Nursery Blues

[Yoko]

Sandtail sighed. The nursery was far from peaceful with Mintleaf's kits awake, but these days Sandtail had adopted the policy of numbness, so long as no kits poked their eyes out crawling over each other they were fine. She laid uncomfortably on her nest. Her moss was old and lumpy. What were the apprentices doing these days? Well, she tried not to ponder these things as she drifted between sleeping and waking.

Creamkit was watching the new kits as a mother would. She was infinitely curious of their every move, so far her favorite was Dewkit. She thought it was adorable how he kept looking out for Dawnkit, even though the she-kit didn't like it. It reminded her of herself and Violetkit.

She was glad for the distraction. As one could imagine, the nursery was an awfully sad place with six WindClan kits missing. The sad cries of Silverkit and Stormkit as their siblings were torn away, echoed in her ears still. She glanced at Stormkit, who was dozing lazily against Sandtail's side. The rain was all that kept him from sleeping outside today. He hated to be in the nursery...

Oh StarClan, can't you take away his pain...?

Violetkit sat beside her sleeping tom friend. She too, watched over the newest kits, but for entirely different reasons than Creamkit. She wanted to play with them. She thought they could be useful someday.So far, her favorite was Cedarkit. He would be the easiest to manipulate, she was certain. But however would she get him alone?

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

It was early. The tom kit was still sleepy even after he'd yawned and squirmed around a bit. It was also wet. His whiskers twitched and his nose smelled something weird about the outside. He sensed the moisture and the cold draft it brought into the nursery and shivered, burrowing closer to his mother's belly. It was raining outside, but the rain didn't come into the nursery. He wasn't quite sure how that worked but he was grateful, for he didn't enjoy the feeling of water on his pelt. He was content to stay right here next to his family, especially since his siblings were close and none of them were venturing outside at the moment. Then he might have been persuaded to follow. Even after a few weeks of getting used to the huge world outside of the nursery and exploring around a bit, he was still somewhat timid and hesitant about leaving the nursery for long. However he was often worried for his siblings whenever they were out, so usually summoned up the courage to follow them outside just so he could keep an eye on them. He wanted to make sure nothing bad happened to them.

But he didn't have to worry about that at the moment, because his mother and siblings were all here. Cedarkit blinked his eyes open, still blue though for the past week or so they had started to fade in color and turn a more amber hue. They looked around for a bit, taking in the dark nursery before blinking. The young kit glanced at his siblings, ears twitching in pleasure that there was not too much noise currently, and then looked throughout the rest of the nursery. He saw that Sandtail was nearby, along with her kits, Creamkit, Violetkit, And Stormkit. Stormkit was sleeping, and he watched the tom kit curiously for a moment. He was always sad or in a bad mood, and Cedarkit didn't know why but he felt sorry for him. Violetkit was a bit weird, but he liked her. And Creamkit was the most friendly, he liked her as if she was his sister. But of course he knew she wasn't, she wasn't as small as him or his siblings and she smelled slightly different.

Getting to his wobbly feet, Cedarkit started to make his way toward the other queen and her kits, mewling a greeting. "H-hi Creamkit," he smiled at her, flicking his little tail from side to side and looking up at her.

((Yus, since Stormkit has hated Rivermist ever since Cedarkit has really been active, he thinks he's Sandtail's kit. XD))

[Yoko]

Creamkit jolted her head. The timid voice of Cedarkit startled her from her sad musings. She tilted her head and gave a cheerful smile to the shy one. Or at least, she thought he was shy. Why else would he return to the nursery so often when his siblings went out to play?

"Good Morning, Cedarkit," she mewed sweetly, glad to have someone to talk to. "How are you today?"

The day had barely started, and most everyone had been sleeping, but it was more out of habit that she asked. Her Momma called it "being polite".

Violetkit looked up at the younger tom kit. What a purrfect opportunity. StarClan themselves must have planned it. But the little one approached Creamkit first. How typical! Every cat loved Creamkit. She was the kind, gentle, dull-witted one. Well, not particularly dull-witted but she was beneath Violetkit's wit at least. Violetkit eased away from her sleeping, apparently adopted, brother and sat beside Creamkit, also across from Cedarkit. She was smaller, that was for sure, five moons and just about Stormkit's size when Creamkit practically looked like an apprentice.

"Good Morning, Cedarkit," Violetkit echoed in a much cooler, softer voice. "Is the rain bothering you at all?"

