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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 5, 2015 2:04:44 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on.
No, that wasn't right.... How about there? Wait- that was too far. Back a bit... Maybe she should just get more moss? Maybe it would just be a better idea to have them at the Pebble Pool, where they'd already made a home for themselves? Starlingfur sighed. Starclan, if she couldn't even decide where to have her own kits how could she ever hope to lead a clan?
The rebuilding of Dawnclan's former camp was going well. Warriors were out every day, patching up dens and cleaning out the mess. Tearing out grass, throwing away old herbs, weaving in branches and dragging in new moss. It was hard work- very labour intensive. Starlingfur did what she could here and there, but it had come to the point where she could only oversee her clanmates progress. Well, and work on the nursery, which had remained largely in-tact save for a few... stains. Nothing that couldn't be gotten out with time. Or covered up with moss.
Most queens would be enjoying their time off. Starclan, they would have retired to the nursery a half moon before now. But Starlingfur couldn't. Anxiety added a sharp edge to the she-cat's copper eyes as she worked, pushing moss back and forth. She stopped every few moments, changing her position and looking at it from a new angle. This wasn't right. The scent of iron still tinged her nose, and memories of Cicadasong ached in her heart. Her daughter's kits would have been nearing the end of their apprenticeship now, and she'd... never even gotten to meet them.
Letting out a sound that was a mix between a grumble and a whine, Starlingfur circled over her moss. She needed more. The log that would house the queens was massive. Drafty. Too big for just the two cats it would house. Should she raise her kits in the leader's den...? Oh, Starlingfur didn't know. Everything about this was new, new, new. She'd had kits before. She'd had to do everything on her own. But now... she didn't know up from down. The world was a different place, and she had too many roles to fill. Too many dens to fill. Too many lives to fill. And everything was empty.
It was so much simpler when it was just she and Birchtail. Would she go back to that if she could, though? ... No. This was where she was meant to be. Starlingfur sighed and sat down, ears drooping. If she didn't lead these cats, nobody would. She'd been having such ups and downs over the past two weeks. Starlingfur blamed it on the hormones, but half the time she didn't know what to do. Or maybe all the time. Was being a leader the same as being a mother, and was every cat just improvising as they went along? Was... that everything in life?
Shaking her head, Starlingfur stood back up and returned to her fiddling with the nest. If she was just going to be... improvising everything... she might as well improvise something useful. Like improvising this hollow, empty, bloody log into a place worth raising a family.
539 words | Starlingfur | Afternoon |
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Post by Kibbles on Sept 5, 2015 2:14:32 GMT
Birchtail padded through the camp, head held high. His tail waved behind him as he watched the other cats work on the camp. He had just gotten back from a hunting patrol with Fernheart and Dixon, and they had brough back quite a few pieces of prey thanks to the latter's hunting abilities.
He carried two mice by their tails as he headed straight for the nursery. He walked in and saw Feather padding down some Moss into a comfortable bedding. He noted that she was due very soon, like his mate. Feather had gained weight since she had joined, which was good for the kits. Her belly was round and it was clear that her litter was going to be small, much smaller than his and Starlingfur's. Of course, most queen's first litters were small. He put one mouse in front of her and received a purr in thanks.
He looked around and finally his eyes landed on his mate, and her rather round belly. He let out a trill as he padded over towards her. He put the other mouse down in front of her. "Starlingfur, take a break and eat. You have to keep up your strength. I'll finish up what you were doing... what were you doing?" he asked.
His green eyes looked around. Moss was everywhere.
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 5, 2015 4:17:41 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on.
So deep was Starlingfur into her.... whatever it was that she was trying to do... that she barely registered the familiar pawsteps of her mate as he entered the nursery. Clawing and shifting at the moss around her paws, trying to get it juuuuust right... Until Birchtail's familiar trill sounded. Broken out of her trance, Starlingfur raised her head just in time to find Birchtail making his way over to her with a mouse. Her stomach growled suddenly. She'd been so preoccupied, she hadn't even realized she was hungry. But the mouse wasn't her focus. Not now, at least.
Starlingfur met Birchtail halfway, pressing close to him with a sigh. Half exhaustion, half relief, and somehow a third half of affection. Stupid hormones. The tabby buried her face in his shoulder, enjoying his sturdy presence. It felt stable. She pulled away after a moment, looking back to the mouse and then her... mess. Half of it was shredded at this point. It looked more like a mess that a kid would make than one that one could sleep in. Had she made any progress at all? "... Thank you, Birchtail." she murmured gratefully, touching her nose to his cheek before taking the mouse in jaw. "I could.... Use a break."
She sat down- or rather, carefully laid down, curling her legs beneath her a slight pace away from the moss pile. Maybe a break would clear her head. Help her think straight. Then, later, she could get back to work and perhaps actually get something done. But... no. She shouldn't think about that right now. Break time she reminded herself, leaning down to take a hungry bite out of her mouse.
What... was she doing? Starlingfur couldn't help but agree with Birchtail's confused expression as she followed his gaze. Copper eyes flicked from one side of the den to the other, and after a moment's silence she shook her head. ".... I don't know." she sighed quietly. "I don't know." she repeated to herself under her breath with lowered eyes, almost to herself.
"What I was... trying... to do.... was make a nest. But it just..." she trailed off, eyes distant. She didn't know if she was sure that she knew how to finish that sentence.
