New Family [Open; Thistle's Family]

She couldn't believe it. She never thought she would be in the nursery. She liked having Sootwhisper as a mate, but it had been a while before her belly got big with kits. After the situation with Windclan to be exact. She missed her warrior duties but she was glad to have the six little bundles of joy to take care of. Five she-cats, and one tom. Her one son was in for a hard time she felt.

There was a pure white she-cat. She had strange eyes like her father, one was a striking yellow the other a frost blue. She was of average size compared to the others. She was also a tad reserved from what Thistleblaze saw of the white kit. She decided to name her Lightkit. It was fitting to her lighter colors that she was surprised to show up in this litter.

The next was a ginger tabby with green eyes which she assumed she got from Sootwhisper, even with his odd color eyes. She had a white tail tip which contrasted the rest of her tabby body. Cherrykit was her name. The first thing she noticed about Cherrykit was that she was louder than the rest. Which was strange considering her father, but she guessed she got that loudness from her mother.

A cream tabby was next. She was more sneaky than the rest taking a different route to mess with her siblings. She also had an air of confidence to her. Thistleblaze decided to name her Acornkit mostly for her light colors. She was the one that had the strange eye condition like her father. Except instead of having two different color eyes, both of her eyes had two colors they went from a blue to an amber. It was nice to see.

The next kit reminded her of her father Cedarfur.. The brown tabby spots and the regular brown. The spot pattern took after Sootwhisper's pelt, but the coloration was certainly Cedarfurs.. The amber eyes matched her own. Due to the brown coloring Thistleblaze named her Oakkit. She didn't seem to show many emotions, which considered the mother slightly but she supposed as time when on she would find more in her. She seemed more about herself.

The next kit was a solid misty gray. She had pale eyes which was not odd for this group since they had such ranged eye color. The only spot on the she-kit was on her hind foot. It was a darker gray than the rest of her. She decided Mistykit(Name subject to change) was most like Sootwhisper with her shy and quiet attitude, but there was a hint of caring in her.

The last and only tom of the litter she named Shallowkit. He was a mix of orange and brown tabby, a sort of in between of Cherrykit and Oakkit. He had green eyes like his father's green eye. He was more self confident of the group, and thought highly of himself which was good in kits, but she knew it would need to be tamed eventually. He was rather defensive too, but it was good when it came to his sisters for he was protective of them all.

Thistleblaze let out a purr as she observed all of her kits moving about the nursery. While they all ranged in personality and appearance, they were all hers and she wouldn't have it any other way. Though she wished she didn't have so many sometimes. They were hard to keep track of, and it was hard to get sleep sometimes since they were all up at different times depending on the day, but she didn't want them out of the nursery too quickly. She liked spending time with them.

Shallowkit's deep olive eyes scanned the cramped, dimly lit nursery with disdain- with all five of his sisters AND his mother, you could barely walk a whiskers length without stepping on a tail; no wonder he was always getting scolded! Rising to his paws, Shallowkit managed to totter over to Thistleblaze on his still slightly weak legs without stumbling into one of his sisters- which was something he considered an accomplishment, seeing as how they always all seemed to trip over each other. Plopping down into a rather ungraceful lump that could be vaguely classified as sitting, Shallowkit affectionately bumped his significantly smaller head against his mothers affectionately and the purr that rumbled from his throat was surprisingly large and shook his small frame. After a few moments of affectionate greeting, Shallowkit fluffed out his long, silken fur until he looked like a giant ball of fluff and gazed up at his mother with wide, demanding eyes.

"Take us to see the river! I want to swim right up to the border!" Shallowkit squeaked out his demand; his long, fluffed up fur and wide, demanding eyes making for a comical sight. His stubby, plumed tail kinked eagerly as he mentioned the infamous river- due to the fact that he and his sisters hadn't been properly introduced to the river, he could only imagine what the imposing mass of smooth, fast-moving water looked like. Although the rational side of Shallowkit already deemed it highly unlikely for such a small kit to be able to swim such a large expanse of water that held a strong current, his playful kit-nature urged him that he could do so easily- and that he could take on all of Thuderclan single-pawed. Leaping to his paws, Shallowkit staggered slightly but began to eagerly scamper about the den- desperately wishing for there to be something that he he could do to burn his energy. "I could attack Lightkit," Shallowkit thought for a few moments as he searched for the snowy-white pelt of his sister, "But Thistleblaze would have my tail if I hurt her." Shallowkit grudgingly thought as he remembered what a fierce scolding he received last time he was too rough with one of his many sisters.