Rain was such an irksome element. WindClan Cats had only short fur, and even with her own downy kit-fur the chill was irritating compared to the usual Greenleaf-heat.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Cedarkit's smile widened a bit as he looked back at Creamkit, responding well to the other kit's friendly greeting. "I'm good!" he chirped happily, almost not realizing that he should be quiet. Most of the other cats were sleeping. Cedarkit was still a bit sleepy himself but he wanted to socialize a bit first before returning to his nest. Especially when the other kits were in a friendly mood.

He was a bit surprised when Violetkit came over and said hi to him as well, but smiled sweetly, eager to have her company. "'Morning, Violetkit." He said, then after hearing her question he shrugged- though after more thought shook his head. "No," he mewed, "It's nice. But I don't like it that much, it's too wet." He pulled a face, scrunching his little features together for a moment before returning to normal, staring innocently up at the two older she-kits.

((Short ><))

[Yoko]

Creamkit blinked sympathetically. It was unfair that he should be born into a rainy season. When she had just opened her eyes she had so deeply loved exploring the camp, going so far as venturing out every day. Although she suspected Cedarkit as being less than brave, she pitied his inability to play a proper game in this weather.

"I know, it's rather uncomfortable," Creamkit mewed politely. "But the good news about rain is that it never lasts very long. You watch, tomorrow will be warm and sunny as always.

He was so amusing, this little puff of fur. Violetkit observeded him coolly. He was too small at the moment to tell how much use he would be in the future. Even if he grew to an average size he would be of use to her. What she could test of him now was his trust, his obedience, perhaps his intelligence.

"Yes Cedarkit, this weather will undoubtedly clear. Well, until the New Season comes that is."

[Amber]

Mintleaf sighed as she soon realized what little peace she had would soon fade. Her four bundles of joy were becoming more and more active, especially her two little she-kits. She was glad to have Cedarkit and Dewkit, they balanced their sisters out. A smile soon formed on her face as she looked down and saw her youngest son burying deeper into her fur. She wrapped her tail around all four of her kits, hoping they were warm enough, especially with this damp weather. She worried about each one of them, they were all so little (in her mind), and could get sick easily. She didn't want to see them in pain or sick. Not her babies.

When Cedarkit got up first she watched him go, it was good to see him interact with the other kits. She was glad that he was being brave enough to go and speak with them. Mintleaf soon noticed her oldest son stirring and moving to follow his brother's lead. Looking down at her she-kit's she noticed one was missing. Now where was Dawnkit? Noticing her daughter had made her way toward Sandtail and Stormkit, the young queen sighed and got to her paws to go retrieve the little gray kit. Making her way to Sandtail she went to go apologize for her kit's behavior. "Sorry, she slipped away too quickly. I don't know how I'm going to be able to control her when she is older. Not even two moons, and already causing trouble." she murmered.



Dewkit felt a paw over his head and was awoken by a back paw in his face. Waking quickly he sighed with relief seeing that it was only Dawnkit. His youngest sister really knew just how to push his buttons, but he couldn't get mad at her, no matter what she did. He had to protect her, it was his job. No one could tell him otherwise. Noticing his brother was gone he blinked his eyes open, trying to keep them open. Dawnkit was fast asleep, so he got up and went to see what Cedarkit was up to. Was his brother actually being somewhat interactive?

"Hi Cedarkit." Dewkit greeted his brother first. "Creamkit, Violetkit, how are you today?" he mewed politely to the two she-kits. Realizing that he had just imposed he took a step back. "Do you mind if I sit here and join your conversation?"



Curled up deep in her mother's fur, little Dawnkit was completely content. She had her siblings around her for warmth, and her mother's tail wrapped around. Except for that drop of rain that landed on her fur. Her silver colored fur had been almost completely dry, and soon she felt cold. The figure that had been beside her had moved. And then another moved. Now she was cold. Stupid brothers. She kept one eye open to watch them leave, and the moment her mother was preoccupied in her own thoughts, the little she-kit bounded behind Mintleaf and looked around. She saw her brothers talking with the older kits, and then spotted Stormkit. He looked bored. Maybe he wanted to play!

Padding softly to the tom and Sandtail she stared at him for a moment before headbutting him, trying to get his attention. "Hey, wake up! I have something very important to tell you."

[Yoko]

Sandtail barely stirred. Tiredly, she shifted so that she could lift her head up more comfortably. She missed the first half of what Mintleaf was saying but still managed to catch the gist of it.

