private SHE CALLED OUT A WARNING | orangestar

[SLATESNARL]

"What do you see in him?" He queries, uncharacteristically soft in nature, though there is no denying the weight of bitterness and skepticism that saturates it. Slate hasn't the ability nor the energy to huff and puff whilst pacing around like a frustrated badger, hence the reason why his ire is more tempered than usual at the moment. He does not mean to rile up his mate while she already has enough on her shoulders in addition to the children that she's carrying, but Slate does not want to pretend that he isn't shocked by her decision. The Maine Coon wants to know why, even if he wasn't truly entitled to.

Moonlight peeks through the maw of the medicine den, filtered against boughs of pine branches and setting a solemn mood for a rather tense discussion. "I just... I don't get it. He's let you down before." Twitchbolt does not deserve to stand at Orangestar's side, he tells himself. "This'll be the cat who'll be in charge of the clan for six moons." That is a reality that Slate did not want to be faced with, but, one that would arrive soon nonetheless.

𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 ✹ .　 + 　˚ 　　 · 　 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

• @Orangestar

• 

• 

  a warrior ( formerly lead warrior ) of skyclan, slate is forty-two moons. he is mated to orangestar. he is a hulking longhaired maine coon with black fur and prominent reddish rusting on his chest and belly. scars litter his form but are prominently present on his face. ✦

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[Orangestar]

Orangestar should have seen the question coming. Despite the surprise of it, Orangestar is just as uncomfortable as she would be had she known of Slate's approaching displeasure. She has known him so long that his question stirs no concern, only a defensive roll of her eyes and the snap of a reply on her tongue, though she holds fast to the gentle tone in his meow and it quiets her to thought.

It's potential, maybe, but truthfully she doesn't know. She doesn't know how to describe her method of determination, the uncomfortable feeling which had settled in her throat and the pit of her stomach as she had regarded Figfeather through the lens of a potential deputy. She knows that Twitchbolt's return to her side was a controversial choice, and does not care about the whispers which had no doubt followed the announcement, but the questioning of her mate makes Orangestar's tail twitch with something which is almost agitation.

She closes her eyes for a couple of heartbeats, tiredness seeping into her bones as she rests her weight against him. Their kits are active as ever, the turn of one making her grit her teeth with discomfort, but Orangestar knows this is little in comparison to what she would bear after their birth. Orangestar is so caught up in the derailing that she doesn't quire realise she hadn't answered his question when she rasps, "I don't think I can do six moons of it, Slate. I nearly ran off into the forest by the end of four moons in the nursery."

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

•  
• 
  
  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; currently expecting kits
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

​

 

[SLATESNARL]

Orangestar fails to address Slate's initial inquiry, something that he may have pressed about had she not sounded so depleted of energy. The tip of his tail flicks, his mind still lingering on the topic even as the she-cat appears to ignore him. Maybe he would never know what her true reasoning was, which bothered him. If Twitchbolt let her down again, though, Slate would have quite a mouthful to issue to the younger tom. Ora deserved to have a steadfast and trustworthy cat standing at her side and, as far as he was concerned, Twitchbolt had not proven to be any of those things.

The ginger and white molly confides in him, a rather rare admittance of insecurity regarding the rearing of kittens. Slate knows next to nothing about the process but he at least knows that it isn't an easy task. Orangestar's done it once, though. Surely she could do it again? "I know you can." Slate reassures her as if there is no other option, shifting his large paw so that it rests against hers. "You're strong, and the kits will be strong, too." There is no other feline that Slate would want for the mother of his children. Even if they were unexpected and had scared Slate shitless at first, the warrior is at least reassured that they will have an admirable and fierce protector and parent.

The Maine Coon murmurs, "And I'll be there for you. Anything you need, I'll do it." It was the least Slate could do, really, considering he's been bedridden for the entirety of Orangestar's pregnancy thus far and has been utterly useless otherwise.

𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 ✹ .　 + 　˚ 　　 · 　 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

• 

• 

  a warrior ( formerly lead warrior ) of skyclan, slate is forty-two moons. he is mated to orangestar. he is a hulking longhaired maine coon with black fur and prominent reddish rusting on his chest and belly. scars litter his form but are prominently present on his face. ✦

​

 

[Orangestar]

The end of her tail twitches in annoyance, short-lived but burning, an anger that is exhaled in a long sigh. Orangestar presses her brow to Slate's cheek, one of the rare shows of affection she would allow herself in this quiet night. She could never give up being able to see her kits grow, but would she be able to balance her leadership with the demands of an unsure amount of hungry mouths waiting for her return every moment of the day? Orangestar does not resent her children, but ...

"Slate. I don't know if I can." The end of her sentence is laced with certainty, underscored with an implication that she doesn't like. He doesn't know. He would never know. Orangestar loves her kits more than just about anything, but moons confined in the nursery amidst squeals and mewling and milk-scent had nearly driven her mad. The brief walks she had been taken on by her Clanmates, supervised by Blazestar or one of his council, had been her saving grace.

"Would ..." A familiar, detested sense of panic begins to set in, but Orangestar tries to grit her teeth against it. There is an alternative, but guilt writhes in her chest. "Would it be wrong of me to let another queen nurse them once I've recovered?"

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

•  
• 
  
  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; currently expecting kits
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

​

 

[SLATESNARL]

The molly's emphasis, the manner in which she stresses that she can't, brews concern within the tom. Orangestar has always been a figure so steadfast and unwavering, even in the face of hardship. Would birthing another litter of kits truly break her spirit? Slate would never understand such a struggle, such a life-altering experience; he doesn't know what words to offer his mate. What other choice did she have but to go through with this? Their children needed a mother.

Then, Orangestar proposes an idea that nearly goes over his head — it is so unexpected that Slate does a double take. Faux brows furrow with mounting apprehension as he questions, "You mean like... giving them to someone else?" For a short while? For the entire duration of their kithood? What did she mean?

The idea is nearly unfathomable to the Maine Coon. Neither of them had anticipated having a litter together so soon, but he had accepted the fact that he would have to step up and play the role of a father to them no matter how utterly inexperienced he was. Now she wanted another queen to rear them? "They're our kits, Ora. I want you to raise them." Slate asserts, a disapproving scowl etched across his maw. He pays no mind to the fact that the she-cat hadn't asked to be pregnant in the first place, to the fact that he had put her in this position. "Who would you...? Oddgleam? Butterflytuft?" The last name is uttered with a scoff, the very thought disgusting to him. As if that pansy would be tasked with the responsibility of raising his blood.

𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 ✹ .　 + 　˚ 　　 · 　 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

• 

• 

  a warrior ( formerly lead warrior ) of skyclan, slate is forty-three moons. he is mated to orangestar. he is a hulking longhaired maine coon with black fur and prominent reddish rusting on his chest and belly. scars litter his form but are prominently present on his face. ✦

​

 

[Orangestar]

"Who says I can't do both?" Orangestar's voice raises slightly, dropping back to a frustrated hiss when it stings her ears and she hears a stirring from across the den. You? Who are you to order me around? Her tail flicks, annoyance lacing every line of her being, but she does not yet stand and leave him. With every moment this argument takes, Orangestar's mind sets further on the idea of allowing another to nurse their kits. To spite Slate, perhaps, or maybe due to experience or lack of nurselings, Butterflytuft rises higher in her esteem.

"I'm not saying I'll give them up. We can still raise them. We will still raise them." She intends to, at least. Would this decision make Slate stray from his kits, abandon them by the wayside as Chrysaliswing had done for his? Were he to do so, Orangestar might just have to rethink his place in her life. "But if I have to nurse on end for moons and be confined to the camp until they are apprentices, then there is no point in me having seven lives with which to serve my Clan. I refuse."

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

•  
• 
  
  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; currently expecting kits
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

​