Open Camp WC Not a lot, just forever. Intertwined, sown together. 🌾 Babysitting

[Merrystalk Merrystalk]

{$title} Taking place during the gathering, Merrystalk alone with his thoughts decides to lend a paw in the nursery rather than over think the past or what ifs.

—————————————— Dreaming along in a pace you'll understand. ✦

The select few cats selected for the gathering had already departed. Compared to the first, only a few Dusty herself were permitted to go. And, to his quiet dismay, he was asked to stay behind.

He could understand why, even if his stomach turned at the idea. Nutmegpurr was adamant to go along if Meadowpaw was again - he wasn't going to object to her protecting her sister - and Honeyflower wanted to stretch her paws and mingle for an evening - for a cat with a litter of her own and the new addition of Branchkit, he couldn't fault her either for wanting to leave either. Of course his brother would be at Dusty's side, which left Merry to keep watch over the camp, alone.

Part of him planned to wait out the night, just to ensure nothing crept into camp. But the gale guard knew himself well and he would think himself to sickness about what may happen at Fourtrees after the last gathering. So he sought to give himself a task, and what better than to give a paw to Owl and Plague in the nursery. With three kittens each and having to watch Honey's four on top of that and the little thing Goldy found out in the moors, 11 kittens in a nursery, it wouldn't be an easy night for just the two.

---

The tortie ducked into the nursery, some fresh prey from the morning clutched in his jaws and an almost wary smile on his maw. "Brought ya' both a lil' somethin'." He purred, warmly. Owl was the closest thing to a sister to him and Plague had pleasent company too. They were both working overtime in the nursery with their kittens of all ages and he always made sure they had full bellies and warm nests for their hard work. "Thought I'd, well, come help keep 'n eye on the lil' tykes."

He tried to keep his expression warm, plopping himself down on the nursery grounds and plucking some nearly tucked freather from out of his tail and placing them before the utter hoard of little creatures. "'nd I didn't forget y'all too." Merry chuckled warmly, he just hoped the comfort of the joy of the next generation of the clan and dear company would be enough to settle the fear in the pit of his stomach.

He had all the faith of Starclan in the council, but it was the other clans he was wary of doing something brash. He and Goldy managed to fliter the clan out the first time without a hitch, but Merry wasn't there. And all he wanted was to forget about the gathering before he made himself sick with worry.

— And it's harder than you think,

Telling dreams from one another. —

• Tagging @Yewkit @Rubblekit @Branchkit but is available for anyone to join who didn't go to the gathering!!!!
• 
  Merrystalk
  ✦—Windclan Gale Guard | 31 Moons
  ✦—He/Him
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A skinny, tortoiseshell cat with bright green eyes and pelt speckled with hay.
  #9D6E46

 

[Branchkit Branchkit]

BRANCHKIT
SHE/HER
2 MOONS
WINDCLAN KIT

PENNED BY PLOT_TWISTS

Her eyes blinked open as Merrystalk entered the nursery. The darkness of night had fallen, and Branchkit felt relieved at the way the cool air felt on her pelt. With the darkness around, she could see him better too, far less blurred than when she first arrived in camp, the sun too bright to make it out clearly.

He brought them all gifts. Soft, downy things that tickled her nose and made her sneeze. She looked at the other kits in the nursery, tilting her head as if wondering what the purpose of these objects was.

​

OOC:

 

[Yewkit]

YEWKIT

.

The camp was exceptionally quiet tonight - a lot of cats have left for some kind of monthly gathering. Yew wasn't particularly interested in this gathering, but she was glad for the silence - it made mother calmer, which made her calmer as well. She snuggled against mother's warm fur, enjoying the calm and attempting to fall asleep. Her eyes closed, Yew tried to clear her mind, hoping for a dreamless sleep that would leave her well rested. She could feel herself dozing off, the lack of thoughts calming her down, when the sound of pawsteps and mother raising her head to look at who's approaching disturbed her enough to be awake once again.

Opening her yellow eye, Yew recognized the approaching cat as one of the Gale Guards, apparently not chosen for tonight's gathering. She figured he must be bored to come to the nursery on such a call night. Sighing to herself, she figured she would not be getting sleep anytime soon and rose to her feet to approach the tom. His fur was a mix of muddy colors, mismatched across his scarred pelt. Yew wondered if she had ever seen so many scars on a cat before, but decides thoughts like this are best to not pay attention to. Instead she looked into the cat's bright green eyes and introduced herself. "I don't think I've had the chance to learn your name yet." she started. "I'm Yew. Yewkit - like the tree." She hoped this was not an impolite thing to say, for she did not want mother to be cross with her later. The tom's reaction would probably determine whether this was a good or bad thing to say. All she had to do now was be calm and breathe.

 

[lotuskit lotuskit]

Lotuskit found herself having difficulty sleeping. Despite having her sisters still by her side, as well as the new soul in Branchkit, the young tortoiseshell molly couldn't keep her eyes closed for more than a few moments before they blinked open again. She didn't think she was so reliant on Honeyflower for a well rested night, and yet here she is - waiting out the hours for the caretaker to return. She almost begrudges her mother for leaving at all, not considering how suffocating it may be, being a parent. She could've at least brought her children along. Lotuskit would've enjoyed the trip, regardless of how harrowing it could've been.

