[P] embers sprinkling down from above

[Luna16]

A sharp pain woke Embercloud with a jolt. She sat up in her nest, looking at her belly for whatever stabbed her, but there was nothing. Oh. Oh stars. This was it. It was happening. So soon?? Well...not really. It only felt like it was too soon because she didn't know for so long. But it seemed right. A moan escaped her as the pain resurfaced, she hadn't known what to expect but this was not it. But she had to get through this...she hadn't been taking care of herself well like she would have if she had known she was carrying kits in the first place. Hickoryeyes...please watch over me! And them... She cried out as the next wave of pain came...

later. . .

It was surprising. There was sorrow...but it was also so surprising. She hadn't expected to have kits at all, but here they were. Three little kits... So tiny and suckling...except for two of them. She cast her mournful gaze on two kits whose cries will never be heard...touching her muzzle to their cold, stiff bodies. "Please...watch over them, Hickoryeyes..." She prayed quietly. "Silverkit and Milkweedkit." She named the two stillborns - Silverkit for her dark brown coat with lighter speckling, like the stars of Silverpelt. And Milkweedkit for the plant, it's bright colorful blooms like the bright orange markings on her dead son's dark pelt. He would have looked like me... But she shoved her grief down. She had four health kits to look to now. Well...relatively speaking.

One of her kits, a small she-kit, was born with only three legs. Her eyes widened, brimming sorrow. "I'm...s-so sorry...my sweet little girl..." She murmured, her voice shaking. "I failed you..." She rested her muzzle on her daughter's tiny body, breathing in her newborn scent. At least she's alive... There was that. She looked at her daughter thoughtfully, studying her...three legs and black-and-grey spotted fur. "You shall be...my little Rosemary. Rosemarykit." She looked at the next kit, another she-kit. This one was mostly white, but with brown and black. "And you...shall be Heartkit." She purred affectionately, giving this daughter an affectionate lick.

Embercloud blinked skyward, a purr rumbling in her throat. "After brother, Frostedheart. Fitting yes?” She purred her question to the stars. To Marshpaw. Her darling brother. She looked down at her remaining kit, another daughter. This one...this one looked just like Hickoryeyes. Sorrow in her gaze, but warmth and love in her purr, Embercloud gently groomed this last daughter. "I think for you...Cherrykit." With her kits named, she wrapped her tail around them protectively, gathering her two stillborns between her paws. Grief welled in the back of her throat, but she swallowed it back. She grieved her loss of course, Milkweedkit and Silverkit. But she needed to be strong for her remaining children. I'm...I'm all they have now... She turned, giving each tiny kit a gentle lick, then the two between her paws. "I'm...I'm so sorry my little ones... I-I...I should have been able to give you better..." Despite her best attempts, her voice was filled with sobs, her sides quivering with exhaustion and grief.

[SPOILER="if applicable: submit your kits!"] @Hex - Midnightclaw // @crow. - Frostedheart // @Crown_Sage - Rosemarykit // @mEsc - Heartkit

[Hex]

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
Midnightclaw
A timid, long-furred, black enby cat with emerald green eyes.
They/Her - 20 Moons - Shadowclan Warrior - Biromantic
Tag: @Luna16 ; Embercloud

Midnightclaw poked her head into the den, hearing the soft cries of kittens. She saw her mother and quickly rushed over, silently but protectively. She gazed down at the tiny kittens. Oh dear Starclan.. The warrior's ears pinned back as she laid beside Embercloud. "Their..beautiful," she whispered almost too quietly. She could feel her throat tightening but had another feeling. She will protect the remaining kits. She will protect her siblings with her life. No cat shall come between her and her family.

[crow.]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Frozen Heart ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
《☆| Frostedheart |☆》
``Frost/Frosty``
☆A pure white tom with light grey markings☆
☆Them/He [Trans] • ShC Warrior ☆

 

Rapid Recovery
Killer Aptitude T1

⋆˖⁺‧₊⋆˖⁺‧₊⋆˖⁺‧₊⋆˖⁺ ‧₊⋆˖⁺‧₊⋆˖⁺‧₊⋆˖⁺‧₊
Frostedheart felt shattered to see the two stillborn. Butbthe others were alive, that was enough right now. Frost trotted to his sister, nuzzling her head comfortingly with a purr, looking down at the kits.

"They are beautiful sis.."

@Luna16

[Crown_Sage]

Rosemarykit
ShadowClan Kit ₻ She/Her ₻ 0 moons
"Ain't no big deal, I'm innocent"

Rosemarykit let out a whimper, her small body trembling as she tried to move closer to her mother's stomach. She squeaked, cold air hitting her skin as she shifted.
{ @Luna16 }

[CanukiTanuki_Fox]

@Luna16

Cherrykit opened her mouth and squeaked.

[mEsc]

HeartKit
Kit | 0 moons | No Purk

HeartKit raised her weak little head, her little nose drinking in the smell of her surroundings and familiarizing it. She wiggled her nose and her fur puffed at the cold, Why was it so cold? Pulling herself closer to her mother she pawed her belly and began to suckle.

@Luna16

[Luna16]

Embercloud purred loudly as her daughter and brother arrived. Their love helped ease some of her pain…some. She blinked up at Frostedheart, feeling more helpless than she ever has. “Oh Frost…I…I wasn’t good enough…” She whimpered, resting her muzzle against her two stillborns once more. “S-Silverkit and Milkweedkit…they never got a chance…” Hearing the news and squeaks of her living kits, Embercloud turned, wrapping her tail protectively around them to keep them warm.

“This is Rosemarykit, Cherrykit, and Heartkit.” She purred, licking each kit tenderly in turn. She gave Frostedheart a meaningful look when she mentioned Heartkit’s name, but then looked back at her two stillborns, feeling a lump ride in her throat. Their deaths…it was her fault. She knew they would need to be taken and buried…but she couldn’t…she couldn’t let them go.

[SPOILER="if applicable: submit your kits!"] @Hex - Midnightclaw // @crow. - Frostedheart // @Crown_Sage - Rosemarykit // @mEsc - Heartkit

[Hex]

Midnightclaw
Shadowclan Warrior ☙ 20 moons ☙ They/Her
"The dark times are as valuable as the light."

Tags: @Luna16 ; Embercloud , @crow. ; Frostedheart , @Crown_Sage ; Rosemarykit , @mEs ; Heartkit

Midnight laid closer to Ember, pressing her muzzle against the queen's head. "It was not your fault mother...you didn't know.." her own voice shaked a bit. She gazed at the stillborns then up at Embercloud. The molly laid her head close to the Rosemarykit, Cherrykit and Heartkit, sniffing them protectively.

[Crown_Sage]

Rosemarykit
ShadowClan Kit ₻ She/Her ₻ 0 moons
"Ain't no big deal, I'm innocent"

Rosemarykit tilted her head, wondering why everyone was sad? Did something happen? As a she-cat's head came to lay close to her, she let out a tiny giggle, raising her paw to try and swipe at her.
{ @Luna16 - @Hex }

[Hex]

Midnightclaw
Shadowclan Warrior ☙ 20 moons ☙ They/Her
"The dark times are as valuable as the light."

Tags: @Luna16 ; Embercloud , @Crown_Sage ; Rosemarykit

Midnightclaw felt her sister's paw against her nose and a smile formed. "Oh Rosemarykit, I promise to protect you forever, I will always be here," she murmured softly, a soft giggle escaping her lips at the tiny kit. Oh how adorable her little sister was.