Battlecats - The Path to the Trees

Chapter 3

          Hawkkit stared blankly across the podgrounds. He was sat at the front of the suckle den watching his father, Blackpelt, as their curin, Screechecho, observed his catatonic state. He had been stuck in such a state since his mate's death two phases ago. She was also Hawkkit's mother.

          Hawkkit knew he was grieving the loss of the one he loved most, but he had been completely ignoring the three kits who needed him. His tail tip twitched in irritation. Hawkkit was grieving too! It wasn't just his mate he lost; it was his mother as well. Just as she was Slenderkit's and Silentkit's as well. Why didn't he understand that? They needed him to be here while they were grieving as well. Instead, he shut himself out to any cat, including his own kits.

          His head turned sharply at the sound of pawsteps approaching. It was a black she-kit, his sister, Slenderkit. She gazed at him sympathetically.

          "What do you think they're talking about?" She mewed softly as she sat down beside him. Hawkkit shrugged. "How should I know? As far as I know, he hasn't spoken to any cat, not even Screechecho."

          "I know you're upset," Slenderkit began, "but give him time. He's struggling just like we are."

          "Yeah," Hawkkit retorted, "and he's supposed to be the bigger cat and comfort us and take care of us. We're supposed to be grieving together! Instead, he's shut us all out. I mean, we're his kits for SkyPod's sake, how could he do that to us?" He unsheathed his claws and tore at the grass beneath his paws in frustration. "He hasn't even spoken to us in nearly two phases." Hawkkit glanced up at his sister who was staring at him with eyes full of sadness. He sighed.

          "How are you not upset with him? You're almost a battlekit and he hasn't even spoken to you, let alone acted excited for your ceremony or me and Silentkit's." He looked down at his paws sullenly.

          Slenderkit laid her long tail across his tabby shoulders. "I understand your pain," She gently rubbed her tail across his back. "I am hurting too, you know." She looked down at her paws guiltily, her tail slowly retreating. "I don't want to be because I know father has been having a very difficult time," she heaved a deep sigh. "I just can't help but still feel upset that it feels like he has just abandoned us."

          Hawkkit didn't know his sister felt this way. She was always so chipper and defended their father with her whole heart and spirit. It was strange seeing her break down how he had done moments ago.

          He laid his tail across her shoulders, just as she had done to him. "Why did you not tell me this sooner?" Hawkkit questioned, trying to read her eyes to gauge her thoughts and feelings.

          Slenderkit shook her head solemnly. "It's not because I didn't want to," she explained. "But I have to be strong. For you. For Silenkit. I'm the oldest after all. I have to take care of you both. Especially now that..." Her mew caught in her throat and her eyes began to glisten with tears.

          "Now that Acronsnap is gone..." Hawkkit finished for her. Though it was hard to hear, Hawkkit knew it was what needed to be said. Their mother had passed but she would always be with them. She had ascended to SkyPod, thanks to their Ancestor Journey. She would always watch them from her place in the Stream of Stars that hung in the sky each night. It just seemed like Blackpelt didn't understand that. Though she was gone from the living, she would always be with them in their hearts and with the Ancestors.

          "You don't have to do that," Hawkkit mewed to his sister. "I can take care of myself and you should worry about taking care of yourself too." Slenderkit gazed at him solemnly with a sideways smile. "I know you two can but now that mother is gone and father is, well..." She shook her head. "It's my job to step up as the older sister and make sure you two stay out of trouble." She ruffled his hair tuft with her paw as she purred affectionately. Hawkkit jerked out of her reach, purring happily now that he was seeing his sister cheer up again.