pafp there's something perfectly clear - miscommunication

[CROWSIGHT]

Currently he is wondering how he even got to this point in his life. Of course he knew that there were other kits. His mother had encouraged him along with his siblings to play with them. Something about getting out there. The thing was... Why would he want that? He's content just playing with Drowsykit and Lupinekit. Everyone else was... Not them. More like he was shy to go out of his way and waddle over to some random kit. What was he even supposed to say? Drowsykit and Lupinekit did most of the talking. All he really did was listen and go along with what games they wanted to play most of the time. When he didn't want to play with them he'd go to his mother and curl up by her side. The only other time he was called was by other queens. Unfortunately, he was often mistaken for his other siblings. He didn't get why, considering his brother had white paws and his sister was clearly bigger than him. It wasn't that hard to know which kit was which. Whenever he was stopped by another queen who had mistaken them for his siblings, he would stare at the queen until she realized that this was not Drowsykit or Lupinekit. The apologies would come and he would blink before waddling away. It was tiresome.

This point in time another kit he'd seen around decided to bother him. Cherrykit was trying her best, he'll give her that. The tom wasn't ignoring her. Cherrykit simply talked too much that he not only struggled to keep up a little, but he also just preferred to listen. It is quite amusing to point out that Cherrykit had stopped in front of him with a smile. Thinking that he was mistaken for his other siblings, he didn't mutter a single word. He waited. Waited some more. Even blinked, yet Cherrykit just kept smiling at him. Excuse him for not understanding that he was supposed to converse with her. He left her there standing, waddling past her and out the nursery. He still didn't like camp too much, but he was forced to go out and bask in the sun for a bit.

What he didn't expect was for Cherrykit to follow him and begin yapping away. He didn't really understand why she was doing this. As for what she's saying, it's actually quite interesting! So much so that he stops and takes a seat, hazel eyes boring into her. Crowkit fails to understand that just staring and not giving any indication that he's listening or wants to hear more is strange. That maybe it seems like he is disinterested in what she has to say and that he is upset that she dares to speak with him. It's no wonder that Cherrykit stops speaking and when it becomes clear that she won't continue, he tilts his head in confusion. "Why'd you stop?"

// @Cherrykit​

 

[Cherryblossom]

Cherrykit isn't too much of a talker herself; that title belongs to Eggkit. She prefers to put emphasis on the words she'd most like others to pay attention to, often in the form of high-pitched yells, and doesn't let her sentences drag on like a lost puppy on a free line. It's difficult not to talk so much when she'd the only provider of the conversation though. The tricolor kitten doesn't quite recall being there, mentally or physically, when Crowkit and his siblings were unceremoniously born on the ground. (Not really on the ground, she supposes, but close enough without the holly-scented shelter of the nursery. Funnily enough, its old scent carries a hint of blood for her now. Yukio's, Snowpath's; she isn't particularly keen on submersing herself in it nowadays, but she doesn't have a choice in the matter when the winds have a say.)

The girl flattens her ears, partly against the sudden howl of wind that penetrates their interim "nursery", partly for the way he keeps staring at her as though his skull had been filling up with feathers this whole time. She glares wanly at the darker kitten and remains standing, growing tail twitching behind her. "I thought you were listening," Cherrykit huffs. She'd been helpfully informing him of SkyClan structure, especially of her mother's status as deputy, but also of the other important cats of the clan, related or unrelated. Her childish opinions drench her exposition, but she cares not for the names she may have disparaged. All that matters right now is when she adds, "You stopped."

Maybe what adds to the curl of her delicate lip is his stare. Snowpath (they keep telling her to call him that, even though he's not here) had a stare like that, right before he closed his eyes and never opened them. Or he opened them in StarClan; that's what they all say. Vacant and distant, as though spying something leagues away but without strain, as though he could simply throw his gaze a million tree-lengths and calmly observe the going-ons of the stars. She caught nothing more than a glimpse before Johnny pulled her away. The rest was screams dying down to crying, then an ominous, reverent chant. Clouds still dreary the skies though, and the wind still barrels on, as though neither of them even noticed. Or cared. "Stop looking at me." How rude of him! Eveningpaw's words echo. Though the beautiful apprentice had been talking about Dogskip, she's sure she could generalize it to this ungrateful little boy.
​

 

[CROWSIGHT]

The notion that Cherrykit might not be exactly thrilled with him is missed. He only understands it as her asking him a question, which is odd because it was made very clear he was listening. Not really. The structure of the clan or the rundown of it is helpful, but what he doesn't understand is his own place in it. Yeah they were kittens, but what does that mean? What is a Skyclan kitten supposed to be like or do? He finally learns that his home is called Skyclan and since he was born here he would be a Skyclanner along with his sister and brother. What he also learns is who Cherrykit's mother is. Well... Not in name, but what her mother does. From what he guesses she must be really important. Although, in his eyes his mother is the most important cat to him. Cherrykit's mother is okay is what he deems. She may be a deputy, but she will never compare to his mama. "I'm listening," he mewls in response to Cherrykit. He doesn't add anything more, seeing as she didn't ask him to speak more. All she asked if he was listening.

