camp walk the moon ✿ gift

[Petalpaw ★]

He does not know what a sunflower is, only that its apparently a flower and also yellow. Which narrowed it down not at all. There were several yellow flowers around the edges of camp, the wildflowers blooming once more in the touch of newleaf and spreading in colorful spots throughout the moors. He can only dream of getting to go see them in their full glory one day, which would hopefully be soon since he was nearing three moons now. Next moon for certain, he would have a mentor and be allowed outside the camp but for now he lived vicariously through Sunflowerpaw.
He watched them intently, the kind apprentice, going about their business and offering a warm smile in greeting no matter the circumstances. He would hear the other apprentices talk, able to sneak in and listen without worry of being swatted so long as he kept to the golden feline's side, ears pricked high in eagerness to know what it was like to go hunting or on patrol, getting to see the river and the gorge and the place two-legs lived with their great beasts known as horses.
His sky blue eyes would widen at each remark, each new word, taking it all in enthusiastically. Someday, eventually. But sadly not today. He was morose now, left to his own devices and roaming the edges of camp for what he hoped was what a sunflower was.
Big. Yellow. Big. Yellow. Was that big enough? Was it too big? Was that yellow or orange? It was hard to tell sometimes with the sunlight filtering down overhead. Petalkit paused next to a promising one, leaned his nose in to give it a tentative sniff as though that might help further discern if it was correct or not when he had no basis to compare. Foolish, but impulsive.
It would do, it was close if anything, he decided. The lilac kitten leaned in to pick the flower up between his teeth, a sharp tug loosening it from the ground along with a small clump of soil as its roots fought to remain buried.
Treasure obtained, his next duty was an arduous one. The camp was large and he did not know where Sunflowerpaw was, so onward he trekked, partially carrying and partially dragging the flower along with him; every tumble and bump loosening dirt from its roots and petals from its head. He is tired, dragging his paws not too long after he begins; tuckered out so quickly with only this little effort as his short legs strain to keep him going.

By the time he finds the apprentice, his gift between his teeth, it is reduced to a slim green stem; yet he offers it all the same with a grin.

---

[Ooc]
- @sunflowerpaw
​

 

[SUNFLOWERMASK]

.°☀ AND IF IT EVER STARTS TO FEEL BAD, LITTLE FANG

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Sunflowerpaw, ever the little ghost tailing along after some cat or another, seems to have gained a little follower of their own. Petalkit, silent and cheery, sneaking his way into the apprentice discussions. They like their little shadow, have since the two were denmates. They don't miss the way his eyes widen with wonder at every little scrap of an apprentice's tale, at talk of hunting and sparring and venturing beyond the confines of their camp. It's an eagerness they know well. They keep an eye out when he tags along to these apprentice chats, making sure no one dares make him feel unwelcome. They're excited for his apprentice ceremony, though they've never said as much.

Sunflowerpaw is returning from a patrol when Petalkit finds them. A simple hunting patrol, with the apprentice mostly observing their mentor, as they themself have yet to catch anything. Coming back to camp with empty jaws, Sunflowerpaw lets the rest of their small patrol go ahead to the freshkill pile. There's someone calling their attention, a flicker of lilac-and-white in the corner of their vision.

Sunflowerpaw turns, and sees their younger friend with something clutched in his mouth, long and green. It's comically big, in comparison to its carrier, and it takes Sunflowerpaw a moment to place it -- a long piece of grass, maybe? But there's the hint of trailing roots, at one end. The other end is rough, as though torn.

Oh, they get it now!

A stem, yet missing its flower. Well, that's alright, there's a sunflower right here!

They smile at the little inside joke (one perhaps only they are in on), matching Petalkit's enthusiastic grin with one more subdued, but no less genuine. He offers it up to them, and they blink for a moment in surprise, jaws parting slightly. It's for... them?

Carefully, Sunflowerpaw leans forward and takes the stem from Petalkit, holding it as though it is the most precious thing in the world. They're not used to being on the receiving end of this. There's a weight to it, a gratitude. It's a strange gift, to anyone looking in, yet they love it all the same.

Recovering from their shock, Sunflowerpaw's eyes crinkle in a smile as they beckon Petalkit further into the camp so they can weave it into their nest.

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IT'S EASY TO EXPLAIN 'CAUSE THIS WORLD'S NOT TAME .°☀

⟪ OOC ⟫ ⟪ INFO ⟫ ⟪ REF ⟫

• //​
• SUNFLOWERPAW named by their half-brother vulturemask after his friend and mentor.
  — they/them, 4 moons. semiverbal.
  — windclan apprentice, mentored by wolfsong.
  — reserved yet loyal, distrusts most.
  
  primary character, high activity. penned by saturnid.​
• 

​

 

[LAMBCURL.]

What a sight, generosity beginning young. Petalkit was an odd one, ever-silent, blue eyes sparkling with youthful curiosity. You would know through his actions, though. Silent declarations are made through the eyes and the tail. Through the mouth– whether that be through a bite or a bounty. Oh, thankfully, it's the latter today. Lambcurl would pause for a moment, but he would be safe now, wouldn't he? Deemed unfit for consumption, as he was...

He would coo at the sight, softly, so not to disturb, but his ghostly presence was very much there. The... flower itself is rather haggard by the time it reaches its recipient, but they do not seem to mind in the slightest. So long as they were happy, neither did he. Blearily, he blinks "It will look lovely..." he tells them​

 

[MALLOWLARK]

Oh, how nice! In a camp where everyone was being dragged down into dark depths of madness, sometimes the tiniest glimmers of light shone through the cracks, as if the leaves in a forest canopy had split for a moment. They'd all lose their minds soon enough to the inky tendrils that squeezed sense out of a brain, but these little ones, these kindly ones... they'd probably be the last to fall. The gift itself was odd, though- not that Mallowlark in particular had any issue with such a sentiment. Odd was generally the primary descriptor of most of the wraith of a tom's pastimes.

Still, the reasoning- that was something he wanted to know. In his odd, primely balanced gait, eyes set as wide as silver suns and grin so toothy it looked surely as if it would break right through the skin of his cheeks, he loomed over the gift-exchange and Lambcurl, pupils perfectly fixed upon the stem. "What'cha behead it for?" The question, despite its visceral nature, was sang in his typical dissonant cheeriness. How fascinating, to destroy a gift before giving it away! There was beauty in death, he supposed... ​

☺PENNED BY PIN​