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Post by Emberstorm on Jul 13, 2013 23:21:24 GMT -6
His visit wasn't over. He had one more stop to make before the returned to his frozen home. The Elders' Den to see the cat he used to be both interested and terrified by. Now Firelight was a kind cat as he discovered as an Apprentice and came to not be so afraid of her anymore. The Abysinnian warrior poked his head into the mostly empty den. Firelight? Hello? Hopefully his iceclan scent didn't scare her. He wanted to be careful and also ask her a few questions. Did she know something about his past?
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Post by Firelight on Jul 13, 2013 23:35:29 GMT -6
Firelight's rasping voice sounded throughout the den, followed by a gleaming pair of yellow eyes, although, through the seasons, that light had dulled with age. Her breath was shallow, and ragged, and the den was rank with illness. A half-picked at rabbit lay at the food of her nest, uneaten, and scattered moss, along with tufts of her, riddled the floor, as if she no longer cared to clean herself.
At the scent of IceClan, she did not do what she would have done on a regular basis - jump to her paws, snarl at the intruder, no matter her heritage. Sibling or not, an intruder was danger, and it was still her duty to protect her daughter and the younger kits. Rather, she tucked her nose under her paws and squeezed her eyes shut, curling even tighter into a ball.
"What is it this time?" her muffled voice squealed.
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Post by Emberstorm on Jul 13, 2013 23:45:41 GMT -6
He was frankly happy she didn't mug him. He took a very shallow, nervous breath since he had to show respect like one should when one is near an Elder and said Its just Emberstorm ma'am. Ya know me right? He giggled nervously to himself clerly on the verge of having some kind of nervous breakdown. He cursed silently to himself and added I was hoping you knew about my parents ma'am. as clearly as he could. Normally his slight German accent would make this difficult but it didn't.
The Fireclan Elder didn't look so good and it reeked of pestilence in the Den. he had bought a mouse and nudged it toward Firelight, hoping he could at least make her more comfortable. Maybe her nest needed changing. He scented the air and cringed. That would be a yes. Now where was the spare moss?
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Post by Firelight on Jul 14, 2013 0:10:31 GMT -6
Shakily, Firelight rose to her paws. She wheezed at the effort.
"Excuse me. I've been rather ill lately. Coming down with something."
Of course, that was an understatement. Firelight had hardly the energy to do anything, nevertheless train her apprentices, a few of which she had handed over to her daughter for safekeeping. It hurt to move, and every muscle felt like it was on fire. She hardly remembered anything, and was slowly losing memory of even the most vivid moments of her past. Is this how it feels to be old?
Her eyes widened at his question, and her tail quivered. No, no, she wasn't ready for this. She never would be.
"I uh.. I .. no. I don't have anything I can do to help you about that."
Hastily, she turned around, praying he wouldn't be suspicious.
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Post by Emberstorm on Jul 14, 2013 0:14:59 GMT -6
He knew that Firelight as getting old, but he wasn't aware she was even this sick. However why was she so hasty to say no. She was must hiding something. What is she hiding? Let alone why so hesitant? He narrowed his eyes with suspicion knowing something was amiss.
Are you sure ma'am? he asked firmly. He was wondering why sh was acting so uneasy. It must be something. What was it?
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Post by Firelight on Jul 14, 2013 0:18:35 GMT -6
Firelight spun on her foot, whatever energy left in her flaring in a firm gaze.
"Yes, I'm sure," she snapped. "Well ,I mean, no, I'm not. But what information I hold about your parents and your past are my secret alone. I'm taking it to my grave, Emberki-"
she pause,d cutting herself off. Running a paw behind her ear, the elder collected herself.
"Yes, I'm sure." she repeated, hoping to cover her giveaway rant.
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Post by Emberstorm on Jul 14, 2013 0:23:42 GMT -6
He was rather taken aback by her agressive reaction. Was Firelight being blackmaild? I have the right to know though. I have waited nearly fourthy moons and I have hunted for a quarter of that to find my parents. Just please, I beg of you, tell me even the slightest bit you know. His right eye twitched slightly as he said this and was starting to get defensive himself.
He was stillnot buying it. He knew there was much more to this. No matter how shocking or vile the secrets the Firelight may be hiding were he would milk ever last one out of her.
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Post by Firelight on Jul 14, 2013 0:27:48 GMT -6
Firelight bit her tongue. Where was Snowflare? The elder confided everything in her one true blood in the clan, in the queen. She could have explained everything much easier than the frosty onyx she-cat could have dared to.
"Believe me," her voice lowered, almost in melancholy. "You'd live a much happier, much easier life without knowing."
Proceeding her words, she groomed herself, for the first time in a long time. If this was going to happen here and now, she had to look at least presentable for it.
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Post by Emberstorm on Jul 14, 2013 0:33:13 GMT -6
He growned inwardly at this. He needed Darkwing at his side or Thornfrost to soften her up. He tilted his head to the side as he looked around the Elders' Den. Even when he lived in Fireclan he didn't go in much. Mostl because Firelight would yell at him when he went too far away from the Nursery.
