i'm already there ( open )

[howlingheart]

[atrb=width,320,true][atrb=border,0,false][bg=fcb3ba] she was running with her brother, runningtail out in the marsh. it was so peaceful then, it was nice to be with him again. she missed him so much, if only he had the strength back then to fight off the greencough like the other cats did, but he couldn't. he lost the battle against the sickness. they chased each other circles until they could no longer run without huffing and puffing for air. they sprawled themselves out underneath a tree and stared up at the clouds wondering what their parents were doing up in starclan. howlingheart awoke in the nursery from her dream, which seemed too real to be possible. it wasn't a memory, it was truly like her brother had been watching over her along. it was like he really wanted her to be happy and to enjoy her life without him and their parents. she had whitewhisker to look out for, knowing he was busy right now doing whatever while she is stuck in camp moping around. she would be happier once she was able to return to her warrior duties, but that won't be for a long while. especially since it won't be long before the kits come. they were going to be a bundle of joy when they're old enough to move around and talk. the bengal she-cat just hoped it would be an even count of she-cats and toms. it wouldn't be long before they were born either. the queen felt so alone in the nursery by herself, felt so much better when she was still in the warriors den where there was at least warmth from one another. but here in the nursery is was cold and lonesome. she stood and stretched her limbs. she shook the moss off her pelt before she walked around the den giving her legs some movement as she had been laying down for sometime. her mind was everywhere at this point. she had not seen her mate recently, was he ignoring her or was he still in the medicine cat's den still healing from his wounds. she didn't know where whitewhisker was. but hopefully he would come visit her soon, she wanted to see his smiling face. mostly she wanted to see a face other than an apprentice. they seemed to be the only ones even coming to visit her in the nursery. how was one suppose to be happy if all they saw were the younger generations and no one older than that? she kept pondering that question over and over again. she was bored, and she never felt like moving from her spot in the nursery. howlingheart just hoped the kits would come soon for at least then the den wouldn't be so empty and eerie by herself. she laid back in her moss nest and stared out towards the entrance of the den hoping a new face would appear. hopefully someone of wiser knowledge than the young apprentices. word count - four nine four muse - i'm already there by lonestar tags - for anyone events - kits coming soon [th]

[! G L E N P A W]

There was absolutely nothing to do. Glenpaw had been idle for what seemed like moons, waiting for the wounds to heal and for her heart to stop breaking. But after so long, it seemed as though this torture would go on forever. Stuck in camp, dreaming of days when she could run freely and dance in the shadows and the rays of sunshine, warm on her pelt, of days when she could train with Hawkstar and laugh with Brittlebreeze, of better days.

They were long gone.

Now she was alone, all alone, from sunrise to sunset, when the other apprentices wandered off to play and talk and hunt and patrol, the things she should be doing, too. But she couldn't. She was stuck in camp until her shoulder healed. StarClan knew how long that would take. Glenpaw just hoped her warrior ceremony wouldn't be pushed back. She had been waiting forever for that ceremony. The one day that would make her friends and Clanmates proud, that would make her parents proud, if they had been there, that would show that she could go on after losing her best friend. That she was okay.

But she wasn't. She still cried herself to sleep at night. She still stared off into the distance whenever his name was mentioned. She was silent when he treated her shoulder, ignored him when she left. She questioned StarClan daily, asking why it had to happen to her. When he passed by, she found someone to talk to. Her eyes were on them, but her mind was on him. She way dying, slowly but surely, wasting away in this forsaken camp that felt like four walls with no exits, no escapes. She was trapped in her memories.

Her sea blue eyes were wet as she stared skywards, her claws digging into the soft ground. “What did I ever do to deserve this?” Glenpaw asked, her sweet voice breaking. She didn't expect an answer. She had been living in silence for too long. Instead, she made her way to the shady corner of the den, limping slightly, favoring her hurt shoulder. The moss was soft as she sank onto the bed, her chin falling between small white paws. A single tear trickled down her cheek, rolling to the end of her pink nose. She shook it off gently, watching it bleed into the spongy green moss, a tiny patch of silver against the dark tendrils. Just one drop in the sea.

