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Post by Wargrace on Sept 30, 2011 23:24:07 GMT -5
Quiet, the she-cat lay still, sprawled on her side, turquoise eyes shut and side rising and falling steadily. She felt exhausted -- perhaps beyond that, if it was possible. Alive, but very much worn out. Things hadn't been very easy; and disappointment had definitely occured. Two stillborns. A sad occurance. Two tiny bodies deprieved of life so soon. But, three had been born, healthy and strong. Two tom-kits and a she-kit.
Slowly, the medicine cat shifted herself, feeling sore as she did so; head being lifted and eyes opened to peak at the kits. One dark brown tabby, similar to Tunnelheart. Another colored and marked quite like her -- except for black stripes cutting over the ginger. The third, the she-kit, had more white, with ginger and brown over top. Beautiful little forms. The two that were gone had been, too.. but there was nothing she could do to bring them back. Perhaps they'd be in Starclan with her family..?
The two stillborns had worried her. They'd been stuck -- a bit too big to pass right in the small she-cat. Thankfully, the third kit was born alive. Slightly delayed by the two stillborns. She had half-expected the entire litter to be stillborn. Moving herself more, despite the resulting discomfort, she'd give the three a quick licking. Firekit, Thrushkit, Vixenkit. What would they achieve in their futures? Long, happy lives?
Honeyflower sighed a bit, setting her head back down, eyes closed again. She had to remember to tell Spottedpaw how well he'd done. Not now, though. The kits needed tending, and she was very tired.
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Post by halfkat101 on Oct 1, 2011 10:24:39 GMT -5
Voletooth had been hunting with his brother but had gone ahead and brought back his prey while his brother was still out. he needed some time alone, and he knew that Lynxstep had been looking for Eternalpaw, more or less.
Still, when he came in to camp his nose twitched. A smell unlike normal cmap smells hit him.
Queens.
A queen had given birth!
He looked until he found something that actually kind of, completly, suprised him.
Honeyflower.
He stood there for a moment, then went to her and started licking one of the kits.
Even he wasn't mouse brained enough to guess the father of the kit his tounge rasped against. Perhaps, in a way, that was why he was doing this. He wasn't going to make her talk about it, but this was one way of showing supprt. . . Though he didn't know what would happen when the rest of the clan found out. He , himself, wasn't sure he fully agreed of the relationship - didn't Honeyflower have to put all her time and energy in to the clan? That worried him... but, at then again, they had love. He did not... He wanted to show that that was a good thing. They where in teh same clan, so no one got hurt like Ashclouds love life had done to other cats.
Ashcloud, a nother reason why eh was probably, more or less, ok with this.
"Are you ok?" He meowed ackwardly after a moment , then followed by saying "Should I go get Tunnelheart? We use to be friends once - before my brother insisted we hang out with Eternalpaw all the time. I miss him once and a while." The last part was more or less to himself.
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Post by tunnel on Oct 1, 2011 17:47:12 GMT -5
There was no reason to get Tunnelheart, because the dark warrior was already padding crazily back toward the bundle of Honeyflower and kits. He carried a bit of moss, wet from some undried dew, and plopped it next to the orange Queen. One could tell he was far from thankful to be back; underneath all the cobwebs, he was trembling. Honey was fine, honey was fine- he kept telling himself that, but the worry continued.
Even when he looked and saw the three, nice little bundles, all curled up and cuddly. Not until he had sat near them, did he relax again..Even enough to explain the dew-soaked moss. “ I brought you some water..”
He looked about ready to jump three feet suddenly. When had Voletooth arrived? He had been there when Tunnel had walked in, he had been there when Tunnel examined the kits, and he had been there when Tunnel had sat down. It just went to show how stable his mind was at the current time; despite the obvious presence of the warrior, he had apparently not noticed him at all.
He set a long, hard stare at the brown warrior. He wondered what Vole was thinking; they had, indeed, been friends before. What had happened? He felt a mild guilt run through him; he should’ve tried harder to stick with his friends, then be off in his own. That didn’t matter now, anyway- he was a different cat now.
