Unpopular Friendship (part 1) (short story)
Poppykit frowned when her eyes landed on Hemlockkit sitting on the other side of the Daycare clearing. While the other kits rolled around together or played games of catch-the-tail and mossball, Hemlockkit sat alone, accompanied only by the leaves she batted at.
It wasn’t the first time Poppykit had found herself intrigued by the other she-kit. She had noticed her playing on her own many times in the past, but when she was retrieved by her mother and asked about her Daymate, her mother only told her that while she wished Hemlockkit would someday find a good friend that would spend time with her, she didn’t want her daughter interacting with anyone of ‘that family.’
Poppykit still had no idea what she was talking about, and as the days passed, the more she craved trouble. Her mother always hovered over her–it was exhausting! Poppykit loved her more than the number of hairs on her pelt, but that didn’t mean she had to be watched by her all the time, right?
She was nearly an apprentice, for Dark Sky’s sake!
Her frown deepened. Hemlockkit was nearly an apprentice as well. Had she spent so much time in the Daycare, only to be ignored by the other kits? Sure, she caught the occasional glimpse of Hemlockkit joining a team or playing with someone for a short while, but there was never anyone that stood out. There were no repeating friends, no one that ran up to Hemlockkit when they arrived the same way Trunkkit and Swirlkit did for her.
All the moons in the Daycare, and no friends to show for it?
Poppykit’s face hardened. She raised her chin determinedly. Not on my watch!
She took a step toward the other kit, only to be stopped by her mother’s voice in her head. ‘I don’t want my daughter interacting with that family.’ Her eyes narrowed. It was always ‘you can’t do this’ and ‘don’t do that.’ Deep down, Poppykit knew that her mother was only worried for her, but on the surface and bubbling to attention was the frustration of feeling so constrained, so limited, so unable to do literally anything that Poppykit wanted to do!
With a harder stomp of her paw, Poppykit marched over to Hemlockkit, who had just successfully caught a leaf mid-air thrice in a row. “Hello,” she greeted.
Hemlockkit looked, her bright blue eyes slightly wide with surprise. “Hello?”
=============
--WHAT'S THIS? A HAPPY STORY? Yeah, it's almost Christmas / the time of celebration, so why not write something that's actually heartwarming and sweet? So I'll be writing this little story of Poppy and Hemlock's budding friendship within the next few days. It might be the only time I'll write a story with several parts and no bad thing happening, so take it in while you have it! lol
--Before anyone starts shipping these two as adults, Poppy is ace/aro! They're just best friends~
--Daymates here is the same meaning as schoolmates or classmates. Different from Denmates, as they may not always share a den, even when at the Daycare.