A Mid-Leafbare Adventure {Closed}

The sun shone its rays on the frosted marsh of Shadowclan territory, attempting to melt its cold frosted ground. It of course failed, but that didn't stop Shadowclan's kits from reveling in its warmth and light. The nursery was bustling and loud with the surplus of kits living within it. The warriors were trying their best to expand the nursery as much as possible, but it always seemed crowded and not big enough. Kits were always outside to try and get out of the crowded area.

Badgerkit was wrestling with a few of the other kits right outside of the nursery, whereas Spiderkit was inside the nursery enjoying the warm milky scent that stayed within the nursery's walls. Her eyes were closed as she breathed in and out in a nice rythm, at least until she heard a loud commotion towards the nursery entrance. She flinched and almost sprang upwards, only to see her brother and some of his friends (if you can call them that), coming into the nursery. Spiderkit folded her ears back on her head and settled back down until she could hear her littermate's footsteps coming towards her.

"Spiderkit, I have an idea!" he mewed to her, the mischeiviousness in his voice obvious. "We should sneak out of camp! We can bring along someone else, like Russetkit!" Badgerkit mewed as he kicked a small stone towards Russetkit. "What do you think?"

Spiderkit, of course, thought it was one of the worse ideas he's ever come up with. But, Spiderkit learned much earlier in their kithood that she is much weaker than her bully of a brother. So, Spiderkit mewed her agreement and stood up followed with only one question. "What about Viperfang?"

Badgerkit scoffed and rolled his eyes. "We haven't seen her for days. And when we do, she just sleeping or bringing us prey to eat. She doesn't care..." he said quietly. Spiderkit thought about it for a moment and followed her brother over to Russetkit.

Badgerkit walked up to Russetkit, towering over him just like he does with all of the other kits, and growled his proposition, "Russetkit, were gonna sneak out of camp. Are you gonna come with us?"

The slender, lithe, russet-furred tom kit flicked his ear as Badgerkit approached and towered over him. Russetkit turned his green gaze up upon the older kit, studying him for a second. Something told Russetkit that Badgerkit wasn't going to take no for an answer. Russetkit glanced over at Spiderkit, slightly cocking his head to the side. If Spiderkit was going along, too, than Russetkit couldn't see why not to go, since the three of them would be able to protect each other. Plus, going outside of camp would show the warriors that he was mature enough to become an apprentice!

With a charming little smile, Russetkit stood up and nodded. "Of course I'm going to come with you, Badgerkit." Okay, yeah Badgerkit was sort of known to be a bit of a stubborn bully, but Russetkit knew that if you fed others what they wanted to hear, than everything would work out....right? "You are big and strong, Badgerkit, you'll protect us if a fox attacks, right? You too, Spiderkit," Russetkit purred, his tail lashing from side to side. The young kit was about half the size of both Badgerkit and Spiderkit, so the best option he had was to go along with them and be a suck up while he was at it.

