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caffeinecraving Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 1:46 pm
She now knew the reason that some animals ate their young. She glanced around the nursery and licked one of the black kits. Nope... she didnt think they would taste too good. But she guessed that didnt really matter in choosing to eat your offspring. She winced as those baby teeth continued to nibble on her. She put her ears back and closed her multicolored eyes. She disliked this... No, she loved her kits... they were wonderful, precious, they would be magnificent warriors of Thunderclan. She winced. But did they have to be constantly attached to her?! She glanced to the other queen who had 4 kits. Those kits were getting big enough they would be apprenticed soon. She glanced at the scrapes of fur without their eyes even open. She would be here... for too long.
When the other queen left to take their kits into the clearing to play she glanced once again at her kits. They would be fine. She disintangled herself from their greedy little mouths and licked them when they cried. But she nosed them deeper into the bedding and then headed for the entrance. She peeked out into the clearing and carefully, silently, snuck out the side toward the camp entrance. Acting like she was supposed to be leaving she walked through until she was outside. Any cat with eyes could see that she was heavy with milk and she probably shouldnt be outside. But just a few minutes couldnt hurt. Her kits were safe inside a cave, in a warm bed nestled against each other. All she wanted was to sink her claws into a rabbit. She licked her lips and started away from camp scenting for rabbit. She was heading toward the windclan border as there would be more luck that way. Tail up and head high, she would be easy to spot until she was stalking her prey.
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 2:04 pm
Iceclaw was assigned to perform a solo border patrol today, and it was a gorgeous day at that. The wind was blowing just right, and the air was not quite heavy enough to indicate that they were well into Greenleaf. Things hadn't been very tense lately, and for once it seems that all the Clans were well-stocked with prey enough to leave the ThunderClan territory alone. Her patrol may as well have been a leisurely stroll. The she-cat trailed along the edge of the territory lazily, keeping her mouth open and her scent-glands working, but certainly not exerting herself too much.
Just as she had turned to begin her survey of the WindClan border, she noticed the rather fresh scent of a Queen. Perking up her ears in surprise, Iceclaw followed the scent. It wasn't unfamiliar. In fact, it was certainly ThunderClan in nature. Her azure eyes landed on the rabbit first, and then the Queen that was stalking it. Too shocked to even care about the prey, Iceclaw meowed, "Heartchaser? What are you doing all the way out here?"
Her tone was far from accusatory or scolding, more confused than anything else. Queens were supposed to take their time in the nursery to rest, and to take care of their kits. Heartchaser's litter was certainly very new, and in Iceclaws inexpert opinion they shouldn't be left alone. Surely she had a good reason for leaving Camp and coming out here to... hunt?
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caffeinecraving Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 2:24 pm
Oh! Rabbit! HeartChaser sank into her crouch and she stalked up on her prey. Her mouth was watering with the thought of a chase and then taking her prey's life. She had been in the nursery the whole time she was pregnant and now she was going to be hunted for while she nursed those babies. And she had a giant litter. So she was likely to be even more scolded for leaving. But she just needed to be out. She could almost taste her rabbit! She was just about close enough and then the rabbit perked. "No!" She lunged forward and if she had been in peek condition and not all full of milk she would have caught the brown rabbit... but it was gone in a blink. She hissed. "Fox Dung!" Then she turned her eyes up to see IceClaw.
She flicked one ear in a kind of, what do you think i was doing kind of attitude but she sighed letting all attitude fall away. "Just taking a small break." She flicked her tail. "I would have had that rabbit too." It would have fed her good and well, it was huge. She perked. "Are you on patrol?" Her eyes looked like they envied the thought of being on patrol. HeartChaser's expert opinion wasnt much better than IceClaw's inexpert opinion. Really finding out she was expecting was a shock. She and Goosephantom were only friends, not nearly mates... it had been a one time thing... and now she had eight kits that were tugging on her. She flicked an ear at that thought. She loved them... really... she would love them even more when they werent so hungry.
But she looked around. "Im just longing for a rabbit...Call it a craving." Iceclaw would probably know that there had been rabbits in the freshkill pile.
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 2:53 pm
Iceclaw actually looked around, as if searching for Heartchaser's chaperone. She knew there weren't many rules regarding Queens in the Warrior Code, except that they must be fed alongside the kits and elders before anyone else. So, technically, Heartchaser wasn't breaking any rules. The warrior wondered for a moment if, perhaps, they had forgotten to feed her this morning? But that wasn't right, she could get up and walk to the pile of fresh-kill all on her own, and there were plenty of rabbits available when she had taken her own breakfast before patrol.
