sables-tale

[sables-tale]

"Tell it again, tell it again!"

"Okay, okay, gimme a sec..."

In the cool, dark nursery, three little bundles of fluffy fur pushed themselves as close together into a mossy nest. One head peeked up, double-checking the coast was clear before it ducked back down.

"A'right, Momma and Papa should be out a lil' while longer..."

"Hurry up, Serpentkit, before Momma comes back and interrupts!"

"Shoosh!"

Flintkit giggled at the sight of Serpentkit's grumpy face, while Sablekit, absolutely silent and enraptured, tried to restrain her wiggles of anticipation.

"Okay, okay... Papa told it to me once, so lemme remember..."

Drawing in a long breath and shutting his eyes, putting on the same concentrated look as Frostnose, Serpentkit fluffed himself up and refocused.

"Once upon a time," he began, echoing Frostnose's soft inflection. "There were many, many cats. So many cats, they needed guid... guid..."

"Guidance," gently Sablekit interjected, receiving a thankful glance.

"Guid-unce," Serpentkit continued. "The sky was as dark as a muddy puddle at night, and in the day, cats fought a whole lot because they didn't know what to do. It got so, so bad that all the cats split up into uh..."

"Clans."

"Clans, instead of being one big family. They just got madder and madder, makin' things worse, until..."

Serpentkit leaped up to his paws in a dramatic show, earning ooh's and aah's from his awestruck sisters.

"Boom! The dark, dark sky lit up! And these shiny cats came down, stopping all the clans from fightin'! And then they said--"

Serpentkit drew in a breath, focusing on deepening his high-pitched voice.

"'This is not the way', which made all the clan cats stop, because, uh... Uh, they could disagree, but they needed t'learn how to talk nicely about it, because..."

"Serpentkit?"

All three youngsters froze like squirrels caught in the sights of a hungry feline, slowly peering back in almost unison at the silhouette blocking out the limited light from outside.

"Frostnose, have you been tellin' them about StarClan again? I swear--"

"It's a good story about why we need to talk about our feelings instead of fighting over the last mouse, Gorse, don't overthink it."

"Ugh, you just know how I feel--"

Continuing to rant, Frostnose ducked around his irritated mate, greeting his kits with a swift lick to each of their foreheads.

"Time to sleep," he whispered to disappointed mewls. "Trust me, you don't want to stay up listening to Momma. How about I tell you another story tomorrow?"

Serpentkit (tried) told a bedtime story to Sablekit and Flintkit.

[sables-tale]

Momma and Papa were very particular about them leaving the camp.

It's dangerous out there, Papa would warn with a worried look in his eye when Sablekit would inquire too much as to what was out in the forest. You'll be able to go once you're old enough. But not yet.

Then when?

No one could give her a definitive answer. Even Serpentkit would be stumped, often sulking afterwards when realizing that was the one thing that he both didn't know, but also couldn't pry out of their parents. Yet, he and Flintkit seemed so content playing in the camp.

Weren't they ever curious of what laid beyond? Did their ears not strain to listen to the sounds of the forest, trying to decipher the calls and cries of things that were not quite cat?

"Sablekit! What are you doing?!"

She barely had stuck her head in the thorny brush that led out of camp when Frostnose's voice, shrill with worried, sounded behind her. Wincing, she shrunk just as he swiftly ran over and grabbed her by the scruff, pulling her back.

"Papa, I was--I was just--"

"We told you already, you're too little to go out yet," Frostnose said, cutting her off. "When you're bigger, I promise you can explore. But right now you're just giving Papa a big fright."

"What's the problem?"

As if it couldn't get any worse, Gorsestar trotted up, ears pricked with concern.

"Sablekit was trying to leave," Frostnose sighed, and Sablekit could not get any closer to the dirt when her mother looked at her with a mixture of concern and disappointment.

"Sable, we talked about this," gently Gorsestar tried, and Sablekit could only mumble a feeble I know.

Yet, as she was herded back to the nursery, she couldn't help but peer back.

Why couldn't she get bigger faster?

Sablekit is scolded after (almost) sneaking out of camp.

[sables-tale]

gorsestar, sablekit’s ma! 💖 she is spunky, impulsive, and thinks with her heart before her head. 100% condones committing to true love over sticking to a stinky code.

[sables-tale]

SABLE'S TALE.

a clangen blog with a twist regarding its titular character, sable!

featuring a definitely normal, average kitten found in the woods by her mother, gorsestar. sable is learning what life is like while being raised alongside her two new siblings, serpentkit and flintkit, under the care of her new mother gorsestar and new father frostnose.

this blog is not only a focus on sable growing up, but also her parents' navigating their new normal in 'rippleclan' after leaving their clans behind.

bios.

gorsestar

frostnose

sablekit

serpentkit

flintkit

[sables-tale]

"Momma?"

