Chapter Text
Sunfur pushed his way through the entrance to the nursery. His eyes softened when he saw his mate, Nightstorm, asleep with their kit. He passed over to the black tom and dropped the mouse he’d brought in front of his nest.
“Nightstorm…” Sunfur nudged gently, trying to wake him. Nightstorm lifted his head, blinking the sleep from his eyes.
“What is it?” He asked, glancing down at the fresh kill at his paws. Sunfur sat down beside him and wrapped his tail around Nightstorm’s flank.
“Thought you might be hungry. The hunting patrol just got back. The apprentices are training well.” Sunfur settled down next to him.
“That’s good to hear, we’ll have an apprentice of our own soon enough.” Nightstorm commented, gently running his tail over the small kit that was snuggled into his side.
The pale golden tabby looked down at the tiny furball of a kit. It had only been a few days since Nightstorm had his litter; only one surviving.
“He’s wonderful.” He licked Nightstorm’s ear gently as he finished eating. Licking his lips, Nightstorm nodded.
“He has your green eyes,” he beamed. Pride radiated off of Sunfur.
“Really? He does?” He got up, nearly bouncing off the walls of the den like an apprentice.
“Settle down! You’ll wake the entire clan thudding around like that.” Nightstorm spat him a warning, checking to make sure his kit hadn’t been awoken by all the excitement. Sunfur settled down again, gaining his composure once more. He licked his chest swiftly a couple times before looking back to his mate.
“Do you have a name picked out yet?” Nightstorm turned to the small kit. What a little runt. He thought for a moment.
“I think Blackkit fits him. He’s completely black besides a few golden hairs on his chest.” Sunfur nodded.
“Blackkit…” he whispered, as if testing the name on his tongue. Nightstorm yawned and stretched out his forepaws.
“I’m sleepy. You interrupted my nap.” Without saying anything else he rested his chin on his paws and went back to sleep. Sunfur snuggled up beside him and did the same, wrapping his tail around the two other cats.
…
“Oi, Nightstorm!” Sunfur prodded his mate, urging him to wake up. Nightstorm glanced up sleepily. Sunfur looked confused and worried.
“What is it?” Nightstorm mewed, his voice laced with sleep.
“The morning patrol found two kits by the border. They’re still nursing age…” he began. Nightstorm sat up slightly, careful not to wake Blackkit. He pricked his ears, urging the gold tom to go on.
“Thunderclan’s decided to take them in as their own. The patrol couldn’t follow the scent of whomever left them there. Poor little things,” Sunfur glanced down at his paws for a moment before continuing. “The clan discussed a bit and… since you’re the only cat who’s nursing right now,” and we lost our other three kits, Sunfur thought silently, “Flamestar decided to let us have them as our own kits.
Nightstorm thought for a moment about the idea of taking in two strange kits. “Which clan are they from?”
“Er… they said one had Shadowclan scent, the other Windclan.” Nightstorms eyes widened slightly.
“Two different clans?” He snorted. “Shadowclan and Windclan… they never have been well sorted…” he muttered.
“You will take the kits, we will, I mean, right?” Sunfur asked worriedly. He was anxious about his mate’s disgruntled response to where the kits came from. Nightstorm nodded. Sunfur rasped his tongue between Nightstorm’s ears a few times.
“They’ll adopt Thunderclan scent soon enough, don’t worry.” He reassured, running the tip of his tail along Nightstorm’s flank.
“They’re getting looked over in the medicine den right now, but they’ll be handed over soon to be nursed.” Sunfur spoke as he crouched down by Nightstorm, keeping an eye on the entrance to the nursery, patiently waiting.
Word Count: 642