SOME OLD WOUNDS BLEED AT THE SLIGHTEST WORD — open; birthing

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    [center][fancypost= width: 450px; text-align: justify;][size=11][font=timesnewroman]Sweetophelia was in her home when the pain began. She had already given birth once before, and so she was able to immediately recognise the pain for what it was. Labour pains. Gritting her teeth, the BlizzardClan deputy stood up, intending to find Riddlersgame before a renewed wave of pain stopped her in her tracks. She had given birth without a medic before and although she had hoped that she would not be alone during this delivery, Sweetophelia was pragmatic. Returning to her nest, the seal-point laid down on her flank, her long body curling into a loose "c" shape.


    Time became irrelevant to her. She breathed in and out in shallow bouts, her belly rising and falling. She did not examine her newborns until all three had been born - all in relatively quick succession of one another. Bending her head, the Ragdoll began attending to her children, nudging the first one and moving her attention elsewhere when no response could be evoked. Still-born. Setting aside her sadness for the time being, she focused on the remaining two. The second was pale with the faint hints of ginger. The third was darker, grey and too young to show his markings.


    info — updated 1/20

    [center][fancypost= bgcolor= opacity: 0.5; borderwidth=0px; width: 450px;][font=times new roman][align=justify]Pierce wasn't too bothered by birthing. He knew what it was and how it worked, so it wasn't a huge deal. The one problem was... well, the kids came out of their parent. That was just... he didn't know. It always made him a bit uncomfortable around newborns, but it was nothing he couldn't get over.


    He wasn't sure how he had come across Sweetophelia. He had been wandering around when he heard labored breathing from a little ways away. By the time he arrived, there were three kittens curled up beside the she-cat. Oh, he was late. Good. That was his first thought, followed by, Ew. That was soon replaced by concern, though. Sweet wasn't his favorite person, but he still didn't want anything bad to happen to her. "A-are you okay?" He asked, looking to the Ragdoll and then back down at her children. Riddlersgame's children. He stared at them for a moment before noticing one was motionless. "What's wrong with that one?" He questioned bluntly, frowning down at the still-born kitten.


    //ahhhhhhh

    tags :: updated 1/17

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    To be perfectly blunt, he didn't appreciate the fact that he was evicted from his comfortable albeit crowded home. All his needs had been cared for in there, but now, it was cold and downright weird. Stretching out his tiny limbs, the flame point kitten let out a shrill mewl as he was prodded by an unseen force. He would indignantly yet weakly squirm in response to the gentle touch of his mother amongst his siblings, signaling his personal health status. He wasn't aware of the well beings of the other two kittens and quite frankly, he couldn't even perceive their existence yet. Being a kitten, he had a one track mind and the only thought that occupied his thoughts was food, something he didn't have to worry about in the womb. It seemed like now he had to find his own.


    The lightly pigmented kit's instincts kicked in and he began feebly wriggling his way closer to the warmth. Something told him that there was nourishment there. Emitting another squeal, the child would borrow his way into his mother's fur in search for the promised sustenance while being completely oblivious to the happenings around his family.


    [center]I JUST REMEMBERED THAT I'M ABSENT MINDED

    MADE A COUPLE OF CRANK CALLS COLLECT | 1/20/17

    [center][fancypost=border-width:0px; width: 375px;][font=andale mono][align=justify]Riddler had had very little time to prepare for this moment, and for the most part, he had tried not to think about it too much. Not because he hadn't intended to be a father - he had come to grips with the fact that he had to be - but because he was scared. Scared for Sweet, despite how capable he knew her to be, scared for the well being of their kits, and scared his best just wouldn't be enough for them.


    He had intended to be there with her when she had them. Unfortunately, things didn't always go as planned. He had just been on his way to see her when he heard them, the quiet squeaks and, oddly enough, the familiar voice of Pierce. Suddenly filling with anxiety and alarm, the tabby scurried forward, though he experienced some relief when he saw his girlfriend, apparently safe and alright. "Sweet, thank goodness," he breathed as he came closer, though now that he had assessed her safety, his green eyes moved across the kittens. They sure were small, were they supposed to be that small? And one of them wasn't moving. He averted his gaze from the still kitten, unable to repress a sharp stab of... was it guilt? It seemed the other two were okay though, moving and squeaking in what seemed to be the normal way. Not that he really knew, though.


    He watched the two for just a moment longer, unable to pinpoint exactly what he felt now. Pride? Fear? Happiness, in some form at least, had found it's way to him - this was his family. He and Sweetophelia's. Although he hadn't intended for this, it suddenly didn't seem bad. Just scary.


    Giving the ragdoll deputy a gentle nuzzle, he meowed, "They're, um, good." He couldn't think of a better way to describe them, but he thought he better say something. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

    [center]


    ALEKSEI

    [font=georgia]Deep breaths. The first sucking gasps of air. Cold--the first feeling of cold, being chilled. The sucking of warmth, the wicking of heat away from skin. The stirrings of desire--hunger, heat, comfort--all things that were lost in that one moment. Desire, so strong--so overpowering. Shifting need to move forward, searching for warmth, for heat, for the sweet smell of milk.


    Terrible. That was the first impression of the world. The dark tabby was quiet, making no noise, as if in deep understanding of what a terrible circumstance that had been placed on him--life. Life itself--all its joys, all its suffering, all its wonderful heights and abysmal depths--were his to experience.

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    [center][font=times new roman][color=#87b1cf]"NOW DESTINY'S CALLING OUT YOUR NAME."

    [center][fancypost= width: 450px; text-align: justify;][size=11][font=timesnewroman]"It was born dead," Sweetophelia replied tiredly, her bitter words coming out in a heavy sigh. The death of one of her children - even if she had never truly known it - hurt the Ragdoll deeply even if she seemed to be acting cold and detached now. Smiling thinly as her boyfriend approached, Sweetophelia lifted her head, purring quietly as he greeted her. Sweetophelia knew what Riddlersgame thought of the idea of fatherhood, how he felt on the matter, and she was grateful that he was coping as well as he was now. She was confident that the Paladin would nevertheless work his hardest for their children, no matter whatever feelings of apprehension that continued to plague him.


    Her head lowering again, she bent to lick at their sons, warming them up. It was not clear now but each male would soon come to take after their parents' looks in some capacity. "No," she answered Riddlersgame, still grooming. "But you could help me them." She would not be naming the still-born; a name would only increase her pain and serve as a reminder that this kitten had once been just as capable of life as their litter-mates.

    info — updated 1/21

    Kamari had wished that she could've found Sweet earlier, and that she could've been there to make the process easier for her, but she supposed that it went rather well - despite the fact that there was a stillborn. Mari felt her heart shatter as she glanced over at the lifeless kitten, though she knew she shouldn't dwell on it. It was sad to know that the little kitten had never been given a chance at life, and that it never would, but Kamari knew that if she put too much focus on it then she'd only make it worse for Sweetophelia. Instead she got to work, pulling out some borage leaves and gently handed them to Sweet. "Here, take these," she ordered, watching the living kittens squirm around, managing a smile as she was happy that they at least made it alive and well.


    tags ✦ 01.16