you ain't outrunning ME, gingerbread man [kits playing/open]

[Dustpaw | Duststorm]

I'VE BEEN RUNNIN THROUGH THIS STRANGE LIFE,
CHASIN' ALL THEM GREEN LIGHTS
THROWING OUT THE SHADE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE​

---

Windclan was the best. If Dust was certain about anything, it was assuredly how excellent the moor group was. And he would know! The energetic tomkit had spent the first part of his life living in twoleg place- not as a kittypet, mind you!- but as a stray cat on the streets. So he'd sort of seen a bit of both worlds, and his ma had been a kittypet -sort of- before he'd been born, so he also had her storys to reference as well. And trust him; when it came down to it, Windclan was definitely the place to be.

Knowing this, it hadn't taken Dustkit long to settle into life with the clan. While no longer having his mother around was still a sad thought, there were now so many new things going on his life that it was hard to focus on any of the bad stuff that had been affecting him beforehand. For the first time in his life there were tons of other kittens to play with, adults to keep him fed, and -maybe most exciting of all- he now had something to look forward to within his future. Now, Dustkit could become a warrior.

And by Starclan, Dust was going to be the fiercest, most loyal warrior Windclan had ever seen!

He'd been doing a lot of growing lately in the weeks since he'd first walked into camp and made himself at home, and he knew that soon he'd be old enough to have a mentor of his own. It was a day the boy was eagerly awaiting, and in the meantime he did his best to prepare for the swiftly approaching day. He would wrestle with any cat who'd give him the time of day, would pester the warriors about their catches whenever hunting patrols returned to top off the kill pile, and had recently taken to stalking leaves about camp as if they were fat mice waiting to be pounced on. Anyone who'd been keeping an eye on him could tell he he needed work. Dust didn't have the build of the typical windclanner. He was neither lithe nor lean, his broad shoulders and oversized paws alluding to a bulkier stature that left him heavy and unsteady on his feet.

Still, that didn't stop the headstrong kitten from practicing his moves.

Crouched low to the ground as he stalked toward his prey, Dust was neither quiet nor graceful as large paws shuffled through the dirt. Pale blue eyes were focused keenly on their target, and what he lacked in stealth he seemed to make up for in power as he gave his butt a little wiggle before launching himself forward. Despite his sloppy approach the pounce itself was strong, and he let out a triumphant yowl as he crashed into @BRIGHTSHINE! with a giant grin. "Gotcha!"

ooc- for reference this takes place before the most recent meeting (so none of the kits are paws yet!)

---

duskit - windclan - single - a large, handsome charcoal minx tomcat with blue eyes​

 

[Periwinklebreeze.]

PERFECT LITTLE PUNCHING BAG​

periwinklekit | 02 months | demi-boy | he/they | physically easy (pacifist) | mentally easy | attack in bold #ccccff​

---

While peri wasn't quite as excited to become an apprentice as his siblings and the rest of the kits their age, he too had been practicing and preparing. He already new deep down he was a bit different - and not jut his stutter, or his sleeping sickness.. No, there was definately something wrong with periwinklekit - and he knew one day it might cost him his life, or at the very least his home. And so hetried his best to be as normal as he could mange while still being strange.

Soft paws bat at stray leaves and gathered moss indiscriminately - feathers and fur and tossed aside bedding all equal prey in his eyes as he practices hunting each day. Long and lanky with limbs like stilts his movements were awkward and clumsy at first, but he thinks he's getting better. At least, when he's actually gotten some rest and doesn't feel as if the slightest breeze will topple him over.

Today seems like one of the good days - he doesn't necessarily feel energized, but he's certainly out and about. As the smoke furred feline slips out fo the nursery - what time even is it? has he slept all day again? - his gaze immediately falls upon dustkits energetic form, a faint smile tugging at his lips and a warmth he cannot name flickering in his chest like wriggling bugs. he's not sure why the pretty tabby tom had decided he was worth being friends with, but peri had rather enjoyed the other boys company - he talked enough for the both of them at times, and hadn't seemed to mind his oddness so far. The other kit pounces upon brightshines tail, and with a quiet sort of amusement he gives a playful greeting. "g-g-g-good cat-ch,"

// due to this already being rta i'm also gonna make this retro to peri getting sick

 

[BRIGHTSHINE!]

