GOT TO KEEP MY CALM, AND CARRY ON [p, minos]

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    Was it common to not know the specific tom that helped sire you in BloodClan?


    Andromeda felt the daunting feeling behind the truth. Rosaline, her real mother, was dead. BloodClan hadn't exactly spared those details for her, and Andromeda simply wasn't that dumb. Seven kits? Even at three moons, the intelligent-growing she-kit understood how impractical those chances were. At least she had Vi though, which wasn't exactly bad at all. She was a good substitute for a mother, while playing the blood-role of her aunt, and she'd managed with them so far. Thus, the little tabby didn't dwell too much on the motherly figures in her life.


    As for the male figures, why, she wasn't too sure. Vi hadn't exactly mentioned who the fathers were. As for her cousins, possibly half-siblings, she was aware they had two sires. Rosaline and Vi were two cunning, flirtatious partners in crime, who's to say Rosaline didn't have two sires for her own litter? The question festered within the tiny goddess, stretching each foreleg absent-mindedly as she tried to see what toms looked like her.


    Many had her thick coat. Many had her tabby markings, well a good pawful anyway. What about her eyes? Perhaps no one held such deep, forest green optics as she did. Licking at her chest, Andromeda began to make sport of it. It was cruel game for a three moon old kitten, but if it was one thing the tabby liked doing, it was discovering new things... Like any kit did.[/fancypost]


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    andromeda.
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  • [fancypost bgcolor=; bordercolor=; borderwidth=0px; border-top: 0px transparent; border-left: 2px solid #D4AF37; border-bottom: 0px transparent; border-right: 0px transparent; height: auto; width: 300px; overflow: auto; margin-top: 6px;][justify][size=9pt] When Vi and Minos had last spoken face-to-face, she had told him she wanted nothing to do with him, and that their kits would never know their fathers as long as she could help it. It just so happened that Minos had also helped sire Vi's sister's litter. Out of the two, and to avoid the mess this had made things, Minos never would have approached Vi. But that couldn't be stopped now, it had already happened. What was done, was done. Minos hadn't been too interested in the kits as it was, but there was still an urge to seek out his young and perhaps help them in a way, even if they did not know of his true relationship with them.


    So far, the kingly tom had met his son, Lester, who had been informed by another cat of his father's identity. But that wasn't to say all of the kits knew by now. Perhaps Lester had been the only one interested in seeking out his paternal figure, which would make sense considering he was the only male in Rosaline's litter. He had also been on the gentler side, very graceful and soft-spoken, not at all like his half-siblings of Vi's litter. Minos had deduced that perhaps all of Vi's litter were spiteful and rude and all of Rosaline's litter were more level-headed and charming. The golden tom had also met his daughters Finch and Florence, neither of which were offspring to be proud of in his opinion. Both had rejected his help the moment he attempted to offer it. It was clear neither of them wanted a father in their lives.


    It was all very confusing to the young father. He wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation, and often times he felt like he just made it worse by existing. This was no way for a royal to think, Minos had begun to think his situation was making him depressed. A vile word that plagued his thoughts more often than not. Sometimes, like he was doing now, the graceful masculine would take walks to help clear his head, but that was a tad difficult when it was done in silence.


    It just so happened the lone traveler had stumbled upon another feline. His pawsteps grew softer as he slowed to a halt. The feline before him was nothing short of beautiful for a kit her age. The golden tom instantly wondered if he recognized her pelt from when he had glanced at Vi caring from her and Rosaline's litters from afar. The tabby and white she-cat definitely had the air about her that would raise suspicion that she was one of the two sister's kits. Minos supposed he could always try to coax the information out of her, it wasn't like he was doing anything of importance at the moment anyway. "Greetings young one, I believe we haven't met yet." he called out in a soft baritone voice.[/size][/justify][/fancypost]

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    Disturbed from such cruel game, Andtomeda's sage optics fluttered a bit. It was like awakening from a trance, and this deep voice had gently grabbed her and pulled her free. Gently... BloodClan was rarely a place for gentle voices. She'd met very few femora's with deep feminine voices of power and such politeness. Except Vi of course, who'd been absent in her box for quite some time. The only other voice, of deep tone that was gentle, was her eldest brother Lester and Dee's witty comfort. Out of all the males she'd met in BloodClan, which were limited, she'd hoped desperately Dee was her father. Although, she highly doubted it. Last time they spoke he'd said Rosaline detested him. Pity, her dead mother had no taste in men.


