[Fawn]

Cherrypool

83 Moons LightningClan Senior Warrior

Welcome to my dark side,

The darkness had become a comfort. A sanctuary, from the unkind light that had haunted her all her life. The albino warrioress hid in the old rabbit warrens on LightningClan's territory; not far from camp, but far enough that she could have some measure of peace for what was about to begin. Restless, both from the pains in her belly and the fears gnawing on her conscience, Cherrypool paced before the entrance. This area had been quarantined for greencough - how ironic, that the place in which her kits' father had died, they should be born - but there was no traces of the sickness left.

Only darkness. Only quiet. Only the sound of her own heart going to war.

Arrangements had been made with Kindleflare. Cherrypool supposed she owed Kindleflare's compassionate nature for this small granted mercy; Kindleflare's predecessor would have agreed to no such arrangements. Loathsome as he found kittings, he would not make an exception for his ally's kin. And, truthfully, Cherrypool never would have asked him; she would rather confront her demons in the dark, and pray to the cold, gray stars that they did not end up so like the other branches of their family tree.

Fire appeared on the moorlands, Cherrypool's crimson eyes narrowing with predatory precision onto the ginger she-cat making her way towards her. At last. The contractions were getting worse. Cherrypool did not have the poor tolerance for pain that the other cats did; agony and uncertainty were old friends. So the albino kept up her pacing, keeping her paws moving even as her belly convulsed beneath her fur. Grunting, Cherrypool hissed at the healer's arrival. "Hurry."

Without greeting Kindleflare, Cherrypool turned and crept back into the gloomy safety of the tunnels. A few fox lengths in, and she had returned to her nest in an otherwise empty den. She would not be gawked at, here. She would not be made a spectacle for the other queens and kits to stare at; Cherrypool's tail lashed at the imagery in her head. Disdainful queens, half-curious and half-disgusted to see if she'd produce another one just like herself.

Kits whispering and staring. Pity - not for her, never for her - already beginning to circulate around camp for her litter. Pity they have such a freak for a mother. Or worse, pity LightningClan will have to deal with even more outcasts. Cherrypool's claws sank into the cool, black earth. Finding purchase, she hunkered down, eyes narrowed into slits—red as fresh wounds—and braced herself for the battle.

It's gonna be a long night

420 Words x BlooRey DVD Phoenix x Notes

[BlooRey DVD]

Cherrypool's request had caught her slightly off-guard. Her surprised must have been carved upon her features, for the albino queen-to-be had gotten defensive, something Kindleflare could not place flickering behind her blood red eyes. But the ginger medicine cat had quickly stammered out what she hoped to have been words of comfort, indicating she was more than happy to accommodate the white queen's request. And it was for this reason the flame-colored healer found herself striding across LightningClan territory as quickly as she could manage without full-on running. She feared that any faster pace might damage the herb bundle in her jaws. She did, of course, have a patient waiting for her in the abandoned rabbit warrens. A brief thought flickered through her mind. Not long ago, Kindleflare had been in those same warrens fighting to keep Clanmates fallen ill with greencough alive. Now, she would be bringing new life into the world. She much preferred it this way. Much. Her thoughts were interrupted by a hissing voice near the entrance of the warrens. She stumbled slightly, taken aback by the harsh tone. Trying not to let show how it bothered her, she forced her ears to unpin from her head as she bounded the remaining few paw steps a little more quickly than previous. Ducking into the dimly light tunnels, Kindleflare tread carefully as her eyes adjusted to the new lighting. She picked out Cherrypool's white pelt in a solitary nest, and settled down at the nest's edge before depositing the herb bundle and unraveling it. The scent of raspberry leaves and ragwort greeted her nose, and she was quick to  identify and collect the two by scent alone, adding in a couple of juniper berries for good measure. She slid the herbs to the mother-to-be's muzzle, and mewed gently. "Ch-Chew these. F-For strength, and f-for pain." With the herbs delivered, she redirected herself toward Cherrypool's swollen belly. Inspecting it for signs of contractions, her ear flicked in mild surprise upon noticing their frequency. Keeping a gentle voice, she inquired soothingly. "When... D-Did the contractions b-begin?" The increased frequency told Kindleflare it had been long enough. Although it wasn't quite time for Cherrypool to start pushing, the ginger healer didn't think it would be long either. Lifting her paw, she glanced toward the albino warrior-queen, uttering a warning. "I'm g-going to put m-my paw on your b-belly, to f-feel for the k-kits." For some queens, the sudden sensation mirrored pain very closely, despite the touch being feather-light. Eliminating the surprise seemed to help in most situations, and she certainly hoped it would help here too.

Fawn
Note: 46 moons old

[Fawn]

Cherrypool

83 Moons LightningClan Senior Warrior

Welcome to my dark side,

Even in the midst of her pain and anxiety, Cherrypool's nose wrinkled at the taste of herbs on her tongue. The predatory nature of the albino she-cat reviled the earthy, dry remnants of plant-matter - no matter their healing properties. Flesh, made warm by fresh blood, was the true diet of a Clan cat. Of a creature who knew their place on the hierarchy.

