Private Thread Moorland March

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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With a brief smile, Aspenberry waited for her friend to get up before leading the two of them out of camp, trotting at a leisurely pace towards the open moorlands. 'So, I had a little idea. Not sure if it will work as it might be tricky, but I was wondering if you wanted to gather some stuff with me so we can make little toys and trinkets for the kits.' She turned to look at Bayflower, assessing their reaction to her suggestion. She new it could come across silly, but it was still worth a try; plus she knew Bayflower wouldn't judge her for such. There was a reason Bayflower was one of the deputies closest friends, and this was just a small part. 

'I haven't thought over it too much, but-' she said, carefully hooking a sprig of heather into her paws, 'Perhaps we weave little balls from the heather flowers, to bring the kits some colour, and something from outside the camp. Or we can try collect some cool looking stones. I remember Rooknose would always bring me back things from his patrols when I was still in the nursery and I loved it, so maybe the kits will like it too?' She just wanted to bring back something for the kits, even if it just ended up being a small collection of random flowers to put near the nest if Brightmaple permitted. Just something to see their little faces spark up with joy, and to know that others were thinking about them. That Aspenberry was thinking about them; and to share the beauty of their home. 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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'Well, lets get to work then!' she said with a purr, giving her friend a few enthusiastic taps on the shoulder with her crooked tail. 'Heather will always be around, I say we go look for some stones first, and if we end up fruitless we come back here to make the balls. See that little open space between those two bushes? We can sit within there to protect ourselves from the sun, plus we will be surrounded by heather so there will be little reason to move. But first, we begin our stone search!'

Aspenberry felt a little silly, but this sort of enthusiasm was fun to act out, even if it wasn't completely natural too her. Bayflower was one of the cats she felt she could relax around, loosen up and she was forever grateful for that. Their best chances of finding something pretty was over near the rockfields, but it would be a bit of a trek to head there, so Aspenberry led the way to the Wind Hill instead, knowing parts of the area were a little more rocky. Plus she wanted an excuse to go there; to have the wind ruffle her fur and to let her gaze flit over the moors from a higher point of view. She bounded across the moorland, a mottled black and white streak flitting amidst the grass, full of bliss. She glanced back to make sure Bayflower was keeping up with her, while occasionally dodging around in hopes of catching Bayflower of guard so she could playfully knock them over. She had spooked a butterfly within the grass, and watched as it zig zagged across the air. Halting herself, she held her tail high, indicating for Bayflower to be still. The little white butterfly flew around her a little longer before it landed on Aspenberry's nose. With a twitch of her whiskers, mixed with a bit of shock the spotted she-cat sneezed, sending the butterfly hurling back into the bushes. She felt a little bad, for the pretty creature had done nothing to deserve being thrown, but it was still funny. 'Oops' she said with a quiet snicker, her cheeks lifting to a smile ever so slightly. 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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She might have been slightly embarrassed, but a smile still creased her face as she looked sheepishly towards the bush that the butterfly had been flung into. 'Touch my nose and you are no longer innocent' she said coldly, though catch a glimpse from her eyes and you would notice the humour shining through. 

Having slowed down as they were now near their destination, Aspenberry took one last glance towards the bush, hoping the little insect made it out alive. Her nose still tickled a little, but she held her sneeze this time, scrunching her face a little. She trotted alongside Bayflower now, her gaze drifting across the floor as they neared the Wind Hill. With more precise pawsteps, Aspenberry admired the grassy floor, hoping a stone or two would catch her eye. There were a few, but nothing out of the ordinary. Grey, dull and sharp, something the kits did not need. 'If only we were from RiverClan. Apparently the rivers sometimes contain beautiful smooth stones that shine like the moon. Though, I'm not exactly a fan of water so you would have to be the one going to get them!' she said playfully, giving Bayflower a light shove with her shoulder. 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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As Bayflower's nose touched Aspenberry's for a split second, a hint of shyness flicker over her gaze for a brief moment before she shook it off. 'Bayflower! How could you! Punishment will come for your act of betrayal!' Lifting up a white paw, Aspenberry brought it down swiftly, but gently onto her companion's nose with a smile.

As she pushed her way through the grass it became clearer to her that she would have little luck finding a stone. She wouldn't give up though, just redirect her motives for now. She had said earlier they would return back to their original spot if their stone hunt ended unsuccessful, but the way the breeze ruffled her fur at the Wind Hill was refreshing. More prominent, but not as harsh as the moors wind. 'I know I said we would go back, but lets try crafting with heather here. I like the wind, plus, I want to rest.' There were a few heather bushes sprinkled around, so Aspenberry wade her way towards the nearest one, sitting underneath its shade with just her crooked tail lying in the sun. She gnawed of a few sprigs of heather before lying them down, looking at the curiously as she decided what approach to take. 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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As she began to attempt to weave some heather together, the quietest purr rumbled from her, perhaps not even an audible one, but one that someone would only be able to notice through little vibrations in the ground. Easy to bend, but hard to keep in place, Aspenberry struggled a little, her paws not much use when it came to crafting. Holding the sprigs now while using her maw to (sort of) wrap the heather into a ball, Aspenberry looked at her creation with an amused grin. It was round, but it had bits sticking from it and looked like it could burst any second. She looked at it for a moment longer before reaching her paw out with a flash, sending it flying towards Bayflower, where it exploded on the feline's pelt. She half stifled her laugh, and gave Bayflower a brief, not so remorseful grin. 

'I've thought of a game the kits can play with these. Like a sort of, eggs in a nest game. The balls start in the middle, and the kits have their 'nests' a certain distance from them. Someone says go and they run to get them, only one ball at a time. Whoever has the most balls when someone decides times up wins, and they can steal from each others nests too.' She began working on another ball, this time a little more efficient, with it looking slightly more round. 'Though they have to be careful though, if they are too harsh or rush too much, the balls will break. Its a fun game, an enriching exercise and a lesson in gentleness all in one!'

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry watched as the heather that Bayflower sent back towards her floated in the air for a heartbeat before plummeting to the ground near her paws. 'Oh wow, mighty Bayflower is so strong. They managed to hit some heather not even a full cat length. Such athleticism!' she snickered with shining eyes. 

'Swanpaw probably would have liked it too, especially with the gentler aspect with the fragile balls. She didn't mind an occasional spar but I remember chasing her all the time as a kit as she ran to hide behind Rooknose as I was 'being to harsh'. All I did was maybe accidently hit her too hard! Though she hated mess.. and this will be a messy game for sure' she added with a laugh, looking down towards the mess her first ball had made.

Aspenberry-ball was a stupid name , something that shouldn't even be funny, but she laughed anyway. It was hard not to laugh at stupid jokes when around friends. 'Or perhaps... Heatherball? Y'know.. seeing as the balls are made of heather?' she said bluntly, though her eyes shimmered with mischief. 

Aspenberry had pretty much gotten the hang of making the balls now, efficiently grasping clumps of heather before weaving them into (semi) circular balls. It would be hard to carry lots home, and clearly Bayflower was struggling so she suggested they just take home the current load, and Aspenberry could try teach them at camp another day when they wouldn't need to carry them home.