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Paws dragged across the ground, yet they did not disturb it. Scourge’s blue eyes bore into the trees, anger simmering under his hide like an ever-present poison.
He’d lost. That unworthy cat who’d risen from death itself had killed Scourge in his moment of shock.
He could still feel the blood soaking his fur as his fruitless gasping yielded no air for his lungs.
He’d wandered for long, now. The sun had risen and fallen too many times to count. Scourge had long since, begrudgingly accepted that he was a mere ghost.
The black-coated tom squeezes his eyes shut for a moment before opening them again. His paws had changed their course against his will. He had no destination in mind, so he let his instinct lead him.
Scourge thought back to his Mother and siblings. He had to admit he overreacted. Yes, his siblings were not the most morally aware, but his mother was good. She probably wondered what happened to him.
He still remembers when Tigerstar, young though he was, had attacked Scourge when he still went by the puny name of Tiny.
He remembers the adult cat who encouraged the behavior, and the other cat who’s sneered and spat at them so Scourge could get away. He’d been so scared at the time, but he derives satisfaction from the knowledge that he’d gotten his revenge.
He thinks back to the cats of Bloodclan. How they’d been loyal to a fault, even if it were for selfish reasons.
Scourge is snapped out of his thoughts as he finds himself before a hole in the ground. Letting a kittish curiosity lead him, he slinks into it and finds himself inside a large hollow.
Cats were scattered around, chatting or attending duties. There were youthful cats practicing their fighting, and kits running around jovially.
Scourge’s ears pin back. These were the cats under Firestar’s ruling. Scourge sneers, bounding up to the closest cat, a golden tabby she-cat and rakes his claws through her form, yet they meet no resistance as his paw meets hard ground just as quickly.
These cat shivers, but quickly shakes it off as if it never happened. Scourge spits angrily, but feels a sudden pull. He heeds the urge and trail towards a mossy alcove not quite hidden, but out of the way. He tilts his head and enters.
There, lay a beige she-cat with yellowish-green eyes, nursing two kits. One is a brown tabby, fur warm in the glow of the sun’s rays peering in through the den’s entrance. And the other, fur as red as roaring flames.
It stretches, paws splaying out and.. it has a white paw. Scourge’s mind screeches to a halt, before he swiftly looks down at his very own right paw, white as snow just like the kit’s.
He looks back at the red kitten, face screwing up. He slowly pads over, tail flicking with uncertainty. He for some reason felt no hostility.
The kitten starts mewling quietly, before it escalates into distressed squealing. Scourge leaps back in shock, the fur along his back bristling in alarm.
The sandy mother quickly shushes the kit with a gentle tongue swiping over its forehead. Scourge only watches in awe. He wonders if his mother did this to him, too. If she looked at him lovingly as he nursed.
He dares himself closer again, tilting his head curiously as he circles around the mother, observing quietly. This time, the kitten only raises its nose, sniffing visibly before nuzzling back into its mother’s belly.
“Sandstorm?” Scourge bristles, almost jumping a tail-length into the air at the infuriatingly familiar voice. There, in the entrance is the very cat who banished Scourge to this loathsome existence.
Firestar crawls over to the she-cat (Sandstorm, was it?) and nuzzles her cheek.
“How are you holding up?” He inquires softly, bending his head to give quick licks to both the kittens.
“I’m faring well, but I can’t wait to get back out there.” Sandstorm says humorously. Firestar chuckles warmly.
Scourge can only watch. This is so distant from the cat who killed him.
Scourge looks back at the kits, at the red one’s white paw, and it makes him wonder. Did it get that white paw because it’s the kit of his half-brother? That thought makes Scourge giddy, knowing that at least some part of him prevailed.
He’s made up his mind. He’ll watch this kit and protect it with all he has.
•
Squirrelkit was finally allowed to leave the nursery! Dragging her sister along, she bound out of the den and into the sun. It warms her fur and she squeals excitedly. Leafkit appears equally giddy to finally be out of the nursery without their mother constantly breathing down their necks.
Sandstorm exits the nursery behind them, stretching out before heading over to chat with her clanmates. She’s still watching them, but has decided to let them explore a bit.
“Squirrelkit, look!” Leafkit squeaks, pointing at a butterfly with wings blue as the sky fluttering about. Squirrelkit immediately feels the need to show off to her sister.
Crouching, Squirrelkit approaches the butterfly clumsily, before hurriedly pouncing. She lets out a dismayed mew as she misses by a long-shot and the butterfly flees the scene.
Leafkit is quick to her side, making sure she didn’t get hurt. Her sister had always been that way, always checking in to make sure Squirrelkit was okay.
A giggle escapes the brown tabby. Yes, that too. After making sure Squirrelkit is alright, she’ll always burst out laughing. Squirrelkit didn’t see the amusement in it at all.
Before her sister can fall into a fit of laughter, Squirrelkit pounces on her. Leafkit tries her best to fight back but the giggles still wracking her body makes her body go all slack. Squirrelkit seals a triumph over her sister, puffing her chest out proudly.
Out of the corner of her eye, a dark shape slips by. She follows it with her gaze and finds a black tom settling down at the edge of camp, watching the siblings play. He’s always been there. Watching.
She doesn’t know his name nor what his deal is, but she’s learned to mostly ignore his presence. Seeing him now, lurking in the shadows, she can’t help but wonder who he is.
A bat at her chin draws Squirrelkit back to the matter at paw and she bites her sister’s leg playfully, tussling.
Maybe she’ll find out who that cat is another time.