in pursuit of the world [open - elders preferred!]

It was the most temperate of days when the little russet-pelted she-cat had stumbled her way from the nursery. Her sights were set on discovery and entertainment, as was common of many young kits her age. This soon lead her to outside the elder's den, not that her inquisitive mind knew any of the proper names for the various nests and dens spotted around camp yet; she hardly knew her way back to the nursery. But Kitekit didn't care as her eyes crossed on a tiny creature making it's own way through camp.

The shell of the snail's back curvled in the most peculiar circles. Immediately, she found herself enamored. It struggled through the worn dirt and scattered twigs. She settled down with her belly stirring the earth as she scuttled after it. It was a slow pursuit, paws moving only a whisker at a time. Curious yellow eyes complimented a cocked head. Whiskers twitched sporadically. For a long time. she continued this pursuit... without traveling much of anywhere. Kitekit didn't want to disturb the thing in it's pursuit.

When a cat finally poked their head out of the elder's den, round innocent eyes glanced up for only a moment before returning to their target with a curious inquisition, "Where's he going?"

Harefoot's large ears twitched in amusement, and he stepped out of the den to sit next to the small kit. He followed her gaze and watched the snail for a moment before responding with a deep purr. "Looks like he's in a hurry. He must be going home to his family." The elder looked back down at the kit and smiled, pleased to recognize her as Kitekit, his dear Cedarheart's daughter. Her russet fur was just like Pinefrost's--or rather, his own, as he supposed that's where they both got it from. "You're Kitekit, aren't you, dear? My name is Harefoot. I'm your mom's dad." The reality of being a grandfather warmed his heart and practically melted his insides. Harefoot vividly remembered when Beecloud and Cedarheart were just little kits, and Pinefrost more recently, and was ecstatic to have more sets of little paws in the family. The question of the litter's father was completely absent from his mind; all he wanted to know was that they were happy and healthy. He wrapped his thin tail around Kitekit and gave the top of her head an affectionate lick. "Are you bored, dear? Would you like to look for more bugs to follow?"

At first, she hardly spared the elder another glance, devoted in her careful watch of the new creature. But at the thought of him going home to his family, Kitekit managed a smile and nodded with a quick enthusiasm. Tiny pads pressed themselves into the ground as she stirred the slimy trail of her tiny bug friend. At the draw of her name, she glanced up at Harefoot. They hadn't met before, not that she remembered, but she seemed kind enough. To that, she nodded too, "Hello, Harefoot. I don't want to scare him off." Her voice was low as her little tail twitched. As the words drifted from the elder, subconsciously the russet coated she-cat tilted her head to the side at every question and thought nothing of it. The beginning of the words were faint but she caught the meaning well enough and was given a moment to mull it over as he laid a tail across her and licked the top of her forehead. There was a brief pause as she hummed over the words, "I kinda like this one. I want to make sure he gets back okay. Do you want to watch too?"

Pinefrost watched from across the clearing as his niece, Kitekit watched a snail move slowly across the ground. He didn't understand how she could sit so quietly and watch the world go by; at her age, Pinefrost and Thrushnose were much more active, chasing ants and beetles. But perhaps some things remained consistent - kits loved bugs. A smile rose on the tom's maw as he rested his head into the sand, his vision of the camp now vertical. Down, went the snail, and even farther down was his father, Harefoot. The younger kit and the elder held a brief exchange, which ended in Kitekit focusing intendedly on her snail again, something which both baffled and impressed Pinefrost at the same time.

"I'll watch with you." Pinefrost called from across the sandy clearing, rising to his paws and padding over. "If you like 'im so much, maybe you should give it a name? Slowtail, or Slimeybutt, maybe." Pinefrost winked at the kit, amusement sparkling in his eyes before settling down next to Harefoot. "Nah, save Slimeybutt for gramps over here."