Orb of Dreamers [open]

Beetlepaw had made possible one of their best finds yet. Just outside camp, just barely peeking out from below piles of mud, were shiny stones. They were natural, they knew, but they almost looked twoleg-made. The stones had caught Beetlepaw's eye, and the moment they found them, they knew that they belonged in their nest. Held delicately between their teeth, as to not let the rocks touch their tongue, they carried them into the apprentice den, carelessly dumping them all into their nest to be organized later. There was only so much that they could carry in one trip, so they turned to leave the den. On the way out, though, they nearly bumped into a cat who was entering the den. "Oh, sorry. I found some shiny stones just outside camp, wanna come see? You can have some, if you want. I won't mind."

Applespark was eager to exercise the newly bestowed privledges that came with warriorhood, including the freedom to leave camp pretty much whenever he wanted, provided he wasn't needed for a patrol. After just having returned from a hunting excursion, he was eager and raring to go again, and this time he thought he might ask Poppypaw if he'd like to join. Perhaps they'd even have time for a quick spar? He dropped his prey into the fresh-kill pile, bounding toward the apprentice den in search of his brother. In his haste, he nearly collided with a cat on their way out of the den. Normally he would've been annoyed at the other cat for being in his way, but he was in a good mood today, so he simply nodded in acknowledgement of Beetlepaw's apology.

"Stones?" He echoed, cocking his head in confusion. He couldn't fathom why some cats wasted their days collecting random objects that didn't seem particularly useful to Applespark, but upon further inspection he had to admit the stones were very eye-catching, pretty even. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have a couple. "Sure, where'd you find 'em?" He shrugged, a faint gleam in his eyes betraying his interest. He could always come back for Poppypaw later, and who knows, maybe his brother would fancy a couple of the shiny stones as well.

The apprentice smiled at Applespark's interest. "Just outside of camp. Found them in the mud while looking for grubs. They're out of season though, I think. Have to wait a bit." Raising their paws, they displayed the drying mud that clung to them. "You never know what you're gonna find in the mud, I guess." They squeezed out of the den, brushing by Applespark. "Sorry." They led the warrior outside of camp, glancing over their shoulder to be sure that he was still following. "It's not far, I promise."

After pushing back a bush, Beetlepaw arrived at the post they'd been just moments before, a visibly large hole dug in the mud. Upon looking at it, they hurriedly rushed forward, lowering their front paws into the hole and vigorously pulling mud out. "Some of the mud must have seeped back into the hole while I was gone, ugh." What if they weren't able to find any more stones? Applespark might be upset, they were quite pretty to look at. "Aha!" They exclaimed, suddenly, as their claws caught onto a rugged surface. "Look at this." They pulled the stone from the mud, holding it in a place that the sun could hit it. "Isn't it beautiful? And all you have to do is dig for it!"