"Oh, Palefire!" Cold blue eyes twisted to the side to see who'd called for her, but she didn't answer. Didn't care to. It was Slatecloud of course, fat pink tongue still out in mid-lick of her paws, and all Palefire could do was wrinkle her nose in a pretty clear sign to back off. It was awful to see the hurt and confusion on the normally happy-go-lucky cat's face but it *had* to be done. Then she continued to stalk through the camp, tail lashing and legs stiff as she went, and the other cats that saw her exchanged glances but decided not to do as Slatecloud had and ignite her ire further. She was called Palefire for a reason! So she was able to slip unbothered out of the camp and towards.. well, somewhere she could be alone. Alone with her decisions and regrets, painfully aware of how differently her belly seemed to sit now. The fears that had become reality.
Unbeknownst to her, she'd been followed. Too busy in the turmoil of her anger and uncertainty, she hadn't noticed a very concerned Slatecloud get up from her grooming to follow her, not until she'd stopped at the edge of the river under Eagle's Roost and there was suddenly a warm, purring side against her own. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm here for you, Palefire." Stubborn as ever, Palefire remained silent even after the other she's offer, and Slatecloud simply shrugged and turned to start grooming the sand-colored cat's fur in long, soothing motions. This went on for what seemed like forever, the sun dropping low on the horizon before Palefire sat up and sighed and Slatecloud paused in her one-sided grooming to listen attentively.
"I... the rogue that was found in our territory... I went to see him after Coldstar sent him away. When I was gone?" Slate cloud nodded, she remembered Palefire's absence. "I was traveling with him. I thought.. I don't know what I thought, maybe that that life would be more exciting? I was wrong," her mew dripped with quiet anger, "I'm with kit and I don't know what to do. I'm not going to be a good mother, Slatecloud."
Slatcloud sat up and pressed against her friend more firmly, then, "you have so much love to give those kits, Palefire, and that's all you need to be a good mother for them. Think of it as a new adventure! And don't think I haven't seen you with Emberkit, how you light up." Palefire huffed a soft laugh, ducking her head to press her face into the thick fur at Slatecloud's neck. "Plus Thunderspark is still in the nursery, she can help you. And I'll be here. And Dovewhisper, and the whole of Galeclan is here for you." Palefire found she couldn't respond, choked up on emotion, so instead she just sat and tried a broken purr until those cloying feelings settled and she could murmur a low thank-you.
"Let's go back, yeah? We'll talk to Thunderspark and get you a nest set up," Slatecloud stood and stretched stiff joints, and Palefire blinked after her.
"Already? It's not close to time, yet?" Still, she followed suit, getting to her paws and stretching gently.
"I can smell the milk-scent on you, it'll be time soon. You'll get to lay around, fat and happy in the nursery, while we all dote on you!~" It was incredulous how suddenly excited Slatecloud seemed to be, from the sing-song in her meow and the bounce in her stride. Palefire rolled her eyes, catching up and walking in step back to the camp. She was grateful for the emptiness they found, and they went straight to the nursery to wake Thunderspark.
[ 623 words ]
Unbeknownst to her, she'd been followed. Too busy in the turmoil of her anger and uncertainty, she hadn't noticed a very concerned Slatecloud get up from her grooming to follow her, not until she'd stopped at the edge of the river under Eagle's Roost and there was suddenly a warm, purring side against her own. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm here for you, Palefire." Stubborn as ever, Palefire remained silent even after the other she's offer, and Slatecloud simply shrugged and turned to start grooming the sand-colored cat's fur in long, soothing motions. This went on for what seemed like forever, the sun dropping low on the horizon before Palefire sat up and sighed and Slatecloud paused in her one-sided grooming to listen attentively.
"I... the rogue that was found in our territory... I went to see him after Coldstar sent him away. When I was gone?" Slate cloud nodded, she remembered Palefire's absence. "I was traveling with him. I thought.. I don't know what I thought, maybe that that life would be more exciting? I was wrong," her mew dripped with quiet anger, "I'm with kit and I don't know what to do. I'm not going to be a good mother, Slatecloud."
Slatcloud sat up and pressed against her friend more firmly, then, "you have so much love to give those kits, Palefire, and that's all you need to be a good mother for them. Think of it as a new adventure! And don't think I haven't seen you with Emberkit, how you light up." Palefire huffed a soft laugh, ducking her head to press her face into the thick fur at Slatecloud's neck. "Plus Thunderspark is still in the nursery, she can help you. And I'll be here. And Dovewhisper, and the whole of Galeclan is here for you." Palefire found she couldn't respond, choked up on emotion, so instead she just sat and tried a broken purr until those cloying feelings settled and she could murmur a low thank-you.
"Let's go back, yeah? We'll talk to Thunderspark and get you a nest set up," Slatecloud stood and stretched stiff joints, and Palefire blinked after her.
"Already? It's not close to time, yet?" Still, she followed suit, getting to her paws and stretching gently.
"I can smell the milk-scent on you, it'll be time soon. You'll get to lay around, fat and happy in the nursery, while we all dote on you!~" It was incredulous how suddenly excited Slatecloud seemed to be, from the sing-song in her meow and the bounce in her stride. Palefire rolled her eyes, catching up and walking in step back to the camp. She was grateful for the emptiness they found, and they went straight to the nursery to wake Thunderspark.
[ 623 words ]