is no longer bothersome, nor is the thought of monsters plaguing her mind. Just in the now, and with the last bit of energy, the kit utters a 'good night' to the other before going quiet.

[Thistlepaw]

    Thistlepaw watched with a small tug in her chest as Smallkit drifted off to sleep. She looked tired, but selfishly, Thistlepaw wanted her to be awake a little longer. Someone to talk to, even if it was a young kit she couldn’t really speak to about what was troubling her. A distraction. The apprentice looked back out over the forest, eyes flicking to each faint rustle in the foliage there.

    “Night.” Was all Thistlepaw said, wondering briefly if she should carry her back to her mother to sleep properly. Something about the night though, made her stay still. She felt the gentle puff of Smallkit’s breaths against her leg, rhythmic and slow. It made Thistlepaw’s own eyes droop a little. She couldn’t fall asleep here, not with the possibility of Barkpaw or Daphnepaw figuring out where she was. But she could rest for a while.

    Setting her chin down on her paws again, Thistlepaw kept watch for the night, ears twitching. She’d go back to Rosestar before the sun rose, relishing the quiet while she had it.