Continued: A wish gone wrong.
Scene III - RiverClan's Medicine Den
Even after blurting out that jumbled, mixed-feelings answer to her question, you feel slightly nervous. Who wouldn't be, after practically conveying to a stranger that you weren't mentally in the best of places. Sure, not much was really wrong -- oh no, you had a wonderful life. As an active, hard-working apprentice of RiverClan, life was meant to be like this, no? But lately you've been feeling lonely, even if you don't know how to tell that to Minkpaw now, who's watching you with kind eyes.
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"I have two siblings." She started randomly, turning back to her herbs as she began re-organizing the numerous amount of plants that you had no idea how to begin to even name. "Or, at least, I had three siblings, but one I barely ever think about because they disappeared a long time ago, and one died when I was a kit, along with my Aunt Silversnow." Her eyes dimmed slightly, her expression far away.
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And for a moment, you could have sworn you were able to see the three of them together, laughing at something long-forgotten.
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Lineart by Starfall
"My brother is Flintkit -- he was named after our other father, Flintfang, but I've never met Flintfang. And my sister, her name is- was Martenkit." Minkpaw let out a quiet, wistful sigh. "I miss her sometimes... but I guess everyone mourns the loss of the family that was torn away from them."
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She peeks up at you through her lashes after saying this, her smaller-than-average frame tensed slightly. You knew she'd just wanted to ease your discomfort, to let you know that everyone went through tough times, to get you to speak up, but when you continue to remain silent, she settles down on the floor beside you, pushing aside her herbs to talk. "A couple of moons ago.." She began, voice trembling slightly. "I did something really ... what's the word? I did something uncalled for. I guess everyone is naive beyond reason at one point in their lives. Anyway, when Snowpaw and Daypaw were named apprentices, I guess I figured that.. Otterkit should have been up there with their* siblings as well. And I left camp to go look for them, because they'd been missing for a while."
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Minkpaw sighed. "I fell into the river. Mumblepaw and Raccoonpelt saved me, of course, since I'm still here now. Except, I didn't even realize when it happened. I know you might not believe me -" She paused, eyes beseeching. "- but I entered a.. dream. Something was there, it was brown and fuzzy and had four long limbs. It stood on two hindlegs, but it said it'd grant me a wish. I... Well, I asked for my father, Raccoonpelt, to be made happy. Except I didn't... I didn't.. realize it was supposed to be a trade-off." Minkpaw sighed once more, letting out a burdened puff of air.
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"I can barely leave this den during the day anymore. I mean, I can, and I will, if necessary, but my eyes are so sun-sensitive now that they burn in daylight. I can only safely step out after sunset most of the time." Her smile was slightly rueful. "I must be appreciative of RiverClan's leader that he let me even stay here, with the Clan as a Medicine Cat Apprentice instead of casting me out."
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The light-furred apprentice's story had been so captivating that you realize with a jolt that she'd moved closer somewhere in the midst of the story, and you'd been comfortable enough to allow her to patch your injuries in silence. Really, hearing all this about one of RiverClan's highranks makes you feel better, because she'd been right -- everyone has things to deal with. It didn't make things easier, but it did help settle your soul. You could always find help for yourself instead of bottling up completely.
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*Unsure of Otterkit's pronouns. Otterkit's roleplayer is Nixey.