Seeking Refuge

[Bovine]

Jadekit bounded into the sheltered Nursery, it was a great deal more sheltered than the other spots around camp. It was a large, smooth dent out of the sheer rock face, as if a great monster had ripped it away from the moutain. The dent ran a good many foxlengths into the moutain, many ledges with the odd few patches of grass sprouting from the rock, and various small indentations. What part of the Nursing Den that wasn't in the dent was surrounded by boulders of varying sizes and lengths, bracken, gorse, and thorn-bushes growing between, forming a wall of security. The entrance from which the kit had just run through was a small tunnel through the vegetation, though large enough for plump queens to comfortably come and go.

Jadekit let out a squeel of delight, the Nursing Den was her favorite part of Stoneclan Camp so far, so homey, and the smells were warm and gentle.
The tiny white and grey kit bounded into the cave-like space, choosing a small ledge, not even a tail-length above the ground, to sit upon, it's tiny grass shoots felt pleasant on her paws.
All she had to do was wait for the others.

[Brighteye]

Mentally chuckling at the young cat's glee, Brighteye followed Jadekit into the nursery. She was instantly warmer when she stepped in the nursery, in more ways than one. Brighteye carefully padded the sides with the extra moss, conscious of the small kits nestled in the corner. She turned cheerfully to the others filing in. Well this is more than a mite warmer!

[Blindsong]

Blindsong moved silently, carefully picking her way into the warm nursery. She smiled at Jadekit’s squeal in pure delight, such an innocent sound.

She moved around the other she-cat, that smile still adorning her kindly face, and the calico mother returned to the three small kits that were sleeping in the nest to the back.

They were still young, but their eyes were now opened, and they would very soon be old enough to go outside for the very first time. Gentle the mother rasped her tongue across her daughter’s sleeping form, a purr rumbling in her throat.

[Underworld]

ONE • THOUSAND • APOLOGIZES
Can't turn back time...

What have I done?

Is there a place for me?

Is this…home?

Delicate shells twitched, as weary paws led the shattered she-cat to the nursery. Visibly, she was cold, shivering in faint ripples. The dampness that had lingered on her coat was freezing, in turn making the fela much much colder than she should be.

“Is there…”

A voice rang out, quiet, maybe a little cautious. But the beautiful tabby fae, her golden pelt marred by brown markings, bars and stripes, didn’t feel overly welcomed here yet.

She was hurt.

Although physically she had escaped the retribution her past clan sought on her, she still hurt. Her heart hurt. Her soul completely and utterly shattered by the loss of the one cat she both loves and trusted.

Her heart shattered to have had her own son, Hexfrost, come after her seeking for her death.

“Is there room in there for me?”

[Valorkit]

As her mothers' tongue brushed across her little body, Valorkit begain to purr also. The small black and silver form stirred, paws twitching ever so slightly as she roused herself from sleep, yet the dreams were too peaceful, too wonderful, she didn't want to wake. But alas, reality called her, and slowly, silver tinted eyes opened, just a crack, to look around.

The dream was still clearly in her mind. It was so wonderful, she had been running.. Running.. Running up into the sky, and dancing upon glowing bodies known as stars, watching all the cats below. Now the tiny face turned up to her mother, eyes opening fully.

"Mama... I love you Mama..."

She stretched in her relaxed form and then promply rolled over, and pawed at the closest object, her mothers' face.

"Who is everyone, Mama?"

[Blindsong]

“I love you too my little one.”

And any cat there, hearing that sweet motherly voice, that that was the purest truth imaginable. There was no greater pride within Blindsong’s life, then that of her kits.

Her nose buried playfully into her daughter’s belly, a light nudge before she moved, her head out of Valorkit’s reach.

“My heart, these are friends and clan mates. Come, try not to rouse your brothers and say hello to them.”

After all, this would be her daughter’s first meeting with any clan mates other than herself or Featherstar. And Blindsong wanted to show off the kits she was so very proud of.

[Valorkit]

She sqealed with kitten delight as her mother nudged her, and listening, slowly rolled over, and crawled between her brothers. She didn't want to risk to try walking on unsteady legs just to fall on one of them. Infact, did she even want to try walking at all? The ground was much nicer close up, that way, you couldn't fall and hurt yourself.

But then she remembered the dream.. She had been so happy as she danced past the heavenly bodies. Walking... It was worth a shot.

It took her a moment to figure out how to actually get up. Upon discovering this, she sat in an upright postion. First step to walking, was to get up, right? The little she-kit peered around, then craned her head to look at her mother. She didn't want to get too far away from her, so sitting would be fine for now.

Turning her head back, she purred louder, and opened her mouth to give greetings.

"...Hello..! I'm..."

Wait, what was her name again? ... Valorkit, thats it.

"I'm Valorkit.... Mama says I should say hello. Mama is always right, so I say hello..!"

She beamed, then peered around curiously.

"What.. Are your names?"

[/color][/i][/size]

[Brighteye]

Brighteye smiled. My name is Brighteye, young kit. This Valorkit was pure in heart and strong in spirit, she could see it in the young cat's eyes. But there was something there, something she could not quite identify. Was it the touch of......destiny?

