what I N D E E D ??

[(aurora) of the problematique]

lusterpurge

^{A pair of eyes glinted owlishly out from the nursery's entrance. A paw crept out but was swiftly pulled back once the thin thing touched the frigid blanket of snow. The tortoiseshell grunted and mumbled some nonsense that no one heard before poking her head out. Her tattered ears bent back as she glanced up, meowing balefully as a snowflake fluttered down and touched her crusty nose. Lusterpurge frowned deeply and shook her head, going back into the nursery's warmth. Rooting around the place, she pulled some of Tansyfrost's litter and Jadekit from Dewstep's litter from their beds and into hers. Surely she was bound to be noticed but what else was new. The elderly queen went to sleep.}

[SHADE. :D]

cootkit

Cootkit watched Loonkit go with wide pond-green eyes. She was one of the first to just be kind to him, to not judge him. To treat him like a kit, not a pathetic worm. It made him feel warm inside, and a rare smile curled his mouth. "Yeah, she is nice, isn't she?" he mewed, sounding far more chipper. He hesitated, then jabbed at Periwinklekit's sleek flank with an outstretched forepaw. "You're it, Periwinklekit!" His squeal was loud and high-pitched as he skittered automatically away from her, his paws skidding on loose moss. After a few moments of dithering, he ran down a small corridor of the nursery, before a scent hit him. He stopped, wiping his face with his paws, before turning around to look at Periwinklekit again. "Hey, Periwinklekit!" he whisper-called to her, as best as he could. "It's that weird cat!" He recognized the scent anywhere. His mother had told him that the cat meant him no harm, but to stay out of her way all the same. This just made him more excited about the weird monster he was expecting.

jasminekit

She had been sleeping deeply until she was disturbed. The small, fluffy ginger kitten stirred with a yawn that stretched her tiny jaws so wide that her white teeth and pink gums showed. She wriggled her tiny white forepaws for a moment, before opening her wide blue eyes. She blinked. Where was she? The smell was not of her mother. It was of... Somebody else. And she didn't like it. She could feel the pelts of Grasskit and Taigakit pressed up against her's, and smell another kit who she hadn't met yet. Jasminekit struggled to her paws, fluffy frame trembling a little. "M... Mumma?"

// Is it okay if Jasmine got taken? If not, I can delete it. ^^

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{ooc;// Sure, that's fine :]}

lusterpurge

<sup>Luminous orbs lifted warily, facing the entrance of the nursery. She could see a few figures from her place all the way in the back of the den.

She started and looked down, realizing that Jasminekit--for she knew every single kit by name--was stirring from her position. "Hush, hush," Lusterpurge exhaled softly. The patchy tortoiseshell laid her head next to Jasminekit's and nestled against her, purring raggedly as she hummed a soft lullaby just for the she-kitten.</sup>

[lonelylove :D]

pixiekit.

Pixiekit's eyes widen again as Gannetkit's butt almost met with her face when... Gannetkit was suddenly lifted away from her. She straightened to see who her rescuer is. "Thanks Loonkit!, She mewed. She gave the foster kit a rare smile, before turning her attention back to Gannetkit. Of course, another distraction arrived, in the form of Rhymekit. "Oh hey, Rhymekit!" She frowned at her sister's comment, but she made a pshaww noise. "Oh please, Daddy's fine," She said, accompanied by a roll of her amber eyes.

She crounched and wriggled her bottom. "Now, where was I? Oh yes, I was about to beat your guts out!" She launched herself towards him, aiming her paws at his chest.

[cheshy says grace]

otterspirit

The queen padded up behind Lusterpurge, settling beside the warrioress. "Pixiekit, watch where you bite and keep your claws in!"