"Yeah, I'm on patrol, but it's pretty slow today," she responded, gazing evenly at her peer. Perhaps Heartchaser was simply restless. While Iceclaw herself looked forward to having kits of her own, she supposed that being forced to retire from her own duties for even a moon's length would be maddening. She felt a sudden twinge of guilt for interrupting the queen's little hunting session, and took a moment to think about the situation at hand. Iceclaw could escort Heartchaser back to camp... or maybe she could help her on her little escapade.
"A craving, you say?" she chuckled. "Well, let's find you a rabbit, then." Iceclaw flicked her tail cheerfully, and began to scent the air for a new target.
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caffeinecraving Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 3:14 pm
Heartchaser was glad she couldnt read minds. She would have tried to take the she-cats ears off for suggesting she needed a chaperone. She flicked her tail lightly. There were the basic common sense rules. Such as, if the babies were too young you needed to be back to feed them. So she figured she had only a little bit of time.
She nodded. "Well thats good... Though it could be fun to chase off a cat or two." Her claws unsheathed and sheathed her claws. It would be obvious after a little bit the the she-cat just needed away from her kits for a bit. As a selfish cat, generally, caring selflessly for eight other beings was taxing.
She blinked when the other cat didnt want to send her straight back. "Wonderful!" She perked her ears and turned to glance the way the rabbit had run off. She started forward a bit. She vaguely wondered if the other queen had gone back in to the den yet? As soon as she did she knew she would have cats out looking for her... So they would have to find a rabbit soon. She looked to IceClaw. "Thanks for not forcing me to go back." She flicked her ear as she scented for any rabbits.
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 5:12 pm
Iceclaw nodded gently to Heartchaser. "I figured it wouldn't be long till I was in your situation," she purred briefly. Her wanting of kits was rather hopeful, and likely wouldn't happen for another many moons. The she-cat still wasn't sure she would ever leave her kits behind with no supervision... Ah, who was she kidding. She wouldn't ever do that. But at the very least, she could sympathize with where Heartchaser was coming from.
The warrior wasn't the best at hunting and tracking, but rabbits unknowingly crossed the border so frequently it wouldn't be long before they found one. If not, Iceclaw might have been more concerned about returning Heartchaser to camp in a timely manner. Plus, Heartchaser was a good hunter, and her paws had probably been itching for an opportunity to sink their claws into something. A fresh-kill in waiting couldn't be very far.
Iceclaw wondered briefly if she needed to remind the tabby that this would be a one-time occurrence, and she likely would have to lead her straight back to camp if this happened a second time. After all, they were both adults, both warriors, and they were both very well aware of the problems that presented themselves here. But Iceclaw also wasn't a killjoy. Finally, she caught the faintest wind of a rabbit. Her ears perked, and she turned to Heartchaser, giving her a questioning look. Do you smell it too?
She'd let Heartchaser be the one to catch it, of course.
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caffeinecraving Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 5:36 pm
HeartChaser gave a happy blink at the she cat's nod but then she glanced toward the other female's abdomen. Was she expecting? She wasnt going to ask though. And HeartChaser would have said the same thing. If she was asked a few moons ago. She would have said she would have kept them by her side the whole time. Never ever, and she meant never would she leave them without someone watching them. But who wanted to watch 8 crying kits. She never was one to go sniffing around the nursery. It was kinda a situation of here now you get to deal with this in your life. "Well when you are... I will help you sneak out... I promise."
Heartchaser was scenting for the rabbits. She flicked her ears at a squirrel but she wanted that bunny. And while the prey was running so well it wouldnt be long.
She enjoyed the hunt. She wouldnt kill needlessly, but at this point she could get a rabbit that would feed herself and the ones at the camp would be fore the elders. HeartChaser caught the smell as well and she nodded silently as she headed toward the rabbit. She would freeze if it glanced toward her and every paw step was placed silently. Before she exploded out of her hiding place and had the rabbit in an instant after just a small chase. She sank her teeth into its neck and purred softly. Oh that felt good. Her mind did wander back to the den. She wondered if her little runt of a kit was warm enough.
She glanced up to IceClaw. "Would you like to share?" It was so freash it was still warm when she took her first bite. Yep... that hit the spot.