I think I would feel better knowing. I just desire to know this so i can retire knowing who cared enough about me to abandon me. His whiskers twitched as he finsihed this and he kicked aside a bone that was lying near him.
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Post by Firelight on Jul 14, 2013 0:35:46 GMT -6
"Think twice before you speak," Firelight hissed, slightly offended. She pinned her ears back against her skull, before regaining enough common sense to remember that he wasn't aware that she was his maternal figure.
"Maybe she stood back and watched you grow up, in the sidelines, because she was unable to care for you herself." she stalked forward, shoving her nose in his. "Did you ever consider that, did you? Just to find that he up and left the clan, after she fought so hard to keep him in FireClan while his littermates were taken by their father?"
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Post by Emberstorm on Jul 14, 2013 0:43:46 GMT -6
He wasn't too happy about this. I knew my mother was kind. It was my father who didn't care Firelight! I recall him arguing with mother and then I was in Fireclan. The voice spoke up even if Firelight couldn't hear it. Well Ember you angered and Elder. That looks good on your record.
He hissed at himself and said I am sorry for lashing out Miss. Firelight. Your are right i should hold my tongue in the future. For the first time in a whil, a tear escaped his right and eyes he quickly licked up the tear. He could not afford to show weakness. He dearly missed his pathetic nest because he was starting to become scared. He took a step back and was obviously shaking.
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Post by Firelight on Jul 14, 2013 0:47:30 GMT -6
Firelight softened. A million memories flashed through her mind. The ones that time itself could not erase; the painful ones, the comforting ones, that very blizzardy day. The frozen paws, and the mourn that followed. Stepping forward, Firelight laid her ears back, but not in spite. She knew with every ounce in her she was going to regret everything that was to follow. Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea.
Bending her head down, the elder groomed Emberstorm like she would her own kit, like she had done for him.
"I'm not going to hurt you, child. Don't be scared."
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Post by Emberstorm on Jul 14, 2013 0:55:07 GMT -6
He relaxed as the Elder began to groom him? What was this about? I understand. He waited obiedently and wondered why she called him child. It was almost familiar but it was a different time. Was it something he heard in the Nursery, it had to be. He still recalled his earliest days of his parents arguing. Most his father in a rage over who he could take.
~FLASHBACK~
I want to take all of them.
No! I want one of my own kits!
I said all. But only because I love you, you can have one
Emberkit. Take Darkkit and Crimsonkit.
~Reality~
The flashback made him shiver. That night was very cold almost as cold as.. Iceclan.
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Post by Firelight on Jul 14, 2013 1:03:38 GMT -6
Firelight inhaled, exhaled. Storytime, kits.
"A long time ago, when a young warrior was still in the brink of youth, she fell in love with a tom from another clan. I know, as wrong as it sounds, but honestly, CloudClan had its approval, or else her kits would have died in birth. Or that's what she likes to tell herself, anyway. Either way, I'll justify it by telling you that she was not FireClan of blood, but IceClan.
Anyway, not much long after, she found that she was expecting kits. This would turn into a litter of three. Of course, she would have been called a traitor for birthing kits not by FireClan blood. It was bad enough that she was not of her clans' descent to begin with, but to have gone that far would have resulted in her being cast out in the clan. She consulted with the father, who agreed to take in the three kits as 'strays.'
On the day of the journey, the young warrior knew that she couldn't bare to part with all of her kits. Choosing one, the strongest of the three - it would take much more energy to make the trek back to FireClan after the harsh struggle through the storm. She called this one Emberkit, to signify that although it would be IceClan heritage, just as she, it would still live on in FireClan, burning with loyalty to the clan that the other two could not serve. What became of those kits?" she shrugged.
"She decided that her brother would take care of them there, who she had been parted with at birth by Wildheart. Funny how history repeats itself, eh? She handed her kitten over to the queen she trusted the most at the time, who bore her secret to its grave. And from the sidelines, she watched the kit grow, only able to lead it on the right path with gentle nudges from another den. By then, she had retired, and had yet two other litters, each of one cat."
Firelight ran a tongue over her teeth.
"And I'm sure you know what happened then. That cat grew to be unfaithful, and left to his birthclan, of sorts. But that was to be expected."
Gritting her teeth, she added,
"I'm sorry that she failed as a mother."
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Post by Emberstorm on Jul 14, 2013 1:11:11 GMT -6
Funny how things worked isn't it. I can't say she did. I must say she was caring more about the survival of her kits by keeping them away so she wasn't exposed then cast out since then she could provide as a mother. Funny thing is I still lack the names. I mean its a lovely story and quite sad but what she-cat had that amount of courage Miss. Firelight? He was honestly humbled by the story of his birth. ifo nly he knew who is father was so he could well confront them.
The lightbulb when off in his head and he said Does this mean your my mum. It certainly can't be Shadowwing after all. However, that does mean I am still full iceclan? I also was merely curiou, unfaithful is such a strong word.
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