Private with Fire

He growled, pacing back and forth. What could he do. Finally, his will let down, and he turned and sprinted straight for his kit, forgetting about the scent markers.

Nightkit heard him but ignored him, figuring he was just trying to scare her into going back. She'd have noticed crossing the border..... Right?

The leader stopped at the border, knowing he couldn't cross without starting a war. "Nightkit, come back here at once! I'll rip your ears off if you don't. You're in Beechclan territory!"

Nightkit's ears twitched when she heard her father and sped up, not knowing she was in the territory of BeechClan.

Blackstar sprinted to the border, stopping when he reached the edge. "Nightkit!" he yowled, "Where are you?"

Not noticing the scent markers as she was concentrating on following a beetle, the mostly black she-kit crossed the border.

Blackstar finished his conversation as she was approaching the border, and he padded out to see his daughter gone. He hurried to her spot scenting the ground to chase her, and grew cold when it led directly out of camp. "Stupid kit..." he whispered realizing what had happened. He dashed out on his own, following the scent rapidly.

Quickly looking around, Nightkit then snuck out of the entrance. Hurrying away from camp, she stopped for a moment when she was a good distance away, before continuing to move. Unknowingly, as she explored, she drew closer to the border.

Blackstar entered the den without looking back, trusting his daughter to listen to his orders. He began to get involved in a long debate with other warriors on a policy between his and other clans, not paying attention to Nightkit.

Nightkit blinked her green eyes up at her father and nodded obediently, but inwardly she was cheering the warrior. Finally! A chance to escape! Her mother was asleep and most of the cats were out of camp, so this was perfect.

He grinned at her with a wide smile, his white teeth flashing. "C'mon, I'll carry you on my back." He crouched and let her scramble onto his back, before walking out of the den, purring warmly as he carried his only surviving kit. He paraded around to the entrance, and was about to go back when a senior warrior called over to him with a question. "Damnit," Blackstar growled, then covered his mouth with a paw. He glanced at his kit. "I meant darnit," he corrected himself, and gently set her down. "Stay here, I'll be right back."

Nightkit twitched her tail tip, looking up at Blackstar. "Okay," she said simply, inwardly wishing her parents would leave her alone for at least one moment. She wanted to try and get out again.

Blackstar walked into the nursery, his chin and tail raised high. He saw his kit and purred at her warmly. "Hey, Nightkit, I thought we could have some more father-daughter bonding time. We don't talk enough." Truth was, Blackstar, the new leader, adored his new daughter, and practically stalked her when he wasn't doing his leadership duties. He had stopped her from sneaking out and pretended to be furious with her, but he really just wanted to hug her and keep her safe.

(Meeee > )

Nightkit had so far made no less than six attempts to sneak out of camp, but with her father being the leader and both her parents stupendously overprotective because of her two dead brothers, she had never made it out. So the young black kit was incredibly frustrated.

He shook his head and wrapped himself around her, shielding her from the cold and prying eyes.

Several moons passed, and eventually Nightkit grew to be 5 moons old, strong and daring.

(do you want to rp Nightkit, or me?)

(Yeah)

Pineleaf didn't even try to argue with her mate, curling up and falling into sleep. She just wanted to sleep and never wake up, to spare herself the pain of the awful truth.

"Good," he whispered, and he took the remains out of the den and came back. "Now lay your head down and sleep. I mean it. Don't even try to argue with me."

(want to time-skip to a couple moons ahead now?)

Silently, she tore flesh from the finch and chewed/swallowed it, spitting out the feathers, until it was gone. But it made her feel sick.

He frowned and forcefully poked her muzzle, dragging they prey up so it brushed her whiskers. "Please...for Nightkit. Then you two can sleep together, and I'll watch over you both. Nothing will touch you, I swear. But you must eat."

She didn't respond, resting her head on her paws and closing her eyes. She didn't want to be cheered up, she wanted her sons.

"Three more bites. I shall keep pestering you until you take three more bites." He tried to grin at her, hoping to boost her mood, though he knew it'd probably be hopeless.

She stared down at the finch, reluctantly eating at the thought of Nightkit. But she could only swallow a few mouthfuls, the food sticking in her throat, and pushed it away.

"Here," he continued, pulling out a finch behind him. "Eat this. You must. You have to be able to be strong and make milk for Nightkit." He nudged the food closer, hoping his mate would obey.

Pineleaf just stared at her mate blankly, curling tighter around Nightkit.

"I'll bury them now," he whispered, carrying them out." He returned later, dirt in his paws and claws, his eyes sorrowful. "Are you feeling better?" he asked in a strong voice, knowing they had to keep their daughter alive.