Copper Apples and Fox Tails [Open/kits/borth]

Copperfox heard Appletail's yowl from inside the nursery and sprinted immediately to the medicine den. "Beechface! The nursery!" He knew she would understand what that meant. He bolted away, afraid he might miss the birth of his kits. He didn't even remember galloping through camp. He was in the medicine den asking for Beechface and then he was in the nursery with Appletail. Excitement and a twinge of fear overtook him as he watched, eagerly awaiting Beechface with the necessary supplies. "Beechface is on her way! Just breathe!" He looked nervously back at the entrance and back to Appletail. Everything would be fine... Beechface knew what she was doing.


***

Two kits. Appletail hadn't been very big while she was carrying them and now Copperfox understood why. Still, he was grateful to have even that many. He couldn't stop staring and his chest was stuffed with so much emotion he thought it might burst. "How could anything so small be so beautiful?" He whispered, probably for at least the third time. He nuzzled Appletail even though she was very clearly exhausted. His tail thumped a few times on the ground. Names... they needed names. One she-cat and one tom... "Don't worry... I don't pick bad names like my dad or grandfather does." He told Appletail with a wink. That horrid tradition was over. "Eaglekit... for the tom?" At that moment his head swam. He had a son and a daughter! It was surreal... but watching the two bundles of fur at their mother's belly confirmed that this was real.

"Bramblekit for the she-cat." Appletail said after nodding her head in agreement with the name, Eaglekit. To Copperfox, it didn't sound like it was a question. It was settled. Eaglekit and Bramblekit. Welcome to Skyclan my kits.

"Be right there!" Beechface called over her shoulder, grabbing some chervil and raspberry leaves along with a few sticks. She quickly darted out of the medicine den, making a beeline for the nursery.

The medicine cat slipped inside, and placed the herbs in front of Appletail. "Chew these but don't eat them. Don't bite my brother's ear off, that's what the sticks are for." She mewed gruffly, placing a surprisingly gentle paw on the she-cat's belly. It was going to be a smaller litter, she thought.

The birth went quicker than others, and soon enough there was a tom and a she-kit nestled at Appletail's belly.

"Congratulations, you two, the kits are healthy. You know where I'll be if you need anything. Copperfox, don't be as dumb as dad or grandfather, please." Smirking, she affectionately nudged her brother's shoulder before slipping out of the den and leaving the new parents to their kits.

---

Smokefeather heard Copperfox yowl, and lifted her head from where she was curled up outside the warrior den. Her son was going to have kits of his own to look after and she was happy for him. She stood and took a step towards the nursery, Appletail and Copperfox could probably use the support, and she'd be able to help Beechface if needed. It wouldn't be the first time, after all.

She took another step, then froze. No, if something went wrong...

Dawnhawk wasn't here, though.

Foxdung, she couldn't-

Smokefeather hardly registered as her paws carried her back towards where she'd been sitting until she'd sat again, wrapping her tail around trembling paws. She'd... congratulate Copperfox and see the kits later.

A tiny grey and white bundle huddled up into the cream and black pelt of his mother. Instinct drove him before anything else. A raspy tongue cleared his nose, and scent came to it for the first time. Air filled his tiny chest, and it felt strange. He shivered next to Appletail. Words blocked by sealed ears. Eyes closed right against the sheer oddity of this place.

Everything was new. Eaglekit’s tiny heart beat surprised him. The way things moved when he did. A soft mewl of surprise when he felt another shape next to him. His throat felt odd with the sensation of the first little noise he’d made. Confused, he mewled louder. Then pressed his nose against Appletail’s belly. This new world was strange, but he was in it now.

Its been a while since ive done one of these ))

The little dark pelted bundle of fur had been placed down next to something that was moving. Her nose cleared she could smell the scent of milk before her. At first,the newly named Bramblekit hadn't moved that is until she had felt the whatever that had squirmed beside her move again. Moving forward with a loud mewl she reached the source of the milk scent where the little she kit began to nuzzle up into her mothers belly.