Private Thread Forever Mine

Before the silvery she-cat could fall back into her deep slumber, the familiar voice of one of her kits called from outside the elder's den. A soft purr rumbled from her throat as she saw Brackenwing's head peer into the den. Her blue eye softened, glad to see her children still remembered her. Not that she thought they wouldn't, it was more that they all seemed so busy with their lives as warriors, a life that Pebbleshine was supposed to share with them until a hawk cut things short. 

'Of course I want some company, all I want to do is go out, but for some reason I never seem to leave it either. Come sit, your fur is a little ruffled. Have you been out this morning?' If and when Brackenwing walked up to her, she gentled guided her child to lie down beside her, giving their head a few licks, flattening down the fur. Once that was all flat, she moved onto their face, grooming off a few dusty specks. She was more comfortable around Brackenwing compared to some of the others, so she turned her scared face away from the shadowy wall. There was no point in hiding from her own children, especially when she loved them so dearly.

Ratfields? That was an interesting choice, but it made sense, in leafbare at least. She titled her head slightly at her kit, giving them a curious look. 'You are careful around there right? I know you are very much capable, but sometimes those rats can swarm you, and not even the strongest warrior can escape. I'm just.. worried. I don't want anything happening to you, okay?' Pebbleshine had now noticed the small scratch marks on Brackenwing's shoulders, leaning down to give them a few tender licks. They needed a good clean, especially if they were to fight of any infection. 

'You should go see Flutterdream for some herbs later. They might be small, but rats carry many diseases.' Brackenwing likely knew all of this, but she reminded them anyway, a way to reassure herself about her children's safety. Despite her worries, she was glad that Brackenwing was out doing things and hunting for the clan, even taking on solo patrols. A surge of pride welled within her chest as she pulled Brackenwing a little closer, wrapping her feathery tail around them. 'How's life as a warrior? I know you graduated a few moons ago, but to me it feels like forever. I hope you are still spending time with everyone else while doing your clan duties. It is just as important.' Pebbleshine decided to stop speaking, for at this point it just sounded like she was lecturing them, and that was not what she wanted. She just wanted to hear about her kits life and how they were travelling. Her parental instincts were kicking in and it was frankly quite annoying. 'Sorry, enough lecturing from me... You are doing perfectly fine!' She said with a purr, affectionately ruffling up the fur on their head she had just neatened up with her paw. 'Thanks for coming to see me though, I really appreciate it.'

'Specklenose and Emberdust you say... I'm glad to hear you still talk to your sibling, and some of your old denmates too. I wouldn't want you isolating yourself. But.. what exactly do you mean by closer? They have always been good friends.' Pebbleshine pretty much knew what Brackenwing meant. She always watched her children from afar, and those two had always had a special bond, which had grown stronger over their moons as warriors. She gave Brackenwing a slight grin with a hint of mischief. She wouldn't know for sure until she got confirmation from her kit, but a mother's instincts were always very strong. 

As Brackenwing's tail was placed down over her own, she felt her heart surge, just like it had done when her kits were first born. Oh how she loved her kits so much. Specklenose was always a little over the top, similar to their brother. Brackenwing on the other paw was always a little different, and she loved them for that. They were the calm amidst the storm of her other two children. 'We can go for a little walk now if you have the time. I haven't been out in a while. A stretch of the legs would probably be good for me.'