[ti]Private[/ti]Starry-Eyed

[Storm]

Twitchkit
Ivyclan | Kit | Tom | 2 Moons | Heterosexual

A little creamy-chocolate body, which was mostly a round belly of milk with thin extensions for legs and a tail, wobbled from the nursery.  Twitchkit's soft blue gaze widened slowly from his squinted face as his eyes adjusted to the bright morning sun.  The mink tom let out a quick yawn before he plopped down to his rump just off to the side of the den entrance.  His denmates awoke with so much energy built up over the night, but a rough night for him allowed for no will to bound about and wake the camp today.  Some days were better than others for the unfortunate child of epilepsy, last night had held several fits of unpleasant and relentless twitching though.  He would have never known it happened if his mom didn't check up on him after the seizures passed, but this heaviness he felt now would have left him suspicious.  His body was tired from its own restless actions.  

With a soft kitten-sigh, Twitchkit lifted his chocolate paw to rub his eyes free of crusties.  Before his paw reached the ground again the kit shot a confused glance to a strangely transparent figure shimmering softly.  His crooked whiskers twitched with disregard as he pawed at his eyes again; wake up, wake up already, he mewed to himself tiredly.  Without giving his vision another thought he blankly stared out at his clanmates, but something still felt wrong in his peripheral- that thing!  Head cranking to the side he rudely starred.  The figure was a pretty, smoky she-cat who exuded almost a heavenly grace.  While he'd never seen her before she seemed to be a clanmate by how comfortably she rested in the camp, beside he was so young- how could he be confident in who was in his clan?  He couldn't place the strangeness about her, maybe it was his poorly adjusted eyes, but there was definitely something curious about her. That alone lifted Twitchkit back to his paws.  He ambled clumsily a few steps before skipping into an awkward bound for a short distance over to her.  

The kit slowed, allowing for a cautious glance back to the nursery before returning an awestruck look to the feline, a deceased leader, before him.  Jaw parted open as he looked up at her, he twitched his long tail for her attention.  "Hiyya!" he chirped, "Who er' you? Uh-" he paused remembering his mother said that was apparently not a polite way to meet his clanmates.  Trying to recover he continued, "I'm Twitchkit, I havn't met you yet!" 

[M'Lady]

Her lovely serene watch over the clan was interrupted by a clumsy little kit, who shuffled his way towards her and soon ended up in front of her paws, look up with those bright eyes that seemed so curious about the world and its inhabitants. A soft smile flickered over her features as she listened to the scrap of fur stumble over his words, and a flicker of recognition entered bright yellow eyes when she noticed that yes, this was one of Cricketjump's litter. All very active and bouncy little kits, she's noticed! How lovely they all are, with their inquisitive natures so like their father. She remembered when he was an apprentice very well, exceedingly well. She wondered if he's grown out of it by now, but realized that probably not yet. He was still young, and there was still so much of the world for him to see.

Her attentions soon focused back on the kit, Twitchkit, as he introduced himself. "I imagine you haven't," She purred in a cheerful response, her voice rolling with warmth and soft tones. "You can call me Owleyes, little Twitchkit," The old leader spoke, curling her fluffy tail around to rest gently atop her paws as she did so. "How are you this lovely day? Find any beetles to hunt?" That had always been a favorite pastime of hers when she was younger, hunting down ladybugs and cicadas with a quiet, excited ferocity that placed her on the path to being a great warrior. "Or are you more a fan of flowers?" Those were nice too, sweet smelling blooms of Newleaf that queens sometimes enjoyed lining their nests with.

[Storm]

Twitchkit
Ivyclan | Kit | Tom | 2 Moons | Heterosexual

Ohh, he liked her voice, Twitchkit couldn't help but purr in response.  His long, thin tail poked straight up behind him, "That's a way cool name!"  The little tom didn't have time to inquire any more about her before she asked him a question.  Even if she was asking about kits-play, the way she phrased it made him feel like they were having such an adult discussion.  It was so exciting!  He puffed out his white chest and spoke in a prideful squeak, "I'm okay...  No flowers, but beetles are too slow for me too!" His tail whipped behind him as he squinted over his shoulder to the clearing as if checking for his tiny prey.  "I'm gunna catch one of those dragonfly's that zoom by sometimes.  When I do I'll show you first, okay?" 

