"Banditkit, Banditkit?" A familiar voice called through the mist. The figure was unrecognizable in shadows, making it hard for Banditkit to tell who it was.
"Where are you, Banditkit?" The voice was tinged with worry.
"Mama?" Banditkit's voice shook as she called out, listening to hear a reply.
A figure slowly approached her, the fog around it slowly fading. As rain began to fall, picking up with immense speed and force. Banditkit squealed with happiness when she saw a ginger she-cat. "Mama!" she cried, her voice filled with joy.
"Oh, Banditkit!" The she-cat's purr calmed Banditkit. Fogleap pulling her close and shielding her from the rain with her tail.
"You've grown so much in such a short time," she mewed, her eyes reflecting a mix of happiness and a tinge of regret.
Banditkit looked up at her mother with tearful eyes. "Was your death real? Please tell me this is just a dream! I look like a monster... my ear and eye are all messed up, they look terrible! How will another cat ever like me? I-I don't know what to do or to say. I can't blame Willowsplash for hating me..." she said, her voice breaking.
"I'm afraid it's true," Fogleap said softly, her voice filled with regret and sorrow. "My death was very real. I'm so sorry for everything that's happened to you since then. You've been through so much. Nearly dying, being forced to leave your clan, struggling with Willowsplash rejecting you, and even being taken by a Twoleg. It's all my fault. If I hadn't had kits with- oh, you don't even know who your father is, do you?" She paused, her eyes filled with regret as she gently licked Banditkit's muzzle.
Banditkit's eyes widened as she took in her mother's words, feeling the weight of their shared sorrow. She wanted to ask more, to understand everything, but in that moment, all she wanted was to be close to her mother, to feel her warmth and safety.
"You don't need to apologize," Banditkit said softly, trying to comfort her.
Fogleap's eyes glistened with a mix of sadness and relief. "It's just-" she began, pausing, her voice trembling a bit, "I feel like I left too soon, too early. There was so much I wanted to do with you, so much I wanted to share."
Banditkit nuzzled her, sensing her mother's regret and wanting to offer forgiveness. "We can talk now," she said softly, her eyes full of understanding. "We can make up for lost time."
"Yes, Banditkit," Fogleap agreed softly, her gaze gentle but serious. "But first, I have a message for you."
Banditkit's ears perked up in surprise, her eyes locked on her mother. "A message? For me?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and surprise.
"Always forgive, even when it's hard. Don't let anger take over, and be grateful for every moment of your life," Fogleap mewed sincerely.
Banditkit looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "But that's so hard," she said, feeling the weight of her mother's advice.
Banditkit shot up, she was now in her nest in the medicine den. She let out a cry.
"What's wrong, Banditkit?" Ferretwhisper, looking both worried and exhausted, meowed as she hurried over.
"It was mama! I got to see mama!" The smile on her face faded.
"She's dead, Banditkit." Ferretwhisper mewed, laying around Banditkit the way Fogleap always used to.
"Oh... yeah..." Banditkit sat up, looking off to the side. She turned her gaze back over to Ferretwhisper, tears now rolling down her face "Will I ever see her again?" She mewed.
"There's always going to be a day when we see our loved ones again" Ferretwhisper would mew wisley in reply.
Banditkit sniffled "I'll die one day, how?" She paused, looking distressed.
"I don't know how, exactly. It might be greencough, a monster, old age, it could be anything." Ferretwhisper would reply.
"I hope I end up the oldest cat in this whole clan! It would be so cool!" Banditkit meowed excitedly, teasingly tackling Ferretwhisper.
"Now young one, you wouldn't want that! You'd lose all your loved ones before you die." She'd mew.
"Ferretwhisper!" A cat called out.
"Sorry, I'll be right back here soon!" Ferretwhisper sped out of the den.
Banditkit made out the voice of Redsnarl "Grasspaw got a little injured during training." He'd sigh.
"Ah, okay. What exactly happened?" Ferretwhisper questioned, Banditkit listening as the two murmed on for a few minutes. Eventually, though, Ferretwhisper guided the grey apprentice into the den "Next time maybe don't jump into a thorn bush, Grasspaw." Ferretwhisper meowed teasingly yet reassuringly.
It suddenly hit Banditkit that her apprentice ceremony would be in 7 days. Fogleap would be proud she thought. But that means my kit days are over, I shouldn't be such a mousebrain, all saddened about her death. I'll be the strongest cat in my clan soon! She thought to herself excitedly. But I'm not really a big, strong, or fierce cat. I hope I get a good mentor, somebody like Cloudstep or Dovesplash.
"What's wrong, Banditkit?" Ferretwhisper mewed worriedly.
"Nothing, why?" Banditkit meowed.
"No reason" Ferretwhisper replied, continuing to tend to Grasspaw and his wounds. occasionally glancing back at Banditkit and Willowsplash, who was fast asleep in her nest.
"Banditkit, why don't you get some rest" Ferretwhisper meowed, glancing back at the kit.
"I don't wanna, I was just asleep and I'm bored. I wanna fulfill my kit life and complete everything I want!" She mewed.
"Okay... What's one of those things?" Ferretwhisper questioned.
"To learn herbs, to kill a fox, and more!" She meowed energetically.
"T-to kill a fox? Not even our strongest warriors can do that." Ferretwhisper meowed, surprised.
"Oh, I thought any cat could, oops..." She meowed
"They wouldn't be an issue if so, but I'd love to teach you herbs!" She meowed happily.
"Ooo, yes!" Banditkit replied "But now that I think about it, I do need sleep. Good night!" She added on.
Banditkit laid down her head on the nest, almost immediately falling asleep. Ferretwhisper went to lay around the kit, grooming her as Fogleap used to. Banditkit smiled. She finally felt like some cat actually cared about her, loved her, and saw her as her own.
(Chapter end)
YOU ARE READING
Banditfoot's sorrow (WIP)
FantasyWho'd ever suspect that a simple secret could ruin a warriors life and whole reputation so easily? Banditfoot was a good cat, but once she figured out the who other cat who carried this secret was, it was too late. She had made the biggest mistake o...
