𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙. 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩oddly warm and uncomfortable. Heaving with frustration, she scooted away from Skyrose as her mother huddled close to Willowkit and Fawnkit. Indigokit didn't want to disturb them.
She buried her nose into her tail, screwing her eyes shut. She desperately tried to drift into sleep, but it was no use. Giving up, Indigokit quietly got to her paws. She ducked out of the nursery entrance, her breath fogging in front of her muzzle. The quarry was silent, the bright patches of leftover snow glistening under the moon that hung like a claw scratch in the sky. Light flurries began to cover up the dead grass.
The cold felt welcoming as it seeped under her gray-and-cream fur, draining the warmth that once troubled her away. This was one of many sleepless nights Indigokit had experienced since Deadfang was exiled from the Clan. She didn't know whether to call him 'father' or not anymore. It felt so wrong not to see his dark gray spotted fur as he traveled across camp. He always had energy in his step and a twinkle in his yellow eyes. And–despite missing a fang–his smile always shone brightly when he returned from a patrol to greet Skyrose and his kits.
Did that mean nothing to him? Did he ever truly care for us? Indigokit shook those thoughts from her head. She lifted a paw, letting flurries melt on her pad as they fell from the black sky. Even the stars had disappeared since Deadfang left. Indigokit wished she could melt away like the snow vanishing when it met her warm pad. Maybe then she could ease the pain of knowing what her so-called father had done.
Indigokit shuddered, and not from the brisk air. She shook out her fur, feeling hollow. She lifted her gaze to the dark figure on the slope next to the bramble tunnel, its back turned to her. It was hard to tell who was watching over the camp in the darkness, but Indigokit faintly detected the scent of Thrushsong. At least she knew warriors were awake all night, keeping watch.
Indigokit nearly jumped out of her fur when she heard rustling behind her. She turned to see Rosefall exiting the nursery, her white coat glistening under the weak moonlight.
"Are you alright, Indigokit?" the permanent queen asked, her speckled rose-colored eyes glittering with worry.
"I–yeah. I'm alright," Indigokit murmured, looking at her paws. She could tell that Rosefall wasn't convinced.
"Are you alright?" the white queen repeated, clearly unhappy with Indigokit's first reply. Indigokit let out a huff.
"I–I just don't understand why Deadfang would do such a thing. Did his love for us mean nothing? I feel–" Indigokit abruptly stopped as Rosefall huddled close to her, wrapping her tail around Indigokit's body.
