The Fainting of a Comrade (Hailkit's surprise illness)

Shinepaw had had a rather messy kill of a rabbit who really didn't want to become freshkill. The tabby tom's soft ginger fur was a richer red than usual with bloodstains and he made his way down to the stream, balanced with obvious caution on a rock, and dipped in his paws, letting the current wash the blood away. He then splashed his chest a little, being careful not to slip, not yet noticing the other cats nearby. He seemed a little out of it, a frown lingering on his white muzzle.

"Shinepaw! Wow everyone's coming down here." Orchidblood smiled. "Come on over. How are you?"

"Hi who are you?" Firekit asked trudging through the water towards Shinepaw.

"That's Shinepaw, I know him," said Orchidblood with a smile. Shinepaw, a nice tom who kept on popping in and out of their lives.

Orchidblood did not speak, but made her way silently over to her cousin. She sat down close beside her, and began sharing tongues.

Magickit had watched her family leave camp and immediately skipped off after them meeting up with them at the stream. She saw her sister adn went over to sit down next to Wildkit. "Hiya Wildthing, how's it going," the tortie point mewed bringing back a time from their kit-hood when she would give all the kits their warrior names.

Shinepaw heard the call and looked, up surrpised. He grinned when he spotted Orchidblood, then looked down at himself after his messy kill with some embarrassment. "Uh - sure, just... in a few beats." He said sheepishly, turning away and licking him legs, chest and paws hastily. "Oh, thanks Koisplash!" Finally presentable, he came over to join the others, looking a little shy as he often was when faced with several cats. But he knew most of those assembled here and he smiled around cheerfully. He was really getting very big to still have an apprentice name, but... his mentor had... issues... right now. Seeing the kits reminded him he had to go visit his sister's lot as well and see how they were going. "Hey everyone."

"So how've you been lately?" said Orchidblood as she shared tongues, or at least groomed, Wildkit. A 'kit' who was well into apprentice age. Many of her family members tended to neglect their training and their ceremonies.

Shinepaw sat in a patch of sun near Orchidblood to help his fur dry out after all his splashing and grooming. "I've been better. Okay really I suppose." He twitched an ear uncomfortably, really not wanting to bring up the 'my-mentor-has-half-clan-kits or the my-sister-hates-her-own-offspring issues. He focused his clear amber gaze on her. "What about you? You doing okay?" He asked softly.

"Yeah." Orchidblood's voice conveyed that she was aware he was asking about Lunecry's death. "I've been better. Just focusing on my duties and getting out. I brought Hailkit and Firekit down here to enjoy the afternoon."

He smiled at her in a 'know how you feel' kind of way. "That's good of you. I should spend more time with my sister's kits... I bet they'd like a walk out here, they've never been out of camp yet." He realized. And it's not like Aquapaw wants to take them.

ooc: She's not going to have any kits soon. :P Deadleap's on his way. ;)

ic: Firekit and Hailkit were in the stream to busy splashing each other to notice anyone or have a conversation.

Shinepaw laughed to watch the two kits - although he couldn't imagine how they splashed like that. He was very careful near the water after seeing a friend fall in once, and Fireflight leaping in to pull him out. He kept a careful eye on Firekit and Hailkit, though they looked big enough to look after themselves really.

((OOC| Troubledkit and Cherrykit are staying though. And Shinepaw isn't going to take them being stolen lying down ;)))

Orchidblood wasn't concerned. The dry weather had shrunk the creek down to being quite shallow. It wasn't even deep enough to immerse a standing cat in many places. "Do you want to see if you can bring the kits down here now? We'll be here a while, I'm going to see if I can catch a couple fish or something for a snack if they want to stay till evening."

"You know that sounds good. I'll see if I can get Aquapaw to come too." Shinepaw said, frowning slightly at the thought of how out of touch Aquapaw, his once friendly sister, had become. He didn't think she would - she seemed to avoid even mention of her four kits. He stood up. "I'll be back once I've got them okay? Catch you two later!" The first part directed at Orchidblood, the second at Firekit and Hailkit. He then trotted off towards camp, heading to the nursery he expected to find his sister's litter.

"Wonderkit? Cherrykit? Ginsengkit? Troubledkit?" He called, letting his eyes adjust to the dim den. He didn't see Aquapaw at all and hoped none of the kits had wandered off without anyone to watch them. They weren't even three moons old yet... they should have a loving mother.

(How old are they now?)