Oakkit observed her siblings in silence, her face expressionless as she watched. She wasn't as old as her mother, Thistleblaze and she didn't have as much experience as her. Being as young as she was she didn't quite know enough about the world and the cats around her or how to do much really. How should she talk? How could or should she express herself? Turning to Thistleblaze and quirking a brow and a down turn of her mouth, she was just about to ask her mother a question until she was distracted once more by her siblings behaviours. She didn't want to disturb her anyways.

Oakkit found it strange that her siblings and parents were much more expressive than herself, even Lightkit - her sister who was quite reserved - was more expressive in her own way than she. Shrugging her little shoulders she locked her eyes upon her one brother as he tottered from one side of the nursery to the next, narrowly missing tails and paws. Narrowing her eyes she watched him press against Thistleblaze and smile and purr, turning away to face the wall she was up against, she smiled and forced a rumble into her throat before letting her face fall flat once more. She was quite proud of herself as she thought she could with that expression, though she thought it odd that her other littermates did this effortlessly.

Maybe they are doing it effortlessly. They're probably wrong in a way. Curious.

Cherrykit, ever the ball of (admittedly stupid) energy, snapped her head up from the ball of moss she was pawing at in boredom at her brother's mention of the river. Hurriedly scampering to her paws, she bounded across the small expanse of kit-crowded nursery, nearly trampling Oakkit in her rush to support Shallowkit's request.

"I wanna see the river too!" she mewed excitedly, tail swishing back and forth as she slid to a halt, nearly ramming into her brother before coming to a complete stop. "Please please please, I wanna go do something today!"

Shallowkit skittered away from Cherrykit with a muffled squeak, narrowly avoiding being knocked over his hyperactive sister. A wailing protest was building deep in Shallowkit's small lungs at Cherrykit's -thankfully- thwarted attempt to skid into him but as Cherrykit voiced her support for his idea, and the small tom dropped into the best crouch he could manage; which was a fairly sloppy one at best. Gathering his small paws underneath his fluffed out form, Shallowkit wriggled his haunches as his stumpy tail frantically in the air before he launched himself against his sister, bowling her over while he squealed in excitement. Making sure to keep his thorn-sharp claws sheathed, Shallowkit peddled his feet against Cherrykit's spine gently; taking care to avoid actually pulling out any of her soft, ginger fur. After a few seconds of squirming desperately to keep his balance, Shallowkit broke away and tumbled closer to Thistleblaze.

Shallowkit's ginger-and-brown patched tabby fur stuck out in all directions in small tangled clumps, and several scraps of soft moss and bracken were deeply embedded in his soft, downy fur from his previous tussle. Jumping to his paws, Shallowkit shook himself in a desperate attempt to free his fur from all the tangles and moss clumps, but only ended up fluffing out his fur into an even more tangled, clumped up mess as he stared up at his mother with wide, eager eyes. "I bet I could catch the biggest fish in the history of the clans if we went to the river!" Shallowkit declared, sitting back on his haunches to show his sisters and his mother how big the purposed the fish would be. Shallowkit stretched his paws as far as he possibly could to show everyone his "catch"- his little whiskers trembling the effort of stretching his small little limbs while also trying to keep his balance. "It would be big enough to feed every elder from all the Clans!" He boasted, dropping back down to his paws while his whiskers twitched eagerly.

Thistleblaze let out a chuckle at her kits interacting with one another demanding to go to the river. It was far too dangerous to go now, but maybe she would take them to the brokenpools in a couple of days when they were more steady on their feet to teach them how to swim and not to be afraid of water. Honestly it took the warrior a while to get back into the water after nearly drowning but she understood the necessity of it now.

