New Blossoms [c]

ooc: set before A Beast Am I

Primroselight had been growing closer and closer with Sparrowflight, and there was certainly no denying it. It was impossible that no-one had noticed the extra 'fluff' around her waistline that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Prey was more plentiful with Asylum in the territory, but not to that extent. She herself thought nothing of it, but was more interested in just how - off she felt. Something wasn't right, but she had no idea what that was. She would probably just visit Beechface later. 

But for now, she padded in the direction of the nursery, hoping to chat with her mother. She was yet to visit her newest siblings, and today she planned on changing that. She had done it before with the last litter - stayed away in fear of tripping over them. The main reason she had chosen to now was that they were hopefully asleep.

And if they weren't... she would just have to be careful, wouldn't she?

"Hey mum! I brought you a squirrel," Her words were a little muffled by said squirrel, so she placed it down in front of Smokefeather. She settled down beside her nest, and dug into the two mice she had brought for herself.

At the sound of approaching pawsteps, Smokefeather glanced up, watching as Primroselight approached with prey dangling from her jaws.

"Hey, Prim." Smokefeather mewed in greeting, offering her daughter a small smile at the offered squirrel, "how are you?" She asked. She'd noticed her daughter had been putting on weight recently, but was tactful enough to not bring it up first. Smokefeather was glad of the thought that Primroselight wouldn't have the same reaction to having kits that Adderflare did, at the very least. Did she want kits, though? Stars knew that the middle of leafbare and with all the rogues around probably wasn't the best time to have kits, not that Smokefeather was one to judge, given her own kits were curled up at her side.

Smokefeather pulled the squirrel closer to her with one paw. The kits had started to eat solids now, but were fast asleep and Smokefeather was hesitant to wake them so soon. If they woke on their own, she'd offered them bits of the prey, she decided, taking a small bite of the squirrel and turning her gaze back to Primroselight.

"How've you been feeling recently? With the kits and everything." Of course, they would probably all be fairing better if their father hadn't been locked up in some mysterious area of the forest by his own son, and if their territory hadn't been overrun by rouges. That was one thing Primroselight was sure of. She thought about how tiring caring and carrying kits must be, especially during leaf-bare and with the rouges around as she chewed her first mouse. Maybe it would be nice to have her own kits eventually, but she still felt Sparrowflight and her were a bit young. Although, own parents were young when they had their first litter, and from the rumors she had heard about Dawnhawk, he seemed to be having litters with she-cats he barely knew. Anyways, her and her mate were still new to this whole 'mate' thing. They didn't want to rush into anything to quickly.

"It must be a lot in the nursery and takeover and everything. How in Starclan's name did you do it with just my litter alone? And there was only four of us then!" Primroselight exclaimed. It still amazed her, especially during their apprenticeship. She herself had been steadily loosing her vision, and Beechface and Dawnhawk had never, ever stopped arguing. At least it was just bickering then. Why can't it be like now? She thought sadly.

"I'm fine." Smokefeather sighed. Primroselight was her daughter, not someone to vent her own frustrations on. "Are you okay with... everything going on?" She hadn't answered her own question and had asked about Smokefeather instead, so the queen prodded gently. If Primroselight didn't want to talk, it was fine, but Smokefeather would always lend an ear to listen if needed.

"Honestly? I have no clue." Smokefeather shrugged, taking another bite of the squirrel. "You mean, putting up with the constant arguing and brattiness? I wanted to rip my pelt off, at times. I wouldn't change that for anything, though." Primroselight had grown into a strong warrior, and Smokefeather was proud of her and Beechface. Her second litter had almost all become warriors in their own rights now.

...If only Bloodstrike could've witnessed their ceremonies, too. And Dustpaw. The prickly apprentice had always had a soft spot for family, much as she'd pretend otherwise. But these were thoughts best left unsaid.

"Any particular reason you're asking?" Another, gentle prod for information, though Smokefeather wouldn't press if Primroselight kept avoiding it.

"Oh same old, same old. We've all been better I guess." Primroselight sighed. "I've certainly felt better."

"Should there be a reason...?" She said, confused a little. It wasn't like the cream warrior was planning on having kits any time soon. "Not really. It just amazes me. Especially how you've got these little ones when dad... hasn't come back yet." Even though Asylum had promised that Bloodstrike was alright, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

Smokefeather blinked at the confusion in Primroselight's tone of voice as she replied to her. It almost sounded genuine... No, it was genuine. Had she not taught her daughters better than that? How did she not realize...? Adderflare hadn't, either, but that was Adderflare. Stars, how to approach it, now?

"You never need a reason to ask me anything... Although I think you'd made a wonderful mother, regardless." She mewed, whiskers twitching.

At the mention of Bloodstrike, Smokefeather sighed.

"I can't say this is the best time to bring kits into the clan with... everything happening. They'll have family who loves them and does their best to protect them." She responded, "And I'm sure Sparrowflight would be thrilled." The last was said with just a hint of a smirk. Who else but Sparrowflight would it be, when Primroselight had been spending so much time with him? So much time that her scent had changed, subtle, but it was there. Stuck in the nursery Smokefeather might be, she always made it a point to keep an eye on her kits, even if they were fully grown warriors.

Mother? Smokefeather's words caught Primroselight off-guard, to say the least.

"Really?" She breathed, but didn't really mean it.

Of course. She should've recognised her own scent from that of the nursery. Everything that had happened in the past few days suddenly made so much sense. The news may've been a surprise to her, but she didn't view it as a bad thing. It was a bad time to have kits, that was for sure, but she would protect them with everything she had. She would also have Smokefeather to help, so all would be well. She had no idea how she was going to tell Sparrowflight, but that was an issue for another time. He'll be a good father... but will I be good enough? Lots of other things worried her, including one of the main issues she had brought up with Silentwhisper; passing on her blindness. Since it wasn't injury related, chances are it would be genetic, leaving these future kits at risk.

It'll all be fine. If it does happen, I can help them. Everything will work out eventually.

"Of course... When will I need to move into the nursery?" Not too soon I hope. She knew that the time leading up to the birth of her kits would be a restless one, so she wanted to delay its start as much as possible. But all the same, she didn't want to sacrifice the health of her kits just because she was worried about being bored.

Smokefeather took another bite of squirrel, watching Primroselight's reaction. Slightly surprised, maybe, but she wasn't unhappy about it, as far as Smokefeather could tell. Worried? It would only be natural for an expectant queen.

"You have a while, yet. Enjoy your freedom while it lasts." Smokefeather smirked. If Primroselight was anything like her, she wouldn't want to sit around the nursery all day doing nothing until she was closer to her kitting. There was no harm in continuing her duties for now, not until she was closer to kitting, anyways.