Post by Dragon on Sept 11, 2009 0:00:17 GMT -5
Heronflight stifled a pained yowl, the kits in her belly writhing within. Her misty blue eyes widened as the surprising pain hit her as if a badger that was running at full pelt suddenly smashed into her. The queen's claws dug into the soft turf of the nursery. Her eyes were wide and she let out another yowl, followed by the sounds of shuffling paws.
Silverclaw perked her ears in the Healer's den while she was sorting herbs. Hearing the pained yowls, she assumed that it was time for Heronflight's kits to visit the clan. The once warrior grabbed a mouthful of herbs and rushed through the collected cats. Many were staring, open mouthed at the nursery, unsure of what to do.
"You!" Silverclaw snapped at the nearest warrior, a broad shouldered gray and white tom with eyes like fire. "Go get Wolfmist! Stat! Don't give me that look! Hes in the Marsh, hunting like a good warrior!" The healer hissed and high-tailed it into the nursery. Her silver tail streaking behind her.
The healer came skidding from her den and leaped into the Nursery at the sound of the yowling. Her blue eyes were wide and cautious. Silverclaw immediately went to work, setting up her herbs quickly and efficiently. She gently licked the queens head, murmuring comforting words. With soft paws she felt the queen's round belly, estimating that there was between two to three kits to be born.
Silverclaw shuffled to the queens head, and breathed in the young cats ear. "We are ready for DarkClan's new warriors," She purred softly, her tail tip stroking Heronflight's round belly.
The queen panted hard, her blue eyes round with pain and excitement. A tremor went down her body, and her limbs went rigid. "Wheres Wolfmist?" She managed, her breathing ragged and short. Her fore legs stretched forward, scoring deep lines in the ground with her claws. Night was settling on the camp, the glow of the sunset pierced the entrance of the nursery, basking Heronflight in a red glow.
"Shhh." The silver tabby whispered, in a soothing tone. "I've sent a warrior out to get him, conserve your strength." The healer's tone was like the patter of rain on leaves. Silverclaw nudged a bundle of borage toward the she-cat. Her dark blue eyes were cast in a red light as the sun sunk lower and lower. She perked her ears for the sound of distant paw steps but heard none. Her silver fur was bristling but she didn't let the apprehension in her heart show through her face.
Wolfmist barreled through the camp, his yellow eyes like chips of amber. His jaw hung open slightly, the tip of his raspy tongue poked between his incisors. The warrior's fur was bristling with agitation and worry. For a moment, he stood still, rigid in the crimson light of the setting sun. He turned like a blur of smoke, before charging toward the underground nursery.
The loyal soon-to-be father hung by the entrance of the nursery. His tail was bristling to twice its size. He paced restlessly, back and forth with a worried expression plainly laid out of on his severe face. He shifted his weight from paw to paw, peering into the inky darkness. "Can I come in?" He called in an anxious tone, his yellow eyes beacons in the darkening camp.
"Wolfmist?" The queen croaked, her misty blue eyes sought out his bright yellow. All time seemed to halt, as the two loving cats shared great emotion in their stare. But suddenly another quake of motion took Heronflight and she yowled.
Silverclaw blocked Wolfmist's path and she crouched over Heronflight. For a moment, she looked over her shoulder at the dark warrior. "Stay out there!" She hissed, and in a softer tone she said to Heronflight. "The first kit is coming." The healer purred. Her lengthy tail swished over the moss covered ground.
Heronflight went completely stiff, her teeth grinding together as the first kit was born. Immediately, despite her evident lack of energy, she swung to an awkward sitting position and began vigorously licking the new born kit. Her blue eyes glowed with soft accomplishment. Gently, she scoped the kit up and placed it in the curve of her belly.
The healer smiled at the bundle of black fur at the Queen's belly. Her tail tip stroked the she-cats flank delicately, her crystal clear eyes a glow with pride for the young cat. But she could not suppress a twinge of jealously for the lucky cat about to share her life with kits. Silverclaw pawed at the borage near Heronflight's mouth. "Eat this." She meowed quietly, eyes downcast.
