coute que coute [open-ish]

”Klaus!”

A shrill cry rang out in the otherwise deafeningly silent, pitch black winter night. Despite being surrounded by thick coats from several foxes who met an unfortunate end, she still shivered, yet was coated in slick sweat all over her body. Every muscle in the young rogue’s body trembled, heart rate skyrocketing as she waited for the charming tom to find her, to hopefully offer some semblance of comfort. Her very limited medical knowledge from Smallbean didn’t help at all when it came to kitting, and what little she did know she had no access to at the time. Her pain and discomfort grew, until eventually, she felt the urge to push.

Timeskip

The morning sunlight  offered little reprieve from the cold winds and chilly snow drifts that fell from the sky, hence Hyacinth’s decision to stay tucked away in the safety of the pelt nest, with as many of her kits as would oblige. If they hadn’t learned anything, they’d learned that staying together meant warmth. As the rays of sunlight slowly creeped over their nest, Hyacinth nudged those that were still asleep, a gentle lick on their foreheads to bring them back from their dreams. ”It’s time to wake up, hmm?” She cooed, tail curled around the bunch of kits. They were already outgrowing their nest, and soon enough, it would be time for them to begin their training… No matter how hesitant Hyacinth was to allow that to happen.

Apollo nuzzled in close to his siblings and his mother happy for the warmth. He yawned as Hyacinth nugged them.  Hmm mom 5 more minutes he meowed still sleepy.  

The ginger tom purred softly, this was the life. Surrounded by his siblings and mother on a cold day.  Nothing could be better.

He blinked his eyes a couple times getting used to the sunrays coming into the nest.

He sat up and stretched.

Ohh mom what are we gonna do today? he meowed excited for whatever the answer was.

He looked around to see if any of his siblings were waking yet.

Anastasia blinked her eyes open, narrowing them briefly against the bright morning light as she yawned. Stretching a forepaw out, she tried to untangle herself from her siblings as carefully as she could before finally freeing herself from the warmth of the nest and immediately regretting it as the chill of the day sank in to her pelt. Shaking her fur out so it was as fluffed up as it could get, she yawned again and looked to her mother, smiling brightly. "Morning mama! Do you think we can learn how to hunt today?" She mewed softly, shaking her paws out in an attempt to keep them warm.

“I’m awake, ma,” a gentle voice mewed, yellow eyes blinking up at his mother. “Hello, dormice!” Purring, Astraeus stretched out for a moment, feeling the cold gently tickle his pelt. He was kidding- gently teasing, as always. A slightly colder gust of wind made him curl back up into a small, fluffy loaf, snuggled next to his mother. “Do you think we can learn to hunt today, ma? We’d be great at it! We’ve practiced tons!”

He looked at his siblings, head tilted. “Well, I have. I caught a bug- it was this big, ma!” He held out his paws as far as he could- then a sheepish smile appeared on his face. “It wasn’t maybe that big. Maybe as big as Anastasia-“ he stumbled briefly over his littermate’s name- “Anastasia’s paw?” His littermate’s names were easily the longest words in his vocabulary- he’d called himself Astwaweus at first- and Anastasia’s was one of the longest. Apollo was easier.

The little grey tom looked around, tail tucked over paws as he straightened up. “Can we, ma?”

The curled, large, bundle of fur had been awake for a while, not wanting to disturb his siblings by moving. As much as he would like to go practice hunting, or even better, fighting, there was practically no way to escape nine siblings plus his mother. He had tried, always waking someone. So he lay, a puff of fur in the sea of squirming limbs and pelts. When a tongue rasped across his head, and the voice of his mother roused those who were still asleep, Ares raised his head up, yellow eyes gazing over the rest of the nest. Immediately he threw a glare Astraeus's way, despite the knowledge of his jokes. "You're a dormouse yourself, I'd bet I'm larger than you."

Rising to his huge paws, a promise of his future size, Ares fluffed out his pelt. "I want to learn to hunt too! Us messing around with leaves and bugs will never teach us how to really hunt! Besides, with all of us hunting, we'll catch a mountain of prey!" Confidence laced his tone, though even the tom didn't quite believe his words. Prey looked far between from the little he had seen from within the confines of the camp, even with all of them hunting, he wondered if they really could help.

Aether cringed back as his mother licked his forehead, not yet ready to awake. It was so cold outside, and he was so cozy snuggled among his family. He wouldn't have moved at all, if it wasn't for the mention of hunting.

"We are going to learn to hunt? I bet I would be really good at it! Is papa going to teach us? I really hope he does! I want to show him how great of a hunter I will be!"

Already, the tom was on his paws, excitement chasing away any sleepiness he had left. Crouching down and grinning, he pounced on Astraeus's tail.

"See? I am already pretty good at it!"

Her peaceful sleep was interrupted by not so peaceful mewing. Aphrodite rose her head in hopes of learning what was happening, but caught the blinding sun instead. Shutting her eyes tightly she buried her small fuzzy head into her mother's fur. Still able to pick up a few sentences she heard the other kits saying something about hunting. A sudden gust chilled through her little body, causing the kitten to shiver. "It is way too cold!" she mewed in a high, pathetic voice, "I'm not going!" Aphrodite curled up tighter, unable to withstand the cold like the others could. She hated being so weak compared to her siblings. They were all big and could easily crush her. No, she needed to stay with Mama. Mama would keep her safe from whatever tried to hurt her. But the others might get her to leave the den..

