maybe it's fate -- heathercloud's birthing

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    HEATHERCLOUD, QUEEN OF WINDCLAN


    Gentle jade irises laughed along vibrant golden ones, a fawn paw raised to muffle the giggles escaping her maw. No one ever made her laugh quite like Cowspots; the tom, even now, had a stained green muzzle from nibbling anxiously on leaves while waiting for her to give birth. He had shown so much eagerness and excitement, and Heathercloud could honestly say she mirrored his feelings. She beamed a beautiful smile, teeth revealing in her delight. Her belly was swollen to its maximum size. Buzzardflight had informed her it would be any day now she would go into labor and give birth to a litter of sweet, precious kittens. How could she possibly wait? She wanted to meet them already! Her mate had similar desires, expressing his joy at becoming a father.


    How had she gotten so lucky? Cowspots was perfect in every way. Certainly, she admitted, he was awfully strange. He did eat more vegetation than prey, not to mention had some bizarre ideas of fun. But, StarClan, he had made her laugh harder than she'd ever thought possible. His simple presence made her feel like she was walking on clouds, always ready to smile her brightest and enjoy his company. She clearly made him feel like feelings, for he never seemed down in her presence. They truly brought out the best in each other, eternal soulmates. Heathercloud couldn't imagine a better tom to share her life with, or a better mate to have children with. He would be an incredible father; she knew it in her heart. Everything about him told the queen he would excel among their kits, showing them the happiest life they could have.


    Returning to the present, where the silly spotted cat had been sharing a joke. What about? Oh, she couldn't remember, but the laughter was the real point of it. Sharing his loud giggles, the fawn tabby leaned against him, a purr rumbling loudly in her throat. Even her kits liked the joke! She could tell because they kicked in her belly, causing a small grunt to leave her. Cowspots cast her a semi-concerned tone at the noise, but she beamed in response, opening her jaws to assure him, "Don't worry, my love. They just like your joke, t- oh." Heathercloud moaned as a contraction hit her, causing her to be hit with a wave of nausea. Luckily she hadn't had an appetite this morning, so nothing was regurgitated. However, the simple action proved one thing: The kits weren't waiting any longer to be born. Her mate was on his feet instantly, dancing anxiously from side to side, and she nodded, knowing exactly what he was thinking.


    "Go get Buzzardflight - the kits are coming."


    That simple sentence was all she needed to say before he dashed off, leaving the nursery to fetch the medicine cat. She knew he would be back shortly, helping her through the whole process. Until then, the gentle queen made herself as comfortable as possible in her nest, groaning as more contractions came. Soon, she would be a mother. And it would be the greatest experience of her life.


    Buzzardflight

    「 you are not as brave as you were at the start 」

    Cloudbounce certainly wasn't Buzzardflight, but the small tom found himself entering the nursery next. He had spotted Cowspots rushing out, excitement and worry lacing is expression, and he couldn't help but figure that it finally was time.


    Making his way over to the nursery, he scooped up a branch that had been blown in earlier, snapping it down to a reasonable size before carrying it into the den. Instinctively he wanted to go find other herbs to help the process along, but Cloudbounce figured it was best he stayed out of it as much as possible. Bringing Heathercloud a branch to bite down on was the most he would let himself do.


    Gently setting it down in front of her, her awkwardly looked around before speaking. "Um...thought that might come in handy." Once Cowspots returned with Buzzardflight, Cloud would make his exit. But he'd keep the queen company for now. "Are you comfortable?"


    "speaking." or "speaking."

    TAGS (no link yet)


    We've got to hold on, to what we've got — JasperStar — WindClan —


    JasperStar pricked his ears at the commotion, spotting Cloudbounce, Cowspots, and Heathercloud. It seemed like the kits were about to arrive! He padded over, nodding to the soon to be mother. The leader would wait nearby, inczse Buzzardflight needed someone to fetch herbs or bedding, or anything like that. Cowspots and Heathercloud were about to be parents, and JasperStar was happy for them.



