Closed Thread All Those Who Wander [18LF2020]

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

  Deep breaths, Murkkit, you can do this. Its not the first time he had wandered off on his own, maybe the first time while in Shadowclan's care. Before he could really even begin his gallant explorations, he felt the edge of his pelt stiffen - and for a moment fought the urge to look, it was that same feeling that gripped him right before the owl's silent wingfalls nearly brought him into the sky.

When he spotted a grey paw in his path, he flinched, growing an inch at being discovered. Rats, and so quickly too - ! With only a moment to calm himself and soften the sharp lining of fur along his spine, Murkkit offered the warrior a sheepish grin. "Hello, Heronsong." Hers was one of the few names he remembered, having been so imprinted into his head the first night when he was brought back. "I wasn't... uh, strolling. I have a very important warrior mission I need to see through."

The smoky blue kit had taken kill out of Redkit's pile, and he blinked wryly up at her. "Do you wanna join my secret warrior mission? I wanna see the outside areas - and I need a big strong warrior with me!" Attempting to butter up the grey she-cat, he paraded himself forward, hoping to weave around her inner legs where he'd give her an affectionate rub as he passed by. That is, if she didn't just step over him.

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Coming out from the other side from underneath the she-cat, Murkkit's expression as he fleshed it over his shoulder was one of total seriousness. "Super secret!" He exhaled with a little mew, his tiny voice much less somber than he intended, still he hoped it got the point across and she woudln't try and pry deeper.

Tail lifted like a tiny gray banenr in the air, the smoky grey kit followed after the she-cat with a bounce to his step, pleased he had managed to entice her nonetheless. "Night patrol sounds like fun. I bet I'd be good at night patrol 'cause I'm so hard to see at night! No one would see me coming...!" Hiding his excitement with a few twitched of his whiskers, he crouched low and pretended to stalk between the grasses at some unseen foe.

He wanted to show her that maybe he'd be qualified for an early apprenticeship. Clovershine had said it would be another four moons until then - he wanted to be able to explore where he wanted now! Picking up the pace, he pounced from his crouch and began to zigzag between the bushes, keeping his cornflower colored eyes peeled for the cats he was looking for.

"I dunnnooooo..." He remarked lightly at her wanted to know the details of his mission. It was more of a need-to-know basis and Murkkit wasn't exactly sure who he could trust yet in this place. The last thing he wanted was to be confined to the nursery for trying to find traces of his old family. He peered above the brush, lifting himself on his tippy toes and sniffed the ground, sniffed, well everything. Maybe she thought he was just truly passionate about knowing every corner of shadowclan's camp...

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

 Murkkit's fuzzy, pointed blue colored head poked out between a low hanging bush for Heronsong to clearly see. He blinked up at the she-cat, a small purr leaving his mouth. "Like an owl! Owls come out at night." He chirped as if he hadn't been nearly snatched up in one's talons and ended up an easy meal. Still, he was proud of his knowledge; he hoped that one day he could hunt as stealthily and as efficiently as an owl.

Paws swinging, he pounced at an unsuspecting beetle, landing on top of it but doing little to effectively scare it into flying away. He sniffed at it, peering down at the little creature before he touched it with his maw and promptly spat it out. his head rounded in her direction as she touched his shoulder, and his tail flicked up, still with a bit of uncertainty. His mother had warned him to keep his secrets safe, but if Heronsong promised on her own tail then maybe it was alright.

"I wanna get really good at hunting as soon as possible." He began with a sigh, peering across her shoulder instinctively hoping he would see something familiar. "I know that my brother and sisters are in other clans now... but my sire could be anywhere. I wanna find him and invite him to join us." At the very least to let him know that he was alright, or else he hoped he would be as his wide, watery eyes stared up at her.

He shuffled his paws, and his sad eyes threatened to turn accusatory. Would she keep her promise or would she betray the trust of an emotionally vulnerable kit?

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

 When Heronsong glanced away he was sure she'd start yowling for Palestar. Every strand of hair seemed to stand on end as the seconds seemed to drag on for an eternity, and for a kit, that was an awfully long time. Yet when her question teased his ears, he couldn't help but wonder. It seemed obvious to the small tom that his sire would be suited to clan life; he was big and strong, and he always smelled so nice. Trying to put his thoughts into words might have been a bit difficult, but he tried anyway. "I think so. He's the smartest and strongest cat I know! He helped mother when she couldn't feed us well... and he smells just like Flutterdreams den!" While he hadn't spoken to the medicine cat it seemed that they did a lot of the same things. Like lay out bits of plants. Murkkit, a bit more convinced of her loyalty, seemed to perk up and resumed his outting. He turned to follow the briars and wondered just how far around the camp was from the outside.

