Random Short Stories

Family Values [?]

But Tumblepaw was deaf to their concerns, obsessively hoarding his pile of goods. At every single training session, while his mentor, Slumberblaze, instructed the apprentices on pack tactics and teamwork, he would only think about the next meal.

Each time the forest hunger called, he hurried back to the camp to indulge rather than practice with his siblings. "There will always be more training," he would reassure himself, burping yet again, blissfully unaware of how his actions pushed his family away.

As the days stretched into moons, Tumblepaw grew plumper, his belly rounding out, but his spirit remained unchanged. Lithe and agile apprentices dashed past him, hunting together, while he focused on one thing: himself.

His littermates began to retreat, seeking companionship with others—hunters, sparring mates, and mentors—leaving Tumblepaw alone, cocooned in his self-indulgence.

The forest itself began to mirror the change. Where once the shadows seemed to beckon him forward, they now whispered taunts. "Selfish Tumblepaw, don't you see the forest is not just yours? The trees, the streams, they belong to everyone."

Yet, he still dismissed the voices, choosing instead to spy on the sunbeams that warmed his fur as he lounged at the edge of the camp.

One day, the sun rose high, and with it, an unexpected initiative took root. The clan was preparing for the Greenleaf Gathering, an event where all clans united to bond and celebrate their heritage.

Cicadapaw and Primrosepaw practiced as a team, hunting to impress their mentors, but each time they returned with fresh-kill, they found Tumblepaw lounging nearby, too absorbed in licking his paws to join them.

"Tumblepaw!" Primrosepaw chimed, finally tired of his indifference. "You can't just sit there idly while we train. You're missing out on being part of the clan!"

An annoyed flick of Tumblepaw's tail dismissed her, "Why should I bother? I can survive just fine without your help." The harsh truth stung in his heart, yet the pang didn't shift his course.

One day, as evening fell and the stars faded into a milky sky, a fierce storm erupted. Thunder echoed like a lion's roar, and rain pounded down, drenching EchoClan's territory.

Tumblepaw's family and the other warriors rushed about, securing the camp and ensuring every cat was sheltered. But Tumblepaw? He chose to curl up beneath his favourite tree, sheltered from the storm but utterly unbothered by his clan's plight.

When dawn broke, the aftermath of the storm revealed devastation: branches littered the ground, and the fresh-kill pile had been washed away. His mother, weary from work, approached him soon after.

"Tumblepaw," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "Today is not a day for lounging. We need to repair the clan. Can you please assist us?"

He flicked his tail in annoyance. "I've done enough," he retorted. "Why should it matter to me if the warriors are tired?" To his dismay, Rosemaryflight's eyes reflected both sadness and resolve, and for the first time, he saw her without the loving haze he always clung to.

It was that fateful afternoon—the one that shattered the fragile hold on their family.

"Please, Tumblepaw, come help repairing the nursery," she pleaded, fear tinging her voice. But Tumblepaw, misinterpreting the dread as mere annoyance, huffed defiantly, "I'm tired of this. Can't you see that I want to take a nap?"

Rosemaryflight's hopeful demeanour fell, and she turned away, opting for Slumberblaze who readily agreed to assist. Tumblepaw felt a twinge of something—perhaps guilt—but waved it off, retreating to a warm sunbeam, leaving everything—the duties, the family—behind.