Private Medicine Cat's Den the house that dripped blood // choices.

[rowanpaw]

☆ Rowanpaw sighs softly as she peers out into the camp, a permanent weight in her chest ever since her mother's passing. The three kits Serpentberry had stolen still linger like little shadows of her in the medicine den, and there's an uncertain air about them, like they're waiting for the other shoe to drop at all times. Rowanpaw gets it. Maybe more than anyone in the camp, she understands. She'd lost her own mother before meeting Serpentberry, but she'd had one– and even if their relationship was complicated, she'd still been her mother. And then Serpentberry and Thornstar had adopted her and Maplefrost, and now they were both dead too, and she was alone again. The kits were alone too. She didn't feel any maternal instincts towards them, not really, but there was a tender sort of curiosity and worry. They were like three little mirrors.

She turns around and pads back into the den, sitting down in front of where the three kits are lying sprawled or cuddled up, and sweeps her tail around her paws.

"There's something I wish to speak to you all about," she says. "I'm sure you've been wondering what will happen to you now, after Serpentberry's death. I… I will do all that I can for you, Faithkit, until you are well enough. Then I think… it is only right that you get to decide for yourselves what to do," her torn ear flicks, and she takes a breath.

These kits had never gotten to make any choices of their own. Torn from their mother, brought to a strange place, claimed by a she-cat who'd been the cause for their birth mother's death. It wasn't right.

"If you decide to stay here, you will be welcomed, of course. Once Faithkit is well, you can move into the nursery den, and one of the caretakers will look after you until you're old enough to become apprentices. You have a family here, if you want one– I will look after you the best I can as your older sister. I'm sure your other siblings will do the same– our mother's last action was, after all, to adopt you as her own. But…" she sighs, jaw clenching. "You had no choice in the matter, and for that, I am sorry. I will not force you to stay, nor to accept us as your family. I won't force you to do anything. If you wish to leave this place once Faithkit is well and go somewhere else, you may. I will make sure no one stops you. If you wish to stay, and for us to be no more than clanmates, it will be so. If you can't decide right now, that's alright too. You can change your mind at any time. This is not a trap nor a prison, but somewhere you may choose to make your home, or just a temporary resting place. No one will… no one will force you to do anything anymore. Not to leave, not to stay."

☆ ROWANPAW. 14 moons
mentored by serpentberry,
adopted daughter of serpentberry and thornstar
peaceful powerplay allowed
ooc - @Faithkit @Thornkit @FALSEKIT