“Just one drop in the sea,” she repeated to herself, feeling her heart pattering hopefully. Maybe there were others, others who wouldn't hurt her. Others who would take care of her and protect her and love her and be hers.

Maybe.

Such a curious word.

Sighing, her head bowed, Glenpaw stood and brushed herself off, her eyes wandering towards the nursery entrance, just visible through the bracken that surrounded the warrior's den. A spark of curiosity flickered in them, their sea green depths coming to life for the first time in many moons. Maybe she could find a friendly face there.

Her paws were soft against the newleaf grass, tickling the pink pads as she made her way towards the den, cautiously peering into the dark shadows. As her eyes adjusted to the new shade, Glenpaw focused on the she-cat in front of her. It was Howlingheart, one of the queens. Or was she the only queen? Glenpaw didn't really know. She wasn't doing any apprentice duties, and hadn't been for a long time - since her accident and since Brittlebreeze. Other cats just left her alone nowadays, and it was making her sad. Once a bubbly, happy apprentice, now a lonely, miserable ghost.

“Sorry,” she meowed softly, her voice hoarse from disuse. “I was just . . .” her voice trailed off. Just what exactly was she doing? Looking for sympathy? Or just looking for a friendly face?

Firmly deciding on the latter, Glenpaw settled down on her haunches, slanted eyes on the pretty queen. A brief image of her mother, so similar to Howlingheart in pelt and form, flashed across her eyes. Almost angrily, Glenpaw shoved it away, refusing to let that part of her life occupy her mind again.

Tags: Howlingheart
Color: 072d54
Words: seven ninety seven

[howlingheart]

[atrb=width,320,true][atrb=border,0,false][bg=fcb3ba] The queen popped her head up when she heard the soft footsteps of the injured apprentice walk into the den. It was nice to see a face for once. “Sorry,” the she-cat had meowed softly, Howlingheart didn't know what she was sorry for when she didn't do anything wrong. “I was just . . .” "What are you sorry for? You did nothing wrong." the sweet voice of the queen warmed the air around her. The bengal queen felt like the two of them were in the same situation, stuck in camp with nothing better to do than lie around, being useless. "Glenpaw, what are you sorry for? For disturbing me?" Howlingheart was glad she was there. "You brighten up my day, just by walking in here." Glenpaw truly did, just to see a face of someone just made her feel warmer than she has been since she moved into this lonesome den. She felt like the den was a trap, not being able to be around the warriors. To be able to feel the warmth from their bodies as they all slept around her. She missed that, but hopefully soon she would feel that again with mouths to feed and to keep warm during those lonesome nights here in the nursery. Howlingheart couldn't help to notice how Glenpaw looked sad, but it was no concern for her to get into other cat's businesses. If she would wanted to talk about then let her bring it up. Why bring up sadness when joy would come to the clan soon with the birth of new warriors to come. word count - two six four notes - it's short, and i don't likey tags - glenpaw colors - b9667a , aea3a9

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[th][/td][/tr][/table][/center][/blockquote]

[! G L E N P A W]

Howlingheart blinked warmly at Glenpaw, and the apprentice smiled in return, her heart thudding happily. For the first time in a long time, she was feeling something beautiful. It didn't matter if Brittlebreeze never wanted to talk to her again, or if her shoulder had kept her back from her warrior ceremony. It only mattered that this was where she belonged, in a Clan that loved her regardless, and that she loved herself.

"What are you sorry for? You did nothing wrong." Glenpaw blinked her ocean eyes, her mind blank. She hadn't done anything wrong. So what was she apologizing for? Herself? Brittlebreeze? Everything? Scuffling her paws in frustration, the tabby she-cat felt her good mood drop faster than a fallen star.

"Glenpaw, what are you sorry for? For disturbing me?" The pretty bengal queen was looking at her, concern floating in her emerald eyes. Glenpaw forced herself to look at them, although she was certain that Howlingheart would see right through her.

