camp TROUBLE IS A FRIEND // returning with kits

[BRIGHTSHINE!]

// takes pace after this thread! She is entering camp with @HEAVY SNOW @Lilacstem @downykit @FINCHKIT @PINK-KIT @HEATHKIT

It had been a long, tedious process. With three mouths and four kits, it would be impossible to carry them all back at the same time. Pollenfur and Hyacinthbreath had been able to help them to the border, but beyond that, the three WindClan warriors were on their own. They made it work, forming a sort of assembly line. Brightshine would stay back with a couple of the kits while Lilacstem and Heavy Snow dashed ahead. Heavy Snow would stay with them while Lilacstem returned, and the two sisters would carry the last two to meet up with him, and repeat.

Though the calico ached, she pushed through on resilient legs until they reached the familiar gorse tunnel of camp. With Pink-kit clasped in her jaws, she falters just outside, hesitating. What if no one believes us? She can't help but think fearfully. But she is quick to shake it away - their plan will work. She pulls that happy-go-lucky smile onto her face and slips through the camp entrance, gleefully revealing her daughter to everyone in camp. Behind her, she knows her companions will be bringing in the rest of the kittens; the one who is left behind will be swiftly scooped up, she is positive. Four healthy kits, two just a bit larger than than the other two, hopefully attributed to Heavy Snow's size. Gently, she places Pink-kit on the ground, expecting to explain to someone where they'd been. Her heart pounds as a few cats approach, but she just keeps grinning. She's Brightshine, she always grins, so that's what she must continue to do!​

 

[Morningsong~]

Morningsong had awoken to see that Brightshine was not in camp, and it worried him. He did not tell anyone, not wanting to cause a scene or bring out any comments on how she probably left too. He knows she wouldn't leave, she probably left to have her kits somewhere else. That was the only explanation he had. The only reasonable one anyways.. He didn't think she'd go out for a walk at night so heavily pregnant.

So he quietly paced around camp waiting for her to return. He noticed the rest of his family, minus he and his siblings, were also out. This makes him even MORE ANXIOUS. But thankfully, to his relief... He sees them enter camp. He sees them all, with four little kits in their jaws. All of his anxieties washed away in and instant, replaced by relief and joy. His eyes brightened and a wide smile crossed his face as he bounded over on graceful steps.

"You're all back! I was worried..." He says quietly before looking to the kits. "They're all so cute!" He adds, fawning over them. Their family was growing!

He crouches to the ground to see the new worms. "Hello everyone!! I'm so happy to meet you!!" He greets the kits, his voice quiet. He doesn't want to upset them. And selfishly, he doesn't want anyone else other than their family near them.​

 

[Violetwisp]

Violetwisp's head pokes from the nearby tunnel as the rumbling above warned him of someone approaching the camp and though he did not make himself readily visible immediately he did observe in silence for a moment before realizing something was off. He had heard the steps before, paid it no mind, but now it was accompanied by milk scent and kitten squeals, the faintest touch of sulfur as well. It was this that made him clamber from his hole into the open to see exactly what was going on. His mismatched white paws carry him along behind Morningsong where he stiffens and stops in his tracks once the returning cats came into view proper. Brightshine was there, holding....a kitten?! His blue-green eyes widened in alarm as the squirming little bundle's shape became clear; spotted orange and black like the mother who held her.
"Oh-oh stars above, did you go on a walk and have them? Congratulations, I'm glad you're all alright..." Thank goodness no predators had caught wind of the blood scent and caused issue, thank goodness Brightshine had two of her family with her and not just Heavy Snow; who knows if they would've made it back with...one...two..four? Four kits! What poor timing for a walk, or so he assumed and he had no reason to think otherwise-afterall, he'd want to go on a walk too if he was cooped up in camp as much as a pregnant queen might be. Even Wolfsong surely had wandered beyond the camp border with accompaniment himself at some point. Speaking of...
"W-would you like me to fetch Wolfsong for you?" To check the kits, of course, make sure they were alright given their birth had been entirely elsewhere though he supposed queens had been having kits long before medicine cats were a thing-it never hurt to make sure though right? He had no idea, kitting was a mystery to the secluded tunneler.
​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