    MORNINGFROST

    ❝ I wear a mask again and go to see you❞

    TAGS ☆彡morningfrost wasn't particularly close with the queen, but cowspots was someone dear to him. the blue tabby hesitates, a turmoil swirling in his oculars. how could he even think about missing this? but would it be wrong of him to crowd? he eventually settles outside the nursery, posed tensely, paws kneading into the earth below him. he hopes everything goes smoothly.

    Why was there a huddle beside the nursery? Of course, Featherpaw was aware of the pregnancy - the queen’s belly was hard to ignore. She wasn’t close with Cowspots at all, but could tell he was a good-hearted tom. He’d be an excellent father.


    The apprentice had never been present for kittens being born and wasn’t at all keen to have that first experience. It seemed like a matter best left between the queen in question and a medicine cat. Still, the commotion was enough to draw her over, hesitantly stopping to stand beside Morningfrost. “What’s going on?” she asked as casually as possible. Had a kit gotten sick? Or... was it really what she had first assumed?




    ybLNaqY.gif The white tom had been close by, since he knew Heathercloud would be kitting any day now. Plus, he had a lot of injured cats in the camp that he had to keep an eye out for. Since some would try to leave without being cleared. Warrior and apprentices were always so eager to escape the medicine cat den. Buzzardflight saw the growing group outside of the nursery and he felt happy for the two. This was their first litter after all. His blue eyes flickered onto Cowspots, nodding to them to get back in there. Kittings were nerve wreaking but nature took its course and everything would be fine, right? Pushing his way towards the den, "Everyone, please clear the area. I will let you all know when it is over." he asked, slipping in to make his way to the soon-to-be mother. "A stick? Nice. he comments, taking notice of Cloudbounce but not saying anything to the tom. He instead went to gather some raspberry leaves, "This will help with the pain, if you can't eat them it is okay. Pain is normal and your body will do the natural thing."

    windclan ▢ mc ▢ 13 moons ▢ boy ▢ eaglespirit x twilightrise ▢ tags

    HEATHERCLOUD, QUEEN OF WINDCLAN


    Not moments after Cowspots rushed out, Cloudbounce came to her aid, offering a stick to bite on. Heathercloud cast him a grateful glance, purring her thanks before it turned to a groan as another contraction hit her. She considered the tom a brother of sorts; she'd been an only child, and had been happy to accept her mate's siblings into her little family. Blissfully unaware of Jasperstar, Morningfrost, and Featherpaw outside fretting over her, the queen concentrated on the movements coming closer and closer together, informing her it would be moments before the first kit arrived.


    It had seemed like hours, yet mere minutes passed before Buzzardflight arrived with Cowspots in hot pursuit, worry lining his expression. To his credit, he stayed out of the medicine cat's way, instead sitting behind her, offering comforting licks behind her ear. Heathercloud was massively thankful for the act of affection, for the entire ordeal was terribly unpleasant. When Buzzardflight offered the raspberry leaves, she didn't hesitate to take a small portion. Unfortunately, that's all she managed before grasping the stick, howling as pain tore across her abdomen. StarClan, was it supposed to hurt this much? She felt as though her stomach were being ripped in half! Her teeth caused the wood between to splinter due to force, screaming through the agony as she went through her kitting, eventually birthing three perfect kittens.


    Completely exhausted and still morbidly pained, she gasped heavily and collapsed. Her whole body felt numb, unbearable. Perhaps this was what childbirth was supposed to feel like, but she could swear breathing was getting harder...


    Ignoring that thought, she allowed her mate to help lift her head so she could lay eyes upon her children for the first time and released a sob of joy and excitement. "O-Oh! They're... so perfect," whimpered the queen happily, tail curling as she cried. They were tears of both bliss and pain, still feeling that nagging in her gut. It was just normal post-birth pains, right? Glancing over her newborns, Heathercloud giggled feebly upon the sight of the first one, a cream and black she-kit, mimicking Cowspots's pelt. Smiling up at him, she whispered, "We should call her Milkkit." It seemed so fitting, given how cute and dainty her appearance was. She reminded her mother of a little cow, just like her dad. Surely they would be two peas in a pod!


