camp THE FINAL FLOOR // stealing

[RAMKIT]

Ramkit parts her jaws in a yawn, sitting by her lonesome near the edges of the nursery. She isn't sure where her brother may be, nor Butterflytuft - a cursory glance around the den provides little more than mottled shapes and blurred scents. It doesn't necessarily help that she truly doesn't yearn to look for them, either - not right now, at least.

Budkit had left the nursery moments before. She said something about a meal, and the rumble in the younger kitten's belly told her that she was hungry, too. But she wasn't allowed to wander far without the input of another (her many attempts to escape said as much.) Surely, the dark furred point would bring back enough for them all to share?

Speaking of... a familiar scent wafts towards her nose, mingled with that of cooling warmth and forest-scented fur. Unclean, but not rancid - meat, prey even. Ramkit pushed herself to her paws and trotted quickly towards the scent, and the large, cream-and-seal colored she-cat that tugged along the squirrel. She chirps, a wide grin on her face, "Snacks! Snacks, snacks, snacks, snacks-!"

In her excitement, she forgets her manners (if she even bothers to have them yet.) Ramkit grabs at the squirrel's tail suddenly and yanks backwards, none-too-eager to wait until they find Butterflytuft and Lambkit again.

[ pls wait for @budkit :3 ]​

 

[budpaw]

She knows her time within the nursery grows short.

Budkit had told Fluffypaw her excitement over becoming an apprentice, had confided in her older sister her worries over mama's priorities, and even with her exuberance earning her a subtle scold from the tortoiseshell permaqueen Budkit tries to redirect her energy. It thrums with nervous anticipation, churning a rumbling stomach into knots. The seal point will make the best of the time that remains. And in doing so she believes she can do something thoughtful for her exhausted mom.

Sapphire eyes behold a returning hunting patrol from where she has stationed herself at the mouth of the nursery. Grasped in one's maw is a squirrel – a known favorite of the permaqueen. Perfect! She sets off with haste to lay claim to the piece of prey, a meager explanation tossed over her shoulder to anyone who might be listening.

Mama will love this, Budkit thinks to herself giddily as she picks up the squirrel and carries it back to the nursery. It'll be like old times again, the two of them sharing a meal the kitten has selected herself. It's what she wants most before her apprentice ceremony. Just… some time with Butterflytuft. Budkit does not think that is too much to ask.

So lost in her thoughts and gleeful motivation, the point has all but tuned out Ramkit's chanting as she enters the nursery, prized prey in tow. Suddenly the squirrel held between her teeth, her gift to her mother, is yanked free. Ramkit tumbled backwards with the piece of prey and the knots that had been slowly loosening in Budkit's stomach snap!

"Ramkit!" Her voice is shrill, sharp from whetting across a stone of jealousy ever since the twins were placed in her mother's care. How this became the straw that broke the kitten's back no one could truly know. "Give that back! That's not for you!" She stalks forward in frustration… blinded by a misting of tears. "Y-You steal everything. My nest! My prey! My m-mother!"

Heavy droplets stain the nursery floor as Budkit sobs. "G-Give it back…" All she wanted was to share a squirrel with Butterflytuft and it seems even that was too much to ask. ​

[ penned by kerms ]​

 

[LAMBKIT]

Ramkit is tired, but Lambkit still nearly bounces off the walls of the nursery with energy. Under the supervision of his foster mother, he runs from one end of the den to another, load squeals of happiness peal from his lips as he stops occasionally to smack around a bit of moss, claws catching it and sending it flying only for his paws to hit at it again, he gives chase. Vaguely, he's aware of the other nursery occupants, his sister who blinks sleepily in their nest, Budkit who had left and was now returning with the delicious scent of prey in tow.

He had not realized how hungry he was until now, and he stops in his playtime to turn his head in that direction, mouth watering at the thought of another meal like the one his father had given him. Ramkit beats him to it, but that only makes his paws move faster, his desire to not miss out making him nearly stumble over his own paws.

But then, something happens. Budkits face changes, the corners of her mouth pulled pack into something mean, something ugly, and suddenly she's yelling and then crying. Why, he doesn't understand, but he does know its directed at his sister, and that he's hungry. So he continues with a new quest in mind. He places himself between Budkit and Ramkit, his fur bristling as he scolds the seal point "No! No! Bad! Bad Budkit! No!" he says, trying his best to imitate the tone the adults used when they wanted to stop him from doing something he was not supposed to be doing. At least, he was pretty sure Budkit wasn't supposed to yell.

Suddenly though, a new idea takes over his mind. He whirls around, eyeing the source of all this. The squirrel. His stomach rumbles as a plan forms. If they couldn't get along and this was causing it then he would just take it for himself! Problem solved. "MINE!" he announces loudly as he quickly lunges forward, aiming to steal the squirrel right from under his sisters paws.

