heart and soul - moving into the nursery

[LILYBLOOM.]

Although Lilybloom would have been content to stay in the warrior's den for just a little longer, she cannot ignore how much of a struggle it has become to keep up with her duties. Increasingly sluggish and far plumper, even staying somewhat alert on early dawn patrols has proven a struggle.

So, that morning she informs Lakemoon of her decision to move into the nursery. The two of them usually shared a nest and it would be weird not having Lakemoon by her side, though she hoped she would visit often. Lilybloom took her time gathering up some spare moss and other materials for her nest - including a pretty swirled shell - and made her way to the nursery. Lilybloom had only been in the nursery a few times before, mainly when her own siblings had been young, and when her duties required her to do so. It's a smaller den than the warrior's den but much cosier too. Still, Lilybloom could imagine it would be quite easy for some of the older kits to accidentally trample over her or her future kits when they were born.

Setting her materials down, Lilybloom got to work making herself a new nest, making it as comfy as she could for the time being. No doubt in the weeks to come she would find more materials to add to it and make it larger to accommodate not only herself but the new arrivals. When her work was complete, she let out a satisfied hum, before settling in her nest. "At least it's comfy for the time being," She mewed to herself, recalling how only recently she had been struggling to sleep due to how uncomfortable she was.​

 

[FERNGILL]

He couldn't believe it- both sisters, in the nursery at the same time. Oh, he was going to be an uncle to an entire menagerie of kits! Iciclefang's situation wasn't the happiest thing ever- but he had to hold that secret close to his chest, exchanged only in glances, in whispered conversations. So he could pretend he didn't know, and- well, it was easy to play up his happiness about it. Because he was happy, he was so happy!

Lilybloom's voice drifted from the mouth of the nursery- he looked to her with a grin as he poked his head through the entrance, a wide, shiny grin set on his maw. "You know who to call, if you need anything," Ferngill offered to his oldest sister, emerald eye agleam with glee. "Need a fish, I'll arrange a whoooole hunting patrol!" Yes, he'd be the best brother ever- to either of his sisters, but he imagined Lilybloom would probably be a little more willing to accept his help.​

✦ penned by pin ✦​

 

[robinheart]

Robinheart was no stranger to the nursery, popping in every once and awhile to bring prey to the queens or have a brief conversation with Apricotflower. She noticed how the populous of the nursery fluctuated with the seasons (seasons being leaf fall and leaf bare respectively) but new leaf looked to be bringing the most kits she has seen yet.

“You can count me in for those hunting patrols,” the multicolored she-cat hums happily as she stands slightly behind Ferngill, a mouthful of bird feathers placed at her paws so she could join the conversation. Citrine eyes turn to Lilybloom and Robinheart offers the soon to be mother a smile. “I saw you moving your bedding earlier and thought I might contribute,” she motions to the feathers she had brought, “it’s not a lot but it’ll make your nest even cozier.” And if Lilybloom ended up not needing them Robinheart figured they could be added to the other nests or given to Hazecloud’s kits to play with.

 

[BEEFANG]

I HEARD, I HEARD ACROSS THE MOONLIT SEA — Seeing not only Iciclefang move to the nursery but her older littermate as well is enough for the bicolored apprentice to silently gawk though Lilyboom seemed like the type to actually settle down and have kittens. Iciclefang... Not so much. But it was not her business to really care what path the lead warrior had decided to take and it was simply Beepaw's duty to make sure that the queens were fed first along with the kittens that tumbled about in the nursery including her younger cousins. Her feathery tail flicks behind her hearing Ferngill say that he would organize an entire hunting patrol to get fish for the newly moved queen and the river princess felt a small smile creep onto her maw, the bright pelted tom is definitely a sweet brother.

A part of her wonders if she had been able to be a queen one day would Cicadapaw or Cricketpaw do the same for her, Beepaw can't help but make a face at the thought and shakes her head. "I'll join that hunting patrol too," She offers with a faint smile watching as Robinheart brought a mouthful of feathers for Lilybloom's bedding or little playthings for Hazecloud's brood.

THE OLD VOICE WARNING ME ✦ BEWARE, BEWARE THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA

• 

• 
  ✦ shorthaired black smoke molly w/low white and mismatched eyes
  ✦ oftentimes comes off as untrusting of those around her, closed off, and not the easiest to engage in conversation with, she's not easy to befriend. all her opinions are IC only.
  ✦ 8 moons old; ages the 10th every month
  ✦ sexuality unknown; currently interested in no one
  ✦ currently being mentored by smokestar
  ✦ firstborn daughter of cicadastar and smokestar
  ✦ sister of cicadapaw and cricketpaw
  ✦ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ✦ peaceful powerplay allowed

​

 

[LILYBLOOM.]

A gentle smile is aimed toward Ferngill as her brother pops his head in. As she looks at him, she thinks about how odd it would be for him and Darkwhisker knowing that both of their sisters were in the nursery expecting kits. She was still surprised to see Iciclefang here if she were being honest, never imagining her younger sister to be the sort to settle down and have kits...at least not yet anyway. He offers to catch any prey she might need, offering to arrange a whole hunting patrol.