"What.. what if we play a game? Like, a talking game. Would you- would you rather swallow a pile of dung, or climb a tree?"

That would hold their attention wouldn't it?

Achlys had remained quiet, head poised softly upon white forepaws, watery green eyes taking in her surroundings with mild disdain and frustration at the sudden rise in noise, the voices going from just basic noise to something a little more discernible and she found herself wanting to tune it back out once more. A yawn escaped her and she blinked hard, taking in the conversations happening around her with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, instead turning her head to gaze at her sister Achelois, waiting almost impatiently for her to awoke before Achlys felt any need to join in with the rest of her families excitement.

Instead of jumping up like the rest, she found herself rising slowly, back arching in a stretch as she sat down, drawing a forepaw up to begin grooming to sleep out of her fur. Another of her sisters, Aphrodite began to throw a minor tantrum about the mere concept of going outside and she felt a little amusement creep forward, whiskers twitching in display, and Achlys listened intently to her talking game.

"Climb a tree," Her voice came softly, more gentle than her siblings but still audible. "Less trouble, really." She purred, forepaw rising over her head to clean her ears. Her curiosity had been piqued with the line of questioning, and she waited to see if any of the other kits answered.

When the litter went to sleep the night before, Aoife had been careful to wait so that she didn't end up in the centre of the bundle. Even in the cold, surrounded by that many warm bodies she got too hot easily, and also wanted to be on the outside so she could get out easier. She didn't like feeling as if she couldn't do something. And also she wanted to be on the outside incase something bad tried to get them. But she wasn't scared. Just worried for her siblings, especially little Aphrodite, even if she was really annoying sometimes.

"What's the point of playing one of your 'talking games', it's not gonna help us out if something big and scary comes and... eats you up!" She tried to reach over to gently bonk Aphrodite on the head, wary that some of her littermates were quite a bit smaller than her. Aoife thought that she might've missed, however, as the stretch was further than anticipated. "But for the record, Achlys's answer is definitely the right one."

Klaus walked into camp carrying a rabbit in his jaws. It was as white as the snow that surrounded the camp and clung to the tree and the ground. Klaus himself had been caught in the tail end of a sudden snow storm and looked as if he had powdered sugar all over him. Thankfully, the storm passed quickly and left only a gray sky in it's wake.

The pale tom stepped into the "nursery" and dropped the white rabbit at Hyacinth's feet. A pink smear stained on his lips was the only evidence at all that he had killed anything and his tongue swiped over his chops to quickly be rid of it. He did catch the tail end of his kits' conversation though... Eat dung or climb a tree? Who did they think they were related to?

"Climbing a tree is far less likely to kill you." He answered simply, wondering why in the world that was even a question. If any of the kits were to start forward and try to eat the rabbit, Klaus would gently block them with a foreleg or hindleg, depending on whatever angle they were coming at it from.

"This is your mother's..." He explained calmly. "If you want food, you'll have to come with me this time." They weren't apprentice aged, but they didn't have the luxury of learning once they hit six moons. The leaf-bare was harsh and there were only three adult cats to feed eleven kittens. That would never work, not with their growing appetites.

He looked at Hyacinth and gave her a soft, but authoritative look. He didn't think he'd need to explain to her why training needed to happen sooner rather than later. They couldn't stay kits forever.

"We'll focus on small things. If any predators come, I will be the main fighter and I will tell all of you what to do. You'll be fine." His confidence was genuine, despite them being small still. Bloodstar had raised him to be strong, and his training had paid off. While Klaus didn't always agree with his father, especially not now, he would follow his example and make his own children strong. Clan cats would have a hard time dealing with them.

"We won't be far from camp. Follow me out." Klaus turned away and exited the nursery, though if Hyacinth had anything she wanted to say, he would still hear her.

Apollo laughed at Aphrodite's question. I would eat the dung pile! he answered sarcastically eager to goof off.

He quickly knocked off the joking attitude when Klaus entered the "nursery" ohh that rabbit smelled good he wanted one just like it for himself.

Well sounded like it was time to learn how to do just that.

he jumped up at the opportunity, yess lets gooo he cheered I hope we do meet a predator its just a family sized meal if you think about it. he said laughing.

He quickly followed his father Come on slowpokes, last one is badger dung he called out to his many siblings.

Atalante stretched and yawned as her mother nudged her awake, grumbling a little. Most of her siblings already seemed to be awake and in conversation, and as their words registered she rolled her eyes. "Climb a tree." She eyed Aphrodite critically, "You're disgusting. And Aoife is right." She mewed, lifting a forepaw and drawing it over her face. Her pale tortoiseshell pelt was long and easily tangled, and she found grooming to be a soothing habit. It was better than listening to whatever Aphrodite was whining about, that much was obvious.

