[Deleted]

but all the stars that separate
disappear now when i'm dreaming of your face

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

They turned in her belly again. Little squeaks and mews rose up from the kits nursing under Roselight's and Redsplash's bellies, and the unborn kits in Rippletail's womb squirmed in response, almost begging to be let out to join their nursery mates. She groaned and rolled over, willing her babies to stop moving so she could get some rest.

Rippletail was large now, larger than she had ever imaged she could be. She hadn't realized her body could stretch and move like this, but now she felt overweight, off balanced, and unable to do any of her regular activities that kept her calm. And with Redsplash even larger than her and due any day now, the nursery was about to be filled with the mewlings of newborn kits. Rippletail had moved in just after Roselight gave birth, so she wasn't sure how the kitting had gone, but the prospect of witnessing what would soon happen to her had her nerves racing.

She tried to groom herself, sitting up slightly and attempting to calm herself with gentle licks, but she couldn't reach her fur like she normally could. She dare not ask Redsplash or Roselight for help; they were involved in their own thoughts, and Tumblestep had gone out for some fresh air, so she had no one to help her get comfortable.

Another movement in her belly caused her to grimace, and she stood shakily. Maybe Swanfeather would have some tips or suggestions to help her feel more comfortable. Nodding briefly to her denmates as she waddled out of the nursery, Rippletail set her awkward, unsteady paws towards the medicine cat's den.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

rippletail;; warrior ;; rainclan

@ghostlight: sunstride ;; tag
275 ;; wordcount
here we go~ ;; notes
3 Doors Down - Here Without You [edited] ;; lyrics

[Deleted]

Sunstride
The Brightest Flame
What if all you understand
Could fit into the center of our hand?
Then you found it wasn't you
Who held the sum of everything you knew

---

Timberwing, the old deputy, had led the young tom from the border of Rainclan and through the damp reeds towards the camp he would now be living in. Razorstar had left them to finish up his patrol, and possibly to think about the decision he had just made to let the former Treeclanner join Rainclan to be with his mate and kits who were on the way. The tom slightly worried that when the leader returned, he would go back on what he decided and run him from Rainclan all together.

As the reeds parted, Timberwing stepped aside to let the golden tomcat pad into the camp, eyes burned holes in his pelt as he was aware of Rainclanners glaring from all corners as their Nightclan born deputy entered the camp with a Treeclan born warrior by her side. However, once his eyes caught sight of something more interesting, all their stares faded from mind as the world stopped turning.

There she was, Sunstride's Fish, his love, his heart. "Rippletail!" He cried out, racing from Timberwing's red flank to bound up to his waddling mate, a heavy purr in his throat as he came closer. Her scent drowning his nose and lungs as he reached forwards to touch her cheek with his nose, glad to never be parted from her again, despite the hole where he left his family.

She was so beautiful, her fur glowed and her eyes still beautiful and blue, her scent, though now milky, still smelt like flowers and water. Her belly was massive now, though he would never tell her such a thing, but it made him wonder just how many kits she was carrying. Three, four maybe, what if he had five kits. Five kits that he and Rippletail made together!

He was aware of the crowd building around him and his mate, as they stared down the two who had broken the code, with only Timberwing's gentled expression for comfort from the cold stares and harsh glares, but in the eyes of his mate, Sunstride didn't care how they felt, he only wanted to be by her side, and it looked like he showed up just in time, he would be able to see the birth of his kits.

They would know his scent, his voice, his name. Rippletail would have someone waiting for her after she finished giving birth to their beautiful kits.

---

Like the sun we will live to rise
Like the sun we will live and die and then ignite again
Like the sun we will live to rise again

@lacihparg
Insidious
Fawn

[Deleted]

but all the stars that separate
disappear now when i'm dreaming of your face

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

"Rippletail!"

Blue eyes tore their gaze from the ground as the earth swallowed her whole. She was overwhelmed by the all too familiar earth and trees and brush, her mate's scent cascading over her nose. The eyes of her entire Clan burned into her pelt, making her shift her weight uncomfortably. A cold nose touched her cheek and her attention turned to the golden tom she had given herself to, the tom who held her heart in his paws and placed his kits inside her. They moved again inside her womb, as if greeting their father before they had even entered the world.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" she stammered, pulling away from him to make sure he actually was real. "Did Lionstar and Razorstar give you permission to come see me?" Rippletail couldn't imagine that happening as she had never even heard of something like that before. After all, they had broken the code -- why would their leaders allow him to see her anyway?

None of this made sense. Timberwing had entered with him -- her subconscious had noticed that. And yet, while a TreeClanner stood in the middle of RainClan camp, he didn't cause any warrior to attack him or to sound an alarm. She was aware of Timberwing herding her Clanmates away from them, but she didn't know why. Her babies shifted again, and she let out a breath of air this time as one of them moved in a weird way. Rippletail wasn't aware that her kits would cause her pain before they even left her body. But now, with Sunstride standing before her, she was even more confused, and waited for him to explain.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

rippletail;; warrior ;; rainclan

ghost: sunstride ;; tag
282 ;; wordcount
prepare for the outburst ;; notes
3 Doors Down - Here Without You [edited] ;; lyrics

[Deleted]

Sunstride
The Brightest Flame
What if all you understand
Could fit into the center of our hand?
Then you found it wasn't you
Who held the sum of everything you knew

---

The handsome tomcat's green eyes lit up with near amusement, despite his current feelings with switching clans. Taking a step back, his ear twitched, letting her question swim around in his head. Those orbs ran over the beautiful she-cat in front of him, she looked healthy, a bit stressed, though that was probably his own fault from suddenly showing up in her clan.

Tail wavering behind him, his eyes twinkled as he nosed her cheek once more. "No, my silly fish." He purred softly, his gentle voice hoping to ease her stress, not wanting to cause issues with Rippletail being so far along in her pregnancy. "I came to Rainclan to be with you... forever." Though he paused to let the word spill from his muzzle, he didn't regret his decision.

Sunstride let his green orbs stare into Rippletail's pretty blue eyes that could easily put Gentlebreeze's own pretty eyes to shame. Padding forwards, the golden and white tom placed an ear next to Rippletail's swollen belly, as if he expected to hear his kits moving around inside their mother's stomach.

He raised his head, a purr leaving his throat, the eyes of all the Rainclan cats on his pelt faded from thought as he focused his attention on his beautiful mate in front of him. "Rippletail, I'm so happy for us. You are going to be a wonderful mother."

---

Like the sun we will live to rise
Like the sun we will live and die and then ignite again
Like the sun we will live to rise again

@lacihparg
Insidious
Fawn