#vireosong

“Your nest–” Perchclaw was going to say the words carefully, but Redkit had already tensed up. 

“Sorry! I’m fixing it!” Instantly, she began pushing the moss inward to make it fluffier. 

Perchclaw’s heart weighed heavily at the sight. Redkit had been living with him and Vireosong as their daughter for a moon now, yet she had her moments of fear. Her trauma must have been truly bad, if the need to be perfect or frequent nightmares were any indication.

Too, Perchclaw saw his own fear reflected in his daughter’s eyes, so deeply rooted that he could practically follow the strings all the way down to her thumping heart. It brought him to a horrible place, the Shadowclan nursery, where his mother fed him just enough to keep him alive. He could never be good enough for her, how could he be good enough for a mother who wished him dead? She pushed him away so that he wasn’t even sure she had mourned when the snake had bitten him.

Redkit’s past was the opposite, she was never good enough and that meant extra, horrible attention. Perchclaw had grown apathetic until new, better parents took him in and taught him that who he was was good enough. Redkit thought that everything she did was wrong and could be scrutinized.

“Hey, hey,” Perchclaw began gently. He lowered himself to the ground, tucking his paws beneath him so that he looked as unthreatening as possible–and cringed that he had to make himself unthreatening to his own daughter. Angry, too, at her so-called mother. “Your nest is very pretty. I like the flowers you put in them.”

Redkit’s ears were flat. “You do?”

Perchclaw smiled. “I love how you decorated. Do you think you can find some flowers to put in my nest so we can match?” On the one side, he loved that Redkit felt comfortable to put the flowers in at all now. On the other, she shouldn’t worry that her father wouldn’t like it.

Redkit’s ears pricked. “I know where a bunch are!”

Perchclaw slowly stood, purring. He allowed Redkit to take the lead until they came across a field of differently shaped and coloured flowers. They were rather withered and dull, but to everything else in the Dark Forest, they might as well be as bright as the sun. 

One flower in particular caught Perchclaw’s eye. “Look at this, Red!” He went to pluck it. “See this?” He asked when she faced him. “It’s a white chrysanthemum. It represents truth. Do you know why?”

Redkit shook her head, eyes round.

Perchclaw spoke around the stem. “Because when adults hold this flower, they can only speak the truth.”

“That’s not true!” 

“Try it,” Perchclaw insisted. “Ask me anything.”

“Umm….did you really like my nest?” Redkit’s voice fell shy.

“I loved it,” Perchclaw answered honestly. 

Redkit’s grin, ear-to-ear, was enough to warm his heart so that he wouldn’t be surprised if it burst into flames and turned his ribs to ash. “Was it….was it perfect?”

Perchclaw’s eyes narrowed lovingly. “Dear one, everything you do is perfect. I love you, so I love everything you do.”

Redkit stepped closer, smile happy but eyes slightly frightened, like she was expecting this to be a trick. “Why?”

Perchclaw began to think how to word it right, then decided that thinking would make things too complicated and it was best to just talk and improvise. It would be easy, what he would say was the truth. “Because I had a mom before grandmommy, who was bad and made me feel bad. She made me think that I was bad. I thought that I was bad for a really long time.” The recognition in Redkit’s gaze pained him. “But I wasn’t. I was good, I just had a bad mom. My new parents–your grandpas and grandmommy–taught me that I deserved love anyway, and they loved me. They loved me so much that I began to love myself. Their love was unconditional. That means they love me no matter what,” he added with emphasis. “I am so lucky to have them raise me, I’m so lucky to have brothers and sisters who love me, and I’m so lucky that your dad loves me, and I’m so, so lucky to be able to raise you. I never thought I would have a kit. I thought I wasn’t good enough to take care of anyone. But I am, and I love you so much. Every day I wake up and see you, every single thing you do is a miracle to me because there was once a time that I thought I wouldn’t be good enough for you. I love you so much already, and I hope that I will be a good dad to you, because that is what you deserve.” It was a long, simplified version of things. Still the truth. Perchclaw had to take a breath.

Redkit took several long heartbeats to respond, standing and staring. Perchclaw began to wonder if she was too young to understand when she rushed forward, headbutting him roughly in the chest, and exploded into purr after purr, rubbing her head and chin all along his fur.

