Private Thread Preggo and Peckish

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust shuffled her paws a bit as Flutterdream gave her a once-over, trying to push past her own awkwardness. The medicine cat’s soft smile was reassuring, though, and Emberdust felt herself relax slightly. “I’ve been eating fine, I think!” She replied, glancing away for a moment as if thinking back. “I guess I’ve been really hungry the past week or so. Like, I’m eating... a lot, but I still feel like I could eat a whole rabbit afterward!”

She paused, her whiskers twitching as she considered Flutterdream’s next question. “Odd? Hmm…” Emberdust tilted her head, deep in thought."And my belly’s been feeling weird. Maybe a bit heavier, but I thought it was from all the extra eating." She chuckled, though there was a hint of confusion behind her laughter.

The young she-cat absentmindedly curled her tail around herself, her orange eyes wide as she continued to list things off. “And when I'm grooming my belly I've noticed that I've started to lose hair there - erhm, around my nipples mostly... I hope it's not stress related!” Emberdust shrugged, clearly confused by her own symptoms. Emberdust gave a soft, sheepish laugh, still oblivious to the obvious signs she was laying out as she lifted a paw and began licking at it absently.

     'I am here for you, always'
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  The medicine cat hid a soft smile as Emberdust explained a few other odd things. If her predictions were correct, she knew exactly what was going on here. 'Emberdust, do tell me; Have you been hanging out with any toms lately?' A small smile formed at the edges of her mouth.

She reached out a paw towards Emberdust's belly to point out the missing fur. 'Usually when she-cats start to loose fur around the nipples it means they are pregnant, otherwise it is very odd to be loosing fur in these areas and nowhere else.' She draped her long, plumed tail across Emberdust's shoulder, an attempt to tell her that there was no need to be so awkward. 'It would explain why you have been so hungry too. You might have a few extra mouths to feed!' Emberdust was young, not even 2 years old. If she really were expecting she would be putting herself at risk, especially after what happened with her mother, Earthspeckle. If Emberdust really did want this though, Flutterdream would be there to support her the entire way. 'If you are comfortable I can do a small check if you like'

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust blinked at Flutterdream’s question, momentarily thrown off as her brain scrambled to connect the dots. “Toms?” She echoed dubiously, her tone confused before realization dawned on her like a bolt of lightning. “Oh yeah! Specklenose and I have been hanging out... a lot!” Her voice trailed off as her mind raced, thinking of Specklenose and their time together, the warmth and excitement they’d shared. Her orange eyes widened slightly, her whiskers twitching with excitement.

Her gaze dropped to her belly as Flutterdream gestured to the missing fur around her nipples. Emberdust blinked, feeling a sudden rush of heat rise to her ears. “I… I hadn’t thought that I could be pregnant! Well, so soon, at least!" A smile grew on her muzzle, offering the other she-cat a lopsided grin. "I guess that would explain why I’ve been so hungry, and missing fur!”

Emberdust swallowed, her chest tightening with a mix of emotions - surprise, excitement, and a little bit of fear. The medicine cat’s calm, supportive presence helped ease some of her anxiety. “Okay, let's know for sure!” A purr resonated through her throat as she flopped to her side to allow the medicine cat a more thorough examination.

     'I am here for you, always'
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  So, Specklenose was the culprit, one of her sister's kits. To Flutterdream it almost seemed as though Emberdust was surprised. Had she not wanted this? A soft purr rumbled from her throat as Emberdust flopped onto her side, ready for an inspection. 'Was this something you had planned? If there are kits, do you definitely want them? There can be many complications along this path, and I only want what is best for you.' There was no judgement or scorn in the medicine cats tone, for she simply just wanted to make sure this was something Emberdust wanted. She had a whole life ahead of her, and settling down to have kits during leafbare was a big, risky responsibility. Either way, Flutterdream would support her choice.

With outstretched paws, Flutterdream gently probed at the lower parts of the she-cat stomach. Her fur felt thinner, but was still soft and downy as it should be. While she looked more rounded, the gentle pushes of the medicine cats paws confirmed it wasn't bloating of any sort, as areas felt harder rather than airy. While fundamentally prodding at Emberdust's belly, Flutterdream moved to a few different spots, recognising a slightly distinct shape within her stomach. There was something there, that was for sure. Finding out how many was a much harder task, something Flutterdream could never be certain about, but from what she could tell, there was definitely more than one kitten inside Emberdust's belly.

