camp CLOSE YOUR EYES, HAVE NO FEAR — o, bringing kits back

[SNAKEHISS]

It is a difficult reentry into camp as Snakehiss almost reluctantly pads down into the hollow, gaze low as he feels curious eyes burning onto him. Snakehiss did not even have full rights to the territory, his every action being surveilled, and yet here he was bringing three mewling bundles into the clan. His clanmates had agreed to accept them despite them having a loyalist mother, despite him being their sire. Still, Snakehiss cannot help but feel shame and embarrassment weighing in his gut. He wasn't ready to be a father. And yet, if he chose not to be, would he be judged even worse?

Snakehiss stops just beyond the entrance, turning to the nearest clanmate and offering the mottled black and orangeish kitten in his jaws to them. Once he successfully exchanges the wriggling, protesting form of the newborn with them, he meows, "Take this one to Gorsepetal." The thought of saying "please" escapes his mind; it is not in his vocabulary. It is, however, in his nature to order around as if he is automatically entitled to do so.

He stares as the newborn dangles from his clanmate's jaws, his mind struggling to comprehend that this was his offspring. He doesn't even know if they are a tom or a she-kit. They are just... so small. All of them are, especially the little red tabby.

Snakehiss, of course, could have delivered his kit to the queen herself. In fact, he had probably been expected to do so. He just... needed a moment to stop and breathe, to try and get a grip on reality. Everything had happened so quickly. This morning, Snakehiss would have assumed that he would never see Berrysnap again, nor meet his unborn children. Then, they appeared so suddenly, tossed into his life like stones hurled down the gorge.

₊ ⋆ * ⊹ ₊ ☾ —— 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙟𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨

• takes place after this thread + tagging the worms @violetkit @WASPKIT @CRICKETKIT
  just to reiterate, the kits' milk mother will be an NPC named gorsepetal!

• 

• 
  ₊ ⋆ * ⊹ ₊ ☾
  snakehiss
  

  — he/him; moor runner of windclan
  — long-limbed black tom with green eyes, a small white chest patch, and multiple scars
  — father to violetkit, waspkit, cricketkit, and privetkit (duskclan)
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — link to full tags; @ on discord or dm @beaaats for plots!​

​

 

[Mouseflight]

Silently Mouseflight had grabbed a bundle of wriggling and mewing fur between jaws, ears pricked and eyes trained forward as he followed in line behind his clanmates as they brought the kittens with them. He didn't truly know how he felt about taking the kittens in to be honest. On one paw they were so young, so needy, and he'd rather they be within a place where they would be loved and warm, taken care of as much as possible instead of with the rogues that had joined together to form their own little group. On the other paw, they were mouths to feed and potential injuries or sickness brought in right after battle, right after they had taken back the home and most of those that could hunt were ragged and tired from licking wounds and hunting as much as they possibly could. Not to mention the simple fact that they were Snakehiss's, but that was a whole separate issue within Mouseflight's mind.

Tail-tip flicked in annoyance as the former deputy instructed a clanmate to take one of the kits - his kit, his child - to the nursery instead of doing it himself, and quickly the tom found his eyes rolling as he made his way over there instead, leaving the kit he'd picked up with Gorsepetal before offering her an apologetic look and quietly slipping out into the territory once more. He wanted out of camp, he didn't want to hear whatever it was that was going to be said about the kits, about Snakehiss. He'd be fine hearing it from the gossip mill that was sure to quickly spread through WindClan's camp soon enough.

⋆｡°✩ threw my voice into the dark

• quick in and out
• 
  ⋆ mousekit - mousepaw - mouseflight
  ⋆ ftm - he/him - 16 moons
  ⋆ bisexual - open to relationship
  ⋆ tunneler of windclan
  ⋆ attack - speech - thought
  ⋆ penned by tikki

​

​

 

[SUNNVAR]

They have their fair share of new mouths to feed. Too many had thought themselves secure in Sootstar's reign, it would seem– most of those who had joined their nursery did so under the moons of her decline, and most of the parents are gone from this clan now. Those that hover around the nursery, typically a nuisance, have been readily welcomed by their too-few queens, whose bellies are uncomfortably flaming with the amount of nursing mouths they split between them. A few moment's rest, a few more bites of prey in this uncertain leafbare — he is certain that they welcome it all.

Yet today, it would seem that their burden only increases. He looks from his place within camp with bland lack of expectation. Another returning patrol. The most that he hopes for is a fresh hare to add to their pile. The worst that he expects is a bruised ego, or exchanged scratches. Though tentative, WindClan has fallen into a routine that nears peace. That is so readily shattered by the kittens that Snakehiss orders around. How many squirming bodies can he see? There is more than the one that he sends towards Gorsepetal. With the weight of a mountain upon his shoulders, Sunstar heaves himself to stand and approaches the patrol where they now mill about. His eyes are hard, yet not unkind. Wary, certainly, but he will admit that he does not know enough to judge this now.

