A Pondering Mother and Father

[Seafeather]

Oakpelt

Oakpelt led his heavily pregnant mate up a small hill under a willow. One of the few trees that's in CloudClan territory. A stream flows down the little hill and passes right by the towering willow. This was Oakpelt's favorite spot in the whole clan. When he was an apprentice (and even as a warrior) Oakpelt would sneak out from the camp and lay under the willow to gaze at Silverpelt.

"This was where my mother, Willowwave, first appeared to me in StarClan." He gazed at his mate's eyes. So round and beautiful... "I ran away from the clan as a kit. I didn't want anyone else but Willowwave to be my mother. So I ran here, she appeared to me and told me to go back home. Someone was waiting for me." Oakpelt could tell that Thicketheart was drinking in every word. "So I go back to CloudClan's camp and guess who was there waiting for me?" Oakpelt dearly wished that she remembered, but he wouldn't hold it against her if she didn't. "You were. I walked straight into the camp and there you were in the middle of it waiting for me to get home. And boy did you jump on me! The queens told you to wait outside and if you saw me, they said to have you tell me that they were worried sick and want him to come back home. I knew you were mine after that. But I never thought about it much."

Oakpelt looked up into the stars. And for a second he saw a face, the face of dear Willowwave, then dispersing like a vapor. He glanced back to his mate and noticed her eyes were wide, she dug her claws into the soil and gripped it hard. They're coming! They're coming! "Thicketheart! Thicketheart are they here?!" He pleaded with his mate to give him some clue as to what was happening. And it was...


OCC: This can be the thread where Thicketheart has her kits. XD Just go with the flow Sunrise! XD lol!

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

Thicketheart smiled at Oakpelt as he spoke, hanging on his every word. He was so thoughtful, so sweet. Surely she did not deserve a mate like him. For one of the few times in her life, she thanked StarClan for...well, everything. Her life had worked out fine, and she was perfectly happy now. And with the kits coming soon, Oakpelt chose spending time with her over his warrior duties. She had never been closer to another cat before, had never loved another cat before as much as she loved him.

"I knew you were mine after that."

Oakpelt's words sent a thrill through her being, but along with that thrill came a jolt of pain. At first she thought nothing of it, but then that twinge in her belly turned into the start of contractions. Oh no, not here, not now! With the medicine cat nowhere in sight!

Thicketheart tried to tell Oakpelt, but all that passed her lips was a slight moan. "The ki..the kits..the.." Her attempts may of been in vain, but Oakpelt must of noticed her trouble. He was at her side, asking if they were coming.Of course they're coming, Thicketheart wanted to snap, but settled with a small, "yes." What were they going to do? Would they be able to get Nightleaf in time? Thicketheart's eyes never left Oakpelt's as she asked herself these questions.

[Seafeather]

Oakpelt

Pain surged through his mate, he could tell. The way her lips were set, her claws churned in the loose soil, her eyes squeezed tight. "Thicketheart, I'm going to get Nightleaf! Okay?! I'm going to run faster than I have my whole life. I'll be back in no time!" He marveled at the truth in his voice. Adrenaline, warm and powerful, flowed like fire through his veins. He ran off in a rush for the camp and Nightleaf. Dried grass stretched out before him like an ocean. I must hurry! He shouted in his mind.

[Raccoonstar]

NIGHTLEAF

Nightleaf sighed. Amberslash...she knew no sane cat would miss him, but still. Losing a warrior was not good. She pondered this and also where in StarClan her apprentice was, when Oakpelt smashed into her. He had adrenaline coursing thorugh him, she knew, but he looked anxious. He had a smell of Thicketheart on him...Thicketheart! She was expecting kits. Okay, Thicketheart, let's see that those kits live! Nightleaf thought anxiously. She raced back with Oakpelt to Thicketheart, who was breathing heavily and tensing her muscles. "Okay. There is no time to help her to my den, we have to leave her here. I can move some herbs to this area. Oh, where is Birchpaw when I need her?" Nightleaf stated firmly. Nightleaf dashed faster then lightning to her den, grabbed as many raspberry leaves and poppy seeds as possible, briefly searched for Birchpaw, and dashed back to the clearing. Nightleaf fed the raspberry leaves to Thicketheart, and prepared for kitting. Now all Nightleaf had to do was wait.

