Hunter's Woods Writing Prompts

   Kat had been understandably anxious when Beatrix, Mitko, and Ragin disappeared without a trace in the woods that day. Beatrix especially - He had made the choice to go with her, to help guide and teach her, and to get her home safely, after all. His concern was only natural, even despite the message Ragin brought with him when he returned and the others did not, saying that they would be "back soon."
   He had been, perhaps even more understandably, incredibly confused when the two did finally reappear, followed shortly behind by one, two, and eventually three frankly bizarre looking cats, green and blue and glowing, one with extra heads and tails and a tree growing from their back... None of which was helped by their claims of another world, of sentient trees and dragon gods, of felines of all sorts wielding magic. It was all simply too strange. He played along, but the whole thing confounded him, particularly when he started to see the chaos that was the newcomers' relationships.
   Oh well. At least Beatrix was okay.

   "So... why exactly are you here?" Kat eventually asked. They'd been traveling together for long enough, and he'd heard enough of the tales to admit that perhaps there was truth to them - And if that was the case, he wanted some sort of explanation. However little it might explain about the... everything that had apparently happened. "If you really had a home in that other world, why follow Beatrix and Mitko here? I know you've spoken-" At rather extreme length, he wanted to add, but he held his tongue. "-about your goddess and her tree, and how much she meant to you. And I know that Mitko has made it very clear that the gods killed each other, but if Berkeley is what you say he is, then obviously they've been given new life in some way. And they weren't even here when you arrived, so..." He trailed off for a bit, then flicked his ear and spoke again. "I suppose I'm simply confused. Your gods burned themselves to the ground, and despite your devotion, you chose to leave the ones who would take their places, to... follow a couple of strangers to their world? You'll forgive me for thinking it doesn't make much sense."
   Melia swished her tail. "My sister is here," she answered.
   "Your sister."
   "Yes. I couldn't just let her run off on her own, after all."
   That... explained very little, really. "So... you came here searching for her, and joined up with us since we're traveling anyway?" With the way Virva, Melia, and Berkeley all behaved towards one another... she had to be referring to someone else, surely.
   The green cat gave him a quizzical look. "No," she said, "she's right over there, talking with Beatrix." Melia craned her head to see more clearly over the larger cat's back, a look of mild concern on her face; Kat followed her gaze to find the other, mintier green cat, listening with a grin as Beatrix chattered on about something he couldn't quite make out. "I know we're only half siblings, but I didn't think it was that much of a difference."
   "...That raises several more questions," the Maine Coon said, "not the least of which is, if you're really siblings, why does your supposed sister seem to hate you?"
   Melia winced and looked away. "I... I don't know. I can't read her mind," she snapped. "Look, if the goddess can't look after her any more, someone has to."
   "So you're stalking her."
   "Wh- No! I'm not- How dare you suggest-"
   "She clearly doesn't want you around," Kat interrupted. "Anyone with functioning eyes or ears could tell that. And despite my age, I happen to have both. So? What's your explanation for following here against her wishes?"
   Melia huffed. "I'm just... trying to protect her, alright? You don't need to know any more details than that."
   "Is that so?" He gave her a serious look and straightened his posture. "Because I disagree. Beatrix may be the one deciding where we travel, but in all other respects, I am the leader here. I am the one with the most experience, and I am the one in charge. And I'm not afraid of protecting the members of this clowder if need be. At my discretion. Whatever the threat may be," he said in an even tone, even as he towered over her. "So. Would you like to answer that again, more clearly this time?"
   The green cat winced. "Look, she... she thinks she can do anything she wants, by herself, no matter what. But that's not how she works. Someone has to keep an eye on her, or she's going to push herself too far and get herself killed. Someone has to keep her safe. If the goddess can't protect her from that, I will."
   Kat's gaze and posture softened just a bit, but he said nothing. A better explanation... but not quite enough. And so Melia continued.
   "She... she's got a heart condition. And she won't accept her limits. So someone has to enforce them before she goes too far, and if that someone has to be me, I will." She sighed, her ears drooping. "It would have been so much easier if she had just stayed home, if her grace had just withdrawn from the battle and protected herself, if..."
   Kat was quiet for a time, but allowed himself to release the tension in his muscles. "I can understand that," he said at last. "Trying to protect someone who isn't able to go it alone, that is. That's why Beatrix and I formed this group in the first place. I couldn't just allow her to go through this alone."
   "...Yeah?" Melia asked.
   "Yeah," he said, then paused. "You know you go overboard, though?" When she didn't respond, he continued. "She needs to accept her limits, yes, and she shouldn't be pushed halfway into her own grave to do it. But you can't live her life for her, you know. She needs to have the space to be her own person, too."
   "I..." she started, but stopped. Then she tried again. "It's not that..." Still, she trailed off.
   Kat sighed. "I can't live your life for you, either," he said. "But I hope you'll consider it, at least." He turned to walk away, then looked back. "You mean well. You wouldn't be here if you didn't mean well. Neither would I. But intent doesn't undermine consequences." And he left her to sit with her thoughts.
   He would be lying if he said everything suddenly made sense thanks to her explanation. But at least there was some level of understanding between them now.