Barkback helped Doublepelt out of the main clearing of Stormclan and into the safety and comfort of the Stormclan nursery. All the kits where curled up at her belly while Barkback lay in front of them, using himself and his lovely mate Doublepelt as a big fluffy and rounded nest just for them. He purred softly, looking down at all his safe little kits and his lovely mate, before he noticed that Doublepelt was once again covered in mud. He sighed contentedly before turning his head and starting to groom her lovely white and creamy tabby coat.

The large tom had made up a nest for them, as he had noticed other warriors gathering materials for all the new members in Stormclan. As he was out, he did what he usually did and filled his lovely mates nest with flowers. Soft and colorful and reflecting her beauty. Most of which where clover flowers, dandelions and a few little baby blue and purple flowers he did not know the names of. Either way, they where lovely, and reflected beautifully against her stunning fur. Barkback purred, grooming his mate as her head slowly drooped lower and lower towards the nest, fighting back sleep as hard as she could. Chuckling, Barkback watched her with a raised eye brow, his tongue half sticking out with little bits of hair on the tip of his tongue and mud down coating lightly on his long and thick muzzle.

Finally, Doublepelt's head plopped down onto the moss with a little smile and he chuckled, spitting out the fur in his jaws before going back to grooming her fur until it shined. They where close to the den entrance, but he and her didn't mind, as they both had very thick fur and could hardly feel the cold anyways. He looked out onto the camp for a moment, seeing the hustle and bustle of both Stormclan and Emberclan together, and briefly he wondered if this was a sign from starclan to just let the two clans be one. But then he realized that if that was their plan to begin with, they would never have allowed both Stormstar and Emberstar to receive nine lives. The large male sighed and turned back to look at his mate, who was sleeping soundly now. His kits however, where restless as always. In turn, he leaned down to each of them, giving each of their heads a little nuzzle with the tip of his nose, careful not to smear mud on any of them. All where precious in his eyes, even if they sometimes frustrated him, and nearly drove their mother to pull her own fur out with aggravation and depression. One of these days, he would have to talk to some of the older queens about settling kits who insisted on being trouble makers... he had the feeling he should talk to a few toms as well, to know the best course of action for being a proper father figure to some of these little scraps.

As his mind drifted, grooming his mate with long, slow strokes, he dreamed of the future of his children. They were to be apprentices soon he was sure... two moons? Maybe one. Either way, when they became apprentices, Doublepelt would be relieved of her stressed out motherhood and she and him could spend more time strengthening their relationship once more. Barkback was proud to have kittens sure! But they had caused so much grief for his beloved, and he knew deep down that it would be many seasons before he and his love could have more. He wanted her to rest herself, for them both to mature a bit more and grow wiser. Barkback wanted himself and Doublepelt to be sure they where really ready for having more lovely little kits...

Another thought crossed his mind and he frowned. Lowering his head, he remembered the sweet kittens that he and Doublepelt had lost so early on. He remembered she had named one Wishkit, and another Spiritkit. Both of which had been born almost at birth. He couldn't quite remember if they had been still born, but he did remember they had not even had a chance to open their eyes and ears and see their loving mothers face. To see the grief in her eyes when she was told they had joined Starclan. More then anything he wished his precious children could all survive. He prayed to Starclan that if they ever decided to have another set of kits, that all would be strong and healthy. He didn't care if they where frustrating to raise. That was only because they where young, and Doublepelt and he where new parents, unsure of how to really raise their young yet.

Once more, Barkback turned his attention to Doublepelt, looking over her lovely fur and her beautiful shape with his ocean blue eyes. He coo'ed, thankful to Starclan they had not taken her. He felt his heart sore just looking at her most days, and although he spent many long days out hunting, it was to feed his family, to make sure they where all fed, even in the dead of leaf-bare. Sighing once more, the tom laid his head down on her hip, realizing she seemed a tad thinner then normal, and made a mental note to catch her something big and juicy to eat. Maybe a fish, or a big fat squirrel to crunch on. He wondered briefly if she had ever tried fish before, seeing as she had been born in Shadowclan. He wondered if he could catch a fish, but then he remembered Sootrain and Appleflower. Sootrain had knocked over Dotkit without realizing it, and figured it might be a good idea to try and chat with him, make piece with a hunting patrol. Maybe convince him to show Barkback how to fish, as he was a Riverclan born tom. He only hoped that Doublepelt would enjoy a fish, and the efforts he put in to get her the lovely treat.



Art. Barkback and Story
Doublepelt by https://www.deviantart.com/seventailfoxy