ShrewKit tilted their head, "I dunno. maybe it was the wind."
She thought for a moment, "What if it was a.. invisible bird?"
She said, genuinely curious.
Howlkit suddenly got into something like a.. fighting position?? He looked around wildly.
"Invisible birds?! WHAT IF THEY PECK US?!" Howlkit yelped, still in his fighting stance. He was concerned. What if they attacked?! "Oh no.. this can't be good.. oh no.." Howlkit freaked out. //author note: I'm tweaking while writing this, so he can tweak too.// He held his ground. No way was an invisible bird gonna peck out his eyes.
For a few moments, she simply observed the young molly’s actions. With her head tilted to the side and her eyes wide with a sort of concern, she simply watched her with her eyes furrowed. Having no hearing, she had taken more to being very observant with her sight, as well as that of touch. Her gaze drifted over Spring’s torso, watching the shaky rise and fall as she breathed in and out. Even as she watched Spring’s lips move, forming the word that she recognized as her own name, she watched her quietly. It wasn’t like she was glaring at her, goodness no, she was simply looking at her through thoughtful, concerned, eyes.
You’ve been staring. Staring is impolite.
The gentle words whispered in her ear made her blink. There was an ounce of bashfulness in her demeanor by the way that she glanced to her side, as if to look at the perpetrator although she knew she’d never see them at all. The embarrassment was gone within an instant, because she knew that the star on her shoulder–a little title she had given to the familiar voice long ago–had only meant well.
Drizzlecloud watched as Spring continued to speak a bit more, only a few words though. At the mention of her kits, she had immediately looked down at the two nestled against her belly, her tail still wrapped around them to keep them safe. Froglet liked to explore, but not these two. They seemed to enjoy cuddling much more, as of right now. “We are well–very well, I may see. You’ve seen Frogkit bumbling about recently, haven’t you? He quite likes to just… Watch everyone as they go about.” She spoke with nothing but pure, unending adoration for her little ones. You didn’t even have to hear her speaking about them to understand that much, as simply the way she looked at them as they snoozed was enough to understand the pure love that she had for her babies.
Giving Lavenderkit and Springkit a lick between the ears each, she lifted her head once more to look at Spring. The concern slowly returned to her vision as she looked at her, finding herself simply observing her once more. “Springy, you look anxious.” Drizzlecloud finally whispered, deciding to say it simply as it appeared to be. “There’s something putting you on edge, I can see it.”
Spring long-furred, scarred, oriental-shaped, gray-and-orange calico molly with blue eyes; torn right ear
purrks: herbal knowledge - tier 2 | the collector | mind reader | dreamwalker
she/her | … | 25 moons
Spring’s mouth opened, but no words came out. The words she wanted to say seemed trapped, caught somewhere deep within her chest like a prison, weighed down by a hundred unspoken fears and regrets. Drizzlecloud’s gentle voice only deepened the ache that had lodged itself in her throat. Her former mentor had always seemed so solid and sure—watching her now, soft with love for her kits, but sharp enough to catch onto Spring’s unease, made everything feel even harder. Her heart twisted, an unfamiliar ache surfacing as she watched Drizzlecloud nuzzle her kits with the tenderest of touches, her eyes brimming with love. A strange, bitter pang jolted through Spring’s chest, one that felt uncomfortably close to jealousy. Drizzlecloud’s warmth and affection seemed so natural and so freely given, as if loving and protecting her kits was as effortless as breathing in this cruel world. A pang of guilt surged through her, shame mingling with that envy. What kind of mother would she be, harboring jealousy toward her own mentor's love for her kits? She should have been grateful—for her companionship, for the assurance that she wasn’t as alone as she often felt. But watching Drizzlecloud’s soft, maternal gestures only made the gnawing uncertainty inside her grow. Spring’s gaze drifted, unwilling to linger on the warmth in Drizzlecloud’s eyes or the gentle affection she shared with her kits.
She could almost imagine herself in Drizzlecloud’s place, almost picturing the small lives she would soon bring into the world. But when she tried to imagine holding them close, offering that same comfort and protection as the tabby in front of her did with her kits, something in her chest tightened, something fragile and frightened that she couldn’t quite shake. She swallowed thickly, words still locked inside her as her mind turned over a thousand questions she couldn’t ask. Would her kits feel this shadow inside her? Would they sense her fear, doubts, and the unhealed scars she carried? Her paws flexed against the coarse earth over her nest, her claws digging in slightly as if grounding herself to the here and now. Guilt and regret swirled within her, a constant reminder of the life she had once lived, of the mistakes she couldn’t undo even if she wanted to. She’d thought that coming back to ThunderClan would bring her peace, a chance to prove that she could be someone worthy of forgiveness. But from all of the judging glances alone—they all reminded her that not everyone had welcomed her return and that doubt had begun to creep into her soul, gnawing at the edges of her hope. Now, lying there in the dim, cool air of the den, the weight of her past felt more oppressive than ever. She had returned with the hope to make amends, to become a possible warrior her clan could trust, to be something other than the collection of past choices that haunted her.
