Post by Deleted on May 11, 2019 14:57:55 GMT -5
Ashflight felt restless. There was a sudden buzz of energy within her that she just couldn’t seem to get rid of, no matter how she shifted or rearranged her nest in the nursery. And every rustle or paw step outside had a flash of panic coursing through her, her anxiety rising. There were too many cats here. How was she supposed to protect her kits when there were so many of them? They could turn on her at any moment. Just like in the mountains. Just like when she came home and the Clan was split in half and killing each other. How could she stay here? She couldn’t have her kits here. She had to take them away, she had to protect them.
She paused at the nursery entrance, tail flicking anxiously behind her as she considered her options. Would some cat try to stop her if she left? She would just head to dirtplace first. By the time any cat realized she hadn’t returned yet, hopefully she would be far enough away. She made for the dirtplace, dipping her head to the cat standing guard at the camp entrance as she padded past. She passed right through dirtplace and hurried onward, toward the mountains. Panic and anxiety over the imminent birth of her kits and her fear for their survival washed away any logic from her mind.
The first contraction pangs started as she crossed RainClan’s border, heading for the mountains. She clenched her teeth and kept moving. Farther, she had to go farther. She had to find a den, a place she could hide them. As the severity of the pain increased, she finally admitted defeat when she found a nice outcropping of rock to shelter beneath. She had barely settled herself on the hard stone before the first kit was born, her jaws clamped down hard on any cries of pain that tried to escape. She couldn’t draw attention to herself with that nonsense.
But suddenly she wished Russethawk was there. Suddenly there was a clarity through her panic and she hissed in frustration at herself as another contraction rippled through her belly. She pulled her first kit close, lapping at the tiny scrap until it gave a cry. Her ears flattened and she looked around quickly, as if expecting a hoard of predators to descend on them. Why had she left? How foolish. But she could remember her overwhelming fear in the moment, the certainty that her kits were in danger there. She nuzzled her first kit, her daughter, toward her belly, and managed soft words before another contraction hit her, “I’m sorry you have such a birdbrain for a mother.” Surely Russethawk was leading a search for her even now. He would be there soon. He had to be.
Newleaf 22 - Migratory birds pass on as they head back to their homes, the flocks providing a spike in uncommon prey.
Fawn I imagine Russethawk and a patrol (Lotus and Bittern?) are not that far behind her, considering she had to waddle her way into the mountains x’D So it wouldn’t be unrealistic for them to show up quickly~