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Post by Honeyfrost on Jan 3, 2013 23:17:23 GMT -5
Honeyfrost shrugged. "Kits grow up and mature, and then they have kits.... it's just a game of patience, I guess" she said. "You know, if you need help in here, I don't mind helping out." she added in softly. "You're fun to be around."
From the corner of her eye she noticed Reedkit sitting alone eating the prey. She sighed and called out into the clearing. "Reedkit? Why don't you go find your sister and share that with her? The clan is low on prey, and it'd be helpful if we shared"
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Post by Reedkit on Jan 3, 2013 23:20:55 GMT -5
Reedkit flinched, and looked back at Reedkit. "Me?" He sarcastically murmured, and shouldered his way to the nursery.
"Brindlekit?" He echoed in the Nursery again, and peeked through. "Where are you?"
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Post by Lastsong on Jan 3, 2013 23:22:56 GMT -5
Lastsong frowned slightly at Honeyfrost's... compliment. Assuming she was serious, which she seemed to be. I suppose I tend to be less prickly around queens. Lastsong thought, sighing inwardly. Well, it was nice to have one cat who actually would like to spend time around him. Even if she didn't have many other options.
"You're quite welcome to help if you like. It'd help me get done much quicker." He pricked his ears when Honeyfrost shouted to Reedkit. His glance moved over to the vole lying on his den floor. He would eat it as soon as he had some free time. For that moment, though, he had work to do.
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Post by Reedkit on Jan 3, 2013 23:27:12 GMT -5
Reedkit grumbled under her breath, and sat at the entrance of the nursery, looking for Brindlekit. "Where are you, C'mon?"
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Post by Honeyfrost on Jan 3, 2013 23:37:02 GMT -5
"Ok. I'd be more than happy to help you out" she purred. She came further into the den and looked at all of the herbs. There were so many of them! How did Lastsong do all of this? "Sooo, what do you want me to do?"
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Post by Lastsong on Jan 3, 2013 23:40:05 GMT -5
Lastsong carefully slipped one of his small paws into the crevice he kept herbs in. He pulled out a bundle of marigold leaves wrapped tightly in a leaf wrapping. He set it in front of her and gently unwrapped the bundle.
"This is marigold," he explained. "You can count how many leaves there are, and check for any that can't be used. Like..." The medicine cat gently brushed some of the leaves aside and brought out one that had browned and was shriveled and crumbly. "This one," he finished, presenting the leaf to her to examine.
"When you're finished counting let me know how many leaves are left and then set them back on the leaf so I can put them away."
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Post by Honeyfrost on Jan 3, 2013 23:46:11 GMT -5
Honeyfrost nodded. She slowly examined all of the leaves carefully. There weren't many to start with, and a lot of them looked damaged from the frost. She handled each leaf with care, in fear that if she wasn't careful she may accidently ruin or rip one. She counted all of them, and then turned to Lastsong with all of the leaves.
"I only counted seven of them" she said, handing them over to the medicine cat.
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Post by Lastsong on Jan 3, 2013 23:50:12 GMT -5
"Seven," the medicine cat said with a sigh. "Not nearly enough. I will have to search for more before the frost sets in for good." He checked the wrappings and then gently replaced that bundle. Marking the number in the soft sand beside the crevice, he moved on to the next bundle of herbs. He had been checking the juniper berries, and there were a good many of those. Lastsong pulled out some catmint and burdock. He placed the latter in front of Honeyfrost and separated out one bad one that he spotted.
"There's a rotten one, so you know what to look for. This is burdock root. Good for curing rat bites, if a cat should come by them." Lastsong turned back to the bundle of catmint and began unwrapping it carefully.
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Post by Reedkit on Jan 3, 2013 23:54:59 GMT -5
Reedkit snooped from the side of the medicine cat den, his maw opening in an expression of interest. He peeked in more, and twitched, watching as Lastsong organized the herbs.
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Post by Honeyfrost on Jan 4, 2013 0:25:35 GMT -5
As Honeyfrost tried paying attention to Lastsong, she felt an uncomfortable ache. She ignored it, since she had felt those before a few times. But the more she ignored the pain, the more the pain was hurting. She winced, but once more pushed it out of her mind. It'd go away in a few minutes, she was sure.
But the pain grew heavier and sharper, and she gasped. "Ow!" she growled. The pain eased for a few seconds, and she let out a sigh of relief. But then, the pain returned. And then her eyes widened as she realized what was going on.
"Lastsong, I hate to interrupt. But I think the kits are coming!"
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Post by Lastsong on Jan 4, 2013 0:32:49 GMT -5
Lastsong glanced over at Honeyfrost when she growled. He watched her closely, his eyes narrowed. Something was going on, he could sense it. The tom began to put his herbs away and was just getting the herbs he would need for birthing--since he was almost sure that was what was happening, but he didn't want to worry Honeyfrost by pointing that out just yet--when Honeyfrost told him what he already suspected.
"All right. We should have some time before the contractions get closer together." Lastsong glanced at the light coming from the entrance to his den. It probably was unwise to have her waddle all the way over to the nursery. He gestured to the nest he kept prepared for any injured cats near the entrance of the den. "Go ahead and lie down and we'll get through this, okay?" He began gathering up the herbs she had been sorting and wrapping them up to put away in their proper crevices.
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Post by Honeyfrost on Jan 4, 2013 0:38:58 GMT -5
Honeyfrost nodded her head, but didn't speak. She did what she was told and rested over in the nest. Time seemed to pass by forever as she lay there. She desperately in her heart wished Flamewhisker was here to see their kits being born. Sadness attacked her heart, but she soon stopped thinking about it as the pain kept on.
"Come on, little ones" she whispered in agony. "Hurry up."
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Post by Reedkit on Jan 4, 2013 0:47:05 GMT -5
Reedkit glanced over his shoulder at Honeyfrost, and couldn't help but feel a little worried. The kit scampered towards the nursery, and peeked inside, hiding behind the left side.
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Post by Lastsong on Jan 4, 2013 0:51:00 GMT -5
Lastsong glanced over at Honeyfrost. He honestly had no idea what she was going through, except that it was pretty painful. He had helped many queens give birth to kits, but it was something he'd obviously never experience for himself. Not that he'd want to, even if he could. Lastsong dug out some borage and laid it to one side. It would be helpful later on, and he had to make sure he had enough of it. Then he brought some of his bundles closer to the nest where Honeyfrost was resting. Ragwort, chervil, raspberry leaves, fennel... All of the herbs he needed for helping the kitting. He separated out some of the herbs and began to chew them up for a poultice. Lastsong made sure to keep his moves steady and calm. It was best to keep calm under these circumstances, to make sure the queen can feel reassured by his presence.
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Post by Honeyfrost on Jan 4, 2013 0:55:52 GMT -5
Having Lastsong there by her side was a bit comforting. She had grown close to the medicine cat, in a way, since he always was the one who listened to her crazy complaining and helped her through this crazy pregnancy. She looked up at him and sighed. She wanted this to be over with. But, based on what other queens had said in the past, she'd be in for a long wait.
Minutes that passed seemed like hours. Finally, she lifted her head up and looked at Lastsong. "How long does this take? I'm ready to get this over with!" she whined, pain twisting her face.
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