Name Your Courage Now (c)

Ospreykit thought just about every day was beautiful, but this one especially. Finally some good weather! Even Paledove agreed it was a perfect day to spend some time outside. Not that the queen couldn’t find other reasons to fret, but she was definitely in one of her better moods. She’d gently nudged Ospreykit outside with claims about the wonders of fresh air, or something. The kit hadn’t needed persuading. Once just about any idea was suggested to her she was ready to go, looking before leaping. And of course her momma knew what was best for her. So off she went, a grin accompanying her exit to the nursery as she trotted towards Cricketkit.

A warm greeting was abandoned before it started, cut off by her sister’s threat. “You wouldn’t! Momma’s right inside the nursery and she’d be maaad, you’ll get in big trouble.” She warned, eyes wide. Despite her bravado the kit backed up a few steps, protecting her precious ears. They flattened against her head out of reach from needle-like kitten claws. “And I wasn’t gonna steal it! I don’t even want it.”  She pouted at the accusation. Grabbing her siblings’ things was supposed to be a game. Something fun to make her littermates chase after her or start a play-fight. But sometimes they didn’t seem to get it, especially Cricketkit. Her puffed up tail reminded Ospreykit of a squirrel, one possessively stashing nuts for winter. “I just wanted to play too. Sorry for before.” She half-mumbled. Her gaze drooped to the ground, feeling guilty for her previous thievery. ”Can I sit with you? I’ll leave your mossball alone. Promise.”  Her golden eyes raised to look at Cricketkit and her ears stayed pinned back cautiously as she tried to prove her sincerity.

OOC: I’m so sorry for the long wait! Promise I’ll be able to reply much quicker next time))

Ospreykit lightened at her sister’s gesture and cautiously lifted her ears again. “You really mean it?” A hopeful, relieved smile turned up the corners of her mouth. “I mean- ok!” She thought better than giving Cricketkit the chance to change her mind and hurried to join her in the sunbeam before she lost her sister’s favor.

She respectfully crossed to Cricket’s far side opposite the moss ball, still trying to prove she had no designs on it. A big stretch- longs legs sticking out in front of her -was of course required before she could properly settle into the bright rays. A contented purr rumbled in her throat as she sprawled next to her sister, tabby fur barely brushing Cricketkit’s similar brown and white pelt. This was nice. Better than getting her ears clawed for sure.

Ospreykit was barely settled before the mention of apprentice-hood had her excited again, fully back to her usual happy self. Though now her head shook slowly and her eyes were half-closed, relaxed. “Mm nope. I feel like we’ve been waiting foreverrr. For moons and moooons.” Osprey’s first words as a kit had been quickly followed by her mastery of hyperbole. But after so long with the paw suffix a far off dream, it was incredible to realize it might be approaching so soon.

”Wha’ do you think it’ll be like? Honeypaw said there’s a lot of hunting, you’ll be great at it I bet! ‘Cause you’re so good at catching stuff.” She flicked her tail to indicate the mossball as evidence. “And me too! We can go on patrol together and catch all the prey from here to the lake!” She envisioned boldly, tiny claws flexing at the thought of chasing real mice rather than moss ones.

“Unstoppable." Ospreykit nodded, eyes shining. “It does seem peaceful. I bet you can see so much from up there.” The kit tilted her head up to catch sight of the trees ringing the clearing. I grin pulled at her muzzle as she imagined digging her claws into bark, scaling one of the towering trunks to lounge triumphant among its branches. Like a true Skyclan warrior. What would that view be like so far from the ground?

She was pulled from her daydreams when a shadow passed over the pair and sent her sister into retreat. Ospreykit puffed up a bit, shifting to better hide Cricketkit. A growl started to rise in her throat in a familiar echo of Paledove before she tamped it down. It was strange how much of the queen’s overprotective instincts were instilled in such a friendly kit, cropping up when she felt her siblings threatened. She smoothed out her fur and settled back down once the warrior had withdrawn a safe distance.

“Well, whoever trains us, they’re our clan right?” She reasoned, doing her best to reassure her sister. Paledove’s distrust was, well, puzzling. Why did she glare at anyone who came near her kits yet simultaneously claimed Skyclanners were the best in the forest? It had left Ospreykit feeling rather lost, though in the end her friendliness won out. Of course she didn’t believe her mother could ever be wrong about anything… but at the same time Ospreykit wondered if maybe, maybe, Paledove would like other cats more if she gave them a chance? Everyone the kit had interacted with so far seemed perfectly welcoming after-all.

“We already know some of them are nice, like Wolfblossom.” She pointed out.  ”And Stormwatcher played moss-ball with me. I’m sure the other warriors are ok too.” Either way, she trusted Paledove to guide them through apprenticeship. Her mother was hard to figure out but Ospreykit did at least understand one facet of her. She would never let anything bad befall her kits. “Don’t worry, mama will look out for us. She’ll make sure we get good mentors.”