When they returned to the den, Vireosong, who had been visiting his sister, watched curiously as his mate and daughter slipped through the log entrance, jaws filled with white flowers.

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@ambitiousauthor

--Fun fact! Red chrysanthemum is what Myrtle gave Alder, meaning love. Family thing I guess?

First I drew the darker version, then I saw a drawing of her and colour-picked from that and left the stripes, then I made the stripes lighter.

@ambitiousauthor which version do you like the most?

I imagine she becomes a sort of 'guardian' of sorts after the apprentices, occasionally joining training sessions to help them defend themselves (and help their confidence). As well, she teaches them emotional things like how to recognize signs of abuse, how to get out of a bad relationship, and how to cope and move on.

Though she is nicknamed as a 'guardian,' she's still the soft sweetheart she was as a kit, and yes, still adorns her nest with flowers.

She is also referred to as an aunt or big sister.

If she finds a young cat that's still in a bad situation, she goes to her dads and they (or sometimes her grandpas) take care of the abuser.

Her scars are from her mother (the claws on her leg look like she was attacked by a badger. That's because her leg was small when she got them).

--

Perchclaw curled his lip in distaste as rain began to splatter the ground, liquifying the already muddy floor and soaking his pelt, chilling it to the bone as if the perpetually freezing air didn’t already do that. He ducked beneath a cluster of overhanging ferns with Vireosong, who he was meant to be having a romantic walk with.

“Where is this even coming from?” He hissed, wishing it could scare the water away from him. Peering through the gaps in the leaves above his head, he saw dark grey, almost black clouds. There wasn't enough wind and rain to call it a rainstorm, but it certainly was enough to call it a nuisance.

Vireosong tilted his head and gazed up thoughtfully. “A youngling, this one was, making beasts in the mind from the sounds of the sky. Tears of fright fell in the beating rhythm of their onslaught, sheltered only by the dark guardian with inner gold, loving smile warming this one even now, moons with her gone. She had soothed that little one. The rain were tears too, said she, weeps of joy and sorrow our blood sends in comfort and celebration. Odd, this one thinks, to have tears of pure blood spill from eyes who cannot see through these shadows. But brightening too, though dark as it may be, to think this water came from blood, shed by our loving kin. Perhaps, even by the dark guardian. She cannot send her warmth through a sky in which she cannot reach, yet this one feels the embrace all the same, burrowing through flesh and shell and curling around this one’s heart. This one’s mind goes back, now, to those days curled by her love. The heart aches for those long-lost days, but a smile is evident, all the same, for the memories they give.”

Perchclaw listened patiently, ears pricked and working out the meaning of each sentence as they came. Since he and Vireosong had first gotten together, back when they were apprentices, it took a lot of time for him. The first time, he went to his father, Alderstar, for help figuring it out. Now after much practice, he had gotten much better, and could usually respond with only a little hesitation.

He will admit to himself that he does, most often, enjoy the sentences he can’t quite understand. He’s grown to love figuring it out, and he can tell by the gleam in his mate’s eyes that Vireosong enjoys watching as the moment of realization becomes clear on Perchclaw’s face.

Perchclaw nuzzled him now. “Your mother sounds sweet,” he replied. “You deserved all the love she could give you. I’m sure–I know she still loves you, where she is in Starclan. And in the Dark Forest, well, you have me, and Redpaw, and your fathers and sisters, and my family too.” They hadn’t talked much about their mothers before. Perchclaw wasn’t sure he wanted to talk about his own now. Maybe someday. 

Vireosong nuzzled him back. Then, pulling away, he opened his mouth again. His gaze drifted off as he spoke. “Sweet love dies on this one’s tongue as they see a spying bird.”

“What?” Perchclaw tilted his head. Realizing that Vireosong’s drifted gaze was in fact focused on something else, he turned his head to see behind him, and nearly jumped at the sight of Magpieshine, whose face he almost collided with. 

He whirled around. “Magpie! What are you doing here? Can’t you see we’re having a moment?”

Magpieshine smirked. “It was a really sweet moment,” she agreed.

Perchclaw fluffed out his fur in embarrassment. “Yeah? So go!”

“I came to tell you something important, dingus,” Magpieshine said with amusement. “I’m sure your snuggling can wait.”

“It’s not snuggling!” Perchclaw stood hotly. “What’s so important anyway?”

