Open to Join Mischief Afoot

What’s out there?
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Cricketkit had been walking on eggshells for the past more or more, afraid of her mother’s fury. The queen had seemed to become more and more easily annoyed as her and her brother had grown. Boredom tugged at the little she-kit’s heart, however. It was no fun behaving. Skykit and Galekit seemed so happy and playful, while she, herself, felt stuck in the nursery. Almost three moons old, the chocolate torbie was certainly not the most playful of kits. It was clear, however, that she wished to be. Whenever Bloomfire seemed truly asleep, Cricketkit would sneak out of the nursery to chase loose feathers, balls of moss and insects. Any sound from the nursery would have her scurrying back to check if her mother was stirring.

At Hailstrike’s call, the little kit’s gentle mottled face appeared at the nursery entrance. She glanced back over her shoulder and then soft-pawed her way out before quickly slinking her way over to the warrior. ”Always!” Cricketkit purred, little tail stuck straight up. Since she and Beetlekit had been weaned, Bloomfire had been taking hunting trips to get away from the nursery. It honestly looked like she was rapidly losing interest in her offspring, but to Cricketkit this had afforded her more freedom. When Bloomfire was in the nursery, she was often sleeping, having exhausted herself in whatever she was doing beyond the camp walls and this meant the young kit had time to leave the den and play.

With one last check toward the nursery with perked ears, confirmed for Cricketkit that her dam ought to be asleep and stay asleep for at least a while. Slowly the young she-kit relaxed and her attention turned directly back to Hailstrike, eager and ready to play whatever game the warrior had in mind. Not many seemed to want to play with her, likely out of fear for her mother’s reaction if there was no express permission given. Which was rare. While Bloomfire seemed to have no desire to play or entertain her own kits, she also didn’t seem to approve of the company of others. Obedience was enforced and yet Cricketkit was drawn to disobey time and time again.

There’s always something new to try. I’m hungry for all of it!

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As Cricketkit came galloping out of the nursery towards, her, Hailstrike rolled the piece of moss under her paw, it was older, but not exactly dirty. She may have been a risk taker, but she wasn't stupid enough to grab stock from Nettleplume without permission. Instead, it was just a small clump of moss from the warrior's den, a strand of her own fur probably in there somewhere. Regardless, she stood on steady paws and looked down at the young kit. "I got the perfect game!" She chirped with a flick of her tail before she did a small press on the moss and it still bounced back as it should, good, that would work for this.

"I played a game as a kit with leaves, feathers, moss, whatever can stay in the air. I call it Keep-Up." Hailstrike added, teasing the moss with her paw again. "What you gotta do is keep the thing in the air for as long as you can. You can swipe up at it, kick it into the air, headbutt it if you want to. The longer it stays in the air the better." she explained, the tips of her fur standing on end with anticipation as she moved the moss ball in front of her and between the two.

Hailstrike lowered her body to Cricketkit's level and gave a challenging smile, then a shrug. "I haven't played it in a while so maybe you'll do better than me." She chuckled, flagging her tail in anticipation. "Wanna take the first hit?"

What’s out there?
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Once Cricketkit felt certain her mother wasn’t going to be furiously exiting the Nursery, she raced up to Hailstrike and half sat, tail flicking rapidly with excitement. Her ears pricked enthusiastically at the idea of a game and her now dark green eyes flicked over to the mossball. The obvious tattiness of the ball didn’t seem to deter the young she-kit and for a moment she wondered if she ought to fetch her brother. Ultimately the chocolate torbie decided it was best not to pull Beetlekit into this little venture. As much as she loved playing with him, going against Bloomfire’s desires seemed to stress him out and Cricketkit was honestly not up to dealing with that mood dampener right now.

The fluffy she-kit nodded as Hailstrike explained the rules of the game. “Got it!” she chirped brightly as the older she-cat finished her explanation. “Do we take turns at keeping it up, so I hit it then you do? Or shall we go one at a time and see how many hits before we miss?” Cricketkit didn’t state it plainly, but she had played this game before in the nursery when she was bored. It was a fun little game, especially since she could play it alone as well as with others. Once more the young she-kit glanced at the mossball that was available, this time debating strategies for beating Hailstrike. Obviously the warrior would have the advantage of size, strength and skill, but Cricketkit hoped that she would do well enough to make the game fun for them both.

Regardless of which way Hailstrike agreed to play, Cricketkit excitedly took up the offer to go first. Swiftly, but not overly skillfully, she hooked the mossball and tossed it into the air. She watched its trajectory and raced over to where the mossball was going. The young torbie’s paws skidded from under her, causing the swipe she aimed at the ball of moss to send it on a more horizontal angle than upwards. Just as Cricketkit’s paw had connected, she had also slipped, her left haunch landing on the ground. If the game was to have Cricketkit play first, counting the successful hits, then the ball of moss was certainly going to land on the ground before she could regain her paws. As such, it was up to Hailstrike to keep it airborn, if the warrior decided to.

There’s always something new to try. I’m hungry for all of it!

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Hailstrike's heart gave a little flutter at Cricketkit's playful energy, she only had vague memories of being like that when she was younger. Part of her thought about one day taking her on as an apprentice, but the other... more logical side knew it wasn't her choice, she'd probably be too young by that time anyway... unfortunately. "Well we can-" before the large RiverClan warrior could make any effort to finish her instructions, Cricketkit was already batting the ball around like it was a warrior's duty, whoever she'll be put with will have some great instincts to work with.

"Try batting upwards!" Hailstrike slipped down beneath the ball of moss catapulting towards her and used an upward swipe of her paw to keep it in the air. The act felt oddly invigorating, no wonder why kits were encouraged to play with other cats, keeps the blood flowing! "If you hit it to the side it'll fly too far and won't stay up! Go on! try again!" She chirped, slipping out of the way to leave room for the possible flailing of kit paws. But she didn't mind if she was being honest with herself. She just liked having something to entertain herself.

Although Hailstrike had stepped back, her muscles didn't relax, ready and willing to launch up at the moss if things ended up going south... or sideways, rather. Her pale green eyes fixed themself onto the moss ball, following the ball as it bounced up an down in the efforts of their game. She purred loudly, letting the adrenaline fill her muscles, prepared for the next strike at the airborne ball.