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Description

"Frostlight. Frostlight!" A familiar voice called Frostlight's attention. He laid his ears back in irritation.

"What?" He let his voice slide into a growl, turning to face the voice, his mother.

"The leader instructed you to help the Grands, correct?" She meowed.

Frostlight shrugged, not responding.

"Then help me. You've finished with your items." She motioned towards the den.

He got to his feet, shaking dust from his fur. Shoving past her, he strode into the Grands' den. It was empty, the rest of the elders having packed already. He went over to her nest. It was lined with fur as usual, and a few of her possessions were stashed to the side of it. Honestly, he couldn't see why she couldn't carry these herself. “What do you need help with, Rabbitstripe?” He kept his voice low and hostile as she followed him in.

“If you could help with these,” she gestured at her belongings, “it would be wonderful.”

He refrained from hissing at her and pulled them out from behind the nest. There was her mask, a carved piece of bark, a jagged piece of rock, some weird flowers, and a rope necklace with some feathers tied on it. Honestly, his mother was so weird. Who even kept rocks next to their nest?

His mother nodded at his pack of items. “How much do you have?”

He put it down and untied the knot. It was just his mask. Frostlight wasn't really one for having lots of stuff. Well, he did have things, but it wasn't like he wanted to bring them. He could always find some other stuff or whatever.

“I could put my things in with yours, then,” she said. “It would save space.”

He nodded, not really paying attention.

Rabbitstripe picked up the bark first. “This was a gift from my friends in Owl Clan.”

“... In Owl Clan? How'd you even meet up with them?”

“It's not like the clans are at war, son. We crossed territories. Although, you are somewhat correct. Without a common home, we didn't see each too often. This came from a fallen tree. They used their claws to carve our memories into the bark.” She brushed her paw over the rough surface. “Some of our best times as friends are recorded here. It is a symbol of our friendship, which will last even if we are no longer strong enough to travel to the borders to meet.”

Wow, Frostlight thought, what a sap. He couldn't help but think back to a cat he met on the border of Eagle Clan once. If he hadn't been so harsh to her, maybe they could've been friends. Maybe he could've done what his mother did.

“The rock is from my Eagle Clan friend, like the bark. It took a little longer to get him to warm up to me. Like most of his clan, his heart seemed to be the same as this stone- cold, and painful. But he proved to me in so many ways that no cat is that simple.” At that point, Rabbitstripe looked pointedly at Frostlight. He pretended not to notice, instead putting the bark in with his mask.

“... He is no longer with us. The disease took his life. That is why this is important to me.” She finished quietly. She carefully placed the stone with the bark. They were silent for a few moments.

Frostlight broke the spell by pointing at the flowers. “Who are those from, StarClan?”

Rabbitstripe laughed. “No, I just thought they were interesting. We can leave them behind.” She changed the focus to the last item. “This, however… This is from my mother.” She picked up the necklace in her teeth, turning to him. “These feathers were shed and given to her by a CaraCara she was very fond of. When she gave it to me, she told me to pass it down to you as a symbol of our family.” Rabbitstripe held up her head as an invitation to take it.

Frostlight took in a breath. He should accept, right?

Right?

Suddenly, a jolt of anger shot down his spine. What was his mother trying to do? Was she attempting to make amends for choking him with her protectiveness through his apprenticeship? Trying to convince him to follow her commands? Why should he take it? He didn't owe anything to her!

“I don't want it.” He hissed, the words leaving his mouth all too quickly. His mother stared at him, stunned. Without another word, he picked up the bag and stalked out of the den. “Keep your stupid feathers. If you want to give them away, try someone who cares.”

He didn't look back to see her reaction, just kept walking. He didn't want her in her life. She'd alienated herself, and she was going to stay this way. Nothing was changing because of some gross speech about friendship.

He didn't need her.

---

this is for the prompt/activity check
darnit i didn't mean to turn this in so late T-T sorry
anyways frost sucks with decisions as always
honestly i wish this guy would just. stop being an idiot
but he c a n t

alternate versions:
sta.sh/0lgzp8xpvjs
sta.sh/0irl1ga5pny

Description

"Frostlight. Frostlight!" A familiar voice called Frostlight's attention. He laid his ears back in irritation.