"No, it's no trouble at all Mintleaf," she mewed, disinterested. "Kits will be kits after all. And I thought you might actually enjoy a bit of a break from having them all pressed against your belly at once."

This last bit she added with a bit of a purr, and she waved her tail as if telling Mintleaf to go on and relax.

"I can't imagine its easy after all," she mewed, laying down with a bit of a yawn. "With so many of them to give you the run around. I only have two, and their a handful!"

Well....nearly three... she eyed Stormkit.

"Why of course you can join us, Dewkit," Creamkit piped, glad to have her favorite new kit in company with her. "We were just talking about how the weather is bound to change with the new Season. You know what Season's are, don't you?"

Creamkit was rather proud to be one of the oldest kits in the den. It meant that she could spend her last moon in the nursery passing on her knowledge to the fledgling kits.

OOF!

Okay, so it was not the most comfortable way to be awakened. Snorting like a rudely awaken badger, Stormkit squinted his eyes at his attacker in a mean huff.

"What do you want?" he hissed at the young kitten.

He knew he had seen her before, but could not quite remember her name. He could not remember much of anything these days. She was one of Mintleaf's kits of course. What was she bothering him for? She had siblings to play with, didn't she?

"Now Stormkit, don't be rude," whispered the small and sinister Violetkit. She looked at the bold she-kit rather softly and mewed in a tender voice, "Do not take it personally, Dawnkit. Stormkit can be a bit of a grouch when he wakes up. Whatever did you want of him, head-butting him like that? Tsk tsk."

She did this polite interference out of desire to spare Stormkit from trouble. If they adults had not been busy talking, they might have considered that Stormkit was being rather mean. Violetkit could not have him getting into trouble. Not when he was right by her side, where he belonged.

She glanced over Cedarkit. A brave one, but probably none too bright in her opinion. She lacked that shimmering weakness and blind obedience that would have made her a good lackey. Speaking of which, she itched to return to Cedarkit.

Stormkit scowled at Violetkit for a moment, but slowly felt their bond of friendship reconnect him to her. With a brisk nod, he looked at Dawnkit unhappily, "What's wrong? Are you bored?"

[Ivy]

Silverkit lay motionless, against her mother's side, deep in sleep. The kit had (once again) lain sleepless for most of the night. She never seemed to be able to relax until she actually fell unconscious out of pure exhaustion. The kit had too much on her mind, she missed each and every one of her siblings every day. She remembers everything about them.. Their mew, the way they would tumble over each other whilst the always calm Silverkit watched with reserved amusement.

Loud mewling stirred the young she-cat from her sleep, her large brown eyes blinked open slowly as her tail wriggled alive. Stretching, Silverkit stood to watch her den-mates converse and play, the long kit arching her back and sleepily shaking away drowsiness. Her claws flexed into the ground, and her gaze immediately flickered over to her sibling, who seemed to be getting rather sharp with Dawnkit. The spotted kit padded over in their direction, still resisting the urge to just go back to her nest and sleep the day away. She could feel the humidity in the air, but it was so cold. She'd much rather stay in the nursery and listen to the queens' conversation on a sunny day, and today seemed to be quite unpleasant.

Silverkit stood beside Dawnkit, her mouth pulled up in a small half smile. The kit did not speak at first, she waited silently for the excited grey she-kit to finish speaking to her brother. Silverkit sat, swiping her tongue over her lips absent-mindedly. She disliked that she had to wait to wait to greet her already grumpy sibling, but it was first-come first-serve in this nursery. So she waited.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Cedarkit nodded a bit to the two older she-cats, wondering how they knew so much. How did they know that the rain would end, he wondered? Could they see the future? He tilted his little striped head at this thought, wondering about it for a moment, wondering if he would be that smart when he was older.

Soon, however, Cedarkit heard his brother Dewkit's voice next to his ear. He turned to look at the other tom, smiling at the sight of his brother, and shook his head. "It's okay, you can sit here!" he squeaked happily, glad to have even more company than just the two she-kits. Dawnkit seemed to be awake too, Cedarkit realized, as he watched her go try to play with the sad-looking Stormkit.

"Yeah, I know what seasons are! I think..." he said, turning his attention back to Creamkit. "They're times of the year, aren't they?" His mother had told him there was a cold time of the year, and a time where it was warmer and better for hunting and to be outside. Very confusing, to him, but also fascinating.

[/justify]