Closed Thread [Closed] Oh, What a Dream Might Send

BRIARFANG

Briarfang crouched in the warmth of the sun, drier than the other night but still not completely so. They were enjoying the quiet of the day, when many of their fellow warriors were out of the camp. It wasn’t long, however, before a rustling sounded from the old warren. Briarfang’s ear flicked over as Otterwhisker emerged from the tunnel, followed by five kits. Oh, no. They had to give her credit for dealing with so many young ones–it was certainly something they couldn’t do. They got to their paws, stretching out their long legs. They looked around the rest of the camp, spotting Coldgaze by the Twinwillows. Their tail gave a twitch of interest, and Briarfang quietly padded over.

The deputy was watching the kits from afar. Briarfang glanced over as they approached him with another stretch. “Quite a gathering last night, eh?” they asked, sitting themself down a few steps away from the serious warrior.

Following his gaze to the kits, Briarfang wrapped a tail around their paws. “What did make you pick that one up out of all the others?”

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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With a purr and a flick of her ears she listened to her kits as they bumbled together, a treat to explore and frolic so freely. She didn't have to remind them to remain within the camp borders - there were plenty of eyes to keep track of them, and she'd be vigilant, but Otterwhisker was hungry.

Tsking lightly through the tone of contentment, she lowered her maw against the fluffy lump that was her son. Her only son amongst a pack of she-cats. The poor thing. "Cry so loud and you'll grow a trout mouth." She warned with a comforting lick atop his skull. "I'm sure everyone can hear you." And not just his siblings. Her aqua eyes blinked warmly at the two toms, but didn't move towards them right away.

Instead she padded towards the roots of twin willow, pausing briefly to access the pickings at the pile. She was pleased that someone had managed to snag a water vole, and once she had separated the plump morsel from the pile, began to dig in. First she defluffed the creature and munched into its savory muscles. She strategically saved a few morsels for her kits if they so were inclined, and pushed the body closer towards Merrykit, who had investigated.

"Good morning, Coldgaze. Briarfang." She mewed in greeting, licking her whiskers. With a short hop she managed to ascend onto one of the roots, nearby the chocolate brown tom. It felt great to stretch out her body in the warm weather, perfect swimming weather. She wouldn't even have minded attending the Gathering during the storm as she quite enjoyed getting wet.

"You better get used to them. You never know when a she-cat might inquire some kits from you. Not that I think we need any more kits - Starclan, five is enough." She chuckled lightly, hoping to warm the mood. Honestly it would be nice if they interacted a bit with them. Maybe it would distract Coldgaze from his recent loses. "Did you lumps sleep well?"

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
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 Merrykit followed closely after her brother, but when she came close to the entrance, she found herself tiptoeing around him as he yelled. Flinching with ears pressed agaisnt her skull, she frowned before playfully batting at the tom-kit. "I'm right here!" Before she scampered off, pleased to have some sunlight on her chocolate, faintly striped pelt.

Her paws carried her in the shadow of her mother, who had stopped for a bite to eat. Merrykit might have been a bit apprehensive in forgoing milk, but every time Otterwhisker brought something back for them it seemed more appetizing. She didn't have to wait long before she was allowed to have her fun with the rest of the water vole. Taking a few careful bites, she quickly realized how hungry she was.

BRIARFANG

Briarfang gave a small nod in greeting as Otterwhisker sat down beside them. For a moment, they were half-afraid the brood of kits would follow, but the young ones seemed content enough to eat and play amongst themselves. Their whiskers twitched at the mention of having kits. “If any she-cat asked, I’d be happy to give it a try,” was all they said, keeping their amber gaze forward nonchalantly.

After a moment of mulling over Coldgaze’s response to their question, Briarfang looked back down at the new kit. “Her potential? Sounds as if you expect a lot from her. Otterwhisker, have you noticed any traits of greatness in her these past few days? Think she could be the next clan leader?” they added jokingly.

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Despite Coldgaze's curt responses, he would be correct. Both of them spoke of the notion being flattering, or happy, but it was an honor. Responsibility that few could provide for their clan, and the she-cats sacrificing the most of all, in some cases their lives for their kits. It had made the idea of having her first litter so late in life a bit worrisome, but pregnancy and motherhood had been relatively normal. Now she had a whole gaggle of kits, a mini clan of her own that could entertain themselves amongst themselves if needed. It was tiring, but rewarding, but Otterwhisker wasn't used to spending so much time in camp.

"Oh, are you talking about Mistykit?" The chocolate mink she-cat gave her dark paw a considerate lick, cat brow lifting expectantly as she looked down at the lilac kit, a shade lighter than her own brood. In her own way she stood out like Merrykit with her dark brown, seal coat and soft tabby stripes. "She's great at finding a warm place to sleep. She can nap for hours, but the poor dear has been through a lot - she'll be every inch Riverclan as her new siblings most certainly are."

Spanning herself over the welcome bough, she fixed both toms with a dreamy sort of look. The restless she-cat had plenty of time to ponder how she'd raise her brood, and she was excited to share her thoughts. "I want to take the kits outside of camp sometime, but taking them all out would be disastrous. Would either of you be open to watching them if I wanted to take... one at a time out with me sometime? I think it'd be a great learning experience for them."