"Hm?"

In the midst of grooming, Gorsestar perked up, looking back towards the nursery's maw. She had been taking advantage of the springtime weather as leaf-bare let in warm sunlight, and she couldn't get any of that in the stuffy old badger's den. It was nice, too, when the kits couldn't move much.

But now, they walked, talked, and had little thoughts all of their own--and sometimes it was a bit much for her.

"What do you need, baby?"

Turning on the maternal switch in her mind, she set down her paw, inviting Sablekit to come over with a flick of her tail.

Carefully, tentatively, the young kit wobbled over. Her siblings walked long before she did, and Gorsestar admittedly thought it would take her awhile to catch-up. It seemed pure determination fueled every little pawstep.

"Why's it... why's it..."

Plopping her little rump down, Sablekit's brow furrowed as she tried to collect her thoughts.

"Why's what?"

"I don't look like you or Papa."

"Oh, but you look a little like Serpentkit, don't you think?"

"Not really."

It was a mistake showing Sablekit her reflection in one of the puddles from the last big rainfall, clearly. As she developed and grew, admittedly, her sandy bengal patterns were nothing that she had quite ever seen in another cat. Then there was her cute little tail, which seemed to be having a hard time keeping up with the rest of her...

"Well, that's because you look like your great-great-great-great grandma," Gorsestar offered, and watched as Sablekit's bronze eyes brightened.

"R-really?"

"Yep, yep. Great-great-great-great grandma Tigerspots's fur must've taken awhile to come down, because you're the very first I've seen with her colors!"

Puffing with pride, Sablekit seemed satisfied with this answer, and relief washed over Gorsestar.

"Oh, lookie there, what did Serpentkit find?"

With an ever-short attention span, Sablekit was easily satisfied with a flick of a tail and a nudge in the direction of her brother who was in the middle of tussling with a branch.

"You better help!"

With a determined nod, Sablekit bounded forward on her wobbly little legs, letting out a battlecry as she plowed into both the enemy stick, and her brother.

"Why not be honest with her?"

Gorsestar froze, looking back. With a yawn, Frostnose stretched as he exited the nursery, leaving behind a still-napping Flintkit as he came and sat next to his mate, watching their other two kits wrestle.

"There's nothing wrong with her being adopted."

"Well, I know that, but..." Gorsestar scrunched up her face, uncertain. "It's a tough topic for a kit. What if she gets the wrong idea? What if it leads her to thinking poorly about herself?"

"We can't hide it forever."

Gorsestar, quietly, nodded and sighed, leaning against Frostnose.

"I know, I know."

Sablekit has a friendly chat with Gorsestar that leaves them both feeling happy.

[sables-tale]

SABLEKIT

The kit that Gorsestar found lost in the forest of their territory, Sablekit's origins are unknown, but her new parents love her all the same. There is something different about her, especially as she grows bigger, but only Sablekit seems to feel this way. She is quiet and inquisitive, though quite firm with her words when she does choose to speak.

[sables-tale]

FLINTKIT

A sweet little she-cat, she was the first of the pair of kittens to be born. She is much like her father with her quiet imagination and sweet demeanor, much to Frostnose's pride. She is the cheerleader of the three kits, and enjoys supporting her siblings the best that she can.

[sables-tale]

SERPENTKIT

Serpentkit, the second-born son of Gorsestar and Frostnose. A bit of a know-it-all, while he can sometimes be irritable with trying to show off all the facts he memorized from Frostnose, he does try his best to be helpful. A little too observant.

[sables-tale]

FROSTNOSE

The cautious counterpart of Gorsestar, Frostnose is a young tom cat and the father of Serpentkit and Flintkit--and of course, now Sablekit. When foreseeing his future, he didn't see in it breaking the warrior code and running away with a she-cat from another clan, but, well...

Life happens, doesn't it?

Quiet, reserved, and meticulous, he is the opposite of Gorsestar and her leap-before-you-think attitude. Admittedly, she rubbed off on him. Why else would he be constantly taking every patrol he could to try and see her at their border, and eventually resulting in her pregnancy and their exile?

Well, their to-be exile.

The moment she knew she was found out, Gorsestar found him, and they ran away together in the early days of her pregnancy. Their leaders never had a chance to formally exile them, but they both knew it was coming when initially told they needed to stay away from one another.

He often worries and complains about Gorsestar making impulsive decisions, but in truth, he'd follow her anywhere.