Among the patrol are several of his most trusted. Between all of them, his gaze flicks about. They inevitably land upon Snakehiss once more. He had ordered the kitten given to Gorsepetal as if he had something to say about this, rather than Mouseflight who had carried them. "Am I wrong to expect a story from this?" Wolfsong, Rattleheart, Cottonpaw, Snakehiss. Wolfsong once more, gently expectant. He, if any within this group, would share the unpolished truth. "Lagsmaður minn?"

⋆°•☁︎ 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝗕𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃  ╱╱ 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝗕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝗕𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 〚 02.11.2024 〛 𖤓

• OOC. —
• 

  SUNSTAR. LEADER OF WINDCLAN. ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
  ——– HE – HIM – HIS ╱╱ 48+ MOONS OLD, ADULT.

  NPC x NPC, MOUNTAIN CATS. MATE TO WOLFSONG; FATHER TO BEARPAW, SINGEDPAW, RIVEPAW, SUNLITPAW AND FEATHERPAW. MENTORING RIVEPAW.
  
  TH ╱╱ A LARGE, FRESHLY SCARRED CHOCOLATE AND WHITE ROSETTE TABBY TOM WITH SEAGLASS BLUE EYES

• "speech"

​

 

[RATTLEHEART]

AS HE RAISED HIS FIST BEFORE HE SPOKE — The last kit of the offered litter hung almost reluctantly from Rattleheart's jaws, the lead warrior holding onto their scruff as carefully as possible as he followed after the rest of the patrol that had come across Berrysnap. There was a definite gleam of irritation in his usually calm green gaze, though it wasn't practically rolling off of him in waves like it had been for Mouseflight. He never would've thought twice about taking the children in - obviously - but there was something to be said for how much was being put on Windclan's shoulders. It was undeniable that the trio of kits wasn't meant to end up suffering for the crimes of their parents, but when was the wellbeing of the whole clan meant to come first? They already had a nursery that was practically bursting at the seams, and three new mouths to feed wasn't anything to pass over without a second thought.

Even with all of that in mind, he still followed after Mouseflight, dipping inside the nursery and placing the kit near Gorsepetal's side with a sigh. He felt sympathy for the queens that they did have, forced to practically work their bodies ragged to provide for all of the tiny mouths. Even the mildest of leafbares would struggle to easily facilitate such a situation, and this particular one had hardly been mild on any of them.

It was no surprise to see Sunstar when he emerged once more from the nursery, the leader looking much like he felt on the inside. Confused. Exhausted. Wary of what even more tiny bodies would mean for the future of the clan. Rattleheart looked almost apologetic as he met the other's seaglass blue gaze, even though in reality he had little to do with the existence of the trio that had been brought in. "There certainly is a story, though I think Wolfsong might end up needing Snakehiss' assistance in telling it." There wasn't real hostility in his words or in his glance in the former deputy's direction, although there was a small amount of exasperation present. Tiredness like a weight on all of Windclan's shoulders, only made heavier by the sudden appearance of Berrysnap.

THE RIGHTEOUS HAND OF GOD 𓆩♡𓆪 THE DEVIL THAT YOU FORGOT

• 

• 
  ❥ longhaired black and white tom with pale green eyes
  ❥ 48 moons old; ages the 1st every month
  ❥ afab; uses he/she/they pronouns
  ❥ homosexual homoromantic; mated to venomstrike
  ❥ sibling to scorchstreak, lizardbounce, and rabbitclaw
  ❥ currently mentoring downypaw
  ❥ somewhat difficult to befriend; wary but kind
  ❥ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ❥ peaceful powerplay allowed
  ❥ all opinions are ic

​

 

[rivewhisper]

—————————————————————⊰⋅ ☽ ⋅⊱—————————————————————​

Rivepaw stood at a strange spot, now. Her head swam for a number of reasons- this was one of the first few times she had approached Snakehiss after the battle. Even if it was at her father's flank, close to his legs, blue eyes narrowed towards the new-found father. Kits, stale milk scent following them, were ferried to the nursery, and it caused Rivepaw's breath to flutter. She watched Mouseflight come in and leave camp quickly, watched Rattleheart leave another kit with the nursery.

Owl eyes shifted, turning back towards the nursery. She would have to agree with everycat that thought it- they were becoming stretched too thin, and this was something that Rivepaw could not fix. She could only keep her head down and learn from the rest's mistakes. Blue eyes shifted back towards Snakehiss as many, many expectant looks pinned to him.

