the living end [C]

Silverkit

“You’re having kits?”

Silverkit’s tail waved slowly behind him. He sat upright in his nest, poised and tall, with his paws tucked close to him. Opposite was Iceheart, the newest resident of the nursery, laid in the nest recently put together for her. It had been a few nights since she’d officially moved into the den, but Silverkit still hadn’t wrapped his head around it. She was a warrior! She was supposed to be doing… exciting, brave warrior-things. Not laying here watching little furballs squirm around. Meadowlark always made it sound like such a tiring chore; he couldn’t imagine wanting to be a queen.

Silverkit scooted a few inches closer. He was careful to remain within the bounds of his nest, not wanting to get too close and potentially disturb Iceheart. She usually didn’t mind him; he had chased her heels around camp a few times, bothering her about warriorhood and what the territory was like and what exactly had happened in camp a few weeks ago and… anything that came to mind, really. She was one of few cats that allowed his obnoxious enthusiasm. He was tempted to run right up to her side, filled with partially-disgruntled enthusiasm, but he didn’t want her to decide he was annoying.

Lifting his chin a little, Silverkit blinked up at her. “And do what with them?” Raise them, dummy. His nose wrinkled a little at the private scolding. Sure. But beyond laying in here nursing, or watching them roll around… it didn’t seem very exciting. It was exciting for him to be a kit, sure, but… he shook his head.

Iceheart

Iceheart was sat comfortably in her nest. She was surprised at how much softer they made the queens’ nests, as she had not experienced one since kithood, but it made sense. Both for the queen who worked hard to look after the kits of the nursery, and for the kits who were so sensitive to the world. She would miss this nest when she was back in the warrior’s den, but she would miss sleeping beside Forestbreeze while she was kept here.

She watched Silverkit and smiled at him. The naivety of kits was always so amusing to her, and it reminded her of her own naivety when she was his age. She typically did not fuss herself with kits, but Silverkit had taken a liking to her, and she could not find it within herself to be annoyed.

“To raise them, presumably,” she replied with a somewhat sly smile. “I’m certainly not going to leave them unattended. Though you’re approaching apprentice age, so who knows, perhaps you will already be out of this nursery before they are born.” And if not, perhaps Silverkit will be something of a big brother to them…Oh, she had to let that thought go. She’d already adopted one kit who had endeared her—Honey—there was no reason to mentally-adopt another.

ShadowClan • Tier 5 • She/Her • 70 | 160 • #6699ff

Credits: code inspiration - 1 2 |  image 1 | image 2 | image 3

Silverkit

Iceheart’s reply was rewarded with an amused snort and a raised chin. “Obviously,” Silverkit countered snidely, returning her grin. “I know that. But that’s so… boring.” The bridge of his muzzle wrinkled again, deeper this time. The scowl passed in an instant. “You’ll just… you’ll just be laying here! And they’ll just be bothering you all day, for– for six moons? That’s as long as I’ve been alive, Iceheart.” Silverkit spoke very matter-of-factly, even ending his words with a stiff nod, but he was snickering as he talked. “Wouldn’t they be fine alone, anyway? Once they can walk, I guess. I'm fine on my own.”

But he just shrugged. Despite his complaining, he guessed it wasn’t… terrible. Disappointing, that she was having kits now. He was getting closer to his apprentice ceremony like she’d said, and he’d been hoping Leopardsun was considering her to be his mentor.

“I dunno,” Silverkit drawled on, tail swaying. “I’ve gotta be an apprentice by then. I’m sure I’ll get put on nursery duty at some point.” His jaw stretched in a yawn, pleasant grin resting on his muzzle when his mouth closed. “I mean, I’ll meet’em at some point, right?”

Iceheart

Silverkit’s dramatic horror at the thought of having to look after kits for six months was quite amusing for someone who was so young. She watched him for a moment longer before she replied bluntly, “You’re not even six moons. You’ve still got a little while to go before you can be apprenticed.”

She shifted, lying on her other side while she watched him. It was comfortable, just lying here and talking with Silverkit. It will be disappointing when he is apprenticed and she is stuck here, but she hoped that he would at least visit often—even with annoying, fussy, mewling kits around.

“You’ll met them,” she promised. “They won’t be going anywhere once they’re born, so as long as you visit, they will be here. Who knows? If you do well with your apprenticeship, you could earn your warrior name before they are old enough to be a -paw. Perhaps you will be a mentor to one of them.” That should excite him, no? He was already so eager to be the best of the best in ShadowClan. This would only encourage him more. And honestly, Iceheart would not be against him mentoring one of her children. She could sense greatness in this little kit.

ShadowClan • Tier 5 • She/Her • 70 | 160 • #6699ff

Credits: code inspiration - 1 2 |  image 1 | image 2 | image 3