391 words | Starlingfur | Afternoon |
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Post by Kibbles on Sept 6, 2015 0:03:40 GMT
Birchtail purred a bit and licked Starlingfur's cheek. He gathered up the bits of moss and carried them out of the den. It wasn't but a moment later before he was back with some more moss. He moved to where Starlingfur was and looked around. Blood stained the ground. He realized that his mate was trying to cover it up. Was it her kit's blood? Was it Cicadasong's? He wouldn't ask.
Instead, he pushed the moss down, spreading it evenly around. It didn't cover up every bit of it, but he had covered up most of it. As he passed his mate, he licked her head again, leaving once more.
It took him some time to come back, but he eventually did return. He had flowers and behind him, Rookshadow came in with more. And behind her, Fernheart came in as well. The two she-cats put the flowers down and left. And Birchtail began placing them carefully around Starlingfur's nest. He covered the blood with them until no blood could be seen. He wanted his mate to be comfortable. To be happy. And he realized he couldn't do everything for her, but he was definitely going to try.
He moved to Starlingfur when he was done and laid down beside her. "We'll get through this, darling. We can do this. We're safe now, you don't have to worry so much. It's unhealthy. I'm here for you and for our kits. That won't change. That will never change. Not until I am dragged away by my father, my grandfather, and even my uncle. They will have to rip me away from my body before I let something else like this happen to you and the kits. We are going to be safe. I will make sure of that. Please, get some rest." he said calmly.
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 9, 2015 23:01:18 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on.
Starlingfur sighed gently, curling closer into herself as she ate her mouse. Yeah... maybe she had needed this. Through tired eyes she watched Birchtail pick up and remove moss from the log. Maybe she'd gone a bit overboard. She just.. wanted everything to be perfect. The clan, her family... Before, she'd never cared. But after so many things going so wrong... Starlingfur knew that she had to try. To minimize the number of things that could go wrong- because something would always go wrong. She had to give one hundred and ten percent in everything. And it... was taking its toll.
But... here was Birchtail. He left and reentered the den several times, each one bringing moss. It was fresher and springier than what she'd had previous, and there was certainly more of it. Her mate pressed the moss down gently, covering the ground in an even layer. Starlingfur smiled weakly as he padded over to lick her head, before leaving once more wordlessly. This was... better. The leader felt her anxiety begin to melt away- or at the very least... receede. She still wasn't used to... cats helping her so willingly. Even with things so simple as this. No, especially with things as simple as this. Cats helping and asking nothing in return- cats understanding her without her even having to say a word. Birchtail was something. Birchtail was... wonderful.
By the time her mate returned next, Starlingfur had finished her mouse. She'd deposited the bones outside, and now lay curled against one wall of the den. There were... things that she had to do, yes. But relaxing every now and then.. had to be important for the kits. Still, she could think about things while she relaxed. But just as she began to wonder what the setup for the patrols had ought to be that night, Birchtail returned. Behind him followed Rookshadow and Fernheart. It wasn't the cats with him that made Starlingfur's jaw drop however. It was what they carried with them.
Flowers. Bright and beautiful in all shades and colors. But... why...? Rookshadow and Fernheart depositid theirs, leaving them to Birchtail. And then..
He began to arrange them.
Birchtail wove and clipped the flowers into the nest, scattering them delicately throughout the moss and across the floor. Their petals covered up every speck of red stained into the wood. And when he'd finished, moving over to lay next to her with warm eyes... Starlingfur didn't know what to say. But he had the words.
Birchtail spoke gentle reassurances, love burning and genuine in his green eyes. He would be there for her. For their kits. Through all that came, no matter what. How many times had he had to tell her this? How many times had Starlingfur barely believed him- barely believed the idea that a cat like him who meant the things that he said could actually exist? The queen felt her heart swell, and tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "Birchtail, I..." but... she couldn't find the words. Her copper gaze was full of disbelief, alongside... Love. And hope. They... would get through this. Together. They would be a family, and Starclan if they wouldn't be happy. The clan was finally forming. Their lives.. they would go back to normal. And everything would be alright.
A weak purr rumbled in her throat as she leaned down, resting her head beneath his and pressing close to the tom. She lay for a few moments, pushed into his fur. Enjoying his presence. His warmth, both inside and out. But after a time.. "I love you, Birchtail." she murmured, face still out of sight. Even if had been seeable however... Well, it might have still been unreadable. "I don't know if... you know just how much... these.. things you do mean to me." she stumbled over her words, unsure how to say what she felt. "I... don't know if I'll ever be used to the way you treat me. But I love you. And I.. want you to know that."
691 words | Starlingfur | Evening |
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Post by Kibbles on Sept 25, 2015 23:21:05 GMT
Birchtail purred comfortingly at his mate's reaction. He licked her cheek as she spoke, grooming her face before moving and grooming her shoulders, neck, and back. His ears perked up at what she said last and chuckled.
"I know, Starlingfur. And I love you too. I love you and our unborn kits. And I just want you to be happy here, with our family and friends. I want you to be comfortable and I want you to feel secure," he explained, curling up beside her.
He nosed her cheek, eyes glistening. "I never asked for a beautiful and kind mate, and yet I ended up with the most beautiful and most kind she-cat I have ever known. I will always be here for you, until my last breath, and even beyond while in Starclan. For you and the kits." he said, cuddling close to her.
He didn't care who was looking. He wasn't ashamed of public displays of affection. He preferred them. Just so no other tom would try to do anything with his queen. He would show the rest that she was his and that he was hers and nobody would separate them.
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