“Heart catcher” A Sinceritypaw SRP

Instructions

Emotions, Sinceritypaw had no understanding of them. It wasn't that they couldn't feel, that was far from the truth. But despite all their training as a mediator emotions always eluded them. They knew they were important but how could nini do their job if they looked at a cat’s face and only saw an empty stare. They knew their clanmates were expressing more but try as they fought to they just couldn't get it. They felt hindered by it, and it frustrated them. Why was it so easy for everyone else?! They masked every emotion they felt behind a smile. Even then it was exhausting. The world seemed to swirl with emotions yet Nini seemed to be the only cat who couldn't see them. Perhaps that was why they rarely stayed in camp, preferring to wander the territory, taking in the silence and reveling in the lack of expectations. But one night as they stood in the resplendent starlight that peeked through the ash that choked the sky. Their paw struck something, buried shallowly beneath the earth. They looked down, spying a strange glimmer of… was that yellow? They carefully used their fluffy tail to brush the dust and grime away and their eyes widened. A plate, heart shaped with wing like clasps on either side, made of rosy gold with a heart shaped ruby at the top. Nini stepped back gaze transfixed by the plate. Before they could stop themself they reached out their paw, placing it into the groove just below the ruby. They took in a sharp intake of breath, an almost electric sensation surging through them, the magic of the plate sent their heart aflutter and they jerked their paw back. The plate glowed for a moment and Nini stared at it, anxiety clenching in their chest. Soon the light faded and Nini let out a sigh of relief. They turned around ready to head back to camp and leave it there, but something in them jolted and they stopped. An invisible tether around their heart made them slowly turn around to face the object. Their expression sagged in defeat and they padded back to the plate and gently lifted it with their nose letting it settle around their neck. The plate thrummed almost happily, pulsing with every beat of their heart and the longer they wore it the stronger the tether became till it felt like they couldn't live without it. Nini entered camp in a daze, drowning in the magic that was singing within them. Nini made their way into their nest and laid down their eyes closed. Their energy felt sapped and they didn't see the ruby turn black and turn upside down as a white crack marking veined its way through it. When they dreamed it was… strange… They felt abstract… Like light through a prism they shattered. Sinceritypaw was red… a flame of passion so bright it was blinding flooded through them. They couldn't describe it, the emotion held so much strength it was all consuming. Nini felt a strong intensifying urge to get up and do something, fix something, be something. They had fire they had fangs they were strong, if they snuck into whevever that stars damned snake was maybe they could even save Adorationkit. They could be a hero, they could protect everyone! No……. That was reckless… too much red would do no good. Sinceritypaw was green… a warm wave of patience washed over them like a tide. They felt calm, like every bit of fire inside them was draining away. They sat down in the void watching the red swirl around them as they contemplated silently. Saving Ado could wait, they had no warrior training let alone fighting experience. Someone else could rescue the captive. No no no…… Where was the interest? The motivation? Green alone would take them nowhere… The green joined the red in the sky. Then Sinceritypaw was blue… something deep inside their soul awakened, wise beyond their moons. They felt like they had lived a lifetime. They knew prophet, they had known them far longer than Nini remembered. And they knew how treacherous the snake was. But quickly they were fire. And that burned away the blue. Sinceritypaw was orange… a little passion, a little restraint. Just enough to care but not enough to be reckless. The plate hummed approvingly. That’ll do. Their host, their treasure, their heart. Was orange… But also blue… And a little red, a splatter of yellow, and a smidge of green. As well as a myriad of other colors. The plate was satisfied, having deconstructed the apprentice and assessed them. It found them satisfactory. And so it put Sinceritypaw back together alongside a gift. The power to read hearts and emotions as if they were their own. The plate was certain Sinceritypaw would use it for good. But there were those… other remnants… Flameless… Though kind they were small and diminished. The plate took note of that, and then went silent, patiently awaiting when Sinceritypaw would wake up. The apprentice would not remember this assessment. But before it did, it left a message.