Kings & Queens[Fennel/Soot Fam]

Sootstorm had made it a point to check in with all his kits, monitering their progress like hawks should one of them suddenly fall ill to that sickness that still lingered in the Clan. The deputy found himself increasingly anxious the longer he was out on patrol, and would almost run back to the nursery once it was over. Each time, he gave all his kits nuzzles and licks, as if to convince himself that they were still there, alive and well. He still found himself in awe each time he saw them, and it took him by surprise when they began growing, shooting upwards like sprouts. He had not yet gotten used to their small, kit-like wonder, and they were almost apprentice-aged? This caused quite a few grumbles from the usually peaceful tom, and his mate was subjected to being his audience.

Today was one such day, with the deputy almost tripping over his paws as he rushed to the nursery, a large crow clamped in his jaws. His eyes were bright with excitement and hope, as he dropped the fresh-kill to greet his kits. Sootstorm had expected the feathers from the crow to be a brilliant gift for his kits, but now that he was here, he worried that it may take away his kits' attention from him. He had so little time to spend with them, why did he think of bringing a bird along? The tom quickly sweeped his kits away from the fresh-kill, chatting with them all the while.

It didn't matter what he was trying to do, apparently, as four kits launched themselves at him. Sootstorm struggled to keep his balance with Crakekit and Heatherkit clinging onto him like leeches and Stoatkit running around his legs. Rapidkit and Fidgetkit thankfully didn't join the chaos, or he'd be buried in the ground by now. "I'm fine!" He puffed at Fennelbreeze's concern, but quickly ate his own words when his tail was attacked by sharp kit fangs. "Crakekit!" He yelped in exasperation as he lifted his tail and tried to gently shake his daughter off. Fidgetkit asked a question, and though Sootstorm always tried to take his son's questions seriously, in the moment he just didn't have the mind to think about why birds walked on two legs. "Yes, Stoatkit, these are for us the eat together- AHHH," a particularly sharp nip on his hindleg caused the tom to yelp. The culprit was Heatherkit, who now had her fangs burried deep in his leg. Sootstorm shook her off gently, crying on the inside. How Fennelbreeze managed it, he had no idea.

Sootstorm was glad for his kits' attention to finally switch to the feathers rather than his pelt. He only had so much fur, and at the rate that his kits bit him, he'd lose it all before the journey ended. They were arguing again, and unfortunately his mate said nothing to calm them down, which meant that it was his job to make them stop fighting between themselves. He flashed Fennelbreeze a pouting face, clearly displeased at having to be the one to break the kits up. She knew how bad he was at denying his kits anything! "Stoatkit's right. Fidgetkit's just asking questions, which means that he'll know more than the kits who don't ask any questions," He began, resting his tail on Heatherkit to calm her down. "And Rapidkit's not a Lookit. She just got confused, and as her sister it's your job to correct her, not insult her. Stoatkit, why don't you share the feathers with your littermates?" He nudged the bundle of feathers with one paws, his movements careful as if his son might strike out at any moment. He already had a scar on his paw from one kit, he was looking for another. "As for whether birds are Twolegs: they're not. Birds have feathers, but Twolegs only have fur at the top of their head," Sootstorm made upa explanation on the spot and prayed that his kits would buy it. StarClan, forgive him for making up stuff to teach his children.