Closed Thread Pounce Practice

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
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Merryaster jolted upright with a sharp inhale, fur bristling along her spine as a tiny weight landed squarely on her tail. Her teal eyes quickly fell on the culprit. A kit. A white, puff tailed, wild eyed kit shouting about enemy warriors.

"Skykit!" She managed, her tail giving a reflexive flick that nearly unseated the little one. She blinked, collecting herself as her heartbeat slowed.

Her tone was still edged with surprise, but softening as she took in the kit’s gleeful expression. The corners of her mouth twitched somewhere between disbelief and the faintest smile. "You’ve got quite the battle cry for someone that sized." She murmured, curling her tail protectively around her paws now that it had been "defeated" in battle.

Tilting her head, she regarded the kitten thoughtfully. "Does Lilyriver know you’re out here terrorizing the camp?" There was a note of playfulness in her tone.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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"Merryast-ahh!" Skykit squealed as the flick of Merryaster's tail near flung across camp... although not really, to Skykit, the camp was huge, especially since it's the only thing she sees. She knew that Lilyriver couldn't even humor the idea of her leaving camp, even with a trusted escort, at least not yet. "Thanks!" She replied warmly, wriggling herself off of Merryaster's tail and moving to sit beside her. "I practice with Galekit when we play clans" she chirped politely.

Skykit nodded at Merryaster's final question "I asked Lilyriver if I could come out an play, I'm not terrorisin'" she explained quietly before rolling onto her side "I think it's more... hunting practice, Lilyriver's been teaching me a good hunting crouch" the pale eyed kit rolled back onto her belly before rising to her paws.

"See I'll show you!" She purred, moving her paws to a steady position and bending her body low, though her wriggling rump gave her away. Lilyriver had told her to keep her belly off of the ground but she had yet to tell her that she had to get low enough that the prey wouldn't see her curious kit-wiggles. "How is it? Got any pointers?"

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster blinked, still half caught between amusement and disbelief as Skykit plopped down beside her. "You practice with Galekit, do you?" she meowed, the hint of a smile curling her whiskers. "That explains the ambush."

She watched with growing curiosity as Skykit demonstrated her crouch, paws shifting, rump wiggling in earnest concentration. It wasn’t bad, she supposed, but Skykit was still a kit so she wasn't too critical.

"Well. Your paws are light and that’s good. You’ll make less noise that way." Her voice softened into something almost teacherlike, although she had already got the basics down if she could even startle her in a moment of relaxation. "But you’ll want to tuck your tail a little closer in so its less prone to wiggle."

"What kind of clan games?" She couldn't help but ask. Maybe Otterwhisker had something to say about that. Or Tangleloon.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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"Galekit and I are the leader and deputy of RippleClan" Skykit explained, a tilt of her chin giving away the pride she tried to cover with a quiet air of duty. "Tangleloon played with us before but he was our formal storyteller. He told us about the time we got our prey back from a beetle that stole it and made peace with it" Skykit rambled, leaving spaces for Merryaster to chip in if she felt like making small points. "The beetle chose loyalty and created a new clan called BeetleClan, we’re allies now" she mewed, a sweet, innocently proud smile stretching her muzzle

She had noted Merryaster’s explanation and straightened her tail, her body falling naturally into place like she had been taught this for half an apprenticeship, albeit her balance was a little tilted. "Maybe you can join in next time, Galekit loves being clan leader" she chirped, her pale eyes landing on a small twig before she used her hind paws and kicked upward before she landed, gripping the twig between her teeth.

Skykit trotted back over to Merryaster with the defeated twig held proudly behind her fangs. "Now RippleClan is safe from the evil traitor twigs" she purred, dropping the tiny piece of wood before Merryaster’s paws. "Lilyriver said I’ve got the makings of a fine hunter" she cheered proudly before taking a place beside the dark she-cat.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster couldn’t help the quiet laugh that left her throat as Skykit proudly laid the "traitor twig" at her paws. For all the kit’s boundless imagination there was something striking about the conviction in her words the way she carried herself as if RippleClan was a real clan.