"I'm sorr - " she began, almost forgetting to stop herself, a blush creeping into her cheeks. A wave swept over her, and she blinked her eyes, hoping to stall any tears that wanted to fall down, but she didn't have to. Instead, a tickling feeling filled her stomach, and she began to giggle.

Horrified, the apprentice tried to quell the noise, but it was too fast to stop, too ready to burst out of her for the first time in moons. And then she was there, hunched over in front of the queen, laughing her heart out. And it felt good.

Once she managed to restrain herself, Glenpaw glanced at Howlingheart again, wondering if she'd be upset. But she wasn't. Her eyes were practically radiant, a sweet, maternal gaze in them. Something Glenpaw had never seen before. She felt herself melting in them, her heart aching happily as the queen spoke. "You brighten up my day, just by walking in here."

Glenpaw blinked, a bit confused. "Really? I thought you'd want some quiet before the kits came." She shifted into a more comfortable position, her shoulder aching already. "I would have come in sooner, but I was stuck in the medicine cat's den with that piece of foxdung - " she tried to sound angry, or even just a little bit upset, but it failed miserably as her voice cracked. Why was she still hung up about that? It was over, he had made that very clear. And she was over him. Wasn't she?

"I'm s - " Glenpaw bit her tongue, eyes on the queen. Here she was, apologizing again. And what for?

"I'm not sorry," she meowed slowly, brow crinkling in confusion, testing this new sentence, so new on her tongue. Was it possible to not be sorry about something? When a cat was as carefree and hot-headed as Glenpaw was, maybe not. But she wasn't like that anymore. Why not try something new?

Heart beating, she glanced at Howlingheart, hoping the she-cat wouldn't be upset with her for speaking disrespectfully. She had to know about the two of them. Everyone did. Even though they had tried to keep it secret.

Tags: Howlingheart!
Words: six fourteen
Other: you did swell. (:

[howlingheart]

Howlingheart couldn't understand why Glenpaw was laughing, but she sort of felt like it was finally time that the apprentice finally burst her bubble of being stuck in the medicine cat's den for so long healing her shoulder. She didn't know if she should laugh with her or not, but decided against it. Though it amused the bengal queen when Glenpaw tried to calm herself from laughing so much, when she had the hardest time of doing so.

For the longest time, she never figured out what was going on inside the apprentice's head that she had kept saying sorry for. Was because of a friend taking a different path in life instead of taking the path of warrior? Maybe deep down, Glenpaw would respect his choice of taking the different path, but right now it was too hard for her to take it all in. It would be hard if Howlingheart was in that position that if Whitewhisker did that.

"Really? I thought you'd want some quiet before the kits came. I would have come in sooner, but I was stuck in the medicine cat's den with that piece of foxdung - " The queen purred with amusement. "Quiet before the kits would be nice, but I've been here alone for so long. I just want the opposite before the kits come."

[/color] Howlingheart stood up and rearranged herself to get comfortable. She could feel the kits moving and kicking. She purred again with amusement. Hopefully soon they would come out, maybe then she would have more visitors come to see her in this lonesome den.

"Glenpaw, do you know how Whitewhisker is doing? Since I haven't been able to see him,"[/color] she meowed with her questions running through her head. She didn't really know how bad the injury was on him and she didn't know when that last time she saw her mate. Then she wondered when the kits were going to come and what they were going to look like. More like her? Or more like Whitewhisker? Are they going to be all toms or she-cats? She had tons of unanswerable question roaming through her head right now. [/center][/blockquote][/blockquote]

word count : three five nine
tags : glenpaw
notes : it's too early for me to be up, if only parents would let you sleep in on some days.
colors : b9667a, aea3a9

[! G L E N P A W]

Howlingheart blinked at Glenpaw, and the apprentice smiled back. "Quiet before the kits would be nice, but I've been here alone for so long. I just want the opposite before the kits come." she meowed, purring happily. The dappled apprentice bounced happily for the queen.