    Next, she gazed over the other two, both males. Brothers. Growing up, she'd always wanted brothers, so it delighted her to see that her children would get that joy. Touching her nose to the solid chocolate tom-kitten with spots of white, she suggested, "What do you think of Coltkit for this strong boy?" When she received a nod of confirmation, she continued, "And I think Flykit is fitting for our last little boy." Cowspots purred his agreement, awestruck at the sight of his children.


    Heathercloud beamed, never having thought herself so happy at any given moment in her life. She had it all; three perfect children, a perfect mate, and a perfect clan. What more could she ask for? StarClan had blessed her, smiled upon her life. Whimpering out another purr, she nuzzled her mate, feeling his gleeful tears on his cheeks. But as they purred together, the queen suddenly moaned in a soft, dull pain.


    Her vivid greens snapped up to her mate's gold ones, a silent plea that something was wrong. However, before Cowspots could inquire what was happening, he saw it the same moment Heathercloud did. Out of seemingly nowhere, a dark, crimson pool had collected under her rear. Throughout the entire birthing process, she'd been bleeding out internally, gone undetected until all her kits were safely born. Gasping, the fawn tabby began quivering, the dizziness of blood-loss hitting her hard. Black spots were already lining her vision, obscuring her contact with the living. She felt the screams of Cowspots pleading for Buzzardflight, yelling that something was wrong, to no avail. There was nothing that could be done. She was dying, and no one could save her.


    Through shaking limbs, Heathercloud lifted her head, a feeble movement to lock her gaze on her mate's one last time. Though his expression wrote every ounce of his grief and panic and love, she needed to say it, too. "I-I love you... Take care of our children, my l-love..."


    Not moments after that sentence, her lungs deflated one last time, leaving her painless and free to join her ranks in StarClan.


    /will be posting with cowspots after this + roleplayers feel free to roleplay kits outside in windclan!

    COWSPOTS OF WINDCLAN | TAGS


    Retrieving Buzzardflight had gone flawlessly. He thanked StarClan that the medicine cat had been present in camp due to the high number of cats needing his attention. They returned to the nursery to Heathercloud nearing her kitting, so the spotted tom sat behind her head, offering gentle licks along the back of her head. "It's alright, my love. You can do it; our kits will be so worth it," he promised with a purr, feeling guilt gnaw at his chest. While a natural process coming before him, he loathed seeing her in any form of pain, especially considering he'd contributed to it. He remained by her side, giving sweet, loving comments and encouragements until all three kits were born, leaving his mate an exhausted heap on her nest.


    While eager to meet his children, his first concern was her well-being. Resisting the urge to fawn over his kits, Cowspots checked Heathercloud over, sniffing her and asking again and again if she was alright. After multiple reassurances, he finally laid hazel eyes over the three newborns brought into the world moments ago. Truthfully, he believed his heart stopped beating. All spotted with white, hosting different aspects of both his and Heathercloud's appearances, they were truly their children. StarClan, had he done something beautifully special to deserve such a gift? Tears welling in his eyes at the sight, he felt completely speechless at how stunning his kits were, yawning out before him. They squealed their tiny mews and wiggled towards their mother's belly, hungry for milk, and he loved watching it. Laughing, he pressed his nose into Heathercloud's, purring so loudly he was certain the cats outside could hear.


    Milkkit. The name suggestion for the first kit made him beam bright as the sun, nodding enthusiastically. It suited her, with her creamy appearance. She'd definitely be a sweetheart like her dad, his mate assured him affectionately. The next kitten named was Coltkit, strong and fierce. He held more of Heathercloud's willpower in his demeanor, showing he would be quite the warrior some day. Finally, there was Flykit. The little kit of the litter, he was one of the cutest. Boasting a nearly solid black pelt, he made Cowspots smile with pride, knowing he, too, would exceed their expectations and do incredible things in his life. They all were healthy and so much more than he had ever hoped for. Seeing them reminded him of all the reasons he had been excited to be a father and more.