When Cherrykit says he stopped it's when frustration starts to boil because he frankly has no idea what she is talking about. Stop what? He didn't even do anything other than listen! Was listening such a bad thing or did she think he wasn't at all. It bothers him that she is not being clear with him and what was her deal? She was the one who decided to follow him and start talking to him. Was it his fault that she decided to talk to him? Crowkit bites back a snarl, remembering his mother's words of trying to be nice. "Nuh uh, you stopped." Admittedly it is not the best response in the world, but he is only a kitten who has yet to understand many things. Conversing with others is one of those skills he has to develop. His words to him at the very least ring true because in his eyes she had decided to stop talking.

Crowkit doesn't know anything about Snowpath. He doesn't know that his staring reminds others such as Cherrykit of Snowpath's final moments. Unfortunate it is for both of them. For him he will be judged and compared to someone whom he never met before, and for Cherrykit he will be a reminder of a great warrior's last moments. It's all a bit tragic, isn't it? Apparently, Crowkit has done something wrong. Hazel eyes blink at the request to stop staring. He won't deny that he's been looking at her, but he's now wondering if she was simply disturbed by how she was being looked at. Mama said it not nice tell cats go away. Ever so slowly he blinks at Cherrykit and then he turns so that his back is facing her.

The action is not to make her upset. He is just following her demands, and it seemed like turning around meant he wouldn't be able to look at her whatsoever or even be mistaken as such. "I can't look at you," he answers. Perhaps he should've phrased it much better. Ah, if only his siblings were here to help him or maybe his mother would swoop in and make the conversation between the two run smoothly.​

 

[Cherryblossom]

Cherrykit stomps in frustration. "Are you a mouse-brain?" she asks sharply. How could a kit be so obtuse? The meaning of her words are so clear, crystalline like the puddles of rainwater that gather in the worn divots of stone. Everyone knows that looking away meant moving one's eyes, not the whole body, like some kind of rotund creature without a neck nor eyeball muscles. She should appreciate the lengths Crowkit goes to please her; he shuffles his fluffy form so that he's incapable of looking at her, not simply making the choice to. But the unconventional action startles her, and it only serves to worsen the annoyance he'd inflicted upon her. Surely it isn't Cherrykit's fault for following the conventions set by the adults; it must be Crowkit's for being so blind to them.

Narrowed eyes scrutinize the smoky behind he offers her. She's not inclined to lunge for him like she would if it were Doomkit or Plaguekit provoking her. Somehow at her tender age and corresponding lack of empathy, she can sense that the little tom's actions aren't malicious, even if he's becoming equally annoyed with her's. No, he's just stupid beyond words. Cherrykit lets out a long, exasperated sigh, not so much reflective of her true feelings as it is a mimicry of what she's seen her mother do in response to unruly kits. (Not her though; every time Orangeblossom has had a reason to sigh that way at Cherrykit, Cherrykit had been too preoccupied with whatever was getting her in trouble to notice.)

She strides to Crowkit's side, pale yellow gaze unusually focused on him. "Hey." Cherrykit blinks expectantly, hoping to find wide hazel eyes on her once more. "You can't look for a long time. You have to look away sometimes. Looking at someone for a long time is rude," she lectures, more critical than encouraging. But a proper conversation wouldn't be forthcoming without some knowledge he'd obviously never bothered to learn, and the girl isn't going to pass up the opportunity to boss another kit around.
​

 

[CROWSIGHT]

Crowkit finds himself more at a loss. Cherrykit is frustrated with him and he is becoming increasingly aware of that. The thump of her paw against the ground suggests proof of such. Once again, he doesn't understand. "No, I'm Crowkit," he mews loud enough for her to hear him. The never heard mouse-brain before, therefore he doesn't align the term as an insult. Crowkit just knows whatever a mouse-brain is, is not him. Didn't their mothers know each other? Wouldn't they have known each others names? Did she forget his name? Not that he was upset about that, considering he never thought another kit would converse with him. It was honestly shocking to be noticed at all, so he could forgive Cherrykit for forgetting his name.

Ears flick whenever she makes sound. He doesn't dare turn around and see what she's doing because she had told him earlier to stop looking at her. Although, he has to admit it's pretty boring to be staring at a tree. He can feel her presence draw near, the little tom stiffens and gazes more intensely at the tree he's been focused on. Her voice is far too close, his fur begins to stand on end, hazel eyes dart to her form before snapping back to the tree. Internally he berates himself for looking at her even if it was just a moment.

The explanation she gives finally makes sense, so much so he opens his maw to let out an astonished "Oh." With the knowledge she gives him, hazel eyes glance at her before he slowly adjusts himself to face her. He blinks slowly. Then he leans forward, his face only a paw length away from hers, "Why is it rude?" Recalling her words, he does perhaps something even more odd to her. Personal space is something else she may have to teach him. Crowkit does in some way follow her words. The smoke kitten would turn his head away from her, facing some random clanmate. "This good?"​