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Post by owlfury on Dec 13, 2009 6:39:41 GMT -8
Snakestrike looked at her kits. They were very beautiful. "Th-thank you, Breathpaw."
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Post by Cardinalsong on Dec 13, 2009 12:34:46 GMT -8
Branchadder nodded dumbly at Breathpaw's words. His eyes were locked on the kits. They really were beautiful; the very meaning of the word 'perfect'.
To give the new mother some peace (although he did pause to affectionately lick her forehead once), the warrior moved over to his apprentice and nudged her gently away from Snakestrike and the kits.
Then, he was purring softly.
"How did you know what to do?"
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Post by owlfury on Dec 13, 2009 19:49:35 GMT -8
Snakestrike blinked her eyes, glad she had had friends with her. She licked each kits head, but when she licked the second she realixed it felt very cold. She nudged it with her nose, it did not respond. "Starclan no." she whispered.
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Post by lighty on Dec 14, 2009 13:22:05 GMT -8
Breathpaw shrugged, not really knowing, "When I was a kit I wanted to be a medicine cat, so I would poke around and such. I guess the rest was maternal instinct."
Hearing Snakestrike, she took a step towards her. Breathpaw spoke gingerly, "When you are done saying good-bye, we'll will take the two to be burried."
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Post by owlfury on Dec 14, 2009 14:16:00 GMT -8
Snakestrike nodded and added, "Three. This one just died." She said, sadly, stroking the dead kit's flank with her tail.
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Post by lighty on Dec 15, 2009 12:39:15 GMT -8
"I'm so sorry," Breathpaw whispered somberly. Her words were serious and quick; she didn't want to show how much empathy she felt. She nodded to Snakestrike and took a few steps back. Even though she wasn't a medicine cat, she felt horrible for having three of the kits die in her care, though two were stillborn. No wonder she decided to not become a medicine cat, she couldn't live with all these lost lives on her shoulders.
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Post by owlfury on Dec 15, 2009 13:18:19 GMT -8
Snakestrike nodded. She bowed her head and nuzzled her kits.
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Post by Cardinalsong on Dec 20, 2009 16:42:59 GMT -8
Branchadder gave a soft sigh. He said nothing, but moved to sit close to Snakestrike, even ever-so-gently nussling his cheek against hers affectionately.
Together they stayed right where they were, though Branchadder did make it a point to ask Breathpaw to take all of the prey back to camp while Snakestrike regained some of her strength.
At that point, though, and once the deceased kits were buried, Branchadder pulled himself to his paws. He glanced around, sniffed a bit, and then turned back to the Queen with evident worry in his eyes.
"Are you well enough to go back to camp?"
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Post by rockhead on Dec 20, 2009 17:25:16 GMT -8
Rockwhisker padded up to the group of cats with a mouthful of herbs. "What happened here!" He said, while dropping the herbs and looking around. He noticed the kits. "Great Starclan! I am sorry I wasn't here, I was collecting herbs." He mewed.
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Post by owlfury on Dec 21, 2009 12:28:10 GMT -8
Snakestrike pushed herself to her paws. She was a bit shaky at first but she stayed on her paws. "I-I think I'm ready, but first I want to give the kits names." She glanced up as Rockwhisker came over, "Hello, Rockwhisker." She looked back at her kits, "The she-kit will be Ebonykit and the tom Flarekit. Let's get them home so they'll be warm. Branchadder will you carry Flarekit?"
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Post by Cardinalsong on Dec 21, 2009 17:46:52 GMT -8
"With pride," the warrior answered at once. He stopped only long enough to nod his head in greeting to Rockwhisker before bending down and, making sure to be extra careful, picking the small tom-kit up by the scruff of his neck.
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Post by lighty on Dec 22, 2009 16:59:15 GMT -8
Breathpaw put the prey in the pile in the middle of the camp, then watched the other three cats walk in. It was a happy sight, she had to admit. Snakestrike was carrying her kit with the look of love shinning in her eyes as she glanced from the kit she carried to the kit Branchadder had in his mouth. Rockwhisker looked sorry he'd not been there to deliver the kits, but glad nothing worse had come of it. And even Branchadder almost looked pridefull with that little kit danggling from his mouth.
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Post by owlfury on Dec 22, 2009 17:49:03 GMT -8
Snakestrike led the way into the nursery. When inside she made her nest a little bigger and then lay down inside. She placed Ebonykit beside her belly and Branchadder followed suit with Flarekit. She smiled at him. "Thank you." Then she returned her gaze to her kits.
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Post by Cardinalsong on Dec 25, 2009 17:22:28 GMT -8
Branchadder nodded his head; it seemed he couldn't stop purring while he gazed down at Snakestrike with the kits.
"I'll go get some fresh-kill for you," he meowed after a moment, but before he could turn to go--
--a different voice spoke up from the entrance, muffled, but chuckling. "No need, Branchadder. I've got it."
When the white-furred tom looked, he was a little surprised--but happy--to see his former mentor stepping into the nursery.
Glorystar had in his mouth one of the voles Branchadder and Breathpaw had worked so hard to catch. The golden-furred leader was smiling as he squeezed into the den, and moved to his former apprentice's side.
In spite of being older than Branchadder, the size-difference was sort of amusing--Glorystar's ear-tip barely reached Branchadder's nose in height.
Nonetheless, the leader set down the vole by Snakestrike, dipping his head to her. "I saw you coming in," he purred. "Thought you'd like something to eat."
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Post by owlfury on Dec 26, 2009 14:08:41 GMT -8
Snakestrike purred, "Thank you, Glorystar."
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