    Unfortunately, their delight was cut short at the awful groan released from his queen's maw. Instantly, he was on high alert, on his paws to check her out. The second her body began shivering, her tail shifted enough to reveal that deep pool of blood, showing them all what they'd missed the whole time. Veins running cold, Cowspots shrieked, "Buzzardflight! Help! Something's wrong! Oh, StarClan, please help her!" Panic and horror laced his tone, coming out in whimpers. His tears, formerly joyful, now came fiercer with dread. StarClan, no, don't let her die! pleaded the warrior, his own limbs quivering as he sat with his mate.


    It seemed, though, there was nothing to be done.


    Heathercloud's breaths came in gasps, allowing her to choke out a few last words. "I love you. Take care of our children." she had told him. But Cowspots couldn't do it; not alone! He'd had her with him every step of the way, they planned every minute of it! Releasing a mournful sob, he threw himself at her, buried deep in her shoulders and neck. "Heathercloud, no!" sobbed he into her fur, voice coming out muffled and broken, "You can't leave me! W-We're supposed to do this together! You and me... We were so-soulmates... StarClan, please, please don't leave me. I love you so much... How am I supposed to raise our babies without you?" The last question was where his voice dissolved into distraught sobs entirely, unable to be deciphered properly as Heathercloud took her last exhale.


    Cowspots felt his heart get wrenched from his chest, plundering him into a dark alley he hadn't seen before. Heathercloud was gone, dead. He would only see her again in StarClan, if he were lucky. Most cats didn't see their loved ones again until they themselves passed away, but he didn't know if he could wait that long. He didn't know if his kits could wait that long. Oh, his kits... What would he tell them of their mother? She had loved them so, so dearly. She'd never wanted to leave them, or him. Yet, it all felt like such sudden betrayal and abandonment.


    Shaking violently, the new father leaned over Heathercloud, barely able to control his movements, to wrap himself around his kits. They didn't need to feel the pain of nursing on a now-cooling body. No, no... They deserved to have a warm, kind form to care for them.

    Without real understanding, the tiny chocolate kit wriggled blindly towards his mother's rapidly-cooling form. He couldn't find anything, and as the warmth began to drain from her he whimpered - driven purely by instinct for now, he could feel this wasn't quite right. There was the smell of milk but it was sour, overwhelmed by a bitter coppery tang that drowned his senses and threatened to choke him. The tiny kit let out a pitiful cry as he blundered into something sticky, the blood spreading to stain his paws though he himself couldn't see it. He slipped and lost what little balance he had, tipping over onto his side and flailing helplessly for somebody to help. It was too hard in the dark, and it was cold and it smelled weird.


    //I have actually never played a kit in trad. roleplay? So forgive me. Figured I should throw up a token post for midget mcscaredymouse as a tiny before he and his siblings are auto-aged to three moons in everything else.

    Living in a dark, warm balloon had been pretty nice, but the shock ended that pretty quickly. The firstborn slid out, in shock as light and sound and cold all reached at her tiny patched body. A rough tongue gave her a few licks and then booted her to the side, in the curve of her mother’s belly. The newly named she-kit, the only one in the litter, let out a sputtered mewl, but was fairly quiet the rest of the ordeal. Milkkit struggled to latch onto her mother, but the heaving made their foodsource tease and then dodge her. Suddenly she was fidgeting with two other bodies. Loud sounds and drama penetrated her world, and she recoiled like a snail into herself, not sure of what was going on. The hot body seemed to radiate a little less, and when she finally latched onto the still body, Milkkit and her siblings were snatched from it, and placed into the little U curve of their father. This body was just as hot as the last, but shook alarmingly. At the prospect of no food or nothing to latch onto, the eldest squirmed and began to protest with a few mewls, kneading Cowspots’ stomach.

