hall(o)ween

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Windkit had gathered enough leaves to make a decent-sized pile, which was now sitting in the center of camp. 'This is gonna be so fun!' He thought, squeaking in delight. Then he looked around. Jumping into the leaf pile would be much more fun if he had someone to do it with. "Hello?"

[Echopaw]

Little Echo was happily prancing around through the camp. After her first venture outside, she'd found she wanted to explore, and now that she was used to the area of camp around the den, she was quite looking forward to wandering further. And on such a nice spray such as this, with most cats either lazing around or out of camp, she wasn't likely to get in the way on her little ventures. So she finds herself climbing up rocks that seem almost as big as mountains, and spchasing around basically anything that moves. Which at one time happened to be some grouchy felin's tail. She'd quickly apologised to them and shot away to hide behind a rock.

She was startled out of her thoughts when a slight squeal causes her ears to prick to attention. This particualar squeal was followed by a greeting that wrung more as a question. The child giggles slightly, slinks out from behind her rock, and bound she over to join the kitten. Yet she pulls up short and her happy expression turns to wary as she eyes him. Will this kit judge her too? All the kits seemed to know who she was, and to whom she belonged, and everyone seemed to tell her she was adopted. But she wasn't! Her mama wouldn't lie, would she? 'No!' She thinks firmly, and offers the fellow kitten a wary smile. He's a bit older than her, a ginger tom with bright eyes and a sizeable pile of leaves. Her own blue orbs flit to the pile momentarily before she tilts her head to one side curiosuly, abandoning her caution for favour of knowledge. "Hi. I'm Echokit. What you doing?"

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Windkit instantly perked up when another kit appeared. He responded to her small smile with a big, toothy grin. He'd seen her around before, but had never thought to approach her. 'Maybe now we'll get to be pals.' He thought cheerfully, unaware of her cautious gaze.

"Nice to meet you Echokit. I'm Windkit." He dipped his head slightly, not sure if this was how to introduce yourself. He'd seen warriors do this, though, so it had to be right. He spun around and pointed at the leaf pile with his tail. "You see that? I'm gonna jump in it. You wanna go with me?"

[Echopaw]

Echo perks her ears slightly, his wide toothy grin making her feel a little more welcomed. Her smile widens, stretching across her face and shimmering in her eyes as her tail sways slightly. Perhaps the two of them could be friends. She'd seen him around before, yet she wasn't much for approaching others. The only reason she had today was because he'd acknowledged her presence first. At his next comment, she blinks in surprise. She didn't remember anyone saying that before, yet he seemed to be sincere enough. Yet still...she props her head on one side, kitty brows drawn slightly together with her lack of discernment. "It is?" Yet she shrugs her doubt of with a smile and nods, offering a grin. "Its nice to meet you too, Windkit."

The tom spun around so quickly that her eyes flew wide and she flinched backward slightly. Yet she forces herself to calm down and compose herself as he gestures toward his pile of oeacpves with his tail. Her ears twitch slightly and op she offers an airy giggle. "That sounds silly..." She muses truthfully, peering at the large haphazard pile of leaves with a curious expression before returning her gaze to her companion with a grin. "I'm up for it."

[Deleted]

He tilted his head curiously to her look of surprise. Had he introduced himself wrong? 'Maybe the warriors do it differently. I gotta look closer next time.' "Yeah, 'course!" He loved meeting new cats, and Echokit was no exception. He purred faintly when she said the same thing back. It was a nice thing to hear.

"That sounds silly..." Windkit's ears began to flatten back. 'Silly? Was my idea stupid?' He looked down. 'I guess she must be a more mature kit then, huh? I gotta be more like that.' He drew his paws closer together. "We don't have to..." He began, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. Then she spoke again. His ears lifted and he looked at her hopefully, tail starting to swish behind him happily. "Really? You really mean it?" He squeaked, bouncing closer. He stood by her side, eyes now fixated on the leaf pile. "Okay... Let's go at the count of three. One, two, three!"

