we gladly run in circles // jetthorn [dawn]

[lily ♫]

the last few moons had been a dream; everything had happened in a way that lilythorn had somehow benefited from. ever since she had become friends with jetfang, after they had admitted their feelings and she had come to the decision to step down as deputy, and the point that they had taken each other as mates, it was just too good to be true. each day was a dream, as her future laid nestled next to her as she slept or walking next to her and the other half laid away waiting within her, each of their kits, preparing to enter the real world. oh, she'd never been happier in her entire life.

as she awoke from her mid-morning nap, lilythorn gently rolled over in her nest in the nursery, blinking her icy blue eyes as the sleep shed from them. a black and white form greeted her, and she purred from deep withing her throat. "wake up, jet." was her soft mew as she prodded him delicately with her nose. it was some feat to lay there and twist about around her overly round stomach, but it was a unique challenge, one that she wasn't really going to complain about. she laughed quietly to herself, rolling over to lay on her stomach, and looked over to her mate with his endearingly mismatched eyes and his handsome face. everything was right in her world for once. "i love you, jet." she murmured quietly, watching him closely before she rose up into a sitting position. "what shall we do today? wrestle with wolves, nag flamingarrow to get her lives, ponder about where pyrestar has run off to? oh the possibilities!" lilythorn joked, an amused expression crossing her face as she purred once more.

[Dawn]

A thousand and one unwelcome, yet familiar, faces greeted him in his dreams. Shivermoon, wrapping her forever-youthful body about his well-aged form and pressing as close to his pelt as a daughter, murmuring, Kits... kits... kits... The loner from the rockslide, hissing in his face, claiming Lilythorn was his mother, claiming that she was her kit... Agonizing. Lilythorn's kits are dead. Aren't they? Pyrestar, the bob-tailed leader of the clan, since vanished and replaced by Flamingstar, her deputy and Lilythorn's replacement. There was the small black kit, his mother dying between borders, and Stormtrick, letting his son grow up in his mother's clan, never telling Crowshroud.... Kits... The nightmare images of lost lovers, leaders, and other figures all took up the chant, slowly. It whispered at his brain, pricked his paw pads. Kits... kits... kits... Jetfang gave a cry, jerking awake with bi-colored eyes flashing alarm at his mate. "Kits!" he exclaimed anxiously, staring around until the images faded from his mind and he was able to fully take in Lilythorn, her massive belly swollen with their unborn offspring.

"Wake up, Jet." Jetfang shivered and cast off the oddly traumatic dream, pulling himself closer to her and giving her ear an affectionate lick. His eyes glowed, despite their recent terrified look. "I love you, too, Lilythorn." He pretended to ponder her questions, trying not to think about the dream. "Hmmm... well, I'd say we've done our fair share of wrestling with wolves," he mewed, shooting the entrance a fervent glance, as though one might come bursting in to attack his beloved mate. "Flamingarrow will be Flamingstar before you know it, and Pyrestar, well, that's another story for another day. And you, you, my love, will stay put, here!" He narrowed his eyes at her, gave his tail a little final lash. "You're far too close to be wandering about! Just ask Arcticlight, really. She'd forbid it."

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[lily ♫]

lilythorn frowned, her comical displeasure rolling off of her in waves. "hmph, what fun you are today." she commented, flicking his nose with her tail. "i'm not going to ask arcticlight, and neither are you." she murmured quietly, winking at him with mischief in her bright blue eyes. as she stretched from her sitting position, she rose abruptly to a standing one and let out a small yawn. "i won't do anything too dangerous, jet." lilythorn answered him with a smile, purring at him once more. she slowly strode out of the nursery, blinking as the bright light of the sun hit her face through the trees.

the new camp was beautiful and welcoming, and the former deputy was proud to call it her home and to have the chance to raise her kits there. for some reason, she couldn't even imagine raising them in vertigoclan's camp. it was a million miles away, and in that world of what felt like eternal deception, she was deputy. here, she was a mate, a friend, a mother, and whatever else she aspired to be. gone were the days of the secrets, the pain of losing herself as she fell for jetfang and she could only let out her frustrations in her duties. the days of hardship, lies, and the resting place of her medicine cat mother, her former mate, and her kits. she paused, bowing her head, and silently prayed to starclan for she was ever so thankful about her new life.