[/color] she reminded her daughter. The gray she-cat had grown quite a lot since she had had her litter. She had become more mature and calmer. Otterspirit looked around herself for the love of her life and figured he was in the medicine cat's den. Poor Barrenclaw, she thought sadly. He's been coughing so much, I hope he's okay.[/color]

Otterspirit walked over to Rhymekit and lowered herself so she was the same hieght as her daughter. The queen nuzzled her kit and whispered, "I'm sure Pap-pap will be fine, darling."[/color] Then she nudged her forward, "Why don't you go and play with your sister."[/color] Otterspirit's brown eyes reflected her worry as she spoke so hopefully about her mate. She knew Barrenclaw wouldn't make it, she just wished she would be there when he takes his last breath. But I've been so busy with the kits...[/color] she troubled herself.[/size][/blockquote]

mirrorkit

[/right][/color][/font]

The she-kit bounced out of the nursery, joining the group of kittens. She looked around at what was happening. Gannetkit and Pixiekit were playfighting, Cootkit and Periwinklekit were talking, and her mother had just appeared. Mirrorkit listened to her mother talk about her father. Their whole family was worried about Barrenclaw. Mirrorkit pranced up to her mother and Rhymekit. "Hey, Rhymekit! You wanna go visit Daddy?"

[/color][/size][/blockquote]

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

ooc: if the kits are going to visit Barrenclaw, I'll have him die in this thread. :c
periwinklekit.

For a moment after Cootkit 'tagged' her, Periwinklekit stood still, trying to remember what game he was playing with her. It... She frowned, moving closer to him when he scampered away, only to have him move further from her. And he was laughing! Was this a joke? Tears built up in her blue eyes, and she struggled to keep them inside her head as she called, "Cootkit! Why are you runnin' away from me? I thoughts we were --" the spotted she-cat cut off when Cootkit stopped in his tracks, his eyes focused on a darker corner of the nursery. He seemed to have forgotten that he was running away from her, so she crept up beside him and watched as Lusterpurge murmured something gentle to Jasminekit.

"What's she doin'? That's not her baby, is it?" she hissed softly to Cootkit, still beside her.

[/blockquote]

spadekit.

Spadekit had been awake for a while, listening to Pixiekit and Gannetkit fight and make up multiple times. He finally sat up when he heard his mother enter the nursery, and he padded up to her and pressed his face into her brown-gray fur silently, trying to let all the worry about his father melt away. He hadn't been to see his father since the snow had started, but the worried tone from his mother told him that Barrenclaw was not doing well. He looked over his shoulder for a moment, hoping to find Septemberkit. He couldn't quite see her nest from here, she could be there or maybe she wasn't. He sighed.

Spadekit's ears twitched at Mirrorkit's suggestion. "I'll come with you," he meowed in his soft voice, padding towards his sisters, leaving his mother behind. He usually wasn't one for going out in the snow, but if he could see his father's condition for himself, then maybe it would help him sleep at night. He just had to know.

[/blockquote]

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

jadekit

Her eyes snapped open as she felt her body being picked up and taken to a different nest. The scents of other kits, from different litters, entered her nose. She narrowed her emerald eyes as she turned her attention to the elderly queen. Jadekit hated to be touched, be it by her mother, or her siblings. She hated the feeling of someone else's paws, mouth on her own fur. Shaking that thought away, the nearly apprentice-aged she-kit stood, starting back to her mother's nest without a word. She had never liked the elderly queen. There was just something about Lusterpurge that rubbed Jadekit the wrong way. With a sigh, she sat down beside her mother, looking around for her siblings.

[idk my bff brindle]

gannetkit[/color]

and my fancy is flying
it’s a castle in the sky
or there’s nothing out there
these are castles in the air

The handsome prince continued to puff out his chest, staring proudly at Rhymekit as he tried to make himself seem like a tired, sad, but still brave and wonderful prince. After all, heros like that got more attention. Gannetkit noticed a scruff of hair sticking up on his shoulder and the tom set to licking in down embarressedly. He was never going to live that down! The kit had thought his brown coat was pefectly glean and beautiful, but it had had a flaw. The tom winced, still blushing somewhat as he looked at Rhymekit and tried to straighten himself up. "Uhm," he started, forgetting what he was about to say.

Then the tom say Pixiekit rise at him out of the corner of his golden eyes. He bent down, pretending he hadn't seen her. But the tom kept flickering glances at her, waiting for the she-kit to strike. When she did, he was ready. Gannetkit rolled towards her, going just a bit off the place he thought she would land. The tom was on his belly, and he shot up his hind legs towards her underbelly as she jumped over him. The move was his own invention, and Gannetkit hoped he would hit her.

[/blockquote]

[lonelylove :D]

pixiekit.