    Detaching herself of those dark thoughts, Andy finally focused on the voice. It belonged to a thick furred golden tom with bright eyes that softened when they looked at her. His aura was regal, his appearance attention-grabbing. He was like a lion, a smaller version at least in its majestic grace. Not that Andromeda had ever seen a lion, but stories around here were often detailed and the young molly was rather imaginative. So, when he spoke, her eyes narrowed defensively. All cats she didn't know posed a threat to her, naturally of course, and her tawny tabby fur fluffed out. However, she was short of being aggressive.


    "Are you someone I should know?" she answered, lifting her head and puffing her chest out. Currently, Andromeda had two sides to herself. Mature elegance, and childish freedom. Now, she was acting in the first. Yet, she couldn't be as imposing as she liked, for she was actually curious of why she kept seeing the young brute around lately. She didn't believe in spirits, but it felt that each time she looked at him and dismissed him like Vi had, there was something she should know. Even now her heat strings were tugged at the sight of the bright stranger, and her dark gaze softened a bit.[/fancypost]


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    andromeda.
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    bump![/fancypost]


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    andromeda.
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    [fancypost borderwidth=0px; width:420px; font-family: helvetica; font-size:9px; text-align: right;]love cal[/fancypost]

    [align=center][size=5pt]© counselor dreamíe

  • [fancypost bgcolor=; bordercolor=; borderwidth=0px; border-top: 0px transparent; border-left: 2px solid #D4AF37; border-bottom: 0px transparent; border-right: 0px transparent; height: auto; width: 300px; overflow: auto; margin-top: 6px;][justify] Every small movement, the tone of her voice, it all drew Minos in. This young goddess was certainly not like the rest of her siblings the golden tom had previously met. Lester had been gentle but more on the feeble side of the personality trait. This kit was gentle, but had an air that commanded respect. This was a trait fit for the offspring of the regal tom. He wasn't quite sure yet if she was his, but he already admired her for her personality and beauty. He would not mind chatting with her in the future if she were ever up for the activity.


    "Are you someone I should know?"


    The simple question was amusing to Minos, as he was in fact someone she should know. A light smile graced his lips, but did not reveal much about his internal thought process. She appeared a bit startled by the flaxen tom's arrival, so he gave her no reason to be upset further. In one graceful movement, the curious father fell back to his haunches, and wrapped his plumy tail around his paws. His posture conveyed the complete opposite of aggression, as he was only interested in the young kit and her origins.


    "Probably not." Minos finally decided on vocalizing in order to answer the young femme. He didn't dive into elaborating why he was someone she shouldn't know, as he couldn't formulate a good reason or excuse. Instead, his molten gaze searched the tabby's forest-coloured optics as he gave her a warm and reassuring smile. "I'm Minos." the kingly tom rumbled softly, attempting to draw out the young goddess' name.[/justify][/fancypost]

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    She turned to him then, his lack of aggression passing her test. Her eyes widened, not to much but enough to show she too wasn't a threat. Andy's striped, feathery plume lashed back and forth against the ground, a habit she developed to show she was thinking. Her ears swiveled back, head cocked like a curious bird as she evaluated him through a curious squint.


    Minos? So she'd been right. A few times she'd heard his name spoken by other members of the Clan, but she wanted to be certain before calling him out so casually. He seemed amused by her, she could tell in those bright pools of gold he called eyes. A sense of pride tingled a her pads, and she laughed quietly to herself. "Minos," she repeated, trying the name on her tongue. It sounded familiar... "Minos," she tried again, hoping her mind would be more specific on where she'd heard such a gentle, but equally powerful name. Minos fitted this tom well, perhaps simply by the sound.


    "Greeting Minos sir. I'm Andromeda and yes," instantly her gaze hardened and body stiffened. "I'm from Rosaline's litter, watched over by recently absent auntie Vi." A lot of cat questioned the seven kits these days. Who did they come from? Who were their fathers? Andromeda had wanted to claw their eyes out by the looks and questions she received, and that was a rather violent thought for a calm and independent molly like herself. With no parental figure, and her siblings rather distant, she truly was all alone and it ached. Ached so bad, that she tried hard not to let it weaken her, so she replaced it with hate. A crude coping skill, but helpful all the same. "Might I ask, what do you want from me? I've nothing to give you, and if you're looking for a fight I'm not interested."[/fancypost]


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    andromeda.
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    [fancypost borderwidth=0px; width:420px; font-family: helvetica; font-size:9px; text-align: right;]love cal[/fancypost]

