Oakkits world

[Nightstalker]

Tiny pink jaws gaped open in a massive yawn that seemed to big for the new born kits head. His tiny, sharp, white fangs glimmered in the near darkness of the only world he knew. He had never yet dreamed of the far bigger world outside his own. That was about to change. Forever. Oakkits jaws closed with a comical snap. His eyes opened slowly, still blurry from his youth, a silent mew escaped his slightly parted mouth and his lips pulled back in a snarl of fright at the noise, loud in the close walls of his world. Oakkits erect ears caught a sound. It was the smallest of sounds, just the soft patter of snow falling outside, but Oakkit didn't know that, he didn't even know there was an "outside" all he knew was that there was a noise, from beyond his warm, sleepy world. Mind buzzing with curiosity Oakkit rose on unsteady paws and tottered towards the noise. He met a soft warm wall, that crunched as he bounced off it. Oakkit fell softly to the ground. Cushioned by soft moss and ferns. Undaunted Oakkit pulled himself to his paws again, using the wall that had attacked him to steady him. Slowly Oakkit followed the curving wall. His Kit-soft fur scraping along the side until suddenly, there was nothing. For the first time in his short life Oakit fell onto hard, cold earth. His heart gave a great thrill of excitement as he followed the cold earth away from his soft warm world. He was welcomed into the new world by freezing cold and Blackness. Wind tore furiously at his thin pelt, but Oakkit didn't know it was wind. He thought it was an immortal enemy, trying to tear him to shreds. He yowled in fear as the wind knocked him over, tumbling him across the cold hard earth. a small rock grazed his side as he fell against it. Oakkit tried to scramble back to his own soft, beautiful world, but he couldn't find it! He scented the air furiously, straining to see with his weak kitten eyes. He pushed his way towards an even darker shape in the darkness but when he reached it he found it was insubstantial and he fell into a freezing wall of snow. Oakkit screamed in terror, thrashing around in the wet hard stuff until he was exhausted. He mewed plaintively for his mother, but the wind tore the sound away, and sent it spinning off into this new, cold, lonely world.

OOC: New born and already in trouble! Pebblefur will have her paws fill Dark!

[{darkles}]

Across the moors the snow was starting to settle. Piling deeper on the peaty ground, the driving wind pushing it against the heathers to build up lopsidedly. The temperatures had dropped overnight and were no better during the day. Sunlight barely ventured from behind the opal-white clouds that bunched together so effectively, creating the illusion that the sky had never been blue - but always the same white colour, drifting lazily onwards. The stars of Silverpelt had also vanished of an evening and the moon had waned. It was several days since the Gathering, the evening when WindClan had increased in numbers with only a single cats notice.

Pebblefur, the cat in question, had spent the past two suns resting, never leaving her newborns for a second and relying on the Clans apprentices for freshkill and water. Having taken plenty of the right herbs before birthing she was producing plenty of milk, meaning that she could also suckle Moonkit and Snakekit. They were the kits of a warrior named Nightfeather, whose mate had tragically died giving the little creatures life. So far they had been struggling along on a paw-made mixture of herbs, the result being that they were half the size any normal kit would be at their age and the grey cat suspected they would take a while to recover fully. As of yet they were still not sharing a nest with her, but she didn't mind so much. They had not rejected her milk and that was the main issue.

This morning she had woken groggily, her head feeling a bit fuzzy and her senses dulled ever so slightly. She wasn't ill, for she hadn't left the nursery in days, but all the same she didn't feel quite right. The strange sensation heightened as she became more and more conscious and for some reason she felt as though something was wrong. It was as though a little alarm was wailing in her head, telling her that something crucial was missing. With a tremendous yawn the she-cat lifted her head from the pillow of heather she had been dozing on and turned to check on the two balls of fluff that lay by her side. She stifled a purr at the thought of her kits - they made her so proud. Hopefully they'll open their eyes soon she thought to herself, nosing Rowankit gently. The little she-kit was always peaceful, unlike her elder brother who was always the source of the latest noise in the nursery. Oakkit was..

Gone.

Pebblefur's eyes flew wide and she sat up straight, her ears straining for the smallest sign as her pale blue orbs made a sweep of the nursery. Oakkit was indeed gone. The alarm inside her head grew to fever pitch as she launched herself out of the nest. Crossing the small distance to the nursery entrance she let out a high pitched yowl of distress.

