Random Short Stories

Blood Runs Thinner Than Water [🪽]

In the dense, sun-dappled woods of tribe territory, the scent of pine mingled with the sharp tang of moss, a familiar backdrop for the competition that had shaped the lives of two brothers—Torrent Frost, the elder, and Nettle Gale, the younger.

From the moment they tumbled into the world, all scuffed paws and squalling mews, their fates twisted into a tangled web of rivalry that would span moons and seasons.

Torrent Frost had been born first—a heavyset tabby with powerful limbs and an air of unshakable confidence. Nettle Gale, just minutes behind, was smaller and lithe, with a coat that shimmered like dappled sunlight.

Their mother would remind them of their birth order with a fond yet exasperated chuckle, endlessly stoking the flames of competition. In the nursery, they raced to eat the freshest kill first and sparred with each other till they were both panting and sprawling on the ground, always trying to prove who was faster, stronger, better.

As kithood dawned, each day brought new contests: who could catch the first grasshopper, who could climb the highest tree in the Elder's clearing, and who would impress the King and Queen the most during training sessions.

Even the tiniest of achievements would simply become another notch in Torrent Frost's belt, straining Nettle Gale's heart with the weight of inadequacy and the fire of determination to crush his older brother.

As apprentices, they vied for higher status, both training relentlessly; while Torrent Frost earned the title of a promising warrior, Nettle Gale struggled against the comparisons, forever driven to prove he was just as capable.

Their mentors, a towering Phyto named Petal Glider and a lankier Khasko named Sleet Spring, saw the toll the rivalry was taking on them and often tried to temper the competition with wisdom: "Together, you are stronger. Support one another instead of sparring against each other."

But as always, their words fell on deaf ears.

Time moved forward, and they became warriors—their rivalry only intensifying, both in their own lives as warriors and in the shadows they cast over their families.

They each mated, choosing partners to one up one another in terms of beauty, yet unknowingly shared the siblings' competitive spirit. With each kitten that arrived, the competition was reignited. The ensuing days were filled with challenges that spiraled from friendly contests into bitter feuds.

It became the same song and dance on a constant basis. Who could teach their kits to pounce first? Who could build up the pride of the tribe leaders' hearts with tales of bravery regarding their brood? 

Every group activity or event felt like a contest, every shared story became an opportunity for one-upmanship, and every lesson learned was tainted by the underlying tension of strained familial bonds.

Yet through all this, Torrent Frost and Nettle Gale sat back with pride watching their kittens grow, unaware of the subtle damage their own rivalry was inflicting.

The tribe thrived under the watchful gaze of the two brothers, who found joy in pitting their children against one another to show who was more superior than the other.

Torrent Frost's daughter, Sequoia, a vibrant Phyto-Pyro mix with a natural talent for hunting, was often set against Nettle Gale's son, Badger, a Phyto-Atmo mix whose stealth rivalled even the ancient shadows.

"No need to feed them fresh-kill! Teach them to catch flies instead!" was a common taunt at the gatherings as each family cheered for their own, signifying that the other brother's kits would forever be inadequate and it was better to let them catch flies instead.