I ONLY WANT YOU MORE AND MORE // moving into nursery

[BRIGHTSHINE!]

Perhaps many cats had only suspected the small amount of weight gain was due to Brightshine’s voracious appetite paired with the bountiful greenleaf. But if there was any doubt before, it would be squashed as the she-cat drags her heather nest towards the underground den. Giving her stomach a closer look, one can notice the plump firmness to it, standing out against her otherwise slender stature.

She hauls her luggage across the sandy camp, struggling a bit as it catches on a wayward root. Biting down harder, she plants her feet and tugs with more force, a hmph of effort leaving her. But alas, she doesn’t have the capacity she did before and she gives up, breathing a little harder than she normally would. “Can someone help me get this to the nursery?” The calico chirps with a flustered grin, slightly embarrassed.

Despite it all, the nerves about raising kits in a clan like this, she is still excited. Brightshine loves being a mom! Except now, she has no one to mother. Her son lives peacefully with his mate in SkyClan, and her daughter…She shakes her head to clear it. She’ll have little ones again and she’ll nurture them well, this time with a father who is present and loving. It will be wonderful and perfect and amazing! At least, her optimistic self sure thinks so.​

 

[Badgermoon]

The sun was hot on Badgermoon's back as he cleaned his whiskers, discarding the tiny scraps of fur and flesh and swiping away drops of blood. He was not, it had to be said, the most tidy eater: he ate as if he was afraid he wouldn't have time to finish his meal, and he wanted to enjoy as much meat as possible in the limited time allotted. It was only after he had set his paws back down, satisfied with the cleanliness of his whiskers and heaving a contented sigh, that Brightshine spoke. Momentary confusion crossed his face - Brightshine wasn't an apprentice, nor being punished for anything. She didn't need to be bringing the queens more bedding. His golden eyes flicked across the calico's frame, registering her slightly sheepish expression and her taut, slightly rounded stomach. "Oh." He mumbled in understanding before pushing himself to his feet and trotting hastily across the hollow, keen to help.

"Here, let me..." Badgermoon bent his head and tried to take up the corner of the nest and drag it to the mouth of the nursery before straightening, offering a small but genuine smile to the mottled warrior. "Congratulations, by the way." More kits! More kits for WindClan was a good thing. There had been no litters since his and Scorchstreak's, and while he knew that Brightshine's family was...controversial, at times...he was sure that this litter would be different. Besides, you couldn't always help how your children turned out. Wasn't Dappledsun a clear example of that? And our litter is just wonderful. Second chances. Second chances... He debated offering a congratulations for Heavy Snow, as well, presuming that the amiable white tom was the father - but, scared of making an incorrect assumption, he kept quiet.

"Your kits and Wolfsong's will grow up together. How lovely." He said after a pause. His children had had Spiderbloom's litter to play with, and he felt that they were the better for it. "You'll be visiting him soon, I imagine?" Surely the golden medicine cat would know the type of care needed by a pregnant cat. Surely he'd handle it better than his predecessor had.​

 

[milkthorn.]

fast, four hundred on the dash
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

One would think that two moons being forced to assist with Spiderbloom and her children would veer the apprentice far away from the den, but rather, he still had that pull towards it. He wanted to help them, seeing how much that they had to endure, and how tired and exhausted they could get from simply existing while bundles of fur clumsily ran all over and around them.

He would approach with a dip of his head towards Badgermoon and Brightshine in a greeting as the lead warrior would begin dragging the nest towards the nursery. "Is there anything else I might be able to assist in? Anything you may need, a specific piece of prey you are craving that i can go hunt for you?" He asked, his tail tip flicking slightly in impatience. He would much rather be training, however it seemed DewMist had other plans, and that would include doing her own thing and abandoning him with the boredom of camp.

He enjoyed kits, they didn't seem to judge as much as they other apprentices his age. Though he was making a friend or two, or so he hoped, there were still many that would rather avoid him. So he does the same. It was a waste of time to try to impress the others. It was much more enjoyable to entertain the kittens.