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
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 Merrykit let his brother's comment wash over her like water. She was much too distracted, and her brother was just a big lump anyway she knew he wasn't serious. Sure, she was smaller, but size wasn't everything. As she finished her small meal, her aqua eyes glanced over at her brother, swallowing loudly. While she did listen from inside the warran and heard the names that were tossed around, she couldn't always put the name to the face.

"I think that big brown cat is Grumpyeyes." Giggling, she couldn't bare to keep a straight face. He seemed like a big grump, and his eyes were definitely eyes! Two different colored ones like Mistykit's. Sure they were nice, but hers and her mother's shade were nicer. "And Briarfig - of course. Why don't you say hello?" Using her legs to steadily bring her over to Mistykit's sunny patch, she couldn't help but think it looked so inviting. With a purr, she tried to nuzzle up against the lilac kit for a quick doze, although her eyes blinked playfully up at what her brother would do. She hoped he addressed those warriors by their 'names'.

BRIARFANG

The mention of taking the kits outside of the camp sounded like a nightmare. Knowing them, they’d wander off into the brush never to be seen again the second adult eyes were taken off them. They silently wished Coldgaze luck in that venture as the warrior became to murmur more about the gathering. (“Perhaps the gathering was to reveal the clans true nature.”)

Briarfang squinted at him, and wanted to comment, but was interrupted as one of the kits, a blue and white one with slate grey eyes, came stumbling up towards the tree, apparently egged on by his watching sisters. Briarfang tilted their head back in slight surprise as the kit blurted out a rather silly question. “Briarfig?” they echoed incredulously. Before they could respond, the stoic deputy beside them went right along with the silly name he'd been assigned by the kit, ominous remark set aside.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
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Merrykit couldn't help but burst out laughing besides Mistykit. The mink she-cat had managed to absorb a bit of sunlight before she was off again, this time returning to Sturgeonkit's fluffy side, but not to gloat - it was funny, but it was only to get back at him for earlier - Merrykit paused at the vole remnants.

Hastily her maw began working on the length of the water vole's tail, chomping with sharp kitten teeth until she managed to de-tail the creature. "Look what I got! I got it's tail!" It hung like a worm in her jaws and hung it in a way so that it might tickle the tom-kit. Her coat fluffed out with excitement and scattered with her prize back to Mistykit's side to invite her to chase after her. 

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Otterwhisker was beyond bemused as her small song (relatively speaking) approached the trio. She couldn't help but smile as he addressed the two cats in her company. Briarfig was sounded funny, like a fruit - and Grumpyeyes. Together they were clever, it warmed her to think of how bonded they might eventually be. They'd need the strength of their family as well as their clan to succeed.

" 'Grumpyeyes' just volunteered to watch you all over sometime. Isn't that nice of him, sweeting?" It was not lost to the she-cat that Coldgaze had taken the indignancy with grace, for the kits own benefit or something else entirely. Her body warmed until the dappled sunlight streaming through the branches above, or at least she thought it was from the sun's warmth. Blinking over at the odd eyed tom, she whispered. "You're doing just fine."

Otterwhisker yawned then, watching Merrykit as she tried to incite a race around camp with the water vole's tail. Kit games that would hopefully send them all into a restful sleep with her later.

BRIARFANG

Briarfang remained quiet as Otterwhisker crooned to her kits. Despite their own total lack of skill surrounding kits, it was pleasant to hear those soft and sweet tones spoken between family members. Briarfang couldn’t help but think back to their own time in the nursery alongside their littermates and dame and grand-dame. There were obvious differences in personality and rearing styles, sure, but still a comforting thought nonetheless.

Then, at Otterwhisker’s next remark, Coldgaze got up rather suddenly. Almost too suddenly. Briarfang looked at him oddly as the younger tom went over to the kits, joining in on their game. After a moment of quietly watching, Otterwhisker yawning beside them, Briarfang gave a quiet mew. “He’s quite…brooding, isn’t he? I’m not entirely sure what to make of it.”

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Coldgaze's silence wasn't entirely concerning. He was a quiet cat in general and there was little indication what thoughts may have been floating in his mind, but she knew it wouldn't be good for him to dwell on those that had passed. Otterwhisker did little but blink in acknowledgement to the tom as he wordlessly dismissed himself.

Her short tail teased at her paws as they dangled from the bough, half turning her head as she listened to what Briarfang had to say. "I think it's a good sign. Kits make for a good distraction - at least, they'll keep you on your toes." She hoped that Coldgaze took to her and Boldstar's brood; it'd make for easier convincing to stand watch over them in case she ever wanted a moment to herself. She watched as her kits darted between the boughs in chase, and she rolled her eyes, exasperated. How much easier would it have been if she had even one or two less?

