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Description

Leveling up EVERETT from Level 1 to Level 2
Draw or write your cat’s frustration or excitement about their power.

When he was little, Everett used to intentionally irritate his mother. Not because he liked seeing her mad, but because when she was mad, there was something in the air Everett could never quite figure out. The mystery of that feeling was addicing to a young and curious kit like Everett. He could have just asked Aspen what it was, he supposed. There was no reason he had to sneak out when she and Pride weren't watching to get a little too close to the water's edge, no reason he had to put himself into the direct view of a bird of prey circling overhead. He could have asked. He could have asked Aspen, or his father, or he supposed even Indy or Altair would have some sort of insight into what that bizarre feeling was.

"Everett, for the love of god, stop running off!" he could practically hear Aspen scolding him. Her pelt was ruffled, her bright green eyes alight with exaspheration.

"Sorry, Mom," Everett would say sheepily. He wasn't. He'd creep forward and press his face into Aspen's leg, and he knew instinctively that she'd wrap a warm paw across his back and pull him closer, give him a little lick on the top of his head. And he knew that he'd feel it then; he'd feel the tingle that started at the tips of his whiskers and traveled straight down to his bones. He wouldn't say anything; it was his mother's essence, after all. He'd never known anything different, never thought it strange, never thought that anyone else's mom was any different. He hoped that one day he could be as enticing and warm as his mother.

"Everett, wake up, sweetie," he remembered Aspen saying to him one night as she woke him from his deep slumber. He blinked wearily at her, then jumped to his paws in excitement-- everyone else was asleep. What could she be waking up only him for? Aspen held a paw up to his muzzle. Shhh, her eyes said kindly, a smile on her muzzle. Stay quiet.

Everett only nodded eagerly and scrambled after her as she turned and walked away.

He followed her out into the openness of Paradise Valley. It was a cold and cloudy night, and occassionally fat raindrops would hit him in the pelt. He wanted to whine, but Aspen didn't seem to mind...in fact, the frigid water almost looked as if it was relieving to her, her face smoothing out and her muscles relaxing. Is that how rain should feel to him, too? Probably. So he let it, and after convincing himself enough, it soothed him as well.

They climbed to the top of a hill silently, Aspen leaning down to pick him up by the scruff and lift him up on top of a steep boulder. Sitting up there, he could remember seeing more of the valley than he'd ever remembered seeing before. And in the distance, above the mountains...flashes of light rapidly lit up, one after another. They produced a low but powerful rumbling that made Everett feel so small. At first he felt fear in his chest; what was making this noise? But then...he felt it again. That tingling in his whiskers, in his bones, in his fur. It was the same feeling he felt when Aspen scolded him.

"What is that?" the young Everett said in awe, looking up at his mother.

"It's lightning," she whispered with a smile, pulling him close with her paw. "I thought you'd like it."

Everett nodded slowly. "I love it." It made him think of her. He knew his parents had the ability to weild water and poison and fire and electricity. It was in that moment, though, that he felt a desperate need to hold the same abilities. He wanted to have this effect on others, the same effect Aspen had on him. He needed this so badly, like he needed food or water.

Years later, in the Misty Forest, the lightning felt like coming home.

Everett (c)
Aspen (c)

Description

Leveling up EVERETT from Level 1 to Level 2
Draw or write your cat’s frustration or excitement about their power.

When he was little, Everett used to intentionally irritate his mother. Not because he liked seeing her mad, but because when she was mad, there was something in the air Everett could never quite figure out. The mystery of that feeling was addicing to a young and curious kit like Everett. He could have just asked Aspen what it was, he supposed. There was no reason he had to sneak out when she and Pride weren't watching to get a little too close to the water's edge, no reason he had to put himself into the direct view of a bird of prey circling overhead. He could have asked. He could have asked Aspen, or his father, or he supposed even Indy or Altair would have some sort of insight into what that bizarre feeling was.

"Everett, for the love of god, stop running off!" he could practically hear Aspen scolding him. Her pelt was ruffled, her bright green eyes alight with exaspheration.

"Sorry, Mom," Everett would say sheepily. He wasn't. He'd creep forward and press his face into Aspen's leg, and he knew instinctively that she'd wrap a warm paw across his back and pull him closer, give him a little lick on the top of his head. And he knew that he'd feel it then; he'd feel the tingle that started at the tips of his whiskers and traveled straight down to his bones. He wouldn't say anything; it was his mother's essence, after all. He'd never known anything different, never thought it strange, never thought that anyone else's mom was any different. He hoped that one day he could be as enticing and warm as his mother.

"Everett, wake up, sweetie," he remembered Aspen saying to him one night as she woke him from his deep slumber. He blinked wearily at her, then jumped to his paws in excitement-- everyone else was asleep. What could she be waking up only him for? Aspen held a paw up to his muzzle. Shhh, her eyes said kindly, a smile on her muzzle. Stay quiet.

Everett only nodded eagerly and scrambled after her as she turned and walked away.

He followed her out into the openness of Paradise Valley. It was a cold and cloudy night, and occassionally fat raindrops would hit him in the pelt. He wanted to whine, but Aspen didn't seem to mind...in fact, the frigid water almost looked as if it was relieving to her, her face smoothing out and her muscles relaxing. Is that how rain should feel to him, too? Probably. So he let it, and after convincing himself enough, it soothed him as well.

They climbed to the top of a hill silently, Aspen leaning down to pick him up by the scruff and lift him up on top of a steep boulder. Sitting up there, he could remember seeing more of the valley than he'd ever remembered seeing before. And in the distance, above the mountains...flashes of light rapidly lit up, one after another. They produced a low but powerful rumbling that made Everett feel so small. At first he felt fear in his chest; what was making this noise? But then...he felt it again. That tingling in his whiskers, in his bones, in his fur. It was the same feeling he felt when Aspen scolded him.

"What is that?" the young Everett said in awe, looking up at his mother.

"It's lightning," she whispered with a smile, pulling him close with her paw. "I thought you'd like it."

Everett nodded slowly. "I love it." It made him think of her. He knew his parents had the ability to weild water and poison and fire and electricity. It was in that moment, though, that he felt a desperate need to hold the same abilities. He wanted to have this effect on others, the same effect Aspen had on him. He needed this so badly, like he needed food or water.

Years later, in the Misty Forest, the lightning felt like coming home.

Everett (c)
Aspen (c)