Double Trouble

Gorsekit poked her head out of the nursery, ears flattened and eyes narrowed. She scanned the camp clearing for signs of life, ears occasionally perking as older cats traded words and carried out duties. She settled on one target, then decided that this cat was maybe too old and too big, and then settled on another and then another until she found something easier and less suspecting. Gorsekit prowled from the den, head low and rump high with her sand-colored tail sticking straight up. She inched closer and closer to her prey, until she paused ad wiggled her butt for prime pouncing power.

She was just a heartbeat away from jumping on the wildflower that had caught her eye when a sudden weight pressed her against the ground, and Gorsekit let out a little "oof!" as Brackenkit's scent smothered her and his fluffy pelt covered her own. He had been stalking her for about as long as she had been stalking the flower! "Get off me you lump! She yowled, kicking at him with her hind legs. He let out a little kitten-growl and nipped at her ears in response. "You're gonna have to push me off! Should've been paying attention!" He mewled with glee, finding a good hold on one of her ears. The two kits tussled and fell apart before jumping back at each other, and they carried on like this in the middle of the camp without a care that they might get in the way of working warriors.

Swiftstep was minding his own business when something bumped his left paw. He looked down in surprise only to find two wrestling kits. His amber eyes crinkled in amusement. "Hey there tumble-bunnies! Why are you both rolling about? I almost stepped on you both! I can't let anything happen to fine kits like ya'll." he scolded lightly. He had his signature grin on his face as he gently pressed a large paw on both the kits.

Frozen, the littermates stared up at the warrior. Their eyes went wide and Brackenkit's mouth hung open, clearly not expecting to be interrupted, let alone told off for their behavior. Gorsekit struggled to get out from under the warrior's paw, letting out a few pathetic mewls. "I-I'm sorry, sir! I didn't mean to let Gorsekit bump into you, honest. I was trying to stop her! She's just so dumb like that, y'know?" Brackenkit meowed in embarrassment, and Gorsekit let out a betrayed gasp. "No way, Brackenkit, don't pretend you didn't push me over here on purpose!" She snapped, her squeaky voice indignant. "You shoulda never jumped on me in the first place, since you can't even handle being beaten!" The little she-kit slapped her small front paw against her brother's  muzzle, and soon the two kits were in a flurry of paws, still pinned beneath the much larger paw that held them against the ground.

Swiftstep shook his head with a chuckle. "Well now, I wasn't much different from both of you when I was a kit. Maybe even a bit more mischievous." The warrior bent down to their height and looked around sneakily. "I sneaked out of camp and spent an entire night outside with another friend of mine. It was raining and we were just kits. Your behavior doesn't compare to mine!" he whispered, saying the last sentence with a playfully challenging voice. He lifted his paw and nudged the two of them. "Now, which one of you is tougher?" he asked as he tucked a paw under himself while making himself comfortable.

The kits stopped their fighting once more to meet the older cat's gaze, jaws dropping in awe and respect. They wanted to leave the camp too! In fact, they'd always made plans, but had ended up being too cowardly to try the escape while the queens were watching. But Brackenkit was sure he'd heard something about warriors being allowed to take kits out from camp if they wanted. The challenge that the tom issued went straight over the tomkit's head. "Hey! Hey! You should take us out of camp!" He mewled, bouncing around on his toes and eyes flashing with excitement. "The queens always watch us, but I bet they'll let us go if you're there!"

Gorsekit, meanwhile, shut her maw and scoffed at this strange warrior's boasting and snorted in response, "Who are you, anyway? I never heard about that so I don't think it's true." She meowed stubbornly and slinked into a sloppy crouch behind her brother. She decided that she was more interested in his challenge than going outside camp, anyway. She'd earn the right when she beat all the other kits and earned her apprentice name! The sandy she-kit leaped onto Brackenkit's back while he was distracted and clung on with her tiny kit-claws amidst his yelps of surprise.