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
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 Merrykit grinned with her captured prize. She didn't worry about Sturgeonkit catching up to her - he was still rolly polly and she had legs that carried her like a dragonfly, darting here and there until she took shelter underneath the bough her mother was resting on. She had an idea, and surely it'd be a good one, it'd give her the advantage if he came close and could prepare a counterattack. Mouth full of vole tail, she crawled up the wood but clasping at the bough with her kitten claws. With a hop she began to climb up, taking the game to her mother as she peered down, rump scooching up while her form shifted down to meet her attacker, one paw reeling.

BRIARFANG

Briarfang relaxed in the willow branch. Simply watching the kits from a distance was exhausting. “How do you do it, Otterwhisker?” they sighed as if they were some tired dame theirself. “I’m surprised you’re not already napping.”

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
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Be it a battle at both sides, Merrykit would match her brother's determination. Even if she had to bat at her own mother, which thankfully, she seemed content enough to watch than participate, but she blinked up at Coldgaze and thought - maybe this cat was right. But before she could try and scoot up the bark of the bough without a cat at her back, a claw hooked the tail, causing her to shift her attention to Sturgeonkit. She rumbled intently as she tried to keep her catch - tiny claws digging into the wood, but she wasn't rotund and, well, larger than her.

She felt herself start to slip, but before she flopped onto her back in a rather embarrassing position in front of riverclan warriors in her midst, she simply let the tail go after a couple initial, experimental tugs. No use fighting a losing battle! Hopefully her brother wasn't pulling too hard! Legs splayed on all sides to keep her in place, she bounced to her paws, eying the odd-eyed tom at his own eye level.

"How was that? Did I do good? What else should I try to do - or not do?" Smiling at the deputy, she fluttered her big aqua eyes, eyes very much like her mothers. If Coldgaze was willing to give criticism, she wanted to be as best as she could in his eyes!

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Otterwhisker leaned over her daughter to give her an encouraging lick once she relinquished the vole tail. She had been smart - and honestly the mink she-cat was pleased she didn't have to fuss over a sprawled kit who might have just fallen from the branch. She flashed Briarfang a quick wink, before swiping a leisurely tongue over a dark paw. "That's a good question. I'm sure I sleep whenever I get the chance - maybe even with one eye open. You never know when one tries to sneak away into the warren. I figured once I offer to take them out more often they'll stop trying."

BRIARFANG

Briarfang stifled a laugh, whiskers twitching with amusement, as Merrykit fell awkwardly onto her back. The rat tail had been won from her, and her brother now trotted around victoriously with his prize. Briarfang watched as the little she-kit looked up at Coldgaze with an excited gleam in her eyes, eager to please the warrior. They could remember a time when they were very much the same, eager to please Nettlesky and Rosepelt as a kit. They nearly wanted to chime in as Coldgaze told the kit not to corner herself, but thought again. Perhaps when she’s older she’ll be more ready for advice, and some real training.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
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Merrykit's eyes followed the important shape of the deputy. maybe he wasn't as impressive or as big as Boldstar, but Coldgaze was someone she wanted to impress, and be imposed on by him if it meant improving her skills and maybe, just maybe, become an apprentice even faster!

"Okay! Unless I want them to think I'm cornered - I'm slippery, like a fish!" She agreed, giving a solemn nod and mirroring the tom's expression, which to her seemed comically stern. Now came the difficult task of shimmying down the branch. Tiny scoots brought her towards the edge, the trajectory of her body angled down as her face reflected the ground. Little by little her movements brought her safely down, claws unsheathed before all four feet met solid earth. It wasn't long before she scurried after her brother, and bounced over towards Mistykit.

"We have all sorts of fun like that - we've love for you to join us! Look at you, Sturgeonkit - you did it!" She offered some encouragement to her brother, hoping all was forgiven.

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Otterwhisker chuckled as her daughter bounded off after the group, her fur fluffing out like the energetic kit she was. There was warmth in her grin as she acknowledged Coldgaze, mewing playfully. "I think you have an admirer. Do you think that you might be chosen as one of their mentors, Coldgaze? Your observations are valid - even if your delivery may be a bit lacking." Nothing a few kits couldn't tamper out with some time. She believed the deputy would take well to an apprentice. "Would you want to mentor, Briarfang?"

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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"Oh, I think you'd be fine as a mentor. I wouldn't sell yourself short. Its not just about mentoring an apprentice, its about learning alongside them and having you also grow as a warrior." The she-cat heaved a dramatic shrug, toes kneading into the bough as she pondered her own contributions to the clan. A moment of mortality perhaps, and she prayed to Starclan that she'd be here to see her children become apprentices, watch them grow. If only whitecough didn't grip her so tightly in leaf-bare...

Without another word, the queen made her way down the branch with one fell pounce, landing beside the deputy as she flashed him a smile, but her eyes were mischievously pinned on her son. "Being a warrior isn't just about strength and speed, its also about patience and knowing when to strike." With a purr, Otterwhisker's weigh flopped down, hoping to half smother the splayed kit with the furred length of her body. "Now, I got you!" On her side, she wriggled to give Sturgeonkit some room while she took Merrykit's enthusiastic pattering on her ears. Her front paws reached for the little tom, clumsily attempting to draw him closer to her mouth, paws gentle and prodding, to wash him in a shower of kisses.