TW: Sensitive Content Camp RiverClan A storm between heartbeats // kitting

[Wavesong]

{$title} THE CHILDREN ARE BEING BORN WOOOO!!!

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around

.

Restless... She had been getting restless the last couple of days, like her own skin didn't quite sit right. Her paws felt too jittery to rest, her thoughts too loud to hush. And though she loved her mate deeply, stars, she did... The days after the heist had set something between them, something quiet and tense like river ice that hadn't yet cracked. Like there was a part of him now sealed off from her. And that... On top of everything else, had weighed heavy on her heart. It made her ache in places not even the kits could reach.

She had been spending time with Jinglemoon and Pikestar, trying to keep her mind settled. Frostmoth and Littlebrook offered quiet company, and Galepaw's youthful spirit had brought her more smiles than he likely knew. She'd found joy in Peachtrot's presence and warmth in the happy chatter and care of her older kits. But none of it was enough to dull the coiling tension that'd been growing inside her.

And now...

" Aye, I feel ye... I hear ye... " she groaned, her voice breathy as she finally waddled into the medicine den, each step slow and trembling, belly taut beneath her fur. She winced, another cramp twisting her insides like reeds in a storm. " Stars above... Jingle... Rain... " Her voice cracked, low and shaken. " It's... it's time. " She flopped down with care, sides heaving as she adjusted her limbs to some semblance of comfort. Her ears pinned back with the strain, tail twitching sharply with every throb of pain that coursed through her body. It felt like her whole world was being torn open from the inside, no, was being torn open and all she could do was breathe and bear it.

She looked toward the entrance, eyes wide with desperation now.

" Where's Adderfang...? " she whispered, voice tight and small. " I couldn't find Adder... " The next contraction slammed into her like a wave against rock, forcing a gasp from her lungs. Her claws gripped the moss beneath her, her back arching slightly as another sharp pang rolled through her. " Adder… " she whimpered this time, not caring if her voice cracked. She wanted him, she needed him to be here, his voice, his warmth, the pressure of his shoulder against hers to remind her she wasn't alone.

The pain was becoming unbearable, but even worse than the ache in her bones was the ache in her chest, the fear. What if something went wrong? What if one of the kits wasn't breathing? What if they were too early? What if she wasn't strong enough? Her breathing picked up, rapid and shallow, as panic curled like a thorned vine around her heart. " Please... " she murmured to no one in particular, her voice just barely above a breath. " Let 'em be safe… let 'em be healthy… "

She tried to think of their names, of soft fur and tiny paws, of the warmth that would come after the storm, but it was hard. It was so hard with pain shuddering through her like lightning and her mate nowhere in sight. Her eyes fluttered open again, searching the den for Jinglemoon or Rainpaw. " Please.. " she rasped, her voice taut with fear and pain. " I... I can't do this alone… " And still, beneath it all, like the current of a river that never stilled, she waited. For Adderfang. For her kits. For dawn to come.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

37 MOONS

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RIVERCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[Salmonkit Salmonkit]

—————————————— All I wanted was to be seen, and to see. ✦

Warmth... That was his first impression of his newfound existence. As much as a writhing bundle of fur could, that is.

Underneath a starlit sky, a perfect greenleaf evening. Still yet unaware of the turmoil his clan had undergone in the moon passed by, still in that blissful ignorance of infancy. Even so, the feeling of his mother's racing heart, unawares of her own strife and the wriggling of siblings - many of them - he did all he knew how.

Tiny lungs mewled out in some mixture of indignation at the disturbance to his peace and a feeble attempt to seek comfort from Wavesong. The medicine den was big, and the world was bigger, so. But he had all he needed for now. Warmth and safety.

The comforting scent of his mother eased him as he was able to wiggle closer. But that alone was exhausting to the tiny thing, his mewling now a drowsy sort of babble, the first semblance of a crackling purr rolling from his throat. Everything was new and overwhelming, and he had all the time in the world to figure it out. It would wait for him.

————— Is it magical thinking,

or is it magical realism? —————

• 
  Salmonkit
  ✦—Riverclan kitten
  ✦—He/him
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A tiny black x chocolate broken mackrel tabby chimaera with bright, too knowing eyes.
  #4B7CE4

 

[Adderfang]

The weeks after the heist were filled with restlessness and discontent. Adderfang tried to quell the anger that encroached upon what should have been quiet happy days spent fussing over his mate. Instead, he spent them bitterly, pacing like a caged animal while he waited for his wounds to heal—and heal they did—but only on the surface. The fire cradled in his ribs did not subside and only grew more unruly.

He cursed himself for being such a stubborn bastard, for being unable to lay down his paws—even for the one he loved most. Because it was for them, for her, that he couldn't. It was for them that he could not let go of the injustice done to their family, nor forgive those responsible for letting it happen.

Adderfang loathed himself for causing Wavesong more stress than she was already under. Disagreements between them were nothing new, but in the past, he had always been willing to swallow his pride, to admit fault, whether he thought himself wrong or not—because all he wanted was her happiness, even if it meant shouldering the blame.

