O Waiting in the Den O (During Gathering)

[Zeporah]

Zeporah lay in the nursery. Her two surviving kits curled up beside her, seemingly asleep. She looked outside, her tabby and white face smudged with the cool glow of the full moon. She was happy, learning to live clan life somewhat resentfully, yet greatly appreciative. There was value in this kind of life, and she wanted her kits to enjoy the safety of the clan, despite all her own opinions of independence. Even so Zeporah thought, gazing down at her kits, They will be happy here.

A pang of sadness swept over her as she remember her two darling sons, Yin and Yang, out there... somewhere... Restless. The queen stood up quietly from the sleeping kits and paced to the nursery door, where she stood, looking up at the clear night sky and wondered... It has been a full five moons since her kitting. Her kits would be apprenticed soon. It would have been nice if her offspring would be mentored by her boys... But that wouldn't be possible...

Jackie... the tan tabby, watched her mother behind a fuzzy brown paw.

[reflection]

Reflection had been pretending to be asleep, but she was too excited. She wanted to know what was going on, at the Gathering! But when her mother left her, she almost squeaked out, 'Yee! It's freezing!' She stopped herself just in time, but Reflection was just too excited! She rose from Jackie's side, soft, kitten fur puffed up against the chilled night air. "Mom?" she mewed, quite cold already. "When are they getting back? I want to know what's happening!" She nuzzled her mother's leg, purring loudly.

The gray and white little femme glanced at her sister; her only living littermate. She had never known Yin or Yang, only heard their mother sighing softly about her 'lost sons'. Reflection wondered where her older brothers were; if they found them, maybe Zeporah would be happy again! She wrapped herself around Zeporah's leg and then sprinted back to Jackie and whispered her idea quietly into her sister's ear.

[quintessence]

"Zeporah? Are your kittens well?"

The youthful voice, which obviously belonged to a tom, sounded close at hand. It was cheerful and friendly.

A black, tan, and white calico stepped into the deep shadows of the den, his teal eyes dancing. He was an unusually handsome tom, bordering on flawless, but his face was mobile and full of character. Beneath his thick, medium-length fur, his body was lean and strong, and in his jaws he held several choice peices of fresh-kill, still warm.
"I come bearing gifts," he said jovially.

Quintessence lay the food at the queen's feet, and, looking past her, meowed in warm greeting, "Kits! Reflection and Jackie! How are you on this fine evening?"
For Quint loved kits nearly as much as he loved the thrill of the hunt and the chase, as much as he had enjoyed stealing.

[Zeporah]

The queen's ears cocked backward, hearing the recognizable voice of one of Reflection. She smiled, ever so faintly, her two sons remaining on the back of her mind, but for now, duty called. She purred loudly, rumbling through her body and through her kit's as she rubbed against her leg.

"How can I?"She said softly, so as to not awake the other queen and her kits. "We'll just have to wait until their return." She smiled, kitten enthusiasm was just to strong not to share. A new voice behind her made her stiffen. Zeporah still wasn't used to clan life, though she fitted in well, the constant life around her was still unusual for the elder queen. She turned back to look at the speaker. Quintessence. He's had a special interest in the life of the kits. It made Zeporah wary, but so far, there had been no hositility shown to her blood, so she refused to show too much of a temper... Though she did enjoy watching the cats walk on eggshells... Just because Zeporah was that prickly sort.

"Obviously, Quientessence. Honestly, I think the lot of you believe I'm a horrible mother because I'm a rogue..." She gave Quint a disdainful sniff, but took the gifts he offered with nothing further to ruffle his fur. She turned to call her kits to dinner, but there was no need, the two of them seemed to be already on their way.

[jackie]

Jackie, being 'awakened' by her sisters promptings, listened intently and promptly agreed. She didn't much enjoy her mother sulking so. Hearing the voice of Quint, the sassy calico tom, Jackie scuttled over, her kit fur sticking at odd angles from the cold. "Quint! Are they back yet?!" Jackie was a playful sort, inquistive and quite the troublemaker, but she was tender hearted, not at all like her mother. The tan tabby kit touched noses with the tom, before playfully attacking a mouse he had brought with him.

[reflection]

Reflection touched noses with Quintenssence also, then dipped her head in respect. Ah, mouses? The little gray and white kitten had no real respect for grammar, and spoke just like a little kid who'd had no lessons. "Yeahyeahyeah, are they back yet? When are they getting back?" she mewed, then without waiting for an answer, pounced on the other mouse that Quint had been carrying. He had also been carrying much more fresh-kill, but the mouse drew her attention much more.

Reflection was just as playful as her sister, but was more drawn to medicine than Jackie was. She was always interested in what Puffin? was doing, and when Zeporah let her roam around the camp, she went in to the medicine cat's den.

[jackie]

Jackie eyed her sister, her tan tail twitching impishly. Without a formal warning, the kit tackled her sister, her yellow-green eyes bright with mischief.