[Deleted]

Skunkspots spent a lot of time in the medicine den with Beetlekit, which meant Duskflower or Mistcloud was usually looking after Cicadakit, with Frozenrain busy with her own new litter. Today it was Mistcloud because Duskflower was out spending time with her mate or daughter or something, Cicadakit couldn't remember. Either way, she wasn't in the nursery. Which is where Cicadakit wanted to not be as well. The nursery was boring. Frozenrain's kits were too little to play with and with her brother in the medicine den, she had no one to really play with when her father was busy with warrior stuff.

So she'd sat at the nursery entrance with Mistcloud's watchful eye on her and observed the comings and goings of camp, trying to entertain herself with that, but it quickly grew boring. However, a familiar black and white pelt had the fluffy kitten's ears perking excitedly. She made to leave the nursrey but Mistcloud called after her, asking just where she was going. Ears flicking back briefly, she looked back, “Ospreywing just came back to camp. I wanna say hi! Pleaaassse?”

With an amused twitch of her whiskers, Mistcloud rose and moved over to peer out to ensure the kitten wasn't lying just to get out of the nursery. Seeing the black and white tom, she bent to give Cicadakit a quick lick between the ears and gave her permission, but made sure to stay where she could see the kit in case she got any ideas about trying to sneak off if Ospreywing was busy. Skunkspots had enough to worry about.

With an excited squeak, Cicadakit tore out of the nursery, across camp, and launched herself at her uncle in a clear indication of all of her pent up energy, “OSPREYWING!”

Phoenix

[Phoenix]

When he had returned to camp with the rest of the sun high patrol, he had only intended for it to be a momentary pause before turning around and heading right back out on a self-assigned hunting patrol. Spending much more time out in the territory than back at camp, he kept himself busy, for leaf-bare had arrived and they could use every piece of prey they could find. (He liked to pretend that that was the only reason and that it wasn’t also very much because the camp felt a lot lonelier without a silver she-cat around.) There were young mouths to feed, after all. Hawkstar and Frozenrain had just had their second litter, and Beetlekit was still recovering under the watchful eyes of Sandblaze, of Ospreywing was quietly proud though he had no idea if the other tom realized, and Skunkspots.

The only warning he had was the rapid pattering of feet coming up from behind him and the excited shout that had him turning just in time to see a blur of black and white fur flying straight toward him. Yellow eyes widened slightly as he realized that collision was inevitable, but he had the presence of mind to turn away such that she hit his shoulder rather than his face. Perhaps a bit uncomfortable for her, he considered belatedly as he stepped away from the kit, but he preferred a sore shoulder to a face full of kit. Even if she was his niece – which was crazy to think.

Speaking of kits… His gaze became somewhat suspicious, and he looked around for the responsible adult who was supposed to be accompanying her, praying to StarClan that it wasn’t him. ”What are you doing out here, Cicadakit?” He asked her, tail tip twitching. ”Aren’t you supposed to be in the nursery?”

@zen

[Deleted]

Bouncing off her uncle rather harmlessly, Cicadakit tumbled backward over herself and was back on her paws almost immediately, clearly unfazed as she shook out her fluffy black and white fur and bounced in place, plume of a tail flicking rapidly behind her. She crouched and batted playfully at one of Ospreywing's paws even as he asked her what she was doing out here. She stepped forward to wind herself between his legs affectionately, purring loudly, “I came to see you, silly!” But she slipped out from beneath him as he asked if she shouldn't be in the nursery, her pelt fluffing up indignantly.

“The nursery is boring! Frozenrain's kits are too small to play with and they just sleep all the time anyway, so Duskflower and Mistcloud are always telling me to be quiet. How am I supposed to play AND be quiet?” It all came out in the rush, “I can't play with Beetlekit or Skunkspots and Valiantstride isn't back yet. Will you play with me, Ospreywing?” She looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes, “We can play whatever you want!” As if being able to choose the game might better tempt him into accepting the offer.

“You can even be Ospreystar if you want,” she continued, pressing on to dangle more and more tempting offers before her uncle, “I'll do whatever you say! I'll be your most loyalest warrior ever! Pleeaaaaaaase?” She pawed at his leg as if she could poke a favorable response from the warrior. It was clear she was more than just bored. She was lonely.

Phoenix
Found a better color I think \o/