Kits are a blessing in any clan. Not only are they the future, but they're so much fun! Every day, she misses the time in her life when Mallowlark and Echolight were little, and she'd get to scamper and scuffle with them. Oh, what fun they had! Now, she scratches that itch by becoming a playmate for the kits of WindClan. Any time a queen needs a babysitter, she's the first to volunteer, always down to play and chase. So when she feels the weight of a child crash against her with a triumphant yowl, the calico is quick to react. She flops, rolling over limply with a dramatic shout, "Ohhh, you got me! I'm wounded! I need a medicine cat!" She paws at the air, as if reaching for the very light of StarClan. Flopping back to the side, she peers up at Dustkit, a grin replacing her theatrics. "I didn't even hear ya comin'!"​

 

[ASPENPAW_]

( ♬ ) These days, everything seems to revolve around apprenticeship in a way that Aspenkit has never experienced before; no matter what she does, it feels like every thought leads back to it in some way. She can't help it, really - it's just that she's excited to start training and to learn how to hunt so she can feel like she's properly helping the clan. It doesn't help that this sentiment seems to be shared by all of her denmates, even if it's to varying degrees. It almost feels like the atmosphere has been changing lately, and it's been making Aspenkit feel antsy as she tries to keep busy during the days. There's only so much to be done around camp, and with new horizons so close she feels a bit bored of playing the same games day after day.

Tucked in her favorite corner of camp, she bats lazily at a ball of moss as she tries to come up with something new and exciting to do; rather than a new game, her ears instead prick at Brightshine's faux cry. At first, Aspenkit only registers the words and she's jumping to her paws, looking for the molly's attacker, but confusion halts keeps her rooted to the spot. There was Periwinklekit, who surely couldn't have hurt Brightshine, and Dustkit, too, but then who-

As Aspenkit realizes her mistake (of course they had been playing - how would an outsider have even gotten into camp, anyways?) she gives herself a shake, fur fluffing out in embarrassment. Well, now that they've gotten her attention, she might as well join them, right? It sure looks a lot more fun than sitting around trying to come up with something new to do. Aspenkit pads over to stand beside Periwinklekit, trying to seem nonchalant, though the closer she gets the less of an act it is - after all, Dustkit really does look like he's having fun, and while she still feels a bit silly for thinking Brightshine was serious, she is glad that they had grabbed her attention. She's not particularly close to Dustkit (at least, apart from sharing the nursery with him) but he's still lots of fun to play with.​

( WE'RE ALL JUST SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING ☾ )

 

[Dustpaw | Duststorm]

I'VE BEEN RUNNIN THROUGH THIS STRANGE LIFE,
CHASIN' ALL THEM GREEN LIGHTS
THROWING OUT THE SHADE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE​

---

While Dustkit knew there was no way he had really defeated Brightshine, it didn't ruin his fun in the slightest. Instead he laughed and grinned at the shecats theatrics, puffing out his broad chest when she praised him for being able to sneak up on her. Small things like that meant a lot to Dustkit, even if he didn't let on about it. Before joining Windclan it had only ever been him and his mother, his siblings having quickly dies off in those first few weeks. And while his mother had loved him and taken excellent care of him while she could, he'd still spent the majority of his young life lacking any true social structure outside of his single parental figure.

Back in twoleg place, other cats had been dangerous to be around, and he never would have dreamt of pouncing on one or approaching their children to try and play with them. In Windclan though, there was no need to worry about that. Everyone here was his, and he was theirs. And really, there was something deeply comforting in that notion to Dust. It was something he wanted to cherish and protect with everything he had, and its why he knew that he would have to become a great warrior so that he could keep and protect it.

Plus, warriors were so cool. "Just wait til I'm as big as Weaselclaw or Mallowlark, or Heavysnow! I'll be able to tackle a whole fox!" he exclaimed, hopping off the shecat and landing into a crouch as he swiped a heavy paw at some invisible foe- a fox, no doubt. It was only when a soft voice from behind him spoke up that he paused, ears flicking toward the speaker with eager familiarity.

"Your up!" he practically cheered as he spun to face Periwinklekit, grey eyes bright with excitement. Peri had been the first kit that Dust had ever met, and while the charcoal mink tomkit didn't get tospend nearly enough time with what was obviously his best friend, that didn't leave him any less eager to be in the presence of the other when they did find themselves feeling well enough to venture out into camp.

And besides, it wasn't like Dust didn't hover around them whenever they were in the nursery anyways.