Robinhear and Beepaw also enter the nursery, the former bringing with her some pretty feathers, and Beepaw offering to join Ferngill on his hypothetical patrol. "Thank you for the feathers, Robinheart, they will make the nest much nicer," Lilybloom hummed, flashing an appreciative smile. "Maybe you could give one or two to Hazecloud's kits, I'm sure they'd find some fun in playing with them." Her gaze then takes in the three of them and chuckles. "Stars, with so many of you offering to bring prey, I think my kits will be the most well-fed, plump kits RiverClan has ever seen."​

 

[iciclefang]

Her sister trails toward the nursery with moss in her jaws, and Iciclefang watches from her solitary corner. Hazy, half-lidded blue eyes brighten somewhat, though an acrid tang of jealousy sits like bile at the back of her throat. She cannot help but envy her sister’s situation. “You should have gotten Lakemoon to help you with that,” she mews, trying to keep her tone light-hearted. “But welcome to the den, sister.” She sweeps her tail closer to her body, as if to hold all of her insides in place.

The Clan is joyous, moreso than they had been when Iciclefang had gone to settle in the nursery. She does not hold it against them. Her sister is warmer, and she has a doting mate to bring her carp and bathe her hard-to-reach places; their litter is expected and welcomed. She cannot help the mist of mystery that shrouds the parentage of her own kits, and her lips remain sealed on the subject; thankfully, though cats are obviously curious, none have dared to ask. Ferngill, too, has kept his tongue mercifully glued to the roof of his mouth.

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Iciclekit . Iciclepaw . Iciclefang, she/her w/ feminine terms.
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — 21 moons old, ages realistically on the 17th.
  — mentored by Smokestar ; mentoring Cicadapaw ; previously mentored n/a
  — riverclan lead warrior & queen. mudpelt x icesparkle, gen 2.
  — former mate to Stormywing ; current mate to no one.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  sh tortoiseshell and white she-cat with ice-blue eyes. confident, capable, proud, dry, conceited, condescending, distrustful.
  
  

​

 

[hazecloud]

The nursery already felt busy as it was with just herself, Apricotbloom, and the six toddling paws that were quickly becoming the size of what they used to consider an apprentice. When Hazecloud looked at Smokestars kin it still took some adjustment not to view them as such, the code still fresh to their culture. But after Shellkit disappeared from camp, kidnapped by the mother that had abandoned her she was ready to keep them at her side forever.

Now, though, two more queens and their own litters would be raised alongside hers. All of their kittens kept inside until they reached their sixth moon. She hoped they were prepared for just how loud their new den would be from all the chaos and play.

"Iciclefang's right, this will be the best time to take things slow and rest as much as you can. Soon enough you'll be on your paws like a nonstop patrol." The misty-furred queen swept up some of the scattered toys the kits had played with that morning in an effort to clean up some. "Mine shouldn't give you too much of a fuss, they listen well and know their manners well." It had been the first thing she taught both litters, of course. ​

 

[RAVENSONG]

Ravensong dips his head in the entrance of the nursery to check up on the Clan's newest resident. The den had been getting fuller much quickly, though he assumes this means more than ever newleaf is in full swing. "And of course, if you feel anything off, you know where my den is." He offered in his short-clipped way, kneading his paws into the ground. Pregnancy was a longterm condition that relied on several different factors and he was determined to be there every step of the way.

"Or you know, you can send one of the kits my way if you feel too tired to leave." He pulls back his lips in a sheepish smile, glancing at Hazecloud as if asking permission. The kits in the Clan were currently hers after all.

☾₊ ⊹ темная ночь — dark is the night

•  
• 
  RAVENSONG of RIVERCLAN — LH BLACK POLYDACTYL MALE (CARRYING CINNAMON, DILUTE) a tall, slender creature with pitch-black feathery fur, large ears, and a sharply angled skull held up in an aloof manner. smells of dried herb, speaks with a low and rumbly accent and walks with an elegant slinking gait.
  
  — born in twolegplace and orphaned at a young age, he joined riverclan at its inception and began training as a drypaw warrior known for a bitter temperment until beesong made him his medicine cat apprentice. after his mentor's untimely death, he had been named ravensong at the moonstone, young heart revitalized with anger and guilt. he is a somber and thorough medicine cat that guards every word spoken in the confines of his den.
  
  — secretly loves "the stars but not so much what inhabits them" — openly suffers from chronic migraines — single, but "it's complicated"

​

 

[eveningpaw]

"When will your kits be here?" Eveningkit says in lieu of a hello, having been super stealthy and definitely well-hidden beside Hazecloud's form as she waited for Lilybloom to settle. "You'll let us play with them, right?"

It's only at the mention of manners does Eveningkit dial it back down; with no Lichentail in sight to impress and distract, Eveningkit simply takes on a wide grin and settles into a neat sitting position with her back straight. Surely, appearing nice and smooth will make Lilybloom say yes.

The concept of the nursery is a bit of a conflicting thing for her. More kits means more playtime, but it does make her wonder if it'll ever get too crowded, too warm, too overwhelming. Perhaps that'd give her enough reason to be more and more out of its depths. Less time spent in the shadows, more time spent in the spotlight- err, sunlight.

Eveningkit's head swivels as she remains unmoving but determined to catch Ravensong's gaze from this angle. It's not too comfortable and she probably looks like an owl, but it'll do. "Nooooo..." It's a half-hearted little denial, meant more for humor rather than speaking out of turn. "Mom's been there enough!"​

( DON'T NEED PERMISSION ! )​