Just another day (open)

[Halftail]

The still air outside the great oak was fresh and free, the birds chirped and played, the distant sound of two-leg monsters the only really sound that seemed so out of place here in this peaceful scene. Rootclan camp set in the dead center of a central park, circled around a great oak tree, the only clan to live under the trees now. Not that many cats living now would remember what it was like back in the day. But they could dream, and dream one certain kit did. Tucked back inside one of the hallow trees curves slept Riverkit, a 5 moon old kit. Her honey colored fur dulled in the little light that slipped through, her long ears flat and her paws twitching as if she were running.

But all seemed peaceful, with the occasional muffled sounds from the sleeping kit. Until a long centipede, which hung over her head, dropped.

Letting out a strangled scream, the kit was on her paws in a flash, running blindly forward as she shock her head. Her eyes squeezed closed, she ran into the trunk, falling back with a grunt she shrieked, finally flicking the bug off of her and making a mad dash from the tree's truck.

Breath coming in wild gasps, her hazel eyes wide she stared around Rootclan camp in fear, it was the same as when she had fallen asleep. Not giant orange and black cats, or cats with big manes, or slick black ones. She and the rest of the clan were safe. Settling down on the ground, her fur ruffled she sighed, if she hadn't had listened to the elders scary stories about Tigerclan, Lionclan and Leopardclan she wouldn't have had a nightmare. But she couldn't help it. She liked listening to there stories and learning about the old days. It was just to bad no one around here knew more about it.

She shook off her fears, twisting to groom her fur, she couldn't be afraid of plain old stories if she planed on being an apprentice any time soon, which, she thought with excitement wouldn't be that far off. Riverkit couldn't wait to become Riverpaw, and to get a mentor. Suddenly not interested in grooming her ruffled fur she turned to stare at all the warriors in camp, who would be her mentor?

[Rei]

Coming back to camp after a successful hunt, a plump hare dangling from her jaws, Maplesong was greeted with the sight of a gasping kit. The massive ginger warrior bounded forwards, dropping her prey.

However, the kit seemed to have calmed down, and was grooming her fur. Maplesong was still concerned.

"Hey, you alright?" She meowed, eyes wide with worry.

[Halftail]

Twisting around to meet the gaze of the warrior, Riverkit smiled. She always enjoyed the company of warriors, they were so strong and brave, one day she'd be like her.

"Oh, yes I'm quiet alright," she paused to point at the large oak, "I was sleeping in there.... and I had a bad dream about a story the elders told me."

Turning back to the warrior with wide hazel eyes she continued on animatedly, "the stories where about the days in the forest and about Tigerclan, Lionclan and Leopardclan! They were so amazing, but.... I don't know I guess it wasn't the stories to hear before taking a nap....." she let her voice trail off. Flicking her tail over her paws she let her grin fall back into a smile.

Realizing she had been babbling she looked at Maplesong, she always got carried away. But now with the stories temporarily forgotten, she leaned forward, "so whats being a warrior like? Is it fun? What about the gatherings?"

[Rei]

"Yes, they are, aren't they?" Maplesong agreed, with a gentle smile. Kits, they were just so lovely and innocent. Maplesong wished that they could remain that way forever, but even she knew that it was impossible.

Even though, when she was young, she had never paid that much attention to the elders' stories. How much she regretted that now...

She ducked her head self-consciously. "I-it's not that exciting, really?" She stammered, before realizing that she could be hurting the kit. How could she be so thoughtless?

"I mean, well, we hunt and fight for the Clan. It's what everyone of us here will do, really. It's just that we're the fitter and more experienced members. Some more so than others." Maplesong waited anxiously for the kit's response. Had she done anything wrong?

[Halftail]

Nodding with an animated air she lifted to her paws once more, to excited to sit still, and so she danced back and forth on her paws, tail waving high, "yep there great stories! I love listening to the same ones over again bec-"

"I-it's not that exciting, really?"

Stopping to stare at the warrior, her hazel eyes turned from excited to expressionless. She respected the warriors opinion, like she did all others opinions, but this time was different. She felt as if the warrior was scolding her.

