boys will be bugs [C]

Foxkit couldn’t keep his paws still. He kept pacing back and forth antsily, his short tail waving back and forth, back and forth. He’d already gotten in trouble today for being under the warriors’ paws, and now he didn’t know what to do to have fun. Harespring was out of camp, Silent and Wasp were busy together somewhere, and Otter was being fussed over by their mother. Foxkit’s body itched with the desperate need to do something--anything. His eyes kept drifting longingly toward the entrance of camp. How hard would it really be to make a run for it and come back before someone noticed he was gone? Harespring wasn’t even around to know, and so he couldn’t be upset.

Or maybe he could get away with it without getting into trouble. Foxkit’s eyes slid around camp. He’d heard someone in the nursery say that kits could leave camp if they had a guide. Now Foxkit didn’t know if that was true… but there was no harm in trying. He just had to find a good cat to take him, and be really, really convincing.

When his eyes landed on an apprentice nearby, Foxkit wasted no time in trotting over. He puffed himself up and smiled as big as he could up at the larger tom. ”Hi!” He said, tail sweeping side-to-side in greeting. ”What’s your name? And are you busy?” He didn’t look busy, although he certainly looked… angsty. Oh well. Hopefully Foxkit could sway him in his favor.

Foxkit nodded at the introduction and responded, ”I’m Foxkit.” Pale blue eyes followed Firepaw’s gaze and found his attention was traveling toward the thorny tunnel that led out of camp. He must’ve wanted to leave, too! What luck. He would be even easier to convince. Foxkit swung his gaze back around and, rather than answering the question directly, said, ”Hey, I gotta question for ya.” He swayed forward and back, weight shifting from flat pads to toes, and his short tail waved back and forth. ”Someone told me it’s okay for kits to leave camp ‘s long ‘s they gotta guide with’em. Is that true?” Hope shined brightly in his eyes. ”’Cause I wanna see outside. And you kinda look like you’re looking for someone anyway, so why don’t we go together? I can be helpful about it--seriously.”

Foxkit’s eyes got big and he lit up at Firepaw’s answer. ”Wait--you mean it?” Foxkit gasped out. Then he quickly snapped his mouth shut, like he could retract the words, because he didn’t want his surprise to turn the apprentice toward changing his mind. Foxkit took pride in correctly guessing that Firepaw was looking for someone. It didn’t really matter that the patch-pelted tom seemed sour and hopeless about the idea of finding them.

Foxkit rocked forward and back on his paws. ”I mean--yeah, of course! I’ll stay close.” He promised with a very serious nod. ”Whatever y’say, Firepaw.” Then he was starting to turn away. ”Yeah, they may be gone, but a fresh pair ‘f eyes never hurt, right? And ‘M real small still. Bet it’ll be easier for me to see any tracks they left behind.” His tail waved with enthusiasm and Foxkit bustled off toward the thorn-and-bracken tunnel leading out into the great, wide world of trees beyond. ”Hurry up! We won’t find anyone waiting around. Gotta get out there so I can help, right?”