Pixiekit's opened wide as Gannetkit quickly rolled underneath her and pushed up with his hind paws. They indeed connected with her underside, and she screamed at she flew up a tail-length or two. She landed on her paws, but she fell clumsily to the side, and collasped on her side. She was quiet for a moment, before she sprang back up, hissing with fury. "GRRRR! GANNETKIT!" She sprinted towards him, her paws outstretched. She kept her claws in, but she put all her strength and energy into her paws. If she got him, it would hurt. A lot. I hope I give him a bruise!, She thought viciously.

[SHADE. :D]

rhymekit

The small grey and white tabby blinked as her mother appeared, assuring her that Barrenclaw was fine. A slightly goofy smile spread across her face. If her mother said her father was fine, he would be. Rhymekit noticed Gannetkit looking at her and blinked at him for a moment. Then she giggled. "You're looking at me funny," she informed him, as if he didn't know. The grey striped kitten turned to look at Mirrorkit as Pixiekit and Gannetkit seemed to restart their little scuffle. She bounced happily on her small white paws. "Yeah, good idea Pixiekit!" she squealed, skidding from left to right in her eagerness. "Let's go see Pappy!" She hurtled towards the medicine den, knowing that her siblings would follow if they wanted to. She could smell the scent of Emeraldpaw, the medicine cat apprentice (she smelt funny, so Rhymekit didn't like her much) and the icky scents of herbs and stuff. And... "PAPPA!" She threw herself at the blind tom, not understanding the seriousness of his illness.

jasminekit

The small fluffy kit turned her wide, soft blue eyes on the cat who had taken her away from her mother. She still looked frightened when Lusterpurge rubbed her patchy cheek against her. The cat smelt weird. And she was scary. But the lullaby was soft and soothing, just for her. Jasminekit watched as Jadekit got up calmly and walked away. She wanted to wail at the older kit to wait for her, but Jadekit just disappeared back to her nest.

[idk my bff brindle]

gannetkit

[/color]

and my fancy is flying

[/center]

it’s a castle in the sky
or there’s nothing out there
these are castles in the air

[/size][/color][/blockquote]

The tom was ducking and rolling, letting out a grunt of satisfaction as he felt his feet connect with Pixiekit's stomach. She went flying, landing with a thump of the ground. Gannetkit leapt to his paws, fure rushing through the handsome prince. He could vaguely hear what Rhymekit was saying to him, but he didn't listen as she left. His blood was broiling with battle. There was a brief moment of worry when the brown tabby tom noticed Pixiekit lying still, but he relaxed when she got up. This was a battle, and he wasn't going to back down. Digging his claws into the snowy ground, Gannetkit tensed. When Pixiekit flew at him, the tom moved away quickly- though her paws did graze his side- and rolled underneath, springing up behind her. Wincing slightly from the impact of her paws, Gannetkit leapt at her, aiming to land on Pixiekit's back.

[/blockquote]

[lonelylove :D]

pixiekit.

Gannetkit dodged to the side of her blow, but she managed to get his side. Yes! She landed and spun around to see what Gannetkit's counterattack was. He was flying towards her, trying to jump on her back. In an instant she thought of what to do. She quickly lowered into a crounch, and launched herself up and forward, meeting him face-to-face. That'll surprise him!, She thought eagerly. For an instance, she saw Rhymekit rush out of the nursery, off to say hello to Barrenclaw. Pixiekit had to end this quickly so she could go, too.

[idk my bff brindle]

gannetkit.

[/font][/size][/right]The prince was rather proud of his plan. He would land on her shoulders, knocking her to the ground. From there, Gannetkit would hold her down until she stopped squirming and gave up. Then he would let her go see her dad, Barrenclaw. Well, it was a perfect plaun until she ruined it. When Pixiekit leapt up at him, Gannetkit groaned. There was a split second when he was aware this was a result in pain. Then the tom lowered his head so their heads cracked together. The force of the impact sent him flying back and he landed in a head, his head throbbing. Her head must be really thick. Gannetkit looked up, princely composure in ruins. His fur was fluffed up everywhere. "Ow," the tom murmured.[/blockquote]

[cheshy says grace]

mirrorkit

[/font][/color][/right]

The brown and gray kitten pranced after her sisters before looking behind herself, "C'mon, Spadekit!"

