Ask to Join Eating for Two

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong was in no hurry in enjoying a well earned day. It was pleasant and warmth sparked joy that finally came with green leaf away from blustering snow and biting coldness. His joints could use for a reprieve and the tuxedo tom limped, gracefully mind, through the camp entrance and into the woods beyond.

He adapted by balancing himself on the ball of his wrist, dipping and swaying easily through the foliage as he approached the stream. The forest seemed alive with the chittering of critters and the scuttling of wings in the trees, so much so that the tom often found himself pausing to listen to watch the scenes unfold around him. Why not? He had plenty of time.

A snail slowly inched its way across his way, surfing along a wide grape leaf. Bravesong blinked over at it olive slime trail before a shape distracted him near the bank. Orchidflame was enjoying a thrush by the water's edge. He wasn't entirely certain she wanted company, but he never knew her to be a cat to turn away an opportunity.

From the bushes he crouched as best as he could, hips teetering to keep balance before he leaped at her, or rather, the growing pile of spotted feather's beside her. His body fell, scattering the soft down as he trilled a pleased greeting. "Good morning, Orchidflame...Or is it good afternoon by now?"

He pawed down a couple feathers as they floated in front of him.

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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Orchidflame huffed faintly as a flying feather took a seat onto her nose, flicking it onto her paw before glancing at Bravesong, rumbling a deep purr as he swatted at the feathers as they flew, his own doing, but she did mind the newer rainfall, a soft, fluffy, feathered kind. Before speaking, she leaned down to take a piece from the thrush, her mismatched eyes following Bravesong's movements before they settled. "Afternoon I think. You're in a good mood." She noted, flicking some feathers from her tail and taking a little extra time to clean her slightly engorged belly.

"Come sit, if I wanted to bite you I would have a long time ago." Orchidflame chirped playfully, swatting him with her kinked tail, one of the spotted feathers flicking his nose as the calico she-cat swatted her tail back and forth to watch the bird-less feathers flutter down like a graceful dance to the ground. "Tickling your nose might still be on the agenda though." she chirped, giving the white tip of her tail a little flick, almost a playful warning before pushing the thrush a little closer to Bravesong, lest he wished to have an early afternoon snack.

A stray feather took to the stream, landing on the surface weightlessly, she watched the feather as it rode the stream without a care, how interesting would that be? Without any responsibilities. After the kits... Orchidflame wondered if she would have any responsibilities, but right now, she had to figure out how to tell the sire of her kits that he would be a father... how to do that was something she would figure out sooner or later.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong let out a breathy sort of huff of laughter as the feather kissed his nose, whiskers twitching reflexively. He gave it a half hearted bat before easing himself down beside her with a practiced care, folding his legs beneath him so the awkward twist of his paw wouldn't steal the moment.

"A good mood's easier to come by when the ground isn't trying to freeze you solid. Greenleaf does wonders for a tom's outlook." He meowed with an amused drawl.

His eye flicked to her face just as her tail swatted him again, earning a low approving rumble from his chest. "Ah. So the biting comes after the invitation. Noted." Teasing lightly as his head leaned back, just enough to guard his nose.

When she nudged the thrush closer, he hesitated only a heartbeat. He never pushed or pried when it came to sharing prey and was only glad Orchidflame seemed to be in a sharing sort of mood. With a purr, he pressed his muzzle around its chest, scooping up a bit of meat.

After he swallowed his gaze followed hers to the stream, watching the feather drift along the surface. Something thoughtful settled over his expression. "Are you enjoying your day thus far?"

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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Orchidflame seemed almost too focused on the floating feather before it drifted from sight, her eyes following the brown spotted feather until they couldn't. Her tongue rasped over her chest as she glanced over at Bravesong. Usually she was the one to keep the conversation going, the first to tell important news to the elder, but why couldn't she find the words for this? Was so many moons in the elders' den making her lose her way? No, she loved the elders' den, perhaps this was just a single situation. Yes, that was it.

But Orchidflame was still elated with the news from Tigerrush and Robinpaw, when the medicine cats said the word 'kits' it had lit up her eyes in way few things could, she couldn't wait to tell Bravesong about them, about how great they would be, how kind, how strong, the greatest in ThunderClan, and Bravesong would be there too if Orchidflame had anything to say about it. 

"It's been well, better than usual, I suppose." The long-furred calico let out a soft breath before taking another bite from the thrush, she needed to feed the kits, to give them the energy they need to grow. Because StarClan be damned if she would give up now. ...Even if Gingerthrash had his words to say about it, that was none of his business, this was between her and Bravesong. "Visited Tigerrush and Robinpaw this morning."

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong's ear tipped at that. The motion was a slow, assured swivel rather than concern. He waited until she was done chewing not rushing the space between her words or the meaning they held. He simply shifted his weight carefully as he tucked his good paw.

"Tigerrush and Robinpaw." The black and white tom nodded as he mimicked the names she had spoken. His tone stayed easy but there was a careful curiosity beneath it. Visits to the medicine den were never nothing.

