[ti]Open[/ti]Babysitting Duty

[KingHarry]

Much like his father, young Bristlekit was a giant ball of fur with a strong personality. He was in every way Mothstar's child and he wasn't afraid to let the clan know it. 

Today, the small hairball was strutting around camp like he owned the place. It wasn't that he thought himself better than the other cats except, well, he did. The only two cats he saw as above him were his parents - Mothstar and Sweetbriar. His siblings? They weren't as good as him. The other warriors? They definitely weren't as good as him.

Bristlekit suddenly stopped, spotting Brackenfall nearby. Ah. The deputy. He would be entertaining, no? Hopefully. 

"Hey, Brackenfall!" Bristlekit called as he began trotting over to the warrior. "Shouldn't you be doing something for Mothstar? That is your job now, right?"

(sabs and anyone else that wants to join in)

[sabs]

BRACKENFALL >>

    Stretched out in a large patch of sunlight, the deputy had dozed off for a second, his dark fur blowing in the cold breeze. The tom could tell that Leaf-Bare was coming to and end, and he was taking full advantage by taking a free moment to catch a quick cat nap. Much to his dismay, however, it seemed one of the kits had found him. One of Mothstar's kits, in fact. Brackenfall shook himself out of his warm daze, his eyes blinking to greet the fluffy Bristlekit that now stood nose to nose with him. He gave one final yawn before getting to his paws, giving a soft purr of amusement to the small cat. "Of course, if Mothstar is in need of anything he knows he can come to me." The tom paused to run a paw through his cheek fur that had flattened itself to his head during his nap. "I haven't heard from him since I came back from patrol this morning. Even a deputy can take time to have a nap, no?"

    Brackenfur wasn't sure why he was asking for assurance from a kit, but none the less, he had. Not that he minded Bristlekit, in fact, he quite enjoyed the fiery little tom. There was a lot of the Clan leader that was reflected in the kit, though that should not be a surprise. Most all of Mothstar's kits carried themselves in a stately manner. "Besides, with kits like you around the camp, I'm sure we're well protected." 

[mewmehh]

A pair of icy cyan eyes glowered out from where a pale kit laid in the shade. Her pudgy, dusted forepaws were folded over one another and her silky tail flicked back and forth along her flank as she groaned. She was so bored. Joining Mothclan, she had figured clan life would be full of danger and excitement, but so far all she had were a few dens to explore (which she had managed to complete within her first few days there thanks to Fattail) and the oh-so golden rule of "Kits cannot leave camp." What a lack-luster existence for a former loner to have.

Her gaze flashed to peer at Bristlekit and Brackenfall as they chatted across the camp. Her denmate seemed to be walking all over the larger tom who was recognized as deputy, and Milk-kit furrowed her tabby brow. She guessed that clan-born kittens had it easy; they only knew the camp and knew the clanmates that filled it while she knew virtually no one and missed the adventure that exploring the wilderness with her parents had brought. Her expression soured further, having thought about her family. With a huff, she stood up and stretched irritably. Maybe she would find Sweetbriar and talk the queen into letting her nurse so more. All she liked to do when she was upset was guzzle down milk until she was too fat to move.

[Cosima]

PALESTORM - -

The old she-cat sauntered out of the elder's den and crossed the clearing to where a collection of cats were. "There is one thing I miss about the old Mistclan camp back on the mountain," She grumbled, making herself comfortable in a laying position. "It was those sunny rocks near the camp. The elders would wake up early in the morning to claim the best spot on the stones and by the time the sun was high in the sky, well, those smooth stones were the perfect place to sunbathe."

"There isn't a single place to sunbathe in this piece of sh--" She stopped at the sight of her grand-son, Bristlekit. "Why, hello, Bristlekit, my adoring grand-son. Greetings to you as well, Brackenfall. How are you liking your new position? I'm sure my son has been giving you a lot of work to do! He's the leader, after all." Palestorm puffed up her chest and lifted her nose as she spoke. Looking at the two side-by-side then, there was an uncanny resemblance between herself and her grand-kit, Bristlekit. "When my son, Mothstar, told me he was leaving Mistclan and creating his own clan, I was a bit shocked. However, I was certain I would follow my dear son anywhere, even to sun-drown place, if he saw fit! And so I went." She smiled. "And now look where we are! Mothclan, the best dang clan you ever did see."

[pebble]

Large paws surprisingly silent as the feminine stepped out of the medicine cat den, Elkpaw turned her attention to the deputy, her grandmother, and her younger sibling chit-chatting nearby. For a second, her face twisted into a scowl to see her younger brother, almost ashamed to call him a relative. She was Mothstar's first litter in this clan, after all. The best of the best, in her mind. She was sure Smudgepaw, Heronpaw, Lionpaw, and Boarspark would agree.

And then she got to thinking.