"You must be so excited! Do you know what you want to name them?" ShadowClan needed some new, strong, healthy kits to train as apprentices. By the time Howlingheart's kits were apprentice age, Glenpaw would be a warrior! Maybe she would get to train one of them!

"Glenpaw, do you know how Whitewhisker is doing? Since I haven't been able to see him," Howlingheart interrupted Glenpaw's scattered thoughts, her voice hinting at sadness. Her mate, Whitewhisker, was stuck in the medicine cat's den. Something had happened, somehow, an apprentice was dead, and he was scared - the memories ran through her head. She had been there. She had helped him. And then, Brittlebreeze was there, and then words were said that should never have been said, she had been crying, she had been turning him down, turning away, leaving, and then - alone.

Silence. Glenpaw swallowed hard, sea blue gaze bright with tears, as she tried to catch her breath, tried to find her voice. "He's fine," she meowed, brow crinkling. "But he's scared. I think something happened with an apprentice, something, and she died," Glenpaw winced as she realized how bad that sounded. She hadn't meant to frighten Howlingheart. "But, I mean, everything's okay now, really," she added, flicking her tail across the dusty ground, sending swirls away from her. She glanced up at the queen, trying to find words to make it okay again.

"He misses you," she meowed softly, eyes on her paws. "He really does." That, at least, was true. Her thoughts wandered to Brittlebreeze, that orange and white coat, those bright blue eyes, once happy and welcoming, now angry and cold. She thought about him all the time. Did he miss her, too? Or was she already gone, pushed away, replaced with StarClan, something she would never understand?


Tags: Howlingheart!
Words: four twenty five
Other: you did swell. (:

[¤¤Eclipsewind]

Rain was lightly pelting ShadowClan territory as Eclipsewind returned to camp. A mouse dangled from his jaws as he trotted quickly along; his tail raised high and his dark, silver pelt shining with drops of water. Dropping his catch onto the fresh kill pile, the young tom took a moment to give himself a good shake before pelting to safety under one of the pine trees that lined the camp’s bramble walls. Shaking slightly with discomfort, the warrior then turned and sprinted into the warriors den, purring happily as he felt a rush of warmth greet him. There was nobody inside at the moment, but the heat left over from their bodies never left the den quickly. It remained behind, clinging to the nests, a lucid reminder of Clan life.

Unfortunately, Eclipsewind wasn’t tired.

Feeling bored (an unsightly reminder that he was only made into a warrior a week ago), the tabby tom turned around and around in his nest before plopping down, tail flicking as his thoughts curled around in his mind like wisps of smoke. He thought of his ceremony and vigil, most of all, reliving the rush of satisfaction he had felt as he finally earned the reward that followed his moons of training with Ghostclaw. The thought of the gray tom made him sad, so Eclipsewind quickly pushed it away. His choice was his own, he told himself grimly as he stubbornly wrapped his thin tail around his body. However, his brief bout of contentment didn’t last, and he stood up abruptly from his moss-lined nest. There has to be someone around to talk to, he thought. His ears then pricked as excitement set in. He hadn’t visited the nursery in a long while. And Howlingheart is in there alone, still expecting kits. She’s probably bored out of her mind…like me. Getting quickly to his paws, Eclipsewind stood before shooting out of the warrior’s den in an attempt to not get wet, turning, and launching himself into the nursery…

…and straight into one of his Clan mates.

Eclipsewind had always known where Howlingheart nested, but he hadn’t expected another she-cat to be standing directly nearby. Letting out a short yelp of surprise, the young warrior sprang backwards and thingyed his head. His fur bristled when he recognized Glenpaw, Hawkstar’s apprentice. “I’m so sorry!” he mewed hastily, looking her up and down. He knew she had recently injured her shoulder on ThunderPath. “Are you alright?”

[/blockquote][/color]

[! G L E N P A W]

Glenpaw pricked her ears, angling them towards the entrance of the nursery, trying to listen past the falling rain, splashing the ground, suddenly and quickly, rapid pitterpatter, pawsteps . . .