Merrystalk joins the nursery, speaking with Owlbear and Plague in turn and providing them a meal. His voice, although quiet, ruffles the fur and pricks the ears of many kittens, including her newest nestmate. Yewkit seems eager to chatter the night away, too. Lotuskit doesn't usually mind conversation, but she can't help be frustrated that even her short moments with her eyes closed are now being interrupted. The tip of her tail rattles uselessly in their nest and she leans the heft of her weight into @bunnykit , not caring if she's woken up her sibling at this point.

"When will the gathering patrol be back?" the young molly whines. "They've been gone for forever...!"

 

[Plague]

𓆝 . ° ✦

The 'gathering', the WindClanners called it. A night under each full moon, where cats from all Clans meet with friends and enemies. Tens of cats leave each camp, abandoning their young to conversate in a cramped hollow, countless pawsteps away from home. What could possibly go wrong?

Plague is on edge when the gathering patrol leaves. She waits at the mouth of the den, watching them through narrowed eyes, before diligently returning to her kits and resting in a curl around them. Could she defend her offspring, if some evil creature took advantage of this vulnerable time? Could she depend on her denmates to watch her back, too? I wouldn't watch theirs, she realizes, as she eyes the other queens and their kittens distressingly. You cannot trust anyone other than your own.

A small rustle of the grass that lines the den startles the queen, and she jerks her head up to stare at the invader. The warrior brings little comfort to her; in this strange place, any cat could be just as suspicious as the next. Still, she forces her fur to lie flat. She could pretend to be comfortable, to be compliant, if it kept her secure in this Clan. A small, uncertain smile wears upon her face at the sight of prey, and she accepts it as happily as she can muster.

"Quite the gentleman, are you?"

the molly hums. She is less ready to accept a stranger watching her children, but.. supposes he couldn't do too much harm.

That is, until he presents a feather for the kittens - pristine, carefully plucked, and meant just for them. Plague's smile wavers, and she fixes Merrystalk with an unreadable stare. Great. Thank you for bringing a gift.. without asking me, she wants to bark venomously. You'll spoil them. But the children get to it before she has the chance to open her mouth, and instead, is left to patch up her subtly frustrated look. Plague gives a curt nod to the warrior, wearing a strained smile, then shoots a sharp look to Yewkit, Phantomkit, and Drearykit.

"Now, what do you say to mister Merrystalk for this gift?"

she inquires coolly with raised brows, watching each of her offspring carefully for one to forget their politeness.

✧ ° . ✶ . ° ✧

ooc Information

• ooc: —
• 
  
  
  
  

  PLAGUE — SHE/HER ･ 25 MOONS ･ QUEEN ; WINDCLAN ･ PENNED BY IXORA

  a complex molly; timid and meek on the surface, but what dwells beneath?

 

[Rubblekit]

It is with careful instilled sense of preservation that since she had come to WindClan when inside the nursery Rubblekit had tried to keep to herself best that she could. The way she was looked at by Plague was not the same warm comforting look that her mother had given her when they had been walking together only days before she had been left in that rabbit's den, the way some cats talked to her wasn't soft it was pitiful or simply rude and to be frank she didn't enjoy it so she stayed in the corner where she wouldn't be bothered by none but the nosiest of kits and she didn't mind it - at leas the nosy ones reminded her of her sister, even just a tiny bit.

When Merrystalk moved within the nursery however, bringing in gifts she couldn't help but prick her small ears, mismatched eyes wide with curiosity before suddenly feathers were offered and she found her paws moving quickly forward, a feather quickly clamped between teeth and butt slamming onto the ground contently next to the familiar warrior. "D'you think they'll be gone for all night?" She'd ask, thinking of Goldenroar who had left to go to the gathering, who Rubblekit had been explained to would be going to every gathering because he was the deputy which meant if he was gone all night - which was forever by the way - she would have to wait forever to ask him what happened and she didn't like that answer.

​

RUBBLEKIT she/her, WindClan 4 moons old.
a round kitten
mentored by none // mentoring none
NPC x NPC / sibling to ???
peaceful powerplay permitted
"speech" // "thoughts"
penned by tikki ↛ rabbitcake on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Yewkit]

YEWKIT

.

The tom presented a feather to the kits, meant as a toy for them to play with. Yew was sure others would play with it, but noticing her mother's glare, she knew she wouldn't. But still, Merrystalk, as her mother had called him, brought them a gift and it was impolite not to show appreciation, even if it wasn't appreciated by everyone. Yew did appreciate Merrystalk's effort if nothing else, so in that, at least, her words were sincere. "Thank you Merrystalk." she dipped her head.

What kind of bird did it come from?, she wondered, looking it over. Ah, nevermind. I shouldn't give mother more things to worry about. And being preoccupied with the feather would definitely not ease mother's worries, what with so many kits in the nursery for her to watch already. Yew wasn't sure why mother was so distrustful of her clanmates, but she supposed growing up outside of the clan must have been hard and maybe trusting other cats was difficult for her now. Or maybe mother knew something Yew didn't, something her insticts told her. And maybe mother was right. She was mother after all.

Yew slowly retreated back into her nest, determined to watch out for any signs of malice, both from her denmates and from Merrystalk. She had been foolish to approach him as she did, but she had gotten used to so many cats, she forgot to be careful. Wrapping her tail around her paws, so no one would notice her unsheathed claws, she watched, trying to understand mother's wariness. Maybe, one day, she would finally understand. She just hoped that day would come naturally like the clouds and not take her by surprise, sharp as a thorn, piercing her heart.