'My kit! My kit's gone!' The sound carried over the noise of the wind, reaching the far edges of the camp. Even a warrior in the gorse tunnel would have heard the queens desperate cry. Sticking her face closer to the ground she tried to pick up the little kits scent, but it had been lost to the snow and the wind. Instead she scanned the sodden white cold for any clues that might lead her to her precious bundle.

[Nightstalker]

Oakkit whimpered pitifully, his side was burning where he had hit the sharp rock. The little kit had never experienced pain so he had no way to describe it. He gave a weak jerk. The latest in a series of attempts to free himself from this freezing tomb. Oakkit was shaking like a leaf in the autumn winds. His soft pelt wasn't sufficient to shield him from the bitter cold. Slowly his shaking began to ebb, he relaxed into the snow, and purred softly. He wasn't old or experienced enough to wonder why he wasn't cold anymore, he was only pleased that he wasn't. Oakkit called once more for his mother, a sudden drop in the wind made the sound almost audible, almost. Oakkit closed his eyes. He wasn't purring any more, he was hungry, and missed his mother and sister.

[Leopardstar]

Leopardstar was dreaming contently of her future with a full clan of strong Warriors when she was awakened to a yowl.
The sound of a stricken mother.
Her eyes flicked open. Dread enfolded her in its grip, arms squezzing tight. Finally she pulled away and raced out into the caeos, fearing the worst. She had learnt at a younge age to always fear the worst even in the most unlikely situations. As she scrambled out of her den, the light of the new day blinded her, setting her back a few precious seconds before she could continue. Her eyes raked in everything around her. Her ears searched the air for more sounds of distress. only an eirre silence.
Nothing.

Her hope dwindled, even though she wasn't certain of the situation. Her eyes finally fell on Pebblefur, and it was clear that she was the cause of alarm. Without missing a beat, Leopardstar flew of the den platform and raced to Pebblefurs aid. As she was nearing the disaster it hit her. A kit was missing. Her heart skipped a beat has the realisation hit her.

Reaching Pebblefurs side she stopped and searched her eyes. Unreadable.
She sniffed the air only to find a faint, just there, scent of Oakkit. Looking back at the queen she meowed "Ill send out patrols in search of him. Would you like to help or wait in case of his return?"

[{darkles}]

[OoC; 'pologies for my lateness, was doodling character ideas instead ^^;]

Whining softly the queen lifted her pretty head to see Leopardstar, her leader, bounding through the snow towards her. She could feel fresh flakes starting to fall onto her pelt, the miniature ice structures melting just enough to soak down and make her tremble with the cold. Fear was fluttering in her heart, making it beat faster and stronger. There was no way of knowing how long little Oakkit had been out in the freezing cold. Perhaps it was already too late? Don't think that! she snarled to herself, already aware that precious minutes were being lost as she stood thinking.

'I.. I need to stay with the other three kits, they might panic if they wake up and I'm not there..' Her eyes filled with dread and sorrow as she spoke, the thought of sitting in camp and not even trying to search for her kit was heartbreaking but she knew the others needed her more.

'Please' She whispered, 'Find my kit. Bring him home safely' Unable to bear it anymore she turned away, twisting upon herself to head back to the nursery. If cats could cry, her eyes would have been streaming. She entered the relative warmth of the nursery and shook the snow from between her paw-pads. Her head was low and her tail drooped as she made her way back to Rowankit, her tiny body was still curled up in their nest, Moonkit and Snakekit were also still asleep together. Pebblefur wrapped herself around her daughter and buried her nose in the little kits fur. She'd failed Oakkit. She should have been looking out for him. If she had been a better mother.. perhaps this would not be happening?

[Leopardstar]

Leopardstars heart swelled for the young queen but not being a mum she found it hard to comprehend what the she cat was probably going through. Shifting her weight slightly she gazed at Pebblefur as she walked, droopily into the den.
The snow was now falling thickly and it wan't untill a large, cold and VERY wet snowflake landed on her nse that she remembered that feeling sorry for the depressed queen wan't going to help her.

Gazing around the clearing, filled with snow, she sniffed slightly before running and leaping up to her high rock. She sent a deprate yowl across the wind touched iceland. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, come quick for a URGENT clan meeting!" Her yowl carried on the wind. HOPEFULLY to the sleeping cats, although she wouldn't bet on it. She would go in there personally to wake them if she had too.