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

Thicketheart

Oakpelt!

The thought of her mate was the only thing keeping Thicketheart from giving in to the despair that lapped at her consciousness like waves against the shore. That and the tiny hearts beating inside her, ready to burst into the world and into their new lives. She let herself slump to the ground, her lithe frame quivering as she struggled to breathe. It wasn't long before Oakpelt arrived with Nightleaf, but by that time Thicketheart was deep in labor. Thicketheart accepted the raspberry leaves without comment, then let the overwhelming pain of kitting take hold.

Soon an exceptionally difficult contraction took hold, and Thicketheart opened her amber eyes to see a kit, still inside its birth sac, below her. She felt an urge to lick it off, but relaxed as Nightleaf and Oakpelt rushed to it. Frustrated by her blindness, Thicketheart wondered what he looked like. It was a tom, she could tell by his scent, but that was all. Thicketheart felt a rush of affection for her son, but it was cut off as another contraction seized her. Another kit, she mused blankly, then prepared herself once again.

[Seafeather]

Oakpelt

Terror seized Oakpelt as a contraction took hold of his beloved mate. A slithering sack lay next to her. He began to lick the slimy sack to reveal his son. Brown just like him, but with white socks and a white blaze down his chest. An even divide. He said while staring in wonder at his son. Oakpelt didn't know, and couldn't comprehend or even describe the overwhelming love for his son. His heart swelled up to twice the size. He didn't know he could house that much love in himself.

He picked up his kit and set him close to his mother's warm and sweaty bellyfur where he would begin to suckle. Another contraction pierced through his mate. Another kit was coming, and another adventure was beginning.

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

Thicketheart

A few painful contractions later and two more came. A tom and a she-cat, Thicketheart decided after a careful sniff. She lovingly pressed her muzzle into their warm, damp fur and let out a contented sigh. All was well. It had been a relatively easy birth and the kits would be fine. Or would they?...Thicketheart felt the familiar dread return, smothering her joy like water on fire. Were any of them blind? Only time would tell. Exhausted but reluctant to lay down, she allowed half of her weight to rest on Oakpelt's shoulder; the other half rested on the ground.

The kits' gentle breathing was soft in her ears as they nursed. She allowed her lips to curl into a small smile before turning to Oakpelt. Her voice was strained, hardly a whisper, but still as strong as ever. "Tell me what they look like," she murmured. "Which are toms? Which one is the she-cat? And their names..."-here her voice pricked with excitement-"could we name one Willowkit? I've always loved that name." Her voice trailed off with longing as she waited for her mate's reply.

[Seafeather]

Oakpelt

Oakpelt stared at his sons and daughter. So beautiful... "Tell me what they look like," Thicketheart interrupted Oakpelt's thoughts. He honestly forgot about her blindness and thought she could see them perfectly. But with a gut wrenching reminder he remembered and started on the describing. He started with the oldest male.

"This is the first-born. A son. He has my color brown but with white socks and a white blaze across his chest." He nuzzled his mate. Onto the second born he went. Picking up the tabby kit and set it close to Thicketheart's face. "This is our second-born. Another son. He has a solid brown undercoat with black tabby stripes. He looks more like you." He saw a smile creep onto her face. He longed to lick her cheek, but he wanted to finish this first. He picked up the smallest of the bunch. "Our third-born. A daughter. She is all white except for her ears, which are a dull brown." He noticed one of her eyes was closed more tightly than the other. The breath caught in his chest. No... he thought. But he must tell his mate. "She is most likely blind in one eye...it's more tightly closed than the other. But she's beautiful! I can tell she's going to be as strong as you! She can still become a warrior, defend the clan, hunt for the clan, be everything you want her to."

He nuzzled his mate hoping to rub some of his optimism on her. "The perfect family." He stated. Nothing could bring him down from this happiness high. He would stay in it as long as was possible.

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

Thicketheart

I know I should be happy. Thrilled. Proud as a mother should be when she has kits. But not yet. That time will come soon, but only after I know...Why do I care so much? Why do I feel the way I do? Even if one of them is blind, I won't love it any less. But still...I need to know.