"And thanks. I've been practicing my stalking and I think I'm starting to get good!" He wasn't, but it hardly seemed to occur to the boy as he stepped over to the blue point, gravitating toward the smaller kit until he was comfortably -for Dust at least- in their personal bubble. Despite the crowding and attention he was shamelessly pouring over Peri, there was a noticeable level of control that wasn't usually there when Dust was among other kits. Typically the boy was rough with his attention and affections toward others, pouncing, nipping, and leaning all over others in harmless fun. And while consiously he didn't see his friend as any different from the other kits, on an instinctive level he seemed to know to be gentler with them than he might another. Something that was showcased when a moment later his gaze shifted to Aspen and he playfully swatted at her ear with a smile.

"Hey! I bet if I could take Brightshine down when she wasn't paying attention, the three of us could totally do it while she is. Come on!" he said, figuring he could convince the shecat to join him. Aspen always seemed to have a little more energy than her brother, and so it was no surprise really that Dust had been quick to befriend her, more than happy to swat around mossballs or chase each other through the nursery in a rowdy came of tag that ended in playfighting. Gesturing to the sibling to follow him, he turned back to the warrior and called, "Ya hear that Brightshine? We're comin' for you! Get her!"

And letting out his battle battle-yowl, sprung forward to lead the charge against their target.

---

duskit - windclan - single - a large, handsome charcoal minx tomcat with blue eyes​

 

[BRIGHTSHINE!]

While the kits converse, Brightshine rolls onto her stomach and gets to her paws, her pelt being given a swift shake. As dust flies off of her, her attention is drawn in once again by the little tom-kit. He appears to have rallied his denmates and is now prepared to face off, three against one. She perks up, ears pressing forward with interest. Immediately, a giant grin spreads across her face and the warrior drops down into a playful bow, rump high in the air. "Oh yeah? We'll just see about that! You don't know what you're getting yourselves into, going up against a ferocious WindClan warrior!" She ends her threat with a cheery giggle, clearly having the time of her life. She waits for their attack, tail waving in the air.​

 

[Periwinklebreeze.]

PERFECT LITTLE PUNCHING BAG​

periwinklekit | 03 months | demi-boy | he/they | physically easy (pacifist) | mentally easy | attack in bold #ccccff​

---

A warm greeting and a gentle nudge bring a brighter smile to his face, ad it only grows wider as aspenkit joins them. Having friends is nice - even if one of them has to be his friend because they're siblings. His smile falters however, as dustkit invites them to play. The though of fighting - of hurting others, of bloodshed - has never sat well with peri. He's always steadfastly avoided such games - begging off as too tired, or pretending to sleep through the more rough and tumble games. But out here in the open - with dustkits pleading gaze and brightshine's cheerful smile and aspenkits worry, he wonders if just pretending is really that bad. It leaves him feeling unsteady - queasy, shaky - but he tries to imagine she's just a rabbit, and he's hunting. It settles his nerves somewhat - takes the edge of his unease, but he doubts it'll ever full go away. Instead, the smoke furred feline drops into what is now a well practiced hunting crouch - still clumsy and awkward as all children are, though unrefined it is good enough for now. He wriggles, and he pounces - aiming to land his forepaws on brightshines tail with a determined look, claws carefully sheathed.

 

[ASPENPAW_]

( ♬ ) At Dustkit's bold declaration, Aspenkit grins, eyes lighting up with excitement. Playing with leaves and mossballs was fun and all, but any game was way more fun with others, especially when warriors (or even apprentices, sometimes) played along too! Dustkit turns back to Brightshine, and as Periwinklekit beside her drops down to the ground to prepare to launch his own attack, she mirrors her brother, falling into a rough approximation of a hunter's crouch. It's not a real battle, but Aspenkit pretends it is, trying to keep an eye on both her denmates and the 'enemy' warrior as she heads around to the opposite side of Brightshine across from Dustkit. If it really were a real battle, she's sure that they'd win - after all, they were approaching from three different angles, which would make it harder for the warrior to fend them off, though the giggling from Brightshine as well as her own excited giggles are quick to remind her that neither side is particularly threatening in this play battle.

"Yeah, but there's three of us and only one of you!" Aspenkit calls out mirthfully, maintaining her super sneaky crouch only barely long enough to to find a favorable spot to attack from. Following her playmates' leads, she leaps forward, feeling a rush of pride at just how high she's sprung up into the air compared to only a moon ago, and aims to launch herself into Brightshine's side. Her assault isn't exactly the most graceful, but so long as they're all coordinated with one another Aspenkit has high hopes that it will still be effective.​

( WE'RE ALL JUST SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING ☾ )