Post by ame on May 2, 2016 22:39:21 GMT
“
JUNIPERNOSE
One more soul to the call, for all, in silence comes
Two more souls to the call, for all, and in time
Junipernose never imagined it was possible to be this exhausted. Training as an apprentice had been trying, yes, and watching kits could wear her down from time to time. Chervilfoot, a close friend and queen of three litters, had warned her that the first litter was always the most tiring. But she had never felt this thoroughly, completely, could-lay-in-this-nest-forever, exhausted. Her muscles ached, and every deep breath and shuffle of her forepaws was a reminder of that fact. She could lay there in the nursery and sleep the rest of the moon.
At the same time, the squirming, fluffy kittens nestled at her belly reminded her that it was well worth. The queen hefted herself into a more upright position, despite the protest in her shoulders. It still felt surreal. Junipernose had been in the nursery over half of her life; kits were her livelihood. But these four were her kits, and that had a special quality that made her heart swell.
She looked over the tiny kits fondly, each with their own pelt color, eyes closed, pawing and kneading at her fur. The queen could see their mouths opening but whether it was mewls or high-pitched squeaks that escaped them, she couldn’t tell. Junipernose purred lovingly, a loud, rippling hum, but there was a shadow of a doubt in her mind. Moons of experience in the nursery and working with the other queens seemingly disappeared from her mind. Were they too small? They seemed so fragile. Were they mewing, crying, or silent? The queen had never really felt disadvantaged by her lack of hearing until that very moment.
The tortoiseshell nosed at the kits one by one. One tiny tom managed to get twisted around and was squirming away from her; Junipernose purred as she scooted him back toward his siblings. ‘Already trying to escape?’ She thought amusedly, curling her long tail around the kits protectively, partially to keep them warm, partially to keep them corralled.
NOTES;
Come meet ThunderClan's newest litter of kits! Anyone's welcome to jump in. Time is late-ish evening, the kits are about an hour or two old.
Tagging the kits roleplayers so they know they're playable now - skyy and her socks hallelujah Shiny
Tagging the medicine cats so they can check in - alee @hawkpaw
Musical inspiration here
Quixotic of GS