BONSAI { noun } – an ornamental tree or shrub grown in a pot and artificially prevented from reaching its normal size.

Septariadragon had fooled herself into believing it was pregnancy that she was forced to suffer through before she could return to her warrior duties and reclaim the adventurous, carefree spirit she once had before the birth and subsequent raising of Sakurapaw. She had seemingly, conveniently forgotten that once a little of kits were born, the next part was the longest: mothering them. Caring for them, ensuring they would survive to their apprentice ceremony. While she loved all of her children dearly and would sacrifice her life for each and every one of them to ensure their health and prolonged lives, she admitted, even just to herself in the dead of night when no one would hear, she was experiencing some 'cabin fever' being glued to the side of her kits and vice versa.

They were now old enough to be weaned and adventure a little ways outside of the nursery, giving her some much needed space – and the ability to see the sunlight again – but it wasn't enough for her heart, which longed so dearly for new sights and sounds and the feel of the grass on her paws. As it was, there was only so much more time she could take sitting or lying down outside the nursery, keeping an eye out for her little ones to make sure they didn't do anything too mousebrained to get themselves in too deep.

At least she had done right by her eldest daughter. There was no way Sakurapaw would've been picked for medicine cat apprentice if she and Zengarden hadn't done a superb job as her parents.