lonesome town [C]

In an effort to get more accustomed to life outside the nursery's walls, Adderkit had been spending more time outside. Of his own volition, and without even asking Flutterkit to join him, both things he was quite proud of. He didn't stray far from his den, keeping close to its sedge walls and the soft sand that surrounded it. He wasn't so bold as to go running out into the center of camp, knocking headfirst into some poor warrior's legs; he much preferred to linger in his quiet spot, undisturbed, while watching WindClan carry on from his little distance. Usually, the only cats that bothered to talk to him here were the ones he already knew; his parents, his brother, the other cats currently living in the nursery... not many stopped whatever important duties were at paw to talk to him. He wasn't one to fantasize about the glory of warriorhood- if anything, he wanted to run from anything that would offer him something so great as glory -but for just a moment, he wanted to be like them. As intimidating as the other cats were up close, from a distance they looked simple, but important. Shaking out his pelt, the tom kit folded his legs himself and pressed his chin into the soft down of his chest. He would have another few moons before he had to worry about anything important. For now, he would enjoy this easiness while he had it, and pass his day in attentive silence.

The sound of soft, small pawsteps beside him made Adderkit's ears flicked vaguely in their direction. He had assumed whoever it was would have simply paced past him, so he paid little mind- until they drew right up to his side, a familiar voice humming cheerily down to him. Before he could even respond, Goldenkit had settled in right next to him, looking pleased with himself as always. Adderkit tensed for a moment as his larger denmate got comfortable, ears lowering and sharp gaze looking him over once, twice. Where the sun hit Goldenkit, it made his soft fur seem to glow, circling him in a hazy light, and his blue eyes were sparkling. The darker tom let his gaze linger on Goldenkit for a stretched moment before huffing and ducking his head, staring fixedly into camp. "I was enjoying the quiet just fine alone, you know," Adderkit answered, voice soft and flat. His tail flickered to and fro, accidentally tapping against the larger kit more than once. He couldn't lie and say Goldenkit didn't catch his interest, at least somewhat- self-assured and bold, even as young as they were... it was impossible not to notice him. But interesting or not, he could have at least asked before claiming the spot as his space, too.

"I'm just... watching. Nothing in particular. I doubt my little thoughts are all that interesting to you, anyway." It was meant to be a dismissal, but as he said it his golden eyes slid back towards Goldenkit as subtly as he could manage. There was a considerable part of Adderkit- one that he wasn't that keen on admitting to -hoped he would stay; the more open part of him was still bristling against the sudden intrusion. His whiskers twitched, watching and waiting to see if his denmate would take the dismissal or if he would choose to linger.

The larger kit's response made Adderkit's pelt warm in an instant, and he twisted away, ears lowering as if that would keep the heat out of them. Goldenkit, interested in him? Already loved and popular, extroverted Goldenkit? The only cat other than his parents to take any particular interest in him was his brother. Not that he'd gone out of his way to insert his presence into his Clanmates' lives, but... the ruddy kit shook his head. He almost wanted to tell the tom flat out that he was wrong, and there was nothing interesting to see here, but his first attempt at dismissal hadn't worked. And when Goldenkit went on speaking about the world beyond their camp... it was nothing he hadn't heard before, fanciful ideas often parroted by Flutterkit, but as Adderkit turned back around and caught the sparkle in Goldenkit's bright eyes, he felt compelled to stay and listen.

Following the direction of his nod out towards the horizon, Adderkit stared out into the horizon. Maybe his brother and Goldenkit had a point... maybe. Looking out at the way the sky stretched over them, the beautiful blue expanse dotted with clouds, yawning over the distant view of their territory. It stirred something in him-- or maybe it was just that Goldenkit had a way with words. Still, "I do think that'd be nice, if our moors went on forever. When you say it like that, there is something... something, captivating? almost, about the sky." His tail twitched, and Adderkit's dark gaze flicked back over to his companion, as if searching to confirm that had been the right answer. "I don't think much about becoming an apprentice, and certainly not a warrior. But I would like to explore the territory, and find everything I can. Every burrow and tunnel, every hill... I think it would be nice to sit out there. At sunset, especially." That was the closest to poetry he'd come, and the words were spoken a little clumsily. He was more practical than fawning over the world around them- at least, Adderkit fashioned himself to be, but when he slowed down to look... he could feel the soft breeze stirring through his fur, and could only imagine how it felt to get lost in the moors, sun on his back and wind through his fur. I'll have to tell Flutter that he was right all along, too.

Sitting slightly upright, Adderkit reached out a paw and batted Goldenkit's ball away from himself, rolling it against his own pads. "I can imagine you as a warrior, Goldenkit. I'm sure you can't wait until your ceremony, so you can start training and actually see the moors for yourself." The corners of his maw twitched into a smile, just briefly, a glimpse of the cheekiness that hid under his petulance.