Fat and [Un]happy *Ki and Kitty*

[hedgie]

If I don't get out of this den soon, I'm going to loose my mind.


In truth, her mind wasn't the first thing Smokeheart was worried about losing. Due to a broken leg (she would avoid tree-climbing from now on), she'd been stuck in Feathercloud's den, curled up in a nest, staring down at that outstretched front leg. She was young, only nineteen moons, and staying still for long was the hardest thing she'd ever done. Limping through Shadowclan's marshy territory on three legs seemed like an absolute breeze compared to this.

At least she'd been moving then.

If there was anything that bothered the gray-and-white she-cat, it was keeping still.

On top of that, her belly had been growing a bit rounder as time had gone on. This was not cool, not a bit. She didn't want to be all chubby and round.

Obviously the weight gain was caused by inactivity. There was no other way to explain it.

It was the best option, a believable one. Really, there was a nagging at the back of her mind, that she couldn't quite place, but she put all her blame on the lack of physical activity in her life at that point. She believed it, enough so, that she could hardly think of it in any other way. Still, she felt so fat, and all it did was make her grumpy. Grumpy and moody enough to lash out at any and every cat who happened to chance upon her half-curled form in the back of the den. She felt horrible after every time, and she'd even snapped at Icepelt.

Icepelt!

What in Starclan's name was wrong with her?

She was sleeping, eating and complaining more than ever..not like she'd done all that much of it beforehand...but she was still doing it. Icepelt had been receiving a good chunk of her rotten mood, but poor Feathercloud had been taking the brunt of it also. If only she could get up and walk around. Even boring old border patrols sounded like more fun than this would ever be!

With a sigh, she looked away from the den entrance and her leg, pale green eyes staring at the wall.

As if that would solve all her problems.

[Kitty]

With all the patrols sorted out for the day, Icepelt was finally allowed some time for himself. Being deputy could be hard work sometime, but the white tom didn't mind it. It was time-consuming, sure, but it was necessary. Icepelt actually enjoyed it, actually, helping out the Clan in whatever way he could.

Free time. That meant he could got visit Smokeheart. She was probably bored to death in the medicine cat den with that broken leg. She'd been getting snappy recently, an indication of her irritation at being unable to get around on her own. Laying around all day didn't seem to suit the she-cat well.

He made his way over to the medicine cat den where Smokeheart lay in recovery, surely waiting for him to provide her with some form of entertainment. Pushing his way into the den, he meowed a greeting to the medicine cat before turning his amber eyes in search of the gray warrior, finding her just where he'd left her after his last visit. "Hello, Feathercloud. Hi, Smokeheart," he greeted, making his way to her nest where he promptly flopped into a sitting position. "How's the leg?" he inquired, glancing down at the paw outstretched in front of the gray she-cat. "Getting better?" He asked the same question every day, as soon as he got to the den.


((GAAAH THAT WAS HORRIBLE I'M SORRY D8))

[hedgie]

With her eyes trained on the den wall, she didn't even notice him enter. Sulky and terribly bored, she probably wasn't the bets company. He visited anyway, had been careful around her ever since she'd hobbled up to him on three legs, hurt and confused. Even when she snapped at him, growls low and angry in her throat. Everyone else seemed to just fade away, scared off by her swinging moods. A yawn stretched her jaws open, the clamped them shut, as she lifted her head to look at her one and only visitor.

"Hey." She replied, her voice soft, tired. She wanted to sit up, stand up, to walk over there and greet him herself...but she still couldn't. Well, she could, but she wasn't really allowed to. It would just cause more damage or something silly like that. A young cat like her had better things to do then lie around, broken leg or not. Her ears flicked away an invisible fly, silver-green eyes shooting a quick glare in Feathercloud's direction. She was the reason Smokeheart was still in that darn den in the first place1

"Oh," She shook her head, allowing a small smile to creep across her muzzle. "You know...broken. Useless. That's how it is. Fun, fun,fun.' Sarcasm seeped into her voice, her head resting again on the ground beside her leg. "I guess it's getting better. you should probably ask Feathercloud, since I seem to have no idea what I'm doing. How's that whole deputy thing working out for you?" She countered his questions with her own, keeping the always-present boredom at bay.