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  • [fancypost bgcolor=; bordercolor=; borderwidth=0px; border-top: 0px transparent; border-left: 2px solid #D4AF37; border-bottom: 0px transparent; border-right: 0px transparent; height: auto; width: 300px; overflow: auto; margin-top: 6px;][justify] It was a bit satisfying to hear the young tabby play with his name by repeating it. It would have been nicer to hear her toy with the word 'father', but Minos wasn't completely positive that was true yet. Humor was still apparent in his flaxen gaze, even causing it to glitter as he tilted his head more into the light. His optics were two smooth orbs of gold, although more akin in appearance to pyrite. This kit was not at all like Vi, Florence or Finch, but respectable and charming. She already spoke like a lady of a high court.


    "Andromeda?" he inquired thoughtfully. "Andromeda." When the regal tom repeated the young kit's name, he gave her a teasing smile that conveyed he meant no ill-intent. Minos had only repeated her name because of how well it fit her. Such an exalted feline deserved an equally majestic name to match. His humorous smile faded briefly when Andromeda went on to tell him of her mother's identity. Another one of Rosaline's kits? "Rosaline was a strong member of Bloodclan." the golden tom started, but quickly stopped himself. He didn't want to discuss the kit's dead mother if it upset her, or if she just didn't want to hear about Rosaline.


    A long, and slightly uncomfortable pause was taken before Minos answered Andromeda's final question. "I don't want anything other than to get to know you." he let out a soft huff. "You're a lot more even-tempered than those in Vi's litter." The smile he showed to the young she-cat was tame, fragile, as if Minos was expecting her to blow him off. "And goodness no, I'm not looking for a fight." his soft baritone voice held traces of light humor. Now would probably be the moment that would dictate how much time the two spent together in the future.[/justify][/fancypost]

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    As Minos playfully mimicked her, a slight smile graced her pink lips. She released a giggle of a child, her mature façade broken by the playful banter they exchanged. Andromeda considered him with a relaxed smile, then noticed his emotion changed as he complimented her deceased mother. Irritation gnawed at her, and she gave a curt nod. "So I've heard," she replied tersely, then inhaled deeply. It didn't take long to recover from talking about Rosaline, especially when this tom was so playful and enlightening. It kind of reminded her Dee actually, Lester too. Well, more of Lester.


    Suddenly her eyes widened and her tail curled with interest as he spoke about her cousins. Andy had seen him around before with Finch and Florence and personally witnessed their aggression towards the trainee. Who was this Minos really? What was his business about them? Her ears tilted forward, and Andromeda approached Minos very cautiously. She crouched low then, in a futile attempt to look menacing, and craned her neck upwards to squint suspiciously in his golden orbs. "Get to know me? What is this? Who are you so that you'd want to know me? Surely I haven't mesmerized you with my charm that much," she grinned then, winking teasingly as she rose to her paws and sat back on her haunches once more. If he'd met force before and wasn't pleased with it, it'd be better to persuade him with her witty comfort.


    "Well then, if you're no threat, can you please tell me why you'd want to know me sir. Am I someone worth knowing?" Now the tawny tabby was just being modest. "I'm just as much of fireball as my kin, just slower to light," she warned as she raised a figurative brow and gave a bright laugh.[/fancypost]


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    andromeda.
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  • [fancypost bgcolor=; bordercolor=; borderwidth=0px; border-top: 0px transparent; border-left: 2px solid #D4AF37; border-bottom: 0px transparent; border-right: 0px transparent; height: auto; width: 300px; overflow: auto; margin-top: 6px;][justify] The kit's giggles were refreshing. Minos hadn't heard anything quite like it before, even when other litters were running around Bloodclan. Her chuckles were akin to the chiming of bells, sweet and charming. It was a welcome sight in a clan known for aggression and unkind attitudes. At this rate, she was growing up to become the absolute medium between Rosaline and himself. Speaking of Rosaline, the kit's mood changed when he mentioned her mother. It seemed like a sensitive subject for Andromeda, so he decided against bringing up the subject again in the future.


    As the tabby kit neared him, Minos only gazed upon her with muted interest, until she began to question him with light suspicion in her tone. Her questions were all justified, the golden tom knew he'd be wondering why he was suddenly reaching out to the kits like this if he was in her position. His weak grin only became more pronounced with traces of embarrassment in his features. He didn't know if the kit wanted to hear the truth, but he also didn't want to lie to her. It was a delicate choice, one that he would have to pick the option that would give her less of a reason to resent him. His smile strengthened as he came up with a witty comeback in the meantime. "Ah! You got me! I couldn't resist conversing with a kit of your stature." his comment was truly playful, but he was hoping she would take no offence to his brushing off her inquiries for now.