"I mean, well, we hunt and fight for the Clan. It's what everyone of us here will do, really. It's just that we're the fitter and more experienced members. Some more so than others."

Tilting her head to the side she nodded, her gaze turning thoughtfull. A strange look to see on someone so young. Sinking back on her haunches she flicked her tail over her paws, "I understand."

She paused gathering her thoughts, her eyes turning to the sky, still thoughtful. "When I first heard of the coold places you get to go and the fights you get to have, I thought I was in for the time of my life. But it's not an adventure, as I listened to more stories I learned its hard and that it's not much an adventure at all. It's life...... It's about taking care of each other...."

She might be young but she was a good listener and a learner, "one day I'll be living that life to, so I'm glad I know that stuff now, I'm perpared. But I'll live life to the fullest anyways."

[Rei]

Maplesong smiled. It warmed her heart to see the kit's spirit. "Life's what you make it out to be. It can be an adventure, or something you just endure through with increasing misery until StarClan calls to you." She replied philosphically, with a soft purr of amusement. Something about this kit invited confidence, a willingness from Maplesong to confide in her.

"Take some advice from me." She meowed. "Treat everyone well and kindly, even if it means you'll have to go out of your way to do so. You'll be thankful for it someday, when you have true, loyal friends by your side."

She smiled again, but this time it was with a touch of wistfulness.

[Halftail]

She nodded thoughtfully at the warriors words, letting them sink in, she would take all the advice she could get. After all, she was an older more experianced cat, she knew what she was talking about. twitching her whiskers the young cat smiled, "thank you Maplesong."

When she became an apprentice hopfully she had a mentor like Maplesong, or maybe even Maplesong herself. Although she wold be happy with any mentor she had set herself a goal, and hopefully she reached that goal. She wouldn't never be entireraly happy without it completed.

Standing, er smile turned into a grin, but she didn't tell the warrior that although outwardly she seemed to trust and get along fine, she didn't trust any one. For no particular reason, sh herself didn't even know. But she never thought to much about it, as long as it didn't get in her way of doing all she could for her clan in the future she didn't care if she didn't trust anyone ever.

"Hey maybe with my mad skills I might be deputy one day," she boasted although she had never given becomeing deputy much thought, and the thought of it was tiring. She didn't think she could handle that.

Turning her eyes upward again she frowned, a sudden thought coming to mind, "hey Maplesong? What do you think happened to the missing Moonguards?"

Turning her worried gaze down to the warrior she tilted her head, "do you think there okay?"

[Rei]

Maplesong smiled affectionately. "Work hard, anything's possible." She meowed, with a soft purr. "Even deputyship. Look at Opalshine, and how far she's come! One day it might be you!"

Everything had seemed so full of possibilities when she was younger, Maplesong reflected. When she was younger, and when her sister had still been with her. Hopefully this little kit would be able to keep up her bright spirit.

She frowned slightly at the next question. "The...missing moonguards?" She meowed hesitantly. "I-I'm not quite sure. I don't know what to think, really. Maybe I'm too old and set in my ways of thinking." She tried a joke, but it fell flat. "I don't know, it just doesn't seem possible. They're Moonguards. Only the best of our Clan get chosen to be Moonguards. What could have happened to them?"

Except Twolegs, rabid dogs, Longsleep, monsters...

[Halftail]

Her mood darkened as Maplesong answered her questions and she wrapped her tail over her paws, she might be young, but she was old enough to understand that somthing bad had happened. The only thing she could think of was that they were dead, but she never said those words out loud, she didn't want put everyone around her in a depressed mood by saying what they were all probably thinking.

Time for a change of subject, it had been a mistake to bring up the missing Moongaurds anyways.

"Um..... Well, I believe there fine! Like you said there the best cats the clans has to offer, they probably got side tracked. Something important!" she meowed positivly.

Twitching her whiskers she turned her eyes to the sky, not able to stop the akward feeling that swept over her. "So what do you think about the new ex-kittypets?"

Excited again she turned full toward the warrior, "I haven't really met them yet, but I can't wait to! I have so many questions! I wonder if they'll listen to me though...."