Random Short Stories

Coddling The Flower [🦋/❄️]

In the heart of the lush, verdant forest where MysticClan made its home, three kittens were born to Apricotcloud, a she-cat known for her striking golden fur and fierce devotion to her family.

But beneath the surface of her maternal instincts lay a darker shadow—a preference for one over the others that would shape their destinies in ways she could never foresee.

Apricotcloud's golden child was a delicate she-cat named Pollenkit, a little kitten with soft fur whose bright eyes sparkled with innocence and vulnerability.

From the moment she opened her eyes, Apricotcloud treated her with the utmost care, as though she were a fragile flower that would wilt at the slightest touch.

Her other kittens, a brawny tom named Pikekit and a gentle she-cat named Laurelkit, often watched from the corners of their world, shadows in their own home, as their mother doted obsessively on their sister.

"Be careful, my sweet darling Pollenkit! Don't play too close to the thorns!" Apricotcloud would exclaim during playtime sessions in the nursery. She often hovered over Pollenkit, fluffing her fur and brushing away any dirt she might have picked up.

But while she fussed over her golden daughter, Pikekit and Laurelkit would practice hunting and fighting skills further away from their sister, their mother oblivious to their dedicated efforts and instead upset they weren't catering to Pollenkit's needs.

"You don't need to be outside all the time," Apricotcloud endlessly chided Laurelkit and Pikekit. "Pollenkit needs you! You're supposed to protect her as her older siblings, not leave her in the dirt like the filthy scavengers you both want to be!"

The message was clear: their worth was measured only by how well they served their sister, and soon the bond between the three kittens was slowly eroded thanks to Apricotcloud refusing to let them truly be siblings.

As days turned into moons and the kittens became apprentices of their clan, Pollenpaw became increasingly dependent on her mother, her world shrinking to the confines of the safety den.

Apricotcloud convinced herself that all the other cats—and even her own other kittens—were completely untrustworthy and would only harm her precious daughter.

Any attempt by Pikepaw or Laurelpaw to include Pollenpaw in their games was met with vehement resistance from Apricotcloud. "They only want to tease you, my baby!" she would insist. "Stay here with me."

"Don't go near those rough cats, Pollenpaw," Apricotcloud would chide, pulling her daughter closer to her side. "They'll just make fun of you. It's safer here with me."

So, Pollenpaw remained at Apricotcloud's side, her interactions solely limited to her mother and surrounded by the comforting walls of their solitary den.

As days turned into moons, Pollenpaw grew into a young cat lacking social skills and deeply tethered to her mother's side, while Pikepaw and Laurelpaw thrived in the clan, trained tirelessly to become respected warriors.

The two 'forgotten' siblings both forged deep bonds with their peers. They displayed bravery in battle, mentorship in hunting lessons and even found love in their clan, with Pikepaw taking an interest in a feisty she-cat Dacepaw while Laurelpaw appeared to be the apple of Cloudpaw's eye.

Meanwhile, the remaining laughter and camaraderie echoed within the barren walls of their den as Pollenpaw simply watched, longing, yet afraid to step out into the world with all the seeds of uncertainty her mother planted in her head.

"Don't play with them, dear," Apricotcloud would repeat, her voice firm yet tender. "Those cats are just trying to hurt you." With every warning, Pollenpaw withdrew further, trapped in an invisible cage built by her mother's misguided maternal instincts.