The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Subject: Mother, help! [Nectarflower] Tue 13 Aug 2024 - 6:10
Cloudjumper had not particularly wanted to leave camp - leave Amber - for a hunting patrol, but she had forced herself to do so knowing that she couldn't shirk her duties as a warrior. Still, the lithe calico had been oddly distracted during the day's hunting, and had missed a few catches. She hadn't come back to camp with empty paws however, and ducked through the gorse tunnel with a rabbit dangling from her jaws.
Wide green eyes took in the camp, going immediately toward the nursery. It was odd for her to pay so much attention to it, but little Amber had nobody else and was in an unfamiliar environment and - "Mom!" Stars, it was such a relief to see her mother standing near the nursery finally. Cloudjumper darted forward, a purr rumbling in her chest. "How are you? Are you hungry? I brought rabbit!" Nectarflower had called the nursery home for as long as Cloudjumper could remember, and if anyone knew what they were doing with kits, it had to be her. She had, after all, raised Cloudjumper and her siblings.
"I uh, found a kit near the thunderpath. Amber, I don't know if you've met her already. Tigerstar said since I found her I was to care for her. You weren't in the nursery when I got back to camp with Leopardwind and I had to go hunting and-" The warrior stopped mid-sentence, giving her head a shake.
Nectarflower"Once again, I'm stuck here just counting all these stars" -T5 Retired Permaqueen-
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Today had been a bit unusual for Nectarflower. She'd spent most of the afternoon in the flower fields and had only returned to the camp a few moments ago, her body sore from trying to get her injured leg back to working how it used to. In the end, though, it hadn't worked. Whenever she put too much weight on her leg, it would just crumple beneath her. Something that made running like she had before the injury just...impossible. Still, the tortoiseshell she-cat was determined to find a way around this new challenge. Hemlockfox was right that she'd never run or hunt the same again, but that didn't mean she couldn't hunt or run again at all.
She just needed to keep trying. Besides, there were more important things going on. Like the new kit she'd heard all about since getting back to the camp. Apparently, Cloudjumper and Leopardwind had found her, but her daughter and the tom were nowhere to be seen. And neither was the kit...Amber, was it? She'd only just gotten back from her long day in the fields, but it was strange that she hadn't seen the poor dear yet. But, if the new kit wasn't out playing, maybe she was in the nursery? Before she could duck into the sheltered space, a familiar voice called out, stopping Nectarflower in her tracks. Oh! Cloudjumper was back!
Purring loudly, Nectarflower turned and limped a few paces towards her daughter, meeting her in the center of the camp. She smiled at her daughter's rambling, whiskers twitching in amusement, and rubbed her cheek affectionately against Cloudjumper's. "Alright, alright, don't you even worry about it. I just got back myself, but I heard a bit about little Amber. Why don't we talk over some of that rabbit, yeah?" She grinned patiently at her daughter, head tipped to the side. Whatever the young warrior needed, she'd always be absolutely happy to provide.
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[Nectarflower] T5 WC Permaqueen
[Hemlockfox] T4 WC Hybrid Medicine Cat
[Wiggleworm] T3 TC Warrior
[Firetreader] T1 SkC Warrior
[Lykaios] T1 Rogue
[Moonpaw] WC Apprentice
Last edited by GravisCordis on Tue 3 Sep 2024 - 22:35; edited 1 time in total
Her mother's voice had always been soothing, and it was a relief to hear her mother's answer, too.A purr escaped the young warrior at Nectarflower's affection, and she nodded. "Alright." She mewed, turning toward a spot near the edge of camp. "I don't know where to begin, honestly." She admitted sheepishly.
"I just... I brought her back to camp and wasn't really thinking about anything else, really. We couldn't just leave the kit out there, obviously. But now that I have to take care of her I... Don't know where to start." She mewed. Her training had prepared her for most aspects of warrior life... But Spiderdance hadn't raised kits, not that that was usually taught to apprentices to begin with. "I set up a nest for her in the nursery, me and Leopardwind have been teaching her bits of the code and clan life, and bringing her food but... I don't know what to do. Or what I should be doing. She's really young and I don't know... How did you do it?" Nectarflower seemed like a natural fit to the nursery, like a natural fit for raising kits even if she'd been a warrior first. Perhaps that was because Cloudjumper had been raised by her, but the motherly queen Cloudjumper knew seemed so much the opposite of Cloudjumper's own inclination toward ambition and becoming the best warrior she could be.