Movement near the entrance of the den made her ears prick forward, bright blue eyes landing on her father's golden pelt. He was covered in snow, and she jumped up, small paws carrying her forward. "Dad!" She greeted, tone far less hostile than it had been towards Aphrodite. The scent of the rabbit made her stomach growl audibly, and she moved towards it, only to be blocked by one of Klaus' forepaws.

The fluffy tortoiseshell glared, tail flicking in displeasure as Klaus backed her away from the rabbit. "Okay, fine, you're taking me hunting then." She huffed impatiently, moving to follow him out of the den. Aether wanted to be a good hunter, but Aether wouldn't be the best hunter in their little group. No, that would be Atalante, and that would only happen if she started learning now. And if they happened to meet a predator... Well, whatever attacked them would be outnumbered, she was sure, and Klaus would be able to teach them to fight. It would be better than playfighting with her siblings, Atalante was sure of it.

Tarot had been resting on top of the nursery, still semi-awake in case danger approached, but still taking the time to snooze a bit. Ever since the kits had been born, whenever Klaus was the one going hunting, he'd taken to guarding the little hole full of pint-sized, defenceless balls of fur. Every once in a while during such a time, he'd patrol around the borders of their territory, keeping its scent strong and making sure no unfortunate souls dare threaten it and live to tell the tale.

When he wasn't hunting or guarding, he was lounging. It had become mildly troublesome to catch food for more than just himself, and, for now, he had kept the bodies he occasionally brought back with him out of the kits' sights. Whenever he had the chance, he'd try to casually discuss things such as murder if it ever came up in a way that didn't frame it as bad.

The last thing he wanted was for the furballs to grow up and become disgusted with his practices, seeing as how they were all being set up to be the foundation of their upcoming group. He didn't worry too much about it though, after all, Klaus was their father.

As the kits awoke and became chatterbugs, he too woke up, ignoring their pointless jabbering that he overheard. He began grooming himself as he waited for them to leave the den so he could stop sitting on top of it in the cold snow. Soon the scent of his friend hit him, and his ears perked as he looked up and watched the other tom arrive with food for his mate.

He felt a bit hungry at the smell, he'd go eat from his stockpile later he supposed. Overhearing the conversation he idly spoke up.

"Would you like some backup, Klaus? You just got back from a hunt and you're already saddling yourself with training your multitude spawn." The loner snorted, amused. He then idly glanced around the featureless white hellscape he found himself confined to for far too long."Guarding the territory gets rather dull after a while. Snow is already loathsome to even glimpse, add that onto repetitive scenery and it begins to suck out your very soul" Well, perhaps he was being melodramatic, but the snow had long since lost its sense of wonder on him ever since it became something that risked his very life and limb by simply existing for a few moons.

Oh, how he missed the days of leaving the territory for extended periods of time without risking the lives of little Klaus-clones.

There was also the fact that it would make more logical sense to split training the offspring between the two of them, piling it on one cat's shoulders eventually would lead to said cat getting exhausted. Not an ideal condition to be in during leaf-bare.

Anastasia's ears lowered as her siblings spoke seemingly all at once, raising a small paw to show her mother as Astraeus spoke up about his bug. Her nose wrinkled in distaste at Aphrodite's question, and she flicked her tail tip slightly. She agreed with Achlys, Aoife, and Atalante, letting out a scoff as Apollo said that he would eat the dung. That was just like him.... Just then, a shadow appeared over her, and she spun to see her father. "Dad!" She exclaimed happily, bouncing forward excitedly to press her small head to his side. The rabbit smelled good, but she got the feeling (one that was quickly confirmed by his reaction to Atalante, that it wasn't for her to touch. Her belly rumbled, but her eyes lit up with joy as Klaus spoke to the kits as a whole. "Okay! I'm ready!" She purred, following just behind him. They would learn to hunt, and maybe how to fight! She could bring her own rabbit to mom! She was practically quivering with excitement now. A voice from above made her turn her head briefly, and she smiled brightly up at the other loner, but remained silent for her father to respond.

Astraeus crinkled his snout as Ares spoke, gauging their size difference. “Not all that much bigger,” he protested. ”You’re fluffy than I am, anyways.” Suddenly something- someone pulled at his tail, and he whipped around, grinning. ”If you think my tail’s prey, Aether, you need to get something checked!” He gently cuffed his brother over the ears, pulling his tail from Aether’s grasp.

Then Aphrodite asked something mouse-brained, and he restrained himself from sighing with… well, a sigh. “Yes, Achyls is definitely right,” he mewed, nodding at Aoife.

And then a familiar voice called and Astraeus’s eyes lit up. Scampering towards his father just behind Atalante, he skidded to a stop beside his tortioseshell sister, blocked by his father’s leg. “I’ll come too! I can chase the prey towards you so you can catch more?”

Then another voice called, and Astraeus’s head snapped up. “This is the most fun we’ve had in moons!” He mewed excitedly, waving his tail at Tarot. Anastasia joined him and Atalante, and he gave her an excited grin. “Oh, and da, it was Aphrodite who asked us that question.” He didn’t want his father thinking he was that mouse-brained.