The Little Things

[Fireflake]

Buckleap the Loner

---

'Why're you interested in MistClan? I mean, we are the best clan around...'
Buckleap's whiskers twitched at the words. Where had he heard that before? Besides every Gathering he'd been to.

'He's a warrior of IvyClan in the forest behind this fence and apparently it's the best one.' he had been told by a kittypet he'd spoken to early on in the area. Hm. Maybe these kits could give him information too.

Petalkit's question caught him off guard.
'Are you tired of being alone?'
Buck flicked an ear down, his paws beginning to clench the soil beneath them. They weren't big movements. Nobody would notice. Nobody except Buck.
He swallowed and forced his expression back into his usual nonchalant look-- some insincere imitation of that, anyway.

Luckily, Featherkit's question saved him from having to answer. Not that he needed saving from a kit's question, of course. It did make him think about something else. What was he going to do? He couldn't exactly pick them up and march them back to wherever their camp was, but he wasn't about to leave them out in the open. The answer quickly made itself obvious. Wait for one of their clanmates to come by.

"I guess I wouldn't have to tell your clan you were out if you stick around for a while and answer some of my questions," he replied, looking down at them to see their reactions. Technically it was true. A little bit manipulative, but they'd all get what was best for them. It would probably make him uncomfortable to think about it for too long. He decided not to.

Turning to Petalkit, Buckleap told her, "As for your questions, loners aren't always alone because they don't want to live with clanmates."
He gestured into MistClan territory, into the slightly swaying grass. "If something happened to your clan and none of the others wanted you, you'd be a loner too."
He flicked an ear and wrinkled his nose pointedly. "Unless you wanted to be a rogue, and I'd guess neither of you are too keen on that."

---

chickenbatnana mewmehh

[mewmehh]

"Some wise words, I must say. You're rather informed for a loner." A deep, but not unfriendly voice sounded from across the flower-laden meadow, and at the sound, Petalkit visibly flinched and lowered her head.

The kit chanced a glance back over her shoulder and her blood turned to ice as she could make out the startling coat of her father, his deep ruddy color catching the sunlight as long black stripes and creamy waves marked it. "Uh-oh," she mumbled softly to herself, bracing herself for father impact.

As Sabletail approached Buckleap, he caught the strong scent of Petalkit and Featherkit that he had been following from camp. With a knowing look, he avoided making eye contact with the pair of kits trying to hide themselves in the tall grass. He could focus on them later. Instead, what had his interest was the tabby tom a few foxlengths ahead of him. The deputy had been close by for long enough to hear the tabby's proposal and explanation. Buckleap's way of wording his own definition of 'loner' was what struck a cord with the dark Mistclan cat.

With a level look, yet a twinkling warmth to his burnt honey eyes, Sabletail mewed,"Greetings. If it's information on Mistclan you seek, perhaps a pair of disobedient kits aren't the best wellspring for wisdom. I, on the other paw, might be of a bit more service." There was a slight chuckle to his words as a light smile graced his lips. "My name is Sabletail. May I ask what yours is? I'm curious as to why you would want to know more about our clan."

Fireflake

[Fireflake]

Buckleap the Loner

---

Buckleap's long ears pricked at the sound of Sabletail's voice and he took a step back reflexively, ready to bolt. He didn't expect the MistClan cat to be calm about him lingering on the border, especially near the kits, but it seemed that this warrior hadn't rushed into the interaction. The loner relaxed slightly. He glanced down as Petalkit mumbled, but offered nothing in the way of sympathy. You dig a hole, you can't be upset when you trip on it.

He shifted his weight away from his hind legs as it became apparent that he wouldn't have to run away. The lack of hostility intrigued Buck enough for him to keep his mouth shut and not retort snidely to Sabletail's greeting.
"My name's Buckleap," he answered. And you can stay curious, were the words ready to pounce from the tip of his tongue, that story's practically old enough to be an elder.

He swallowed that response and gave the shortest explanation he could think of that still answered the clan cat's questions. "But it's been Buck since my clan fell apart and I came here to look for another one. MothClan doesn't want me anywhere near their territory and I don't want to be anywhere near IvyClan territory, so... here I am now."
He nodded to his paws not far from MistClan's scent markers.

Whiskers twitching slightly in amusement, he looked back to Petalkit and Featherkit and then Sabletail. "As for the kits, I find they have much less duties to get in the way of them answering questions."
He pricked one ear and left his question unspoken, waiting to see if he had to ask. Do you have time to tell me things?

---

mewmehh

[mewmehh]

Sabletail had settled into a poised seated position, one of mild relaxstion, but also one that held the tom in a dignified air. Yes, he wished to appear calm and open to conversation, but he had no inclination as to let this stranger forget who he was speaking to. Still...Buckleap? What an interesting name indeed.

the deputy let his gaze fall to the pair of kits as they remained shrunken against the pale grass and he couldn't help but offer a sympathetic smile to the pair, a sort of hollow gesture in an effort to soothe them. Even if he were kind to them, surely the queens would have other plans in order to discipline them, and that was not the tom's concern.

"That's fair, I suppose. But it would take a cat to understand a clan's inner workings to reach such a conclusion. I don't doubt your story, Buckleap," he meowed, a muddled expression of warmth, skepticism, and intrigue. He was definitely going to see this through to the end. Sabletail then glanced down once more to his red kit and purred,"What do you kits think?" Returning a look to the brown tabby, he added with a smirk, "I've always been told kits are the best judges of character. And call me a fool, but I believe all those old queens' tales."

Petalkit brightened up at her father's positive acknowledgement and chimed in, "Well, I think he sounds like an honest cat. He's smart, like a Mistclan warrior." Her green gold eyes were glittering.

"Well," Sabletail rebuked with a grin. "I wouldn't call a grown cat who seeks the advice of unruly kits to be smart. But..." He glanced back to Buckleap. "I'm a little hard-pressed to find further error in your agurment this time."

Petalkit fluffed up in outrage, huffing loudly with puffed cheeks, "What?! You don't think I'm wise, is that it? I'll have you know-"

"Nevermind- I think I've found err-"

"No no no!! Papa, it's not about me!! It's about Buckleap," she quickly countered, using her youthfully underdeveloped shrewishness to turn the table on her father. "Hi clan was stolen away, you hear? Starclan brought him to us, right?! It's a sign!"

Sabletail looked to the sky. "Maybe a sign from the other clans, seeing as Mothclan didn't want him," he bantered.

"Paapaaaaa!!"

Sabeltail shot the tabby tom a cheeky grin and purred,"Just kitting!" He then stood up and faced Buckleap squarely before continuing an a less joking fashion, but equally heartfelt and kind meow, "Well then, how's about you help me by grabbing that one," He gestured to Petalkit while moving snag Featherkit's scruff. "And we'll take this back to Mistclan. I'm sure you're hungry and would like to rest your paws. I'll let Bearstar know we have company."