Sanguine

SANGUINE
Daughter of the Mire
—

"But Mom-"

"No 'buts'," hissed Dawn. The female Wildclaw had turned to leave, only to hear the pitter patter of her daughter's excited pursuit. Sparing a moment to give her daughter one last scolding glare as she exited the cave, Dawn hurried towards her battlefield accomplices waiting at the edge of the Clan's living space. Sanguine followed a little further from the entrance to the expansive lairs dug out beneath the meteor-scarred earth, stopping to roll her eyes as her mother reached her companions. There the Nocturne dared to remain, watching with bitter disappointment as her mother left Clan territory with Dusk and Moonbeam, the male Wildclaw avoiding eye contact with the Nocturne and the female Skydancer dipping her head in a mix of understanding and apology.

"You promised," Sanguine hissed under her breath, drawing herself up while glaring after their vanishing tails. "I'm not a child anymore." Tempted as she she was to take off and spend the day brooding somewhere, she knew all too well that she was being watched by her father and clanmates; having them tattle on her would not do her any favours when her exhausted mother inevitably returned. Sanguine shuddered at the thought of her last telling-off, whose words now reverberated within her head.

Turning back into the cave, she headed for its deepest point, knowing that she might find solace with anyone down there until evening came. In the shadows of the tangled wood bordering their territory. Perhaps there would be another attempt on another day.