His one eye blinked slow as he leaned against his shoulder, glancing over her without having to hide it. Surely she wouldn't be better than usual if she was feeling under the weather or hurting. This must be good news he was about to hear and if it was what she was alluding too he couldn't help but smile.

"I take it the visit went well then?" He would never rob an expecting she-cat the revalation even if he did guess.

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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Bravesong's smile wasn't lost on her, she could already assume what he thought, and it was true, if she was reading his wordless expressions clearly enough anyway. The calico she-cat shifted slightly, careful not to roll onto her belly by any means. Orchidflame flicked an ear, slow and meaningful, her eyes narrowed, then softened again, as if trying to draw out the announcement for a playful kind of suspense.

"Five weeks along." Orchidflame replied, flicking the tip of her tail to her pale belly. "They think one or two, based on the little heartbeats." The chocolate calico added, though she seemed to be poorly concealing the joy in her voice with a sort of calm that was cracking the more she spoke. 

Orchidflame's front paws rested in front of her, her legs sprawled like she was in a deep sleep, but her head was raised as she rolled onto her side. And then she looked at Bravesong, glancing over at his single hazel eye looking for a response. But before once could be given, she spoke again. "I want you to come with me and speak with Moosestar, I'd like you in the nursery with me." She finalized, but before Bravesong may be able to argue, she continued.

"I saw you in the nursery with Coyotebloom, you were so happy, so unperturbed by anything or anyone around you, Coyotebloom loved you there, I saw it in her eyes. If you would be so open to it, I would like you to be in the nursery with me." She offered, it was a big offer for her to make, queens typically raised kits on their own, usually sires had warrior duties to take care off, but Bravesong didn't, he was an elder, same as her. She had watched him while he raised Coyotebloom into a fine young warrior and she wanted the same for her own kits. She wanted him to be by her side. "Unless you want to be cramped up with Gingerthrash and Wildcry all the time, up to you!" She trilled teasingly, nudging him with her tail.

"It's your choice, then we care share our idea with Moosestar, if you so wish."

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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For a moment Bravesong simply stared at her. Five weeks along... A bit of bright, boyish cheer crossed his features. "Even if it's only one...they'll be the most beautiful kit there ever was." A low, steady purr began in his chest as he blinked fondly over her.

"I..." The word caught. Bravesong swallowed suddenly very aware of his crooked paw tucked beneath him and of the stiffness in his joints. He remembered Coyotebloom as a tiny scrap of fur tumbling over her own paws. Remembered long nights in the nursery...solid, grounding purpose that made for some of the happiest moons in his life.

"Ah, now that's a compelling argument. Hard to compete with the symphony of their snoring." He teased lightly when the other elders were mentioned. "You're sure?" He asked just to make certain. "You don't have to share that with me unless you truly want to but if you're asking because you want me there…Then I would be honored."

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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The ThunderClan she-cat covered her belly with an instinctual flick of her tail, she didn't chose to protect it on purpose, perhaps it was a rustling of tree leaves, a particularly loud ripple in the stream, or something else entirely different, but she wanted to protect the life she and Bravesong had created with everything inside of her. She was determined to do just that.

"Oh Bravesong," Orchidflame's voice softened to something gentle, quiet, barely audible beyond the subtle rushing of water. "This is life we're creating together, however many kits there are, they'd all be beautiful. As the act of creating something entirely new out of almost nothing is beautiful within itself." She added, a bit louder by no less gentle and soft. As if saying something to loudly could threaten the natural order.

Orchidflame's lame paw twitched briefly, one that sent a a singular, lone feather fluttering into the air. Eyes of blue and yellow followed it as it landed back on her stiff paw just as she turned it so it would lay gently on the pad. "How do you think they will be, Bravesong? I hope they're not like wither of us." She mewed, her eyes softening as she sent the feather on its own journey with a short huff of air. "There's a beauty in that, a cat that follows their own way instead of looking to the paths laid ahead of them."

"That," Orchidflame began, lowering her gaze to her belly, longing to see the kits she created no so long ago, longing to hold them, but patience will come as easy as the excitement will, she'd just have to wait for it all to settle. "that is all I want."

She paused, a warm moment before she glanced to stare at Bravesong, less longingly, but no less affectionate. "I'm sure as the sun rises. I can't imagine being in a den without you."

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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A single hazel eyes followed the feather as it fluttered from her paw and drifted back down again. When she asked how he thought they would be there was little hesitation in his voice. "I don't think I'd mind if they carried a bit of you. Or me." A faint smile touched his mouth. "But I understand what you mean. We will let them be whoever StarClan shapes them to be. We'll just make sure they know they're loved, no matter what path they choose."

When she said that was all she wanted, he believed her. He leaned a bit into her, a purr in his throat as he lowered his head. Resting, muzzle against the slope of her back. "Then you won't be alone." It was entirely her say anyway. Coyotebloom will always be his kit there was no stopping how he felt, but this felt different in a way. He smiled, less fluffy tail curling around her dancing plume.

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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It was the weight of Bravesong's head that Orchidflame felt first, then the vibrating of his throat that she soon matched with her own, and finally, his less plumed tail curling around her own with such ease that Orchidflame had a feeling he'd be doing it a lot more while they shared the nursery. 