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

 While it was reassuring to think that his sire might join them, he had to find him first, and that required Murkkit to be the best hunter as quick as can be. Any opportunity to practice wasn't lost to him, and his attention perked up when he heard Heronsong softly announce that they weren't alone. A mouse was nearby. A real, live mouse, huh? His mother had sometimes caught a live mouse, played with it a bit, and the rest had their fun. The chance to catch his own and tell Redkit and Dazzlekit all about his adventures was another chance entirely. "Oh, yes! I wanna try!" His small voice was uttered in a kit like gasp, an excited whisper as he tried to hone in on the sounds himself. A rustle in the grass gave a hint at where the tiny creature might be, but even though he couldn't see it he especially in front of Heronsong.

Body dropping down to the ground he could feel the grasses tickle his belly. He tiptoed forward, partially wondering if Heronsong would be leading the way. Even if he had to go out on his own, he crept closer trying his hardest not to step on broken twigs or disturbing pockets of grass... He paused about halfway to try and listen to see if he could hear another rustle. He had to be sure where it was before he pounced. The tip of his tail twitched impatiently. He just hoped they were the only things that noticed the mouse.

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

 He could only imagine what his denmates would say when he told them he went out hunting with a warrior! He tried to take a deep breath and focus on the task in paw, but his patience was about as long as a strand of grass. He glanced at her as she encouraged him, and he could feel his chest warm at the feeling. Ever since he had met her she seemed so welcoming, and he didn't want to disappoint.

He started to creep a bit closer, his small body disappearing into the underbrush, but that meant he couldn't really see too far ahead of himself. His ears were alert; he tiptoed forward until he couldn't hear the creature. Standing stark still he waited - and waited. He didn't hear it anymore and the little kit was nearly about to give up when he spotted a shift in the grass. Taking his chance his little legs leaped forward.

When he glanced up he spied the little mouse, except it hadn't fallen beneath his paws, but rather ended up awkwardly landing beside it. Leaning back on two legs, he extended his paws, batting fiercely as he half landed on it. With a squeak, the mouse floundered, momentarily stunned but not harmed, and began to run off unknowingly towards Heronsong's direction.

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

At that moment Murkkit unleashed a furious yowl, a bit frustrated that he had missed - missed! - but Heronsong saved the experience, and hooked it up into her jaws. Giving its dangling tail a swat, his eyes were wide as he half expected to put the creature back down to him to play with. When she did, however, he prodded it with disappointment. "Aw, you killed it... I wanted to play with it a bit. Mama used to bring us all sorts of things to play with." The frown on his face seemed to brighten a bit at her praise, head tilting so that he fixed her with the intensity of his cornflower blue eyes. "I've been hunting with Mama, but she usually catches them. I just tried to listen, watch - and then I got to play with them after!" But it was no fun if the animal wans't moving anymore or reacting to his play pouncing. "Isn't that how you learned?"

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

The small kits face scrunched up as if he had punctured a stink bug as he stared down at the pathetic thing that was once a living thing. Now it was just food - and a boring playmate to boot. He was rather quiet for a moment as if trying to process something he didn't quite believe in. "I guess not." He said at last when she directly questioned him. Wouldn't an elder who might not have as many teeth want something a bit bruised and easier to chew? Still, he didn't want to seem to perturbed by her explanation. It had a vagueness that he had yet to grasp, but he was more curious as to what she may be hinting at. "What's so great about leaf-fall?" He hoped the trees wouldn't come falling down. An ear twitched as he heard another sound, and which first he assumed to be a cat noise and his snout pointed to a tall shrubbery where a grey catbird called its iconic meowing call. "Next time can we go out a bit farther?" he padded closer to the grey warrior, returning to attention. A half yawn creased his maw but continued to spare longing glanced towards the marsh. 

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

 He hid the tell tale scrunch of more dismay at her suggesting he ask permission next time. It had seemed to work out well enough tonight - and Clovershine seemed so sleepy after she had watched over them all day. It'd be mean to bother her about it! Still, the corners of his mouth turned into a smile even at the opportunity to continue his search.

"I can make it back - and I wanna carry the mouse back too! I bet everyone will ask me where I got it, and I'll say that I helped hunt it. Hah!" He could only imagine the gaping look of his siblings when they found out he hunted alongside a warrior. That practically made him one! Murkkit carried himself with a little bounce even though he could feel the day creeping up on him much like he crept up on the mouse.

He picked the creature up by its scruff, half dragging it along the ground and bounced into the air as he took off with it, forgetting to really check on Heronsong in the process. He knew his way back - he just needed to follow the briars back where they came. He could wait to offer it to Clovershine - and get a bit of a nap himself.