Boarspark was blind, Heronpaw and Smudgepaw pathetic... the only one that made anything was Lionpaw. Even she had chosen the 'softer' life of a medicine cat (although, she would disagree. Remembering every single herb was hard!). So, the dilute torbie looked at her relatives in a better light. She heaved a sigh, allowed a break from training, and started to trod over to the gathering group. She arrived just in time to hear the rest of Palestorm's statement and gave a purr in greeting. She was pleased to find her grandmother so loyal to her son... It made her a little sad that her own father didn't seem to care about her. She settled next to Palestorm, fur fluffed a little.

"We might be the best but, we can't get cocky." Elkpaw reminded gently. The she-cat was the more humble of Mothstar's lineage. She supposed she got it from her mother.

[americanfacepalm]

"Yeah!" Pricklekit chimed in, stomping on over. "With me around, MothClan will always be awesome and invincible!"

Her grandmother began to go on... and on... and on about old MistClan times. Boring! The only part Pricklekit cared about was when she talked about how great and amazing their Clan was. And it was true! Because her father was the best leader ever!

"Cocky? What's that mean? We're obviously the best Clan ever, so... shouldn't we act like it? MistClan and IvyClan are stinky! They need to know that MothClan is in charge of this place now and for, like, ever!"

[KingHarry]

With a small kitten growl, Bristlekit nipped at Brackenfall's leg before rolling away and towards Palestorm. The kit didn't really understand her obsession with his father, but he knew that it made her an easy target for praise and affection. 

Purring now, he rubbed against her side. Who cared if Elkpaw - his mousebrain of an older sister - suggested they were cocky? What did she know, huh? She wasn't even good enough to be a warrior. No, she was going to be a medicine cat instead, and, at his young age, Bristlekit didn't really understand how important a position that was.

When Pricklekit arrived, the young tom immediately left his spot by his grandmother to jump on his sister instead. "Yeah! We're the best!" He shouted as he tried to provoke the other into wrestling with him, batting at her and trying to nip at her ears. "The other clans don't stand a chance!"

[Miss Tactical]

Featherclaw had been on a hunting patrol, with the warming of the weather prey was plentiful. The calico she-cat padded into camp and dropped a couple of mice into the pile. Her ears perked as she heard commotion in the camp, she swiveled her head, and yellow eyes fell on the kits, and her whiskers twitched with slight amusement. It was always nice to see healthy kits playing, it meant they were getting stronger. Her eyes fell on Bristlekit. She looked over to see if Mothstar was around, that was the tom who took her in when no one else would. She padded over and looked at the small group forming. She dipped her head slightly to Brackenfall, she knew it was proper to greet those with authority as such. She had to agree with some of the comments however, they were getting strong, and most had strengths in battle, part of her was curious as to how they would fair in a fight.

She shook the thought aside for just a moment to watch the kits play. She and her brother would play like this all the time and was curious how he was fairing with his mom. Was he even still alive? She pushed the thoughts away as this was her home now before lowering herself to the kits' level. "Bristlekit, have you learned any battle moves? Want to try some?" She mewed, with a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

[americanfacepalm]

Pricklekit definitely agreed with her brother, even if she herself was vastly superior to him. When he toppled on her, she happily indulged him in play wrestling. She attempted to flip him over to give herself a more favorable position on top of his growing frame. They were a few moons off from being apprentices, but they were still large kits.

She snapped to attention when Featherclaw offered some tutoring in battle moves. "Oooh! Teach me! Teach me! I'm going to be Clan leader someday, so I gotta know!"

[sabs]

BRACKENFALL >>

    The young tom purred in amusement at the arrival of Pricklekit, Elkpaw, and Palestorm. It was nice to see that Newleaf had brought so many of his Clanmates out and about today. He was about to respond to the elder when he felt a sharp pain in his leg. Looking down he noticed that Bristlekit had bit him, then proceeded to retreat to his grandmother. The deputy gave a heavy sigh. That kit certainly had a lot of his father in him, unfortunately, he thought to himself. Raising to his paws he nodded a greeting to Mothstar's other kin, Palestorm. It seemed that everyone in his family were quite...humble about their lineage. 

    He watched as Featherclaw padded over, clearly alerted by all of the hustle and bustle that everyone was causing. It was a relief, actually, that a cat without Mothstar's blood was coming to hopefully save him from their torment. What was he supposed to do when his leader was gone? The tabby shook his head. The grouchy old tom had plenty of lives left, he'd be around for many moons more. "Bristlekit, have you learned any battle moves? Want to try some?"  Brackenfall shook his head in disagreement. "You know, Feather, kits aren't supposed to be practicing battle moves until they are apprenticed. They could get hu-" The deputy cut short at the excited mews coming from Pricklekit. He sighed, giving a flick of his feathery tail. "As deputy I probably shouldn't condone this, but I'm just going to pretend I wasn't here." He finished, turning back to Featherclaw. "I guess it's a good thing Elkpaw is here." He said, giving the medicine cat apprentice a wink.