the lazy warrior

chapter 8

Drippingpaw was furious. His brother had always been like him, rude and crass. But one night, after encountering one of the new kits, Drippingpaw noticed the ice that he had carefully doused Graypaw in thaw and melt till not a single drop was left. Sunrises had passed and his brother still gave no signs of returning to his old self.

Watching his brother depart from the gathering, appearing content with Featherkit trailing at his heels, Drippingpaw was beyond livid. His entire body shook with trepidation and fury. Fur rippled across his entire spine, from his ears to his tailtip.

He thought about following Sparrowscratch and Woodtooth to congratulate them, but he decided he had more urgent matters to handle. Drippingpaw was immensely fortunate to see Featherkit abruptly change courses and join her brother as if on cue, almost delighted. Utilizing the chance, Drippingpaw rushed forward and reached his brother in a pawful of strides, swatting his brother's hindquarters with sheathed claws.

To his dismay, instead of parrying it like he usually did with a complimentary blow, Graypaw only shot him a glance. "What was that for," his brother huffed incredulously. But Drippingpaw interrupted him, reflecting the contempt in his brother's gaze.

"Do you love Featherkit?" Drippingpaw tried to broach as innocently to his brother as possible, putting all his effort into keeping his derision fox-lengths from his audible tone. However, his originally impertinent brother didn't hesitate to agree, adding to Drippingpaw's consternation.

To enhance his horror, Drippingpaw found himself feeling almost distraught at his brother's betrayal and change of heart. I'm not supposed to harbor any emotions!

"But- but why?" Drippingpaw felt his body tremble as he choked out.. He was conscious of the liquid- which his eyes had perpetually excreted from the day he was born- streaming down his cheek in ceaseless rivulets. However, this time around, instead of embracing the extra weapon of intimidation it provided him, Drippingpaw found himself shying with it.

For the first time, he felt insecure with his bizarre and undiagnosed affliction. It hadn't caused him any hindrance or pain but his sister had always shot it distrustful glances while she thought he wasn't aware. For the first time, Drippingpaw was worried that his brother would judge him.

Fortunately, his brother paid no attention to the anomaly, most likely because he was accustomed to it since the day they were kitted. However, Drippingpaw didn't need to be a genius to tell that his brother was too immersed in a certain she-kit to notice his distress. In addition, Featherkit surely lacked his secreting oddity.

Before Drippingpaw could request an elucidation, his brother described his affection. "That night I gave her my back, I saw something in her gaze. Something that gave me an almost paternal need to protect her and defend her at all consequences."

"Above me?" Drippingpaw had sensed his brother tense up as he cut off his sentence. He knew it didn't take a sagacious medicine cat to finish his brother's sentence. Drippingpaw was being replaced by a featherbrained kit!

Like you're old enough to be knowing what it's like to be a father, or a mate. Drippingpaw scoffed to himself in his mind. At least I hope it means he perceives the kit as his daughter, not his potential mate.

After tremulously dallying by his side-tracked brother, Drippingpaw decided to disregard all the comebacks he'd formed in his mind. As his brother had subsided his rock-hard reform, Drippingpaw knew that Graypaw would appeal to emotion. Drippingpaw was excruciatingly aware that his onslaught of spittle would only deter his brother more. He was supposed to pick up after me.! He was supposed to follow in my pawsteps and become formidable and merciless! He was supposed to be impervious to insult!!!