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 6:29 pm
Iceclaw watched the other cat take the rabbit down swiftly, cleanly. Her poise and grace, even in the aftermath of childbirth, was admirable.
The warrior herself was more for sparring with others - it wasn't that she loved conflict, just that she could feel better about attacking something when it was fighting back. That, and the jumpiness of the prey wasn't always gentle to her often heavy movements. She couldn't help but feel a little warmth fill her heart as Heartchaser dug in to her fresh-kill. At least Iceclaw had brought one other cat a little bit of happiness today.
"Sure," she mewled, padding over and sending a little prayer to StarClan before taking a bite out of the rabbit. The warm juices seeped into
her mouth, and she purred with contention. Iceclaw wasn't quite hungry for her midday meal yet, but she wasn't about to let a piece of fresh meat go to waste. Plus, this rabbit tasted so good... perhaps because it was a bit of forbidden fruit. That was what made it so delicious.
She washed her whiskers briefly while Heartchaser finished up the meal. They'd have to move fast to get back to camp before there was a disturbance caused, if it hadn't already begun. Iceclaw knew there was at least one other cat who was residing in the nursery, and if someone found a queen missing the worst could be assumed. "Shall we get moving?" the warrior asked, twitching her ears expectantly. Perhaps they would talk along the way.
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caffeinecraving Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 7:20 pm
HeartChaser would probably very much admire Iceclaw's fighting skills. Afterall, she was a good enough warrior but she would much rather not fight her fellow cats. She was more than happy to share her catch. The finished off the rabbit and Heartchaser contentedly sat there licking her paws clean.
She looked up though at the suggestion. She probably should get back to check on the kits... But she was enjoying the breeze coming off of Windclan and she looked torn a moment and then sighed. "Yeah I guess we probably should." Although when she stood to walk toward the clan camp again it was obvious she wasnt in a hurry. She could still feel their little milk teeth and she wouldnt be rushing back into that.
She looked to the other cat and tipped her head. "Are you looking to have kits?" She was just questioning the statement from earlier...
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 10:01 pm
Iceclaw was taken aback by her clan-mate's question, and her face flashed warm for just a second before she realized the intention. "Oh, well, I'd just like kits is all," she chuckled a bit, feeling embarrassed. She stood and began to walk in the direction of camp, hoping Heartchaser would follow. "I don't have a mate or anything, yet... if that's what you're asking." She wasn't even sure if there were any males who would
be interested. She'd been a warrior for some time, but nobody had made any genuine passes. At least, not that she was aware of. Perhaps Iceclaw was a bit dense.
Speaking of dense, she hadn't even been aware of the relationship between Heartchaser and Goosephantom, and yet they had parented kits
right under her nose! Despite trying to be friendly with everyone in the Clan, Iceclaw still found some things slipped her attention. "How did it happen with... uh... with you?" she said, whiskers quivering nervously at making such an invasive query. Iceclaw didn't mean to be rude, but perhaps... from a she-cat to a she-cat, maybe there was an opportunity to connect there.
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caffeinecraving Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 12:10 pm
HeartChaser smiled. She hadnt meant to intrude. Just curious. "You can have mine...." She gave a mrrow of amusement as she walked along. "Neither do I~" She fluffed up her fur a moment in a half shrug. "I love my kits... each one of them... but being a queen is a pain in my tail." She swished her tail in emphasis. She stretched leisurely mid step. "As for a mate... would you like one?" Heartchaser wasnt sure she wanted the pain involved in being a mate. Sure there were the positives, like someone to cuddle up next to... and share prey... But she could do that with anyone... And the whole hae kits things... well obviously she was having trouble classifying this as a positive.
Heartchaser blinked at the question and then she laughed. "The same way it always happens... " Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "You mean with Goosephantom? How did he become the father of my kits?" She glanced over IceClaw and smiled. "He helped me scratch an itch... And apparently It was all good and well enough to make eight lovely kittens..." Eight was alot for a clan cat. Especially when the average litter was three.
"He is valiant and kind... so Im not ashamed to have him be the father... Even if he isnt my... mate... in so many words."
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 1:01 pm
Iceclaw laughed out loud at Heartchaser's statement about taking her kits. She wasn't even sure how she would take care of any kits if they were thrust upon her. Of course, that sort of thing came from instinct and the advice of other queens, and possibly even the medicine cat. Iceclaw wondered how frequently she might have to ask Heartchaser for assistance, or perhaps even an escape. The more she thought about it, the more the idea of having a break seemed welcoming, even if she wasn't directly in Heartchaser's pawsteps.
