The first kits born within the colony! (Ref under cut)

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Leafbare brings sickness…

The start of Newleaf brings calm and the anticipation of new kits.

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Busy moon! Hush finished her training early, hopefully her brother can catch up. Seems the colony still has loners and rogues wandering near the borders.

Stars glinted through the sparce branches that stretch over the hollow of Spark Colony’s camp, the walls of the hollow blocking out the biting chill of late leaf-bare winds. Around camp it was quiet, just like any other night; ZinniaStar, EmeraldFeather, Ren, and LarchStripe were already asleep in the alcove most of the cats had built their nests in, most of them close to keep warm, though like always LarchStripe slept in the furthest corner away from the others. However, one cat in the den found herself unable to sleep, her tail twitching with irritation, ears flicking at every sound. Perhaps it’s the fact FrostPaw was still sick that kept TansyStep restless, or maybe it was knowing both her kits were still awake, as the recently named HushRoar had rarely been leaving her brother’s nest at night. Or maybe it was simply those pesky feelings the young tabby felt around the Colony’s healer that was plaguing her mind tonight. Whatever the reason, after the fifth attempt to settle failed, TansyStep knew she wouldn’t be getting much rest like this. She sighed and pushed to her paws, stretching before padding out of the den, careful not to disturb the others. Maybe AmberHaze would have something that could help her fall asleep, TansyStep considered as she paused in the camp clearing, glancing around before heading across camp to the healer’s den.

Within the tunnel of the healer’s den, ReedTuft and FrostPaw both rested while they recovered from the season’s yellowcough that had spread in camp, young HushRoar lay beside her brother, the two quietly talking as to not disturb their deputy’s rest. TansyStep peered into the den, her green eyes glinting in the dark as she looked for her friend, only to find the colony’s healer missing from her nest.

“Everything okay, ma?” FrostPaw’s soft, raspy mew came from the sheltered space as he spotted the other cat by the entrance. TansyStep twitched her ear as she turned to her kits, a flicker of concern in her gaze. ‘He still sounds so sick…’ Her mind worried, FrostPaw had been sick for almost two moons now, and with him being weaker than most cats, TansyStep couldn’t help but worry about him.

“I’m fine, hun. Just wanted to ask AmberHaze something, did she say she was going somewhere?” the tabby asked calmly, not wanting to give either of the young cats anything to worry about. The littermates glanced between eachother, confused, before the smaller of the siblings turned back to answer.

“She said she was gonna look for somethin’ by the stream.” HushRoar mewed, curious, though neither of the young cats pressed further when TansyStep simply mewed her thanks and stepped back out, though not before reminding the two they need to sleep, especially since HushRoar was on hunting patrol in the morning. TansyStep’s fur prickled slightly as she retreated back to the clearing of the hollow. Something about AmberHaze being out there alone didn’t sit right with her, not this late. ‘It can’t hurt to just check on her, right?’ TansyStep mused to herself as she padded to the camp’s entrance. The young she-cat had noticed some differences with the dusky-brown healer lately, she seemed more stressed, a bit distracted even, jumpier than usual, and TansyStep was worried something was wrong. She fluffed up her thick fur as she stepped out of the camp and into the forest, frost-nipped grass prickling her pawpads as she followed the path towards the stream, ears pricked for any sounds of trouble.

The stream glinted with reflections of starlight on the thin ice as TansyStep walked along the bank, glancing around until she spotted a familiar brown and white she-cat sat by the edge, her honey-coloured eyes sparkling with reflected starlight as she stared up through the barren branches, to the skies where SilverPelt watch over all creatures. AmberHaze seemed lost in thought, not noticing the younger she-cat’s approach.

“There you are!” TansyStep chirped softly, her usual energy tempered by the quiet of the night and her concern for the other cat. AmberHaze’s ears pricked up sharp, tail bristling for a moment with a start, before recognition flashed in her gaze, the healer forcing her fur back down with a sigh as the young tabby took a seat beside her, tail rested at her paws. “What’s going on, AmberHaze? You’ve been jumpier than a newborn bunny lately.” TansyStep asked as the other looked up to meet her gaze. AmberHaze’s eyes were filled with a mix of emotions; nervousness, worry, uncertainty, and perhaps even a flicker of excitement? Her tail twitched at her paws as she sighed, ears lowering, turning her muzzle back towards the skies.