[Ki]

Feathercloud was in the corner of the medicine cat den, feverishly organizing herbs into different piles. It was what she did when she was thinking. Somehow, the monotonous task helped her think. Sort of like her own way of pacing and doing something with herself while thoughts raced through her brain. Her amber eyes were staring off into space, her mind far from her petite little body. Many things had been on her mind as of late. The impending war, Twistedclaw, the health of the cats in her Clan, Twistedclaw, the fast-approaching leafbare, Twistedclaw, and Smokeheart. Smokeheart, at the moment, was at the forefront of her mind. And now just because of her broken leg. No, not that. Smokeheart presented a mystery to her.

Smokeheart's leg was broken, yes. She'd been ordered by Feathercloud to stay off it, yes. But that didn't explain a few things. Smokeheart was gaining weight faster than she should be. Even for a cat who hadn't been on her feet much or been hunting. Smokeheart wasn't receiving any more prey than any other cats. She received as much as an elder would, and they didn't gain that much weight. And some of them sat around for days at a time, lumbered around the camp a bit, then sat around again. No, something was amiss. It wasn't just the weight gain. When Feathercloud had inspected the leg, she'd noticed Smokeheart had showed signs of producing milk. Her scent was a bit...different as well. Like there'd been some change in her body.

The medicine cat could only think of one explanation:

Smokeheart was pregnant.

Feathercloud didn't know of any mate that Smokeheart had. She wasn't required to tell who she'd mated with. But from what Feathercloud had determined, the mating had to have happened a moon ago. Probably around the time she'd broken her leg. Had she hurt it going to see this mate? She-cats often had odd reactions to this sort of news. Some were happy, some were upset. It all depended on the cat and the circumstances. After about two days of checking the signs over and over again, Sitting and thinking, neglecting even her newfound friend Twistedclaw...she'd reached a decision. Smokeheart was having kits. A good-sized litter as well. There could be no more second-guessing. She'd have to tell her.

Sighing, Feathercloud stood and turned to Icepelt and Smokeheart. "Smokeheart..I have to tell you something. You may want Icepelt to leave." She nodded her head slightly at Icepelt, trying to convey that she meant no disrespect. It's just some things were better said in private.

[Kitty]

Icepelt grunted sympathetically. Being stuck in the medicine cat den with a broken leg and being unallowed to move around for a whole month had to be awful. The tom couldn't imagine what he'd do if something like that were to happen to him. Actually, odds were he would disregard the medicine cat's orders - no offense, Feathercloud - and move around anyway. Seriously, Icepelt wouldn't be able to stay put in the same den in the same nest for a whole moon, not allowed to venture even out into camp for a change of scenery.

When Smokeheart inquired about his duties as deputy, he gave a simple shrug. He couldn't really tell her about the secret meetings in Specklestar's den (they were secret for a reason after all), so he gave her a pretty generic - and still completely true - answer. "The usual duties. You know, organizing patrols, hunting missions, chatting amongst the Clan, training Reedpaw." He was about to add a bit more, expand on that, when Feathercloud entered from her private den to speak to them.

Or to speak to Smokeheart, really. She specifically said that she need to speak with the injured she-cat...and even said that she may want Icepelt to leave for it. What could be so bad, really? However, Icepelt simply inclined his head in assent. "If you would like me to leave, I'll go find something else to do and return later," he meowed.

[/blockquote]

[hedgie]

She shook her head at that grunt. "Yeah. i know. you can only just imagine how insane it is in here. It's more boring than watching snow melt, seriously. I can probably pick out some random herb from...Well, a far way away..I've been staring at them so long. But, you know...I guess it's for my own good. though I'm pretty sure I can at least go hobble around camp now. Her whiskers twitched, and she snuck another glance over at Feathercloud, lowering her voice to a whisper. "She's nice, really..but she's going to drive me up a wall. She keeps on looking at me. It's unnerving. Like I've got some sort of problem, and she's not telling." Limited in her movements, she resigned to shaking her head again, tail tip flicking every now and again.

"Well, you're lucky you even get to do that. Train an apprentice..even if he is a little bit odd. you've seen who he hangs out with, haven't you? I'd be worried..but anyway..You've got something to keep yourself busy. I've just got my own sorry excuse for an imagination to keep me occupied, and it's starting to wear thin." Slowly, she shifted her body around, lifting her head and tucking her good leg beneath her. just as she was about to speak again, Feathercloud popped in.

Oh joy.

"He can stay. i want him here, whatever news you have to tell me. Let me guess..I'll never walk right again? Or, oh..maybe I have to stay her for another moon. That's it, isn't it?" Okay, so she was being a little harsh, but she was growing tired of bad news. "Just tell me, Feathercloud. It can't be that bad."