"I think I'd like a mate," she mused, her mind rifling through that list of eligible toms again. "I'm not sure who, though. It feels like that sort of thing is supposed to happen naturally, like it all falls into place. You know?" She flicked her tail as if to indicate it was no big deal, but as she grew older Iceclaw could feel the want for a mate and kits growing stronger, beginning to claw at her stomach.
Iceclaw's big blue eyes widened a bit as Heartchaser spoke of her relations with Goosephantom. So she hadn't been wrong, about not perceiving much between them. The cat supposed that it wasn't unusual, to have kits for the sake of wanting to do the deed. Plus, the Clan could always use extra paws, and this particular litter was large enough to make an entire entourage of apprentices, and one day strong warriors. But eight kits! Iceclaw herself hoped to only have two or three... at a time, at least.
The young warrior blinked in agreement. "Goosephantom is a wonderful clan-mate and warrior," she agreed. She hoped she wasn't insinuating that it was shameful, but thinking back on it, perhaps Heartchaser was trying to work her own thoughts out aloud. But her thoughts quickly ricocheted back to the kits. "Have you decided what you'll name any of them yet?" purred Iceclaw. She'd already put a few ideas of her own on the slate, for her own future kits, but she knew that sometimes it was difficult to name the kittens before they began showing personalities.
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caffeinecraving Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 3:01 pm
Heartchaser simply purred with amusement at the other cats laughter. She would relish any help at this point. But she had even sent AppleVenom away when she was kitting. Afterall, she didnt want to encourage the tom to break his vows or anything. She wouldnt ever trust herself around the male medicine cats. Not after the stories she had heard about her ancestors.
She nodded at the cat's claim to want a mate. It wasnt a bad thing to want one. "Or you could just pick one... Some one strong... With good ideas... Strength to protect your kits..." She shrugged. "Then just go out and convince them." She twitched her tail. Love was lost on her.
She nodded again and it was very true. Goosephantom was strong and a good warrior. But her heart had never loved him. So she simply shrugged it all off. But IceClw was right. She did have some thoughts where she was saddened that she didnt have a loving mate to keep her from going out of her mind. She sat down thinking about it now. Although the next question roused her from her thoughts. "No, not yet... Ive been calling them onekit twokit" (redkit bluekit.. *dies*) "Its just easier that way until i know them better."
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 10:12 pm
Iceclaw blinked in surprise, then purred in amusement at Heartchaser's comment. Convince them? "It can't be that easy," she meowed,
thinking about what a tom would do if she approached them that deliberately. Would it be that easy to succumb? To plant kittens inside her womb? But of course, the she-cat wanted more than that. She wanted to have kits who looked like the father she loved, who they could name together, watch grow together, scold them together when they broke the rules as an apprentice. Someone who if, StarClan forbid, she gave birth to eight kits, could take them off her hands once in a while.
"I think they'll grow to do great things for ThunderClan," the female purred, even though they were still very young, wriggly things. It was a rather general thing to say, something that everyone said, but one never said it without sincerely hoping it was true.
Some held the thought that there was one bad apple out of every litter, but Iceclaw didn't follow that belief. How could she? Sure, the Clans had histories glittered with broken laws - medicine cats who kitted, inter-Clan relationships. It was hard to believe anything like that could happen under your own whiskers, though, especially with cats you grew up with and hunted alongside. "It's always nice to see the Clan grow." She let the silence settle for a moment as they padded along.
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caffeinecraving Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 8:39 am
HeartChaser shrugged but she was clearly amused. "And why not? You are a pretty she-cat... Any tom would be lucky to call himself your mate" She lifted her chin a bit. "Sometimes Toms are thick as the brambles.. It never hurts to be upfront." Here she was, unmated, giving know it all advice. And maybe HeartChaser did want all that, but she kept telling herself she didnt. It made not having it while she was caring for these kits that much easier.
She blinked in appreciation as the compliment came. "Me too." Because she would raise them to be strong kits and then they would have wonderful mentors. Maybe IceClaw would mentor one of them. She flicked her tail and thought fondly of her little scraps. "I should get back. They are probably hungry by now..." She mentally did a double take, did she really say those words?
She picked up the pace a little bit and nodded. "It is, and when you have kits you will know... there is a sort of pride, you have in yourself... for adding to the strong warriors of thunderclan!"
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