camp main one lying—moving out?

[Doekit.]

Restlessness consumed her, contaminating her with the kind of boredom that just might kill her.

Today she's had enough. Even if she can't be an apprentice yet, she decides that she's way too big to be in the nursery. One of the largest kittens in there now, she feels overgrown in comparison to the little ones. She can't even imagine how tiny Pinkshine's litter would be, so really this was for their own good. Yeah, a selfless act. Dragging the moss from her nest in the nursery, she starts balling it up and kneading on it in a place near the rest of the clan slept at, under the stars. She wants to sleep next to Babblepaw and her other older friends, and doesn't want to be left behind.

"I sleep here now," she decided as she sat down in her nest, pride shining in her eyes. It was her first time making a nest all on her own, and she was glad to have made a decision all on her own and moved out of the nursery. It wasn't nighttime yet, but sunset was getting close so she would stay right there to make sure nobody tried moving her nest back. Tucking her paws under her chest to get more comfy, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.​

 

[Silkpaw]

Silkpaw hadn't been paying much attention at first; she was far too invested in weaving marigold petals into her own nest lining, experimenting with a "sunset theme" to match the golden light cast over camp. But when she notices a familiar puff of brown fur dragging moss with all the grace of a determined badger, her ears perk. She blinks once, twice, then gasps softly, placing a paw to her chest as if personally scandalized. "Darling, what do you think you're doing?"

Silkpaw sweeps gracefully over, her charcoal tail arched like a banner in the wind. Leaning down, she peers at Doekit with an arched brow, her tone hovering somewhere between teasing affection and dramatic concern as she trills, "You can't simply relocate yourself like a tumbleweed in leaf-fall and declare yourself grown! I mean, look at you! You're not even finished shedding your baby fuzz!" And what adorable baby fuzz it is!

Still, her expression softens as she sits beside the scruffy little nest. It is, admittedly, not terrible. A bit uneven, and lumpy, but not terrible. She lets out a sigh, part exasperation, part admiration. "Well…I suppose it is rather brave of you," The ivory she-cat admits. "And the moss placement is...earnest. I can see the vision." She glances toward the nursery, then back at Doekit with a knowing look. "But don't you think the queens might worry when they find a whole kit missing from the den?"
​

 

[FEATHERSPINE]

Eagerness and foolishness were two things precariously married, Featherspine would say. Would it make him a hypocrite, though, to look upon Doekit with anything like disdain? As a kit, Featherspine himself had wished to be anything but— had placed all sharp-eyed focus on what lay beyond those moons of reprieve, failing to partake in anything akin to fun. Forcing herself to grow too quickly, she had felt her feet fumbling for stability in the later moons of her apprenticeship. Doekit likely did not cast much thought to bloodlines as Featherspine had... her willingness to be an apprentice seemed to stem from somewhere sweeter, more petal than thorn.

He supposed that it was a longer kithood now, wasn't it? Doekit had more of an excuse than he had... even still, the Code was the Code. Before, he had been plain about it— he intended not to spare her now, either.

Silkpaw gave her own judgement— having tracked Doekit with narrowed eyes, Featherspine now found some means to comment. She hummed a croaking agreement. "They will. And, as the oldest kit in the nursery, shouldn't you b-buh– buh-be a role-model?" Horned ears flicked, her expression flat and unimpressed. They'll never learn p-puh... p-puh-patience now." She hoped her own kits would not be picking up on any bad habits from their denmates. Well, any bad habits they hadn't inherited from their mother, at least... well. Either mother. ​

✦ penned by pin​

 

[BLUEFROST]

BLUEFROST

SHE / HER ◆ WINDCLAN WARRIOR

This, Bluefrost thinks with a stifling expression, is the sort of thing Rimepaw would have done. Petulant, defiant, and completely out of line—but she does not immediately interfere when she spots Doekit dragging a fully-formed nest from the nursery and toward the piles on the far side of camp. It had been momentous, she remembers, for her kits to slump peacefully beneath a star-filled sky, to feel the wind kiss their faces, to see the starlight in each other's eyes. Doekit is depriving herself—ignorantly—of the moment that lurks just around the corner.