SOOTSTAR​

There had been whispers about Brightshine not being present in the nursery. Sootstar had just been beginning to think she’d need to send out a patrol to ensure the heavily pregnant queen was okay when she walks into camp, a kit hung from her jaws. Sootstar rises to her paws and descends from the Tallrock where she had been laying. Hurried paws pull her in close to the scene, when Lilacstem and Heavy Snow presumably make it into camp they too carry kits. Physically they appeared healthy, that was at least one good thing… Forcing a smile to Brightshine she dips her head, ”Congratulations, lovely kits. I’m glad to see you all strong and healthy.” She would not bother the second-time-mother with her frustration, but Heavy Snow and Lilacstem would have to deal with it. ”Do fetch him, Violetwisp. Heavy Snow, Lilacstem, once Brightshine and her kits are settled step away to speak with me.” With that, the blue she-cat strides away to give the queen space to make it to the nursery.

☾ INFO BATTLE

• 
  » Soot ․ Sootstar
  » WindClan Leader
  » She/her ․ Mate to Weaselclaw
  » Tiny blue smoke she-cat with green eyes.
  » "Speech" ․ thoughts ․ attack
  
• 
  » A high-stamina foe who can be difficult to hit.
  » Excels in quick, short moves.
  » Fights to kill and maim
  » Fatal attack of choice is an underbelly dive.
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

​

 

[PINKSHINE]

Pink-kit squeals within the jaws of her mother. This new world is cold and unpredictable. Already, she misses the rasp of a tongue over atop her head. She is not so much aware of the scene changing as suddenly, she is there, and she is indignant – as if knowing that within these walls, the trajectory of her life has changed. Where she had once been was warm and inviting. Enough so that she easily lulled into peacefulness once her belly was full. This world was cold. Tiny paws knead against air.

She gripes again, once she is set down, suddenly meant with solid ground again after far too long with legs left dangling. A nose like her namesake attempts to explore what she cannot with her eyes, but she can only do so much. Smells multiply and mingle. Rather than shy away, she meets them eagerly, passionately mewling to anything that got too close.​

 

[SUNNVAR]

✦　　. 　 ˚　.   It is strange to think of WindClan growing. Their warriors had left on a journey to save their clan, a terrifying yet necessary duty. Those that remained were ailing, unwell– or fit to bursting with youth, it would seem. That Brightshine had left camp and deflated so suddenly is certainly worthy of a shock from Sunstride. Their leader's cautious voice cuts him from his surprise at seeing the molly no longer so bloated with youth, but it is Pink-kit that truly ensnares him. He had only recently become a father himself; her mewling, curious and indignant in equal measure, encourage him to seek her out, to.... assist, perhaps. But once he is close enough to even consider doing so, he only stands there and looks down upon them.

"It seems that some of your kits were caught in a snowstorm," he chuckles, speaking of the pale flecked patterning of her fever coat. He does not know the name for such a thing, or why it would come to be. But it is an interesting look. "They seem otherwise healthy. Well done. It is good you were experienced enough to birth them without Wolfsong present. Not to say that he would know much more than you, with his experience thus far being limited to himself."

𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚𝘖𝘔𝘌 𝘈𝘚 𝘓𝘐𝘍𝘌 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘗𝘖𝘐𝘚𝘖𝘕; 𝘚𝘜𝘕-𝘉𝘓𝘖𝘖𝘋 𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚𝘖𝘔𝘌  ╱╱ 9.16.2023 ˊˎ＜

• OOC. —
• ✦　　. 　 ˚　.  SUNSTRIDE. FORMERLY SUNNVAR. HE - HIM - HIS OR THEY - THEM. DEPUTY OF WINDCLAN. 4 YEARS OLD. PENNED BY REVELATIONS.  —————————
  
  
  ——  a tall auburn tabby with thick fur and bright glacial eyes. sunstride is broad and bold– a creature standing above most of windclan, though not a beast beyond it, with fur that flames red and deepens to a burnt amber with every stripe. his eyes, in comparison, are a pale summer's blue, still as bold as the rest of them. he radiates confidence and self-assured authority.
  
