Camp RiverClan The heart beneath the waves // Adderfang

[Wavesong]

Wavesong wasn't certain, not truly. But then again, she wasn't certain of much these days. She'd been training Galepaw for a while now, watching the young cat grow under her guidance. He had potential, loads of it too! And she was proud, deeply proud, to be the one helping him unlock it. But amidst all the patrols, the lessons, the pride swelling in her chest… there was one little hiccup in her story. Well, hiccup wasn't quite the word. Flaw? No. Kink? Stars, that didn't sound right either. Oh, fish fins, it was hard to find the words for something so big and so delicate at once.

She found herself brushing gently against her mate's side, a familiar comfort in the midst of her swirling thoughts. A soft glimmer danced in her eyes. She'd been fumbling the words in her head for days now, trying to find the perfect way to tell him. Now that Rose, Crescent, and Rushing had all earned their apprentice names, she hadn't exactly expected this... not so soon. But, really... Should she be surprised? Even with all their duties, she and Adderfang had never stopped making time for one another.

Still... would this throw off his routine the way it had jostled hers a bit? Did she regret it? No, not for a heartbeat. Oh, parrot poop, she wasn't even sure she was pregnant. For that, she'd have to see Jinglemoon. But the maybe... The possibility blooming quietly inside her.... It was something she needed to share with him first. Then the medicine cat. Then, if the stars willed it, their kits. She drew in a steady breath, let it out slowly, and found his gaze, steady, grounding, familiar. A long pause. Then, in her typical blunt honesty, she spoke.

" ... I think yer gonna be a father again. "

Simple. Direct. But her voice held unmistakable warmth and a flicker of hope.

___________________ We sail the seas of life and believe, ☆ The tides will lead us home ___________________

• "speech"
  

• 

• WAVE she/her, RiverClanner, thirty-three moons.
  ☆ a black and white lh cat with light blue eyes
  ☆ mentoring galepaw
  ☆ whichever relations / want listed
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by lion ↛ lionheartedphoenix on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

@Scarlet / @Adderfang

 

[Adderfang]

Training two apprentices was just as tiring as Adderfang imagined. Between patrols, lessons, and keeping a watchful eye over the goings on in RiverClan, the days wore him thin. Still, no matter how drained he felt by the time he returned, he always looked forward to coming home to her.

Her smile lit up his entire world like nothing else could. Her warmth, her steady presence, drawing out the ache deep from within his bones.

He had just begun to nod off, his limbs loosely draped around her, neck lolling back, when her voice broke through the encroaching dark. His ears flicked, and his eyes fluttered open with a slack-jawed look.

Adderfang turned, the gears slowing turning. What did she say? I'm going to be…

He shifted upright with a sobered expression. "You're—" He blinked, eyes finally focusing on her face, and then dropping to her stomach. There was nothing visible in the dim light of the den, but he didn't need to see anything. He trusted her instincts, and if Wavesong even had the slightest suspicion that she might be expecting, then in his mind, she was. Her instincts never led them astray before.

When Frostmoth once asked if he ever thought about having more kits, the answer had come quickly. If it was what she wanted, he wanted it too. Life wasn't as simple as it had once been, not like the quieter days in the shipyard, but that didn't matter. He would always choose her. Being a member of RiverClan complicated things, but it also afforded them a level of comfort and safety that they didn't have before.

He leaned forward and gently pressed his forehead to hers, a quiet purr vibrating in his chest. "If that's the case, darlin', then I couldn't be happier." He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, voice softening further. "Do you want me to talk to Pikestar to get your patrols reduced? Whatever you need, I'll make it happen." His thoughts turned briefly to Galepaw. That would have to be sorted too, sooner rather than later. She couldn't afford to run herself ragged mentoring and carrying kits.

After everything they'd been through—the loss of their daughter—he wouldn't risk her health. "Also have you paid Jinglemoon a visit yet?" Adderfang was curious about his thoughts on the matter. Were there any herbs to ensure healthy kits?

___________________ 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]

There was a bright glimmer in her eyes as she looked at Adderfang, her expression radiant with unfiltered joy. Yes, adjusting to life in camp had its challenges. And yes... Oh, stars yes, she missed the sea and the shipyard. She missed the crash of waves against weathered wood, the scent of salt in the air, the freedom in the wind. But more than all of that, she would have missed them. Her crew. Her family. What would life be without Pigeonpearl's sly smirks, Sharkpaw's determined fire, or Jinglemoon's quiet strength as he bloomed into such a brilliant healer? Without the laughter of kits as they became apprentices? She missed the sea… but her home was here, now. Right here. With Adderfang.