"At dawn," Cherrypool replied curtly, the snake-like whip and flick of an alabaster tail against the dark tunnel floor an obvious sign of discomfort. Another contraction had her tightening her breath, and Cherrypool let it back out slowly, hissing into the shadows. Crimson eyes flicked to Kindleflare, and her lack of commentary was permission enough for the healer to touch her. Again, there was something to be said about Kindleflare's nest-side manner.

The she-cat was respectful. Cherrypool was nearly twice her age, but did not feel as if she were being treated by a kitten. If she had, she might have rebuked any of the ginger feline's efforts to assist in the kitting - trusting no one. The label of 'Clanmate' meant nothing in a situation like this. It was so foreign, so different, Cherrypool's sense of self-preservation and protection for her unborn kits turned her hostile and flighty.

It's gonna be a long night

211 Words x BlooRey DVD x Notes: x.x so short, I'm sorry!

[BlooRey DVD]

A flicker of surprise passed before the she-cat's amber gaze. Dawn? S-StarClan what a l-long morning t-this must have b-been. She thought to herself, taking the albino she-cat's silence as an acknowledgement of the coming gentle pressure. Soft paw pads rapidly identified the warmth radiating from the kitting queen, searching along her flank meticulously. As another contraction washed over the senior warrioress, Kindleflare stilled briefly to allow the older she-cat to ride the wave of pain. She felt the way Cherrypool's body shuddered beneath the pain, and Kindleflare prayed to StarClan the herbs would ease her pain if only slightly. The flick of an ear signaled her triumph, and as the LightningClan medicine cat met Cherrypool's blood-red gaze, she mewed gently. "I n-need you to s-start pushing now." Adjusting her position so she might be of better use to the kitting queen, Kindleflare awaited the tell-tale sounds of the albino mother-to-be's efforts. Seconds ticked by, stretching to feel as though an eternity passed between every breath. The ginger and white healer stammered through words of comfort, doing what she could to keep the older she-cat calm. Eventually, Cherrypool's efforts would be rewarded. Stooping toward the small figure of a kit amongst the soiled bedding, the medicine cat set to work rasping her tongue over its fragile frame. She counted the motions in her head, a tactic she used to steady herself during the nerve-wracking heartbeats of silence before... A keening wail split the quiet air, Cherrypool's pale-coated kitten announcing his arrival with surprising determination. With a rumbling purr, the ginger she-cat grasped the tom in her jaws so she could lay him close to his mother's belly. Releasing him and giving Cherrypool room to see the healthy kit for herself, she mewed softly. "A h-healthy tom, l-looks like he'll develop s-some markings as he g-grows." Turning her attention back to Cherrypool's stomach, the medicine cat lay her paw back where it had been, her pad drifting along the new mother's side. It took her but a few more heartbeats to determine the one kit was all Cherrypool would bring into the world, which was not surprising considering the senior warrior's age. With a kind smile, she glanced back to the albino warrioress. "Y-You're all done. H-How are you feeling? I'll f-fetch you s-some water-soaked moss, and c-clean bedding." She added.

Fawn
Note: 46 moons old

[Fawn]

Cherrypool

83 Moons LightningClan Senior Warrior

Welcome to my dark side,

"A h-healthy tom, l-looks like he'll develop s-some markings as he g-grows."

Cherrypool's body ached, but her mind was alive and churning, her thoughts sucked into the undertow of doubt and pessimism that had plagued her since apprenticeship. A tom, with markings - like Sunblaze's. The tiny lifeform was gently nestled against her belly, and Cherrypool could not speak; if not for the visible rise and fall of her own flank, she would not have thought herself breathing.

It was alive. He was alive. Instead of adding to her body-count, the albino warrioress had brought life into the world. Many moons ago, she would not have thought it possible, and would have hissed at anyone who suggested otherwise - suspecting them of mockery. But as she looked at the tiny tom kitten, felt him knead and nurse against her pale belly, Cherrypool had to bow her head to keep from showing Kindleflare too much emotion.

This feeling... These feelings were a confusing, chaotic rush. Protectiveness. Fear. Warmth. Sadness. She laid her tail protectively over her kit, ruby eyes unusually soft as they rested upon his back. He looked too fragile to exist for long, as if he were a flake of snow that would melt the moment she looked away. She was tired, yes, but she kept vigil over her only kit as fiercely as she tore down her enemies.

Kindleflare went unanswered, save for a soft, solemn blink. She did not know what to say, or even what to name her only kit. Cherrypool laid her head upon her alabaster paws, letting this stage of her life, this late-season miracle, truly sink in. Whatever this kit became, at that moment Cherrypool did not care. He was her son. The only thing she could truly call her own.

And nothing, nothing, was going to take him away from her.

It's gonna be a long night

307 Words x BlooRey DVD x Notes: Finished! Thank you <3