Part of Orchidflame just imagined her and Bravesong huddled up in a warm nest together, cleaning their newborn kits as they suckled from her and her purr deepened as she craned her neck to layer a few licks behind one of Bravesong's ears. Sharing tongues felt a lot easier with Bravesong, and whatever the reason why, she was glad she had this time to spend with him. 

Orchidflame paused, shutting her eyes as she let the noises around her relax her, the soft chirp of birdsong and the everlasting hum of the moving stream were the first she had noticed, but Bravesong's purring easily overpowered it all, she would have fallen asleep to it if the killer being out and about didn't make her so wary.

Opening her yellow eye to take a glance at Bravesong, a smile pulled at Orchidflame's lips. "We'll make sure they know they've always got two cats that love them regardless of what they choose to do. That's what we're here for." She replied, cracking open the other eye to look at the stream as it flowed, not hoping to rush the stream, after all, the forest never rushed for her to do anything. Never.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong's eyes fluttered closed. A quiet contentment entered his eye and remained in the closeness shared between them. It was hard enough for a she-cat to do this alone but he hoped with his presense it would ease her mind a bit. Let him share the burden of it all. He would be glad to.

"Of course." He agreed amicably. That seemed like the most obvious thing to him, a tom who only wished the best of his family. His chin tilted towards the direction of her grooming, his scarred and ripped ears flicking gently from her attention. "What has it been like so far? If you don't mind me asking?"

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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"What it's been like?" Orchidflame shut her eyes, laying her head on the ground as her tail curled around him to keep the closeness. "Stars... where should I start?" She chuckled, not opening her eyes, simply content beside Bravesong. "I don't feel them moving, Tigerrush says I wont for a while yet. Said it might feel like a nudge in my belly as they move and prepare for the kitting... which will be an event in itself." thinking of kitting made her crack her eyes open to a squint. Sometimes kitting didn't go well for she-cats, often time for cats much more her senior... usually. But such is the risk to this, everything has risk and reward, the reward outweighed everything.

Orchidflame lifted her head, a soft but fluid movement and clean up her chest fur, then her paw pads, then to look at Bravesong, eyes softening as she watched his face. Some part of her still saw Jaypaw another noticed how mature Bravesong was, she liked both sides. "My belly has grown, my nipples have too. Makes me feel a little heavy, but knowing that they have heartbeats, it makes me feel whole... somewhat. Like I found a piece that was hidden before."

She glanced at her white belly, tender and large with growing kits and she nosed her belly softly trying to see if she could find the heartbeats herself, or at least one. Moving her muzzle around her belly for a moment felt fruitless until she felt a small thump and her eyes lit up. "Bravesong, put your paw where my nose was!" She chirped, eyes bright with a kit-like glee.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong breathed slow and even as her tail curled around him. He let her speak it all aloud. As exciting as it was for them he couldn't help but worry for her too. Any wholeness they could give her would be a gift. "I'm glad they've given you that."

He followed her glance to her belly, watching the careful way she nosed through fur. Bravesong blinked at her sudden burst of energy, caught off guard by the bright chirp in her voice.

He shifted quickly but carefully, untucking his crooked paw and easing it forward. For once he didn’t think about the awkward angle of it or the stiffness. He only focused on her, muzzle dipping at the spot and rested it there. "There. I think I feel them."

They would be waiting for them.

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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Orchidflame's ear gave a single flick as Bravesong placed his crooked paw onto her belly, her weight shifted to make it more comfortable for the both of them, and for the kits that were growing in her belly. "Oh Bravesong, This is amazing, to have life grow before my very eyes, to feel it growing. And to be accompanied by a cat I want to live out the rest of my moons standing beside." she rambled her voice growing genuine and sentimental. "I couldn't ask for anything better."

A short chuckle followed as a thought struck her, she curled her kinked tail a little righter around Bravesong "Unless, Gingerthrash lost his voice. Then it would be perfect." She joked, giving the fellow elder's cheeks a loving few licks before pulling her head back.

"Would you like to come with me to tell the news to Moosestar?" She asked, her head giving an involuntery tilt as the question fell. "Or would you prefer we just lay here for a while, spend time here while it's just us, you me, and the kits. That'd be nice to..." Orchidflame let a yawn slip from her jaws but shook the heaviness from her eyes before facing Bravesong wholly. "I'll let you decide."

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong's eye softened as she spoke, not taking what she said at all lightly. He chuckled half a breath as she jested about the elderly tom they used to share a den with. Gingerthrash was a cat just like the rest of them and his old life was leagues passed him. "StarClan has a habit at listening at the most inconvient times." He mewed raising a brow at her, but it was only halfhearted. Instead he leaned into her without protest.

At her question he heaved a quiet sigh and glanced at the treeline. It would be simpler to remain where they laid, but he wanted to make this knowledge known now that Orchidflame saw free to share it. He shifted upright in a slow and measured fasion. There was new strength there, conviction.

"We'll go together." He said firmly, warmth laced with certainty. "Side by side." His tail brushed along hers in reassurance and waited for her answer.