Neither of them would win this one.

Stubborn he might be, nothing could make him love her less. He couldn't bring himself to apologize, but he figured they could at least have a truce. All he wanted was a few hours of quiet, for things to feel normal between them.

He returned to camp, amber eyes searching for her, a small shell clamped carefully between his teeth.

When she wasn't at the fresh-kill pile, he checked the warriors' den, then the nursery. Once he didn't find her there, begrudgingly, his paws led him to the medicine den. He was not thrilled at the idea of facing Jinglemoon, but he knew Wavesong liked to visit her friend. If they were talking, he would wait to give her the gift, but—

Adderfang froze at the entrance, ears twitching at the sounds of shuffling, of frantic voices inside. A tingle ran up his spine.

The tom pushed down into the dark. "Wave—" His voice jarred, blood running cold.

She was there, belly heaving, her face contorted with pain and desperation. The shell fell from his jaws, clattering against the ground, fragile edges splintering as it bounced away, forgotten.

"Wave..." He muttered, rushing to her side with enough urgency to flare old scars. He bent low, forehead bumping against hers. The guilt curdled in his throat—for not being here when it began, for letting her be frightened and alone even for a second.

"I'm here. I'm here, darlin'. I didn't mean to make you wait." Adderfang wound himself around her, tail curling over her quivering body. His gaze fell, catching the small, wriggling shape—a son. How could he have missed the first cries?

"Forgive me…" The tabby whispered, leaning down to nudge the kit closer to her warmth, to help him find a place against her stomach. A small, shaky smile curled across his muzzle. The little sprout looked something of a cross between them both. He was plump and healthy. Good... good...

It should have been a moment of joy, but fear, constant and mind-numbing, swallowed him in the moment. His eyes darted to the pitiful shelves, stripped nearly bare. Would there be enough if something went wrong?

Stars, he hoped they wouldn't need them at all.

___________________ There wasn't a wrong or a right he could choose 𓆟 He did what he had to do ________________

• "speech" - thoughts
  
  

• 

• Adderfang he/him & riverclan
  𓆟 Chocolate ticked tabby w/ amber eyes. Peppered with scars. Deep gash across the right side of his face exposing one canine slightly. Missing left ear.
  𓆟 Deep gravelly voice that might unsettle others.
  𓆟 Would and will kill a man.
  𓆟 Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted. For other powerplays, DM.
  𓆟 Fur smells faintly of river reeds and damp earth.
  
  
  penned by Scarlet​

 

[Wavesong]

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around

.

She wasn't alone, not entirely. Jinglemoon was there. Rainpaw. The den smelled of herbs and warmth. But that wasn't what she meant. Her heart pounded out a hollow ache, a shape only one cat could fill. And though her body trembled from the effort, from the agony of life forcing its way through her, it was that empty space at her side that hurt the most.

The first kit came before she was ready, eager, impatient, demanding to be born. The pain tore through her like a current dragging her under, and she let out a strangled gasp, teeth gritted, eyes wide and brimming. But when the tiny bundle was placed near her, slick-furred and wriggling, a sound, half-laugh, half-sob, spilled from her mouth. Her heart flooded, overflowing. " Oh... my lil' fish... " she breathed, voice trembling. " Shh, shh, m' dear darlin' one... ye... Yer gonna have yer moment too, nnghh...! "

Another contraction rolled through her, sharp and merciless. She arched her back, muscles seizing, eyes squeezing shut as she gasped through the pain. She felt her body stretch, shudder, burn. It was too much. Stars, she wasn't sure she could keep going. Adder. She needed him. She needed him now. Her breaths came quick and shallow. Her claws dug into the moss. Her chest tightened, not just with labor, but with fear. She was scared. What if something went wrong? What if one didn't breathe? What if she couldn't do this?

But then, his scent. Warm. Familiar. Fierce.

A sob clawed up her throat as she felt the presence beside her, his body pressing close. Strong. Grounding. His. She turned, butted her head against his with what little strength she had, and the tears spilled freely now. " Yer here… " she whispered, voice hoarse, shaking. " Yer here… " She leaned into him, burying her face against his fur for a heartbeat, as if to prove he was real. Her body wracked with another contraction, wrenching a cry from her throat, but even so, she smiled through the pain, teeth clenched, a low chuckle mixing with a sob.

" Yer first... First lil' one... Wiggly tike... " she murmured, gesturing toward the firstborn now nestled against her belly, already rooting for milk. " Saw th' world an' made sure we knew it. " She clung to Adderfang like driftwood in a flood, not because she thought she couldn't do this without him, but because she didn't want to. She needed him to see. To bear witness. To meet these pieces of their love.

" Don't go... " she breathed, half-delirious now, sweat beading beneath her fur, her voice ragged and soft. " Stay. Stay an' see what we made… " Another wave came. Another kit fought its way into the world, and her cry filled the den, but this time, she gritted her teeth and bore it. Because he was here. And so were they. And together, they would meet their family.

Let down yer guards, love... we're not fightin' now.

We're home.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

37 MOONS

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RIVERCLANNER

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SONG

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bio