Wolfmist, who once stood a mouse-length from the Nursery, swiftly barged his way in, in a fit of mad energy to get to his mate. He crouched above her head, licking her forehead encouragingly. His gaze locked on the small, still damp kit that had already begun feeding in a frenzy of bubbly gulps. A grin lit his face, "Oh, he's so beautiful, Heronflight." He purred.
She panted, letting out a tired purr before quickly eating the bitter herbs. The vile taste clung to her taste buds and road down her throat. Her nose wrinkled in distaste but she kept it down. A little shakily, she gave the little black kit gentle licks until went rigid once more, and let out a whimper of pain.
Silverclaw swept her tail across the ground, her voice little more then a whisper. "The next kit will be here soon." Her crystal blue eyes, locked on Wolfmist. The intensity in their depths seemed to surprise the tom slightly, for he jumped back. "Go soak some moss and bring it back." Her voice was like ice, and not to be trifled with. Obediently, the warrior scurried from the nursery, ready to avoid the healer's icy glare. The silver tabby's ears perked as the queen's panting increased.
The Queen's eyes widened, and for a moment she lay frozen until she breathed out in relief and lifted her exhausted body up to lap at the new kit. His pale tabby fur shown slightly, while his front black paws flailed in the air. Heronflight picked up the kit by his scruff and placed him next to his brother. Their different pelts blended together. Her head thumped softly against the moss laden ground. After only two kits, her eyes were half closed with exhaustion.
The silver blotched she-cat stumbled in, belly heaving with unborn kits. She was obviously too young to be bearing kits. "Erm, I smelled kits, and milk...and ... C-can you help me?" her purpley eyes were nervous.
The healer leaned forward, her breath brushing the queens face. "One more kit, Heronflight, stay awake." Silverclaw whipped around, her teeth bared. Her silver fur was bristling was shock and fury. "Who are you?" she spat, reverting to her days as a warrior to ask questions to the unknown cat.
SHe back away a step, realizing the other she-cat had just given birth. She shook, wondering is she would even get the help she needed here. How foolish of her to trust another clan...
"I... I'm Lilacp- just Lilac... I.." she swallowed, "I don't know anything about kits, and I'm so scared! I didn't want these kits, and now I don't know what to do!" she blurted out suddenly, her eyes wide and pleading. "please..." she finished, whispering
Heronflight's wide, blue eyes stared at cat. In her exhaustion and vulnerability, she couldn't make out the scent of the cats fur. She could feel a tremor ripple across her side. She couldn't even make out the cat's face, as Silverclaw stood in front of her in a defensive posture.
Silverclaw's icy eyes took in the pregnant cat, that seemed to be an apprentice aged cat. Her nostrils flared trying to make out the cat's clan scent. But all she got was a faint whiff of SerpentClan on her pelt but he was so washed out and faint that she didn't recognize it. For a moment, pity threatened to consume her, but her warrior instincts took over. "Get out!" She snarled, the fur on the nape her neck bristling.
The healer whipped around and stared at the queen, she gave her a few rough licks on the head to keep her awake. "After this, Heronflight, you can sleep as long as you can manage." Her blue eyes shone in the darkness. She laid a light paw on her stomach, she could feel the slight twitch of a muscle and took her paw away. Silverclaw silently waited for nature to take its course.
Wolfmist returned to the nursery, giving the air a tentative sniff. He glanced around with a disgruntled expression as he noticed a different scent, but didn't see anyone. He trotted toward Heronflight, taking in the other kit with glowing eyes. He placed the soaked moss near her head, beaming with pride.
Heronflight lifted her head in feeble strength, but it fell to the ground again. And finally, the last kit came. The exhausted queen heaved her front end up stretching to start licking the small kit. But her forepaws quivered slightly, and she slapped onto the ground, panting. Her blue eyes fell on the healer for assistance.
