camp I'M AWAKE — first words

[FLUFFYPAW]

The noises others make—she has spent the last few days frustrated, parsing them out with ears too-big to hold upright. Cats open their mouths, and the mouths take shape, and then—then there are sounds, sounds that mean things. When her father makes noises at her, he calls her by the same sound. He calls her mother many sounds, though, and her siblings many more. The other kits in the nursery are always making noise with their mouths, and some of it is pleasant to listen to… sometimes it isn’t, and it hurts her ears and makes her cry.

Today, though, is a special day, because Fluffykit peeks up at Butterflytuft from where she nestles at her flank, and she flutters tiny spider-leg eyelashes and mumbles, “Ma…ma.” Mama. Mama is warm, Mama is comforting, Mama is where she wants to be all the time. That’s what that sound means to her—Mama.

[ tagging @Dandelionwish @butterflytuft @weedkit @Daisykit but no need to wait :3 ]

, ”​

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[Cherryblossom]

Cherrypaw absentmindedly tugs at the dried moss on the outskirts of the nursery, letting the scent of warm milk and kitten-breath fog her head and drown out the errant pangs of hunger. It's hard not to resent the queens and their broods, plump-bellied and warm even in the dead of Leaf-bare night. It's even harder to cling to that resentment inside the nursery's embrace. Every SkyClanner younger than Greeneyes might feel the same way as her, encircled once more by familiar boughs of holly, once more knowing nothing and no one beyond whatever deigned to visit.

It's been so long since she last thought of Snowpath too. She wonders how Butterflytuft is doing, coaxing the breath of out her children a muzzle-length away from where her brother had taken his last breaths.

What lackluster effort she'd tried to channel into her chores dissipates upon a strange sound. Sunlit eyes dart towards the source, shocked shadows curling into her browline, then up towards Butterflytuft. "Did she just speak?" A guess: Cherrypaw has forgotten what her kittens' genders were; most likely, she never even bothered to know to begin with. Some more empathetic creature would realize her presence, and dismissive words especially, might be intrusive upon the growing family's milestones. Unfortunately, such embarrassment is lost on the apprentice. "Oh, aww, she said mama." It brings out an amused, delighted purr from her. "Do they do that a lot?"​

 

[edenberry ?!]

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 〰 Edenpaw lingers like a ghost at Cherrypaw's side, as common as ever, picking at the moss their friend yanks at with hidden animosity. They offer a hushed sigh when a clump gets haphazardly tossed towards them- clearly a task that is not taken seriously- they don't really mind it but the last time had been with Doompaw and it sours their expression to think of their missing den-mate. He had been loud... a little rude.. but he was still SkyClan in a small part. Butterflytuft had been kind then, at the very least, huddled around tiny scraps that now grew and grew, opening eyes, unfolding their ears. Wobbling to get into adventures soon enough, more confidently.

The calico's surprised gasp is followed by moving paws, creeping into the nursery to get a peek at the little kitten that had just stumbled into speech for the first time. The deputy's daughter is not shy to invade the exciting moment and honestly, neither is Edenpaw! "Haha! Yeah!! Butterflytuft she's talking to you!" How exciting... Poor Dandelionwish, he'd never be able to beat the comfort of a queen and her constant, reassuring presence but surely, 'papa' would be an easy follow up soon.

"That's right Fluffykit! That's your mama." At least the bi-color was a bit more friendly than their counterpart, who actually bothered to know the names of their youngest members.​

 

[FIGFEATHER]

While Figfeather would never task herself with an apprentice’s chore, its not above her to assist in the form of dropping off fresh moss outside of the den. It was not as bright green as green-leaf moss and far more delicate, but it’s what SkyClan would need to make do with for the rest of the season. As the apprentices pad into the milk-scented den Figfeather peaks in to give greeting to her sister- at quite a coincidental time too.

Fluffykit, one of Butterflytuft’s own, mewls a soft word. ’Ma…ma’ Figfeather’s eyes widen in disbelief, since when were they able to formulate words? It seemed like the naked scrapes had transformed before their very eyes, it amazed her how quickly kits grow. Though now she is reminded that soon she will have her own kits, her own naked scraps who will transform into walking, talking cats. She feels as if she could faint at the thought, ”…Yes, too cute.” Figfeather forces a smile, the beautiful moment ruined for herself at the paw of parental anxities.