"The river is far to dangerous for you small ones." She said. "But I will take you to the Brokenpools in a few days and you can play around in the water and maybe catch a tadpole if you practice enough." The queen said to her kits that were demanding to go to the river.

---

Lightkit sat next to her mother's tail, her strange eyes observing the flick in her mother's tail. If it moved too far for her eyes to follow then she would move her head to keep track of it. If anyone was watching it was probably rather amusing to watch. Honestly if it had been anything else Lightkit would have pounced on it but since she didn't want a scolding from her mother she stayed still and just watched, ignoring her siblings for the most part.

"The Brokenpools?! Those stinking puddles that twolegs made?" Shallowkit cried in indignantly, scuffing his small paws against the soft floor of the nursery with a huff. Prodding a clump of moss mutinously for a few moments, Shallowkit flattened his ears in disappointment- his young mind not being able to fully process the fact that Thistleblaze was keeping from the river was for their protection, and not because she felt like being unfair. Shallowkit continued to sulk for several more moments becoming mischievous, his sour mood vanishing like dew under the scorching sun.  "Could we go today? Maybe Sootwhisper could take us?"  Shallowkit squeaked, his eyes relighting and his whiskers twitching with hopefulness.

Shallowkit leaped to his paws and began to circle the nursery eagerly, stopping by the entrance every few circles to stare out at the huge camp. Pushing his small head out of the safety of the nursery, glancing out at the busy camp with huge, awe-filled eyes. The reeds that surrounded the camp were browning from Leaf-Fall, but several stalks of reeds were still a vivid green and they blended together with the other dying reeds to make a spectacular sight. The soft chattering of river that was usually muffled by the thick walls of the den rang loud and clear in Shallowkit's ears, making him mrrow in delight. Pulling his head back from the entrance, Shallowkit scampered back to Thistleblaze; eyes glimmering and tail curled in delight. "I already can't wait to be an apprentice! Then I'll be allowed outside of camp all I want- and I'll be allowed to swim in the river whenever." He mewed cheerfully, pressing against his mother once more.

She squealed as her brother initiated the playfight, happily pawing back and squirming until he lost interest, picking the moss and twigs from her own fur.

Cherrykit's ears drooped at the denial and poor substitution of the Brokenpools for the river, but perked up at the mention of things to catch. "I bet I could catch so many tadpoles!" she squeaked in renewed excitement. "I'll be the best hunter in the whole Clan one day!"

Sootwhisper entered in the nursery, silent as a shadow just like always. His usual neutral expression never leaving his face and only in his eyes the love and happiness he felt when looking at his kits and mate could be spotted. He greeted Thistleblaze with a quick nuzlle on her head and soft purr before his attention fell on the demanding kits “They finally are able to walk around without trouble and now want to see the world, hm?” His voice was as unexpressive as always and in the low tone that had earned him his name, thing that made him feel somewhat frustrated more often than not when being around his family. He had tried many times before to express his feeling somewhat better, but all his attempts had ended up on something either really awkward or plainly stupid.

Thistleblaze let out a purr when her mate had entered the nursery, and nuzzled her. She was happy to see him because some of the kits attention would be on him now instead of just on her. Though usually they would get bored with her lack of movement and go attack one of their siblings. "I'm sure you will one day Cherrykit. I'm counting on you to feed the clan." The Queen said. "We will go another day Shallowkit, when your legs are stronger." Finally she had the chance to respond to Sootwhisper. "Yeah they can move around an explore but I have a feeling that means more issues for the rest of the clan until they become apprentices."

---

Lightkit turned her head towards Sootwhisper when he had entered. The all white kit blinked her multi colored eyes before moving away from her mothers tail and walking around and shoving herself between her father's front legs. Staying there, sort of safe from her other siblings that would want to play rough with her and warm as well.

"Yeah well while you spend all day hunting, I'll defend the Clan! I'll shred any Thunderclan or Windclan cat I come across- so you can spend all your time being the best hunter safely." Shallowkit teased cheerfully as he padded from Thistleblaze's side and back up to Cherrykit, flicking his short, stumpy tail across her back before quickly whisking it away for fear of Cherrykit deciding to line her part of the nest with his long, soft fur. Before any other argumentative statements could burst through his mouth, Shallowkit noticed Sootwhisper quietly enter the nursery and begin to speak to their mother. All of Shallowkit's remaining feelings of disgruntlement over the fact that they would only be allowed to visit the Brokenpools before the river were instantly forgotten as warmth spread through him like sunshine at the sight of his slightly-awkward father.

