camp Live In Life || Playing With Kits

[Chickbloom]

// @butterflytuft but no need to wait!

An eternally-active mind had been toying with Butterflytuft's suggestion as of late, turning and inspecting it like a child would a new toy. "The kits like visitors, if you ever want to drop by to play with them. It could help you, too." It had been a long while since Chickbloom had been an active participant in any games (the occasional mossball striking him in the face notwithstanding). The boy remembered running around with his housefolk in kithood, chasing after laser-pointers or being chastised for tearing up the couch.

"Maybe they got tired of me always bugging them to play, and that's why they stopped spending time with me."

The Scottish Fold was quick to shake the intrusive thought away as butter-stained paws pushed him up and towards the nursery. With a mindset like that, maybe entertaining the kits would be good for him. Two folded ears were the first things the kits would see as the spineless whelp poked his way into the den, dinner-plate eyes soon following. "Um - I got - uh -" There was no good way to broach this, was there? a shaking paw would soon appear, pressing down on a mossball.

"Um - th-there was a game my - y'know - my h-housefolk used to play with me. They had this...this red l-light, a-and..." Chickbloom trailed off for a moment, growing quieter before catching himself and returning to focus, rolling the mossball underpaw. "A-Anyway! I thought you-you all should e-experience it, I guess...or at l-least something like it. I'll - I'll kick the ball around, and y-you have to - y'know - catch it. If any a-adults join, they can - can help me kick it away f-from you all." It sounded simple, but the warrior didn't intend to make it easy. After all, he never caught the red light. amber eyes flicked around the nursery, desperate for approval. "D-Does that - does that s-sound fun?"​

 

[Whitekit]

Snowy had been sat in his nest for some time already, lost in thought and looking admittedly rather miserable. He hadn't noticed the odd looking cat entering the nursery, so when the unfamiliar voice reached his right ear he jolted a little with surprise. With large blue saucer eyes he stared at Chickbloom with fascination over his odd looking ears. Snowy had never witnessed anything like it before.

This was the first time that he had seen a mossball, but it did remind him a lot of his old crinkle ball toy. Just... less shiny, and slightly gross looking. Drawing in a deep breath, he slowly slunk out of the nest in order to approach the warrior as he explained the game. Snowy mustered up a small smile as he nodded his head. "Can I play?" It did sound like fun and he fancied giving it a go. It was certainly better than rotting away in the pit of his worries.
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[budkit]

”Budkit wants to play! Budkit is a good catcher! Just wook at dees paws!” In a flurry the seal point kitten scrambles over to Chickbloom, making a point to wave a multi-toed paw in the nervous warrior’s face to prove her point. There was no way that mossball was getting past her monstrous grippers!

Oh but wait - manners. Butterflytuft was working hard on instilling proper manners in her excitable daughter. “Pwease can Budkit play?” She rephrases, kinked tail twitching with pent up excitement but the rest of her body attempting to stay still and calm (it was very difficult). “Snowy can be on Budkit’s team,” Budkit adds with a saccharine smile. He would want to be on her team since she was certain she could win this game. That would help him feel happier after all, she thinks.​

[ penned by kerms ]​

 

[TWITCHBOLT]

Ever since Butterflytuft had lost even more of her family, Twitchbolt had inevitably found himself lingering close, even though he knew she was a very well-cared-for cat. There was nothing amiss today, thankfully ... in fact he was unsurprised to find Chickbloom among the nursery. Since coming out of his shell a bit more, finding him present near the nursery seemed a foregone conclucion. It was one of the safest, most welcoming spots in camp.

His expression softened a bit to see the sun-spotted to flocked by listening kittens, Budkit's eager tones pitching skyward, and Snowy's slightly-quieter voice chirping interest, too. And yes, he was deputy ... responsible, and all that, but it had always been important to socialise with the kits, right? To be a friendly face, someone who would listen. Because who knew who wasn't listening, in a kit's life?

He knew Butterflytuft would, at least. "Well, I won't leave Chickbloom all alone," Twitchbolt announced to the kist, before situating himself on the former kittypet's team. Being overrun by kittens might be good for the stamina, though.​

penned by pin ✧​

 

[Chickbloom]

Part of Chickbloom hoped his idea would be met with scorn, or simple disinterest. Sure, it would have embarrassed the Scottish Fold to no end, having to walk out of the nursery rejected by a bunch of toddlers, but it also would have meant that he wouldn’t have to push himself. He’d be free to continue on as he was, failure an excuse not to try. A lesser, but more simple existence.