[sables-tale]

GORSESTAR

Formerly known as 'Gorseleaf', Gorsestar is a feisty young she-cat and mother to Serpentkit and Flintkit--and now Sablekit!

With a strong-willed mind and a go-getter attitude, this young warrior couldn't be stopped by anything--well, until she met Frostnose. What happens when an unstoppable force meets and immovable object?

They fall in forbidden love, of course!

Meeting initially as apprentices, and then later on as warriors, Gorsestar originated from BurnClan, and Frostnose from ThornClan. Gorsestar insists it was love at first sight when they met again at the gathering announcing new warriors, having both had their ceremonies close to one another. Frostnose will say out of earshot of Gorsestar that he thought she was insufferable, but she grew on him.

When they left their clans, Gorsestar, as the bolder of the two, decided to dub herself their leader and assigned herself the suffix of -star, deciding that StarClan or no StarClan, she would lead them happily. She also decided on the name 'RippleClan', saying that their love would cause a ripple effect through the existing clans and change minds on the strict warrior code.

Frostnose thinks it's cheesy, but secretly adores it.

[sables-tale]

"What--what is that?"

"Mmpf?"

Gorsestar almost leapt out of her skin. How long had Frostnose been standing there? Had he been waiting at the camp's thorny entrance this entire time? With a mouth full of soft, downy kitten fluff, she couldn't defend herself against his aghast look, only able to mumble a reply around her new find.

"Ish wash aban--"

"No, no, I don't want to hear it, Gorseleaf, we barely have made it this far--"

"Gorsestar."

Briefly putting down the kit to swiftly correct her mate, with a haughty little huff and sway of her tail, she bent to scoop the little one back up.

"Don't got time, baby needs help. Now."

Walking past her dismayed companion on swift paws, Gorsestar gave a little indicative flick of her tail-tip for him to follow. Honestly, she was surprised he wasn't being a little mother hen to the kits! He practically didn't leave them for the first few hours of their life, doting on them more closely than she did. Well, she was also in the middle of recovering from a difficult birth, so kit-business wasn't at the top of her mind...

"Hi, little ones."

Gently settling her new addition upon a bed of moss, Gorsestar looked fondly upon her two babies, giving them each a loving nudge and lick. Flintkit and Serpentkit looked especially round and plump compared to her poor little find, their little rotund bodies rolling about as they mewled and searched for the warm of her belly.

"Yes, yes, let me settle, let me settle. Can I introduce you to your new..."

She paused, nosing the little kit she had found.

"Sister? Ooh, we'll have to find a name for you, won't we, little one?"

"Gorsestar."

A shadow cast itself across the nursery, and she peered up. Gorsestar met Frostnose's worried look with a warm purr and flick of the tail.

"Not another word--not yet. Come and lay with me," she instructed, laying slowly down as to not disturb the kits too much. As they felt her weight shift in the mossy bed, Flintkit and Serpentkit squirmed to the warm of her belly, and as they worked to latch, she gently tried to nose the new she-kit over.

She was still so cold, but she tried not to worry terribly as she nudged her between her new siblings to absorb from of their warmth, coaxing her to suckle.

"... Where did you find her?"

Slowly, cautiously, as if afraid of disturbing them all, Frostnose settled behind Gorsestar, and after a moment more, he pressed against her back. Gorsestar purred approvingly.

"She was just out, all by herself," she murmured, watching with adoring eyes. "I called around, but nobody showed up. I couldn't just leave her--I know you're worried about resources, Frostnose, but--"

"I know," he sighed, settling his chin upon her shoulder, peering down at their brood. "I'd do the same. You know, I just worry..."

Nodding her understanding, Gorsestar tilted her head, bumping her nose against his cheek.

"And that's what I love about you. You're my special little worrier, keeping us all safe."

Licking his cheek and affectionately headbutting him, as her mouth opened to give a report of the leaf she had tumbled with, she stopped, emerald eyes flashing wide.

"Oh, oh! She latched, she latched! Oh my beautiful little girl, what a wonderful job you are doing!"

Grooming the little kit in encouragement, she felt her chest swell in warm relief. What a fighter this little kit was in spite of all these odds against her.

"She's a little... odd looking, don't you think? I don't think I've ever seen a kit like her before," mused Frostnose, watching the little she-kit wiggle a bit, finding the strength to scoot in closer. "It's not a bad thing, but, do kits normally have such big heads?"

"Oh, hush, she's barely that big!"

Headbutting Frostnose playfully, Gorsestar looked back.

"How about we focus on what she can be named? I feel bad, having the rest of the kits with names."

"Why would you feel bad when you just found her?"

