OC-tober Day 7 - Tender
Off the list by @oc-growth-and-development!
Coyoteleap was starting to understand the struggles of the Lake Clans. When SkyClan had moved to the lake, partially by his prompting, he had been happier than ever. He had kits with Indigoberry, now, (Chivewhisker had been so gracious in being a surrogate for them) and he loved all of them so much. But war, however much he didn’t want it to, was going to break out.
Badgerfoot fought with the might of all of SkyClan put together, but it wouldn’t be enough when RiverClan attacked again. He knew why Badgerfoot fought. It was the same reason that Coyoteleap ventured into the Twolegplace, which was so unfamiliar for all the Snatchers, every day. For his kits.
Garterpaw and Snappingpaw had become apprentices last moon. They had been to their first Gathering. They heard the threats that Honeystar made to SkyClan. And now, though they were only six moons old, they were going to be made to fight in the greatest conflict SkyClan had faced in a very long time.
Coyoteleap was glad that his kits wouldn’t be old enough to fight, but they were certainly anxious to. Sugarkit, Cedarkit, and Harekit would whine and whine to both him and Indigoberry, but there was a hard limit on apprentice age.
Coyoteleap sighed when he finally got back to camp, carrying some of the cooked prey that a Twoleg had been kind enough to give him that day. He still didn’t know any of them. He missed his old Twolegs. Indigoberry perked up when he saw Coyoteleap, and ran over to greet him.
“Any luck today?” the black and white tom asked. Coyoteleap shrugged and put his share on the fresh-kill pile.
“No better than the last few days.”
“Cedarkit’s been asking for you all day. Newtsplash tried to keep him entertained, but, well...” Coyoteleap smiled, happy to joke about the aging nursery tom.
“Newtsplash can’t even play mossball, his hips are so sore!”
Indigoberry laughed, and gently nuzzled Coyoteleap’s cheek. “Come on. I took care of them all day, so you have to come see them for a little while, then we can go out and explore again together. I found a great spot, up between the branches of an old oak... and Whiskerflash promised to watch the kits.”
“I’d love to.”