by Arcaii » Tue Aug 05, 2014 3:33 am
Choices:
1. Feed the queens
2. Ask Rowanpaw
3. Feed the queens
4. Ask Rowanpaw
5. Feed the queens
6. Feed the queens
7. Feed the queens
8. Feed the queens
9. Ask Rowanpaw
Roll says... 2: Ask Rowanpaw.
"Hey, Rowanpaw!" you shout, waving him over. He looks your way and, after a quick remark to his mentor, trots over to you.
"How was your first day as an apprentice, Rookpaw?" he asks. He's one of the older apprentices (just a little older than Knotpaw), but he isn't very tall, just unusually fluffy. It makes him seem a little bigger than he actually is.
You swat your tail, waving away the question. "Caught a fish. Listen, can you check to see if the queens have been fed yet?"
"Oh! Sure." He pauses, then shakes his head apologetically. "Actually, I can't, now that I think about it. Sorry."
"Why not?!"
"Because Littleflower just had her kits, remember?"
You grind your teeth. Of course. That stupid rule keeps toms from approaching the nursery if there are kittens less than a moon old inside. It's not like any tom ever gets aggressive around kittens that aren't theirs - that instinct was bred out of Clan cats a long time ago - but it makes the queens feel safe and creates a stress-free environment.
"Nevermind, then. I'll do it." With a loud sigh, you grab a squirrel and walk towards the nursery, tail twitching. You shouldn't be as cross as you are, you know that, but it's hard to think straight when you're hungry.
You've never really had to adhere to the unspoken nursery rules, given that you lived there for the majority of your life. It takes you a second to think and not just walk in unannounced. You stand by the door, and call to the inside that you have food. You're immediately invited in.
It's a nice, cozy den, and the warmest one in camp. There's plenty of room for up to four queens and their litters, with only the finest moss making the nests. Feathers and pebbles are scattered around as toys for the kits, and you can see a few gnawed sticks off to the side, acting as teething implements. It's dim in here, but once you fully step in, light shines through the door and makes it a little brighter.
You barely get a second to look around when something barrels into you at full speed, knocking you over. You roll onto your back and a friendly, pale gold face is inches away from yours.
"Hi, Rookpaw!" Cloverkit says cheerfully.
"Hi." You roll to your feet, shaking the dirt off of your pelt, and speak to the queens. "I brought you something, in case either of you were hungry."
The tiny white molly, Littleflower, is at the back of the den, where it's warmest. "Oh, that's very sweet of you, Rookpaw," she says. Her voice has a very pleasant quality to it. "If Sparrowpelt doesn't want it, I'll take it."
"I'm good." The brown queen shakes her head. Her son, Brightkit, is currently getting groomed by her.
You trot over to Littleflower and give her the mouse. You look at the tiny day-old kittens at her belly - plain light grey, blue-grey dappled tabby, and a big white kitten. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who the father is, but as she and Hailfang aren't together, you decide to not talk about it.
"How are you feeling?" you ask.
"Still tired." She smiles, and you have to admit that she looks like she needs rest. "But it doesn't matter, so long as my little ones are safe."
"Swankit was squealing all night," grumbles Sparrowpelt. "Even after she ate. We couldn't figure out what was wrong."
You silently thank the stars that these walls are pretty soundproof.
"Well, we can't always help that." Littleflower looks at her litter. "Besides, that just means she has healthy lungs."
Sparrowpelt rolls her eyes. You get a feeling that she's itching to go back to warrior life.
"In any case, thank you for bringing me this food, Rookpaw," Littleflower says.
You very quickly say your goodbyes before trotting out of the den and making a beeline right for the food. You pick up a somewhat stale fish, but you can't be bothered to care, and scarf it down immediately, feeling much better.
The rest of the day passes uneventfully - you fall asleep in the sun almost immediately after eating and wake up late into the afternoon, and Applefoot's gone on another solo patrol, so you just chat with Rowanpaw until it's time for dinner. Cinderpaw tries to bully you into giving her your mouse, but Knotpaw distracts her with a water vole.
You curl up in the apprentice's den, feeling rather content, and fully prepared to go out again and train hard tomorrow.