Chapter Text
It was warm and pleasant in the nursery for the evening; the afternoon sun was filtering through the thick wall of shielding brambles making a dazzling array of patterns on the mossy floor. Fireheart could hear the pleased squeaking of a litter kittens before he pushed through the bracken tunnel, tiny paws pummeling at the puddles of light in a mimicry of a hunters' blow.
Goldenflower was watching them contentedly, only lifting her pretty amber gaze when Fireheart entered into the space. The tiniest pair of the four kittens broke away from the game to dance around the entering tom's paws.
A few weeks of visits, gifts, and treats had left the pair smitten with the young deputy as much as they were with the tom that sired them.
"Hello Stormkit," he greeted, nuzzling the top of the head of the tom of the duo. The little scrap of gray fur purred happily at the gesture, padding at the ground with small claws. His sister, a smaller silver tabby, batted at the flame colored warrior with excited paws. "Hi!" she squeaked. Her tiny tail stood out like a rudder, body vibrating. "my turn!"
Fireheart laughed, chest warm with delight at these little kits. "Of course, Featherkit," he purred, lapping the little molly between the ears. She purred, a loud and sharp sound for something so small.
Nearby, Tawnykit had retired back to the warm moss of her mother's nest, leaving Bramblekit to play by himself for the moment. Her tail, wrapped around her paws, twitched in thought as she watched her foster siblings delight in the ThunderClan deputy.
"Mother?"
Goldenflower turned her attention back to her daughter, gaze flickering to her thoughtful form. She nosed at her cheek, licking at some ruffled tortoiseshell fur. "Yes, my darling?"
Her daughter's whiskers twitched as she watched the younger kittens for a second longer before she leaned into her mother's touch with a huff. "Why do Stormkit and Featherkit get two fathers when Bramble and I have only you?"
Green eyes snapped to Goldenflower, embarrassment flooding the usual friendly warmth of them. Oh, she could have laughed. The pale ginger tabby snorted. She flicked her tail at Bramblekit, and the small tabby bounded over, tumbling into the moss with the heavy, clumsy paws.
She nosed him closer to his sister, who squawked in protest at his crowding. "Well, my darlings," the pale ginger queen started; she batted her pretty eyes at Fireheart, teasing. The tom made a face, his bashfulness thick in the air. Goldenflower purred, amused. "Sometimes, when two toms love each other more than anything."
Fireheart buried his muzzle into his front paws, pelt prickling with heat.