[Ki]

Feathercloud was unaffected by Smokeheart's words. As a medicine cat, she'd dealt with many fussy cats before. Headstrong warrios like her. Elders that couldn't be pleased no matter what you did for them. Kits that just wanted to run back out and play. Sometimes being a medicine cat could be a thankless job. But she loved her Clanmates dearly. Besides, she knew it must be maddening. Smokeheart was used to patrols and hunting. Not laying around in a medicine cat all day. It could get pretty boring sometimes. Feathercloud had the correct mindset for it. She found herbs and such fascinating. So she never minded her work. Plus with this Clan, she was always coming and going. Collecting herbs, organizing them, taking inventory on herbs, treating cats, checking on the elders, checking on the kits, looking over scrapes from hunting accidents and mishaps in training.

In fact, Feathercloud was usually very busy.

She nodded at Icepelt and sat down in front of Smokeheart, curling her tail around herself. Perhaps Icepelt was the father? Feathercloud wasn't supposed to speculate, but seriously. Who wouldn't? He visited her often. They were friends, it seemed. Why not? Who was to say they werent more than friends? "Smokeheart, I've been keeping a close eye on you. And, just judging from a few things...I think you're having kits, Smokeheart."

[hedgie]

There's many kinds of denial. Some so strong that the one experiencing it actually believes their delusions. Some so obviously fake that even the victim knows it's a ruse. And some that you want to believe so much it hurts, but you know it's true. Smokeheart's eyes were fixed on the slim she-cat in front of here, wide as a full moon. Her jaw dropped open, and then slowly, as if she was just coming back to life, her eyes narrowed and she allowed a low growl to escape her throat. She shook her head, trying so hard to dislodge what she'd just heard. But it wouldn't leave, would never go away.

"Please..PLEASE tell me this is just some sick joke. I know I haven't been the nicest, but this is low. You're kidding me. you have to be..I can't!"

She looked at Icepelt, eyes wide again. She was terrified of what this meant. He knew what had happened! She'd told him everything. That...monster of a cat just wasn't ever going to leave her alone, was he? now she was stuck with his offspring..and what could she do about that?

Nothing.

It was a waste of time to even think about it.

She just tried to curl up tighter, wishing she could just sink into the ground below her. "So..I guess that's why you've been watching me..I just thought you were being weird." She closed her eyes, not looking at anyone. The absolute terror in her eyes couldn't be seen. she was supposed to be happy. It was all about acting...the Clan couldn't find out about her mistake. She would be forever doomed if they did, so it was best to play along and fake it.

"Is there anything else you have to tell me, Feathercloud? I'm...tired."

Yes..that was a good excuse for closed eyes. She could pull this off.

[Kitty]

Icepelt listened in silence as Feathercloud dropped the news.

And when she did, it seemed to stun everyone in the den into silence.

Smokeheart just sat there, jaw dropped open and eyes wide in shock. Icepelt, however, was surprised for a mere moment before her realized what that meant.

That...that...! Words failed him for a description good enough to suit a tom like the one SMokeheart had told the deputy about a mere moon ago. He knew the truth behind her little accident, and a pretty one it was not. This is just great! Fantastic! he thought sarcastically while Smokeheart came out of her stunned stupor, accusing Feathercloud of joking. Finally, the gray she-cat seemed to accept the fact that she was, indeed, going to have kits, and she looked so sad that Icepelt's heart wrenched.

Well, I promised I'd help her, he thought a bit uncertainly. Here goes nothing.

Donning as bright and excited an expression he could muster up, Icepelt exclaimed, "Well, Smokeheart, that's great! Our kits, they're going to be simply beautiful! They'll fit in fine! I just hope that being pregnant will damage your leg..." He looked uncertainly at the broken limb, realizing that having a broken leg whilst bearing kits may not be the best combination. "But still! Smokeheart, you're going to be a mother!"

And suddenly, with a start, Icepelt realized what this meant.

He would be lying to his Clan, but now, he'd become a father.

