Playtime [o]

Honeykit sat up in the nursery. He had just taken a very good nap, and it was great! But now he was awake again, and terribly bored. He kneaded at the ground, trying to decide what to do. One thing is for sure, he didn’t want to stay in the nursery anymore. It’s boring, there’s nothing to do, and while he liked snuggling up with his mom or with the other kits, right now he wanted to play! And he didn’t want to wake up the younger kits. The queens always got very cross with him whenever he did that.

Decision made, he trotted out of the nursery, immediately delighted by the weak sun hitting his thick fur. He looked around the bustling camp, tail quivering in excitement as he decided what to do. Having a playmate is always better than playing by yourself, but right now, it’s just him, so he’d have to figure out a good game.

His eyes were drawn to some of the warriors moving about. He wasn’t sure what they were doing, but they sure did look cool! All proud and powerful, and Honeykit was filled with pride knowing he’d be one of them one day. He wanted to start right now, but of course, he wasn’t old enough to be an apprentice yet. That didn't mean he couldn’t practice though.

He straightened himself out, watching a warrior cross the camp from the warriors den to the fresh-kill pile. After a moment, he stiffened his limbs into a pale imitation of the warrior's stride, beginning to strut in a similar fashion. After a few glorious seconds of feeling big and powerful, Honeykit’s young and clumsy limbs got the better of him, and he tumbled forward, landing on his rear in a pile of leaves.

After he shook his head to clear it, Honeykit’s eyes landed on a falling leaf. Scrambling to his feet with a delighted purr, he wiggled his hind legs and then threw himself at it, batting at it in the air for a few seconds before landing hard again with a small ‘mrrp’ of surprise.

Swiftheart watched from a little ways away with a happy smile. The playful kit was fun to watch and she thought about how, somewhat soon she would have her own litter as well. Maybe they could play together... hmm well hers was still a long ways out.

She walked over to him as he leapt up at the leaves. "Nicely done" she purred in encouragement.

Swiftheart was the energetic, outgoing, extravert of shadowclan and she loved meeting new friends whether at the gatherings or around camp as well.  She was almost always in a good mood and never seemed to anger at all. ... Oh and did she love to talk, after the recent death of her brother (Loudnose) she was by far the most talkative of the whole clan perhaps even.

"I am Swiftheart" she introduced herself properly so the kitten could get to know the warriors of the clan better.

"That was quite the leap ... hmm you will be an apprentice in no time" she purred happily with a nod and wink to the kitten.  Swiftheart was also extremely playful and had kept alot of energy and enthusiasim carried over since kithood and apprentiship that most warriors replaced with a more serious tone.

The white molly sat next to Honeykit and grinned looking up at the sky like she was thinking for a moment.  Then she touched her paw gently to Honeykit's shoulder "TAG!! You are it!" she squealed as she got up quickly and ran slowly away from Honeykit, not making it too hard but still challenging enough. She loved this game when she was a kit... In some aspects she still was a kit in terms of how laid back and informal she was.

Honeykit scrambled up when Swiftheart began speaking to him, blinking owlishly at her for a few seconds before his brain caught up. Then he practically vibrates in excitement, lighting up at her praise.

“Thank you!! I can't wait until I become an apprentice. I mean, I know I have to wait, but I feel like I'm gonna burst before I reach six moons.” He meowed, kneading the ground with his excitement. “I’m Honeykit! It’s really nice to meet you!” He looked up at the older warrior with bright, excited eyes.

He would’ve said more, likely bomboarding Swiftheart with as many questions as he can think of, but then he’s tagged. All thoughts of warriors and apprenticeship fly out of his head in the place of playtime.

He gasps, eyes widening, and then he let out a loud purr of delight and immediately started chasing Swiftheart. “I’m gonna get you!” He cried happily, excited to have someone to play with.

Swiftheart squealed in delight as Honeykit chased after her. She remembered being a kitten and how much she felt stuck in camp too and how long it was at the time to become an apprentice. Playing was enjoyed so much be her back then so she always loved to play with the kittens of the nursery when she had free time from warrior duties.

Honeykit was alot of fun and seemed really excited to play and that made her really happy.

"Noooo You can't catch me!" she giggled running from side to side with Honeykit right behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and squealed loudly seeing him right behind her ... "ahhhh" she giggled.

She made sure to keep them out of the main walkway things in camp but it was likely her and not the kit that would wake anyone from their nap... hmm welll oops but maybe they would come join them if that happened anyways she thought optimistaclly as always. He had chased her to kind of a corner of camp and now she didnt really have anywhere to go... hmm oops . She grinned goofily at him, he would have an easy time now.

Honeykit saw his opportunity when Swiftheart was backed into the corner, and he stopped in his headlong chase just long enough to wiggle on the ground before pouncing. He giggled, bapping her side gently.

“You’re it!” He declared, bouncing off of her and beginning to scramble away. He stumbled a bit before recovering and bursting into a full run- which, as his legs are still very short, isn’t very fast at all- and checking over his shoulder to make sure she follows. His tail quivered in excitement.

Swiftheart giggled as she got caught and she watched the golden kitten scramble trying to get away from her on his short legs. She purred softly and trotted after him purposely stomping her feet a bit for extra fun. "Im gonna get you!"

She galnced around from side to side knowing her youngest siblings might hear the sounds and hopefully they would want to play too.

“Noooo, you’ll never catch me!” Honeykit insisted with muffled giggles as he tried (and mostly failed) to keep a hold on himself so he could focus on running. The fun of Swiftheart stomping her paws made the chase more exhilarating. The excitement of play was making him grin and feel even more bouncy than usual.

Swiftheart giggled as she chased after the kitten. Then she got an idea as she saw Icepaw standing a little ways away. The apprentice was usually pretty formal and serious and Swiftheart gave her a warm inviting grin... running over to the apprentices side she laid her tail on her shoulder and with a giggle squealed

"Icepaw's it!" she bounded away from Icepaw joining Honeykit as they continued to play.

Honeykit blinked a couple times in surprise, skidding to a stop for a moment. He looked up at Icepaw, then giggled and said, “Guess I’ve gotta get you, then!”

He started running again, this time back towards Icepaw and Swiftheart. He couldn’t quite decide who to chase for a minute, until eventually he settled on Swiftheart.