Rushing [OPEN]

Poppyshine

It was very early in the morning, only just as the sun had peeked over the horizon, when Poppyshine was awoken by a terrible pain in her belly. She awoke with a gasp and shut her eyes tightly against the waves of pain that washed over her. For a moment she thought something was wrong, until she identified where exactly the pain was coming from. She had never given birth before, but she’d helped with births and had spoken with queens about what it was like. Poppyshine was certain that today was the day for her kits to be welcomed to RiverClan.

“Dovesight!” Poppyshine yelled before her call devolved into a pained mewl and she pressed her face into her nest. Her brain was dizzy with pain and it had taken her a moment to not call out for Cloverheart. It took another moment to realize that Mapleleaf would not be here to help her. And another to remember that Rushtalon was gone too. Her heart raced faster in her chest and she gritted her teeth, hoping the pain would pass quickly.

[This takes place a few days after the Gathering.]

Poppyshine

The process is long and painful, but not as long as Mapleleaf’s had been. Dovesight had gotten more experience in handling births, and had not only brought the herbs that Poppyshine needed, but also took care in helping her through the work. Poppyshine chewed the herbs, grit her teeth, and held out.

. . .

Finally, finally, the kits were born. Six beautiful, healthy little kits. Poppyshine was exhausted, but the sight of her children left her feeling elated. She smiled down at them, giving them each little licks to help keep them warm. While the entire process had been painful and exhausting, nothing had gone wrong. They all had survived, there had been no more pain than necessary, and now it was finished. All that was left now was to name the little scraps of fur and welcome them to the clan.

The first to draw her attention was a beautiful dark brown cat with peeks of tabby patterning and white little paws. She reminded Poppyshine of something…It took her a moment to realize what she was thinking of. Minks… Those little water weasels that she’d seen every so often around the territory. Their fur was dark like this little one’s. The memory of Mapleleaf telling her that she should name one of her kits after one brought a tear to her eye.

“Minkkit,” Poppyshine whispered, licking the little one’s head.

The second kit was a burnt orange kit with brown and tan fur. His color pattern was so striking and handsome. It reminded her of walks near the river at sunset, when it caused the reeds to glow a warm orange and the pleasantness the feeling brought her as she watched them sway in the wind.

“Reedkit,” she mewed, licking his cheek and gently pulling him close to her belly.

The third kit was practically a carbon copy of her father. The same reddish brown fur, the same stripes hidden under the royal hues, and same dark green eyes. Poppyshine’s stomach twisted at the thought of Rushtalon, and where he might have gone. She wondered what he would think if he was here to see his kits born. She wondered what he would have named her…She thought about an olive tree she had seen once on an outing with Rushtalon, and the time they spent resting under it. If Rushtalon couldn’t be around now, maybe his spirit could still live on this way.

“Olivekit,” Poppyshine mewed, giving her a lick and an extra rest atop her head.

The fourth kit was a beautiful auburn, brown color with a darker tail and the cutest pale paws. His fur was already longer than most kits, and she knew that it would only grow longer with Rushtalon’s genes. The coloring reminded Poppy a bit of rowan trees from a distance, and how the red berries speckled with the green leaves almost looked like the same color as this little one’s fur. She wondered if he would grow to have as striking of a personality as the striking redness of the tree’s berries.

“Rowankit,” she purred, giving him a lick and tucking him gently under one arm.

The fifth kit finally had more of Poppyshine’s markings than Rushtalon’s. He didn’t have the same diluted coloring that she did, but he had patches of pale orange and dark grey fur splattered across the white fur that painted her underbelly. Perhaps she just had trees on the mind, but it almost reminded her of spruce trees in leafbare, where some of the dark brown bark and pinecones would peek through the heavy white snow that covered the branches.

“Sprucekit,” Poppyshine mewed, lucking him and nudging him against one of his sisters.

The sixth and final kit had pale fur, nearly white, but it had a sandy orange hue that peeked through and grew darker along her back. Poppyshine’s mind immediately turned to the river that was ever present around their territory. The sandy shores that crept out of the river and into the tall grasses. Her coloring also reminded her of Mapleleaf. Her pale kit-fur reminded her of Cloverheart. Poppyshine’s heart ached, remembering the people they had lost so quickly. RiverClan had lived through such tragedy as of late. She wanted them back. She wanted them to live on. But he past was the past—and all she could do was hope for the best in her kits now.