[/blockquote]

[Ki]

There wasn't any mistaking the distress in Smokeheart's face, the panic in her eyes. She'd seen queens react this way. They were scared of what they now carried. After all, it was many other lives inside of her. Feathercloud wondered what that was like. To know there was life stirring in her belly, to feel them wriggle and move. For a moment, Feathercloud was sad. It was sad that medicine cats could never have kits of their own. And, perhaps for the first time, she realized she could never be a mother or provide care to her own kits. But, mentally, she batted this thought away. She served her Clan. Daily. And she served it well. Plus ShadowClan hardly needed anymore kits. And her, having children? Imagine chasing around kits while trying to gather herbs and treat injured and sick cats at once! Not to mention she'd be completely useless until the kits were weaned. Until then, they'd need her constantly.

No. Serving her Clanmates was quite enough for her.

"Why would I joke about something like this, Smokeheart?" Feathercloud said gently. Then Icepelt spoke, revealing the kits to be his. Her amber eyes lit up. The deputy's kits! She knew she had seen something there. Smokeheart seemed tired and shocked, so Feathercloud thought it best to let her rest. "No no no. Sleep. I can talk to you about the kits when you're feeling a bit better." the medicine cat mewed. Then she smiled brightly at Icepelt, a silent congratulation. "You should tell Specklestar soon." Feathercloud said, speaking more to Icepelt than to the smokey gray she-cat. "She'll be delighted. The whole Clan will." True, ShadowClan had too many cats as it was. But new kits meant new warriors. Would they be called upon to fight this war soon?

With that, Feathercloud turned and looked back at her work. She didn't feel the need to sort herbs anymore. They'd already been arranged into their appropriate piles. Perhaps she should look into for digging that hiding spot for her herbs, like Twistedclaw suggested? It seemed like a good idea. This war might happen in leafbare, when few plants grew. If their camp (StarClan forbid!) was invaded, they might steal her herbs to use on their own warriors.

[hedgie]

If she hadn't been on edge before, she certainly was now. Even after the overall panic faded,she was still in charge of little lives, innocent souls. If she had her way, they would never know of their true father. He would never know of them. She would make sure of that. He was probably somewhere in the area, lurking around like the handsome shadow he was. Oh, but what if one of them looked like him? As long as no one knew who the father was, she would be fine. It would all be okay. So maybe life would be a bit more stressful, and it would be quite a while before she got back to her duties as a warrior. Oh well. It looked like she had a new occupation. Not Smokeheart the warrior, but Smokeheart the mother. Quite a drastic change, but she was already used to days of resting. what harm could more do to her?

Eventually, she'd be up on her paws and scuttling after who-knew-how-many kits, but for now, time was just about staying still. Relaxing. she could only hope that everything went smoothly, no problems. She'd take the challenge head on, because there was no way she could back out anyway.

"Well...I don't know. Maybe you have some sick and twisted sense of humor? She mewed, laughing nervously. She was about to speak again when Icepelt blurted out that the kits were his.

HIS?!

There went all her security. If any of those kits resembled their actual father, no lie or tall tale would get them out of the situation. She shook her head, pressing it against her paws. Seriously? She hadn't asked him to do that. When she'd asked for help, she didn't think he would go that far. Shot shot him a withering look, wishing could call him out, tell him how mouse-brained that move had been, but she couldn't do it with Feathercloud around. For Starclan's sake...he was so stupid! She just couldn't stay mad at him though.

She owed him so much.

She nodded at Feathercloud, on the verge of falling asleep.

"Don't let me forget about that. If there's more you w=have to say, I want to hear it." She glanced over at Icepelt again. "Yes, go tell her. She'll want to know why I'm not up on my feet again anyway...and Feathercloud...Are you sure you can't tell me now? I'm tired, but i don't think I can go to sleep not knowing everything." She fought back a yawn, and stretched out what she could.

That nap could wait, couldn't it?

[Ki]

Feathercloud cast a warm look over at Smokeheart. She smiled gently at her. "Most of it is technical things. Herbs you'll need to start eating to help produce milk...things like that." She flicked her tail lightly through the air. Feathercloud would be very careful so that she was not away when Smokeheart was close to giving birth. She'd gone away when Poppyfrost was close to having her kits; look how that had turned out. They'd had to retrieve Earthfoot for help! No, she'd be there for this litter. Especially since it seemed like a slightly larger one from Smokeheart's size. Of course, there wasnt any way to be completely sure. After all...she could just be having two gigantic kits.

"You'll probably be having a slightly larger litter. Four kits, possibly. But maybe less." Feathercloud mewed. "Just be prepared to handle more than two kits." She smiled again. To be honest, she adored kits. They were innocent and just adorable. No matter how crowded things got, she would always rejoice over a new litter of kits.