“I… I’m just worried about ReedTuft and FrostPaw, that’s all.” AmberHaze murmured carefully, though TansyStep could sense she was holding something back. Of course TansyStep knew better than any of the colony why AmberHaze would be worried, FrostPaw’s always been weaker than most, even as a kit he got sick more often and tended to struggle with his breathing at times, but the young tom had been doing much better ever since they met AmberHaze and she was able to find ways to help him get stronger, and TansyStep trusts that the healer will be able to help their colony-mates just fine, she has so far. She placed a paw on AmberHaze’s shoulder lightly, tilting her head to be more on the other she-cat’s level. “Hey… you said yourself they’ll be okay. What’s really going on?” She asked again, softer now but no less insistent. TansyStep knew something else was going on, and she could tell AmberHaze had changed recently in some way, she just wasn’t sure why.

AmberHaze sat silent for a while, nothing but the quiet sounds of the night passing around them, before she sighed, her gaze dropping to her paws as she scuffed one against the ground. “I’m… expecting kits…” The dusky she-cat mewed at last, hesitant, but also slightly hopeful. TansyStep’s ears pricked up in surprise. Kits? TansyStep hadn’t even considered that, though perhaps it made sense. It would explain that sense that something had changed she hadn’t been able to place. TansyStep shook herself from her thoughts, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Really? How long? Who’s the—“ The young tabby paused, cutting herself off from her own questions as AmberHaze’s posture registered. She looked uncertain, nervous. That… made sense when TansyStep thought about it, she had been pretty nervous about her own litter, and this is probably AmberHaze’s first litter herself. Plus, TansyStep reminded herself quickly, not everycat likes to share who the sire of their kits are, maybe she shouldn’t ask that one so soon. She settled back down, trying to calm her usual energy, ducking her head to catch AmberHaze’s gaze. “Hey… It’ll be fine. You’ll have me and the rest of the colony to help out! However this happened, we’ll be there for you.” She offered a smile. AmberHaze glanced up at the other for a moment before chuckling, her shoulders relaxing a little from their tense posture. “Thank you, TansyStep. I know I can count on the colony for help, and I am excited. I… I wanted to raise kits of my own. I guess I’m just… worried now isn’t the right time.” The healer paused, looking back up to the stars. “I had hoped FrostPaw would be better before it became too much to continue my duties, but now ReedTuft is sick as well… I can’t help but wonder if I made a mistake.” She confessed. TansyStep felt her heart ache at the worry in AmberHaze’s voice, pressing against the other she-cat’s side in comfort with a purr. “There’s always gonna be reasons we need you, AmberHaze. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something for yourself too.” The tabby reassured her with a gentle lick. TansyStep turned her own gaze to the stars, ignoring the heat prickling under her pelt, her ear twitching in contemplation. “Besides, I could always cover for you! I can gather the herbs and stuff, you just tell me what to look for.” she added with a light mew. AmberHaze looked to the younger she-cat, startled, ears pricking back up. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to put that pressure on you…” TansyStep rolled her eyes at the other’s words, a hint of amusement in her mew now. “Oh hush. I’m offering, aren’t I?” She chirped, brightening again at the glint of relief and gratitude in AmberHaze’s gaze. The older she-cat pressed against TansyStep’s thick fur gratefully, her own purr soft, tail flicking at her paws. “Thank you…” TansyStep glanced back down as the other paused again, tilting her head slightly, curious. “Just… don’t tell anyone yet, okay? I’ll tell them when the time is right.” AmberHaze mewed gently, seemingly not quite ready to tell anycat else yet. That made TansyStep feel more special, that AmberHaze had trusted her enough to tell her about this before anycat else. She had questions, of course, but those could wait until the healer was ready to share them on her own terms, so the young tabby simply purred a soft agreement instead, deciding to sit there and protect AmberHaze from the icy winds until she felt ready to return to camp.

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Pt (1/2)

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Ren’s slowly getting used to clan life. Meanwhile, HushPaw and FrostPaw have to deal with random dogs, and somehow take the lead in the fight and get out unscathed.

Update on upload schedule below.

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Frost is such a sweetheart!