~//In the Nursery, Love and Pain//~ (giving birth)

[~Moonflower~]

Cinderfoot

~A New Mother~

Cinderfoot sat contentedly in the nursery. In her belly she was holding the leader's kits! She couldn't believe at first that she had actually fallen for Reaperstar and he for her, but now it felt as if it had meant to be. The past few days had been a blur. They spent so much time together, just them alone in secret places. The next thing Cinderfoot knew, she was in the medicine cat den with the news that she was pregnant. Now she was here, holding little bundles of fur, her belly bulging to more than two or three times its normal size.

Cinderfoot thought everything was going fine when a burst of pain rippled throughout her body. Cinderfoot couldn't help but shriek. "THEY'RE COMING!!" she yelled as loud as she could. She hoped someone would hear her. More ripples of pain went through her body like little spasms. She could feel something coming out.

((I won't go into detail))

The first kit that came out was a pale yellow kitten with black spots. The next one was more of a very light gray. The third one was a dark gray cat. Already Cinderfoot was thinking that she had had enough, but there was another one that came out. It was a brownish-gray kitten with white paws. Cinderfoot thought she looked so much like her younger sister Shadekit, that she thought that Shadekit would be the perfect name for the young kit. She hoped Reaperstar would agree. She tried dragging one kit near her and licking it. However, at the rate Cinderfoot was going, she knew she wouldn't be able to get to all the kits in time. Where was another cat when you needed them?!

[Sunny]

~A kits first breath~
The brownish grey kit with white paws that was so new to the world took in a tiny breath and the smells of the nursery swirled in her tiny gapping mouth. The kit whimpered at the difference that surrounded it. She knew even with her eyes closed. She needed the warmth of her mother that she instinctively craved. She squirmed as she seeked for more warmth and experienced the smells and feels of the nursery where she would spend her first six moons. Her life was just beginning and all she could think about was warmth and milk. Small noises emitted from her mouth as if saying, "I'm alive!" But they were just squeals and more whimpers, simple reactions to the new world she found herself in.

(I don't know if you wanted me to wait intil someone else posted but I saw that you had posted and well it just came to me.)

[R*E*A*P*E*R]

[glow=navy,2,300]Reaper[/glow][glow=blue,2,300]star[/glow]

It had gone a bit like this; Reaperstar had been sleeping, rather soundly, in his den. Then he heard a shriek. In dream land it did not occur to him and it took him a bit to snap into a wakefulness in record time. Barely had his eyes fluttered open that he was on his paws, "Kits! Kits!" He yowled, darting from his den into the clearing yowling happily at the top of his lungs, "Kits! Kits!" He ran into the nursery and purred, "Kiiiiiiiits..." He pushed each one closer to their mother very gently. He could not even express the love surging through his paws, his mind, his heart, his very soul. "Cinderfoot..." He meowed, licking her head gently, "They are beautiful love. So very...kit like." He curled close to her, watching the tiny bundles with fascination and love, "They need names."

[glow=silver,2,300]Soot[/glow][glow=gray,2,300]kit[/glow]

The world. Something new and different compared the the warmth of the world inside. Little was known still to the bundle of dark gray fur. Little would be known until his ears and his eyes began to process the world for what it was. Now it was just touch. The gentle vibrations of a purr, the soft milk scent of his mother. The small kit began to suckle almost immediately, making grunting noises of kit pleasure as the warm liquid made it's way down his throat.

[~Moonflower~]

((OOC: Reaper, the kits need to be licked before they start suckling, otherwise they can't breathe. Cinderfoot needs help licking them, because she is in pain.))

Cinderfoot

Cinderfoot looked relieved as Reaperstar came into the nursery. She sighed, and the pain subsided as if breathing it out made it disappear. "Help me lick them, and I have some ideas for names," she said. When finally, all the kits had been licked and brought to her tummy and were suckling away, she turned to Reaperstar. With her tail, she pointed at the brownish-gray cat. "I want to name this one Shadekit, after my sister." Then she looked at the other kits. A pale yellow one with black spots caught her attention. She pointed at it with her tail, and said, "How about Leopardkit?" There were two kits left, a dark gray tom, and a light gray she-cat. "You can name the other two." Cinderfoot smiled at the kits.

