private SOME SUNNY DAY — toad + ribbit

[COSMOSBLOOM]

His brother is hurt. Healing, but still hurt. Cosmos could tell he was still hurting.

He wasn’t present when Finch came back to camp after the attack, bloody and leaning against Red. No, luckily Cosmos slept right through his brother's grand entrance, but even the aftermath of it was enough to bring nightmares to the snowy-furred kit. To anyone, really.

The scars were long, terrifying. A signal of what could happen if one were to stray too far from the safety of the pine forest. But, Finch was brave. Finch survived the outsider's attack. For him. Finch survived for him. Cosmos didn't think anyone could be as courageous as his half-brother. But, he hoped he could get close enough.

A mouse. He wanted to catch a mouse for Finch. To thank him for keeping watch over him. Especially now, when the forest seemed all the more frightening - all the more hostile - as the days went by.

Sure, he didn't know how to catch a mouse. Sure, he had never been out of the camp without Finch. And, certainly, he was absolutely terrified. But, if Finch could catch a mouse, if Finch could leave the camp on his own, then, Cosmos could be brave enough to do the same, right?

Alabaster paws step through pine-needled paths that soon transition their way to oak-filled trails. He is silent but trembling, frost-blue eyes wide as he scans his surroundings. There had to be something for him to catch around here.

He’s stopped in his tracks at the sound of a twig snapping. Ginger ears twitch at the noise, his head turning towards the noise. He stands frozen, unmoving - knowing the snap was far too big a noise for a mouse to make, knowing he should run. Yet, he stands still, fear freezing him, rendering him unable to urge his paws forward.

"H-hello...? he squeaks out, voice trembling.
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[LEAPING TOAD]

If Pumpkin could catch prey, then, Leaping Toad could too.

His home was struggling. The kill-pile looked more and more empty with every passing moment, and, if someone close in age to him could catch prey, then… then maybe he should be catching prey too? His brother was eager to agree to the idea of helping out with hunting - or, trying to, at least - and the duo slipped out of camp, their pelts hidden by the habitat around them.

The brown tabby trudges through oaky woods, his brother in tow, jaws open to catch evidence of any sort of killable critter, of future food. So far? Nothing. There was a run in with a mouse, but a misjudgment in how far he should pounce caused his attempt in catching it to be a failure. He was used to leaping at cats, not mice, after all.

His brother steps on a twig. It breaks beneath Ribbit’s paw with a loud snap. Great. Toad’s already annoyed with his failed catch, and now his brother’s gone and scared off the rest of his attempts. He turns, opening his mouth to shout at his younger brother, only to shut it at the sight of his dark-furred twin standing still, forest green gaze staring at something in the distance.

His own gaze follows Ribbit’s line of sight. And– There. A small, fluffy-furred creature. A kit. The cat is snow-white, standing out bright against the forest surrounding them. The only part that could blend in is their ginger ears. Apart from the kit’s appearance, something else stood out to Leaping Toad.

The lack of marsh smell.

A kittypet.

”Kittypet!” Leaping Toad is swift in his reaction, bounding towards the kit, only to leap at him, paws hitting the kit’s side.
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[RIBBITLEAP]

Ribbit chases after his brother, concern rising in his chest.

Games were games, sure, but this was just a kit! He looked to be at least a moon younger than him and his brother, and Leaping Toad looked to be more serious about jumping at him than usual. They weren’t under attack, and weren’t attacking, so this… Frog’s Ribbit just didn’t want to start anything.

He jumps at his brother, pushing him off the kit. Toad begins to protest, but Ribbit glares at him, as if to silently warn him not to take things too far. He looks back at the kit - the snowy scrap of fur is trembling as he stands to his paws.

”Are you okay?” he asks, eyes wide with concern. ”Sorry about my brother, he… takes games too far, sometimes. He doesn’t mean much harm, though.” He looks back at Toad, who simply nods his head - as if speaking up right now would jeopardize his brother's apologies.

”Anyways, I’m Ribbit, and this is Toad.”

-

Cosmos introduces himself to the marsh cats, his fears beginning to subside. Though scared at first that he would meet the same fate Finch would, these two didn't seem nearly as bad as the outsider that hurt his brother.

As the trio begin to speak to one another, to play with one another, Leaping Toad's own fears about kittypets begin to fade, as well. Perhaps they weren't all that bad after all? He's glad to have found a friend in Cosmos. Frog's Ribbit also finds himself glad for a new friend, but concern still hangs over him. Cosmos was nice, and fun to play with, sure, but... What about the rest of the kittypets? There had to be a reason for such anger between his group and Cosmos' group.

The sun begins to set, and their meeting becomes short-lived. The three say their goodbyes, promising to meet again.
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