A few minutes passed when Tunnel finally realized his staring was probably awkward. And the lack of greeting. Oh, woops. “Hello, Voletoo” He had already, unconsciously, bent down to lick at the nearest kit affectionately.. Even before he could get the words out of his mouth. Disorderly, bewildered mind? Just a little bit.
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Post by dandypandy12 on Oct 1, 2011 18:15:30 GMT -5
spottedpaw backed in through the nursery doorway, dragging a clump of hebs
"fcufe me comim fwoo!"
he mumbled through a jawfull. he hadnt been sure what to bring, well he had some idea, he knew that there was the hairly leaves of the borage plat which honeyflower would have to eat but was he sure what else there was to help her.
he spat out the mouth full of asorted leaves and skewered the borage on one claw, flapping it franticly in the air for all the nursery to see.
"er this, this is Borage!"
there was an invisible question mark fired at honeyflower with the slight tilt of spottedpaws head, making his ears flop int his eyes.
"and and.. because of the. er.."
he didnt want to even say the word stillborns, let alone have to deal with their small frail bodies that where huddled as far away from the exhausted mother as possible.
"and you have to sniff the purple... smelly.. the"
he crinkled his face up, trying to remember the flowers name that was quickly disapearing out of his floppy ears...
he shook his head quickly, ignoring the niggling lost word and shook the borage leaves off of his paw infront of honeyflowers nose and then scooped out the long, thin purple flowers and they flopped infront of his mentor. slightly bruised though they were their relaxing scent wafted through the air, curling up round the mothers face..
"ill just, er.." spottedpaw backed away slightly, nodding to the herbs, "you eat them while i-i..." he glanced at the small sad bundles, tiny and innocent, then said in desperation.
"er voletooth help me?"
he had to remove them, he knew that for sure...
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Post by meganpony on Oct 1, 2011 20:19:27 GMT -5
Thrushkit crawled blindly towards the sweet smell of milk, bobbing his head around to lure him towards the fragrant scent. He felt the soft tongue first, feeling instantly relaxed as it smoothed his wet, ruffled fur as he clambered onto his mother's belly.
Grabbing the belly with his paws to hold it still, even though it wouldn't move, Thrushkit grabbed onto one of Honeyflower's nipples and sucking out milk as if he had done the same millions of times before.
His fur tingled beside him as he realized two other forms, about his size, lay next to him. He didn't see them, nor did he hear them but he felt the soft fur meet his and knew these were his kin. His family.
Thrushkit squeaked lightly as another tongue, much rougher than the first, licked at his fur. He clung onto the milk-giver, not wanting to be taken away from the enchanting liquid.
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Post by halfkat101 on Oct 2, 2011 13:34:39 GMT -5
Voletooth nodded to Spottedpaw, looking over to Honeyflower and Tunnelheart. He knew what teh apprentice was trying to do.
"You two stay here, get to know your kits and calm each other down. You will need each other for when the whole clan finds out. You will need strength but your love will make it as easy as it will get." He meowed, taking one of the small lifeless bodies.
Inside, his heart hurt. Why couldn't he and Eternalpaw have a love like this? Where she would give anything to be with him? He would give anything, before she could even speak the words, to be with her.
It was a bittersweet pain, as he was happy for the birth of new kits even if it reminded him that it wouldn't happen to him. Not yet. Not ever if his heart would never stop shattering each time he saw her beautiful figure, and most of the time it was only the sight of her smile... in his memories.
He trudged out of camp with the lifeless body. Take these precious kits with warm arms mother and the rest of all the lives in Starclan.
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Post by dandypandy12 on Oct 2, 2011 13:57:59 GMT -5
Spottedpaw nervously picked up the other body and hurridly carried it out. he stumbled out of camp, following voletooth. he lowerd the body to the ground and breathed heavily. "w-what do we do now?" he said in a very small frightnened voice "ive never done this before! honeyflower d-dint tell be because she said they would all b-be f-fine an... and they wernt an.. and..." he was almost in tears, his voice was thick and syrrupy with unshed tears...