  

  ✦ NPC x NPC. DECEASED MOTHER, ESTRANGED FATHER. NO LITTERMATES. MATE TO WOLFSONG. FATHER TO BEARKIT, SINGEDKIT, RIVEKIT, SUNLITKIT, AND FEATHERKIT ——

• "speech"

​

 

[Lilacstem]

When they returned to camp that morning, Lilacstem felt strangely hesitant. She was excited to introduce the kits formally to the rest of their kin, but already she was dreading the slew of questions that would come from clanmates about why they had all left.

Brightshine leads the family in and Lilacstem follows close behind with Heavy Snow, Downykit carried carefully in her jaws. As she feared, they were quickly set upon by Sootstar. Stopped from going anywhere for the moment, she sets Downykit down for a moment. She congratulates Brightshine and then asks to speak with Heavy Snow and herself. Lilacstem's briefly flicker towards Heavy Snow, though she tries not to show her worry. "Of course, Sootstar," Lilacstem agrees, giving a small nod. Lilacstem then looks back at Brightsine. "Come on, sister, lets get you to your nest."​

 

[FINCHPAW! ☆]

╭──── ⋅ ⋅ ──── ｡･ﾟﾟ･ ─── ☀︎ ─── ･ﾟﾟ･｡ ──── ⋅ ⋅ ────╮​

Already in her short life, Finch has had more than enough of being moved around, carried, prodded at; can't she just be left to nurse alone in peace? Wholly unaware of the circumstances surrounding her family, she does the only thing she can quite manage at this point - cry out, mewling her displeasure, and swing her stubby legs, praying to find some purchase even when she only meets air. It feels like an eternity that she spends in limbo, picked up and ever-so-gently set back down, until it is all she knows as the small procession travels across the moors and away from the home she'd hardly known. The closer they get to camp, the hungrier she grows, until it's gnawing once again at her belly, and despite its claws being dulled since the last time she had ached so, the kitten still squirms uncomfortably whenever it is her turn to rest upon the ground, crackling cries meant to convey her displeasure at the situation.

Her siblings are taken on ahead, and though she doesn't quite know it yet, this will be the very last time she is Finch, for the next time her name is spoken aloud it will be Finchkit, instead. What a difference those three little letters might make, though it will be all she knows in the coming moons; any remnants of Finch will be left behind in a bed of stray, just like Downy, too, will be replaced, although not forgotten. Finch and Downy will live on for Pollenfur, and for Hyacinthbreath, and Finchkit and Downykit will be known to the rest, alongside Pink-kit and Heathkit. By now, she's surely been lifted up for one last time, and as her small body bobs in time with the thrumming pawsteps of her carrier, Finchkit once again makes her displeasure known, entirely unaware that she's now closer than ever to what will come to be her new home, surrounded by exhausted yet happy family.​

i want to spin something out of nothing - (☀︎) - lead to gold, spring from winter

• OOC: --​
• 
• 
  - Finch Finchkit
  - She/her (AFAB)
  - 0 moons
  - Loner
  - Hearty & scruffy chocolate lynx point with splashes of white and bright blue eyes
  - Art by Jay & base by googaoo respectively! <33
  - Minor powerplay allowed!
  - Penned by Hijinks​

 

[BRIGHTSHINE!]

It comes as no surprise when the first cat to arrive is her grandson, who excitedly greets the kits with a grin set upon his maw. She giggles back to him, "Meet your kin! This is Pink-kit, and that's Heathkit, and that's-" She falters for only a moment, "Downykit and Finchkit." Almost seamlessly tacking on -kit to the ends of their names, given to them by their true mothers, she smiles. Violetwisp is next to approach, his words congratulatory with a hint of worry. "Could you?" She trills gratefully. She'd love to get them checked over as quickly as possible. But what if he can tell two are older...? "But don't rush him! We have time," She tacks on quickly, grin stretching wider.

Sootstar's dreaded approach had been expected, but Brightshine steels herself. This is what they'd planned for and practiced. "Thank you!" She trills with all the feigned cheer she can muster to the terrifying leader. "I'm sorry for slipping out...I wanted them to be born where my sisters and I had been born, and Mallowlark and Echolight...I wanted them to be born in the tunnels." She ducks her head slightly, ears pressed back against her head. Will she buy it? She casts a glance towards Lilacstem, concerned for what Sootstar had in mind for her sister and mate, but she convinced herself they had nothing to worry about. It was a believable lie!