Nectarflower"Once again, I'm stuck here just counting all these stars" -T5 Retired Permaqueen-
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Nectarflower spun to follow Cloudjumper, her head cocked curiously to the side as she began to launch into explaining whatever it was that was on her mind. She was certain it had something to do with their newest little guest, but she could hardly imagine it was anything worth getting so worked up over. Cloudjumper had done an amazing thing by saving Amber, she didn't have to worry now that the kit was here with the rest of WindClan. However, as her daughter continued, it became abundantly clear what she was worried about. Sympathy lit Nectarflower's eyes, and she smiled almost wistfully.
She, too, remembered what it was like when she'd realized she was expecting her first litter. It was overwhelming and frightening all at the same time but, even then, she'd had a few moons to prepare herself. If it was truly up to Cloudjumper to care for Amber (for the time being) she'd been given zero warning on the matter. It wasn't as though warriors made a habit of picking up stray kits. "Darling, the first thing I want you to know is that it's completely normal to feel like this. It's a big responsibility - taking care of a kit - but you won't be doing it alone. The whole clan watches over all of the kits inside and even outside of these walls. That's how I got by when I had my first litter."
She smiled fondly, bittersweet as the memory was, as she thought back to the kits she'd raised all those moons ago. "Honestly, a lot of it is trial and error." She wished she could give Cloudjumper a solid response, a foolproof way to raise a kit, but such a thing just didn't exist. Every kit was different, and each needed to be treated as such. "I'd love to tell you that it's easy but, sometimes, being a mother is the hardest thing I've ever done." Especially when it came time for those precious kits she cherished to grow up. If they survived that long. Grimacing, Nectarflower lowered herself to the ground and gestured for Cloudjumper to join her. "All you can do is try your best, dear." In the end, that's all anyone could do, really.
Her feelings were normal... Valid. Cloudjumper blinked up at her mother. That knowledge wasn't exactly a relief, but it helped to know that she might not have been the only panicky... Well, she wasn't a queen, and she didn't know if she would truly qualify as Amber's mother, adoptive or not. That would be for her to decide. Panicky caretaker, then.
"I know there will be others to help look out for her, I just... I don't know. I know not everyone's exactly thrilled about an outsider in our ranks, and what if something happens when I'm not there?" She hadn't thought things would be so... So nerve-wracking, that was for sure.
Trial and error... A soft hum as she thought over her mother's words. "Leopardwind's helping her get used to clan life, but he's hardly a parental figure. I've never hung around the nursery much, and I hardly remember what it was like being that young, myself. I guess it's a bit different being on the other side of things, isn't it?" Cloudjumper moved to sit beside her mother, tail curling over her paws. "I don't like the 'error' part of that statement." She added wryly, green eyes turning briefly toward the nursery. She had never allowed herself room for failure as an apprentice, and the idea of such now... No, Cloudjumper didn't like that one bit.
She noticed her mother's grimace as she lowered herself to the ground, "Mom? Are you okay?" If her leg was bothering her Cloudjumper had no problems going to fetch Hemlockfox, no matter how grumpy the medicine cat might be.
Nectarflower"Once again, I'm stuck here just counting all these stars" -T5 Retired Permaqueen-
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Nectarflower straightened at her daughter's concerned expression and voice, a weary smile coming across her face. "Oh, yes dear, please don't even worry about it." She purred softly, waving a paw dismissively. "I suppose I'm just a touch sore today." Maybe she'd overdone it with the training earlier? Regardless, today - this - wasn't about her. It was about Cloudjumper. After taking a moment to consider what her daughter had said before being distracted, Nectarflower tipped her head to the side, her tail twitching. Were there really cats who were upset by Amber's presence in the nursery, though? The notion very nearly made the queen scoff.
