~ Trust in your heart and your sun shines forever and ever. Hold fast to kindness, your light shines forever and ever. I believe in you and me. We are strong. ~ Strong, by Sonna Rele, from Cinderella 2015
Chapter 52
"Strong."
7/11/17 - 7/12/17
~ Dovekit ~
Larkflight exhausted Dovekit to her limits. As promised, he taught her swimming at night in the pond.
"Stroke. Stroke - keep your tail straight! Keep your head above the surface or you'll take in water and drown!"
Dovekit stayed in the nest, fatigue and sore muscles chaining her down.
How does Pebblepaw handle him?
She remains in the nest until the afternoon and waits outside the nursery. Silversnow is gathering her littermates, her kits and Willowfall's sons to the direction of the pond. The difference, though, is that Larkflight and his apprentice, Pebblepaw, were following her.
I could show him the moves he taught me!
Dovekit wastes no time running and bumps into Olivestar's forelegs. Her mother looks down on her like she just remembered she had kits.
"Oh."
Oh? That's all you have to say? Dovekit sees Larkflight's tail vanish and quickly follows after him.
Dovekit bursts out into the open where the kits look at her as if she has grown wings. Silversnow notices her, along with Larkflight and Pebblepaw.
"Are you deciding to join us this time?" Silversnow asks her.
Dovekit nods vigorously.
"You're so behind, I know how to dive underwater." Bramblekit says.
Silversnow grabs Bramblekit by the scruff and puts her in. Dovekit sits next to Troutkit.
"It's about time you showed up. Blabberkit and Loudkit were driving us insane." Troutkit whispers to her.
"I could only imagine." Dovekit replies. Larkflight stares at her with an unreadable expression that makes her worried.
Does he believe I can't do it? Then why would he train me if he doesn't?
"... Dovekit?"
The light grey she-kit looks at Silversnow's expecting face. "Are you ready?"
Dovekit glances over to Larkflight, who is still stoic - much to her ever growing worry.
"Y-Yes."
Silversnow grasps her teeth on her scruff, lifting her off the ground and over the pond. Dovekit's eyes keeps darting back to Larkflight's stoic expression.
Why is he not saying anything? Why does he look so cold? Did I say something wrong? Was I not supposed to be here? Why does he-?
Splash!
A sense of shock courses through nervous system when cold water hits her face. Dovekit goes under and gasps for air in the surface.
"That's it! Keep your head up!" Silversnow calls out.
Dovekit struggles to keep her head up and uses her hind legs to retain some of her balance. She looks at Larkflight, who doesn't look impressed.
What did I do wrong now?
Dovekit misses her beat and plunges underneath again, only this time she is reluctant to resurface and holds her breath.
Maybe the adults are right… Larkflight is ashamed of me, he might've even taught me out of pity.
Dovekit's lunges scream for air, but she refuses still. She feels teeth grab her scruff as she is pulled out of the pond. Larkflight drops the light grey she-kit on the shore where the kits stare at her.
"Dovekit, are you alright?" Silversnow bends down to lick Dovekit's fur dry.
"Of course she's not - she tried to drown herself!" Larkflight snaps.
Bramblekit squints at Dovekit. "Seriously? I never thought you were -."
"Don't finish that sentence!" Troutkit growls to her. Dovekit's shame is mixed with anger towards Larkflight.
I don't know how he figured it out, but he didn't have to say it in front of them.
Dovekit returns to the warm nest and remains there to avoid contact. She received odd looks from the warriors, and she could only assume that word got around of her "breakdown".
A sleek head blocks the sunlight and reveals itself to be Larkflight.
"What were you thinking?" He demands. "After all the effort I put into you - you were just about to give?"
"What do you think that would make me look?" He goes on without giving Dovekit a chance to speak.
"You need to straighten out and stop being sensitive about every little thing, otherwise Olivestar won't make you an apprentice."
Larkflight turns and leaves. Dovekit feels the anger from before rise up, and leaves her nest and the nursery. She unsheathed claws on one paw and scratches Larkflight's hind leg. The pale grey tom looks at his daughter in disbelief.
"How dare you-?"
"How dare you talk down to me and just leave?!" Dovekit snaps, attracting attention to her.
"H-How can you tell me what to do when y-you never visit us in the nursery, and have the nerve to criticize me when you do!"
"I'm giving you attention now."
"Only so cats will stop talking." Dovekit growls. "You made cats think that it's my fault you don't visit, because I'm weak and small! Do you have any idea how it feels to be blamed like that?!"
Some cats, such as Berrystripe and Willowfall, were embarrassed to have been overheard by a kit. Larkflight stares at Dovekit with slight sorrow in his eyes.
"I'm trying to be there for you. I just… don't know how this father thing works."
Dovekit's nostrils flares. "Then don't do it at all. I don't need your pity and I certainly don't need a father who is doing this to save his reputation. I can practice by myself from now on!"
Ignoring the hurt on Larkflight's face, Dovekit returns to the nursery and covers her eyes with her front paws. She feels a paw touch her back as Lakekit rubs it.
"It's okay. Hopefully, Larkflight will realize his mistake." She told her sister.
~ Frecklespots ~
The evening sun brought warmth to Frecklespots when she returns from her alone time with Cinderfall. Although, she could have sworn that his eyes trailed after Fallenbird, and the tortoiseshell she-cat returns his stare.
It was as if they were sharing a secret message through eye contact.
He's a… Oh for crying out loud.
Don't tell me you actually believe that he cared for you?
Mapleshade's mocking voice echoes in Frecklespots' ears.
"I was hoping he did… But you probably knew he was a tail chaser, didn't you?"
Cinderfall is strong, he is the one you should have in order to get back at Daisypelt. Don't you want retribution?
Frecklespots growls at the thought of the smug, light grey tabby she-cat.
I'll take that as a yes.