At that, Magpieshine’s eyes brightened. “Drizzlestare went into labor. She’s having her kits!”

“She is?” In an instant, all awkward frustrations evaporated, and Perchclaw shot out of the den, forgetting entirely about his own freezing bones. The rain was still pouring hard. “In this weather? Where is she? Is she okay?”

“I don’t know, mom sent me,” Magpieshine told him, still amused, though more serious. “I’m sure she’ll be fine, she has dad and Fleathistle with her, and her mates. But they wanted family near.”

“May this one attend the arrival of such precious lives?” Vireosong asked, coming up to stand next to Perchclaw. 

“Of course!” Magpieshine beamed.

“But is she safe?” Perchclaw repeated. “This weather is no place for newborn kits, and Grand Dark Kits are still so new, we have no idea what problems they might have! Are they at least somewhere warm?”

Magpieshine poked his shoulder with her nose. “Perfectly warm, worry-wart. Now, how about you stop asking how they are and come see for yourself?”

Perchclaw was already racing off before she finished, stopping only to let his sister take the lead when he remembered that he had no idea where to go.

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--for @ambitiousauthor 

consider it a gift for all the school work you’re doing. Perchclaw, Magpieshine, and Vireosong all belong to them.

--Redpaw is either with her mentor or being looked after while her dads get some alone time. Someone is fetching her as well.

--Perchclaw is a concerned big brother. I said before that I’d be interested in more dynamic between the “first litter” (Stone, Perch, and Magpie [not exactly a litter but it’s easy to say]) and the younger ones. So, here’s a story!

AlderGrouseMyrtleHoot+ kits:

--Magpiepaw/shine (adoptive)

--Stonepaw/fern (adoptive)

--Perchpaw/claw (adoptive)

--Treekit/spall and Drizzlekit/stare (Alder and Hoot bio)

Perch then adopts his own kit with Vireosong.

--Redpaw

The poly then craves more kits. With Brownmouse as the donor, Grousemane has

--Starlingkit/strike, Buzzardkit/blaze, Duskkit/song, and Aspenkit/light

The kits snuck out of their home before they were old enough, and was brought back by Shrikepaw, who was later adopted

--Shrikepaw

Treespall then had his own kits with his poly, Ratthorn and Stonefrost

--Hollymist (adoptive) and Heatherfrond (bio)

Drizzlestare had kits with her own poly as well, with Kestralstorm and Blazestrike

--Spottedtooth (adoptive), Willowcloud, and Wolfpool (bio)

Alderstar and Myrtlewing have kits with Tanglestar as their donor, they have

--Fallenkit/iris and Waspkit/beak

Falleniris grew up and became mates with Blackfinch. With her, she had two daughters

--Scabdrip and Blightrain

Six moons later, Dusksong had kits with a non-romantic partner that gave him custody

--Thornpool, Whitebriar, Archwing, and Thistleeye. 

Three moons after the four were born, Dusksong’s littermate, Buzzardblaze, had kits with Pheasentdust 

--Condorburn, Harrierflame, and Falconember

Though still not romantically or otherwise interested in each other, Hootpetal had three kits, one of each being the kit of Alderstar, Myrtlewing and Grousemane

--Shallowfig (AlderHoot), Funnelquail (GrouseHoot), and Hemlockpine (MyrtleHoot)

When he was twenty-two moons old, Shallowfig had kits with a she-cat that he was only in a casual relationship with. They planned on breaking up as soon as the kits were weaned, and he was given full custody. Later, Banshee would help Shallowfig raise them

--Poppykit, Tendrilkit, Mylingkit, Racemekit

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=========================

Timeline of the Kits:

1) Magpieshine died at six moons, and was adopted by the poly a few moons after (formally, technically adopting her shortly following her death).

2) Stonefern died at eight moons, two moons after Magpie. He was adopted shortly after. They are very close to the same age.

3) Perchclaw died at eleven moons, three years after the deaths of Stonefern and Magpieshine. He was adopted shortly after. He is just over two years younger, though became a warrior at the same time.

4) Treespall and Drizzlestare were conceived two moons after the apprentices earned their warrior names, while Between then and before they were born, Perchclaw became mates with Vireosong.

5) Redpaw died at five moons, and was adopted by Perchclaw and Vireosong.