All of a sudden, a blur of silver fur shot into the nursery, straight into the tabby apprentice. Letting out a squeak of surprise, Glenpaw toppled over, straight onto her shoulder. She gasped as pain clouded her eyes, and she lay there next to the warrior she recognized as Eclipsewind, trying to catch her breath.

He peered anxiously down at her. "I'm so sorry!" his voice was worried, she noted with satisfaction. Wincing slightly, Glenpaw tried to get to her paws. Slowly but surely, she told herself silently. "Are you alright?"

Glenpaw turned her brilliant eyes on him and raised one eyebrow, a smile forming at the corner of her lips. "Thanks for asking," she meowed softly. She studied him for a moment. I wasn't, she thought to herself. That, at least, was true. She wasn't. She wouldn't be for a long time. But now, for a few moments, she was feeling something that she hadn't felt in moons. "I think I'm doing better now," she added, eyes still on his. How had she never noticed him before? Had he always been there, right in front of her? Was she just too blind to see him? Or was she just dumb?


Tags: Howlingheart and Eclipseh!
Words: two eighty one
Other: whoosh.

[¤¤Eclipsewind]

Eclipsewind blinked guiltily as Glenpaw slowly turned her head to look at him, still panting slightly from what was most likely a sudden bout of pain. He winced at the thought, fur bristling with a sudden wave of discomfort. He had never really even talked to Glenpaw before, so what a great way to make a first impression, right? He watched anxiously as she struggled to stand, torn between helping the young she-cat and giving her plenty of space in which to recover from his clumsy act. After all, he hardly knew her. But she is part of my Clan he then thought, blinking again. I’d be the right thing to do.

He was surprised when she suddenly smiled, one eyebrow thingyed in what he interpreted as an amused manner. ”Thanks for asking,” she mewed in an undertone, and if there was sarcasm in her quiet tone, it went right over his head. “I think I’m doing better now,” she then added, still looking at him. The young warrior couldn’t help but feel an odd prickle in his paws when he noticed this—brilliant green eyes looking into his own blue ones. He quickly shook the feeling away and took a step toward her.

“Well, that’s good news,” he mewed hastily, offering her a quick smile of his own. His tail flicked nervously as he braced his own shoulder on her remaining good one and then pushed, hoisting the apprentice easily to her paws again. He immediately backed away afterwards, feeling uncharacteristically awkward in her presence. Get it together, mouse brain, he hissed to himself silently, kneading the soft ground before him with his paws minutely. He hoped neither she-cats, Glenpaw or Howlingheart, would notice his anxiety. I’m such an idiot.

Eager to dismiss his feelings, he turned to look at Howlingheart.

“Hey,” he greeted the queen warmly, his voice a purr. “Thought you might want some extra company. I imagine that it gets a little lonely in here at times.” He looked around the nursery briefly, registering that it was, in fact, empty. “Odd that there are no other queens expecting, with the time of year it is.” I’m blabbering. Eclipsewind then forced himself to look at Glenpaw. “So, what brings you to the nursery?” he asked simply, keeping his expression carefully neutral.

[! G L E N P A W]

How do you figure out what's running through someone else's mind? Glenpaw watched the tabby tom as he shuffled awkwardly away from her, sighing inwardly. What was it about her that made other cats so uncomfortable? Was it her sharp tongue? Or her dreary attitude? Or Brittlebreeze? Was it going to be like this forever?

She remembered being a young kit in the nursery, so happy, no lies, no secrets, no pain. Just games and learning and sunshine and friends and dreams. But those were all gone now, weren't they? Hadn't her dream died when Brittlebreeze decided that he didn't want her? Wasn't he her dream?

Studying Eclipsewind, Glenpaw felt a spark of excitement. Maybe not ...

"Well, that's good news," he meowed, a quick, brilliant smile flashing her way. Glenpaw smiled back, the motion feeling strained on her face, as though she hadn't done it in ages. Maybe she hadn't. But she liked the feeling. A few moons ago, she had smiled all the time. She was the happy, bubbly apprentice, the loyal friend, the enthusiastic young warrior, the lovable best friend. Maybe it was time to find that cat again.