Silkpaw and Featherspine are quick to flock to Doekit, both using mild to severe tones of disapproval. Bluefrost half-thinks to let it be… but after a heartbeat, she joins the others, her whiskers twitching with well-hidden amusement. The auburn-pelted moor runner wears an especially flat expression, and the former queen adds to her admonishment: "Just think. Somewhere out here, your future mentor is watching you disobey the rules…" She flicks the tip of her tail. "But it is not too late. Silkpaw would be happy to help you carry your nest back, I am sure." She hardly spares the girl a second look before volunteering her.

ooc:

—

accordion

Bluefrost is a WindClan warrior. She is small, apprentice-sized, with a thick and fluffy gray-smoked pelt. The fur lining her cheeks meets her chest and creates the appearance of a silvery-white mane. Her face is decorated in sparkle-like ivory markings. She has narrow, elegant emerald eyes and dark blue-gray "stockings" that end in white forepaws.

Sootstar x Weaselclaw / sibling to Shriketalon, Sootspot, Moorblossom, Addervenom, Harrierstripe, Cottonsprig / mate to Thriftfeather / mother to Rimepaw, Comfreypaw, Foalpaw, Sootpaw, Asterpaw
mentored by Sootstar / previously mentored Brackenscar / mentoring Sootpaw
27 moons old as of 03/14/2025

penned by Marquette

 

[MOLEKIT]

MOLEKIT

HE / HIM | WINDCLAN KIT

Like Doekit, Molekit's days in the nursery are also coming to a close. Soon he'll be free from its confines. Soon he'll be free from the queens' watchful eyes, running the moors in more than just his dreams — of which will be had without a roof over his head and instead under the night sky.

And while he's not as big as Doekit — he's still hoping for an extra growth spurt to find him before his apprentice ceremony — Molekit finds the nursery feeling a bit overcrowded these days. Despite the frown that pulls on his maw the moment he spots her outside the nursery, settling into a nest among their older clanmates', he thinks his peer has the right idea. But is it fair if she gets to sleep under the stars tonight and he doesn't?

The black tom bounds over to protest the matter, only to find that their older clanmates' words are nothing positive. They want her back in the nursery, which means they'll want Molekit back inside too.

" But she — we're both almost apprentices! " the tom squeaks, sticking himself into the matter, " And... And maybe Pinkshine wants to have extra space to stretch her legs..? " The tunneler might have plenty room already, but Featherspine is among the warriors trying to usher Doekit back, so he thinks the mention of his mate might aid in their effort. He blinks up at the warrior, an attempt at feigning innocence that doesn't come off quite right for the bedraggled kit.

" Please? Just one night? "

Molekit, in constant need of a bath, is almost always carrying some sort of mud or grass in unkempt, tufted black fur. Easily excitable, a bright, yellow gaze lights his way towards puddles and mishap, and a stomp of sodden paws guides his otherwise stubborn nature.

- Featherstep † x ??? ⋅ Single
- Only child
- Mentored by no one ⋅ Mentor to no one
- Penned by Abri

 

[Doekit.]

At first when Silkpaw came over, Doekit opened only one eye to look at the apprentice before quickly closing it. After a moment, she decided to just keep pretending to be asleep. "Honk. . . Mimimi. . ." She 'snored' convincingly but accidentally let out a small giggle. Pretending to sleep was pretty fun, actually. She decides to give up the ruse, figuring it ruined and blinks at the older cat, soon to be her partner in training. "Well, I know I'm not all the way grown, but I will be old enough soon and. . . Well, I kind of just want to start acting more grown up, even if I can't train yet. Like sleep out here with everyone else."

Silkpaw was funny, she thought. She had a theatrical flare about her that most cats didn't have. Made her seem more like a friend than an older cat, really. Like Russetpaw, how he was older than her but kind of weird and didn't talk down to make her feel small. Well, Silkpaw was kind of teasing her still, but she didn't think she meant it in a bad way. When she complimented her nest, she beamed, flashing little ivory canine teeth and meowing, "Thanks! Do you have any tips?"

Then suddenly. . . Grown ups, enforcing the rules. She was a little grumpy about this. Silkpaw unfortunately started the disastrous trail of questioning when she asked if the queens would miss her, then Featherspine jumped in about how she should be a role model, then Bluefrost brought up her future mentor. Not quite getting that it was meant to be shaming, she did a little jump, moss scattering from her nest as she decreed, "I really want Buckfire to be my mentor. Do you really think he's watching? Where?" Pale green eyes glittered with excitement as she looked around camp wildly.