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thought speech​

 

[BRIGHTSHINE!]

Brightshine steps back as Badgermoon helps her with the nest, a grateful smile on her face. “Thanks, I’m losing my breath faster than I used to!” She trills with a laugh, bouncing after him in a gait that is notably more sluggish than her usual prance. As soon as the bed of heather is placed by the den’s entrance, the calico gets to work scooting it inside. She is alone in here, and immediately she knows just how lonely she’ll be. At least, until the kits arrive!

She turns her bright smile back towards the deputy at his congratulations and squeezes her eyes shut gleefully. “Thank you! Heavy Snow and I are so excited!” He had been like a father to her first litter; she’s so happy he now has the chance to sire his own litter. At the mention of Wolfsong, she looks towards the medicine den with pricked ears. “Yep! Soon he’ll be able to tell me how many kits I’m expecting,” She chirps cheerily, the thought exciting her. Will it be a small litter like her first? A single kitten, perhaps? Or a big litter like she and her sisters had been? She’ll be happy with anything!

She blinks happily at Milkpaw when he offers to bring her something and she can already feel herself salivating. Brightshine is always hungry, and pregnancy only heightens her appetite. “I’d love anything from the fresh-kill pile!” She won’t turn down an offer for food!​

 

[Morningsong~]

He was so excited. Ever since he heard the news he was more bubbly than usual. He wasn't sure what these kits were in relation to him- he tried not to think on it too hard. He didn't need to hurt his brain. When he saw Brightshine moving to the nursery, he couldn't stop himself from bouncing over to lend a paw.

"I'm so excited! I'm so happy for you!" He says, as he's probably said many times now from sheer joy. "Have you thought about names yet?" He asks.

These kits were coming into a clan that may not like them, but he wasn't going to let anyone bully or harm these kits. No, anyone that even looked at them wrong was going to get smacked. No claws, of course, unless they ask for it. His family has been through enough, and while he considers himself a loyal windclanner, he finds that more and more he is most loyal towards his family.

When Brightshine mentions being out of breath, he decides to offer to carry the nest with Badgermoon instead. "Why don't you rest and I'll help Badgermoon move the nest to the nursery?" He offers.

Badgermoon does bring a good point, though. Wolfsong's litter would be growing up with Brightshines. He was excited for them too, he had high opinions of Sunstride and Wolfsong. He was excited to meet both litters.​

 

[Lilacstem]

Lilacstem is still not sure how to process the news that Brightshine is expecting again. She's happy of course, but conflicted too given all that had happened with their family. She smiles as several of their clanmates offer their assistance to help Brightshine settle in. Despite the way some of them may look at her kin, it is pleasing to know that Brightshine isn't looked upon so coldly, even if her two children had abandoned the clan as far as anyone knew. "If you have any preference for prey, do let me know and I will try my best to catch it for you," Lilacstem offers kindly. If she couldn't catch it she could certainly try and fetch it for her from the fresh-kill pile. With so many other cats helping, Lilacstem chooses to stand with her sister, pressing against her slightly as if offering her shoulder to quite literally lean on. "Are you hoping for a smaller litter again?" She asks, raising a brow. "Or do you think it might be a larger litter like we were or like Echolight's kits?" Her gaze briefly flickers to Morningsong at the mention of her niece, smiling fondly at Echolight's child.​

 

[cottonsprig]

Perhaps it is Cottonpaw's youth that gives way to her ignorance, or her natural lack of knowledge with having just started her new profession - but she hadn't thought of Brightshine being pregnant. The bubbly molly was always hungry, so the added appetite was hardly noticeable. Even her rounding belly was near negligible. Though perhaps Cottonpaw shouldn't neglect the fact that she's all but avoided the disastrous families around...

Well, if the Stars will her to walk their path, then she must look at everyone equally... or close to it, at least.

