Golden light graces the camp[OPEN]

Goldenkit placed a paw outside of the nursery, her whole body trembling with nervousness. She had finally taken the first step after many sunrises watching others cats slip in and out of the nursery, her littermates included. But if she didn't go out, she would disappoint Blazefang, and she had promised her mother that she would go out of the nursery before she turned a moon old-- that is, tomorrow. faced with no choice, the little tabby finally stepped out of the comforts of the only den she had ever known...

…and she was already regretting it. Large, battle-scarred warriors, their muzzles, pelt and ears battered with seasons of struggle, roamed the camp. Loud apprentices turned on each other, their voices raised in shrieks as they tussled around. the stench of death covered the dip in the ground, filled with the stiff corpses of mice, voles and squirrels. owls and hawks circled high over head, and somewhere Goldenkit heard the cries of a dog.

with a squeal of terror, the golden tabby turned and jumped back into the nursery, only to crash into a cat.

The calico molly had been sunning herself in what little light allowed itself into the den, spending more time sprawled out lazily enjoying the day than anything else. Her mother had returned to duties fairly quickly, having been the leader of the clan, and her siblings had been quick to receive their apprentice titles, but for some reason the kit just wasn't ready. Turtlekit was now almost so big that she took up half a whole nest just on her own, and with the sudden influx of Blazefang and Dayquill's kits, she feared her time of lounging around was almost up, and she was woefully unprepared for the day.

Lost in her thoughts, eyes half focused on the edge of a branch gently swaying in the wind, the calico barely had a moment to react before another kit barreled into her, golden stripes meeting her gaze as Turtlekit rapidly readjusted to the sights around her. Several insults and a shriek burned on the tip of her tongue, but she thought of the sweetness of Mottlestar and realigned her response accordingly, moving away a little to give the visibly panicked kit room to breathe. Had she left the camp? No, she - she just went out of the nursery? She smiled weakly, attempting her friendliest looks. She wasn't that much older but no way was she this scared of what lay beyond the nursery at that age - or so she thought.

"Your first time out?" It was a rhetorical question; she felt she had more than an apt reading on the situation. The calico kit stretched as she stood properly, whisking her tail over the top of the other kit's head. "I wasn't scared my first time out but everyone's different! Do you wanna try again? I'll come with you!"

Goldenkit stumbled back, her amber eyes meeting the angry gaze of Turtlekit. Oh, no, now she was in for it... "I'm sorry..." she whispered, her whole body trembling as she waited for the tortoiseshell's wrath. Turtlekit seemed to calm down a bit, though, even offering her a small smile. "y-yeah," Goldenkit answered softly, looking down at her paws as if they were the most interesting thing in the den.

Her ears perked up at Turtlekit's suggestion. The other kit had been out of the nursery plenty of times, right? So she must know what to do. "okay," Goldenkit breathed, "I'll try again."