My lovely weird corner

FirePaw focused her attention on the round orange fruit in front of her. Her magenta gaze glowing faintly. The fruit tree had started sprouting fruit a quarter-moon ago, the oranges fully ripened. The fruit lying in front of her having been knocked out of its branch by a buck. Staring at the citrus fruit like it held all the answers to all the questions she had in her life. It was big as a small rabbit; how can something like this once been nothing more than a tiny white flower turn into something like this in just two seasons? What happened to make this happen?

How can something be one thing turn into something completely different in such a short amount of time? “FirePaw!” She heard her mom calling out her name, carrying a cod on her back. “Coming mom!” She yelled back, giving the orange one last quick glance before going back to her mother. “Got any good herbs?” NewtPelt asked her in an easy-going manner, her dark blue eyes sparkling. “Well, I found daffodils” FirePaw replied. “Sweet!” NewtPelt purred - bumping her head against FirePaw’s. FirePaw returning the affection with a soft purr. “Hey mom?” FirePaw asked, her tail flickering like a sparking flame. “Yeah? What is it?” NewtPelt replied. “Have you ever wondered…..what made you become like this? Like- what happened?”.

NewtPelt turned her head in confusion. “What do you mean by that?” She inquired, her ears folded back in confusion. “Like- what made you identify as masculine? Was it something that slowly formed over the years? Or one day it just clicked?”. NewtPelt’s ears rose back up - her gaze turning gentle. “This is out of nowhere, where did this come from?” NewtPelt asked with a soft chuckle. “It’s just that….I’ve been thinking - thinking about myself. Wondering if I should change or not” FirePaw’s eyes drifted down to the ground. Her claws dug into the mud and smoking.

“Who says that you should change?” NewtPelt asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What I’m saying mom is….should I be a boy?” FirePaw squeaked out - turning her attention to the small puddle next to her. “I keep feeling like I’m too masc to be a girl…..Like I’m pretending to be something I’m not…”. Her reflection became distorted by the rippling of the water. A swirling mass of red, black, white, and pink. “Oh sweetheart, is that what’s bothering you?” “Yeah….”. NewtPelt looked at her daughter with a worried look. “Honey- masc and femme aren’t mutually exclusive. You don’t have to identify as a tom to be masc! I mean- look at me!”. FirePaw let out a small laugh “yeah…. You made a point there”. NewtPelt placed her paw on FirePaw’s shoulder. “I know what it’s like honey. Discovering your identity is never easy, it took me four moons after my graduation ceremony to realize that I was transmasc. And it took your father to realize that he was transfemme nearly an entire year”.

“Really?”. “Yeah, really”. FirePaw’s ears rose back up with interest. “Well- how did you know that you were transmasc?” She inquired. “Cats your age are more naturally curious than cats my age - including things like gender n’ stuff”. “I had a feeling that I wasn’t cis for a while during my apprentice days. But back then I thought that you had to transition to ‘qualify’ as trans, and I didn’t feel comfortable with that idea”. “But thanks to my mentor and a few other apprentices. I realized that I was actually trans masculine, and I didn’t have to shove myself into a pointless box”.

“Does that mean that I might be trans masculine too?” FirePaw questioned “If you feel that’s what’s right for you; other than that, you can still identify as a molly and be masculine”. “Thanks mom” FirePaw smiled, her eyes developing a subtle sparkle. “You’re welcome, sweetheart” NewtPelt replied back. Pressing her nose against her daughter’s forehead. Both purring softly. “Now come on, before we end up bringing a rotten fish to camp!”.

Romance has been strange and contraindicative for CattleFeather. Sure, she knew what romance was - she wasn’t naive or stupid. It’s kind of hard not to know when most cats your age talked about their crushes or mates. And she realized that she was a lesbian halfway through her apprenticeship. But something about romantic love felt fleeting and puzzling; like finding a tiny butterfly in an ever-expanding flower-field. Catching a flying bird midair. It cycled again and again like the sun and moon - always changing through phases. Some days it was almost overwhelming, some days it was a flickering flame, and other days it was completely gone.