" Yes. " she said, the word barely able to contain her excitement as she drank in the look on his face. And when he leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers, she pressed back eagerly, purring loud and full with a joy that bubbled up from her chest and burst into a warm laugh. " Adderfang, ye scoundrel! " she teased, nose wrinkling fondly. " If yer plannin' on robbin' me of all me duties, I'll stomp m'paws like a spoiled kit and pout somethin' fierce! " Her tail gave a playful flick, though her eyes softened as she went on, more gently, " I'll keep doin' what I can, love. I'll work 'til I feel I can't, 'til these wee tikes in me belly start sayin' otherwise. "

Her gaze turned thoughtful as she gave a slow nod. " Aye... and I've thought of m'apprentice too. Got a little plan brewin' already, I hope Pikestar won't mind. " A chuckle hummed in her throat, low and affectionate. " I'll go to Jinglebingle next, just to be sure... though if m'gut says I'm right, I usually am. " She puffed out her chest a bit with pride, eyes glittering with dreams of what was to come. " Can ye imagine it, Adderfang? " she whispered, wonder softening her voice. " Little ones prancin' about this newly-built camp? Tails high, eyes wide... learnin' the ropes with the whole Clan there to raise 'em? "

She leaned in closer, brushing her cheek against his. " We're buildin' somethin' beautiful here... and now they'll be part of it too. "

___________________ We sail the seas of life and believe, ☆ The tides will lead us home ___________________

• "speech"
  

• 

• WAVE she/her, RiverClanner, thirty-three moons.
  ☆ a black and white lh cat with light blue eyes
  ☆ mentored by who / mentoring no one
  ☆ whichever relations / want listed
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by lion ↛ lionheartedphoenix on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Adderfang]

A quiet chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Alright, alright—you've got me there." He could relate. As much as his duties wore him down, the idea of sitting idle for weeks filled him with more dread than relief. "Just promise me you won't push yourself too hard. If it gets to be too much, tell me, I'll be there." His voice dropped slightly, with a bit more seriousness. But then, a flicker of warmth returned to his eyes. "He won't. Pike is a softy. If I can't say no to you, I know he can't." Adderfang assured. For all that Pikestar lacked, he had a good and understanding heart.

For a moment, the softness in his expression ebbed. An ache tugged at his ribs. For the first time since the shed collapse, fear coils in him. He is reminded of the itch of scabbing wounds as he moves. Threats loomed away from their borders. Adderfang feared losing the only home he ever had… of losing her… of losing what they built together. They survived it once, but listening to her mourning cries, of having to hold his daughter's cold body as they carried her out to sea… Back then, the grief was so unbearable that he thought it might kill him. Wave had been there to warm his heart and to keep it from growing cold again.

That was where his fear stemmed from. What if he lost her? He realized how his Pa must've felt. How terrifying it must've been having to raise kits all on his own. If that happened… If Wavesong or their kits died because those filth ran off with the herbs that might've otherwise saved them?

Then he would give ShadowClan a reason to use all the herbs they stole. Actually, no. There would not be enough plants to mend what he would do.

Adderfang stifled a sigh. Allowing Wavesong's voice to calm the rage and fear that twists his guts into knots. The picture she paints is truly beautiful. He already looked forward to so many things. Their first steps—playing with them, teaching them to swim, and being greeted by their excited faces when he returns after a long day. Their kits would be protected, not just by him and Wavesong but by an entire community.

"I can." He murmured, brushing his cheek against hers before tucking her gently beneath his chin. "We've worked hard to get here. To find a place where Cres and Rush, and now these, could grow. They're going to live good lives here, we'll all make sure of it." If he had to, he would cut a path for them. Should anyone try to block their path, he would cut them down too.

He paused, then tilted his head just enough to glance down at her, a small smile tugging at his maw. "Is it too early to start thinkin' of names?"

___________________ 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]

There was a loud purr that erupted from her throat as she nestled herself against her mate, head gently butting beneath his chin. She soaked in the heat the two of them shared together, a content look upon her face as she let out a breath. There was no need to say much, not straight away... Usually his touch, his presence... That was enough for her. She saw right through him, every little whisker out of place, every small twitch that betrayed his feelings...

He worried... Even if he spoke it not aloud, there's was that glint in his eyes, the way his body shifted just that tad bit. He worried... And part of her understood this. There was tension wound tightly in him... Worry that was hidden behind sharp edges and light humor. " I promise. " she sighed softly, a smile to her face. " Ye will see when I've had 'nough... Yer bonnie lass can do much, but I cannot take on th' world. " she chuckled softly before cuddling against him with a soft hum. " We've already done what so many said we couldn't. We lived. We healed. We built somethin' real. These wee ones? They'll never know th' hurt we've known. Only the love we bled t'make sure they could have. "

There was a pause in the air as she enjoyed their presence, quiet for a wile until that laughter broke through. Loud and present, filled with fondness and a warmth reserved for him and him alone. " Names, huh? " She tilted her head just enough to peer up at him, eyes glittering with something between mischief and awe. " Ye daft tom, we don't even know if there's one in there yet or five. " She gave him a gentle nudge. " But if ye must know, I already thought o' one. " she confessed softly, leaning in close to whisper a name only he was allowed to hear.

" If it's a girl... maybe Shellkit. Somethin' soft and gentle, like the shells we used t'look fer when we were still livin' closeby sea. " A breath, deep and steady. " We'll name 'em together, when we know fer sure. But it don't hurt to dream a little, aye? " she purred out, whiskers trembling as she nuzzled into him once more, letting herself believe, if only for now, that everything was going to be okay.

[/color]

___________________ We sail the seas of life and believe, ☆ The tides will lead us home ___________________

• "speech"
  

• 

• WAVE she/her, RiverClanner, thirty-three moons.
  ☆ a black and white lh cat with light blue eyes
  ☆ mentoring galepaw
  ☆ whichever relations / want listed
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by lion ↛ lionheartedphoenix on discord, feel free to dm for plots.