Off Alone (open)

[Deleted]

A small kit hid in the corner of the clearing and masked by a clump of frozen reeds. His black fur was fluffed up against the cold and his oddly colored green and blue eyes were focused straight across the clearing in silent observation. Lizardkit could see other cats out and about in the center and gathered around, and even kits near the nursery, but he chose not to go close to them and instead had found his hiding place as far away from the cats as he could possibly get. He disliked being in the center where the crowds of cats were always around him, and especially since they usually had nothing good to say to him aside from to tell him to do things. "Be careful", "Don't do that", "Don't be so loud", "Don't play so rough"... he hated the constant reprimands and lectures that he received as a kit. Here, alone, he could do what he wanted or otherwise watch in peace.

[Dyzzie]

The young apprentice moved among the outskirts of the group, his steps slightly sluggish, as he fought back a small yawn. His orange tabby pelt seemed to stand out against the sunlight though, the color bright, and at odds with the smudging of black on his petite face. Petite, it was a good way to describe the young tom, who tended to surprise others when they realized he was male not female, despite his mannerisms. Emberpaw tended to behave a bit more femininely. A little more delicate than most toms. He'd rather sit and relax - sunbathe, then wrestle and practice 'play-fighting'. He tended to speak more softly, more gently. He was more of a soft tom. Not harsh, or rash, or any of the other negative but masculine traits you could apply to toms. And sometimes, the poor tom knew it too. He was a young apprentice, only about 8 moons old now - but he was learning what being an apprentice meant - what the additional freedoms entitle, and he couldn't help but still see himself as being a bit more of a loner than the others. A bit more willing to take that step back - and step away. He tended to watch from the outside, and the gentle tom didn't mind.

but usually he was the only one on the outside, which is why the little black kit startled him, as Emberpaw paused in his traveling, "Uhm, hello?" He greeted softly, his voice light on the cool air between them, placing his raised paw back on the ground, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb, I hadn't realized there'd be anyone over here . . ." The feline added, with a soft flick of his tail, "You're . . . Lizardkit, aren't you?" He asked, trying to remember if this was one of the kits, or a newly named apprentice. He hoped he was right, he had no desire to embarrass himself. His gaze lowered faintly - briefly - before moving back up with a half smile, "Why are you back here, if I might ask?" He added curiously, as he slowly sat down, tail coiling around his paws as he did so.

[Ferretpaw]

Aspenshade slunk down away from the group. From over here she could she everything! Sniffing she looked over the clearing for her sister- Silverwolf-. "Argh where are you?" Aspenshade mumbled till she saw a apprentice talking to frozen ferns, the scent of kit? Moving closer she looked over the shoulder of the apprentice. "Sorry to interrupt but is that you L-Lizardkit?"

[Deleted]

The small black tom kit narrowed his eyes as his hiding place was found out, and soon joined by a crowd. First was Emberpaw, who apparently had the same idea in seeking out his secret place, and was now asking him questions. So much for a quiet place to himself! "Why do you need to know?" Lizardkit retorted back with a flick of his small ears. Older cats were always so annoying with trying to figure out what he was doing, and then ruining the fun. He was sure Emberpaw was no different. Next came Aspenshade, and the insolent kit couldn't help but roll his eyes. Great, warriors! Now he had attracted the attention of just about every rank above him. "Go away," Lizardkit simply hissed to the warrior and refused to answer the question. If he had been in the mood to talk to warriors, then he would have been out in the clearing. Now, he had to go find a new hiding spot just because the whole clan would know where he was lurking and bother him like they were! That was enough to put the dark kit in a foul mood indeed.

[Ferretpaw]

Aspenshade rolled her eyes. "Just because your annoyed is no reason to get smart! And I'm not just saying that because you kit, I will take that from no one!" With a lash of her tail she turned away fuming. Just another reason to stay in the Warriors' Den. Argh.

[Dyzzie]

Emberpaw's ears twisted to the sides in uncertainty, the newly-made apprentice shuffling his paws slightly, "I was just . . . curious." The feminine cat mumbled, his tail twitching in uncertainty before the arrival of a warrior caught him off guard. He quickly stepped aside, seeing her attention on the kit, and not on him. Emberpaw shuffled his paws a little more uncomfortable, a faint feeling of being turned out of the conversation washing over the delicate tom, as he sat with an obvious uncertainty about him. Though, as soon as the kit hissed for the warrior to go away, Emberpaw watched in horror as the female responded in kind, calling the kit out on 'getting' smart, before declaring she'd take it from no one. Emberpaw twitched his nose faintly, feeling more uncomfortable by the rising tension, "Uhm, maybe, I should just . . . uh . . . go." The small apprentice mumbled, suddenly feeling shy and wanting to get as far from the tension as possible. His tail lashed against the air as he looked from cat to cat, slowly rising to his paws, watching the female turn away, before looking back to the kit, "I . . . I guess I'll leave too . . . You don't seem . . . to want company," The soft spoken male stated quietly, before moving forward to return on his trek of the outskirts of the clearing, his tail hung low, and his ears falling to the sides.

[Deleted]

Lizardkit hissed in reply towards Aspenshade as she stalked away. He didn't care if she was a warrior, warriors ruined everything for the most part. He hoped that he would become a warrior so that he could also do whatever he wanted and not have to be yelled at by older cats. "Go away, cranky old furball!"