"Sounds like you and Galekit have quite the stories to tell. I think RiverClan might need to step up."

Her teal eyes lingered on the small twig, then drifted back to Skykit, amused warmth flickering behind them. "I’ll admit that was a clean pounce." She tipped her head slightly, studying the little white kit with a glint of curiosity. "And Tangleloon. You said he was your storyteller? Do you like him?'

There was no teasing in her tone this time only genuine interest. It wasn’t every day a cat spoke of Tangleloon with such reverence and Merryaster found herself wanting to know more of what kind of tales the eccentric tom had spun for RiverClan’s youngest minds.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit pondered for a moment, not leaving Merryaster’s side as she thought more than a kit her age should about Tangleloon. Did the other cats in the clan not like him? Was the fact she liked him, weird to everyone else? Was there something about Tangleloon she didn’t know? "I like Tangleloon." She finally replied, soft and polite, like she was addressing her leader or a mentor she didn’t have yet. "He played with me and Galekit, told us stories, he’s nice and a little funny actually"

"Thank you!" She purred happily, glad her mother’s teachings were paying off, and she now intended on telling her all about Merryaster’s praise when she was inevitably brought back to the nursery to have another nap… Lilyriver always seemed to know when she was tired.

Although, she never had many visitors to the nursery now, aside from those visiting the new kits. And none to particularly visit her and Galekit anymore. She didn’t think to ask Lilyriver of this out of fear she’d be scolded for asking, but maybe Merryaster knew something.. anything. "Merryaster? Do you know who my sire might be? Mama doesn’t tell anyone." She asked, a small inquisitive tilt of her head emphasising the question.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster blinked, taken aback by the directness of the question. Kits had a way of slipping straight past ceremony and right into the heart of a thing. Still...it was a curiosity, no?

"Well." She began carefully, her tail tip curling around her paws. "I can’t say I know for certain who your sire is. That’s something only your mama can truly answer."

She paused, studying the kit’s expression before her whiskers twitched in a half smile. "But… Tangleloon, hm? He seems to spend a lot of time with you and Galekit. He’s got the same fondness for stories that you do." A playful glimmer sparked in her tone now, low and conspiratorial. "Wouldn’t that be something?"

After a beat, she leaned closer just a little, to keep her voice between them. "If you’re really curious, you could always start asking around the toms yourself. Make your own investigation. Asking the right questions can uncover any mystery."

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit's ears perked, her pale blue eyes widening with a mixture of surprise and delight at Merryaster's words, Ask around the toms herself? That sounded... exciting! Like a real mystery story, the kind Tangleloon always told, only this time she could be the one uncovering the clues!

She shuffled her tiny paws against the ground, tail curling neatly over her flank as she tried to keep her excitement polite. "Oh, I don't want to bother anyone." She mewed softly, though her whiskers twitched with poorly hidden curiosity. "But... maybe it would be nice to ask. Just to know, you know?"

Her gaze flicked up toward Merryaster with a small, earnest smile. "I think... if I do ask, I'll be very polite about it. Maybe I'll make a list of good questions first, so I don't forget any!" There was a quiet, thoughtful pause, her tone growing a touch dreamy. "And if Tangleloon is my sire..." she let out a small giggle "then that would make sense, wouldn't it? He's always so kind to me and Galekit. And he tells the best stories."

After another heartbeat, she at up straighter, determination glinting behind her sweetness. "Thank you, Merryaster! I think... I'll start my investigation soon. But I'll be careful not to make Mama upset." Her eyes softened with affection, her voice dropping to a whisper as if sharing a secret. "I just want to find out who he is so I can thank him... for helping bring me into the world"

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster’s expression warmed, something proud and fond softening the sharper edges of her features. She hadn’t quite expected the kit to take her suggestion so earnestly but seeing that spark of curiosity bloom in Skykit’s eyes it was hard not to be moved by it.