Leopardkit

Leopardkit felt around him curious as ever as to what was around him. He felt wet, and a certain need to do something. Soon, he was picked up and licked. It felt so much better, and he made his first sound. It was like a small yowl, but it echoed throughout the huge space around him, and it sounded so loud. Soon he was placed against something that smelled strongly of milk. Somehow, he knew it was his mother, and he suckled greedily at the milk.

[R*E*A*P*E*R]

[Sorry, I'm so tired lately. Had my Chemistry test on my mind, not kittens. ><]

[glow=navy,2,300]Reaper[/glow][glow=blue,2,300]star[/glow]

Reaperstar licked them gently, helping his mate. He listened carefully as she named them, trying the names out in his mind. He looked at the two other kits and finally meowed slowly, "Curiouskit, for the tabby she-kit. And the dark one shall be called Sootkit, after the old leader, and for his dark fur." He turned his blue gaze to his mate, his love for her became almost too much for him. Then he heard a soft yowling noise, alarmed he turned his head. His pelt stood on end, that sounded like Frostedfate! He stood up, and turned his blue eyes to his mate. The kits were all clean now, and she looked safe enough. He pressed his forehead to her and meowed, "For now love, my duty to the Clan calls. In short I shall return to you." He turned and sped out of the den.

To: Disastor

[~Moonflower~]

Cinderfoot

"I love those names," she said in reply to Reaperstar's naming. Leopardkit, Curiouskit, Sootkit, and Shadekit. Cinderfoot sighed. What wonderful names...

A sudden yowling in the camp took Cinderfoot out of her thoughts. Reaperstar immediately got up and went out of the nursery promising he would be back. "But for how long? I don't want you to go!" she wanted to say, but she knew he was the leader, he must and he would spend as much time as needed to fix the situation. Sometimes Cinderfoot wondered if she had made the right choice. Reaperstar always seemed to be running off at the most critical of times. When they had first said I love you to each other, he had run off immediately after to see to some rogues. Now, when she had just given birth, and still felt need of comfort, he was off again, for who knew what this time. Not to mention the other countless times he had run off because of his leader duties. Sometimes she wished that she hadn't fallen for him, or that he had never become the leader. She knew she couldn't turn back time, but she badly wanted to. She wanted him here, right now, but it wouldn't happen.

[R*E*A*P*E*R]

[glow=silver,2,300]Soot[/glow][glow=gray,2,300]kit[/glow]

Sootkit, almost as if sensing his mothers distress, made a whimpering mewl. He, of course, merely felt tired in his kit world. He nuzzled close to his mother, a gesture that if he were older may possibly mean; 'It's alright. I'm here now.' However he was young. Young and quite unattuned to the world. He let out another mewling squeak and his little jaws stretched wide. Sightlessly he curled close to his mother. Love was there though, it was the first emotion the little kit would ever feel. Love.

[/center][/size]

[~Moonflower~]

Cinderfoot

Cinderfoot turned her head down at Sootkit's little mewl. For a minute, the kits had been erased from her mind, but now, they were the only thing on her mind. She cuddled them in closer. "Hello my little kits. You're safe with me. Your daddy will be back soon, I promise." She just hoped she wasn't making a false promise. She made sure they were getting enough milk, and then curled up tighter in her nest. She wouldn't sleep, no, but she would rest slightly. It was hard work giving birth. She was just glad everything had gone okay. She hadn't really even needed the medicince cat, Angelwings.

Leopardkit

Leopardkit finished suckling in the warm, tasty milk. The fluent liquid poured down his throat, taking away the hunger. He smiled, his first smile in the big world. His mother curled him in, and spoke gentle words to him. Satisfied, he felt sleepy, but he being the firstborn, he felt almost a need of being the leader. He stumbled around his brothers and sisters, checking out what they were doing, even though he wasn't sure they were doing things right or wrong yet. Then he went back to his original spot, laid down, and closed his eyes. Before he knew it, he was fast asleep.

