Curious Kits (Open)

A small blur of ginger whizzed past the nursery. Flamekit leaped into the air, mewling ferociously at a leaf that was caught in the breeze. She tumbled after it, every now-and-then leaping into the air and batting at it. She tripped over a small twig blocking her path, spitting. Rearing onto her hind legs, she brought the leaf down with her tiny claws. Snorting in satisfaction, she swished her stubby tail over the leaf, burying it with some sand and dust. Head and tail high, she padded over to the fresh-kill pile, sniffing at the newest catches. Feeling superior over defeating the leaf, she grabbed a fat mouse and dragged it over to a stump. Flamekit leaped atop the stump, the mouse clamped firmly in her striped jaws. She sat and began to eat it, licking her lips at the still-warm, bloody taste. Glancing around, she wondered if anyone would want to play. Playing alone is so boring... She thought as she finished her mouse. Suddenly, she jumped with glee when she remembered something. Maybe Reedkit will want to play! She bounded over to the nursery, shaking the tiny scraps of mouse clinging to her whiskers off. The ginger she-kit peered inside, calling softly to her brother. "Reedkit?" When there was no answer, she took a step inside, careful not to wake any other sleeping kits or queens. "Reeeeedkiiit?" A brown face peered sleepily from a nest, yawning. "What?" The brown tom called softly, stretching. Flamekit beckoned him over with a flick of her tail. When they were both a few pawsteps from the nursery, she could talk normally again. "Wanna play a game?" Reedkit shook out his pelt. "Yeah! What game?" Flamekit unexpectedly darted forward and poked him. "Tag!" She squealed, before racing away.

Burningkit woke up with a start and blinked the tiredness out of her eyes. She realized another cat calling for Reedkit had woken her up. What could they possibly want? It's so early. She watched as Flamekit came in and then lead Reedkit outside.

Curious what they were up to, she padded to the opening of the nursery and peered after them. She saw Flamekit start a game of tag with Reedkit. Even though she was tired, Burningkit decided she was still up for some tag.

She raced out of the nursery and passed Reedkit. "I wanna play too! Catch me if you can!"

Flamekit watched as a fluffy beige she-kit stumble wearily from the nursery and race past Reedkit. That's... Burningkit? She wondered. Yeah! Bounding back, she swirved around Reedkit as he charged at her. "I'm gonna get you!"
He squealed, charging at Burningkit. Flamekit leaped in front of Reedkit right as he plunged out to tag Burningkit. She took the soft blow, pretending to fall and be hurt- almost dead. "Oooh. You got me!" She placed a paw on her forehead and fell limp, sticking her tongue out. "Bleh."

Burningkit sprinted away as Reedkit chased her. Just before Reedkit could tag her, Flamekit leaped in between them and was tagged. She dramatically rolled on the ground, pretending to be dead.

Burningkit got up a running start and leapt right over Flamekit as she lay on the ground. "Can't catch me if you're dead!" She yowled, continuing away at full speed.

Flamekit pretended to be dead for one more minute, then quickly leaped and make a humongous spring at Burningkit. Reedkit squealed in surprise and giggled. Flamekit tackled Burningkit and and pinned her. "Haha! Wanna bet?" She giggled, flicking her tail triumphantly.

Burningkit was surprised that Flamekit managed to catch up to her and pin her. "You're pretty fast!" She purred.

Burningkit wiggled and managed to roll over on top of Flamekit. She wiggled a little more and managed to get away. "You won't catch me a second time!" She called as she ran away once more.

Flamekit wriggled from the ground and bounded after Reedkit, since he was looking a bit left out. He ran, but she gently clawed the tip of his tail. "Tag!" She squealed, racing after Burningkit."Reedkit's it!" She informed Burningkit, doubling back and making a silly face at Reedkit, who charged at them. "Can't catch meeee!" Flamekit teased.

Burningkit purred and dodged away from Reedkit. As she ran, she glanced over her shoulder to keep an eye on where Reedkit was. But when she wasn't watching where she was going, she barreled right into a puddle! She found herself covered in mud and water.

Looking down at her dirty fur, Burningkit yowled in distress. She leapt out of the puddle and started desperately licking her fur.

Flamekit held up her tail for Reedkit to pause as she darted over to Burningkit. She began helping her clean out her pelt, covering her in ferocious yet careful licks. "Are you okay???" She asked. Reedkit padded over to see what happened. "Are you?" The tom-kit asked.

Burningkit whimpered a little bit as the other kits came over to help her. "I'm so dirty!" She cried. "I already look like I'm covered in dirt all the time and now I actually am!" She let out another wail and continued licking her paws.

Flamekit flicked her ear. "Nonsense." She continued helping Burningkit clear the mud from her fur.
Reedkit shuffled his paws and suddenly blurted- "I think you look pretty. Not covered in dirt..." He suddenly blushed, feeling awkward. Flamekit glanced at Burningkit, raising an eyebrow and smiling playfully.

Burningkit blushed and flicked her tail happily. They're both being so nice!

She gave both of them an appreciative lick, giving Reedkit an extra one because he seemed embarrassed. "Thanks for helping," she purred. She felt a little embarrassed for ending the game of tag, and she looked down at her paws in shame.

That was a mistake. She saw all the dirt on them and started licking again.

Flamekit gently nudged Burningkit away. "It's alright." She purred, stepping back so she could shake out the tiny scraps of dirt in her fur. "Want to play something else?" She asked, swishing her stubby ginger tail.

Burningkit appreciated that Flamekit had suggested playing something else. Maybe that could distract her from all the mud. How about hide and seek? She suggested. That would be nice because she could sit by herself and clean her disgusting pelt without so many cats watching.

Flamekit flinched, hard. She had heard once that her mother had gave birth to one of Flamekit's sisters that she'd never heard of.

What she'd been told, the kit was playing hide-and-seek with some other kits out of the nursery, because she was the oldest. She had supposedly found a good spot near the camp entrance, and she had snuck from camp after a while. The kit had hid in the forest near camp, eventually attacked and killed by a fox. All that had remained was some brown tufts of fur and blood on the ground.

Flamekit suddered and slunk to the nursery, scared and heartbroken. She felt sorry for leaving Burningkit and Reedkit by themselves, but she needed a moment...