The silver tabby approached the new born kit with quick calculated movements. The kit was small, but despite being the last born, she wiggled like the other two had done. Licking the kit, she gently placed the kit at Heronflight's belly. Silverclaw was proud of the healthy litter of three kits, the oldest resembled his father other then white marks on his narrow face. The second kit was slightly larger then his brother, with a creamy tabby pelt with black front paws, ears and tail tip. And lastly came the smallest of the litter. She was the only female, and though she was mostly white, she had splotches of creamy brown. The healer looked at the queen, who was quietly licking at the kits, curling around them in a comforting circle. She dipped her head to Heronflight and Wolfmist, "I'll inform Shrewstar of the new kits." Neither responded, both were purring and Heronflight looked like she was about to pass out from exhaustion. Silverclaw stood and padded out of the nursery.
After leaving the nursery, she approached the entrance. Silverclaw paused at the dark den, peering into the inky blackness. She did not dare intrude on her leader at any time, not even in times of joy. For a moment she stood awkwardly at the mouth of the cave, paws shuffling in the dusty ground before her. Everything looked very wind swept from the recent wind storm. And finally a voice came from the cave.
"Come in." Came a dark voice, that seemed to echo off the cold stone walls. His yellow eyes suddenly appeared in the depths of the caves, they were brighter then usual. They stared out at the healer with a silent ferocity that could send an apprentice scurrying for a place to hide in an instant.
Silverclaw ducked into the cave, her blue eyes glittering slightly. A smile flitted across her face, "Shrewstar," She meowed in a moderate tone but it was layered with radiant happiness. "We have three new warriors for DarkClan." The healer purred with a passion.
Shrewstar smiled, in his odd little way. The gesture seemed almost silly on such a sinister face. "Perfect." He sighed, his thickly furred tail wrapping over his tail in one lucid movement. His yellow eyes seemed to glitter. "New warriors are always a good grace from SilverClan. I shall visit them in the morning. That is all Silverclaw." The gray leader turned away from the healer as he seemed to confide in his own secret thought. One could only swear they heard the tiniest of purrs.
Silverclaw perked her ears in the Healer's den while she was sorting herbs. Hearing the pained yowls, she assumed that it was time for Heronflight's kits to visit the clan. The once warrior grabbed a mouthful of herbs and rushed through the collected cats. Many were staring, open mouthed at the nursery, unsure of what to do.
"You!" Silverclaw snapped at the nearest warrior, a broad shouldered gray and white tom with eyes like fire. "Go get Wolfmist! Stat! Don't give me that look! Hes in the Marsh, hunting like a good warrior!" The healer hissed and high-tailed it into the nursery. Her silver tail streaking behind her.
The healer came skidding from her den and leaped into the Nursery at the sound of the yowling. Her blue eyes were wide and cautious. Silverclaw immediately went to work, setting up her herbs quickly and efficiently. She gently licked the queens head, murmuring comforting words. With soft paws she felt the queen's round belly, estimating that there was between two to three kits to be born.
Silverclaw shuffled to the queens head, and breathed in the young cats ear. "We are ready for DarkClan's new warriors," She purred softly, her tail tip stroking Heronflight's round belly.
The queen panted hard, her blue eyes round with pain and excitement. A tremor went down her body, and her limbs went rigid. "Wheres Wolfmist?" She managed, her breathing ragged and short. Her fore legs stretched forward, scoring deep lines in the ground with her claws. Night was settling on the camp, the glow of the sunset pierced the entrance of the nursery, basking Heronflight in a red glow.
"Shhh." The silver tabby whispered, in a soothing tone. "I've sent a warrior out to get him, conserve your strength." The healer's tone was like the patter of rain on leaves. Silverclaw nudged a bundle of borage toward the she-cat. Her dark blue eyes were cast in a red light as the sun sunk lower and lower. She perked her ears for the sound of distant paw steps but heard none. Her silver fur was bristling but she didn't let the apprehension in her heart show through her face.