"This is the first-born." Oakpelt's voice cut into Thicketheart's thoughts. She blinked, then tilted her head, listening. "A son. He has my color brown but with white socks and a white blaze across his chest." Thicketheart nodded delightedly. The tom had characteristics from both of his parents. She felt Oakpelt pick up a kit from her belly and place it near her face. It mewled softly, and Thicketheart nuzzled it, testing to see what it looked like.

"This is our second-born. Another son. He has a solid brown undercoat with black tabby stripes. He looks more like you." A smile crept across her face. He was as perfect as his brother.

"Our third-born. A daughter. She is all white except for her ears, which are a dull brown." Thicketheart winced as Oakpelt stopped suddenly, then continued with a quivering voice. No! It was like she had slipped into a nightmare. Was the kit dead? Blind? Oakpelt was trying to be positive, she could tell. She waited in dread for her mate to continue.

"She is most likely blind in one eye...it's more tightly closed than the other. But she's beautiful! I can tell she's going to be as strong as you! She can still become a warrior, defend the clan, hunt for the clan, be everything you want her to."

Thicketheart felt something akin to relief blossom in her chest. The kit would be able to see, able to do everything Thicketheart could do, possibly better! It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. A slight impairment, true, but nothing that would keep her worrying. Oakpelt went on: "The perfect family." He was worried about her, she knew, but there was no need to be. Thicketheart closed her eyes, almost blissfully. "Yes," she murmured. "The perfect family."

[Seafeather]

Oakpelt

"Yes," Thicketheart murmured. "The perfect family." He nuzzled his mate then his three, perfect and beautiful kits. He almost forgot to tell her their names. Of course, if she wanted them to be named this way.

"We should have an earthy theme. Plant names I think. How about for our oldest," He picked up the solid brown kit with white socks. "Be named Brackenkit. And our second oldest," He picked up the one who fared his mother. "Could be Thistlekit. And our youngest," He picked up the small white and brown bundle who mewled a heart melting meow. "Willowkit. Since you like that name. And she could be named after my mother." He gave a smile. "She was also born under a willow so why not?" He was blissfully happy. Everything was perfect. Perfect mate and kits. Perfect clan. Perfect timing and health. Nothing was wrong, aching, bleeding, or scorching. It was...no words were capable of describing the way he felt.

The mewling of his kits sounded like the trickling of water in a stream; the breath of his mate like wind blowing through the CloudClan's tall, dry grass; his own heart beat the sound of a proud father, the sound of a lion's heart. Proud and strong. We would remember this. Forever.

OCC: Alright I think this thread is finished. ^-^ Congrats on the birth! Now we have to decide who gets who. I already have Willowkit but the other two I don't know. I'll make her biography and then the other two if you want me to, or, we could have the owners make their biography. But I would feel more comfortable if either me or you (Sunrise) made the other biographies.

[Raccoonstar]

NIGHTLEAF

Nightleaf watched Thicketheart contract and pulse, and then it was done. Three beautiful kits. Nightleaf inspected the third-born. Definately blind in one eye. But the hearing and smell was perfect, the kit would be a fine warrior. Oakpelt and Thicketheart were having a moment, that Nightleaf could see, but soon it would have to end and Nightleaf would need to walk Thicketheart home. Nightleaf waited a few minutes to let them get adjusted to their beautiful kits. But the time had to come for them to return home. "It's time for you to take them home now. The third one is definately blind in one eye, but her senses are very sharp and she will make a fine warrior. Come with me. We'll each carry a kit." And with that, Oakpelt and Thicketheart's shared moment ended, and the three took each kit gently by the scruff and brought them home.

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

OOC: I'll make them, Sea. ^^

[Raccoonstar]

Congrats on the birth! I'm glad I got randomly shoved into this XD

[Seafeather]

Haha!! Welcomes!! XD I'm going to make Willowkit's bio though Sunrise! Don't make hers! XD And watch out O.O She's going to be another Thicketheart! lol! Except with a little more stubbornness in her. lol!

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

LOL, I know Sea. XD More stubborn than Thicketheart? O.O I didn't think it was possible. XD