sneaking out of camp (open!)

Nightwolf shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno. Just the fact that I can help out my clan keeps me awake. Though I'd rather be curled up in my nest right now I know I have to stay strong for my clan." Said Nightwolf, sitting up straight. "If ya want you can guard the nursery. Someone brave needs to guard the queens and the kits."

Mottlekit yawned. She was worried she might fall asleep if she so much as saw her nest. "But what if I fall asleep? I don't want anyone to get eaten by foxes." She blinked hard a couple times to try to drive the sleepiness away. Keeping watch all night was hard!

"Don't worry. I'll wake you up if any foxes attack!" Said Nightwolf.

Shadekit peered from the nursery, his emerald eyes gleaming in the shine of the moon. He couldn't sleep, so, nothing more than a shadow, he slipped from the den and glanced around. He noticed a warrior- a tom- sitting with Mottlekit, who looked as if she were asleep on her paws. Silently, he padded over to them, eyeing the warrior. He hoped he wouldn't get in trouble, but if another kit was out here, surely he could be? He watched as the warrior gazed around, scanning the area. Shadekit guessed her was on night-guard. He crouched down near the warrior, but closer to Mottlekit. He gently flicked her shoulder with his tail.

Mottlekit was half asleep when she felt something brush her shoulder. She flinched and quickly turned around. A fox?! She relaxed when she recognized Shadekit "Oh, hi Shadekit!" She purred. "What are you doing up?"

Nightwolf turned his gaze towards a black tom. "Hiya kit! Wanna stand guard with us?" Asked Nightwolf to Shadekit.

Mottlekit turned to Shadekit and smiled encouragingly. She tapped the spot next to her with her tail. Hopefully having another kit around would help her stay awake. Not that he's ever very talkative, she thought, but realized that might be mean. Shadekit was good company, even if he had his own way of communicating.

Streamtail could not sleep any longer. Fatigue made her eyes heavy. Her kits were sleeping soundly, and she rasped her tongue gently on their heads before padding out of the nursery. Her queen days were almost over. It was strange to give birth right after the battle, but it was worth it. The blue-gray she-cat decided to go fishing again. As she headed out of camp, Streamtail paused, and saw her old mentor, Nightwolf, and two kits standing guard outside of camp. Ears flicking in surprise, she padded closer towards them. “Shadekit, Mottlekit. Nightwolf.” Dipping her head to each of them in a greeting, Streamtail sat down, her longer-than-average tail curling and flicking around her front paws. “This is rather unusual...Not that I’m complaining.” It was rather peculiar to see a warrior and two kits standing guard outside of camp. This was definitely a first, as there would be more predators lurking around. Her mind flashed back to her apprentice days, when her spine was bitten by a fox. Her gaze grew even more troubled as she stared down at the two young kits. They seemed like they were almost six moons old. Streamtail did not want what had happened to her to happen to them.

Mottlekit snapped awake when another cat arrived. She recognized her as Streamtail, one of the other queens in the nursery. She wondered why Streamtail looked troubled. Maybe she was worried that there were two kits out in the middle of the night. Wait, why am I out here, again? She wondered sleepily.

But then Mottlekit remembered her mission and bounced a little in excitement. "Nightwolf said there might be foxes so we're helping keep watch! I'm ready to fight any fox that tries to get in here." She hoped that would reassure Streamtail that she had a good reason to be out of the nursery.

(Sorry for the late reply, again!)

Shadekit blinked warmly at Mottlekit and Streamtail, nodding when Mottlekit spoke. He swished his tail, his ebony shape nothing more than a pale shadow. Gazing out into the land beyond, he squinted and tried to search for predators. He hoped they wouldn't have to necessarily fight a strong fox, but he didn't really want to be sitting there doing absolutely nothing all night.

(It's night for me, so goodnight everyone!)

Mottlekit smiled at Shadekit. He never spoke, but she liked his company. To be honest, she was also a little jealous of his dark black pelt. He blended in so well with the night, whereas her white spots always gave her away.

Playfully, she snuck up behind him and flicked him gently on the back with her tail. "Oh no! Was that a fox?" She whispered, purring slightly with amusement.

Shadekit pricked his ears and turned around gently. He held in a chuckle as he heard Mottlekit speak. The dark tom-kit quickly whisked away, disappearing from sight. When he saw Mottlekit looking confused, he pounced on her and gently play-tackled her. He flicked the tip of his tail playfully, letting out a tiny, soft chuckle.

Nightwolf raised his gaze to see Streamtail."Hiya Streamtail! Don't worry I'm taking good care of them!" Nightwolf smiled at his former apprentice.

Mottlekit felt Shadekit pounce on her playfully. She let him knock her over and rolled a few times. Eventually she ended up on top, batted one of his ears playfully, and darted into the brush at the edge of camp. "Catch me if you can!" she whispered as she sped away.

Shadekit silently bounded after her, gazing around for her spotted pelt. He spotted Mottlekit near the brush and darted in, poking her gently. He purred and bounded away, his ebony tail snaking behind him teasingly.