Wolfmist barreled through the camp, his yellow eyes like chips of amber. His jaw hung open slightly, the tip of his raspy tongue poked between his incisors. The warrior's fur was bristling with agitation and worry. For a moment, he stood still, rigid in the crimson light of the setting sun. He turned like a blur of smoke, before charging toward the underground nursery.
The loyal soon-to-be father hung by the entrance of the nursery. His tail was bristling to twice its size. He paced restlessly, back and forth with a worried expression plainly laid out of on his severe face. He shifted his weight from paw to paw, peering into the inky darkness. "Can I come in?" He called in an anxious tone, his yellow eyes beacons in the darkening camp.
"Wolfmist?" The queen croaked, her misty blue eyes sought out his bright yellow. All time seemed to halt, as the two loving cats shared great emotion in their stare. But suddenly another quake of motion took Heronflight and she yowled.
Silverclaw blocked Wolfmist's path and she crouched over Heronflight. For a moment, she looked over her shoulder at the dark warrior. "Stay out there!" She hissed, and in a softer tone she said to Heronflight. "The first kit is coming." The healer purred. Her lengthy tail swished over the moss covered ground.
Heronflight went completely stiff, her teeth grinding together as the first kit was born. Immediately, despite her evident lack of energy, she swung to an awkward sitting position and began vigorously licking the new born kit. Her blue eyes glowed with soft accomplishment. Gently, she scoped the kit up and placed it in the curve of her belly.
The healer smiled at the bundle of black fur at the Queen's belly. Her tail tip stroked the she-cats flank delicately, her crystal clear eyes a glow with pride for the young cat. But she could not suppress a twinge of jealously for the lucky cat about to share her life with kits. Silverclaw pawed at the borage near Heronflight's mouth. "Eat this." She meowed quietly, eyes downcast.
Wolfmist, who once stood a mouse-length from the Nursery, swiftly barged his way in, in a fit of mad energy to get to his mate. He crouched above her head, licking her forehead encouragingly. His gaze locked on the small, still damp kit that had already begun feeding in a frenzy of bubbly gulps. A grin lit his face, "Oh, he's so beautiful, Heronflight." He purred.
She panted, letting out a tired purr before quickly eating the bitter herbs. The vile taste clung to her taste buds and road down her throat. Her nose wrinkled in distaste but she kept it down. A little shakily, she gave the little black kit gentle licks until went rigid once more, and let out a whimper of pain.
Silverclaw swept her tail across the ground, her voice little more then a whisper. "The next kit will be here soon." Her crystal blue eyes, locked on Wolfmist. The intensity in their depths seemed to surprise the tom slightly, for he jumped back. "Go soak some moss and bring it back." Her voice was like ice, and not to be trifled with. Obediently, the warrior scurried from the nursery, ready to avoid the healer's icy glare. The silver tabby's ears perked as the queen's panting increased.
The Queen's eyes widened, and for a moment she lay frozen until she breathed out in relief and lifted her exhausted body up to lap at the new kit. His pale tabby fur shown slightly, while his front black paws flailed in the air. Heronflight picked up the kit by his scruff and placed him next to his brother. Their different pelts blended together. Her head thumped softly against the moss laden ground. After only two kits, her eyes were half closed with exhaustion.
The silver blotched she-cat stumbled in, belly heaving with unborn kits. She was obviously too young to be bearing kits. "Erm, I smelled kits, and milk...and ... C-can you help me?" her purpley eyes were nervous.
The healer leaned forward, her breath brushing the queens face. "One more kit, Heronflight, stay awake." Silverclaw whipped around, her teeth bared. Her silver fur was bristling was shock and fury. "Who are you?" she spat, reverting to her days as a warrior to ask questions to the unknown cat.