"What?" He let his voice slide into a growl, turning to face the voice, his mother.

"The leader instructed you to help the Grands, correct?" She meowed.

Frostlight shrugged, not responding.

"Then help me. You've finished with your items." She motioned towards the den.

He got to his feet, shaking dust from his fur. Shoving past her, he strode into the Grands' den. It was empty, the rest of the elders having packed already. He went over to her nest. It was lined with fur as usual, and a few of her possessions were stashed to the side of it. Honestly, he couldn't see why she couldn't carry these herself. “What do you need help with, Rabbitstripe?” He kept his voice low and hostile as she followed him in.

“If you could help with these,” she gestured at her belongings, “it would be wonderful.”

He refrained from hissing at her and pulled them out from behind the nest. There was her mask, a carved piece of bark, a jagged piece of rock, some weird flowers, and a rope necklace with some feathers tied on it. Honestly, his mother was so weird. Who even kept rocks next to their nest?

His mother nodded at his pack of items. “How much do you have?”

He put it down and untied the knot. It was just his mask. Frostlight wasn't really one for having lots of stuff. Well, he did have things, but it wasn't like he wanted to bring them. He could always find some other stuff or whatever.

“I could put my things in with yours, then,” she said. “It would save space.”

He nodded, not really paying attention.

Rabbitstripe picked up the bark first. “This was a gift from my friends in Owl Clan.”

“... In Owl Clan? How'd you even meet up with them?”

“It's not like the clans are at war, son. We crossed territories. Although, you are somewhat correct. Without a common home, we didn't see each too often. This came from a fallen tree. They used their claws to carve our memories into the bark.” She brushed her paw over the rough surface. “Some of our best times as friends are recorded here. It is a symbol of our friendship, which will last even if we are no longer strong enough to travel to the borders to meet.”

Wow, Frostlight thought, what a sap. He couldn't help but think back to a cat he met on the border of Eagle Clan once. If he hadn't been so harsh to her, maybe they could've been friends. Maybe he could've done what his mother did.

“The rock is from my Eagle Clan friend, like the bark. It took a little longer to get him to warm up to me. Like most of his clan, his heart seemed to be the same as this stone- cold, and painful. But he proved to me in so many ways that no cat is that simple.” At that point, Rabbitstripe looked pointedly at Frostlight. He pretended not to notice, instead putting the bark in with his mask.

“... He is no longer with us. The disease took his life. That is why this is important to me.” She finished quietly. She carefully placed the stone with the bark. They were silent for a few moments.

Frostlight broke the spell by pointing at the flowers. “Who are those from, StarClan?”

Rabbitstripe laughed. “No, I just thought they were interesting. We can leave them behind.” She changed the focus to the last item. “This, however… This is from my mother.” She picked up the necklace in her teeth, turning to him. “These feathers were shed and given to her by a CaraCara she was very fond of. When she gave it to me, she told me to pass it down to you as a symbol of our family.” Rabbitstripe held up her head as an invitation to take it.

Frostlight took in a breath. He should accept, right?

Right?

Suddenly, a jolt of anger shot down his spine. What was his mother trying to do? Was she attempting to make amends for choking him with her protectiveness through his apprenticeship? Trying to convince him to follow her commands? Why should he take it? He didn't owe anything to her!

“I don't want it.” He hissed, the words leaving his mouth all too quickly. His mother stared at him, stunned. Without another word, he picked up the bag and stalked out of the den. “Keep your stupid feathers. If you want to give them away, try someone who cares.”

He didn't look back to see her reaction, just kept walking. He didn't want her in her life. She'd alienated herself, and she was going to stay this way. Nothing was changing because of some gross speech about friendship.

He didn't need her.

---

this is for the prompt/activity check
darnit i didn't mean to turn this in so late T-T sorry
anyways frost sucks with decisions as always
honestly i wish this guy would just. stop being an idiot
but he c a n t

alternate versions:
sta.sh/0lgzp8xpvjs
sta.sh/0irl1ga5pny