Eclipsewind had helped Glenpaw to her paws, backing away from her like she was a ball soaked with mouse bile. Clearing her throat gently, Glenpaw glanced away, trying not to make the situation any worse. Thankfully, Eclipsewind was talking to Howlingheart now, so Glenpaw chose to study him, in a not obvious, not strange way, of course.

His pelt was thick, dark, lanced with darker stripes. A brown tabby. Muscles were just starting to show along his legs and chest, since he was a new warrior. His paws were large, and ivory claws peeked out from between the pads. Glenpaw's eyes widened at the sight of them. They were so long! She glanced down at her own kitten claws, starting to sharpen and grow stronger.

Suddenly, she felt a pricking feeling run down her spine, and she glanced up, straight into Eclipsewind's eyes. Oh. Their glittering depths were an icy blue, so cold, and yet, they were so warm, filled with compassion and a happiness that Glenpaw had never quite found for herself. She blinked stupidly at him, trying to still her racing heart.

"So, what brings you to the nursery?" His tone was simple and neutral, and Glenpaw felt a bit disappointed. What had happened to the spark? Was he just guarding his feelings, or did he not have any?

"Fresh air," she meowed, mentally smacking herself a moment later. As though the dark nursery could give her any fresh air. Smart. "I mean, I was wandering around camp, getting some fresh air, and I saw Howlingheart in here alone, and thought I'd come in and talk to her. Whitewhisker's in the medicine cat's den right now, so I thought she'd be a bit lonely." She smacked herself again. As though Howlingheart wanted to be reminded that her mate was all the way across camp, instead of there with her. Glenpaw prepared to flee, her claws digging into the ground.

Please don't hate me.


Tags: Howlingheart and Eclipseh!
Words: five eighty two
Other: poor baby. :3

[¤¤Eclipsewind]

Eclipsewind blinked at Glenpaw’s strange expression, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t decide on what exactly it was that she wanted to say. The apprentice was clearly thinking, and hard. He wondered at what thoughts were swirling around in her head, but she was staring at him, and he was a bit surprised. He didn’t let that show, however, choosing instead to wait patiently for her to answer, flicking his tail idly as he did so. Had he said something strange? Was his fur all messy? He half wanted to check and look but that would be a mother to all faux pas. He didn’t exactly want that.

"Fresh air," Glenpaw suddenly meowed, and it sounded rushed. Fresh air? Wouldn’t she rather race through the marsh or bask in the sun at the center of the camp’s clearing? Maybe the apprentice den is stuffy… he thought vaguely. After all, he hadn’t been inside there for over a week. Maybe the moisture of summer was starting to get inside… "I mean,” she suddenly added. ”I was wandering around camp, getting some fresh air, and I saw Howlingheart in here alone, and thought I'd come in and talk to her. Whitewhisker's in the medicine cat's den right now, so I thought she'd be a bit lonely." Eclipsewind watched, puzzled, as the she-cat’s paws dug into the ground. Was she having some kind of fit? Was her shoulder bothering her?

The warrior was about to ask if she was alright, but decided to let it go. It would probably be rude to ask, and it would only offend her. Instead, he smiled a bit. “That’s nice of you,” he commented simply. “Most apprentices are eager to spend their time outside of camp, not in it. I know I was that type.” He laughed a little at the memories. Sneaking out, getting tracked down and taken back to camp by his mentor, Ghostclaw. Oh, the good old days, he thought to himself dryly. “So,” he then said, a little more brightly than his former words. “Looking forward to your warrior ceremony? It shouldn’t be too long now. I know Hawkstar always speaks very highly of you.”

[C!NDERDUST]

Glenpaw sighed and glanced towards the entrance of the nursery, where the sunlight was dancing across the soft ground, sending sparkles of light flying away in all directions. Several reached forward into the shady nursery, not quite reaching her tiny white paws. She shifted, moving forward slightly, admiring the way the light specks sprinkled her pelt. How lovely.