"Shush. Okay, okay, what about... Beaverkit?"

Frostnose scrunched his face.

"No."

"Woodkit?"

"Absolutely not."

"Barkkit?"

"No."

"Um... Logkit?"

"What is with you and tree-themed names? By the stars..."

Gently cuffing Gorsestar over the ear and earning a soft laugh in exchange, Frostnose peered down, intently studying the little kit. She was such a lovely shade of brown with hints of black markings with a little smudge of white upon her muzzle.

"How about... Sablekit?"

"Sablekit?"

Gorsestar mulled it over, thoughtfully staring out ahead.

"... I like the sound of it," she agreed with a nod. "It's decided. Sablekit, welcome to RippleClan!"

[sables-tale]

She had only meant to go out until the achy-stiffness in her legs was gone. Being stuck in a makeshift nursery was no place for a warrior, and Gorseleaf--no, Gorsestar--was feeling it keenly. Even with a sore rear, an aching belly, and an exhaustion that brought every paw down heavier than the last did she roam onward.

Already could she hear Frostnose's lamenting protests, what with his pretty, sparkling blue eyes fluttering all angrily at her and his sunset-gray pelt ruffled.

What will happen if you get eaten? she thought of him crying in her head, admiring how the rosette dapples on his fur rippled with his movement in her mind's eye. Or collapse? Or run into BurnClan?

Ha! she would scoff, and in the real world, she lifted a white forepaw haughtily, flagging her gray tail high. BurnClan was lucky when they chased us out I was with kit! Now that the babies are born...

A stray, dry leaf leftover from leaf-bare fluttered by, and Gorsestar paused, ears perked. She was rusty, and her claws hadn't seen use in moons ever since she had to take to her nest. Slowly, she lowered herself to her belly, ears pinning back and haunches wiggling in adjustment.

The leaf fluttered a little left, then right, and then--

Bam!

Both paws slammed down upon it triumphantly and she straightened, shaking out her dappled pelt with pride.

They better watch out for the new-and-improved Gorsestar!

Doing a little bow for the imaginary figure of Frostnose in her mind swooning over how cool and amazing his mate was, Gorsestar did a little stretch.

It was a big thing to get used to, running away as star-crossed lovers, fleeing into the vacant territory from their clans and hoping it'd all work out, but as their self-appointed leader, she had faith that...

"mrreww."

Gray ears on a swivel pivoted with her head. Her hackles lifted, her blood pumped.

What was that? Did Leopardstar send someone after them after all? Was he really that mad about the code being broken?

With a racing heart, she was flush again to the forest floor, belly-crawling slowly towards the sound. But, as she thought about it, why would a warrior make the sounds of a kit? Were they trying to take advantage of her recent birth, triggering her maternal instincts?

She scowled.

They wouldn't get away with it!

Paw-by-paw, she navigated through the foliage while keeping herself hidden, bringing herself that much closer to the mewling warrior. Ears flat to her skull, she saw movement--just barely--and it was enough for her.

"Rah!"

With her battlecry, Gorsestar leapt from the brush, flying towards her to-be opponent--and last second, she twisted midair.

That wasn't a warrior. Not even an apprentice.

"Oof!"

In her efforts to avoid hitting her adversary, Gorsestar smashed face-first into the dirt, groaning as she flopped onto her back, belly-up to the forest canopy.

"Stars," she exhaled, peering over. "Can't believe I almost committed kit murder."

Maybe she had been overreacting. Especially when her supposed warrior stalker was in fact the tiniest, teeniest bundle of fluff she had ever seen. Even her own kits were bigger, and they were barely a few days old!

"Hi, lil' one, what're you doing out here all alone?" she asked, her voice sweet and soft as she inched in. The kit was still too young to have their eyes open, how did they get out here? Who would leave their newborn kit just... out for any predators?

"Hello?" Gorsestar called, lifting her head. "Kinda not cool leaving your newborn out in the open! You're lucky I didn't do anything!"

Patiently waiting for an answer, her ears lowered as the quiet of the forest endured, peering back down.

The kit wasn't moving much, and they didn't make much of any sounds now...

Bending, she nosed them--and stiffened in shock. They were almost as cold as the recently melted snow, and she could feel their tiny little ribs through their fluffy brown pelt.

"Oh no, oh no, let's get you back little baby."

On anxious paws, Gorsestar quickly bent and delicately grabbed the kit by its tiny back, practically fitting the whole thing in her mouth as she reoriented herself, and quickly trotted off to camp.

Frostnose was going to kill her, but he'd suck it up.

Gorsestar finds a lost kit. Gorsestar brings back Sablekit to RippleClan.