TCL, Book Two

Chapter Four

-October 7th-
-Cloudpaw is 7 moons old-
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Cloudpaw ran her paws down Petalfern's snowy belly, her paws moving smoothly and no longer hesitantly over the soft, ever so slight squashiness of the queens lower stomach.

   Icetail had, since that one check up with Lizardstorm, explained to Cloudpaw how little presses and light weight wouldn't be any harm to any kit no matter how tiny and fragile, and that the fluids around them acted as a protective shield, which as intended, had helped Cloudpaw to be a bit more confident in how she felt for the kits.

   "Anything new? Sharp pains? Movement?" she asked Petalfern.

   The golden tabby she-cat looked at her with dull green eyes and a tired smile. "Well, I still can't keep much down and can't get enough sleep, but no movements yet, and I'm still so happy to know that I'm having them, even if I might not always look it."

   She gave a small chuckle and Cloudpaw smiled. "Well that's okay, it's still early, and Icetail says nausea and tiredness can in some cases be side affects."

   Petalfern nodded. "True, my mother was the same way."

   Lizardstorm nodded from where she lay with a napping Wolfkit and Swiftkit. "I was tired all throughout my first litter," she purred.

   Cloudpaw nodded slightly in acknowledgement and pushed a small bit of chevil over to Petalfern, who lapped it up gratefully. "Thanks," the queen purred.

   "No problem," Cloudpaw replied. "See you."

   She exited the nursery to mews of farewell and crossed the clearing. It wasn't a particularly sunny day, gray clouds hovered over the sun, blocking it momentarily every few moments it felt like, nevertheless everyone was out sharing tongues, patiently and impatiently waiting for the moments of sun to warm their pelts in between the spouts of cloudy coverage.

   Softpelt was with Mintstorm and Russetclaw, she saw, blue-green eyes closed and smiling mouth wide in a howl of laughter. It made Cloudpaw feel happy to see that her mother was so happy. Softpelt was always so jittery and constantly looking over her shoulder, it was rare that she ever let loose and relaxed, and those moments of ease always seemed to come whenever Foxblaze was nowhere around.

   Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen him around since early yesterday. I don't think anyone has. It was definitely strange. That tom never seemed to be out and about anymore, he never talked to anyone that Cloudpaw had seen and he was usually out on patrols. But he had never just disappeared.

   Cloudpaw looked around the clearing. Her father was nowhere in sight, and secretly she wondered if she preferred it that way. Whenever he's around, Softpelt goes back in her shell, and it's not like he was ever exactly there for us kits. She just couldn't forget about the cold shoulder she had received from him at her apprentice ceremony, and all the times he had been invited to play with her and her sisters and refused, and all the times it felt like he wanted nothing to do with her.

   Still, it was concerning that he had been absent from camp for so long, and whatever feelings Cloudpaw had with him, he was still her father and the thought of him going missing was unimaginable to think about. Convincing herself that he would be back at some point, she crossed to the medicine den as the sun burst through the clouds once more.

   Inside, she could hear the soft snores of her mentor, who just that morning around dawn had wrenched some of his more chipped claws while tripping over the slightly raised earth near the back of the den, in the dark, having not given his eyes a chance to adjust to the pre-dawn light. After examining the damage himself, he had admitted himself to some hours of rest to help them heal. And so Cloudpaw had agreed to take care of any minor jobs around camp.