[D.ark]

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Soft warmth touched the gray tabby fur of Curiouskit. A tiny sigh built up in her chest and came out again. She suckled until her stomach was full to bursting and curled close to her mother. She could feel the vibrations of her mother's talking, even though she couldn't hear or understand the words she said quite yet. Still a thrill of curiousity spread through her little body. She wanted to know what those vibrations were. What she was drinking, what she was sleeping upon. These questions could only come out as, "Mao...Mau...Maaau..."

[*~Angel~*]

~I shall read you the stars~

Angelwings

Angelwings made her way carefully into the nursery, her paws making no sound as she moved. She wanted to check on Cinderfoot, make sure the kitting had gone well and everything.

"Sorry to bother you Cinderfoot," She meowed softly, carefully examining each of the kits and then their mother. She looked up at Cinderfoot, watching her with curiosity. Not for the first time she wondered what it would be like to have kits? However she would never find out that joy, plus everyone in her Clan were her Children. "Do you have any problems? Breathing or anything?" Carefully she set down some borage leaves beside Cinderfoot, a smile playing across her maw.

"I know you've already had some, but here are some more." She meowed nudging them over. The leaves were wonderful for milk, and would be quite helpful. "It looks like you've had a very healthy bundle of kits."

[~Moonflower~]

Cinderfoot

Cinderfoot smiled at Angelwings, as she came in. When asked about her problems, Cinderfoot simply replied, "There's a little trouble breathing, but otherwise all went pretty well." She sighed, and her eyes drooped. She hoped her kits would soon follow the example of Leopardkit, who was fast asleep. She needed a nap as well. "Thanks," murmured Cinderfoot to Angelwings.

[R*E*A*P*E*R]

[glow=navy,2,300]Reaper[/glow][glow=blue,2,300]star[/glow]

Reaperstar ducked into the den. It felt like moons since he had been able to feel any joy, even though only a few moments had the meeting even lasted. He did not want to poor his hearts problems to his mate just now. He wanted the problems in the Clan to disappear. Just now, staring at the tiny bundles close to Cinderfoot he could. He curled close to her, letting his head rest on hers. "I'm sorry that took so long." He said. He was unaware how tired or guant he looked. "Rapidfire is crippled. He can't be deputy anymore. Alderdance...she's the deputy now." He said this very carefully. Alderdance's past was sketchy and most queens despised her for the way she treated her kits in their young age. Still he felt his mate had a right to know.

[~Moonflower~]

[shadow=pink,left,300]Cinderfoot[/shadow]

Cinderfoot smiled as Reaperstar came back into the den. She nodded her head in agreement with Alderdance. Personally she wouldn't have picked the she-cat but Reaperstar must have had a reason. "If I may ask, why did you pick her?" Alderdance was a great cat, but still Cinderfoot saw many other warriors in the clan that were well-suited for the job, maybe even better than Alderdance. "What's going to happen to Rapidfire? Will he go to the elder's den? she asked, her voice filled with tiredness, and exhaustion.

[/color]

[R*E*A*P*E*R]

Reaperstar sat there, very silent for a long time before he answered. "I picked Alderdance because she's a cat that I know I can trust." He looked at Cinderfoot with twinkling eyes, "If you hadn't been in the nursery though..." He shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the small kits. A feeling of sadness for Rapidfire filled him, "Even if he can learn to walk with only three paws he can never fight, never hunt. How can he slash at a warrior without falling down? He will have to join the elder's den, as much as I hate to say that."

Sootkit was completely unaware of the darkness that was enshrouding his Clan. The pain of losing a deputy was something hard on a Clan's nerves. Still he was a small kit, the world was new. Life had just begun after all, no need to worry him. No need at all.

[~Moonflower~]

[shadow=pink,left,300]Cinderfoot[/shadow]

Cinderfoot nodded at Reaperstar's reply. It was true, Alderdance was always true to her promises, and very loyal. When he said that if she wasn't in the nursery, though, she knew he meant he would have picked her. But would she still have been able to have kits with Reaperstar? Probably not... but still that would have been cool, being ShadowClan deputy. That wasn't a position many held.

Cinderfoot felt bad for both Reaperstar and Rapidfire. It would be terrible to not be able to fight and hunt so young. Losing his deputy must have felt like losing a best friend. "Will he live?" she said this quietly. If he wasn't she didn't want to make it worse for Reaperstar.

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