"That’s a good way to think about it." She said, her voice low and approving. "Not every mystery needs to be solved with claws and cunning. Sometimes a polite word and a careful question do far more."

Her tail brushed lightly against Skykit’s flank in a gesture of quiet reassurance. "You’ve got the right spirit for this. A good investigator listens as much as she asks." She dipped down to twist her head around to smooth down the fur on her own striped shoulder.

"Your mother might tell you when she’s ready but there’s no harm in learning the truth for yourself so long as you keep your heart kind while you do it." She reasoned.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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"I think everyone should try to talk things out before resorting to claws and teeth" Skykit replied, moving closer to the tabby she-cat, the idea of the investigation filled her eyes with a determined sort of excitement. This idea was one that Merryaster wouldn't be able to take back now. Even if she wanted to or not. "Do you think you could give me an idea for a question?" she chirped with a tilt of her small white head. Merryaster would have to have some ideas right?

For a moment, she sat still, glancing around the camp, there was something that made her think of which tom she could start with. Goosesong? Tangleloon? Briarfang maybe? It could just depend on who she finds first, but no matter where it was, she would ask the same questions, and would always be polite, as her mother taught her. 

Skykit moved her body to a stand and shook off her pelt, shaking out all of her soft, white fur from a twitch of her whiskers to the flick of her tail tip. "I'm gonna start this investigation when the time feels right. What do you think, Merryaster?"

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster blinked. There was something oddly endearing in the way Skykit puffed up, determination glowing in those bright eyes.

Her eyes drifted toward the camp as if she could already imagine the chaos that might follow this little quest."“Well if you’re going to be asking around, best to start gentle. Cats tend to share more when they don’t realize they’re giving anything away."

Her tail tip flicked. "You could ask things like… ‘what do you think of Lilyriver’ or ‘have you ever shared prey with her?'".

Then, a slight glint of humor crept into her gaze. "And if they start looking nervous, that’s when you know you’re close to something interesting. But remember - no accusing. You’d be surprised what a friendly conversation can uncover."

A tiny smile stretched along her maw. Maybe she'd discover something scandalous.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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"How do you know that?" Skykit blinked, tilting her head at Merryaster's advice, still not choosing to sit, her body more eager to move around than her words were prepared to. "Have you gotten information out of cats like that before?" although the question was a little pressing, it didn't feel as intrusive coming from tiny, polite little Skykit. 

Skykit nodded at the questions, noting them silently in her mind to see if she could remember them with the first tom she asks and the others after that. Coming up with questions to ask was the easy part, asking them and getting answers she needed would prove to be a little more difficult. But it was unlike Lilyriver's kin would be anything but determined.

No accusing,  Skykit noted silently before stretching out her paws, the way Otterwhisker had taught her, and glancing around to the elder's den, there was a couple of toms in there! But she wouldn't go asking around... not yet. "Okay, thank you, Merryaster!" A purr rumbled loud and bold in Skykit's chest as she moved forward, turning back to Merryaster for a moment, her head resting on her own shoulder calmly "See ya later!" she cheered before waving her tail and bounding away towards the elders' den.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster’s whiskers twitched, amused despite herself. "Let’s just say." she began, honestly "They're aren't many secrets between a clan."

She watched the little white kit stretch and glance toward the elders’ den, that spark of determination still bright in her eyes. StarClan help them all, Skykit was going to make good on this 'investigation' and Merryaster could already imagine the gossip it might stir.

"Good luck, Skykit."

Her tail flicked in quiet amusement as the kit bounded off full of determination. With a faint shake of her head, Merryaster let out a soft chuckle. The thought lingered as she turned her gaze toward the reeds, a small smile curling her muzzle before she rose to her paws and padded off to hunt.