letting the days go by | ghostkit

[Howlfire]

It had been some time since Howlfire was a queen, but her visits to the nursery were no less frequent. She enjoyed coming to see and spend time with Butterflytuft, having grown close during their shared time in the nursery together, but also she just liked to come and check that the queens and their kits were all okay.

She had been coming to see Butteflytuft that morning, bringing a small pigeon to share with the queen and Budkit. However, both the queen and kit were pretty sleepy, so Howlfire offered to come back later, though left the pigeon should they have woken up. The chocolate torbie has almost made it out of the entrance when she hears shuffling behind her, turning to see who it was and finding Ghostkit peering up at her. Howlfire inwardly cringed at the memory of when they last spoke, or rather when she had unfairly snapped at the child. "Hello, Ghostkit," She mewed softly, mustering a gentle smile. "I hope I didn't startle you."

@Ghostkit ​

 

[Ghostpaw!]

Ghostkit had been spending her time being very productive; she'd been nosing around the dark corners of the nursery, intent on finding a spider to show Budkit. The young child always squealed so whenever Ghostkit brought her something new, and it always made the ink-black molly smile. Her ears twitched absently, acknowledging that someone had entered the nursery, but she kept up her search. That was, until she heard the newcomer's voice. Her eyes widened and she swallowed reflexively. Slowly she twisted to look over her shoulder, then she dropped to the ground, trying to be small. It wasn't that she was afraid of Howlfire. She just didn't want to bother the torbie. She might yell at me again if I did, Ghostkit thought, pouting. Then she flattened her ears as they began to burn. It was a mean thought, and she knew it. Duskpool had gently explained to her the next morning that Howlfire had received terrible news at the gathering the night before. And I made it worse by, by being annoying. It wasn't Howlfire's fault. Ghostkit just was sometimes.

Despite being on edge, Ghostkit found herself beginning to creep forward. Maybe it was the darkness of the den emboldening her. Maybe boredom had overtaken her unease and decided the only way to ease the tension was to make a game of it. Or maybe she simply had bugs on the brain and wanted to try her paw at living in their world. She pressed her belly to the floor and wobbled forward. It was harder to balance than she'd thought, but it was worth it to become the stealthiest of all creatures; the worm. Ghostkit pictured herself as the wriggling, legless thing she'd once presented to Budkit. She giggled quietly to herself. The giggling faded to a breathless 'mew' as Howlfire's golden eyes found her in the dark. Oh.

The child swallowed again, maw hanging slightly open as she scrambled for an explanation of herself. Her eyes darted to the floor as though she could find one lying in the dirt.
"Oh, um, hi Howlfire." Her quiet voice seemed to bounce off the den walls. What do I say? Nothing! I don't wanna talk to her! Embarrassment was a wily emotion on Ghostkit, and her previously tempered thoughts were drowned out by a surge of self-preserving pride. She opened her mouth to say so before she lost her nerve, but Howlfire's gentle words swept her up like a sun shower. Dowsed by kindness were her fiery thoughts, comforted by the genuine sun of the torbie's smile was her fluttering heart. Suddenly hyperaware of herself Ghostkit sat up, trying to posture herself like a more respectable cat.

"It's okay. Er, you didn't scare me, I mean. I was just, I was already looking in here, for spiders, cause I don't think Budkit's seen one before. Um, then I saw you came to visit, and-" Words came and went from the child's mind, too quickly for her to reach out and grab. She looked away, eyeing the nursery exit. "Don't wanna be in your way," she murmured finally, shuffling her paws together.​

 

[Ghostpaw!]

//little baby bump in case you did wanna continue playing out this thread, if not no worries at all just thought I would check <3