Post by Rainy on Jan 9, 2010 11:33:05 GMT -6
Darksight's heart soared with joy when Whiteflower has told him the news. The new couple were soon to be parents. He didn't think he could get any happy since the say she had agreed to be his mate.
The several moons passed quickly. As any good mate and father would do, Darksight fussed over the white queen. Adding extra moss and feathers to make her nest softer, pushing her to eat, fetching mice and joining every hunting patrol. He was always at her side, sharing tongues, murmering in her ear, touching his nose to hers. Most of the Clan was shocked. They had only seen Darksight's prickly side. But it was obvious he loved Whiteflower and their unborn kits. Although at first he was nervous about his role as a father, Whiteflower comforted him and he started getting impatient as Whiteflower was separated from him, sleeping in the nursery. From morning to night he visited her, only parting unhappily to go on patrols.
Then one snowy day, as flakes began to fall from the azure sky, there was a cry from the nursery to which Aspenfeather responded. Darksight began to pace outside the nursery, pelt bristled with fear that something was wrong, ears pricked to every noise.
Silverpaw and Emberheart watched him pace. "Aspenfeather's delivered kits before. She'll take care of Whiteflower, and you're kits, don't worry."
"I'm sure you'll be a wonderful father. I can't wait to see the cute kits!" purred Silverpaw.
Suddenly there was another cry and a sound of panic. Darksight rushed into the shadowy den, greeted by a tingling fear, the scent of blood, and something darker beneath that... the sad, unwelcome scent of death.
"What have you done?!" cried Darksight, bent helplessly over his mate's body. Whiteflower was still warm, but so still.. her spirit had just gone to StarClan. Aspenfeather didn't respond at first. She was urgently licking a small patchy bundle, muttering, "C'mon, breathe! Breathe!"
Darksight whirled around, about to pounce on Aspenfeather and punishing her for taking his one and only true love, when the air was broken by a small cry. The kit was alive.
Aspenfeather wrapped her tail around the creature to keep it warm and turned to meet Darksight's silver, accusing glare. "I'm sorry, Darksight. She lost too much blood, there was nothing I could do. It was her time. The delivery happened too soon, too fast, bu there was nothing I could have done to save her. You're daughter's alive." She stepped away, wary still, waiting for Darksight's reaction.
She slipped out of the den, her dark look answering Emberheart's and Silverpaw's unspoken question. They bowed their heads in silence. Aspenfeather needed to find Briarstar.
Darksight curled around his kit, all that was left of his shattered existence. Born into a world of blood and death. She smelled warm and sweet, Whiteflower's scent part of hers... it reassured him a bit, made him feel a tiny bit. This kit was his only reason to live now.
"Hello, there, little one. It's daddy. Hey there, precious," he whispered. The little kit curled into his side, whimpering and wailing. She would need food. One of the other queens would have to step in, but first Whiteflower must be taken into the center of camp for her vigil. Darksight would be by her side for the rest of the night until dawn, staying with her until he was sure her spirit was among the starry sky. But even before that, his daughter needed a name. Nothing seemed special enough, but eventually he settld on one. "Shush my little Featherkit, I'm right here. I'll always be here."
The several moons passed quickly. As any good mate and father would do, Darksight fussed over the white queen. Adding extra moss and feathers to make her nest softer, pushing her to eat, fetching mice and joining every hunting patrol. He was always at her side, sharing tongues, murmering in her ear, touching his nose to hers. Most of the Clan was shocked. They had only seen Darksight's prickly side. But it was obvious he loved Whiteflower and their unborn kits. Although at first he was nervous about his role as a father, Whiteflower comforted him and he started getting impatient as Whiteflower was separated from him, sleeping in the nursery. From morning to night he visited her, only parting unhappily to go on patrols.
Then one snowy day, as flakes began to fall from the azure sky, there was a cry from the nursery to which Aspenfeather responded. Darksight began to pace outside the nursery, pelt bristled with fear that something was wrong, ears pricked to every noise.
Silverpaw and Emberheart watched him pace. "Aspenfeather's delivered kits before. She'll take care of Whiteflower, and you're kits, don't worry."
"I'm sure you'll be a wonderful father. I can't wait to see the cute kits!" purred Silverpaw.
Suddenly there was another cry and a sound of panic. Darksight rushed into the shadowy den, greeted by a tingling fear, the scent of blood, and something darker beneath that... the sad, unwelcome scent of death.
"What have you done?!" cried Darksight, bent helplessly over his mate's body. Whiteflower was still warm, but so still.. her spirit had just gone to StarClan. Aspenfeather didn't respond at first. She was urgently licking a small patchy bundle, muttering, "C'mon, breathe! Breathe!"
Darksight whirled around, about to pounce on Aspenfeather and punishing her for taking his one and only true love, when the air was broken by a small cry. The kit was alive.
Aspenfeather wrapped her tail around the creature to keep it warm and turned to meet Darksight's silver, accusing glare. "I'm sorry, Darksight. She lost too much blood, there was nothing I could do. It was her time. The delivery happened too soon, too fast, bu there was nothing I could have done to save her. You're daughter's alive." She stepped away, wary still, waiting for Darksight's reaction.
She slipped out of the den, her dark look answering Emberheart's and Silverpaw's unspoken question. They bowed their heads in silence. Aspenfeather needed to find Briarstar.
Darksight curled around his kit, all that was left of his shattered existence. Born into a world of blood and death. She smelled warm and sweet, Whiteflower's scent part of hers... it reassured him a bit, made him feel a tiny bit. This kit was his only reason to live now.
"Hello, there, little one. It's daddy. Hey there, precious," he whispered. The little kit curled into his side, whimpering and wailing. She would need food. One of the other queens would have to step in, but first Whiteflower must be taken into the center of camp for her vigil. Darksight would be by her side for the rest of the night until dawn, staying with her until he was sure her spirit was among the starry sky. But even before that, his daughter needed a name. Nothing seemed special enough, but eventually he settld on one. "Shush my little Featherkit, I'm right here. I'll always be here."