    It took Flykit a little while to even process what was happening. WHERE WAS HE!? He could hear voices booming down into his ears, feel the soft bodies of his siblings, and there was...a cold unmoving boulder. The scrawny black-furred kit began to squirm wildly, almost as if protesting being alive. Flykit eventually managed to let out a loud squeak, his little nose lifted up into the air. His stomach began to made noises, like a huge thunderstorm forming inside his own body. He peeped loudly a few more times, before a large, warmer body nestled down beside them, and Flykit squirmed closer with his siblings, burying his head into Cowspots' squishy but milk-less belly.

    Ivynose had made his way over to join the crowd outside of the nursery when he'd heard that Heathercloud had gone into labour, excitement written clear across his face. Cowspots was going to be a great father and Heathercloud would be an excellent mother, too. Ivynose knew that, and those kits would be raised well, with two loving parents. He took a seat next to Morningfrost, remaining silent as he listened to what was going on in the nursery, his tail curling around his paws tightly. Ears flattening to his skull as Heathercloud yowled with pain, he only relaxed slightly when the small cry of a kit joined in. There's one, he thought, knowing that there had to be more than one when Heathercloud's pain didn't seem to subside.


    Eventually Heathercloud quieted down, her pain-filled howls being replaced by the sound of mewing kittens, plus the purrs and murmurs of their parents (especially Cowspots, he noticed). Ivynose couldn't pick out the names that Cowspots and Heathercloud had given their kits - they weren't speaking loud enough - but his fur bristled with panic when a low moan could be heard: Something was wrong with Heathercloud, he could feel it, and Cowspots had begun begging Buzzardflight to do something, his pleas soon turning into nothing more than choked sobs.


    A horrified and distraught look had formed on Ivynose's face as he listened in, swallowing thickly as he thought about what he had to do right now. Was he supposed to just sit here? Did he wait until Cowspots exited the nursery to comfort him? Did he leave? He didn't want to barge in there. "Cowspots.." he murmured, mostly to himself, gaze darting towards the nursery entrance for a second before darting up to look at Morningfrost sadly.


    "speaking" thoughts


    We've got to hold on, to what we've got — JasperStar — WindClan —


    JasperStar hadn't seen many births, if any, and didn't know anything was off until it was too late. His sharp green eyes widened at the sight of all the blood, shooting a look at Buzzardflight. He could help, couldn't he? Fix her before... but, it seemed too late already. Heathcloud was shaking feebly, and after mewing one last sentence and request to her mate, the she cat was gone. Oh no... Glancing at Cowspots, JasperStar could tell what horrible grief and anguish he was in right now. The birth of your children was supposed to be a happy day, yet sometimes it was also the worst. "May she find peace in StarClan..." The bengal mainly said that to make the patched tom feel better. Internally, he was furious, once again, with their ancestors. Death was a normal part of life, every cat knew, but why take a queen away from her family? It was too cruel, for every cat involved, and it almost seemed that StarClan enjoyed playing his clan for a fool. JasperStar would not bare his teeth now, this was not the time. "I'm so sorry." It was all he could say as the mourning father curled himself around the family he had left. At least the kits were healthy, thank goodness.

    Tattered alabaster triangles flicked at the sound of laughter. The beautiful hum of happiness lit within the den closest to his nibbling of a sparrow’s spine. His pearly fangs nibbling gently along the brittle curves, though his solar-like hues climbed over toward the loving couple. Though a smile spread across Sungaze’s face, jealousy clouded his heart. As friendly as he was, as many times he had fought to prove his loyalty, no-one saw past his father that wrote so cleanly over his features as he grew. Heliacal eyes seperated him from his monster of a father, and for that, he thanked Starclan. Though, for how long would he be alone? Would he never have someone to spoil, to tease, to laugh with like Cowspots and Heathercloud. Sungaze stopped chewing on the bone, and let it fall to the ground. Will I ever have my own kit to play with? he sighed deeply but smirked nonetheless.