turning back to face jet as he too exited the den, she stuck out her bottom lip. "i don't even get to go explore the territory, jet." she meowed pathetically, sniffling as if she were crying. letting out a light laugh, she bounded over to where some dry grasses had been gathered and laid down on them on her back, giggling quietly. she looked up into the tall trees of pine, the gentle wind within the trees causing them to sway, and waited for her mate. "tell me a story. paint me a picture of the new home we live in." she asked, watching the bi-colored tom closely, her heart soaring.

[Dawn]

Jetfang wrinkled his nose as his mate flicked it with her tail, but still his teeth bared in an automatic grin. Although, as Lilythorn kept talking, his grin dimmed a bit with his mismatched irides revealing his worry. He frowned, slowly. "I'm worried that something could happen," he murmured, somewhat displeased with her tactics of getting her way in the situation. "You wont do anything dangerous, Lily. You'll give me a pelt full of silver fur from worrying about you!", he purred softly. The black tom was reassured by her pout about not exploring, for silently he thought, good. It was much too risky for his mate and unborn kits to be out and about at a time like this. Instead of saying so, and being accused of being a worrywart, he mewed, "Starclan, you're beautiful. I hope every one of our kits has your eyes." As she bounded off, he followed leisurely. Jetfang wondered if this was his life, chasing after his mate, and soon, chasing after their kits. If it was, he thought as he watched the cream pelted feline dashing off, he didn't think that he minded at all.

Jetfang sat next to his mate, gazing warmly down at her from where she was flopped on her back, revealing her swollen stomach. It was quite the sight; his whiskers twitched at the scene. "A picture," he said, curiously. "Our new home is golden with sunlight as radiant as your beauty, yet also with shadows as deep as the ocean, to hide us when we stalk beneath the pines." Jetfang looked at her, and saw everything they had been through, and how much he loved her still. "Our new home is safe and protected; no wolves will get you here. No predator dares assail our new home." He grinned at her: "Or else they've got to go through me." Jetfang paused to collect his thoughts, aware that Lilythorn actually wanted him to ramble on, something he was not often inclined to do. "The forest is bright, and alive: showing us that we are also still alive, that this clan of Timberclan can still thrive no matter the circumstances. He prey runs thickly and he grass grows just as tall and green as our old home- taller!" The wind played with the leaves, howling through the pines. "It's perfect here: beautiful. The perfect place to start a family." He frowned. "There are troubles here, too, like there were before: but I know that with you by my side, I would gladly face a hundred more."

[lily ♫]

she chuckled quietly at him, though she didn't dare do anything more. he was a worrier, no matter what she did, but somehow it made her feel safe - to know that someone was always ready to protect her, predicting the dangers they might face and preparing for even the most unnecessary ones. it was one of his quirks, and lilythorn loved that about him. "you'd be more silver than the stars." the creamy ginger gal retorted, her blue eyes dancing with mischief as she met his. as he complimented her beauty, she looked down shyly, her face warm with her blush. "and i hope at least one of them has amber eyes that match our blue so well." she commented, though the wording felt a bit awkward. nevertheless, she was sure that jet wouldn't mind.

as she lay back, a smile drifted upon her faces and she lazily closed her eyes, listening to his picture. it was so odd to hear him talking so much, the fact that she could even get him do so was comforting. just like any good mate, she gently pushed him out of his comfort zone every now and then, and he did with her. well, in her case, he sometimes forced her into his comfort zone, but same difference, really. "i would fight wolves and the deadliest of predators to be at your side. i will hunt for you when you're sick, i will climb to the highest tree for you; we will face the rest of life's troubles together, jet." she whispered quietly, watching him closely with her curious eyes. she would never tire of this happy life, despite the fact that it all felt almost too perfect. wouldn't something happen eventually? she thought, but dispelled the thoughts as quickly as they came. now, together, they were happy, and that was all that mattered.