Starstablegal - Mintleaf is an interesting medicine cat, eh? Also yeah, Icaruswind might be a bull-headed snappy tom, but so is Whiskertail, and hey, even Beepath herself has some snap to her. They all went through something though that has made then like that. (Although we only know most of what Beepath has gone through, not the others.)

Lunamoon3410 - I'll use Treekit as one of Owlpop's litter.

ShadowFox - Dirtclaw used the nickname 'Beehive' for her. That's why he calls her that.

November, 17, 2020

The days carried on with a heavy weight. He never left the nursery much, only to grab herbs that were needed for Beepath.

Everyday Dirtclaw would come and bring him prey. Sitting down long enough to make sure he ate, giving Beepath a miserable look, before stalking off.

Shellwhisper visted them too. She never looked or acted like it was a big problem she had to be there. And instead seemed to enjoy speaking to the grumpy tom, asking things about Beepath.

"So, she liked fish more than anything else?" Questioned the white she-cat as she worked on fixing another medicine wrap.

Icaruswind nodded. "Yup, I had to learn how to fish before she would even eat anything." He gave a small huff, it was enough of a laugh to get the medicine cat to nod and smile.

"Good, at least I know you don't need any herbs." Was all she had to comment on it before silence wrapped around them once more.

The silver tom never hated the quiet. And instead enjoyed it while it lasted. He didn't want to hear the mewling of those cursed kits, or having to hear the whimpers of Beepath's family.

Icaruswind frowned as he watched her flank raise and fall. She had been through many things, and finally, after all it was done, she dies from this? He had heard the stories. And soon enough he was able to get cats to talk - tell him the rumors that circled around camp.

Now he stared down at his kits. Eye narrowed. What if she didn't make it past these few days? How could he possibly ever take care of three kits by himself? I can't. Icaruswind knew he'd never be able to even look at them if she died.

And him. The gray tomkit. That wasn't his kitten, it was Ashtooth's. It was well known that a female could bare the litter of kittens with mixed blood. One kits could be from a different tom as it's littermate, thus being half-siblings born of the same litter.

The other two seemed to be his though. And he knew that Beepath saw this too, he had seen the look of horror flash across her face when she saw the linky gray kitten.

It was the same look she started to give Ashtooth. Right after Graypaw's death, and he acted so coldly to her. Icaruswind knew why the tom was so cold now. He had witnessed the death of his only brother.

Graypaw wasn't the most heavenly cat. Instead he was probably resting in the Dark Forest, still attacking cats in their nightmares. But when Beepath had killed him, it was a thing that made him take a step back.

Not much was able to surprise him. But seeing the lamed, scared, quiet and somewhat snappy she-cat kill that bulky foxheart, it was a sight. Ashtooth, then Ashpaw, had also seemed conflicted on his thoughts.

At first Ashtooth had sent so horrified, them grateful, before returning to a tumbling mess. Both had been hiding in the bushes, although Icaruswind knew that neither knew he was there, and Beepath didn't know she had been watched by either of the toms.

In fact she seemed surprised to have even killed the tom. After she did, she had looked shocked and somewhat numbed. Cleaning off the blood from her claws and maw before walking off.

Now he could see both Ashtooth and Graypaw in this little kitten. A tom, raised by the murder of his uncle, and the former friend and paired mate of his father.

*

The days dragged on until finally she stirred. Icaruswind had been half asleep, eyes glittering close as he heard her move. Feeling the soft tail sweep over his nose and those pale eyes looking at him.

Overwhelmed he couldn't manage words. Muzzle pushing into her nest, a purr rumbling his entire body. "Finally awake?" It was more of a growl than a purr that came out. But she purred, giving his ears a weak lick.

"Yeah.." The she-cat breathed out the word before resting her head down. Ears flicking as she gave a small whimper, flinching as she moved her legs.

The long scratch on her leg was patched up in cobwebs. And there had been many herbs pressed onto it to keep it from getting infected. But even now he could see the dried blood that, whenever she moved, pulled at the hairs on her flank.

"It caused most of the bleeding." Icaruswind explained as she continuously stared at the patch, confused.

Beepath gave a small nod. A grim grin spreading on her maw as she chuckled dryly. "So, someone finally tried to kill me?" It wasn't a surprise to her. And instead she lashed her tail, looking to the kits, as if her waking from death itself was nothing.

"You should be resting," he rumbled. His nose touching her cheek. "Please, I can go get Shellwhisper.."

Growling the she-cat shook her head a bit to violently. "No!" The growl was a whispered yell, ears flat as she narrowed her eyes. "I..I just want to name them...Then I'll rest."

Icaruswind kneaded the moss at his forepaws. If he really wanted he could get her to sleep. She was weakened, and already he could see the tiredness drifting into her eyes. But there was also a pleading look in her pale orbs that made him stop and sigh.

"Fine, but make it quick. You have three moons to think of names." The tom moved so that he could see the kits better. Tail curling over her back as he gazed at them.

It had been a few days since they were born. And then they had somewhat guessed what each kit looked like - and now he saw that they somewhat changed.

The only she-cat now looked like she had more stripes. Still, there was flecks, and her muzzle and belly was more silverish than gray, like the rest of her, but she mainly stayed the same.

The second kitten, a white-and-gray tabby tom, looked more white pelted than anything. He had a silver striped muzzle, ears, and tail tip, along with a little bit of silver on his toes. Other than that he was a mainly short pelted white tom, reminding Icaruswind of the snow that still coated the ground outside.

And finally, Ashtooth's son. He looked mainly the same, long-limbed gray tom with a slender build. The only difference was that he seemed to have longer fur and tufted ears like Beepath and her brother, Hornetrun.

"I think we should name the gray tom Leapingkit," she meowed, eyes narrowed harshly as she tried to keep her voice steady.

Getting it out of the way. "Alright than, how about Icekit for the second tom?" He liked the name.

Beepath nodded. They stayed silent. What would the smallest of the litter be named? She looked like a small Beepath, only more short pelted. "I.." Beepath started to talk. Eyes flashing as she shifted.

"Yes?" The tom leaned forward. Dull blue eye boring into her pelt as he waited. He could see she was thinking hard, eyes flashing as she shifted every second. "Talk, baby" he mewed.

"Jadekit," she whispered. "I want to name her Jadekit."

November, 19, 2020