Fluidstripe's story

A kitten snuggled her parent's belly, purring warmly. Fluidstripe looked down at their daughter,  love filling their heart, letting the kitten get comfortable. A heartbeat passed and the kitten meowed quietly.

"Fluidstwipe? Can you tell me a stowy?"

"Of course, little one." The cat answered, looking at the kitten. "Once upon a time, during a terrible Leaf-bare, a kitten was born. This kitten was born to a Twoleg house, but the Twolegs didn't want it. They put it into a basket, and travelled far from the Twoleg village, travelled into the rocky mountains. They put the basket there, leaving the kitten to freeze."

"Why would they do that?" the kitten asked with eyes wide open.

"I do not know. The kitten would have died, if the cold hadn't driven a group of creatures out of their territory to seek food. These sleek, dark, deathly creatures that are known for their blazing crimson eyes and sharp teeth, found the kitten, hungry and freezing. But remember, little one, that each leaf has two sides. The one visible to the world and the other one, that only the tree can see. And these creatures... they had the other side too. They took the freezing kitten into their pack, giving it to one of the nursing ones, saving it from the Death's claws.

The pack had different ranks, each creature being named after their rank. The three leaders were called Skies, always choosing the next leader after one of them dies. The others could have been Defenders-the ones that defend their territory and guard the borders; Hunters-the ones who hunt for their pack; Trainers-those who train their young; Learners to become either of those; and Nursers-the mothers who take care of their young cubs.

The kitten's pack, called The Moon Pack, was living in one of the biggest caves in the mountains, only with The Night Pack in the lead.

The current leaders, Moss Sky, Night Sky and Stone Sky, were very wise and welcomed the kitten in. Being named Snow Cub, after the snow it was found in and the white coat it had, got to grow up with Coal Nurser and two other cubs-Bat Cub and Deer Cub.

The pack believed that when one dies, they get reborn as a plant or berry, a herb that saves their loved ones one day."

The kitten yawned, listening to the story carefully.

"Snow Cub grew up to be Snow Learner and, despite their obvious differences, found friends in their packmates."

Fluidstripe looked down at their daughter, who drifted into sleep. They sighed, knowing that the story wasn't true, for the kitten had not been welcomed by everyone and grew up often being teased for the white pelt that always shone in the dark cave. As Snow Learner, almost to be a defender, they left their pack and traveled far to the Great Moor, deciding never to have kittens, for they would fail at being a good parent. Snow Learner gave themself a new name-one that would make it forget about the pack, but unable to ever do so.

Of course Fluidstripe had missed their Phobe siblings at times. They had friends and felt love towards them, but they couldn't stay. Once they started to discover their own identity, how could they live with someone who had hurt, chased away or killed those different from them?

Fluidstripe's heart told them to stay with their family, but their mind rushed them to leave, before anyone realized their difference.

Fluidstripe tried to keep their promise of never having kittens on their own, but then they met Lionless. And now there were two kittens and Fluidstripe couldn't let them get attached, they couldn't know that Fluidstripe cared enough to die for them. For Fluidstripe had believed that about their own family and got hurt too many times. 'I'm not perfect. And one day, I'll disappoint you and I don't want you to hurt for that.', they thought to their kittens the day they were born. 'So, despite my love for you, I will not let you love me back.'