[Onyxdart]

Warfox was hanging towards the back of the group, mostly because inside the den it was nice and warm- and he'd rather nice and cool, thank you all the same. He turned when someone asked if there was room for her.

"There is. Lemme get out of the way," he said kindly. The big orange cat moved so he wasn't right smack in the way of the tunnel, and glanced behind him, nodding towards the main part of the den. He saw she was shivering.

"And, you're in luck, it's really warm," he added, somewhat awkwardly.

"I like it much better in here," Spellbound noted as he found a nice place out of the way to curl up. It was warm.

"I'm Spellbound. Nice to meet you," he answered the small kit who'd just introduced herself. He couldn't remember ever having such nice manners to introduce himself, not as a kit, nooo way. That was something he'd learned after getting cuffed over the head enough times.

[icekit]

"Ahhh... so much warmer and nice bedding too."

Sapho smiled as he watched the kit rouse at her mother's gentle licking.

"My name is Sapho" he answered to Valorkit "I come from a canyon beyond these mountains."

[Underworld]

The tawny she-cat nodded her head weakly in thanks. She knew none of these cats – her scent was still wild and didn’t hold the warmth of Stoneclan.

A new member.

The fela moved, huddling near the entrance away from all the other cats. She was quiet, she was always a quiet one, but she sought to learn more about the cats she now shared a life with before she opened up even a little.

[Bovine]

Jadekit was tempted to go see Blindsong's kit...but the new Stoneclanner seemed to be summoning her like a magnet, however unintentional. Jadekit was always social, especially those who seemed to be having a bit of an awkward time.
She leapt off her perch, as she landed, her fluffy kit-fur fluffed up for a moment, walking daintily towards the newcomer.
She sat down right next to the she-cat, looking up with bright, innocent eyes, her trademark grin in place.
'Hallo! You look lonely and cold, Her voice was tinged with a bit of worry. Wanna come in sommore? There's plen'y of room.
She tilted her head a bit, looking up at the older cat inquisitively.

[Brighteye]

Brighteyewas startled by the newcomer, the cat having come in so quietly. She turned to the she-cat, who was huddling close to the opening, with her back to the wind. Yeah, come in closer, she said with a friendly smile. It's cold out there!

[Underworld]

“I..”

Underworld turned her broken gaze on the kit, almost wincing in anguish. Hexfrost…why…he was your own father…

The pain darkened her hues, before she glanced away and moved a little deeper into the nursery.

“Thank you…”

This kit seemed the parallel of her evil son – kind and friendly. Her coldness soften, but the pain never stopped burdening her.

[Brighteye]

You're welcome Brighteye said. The other cat seemed troubled. Brighteye forged ahead in her welcoming. What is your name? And story? she asked. And a mumble more to herself: 'Cause we all seem to have one...

[Underworld]

“My…my name?”

It was a question, as the troubled feline struggled to dredge her name up from the turbulent depths of her shattered mind.

“Underworld.”

She murmured softly, shivering once before she settled into a half-crouch once again.

“M-my story….”

Pain raged within haunted yellow hues, and then the she cat looked away, towards the wall of the nursery.

So far that the assassin had fallen, how broken her heart had become.

[Blindsong]

Blindsong gave her daughter a gentle, fond lick on her head as she spoke, how own purr loud and proud in little Valorkit. She was doing so well – improving much quicker than her two brothers were.

Another squeak sounded from the nest, as a black, orange, and white for wiggled and awoke from his slumber by the sound of voices. The warm, inviting scent of his mother, the exiting scent of unknown cats, strangers.

“Momma?”

Where his sister was already getting the tint of the color her eyes would be as an adult, Honorkit’s eyes remained the pure untainted blue of the sky. It wouldn’t be surprising if those orbs maintained that rich, vibrant hue – innocent and pure.

“Momma, ‘s goin’ on?”

“Hush little one, friends are here visiting.”

“Oh.”

With shaky legs he rose into a sit, safer that was that walking like his sister.

“Hallo momma’s friends!”

[Bovine]

Jadekit's eyes softened and a sympathetic look replaced her bright cheery one. She nudged the she-cat's side softly, as if to comfort, then looked over to Brighteye.
I think she should tell us when she's ready. I think she needs some time to recover.
She spoke softly to Brighteye, but loud enough for Underworld to hear. She looked back up to the dark-pelted she-cat, whiskers twitching slightly...What could have caused her to feel such pain?

[Underworld]

Gratefulness shone briefly within golden hues, as the mottled golden tabby blinked, trying to shove the pain away. It was a valiant attempt, but she had lost just so much…and Silentbriar’s gentle face haunted every waking moment.

But then the white face of Hexfrost, her only son, replaced the image of her father, and Underworld cringed, ducking her head away from the young kit and the other kindly she-cat.

A sigh. Only time could heal such wounds.

[Brighteye]

Brighteye nodded at Jadekit. Wise little kit, she thought, She'll go far. She turned to Underworld. Well, you're StoneClan now, and that's what's important. She nodded in Honorkit's direction. Just like that little kit there. Hello to you, too.