SHe back away a step, realizing the other she-cat had just given birth. She shook, wondering is she would even get the help she needed here. How foolish of her to trust another clan...
"I... I'm Lilacp- just Lilac... I.." she swallowed, "I don't know anything about kits, and I'm so scared! I didn't want these kits, and now I don't know what to do!" she blurted out suddenly, her eyes wide and pleading. "please..." she finished, whispering
Heronflight's wide, blue eyes stared at cat. In her exhaustion and vulnerability, she couldn't make out the scent of the cats fur. She could feel a tremor ripple across her side. She couldn't even make out the cat's face, as Silverclaw stood in front of her in a defensive posture.
Silverclaw's icy eyes took in the pregnant cat, that seemed to be an apprentice aged cat. Her nostrils flared trying to make out the cat's clan scent. But all she got was a faint whiff of SerpentClan on her pelt but he was so washed out and faint that she didn't recognize it. For a moment, pity threatened to consume her, but her warrior instincts took over. "Get out!" She snarled, the fur on the nape her neck bristling.
The healer whipped around and stared at the queen, she gave her a few rough licks on the head to keep her awake. "After this, Heronflight, you can sleep as long as you can manage." Her blue eyes shone in the darkness. She laid a light paw on her stomach, she could feel the slight twitch of a muscle and took her paw away. Silverclaw silently waited for nature to take its course.
Wolfmist returned to the nursery, giving the air a tentative sniff. He glanced around with a disgruntled expression as he noticed a different scent, but didn't see anyone. He trotted toward Heronflight, taking in the other kit with glowing eyes. He placed the soaked moss near her head, beaming with pride.
Heronflight lifted her head in feeble strength, but it fell to the ground again. And finally, the last kit came. The exhausted queen heaved her front end up stretching to start licking the small kit. But her forepaws quivered slightly, and she slapped onto the ground, panting. Her blue eyes fell on the healer for assistance.
The silver tabby approached the new born kit with quick calculated movements. The kit was small, but despite being the last born, she wiggled like the other two had done. Licking the kit, she gently placed the kit at Heronflight's belly. Silverclaw was proud of the healthy litter of three kits, the oldest resembled his father other then white marks on his narrow face. The second kit was slightly larger then his brother, with a creamy tabby pelt with black front paws, ears and tail tip. And lastly came the smallest of the litter. She was the only female, and though she was mostly white, she had splotches of creamy brown. The healer looked at the queen, who was quietly licking at the kits, curling around them in a comforting circle. She dipped her head to Heronflight and Wolfmist, "I'll inform Shrewstar of the new kits." Neither responded, both were purring and Heronflight looked like she was about to pass out from exhaustion. Silverclaw stood and padded out of the nursery.
After leaving the nursery, she approached the entrance. Silverclaw paused at the dark den, peering into the inky blackness. She did not dare intrude on her leader at any time, not even in times of joy. For a moment she stood awkwardly at the mouth of the cave, paws shuffling in the dusty ground before her. Everything looked very wind swept from the recent wind storm. And finally a voice came from the cave.
"Come in." Came a dark voice, that seemed to echo off the cold stone walls. His yellow eyes suddenly appeared in the depths of the caves, they were brighter then usual. They stared out at the healer with a silent ferocity that could send an apprentice scurrying for a place to hide in an instant.
Silverclaw ducked into the cave, her blue eyes glittering slightly. A smile flitted across her face, "Shrewstar," She meowed in a moderate tone but it was layered with radiant happiness. "We have three new warriors for DarkClan." The healer purred with a passion.
Shrewstar smiled, in his odd little way. The gesture seemed almost silly on such a sinister face. "Perfect." He sighed, his thickly furred tail wrapping over his tail in one lucid movement. His yellow eyes seemed to glitter. "New warriors are always a good grace from SilverClan. I shall visit them in the morning. That is all Silverclaw." The gray leader turned away from the healer as he seemed to confide in his own secret thought. One could only swear they heard the tiniest of purrs.
