Checking In [Emberkit]

The nursery wasn't quite ready, in truth, and the snowfall and cold had slowed the gathering of suitable den materials for it, but it wasn't like kits would wait to be born until it was completed, and so Wolfblossom had made it a point to check in on them when she wasn't out patrolling or assigning cats to patrols and helping with repairs to the dens and camp in general. The few kits and queens that Skyclan had were their most vulnerable clanmates, and Wolfblossom wouldn't let them be forgotten amidst the general state of chaos around camp.

Picking up a thin squirrel from the fresh-kill pile, Wolfblossom headed toward the den in question. She could have left the duty to one of the apprentices, but they all had enough to do, with even some of the older apprentices needing to learn of their own territory after moons spent sheltering in fourtrees. And there was no point in asking any of them to do things that their deputy wouldn't do herself.

"Hey," She chirped a warm greeting as she ducked her head into the den. "Have you eaten yet?"

Wolfblossom's lips twitched into a soft smile as she tried to stifle the purr of amusement that desperately wanted to leave her throat at the sight of Emberkit sniffing her way toward the squirrel and making guesses as to what the prey was. It had been a while since she'd seen that innocent enthusiasm in Skyclan's kits, no doubt because of the turmoils that had befallen the clan after the great shake.

The disappointment as little Emberkit opened her eyes to see it was a squirrel made her whiskers twitch, though the deputy refused to laugh at the kit's reaction. "You were close," She mewed softly, "And you'll learn to recognize them all by scent in time." She added. Apprenticeship wasn't all that far off, even if to a kit it seemed like forever. Wolfblossom could remember her own impatience and excitement about that particular ceremony, too. Her siblings had been no less impatient than she, and Wolfblossom doubted most kits wouldn't be. Of course, she'd never expected to be the one making kits apprentices either, but her own excitement at the idea of a ceremony was still there even if they had started to become part of her routine.

Being asked if she'd eaten yet was a surprise, but it showed an amount of consideration that the kit had. Wolfblossom shook her head, "I haven't." She admitted, "But I'd rather make sure my clanmates were fed first." It was technically a part of the warrior code, but to Wolfblossom it was simple courtesy - and respect for her fellow cat. The tabby and white she-cat sat, fluffy tail curling over her paws.

"Well, it is part of the warrior code. But it's one of the more sensible rules that should be followed regardless, I think." She replied, fluffy tail curling over her paws. "Someone's always assigned to that. But I'd prefer cats who went out of their way to do it without being asked. I'd hope Skyclan warriors would be better than to only think of their own hunger first. I think most are. I've never had to punish anyone for that and I hope I don't have to." Wolfblossom had no problem with getting her clanmates to act like the warriors that they were. She had no problem with shepherding the lazy and getting them to do their fair share of work. Punishments were not something she thought to do lightly. If it came down to it, she would. Not gladly, but she recognized that sometimes appropriate punishment was necessary.

"You're welcome." The deputy dipped her head. "When you're made an apprentice, your mentor will teach you all of that." Skyclan had some of the finest hunters in the forest, of course. It wouldn't be too much longer before Emberkit was old enough to become an apprentice and be mentored by one of them. "Once leafbare ends our prey will have more meat on them. They don't like the snow and cold any more than we do."

"Not yet, no." Wolfblossom said, "Sometimes I don't have it figured out until days before the ceremony. I try to pick a mentor I think will best help a new apprentice, and I try not to give mentors more than one apprentice at a time." That would perhaps narrow it down for the kit, if she wanted to guess... Or it might not. Several of Skyclan's apprentices were close to becoming warriors, and Wolfblossom had been pleased with how their training was progressing. Emberkit would be among their ranks soon too, and from what she'd seen, the kit was eager and willing to learn. That would serve her well if she kept that attitude into apprenticehood, Wolfblossom thought.

The offer of food was a surprise, Wolfblossom blinked at the kit slowly. "Oh go on. You eat what you can, you're still growing." She had been about to shake her head at the offer, but... "I'll have a bite." She conceded, reaching forward and carefully hooking her claw into the squirrel, tearing a small chunk for herself. She was careful to leave the choicer bits for Emberkit however. The squirrel had been thin and wouldn't be the best, like it would've been in greenleaf, but there was still enough for a decent meal out of it.

"Being a medicine cat... Yeah, I don't know how they deal with the herbs and the injuries, honestly. My parents were medicine cats, Plumleaf's my sister, and sometimes I wonder what goes through their heads. They are invaluable to the clan, though, and do a lot of good." She missed her parents terribly. Fogfeather and Plumleaf too. Knowing that Plumleaf had been taken by twolegs and not knowing if she was safe or not... Wolfblossom shook her head. Dwelling on it would do no good, and she wasn't going to bring up that conversation to a kit.

Had she gotten in trouble? A small smirk crossed her expression. "Ravenclaw was a wonderful mentor to me. I bet she wished I didn't enjoy sparring so much... I was a bit of a brat, actually. And stubborn. I didn't sneak out to the borders or anything, though, I think Ravenclaw was smart enough to keep me too busy for that." She grinned, "Being able to get out of camp as an apprentice was freeing. I loved learning, too." She would just... Not go into detail about how Skyclan was almost at war for most of her apprenticeship. That was a story best left for another day.

"Of course." Wolfblossom nodded in response, hardly thinking of the answer at all. Spending more time around the nursery was hardly in question, of course, and why not spend the time talking to the kits and giving the queens a bit of a break? Emberkit seemed to Wolfblossom to be good company, and she wouldn't just turn down clanmates that wanted to spend time with her. It was nice, to not be on patrol or in a position where she needed to be in charge and order others around, too. And if the kit asked, Wolfblossom was happy to do so. "I'll be busy helping with camp repairs for a while yet, but I'll make time to check in on you, don't worry."

The insecurities came back in full, it seemed, and Wolfblossom's gaze softened at Emberkit's words. "It's harder when there's not many cats around your age, isn't it?" She'd had many siblings, being one of seven, but Emberkit, if she recalled, was an only kit. And in leafbare the nursery was always emptier, or so Wolfblossom had always heard.

"The other apprentices are nice. I think you'll be okay once you warm up to them." Wolfblossom tried to reassure her. "I know Skyclan doesn't have the most... sociable cats. Some of them could do with being dragged into conversation more, if you ask me. But none of them are mean." Well, there was Blackbear, and Trufflesnap were a bit... rough around the edges, Wolfblossom had to admit. But they weren't bad cats. "Most of your future denmates need some encouragement, is all." The great shake and being in fourtrees had left little time for most of them to truly socialize when everyone had been wary of getting snatched up by twolegs or trying to keep to the limited territory fourtrees provided. They were finally home and in their own camp, without having to worry about stepping on toes of the other clans. They would have dens, they would have safety, and while the twolegs were still a threat with their traps, the stability of their own territory and having their own space would help everyone relax a little, Wolfblossom hoped. "Becoming an apprentice takes a bit of adjusting, too. But it's not so bad. I think you'll do fine."

Emberkit said she would try not to worry. She knew from experience how futile that could be at times, even before it had become somewhat of her job as Skyclan's deputy, but all she could do was try. "Good." Wolfblossom finished her own portion of the meal. "It won't always be easy, but you do have clanmates to talk to." She added softly. "That's what we're here for."