Following Lightkit, Shallowkit tried to squeeze between his father's paws with his sister, but he couldn't heave his already much heavier form into the little space left without squishing Lightkit. Whiskers drooping with disappointment, Shallowkit settled for briefly nuzzling Sootwhisper's foreleg with a loud, rumbling purr before sitting down and looking up at his father with wide eyes. What a sight he must be- his long silken fur tangled into messy clumps that were embedded with bit pieces of moss and bracken! "Will you come with us whenever Thistleblaze takes us to the Brokenpools? I want you to teach me how to catch tadpoles!" Shallowkit squeaked, his little tail sweeping about eagerly at the prospect of both of his parents taking Shallowkit and all his sisters to the shallow pools- Sootwhisper would probably be much less worrisome about whether or not swimming in the small pools would give them a chill or not.

Cherrykit scoffed at her brother's teasing. "Like I couldn't handle any mouse-brained idiot WindClan cat that comes prancing in like he owns the place!" she giggled.

At the sound of their father's voice, she spun around, purring happily at the sight of both her parents interacting. Seeing the space around Sootwhisper was taken, she conceded to plop down by her mother's paws, perking up at her brother's request. "Yeah, teach us to catch things! I bet I could catch way more than Shallowkit!"

"You're so weak that the skinniest Windclan elder could take you down without being winded!" Shallowkit chuckled, his whiskers twitching as he imagined Cherrykit facing off with a grizzled elder that looked like bones with fur. His odd train of thoughts were quickly interrupted by Cherrykit's challenge though, and he quickly leaped back to his feet; squeaking in protest.

"Could not! You couldn't catch a fish even if Starclan came down and dropped it in front of you!" Shallowkit huffed indignantly, rounding on his sister with an defiant look blazing in his murky green eyes. Shallowkit felt his fur rising at his sister's challenge. "How about a challenge? Whoever catches the most tadpoles at the Brokenpools wins, and the loser has to help change out the elders bedding!" Shallowkit mewed, his eyes glimmering with mischief at the prospect of a challenge.

Acornkit trotted out of where she'd been buried under her mother's thick pelt, taking in the warmth that her kit fur lacked. It didn't help that her cream pelt was quite sleek, not well-designed for thick snow-covered Leafbare days those she had the making of a proper RiverClan cat. Shaking the last of sleep from her, the cream tabby leapt to her feet none to gently, wriggled out of the nest to meow loudly. "Hello daddy!"

She met her father's mismatched eyes with her own oddly coloured pair, the blue rings around golden amber was particularly noticeable now that she opened them wide to gaze around her at siblings then back to her father. It seemed that Cherrykit and Shallowkit were in a scuffle, but she wasn't too interested in them, more eager to spend time with her father. She'd heard 'Brokenpool' and 'Sootwhisper' which was enough to get her blood up. "Lightkit!" She squeaked loudly when she spotted her sister underneath her father. "What are you doing there? Daddy's gonna step on you while taking us to the Brokenpools! Move!"

Acornkit nudged her sister with her muzzle.

Thistleblaze let out a chuckle at the competitiveness of Cherrykit and Shallowkit. "If we are having a competition I might as well join. Though I have to warn you, I'm pretty good at catching fish." She said giving a lick on Cherrykit's head when she settled between her paws. "Also if Windclan ever threatened any of you they would have to deal with me first." Thistleblaze gaze turned into a glare for a moment thinking back to the battle that took place a short time ago.

---

Lightkit's eyes followed Acornkit as she approached her and shoved her a little bit. "But we aren't going to the Brokenpools now!" Lightkit squeaked wanting to remain in the safe spot between her father's legs. "Stop it!" She said pushing back on Acornkit so she could keep her spot. "Mom says we aren't strong enough yet." The white kit said, even though she thought she was plenty strong. She didn't like being thought of as weak.