courage, dear heart -> intro!!

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    It had been a few days since she had arrived in this strange place her father directed her to. She wasn't sure how he knew of this RiverClan but he told her to come straight here without stopping. So for a whole day she ran, finally reaching the river where she was picked up by Doestar and brought to her Clan. But even though she felt safe now, Petal felt more broken and alone than ever. For all six moons of her life, it had just been her and her father; but just a few days ago he was forced to sacrifice himself in order for her to survive. And now she was in this strange place - she was grateful - but uncomfortable. She so desperately wanted RiverClan to feel like home but it was going to take a lot of adjusting.


    For now, the tiny kitten laid in camp, letting the sun warm her cream fur. There was still mud coating some areas of her fur where she could not reach to clean herself. Bones were sticking out at odd angles and she looked like she might be fall to pieces if someone bumped her in the right place. She had scratches covering her cheeks and flanks from where she ran through the bristles without slowing down to dodge them. Her feet were also torn up and raw. Petal had the potential to be quite beautiful but all-in-all she looked like a horrifying mess at the moment. That's what coming near death did to her.


    Petal was trying so hard to erase all the memories of the last few days but it was haunting her. She had hardly spoken since she arrived and a frown stayed locked on her face. Her mind kept winding, wondering, "What could I have done differently to help my daddy survive?" And that's where she sat through the morning - eyebrows furrowed in concentration, frowning, and looking like a damaged mess.


    THERE'S A FIRE INSIDE OF YOU, THAT CAN'T HELP BUT SHINE THROUGH —

    WHEN TOMORROW COMES — tempestpaw — riverclan — tags


    "Hey, you're new, right?" Tempestpaw meowed curiously, approaching Petal with an interested look in her eyes. The kitten looked scruffy, pelt a mess and barely anything more than skin and bones. She sat down next to the ragged kitten, trying to seem as unthreatening as possible towards the young RiverClanner. "I'm Tempestpaw. What's your name?"


    Sealpaw had to double-take a bit, blinking his big blues, confused. It looked like Tempestpaw was seated next to a mini-him, the resemblance was uncanny. The poor little thing looked rough though, Seal knew the hardships of life outside of the clan. She had just joined a few days ago, like him, he was busy adjusting to clan life; Their joining days only a few apart.


    Approaching the modest pile of freshkill, he plucked a decently sized water vole delicately with his teeth before slowly making his way over to the twosome. Sealpaw took a seat beside his fellow apprentice, giving her a subtle acknowledgment before lightly setting down the water vole, intended for the little one. "You hungry?" he asked shortly, but saying so in a tone twin to that of a mother's. The sleek tom listened as Tempestpaw introduced herself, awaiting to hear his little doppleganger's name.

    Hanakosong

    riverclan || warrior || ♀


    The pale brown tabby had never had kits of her own, nor a mate for that matter. Being a warrior was all she had ever known, but it would be ignorant of another to say that Hanakosong had no maternal instincts to call upon. She was extremely protective of her apprentice, Toadpaw, and very much a motherly presence towards several younger cats whenever she had the chance. So when her dark green gaze swept around camp that morning and saw the pitiful form of Petal hunched nearby and surrounded by a couple of apprentices, Hanakosong took it upon herself to immediately trot over to investigate. Noticing the mud still partially stuck in Petal's fur, the tabby settled down beside the kit, making sure to purr quiet and warm to reassure the young thing that she meant no harm.

    "Would it be alright if I helped you, little one?" Hanakosong wanted to give Petal the chance to refuse help. She knew from experience that asking for help was hard, but it was easier to say yes or no when it was offered. She had been in Petal's paws more often than she cared to admit.

    speaking thoughts

    When Tempestpaw approached, Petal forced herself to stay where she was despite the compelling urge to run for her life again. But she knew it was illogical; there was no threat here. Everyone had been so kind to her so far and as she listened to the older feline's words she became more relaxed. "Hi Tempestpaw. Uh, I-I'm Petal," she spoke, stuttering slightly. She wanted to tell her that it was nice to meet her too but something made her purse her lips and keep her jaw locked shut. But she did force a smile in the apprentice's general direction, hoping she wouldn't think she was rude.


    When Sealpaw approached, her expression mirrored his and her jaw dropped slightly. He looked just like ... her. How strange. She was so amazed by the similarities between the two of them she almost missed his question. The kitten lowered her striking blue eyes to the water vole that had been placed in front of her and tilted her head as she weighed her options. Wondering if she should take it, she looked up at Tempestpaw, her eyes full and questioning - almost as if she was asking the older female if it was alright to take it. But again, she didn't want to seem rude and figured that not taking it would be a slap in the face to Sealpaw since he had brought it all the way over here to her. And she was starving. Hesitantly, Petal sniffed the meat. When the scent engulfed her, she started devouring the fresh kill. Her eyes were crazed with desperate hunger as she tore into the meat.


    She was close to finishing her food when Hanakosong approached. Again, when she was asked a question, she now looked between Tempestpaw and Sealpaw, urging them to tell her if it was safe for her to accept this cat's help. Just like before, Petal desperately didn't want to seem rude in her new home so she nodded slowly towards the brown tabby. "Thank you," she murmured to Hanakosong quietly and feebly before quickly turning to Sealpaw and repeating her gratitude, "And thank you too." It also occurred to her that she only knew Tempestpaw by name so she asked, "W-what are your names?"


    THERE'S A FIRE INSIDE OF YOU, THAT CAN'T HELP BUT SHINE THROUGH —

    Sealpaw felt a softness surging inside him, he felt for this poor little thing. He smiled slightly, amused as she looked around at their faces, almost as if asking for permission or confirmation. Sealpaw's eyes widened ever slightly as she scarfed down the water vole he brought her but... good, his smile lengthened, glad she had eaten. "I'm Sealpaw," He said warmly, crouching down to be level with her, "And I missed your name, I might as well be calling you sister though." Sealpaw chuckled to himself at this, a tendency he had whenever he felt impressed with whatever he said, "We look like twins huh?" He questioned teasingly, hoping to put the kit at ease. Sealpaw had an intense soft heart for kits, and subconsciously, the young chocolate pointed tom loved playing mother to them, just as his mother Doestar did moons ago when she adopted him.

    Hanakosong

    riverclan || warrior || ♀


    Continuing to purr softly as the conversation carried on around her, Hanakosong took a brief moment to give her name to the little kit. "I'm Hanakosong."

    With that, the lithe brown tabby began to groom the mud out of the kit's cream colored fur, taking care to make sure she wasn't too rough on the little scrap of fur. She looked like she might fall apart or blow away if handled too roughly. So Hanakosong kept her movements gentle and purred softly throughout the grooming process. She wondered briefly to herself what exactly this little kit's story was, how she had ended up here, if she had a home to go back to. But those questions could wait until the little kit didn't look like she would fall over from a gust of wind.

    speaking thoughts