“Sandykit,” Poppyshine finished, giving her final kit a lick and a purr as she pressed her cheek to Sandykit’s fur.

All of her children were here, and they would be welcomed into RiverClan by all. They were beautiful, and they were healthy, and no matter what chaos they may cause as they grew—Poppyshine would love each and every one of them. She loved them so much she could cry—or maybe that was just because tears were already welling up in her eyes. The overwhelming emotion of the whole birthing process, as well as the loss of her friends in the past, and memories of what was gone—it was too much for her. She curled around her newly-born kits and allowed herself to weep; out of sadness, out of joy, and out of pure relief.

Sandykit

Nursery

Breath in. Breath out.
First breath in a new world. No longer in a cozy, warm womb, but out into the elements that threatened to kill the small newborn. If it wasn’t for her mother, she’d be in quite a lot of danger. With her new senses though, she could begin to figure out the strange world she was brought into. Somehow she knew there were others around her- her litter. They were just like her, new. But even though she and they were both new, they seemed to have an advantage. They already knew what to do, where to go. She followed her brothers and sisters to warm milk. Suckling next to her family, she felt safe, guided, and loved. Ready to face the world with them.

Poppyshine

Poppyshine looked up at the arrival of a new cat into the den and she offered Brookpaw a warm smile as the apprentice walked over and sniffed at the kits curiously. The excitement on the apprentice’s face warmed Poppyshine’s heart. She mewed, “It went well. Dovesight was a great help. And yes, they’re all healthy.” At Brookpaw’s surprise at their size, Poppyshine gave a tiny chuckle. “Surprisingly, yes, all cats are this small when they’re born. You were this small, and I was this small once too. I remember you being this small.” She affectionately bumped her head against Brookpaw’s. It seemed like just yesterday, Brookpaw was still Brookkit and she was strutting around the nursery, curiously asking other kits about who they were and what they would be as warriors. Alternatively, it felt like so long ago that she herself was a kit. Her childhood memories almost seemed like a dream.

When Brookpaw settled down with her to help give some warmth to the kits, Poppyshine giggled. It reminded her of when she was Brookpaw’s age and she would always try to help the queens. Not all of them were receptive to Poppyshine’s attempts to help, but she was grateful for Brookpaw now. “I’m sure they will absolutely love their big sister,” she mewed. “They’re lucky to have one as great as you.”

Another cat entered the nursery and Poppyshine looked up from Brookpaw to find Perchstar standing at the entrance. Poppyshine flashed Perchstar one of her brightest, happiest smiles that are always reserved for the leader in particular, as she called out, “Perch!” If it wasn’t for her fatigue or the kits at her belly, she would have gotten up to greet her friend with her usual affection, but she was a bit trapped in the nest at the moment. It took a moment for Poppyshine to register that Perchstar looked a little frazzled and worried, and another moment more to hear the words that Perchstar had uttered.

“I’m not hurt,” Poppyshine promised, her voice quieting into the gentle, motherly warmth she always used. Her tailed flicked, inviting Perchstar to come closer. “The birth went smoothly, thanks to Dovesight. And all six of them are healthy and beautiful. Please, come meet them.” She looked down at her new kits and ran through them quickly for her guests, introducing them. “Minkkit, Reedkit, Olivekit, Rowankit, Sprucekit, and Sandykit. They’ll all be wonderful additions to RiverClan.” Her gaze lifted back to Perchstar and she added, “And they’ll be lucky to have their Aunt Perch around to look after them, too.”

Poppyshine

Poppyshine’s attention was immediately drawn back to her kits as Rowankit began wailing with no end. “Oh, Rowankit, it’s alright sweetheart,” Poppyshine murmured. She reached out with a paw and gently pushed Rowankit closer so he was up against her belly. “Just drink. You’re safe here.” She smiled down at all of her new kits. “You’re all safe here.”