Princes and Princesses (Kits!)

[*Sinister*Dreams*]

It hadn't happened until recently that the pale white she-cat had taken home in the nursing tunnel, the feeling of warm bedding softer than the harsh rock she had grown accustomed to. Melody purred from the inside, yellow eyes beaming. She knew what was to come, and her nephew was right besides her. It seemed everyone knew but...

A push.
"Zane! They're coming!"

She yowled out into the tunnels, doing her best to sound unworried and alright. She knew how easily she could make the fearless tom nervous. How contradictory it was...She panted heavily, glancing up at Foreshadow. He'd delivered kits in his old home, and he knew what to expect. Gently he slipped a rather sweet herb into her mouth, something to block her screams from her mate. Gratefully she accepted it, giving a push. All that was left to do was wait...She sighed heavily, not as much in pain as she'd expected. Though Melody had never had kits before, she thought long and hard of the family she'd have, the young ones to look after. A smile was on her face, not usual of a birthing queen. Being called a queen was an abnormal title for her, but if did fit slightly. After all, she was Zane's mate. He led the tunnels now, that the murderer was gone and dead. The young princes and princesses were on their way...Similar to fighting their way into their new home, they came out into the world.

First came a small ginger stripped kit, a darker mask on her face and bizzare dark violet eyes. Following her, a silver tom, the likes of which bore frightening resemblence of the sinister Facade, and then the black white and gray tom with gold and purple eyes. Next was a pure black tom with a white mask, shortly after a black and white stripped she cat. Cleaning her new kits, melody grew worried. The only cats known with violet eyes, as all of her kit bore, were the decendents of the Masked Cat, a lengendary rogue. Fear shook her momentarily, as she realized how hunted her kits would be. Determination in her eyes, she sheilded them from harm. A protective mother, she would overlook how they appeared...She knew it was their hearts that mattered, but did Zane? After all....Renegade had this line as well.


"Zane? Your kits are here."
She tried her best to sound excited, but her voice faultered slightly. Starting from the first, the queen counted them off.
"Kumali, Vision, Delgado....And you can name the last."
She hesitated. How would he react?



((The last are Fatality and Spook.))

[» Sacrifice]

The onyx tom had been sleeping in his usual light slumber a few dens away, to give his mate her privacy. Not to mention for the last few days he had smelled of herbs, thanks to Renegade. Thankfully though, that smell had faded away, leaving the tom smelling as his normal self. However, he wasn't as loose as he had been in the past after a battle. Actually, he had been more wound up then ever, as Melody would to be kitting soon. His kits. It was such a strange thought to him, as he thought that he was not ever going to have them, wandering did that to you. Not to mention the fact many cats couldn't deal with the fact he was a killer, only of the ones who had killed already. However, that logic really didn't work. But it seemed that he had found someone after all and that made him feel surprisingly content, until he awoke to Melody, up on his feet in a moment, eyes wide.

Darting through the shadows, paw steps silent as he drifted through the hallways of their large home, Zane was there within moments, even if he wasn't to be seen. He was like a ghost really, and it had gotten even worse after the battle. Sometimes, it seemed as though even Melody didn't know he was there. However, this was not the time to be a shadow. Coming out of the shadows, behind the two cats, Zane gently stroked Melody's side with his tail, golden orbs on fire with pride, and as if he was sharing his mate's pain. It was over all so fast, and he was glad for Foreshadow's presence. Zane was not experienced in the field of kits, and it was always better to have an experienced cat alongside one you cared about. Although he didn't speak, his presence was like a blanket as he waited, until all the kits were out. Such interesting patterns they had, all like the masked cat, and the violet eyes. They sent a chill down his spine, although he hid it well. He would give them a chance, and until they ruined it, they would be seen as an equal, not to be judged by who they were related too. He was cable of that with anyone, even more for his own kits.

”They are beautiful.”
Breaking his silence, Zane spoke softly, rubbing against Melody in a way that he had done with no other cats. Let’s face it; he didn’t touch anyone else aside from battle. It just wasn’t him really. From her look though, it was obvious how Melody felt about the kits, she was afraid of how he would react. Shaking his head, Zane looked her in the eyes as he spoke in his musical voice, making sure she got the message.
”Do not worry Melody. I do not care that they resemble the masked cat. They have us in them, and all in all, the masked cat was a legend. A bit insane, but a legend all the same.

Turning to the last two kits, he smiled softly at them, touching them with his tail tip as he named them.
”Fatality”
He murmured as he pointed to the black she cat with the silver markings. It was amazing how large this litter was, the usual was only three or four kits.
”Spook.”
Naming the last one, he pointed to the final cat, the little tom, before looking at all of the cats before him. His kin, and what a fine brood they were. It was amazing, the miracle of life.
”You’ve done well Melody.”
Zane said, still softly as he gazed fondly at his mate.

