.galaxy. wrote:Birchclan
Number of Cats: 21
Prey Servings Needed: 5
Moonpool Visit: Feb. 15th
Kits Due: Feb. 11th
[size=85]Robinstar was the cat to round up his clanmates for a patrol this time, the sleek dark tom eager to run and feel the earth beneath his paws. Larkpounce and Featherfur were trying their best to pay attention to what he said, and did fairly well to their credit, but the moment Larkpounce made mention of their kits they were both lost in their own world. He couldn't bring himself to be annoyed at their antics. Not when Pikefang and Reedwhisker did it for him: teasing and shoving each other in such a way that he couldn't be sure whether it was play or a dark rivalry being sparked. Confident that they'd either work it out or Kestrelflight would wallop them both over the ears, Robinstar nodded at the path and started forward. Larkpounce and Featherfur had caught the cue immediately, but the younger cats took a second to realize they were being left behind and had to scramble to catch up.
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The deputy was taking on responsibility for the other daily patrol - which included taking whoever wasn't hunting and march them around the borders for a while. She found conversation easy with the two siblings, who where more than happy to include Hollytuft in their chatter. And since they weren't hunting, the chatter wouldn't disturb their duties. The trio soon found themselves giggling and snorting all throughout the territory, giving only half of their minds to the patrol.
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"Come on! I don't wanna be stuck in camp all day!" Owlpaw whined, swatting Branchbelly with soft paws and drawing the attention of his sister and Foxbelly. The mentors shared a quick glance and sighed, Foxbelly bounding over as Branchbelly climbed to his paws. "Alright, alright. How about a game?" The ginger she-cat prompted, already having the attention of the eager young cats. "Branchbelly and I are going to run into the woods and hide - you're going to try and find us, okay?" It was an important lesson to learn; finding an enemy while they hid in the underbrush, waiting for you to turn your back. After explaining to wait a few minutes before coming after them, both the mentors dashed out of camp and split up to hide.
--
She knew it would be any time, but today felt especially off. Rippleberry had kept almost exclusively to her den before now, letting Finchtuft handle the non-emergency needs of the clan. He still had yet to speak to her without curling his lip or narrowing his eyes - but could she blame him? Each time she waddled past a puddle of water was another thorn-sharp jab of guilt in her chest. Now she found him crouched over a pile of herbs, sorting them with a deft and practiced paw. "It's time." She choked out, swaying on her paws. Her apprentice's ears perked and behind the typical anger she saw there, she saw a flicker of worry. It didn't stay for long, and soon he was on his paws and nosing around for something. "I've had these herbs prepared for days," he explained, pulling out a bundle and dropping it at her paws. "There aren't many cats in camp, come on." Ushering the pregnant medicine cat as quickly as she could go, they crossed camp quickly and struck out into the woods. For all the hostility that she'd gotten from him in the days past, anxiety had taken over and softened his heart just enough for his icy glare to calm. He knew just how bad a kitting could go. "There's a small clearing behind the trees behind camp." Rippleberry wheezed, trying her best not to trip over her unsteady paws. They were much closer to camp than either would have liked, but there seemed to be a silent agreement between the two that she really couldn't go much further. Just as she settled down beneath a bush, a thin wail echoed from camp. "Starclan's kits." Finchtuft swore, his tail spiking in frustration. "Rainwhisker too?" His sharp stare landed on Rippleberry, who was panting now. "She needs a medicine cat - i'll be fine." She pressed, waving her paw shakily at him. He stood still, unsure, until a second cry filled his ears. Just as he turned away, his mentor called after him. "Sootpelt." He didn't pause or ask for clarification - he knew what it meant, even if he couldn't immediately put a name to a face. "And I'm... Finchtuft I'm so sorry."
--
Finchtuft barreled into camp and went for the medicine den immediately. Snatching up any herb he might need in his jaws, he rushed to the nursery where he found a furious Brackenfrost and a panting Rainwhisker. The massive tom rounded on him, fangs bared. "Where in Starclan's name were you? Where's Rippleberry?" He snapped, looking around for the blue she-cat and lashing his tail when she didn't appear. "She's out looking for herbs," he lied smoothly. "I was nearby and heard Rainwhisker, now move." Now waiting for the warrior to comply, Finchtuft shoved past him and began attending to Rainwhisker.
PikeFang separated himself from the group as soon as he could, striking out toward a small patch he knew of where there was an abundance of rabbit holes in a relatively small space. He slowed as he approached, crouched low to the ground, padding silently forward. He peered through a bush and a slow smile crept over his face as he spotted his quarry on the other side. He crouched, gauging the angles, then leapt up and over, landing on top on an unfortunate rabbit, the others squealing and bolting to their holes. he stooped, about to pick up his quarry when a voice interrupted him. “Nice catch.” his head shot up, but he relaxed when he say the source of the voice, “Oh, thanks RobinStar.”
While hunting, RobinStar, LarkPounce, ReedWhisker, KestrelFlight, FeatherFur, and PikeFang caught a rabbit, a vole and a robin.
HollyTuft watched with amusement as FrogStep conducted his usual antics, which involved recounting the interesting scenes of the day, while attempting to imitate each cats voice and mannerisms and failing utterly. It was all she could do to avoid bursting out in hysterical giggles as he attempted to imitate PikeFang. “Okay kitten.” she said, batting the warrior’s ears, “Focus, or you’ll walk straight into a fox.”
The patrol passed uneventfully.
OwlPaw and PigeonPaw bounded out of camp, their ears pricked and noses twitching trying to locate their mentors. OwlPaw located BranchBelly’s scent and dashing off towards it. The small apprentice was barreling forward, until suddenly the scent disappeared. He skidded to a stop and back tracked, sniffing for the scent. He finally located it and scaled the peeling truck of the tree, gratified to see some larger claw marks as he climbed. He jumped onto a large branch and spotted dark pelt of his mentor. “Found you!” he crowed.
OwlPaw and PigeonPaw leaned the tracking skill!
RippleBerry was a med cat, and had no delusions about exactly how bad this kitting was going. The labor had been hard, and now she was bleeding. She knew that there were no herbs nearby that she could use, and the camp was much to far away, so she focused on her kits, ignoring the pain and fighting the weakness as long as she could. She was grateful that FinchTuft would know where to look for them. She smiled weakly at the pile of multi colored kits, and did not even suppress a sob as she desperately licked the tiny grey bundle between her paws. “Breathe.” she chocked, “Breathe, please. For me just breathe.” she knew the chances were slim for the kit, it was so much smaller that it’s siblings, but she was determined to try. Her eyes were coding over, and her strength was failing, but with every last ounce of her strength she licked the tiny kit. As her paws began to loose feeling and her sight vanished, she gave het tiny kit one last lick. “Breathe.” she whispered, her head falling next to her kit. As she lay there, her life slipping away, she heard a tiny, shuddering gasp, and felt her tiny kit’s sides begin to rise and fall as it drew ragged breaths. “Breathe.”
RippleBerry perished while giving birth to five healthy kits. The tiny grey kit will survive with care.
FinchTuft was tempted to go and check on RippleBerry several timed during RainWhisker’s kitting. Everything was going perfectly, with no herbs required to ease the pain. It was a long kitting, but RainWhisker handled it wonderfully. “Congratulations RainWhisker. Three beautiful kits.” he said, stepping back to let the happy couple rejoice over the expansion to their family. “I should go tell RippleBerry.”
RainWhisker gave birth to three healthy kits.