gonna go far, kid [open]

Being a kit was boring. Day after day, Grasskit was resigned to sitting in the nursery, watching the interesting things happen just outside the den that had made up practically her whole world thus far. She was only a few moons old, and she knew that she still had a while before she'd be apprenticed, but did that mean she had to stay here the whole time? Her bright green eyes narrowed slightly, nub-tail twitching against the ground as she sat in the only position in the nursery that a thin ray of sunlight could penetrate from the entrance. There were a ton of kits in here, and sure, they were fun to play with, but there was only so much they could do, and Grasskit had long since exhausted her creativity.

Grasskit frowned to herself as a warrior moved past the entrance of the nursery, temporarily blocking her sunlight. Maybe she could go outside the nursery... just for a little while... as a treat.

The ginger tabby needed no more convincing. She moved to her feet and slipped outside, taking but a moment for her eyes to adjust to the brightness of outside. She'd spent enough time at the mouth of the nursery to know most of what-was-what, and she knew that the warriors often came out of this den. She pranced boldly across the camp, not trying to hide, and ducked into the hole. It sloped down, further than she expected, and her nostrils flared in excitement. Grasskit knew where the apprentice den was, too, but the warriors' den was more exciting. Once down to level ground, she swept her gaze across the open space - there were a few warriors here, curled in their nests, but she paid them no mind. Instead, she began methodically making her way around the space, testing the ground beneath her paws at each nest-spot, and searching for the best one.

Surely, some of these empty nests were occupied, but when she was a warrior, maybe it wouldn't be, and knowledge was power, after all. Someone had said that at some point, she thought. Maybe.

Deerleap woke with a start from a dream. already, it was beginning to disappear like mist in the morning light. a small shape shifted around from nest to nest. a mouse? oh, no, a kit! Deerleap could see the red outline of a ginger kit from the golden sunlight. "hey, kit, I don't think you're supposed to be here. some cats are still trying to sleep!" she chided, though her amber eyes lit up with amusement. this was a bold kit...

Grasskit didn't flinch, or startle, at the sound of a voice, though she did inwardly scold herself for not being as stealthy as she thought she was. Instead, she half-turned, tail twitching in annoyance, and surveyed Deerleap with eyes that she hoped portrayed her as cool and collected. "Oh, um, actually I'm here doing... uh... an errand." Grasskit nodded. That made sense, surely.

"An errand..." Deerleap echoed, watching this kit. she was terrible at lying, and worse at hiding her annoyance. still, she decided to amuse the kit. "Oh, of course, how silly of me! is there any way I can help you?"

"Oh, um..." Grasskit trailed off. Her tail flicked, brow furrowing slightly. "Actually, it's a secret mission, and that's all I can tell you." She fell to her haunches, and, eager to get on a different topic, cleared her throat and asked, "So uh, seen anything cool out there lately?" She gestured with a paw to the entrance of the den, clearly meaning outside camp, and watched Deerleap with curious eyes.

"alright, then..." Deerleap purred, amused by this kit's attempt to cover up her lies. at least she had the sense to change the topic. "yeah, a few interesting things happened..."she murmured, suddenly unsure if she should really tell this small kit who wasn't even six moons yet.

Grasskit rolled her eyes, huffing quietly. Getting anything out of this warrior was like pulling teeth, it would seem. I'm supposed to be the evasive one here, thank you very much, she chided Deerleap silently, her brow furrowing. Part of her wanted to just give up and leave, but then again... why shouldn't she keep trying? It didn't seem that Deerleap was intent on chasing her from the warriors' den... I'd like to see you try, though. her eyes narrowed slightly at her own internal dialogue, and her half-tail twitched irritably.

"Well, are ya gonna tell me, or aren't ya?" she grumbled. "I'll be an apprentice soon, I can handle it."

"No." Deerleap replied, slightly annoyed to hide her uncertainty. "Run along, this isn't a place for kits!" she huffed, nosing the small ginger tabby out of the den.