I'll Love You Till I die [Nursery]

Sleep. Such a peaceful thing. Even when it had you quick in its grasp it was soft and consoling sort of phenomena, tenderly laying upon one with the delicate embrace of a feather on water. Such was the sleep which Tawnygaze had found herself in that night, her bi-colored frame little more than a circular bundle of fur as tightly burrowed into her nest was she. That night was dreamless, painless, easy in a way that sleep often was not. There were no visions of rogues to plague her, no sweeping chill of liquid running into her lungs and through her fur, no phantasmal pains shooting through her leg; just sleep, and the dark oblivion of nothing.

So it’s easy to imagine her surprise when a loud meow yanked her from that slumber. ”Tawnygaze!” The medicine cat’s head jerked upward at the sound of her own name, a hazy glaze over her orange eyes as she blinked to clear the sleep from her vision. ”Tawnygaze! Cloverfeather needs you, it might be time!” Time? Time… ’Oh time!!’

Awareness sprang upon her as if her entire pelt had been touched by lightning. The ginger gradient she-cat sprang from her nest in a flurry of moss and white splashed fur, shaking herself to further her awakening. ”Thank you for waking me Orchidfeather, I’ll just be a moment.” For such an alarming announcement, the usually timid fae’s voice was surprisingly calm. Perhaps it was some sort of effect of having just woken up, or maybe she was merely trusting in her own experience, but for some reason she wasn’t worried. She could do this, she had done this before with Juniperjaw and now would be no different. ’You can do this. Just breathe.’

Turning away from the queen who had summoned her presence, Tawnygaze moved to her apprentice’s side. She nosed the younger cat’s cheek to ensure she was awake. ”Tigerpaw, get up now. It’s time for you to learn of kitting.” Her voice was a soft coo, a subtle eagerness traceable in the lines of her vocals. She would be lying to say she wasn’t excited to show her apprentice this wonderful moment, the bringing of new life into the world, and she hoped the young fae was just as excited as she. But just as excited as she was to share this time with her young ‘paw, Tawnygaze couldn’t help but feel a fraction of anxiety. If there was one reason she would ever regret her path, her place as the medicine cat, it was the inability to have a family which came with the position. Of course in Tawnygaze’s case it was extremely unlikely that any tom would want her with her wasted leg, but Tigerpaw was young and her life was only just beginning. There was no telling how seeing such an occurrence would play in the younger cat’s life, and seeing the love of motherhood and the joy of children… Well, it was a moving sight, and the medicine cat would leave it at that.

”Why don’t you help me carry some herbs, alright?” The red and white tabby padded to her herb stores, pulling down a number of leaves and items: a stick for when the contractions became unbearable, chervil to help aid ease of birth, raspberry leaves to keep Cloverflower from bleeding too much and to act as a mild painkiller. She bundled up the greenery and pointed to a bundle of lavender with her tail. ”Dear, could you grab that stick and a few sprigs of the lavender for me?” She asked of her apprentice with a smile before gathering her bundle in her jaws and heading for the den mouth.

Nodding her readiness to Orchidfeather, if the queen still remained, Tawnygaze would exit her den and hobble her way to the nursery. Stepping into the warm darkness of the den, her senses were immediately overrun with the scents and sounds of kitting. Her eyes still adjusting, the medicine cat made her way to Cloverfeather’s side and deposited her bundle near the queen’s head. ”This will help, okay? Eat them soon.” She placed a feather light paw on Cloverfeather’s flank feeling for the kits within the she-cat’s womb. ’Not long now…’ ”Just breathe deeply okay, Cloverfeather? You’ll meet your kits any minute now.” She made sure to keep her voice even upon a soothing note. More than anything, she needed the queen to relax. It would be so much smoother for her to simply relax.

into the darkness

[attr="class","itdscroll"]She had nearly gotten to the point she didn't want to hear anyone anymore. Her heart beating quickly at the idea she may be doing this alone, that is till she saw Pebblewhisker, followed soon by Tawnygaze pushing her way through with a bundle in her mouth. Blue eyes just barely following her as she moved and dropped herbs in front of her.

Now with the comfort of her mate and knowing a medicine cat was there to help her, she moved to take the herbs and swallow them, allowing the she-cat to do what it was she needed to. 'you’ll meet your kits any minute now.' Those words were what kept Cloverflower powering through the pain she was in. She continued clenching her jaws through the contractions, knowing that Tawnygaze was going to walk her through, if she didn't pass out first.

However it soon got to the point her body had begun taking over, naturally making her push the kits out of their home and into the new world. Was she ready to be a mother? who knew but she was about to be.
katnez @squachy