[Hellion]

Duskrose,

Queen of TreeClan

The scent of storm clouds put her on edge. Urging her to nest deep in the nursery, the few Queens that kept the nursery warm and well bedded, paid little attention to her. They knew the signs of coming labor, they would offer help if she asked.

Duskrose wanted none of it.

Determined as ever to do this on her own, Duskrose went boldly into the fray of motherhood. Blazefang would not come to her rescue as he had when they first met. Her brother, knowing of the kit's true heritage, refused to help out. What drove him to such a drastic stance puzzled her. Had the war with NightClan made him hate anything not of TreeClan origin? Duskrose whimpered against the growing discomfort. She couldn't blame the pain on a anxiety any longer. Her kits were on their way. Come StarClan or Dark forest, they would be with her today. Panting slightly, she groaned out in angst. The pain forcing her claws to dig deep into the den floor.

Feathercloud peeked around the slight bend to the nursery, spotted the laboring she-cat. Duskrose barely made eye contact with the older queen, before she took off to get Falconstorm. So Duskrose hoped.

How her mother suffered such pain and talked about doing it again amazed her.

Gritting her teeth against the nest twisting of her belly, Duskrose yowled low in her throat. Whispering Blazefang's name against the inside of her forepaw. Her calling for him came with a longing for his strength. To have him in her sight as she brought forth the symbol of their love.

Not that it mattered anymore. Their love and affection had long become faded and strained. The kits pushing their way into the world would be a reminder. A pitiful one, but still an ever-present one. She'd love them enough for them to know they don't need a father. The euphoric sensation of labor came to her in such a strange way, she feared she had passed on to StarClan, but the sensation of a tongue to her ears proved she was still alive.

"Blaze-

Hush sister, Falconstorm will be here soon," Dunefang spoke kindly to his sibling. She grinned a bit lopsided as her eyes welled. "I'm sorry for what I said before," His words mended the hurt from Blazefang's absence and gave her the strength to hold on until Falconstorm came.

She was a bit like spring;
wild as the wind
fickle as the weather,
but her love ran deep as tree roots.

Words ?? Tags Justice Fawn @calico KITS ARE OFFICALLY HERE! Notes

[Justice]

He'd been sorting his 'emergency' leaf bundles, making sure each one was where he needed it to be and was clearly marked by one of many distinctive feathers that he used in case something were to happen and he had to grab the right bundle and get where he was needed fast. It was a tactic that had served him well during his tenure as medicine cat, and he saw no reason to stop doing it now.

"Falconstorm!" His head snapped around as he heard the urgent call. "What's wrong? Who's hurt?" He was already mentally going over the most common accidents for the clan, but Feathercloud's next words made him change tracks mid-thought. Duskrose was kitting.

The blue-eyed tom's eyes went wide for a second before he grabbed his leaf with his kitting herbs in it and ran full pelt towards the nursery. He was a big tom and had to twice leap over apprentices who didn't know yet to get out of their medicine cat's way when he was in a hurry.

It didn't take him long to arrive at the laboring she-cat's side, plopping his leaf on the ground and her side and pressing a nose to her belly. "Its okay now, I'm here." He told her, purring softly as he checked her belly and sniffed to be sure she wasn't bleeding too much. "I've brought you some herbs for the pain, and moss filled with water to drink if you get thirsty. Dunefang lay to her other side, keep her warm."

Being as this was her first litter it could take awhile. He was prepared for the long wait. "You will be alright, take slow deep breaths between the pains. It will help."

Hellion

[Hellion]

Duskrose,

Warrior of TreeClan

The startled yelp of an apprentice who had dared to get caught up in Falconstrom's way alerted Dunefang. The tom moved slightly, allowing Falconstorm full access to his sister. She had gone from panting through the pain to holding her breath, groaning as the contraction forced her to gasp for air. The more golden of the siblings struggled to restrain the panic racing in his chest.

Once Falconstorm settled in beside his sister, he did as he was told, moving to her other side and pressing close to her. She turned slightly, burying her head into his chest as another sharp pain tore through her. They were coming quicker now, reminding them all of how eager the kits were to join their mother.

"I can't do this," Duskrose openly sobbed against Dunefang's pelt. He hushed her with a nudge to her cheek, muttering a phrase of encouragement. She had heard Falconstorm's request to breathe deeply but each time she did the pain threatened to seize her heart. How queens did this more than once remained a mystery.

A sudden weight left her and a brief moment of tightness then a surprised mew of excitement echoed in her ears. Opening her eyes to witness the birth of her first kit, Duskrose sighed despite the pain. Following her natural urge to groom and tend to the newborn, Duskrose revealed to the gathered toms that she had a son. The resemblance to Blazefang was not lost on her, but she elected to not comment on it now.

The tom-kit cleaned and starting to nurse, Duskrose groaned, not as pained as before. The familiar tightnesses then another soft kit joined her family. This one a she-cat, small but eager to join her brother once she was cleaned. Her body felt empty but in a soothing way, no other kits lingered within her.

Worn out from the ordeal, Duskrose relaxed slightly against her brother, the gentle pull of her nursing kits lulling her to the edge of sleep. "Thank you, for being here," She spoke to them both, but her eyes lingered on Dunefang. She hoped their strained relationship would end on this day. "Are they healthy Falconstorm?" She muttered, speech slurred by exhaustion.

She was a bit like spring;
wild as the wind
fickle as the weather,
but her love ran deep as tree roots.

Words ?? Tags @calico Justice Notes: Your post can end it? Get an easy post for Falcon's HR

[Justice]

The kitting progressed like it should have, he needn't have worried. Falconstorm remained attentive at her rear, making sure each kit in turn came out the way the were supposed to and not reversed or some other horrible way. He cooed and groomed Duskrose between her contractions, calling her sweet names and encouraging her to push even as her energy waned. Once each kit was safely arrived and cleaned he sniffed first one then the other and examined them.

They had a sweet scent like all newborn kits did, mixed with the blood of their mother and birthing fluids. He gave each a quick lick between the ears and carefully sniffed ears, bellies, and rears. He listened closely to the sounds of their breathing, their breathy little mewls of displeasure at his gentle handling, and then finally left them to nurse in contentment.

With the kits attended he set to cleaning up the nursery, carefully moving the dirtied bedding out from around the new queen and shifting over some fresh so that she would be comfortable. He'd have one of the apprentices come dispose of the mess later so it wouldn't smell.

Task complete he turned his attention back to the new queen, lying to one side of her around her kits so that his fluffy hide could be of use in soothing both queen and kits. "They seem healthy and strong. Good heartbeats, strong lungs, and a very brave mother. You did well Duskrose. Your kits are perfect, you are beautiful. Now get some rest, I'll wait here with you for a little while." Regardless of circumstances Falconstorm adored kits most of the time, and it seemed sad to him that now of all times Duskrose had to be alone.

But perhaps this event would mend the bridge between she and her brother for good, and the medicine cat could briefly enjoy the feeling of lying in the nursery and listening to the sounds of queens and kits. The closest thing to peace he ever found these days.

Hellion
[End?]