Back Up Planning

Warning: contains mention about abortion and possible death.


"So, yeah, that all happened." 

Bluebeard flinched as Redtide caught him up with everything. "That... wow..." 

"Yeah, makes me wonder what the hell Mom thought 'casual' meant too," Chipmunkstar huffed. Bluebeard turned his attention to his brother, the blue-eyed siblings keeping his attention on the ground beneath them. 

"So... what are you going to do? About the kits and all?" 

"... I don't know," Redtide muttered. "I'm still scared that taking anymore fleabane will mess them up more than actually getting rid of them." 

"Funny you didn't mention Mom's... unique little story. Nice to know which one of us got traumatized by that," the Rainclan leader piped up. "I'd say it's a miracle we managed to get this far in life, but-"

"What would that have really changed?" Red snapped back. 

"Hush," The blue sibling of the three spoke up, briefly looking up to the branches above and around them as he moved closer to Redtide. "I don't know if anyone else is going to be around this part of the border. I certainly don't doubt someone would take the opportunity to deliver payback."

Redtide growled before sniffling. Chipmunkstar furrowed her eyes as she curled her tail around her paws. 

"... What if I'm right in being afraid of... you know," he muttered. "What if I go through with this and I'm not around to see them either?" 

"Wait, you do want them?" she raised a brow. 

"... I don't know... Kits have always given me a mixed feeling. Especially with Sootflake and the problems going on. Babies don't... solve anything. They shouldn't solve anything. And I don't want them to be somewhere that puts them through heck."

"I'd say we'd take care them, but given some of the concerns you gave out, from the sound of it, I don't you'd particularly want us to," Bluebeard frowned before looking at their sister. 

"Or Sootflake from the sound of it," she added on. "Even if you didn't give them to Rainclan, and thought Blue here was a better choice, Driftbranch is the deputy there. What are the chances the kits wouldn't resemble you or Soot in some way? Not to mention the question of nursing-" 

"One of the Splashclan's cats gave birth recently, actually," Bluebeard let out. A silence fell over the three, Chipmunkstar's ears perked up as Redtide looked up at him.

"Well, I guess if the worse truly does happen... There's that," Redtide let out. 

"Wait, hold on, we're focusing a lot on the what if your fear does happen in you going on with this. What if you turn out alright and they're alright and all that?" 

"... Then I go with it one day at a time. Regardless of my end choice, they'll need me for about two moons anyway. That doesn't mean I don't want them to be well cared for if I do go..." 

Bluebeard gave a sharp glance as Chipmunkstar opened her mouth. The chocolate she-cat sighed as she closed her eyes. "... Alright, fine... What about Palmfoot? What if he noticed any similarities and think to do something? Would be he that petty?" she went on the ask. This earned a rather snarky-sounding huff from Bluebeard. 

"If he is, I doubt anyone in Splashclan would let him. He's not exactly 'Mr. Popular' with anyone, as far as I know." The tom's ears perked up as an idea come to mind. "Hey... what if we got Yellowbeard in on this? As a backup?" 

Redtide raised a brow as Chipmunkstar snapped her head at the news. "Wait what?" 

"Right... well... I mean, you guys would have found out at the next gathering anyway, but Yellowbeard? He's back. And he's... really weirdly chill. Not ready to call him 'dad' anytime soon... or him calling me 'son' but... yeah," he explained. 

"But how... why would you suggest him-?" 

"Hear me out," Bluebeard lifted a paw up. "Guy managed to mostly raise Shrimpwhisker, and he seemed to turn out a heck a lot better than any of the three of us. We can't exactly pass any kit off as Shrimp's anyway since he's the medicine cat. Plus, it's not as if Yellowbeard hasn't already fooled around himself. And so far he seems... accepting. Weirdly so, again. If the worst truly does come... I'll update Yellowbeard on the whole thing, say the other parent was someone Yellowbeard met while out and missing, and..." 

"And have the Splashclan queen nurse them and raise them as Yellowbeard's other set of kids..." Chipmunkstar finished. "Doesn't sound that bad of a plan, in theory." 

Redtide frowned, listening to the two carefully. "What if he doesn't agree? Why not just say they're yours, Blue?" 

Chipmunkstar sucked in a deep breath. "Because it'd really only work if those kits turned out really favoring your side of the family. Honestly, that could be said with the whole plan on Yellowbeard too, but at least with his own history from the sound of it, it could be given some leeway. But that... is a real question. What about the worst of the worst in all of this? I doubt anyone else on our side of this is gonna be pregnant anytime soon." 

"We have Seadevil nurse them... and I'll take them and move back to Rainclan," Bluebeard declared. "Raise them there. If your fear comes to reality, and no other plan works," he stressed. "I'll raise them and try to keep in check with Sootflake if that fear also comes to be." 

"No, no, no, not you," Chipmunkstar chimed in. 

"Chipmunkstar, no offense, but you're not exactly the most stable of us," Redtide huffed. 

"And neither are you or Blue. Heck, out of all of us, you're the one who went to therapy, Blue's practically in love with a rock, ("Hey!" Blue huffed) and I... well, this whole situation wouldn't really be a question if it wasn't for me, huh?" Chipmunkstar made a face as both of her brothers nodded. "But if we're... really ultimately planning out every single scenario we can think of... Then if the kits end in Rainclan, then both Bluebeard and I are raising them and we'll both be stuck dealing with Sootflake's input as well." She paused for a moment before adding. "As the final last resort." 

Redtide stared as Bluebeard nodded in agreement, the almost all red tortie looking between his siblings before whimpering and letting out a few sniffles. 

"I... I..." 

"Better not freaking die on us," Bluebeard stated. "I'd rather any of these plans not have to go into effect." 

"Ditto," Chipmunkstar nodded. "I'll keep Bluebeard up to date on anything while I demand you keep getting checked up if you go through with this." 

"You aren't my leader," Redtide managed to scoff between sobs. 

"I am your sister, I don't need to be your leader." 


Given them all pretty much being sneaky on the border during this, I'm gonna say Hunting +1 to all three of them