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Post by halfkat101 on Oct 2, 2011 15:00:03 GMT -5
Voletooth put his tail on the apprentice, dropping the lifeless body gently to the ground. "We do the same as we'd do for any warrior , elder or apprentice. We bury them." He meowed, ignoring the fact that if they had lived for longer we'd at least spend the night sitting vigil but with kits this young the clan always just tended to get them out of the sight of the mother as quickly as possible so she'll focus on ehr other , still living and breathing, little ones.
With that he began to dig a whoel to bury them, together.
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Post by Wargrace on Oct 2, 2011 21:46:52 GMT -5
For a moment, the medicine cat didn't seem to notice Voletooth had entered -- and then, she did, head lifting again to glance to him, a warm purr of greeting given. "Hello Voletooth. I'm fine, Tunnelheart should be back soon." A moment, and she thought, before speaking again reassuringly. "If you miss him, why don't you try to patch things up?" And then, Tunnelheart entered. He was focused elsewhere it seemed; jumping when he noticed the other warrior.
"Thank you," A purr at Tunnelheart, and the she-cat twisted herself to a slightly better angle, lapping at the moss briefly. And another pause as Spottedpaw came in; carrying herbs. He was trying so hard. This was difficult for him. She felt sort of ashamed -- sticking her apprentice with the duties of a full medicine cat; and in a situation that could turn horrible so easily. She had taken care to do everything she knew to prevent complications. Atleast, the preventable ones.
But, complications had still occured. And now Spottedpaw had to deal with them on his own. Granted; they were in no way his fault, and she did hope he saw that. She was too small; and the two kits had been too large. Stretching a bit, Honeyflower would reach out to give the apprentice's head a lick. "Spottedpaw, I'm very proud of you. You've done amazing, especially with the little training you had prior." Obediently, she would take the herbs, ears flicking as she listened to Spottedpaw ask Voletooth for help with the stillborns.
Another job the apprentice shouldn't have had to do. But he would be a great medicine cat; she could see that already. As the two left, she gave a thanking nod, and turned her attention away, head resting on the ground again. Oh, she felt exhausted. But it wasn't time to sleep. Too much could happen the first night -- and she needed to double as medicine cat and mother for now. Spottedpaw couldn't do it all himself.
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Post by tunnel on Oct 3, 2011 16:33:09 GMT -5
Tunnelheart was too in the zone to pay attention to any commotions going on. Whether or not he received a reply back from Voletooth, he would never know. His attention had turned to the kit he was licking- the most orange one. It was very small. They were all very small, being newborns, but this one seemed especially small.
Maybe it was the fact that his fur wasn’t as fluffy as one would expect of a kit; and that he wasn’t really moving too much, clumped there, tucked close to the other two kits. Thrushkit was doing the normal thing- drinking. This one was just sort of.. There. Though, thankfully, he did squeak a bit when Tunnel’s licking suddenly became a bit rougher.
The warrior had noticed Voletooth and Spottedpaw exiting with the limp bodies. His mind, in a heap, found this a point to lock onto. He really wished it wasn’t. He watched them leave without intentions to do so, and then shook his head- returning to licking the kit.
To his amazement, the furball was glaring at him. It’s eyes where not open, as newborn kitties eyes weren’t, but the expression was clear enough. He blinked in amazement, at once stopping the licking. The kit went back to his original position, and relaxed; finally finding a spot to drink from, curled up against his mother’s belly.
Okay. Then. “How are you feeling?” I’m feeling ready to pass out. I mean fine. I’m fine. Absolutely wonderful.
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Post by dandypandy12 on Oct 4, 2011 14:57:57 GMT -5
spottedpaw watched voletooth dig for a moment, then hesitantly he said "d-d you mind if i go back to, er to the other kits?" HE looked down at his large paws and shuffled them nervously "I have to help them and i should check on honeyflower and... stuff." he finished it meekly. he wasnt sure what he was really menat to be doing at all nut he knew that he his mentor needed help, as all new mothers did. though spottedpaw knew little more than she did himself...
He unhappily scrabled the ground, he didnt blame himself for the kits death, honeyflower had told him never to blame himself as long as he tried, but if another kit died? under his watch? or even honeyflower herself then he wouldnt have an option but to shoulder the blame... he didnt even know all the herbs names. he could tell them apart and what som,e of them did but their names always escaped him...
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