[*Sinister*Dreams*]

A contented purr rose from Melody's mouth, as she looked at Zane with interest. Her fears seemed in the wrong, as relief flooded her eyes. She was one of the few cats who knew how the history went before Masquerade, it having been told generation by generation through her family. It hadn't exactly been somehting she had shared with her mate, but there was much secret behind his eyes as well. Masquerade and Facade's mother had protected them just like Melody would, but in the end, their noble father took the lives of the third kit and it's mother. The same fear had been born on Melody's face as the long-ago queen had worn during Illusionstar's wrath. It was contenting, to say the least, that Zane did not feel anger towards the potential monster that could be unleashed in the kits, concealed behind those violet eyes. Perhaps this was the fault in Renegade's line as well...That Facade's cold hearted fury had been passed on through generations down to the murcury tom. Even with such wonderful parents as Warheart and Blackriver, it still was noted he came out dark hearted as his great ancestor. Would these kits be the same? The fear in Melody's eyes was replaced by concern. Had the killer line been executed here as well? One day...It could be her own children a great cat would be destined to destroy.


"Oh Zane...I do so fear for their lives! How hunted they will be...Those violet eyes mean as much as murder these days. But we will teach them to be good, I am certain."

Her gaze flashed determination, and she nuzzled her mate quietly. She'd missed him lately, all of their duties getting in the way.

[» Sacrifice]

There were more then just secrets behind the golden orbs of the mysterious tom that Melody could call her mate. He knew all about fathers killing the kits, as his father had killed everyone of his siblings, and then his mother. He had been what had started Zane on what he had done, starting with the first murderer he had known. His father. Levely gazing at Melody, he was glad to see her doubt vanish, but he still felt as though he needed to assure her further. He would never hurt his kits, not when what had happened to him was still branded into his very being.
"I would never hurt them Melody, and not just because of my honor and love for them. If anything, it would be because of my father. He killed all my siblings and mother. I have no want to ever be like he was."
It was a toneless statement, but one that would banish any lingering doubt hopefully, and Zane turned his attention back to the young ones he could call his own, half a smile flickering on his maw. Those violet eyes were strange, he had only heard rumors of them, but it was something that he found he didn't mind. It really didn't matter who you were related too, you could shine with your own light, no matter what may hinder you. After all, Melody and Zane had shown with their own lights, no matter what their past had hidden from view. Both of their eyes were filled with secrets, yet there was nothing that they had to hide.

"Being hunted will teach them to survive though. How to fight, more then what we could ever teach them. And we will. They will have their own paths in this world, but we shall do our best to infulence them to the right side. Now, you should be resting."

Smiling ever so slightly, Zane sat beside Melody, like a guard. Between he and Foreshadow, there probably wasn't a safer cat in this world. No doubt both would do what it would take to protect Melody and her kits.

[*Sinister*Dreams*]

Melody sighed, a wave of compassion for her mate swallowing her like prey. How she loved him...He was truely a blessing, and perhaps this alone would be enough to make the kits follow the right path. Everything began today, be it difficult or easy.

"I doubt there a cat in the world like them."

She grinned softly, prodding at them individually with her nose. Spook grumbled slightly, unable to speak but trying nonetheless. Her violet eyes flickered open a bit, and tiny claws already unsheathed for her meal. Melody laid down with a purr.

"Ugh, I already can't wait until they eat meat! Five kits is like feeding a small antelope!"
She purred in laughter, and Foreshadow pushed another small bundle at her, having not said a word, and padded out of the den. It wasn't his place to judge, but the eyes made him a bit uncomfortable...He'd grow to love them in time, this much he knew. But for now, he'd have to let the small sore heal. It was his line in particular that had cursed such potentially beautiful kits. With a sigh, he lay down outside the nursery. Perhaps he'd select one, be like a mentor to him or her...It was about time he had a comrade anyways. Since Bullet, Turret, and Lavida had all gone, he'd seen nothing more of friendship. The way of a loner was tough, yet he hadn't anticipated this much loneliness, even here with his Aunt and Step Uncle. Be it due to the fact he'd never had a love, or that he'd always felt out of place, he'd n ever truely felt at home.

[» Sacrifice]

Zane laughed softly, nodding in agreement to his mate. There would be no others like them in the world, and although as kits they were going to be a major pain, they would still be worth it. After all, they would soon have their own place in this world, their own spot to claim. If it was light or dark, one could only wait to find out. All that Zane could hope though, was that his line's touch of darkness and Melody's line's touch of darkness hadn't effected the kits too much, or that they could be corrected before the wrongs got to far to fix. Even Renegade might have been saved, if he had been given more attention too. The world was full of chance.

A soft murmer came from the she kit called Fatality, as she obviously wanted something to eat, and wanted it now. Her violet eyes didn't open more then the barest flicker, but their shocking color was still visible. Grumbling a bit louder, the young she cat crawled her way to her mom, and happily started to eat. Life was simple, and good for her.

As Foreshadow departed, Zane watched the other tom, although what he was feeling couldn't be read in his orbs. The other tom had been a great help, although the onxy tom was a bit worried about the loner. He seemed to be sadder then he let on, and Zane wasn't suprised to see that the eyes of the kits disturbed the other tom. It was something to be uneasy about, that much was clear. Violet wasn't exactly the color of choice in this area. Oh well, Foreshadow would come around in time. At least, Zane hoped. For now though, things would be fine between everyone, and that the kits would grow up to be strong, like their parents.

((Post end?))