Returning to her with a goofy grin he tilted his head curiously.  "Oh, oh!  Will you tell me what the biggest- no the scariest animal you've seen is? Mom says kits will get nightmares, but I promise I won't! No one else will share and I wanna know." His mind rattled with the thought, since he'd been told no already he was determined to get someone to tell him about big beasts with claws and teeth.  Maybe his new friend would share since she didn't know, err well… He sorta told on himself already, but maybe if he pouted especially cute with his words?  "I've seen a hawk! Or at least I think it was, it was a really big bird," His later sentence trailing off as he spoke quietly to himself.  Twitchkit's ears, much to big for any cat, but especially awkward on the little kit pushed so far forward they were ready to fall off in anticipation to her answer.  

[M'Lady]

She gave a gentle laugh at his compliment, dipping her head in brief gratitude as the little kit continued to ramble on about his theoretical endeavors. Yellow eyes shone in her amusement, but thankfully it didn't show in her words as she hummed in response. "Of course, dragonflies are rather hard to snag, aren't they? I'd be honored to be the first to see your feat." Her tone was dripping with golden honey, running much smoother than the smoky queen's voice had been in her last moons. She tilted her head slightly as he continued to speak, not even pausing for breath in his cheery talk.

However, her warmth shattered when he asked her another question. Though she would never admit it, it took Owleyes a few moments to compose herself. How could she not be shaken, when it was only moons ago that four lives had been ripped from her by mighty blows? When she had met her ever solidifying ghost in the stars, only to be dragged back to her living beaten body by the silvery claws of her ancestors? So yes, it took her a second to regain her carefree and lovely demeanor. When the moment had finally passed over her, it was as if nothing had happened. She smiled at the little one, as a way to apologize whether he'd noticed the change or not.

"You won't get nightmares, I don't think. After all, you're a rather tough kit, aren't you?" She praised, flicking her tail lightly as emphasis.

"The scariest animal I've ever seen was a badger," She spoke, gaze growing a bit far as she began. "It was a long time ago when I first met one. In the old forest. They're big, and mean. With heavy paws and the ugliest snarl on their faces." She then gave him a sly glance. "They didn't smell too good either," She mused, whiskers twitching. "I was out hunting with one of my warriors, and he was being the loudest mousebrain in the forest. Scared off all the prey, but managed to get the attention of a mean old badger. Poor tomcat, he was scared out of his wits! Lucky I was there with him, I used to be quite the fearsome warrior." Owleyes purred, deciding to settle her thoughts on older days rather than recent ones. This kit didn't need any of her fear on their conscience.

[Storm]

Twitchkit
Ivyclan | Kit | Tom | 2 Moons | Heterosexual

His head bobbed happily, Owleyes is so nice!  Yes- I'll definitely show her first when I catch one, even before my brothers and sister or parents!  Concern flickered through his expression as she froze monetarily though.  If he hadn't been so entranced by her lovely demeanor he would have likely missed it, but he saw her falter.  The little kit, unaware of the weight of his question to this warrior from before his time, offered a confused smile back to her as she seemed to return from wherever her mind had gone.  For only a second he was worried he had broken his new friend- it would have been such a shame!  Owleyes seemed to have bounced back though, at least to Twitchkit.  She was going to tell him too!  He beamed, short coat fluffing as he rolled his shoulders back into a strong stance.

His imagination ran with her words, a big nasty creature appearing and shaping more into a clear image as she spoke.  Angry eyes gleamed above big exposed teeth, the creature stomping with big feet.  He couldn't help but giggle at her comment though, that key information would stick with him, but for now the thought of badgers smelling bad only made him think how funny the beasts must look.  His jaw slowly crept open as she told him of her experience, his face of awe.  

"I won't be scared if I ever find one!  I'll be like you!" Twitchkit mewed, his heart pounding with excitement.  The kit took a playful swing with both paws at the air and tumbled down in front of the she-cat.  He rolled over, kicking his hind legs up a few times while he was on his back before growing still on his side.  He tilted his head up from the earth to look at her, "What's the best part about being a warrior?" he mewed innocently, still quite unsure of who this mysterious she-cat was to his clan- other than a fierce warrior with a kind soul.  

[M'Lady]

Her eyes glimmered with faint relief when she noticed he really wasn't that scared. Good, her comments must've worked then. At his exclamation of being like her, she gave a surprisingly loud laugh. Not one in pity, but one that was warm and goodnatured. She leaned her head down towards the kit, whiskers twitching slightly. Of course she was scared! But that wasn't important.

