[Strelles] Strike the Match

Chapter 13: Cats of the Fenn (Edited)

Cardinalpaw's eyes opened blearily to the annoyed groans from Wrenpaw and Chaffinchpaw as something rustled loudly out of his line of sight. A yawn broke free from his jaws, the ruddy tom stretching as subtly as he could around Ravenpaw who'd begun shifting as well. He blinked a little, allowing his vision to clear up as green eyes landed on the grinning form of Jackdawpaw even as Chaffinchpaw hissed angrily at him.

"Trample a little louder would you," she grumbled. "I don't think the Galespun heard you."

"Really? My bad," said Jackdawpaw smirking as he proceeded to stomp loudly on the dead moss and leaves that they hadn't bothered to sweep from the entrance of the cadet's den. Wrenpaw snagged a stray pebble from the ground, swatting it directly at the gray tom who stepped neatly out of the way.

"What's going on?" Cardinalpaw asked through another yawn, saving his friend from being mauled by the combined might of Chaffinchpaw and Quietpaw; who'd begun creeping forward herself. The two mollies had been granted the dubious honor of being on the previous day's highmoon patrol after a full day of training.

Jackdawpaw purred, his teasing smile becoming something more genuine; "Brindlewing's had her cubs."

Delight blossomed on the faces of his denmates, even Chaffinchpaw's though the clearly exhausted molly made no motions to get up. Cardinalpaw climbed to his paws with a purr of his own. News of Brindlewing's pregnancy had reached him rather late - he was actually a bit embarrassed that he hadn't noticed. For three entire moons, he hadn't noticed the swelling of her belly or even a change in her scent indicating her status. Even more embarrassing was finding out from his eager mentor that Callastorm had sired them - he and Brindlewing having decided to raise cubs together despite not being mates. At least now he can enjoy and celebrate in the birth of new life.

"I want to see them," Cardinalpaw insisted, stepping carefully out of his nest with Ravenpaw at his tail. He purred a little, nudging his friend gently as the lanky tom stepped between them. The conversation from the night before clearly still fresh on his mind as he allowed Cardinalpaw and Jackdawpaw to flank him as they moved together towards the nursery.

They made it in time to see Spottedholly slipping into the nursery holding a bundle of herbs delicately between her teeth while Callastorm waited proudly outside, paws kneading the earth in anticipation with Nettleflower at his side. The molly seemed to be giving him an explanation on how to best support Brindlewing while she recovered from the ordeal alongside pointers on handling exceptionally young cubs.

"One at a time," Callastorm cautioned when he spotted them, nodding kindly towards the nursery. "Brindlewing is very tired, and Our Storm has already sitting with her."

"Sitting with her?" inquired Jackdawpaw.

"Having cubs is tiring," Nettleflower rumbled to him. "She's getting some-cat to stand in for her as Head Sitter until she's more recovered. Shouldn't take long - maybe a moon or so."

Cardinalpaw nodded understandingly, "Have you already seen them?"

"I'll have a look at them after you lot have. Hopefully Brindlewing kicks everyone out soon - it smells like it's going to rain and I've gotten quite used to not being wet all the time."

Cardinalpaw chuckled even as he chanced at a glance at the graying sky and the dark cloud slowly drifting over Vrayushu's flame. He'd smelled the petrichor building in the air when he left the cadet's den - he hoped it wouldn't last long. He - like most members of the Shining Sun - wasn't a huge fan of being wet for any reason that wasn't cooling off in the heat. He shook his head and turned his attention to the nursery as Ravenpaw slipped into the nursery to greet the newest members of the faction.