"So," Eclipsewind meowed, looking towards Glenpaw again, his icy gaze cutting into hers. Glenpaw smiled brightly, trying to find that cat she once knew, somewhere deep, deep down. Beneath the tears and the loneliness and the fights and the miserable days. There. There was someone she knew quite well, someone happy and bright. Like her.

"So," she repeated, tilting her head slightly, drawing swirls on the floor with her paws. She would have glanced towards Howlingheart - the queen was being unusually quiet - but her gaze was fixed on this dark tabby tom.

"Looking forward to your warrior ceremony? It shouldn’t be too long now. I know Hawkstar always speaks very highly of you." He chuckled slightly, as though remembering the days when he was an apprentice. It hadn't been that long ago - his scent had not yet faded out of the apprentice's den. Glenpaw's eyes dimmed slightly as her shoulder throbbed. "I can't become a warrior until my shoulder gets better," she meowed slowly. "Otherwise I would have had my ceremony with you." She smiled, a little sadly, but there was a definite happiness and determination there. She glowed as Eclipsewind commented on her close relationship with Hawkstar.

"Maybe once I do, we can train our apprentices together," she suggested, laughing softly. It was a pretty laugh, a pealing, ringing laugh that filled the air. Looking back, she realized that she had no regrets. Everything that she had done, had said, she had said for a reason. She wouldn't take back anything, even if she could. Because everything had led up to this one moment. And it was beautiful.



Tags: Howlingheart and Eclipseh!
Words: three ninety one
Other: so short! :3

[howlingheart]

"You must be so excited! Do you know what you want to name them?" Howlingheart was excited, but she hadn't quite figured out the names yet, though she had a few in mind. Though she wanted to see what her kits looked like before the names became permanent. "I have a few in mind for names, but it be better to wait to see what they look like first to see if they actually fit with them." She was glad to here the Whitewhisker was okay, but it worried her a little bit of what happened during the fight with ThunderClan. A young life was loss, at the paws of her mate. There was a reason for killing the apprentice wasn't there? She wouldn't know until she spoke to him about what had happened.

She had been caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice Eclipsewind enter the nursery until he was apologizing for bumping into Glenpaw. She thought she saw a spark between the cats as they talked. But she wasn't quite sure or not. It was like they barely even spoke to one another when they were apprentices together and now since Eclipsewind just became a warrior things started flying through them.

She just sat there watching as they talked and stared at each other. What was she suppose to disturbed them as they spoke and caught up with one another. Though she did feel lonely here in the nursery when they were no visitors or other queens in there to keep company.

The bengal queen could feel her kits moving, she purred with delight. Her wish was her command, on that note, she realized it was time. This was her first litter and she didn't really know what to do. "Can one of you fetch Brittlebreeze? The kits are coming." Howlingheart laid on her side hoping to ease the pain she felt as contractions came. She hoped her kits would be healthy little youngsters and look beautiful as herself and her mate, Whitewhisker.


word count : 337
tags : glenpaw and eclipsewind
notes : sorry for being away, vacation took me away. get ready for some new additions to the clan!
colors : aea3a9, b9667a

[¤¤Eclipsewind]

Eclipsewind’s face scrunched slightly with confusion at Glenpaw’s suddenly morose expression. Had he said something he shouldn’t have? Surely not. Warrior ceremonies were sacred among the Clans, she had to be looking forward to hers. He knew he had. When Hawkstar had called the ceremony, his pelt had been practically crawling off of him in his excitement, wondering whether or not he would be given his warrior name. And he had, along with Spiderleaf. He eyed Glenpaw’s one shoulder swiftly, hoping she wouldn’t notice. Well, once her shoulder gets better, he amended, feeling sympathetic towards the young she-cat. He wondered what it would like, to have to watch other cats move on, but to be stuck in a sort of agonizing limbo yourself… He quickly shook the thought away. He wouldn’t question her emotions. He didn’t know her life.