    A crowd formed around the nursery. Heathercloud must be having her kits! No doubt one of them was destined to be trained by himself. Excitement curled through the fibers of his muscles as he pulled himself to a sit. Listening in on the voices. Milkkit, Coltkit, Flykit. He listened in, his smile broadening as he wondered what he’d name his own kits. The hum of happiness intensified. Friends and family gathered around, it was beautiful, yet the spawn of the devil kept his distance, though he kept it peacefully. The bitter taste of envy on his tongue. Though, it was soon stripped away by the mournful wails of Cowspots. Sungaze remained still, the sweet familiar scent of death touching his nostrils. No sooner did Sungaze bow his head, mourning for the family’s loss. He knew that feeling, all too well. When his sister was murdured, he knew no greater pain. Another bout of grief had pressed unto his shoulders as of late. Canary had been killed by a dog. His own family was dropping like flies in Bloodclan. While he pranced around trying to make everyone see him as anything but evil. "Starclan guide her soul" he whispered through clenched teeth.

    SUNGAZE'S ART & TAGS



    Birth. Eaglespirit had never really seen one happen before - usually the kits in his old group were just taken from other places, usually kits of various loners. Then in the clans, the closest he had come were his own kits he guessed, however they were already pretty grown when he first saw them, or even knew they existed. But this.........Heathercloud bleeding out from something like this made his stomach curl. There was nothing to fight, just the cruel hands of fate. Death, the opposite of birth, was something he was very familiar with. He didn't want to say that he enjoyed Heathercloud dying or that it was good in any way. But the fact remained death at this point was like a old friend, something he did know about and knew how to handle. Mostly. It wasn't handled good, but it was something familiar and uncomplicated to him. Yet this time, there was no justification for it, not even something to revenge. Just, the cruel uncaring world getting finally getting the best of someone.


    He stood in the back of the crowd as he saw Cowspots - one of the few he considered a friend, or at least a close acquaintance - have this tragedy attached to his soul. A mate. The large silver tabby had no such concept to go off of besides Twilightrise, but he was never in love with her - he didn't love in general. She was simply an ally that somehow became very important to him, that and only that. Still, imagining finding out that she died due to something like that made his chest ache for some reason, and he knew that Cowspots must feel like that but many times more.


    He said nothing, knowing words would fail him, but he did step forward and go by the other tom's side, in case he wanted to lean into Eaglespirit to mourn and get some comfort.



    ˜”*°•EAGLESPIRIT•°*”˜

    WARRIOR

    17 MOONS

    WINDCLAN

    tags





    MORNINGFROST

    ❝ I wear a mask again and go to see you❞

    TAGS ☆彡featherpaw's presence annoys him, but he says nothing to the she-cat beside him for a long moment. he's too busy watching, evergreen oculars curiously taking everything in. he's never been subject to a birth before, and perhaps he never will be. maybe the litter he had had with calmamber will be his first, and his last, he isn't too sure as of yet. a birthing, he answers simply. there was no point in adding in things that didn't matter, but in later thoughts he'd want to change his wording, into a tragedy, a mistake.


    cowspots, heathercloud. something was wrong, wasn't it? his body stiffens, and almost instantly, he attempts to press into ivynose. his jaw his set, and he's looking ahead, ears straining forward. does he approach, or remain still? he doesn't meet ivynose's gaze, as he's already moving forward.


    cats are offering their apologies, and it's sad. what does starclan have to do with anything? why do they have to decide who lives, and who dies? what's the point in being dead, if you weren't doing something to help the living? he wants to grit his teeth- instead, he simply takes cowspots other side, ignoring eaglespirit's presence altogether. his oculars are staring down, at the lifeless body, to the very living kids. was this the price of being alive?