[/color] She trotted out of the nursery highspeed, almost stumbling and falling on her head. Mirrorkit entered the medicine cat den carefully, the she-kit couldn't stand the bitter smell of herbs but she would stand them for her father. She gently approached Barrenclaw, nuzzling her father's cheek. "Hi Daddy,"[/color] she mewed softly.[/size][/blockquote]

otterspirit

[/right][/color][/font]

The queen followed her daughters to the medicine cat den, her paws heavy with worry for her children. She had lied through her very own teeth, she knew Barrenclaw wasn't going to be fine. She crawled into the smelly den, settling down behind her mate. She rested her chin on his flank,laying down. "Hello dear,"

[/color] she whispered. The Rhymekit hurtled herself into her father, "Rhymekit, be careful! your father's ill!"[/color] she meowed firmly.

[[blahhh]][/size][/blockquote]

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

barrenclaw.[/font][/size]

The tom was barely even concious until Rhymekit barreled into his side. Oh... were they really that big? Had he really missed this much of their lives? The brown tom cursed whatever StarClanner had decided to put him through this. His eyes had gotten worse, the infection and cold sucking almost all his strength. Emeraldpaw tried her best, but sometimes he felt like he would snap at her if only his throat was well enough. He knew it; Otterspirit knew it. He was never going to see his kits become apprentices, never cheer their new names as they became warriors. Never go on a patrol with them or show them Aurora's Hollow (which he had stubbornly still reffered to as Jay's Hollow until a few days ago).

And it only killed him faster to think that they didn't know that.

Today was the worst of all, but he managed to shake Rhymekit off of his flank before collapsing back onto his stomach. He turned his head towards his daughtors and son, even if he couldn't see them.

"Hey," was all he could choke out. A whooping chest cough followed, but he shook it off and treid to focus on the descriptions Otterspirit had given him. A tom that looked like his mother; a pale brown tabby she-kit; two gray and white she-kits. "How are you? Are you... you four already as big as I think you are? I should come see you more often." He was a completely different cat with his kits. He had to be. His time with them was limited... he might never hear their tiny voices again.

[/blockquote]

spadekit.

As happy as Spadekit was to see his father, it made him with he hadn't come to see him like this. A yellow puss had formed around his father's scars, something he was used to by now, but somehow this time it looked one-hundred times worse. Barrenclaw was bone-skinny, as if he shrank with every shaking, uneven breath. Spadekit was lucky that his sisters didn't pay attention to him and that his back was to his mother, because he didn't want them to see his horror-frozen face. He watched his father as he coughed, dread setting a stone in his belly.

"H-hi, Pap-pap." his voice was soprano in anxiety.

[/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

rhymekit

Rhymekit squirmed excitably, her lime eyes wide even as her mother scolded her. "B-but Ma! I'm excited!" she squealed, skipping from paw to paw before turning back to her father. She barely noticed Spadekit tense as the straw-coloured warrior began to speak. Her brother was weird like that, it wasn't something she consciously noticed. It was just a given. The small grey and white puffed out her chest at her father's words. "Yup, we're like, huge Pappers," she told Barrenclaw boastfully. "Don't tell anyone, but I'm the biggest!" She giggled happily, dancing around her father in a circle before snuggling into his pelt despite his nasty-sounding cough and the smell of sickness coming from his pelt. So what? Maybe he had a bit of fur stuck in his throat, like that time with the vole... Ick. And so he hadn't taken a wash for a while? Rhymekit had once been dared not to groom herself for a moon. She'd nearly managed it, too (well, a few suns) until Otterspirit intervened...

[lonelylove :D]

pixiekit.

Pixiekit smiled as she flew towards Gannetkit. Ha. The look on his face made her want to laugh hysterically. But that would ruin the impact. But then he lowered his head. There was a loud crack as their heads bumped. Hard. They both flew in opposite directions. She landed on her back a tail-length away. Her head was throbbing painfully. She curled up into a ball for a second, nursing her headache. She took a deep breath and slowly stood up. She felt a little dizzy, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was killing Gannetkit. But, the she-kit took a look around. Her siblings and mother had already left to see Barrenclaw. She kneaded her paws on the ground, pondering what to do.