"I'll have to pester Wolfsong about kitting next," she whispers to Milkpaw as she nears, tongue stuck out in playful mockery. The brief thought passes her mind, of if she'll ever have kittens of her own. Snakehiss flits to her mind's eye but she dashes it immediately, "Hey - Brightshine," she perks up, waving a paw to the new queen. "What's it... like, expecting a litter?" natural curiosity is only compounded by the need to learn and grow, for the virtue of her new role. She supposes she could ask Wolfsong the same, but perhaps the tricolor femme will see differently.​

 

[milkthorn.]

fast, four hundred on the dash
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Hed nod his head that Brightshine would want anything from the pile. Though she didn't ask, hed felt a bigger piece of prey would be ideal. She has a lot of bodies to feed, it wasn't just hers. And she seemed so enthused about food which, well he could only conclude that it meant she was indeed hungry. "I shall be back then!" he said, matching the energy of the room- well, the space they held.

Others approached to ask questions, to be happy for her. And he was too. He was cursed with the feelings of envy, but for now it was easily suppressed, eager just to be helping. Cottonpaw approached and whispered to him and he smiled. He was happy for her, getting the position she held. She seemed eager about it as well. "Learn about everything you can, i believe in you!" He encouraged, his voice hushed as well.

He remembered the rumours though, her eyes were held on Snakehiss, but he would not comment on that. She was allowed to do what she wished to make her happy, just as he could. Though snakehiss waas not his ideal in any way, shape, or form, he was a popular soul. Somehow.

He would continue to the pile, moving prey around with a paw, before finding that perfect piece of prey. A fattened rabbit. That was his favorite, and perhaps it was the queens favorite too? He remembered Wolfsong's weird appetite of eating a part that he couldn't remember that was uncanny. Everyone had their beliefs. Though, he hoped he wouldn't have to witness Brightshine do such a thing if she decided to.

His head ducked down, grabbing it gently in his maw and awkwardly dragging it as he lifted his head high to do his best to keep it from dragging across the dirt. It didn't help too much, its ears and hind legs nearly tripping him up. But he was determined. And when he would finally drop it in front of the queen, he took a few steps back beside cottonpaw and would rest on his haunches. He had only went after the kind of smaller ones. Much easier to carry. He couldn't imagine carrying one like that all the way to camp.

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thought speech​

 

[BRIGHTSHINE!]

Brightshine purrs as her kin approaches, Morningsong asking about names and Lilacstem wondering about the litter’s size. She blinks excitedly at her grandson and tips her head in thought. “Happy names, that’s what they’ll have! Snowy and I haven’t decided on any for sure, though!” The calico chirps happily. If any look like him, she knows what she’ll want to name them: Snowkit! Or maybe even Snowykit? It’s what her nickname for him is, anyhow! Her shining gaze then shifts to her sister and her feathery tail instinctively curls by her belly. “I want lots of kits!” She purrs immediately, seeming to brighten up at the thought of it. “The more the merrier! Then I’ll - I mean, they’ll have more playmates!” Oh, who’s she kidding? Everyone knows she’s super excited to play with them just like she plays with the clan’s other kits!

Cottonpaw asks what’s it’s like to carry kits and, well, she knows better than to go into too much detail with such a young cat. She opts for the safer version, dramatically rolling her eyes when she mews in exasperation, “Woof! It’s no stroll on the moors, that’s for sure! You can’t go run and hunt anymore, and it really saps your energy! But it’s all worth it in the end - you get new best friends!” She grins as she recalls the early days of Mallow and Echo’s lives, how much fun it had been when they’d all been a family. A twinge of sorrow can be seen in her eyes, though. Neither of her kits are here anymore. One is in SkyClan, and she’s happy for him! But…she misses him terribly. And the other? Missing, without even a goodbye. Her heart aches, but Brightshine is nothing if not ever optimistic. She forces that beaming smile to remain on her face despite the grief she still feels.

Milkpaw drops the fat rabbit at her paws and she offers the apprentice a grateful grin and nod. It’s the perfect distraction and she immediately turns to Morningsong, purring, “Wanna share? Even this is too much for only me!” ​