But the walls seemed to press in closer, thick with whispers of mistrust and lingering questions. Even those who said they forgave her didn’t truly forget, which had only been one. She could see it in the flickers of unease that passed through their eyes when she walked by, the way cats glanced over their shoulders as if her shadow might bring a threat. And worst of all, she feared that her kits would bear the brunt of that distrust simply for being her kin. The shame twisted within her, burrowing deeper than before, forcing her to question her worth as a mother. Her kits deserved better. They deserved love that was untainted, not fractured by a history she couldn’t erase. How could she offer them stability when her own heart felt like it might shatter under the weight of everything she had done? She imagined them needing her to protect them, to shield them from the harshness of the world. But the fear lingered, hissing that she was already failing them, that by merely existing, she was putting them in harm’s way. The silence grew heavy, her emotions crashing over her in relentless waves. She wanted to hold it all in, to lock her feelings away and remain as stoned as long as she could. But it was no use. The mask she wore crumbled, her composure slipping as her remaining vision blurred with tears she could no longer suppress.
A strangled sob escaped her, and she lifted an unsheathed paw to her face, covering her mouth, as though she could somehow stop the flood of emotions threatening to consume her. Spring fought to keep the sobs inside, but it was no use. The emotions she'd been bottling up crashed over her like a storm she could no longer weather. Her chest heaved as the first raw, jagged sob broke free, her body curling instinctively as if she could make herself small enough to disappear. She didn’t want anyone to see her like this—especially not Drizzlecloud. But the moment she had asked what was on her mind had only made her tears fall harder, shattering any ounce of composure she had left. “I’m… I’m so scared,” Spring choked out, her voice barely holding together, the words spilling out between ragged breaths. “They won't… have anyone… to care… for them… not after… I’m gone... when Bumblestar… when Bumblestar… exiles me… after the… kits are born… they’ll have… no one.” Her voice cracked, a new wave of despair crashing over her, threatening to drown her in its depths. She drew in a jagged breath, squeezing her eyes shut as warm pools of salty tears poured down her face. “Drizzlecloud,” she sobbed, barely able to lift her head to meet her former mentor’s gaze, her teary blue eyes making contact with her green. “Please… please… take care… of them… for me... if I can’t… be here… promise me… you’ll look… after them... don’t… don’t let… my kits think… they’re unloved.
She could feel her chest tightening, each breath coming harder than the last. “Tell them… that I love… them... tell them… that even… if I’m not… there… I never wanted… to leave them.” The plea felt like it was clawing its way out of her, being both pitifully raw and desperate. Her vision blurred again, and she pressed her face against her paws, feeling the fur around them gradually grow soaked with her tears. Her heart ached with a depth of love and regret she hadn’t known she could feel—regret for the life she’d led, for the mistakes she’d made, and for the future she might not be there to witness. “What kind… of mother… am I?” she whispered brokenly, her voice so soft it barely rose above a breath. “I’m supposed… to protect them… to be there… for them... and now… all I can… do is… beg… someone else… to love them… for me.” Her chest heaved, each sob seeming to tear her apart a little more. The thought of her kits growing up without her, of them never knowing her touch or hearing her voice… was almost unbearable. But the weight of the clan’s judgment was too strong, a force she knew she couldn’t fight, no matter how much she wanted to. “I don’t… want them… to feel this,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “The loneliness… the doubt… I don’t want… them to live… with the shame… of who their… mother was.” Her words trailed off, leaving only the sound of her quiet, broken breaths. It felt as though her heart had been laid bare, every gnarly wound exposed, as she clung to Drizzlecloud’s presence, hoping, just for a moment, that it would be enough to ease the pain going through her mind.
Bump Policy: 1-3 days, if important then few hours
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Re: ThunderClan Nursery
Aldernose stepped into the nursery after doing his duties for the day. His eyes scanned and looked for his kits. "Beechkit! Sagekit!" He called out. His voice was soft and comforting. He waited for them to tumble over and start talking a whole bunch. @seeingstars @Crown_Sage
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My characters: Thc: Willowpaw, seakit, mantiskit Shc: Salmonshade, spiderkit Wc:maplekit, skykit
Currently in wco jail for stealing breadsticks from @/Snowy the Ghost
Last edited by Cherry_Blossom; November 10th, 2024 at 10:29 PM.
Father! Sagekit squealed, barreling into him. She had a butterfly wing stuck to her fur, with sap. She purred proudly. Do you like it? She mewed, covering him with licks. Me an' Beechkit's had lots of fun! But we were bored cause the nursery has nothing fun to do. She went on and on, before realizing her sister wasn't next to her. Beechkit! Sagekit hollered, turning around. Come see father!
@Cherry_Blossom
@seeingstars
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"I’m not saying I’m a bad person, but I’m definitely a bad influence." - Max Black 2 Broke Girls
Beechkit's ears perked up at the call of their parent. Her pale yellow eyes scanned the clearing as she poked her head out of the nursery curiously, why their parent was summoning them.
The golden tabby pointed she-cat tilted her head as she sprinted out of the den and towards Aldernose. A purr rose from her throat as she leaped at the warrior, attempting to land square on their back.
She too had a butterfly wing, seemingly from the same butterfly as Sagekit's. She giggled, her tail waving behind her as a loud purr erupted from her chest.
Re: ThunderClan Nursery
Re: ThunderClan Nursery
