Find Joy in the Unexpected

Ever since Brindlewhisker had become Deputy, it was seemingly one challenge after another; breaking up Clan squabbles, dealing with the aftermath of Rockthorn's chaotic doings, spontaneous fires and now kits! She hadn't even truly suspected that she was expecting kits- sure there was a noticeable weight gain but she had presumed that was just from her new habit of stress eating. Apparently a lot of things had been slipping right over her head. During the fire, she had felt a bit of sharp pains in her lower belly while she was frantically digging but simply presumed that it was just a combination of anxiety and smoke inhalation- but by the next sunrise Brindlewhisker was officially a mother.

The time she spent with Dawnkit and Goldenkit while they were still fairly young was a nice reprieve from any sort of strenuous duties; all she ever had to do was make sure they were feeding and then she could sleep. But now that the little toms were a older, it wasn't nearly as easy keeping track of them. They were giving her grey fur around her muzzle. Slipping from the shelter of the Gorse Barrier that encased WindClan's camp -which also served as the Nursery- Brindlewhisker padded towards the center of camp and simply dropped down on the soft, warm sands that filled WindClan's camp, letting out a loud, contented sigh as she did so.

Brindlewhisker stretched out in the weak sunlight of the early day, enjoying the sensation of the soft warmth washing away any remaining aches or pains- between giving birth and suffering from the ill effects of smoke, something was always aching. Allowing her her eyes to drift shut, the she-cat continued to bask in the late Newleaf sun, while also keeping her ears perked for any worrisome sounds from either Dawnkit or Goldenkit. After a few moments of slightly concerning silence, the new mother lifted her head and gazed at the Barrier from which she had previously emerged from, face twisted into a slight frown. "You two are welcome to come outside." Brindlewhisker called softly after a few moments, although she made no moves to go herd the two from their den.




OOC) i wrote this on mobile while in the car pls excuse the many mistakes

Dawnkit instantly raced to his mother and pounced on her tail. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed happily. Apparently the silence had simply been him stalking, waiting to strike.

Goldenkit raced after his brother and pounced onto his mothers tail as well.

OOC: am getting on the bus

Brindlewhisker winced as both Dawnkit and Goldenkit pounced upon her tail- apparently no matter where she took them, her tail was still the best toy they could find. "Very good little ones. You'll be masters of stealth in no time." She grunted, wincing slightly at the fact that either kit could prick her tail with their claws at any given moment. After struggling for a few heart beats to wrestle her tail free from her sons clutches, she quickly tucked it away and out of the two toms reach, before using a gentle forepaw to shoo them away from any further attacks. "Why don't you explore? See the rest of the camp? Meet the rest of the Clan?" Brindlewhisker urged softly, eyes lifting from the two little toms and briefly scanning the camp hopefully- maybe the sight of a new cat would keep them from shredding her tail into pieces.

Mottleheart stepped into the camp with a rabbit between his jaws, his attention focusing only the fresh-kill pile as he hurried over to add his catch to the pile. He was halfway across the camp when a voice caught his attention, his attention shifting to see Brindlewhisker at the entrance of the nursery, gently shooing away the two little rascals that were her kits. The warrior grunted with amusement, swiftly dropping off his rabbit before he made his way over, his whiskers twitching with faint amusement as he was reminded of when he was a new father. He was happy for Brindlewhisker and was certain that her two kits would grow up to be fine warriors. "Hello there," he greeted with a dip of his head, sitting down near the three. As he sat, the scars that lined his chest became more easy to see - some caused by an eagle...Some caused by a tom he once called friend.

Goldenkit gazed up at the warrior with awe. He had so many battle scars.. "Whoa. You have so many scars! How did you get them?" He meowed tilting his head.

Ashstar watched camp life go on from her den, a small smile on her tired face as Dawnkit and Goldenkit harassed their mother. Her memories flashed consistently back to a young WindClan queen, two tiny sons determined to be the Clan's best warriors, following in their parents' footsteps. Smokekit and Sharpkit- those had been their names. The two most adorable balls of gray fuzz ever to grace the WindClan nursery. Sharpkit was braver and bolder, not afraid to unsheathe his small claws in order to get what he wanted. Smokekit was quiet and shy, the very picture of his father, preferring to stay by his mother's side in their comfortable, mossy nest rather than chat up the apprentices and admire the warriors as his brother did. The parents, Ashwing and Icestorm, loved each other and their two sons more than anything in the world. For a time, life had been perfect. Grief shaded the leader's eyes as she recalled the fateful day that Sharppaw had met his end on the Thunderpath, his courage and curiosity leading him to find StarClan quicker than he should have had to. The bright and sunny world that the mother and father had built up for themselves was rained on by the dark, shadowy stormclouds of mourning. Though they took solace in their remaining son, Smokepaw, how were they to know what would happen to the legacy of their family? Long after Smokepelt gained his warrior name, long after Icestorm became an elder from his injuries and then died of them, long after the appointment of Ashwing, then Ashstar's, only remaining family as deputy.... Their long-standing link, sticking together through thick and thin, weathering the darkest storms and enjoying the happiest days, was shattered, torn apart by held grudges and one simple decision. Keeping the grief from her weary green eyes, the gray-furred leader padded out of her den and sat herself under the warm sun she could hardly feel, gazing upon the newest hope of WindClan, hoping against hope that Brindlewhisker would never have to undergo the pain and anguish that Ashstar's family had suffered.

The newly renamed Dewtuft sat at the edge of the clearing, his green eyes watching as Ashstar looked off just past Brindlewhisker's new kits. Her eyes glazed over in the way that they always did when she looked at kits, the way that she looked at him often. It was the look of a mother in mourning, a leader lost, and he hated it. It was the reason he changed his name, the escape the burden that lingered in the name Ice-. His father saw a warrior, a father that he looked up to. Ashstar saw a mate, a faithful kind-hearted elder.

He was neither.

Dewtuft was a fighter. There was little kindness in him for rogues and half-breeds. He followed the code, and the code only. He wasn't prone to sentimentality, and his loyalty extended to the point of mild obedience. He'd learnt well as a kit, there was no such thing as family. The code was the only constant, the only thing he could rely on.

Approaching one of the kits, he batted the little kit over with a paw. Dawnkit or whatever their name was, he pinned him easily with his paw. "Small. How old are you?" He leant down to give him a sniff.

"U-uh..." Dawnkit stuttered, now suddenly pinned down by Dewtuft.

OOC: No idea on my part XD

Goldenkit squeaked and ran over to Dawnkit and tried to pull him out from under the warriors paw by tugging on his scruff.

Dewtuft batted the other kit aside, sniffing Dawnkit further. "You smell like milk, and softness. How old are they, Brindlewhisker?"