Ask to Join River-borne

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

˜”*°• 𓇼 •°*”˜

Goosesong hadn't really been fazed by the demotion, there was no cat that he was willing to serve with that rank anyway. Not yet at least. Coldstar lowered his faith in the chocolate tabby leader. He wasn't sure for how long that his kit-like anger would go on for but he wouldn't voice those thoughts. Not aloud anyway, not here. 

For now, he had been settling not too far from the medicine den. Cottonbright was kitting and he wanted to be there in case he was needed. It wasn't really protocol but he would feel remise if he wasn't there for Cottonbright if she needed him. Especially since she was bringing a litter that he helped create into the world. And with Coldstar demoting him, he had a little more free-time on his paws to do so.

And then, as if out of the blue, Nettleplume padded toward him in... urgency? Goosesong's ears perked as he gave a nod to him. "Is she-" As he was about to ask if Cottonbright was well, Nettleplume's tone caught his attention first. "I'll follow your lead." He replied, getting to his paws in almost an instant as he followed Nettleplume to the medicine den.

rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
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"Cottonbright has lost a considerable amount of blood." he began matter of factly. "I've managed to slow the bleeding, but I can't promise it will stay that way. The next few hours will be critical. She needs to remain awake while I try to stanch the blood and then she needs to rest."

He stepped aside to reveal the queen, her pale coat damp and disheveled against the bloodied moss. Two small kits lay tucked against her belly. "The two living kits appear healthy. They're small but alive and nursing." His gaze briefly shifted toward the third kit, lying apart from the others. "The middle kit was stillborn."

He didn't linger on the words. There were more immediate matters to attend to. "Talk to her." He returned to Cottonbright's side, checking to moss again as he gave the tom room to approach her.

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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From the feverish warmth that smothered her, Cottonbright blinked blearily towards the silvery tom as he manifested suddenly. It was as if just by saying his name he appeared to her. She wasn't sure if she survive the night, exhaustion pulled on every fiber of her body. "Goosesong...I-Is that you?"

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

˜”*°• 𓇼 •°*”˜

As Nettleplume told Goosesong of the condition of his friend, Goosesong gave a nod. He had nothing much to say in regards to the situation in the very moment. But he did however, have his concerns with Cottonbright and his respect for the medicine cat, he would obey Nettleplume and assist him in what he needs.

"It's me Cottonbright, I'm here." He stated, laying next to her, pressing his muzzle onto her head. Whatever issues he had prior to this moment completely faded away when he sat beside her, the blood smell was potent but he didn't pay it any mind. "Your kits are here, but I'll need you to keep talking to me and stay awake right now." He spoke letting his snout rest on her forehead.

Goosesong glanced down the kittens, the two she-cats were calicos, one looking very close to his own appearance, the other looking a little closer to Cottonbright. They were nameless right now, for a short while at least. Goosesong then noticed the stillborn kit. He was mostly white, but with little ginger spots on his head. But he was no longer here, he was dead. Stillborn, a part of him grieved the cat that his son could have been, but he didn't have the time to do so right now.

"You did exactly what you were supposed to Cottonbright. You have two beautiful and healthy she-kits." Goosesong spoke to her calmly, hoping to be a comfort to her. Just hoping...

Your energy speaks louder than words.

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

The moment the calico smoke kitten felt the air on her fur, she let out the loudest mew she could, she couldn't see or hear anything but that was all she knew, the faintest smell hit her nose, the scent of her mother and her sister... but something else, but she had no idea what it was or where it was coming from.

She began to wriggle, whining and crying until she felt a tongue clearing her of what she would eventually know as blood. But right now, she was just hungry, an instinct that she had to follow, once she met her dam's belly, she latched quickly. Finding her dam's teat and allowing herself to feed, no matter what was going on around her.