|
Awake
Jan 26, 2009 19:13:16 GMT -5
Post by Willowstar on Jan 26, 2009 19:13:16 GMT -5
Sharkfang slid out from the warrior's den, shaking out his wooly grey pelt to dislodge any remaining moss. He felt as if he had been asleep for moons on end; his eyes were sensitive to the cold light of the morning and his paws ached as if he had run across the never-ending plains of FireClan. Still slightly groggy, the senior warrior stumbled a bit but managed to trudge over to the fresh-kill pile. To his dismay, only a vole and two cardinals made up the pitiful pile. Although he was nearly starving, he grabbed the vole and began walking to the nursery. He rationalized that the queens must need it more than he does. With a windy sigh and a slight shiver, he padded towards the den.
|
|
|
Awake
Jan 26, 2009 19:42:19 GMT -5
Post by Shiningstream on Jan 26, 2009 19:42:19 GMT -5
Shiningstream was up before the sky had turned a cloudy gray, and, finding herself unable to fall asleep, occupied herself by watching the five little bundles curled up in a pile of fur. She realized how big they were getting: Rainkit could've been apprenticed today, and her biological kits not far behind. Her blue eyes were excited at the prospects for the future of CreekClan. Her five, beautiful, healthy little ones, her and Sharkfang's. She wondered what kind of warriors they would become, or who their mentors would be. And she could finally go back to being deputy, and serve her Clan like she was expected to.
From close outside the den she heard a rustling, and her ears immediately perked up. It was very early; the Clan was up already? It was a cold morning, she could feel the air rustling through the barrier of the nursery. And also through it she caught sight of a thick grey pelt, and her heart soared. "Sharkfang!" she mewed, quietly, but no less excited.
|
|
|
Awake
Jan 26, 2009 20:17:48 GMT -5
Post by Willowstar on Jan 26, 2009 20:17:48 GMT -5
Slowly poking his head into the nursery, Sharkfang's eyes sparkled with warmth and he purred affectionately. "Good morning, Shiningstream," he whispered after placing the vole near her. Sharkfang gazed at his growing kits with pride. What fine cats they were becoming! In the eyes of her father, Rainkit had been ready for apprenticeship since the beginning of leaf-bare and the others seemed well on their way. The grey-pelted tom sat beside his mate, rasping his pink tongue over her fur every so often.
He pushed the vole closer to Shiningstream and nodded towards it. "You must be starving."
|
|
|
Awake
Jan 27, 2009 13:31:50 GMT -5
Post by Shiningstream on Jan 27, 2009 13:31:50 GMT -5
He was right; she was starving. Leaf-bare wasn't taking it easy on them. Food was just as hard to find, but it benefited Sharkfang that Shiningstream was a queen and confined to the nursery for most of the day. If she had seen how scanty the fresh-kill pile was, she might have been torn between what was best for the Clan and what was best for herself and her kits. But thankfully, Shiningstream was blissfully unaware. She purred a thanks before starting to gnaw at the vole.
In between bites, she glanced up at her mate. "Who do you think Snakestar will choose as their mentors?"
|
|
|
Awake
Jan 27, 2009 15:41:02 GMT -5
Post by Willowstar on Jan 27, 2009 15:41:02 GMT -5
"Quite honestly, I'm not sure. Snakestar hasn't mentioned a thing to me about their ceremonies." Sharkfang gazed warmly at his kits, but kneaded nervously at the ground with his claws. Although he had mentioned it to the CreekClan leader more than once, Snakestar made no motion to find a mentor. Sharkfang rationalized that he already had his paws full with the threat of nearly the coldest leaf-bare he's ever witnessed. "I think Snakestar needs to focus on more pressing needs at the moment," he stated softly as he stared thoughtfully at the nursery's entrance. He gave Shiningstream a gentle lick and stood. "I should probably go for a hunt... The clan needs all the prey we can catch."
|
|
|
Awake
Jan 27, 2009 18:20:25 GMT -5
Post by Shiningstream on Jan 27, 2009 18:20:25 GMT -5
Shiningstream listened quietly and mewed sympathetically, but her lashing tail gave away her slight bitterness. She agreed with Sharkfang; this was a horrible leaf-bare, and she couldn't imagine what was going through Snakestar's head. But didn't that justify their kits' apprenticing? It would mean more warriors for the Clan, and she could go back to being deputy. Does CreekClan have enough warriors to mentor them? Would Sharkfang or I have to take one? It was unorthodox for the parents to be their children's mentor, but who knew how bad CreekClan was doing?
Hastily she rubbed her head against Sharkfang's smooth shoulder, purring. "Have a good hunt, love."
|
|
|
Awake
Jan 27, 2009 19:29:28 GMT -5
Post by Willowstar on Jan 27, 2009 19:29:28 GMT -5
"Thanks, Shiningstream." Sharkfang purred affectionately before turning to leave. "I'll have another word with Snakestar, perhaps he will find justification in getting his deputy back." With nothing more to say, Sharkfang ducked out of the nursery. The piercing winds gave the grey warrior a start, making him poof out his already thick coat. With a scowl, he looked toward the clear sky.
|
|