Stars, if that was the biggest thing any cat in WindClan had to worry about - a kit with outsider blood among them - then they really needed to get out more. There were plenty of cats in the clans that shared mixed clan blood or, in many cases, no clan blood at all. At long as the cat with said blood was a loyal clanmate or even just harmless to them, she saw no problem with them being around. Still, it was a valid concern to have. Many of their clanmates certainly weren't so tolerant of outsiders like she was. "This may not be what you want to hear..." She began slowly, "But one of the scary parts about being a parent is that you can't always know when something will happen. You just have to do your best to be there when those things do happen."
StarClan knows she'd struggled with that now and then. Especially when her leg was acting up. Oh, but she couldn't blame Cloudjumper for being a little uncertain about Leopardwind helping to raise little Amber. He wasn't exactly...the most nurturing of cats. And, well, she supposed Cloudjumper really wasn't keep on getting anything wrong. Which was, well, the first problem. She was going to make mistakes. Every cat did. "I wish there was something I could say that would prepare you, but, well, there isn't. I know you like the 'error' part, but it's something that'll happen eventually. StarClan knows I've made plenty of mistakes."
"Alright... But if you need anything, mom..." She mewed uncertainly. She knew Nectarflower enjoyed her walks around the territory, but she hoped her mother wasn't struggling too much with the pain. And hoped she wasn't too stubborn enough to admit it. Nectarflower knew her limits better than her daughter would, of course, but Cloudjumper couldn't help but worry about her family anyways even so.
"Well that's not reassuring at all, mom. Thanks!" She griped at her mother's words, though there was a thread of snark in her voice as well before her tone became a little more serious. "Yeah, that's definitely not what I wanted to hear but... I suppose you're right too." She knew that she couldn't be there for everything, and part of growing up was leaving the proverbial nest... That would be Amber too, eventually. She'd just... Have to deal with things as they came, she supposed. And be there for the little kit when she could.
Nectarflower, make mistakes? It was hard to imagine the caring queen in such a way. Cloudjumper knew she had jumped into this without any thought at all though... And so of course she would be prone to such. Her mom was right that she'd just have to take things one step at a time.
"Thanks, mom... I mean that. Stuff I'm happy to hear or not that... Helped." She mewed, "I don't know how you queens don't lose all your fur worrying... Guess that's what I get for jumping into something headfirst." The warrior grinned, a hint of humor in her green eyes.
Nectarflower"Once again, I'm stuck here just counting all these stars" -T5 Retired Permaqueen-
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Nectarflower smiled almost sadly at her daughter's disappointment - the expression on her face a familiar one. It was the sort of sinking feeling of acceptance that came with the realization that you couldn't protect your loved ones from everything. As much as she hated to admit it, it was better to know it now and, when the time came, understand that whatever life throws at you, that it's not your fault. She'd had to come to that realization first when Weaselfoot died and then again with Ferntwist, Rosepaw, and again with each new death or disappearance. The worst feeling, however, wasn't failing as a clanmate. It was failing as a parent. And stars knows she had before.
Failing to prepare her kits for the world outside of the camp and fearing that with every loss, that there was more she could have done. Hopefully, Cloudjumper wouldn't have to worry about that as much. She blinked patiently as her daughter continued, her thoughts primarily elsewhere. When her kits had kits, it would be different for them. She, Kestrelchirp, and the rest of their kin would be there. "It wasn't so bad when you and your littermates came." She purred after a moment, face flickering with sadness.
Her first birth had been like a storm of terror and loneliness, but it wasn't nearly the same with Kestrelchirp at her side. Chuckling, then, she added, "Though, I certainly wasn't the calmest when you all became apprentices." Being left behind in the camp while her kits learned to be warriors was...frightening. Nectarflower swallowed her emotions, though, and nuzzled Cloudjumper's shoulder lovingly. "But I'm very proud of how far you've come, dear. When the time comes and your kits - however many you have - make their way in the world...the worrying is all worth it."