    But, Andromeda kept pressing. The regal tom didn't answer her right away, as he was still conflicted on what exactly to tell her. Her tame warning lifted an amused smirk to the golden tom's maw, but it faded quickly. To lie or not to lie, that was the question. Minos had lied before, but this was family. Plus, Lester already knew and would probably tell Andromeda sooner than later. It would be better if the golden tom was upfront about the matter. He let out a soft sigh before answering softly with, "Well, frankly, I'm your father."[/justify][/fancypost]

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    Instantly, the kit stumbled backward a thousand pawsteps and tripped over her hindlegs to plop painfully on her rump. Her eyes were horrified, wide and scared and making her look like the average feeble kit. It made her seem vulnerable, and an expression like this had never passed across her face. Her eyes stung, she couldn't breath, was this what crying felt like? Never once had she shed a tear, and she squeezed her eyes closed and gritted her teeth an she released a painful wheeze. If Andromeda's face was less beauteous in fake maturity and forced adult-nature, it was worse in the frightened emotion she displayed now.


    Her tail was fluffed up like a bottle brush, one jade eye opening as the other remained forcefully shut. The one eye she looked over Minos with was glassy, crazily searching over his mesmerizing pelt of gold. It should never have hurt this bad, but all of it. The fact Vi was gone, Rosaline dead, her father hadn't even raced to claim her and might've not revealed his identity if she hadn't pestered him. Andy's emotions, bottled up, broke from their container and spilled out from her one eye. A clear rivulet, staining her cheek as a symbolism of pain and betrayal.


    "Y-You don't -," but she couldn't finish that sentence. They both sounded alike, she shared his good looks, her fur was a mix of brown and gold; a tawny, and her lengthy fur... "Oh my god," she breathed, ears flattening to her crown so tightly it was as if she had no ears. Both her eyes opened, slitted with horror. "You are my father." Right then and there, Andromeda was forced to decide where he would fit in her life. She couldn't push him away, though she desperately wanted to, because an emptiness in her chest weakened her and called for him. So she'd keep him, but he would be without her trust. She'd be kind to him, approachable as he had, but they would never exchange stories or be as close as Lester was to her.


    It was quick resolve, a peace treaty between heart and mind. Between intuition and soul. So she inhaled deeply, regaining her calm and confidence, and lifted her green eyes painfully to his golden ones. Her chest puffed out, her head raised regally, and she sniffed. Her eyes fluttered a bit, successfully ridding herself of the stinging sensation. "O-Okay," she stuttered uncharacteristically. "Okay...," she breathed. "I believe you. But... don't expect me to trust you anytime soon. You have to earn that in the future, if I mean anything to you that is. Otherwise... You're simply my father, a mere title with no meaning," Andy mewed determinedly, although her voice teetered away as she gave a brittle inhale.[/fancypost]


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    andromeda.
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    [fancypost borderwidth=0px; width:420px; font-family: helvetica; font-size:9px; text-align: right;]love cal[/fancypost]

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  • [fancypost bgcolor=; bordercolor=; borderwidth=0px; border-top: 0px transparent; border-left: 2px solid #D4AF37; border-bottom: 0px transparent; border-right: 0px transparent; height: auto; width: 300px; overflow: auto; margin-top: 6px;][justify] As soon as he had uttered the words, he regretted it. The distress in her clear, leaf-coloured optics was so real to him, it hurt to look at them. Not being able to stand eye contact any longer, his flaxen optics dropped to the ground in front of his paws. The once regal tom's shoulders were slumped, his bushy tail immobile, and his features crestfallen. He was a failure, a failure to his own kit. Her reaction had hurt him in the worst possible way. He hated that he had to tell her like this.


    He waited through her intermittent sputterings, knowing now was not the time to speak. The golden tom could feel the pain he had caused his kit, he wished it didn't have to be this way. Surely now she was realizing that he was one of the only male Bloodclanners who could have supplied the genetics she exhibited. Every broken word, every sudden thought was bringing her closer to the same conclusion. Minos knew that, but it didn't stop the arduous journey from start to finish end any quicker. The pain the young father experienced was unlike any before it. This pain was from a heart broken as a kit struggled to find its father. Perhaps that said father wasn't who Andromeda wanted it to be. He wasn't strong or cunning like most Bloodclanners, he had looks and that was it. Would she be ashamed of him?


