-ˏˋ leeklullaby's broken ballad ˊˎ- [ a srp ]

Instructions

☼ leeklullaby trudged back to camp with heavy, yet empty, white paws. he lashed his short tail, losing himself in a deep thought. where had all the prey gone? maybe it was him- ? lee jerked to a stop, perking up. his long ears rotated backwards as he narrowed his green eyes, locking onto a fat vole. that could feed atleast two kits, he’d think to himself. a satisfied purr rose in the base of his throat, immediately cursing the stars under his breath as he had given himself away. the vole let out a shrill around the same time lull leapt forward, teeth and claws snapping… his usually graceful leap was a hot mess as he spiraled forward, barreling straight into the dirt. the vermin practically laughed, squeaking before scrambling away into the undergrowth. leeklullaby flattened his ears and spat out the clump of dirt onto the ground. he grimaced, rolling onto his side and curling his paws up to his chest. the white and grey warrior quickly hissed, jumping up onto his paws and frowning. the cactus prickles his friend, cactus, had given him as a kit were biting into his fur. lee huffed out, today was just not his day, he thought. the warrior just shook off his fur, ready to head back to camp. lee sighed as he found his way into the camp, taking a quick glance around the clearing, taking in a breath. he was searching for a particular cat, his mem, wintergreenfeather. he just shrugged, not finding xem in the camp. when was the last time he’d seen it? honestly, it must’ve been moons ago… he felt a small pang of guilt bloom in his stomach. lee trot into the warrior den, lashing his tail as he- what was in his nest- ? leeklullaby stopped, blinking a couple times before inching forward slightly.. it was a crown. the small, fragile crafted looked like it was perfectly formed for lull’s head, resting against the rim of his moss bed. it was neatly placed there, made of leaves and small, downward sloped, white flowers. he grinned viciously, thinking it was a small gift from alli or one of his friends. another pawstep forward a he leaned down to pick it up when the stale scent of pine needles and lush flowers hit him in a rough, sharp wave. he reeled back, feeling his paws shake as… as it suddenly made sense. all of it. the crown. xer old scent. not seeing his mem in camp… leeklullaby swallowed harshly.. but his throat was dry. his tongue was like bark against matted fur. had xey left the clan? moss and grass alike shook violently beneath him, folding and cracking in spirals. it shattered away, like sharp glass as it bit and rippled at leeklullaby’s white and grey fur. darkness swallowed him and clouded his vision, swarming and plaguing it. gone. gone. gone! leeklullaby was suddenly nameless again. he was shivering, cold. it was only him, his sibling, and the dark. the inky black swallowed him once more. and there he was, being pitied by mossclan and labeled ‘ leekkit. ‘ yet all hear was the darkness. abandoned. it crooned, vicious words coated in sugar. pathetic… he tried to yelp, to yowl, to hiss or- or anything… yet the only thing that could escape his throat was a strangled cry. abandoned. abandoned. abandoned. lee fell, or kept falling? the darkness around him struck, enclosing on its prey. scratching, biting, and eating at him. the only thing that felt real were the hot, disappointing tears that streamed down his fur. the streaks felt guilty and burning hot.. another sob was ripped from him, shaking his whole body this time. why didn’t you notice? what if you did?.. how selfish do you have to be to blame yourself? ha!.. Ha!... HA! pathetic. the signs were there. /you/ were too absorbed in your own life to notice…. lee just wanted the comfort of wintergreenfeather. he just wanted his mem. his mentor. the one who took him in when he had no one… . . . /left him/. -ˏˋ … and now all he was, was a nameless kit holding onto a crown and a broken ballad. ˊˎ-