Finally, as she scoops up Pink-kit to take her into the nursery, she turns bright green eyes onto Sunstride. A purr rumbles past her kitten's scruff. "Thank you, Sunstride!" She mews genuinely, beaming around the she-kit before she slips by to head into the den. Of course, the chocolate tabby is only a reminder of his mate...will Wolfsong know?​

 

[cottonsprig]

With Wolfsong's kitting come and gone, Cottonpaw felt a little more excitement and readiness to help and handle Brightshine's. That is, until the heavily pregnant she-cat disappears for the day. The blue smoke idles about camp, ears folded back as she tries to keep herself busy. It wouldn't be the first time a she-cat leaves the safety of their walls to kit - in fact, her own mother had done so a little under a year ago now. Admittedly, Cottonpaw feels selfish in her wants. Experience with these sorts of things are hard to come by!

She hears chattering outside the medicine den and leaves it to check it out. She spots the calico slipping towards the nursery, a fresh baby scruffed to her teeth. Her sister and mate seem to have three more carried between them - and perhaps luckily for the family, Cottonpaw is far too inexperienced to recognize a week or so difference in age between the four of them. Instead, she trots quickly to catch up with the family.

"Brightshine...!" she partially whines the queen's name, "the least you could've done was warn us... I was looking forward to helping you," though she sees now that the mother needed no help. Cottonpaw smiles regardless, and though she just joined them by the nursery, she dips her head in an attempt to leave, "I'll find you some new moss and feathers for your nest, okay?" Hopefully that'll make up for it.​

 

[HEATHPAW]

She has already done so much traveling in her first day of life that Heathkit had actually taken to falling asleep in the jaws of the warriors that bring her home. Her tiny white paws are frozen in the air, outstretched, and a tiny pink mouth opens wide in a kitten-sized yawn. She wakes again when the momentum stops and her cries rise up from her newly born lungs. She has no patience for greetings and formalities and she has no concept of the gravity her mother is going through—she only wants to be put down and feed as soon as possible.

​

 

[HEAVY SNOW]

"I told her it was a bad idea" his booming voice, full of warmth and amusement in equal measures comes from the entrance into camp. Sun hits his large white form as he makes his way over to the small group of cats, pride and love evident on his features when he lays eyes on his mate and their kits. Their kits. Because if he lets anyone else believe even for a second that two do not belong then they would be in trouble and he knows it.

He comes to stand by Brightshines side, stopping for a moment to rest his nose on the top of her head, eyes closing as he drinks in the familiar scent of heather and moors. When his eyes flicker open again, they are only for his kits. Pink-kit, Heathkit, Downykit and Finchkit. Each one of them was so perfect, so beautiful and his gaze lingers on each of them in turn before he finally is able to tear himself away from them to look at Sootstar. Her wanting to talk made him slightly nervous but he does not show it. Instead he only smiles and says "Of course, as you wish"

Her daughter catches his attention next, the medicine cat apprentice admitting how much she had wished she could’ve been there and for a second he feels a land of sympathy for her. He says nothing though, not until the young gray she cat offers to make her nest "That is very kind of you Cottonpaw, with you I’m sure they are in good paws" his voice is filled with nothing but gratitude as he turns towards the moorland leader expectantly, ready for their talk.

​

 

[BRIGHTSHINE!]

Brightshine is already slipping into the nursery when her name is called by the young medicine cat apprentice. She perks up, looking to her with cheery eyes as she listens. Like Heavy Snow, she can't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her. To know she'd been looking forward to it broke the empathetic she-cat's heart a little, but she must shake it off with her resolve. She had no choice but to leave. Downykit and Finchkit depended on it.

The calico places Pink-kit carefully on the ground before offering the girl an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Cotty! I didn't realize how important that was to you," She offers, tone genuine. Not a heartbeat later she is pricking her ears as an idea enters her mind. "But oh! You can come visit them as often as you want with Wolfsong to check in on them while they grow up, how does that sound?" Maybe then she'll come without Wolfsong sometimes...She is far less experienced, after all, and would be far less likely to notice any age difference.

When she offers to get moss and feathers, she purrs happily, blinking in gratitude. "Thanks, Cottonpaw!" She chirps, and as soon as the she-cat has scampered off she looks to her mate. With eyes shining, she feels the beginnings of relief settle in her heart. We did it. The kits are safe.​