6) Buzzardblaze, Starlingstrike, Aspenlight, and Dusksong were born six moons after Treespall and Drizzlestare were grown and moved out, making them eighteen moons younger. 

7) Shrikepaw was adopted 

8) three moons after 6 were born, Heatherfrond and Hollymist were born

9) one moon after 8 were born, Wolfpool, Spottedtooth, and Willowcloud were born

10) Waspbeak and Falleniris were born when 9 were fourteen moons old, making them fourteen moons younger.

11) Scabdrip and Blightrain were born when Falleniris was twenty-six moons old, making them that much younger and younger than their cousins, 9, by 40 moons.

12) Thornpool, Thistleeye, Archwing, and Whitebriar were born six moons after 11 were born, making them that much younger and likely born when Scabdrip and Blightrain became apprentices.

13) Condorburn, Harrierflame, and Falconember were born three moons after their cousins, 12, making them that much younger.

14) Shallowfig, Funnelquail, and Hemlockpine were born when 11 were 32, making them 32 moons younger than them and 58 moons younger than their closest-in-age siblings.

15) Racemekit, Poppykit, Tendrilkit, and Mylingkit were born when he was young, twenty-three moons, making them twenty-three moons younger than him.

===========================

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--Stone, Magpie, and Perch became warriors around the same time in spite of the age difference because at that point, it was not common to earn names after death.

Bloombriar (daughter)

Smokefeather (daughter)

Beestripe (grandson)

Rottail (granddaughter)

Sharppaw (grandson)

Twigdusk (granddaughter

Oakbristle (great grandson

Rainfall (great granddaughter)

Shellear (great granddaughter)

Stoneriver (great grandson)

Burrtangle (great x 4 grandson)

Quickfern (great x 4 grandson)

Shallowsong (great x 4 granddaughter)

Robinclaw (great x 4 granddaughter)

Rosytail (great x 4 granddaughter)

Spindleleg (great x 4 granddaughter)

Sweetcry (great x 4 granddaughter)

Badgerburr (great x 5 grandson)

Bearpetal (great x 5 grandson)

Cloudflower (great x 5 granddaughter)

Flamethistle (great x 5 grandson)

Grasspelt: (great x 5 granddaughter)

Jasperpaw (great x 5 grandson)

Tornpoppy (great x 5 grandson)

Wormkit (great x 5 grandson)

Vireopaw (great x 5 grandchild)

Yewheather (great x 5 grandson)

Bayshadow (great x 6 granddaughter)

Cinderjaw (great x 6 grandson)

Deerspot (great x 6 grandson)

Foxshade (great x 6 granddaughter)

Marshjay (great x 6 grandson)

Pinekit (great x 6 grandson)

Steammoss (great x 6 grandson)

Blinkkit (Great x 7 granddaughter)

Daisykit: (Great x 7 grandson)

Flashfire (Great x 7 granddaughter)

Jackalclaw (Great x 7 grandson)

Marshpelt (Great x 7 grandson)

Gullyfur (Great x 8 granddaughter)

Grebeface (Great x 9 granddaughter)

Valerianpoppy (Great x 9 grandson)

Dewfur (great x 10 grandson)

Garliclarch (Great x 10 granddaughter)

Longjump (great x 10 grandson)

Wildshade (great x 10 grandson)

Ashblaze (great x 11 grandson)

Newtfur (great x 11 grandson)

Birchkit (great x 11 grandson)

Amaranthkit (great x 11 granddaughter)

Quillpool (Great x 12 granddaughter)

Storktail (Great x 12 grandson)

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Wordweaver: here are my descendants!

The ‘false entrance’ is the most obvious one, so anyone trying to break in would slip on the mud. When they fall through, the inhabitants are ready. 

The real entrance can be tricky to maneuver through, but they adapt to it! They also have to change the mud often to keep it from drying too much.

I imagine that in life, they were super extroverted and bubbly, just absolute joys to be around, the pride of the clan... but then everything happened, and when they arrived in the Dark Forest, they just... completely shut down, to the point where they became selectively mute

For a long time, the only cats they spoke around were Fennelbur, Sablefleck, and Vireoshade

BABIES

Viri: does thy esteemed father, in any capacity, possess awareness of the fluid mishaps within the murk of the pools?

Perch: oh he has no idea that the kits pee in it. But it makes me laugh when I see him drinking it, so I don’t tell him.