"text"
thoughts​

 

[LILYPAW ✞]

✞ The commotion at the camp's entrance draws pale pink eyes to where Sunstar and a few other clanmates are gathered. Blizzardkit is quick to plod their way over, rising onto the very tips of their toes in an attempt to see what all the fuss is about. Snakehiss says something, and then their attention is drawn to the kits. Unfamiliar scents, unfamiliar faces… these kits must be from outside of WindClan. Just like Blizzardkit had been.

The albino kit lifts a paw to bump it against the ground, letting out some of their sudden burst of excitement. "New kits?" They question each of the surrounding cats in a voice curious and bright, big ears perked toward the first of the kits that their eyes land upon. New kits in the clan means new denmates for them to play with! Or stare at, depending on how they act. Will they even want to play—Blizzardkit is reminded of how they'd felt, slipping in and out of awareness, Cold and alone, before Slateheart had taken them. Do these little kits feel the same way?​

​

 

[Frightpaw]

*+:｡.｡ "WAHW! New kits!" Blizzardkit's echo would come back louder and more exuberant as Frightkit practically appeared out of the albino's shadow. Pressing against her friend, Frightkit would bob her little head up and down with excitement as she stared at the mass of gathered cats and the little children they carried. Lightly shaking Blizzardkit's shoulder the talkative molly would explain exactly why she was so excited - "We're not gonna be the youngest anymore Blizzy!" she reveals with a squeal, "And tag is gonna be so much more fun with more cats to chase!"

Without any further patience remaining, Frightkit would break away from her buddy and race closer to the crowd, weaving between legs to pipe up, "What're their names?! Can we play tag now?! I wanna show them my bug!"

*+:｡.｡ Updated 1/11/23

• " Speech "
  
  
  GENERAL:
  ☾ Frightkit
  ☾ DFAB— She/Her — Unsure
  ☾ 2 moons — Ages 1 moon every month real-time
  ☾ Windclan Kit
  ☾ Sister to Deathkit, Witherkit, Grasskit, Whitekit and Midnightkit
  
  
  
  COMBAT:
  ☾Physically very easy | mentally very easy
  ☾ Attack in bold #1b1e21
  injuries: None

 

[SNAKEHISS]

Snakehiss draws his dulled gaze away from the sight of the newborns being carried to Gorsepetal, now being forced to confront reality. Sunstar was expecting an explanation, as were the rest of the curious eyes locking onto him. His night-colored pelt grows hot under their stares.

For now, Snakehiss chooses to address the rosette tabby tom, though finding it difficult to meet the leader's gaze. He looks off into the distance briefly, which helps him focus on talking, "After Sootstar had driven the group to the barn, I took a mate — Berrysnap. She fell pregnant shortly after." The disgraced warrior winces; this never should have happened. Now Snakehiss was stuck as a father of three without their real mother able to nurse them. "I never thought I would be able to meet my children... until today. Berrysnap gave our kits to me—" Snakehiss moves to correct himself, if only to sway Sunstar's opinion in his favor, "—to WindClan to raise." The others had already agreed to take them in; would Sunstar turn them away now?

The tom finally musters the courage to look at Sunstar directly. "They will grow up loyal to WindClan." As opposed to growing up with a rogue mother, surviving on scraps and fighting to stay alive. The life of an outsider was one that Snakehiss could not imagine living, let alone three kittens. They probably wouldn't have lived long out in loner lands. "All I ask in return is that they know nothing of their mother. She is dead to them, as far as I am concerned." It is not an easy decision to make, but a necessary one. A solemn look falls upon Snakehiss' features, knowing that these children would grow up with their clan hiding a secret from them. He could only pray that they never discovered the truth. "It's for the best."

The other kits were, of course, naive to the weight of the situation at hand and were instead thrilled to have new playmates. They obviously would not be able to partake in nursery games just yet, but one of the little ones did bring up a point. "Their names...." Snakehiss trails off, a puzzled look forming on his features. Hm. Berrysnap hadn't mentioned any names. "I... I'm not sure..." Was he to name them, then?

₊ ⋆ * ⊹ ₊ ☾ —— 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙟𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨

•  

• 

• 
  ₊ ⋆ * ⊹ ₊ ☾
  snakehiss
  

  — he/him; moor runner of windclan
  — long-limbed black tom with green eyes, a small white chest patch, and multiple scars
  — father to violetkit, waspkit, cricketkit, and privetkit (duskclan)
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — link to full tags; @ on discord or dm @beaaats for plots!​

​