The Prophesied

Chapter 11 - Thistletail

 After the storm clouds had covered the moon, bringing the gathering to a close, Thistletail was guided to the nursery by Firewing, his sister.

 After Thistletail had been blinded Sheepstar had strongly suggested that he'd stay in the elders den while he hadn't fully relearned his training, the elder Russetbelly had said that Thistletail could stay in the nursery with Dapplesong, that he could be of help to the queen. Sheepstar had agreed and now Thistletail currently lived there until he had relearned his training with his new sight.

 Dappleosng looked up as Thistletail walked in, "Seeya Thistletail," Firewing said turning to go to the warriors den, "Hello Thistletail, I see you back early from the gathering tonight, what happened?" Dapplesong asked as Thistletail settled into the other moss nest in the den. "A fight was almost started at the gathering and StarClan sent a cloud to cover the moon." Thistletail explained, then he looked over at the small moss nest at the back of the den.

 Thistletail stared sympathetically at the small kit that lay in the nest. "She still doesn't try to sleep with your kits, Dapplesong?" Thistletail asked, Dapplesong shook her head, "Poor kit, she's taking it hard being separated from her Clan." Thistletail remembered when Sheepstar first brought the kit to the Clan. The poor kit refused to sleep with Dapplesong's kits, and she had made herself her own nest and slept alone.

 "I'm tired of seeing Fawnkit sleep and play alone." Thistletail stood up and walked over to the blurry shape of the kit, Fawnkit's ear twitched and she looked up at Thistletail then she put her head back down, Thistletail lay down beside the small kit, remembering how Dapplesong would curl herself protectively around her kits, and Thistletail curled his tail around the kit.

 Fawnkit looked up surprised at Thistletail, "What are you doing?" she squeaked, "I don't like seeing you sleep alone and away from everyone," Thistletail said and he put his head down, "But I want to sleep alone!" Fawnkit yelped, "Just one night, and then you can if you still want to." Thistletail said, closing his eyes. He heard Fawnkit huff grumply but felt pleased as he felt the kit nestle into his tail.

 The next day as Thistletail lifted his head he saw Fawnkit sprawled next to him, snoring softly. Thistletail smiled at Fawnkit, then he looked over at Dapplesong and saw she was sitting up and watching her kits play, "How was she?" the queen asked Thistletail, "Fawnkit is still sleeping but I think she did well." he said, he watched the kits play for a few moments and saw Sparrowkit chasing Graykit towards Thistletail and Graykit leaped onto Thistletail's side and Sparrowkit barreled him over onto the sleeping Fawnkit.

 Fawnkit yelped in alarm and jumped to her paws, "Oh Fawnkit! You're awake! Wanna come play with us?" Sparrowkit asked, Fawnkit hesitated then shook her head, "I want to be alone." Fawnkit whispered, Sparrowkit looked at Thistletail, "You heard what she said," he said calmly.

 Thistletail sat up and walked out of the nursery and sat outside, breathing in the morning air, he heard scrambling behind him and when he turned he saw that Fawnkit had come to sit next to him, but she still kept some space between them.

 Thistletail brightened, maybe the kit was starting to get more friendly towards him, but as he tried to scoot closer to her she shot a glare at him. Maybe not then...

 Over the next few days Thistletail worked with Fawnkit, trying to make the kit happier, but she slowly started to come out of her shell, following Thistletail when he walked around the camp. And one night as Thistletail lay in his own nest and closed his eyes, he felt a little body push past his tail and lay next to him, Thistletail opened his eyes and looked to see Fawnkit had abandoned her small nest to sleep in his. Dapplesong had looked at Thistletail and nodded with approval.