Finally, she galloped over to Gannetkit, who was still lying on the ground. She poked him fiercely in the chest as she had before, but her eyes showed her hostility. "How stupid can you get? Your head is so full of your dumb daydreams about being a prince or whatever that you gave me a serious headache! I would pummel you right now, but I have to go see my dad." She hissed fiercely, and stalked off towards the entrance of the nursery. She looked back for a moment. "I'll get you later!" And off she ran, to the medicine cat den.

The snow clung to her fur, and several times the little femme almost got swallowed up by the snow banks and the roaring wind. But Pixiekit treaded determined towards the medicine cat. Once she stood in the entrance, she brushed off the snow with her tongue, before cantering forward. A smile was on her face as she saw Barrenclaw, surrounded by their family. "Dad!," She cried. She ran towards him, but skidded to a stop when she heard her mother warn Rhymekit to stay off. Pixiekit was oblivious to her father's condition. He looked horrible, but she didn't care. "Hey Dad, guess what? I just beat up Gannetkit," She boasted proudly. She let her chest swell, so she looked it. Well, okay, she hadn't exactly beat him... it was more of a tie, since Gannetkit got them both hurt... Pixiekit touched her head, for it was still throbbing. Well, as long as they didn't see her pain...

[cheshy says grace]

otterspirit

[/color][/font]
emeralds hold no hope[/right][/i]

The queen looked at Rhymekit as she gave her excuse, "No matter, just be careful when you are around your father. He's not as strong as he used to be, darling.

[/color] She knew Barrenclaw was going think up a retort to her statement but she was used to the tabby tom's brittle personality, she had grown to love it. She had learned to take most of what he said not seriously. The ill tom just had a short temper. Otterspirit, "Baby, how're you feeling?"[/color] she asked softly. The gray she-cat started to groom her mate carefully and gently. Otterspirit didn't know what she would do if Barrenclaw died. Even though she knew she'd never look into Barrenclaw's eyes ever again she could deal with that. All she wanted was him. She wanted her family to be full and happy and healthy again.

Otterspirit took a moment to look behind her at her only son. Terror seemed to be stricken across his face and she gave him a comforting lick on his cheek. "Your daddy will be okay, baby dear,"[/color] she lied through her teeth while gluing on a plastic smile.[/size][/blockquote]

mirrorkit

[/color][/font]
well, it must be difficult being so gorgeous[/color][/size][/right]

The gray she-kitten laid down next to her father, snuggling with him. Sadness and sorrow had come upon her when she had entered the medicine den. Sure, she had recived her father's stubborness but she had always been gentle like her mother. And she knew when to be gentle too. Pixiekit was the one who had received her father's personality. Mirrorkit yawned slightly and pressed closer into her father's icky, cold mackeral tabby fur. "Daddy, you're cold."

[/color][/size][/blockquote]

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

barrenclaw.

"I'm just as strong as the next --" another cough cut off his weak retort, but he let his mate groom his ears and face without complaint. He had no strength left to complain, even had he wanted to. He smiled at Pixiekit, singling her out with her voice. "That's... that's good. Just... keep... teaching... him." Whatever humor could have been found in that was overshadowed by the obvious pain in his voice.

A prickle of protest ran up his spine when Otterspirit comforted their son. She shouldn't lie to them... he was dying. Even he had come to terms with that. And these words... these quiet, raspy words... even he had come to terms with the fact that they would be his last. Better make this count, he decided, his heart heavy from leaving his mate like this. But it wasn't hard, he decided, after he had known for so long that he'd never make it through winter. Somehow, that made it easier. "Otterspirit...

"I... keep them safe... you've done... such a good job... right? I love you," he used as much strength as he could muster to nuzzle his mate's face, before turning his head to Mirrorkit, balled up against his flank.

"Of course... I'm cold. I'm going to... die -- go to StarClan," he gruffly replaced the morbid term with one his kits would prefer. "Sorry... you won't... be able to... visit me anymore. Now... go with your mother... go." He roughly prodded his daughter into a standing position and flicked her with his tail. After that, he fell still.

No one really knows how long after that it was, how long he lay there with memories of his kits and mate floating about in his head. But by nightfall, one thing was certian: Barrenclaw was dead.