“I can’t become a warrior until my shoulder gets better,” Glenpaw then said calmly, confirming his thoughts. “Otherwise I would have had my ceremony with you.” She smiled slightly, though it seemed sad. However, her bright green eyes sparked with a hidden fire. She was determined to heal, to grow, and to move on. He was glad to see her in good spirits, and with that in mind he smiled back at her. Her own little grin was infectious. Why didn’t she look happy more often? She has a nice smile, he observed frankly.

“Maybe once I do,” Glenpaw then said suddenly, laughing lightly, a sweet sound that made his ears unconsciously flick. “We can train our apprentices together.”

The thought of an apprentice was exciting to him, almost as much as becoming a warrior, but the thought of teaching the younger cats of their Clan with Glenpaw was even more so. That would be…nice, he thought silently to himself, feeling baffled by the sudden surge of emotion within him. Before he could force himself to speak however, and make himself look like a fool, Howlingheart spoke.

“Can one of you fetch Brittlebreeze?” the queen asked, her voice as cool as ice as she suddenly lied down on her side. Eclipsewind turned, staring at her, his blue eyes wide. No…not now, she-”

“The kits are coming,” Howlingheart finished simply.

For a moment Eclipsewind was the typical young male for his age, staring blankly at the ShadowClan queen as if he had never heard of kits in his life. Fortunately, he recovered quickly. He shot a quick glance at Glenpaw, then looked back to Howlingheart. “I’ll go,” he mewed quickly, then realized that he was suddenly on his paws again. Turning around, the young tom shot back out through the entrance and, running through the rain, made his way to Brittlebreeze’s den.

Returning only moments later with the calico tom in tow, Eclipsewind made his way back inside and crammed himself up next to Glenpaw in an attempt to make as much room as possible. “Sorry,” he muttered as he brushed against her, though his eyes were still round as he looked from Howlingheart to Brittlebreeze and back again.

And to think that I might have just taken a nap in the warrior’s den.

[! G L E N P A W]

It all happened so fast. One moment they were just conversing, and the next Howlingheart was wincing in pain, her eyes closed. And then Eclipsewind was gone, fetching Brittlebreeze. The tabby apprentice's heart stopped at Howlingheart's request, and she considered making a run for it. She could just get into the apprentice's den if she left now . . .

. . . but, no. She couldn't do that to Howlingheart. So she swallowed her fear and sadness and moved closer to the queen, pressing her small pink nose into her fur. "it'll be okay, howlingheart. brittlebreeze is on the way. just breathe for me, please?" come on, come on, come on.

She flashed back to that day, that day that changed everything. She shook her head, but the memories kept flooding back. She was alone with the white tom, who was drifting away, so slowly, and she didn't know what to do. And then he was there, and they were helping together, side by side. And then, for some reason, it all went wrong. Words were thrown, tears were shed, and they were broken.

How often she regretted that day. How often she looked back and closed her eyes in sadness. How often she spent hours over something that would never change. She knew he didn't want her anymore, and strangely enough, it was getting better. Slowly but surely.

The sound of approaching pawsteps reached her ears, which swiveled towards the entrance. Her green eyes narrowed against the sunlight as she searched for Eclipsewind. There he was, and right on his paws was that familiar tom. Suddenly, Glenpaw turned away and focused on Howlingheart. The two toms brought with them the scent of rain, and Glenpaw realized that the weather had changed in the course of their conversation. What had been sunny skies were now dark and stormy clouds.

How fitting, Glenpaw thought, eyeing the white and orange medicine cat as he examined Howlingheart. She found herself pressed against the wall next to Eclipsewind, so close she could feel his heart beating, in sync with hers. She shook her head at his apology, and smiled gently, turning her gaze to Howlingheart.

"it's gonna be beautiful," she whispered, and then added in a soft voice that wasn't meant to reach Howlingheart or Brittlebreeze's ears, "i can't believe whitewhisker is going to miss it," She wanted to run and fetch the white warrior, so he could witness the birth of his kits, the time when they first felt the fresh rainy air on their faces and heard the warmth of their mother's voice.



Tags: Howlingheart and Eclipseh and Brittle
Words: four eighty nine
Other: beep bop.