Private Thread Nursery Watch

Bloodlines of strength ignite fierce souls
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 Wildcry’s ear twitched at the sound of approaching pawsteps, her focus snapping out of its spiral as Stormfall’s familiar scent reached her. She didn’t immediately acknowledge him, her gaze lingering on the nursery for another heartbeat before she turned her head.

"Ah, afternoon." The lilac she-cat mewed evenly, her tone steady as she shifted slightly to make room beside her. His words were direct, cutting to the heart of what she’d been brooding over. Contemplating the clan. It wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t the whole of it either.

Her amber eye flicked toward the thrush in his maw before drifting back to the nursery."Something like that."She finally replied, her voice lower than usual, as though the weight of her thoughts anchored it. "Sunstrike’s kits will be born soon. I checked the nursery over to make sure the holes were patched up..."

Bloodlines of strength ignite fierce souls
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 Wildcry’s tail flicked at Stormfall’s offer, though she made no immediate move to accept it. Her gaze remained fixed on the nursery, thoughts still tangled in the possibilities of the future. "Can't hurt." Wildcry muttered, her voice distant, as if pulled away by the weight of her thoughts.

As she hooked the de-feathered thrush from Stormfall's claws, she nosed into the warm flesh before stealing a bite to render it asunder so she may snatch the choosier bits with a quick peek into its stomach.

The silence that followed felt heavy, filled with things she wasn’t ready to say aloud. Stormfall’s presence was steady and grounding, but Wildcry found her mind drifting again, back to the thought of family, of her bloodline, of what it meant to truly secure the future of Thunderclan. She glanced sidelong at him, catching the flicker what she assumed was curiosity.

Instead, she shifted her weight, finally allowing herself to meet his gaze. "Sunstrike will do fine, I’m sure. She's young and healthy." Her tone hardened a little as if trying to convince herself as much as him. "But I can't help but wonder and worry about the kits. They'll need direction. Strength." 

Bloodlines of strength ignite fierce souls
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 Wildcry’s ear flicked as Stormfall mentioned Coyotekit, her gaze lingering on the nursery. She took another deliberate bite of the thrush, her mind mulling over his words. Coyotekit, with her outsider origins, would indeed need more than a firm paw to guide her. It was something Wildcry had often considered when it came to cats not born into the Clan. They needed to work twice as hard to prove themselves - or die trying.

"Wrentalon turned out well enough," The lilac she-cat replied after a moment, her voice carrying a hint of pride as images of his apprenticeship flashed behind her one good eye. "Could be a better tree climber, and his knowledge of the code then was passable at best, but... he’s strong and capable - he learned what he needed to from me and then some." Her tail flicked.

She paused, eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced toward the nursery once more. "Coyotekit, though... She’ll need more than just strength. She’ll need a mentor who knows how to push her, who won’t let her use her background as an excuse." Wildcry’s voice hardened to the pin prick of a fang.

Wildcry glanced back at Stormfall, her amber eye briefly meeting his. "We can’t afford to take any chances with these kits. Not Sunstrike’s, not Coyotekit, not any of them." With that, she returned to her meal, the weight of her thoughts lingering in the air between them. "Not even my own." Her last mention was muted with visceral as she took another mouthful, softly crooning between blood soaked bites.

Bloodlines of strength ignite fierce souls
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 Wildcry's ears twitched slightly at Stormfall’s response, but she didn’t lift her gaze from the meal in front of her. She chewed thoughtfully, letting the silence hang for a moment before answering. "Kestrelswipe turned out fine. He's a deputy now; took to guidance better than Savagefox ever did." Her voice was steady, but there was an underlying tension as if she was weighing each word before speaking.

Wildcry finally glanced at Stormfall, her amber eye sharp. "I mean my own future. My own kits. Another litter to offer Thunderclan before I... can't." There it was - laid out plainly, the thought that had been gnawing at the back of her mind.

She took another bite of the thrush, speaking around the mouthful. "But choosing the right tom… seems an impossible task. Goldenstar was an obvious choice. A bit of a softhearted fool, but he was sturdy and a reliable force. One could assume that Moosestar would be the next best choice - but Moosestar is barely into his role and lacking. I'd also never hear the end of it from Greenfang... " Her voice trailed off, a rare barking laugh showing through her otherwise unshakable exterior.

Bloodlines of strength ignite fierce souls
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  Wildcry's whiskers twitched in mild amusement at Stormfall's boldness. She looked at him from the corner of her eye, the sharp amber gleam taking in his relaxed posture and the confidence behind his words. It wasn’t often a tom had the audacity to speak so plainly with her.

She took a deliberate pause, licking her lips before giving a low, thoughtful hum. "Is that so? Bold of you to assume I’d even consider it, Stormfall." Her words were sharp, but there was a flicker of approval in her gaze as she regarded him as if it was the first time the she-cat had ever seriously laid eye on him.

Stormfall was strong, hard-working - a solid warrior. He wasn’t an outrageous option, she supposed, but Wildcry wasn’t about to give away her intentions so easily. There was still too much to consider, too much riding on what the future held for both of them.

"I’ll give you this." She half hissed, half purred, her tail flicking lightly at his side. "You’re not the worst tom Thunderclan has to offer." She lifted a paw and began to clean the blood from it, swiping her tongue over her clawed toes.

Bloodlines of strength ignite fierce souls
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  Wildcry let out a soft, rumbling chuckle at Stormfall's words, the amusement settling behind her one good eye. "Not many options, no." The lilac she-cat agreed, her tone laced with dry humor. "But forwardness isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it's necessary." More than necessary in some cases.

She paused her grooming, glancing at him as he gathered the feathers, and briefly considered his concern. He wasn’t wrong - prey would soon become harder to find, and with leaf-bare approaching, it was hardly an ideal time to think about kits. Still, Wildcry wasn’t one to let timing dictate her decisions, especially when it came to something this important. It wasn't very long ago that she disappeared into thunderclan's woods to give birth on her own. Thunderclan had once preemptively mourned her death, but Wildcry returned nonetheless. Journeyed back from Starclan's starry fields.

"You’re right to be concerned." Her voice was hard, but concerning. He had no right to worry about her so much, but she could appreciate the concern for what it was. "But I’ve seen plenty of seasons come and go. If I decide to have another litter, it’ll be on my terms. I know what I’m getting into."

She let her eyes drift back to the nursery for a moment, a quiet resolve settling over her. "But... the thought is appreciated, Stormfall." With a small, almost imperceptible smile, she flicked her tail once more in his direction. "Come hunting with me sometime. It's been a while."

Bloodlines of strength ignite fierce souls
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  Wildcry's whiskers flicked in response, her sharp gaze catching the glint of amusement in Stormfall's eyes. "Did you now?" She hummed, the light of her eye half lidded. "Well, I suppose it’s only fair that I take you up on your offer then." Her tone was teasing, but the competitive spark was unmistakable.

She shifted her weight, finishing the last bite of thrush with practiced efficiency. With a final glance toward the nursery, Wildcry stood, stretching her limbs with a slow, deliberate grace. "I don’t intend to disappear into the woods again anytime soon, but... I’ve learned that life doesn’t always go as planned." Her gaze lingered on Stormfall for a moment, eyes narrowed and expression about as soft as a bramble.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I’ve got a few things to check on." She offered him a brief nod before padding away, leaving the unspoken promise of a future hunt hanging in the air between them.