kids again | family outing

[Sunfreckle]

"You know, Sparkpaw, we named you after Emberstar of a sort, but also as a reminder of ThunderClan's strength. The fire before you were all born nearly swallowed the entire forest, but we overcame it and now...you can hardly tell it even happened."
Sunfreckle had spent the morning hunting, strangely restlessly and rising earlier than most the clan to go out and hunt alongside a few other warriors present; he had debated going out alone but with what happened to Emberstar and the looming threat of dogs he had been too afraid to take such a risk even if they were nowhere near Snakerocks. His venturing had been rewarding and he had managed, to the surprise of even himself, to catch a rather fat thrush that had been snatched midflight upward in a flurry of motion and feathers. Even more surprising was his return to camp and discovering that the nursery and elder's den occupants had all already been fed, thus leaving his efforts for himself to enjoy but he thought better of it. It had been a while since he checked in with the kits training, asked them how they were managing and what their mentors were showing them and this seemed reason enough for him to gather them all up. They could eat and he could have the peace of mind of knowing they wouldn't go hungry today. It had taken a bit of messy organizing on his part to round them all up before picking a nice spot just outside of camp to sit and he deposited the thrush between the three of them with a smile.
"Mousepaw was named after Rabbitnose, of course." Prey with twitchy noses, at the time he had thought her spots very similar to that of his mates but now he found naming such a boisterous girl mouse was terribly amusing, she was anything but mousehearted. "Frecklepaw was named after me~" His tortie daughter, elegant and spotted with fire but also just as messy and horrible as her other father when it came to digging around for mushrooms or catching creepy crawly bugs. He hated bugs. He loved his family. It was a struggle at times....
The red tabby sat back on his haunches so he could raise his lone forepaw to his mouth thoughtfully, "...I really like the name Pigeon...maybe we'll get a blue kitten next time I can call that." He grinned, glancing at Rabbitnose in amusement, "Not anytime soon though."

- @Rabbitnose & @Sparkpaw & @MOUSEPAW ! & @FRECKLEPAW!
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[Sparkwing]

He was happy to be out with his family, the cats he loved the most. It was comforting, their company bringing him peace. They were all right here... Safe and within reach.

But Sparkpaw couldn't get rid of the nagging fear that something would happen. It was stuck to him like a stubborn tick, and no matter how he tried, he couldn't ignore it.

Sunfreckle's words interrupted his thoughts, and a more solemn feeling washed over him. He was still registering the loss of Emberstar. His namesake was gone.....So he would carry on. Carry her spark.

"I remember hearing stories about the fire.... You guys had to go to Riverclan for a while." He said. He wondered what that was like.

Rabbitnose smiled softly at his kits. He would die for them. Every time he looked at them, it's what crossed his mind. He would do anything to keep them safe.

They had grown so fast...

"I couldn't ask for better kits.... I'm proud of how far you've all come." He said.

When Sunfreckle mentioned Pigeon as a name, his ears perked. Did Sunfreckle want more kits- He would be happy to oblige-

But alas, Sunfreckle said not anytime soon. Oh well. He could wait.

He nuzzled Sunfreckle. "Pigeons are cute. It's a wonderful name." He said. He was already thinking about names.


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[MOUSENOSE]

Mousepaw scurries in short bursts ahead of Sunfreckle, Rabbitnose, and Sparkpaw, then lets herself lag behind just enough for them to catch up. She has so much pent-up energy. Since Emberstar's death and the looming threat of dogs in their forest, Mousepaw has done her best to keep herself contained. Out of respect, but also because it feels wrong to be happy right now, or to want to be happy.

But she's had so much gloominess already in her short life that she just wants to be herself again.

Sunfreckle tells them where their names originated, and Mousepaw bumps Rabbitnose's leg with her nose affectionately. "I got the best name," she purrs up at him with a bright smile. She doesn't favor one father over the other, but she's always been drawn to her namesake and her lookalike just the tiniest bit more. He'd been the fun parent, after all, while Sunfreckle had to be the disciplinarian while they were all stuck in the nursery together. Just how it worked out.

Then Sunfreckle starts talking about another kit, and Mousepaw stares at him in amazement. "You just got out of the nursery!" She exclaims. Her voice could scare every bird within a ten-mile radius away from its perch. "Besides, you don't need more kits. You have us!" She can't keep the jealousy from coloring her voice, nor does she try to hide it from her kin.

Sparkpaw seems downtrodden, and Mousepaw frowns at him. Her brother is usually as loud as she is, as fun-loving as she is, but Emberstar's death, Morningpaw's death, Mossypaw's disappearance... it's changing him, she thinks. Perhaps it's changing her too, though she doesn't see how that could be.

"Ugh, RiverClan. Were we in your belly when that happened?" She asks Sunfreckle with a curious expression.

Rabbitnose tells them he's so proud of them, and Mousepaw beams up at him, forgetting momentarily about Sunfreckle's RiverClan story. "I'm doing great! Silverlightning is kind of a bore sometimes, but I'm going to be a great warrior. The best! No one will best me. Especially not Moonpaw." She sniffs, tail lifted as she struts.​

[ PENNED BY MARQUETTE ]​

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