The forest is too busy (Frostpaw, OPEN)

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Falconkit went to the nursery as quick as he could, trying to restrain himself from bouncing like a little kit in happiness. He hoped the other warriors would pay no heed to the way he and Blackpaw had whispered to each to each other, a longer contact than usual between an apprentice and a kit. Though he was hardly a kit anymore. It seemed Owlstar had taken to having ceremonies late, he thought as he made his way through the nursery entrance. Blackpaw and I are living proof, he reflected. Now, where was Cinderkit? Ah, there was his sister. Dozing at the edge of the nursery, a pebble by her right paw. The brown kit smiled. Always playing games, she was. He padded as softly as he could over to her and gently poked her shoulder with his broad paw. "Hey, Cinderkit. Wake up."

[Kelly]

Her nap was supposed to be a short one, but Cinderkit had been playing hard that day, and ended up sleeping too much away. Now she was dreaming of running through the forest with other cats, but having a heavy heart at the thought that she left her mother behind for this freedom. It was only until Birchtail appeared running beside her did the dream lighten up some. In fact, it almost got to an extremely joyful point when she felt something from the world of the awake prod her in the should. Growling, she opened her eyes, making out the large shape of her brother.

"Hey, Falconkit," she yawned, rolling onto her side and pushing the pebble away. "What's up?" It wasn't like the brown kit to wake her up. So that meant something was going on. Something fun, hopefully. She would be rather mad if her brother had woken her up just to tell her that she was sleeping funny or something. One quick check of her surroundings told her otherwise. Why was Blackpaw nearby? And Frostpaw too? Cinderkit sat up, not bothering to smooth her fur down, and planted a confused look over her young face.

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[Cloud of Diamonds]

The tabby kit whispered urgently in his sister's ear. "Blackpaw has offered to take us hunting, and I accepted. Even though we're breaking the code, I believe we're old enough to do something like that, especially since Blackpaw is a senior apprentice. So let's go, quietly, and act natural." He then turned around to pad out of the nursery, hoping Cinderkit would do as he said. Everything could be blown if the young FogClanner didn't restrain herself for once, and Falconkit had no desire to have this oppertunity ruined. He almost chuckled at himself. The noble Falconkit, breaking the rules! But not really, he thought, as he padded across camp. I mean we pretty much are apprentices, we just don't have mentors yet and we're forced to stay in the nursery. I just hope Birchtail doesn't come back soon, he realized anxiously. She'd freak out if we were missing. Praying to StarClan she wouldn't, the large kit made his way back to the apprentice who'd so generously offered him to go hunt.

[Slug]

Hello Willowpaw. No need to stutter.

Willowpaw felt his face heat up at the she-cat's words, embarrassment raging through him like a flash flood. He stood there for a few moments, feeling like a kit who got caught messing with the medicine cat's neatly organized herbs. Finally, Willowpaw managed out a pained "Yes ma'am" without stuttering, almost croaking the two words. Embarrassed once more at his tone, Willowpaw shuffled his forepaws, ears flicking nervously atop his head as he whispered a sincere apology.

Not many cats pointed out his stuttering problem. When they did, however, Willowpaw couldn't help but feel like an absolute idiot. There was no need to stutter, like Frostpaw said. Especially around your clanmates. But it was even more embarrassing when you couldn't speak properly-- even when you tried.

Ears finally laying back, Willowpaw gave Frostpaw just the barest of smiles. At least Frostpaw had spoken about his stuttering without a lick of rudeness. That made the gray apprentice feel better-- just slightly. In the petite tom's mind, he saw Frostpaw's words as a "Get back on your paws and try again" sort of thing. Strangely, it encouraged him. No matter how simply Frostpaw said it.

...Willowpaw hoped he wasn't kidding himself. Again.

"Heya, Willowpaw, what's happening?"

Straightening at Blackpaw's question, Willowpaw smacked his embarrassment away with a imaginary paw, whiskers quivering for a second as he thought about the day's events so far. "We a-are... we are... talking." He began, curling his fluffy tail around his paws, inwardly cheering for himself.

"That's 'what's happening'." Willowpaw, despite the situation, grinned slightly at the other tom, patting himself on the back for a job well done.

"How... are you two?"
--

OOC: Bleh. e_e; Hope he's in character enough.

[Rolo]

Frostpaw noticed the timid young tom's fur bristling slightly, and she guessed that her words had struck home. It both pleased and amused her, though not enough for emotions to mark themselves upon her face. She liked to impact upon those she met, hopefully in a positive way, as it irritated her immensely to watch those cats with little backbone struggle to find themselves. However, at the same time, Willowpaw annoyed her thoroughly. He was so dreadfully submissive, she wanted to claw some sense into him. However, she knew that that was not the way to help him... and violence wasn't in her nature, so lucky for him she'd find another subtler way to aid him. Still, her agitation still made her pick him up on it.

"No need to be formal, or to just bend to my wishes either." She said simply, once again no hint of mocking in her voice. A smile lightened her face as she moved her gaze to his, "Feel free to fight against me in any way, I won't bite. Besides, it'd do you good."

She chuckled lightly, deliberately not explaining herself. Willowpaw could think about that himself and draw his own conclusions. Perhaps he might stop being such a mousehearted tom if he found a constructive answer.

She bent down and drew her tongue over her fur, her body completely casual. She then looked up again. "Oh, and I'm fine... just hoping that a tree will fall on Mistpelt's head before she has a chance to become leader."

Her ears twitched as the sound of the kits returning to Blackpaw reached her ears, and a low groan rumbled in her chest.

She had forgotten. She couldn't sit here and preen herself anymore, she had to get out there and scorn Mistpelt somehow. Of course, there was no chance she was going mouse spit or whatever it was for the elders, but she had to do something...

Listening in on the kit's conversation as she cleaned herself, she realised that her best bet was to go with her previous idea of hunting with Blackpaw. If she brought back fresh-kill, perhaps she could grab an hours peace later.

Pausing again, she looked up. "Oh, Blackpaw, mind if I join your hunting party? I'd rather not be here when Mistpelt gets back."