[Fawn]

I can feel you on my lips all the time

But I just wanna feel you in my heart and on my mind

The kits wouldn't be long now. The normally sleek looking RainClan warrioress was now considerably wide, her belly swollen with what was promising to be a good sized litter. 'At least two', Swanfeather had said —and Lotuswhisker couldn't remember being more ecstatic in her whole life. Gullswoop and Bitternwing had already made her a comfortable nest in the nursery. It was where she currently lounged, trying to escape the heat of the day and wait for evening; watching Dewkit and Fernkit play with the two TreeClan kits, Lotuswhisker stifled a yawn. It was peaceful. Too peaceful.

I can't sleep the day away. I'll never get any sleep tonight. Besides, she missed a certain silver-furred warrior and wanted to catch him on his return from a patrol. Stretching languidly, the momentum ended up being more than Lotuswhisker expected, and she had to be careful not to topple over like a turtle. With an indignant snort and the light tiptoeing of a queen trying not to step on any delicate tails or limbs, Lotuswhisker entered the sunlit camp.

The sounds of rushing water were all around her, and the sunshine felt good on her shoulders, her already sleek coat gleaming in the rays. With a keen eye that roamed the camp in search of Gullswoop, Lotuswhisker wiped her whisker and muzzles tidily as a familiar white-and-patched pelt darted into view. Oh—Ashflight! It had been so long since they'd spoken... It was never too late to rekindle an old friendship. With that belief held tight, Lotuswhisker willed her (already) tired legs to bring her closer to the other she-cat.

"Ashflight! Morning. Do you mind if I walk with you? If I sit around any longer, I'm going to have logs for legs." Lotuswhisker understood the value of rest, but she was a little... nest-crazy, stuck somewhere between excitement over the incoming arrivals and impatience to meet her new family. "Just to the camp stream," she added, sea-green eyes warm. "Otherwise Gullswoop might try to herd me back to the nursery." A few moons ago, if anyone had asked her if she could picture Crowblaze ever looking after her like an overprotective shadow, she would've laughed and called that impossible.

But he did. He kept an eye on her when Gullswoop was out of camp, and Lotuswhisker felt herself tugged between amusement and annoyance. It was usually endearing - until he got bossy.

42 Moons | Senior Warrior | RainClan

Lotuswhisker

Tags: @zen
Notes: Hellion (for Gullswoop mention)
Word Count: 399 Words

[Deleted]

When the hope of morning starts to fade in me,
I don't dare let darkness have its way with me...

---

A successful hunt brought Ashflight to the freshkill pile, dropping a blackbird and two sparrows onto the mound of fish. She was briefly surprised to see a thrush she hadn't caught among the choices, and then she remembered Magpiewing. Her ear twitched at the thought of the black and white TreeClan tom. She didn't trust him any more than she trusted an eagle. She'd expressed her concerns about the tom to her brother shortly after Magpiewing had arrived with the two TreeClan kits, but Rushwhisker had only urged her to give him a chance. She was probably just nervous because he was from TreeClan, but being from a different Clan didn't make him a bad cat. He'd seemed slightly defensive, but had just excused himself before she could really think more on it.

She cast her pale green gaze around camp, wondering if the TreeClanner was around. Maybe if she got to him these negative feelings would go away. Rushwhisker was probably right and she was being prejudiced. Instead it was Lotuswhisker that caught her attention, calling her name. Her ears pricked as she made her way over, wanting to lessen the very pregnant queen's workload by meeting her half way. Her whiskers twitched in amusement and she shook her head, “Of course. I don't envy you. I can't imagine not being able to hunt or patrol for so long. I think I'd go mad.” She shook out her pelt, uncomfortable with the thought of being stuck in the nursery for moons.

She set an easy pace, paying careful attention to Lotuswhisker's steps to make sure she didn't start walking too fast for the other she-cat, prepared to lend her a shoulder to lean on if she got tired. Her ears flicked back briefly, “I'm... sorry.... That I haven't really spent any time with you, I mean. We were pretty good friends once, ages ago it seems like.” She let out a soft laugh, “I... I'd like to be again.” She laughed once more as a thought occurred to her, “Hey, maybe Stormstar will pick me to mentor one of your kits.”

---

And the hope of morning makes me worth the fight,
I will not be giving in tonight.

Fawn

[Fawn]

I can feel you on my lips all the time

But I just wanna feel you in my heart and on my mind

Lotuswhisker laughed - and then had to stop moving so she could get her breath and her strength back. "That would be perfect, Ashflight. You may bring back rather unusual prey choices," Lotuswhisker glanced in the direction of the fresh kill pile, remembering the three birds on top of what was usually fish and frog. "But I think that's an asset, not a disadvantage." She's so different from the apprentice I used to know, Lotuswhisker watched the other she-cat's expression, slowly getting reacquainted with this newer, stronger, unexpected version of Ashflight.

"I have my heart set on three," said Lotuswhisker once she no longer felt so weak and tired. "And I have a few names already picked out. The anticipation is really making all this time in the nursery seem so agonizing." A smile made her already pretty features look warmer, more pleasing to the eye. "It's like sitting on the river bank wanting to swim, but having to wait for the water to get deeper. Nature has her own schedule, though." That's what her mother used to say.

It wasn't exactly uncommon knowledge that her companion hated the Purists. It had been Ashflight and a small number of warriors that had driven the Purists from the wooded cove - her own mother among them. Lotuswhisker's heart squeezed in stubborn refusal at the thought of apologizing for her mother's behavior. Maybe later. The weather's beautiful, my kits are almost here. I'm not ruining the good mood with talks of Shadefrost. Deciding to veer the subject onto something a little more pleasant, Lotuswhisker's tail wove a lively s shape behind her. "So, you and a certain ruddy warrior seem really close these days. Should I make a space for you in the nursery?" Sea-green eyes glittered, eagerly looking to see what sort of reaction she'd gotten out of her friend.

42 Moons | Senior Warrior | RainClan

Lotuswhisker

Tags:@zen
Notes:
Word Count: 307 Words