Badgerkit sneered as he heard Russetkit's response. "Great! Lets wait until everyone is asleep.." he growled as Badgerkit left Russetkit to go back outside the nursery, leaving Spiderkit to go back to her relaxation. Though relaxation may not help with her worries of tonight.

~~~~(Time Skip)~~~~

Badgerkit prodded Russetkit harshly in ribs. "Lets go.." he said in a hushed tone. Not knowing or caring if Russetkit or Spiderkit followed, Badgerkit stalked his way quietly over to a upwards dent in nursery wall. "I've been clawing at this all day, whenever no one was looking. C'mon..." he explained as he slid his stocky head beneath the the nursery wall and sliding his large body through the wall.

Spiderkit followed closely behind her larger littermate, having a much easier time sliding through due to her slender body and more petite figure. She felt the cold crisp air immediately pierce her fur. She opened her leafy green eyes only to see the frozen ground slightly reflecting the bright moon above them.

Unlike Badgerkit, who just kept walking forward, Spiderkit turned to see if Russetkit followed.

The tom kit felt a small sharp pain in his side and snapped open his green eyes, which were starting to turn amber at the edges as his adult eye color slowly crept in. For a brief moment, Russetkit was disoriented and confused, wondering why a large figure had prodded him awake. Then, he blinked a few times, and his vision cleared to make out the familiar faces of Badgerkit and Spiderkit while he remembered about their plan. While Badgerkit stalked away, Russetkit scrambled to his feet and flashed Spiderkit a small, shy smile. The she-kit was so much nicer than Badgerkit, and Russetkit secretly looked up to her.

Silently, the ruddy-colored kit slipped away from his sleeping mother and followed the two siblings to Badgerkit's hole, where Russetkit easily slid outside after Spiderkit, since his body was slender and scrawny. Like a chilling slap, the cold nipped at Russetkit the moment he had left the nursery. The first thing he saw was Spiderkit waiting for him, while Badgerkit ventured forward. The next thing he saw was the frosty scene before him, the pale glow of the moon shining down on the frozen ground while white stars glimmered against the black sky. Russentkit couldn't help but gasp at the pure beauty of it all, and he was momentarily paralyzed as he took it all in. He had never been outside at nighttime, and he had definitely never been outside of camp before.

Spiderkit was slightly surprised that Russetkit followed them, considering that he was moons younger than them and that leaving camp was a terrible idea. Spiderkit purred in amusement as he stood there in absolute awe and wonder. Spiderkit had been out of camp before, usually because her littermate dragged her with him, so she was somewhat accustomed to the grandeur of the frosted forest. It was understandable though, she even sometimes is completely in awe at what surrounds them.

But, Badgerkit was venturing farther ahead as they took in what was around them. Spiderkit had to snap Russetkit out of his wonder-filled trance. "Russetkit, we should keep going. Badgerkit will leave without us.." she mewed in a hushed voice, as they were right outside of the nursery wall.

Spiderkit turned back to the forest ahead of them, somewhat reveling in the feel of frozen marsh beneath her feet and the feel of cold icy air piercing her short, thick fur. She strode forward with her aura of confidence, trying to conceal the feelings of guilt and worry churning within her.

Badgerkit on the other hand, had no regrets or feelings of anxiety about this adventure. He walked further and slowed his pace, waiting for the others to catch up with him. When he heard the frosted grass behind him swish with movement he looked back to see his sister and Russetkit walking quickly towards him. Badgerkit had a large smirk on his face as he had a brilliant (in his opinion) idea on how to have some fun.

Badgerkit walked over to Russetkit and Spiderkit with a large smile on his face. "Hey, Russetkit. Wanna know why they don't like kits leaving camp at night?" he mewed with malevolent intent. "Because, there's a giant badger who loves to eat small kits. Especially if they have reddish-brown fur. To them, they look like squirrels..." he growled to Russetkit, unsheathing his claws.

Russetkit nodded and followed Spiderkit, the cold grass beneath his small paws crunching softly with frost. Russetkit was a brave little tom kit, and he always tried to find the best in others, but it was hard to do so when he was dealing with Badgerkit, especially after what Badgerkit said. The tom looked down at his pelt, his red-brown fur sticking out like a sore thumb in the darkness. Russetkit couldn't help but feel shivers racking down his spine at the thought of a large, black and white beast exploding out of the darkness with claws outstretched and teeth bared. If the stories that the elders told were true, then a badger could kill Russetkit before he even let out a scream.

The young kit felt his courage crumble inside of him and he scrambled over to Spiderkit and pressed against her, shaking with a mix of cold and fear. "Oh, p....please, B....Badgerkit, don't b....be silly," Russetkit stammered as he unsheathed his own claws. His eyes darted around nervously, scouring the shadows for any kind of movement. "The only b....badger out here is....you, B....Badgerkit. Right, Sp....Spiderkit? He's just trying t...to scare me." Russetkit felt a heavy pit inside of his stomach and he suddenly wanted to run back to the nursery, bur he didn't, because he had to prove to Badgerkit and Spiderkit that he was brave.

