[Justice]

He didn't mind being confined to the nursery with the kits and queens. He knew he was too old to hunt or patrol anymore, but he wasn't ready to give up entirely and retire. This was his next best option. With his old injuries from the fire not quite healing correctly and the ache in his bones staying pretty stationary and watching his growing kits was all he could hope for. They were beloved to him, precious, his reason for living. As much as he loved Firestar, loved Wildcall, the kits provided him with a driving force again. Russetfall realized that he wasn't much longer for the world, and didn't want to dwell on it to waste the time he had left. So he played with his kits, he kept time with his older son, and he caught Firestar whenever he could. Which wasn't often. It was okay though, he had the kits to raise. Now that they were weaned he could provide everything for them.

Today was a simple day. Playing and pouncing practice, and he'd tell them a story. Whatever they wanted. He flicked his fluffy tail for their benefit and grinned, finally nudging them to make sure they were awake. "Come on now, sleepy kits, it is time to wake up." And with that he also started grooming the closest one to him; Tigerkit. Though actually, if he thought about it, they both needed a good bath before the day really began. It was fairly early, but late enough that the warriors were all awake and alert and out doing what they could.

[Notes : Hopefully this works. Russet tends to sleep with the kits against his belly with his tail lain over them as much as possible. Rather they are already awake when he starts his merciless grooming spree is up to the players of course. Enjoy the cuteness.]

Hellion
@zen
Taxx

[Taxx]

Lynxkit had not settled down easily the night before, bursting with energy and doing her best to convince Russetfall to let her take just one more trip out into the camp to watch the warriors and apprentices go about their duties- to give her just one more story about his older days where he’d been a warrior and had the best adventures to share. Just one more!

Not until the moon had been high had she succumbed to sleep. Now, with her father nuzzling her awake, she reached out a paw to bat at him, whining. “Nooooo, I don’t want to get up yet.” But already sleep was receding, the tired feeling lingering but her senses sharpening as her mind grew alert. The soft rasp of a tongue over fur told her that Russetfall was grooming Tigerkit, something he did every morning, and the she-kit peeled open her eyes to watch.

A yawn and a spine-arching stretch loosened muscles, and then Lynxkit was on her paws, shaking the last cobwebs of fuzziness away and looking forward to another day. She climbed straight over Russetfall, hooking her paws around his neck and turning the tables on him by grooming him, rather than the other way around. “Look at your fur!” she squeaked, rather roughly smoothing down the few spots that stuck up. “It’s a mess! You can’t go outside looking like that.” With a purr of amusement for her play-acting, she continued, green eyes constantly checking to see if Russetfall was finished with Tigerkit, all too eager for her turn for the morning’s ritual bath.
@zen Hellion Justice

[Hellion]

the moments when you're in so deep

FEELS EASIER TO JUST SWIM DOWN

Excusing herself from the border patrol was easy but facing thier look of mutual saddness was excruciating. The anniversery of her daughter's death was approaching. The unsettling feeling in her gut always turned acidic when she got too close to the StoneClan border. Thus prompting her early departure. The cats in her company understood and made no effort to ask her to stay. She thanked them silent as her paws carried her home.

Crossing the threshold into camp she gave her fur a shake, easing away the saddness that clung to her like old moss. She intended to check on the hunting parties but the moment she went toward them a trusted senior warrior was ushering them out. Grateful that her Clan was capable of taking care of itself now that they were recovered, Firestar felt the first deep tug of longing.

The pull didn't come from missing Mapleheart but instead for her newest bundles of energy. It was one major flaw that she was fully aware of. Firestar would sooner put her Clan before her family and the new additions to her family tree were not safe from that neglect.

Immensely proud that Russetfall had agreed to take care of them, Firestar found it easier to return to her duties. Then again she was going to return to them regardless but she felt more at ease with Russetfall taking over as an honorary nursery tom.

Giving her pelt a few quick licks she entered the nursery to see Lynxkit attempting to groom her father while Tigerkit seems to accept their father's grooming. Laughing she took a few steps before gently headbutting her mate, taking in his soft scent. Considering his recent days in the nursery he smelled softer. It was pleasing.

"I hope you both are minding your father," She meowed in greeting before sitting and watching with a pleased expression.

FIRESTAR

background image | its quiet uptown | table by phoenix

Justice Taxx @zen

[Deleted]

Can you hear my heartbeat? Tired of feeling never enough...

---

Tigerkit was dozing in that place between awake and asleep when the nudge from his father drew him from his half dreaming, raising his head as the tom announced it was time to wake up and giving a soft yawn. He purred happily as his father's tongue swiped over him in a morning bath, giving him plenty of time to wake up properly. Lynxkit apparently needed no such assistance, clambering over their father and giving the larger tom a bath of his own. He giggled at his sister's words as she made herself sound just like one of the queens.

The idea of his rambunctious sister ever becoming a queen was a strange one. He couldn't imagine her ever being stuck in the nursery past kithood. She was always wanting to be out in camp, with the warriors and apprentices. He thought about asking her what she thought about that, but decided not to. She'd likely pounce on him for it. Instead he yawned again, greeting his family, “Morning Russetfall. Morning Lynxkit.”

A familiar scent drew his attention as Firestar ducked inside and Tigerkit's ears twitched uncertainly as she made her way over to them. Ever since Russetfall had moved into the nursery with them, they didn't see their mother that often because she had so many things to do as leader. And it had been when Tigerkit realized that his mother was leader of the entire Clan that he'd suddenly felt as if some great chasm had opened up between them. There was something about the knowledge that just made her seem out of reach, so high above him, so much more important, that he felt like he was only wasting her time when she was with him. Surely she had more important things to do. That was why Russetfall was looking after them, after all, wasn't it?

Tigerkit nodded immediately at Firestar's inquiry, “Yes, Firestar. We are. I... I am.” He tossed a glance at Lynxkit, not wanting to answer for his headstrong sister. “Uhm. Good morning,” he offered after a moment. Torn between wanting to try and enjoy this time with her and afraid he was only going to keep her from something the Clan needed her for, he stared down at his paws, claws flexing anxiously in the moss beneath him.

---

I close my eyes and tell myself that my dreams will come true.