[Echopaw]

He looked about as surprised by her response as she had by his. Perhaps she was meant to just take it, yet she wasn't used to others saying it was nice to meet her. She couldn't help the surprise she'd felt. Yet as he confirms this fact, she can't help the sparkle in her eyes as her smile widens happily. He seemed to take her repitition of his comment much better than she did, and she wonders if her surprise had seemed rude. She shakes it off as he seems reasonably happy right now.

Oh! She hadn't meant to sound rude, let alone upset him. Her own ears fall back slightly at his sudden sad look, warring emotions on his face like he's not sure how to react. She got that feeling a lot, though usually she'd just run off or something, so he was much stronger than her in that aspect for sticking around. Yet she was glad when he realised she was merely teasing, for she watched as his whole face lit back up like the sun surpassing the horizon at dawn. She offers him a toothy grin, just highlighting as well as possible that she'd meant no offence. "Of course I do" she responded happily, tail swaying to match his as she too turns to face his pile of leaves.

Her ears prick slightly as he begins to countdown, and she crouches in anticipation, eyes intent on their target. Then, the second he reaches three the child launches herself into the pile, successfully burying herself in leaves. Lifting her head, she shakes a golden leaf from its perch and giggles happily, her eyes sparkling. This was fun. She wondered what else he might suggest to do. "What next?"

[Deleted]

Windkit shot forward the moment he said "three", then leaped into the pile. He plopped down into the leaves, completely disappearing from the outside. He wiggled around, then popped his head out when he reached the top. He looked around, giggling at the sight of Echokit. 'That was fun!' He was pleased to see that she seemed to be enjoying herself, too.

The tabby tilted his head in thought. What else would be fun? "Hmm... I dunno. Do you have any ideas?" He questioned, twitching his whiskers. Maybe she knew of a fun game.

[Echopaw]

Echo looked around, hunting out her new friend. Yet she couldn't seem to see him anywhere. Frowning, she wriggles around in the pile a bit to face the other direction, and a head pops up before her. This causes laughter renewed, which bubbles off with a purr of bemusement as she attempts to recompose herself. Yet her bright blue eyes are shimmering like to little suns, and she can't help but enjoy her time with this other kit. There wasn't much one could do with a pile of leaves, yet this was fun enough for now.

Echo's ears flickered slightly at his counter question. She had never played any games before, only watched others play them, always too nervous to approach uninvited. And so she tilts her head, nonplussed. The one thing she'd ever played was mossball with her sister, which hadn't been overly interesting. She had watched cats play some games, and so she sifted through them and selected one with a growing smile. "How about cat and mouse? It's like tag, but the cat has to tackle and pin the mouse to win. If you only tag them then the mouse can still run away. And once you catch the mouse, it reverses instantly, so you gotta get up and run straight away." She offers a grin, having made up that last part she was pretty proud of it. She decided her only little addition would make it more interesting if rather than giving the new mouse a head start, you gotta shove them off and catch them instantly, and they don't have any warning. Much more exciting, for sure.

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Windkit stared at her in amazement. He hadn't heard of that game before! "That sounds so fun!" 'I'm so happy I met this kit. I can't believe I didn't approach her sooner.' He matched her grin with one of his own, and sprung out of the pile. A few leaves scattered as he did this. He spun around and faced her, then got into a hunter's crouch. His tail swished behind him playfully.

"So, you wanna be the cat or mouse?" He was fine with either, so whatever she decided would be great.

[Echopaw]

Despite her original mistrust, which is still wavering slightly in the recesses of her mind, she couldn't help but like this cat. He was so...happy. Besides, he didn't look upon her with judgement in anyway, and she was more than happy about that. Ears twitching slightly, she held her grin and launched herself out of the pile, shaking off the leaves still clinging to her pelt. She was very glad he seemed to like her idea. Yet she still startles back a little as he whips around again. He seemed to have a tendency to do that.