[/blockquote]

[cheshy says grace]

ooc.

ohgod... Kuri you made me cry. Literally, a teardrop just fell on my mousepad DD; *huggles Barrenclaw's ghost*[/blockquote]

otterspirit

[/font][/color]
Emeralds hold no hope.[/color][/center]

"I love you too," she whispered in his ear, choking back tears.

"Sorry... you won't... be able to... visit me anymore. Now... go with your mother... go."

As the tom fell still and silent the queens eyes grew wider and wider. "Barrenclaw? Barrenclaw. Barrenclaw?!"

[/color] she cried, her throat was dry as she tried not to cry her heart out in front of her children. It choked her and sucked in a breath as she dug her face into the fallen tom's side. His scent was still there but most of it was covered in bitter-scented herbs and the gross smell of sickness. She sobbed into his unmoving body, her own racking and shaking as she broke down hard. "D-D-Don't... Don't leave... M-M-Me,"[/color] she managed to say through her asphyxiation. "I-I love... you."[/color]

"Don't l-leave me."[/color][/size][/blockquote]

mirrorkit

[/color][/font]
well it must be difficult being so gorgeous[/center][/i]

"Of course... I'm cold. I'm going to... die -- go to StarClan."

[/color]

Then her father started to push her away from himself, "Dad? Dad what're you doing? Dad!"[/color] she screamed as he lay tranquil. His chest had stopped it's small and uneven motions up and down and she knew what that meant. "Daddy...? No. No! No no no no no no..."[/color] she repeated her words as she backed up into a corner of the medicine cat den, her eyes as big as two dinner plates. "Daddy can't be dead. HE CAN'T!"[/color] she screamed, curling into a ball and beginning to bawl.[/size][/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

rhymekit

The grey and white tabby continued to speak about her day, her words going more and more off topic. She snuggled into her father's sparse fur happily, her kiwi eyes gleaming. She didn't listen to his rasped words, instead concentrating on smoothening a bit of his straw-coloured fur. The small kit blinked as her mother began to repeat Barrenclaw's name. Over. And over. Then she was crying, and Pixiekit too. Rhymekit blinked her huge eyes in bewilderment. She padded away and poked Otterspirit's side. "Ma-Ma! Be quiet! Pappy's tired!" She turned to look at her father. He seemed to be sleeping. She sighed. "Pappy? Pappy? Pops! Wake up silly!" she danced around him, waiting. "Yoohoo? Pa? Daddy?" Something clicked in her slow mind. Crying. No reaction. It reminded her of... Of Oleandergaze. She choked. Rhymekit fled to her mother and pressed her small face into her soft pelt. "Ma, tell Daddy to stop being stupid. Tell him to wake up, right this second, or... Or... Or I'll scream."

[Spice..xx]

_Dewstep[/size][/font]

The queen froze as she heard that frantic voice, knowing exactly what it was. She was chilled to the bone remembering Oleandergaze. Barrenclaw.......he must have gone. "Oh God" she choked out, running out into the snow and to the medicine cat den. She heard Rhymekits shrill protest and felt the tears welling in her eyes. "Otterspirit......I'm so sorry. I know how you feel, I know the pain you feel right now. But the kits...." she trailed off anxiously, looking towards the kits. She felt a stabbing pain in her heart, they must be going through exactly what her kits had. Her head reeled as she looked to Otterspirit, not knowing what the she-cat was going to do, or if she would accept Dewstep being there. This was all just so hard.

Carnationkit[/size][/font]

The slender she-cat wiggled her way to the entrance of then den, staring after the direction in which her mother had fled so rapidly. She suddenly heard Mirrorkit's scream and she backed quickly back into the nursery, looking to someone, anyone for support. "Whats wrong with Mirrorkit?" she whispered, her voice demanding. Her eyes welled with tears and she flashed a look around her, not knowing who she could go to. Her mother wasn't there and her father was gone forever. Her siblings couldn't provide her the comfort she needed. Her legs sagged and she sank to the ground, her quiet sobs shaking her body.

Bramblekit[/size][/font]

She raised her head slightly as many things happened at once. She hissed quietly at Pixiekit and Gannetkit, she didn't like either of them much at all. Gannetkit was very pompous and basically, his head was up his own butt and Pixiekit picked a fight for anything and everything. She rolled her eyes and then looked to Dewstep leaving. She knew that the tiny, almost terrified looking female was her aunt but tensions between her own mother and her seemed high. Bramblekit turned her head to Tawnysky, looking at her mother curiously. "Whats wrong with Dewstep?" she asked the she-cat, head to one side.