    His defeated gaze shifted upwards to meet his daughter's gaze once more when she began to speak in complete sentences. At least she believed him, at least she knew and wouldn't deny the fact. "That's alright." he managed to force out. Suddenly the weight of the world fell on his back as he searched for something more to say. "I apologize for not telling you sooner, but Vi wasn't really fond of me, and wasn't interested in letting me meet my offspring." his explanation was hasty and not well explained. The golden tom just couldn't bare any longer the thought that the tabby might blame his absence in her life completely on him. If Andromeda's guessing game had been difficult, how would her knowing game fair her? [/justify][/fancypost]

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    She remembered that, Vi disgracing certain toms with a dismissive glance. Accept Dee, she remembered hearing her soothing voice ask to watch over them all. Dee, a babysitter? It was a funny thought, but this was not an appropriate time for laughter. She eyed Minos, understanding how her aunt's fierceness might've driven him away. Her gaze was cold, her shoulder's also hunched, but a heavy sigh relaxed her body and made her feel as light as a feather. When her saddened, jade gaze returned to meet his golden ones, a frown settled on her facial features.


    "I couldn't understand that, but I do know if you cared so much you'd fight for us... Or at least tell us sooner! I need guidance, and no better to receive it than from blood. With Vi gone and Rosaline gone, I need a parental figure. I admit, I may sound weak in my revelation, but...," she chuckled, heavy and forced. "That's my declaration." Her bottom lip trembled, her entire being was cracked and peeling. She'd set up a boundary that not even she could fully abide to. He was so kind, so charming, and at least he'd admitted right! She didn't want to drive him away, not when she'd just found him. But there was terrible pain her chest, a minor disgrace that she couldn't ignore. Although, Andy was still shattered all the same... Maybe just this once she'd bend her rule...


    Giving a pitiful squeak and whimper, she raced forward and buried her head in the thick-furred chest of her golden father. Waterworks stained her cheeks and his own fur, her sobs muffled in his brute figure. "Please," she begged, lifting her glassy eyes upward. It was terrible to see such beauty tainted, such pureness infected by bewilderment of what she wanted. She was indecisive, gullible soul just as she was beautiful and smart. "Please don't disappear like them." She gave a shuttering gasp, and buried her face back into Minos.[/fancypost]


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    andromeda.
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  • [fancypost bgcolor=; bordercolor=; borderwidth=0px; border-top: 0px transparent; border-left: 2px solid #D4AF37; border-bottom: 0px transparent; border-right: 0px transparent; height: auto; width: 300px; overflow: auto; margin-top: 6px;][justify] The golden tom hadn't known it would hurt this badly. Minos had never even planned on telling his kits he helped sire them. What was he thinking? Of course, if Vi and Rosaline weren't missing and dead, they would be caring for their litters without a single word edge-wise from their father. But now that circumstances had turned dire for the kits, it was almost required of Minos to be there for them. They were young and didn't know that much about the world yet. How could the young father live with himself if he had simply let them be and not done anything?


    Honeyed optics searched his kit's sad, green ones as she spoke. Even if he hadn't given them any attention prior, he would make certain to give it to them now. Andromeda was right, he could have gone to them sooner, as soon as Vi had disappeared. Her words caused his features to slacken into a state of deeper remorse. Minos was still on the young side himself when he had met the two elegant sisters. It hadn't occurred to him that one good night with each would result in two litters. Litters he would have to own up to even if he hadn't planned on them. Kittens were delicate - perhaps not Finch and Florence - they needed a steady paw to guide them in the right direction. Something Minos could at least attempt to offer his offspring.


    The flaxen tom was about to give Andromeda an answer when he saw her falter. A lapse in her elegant facade. As the tabby kit ran toward Minos, he saw no aggression in her look, only anguish. He stood strong, waiting for her impact, which came accompanied with a soft thump. He could still hear her quiet sobs through his thick coat, and only felt a paternal urge to comfort her. The father wasn't that much better off, keeping his own tears at bay. In an instinctive motion, he molded himself around the young she-cat's small form, and rested his tail on her back. Andromeda's soft plea tugged at his heart strings The golden tom couldn't say no, but he also meant every word he said in reply. "I won't." His promise was simple, but meaningful. Unlike the kit's mother's untimely disappearance, Minos would be around for months. He wasn't leaving his kits alone again.[/justify][/fancypost]