"Errr. . . Anyway, my mom won't mind, really. Plus, I was thinking I'd like to start taking on some more responsibilities. If I sleep out here, I can help guard the nursery at night. Make sure nobody bad sneaks in. I don't really worry a lot about being a role model, just want to be their friends." Role model was a fancy term for being bossy, she was pretty sure. She is relieved when Molekit comes over, brightening as he adds to her argument. They were friends too, sort of, had battled the ants together practically a moon ago. "Yeah, me and Molekit, we're going to be apprentices next 'nd we're getting too big for nursery. We want to give Pinkshine lots of space." She blinks earnestly at Feathershine, imploring, "Remember? You told me to give her space?"​

 

[laurelfire]

LAURELFIRE

SHE/THEY WINDCLAN WARRIOR

Eagerness was something to be sought after in new apprentices, and a trait Laurelfire believes she would prefer in one of her own, for it sounded far easier to temper a little flame than try to light and painstakingly tend it — it seemed to her that time and energy poured into the lackadaisical was ultimately only wasted, as useless as trying to coax green sprouts out of heavy leafbare snowfall, for what type of warrior could such behavior produce? Certainly not one with enough drive to give in service to their clan, she thinks, though, thankfully, Windclan did not appear to have trouble molding its own… or, most of them.

But there was still direction that needed to be given, or else the new sparks would grow into something wild and uncontrollable. The tortoiseshell observes as Doekit, just shy of being set free from the crowding in the nursery, decides to take matters into her own paws, dragging scraps of what was once nursery bedding out into the open; and, as if it would deter one swift snatch of her by her scruff from a larger warrior, she shuts her eyes and feigns falling promptly asleep. The ember-dusted warrior is content to allow the others to handle it, but none seem to give the push Laurelfire feels is needed, and then, even Molekit comes tumbling out to join sides, further pleading their fruitless case.

"If you want responsibilities, you'll be having plenty of them come next moon." Laurelfire inserts herself abruptly, stalking over to flick her eyes from Doekit, and then to Molekit. It's meant to call to mind the endless training, the nights spent in humid swelter and bitter cold alike, the less favored duties of repairing the gorse walls and ripping old moss from elder nests — but the memory of Duskclan's encroachment upon their borders and attacks on their own, bolder and more desperate with each day that passes, is quick to burst forth and flood out. What would these kits find themselves amidst in the coming moons, when the inevitable loomed darkly on the horizon?

She must ignore it, or it will consume her completely; she will save the fury it stirs within her for the battlefield. "One more moon isn't long at all. Unless Buckfire tells Scorchstar you need more time in the nursery to learn some patience…" she suggests, though not very seriously; she has her doubts over the laid back tabby's willingness to put his paw down for most things, if he ends up tasked with mentoring Doekit at all.

ooc:

—

accordion

Laurelfire is a Windclan tunneler. She is short and compact, perfectly suited to spending her days in the dark tunnels beneath the territory. Flamelike patches of orange flicker across the soot black of her pelt, with splashes of stark white interrupting the burning, most notably across one side of her face. Her eyes are a dull green, not unlike the moor grass, entrapped in a delicate face that is starkly unbefitting of her. A set of claw scars mars her left shoulder.

snakehiss x berrysnap / sibling to rowanheart, wasprattle, privetfrost, viperpaw,
mentored by saltstone / mentoring none
16 moons old, ages on the 17th

penned by vesper

 

[Silkpaw]

The kit squeaks about Buckfire, and Silkpaw can't help the light, sing-song laugh that slips from her maw. Her paw comes up to shield her smile, as if hiding it might preserve some illusion of mature disapproval; though, in truth, it's hanging on by a whisker. "Stars above, you're bold," She murmurs almost admiringly, then draws herself up with a dramatic flick of her ears, assuming an expression of mock solemnity. "If Buckfire is watching, then he's doubtlessly doing so in horror." She tips her head to the side, eyes flicking up thoughtfully. "Or awe. It's hard to say with toms, really. Their expressions are so ambiguous."

She shifts to allow Molekit space beside her, sparing him a wink. "Such gallant little advocates for Pinkshine! But I'm afraid if you two start a trend, we'll have every kit following suit." She gestures loosely with her tail, her voice filled with theatrical woe despite the fondness in her expression. She isn't much for rebellion, but the ruckus is so innocent and childish that she can't help but be wooed.

The apprentice then lowers her voice and leans in closer to the pair, "But if you're both that desperate to escape the nursery's clutches…perhaps we could make a compromise." Her blue eyes sparkle, betraying the mischief beneath the offer. "What if we stay up really late tonight with stories under the stars! But when moonhigh comes, you must return to your nests." Then, she straightens, glancing toward Laurelfire, Featherspine and Bluefrost with a sheepish grin and a flick of her ear in subtle deference, because while Silkpaw can entertain a bit of whimsy, she's not quite foolish enough to argue with her more fearsome seniors. "If, of course, the grown-ups agree."
​