[/sub]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

taigakit

<sub>"Oh for the love of StarClan, SHUT UP WITH THAT FREAKIN' CRYING!" came the caterwaul of a drab-gray kitten as he stood up from all the way in the back of the nursery. He could hear that obnoxious wailing all the way from the medicine cat den.

Dark eyes glared out from the darkness that was Lusterpurge's domain, and Taigakit leapt down gracefully from the elderly queen's nest. She had stolen him from his mother's side but he really didn't care. He thought of them to be a nuisance anyway.

The son of Grasswhistle stormed up to the front of the nursery.

"What the crap is going on? Can't I get a bit of sleep without some little wench screamin' about her--"

His tirade fumbled off into oblivion as the scornful Taigakit came to rest about a badgerlength away from the dead Barrenclaw. He hadn't known the tom obviously but he had heard stories about all the warriors of the Clan. While he didn't respect Barrenclaw, it did remind him of what his mother had told him about his own father, who had been taken down by the rogue named Quetzal.

Taigakit frowned deeply and slapped his tail on the ground. "Just...keep it down...or...whatever."

The kitten realized that he no longer had a point here so he stepped back and tried to sneak out, as if nothing of what he had done just happened.</sub>

[cheshy says grace]

otterspirit

[/color][/font]
Emeralds hold no hope[/color][/center]

With yet another shudder the queens ears picked up the sound of Dewstep's voice. She needed a friend right now but she wouldn't leave Barrenclaw's side. "D-Dewstep... Can y-y-you take the... kits t-t-to the n-n-nursery..."

[/color] her throat closed up dryly. Her eyes wouldn't stop flowing and she looked at her daughter's through blurred vision. She didn't want to see her family like this. She wanted them to be happy and she wanted Barrenclaw back. She didn't want him to go. She wasn't ready for a goodbye. Not yet. "You said... You said y-you'd wait for m-me..."[/color] she whispered into his chilling fur. Her throat was raw and it burned. She couldn't cry anymore, her kits couldn't see her like this. More tears welled up in her eyes, "Come b-back, please, b-b-baby. You promised m-me."[/color][/size]

ooc. I've got nothing for Mirrorkit yet... Eh I'm crying *wipes eyes*[/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

tansyfrost

A small cat trotted across the clearing towards the sounds of distress. She didn't look much older than an apprentice, but it was in fact Tansyfrost. The young queen had heard the crying, and was frightened for her kits. The blind she-cat sniffed the air. Listening quietly, she picked up what was going on. Pity swelled in her heart. Another queen left mateless. Dewstep, Otterspirit... Her. And Tawnysky, whose kits didn't seem to have a father. Tansyfrost exhaled. Her ears pricked up when she heard the high-pitched shrieks of Taigakit. She followed her son's scent as he tried to slip away, realising what he had intruded on. Tansyfrost judged his distance with skills she had been honing since she first realised she was blind, and darted forward to pick him up by the scruff. "What have I told you about your yelling?" she mewed, but couldn't manage to inject much scolding into her voice. "Where's Grasskit, and your sisters?" Her nose wrinkled as she caught the scent of Lusterpurge's nest on her son's coat. "Where have you been, Taigakit?"

[/blockquote]

tawnysky

[/size][/right]

Tawnysky opened her eyes, irritation coursing through her body. Like Taigakit, she'd been woken by the wails of kits, and now it seemed, a queen, too. Tawnysky heaved herself to her paws and counted her kits absently. She couldn't see Bearkit, Crisiskit, Bramblekit or Periwinklekit. The only kit curled at her stomach was Mayakit. Tawnysky clucked her tongue in annoyance, when Bramblekit appeared. She licked her daughter between the ears, relieved that she had returned. She was always worried about her kits when they were out of her sight. "I don't know honey," she mewed vaguely. Her sister was probably upset about her mate. Again. Tawnysky sighed and looked around for her other kits. "Where are your brothers, and Periwinklekit?"