At his question, she tilts her head in thought. Honestly, she didn't really mind. "I don't think it matters much, since we'll get a chance to be both." She mulls it over for a moment longer, eyeing his crouch with curiosity before she smiles again, tail swishing slightly. "I'll be the mouse first, since you look ready to eat me anyway" She giggles slightly, gesturing to his hunters crouch before whipping around and dashing away without a word of warning. There were no further rules to this game, so nothing said either of them had to wait. Especially since one of the aforementioned rules was you didn't have to.

[Deleted]

Windkit laughed, tail swishing even faster. He got to be the cat first! 'Oh boy!' As soon as she sprinted off, he leaped out of his crouch and followed right behind. "I'm coming for you, Echo!" He yowled, eyes watching her tail. This reminded him of the time he played chase with his sister. Hopefully he'd be faster this time.

Once he was within a warrior's tail-length, he quickened his pace and jumped, attempting to tackle her over.

[Echopaw]

The second she took off, she heard the sound of pawsteps following her, and knew Windkit was right on her tail. Lashing it slightly, the child allows a laugh to echo back to him before bunching her muscles and speeding up, keeping low to the ground and lengthening her strides. She wasn't running her fastest, because that would only use up far too much energy early on in the game. Ears pricked, Echo doges around a rock, turning tight and skidding slightly, hoping he'll lose his balance. Yet he still appears to be on her tail when she runs on, definitely glad spathe camp isn't tiny.

It's isn't long before he beings to catch up, and she tries to veer away out of his reach. And yet he speeds up and leaps, tackling her to the ground. She allows herself to fall, tucking her legs so that the second she hits the ground she rolls out of his reach. She certainly doesn't plan on giving up that easy. Dodging away from him, she scrambles back onto her paws and takes off again. Like she said, he has to pin her to win. "Not gonna be that easy!" She called back to him laughingly, flicking her tail again as she turns tightly and dashes behind a den, ducking out between two and sprinting across the camp.

[Deleted]

Windkit howled triumphantly when he felt fur beneath his paws. "Got you!" He squeaked, gasping when Echokit rolled away. 'I have to pin her, don't I? Dang it!' Giggling at her words, he hopped to his paws and chased after her again.

He followed her behind the den, then followed her out across the camp. He had to dodge the paws of warriors and apprentices, but this just made it more fun. He laughed between gasps, slowing but steadily closing the gap between the two. Now he was a fox-length away, but still too far to leap. 'I just have to keep going a little longer!' He thought, continuing to race behind her and trying to anticipate his next move.

[Echopaw]

His giggle she couldn't help but return, glad her words seemed to bring him such amusement. This was a great game, and weaving between paws only made it more fun. They received a few scowls and grumbles, but no one would truly find it in their heart to scold a kit, and those who might find it more annoying than others tended to merely stay out of their way. Those they dodged around truly had only themselves to blame to any degree. She only hoped her mother wouldn't get in too much trouble for her wayward kit.

It wasn't long before Windkit began catching up. In fact, Echo glanced over her shoulder and gasped in surprise at how close he was. Picking up the pace, she bounds forward and runs a little faster, unaware she's heading straight for a rock. Returning her attention ahead of her, she sees the looming rock and veers sharply left, just managing to avoid it by the skin of her fur, cringing at the thought of crashing into it. Having to turn so suddenly had slowed her down, and Windkit could probably catch up easier now. Still, it didn't sway Hernandez confidence. "Hurry up slowpoke!" She calls back, laughter bubbling up and following her statement to soften any possible sting from her words.

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His eyes widened when he saw that she was headed straight for a rock. 'Do I warn her?' No, Windkit could tell that she wasn't dumb. 'She's just tryin' to trick me! I wonder which way she'll turn...' He decided to go right.

Which was a bad move. Now he was in the wrong direction! Veering to the left, he made a circle around the rock and caught sight of Echokit again. With a sudden boost of motivation, the kitten quickened his pace and was right back to where he was before. Smiling at her words, he moved his legs faster and now was closer than ever. 'I'm really gonna get her this time!'

Nose almost touching the end of her tail, he leaped in an attempt to tackle her down.