[frostedpaw]

Rowankit purred, feeling her mother's warmth as she awoke. She stretched her tiny body. The young kit opened her eyes slowly and looked around. The nursery was much smaller than she pictured it. In her mind, the nursery had been as big as the entire world. In fact, to her, it had been the entire world. But now that her sparkly eyes were open, she was curious to see the rest of the world, or at least the rest of the camp. Tired still, she stayed laying down and let her eyes adjust to the light. The rest of the world would have to wait a while, she decided. She looked up Her mother, Moonkit and Snakekit were there but she could tell someone was missing. She looked around curiously. "So this is what they look like..." She mewed quietly. Rowankit glanced around, still looking for the one cat that she knew was missing. Where was her brother, Oakkit? "Mother?" She mewed softly.

[Ebonstar]

Paddint into camp, Nightfeather heard the urgent meow of his leader, calling the Clan together. He rushed over to her, meowing up, 'I can tell something's happened. What is it?'

[sorry, dead muse]

[Jayflight]

Smokefeather had, of course, been outside hunting. A shock to those who thought a former Thunderclan warrior couldn't hunt here, he was carrying a small rabbit in his jaws. He raced over to the pile, dropped the cold bit of flesh, and; amber eyes full of confusion, tail bristling; he galloped to stand, not sit, with the other clan members. He was ready, more than anything, to fight and his long claws sank deep into the freezing winter ground. Yet he saw no intruders, nor did he scent them, and began to calm himself. "Whaddit?" he questioned with a yawn and a glare towards Nightfeather. The tom may have had a dead mate and may have been a fair enough feline, but it wasn't in the nature of Smokefeather to forgive and forget.

[Leopardstar]

Leopardstar thanked starclan that at least 2 windclan warriors were apt enough to show up. "Pebblefurs kit, Oakkit has gone missing. We need to find him and fast. Hell die of cold" she added it a hushed whisper so the distressed queen couldnt hear.

[Jayflight]

Despite his avoidance of kits, Smokefeather summoned every scrap of concern he could for his new Clan's sake and nodded. "I..." Did he really? Sniff, sniff. "I think I smell Oakkit!" He yowled, bounding over to where he lay. The huge tom didn't hesitait; reaching right away, aiming to pull a cold kit out and maybe, if the kit wasn't too cold, to show off his 'victory'.

[Nightstalker]

The light was brighter then he had ever seen before. It was all he could see, whiteness. Oakkit closed his eyes against the blinding light. He opened his mouth in a silent mew and then found that he couldn't breathe. His mouth was filled with a freezing cold mix which burnt his mouth and clogged his throat. A stray thought entered his mind, something about how the freezing cold could be so hot. Oakkit coughed weakly, but couldn't rid himself of the snow. Hesitantly Oakkit drew a tiny breath in through his nose. The cold air stung his sensitive nose and when he tried to move Oakkit found that his prison had collapsed upon him, stopping him from moving. Oakkit took another strained breath . He was so tired. So tired that he wasn't hungry anymore, let alone cold. all he wanted to do was sleep. Oakkit breathed out, letting out all the breath that he had been storing. Oakkit relaxed into the snow. The blackness surged around him. Then suddenly all support was gone and he was hanging suspended in the air. Oakkit felt cold Pierce him again, but soon he was unaware of anything else but the smooth calming blackness all around him.

[Ebonstar]

Nightfeather's head shot up at the smokey coloured toms announcement, and was hot on his paws when the other cat leapt over to a small hole on the borderline of the camp. 'Is he there?' came the urgent meow from the worried tom.

[Jayflight]

The tom quickly realized that this was no time for glotaing. They had to get him to safety. Gazing for a heartbeat at Nightfeather, the faintly striped tom galloped to the nursery. He was improving in his speed, and it was only over too quick before he nestled Oakkit to his mother the best he could. "Lick him well." He retreated to the sidelines with careful eyes, concerned for the little kit. Maybe he should have taken the best care he could of Oakkit back in the clearing. But the cold snow would deplete the warmth nonetheless, so he just had to live with the fact that any way you put it, he'd helped.

[{darkles}]

The young queen had lain in her nest, listening to the yowling voices and frantic searching coming from the outside world. She did her best to ignore them, block them out, so that she wouldn't have to think about what her poor little tomkit was going through. Thankfully Rowankit had awoken and was keeping her plenty busy as it was.