It was honestly frustrating, why can’t her heart make up its mind!? Maybe she was overthinking things again. It’s not like it’s a life or death problem. And she was the sole healer for the clan, she had more worrisome woes to deal with! HoneyDew just had kittens and FrostSpike had sprained his ankle - again!

But there was this molly that kept floating in the back of her mind. She was the clans cleric, but you wouldn’t know that with her appearance. She was large and muscular - front legs of that of a sharp-tooth. Scars slicing across her pelt. Her face hidden behind a polished bull skull that added an air of mystery to the giant molly. CattleFeather didn’t know where she came from, she just appeared with a blood soaked hide in the middle of leaf-fall.

She rarely spoke a word, only whispers to her apprentice. At first CattleFeather ignored the Molly’s presence, focusing on her role in the clan. Only interacting with her with Star-Clan related topics. Over time, CattleFeather found herself warming up to the strange molly. Even though she had a silent tongue she was a good cat to lend an ear to you. Not minding when CattleFeather voiced her worries from that day or simply wanted someone to lay next to.

Today, she was sunbathing in one of the more flatter parts of the mountain, surrounded by flowering strawberry stalks. Some of which were already forming fruit. The day was silent except for the gentle breeze and tweeting birds. The black patches of her fur absorbing the suns rays like the plants around her. Purring like a tiger with her eyes closed in bliss. Her ears twitching at the sound of talking cats nearby. She lifted her head up to see who it was and saw it was BullBranch and QuickPaw. Talking about everyday things but it was QuickPaw doing most of the talking - unsurprisingly.

Except- BullBranch didn’t have her skull mask on. Giving CattleFeather a full view of her face. She had scuffed up cheek fur, twisted whiskers, tired flame orange eyes, and many scars that told many stories. She honestly looked beautiful with all those ripe bright red strawberries framing her face; a beautiful sight indeed. She couldn’t help but purr more, her heart going *thump-thump*. Wait- was she falling in love?

HornetStripe’s wings hummed loudly as he hovered over the swamp waters, his arms full of bananas. Having to wrestle a bunch of rodents to get them. He swore they would go crazy for these fruits the moment they were ripe. “I got the sugar, FennelStar!” He heard FishKit voice call out, the silver-y gray and white tabby running across the lake houses porch. Clutching the container of the powdery substance. Her brother -BlizzardKit- holding an ice tray and trying his best to keep the cubes frozen in the bayou humid heat. The other two kits -SnailKit and WebKit- were next to FennelStar who was still figuring out the blender. “Hey guys!” HornetStripe said, announcing his presence. “I got the bananas!” He held out his arms; showing the yellow fruit to the kits.

The kits cheered excitedly; FishKit rushed over to take some of the weight. Holding it up like it was a trophy. ”We need the whipped cream!” WebKit said to FennelStar, taking the ice tray from BlizzardKit. HornetStripe dropped the bananas on the counter - FennelStar grabbing one and got to work peeling it. The kits following suit. “Can we add chocolate chips too!?” SnailKit asked “I want strawberries with mine!” FishKit added. “Okay, jeez- slow down kits!” FennelStar chuckled, shoving three already peeled bananas into the blender. Followed by BlizzardKit and WebKit adding in the necessary whipping cream and ice. The blenders loud whirring sound filling the kitchen. The ingredients quickly becoming an ice cream like texture.

When it was finished the kits surrounded it; waiting patiently for their glasses to be filled. FishKit had hers lined with sliced strawberries, dazzled with strawberry syrup. SnailKit had layered theirs with chocolate chips, topping it with rainbow sprinkles. WebKit drizzled his with honey and nuts. And BlizzardKit had his with mint shavings and marshmallows.

The kits eyes sparkled with joy, electrical sparks emitting from SnailKit’s tail. “Thank you, HornetStripe and FennelStar!” The kits said cheerfully. “You’re welcome guys” FennelStar smiled - purring softly.