love is a blossom [open after kits and parents]

As the moon reached it's highest, casting shadows on the land below, a sudden screech sounded. Deerleap gasped as pain rippled through her. the kits were coming! she dug her claws into the ground and screamed again.

a few moments later, two kits were curled around her belly. she craned her neck to sniff them, stiffening as she realized one of them were cold. she pushed it away from her with her hindleg, and swept moss over the kit with her tail. she closed her eyes and instead focused on the other kit. a small grey-and-white she-kit mewed under her nudge. Deerleap breathed in her kit's scent, wishing to keep it in her memory forever.

the small she-kit squirmed under her mother's grasp, taking in a deep breath and mewing as loudly as she could.

Sootwhisker leapt from his nest at the sound of his mate in distress, racing across the camp to the nursery as fast as his paws would carry him. By the time he arrived, the single kit was already curled into her mother's fur, mewling as loudly as her tiny lungs would allow. A shadow of sadness darkened his gaze at the sight of the other small, limp body hidden under the moss, but it wasn't enough to quell the joy and pride rushing through him.

He nuzzled Deerleap, looking down at the kit with a gentle gaze.

"Hello there, little kit. Welcome to Shadowclan."

Snowfoot was awakened by a loud scream coming from the nursery. Deerleap’s kits must be coming! Snowfoot got up and walked to the nursery to be greeted by the sight of her best friend lovingly nuzzling a tiny kit. She caught her breath at the sight of the stillborn kit in the moss. Hadn’t they all suffered enough already? Trying to stay positive, Snowfoot turned to the living kit. “Welcome to ShadowClan, little one. I’m your auntie Snowfoot. You’re lucky, you’ve got the best mommy a cat could ask for.” She looked at Deerleap and Sootwhisker. “Have you thought of a name yet?”

Deerleap could sense the sadness of her clanmates as they caught sight of the limp body under the moss, by was grateful when they didn't comment on it. she purred as Sootwhisker greeted his daughter lovingly. "We'll be the best parents!" she murmured, her amber eyes misty.

"I was thinking of a name..." she replied hesitantly, glancing at Sootwhisker. would he approve? did he want to name the kit? "Vixenkit, in hopes she would be as strong as a vixen, in hard times that she may face," she purred softly, her tail curling around the kit protectively.

"It's perfect." Sootwhisker purred. "Vixenkit, our little warrior. A fitting name from one of the strongest cats I know." He said as he turned his gaze to Deerleap. Every day he spent with her, he was glad he'd taken the leap and told her how he felt. He couldn't imagine life with anyone else.

"vixenkit it is," Deerleap purred, glad that Sootwhisker approved. she gazed down at her new daughter. her fur was grey and long like her father's, the only sign of deerleap being her white muzzle and chest. "She looks just like you," Deerleap murmured.