♡ INFO BATTLE

• 
  » Figfeather
  » SkyClan Warrior
  » She/her . AMAB
  » Mate to Fantastream
  » A red tabby she-cat with a mangled leg.
  » ”Speech”․ thoughts ․ attack
  
• 
  » A foe in battle whose ability to strategize can shift tides.
  » Excels in strategizing and pre-planning her battles.
  » Fights defensively and aid to her clan to victory.
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

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[FLUFFYPAW]

And suddenly, Fluffykit has drawn attention to herself. Three cats, all bigger than her and her littermates, all with wild, sticky scents clinging to their fur, begin to draw closer. The tiny cream-colored she-kit shrinks away from them, beginning to shake in place. “M…mama,” she whimpers, huddling closer to Butterflytuft—truly, if she got any closer, she’d find herself back in her mother’s stomach, returned to gestation.

Fluffykit blinks up at her admirers with terrified blue-tinted eyes. She recognizes the golden tabby—she’s here more often, and is affectionate with Mama. She does not seem affectionate today, though. The she-cat with all the colors on her fur speaks to Mama, but the black and white one speaks to her, addresses her. “Fluffykit,” they say, looking at her with big green eyes. Her mouth moves into a wordless, “O” of surprise at being addressed. “That’s your mama,” they say. Tentatively, Fluffykit nods, burying her face into soft tortoiseshell fur. “Mama,” she confirms to her mother’s belly.

, ”​

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[TWITCHBOLT]

What morphed mewling into words had never been something Twitchbolt had thought very much about- before, though, he'd never seen any point in wandering near the nursery. Or lingering in it, at least. The older he got, he supposed the more and more he'd be visiting friends in the nursery, right? Butterflytuft was one of his closest friends, and therein lay the reason he was lingering nearby enough to hear Fluffykit's soft utter of Mama. A small, small mew- a voice so tiny seemed impossible. And it was a voice so new, as well.

Twitchbolt felt he could only look- first at Fluffykit, and then up at Butterflytuft. There was a trembling, touched look on his face, a wordless smile; he was not as close as the visiting apprentices, but from afar he looked at his friend with a new amazement in his heterochromatic eyes. When she'd given birth, when he'd heard their cries through the wall, that had been the first reality check. But this... this felt truly, truly real. Part of him could feel the nettle-green eyes of his old mentor, watching adoringly over her grandchildren, in his heart now- this odd swell of watchfulness, this new feeling that Fluffykit had brought into the world with her voice.

It was cute, most of all.​

penned by pin ✧​

 

[Dandelionwish]

—————————————————————⊰⚘⊱————————————————————
Dandelionwish slips into the den in time to hear it and he drops the mouse he was bringing his mate in surprise, mismatched eyes widening. They were talking now, or trying to, and his heart flutters in delight at having been lucky enough to arrive in time to witness it. The false point moves forward to crane his head down, gently bumping it against Butterflytuft's own as he stares down at the still wriggling bundles against her side only just now finding their voices. "That's right, Fluffykit...mama is right here." A small, tiny part of him wished to hear his own title spoken but that would come in time and it made sense his mate earned that privilege first as she stayed with them longer than he could. Not for lack of trying, he had been scolded and chased from the nursery plenty already.

————— ⚘ hold the line —————— ⚘ this is how we'll be defined (stand your ground)

•  
• 
  
  
  Dandelionwish
  —⊰⋅ Warrior of SkyClan
  —⊰⋅ He/Him
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  —⊰⋅ Cream/Chocolate Chimera w/mismatched green and orange eyes.
  

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[butterflytuft]

Butterflytuft lays content in her nest, paws tucked under her and eyes half-lidded. Days just like this have come and gone - her kits are a moon old already, and she has enjoyed every moment of motherhood. Demanding, exhausting, wonderful motherhood. She feels her daughter shift at her side, so her eyes shift down to meet pale blue before she catches the same sound Cherrypaw and Edenpaw and Figfeather all hear. Her mouth gapes in awe, sunshine eyes widening down at her child. "Did she?!" She breathes, feeling every inch of her body light up with excitement. Her ears prick, and all she can think is, Dandelionwish! Come see!

And then- and then she does it again! Twice! She wishes she could leap for joy, but with her young daughter pressed so close into her fur, and does not risk ruining the monumental moment. "Oh my stars...yes, Fluffykit, I'm mama. I'm your mama," She purrs excitedly, voice hushed as always but carrying an energized tone to it. She leans down to lick her head in swift strokes before she feels her mate's head bump gently against her own. Oh thank StarClan, he'd made it in time! "Did you hear that, Dandelionwish?" She asks joyously - a silly question, after what he'd said, but she can't help it, she just isn't thinking. Her eyes drift up back towards the cats standing around her, giant smile on her face when she catches sight of Twitchbolt, behind all of the others and smiling just as giddily. She beams back at her friend, grateful that he had been here to join in this moment, too.​