Many days for Solar Flare started by looking out the window of their bedroom. They would check the weather, they would check the daycare yard, and most importantly they would check for Lavender. There were no sightings of their purple housemate and that probably had a lot to do with the fact that last month Solar Flare had pushed her into the mud in the yard with no regard for her feelings. Why had Solar Flare done that? Well, Solar Flare just didn't know! They didn't know why being around Lavender was so compelling, and they didn't know why they felt so hot in the face when Lavender looked at them! Whimsy probably understood what it meant with one look at Solar Flare's blushing face but the two kittoms didn't understand it. Lavender had good reason to want to avoid Solar Flare for the time being but that didn't mean Solar Flare wasn't still compelled to seek her out.
Solar Flare didn't find what they wanted when they looked out the window but they did find something wonderful. Today the crisp pink petals of the cherry blossom trees seemed to glitter in the distance, the blue sky didn't have a cloud hindering its perfection, and the bird songs seemed sweeter somehow. There was only one reason for this shift and Solar Flare didn't need to see outside to know. Winter was ending! The cooler temperatures would soon be a thing of the past, and the miasma with it. With the seasons closing, the world was changing! Maybe it wasn’t visible to the eye but to an ambitious kittom it meant freedom that was within their grasp again.
Solar Flare was tired of their confines and desired to stretch beyond the safety of the town. No longer would they be stuck to the daycare’s protective view and with excitement Solar Flare bounced down the stairs. They were careless and missed a step. They tumbled down the last few steps and then hit the floor.
“Ugh,” was the unpleasant sound that slipped out of their mouth, their paws digging at the floor until they were once again upright. They looked around frantically, their eyes begging for an empty room.
None of the kittoms were anywhere to be seen! Whimsy’s voice trilled happily in the distance outside with the sound of giggling kittoms. It made sense. It was spring, and everyone had all the reason in the world to be out enjoying the season.
The smell of cherry blossoms blew through the door as Solar Flare opened it. They took a deep inhalation and then stepped outside into the sun. Their coat looked brighter and their eyes shone bright blue with the light’s reflection. Happy paws bounced across the lush green grass, literally stopping to smell the flowers.
There seemed to be more now that spring was here, although there were always flowers here. Solar Flare didn’t know that other places didn’t look like this in spring. Solar Flare didn’t know that trees were green, yellow, orange, and red. Heaven forbid to think they were barren in some regions during winter!
Faerindell was always lush and always so pink. Spring seemed to give way to a sweet wind as more flowers sprung up everywhere.
As Solar Flare looked around the corner of the house, they could see Whimsy greeting many of the kittoms as they were dropped off by their parents for the day, or even week. She got many short term stays but not as many permanent kittoms like Solar Flare.
This wasn’t a deep thought for today. Today was to be enjoyed! Solar Flare bounced across the yard and hurried past the fence. Freedom was in reach! No longer was it unsafe. No longer would they be homebound. No longer would they have to listen to the words of loving parents telling their children they would be back soon. Whimsy was all Solar Flare had and knew but Solar Flare had been pulling away from her recently. They knew Whimsy has her own children, and even grandchildren now. Solar Flare felt their place in their foster mother’s heart shrinking even if that was impossible.
Freedom was in reach but it didn’t seem like Solar Flare could get freedom from their fears and worries so instead, they ran. They ran through the fields and flowers. They ran into the valley of cherry blossom trees, winding in and out until the fence was behind them. They weren’t far but it felt like they could have been miles away. They found their way to a small pond where there were frogs hopping around enthusiastically between the pink petals that floated along the surface of the pond.
Solar Flare stared into the ripples as if they were deep in thought. All around them they breathed in the floral air. It was stronger here in the closed-in area of the cherry trees and it mixed in softly with the smell of water. It was refreshing, and Solar Flare took a deep breath.
Suddenly, they bounced back up and then leaped over the pond. They had almost made it clear over the water but their back leg had lagged behind them and dipped into the surface. It made a small splashing noise, and Solar Flare tripped for the second time today. What had begun with just a wet foot quickly spiraled into a full-body bath in the pond. It might be spring but the air was still crisp enough to cause Solar Flare to soon feel cold by the wet fur.
"It's too soon to go back!" They yelled out.
Again, Solar Flare seemed to run to escape the reality of their situation. They ran away from the pond and out back into the meadow. They could see the daycare in the distance but they ran in the opposite direction. They felt the cool wind on their fur but they also felt the sun glowing down upon them. It would only get warmer as the day progressed! They chased the butterflies in the field and rolled down the hills. They took full advantage of what was upon them until the evening was closing in on them. They were feeling heavier now, and quite tired. Was it the day of playing? Or perhaps it had been the ignored sneezes that they had brushed off. They didn't consider the fact that it was windy, or that they had run around with a wet coat of fur. Of course not! The spoils of spring would not be paused!
Well, they might be paused now. Solar Flare dragged their feet back to home, back to the daycare. They were slow and weak. They felt hot in the face again, and Solar Flare looked around expecting to see Lavender. This was no schoolyard crush though, this was the onset of a fever. They passed by a row of blossoming apple trees, and these sweet little flowers that enticed them to stay. They pushed forward but until they made it back. All of the kittoms were inside now, or at least most of them. Whimsy sat with them as they waited for their parents to come and pick them up.
Solar Flare briefly looked at her, and Whimsy shot her an extremely concerned look as Solar Flare made their way into the house. The next thing they remember, they woke up in their bed. It was dark now, and they could see the moon reflecting off the trees in the distance. They looked like such a soft pink, like cotton candy.
Solar Flare groaned and tossed to their side. There they saw Whimsy asleep on the side of their bed. It tugged at Solar Flare's heart, and tears formed in their eyes as they rolled to their other side.
Mom...
This wasn't what Solar Flare had planned to happen today. They planned to play and embrace freedom. Maybe this would be just what they needed.