Spiderkit was about to intervene the conversation and take Russetkit back to the nursery, but was harshly silenced by Badgerkit with a lashing tail and harsh glare. All she could do was crouch below her larger, stronger, bully of a brother. It seemed that ever since their birth Badgerkit would be the strong, outspoken one and Spiderkit would be resigned to being the weak, shy one. It wouldn't be too much of an issue, if Badgerkit wasn't such a bully towards her and everyone who doesn't do what he says (which normally includes Spiderkit, due to her extreme sense of justice and good morals). But, for now, Spiderkit stayed stuck in her ways as if she was stuck in tar from which she would never escape.

But, back to reality and Badgerkit flicked the tip of his tail back and forth as he went into some form of hunting crouch and slowly stalked towards Russetkit and his littermate. "Oh no, Russetkit. There is another Badger out here..." he mewed mischeviously. "Wanna know why I'm named Badgerkit? I can control them. They're on their way! I can hear them in the bushes!" he growled as he slightly tore at the ground with his unsheathed claws.

Russetkit shrunk backwards, away from Badgerkit. "Why are y...you making them c....come here? I d....didn't do anything bad to you! P...please, Badgerkit! I'll do anything, I....I promise! I'll do whatever you say, j....just don't let the badgers come! I'll do whatever you want!" The poor little kit was shaking and trembling with fear. He didn't understand why Spiderkit wasn't helping him. It didn't matter, because Russetkit figured that he was as good as dead anyway unless he could get Badgerkit to show some mercy.

Padding back into camp with a skinny rat in his jaws, Mudfoot dropped the piece of prey on the half frozen freshkill pile. Heading towards the warrior's den, a strange scent hit his nose. Kits? Looking around, the camp was quiet and there were no small cats romping around in the snow, so where were they? Turning back to the entrance, the scent path led out of camp and somewhat worried for what he might find, the warrior decided to go search for the kits.

Making his way through the forest, the scent of kit was growing stale with the frosty Leafbare wind blowing the smells every which way, but he kept moving forward, not wanting to waste any time. After a few moments of walking in silence without any sign that kits were out in the wilderness, the warrior's ears perked when he heard some talking. Coming to a halt, Mudfoot stood as still as he could, not daring to breathe and sure enough, small chirps from kits were audible through the dense pine trees. Please be alright, he prayed to StarClan, starting to make his way towards the meows.

With the little mews becoming louder and louder, he assumed that he was growing closer. Before long, he walked around a thick pine tree to see three kits playing on the other side of it. Thank StarClan they were alright.

"What's this I heard about controlling badgers?" the fluffy warrior meowed with a slight smile, walking up behind one of the kits, his head slightly tilted Although they weren't supposed to be out of camp alone, he would let the Queens be the ones to scold them. Besides, they meant no true harm and he was never one for scolding kits, them being so innocent and simply curious.

Spiderkit was trying to comfort Russetkit from the stupid and completely untrue statements her brother was making, but she heard rustling in the bushes behind her. She swiveled her head wildly with worry as a large muddy-orange tom cat came out from the bushes. Spiderkit immediately crouched forward to where her brother was standing and stood by him, her tail bushing and hoping he would do most of the explaining.

Badgerkit was suprised that someone had actually found him this time, usually he got in and out of camp without a trace. It was their fault! he thought, knowing it wasn't his fault. "I was just telling Russetkit that I am so strong I can control Badgers and that I'm keeping them out of the territory..." he mewed with utmost confidence as he stood up from his crouch.

OOC: Sorry if this post isn't the best, I'm really tired at the moment and my brain isn't functioning

Russetkit squealed as the bushes rusteled, and he was sure it was a badger coming to attack him. His heart was about to explode right out of his chest when a figure stepped out of the underbrush, but when he saw it was only a cat, a big sweep of relief flushed over him. The tom kit gazed up at the warrior with awe, wanting so badly to be one. "Wait....nuh-uh," growled Russetkit justly. "Badgerkit is controling the badgers to come here and eat me! He said that they like kits like me because we look like squirrels! Quick, hide me," Russetlkit screeched as he darted under the warrior's paws, cowering under his belly. "They are going to be here any second!"

OOC: Apologies for not getting to this sooner.

IC: Listening to Badgerkit, the tom couldn't help but chuckle when Russetkit ran under his belly to protection. Controlling badgers... that wasn't something you hear everyday. Although the kits were having a run time and part of him didn't want to stop them, he needed to get them back to camp before any harm came from their little expedition.

"Well, I hate to interrupt this little... adventure, but you won't need to worry about badgers when your angry mothers are yowling your ears off," the warrior pointed out with a soft smile, knowing if any of the queens found out about this then they'd be outraged. "How about we head back to camp, just in case those badgers happen to come looking for a snack," Mudfoot added, looking to Badgerkit and Spiderkit. They definitely had minds of their own, that was for sure.

Badgerkit flicked his tail aggressively and rolled his eyes, growling under his breath. "Fine...." he mewed angirly as he stomped away back to camp, with Spiderkit following closely behind him. They both knew that their mother would be disappointed in them, but that she wouldn't do anything about it.

OOC: Shortness