❁ . ° ✦
The nursery felt so empty without papa. Saffronkit had been huddled in with the other caretaker for now while he recovered in the Medicine Den, or rather, hopefully recovered. The kit was beginning to have her doubts, wondering what her life would be without her papa. Stoatstream came to check on her often, seemingly already picking up the torch in case what they both feared would come true. They didn't talk about papa during her visits, how could they? It would just make them both feel worse than they already did.As the moon hung overhead, Saffron tossed restlessly in her nest. Were Magpiepaw and Cicadabuzz doing enough? Would papa be okay? Every time she tried to visit, there was another excuse about why she couldn't. In truth, it was to protect her. She was only four moons after all, not to mention the truth of her lineage was foreign to her. Losing the only parent she knew could destroy her, and her clanmates were painfully aware of this. Her own wails of sorrow when she saw Timberfrost in the state he was in was enough to make those around her feel like she needed to be protected from the harsh reality of death for at least a few moons longer.
She rose to her feet, a massive gaggle of kittens around her. She felt sorrow for Blacktree in a way, having to now coddle every kitten in Timberfrost's absence. But Saffron knew she needed to do something. She could not just lay here and wait to hear the news that something happened to her papa, she needed to do something more.
As quiet as she could be, her small body snuck out of the nursery, clinging close to the walls of the burrows to avoid being spotted by any warrior who may still be awake. She needed to find something that would help her papa, some sort of herb. She had seen the ones that Magpiepaw had used when Crowpaw came stumbling back into camp wounded. Maybe she could find those, and maybe they could save her papa!
With a newfound determination. she padded out of camp as quick as her small legs would carry her. She did not know what she was looking for, how could she? She was only a kit, and the territory was massive --- not to mention this was the first time in her life that she had set foot outside of the camp. Nonetheless, she kept her eyes peeled. Blue eyes darting across the foliage as she attempts to spot the herb that she can see in her mind's eye.
She doesn't even hear the footsteps behind her until they get close.
A lithe tom with burly shoulders stands near the kit, chuckling to himself as he looks at her. His jaws are slicked red from his most recent hunt, his voice even and raspy as he leans down to her level.
"Lost, little one?" It's mocking, and Hircine can hardly believe that the fools in the clan would allow a kit to wander during the night alone. Didn't they know that there were monsters out here? Beasts that preyed on the blood of the innocent? He smirked, claws flexing instinctively as he thinks of how easy it would be to snap this little kit's bones. Saffron turns, seeing the cat. He doesn't look like a Shadowclanner, nor does he smell like one. He smells like a dirty mixture of blood and dirt, her nose crinkles at the smell. Still, maybe this older cat can help her. She shakes her head rapidly.
"I'm not lost! I'm looking for plants to help heal my papa!" Her tone is panicked, looking up at the tom pleadingly. Hircine cannot help but laugh at her pitifulness, bearing his fangs as he gestures to the surrounding weeds.
"There's plants everywhere!" He mocks, a paw moving towards the kit. Saffron's face contorts with anger, glaring up at the tom.
"No! I'm looking for a plant that can save my papa!" She growls back, and Hircine grins again, paw moving towards the kit's back before harshly pushing her into the dirt. His paws are matted with the same blood that coats his face, and he laughs as the tiny kit tries to escape his grasp.
"Keep squirming!" He growls, a wild grin on his face. "I love a good hunt!" Before Saffron can respond, sharp teeth grasp her ear and she yowls pitifully as the tom tears a chunk of her right ear out. His claws leaving marks in her body as she tries to wriggle free. Finally, she opens her mouth, tiny razor sharp teeth digging into his paw causing him to let go. "Foxhearted brat!" He screams as she runs, chasing after the small kit. Saffronkit uses her size to her advantage, ducking and weaving into small corners to avoid the tom. Finally, she rushes into a log. The tom reaches his paw in, unable to grab her, cursing quietly before his sickeningly sweet voice comes through again.
"I can wait all night, little one." She hears him lay down, waiting for her to make a move. Tears well in her eyes, curling into herself.
✧ ° . ✶ . ° ✧
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ooc: tagging @Stoatstream
Saffy was attacked by @Hircine who is still lurking about. (Hircine is a coward and will run once an actual warrior shows up --- feel free to bunny him running)
"meow" (#ff5d5d)
"someone else's meow" (#FF7F50)
thoughts (#ffe88a)
actions -
a smaller than average primarily auburn calico molly with blue eyes. Has beenblessedby Starclan... but is it really a blessing if your family has been scattered? Each of her siblings have been taken to another clan, Hollykit, Branchkit, Pricklekit, and Skykit. She will know naught of them, only being embraced by her new life and new family in Shadowclan. Her adoptive father Timberfrost has his own demons to face, but her adoptive siblings Stoatstream, Fleafire, Monsterpaw try their best to be there for Saffron when they can.
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