Emberpaw, however, seemed reluctant to leave. Lizardkit wondered why he seemed so intent on wanting to be around him. He was a kit after all, and usually the apprentices he knew did nothing but brag about their freedoms. Hmm... perhaps Emberpaw was not like the usual apprentice. The wheels began to turn in the young kit's mind, as he thought he might be able to use this to his advantage. "Hey Emberpaw. I've decided that you can stay, just as long as you don't bring any other cat with you or tell them. And, I have a game we can play," The small black kit flicked his tail in a gesture for the older tom to come over, trying to seem as welcoming as possible. He had a plan, after all, and if all went well then this might actually be the best plan he has had yet. "Emberpaw, have you ever heard about the 'secret prey spot?'" His oddly colored eyes focused on Emberpaw intently as he awaited his response and reaction.

[Dyzzie]

Emberpaw jumped, looking startled to have his name called, and he glanced at the younger tom cautiously, his gaze hesitant and shy as he blinked in surprise. He was allowed to stay? And a game. He hesitated when a question was asked, his head tilting to the side in confusion, "Secret Prey Spot?" He repeated softly, raising a paw to his chest in uncertainty before speaking again, "Uhm, no . . . I don't think I have." The young apprentice mumbled softly, his gaze lowering shyly - hoping this wasn't something that he should have known, "What . . . . what is it?" He finally asked, glancing back at the kit, the 7 moon old apprentice waiting to find out what exactly this kit had planned.

[Deleted]

Lizardkit grinned when Emberpaw stopped. At least he seemed interested. "Well... you can't tell anyone but..." He cast a glance around to be sure that no other cat was close enough to eavesdrop, and lowered his voice, "The secret prey spot is supposed to be a spot in the territory full of prey all the time. It's the mother-load of prey spots, and the prey there are supposed to be so easy to catch that you catch them with merely a swipe of a paw, and even a kit can catch prey," Lizardkit waved a paw as if to demonstrate. "Thing is, it's a secret prey spot, so no warrior knows where it is. I think it's because they are too big; they aren't looking hard enough. I want to find it and bring back lots of prey to the clan," Lizardkit examined Emberpaw. "If you come with me, then we can find it together and bring back the biggest amount of prey the clan has ever seen. Maybe even, you'll get rewarded by the leader and be made a warrior early, and I can become an apprentice." He then narrowed his eyes in caution, "but if you tell anyone about this I'll make sure you regret it!"

[Dyzzie]

Emberpaw tilted his head, not really sure what this kit was talking about. Secret Prey Spot? He remained quiet though, listening as the kit explained he couldn't tell anyone. He frowned lightly, ears falling to the side lightly, "Uh . . . okay . . ." He mumbled after a moment, before listening to a story about a spot that is supposedly full of prey all year round. Prey that is super easy to catch, but a secret that no warrior knows about because they're too big . . or something. Emberpaw looked confused, "It sounds . . . it sounds . . . it sounds too good to be true." Emberpaw muttered - more to himself then to the kit, thinking it over, frowning faintly, "I don't know if it'd be such a good idea to go looking for it - I don't even know where we could begin to look," He said, a little more loudly - addressing the kit this time as he tilted his head, "And what if someone comes looking for us when we're gone." The small apprentice's tail slashed slightly, his ears flattening at the idea of getting in trouble for going off to look for this mystical place. He was only just made an apprentice, what if this was a bad idea - and something happened - what if he got demoted back to a kit! He glanced back to Lizardkit, his expression hesitant, "Tell me . . . what all you know about where this secret prey spot might be." He finally suggested, his tail flicking slightly, his expression still uncertain.

[Deleted]

Lizardkit frowned impatiently, "Psht, they won't look for us! My mom is too busy chatting with the other queens, and you could just say that you left camp to take a walk if anyone asks! Warriors do that all the time. Besides, we will be back before they even know we're gone, and how can they be angry if we have prey with us? The clan needs prey, doesn't it?" The dark tom kit perked his ears in persuasion. His odd eyes gleamed as he continued with his story, "Well, I was told that the secret prey spot has to be close to thick roots by the river. No cat is really sure where anymore, but once there was an apprentice who had found it moons and moons and moons ago before even the leader was a kit and he would always bring back prey no matter what season or weather! They thought he was a hunting legend, but it turns out he had found the secret prey spot. He tried to keep it hidden so that no cat would find out its secret and steal his glory, but one day he disappeared and no cat ever found out where it was. Now, we're going to find it." Lizardkit looked proud of himself as his puffed out his chest fur, though he still eyed Emberpaw to make sure he was on board with the plan. He would need the apprentice's help after all to sneak out of camp and be able to find the river. "You have seen the river, right? I bet if we look all over there, then we'll be able to find it."

[Dyzzie]

Emberpaw's ears flicked faintly. The kit was telling a good story - and he could definitely see the positive aspects of finding this spot. Slowly he stood, his expression still hesitant, "Yes, I know where the river is . . . I suppose, as long as we're careful -- and neither of us fall into the river, or anything . . . then, it can't be too bad of an idea. As long as we're careful." He finally allowed - his tail lashing back and forth before managing a very faint, half smile, "Shall we go?" He added softly, his gaze lowering again, as his soft smile melted faintly, "And hope we don't get into too much trouble . . ." He added, under his breath.