my babies <invite/riku>

Swiftsong pricked her ears as a cat entered the nursery. "Cherrybranch!" she meowed quietly, lifting her head up. Every cat had been in and out of here so much that she hadn't seen her daughter for the past few days. Shifting slightly, so as not to disturb the kits, the queen grinned. She was starving! Sneezekit's nose twitched beside her, and Swiftsong flattened her ears, pushing the prey to her other side. As she leaned down to tuck into the mouse, she purred.

"More than enough, dear." Glancing at the other piece, she decided that she would give the kits their first taste of squirrel later that day. "You're such a talented climber, great catch on the squirrel. Although," she added, tail twitching "You know it worries me."

Swiftsong leaned down to sniff Sneezekit, smiling faintly. "Sure did!" She crowed, tail swishing. "Though Bramblemask still hasn't come to see them," her voice lowered "I'm not sure she even knows all of their names!" Huffing, the queen flicked her ear. "Perhaps she could mentor one of them, then she wouldn't be able to ignore them anyways." She sniffed, nodding in response to Cherrybranch.

"I wouldn't imagine they're launching out of the trees into your paws," she teased. Yes I remember quite clearly, she thought with a purr. "Maybe your meant to smell of rocks and dirt like a ThunderClan cat!" Swiftsong glanced at her paws before a moment. "Though your birth parents don't much matter anymore, do they?"

Swiftsong watched as Cloudkit snored, whiskers twitching with amusement. For a moment she wondered what her life would've been like if she hadn't decided to stay in the nursery. She quickly gave her golden pelt a shake. Glancing back up at Cherrybranch, she crooked her brow. "I suppose not," she murmured, shaking her head. "Yes, you're right."

Shifting slightly, Swiftsong smiled. Her heart swelling with some mix of happiness and pride that she'd raised such a loyal cat. Dipping her head, the queen beamed. "I'm glad to hear that you think that way, dear."

Swiftsong nodded, tapping her paw. "Smokestar better put him with some cat that'll keep him safe. Same with Acornkit, she's so tiny. And Sneezekit- just between me and you," she added quietly "Something's not right about her. Of course I love her with all I can, but I'm worried..." Trailing off, her ear twitched.

Noticing the spark in Cherrybranch's eyes, Swiftsong's whiskers twitches. "You'll make a wonderful mother, once you settle with a nice tom. You know that Puddlepad is a sweetie; Even Smallwhisker would soften up for your sweet face." Purring she set her head back on her paws. "I'm glad," she meowed.

Swiftsong was pleased that, for once, she wasn't the only to nitice a problem. She was not pleased however by the possibility that her daughter may actually have a problem."Perhaps I could ask Cloudleap to take a peak at her, or perhaps just speak with her for a bit." Shaking her head distractedly, she sniffed and turned her pale gaze on her elder daughter.

Watching her warily, Swiftsong blinked. For a moment, she was silent. "Well, I hope you're not implying that the right tom is from another Clan. Of course I would still love my grandkits, but we don't want any trouble afoot, you know. Or maybe you just don't think the right tom is anywhere?" She questioned, eyes narrowed curiously.

Swiftsong dipped her head agreeably, whiskers twitching at Cherrybranch's amusement in her siblings. The queen held her kits gaze as she looked up, concerned. "Of course there's a tom out there, you're beautiful dear." Pricking her ears in confusion, she shook her head vigorously and drew a paw over one of her white-tipped ears. She hadn't caught the last sentence, and though Cherrybranch had always mumbled a bit, that was a tad ridiculous. "I'm sorry, what was that? You know my ears aren't as good as they were when you were a kit."