'Hush Rowankit' she murmured, licking the kit between the ears with purposeful strokes. It was so like kits not to wash properly. 'Oakkit will be home soon dear..' Pebblefur neglected to mention the possibility that Oakkit may not return alive. She didn't want to consider it and she knew she would only frighten Rowankit more. Leaning over the small feline she poked her nose into Moonkit and Snakekit's nest. The pair were still asleep. It troubled her slightly that they did little else but sleep, though she supposed their bad start in life meant they had smaller energy reserves and couldn't go as long without a nap. If only Oakkit was the same she thought, suppressing a sigh. The bouncy youngster had only recently opened his eyes and yet he was always the main cause of trouble in the entire camp, let alone just the nursery.

The noise in the clearing began to get louder and more shrill, ending in a pounding of pawsteps and a sudden silence. Fear stalked her blue eyes as she gaped at the entrance, waiting, wondering.. had they found something? Her questions were answered when a broad shouldered grey tom pushed his way into the nursery, a scrap of fluff dangling limply from his jaws. The patchy she-cat opened her mouth to yowl a heartfelt thank you but stopped when she realised just how cold Oakkit was. He hadn't moved. She could barely see his sides rising and falling. Ignoring the warriors words as he laid the kit in her nest she instinctively began to lick her kit, ruffling his fur the wrong way and wrapping her forepaws around his tiny body, pressing her warmth closer to him.

[Nightstalker]

The blackness was nice. It was warm and soft ad sheltered from the cold. The dreadful unsupporting force was gone and there was a soft rhythmic stroke up his spine every second. Oakkits head was spinning and the cold rushed into him. He began to shake and opened his mouth. A tiny mew came out of his parted lips and he opened his eyes. He couldn't see much, just dim shadows. Oakkits eyes closed of their own accord, he curled in a tight ball against the warm presence enveloping him.

[{darkles}]

[OoC: After this I'm going to wait and see if Rowankit posts. Everyone else is free to post inbetween times.]

The feeling of the small kit wriggling between her paws made Pebblefur stop licking and open her eyes for a few heartbeats. He was alive! Her precious kit was still fighting. She muttered darkly about the words they were going to share once he was back to full strength but still pushed her muzzle into his kit-soft pelt and breathed in his scent, tainted with the cold of the snow and the smells of the outside.

'You stupid furball!' she murmured, beginning to lick the kit again, ruffling his fur even further. She was so happy she could have leapt to Silverpelt and back with one bound. Once Oakkit had been thoroughly dried the queen nosed him to her belly to be next to Rowankit, and so he would be able to suckle if he woke up hungry. Her blue eyes then sought out Smokefeather. She had never really spoken to the tomcat before but now her eyes held nothing but respect for the brave warrior.

'Thank you for saving my kit. I'm sure he'll thank you too, once he's recovered' Pebblefur purred contentedly, quite happy to spend as long a time as possible snuggled up with her kits. She wished Leopardstar could be here, she needed to thank her also for raising the alarm and bringing help so fast. If it wasn't for Leopardstar and Smokefeathers fast actions, the poor scrap of fur sleeping beside her might still be out in the freezing snow storm, or worse.

[Nightstalker]

Oakkit purred even louder. He opened one blurry, exhausted eye. "Can i go outside mum?"

[{darkles}]

(She's not going to reply is she?? >.<)

Blue eyes flicked open at the sound of her kits mewling voice, both glee and annoyance both springing headfirst into her mind as she worked out the words. After causing no end of trouble amongst the entire Clan, not least having to disturb their leader and driving Pebblefur out of her mind with worry - and he asked to go outside. She rolled her eyes at the small kitten and batted him playfully with one large paw, pushing him closer to her belly.

'It's a bit late for that one!' she scolded gently, 'No Oakkit, you'll have something to eat and then you need to rest' The queen put a lot of emphasis on the word 'rest'. She couldn't understand how the little tom wasn't exhausted from his mornings trouble making, when even her frantic searching had tired her completely, and given her a slight snuffle. She sneezed, as if on cue, and wiped her dripping nose onto a scrap of stray moss. Perhaps she'd caught a cold, well, even more reason not to go outside with Oakkit then - she thought.

[Nightstalker]

OOC: Don't think so

IC: Oakkit moaned in dissapointment. But maybe he was tired, just a little. He snuggled closer to his mother and curled up into a tight ball adainst her.

(He's a ball of trouble isn't he.)