"There's no need to ignore fear, little one. As long as you're brave, that's all that matters. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the realization that something is more important than fear. So it's okay to be scared, just let your lovely bravery outshine it, hm?" She hummed in that honey soaked tone of hers, and then gave him a grin when the kit was already asking a new question. The best about being a warrior? That gave her a moments pause. There were so many good thing about being a warrior! Learning new things and being able to teach it to others, serving the clan to the best of your ability, standing up tall and proud the day you're announced deputy and leading a patrol for the very first time.

Then, her yellow eyes gave that soft sparkle as they always did when she found her answer, and she matched Twitchkit's gaze once more with as much love and enthusiasm as she could muster.

"Why, the best part about being a warrior, is to fight and hunt and live alongside the best of your friends." That was it, truly. When she caught rabbits with Spiderfang and practiced her battle moves with Blackheart. When she went on early dawn patrols with Bramblesmoke and laughed so much the air was fogged with their breath. Cheerful afternoons with Silentwater and content evenings spent with Dappledawn. All of it, every single wonderful moment, she'd never give even one of them up for the entire world. Of course her Starclan form was a twelve moon old warrior, she couldn't think of a time when she'd ever been happier.

"Why don't you tell me about your friends, Twitchkit?"

[Storm]

Twitchkit
Ivyclan | Kit | Tom | 2 Moons | Heterosexual

His gaze held up on her as she laughed, he giggled himself too before she enlightened him.  Twitchkit was silent as she spoke, captivated as she taught him like he imagined an apprentice would be spoken too.  He grinned, he liked those words she used, courage and bravery. She was right, he'd rather be those things rather than unafraid!  "I can do that!" he answered enthusiastically, as if he understood fear kept creatures safe from danger and that only a fool completely ignored it.

Twitchkit rolled to his belly, pulling his paws beneath him as Owleyes took her time to think.  His long tail curling around his side, chin tilted up to the queen.  He could tell when she was finally ready to speak, the kit squirmed.  Fighting and hunting, that sounded like so much fun.  He already knew he liked chasing down anything that moved in camp so he definitely couldn't wait to chase down bigger things.  So life with his friends, huh?  That was going to be the best part, it seemed a little strange since he already lived with his friends. 

When she questioned him, Twitchkit didn't bother to gather his thoughts into a clear response like she did.  "Oh!"  he squeaked, "There's a lot of kits to play with, but my brothers and sister are the most fun!" Maybe it was for a devious reason, that they could play a little more rough with each other without getting in trouble, but it was true he liked them most.  He sucked in a breath before spilling more information, "Flickerkit is probably my best-est friend right now!  He's funny and will always play whatever game we want together." 

The mink kit grinned, "I'm gunna' try to be friends with an apprentice.  Think they'd teach me cool stuff?"  Then his jaw dropped, "Wait!  You're already teaching me cool stuff and I gotta' show you my dragonfly when I catch it, will you be my friend?  Pleaseeeee Owleyes?"

[M'Lady]

Her heart utterly swelled as she watched the excited kit. What a treasure! A precious little scrap of fur! Oh, Cicada and Cricket better look after this one, she could already tell that the tiny bean was going to be a pawful to take care of! Well, it was nothing to be worried about. At least while he was a young kit, she could watch him for them too. A soft laugh escaped her at his last exclamation, and she rose a delicate paw to lightly bop the little thing's head.

"Of course, Twitchkit. I'll be your friend. And I would absolutely love to see your dragonfly when you catch it, hm? Just call my name and I'll find you wherever you are." It was true, she could do little things like that. She willed herself where she wanted to be, for Owleyes Mothclan was only a few pawsteps away. If he called her name, she would hear him. Her eyes flickered bright when she remembered his comment on finding suitable apprentices.

"Oh, I know all the apprentices and warriors in Ivyclan!" She spoke proudly, whiskers twitching. "I believe right now there's five? Well, Finchtuft is merely the medicine cat apprentice, but I'm sure she'd teach you a little bit about herbs so when you're all big and strong you can find them for her after patrols!" Owleyes laughed, before continuing.

"Dashpaw is very brave, and fast! He can hook a fish out of the water and you wouldn't even see it! Prancepaw is a little more quiet, the sweet thing. She can get a bit snappy if you push her too hard, but you won't find a better apprentice in territories for stalking! She could teach you to catch dragonflies, for sure. Blitzpaw is a little mad sometimes, but don't let that fool you into thinking he's mean. The poor thing is just a bit sad, so he needs some good friends like you, hm? Adderpaw is rather amusing, you'll find. Flatter him just a little and he'll teach you almost anything you'd like!" She finished, her tail swishing lightly on the ground.

"I'm sure you'll find lots of friends, Twitchkit! Your siblings will too."