-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ- but I’d stand in the garden with you

• 
  
  
• 
  LAMBKIT SKYCLAN KITTEN ; HE / HIM
  SLATE X ORANGESTAR LITTERMATE TO TBNKIT ; HALF BROTHER TO CHERRYBLOSSOM, OWLHEART, GLIMMERSUN, TAWNYCLAW & EGGBOUNCE
  

  A fluffy cream coated tom with mismatched white socked toes, a white marking blazing a trail down his face, and striking blue eyes.

  ✿ easy in battle + no formal training
  ✿ difficult to befriend
  ✿ Peaceful + healing power-play allowed, anything else with permission only
  

 

[butterflytuft]

The nursery is far from quiet when Butterflytuft enters. She's barely set a paw inside before the sharp pitch of Budkit's voice catches her attention. Her angry words tumble out in sobs that make the tortoiseshell's chest ache, and her gaze flicks between her trembling daughter, Ramkit with the squirrel clamped between her teeth, and Lambkit puffing up like a little warrior, ready to snatch the prey for himself.

"Alright, alright! That's enough," She calls, keeping her warm voice steady as she moves to intercede. She steps between the kits, her tail curling protectively around Budkit as she lowers her muzzle to nudge the trembling seal point closer. The emotions that exploded from her are enough to catch the queen off guard. It can't truly be how she feels, can it? No, surely this is just a misunderstanding, just a hiccup, a tantrum, and things will be normal again soon. "Budkit, deep breaths, little one," She murmurs softly, brushing her cheek against her velvety fur. "We'll sort this out, I promise."

She turns her attention to Ramkit and Lambkit, her yellow eyes soft but also holding a rare, gentle firmness. "Ramkit, Lambkit, I know you're both hungry, but this squirrel isn't going anywhere. There's no need to fight over it." With a practiced ease that comes from moons of mediating between kits, she crouches, pulling the squirrel toward her with one paw. "We'll share it. Together. But first, we need to apologize. Ramkit, Budkit went to a lot of effort to bring this back. You shouldn't grab something that isn't yours without asking. And Budkit," Her voice softens further as she gazes at the tearful kit at her side, "it's okay to be upset, but yelling won't solve anything."

Her gaze shifts to Lambkit, a small smile twitching at her lips despite herself. "And you, little one, don't need to play referee. I'm here to help, okay?" Butterflytuft straightens, settling herself down in the center of the den with a tired flick of her tail. "Now, let's all sit together and share this squirrel. Budkit can take the first bite since she brought it here. Sound fair?" She looks between the three kits, hoping her calm demeanor will ease the tension. Kits would squabble - it was in their nature - but it was her job to teach them to mend the frayed edges of their little hearts and find their way back to each other. They're a family, aren't they? And that's what families do.
​

 

[budpaw]

Where there was one there was sure to be the other, especially when it came to Orangestar and Slatesnarl's little ones. Volatile in her emotion, Budkit trembles fiercely as Lambkit places himself before her, bristling and calling her 'bad'. White hot tears of frustration turn to fury, a polydactyl paw lifting in an instant as if to strike the petulant child where he stood. She could whack him upon his princely crown just as Oleanderkit had done to her when she bit Mercurykit. Oh she could… but the little voice of reason in the back of her mind talks her out of such a violent action.

Perhaps just in time too, for as Budkit's paw lowers is when Butterflytuft enters to break up the squabble. The seal point curls close into her mother's touch, expecting the permaqueen to set right the wrongs the twins have committed. Sobs still rattle her fragile chest – sniffles threatening to drown out her mother's gentle voice.

'We'll share it. Together.'

A shocked whine pitches from the kit's throat. A sound of disbelief… a tune of betrayal even. What did Butterflytuft mean by sharing the squirrel? Budkit had waited patiently for it, gotten it herself from the freshkill pile, and wanted to share it with her mother only. It was not for Ramkit and Lambkit. She should not have to share with them; they've taken enough from her already. Even emotionally charged, her words towards Ramkit were authentic. "But… I-I…" Budkit stammers, pulling away from Butterflytuft and casting her mother a dejected look. Her ears angle back against her head and her muzzle scrunched with a new wave of frustration and hurt.

"No."

No, sharing the squirrel would not sound fair. "You don't make Ramkit and Lambkit share with me when Slate brings them prey. It has always been for them. This… this squirrel is not f-for them," the seal point kitten explains as best she can against the downpour of tears from her sapphire eyes. "I got it for you. I waited for it for you. For us!" Didn't she understand? Couldn't Butterflytuft see Budkit practically begging for time with her mother? "O-Orangestar or Slate can bring them something to eat. They have their own parents who can share prey with them… I–"

"I only have you."

She shakes tremendously as the figures before her lose shape, becoming blurs of color and movement through her childish anguish. "It's supposed to be for m-me and you, mama."​

[ penned by kerms ]​