'I'm nearly certain there are some kittens inside there. My guess would be around 2 or 3.' She said softly, hoping this would be good news to the cinnamon she-cat. 'Congratulations Emberdust' she said, gently pressing her nose onto Emberdust's belly. If they really were Specklenose's, Pebbleshine will be overjoyed when she finds out, and Flutterdream will never hear the end of it from her sister.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust’s chest fluttered with both excitement and a tinge of uncertainty as Flutterdream’s soft, reassuring voice filled the den. “I had asked him, one way or another! I love spending time with Specklenose, and... well, it just kinda feels right...” Emberdust’s ears twitched as Flutterdream gave her the news. Two kittens! Maybe more? A soft, awestruck laugh escaped her, her orange eyes widening as she looked down at her belly. “Really?” She whispered, her voice catching with a tinge of wryness. “And here I thought I was just getting fat - like Echobright!" A warm purr rumbled in her throat as Flutterdream pressed her nose gently to her belly. “I know my mother and father wasn't here for Echobright and I, but I want to be here for mine - whatever the cost!" Surely being young was an advantage compared to being, say, an elder, for one's first litter.

She grinned, her usual reckless energy sparking back into her voice. “Pebbleshine’s going to be over the moon, huh?” Her tail lashed playfully, though there was still a flicker of nerves in her eyes. “Don't tell her the news just yet - I'm sure Specklenose will want to break the news to her once I tell him. Oh - I need to tell him! Speaking of being over the moon...!”

     'I am here for you, always'
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   A soft purr rumbled from the medicine cat's through. While their parents were young, these kits would be in good paws. 'Don't tell me I need to check up on Echobright too' Flutterdream joked, now standing and heading towards her storage of herbs. If kittens were on their way during leafbare, the tortie she-cat needed to make sure she had all the herbs necessary. 'And I will be here to make sure you are there for them.' She couldn't make a promise, but she would do everything in her power to make sure Emberdust stayed alive to see the wonders of life. 17 moons ago Flutterdream had helped deliver Earthspeckle's litter with her mentor. There was nothing they could have done to help her, but Flutterdream didn't want a repeat of the past. This time she would have to try ever harder. For the sake of her kin and Emberdust.

'None of us will hear the end of it from Pebbleshine. Watch out for her, she will only be trying to help, but she might become a bit overbearing. If she isn't giving you enough space, tell me and I can go give her a good talking to.' If Specklenose was anything like his mother, he would be just as excited. The pair would make lovely kits, that would brighten up the camp for sure. 'I won't tell a soul, though I will need to talk to Palestar and Dawnflurry about removing you from patrol duty. You can still hunt and guard, but I don't want to risk putting you in any sort of combat, and no, I will not argue over this.' Her tone was stern, but it was laced with fondness underneath. The thought of having more kin was exciting, but Flutterdream had to uphold her professionalism. Plus, she wasn't one to be visibly excited either. 'I want to do weekly check ins to make sure everything is okay, and if anything else seems out of the ordinary, come straight too me, alright? The only things you should be noticing for now, is the loss of fur, your hunger and your belly getting a bit bigger. You might be more tired too, so make sure you are resting.'

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust let out a snort of laughter, her whiskers twitching with amusement. “No way in StarClan is Echobright expecting...!” The medicine cat’s humor and gentle reassurance helped settle some of the nerves swirling inside her.

Listening closely as Flutterdream spoke, Emberdust’s expression softened, especially at the reminder of her own mother. The mention of Earthspeckle brought a fleeting sadness, but she held onto the determination in her heart. This will be different.

“Oh, I can already hear it! I’ll take all the help I can get, but if it becomes too much, I’ll come to you before I lose my fur completely...” Came her light hearted joke about Pebbleshine. She had no doubt that the Elder would plenty involve herself in watching over the kits if need be.

The news of being pulled from patrols was even more exciting, though, and she bit back a giddy laugh, recognizing Flutterdream’s stern look.“Alright, alright… I promise not to argue.”The tip of her stubby tail flicked as she rolled onto her belly, glancing up at the she-cat. “I'd love to keep hunting if possible... but I understand. All of my favorite prey are in hiding, anyway!”

The thought of weekly check-ins sounded reassuring. Emberdust nodded firmly. “Okay - I'll keep you up to date, even if I just feel weird... Which is most times, now that I think about it. At least recently."

     'I am here for you, always'
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   Emberdust's attitude towards the news was good, exactly what she wanted to hear from a newly expecting queen. While she was excited, there was still a clear bout of nerves, but that was okay. It was to be expected, especially for a cat going through this process for the first time. 'Well, you take care of yourself, alright? I'll be here for each step of the way. Go on, burn some energy hunting while I still let you.' She added with a soft smile. New kits in the camp were always exciting, and since the birth of Clovershine's litter there hadn't even been a hint at a new one. Emberdust taking the honour of being the next queen was surprising, but not disappointing, for the young she-cat would do a good job, that she was nearly sure about.