rhymekit

The small grey and white kitten felt tears bead at the corners of her eyes as she continued to poke her mother. "Mumma! Ma! What's the matter?" Somewhere at the back of her mind she knew, but she didn't want to accept it. She turned to glare at her father's still form. "Pap, this is all your fault! Why'd you have to go and fall asleep? You've upset Ma now!" Rhymekit trotted to Dewstep, tears making trails on her face. "Dewstep," she whined the name. "Why is Mumzy crying? Why?" She pouted and stamped her slim white paws.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

taigakit

<sup>"Woman! Are you out of your mind?" he screeched when he was picked up by the scruff like some beaten cur's corpse off the street, but he did not swing his paw to hit her or anything of that nature. He merely put on the surliest of expression as she began to interrogate him.

"We were with Lusterpurge, Mother, like always." He rolled his eyes, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and then realized that the rude gesture was lost on his blind mother.

Taigakit sighed and wriggled. "Lemme go," he grunted demandingly.</sup>

[lonelylove :D]

pixiekit.

Pixiekit beamed at her father as he weakly praised her. "Thanks, Daddy-yo!" But her grin quickly turned into a frown as Barrenclaw's health seemed to take a downturn right before her eyes. And then... He was just gone.

How can someone just be there one second and the next one be gone?, She wondered in her mind. It was as if a dark cloud had drifted over the sun's glare, but it refused to float away. Pixiekit didn't cry. She never cried. But she frowned, and an immense sadness seemed to settle on her shoulders. She sighed and turned away from her family for a moment, to stare outside the entrance of the medicine cat den.

Before she knew it, a gray kit stumbled into the entrance, yelling something about 'keeping it down.' Taigakit. Anger flared inside of Pixiekit, outshining her depression. "Hey! Can't you see my dad just died! You shut up!" She grunted, unsatisfied by her words, but she didn't know what else to say. He had left anyway. She turned back to her family, and pressed against Otterspirit's side. She was sobbing her eyes out. "It's okay, Mamma," She murmured, ignoring Rhymekit's loud proclaims of confusion. "It's gonna be okay."

[SHADE. :D]

tansyfrost

The ginger and white queen dumped her kit on the grass, rubbing her face with one raised forepaw. Why did I ever think I was cut out for this? "Don't speak to me like that," she mewed eventually, though her voice was limp as a dead mouse. She waited, looking at what she hoped was the direction of her son's face. She could taste the annoyance rolling off his little body. Tansyfrost sighed again as she discovered where her kit had been. "Right. I hope you weren't rude to her," she mewed, saying this more for her son's safety than anything else. Lusterpurge was one odd cat. She wasn't sure if she meant harm or not. Tansyfrost breathed in deeply. She could only taste Taigakit's scent. It didn't seem like Heatherkit, Jasminekit or Grasskit had left the nursery. "Did Lusterpurge take any of your sisters, or Grasskit?" she asked carefully.

[---> LIZZEH]

B E A R K I T!

we laid her next to him beneath the w i l l o w,
while the angels sang a whiskey lullaby.

INCHARCTER.||

Grumbling under his breath, Bearkit pushed himself up from where he had been lying and walked over to Tawnysky's side. "What is it, Mum? His eyes went over to the two siblings by their mother, and a smile flashed slightly then disappated. The racket that he could hear was bothering him, and his skinny tail flicked behind him slowly. "Make them shut up. They are going to wake everyone up," he complained, growing annoyed with the current situation. If it wasn't all snowy outside, he wouldn't be in here, and he would be able to not hear all the noise. Of course, he didn't realize that Barrenclaw had died. Oh, how not in the know was he.[/blockquote]

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

fadedmemory

"What's going on?"

Her questioning voice was both soft and commanding as the tall she-cat made her way towards the nursery and popping her head into the queen's den. Her eyes were filled with questioning before they focused upon Otterspirit. And everything came crashing down upon the deputy. Without saying anything else, she slipped to the queen's side, gently giving a lick over her ear. "It's alright, love." Fadedmemory murmured softly, stroking the she-cat's back with her tail. "Tawnysky, Tansyfrost, can you gather your kits together and keep them away for a bit? And Dewstep? I'll need you here for a few moments." The deputy mewed, turning her eyes back towards Otterspirit.