Unfortunately for the warrior, his attempt to translate his favorite kittypet passtime was met with anything but. Two kits come forward, mirror opposites of each other. The first reminded Chickbloom a little of himself, easily started with dinner-plate eyes. In fact, the two cats would look rather alike if the warrior managed to clean the permanent yolk stains from his fur. A tiny smile crossed cowardly features as he crouched down to be on Snowy’s level, trying to act more like Butterflytuft. “O-Of course you can” he responded, before being startled by noise and excitement.

Budkit was someone Chickbloom was already aquainted with, an invisible brow furrowing for a moment as the Scottish Fold tried again to decipher just how she associated Slate with mice. There was no time for inquiry with the excitable kit, though, and soon the former kittypet was contending with a paw inches away from his face.

Flinching backwards, Chickbloom tried to keep his composure. “S-Sure, of course - of course Budkit can play. And yes, those paws l-look - great?” he answered, silently grateful that Snowy seemed to have someone able to push him forwards.

Eternally underselling himself, the baby bird began to worry that he wouldn’t be able to keep up with two kittens, and the game would turn into a shambles. A silent sigh of relief left the whelp as his much-more-put-together clanmate appeared to offer assistance. “T-Thank you” He nodded, feeling a kinship with the other. They didn’t spend enough time together, perhaps that could be his next self-improvement project? Going from kits to full-grown cats seemed logical enough.

A buttery tail-tip flicked as the former kittypet brought himself back to the present and looked at those who joined. Certainly unbalanced, but the kits weren’t really supposed to win. “R-Right,” he started, padding outside. “If anyone sees us p-playing, I - I guess they can join in too. It’s not - it’s not l-like it’s a complicated game.” The coward crouched down, placing the mossball in front of him as he prepared to start. “R-Ready?” he asked, muscles tensed. “Go!”

in a flash, the mossball was rolling across camp. Chickbloom sprinted after it, aiming to knock it towards Twitchbolt if neither of the kittens could catch it.​

 

[Whitekit]

”On your team? That… that sounds great!” Snowy was surprised by Budkit’s offer, but he offered a small genuine smile in response to convey his gratitude. Though he reckoned that he would be the weaker ally, Budkit did indeed have large paws. But what did he have to offer? A quick look at his own paws showed how much daintier they were in comparison, hardly great for grabbing things. Though he did have long legs which served him well when it came to running.

As another adult joined them Snowy decided to get into position as he prepared to give chase once the game started. Already his heart was racing as he primed for the hunt. Internally he struggled with the idea of potentially letting his teammate down. If he failed here then he doubted that the other kits would let him forget. The mere idea of being ridiculed by his new peers haunted him horribly!

A flash of movement seized his attention instantly and his pupils narrowed to dangerous slits as he sprinted after the mossball without a single word. He was laser focused on the thing, perhaps a little too much as he ended up running it over. A gasp of shock broke from him as he feared that it would continue towards Twitchbolt, so in blind panic he kicked out his hind paws and somehow landed a hit which sent the mossball tumbling towards Budkit. ”Get it Budkit!” He screamed before he tripped over his own paws.
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[butterflytuft]

“I’m glad you decided to come by,” The queen greets Chickbloom as he pokes his head in, her eyes warm as she sits near the edge of the nursery. She watches the kits grow excited at the warrior’s suggestion with a smile. She doesn't usually join in their games, but she's more than content to supervise, ensuring that everyone has fun and no one gets hurt. When Budkit's eager voice rises up, she turns her gaze to her daughter, smiling softly at the energy radiating from her. She’s always so excited! Suppressing a chuckle, Butterflytuft notices the little seal point's attempt to remember her manners. Good job, She thinks. Almost there. As Budkit adjusts her speech, Butterflytuft gently offers guidance, her tone soft and encouraging, “'I want to play,' not 'Budkit wants to play,' alright?" Her tail brushes affectionately over her daughter's back. It’s been slow-going trying to correct her little one’s vocal quirks, but she’s learned her lesson with her first litter. No more letting things go - she needs to parent if she wants her children to grow up well-adjusted.

The prospect of adults versus kits stirs something protective in her, but she knows this is a good moment for both the warriors and the young ones. Budkit is growing up and she needs to let her roughhouse a little more. So, the tortoiseshell lets the game unfold before her, her heart swelling as she watches Snowy and Budkit chase after the mossball, Snowy even managing a surprising kick that sends the ball flying toward her daughter. "Go, Budkit!" She cheers, keeping her gaze focused on the kits. It's these little moments of joy that remind her why she loves caring for them so much. And in the back of her mind, she's already thinking of ways to help Chickbloom feel more confident around the young ones. This is good.
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