PAFP Camp FAMILY PORTRAIT || intro

[BEARPAW]

"Hey, where'd ya go?"

As the sun set on the craggy ravine Thunderclan called home, Bearpaw spoke in a muffled voice through the scrawny mouse he clutched in his jaws. His green eyes darted around camp, scanning through each small crowd of cats and squinting to look between cracks in the cliffside. With a growled sigh, he set the mouse back down in the freshkill pile and took a whiff of the air.

It was always the same routine when mealtime came around: his younger brother was nowhere to be found, alluding Bearpaw's limited tracking skills. He was going to be a master hunter soon enough with all the practice Brokenkit was giving him! The apprentice expected Brokenkit's disappearing act daily after having to track him down in the first place, routine as the seasons rolling by every few moons. Not like his mother would know where Brokenkit ever was, and the thought of asking his father made his legs tremble more than the cold made him shiver, so he had to take matters into his own paws to make sure his younger brother was accounted for. His dilemma was that Brokenkit didn't want to be accounted for.

Still, he wouldn't let Brokenkit go hungry no matter how determined the little one was to turn invisible, so Bearpaw took steps away from the prey pile and towards the edge of camp to search around some more. He couldn't have gone far, right?

"Have ya seen my little brother? He's a scrappy lil' fella, maybe… this tall?" Bearpaw asked his fellow clanmates as he lifted a paw to demonstrate Brokenkit's height, only to get head shakes and shrugs. Those equally-clueless answers made Bearpaw's head pound harder than it already was, and he lowered himself to the ground in defeat, burying his face in his paws while lying on his belly. Eyes of other cats were on him, making his fur prickle, so he lifted his head to at least appear less flustered.

"Come on, Br-," he paused, choking on the name before forcing it from his maw, "Brokenkit… ya gotta eat eventually..."

ooc: pls wait for @BROKENKIT to post before replying!

 

[BROKENKIT]

Dappled sunlight peaks through weathered bushes against a fiery chocolate pelt, curled tightly in order to stay as comfortable and hidden as possible from the dreaded moment he knew would arrive at any moment. The small, weak boy had already picked up on his brother's new objective around every time at the sun approached its highest peak in the swirling blue and white sky: bring a piece of measly prey to the scrap of fur and bones. Brokenkit didn't quite much like this new camp or this new name, but it wasn't like he remembered a time before them, either. He had just been getting used to the sensation and taste of rich, warm flesh in his mouth (something he realized he despised, but if he was to survive he knew he must eat) before his mother had yanked him up by the scruff of his neck, muttering absentmindedly about some battle and having to leave. She never gave him the opportunity to absorb what was occurring around them, the irony tang of blood overwhelming his new and hypersensitive sense of smell. His parents didn't quite like him much, and that was apparent to him as just a small kit.

But Bearpaw? The eldest of his already older siblings seemed to deem it his responsibility to take care of Brokenkit, the boy who was unfortunately named perfectly; even in his own eyes. He was a burden, that much he knew. But no matter how much he longed for the love and connection from his parents, the idea of getting it from his siblings instead sickened him. Was he truly not good enough for his parents that his siblings had to step in and take over the mantel? That they felt responsible for his survival, to provide him with the care and love he desperately desired and needed? So many complicated thoughts for such a small body.

Bearpaw's expectant call rang through the quarry, echoing enough to even hit the chocolate tabby's ears where he found himself residing in broken shrubbery. The lack of parental attention let Brokenkit have full reign of wherever he wanted to go; as long as he stayed in camp. His father had growled something about a punishment, and whatever it was, the boy knew he didn't want to face it. Hiding back as far into the bushes as he could, he wished Fidgetkit was by his side so at least he wasn't alone cowering from his brother's beck and call. But the hesitance and broken tone from the older tom led to him scrunching up his small face, digging at the dirt before letting out as loud (and yet quiet) of a yowl as he could. "Nuh uh!" The whine came feebly, a pout heard even though they couldn't see the look on his face. He'd have to be dragged out if Bear wanted him to eat so badly!

ooc: shitty parents mentions </3 feel free to have your character grab him out of his little hiding spot in the corner of camp in some bushes! he will squirm and try to get out of their grasp as much as possible, though

 

[Heartkit]

HEARTKIT OF THUNDERCLAN

Heartkit's look was gentle, a little spark of compassion in her eyes as she saw the apprentice's frustration and confusion. Bearpaw's longing to find his brother had deeply moved her, though she couldn't completely understand the weight of it just yet. Still, she knew what it felt like to love someone and want to make them feel better. She tilted her head when she saw the little kit in the bushes, his voice trembling but so full of uncertainty.

" Hello! " she chirped brightly, her voice soft but warm, reaching out with an open, friendly tone. " It's me, Heartkit! "

She tilted her head, a small smile spreading across her face as she continued. " Are you playing hide and seek? Want some company? There's some sun today! " With a gentle paw, she gestured toward the sky, the golden light of the sun breaking through the clouds. " See? Not a lot of sun lately. Mama says that's because of leafbare. It makes everything colder... but it'll get warm again, someday, I bet! "

Her voice dropped just a little, turning softer. " Your brother's worried for you... " she said gently. She wasn't sure how long Bearpaw's brother had been gone, but the sadness was palpable. " Wanna eat something with me? I'm sure you're hungry, and you don't have to hide. There's food. We can share! "

She paused for a moment, looking into the bushes, hopeful and sincere. She really wanted to make this kit feel better, not just for Bearpaw but for them both.

Here I am, so young and strong——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— Right here in the place where I belong

 

[serpentberry]

Serpentberry had been one of the few to bend an ear to Bearpaw, the young boy in search of his even younger brother. The molly had murmured smth negative, a shake of her head, but for once found discomfort in the interaction. Serpentberry would never claim to know where every kit of ThunderClan is at any given moment - she's almost too busy to keep track of her own rowdy three, after all. But that doesn't necessarily mean that beyond her watch they are lost, like the apprentice fears. She wants to believe that there are too many watchful eyes and heavy paws to allow someone even as scrappy as Brokenkit to leave the camp's boundaries - but what if he had?

The fear spurs her to her paws, a silent insistence as she trots after Bearpaw and, too, searches for his wayward sibling. It doesn't take long to see other kits mulling about, and her rabbit-kick heart settles slightly when she notices Heartkit specifically. A young socialite, that girl, with the tact of a birch tree. She's speaking to a bush, and if Serpentberry is right, there's a little someone hiding in the leafless branches. (Admittedly, she wonders if it could be anything else. For Bearpaw's sake, she hopes not.)

"You should go follow her," the medicine cat remarks softly, still offering a sense of support to the tom. "The kits keep better tabs on one another than their queens seem to..." A mess that they can sort out another day, she thinks.