camp deep sea pearl // moving

[sunshinespot]

Should he be afraid?

Ridicule used to settle so heavily on his shoulders. In his youth (which, admittedly, was not too long ago,) he used to fear the bullying of his peers. He was never quick or clever - strong, sure, but in the same way a badger or bear may be strong. A lumbering weight with no sense of where his paws may land. It took friends that cared for him, his fathers too, to learn that he will always be at his best; and his best is more than enough. Others cannot deem him worthless unless he does so first, and fortunately for him, he is determined that he has worth.

It may not come in plentiful hunting or skills in battle like any other warrior. To him, it comes in his warmth and acceptance of others. It comes in his spine bending embrace and care - his want to be a shoulder to cry on or a heart to talk to. He is a friend to all regardless of the paths they've taken or their pasts with him. He is forgiveness and perseverance. He may not be smart, but who needs to know so much when he's comfortable with the knowledge he has?

He is unafraid. Fear is not something either of his fathers held to before their ends, not something Mousenose needed when she stood up for them. I know you're happy for me, he says to no one. Maybe he's wrong, but he's okay with that, too.

Half of his nest had left him several sun cycles before. He has no issue with collecting whats left of it, the brittle moss falling apart beneath big and clumsy paws. He tries to move too quick, too excited after his conversation with Gentlestorm. The other had summoned him to find herbs, but after a short conversation the medicine cat quickly deduced the mottled tom's ailment (if one could call it that.) No, he was not growing larger simply to hold weight through leafbare, like some hibernating predator. And no, his nasty attitude (by his own determination) was not because Doepath no longer shared a bed with him. (... well, not entirely, at least.)

He was pregnant. By the grace of StarClan, he and his mate were gifted the opportunity to share their litters, perhaps unite them in one nest. He wouldn't have to part with Doepath for longer than he wanted to. And maybe, in a few moons, she would head out and help hunt amidst the snow while he cared for the kittens. They'd be self sufficient, and if not... they would still be happy.

(He does not think of his circumstance critically. Doepath had been vulnerable with him; surely she can understand the same vulnerability shines within him without having to say the words. Heather blue eyes and chattering teeth are a long forgotten afterthought.)

"Doe?" He peeks his head into the nursery, his tail sweeping low across the bits of leaf litter still lingering in camp. The tom doesn't react to the chill of the frost that nestles into his fur next as he presses through the den, finding his mate in her nest. His grin is wide, perhaps infectious if the season were any different. "I've come t'nest with you," he chirps with a fondness, the lingering moss he's held to now placed by his paws. "I'm expectin', too. Isn't that great?"
[ @doepath ࿔ but no need to wait :3 ]​

 

[doepath ࿔]

Curled up against the brittle moss with a stomach in knots, Doepath tries to find some sort of comfort in the throes of discomfort. Nightbird's kits are restless, almost as restless as the poor queen herself... and though she had considered herself to be patient, her displeasure gnaws at it. They are loud... and energetic... plenty ready to be apprentices.

But here they remain...

Her ears swivel at the sound of shuffling near the entrance of the nursery, filtered sunlight blocked by long-cast shadows but stubbornly her eyes stay closed. Trying to focus on her breath, to keep herself from getting sick again.... up until a familiar, drawling voice pipes up. Already her misery feels lightened, lifting her head abruptly, sunrise twins searching for the shades of pollen and ash. He doesn't even hesitate, rushing to stand before her with a shocking declaration.

Expecting.... too?

He seems overjoyed... but all she's left with are questions... and the gnawing comes back again like a prickling annoyance. She had missed his presence, his warmth... but she'd sat in anxious contemplation for nearly a week, fretting over herself and what this all meant. Maybe that was the difference between the two star-crossed orphans... one nurtured in the light of the sun... the other suppressed under an ocean. He grew towards the light and she'd sunk to the bottom.

"I missed you," she says, earnest as she reaches at him for him to touch noses with her. She wants to ask who... when... but swallows it down in favor of honoring his privacy just as he'd respected hers. "I'm so glad I don't have to do this alone... Our paws are going to be so full though..."

please dont leave me ➺ in the dark

• DOEPATH
  fifteen month old warrior of thunderclan
  she/her fawn sepia with low white and yellow eyes

 

[nightbird]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ she had taken doepath's arrival to the nursery with relative grace, only a hardness in her eye and an unsettled twitch of her tail to show her displeasure. another face enters the den now, sunfreckle's child. the former lead warrior had given his life for the clan, and it seemed not a shred of the dutifulness that took had worn off onto sunshinespot.

must flamestar decree that no kits should be created on leafbare's cusp? did she have to when everyone besides a select few each year knew it to be common sense? the cold was here early, neighboring clans were breathing down their necks. these two'd better have small litters- tiny children who needed less than a scrap to sustain themselves.

still there was nothing that could be done, nightbird remains quiet. they'd reap what they had so recklessly sowed when snow touched the ground and patrols came back with nothing, when hunters wasted to skin and bones providing for too many useless sets of teeth. the queen stands, leaving the lovers to their reunion. if she could find her own mate, she'd gripe about how full the nursery was until his ears fell off.

BURNING SWORD // ───‎ ⋆ GUIDE MY HAND‎ ‎‎ ‎‎☽

• ooc ↛ out!

• 

• 
  NIGHTBIRD ✩ she/her, lead warrior of thunderclan, 38 ☾'s
  ⭃ a small black smoke molly with a white paw and pale silver eyes. currently a queen residing in the nursery.
  ⭃ mate to raccoonstripe / / currently mentoring none.
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ see battle info here
  ⭃ penned by vayle ↛ @vayl3 on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

​

 

[leafhusk]

thunderclan is cold, hungry, irritable. the early frost has sent everyone in a frenzy, their paws busy with some kind of job. unless you are… expecting, then your job is to twiddle your thumbs. leafhusk allows nursery residents to do their own thing, because the work they do is crucial to the clan. although, when doepath moved into the den after getting sick, she couldn't help but raise her brow. now, she watches sunshinespot toddle across camp to the nursery. his mouth opens and doesn't drop any prey instead, he proudly announces that he too, is expecting. proudly. oh, stars.

this truly is just like greenleaf. the clan goes hungry after they've lost warriors to tragedy, to their duties shifting. this is selfish. do they know that? do they care? despite it all, the pair have each other… maybe that's good. they can raise their litters together, curled up tightly in a shared nest, as the world around them grows cold. leafhusk won't ridicule them, they're still young. although, perhaps, that is apart of the problem.

nightbird quickly exits the nursery. leafhusk briefly acknowledges her co-lead, then turns to the pair reuniting. "congratulations, sunshinespot." she nods to the newest addition. "you two will make lovely parents." she is true about that. sunshinespot looks excited about bringing new life into the world, and doepath has doted on her young siblings since they've arrived.

⚘

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