PAFP Camp IF I HAD A BELL [curiosity]

[pricklepaw]

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 Since first coming to RiverClan's camp, Pricklekit has found themself confused more often than not. Before... they can't quite remember everything that came before they were separated from the warm kitten pile they'd been tucked into with their littermates, and a lot of their first days in RiverClan have faded into the haziness of kitten memories, existing more as impressions of feeling and scent more than tangible memories. But before that, they know they'd been content, certainty keeping them calm and stable in their lack of awareness. Now, when they leave the nursery to poke their head around the camp, everything is bright and bold and new, and there are so many cats milling about that they can hardly keep track of them all. They're a sociable little thing, but even they can't handle the sheer vastness of the new world they've been introduced to. Sure, the camp isn't that big, but there are plenty of things to keep them entertained.

Notably, there are plenty of cats to keep them entertained. And plenty of little trinkets, too, but the other RiverClanners are the ones Pricklekit can ask about all the fun little things they find around camp. With vision partially obscured by the tangled mop of fur atop their head, Pricklekit is guided mainly by their nose—and sometimes, it leads them astray. Like today, when they pick up something that carries the steering stench of fish, but feels a bit too hard to be food. "It's a fish?" They ask the apprentice who happens to be standing nearest to them, their little head tipping to one side curiously as they direct their question to Galepaw. But before the other gets a chance to respond to their inquiry, the bramble-furred thing is scraping kitten-teeth against the stone and wincing when the surface doesn't give. As suspected, it is… not a fish. But it smells like one, so the kit gives a flick of their tail, narrowing their eyes at Galepaw, and then Salmonkit in turn. "It smells like fish. Why?"

nothing's set in stone ✼✼ the world will change

• ooc: pls wait for either @Galepaw or @Salmonkit to respond!
• ​
• 
  PRICKLEKIT ˚𓆛˚｡ they/them, kit of riverclan
  ✼ stocky, fluffy chocolate and white kit with thick fur hiding their eyes. clingy and oblivious, a sleepy kit who prefers naptime over games.
  ✼ enhanced sense of smell ; gets nauseous easily
  ✼ sibling to branchkit, hollykit, saffronkit, skykit ; adopted by pikestar
  ✼ peaceful or healing powerplay is allowed ; they appreciate physical contact
  ✼ played by foxlore

 

[Galerunner Galerunner]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

That brown little thing that Pikestar had claimed was... intriguing, Gale could say that for sure. At times, he could almost swear they still smelled of that strange night, of many cats that had grown far too close and then left such poor things to die. He had observed them, silently as he always was, and watched from afar as they began to grow underneath their leader. Of course, it would never tell Pricklekit what fate had befallen their brothers and sisters—it knew better than to involve themself in such matters, and break what little trust the clan had in him. So Galepaw watched and waited, watched as the tangled mass of fur toddled their way out of the nursery. Toddled their way... to some derelict stone, one stained by the juice of some fish.

It was curious how Pricklekit regarded the stone—he would almost presume the thing was blind if they had not looked up at him, directing their questions towards his general direction. He raised his brow in curiosity, watching them attempt to bite the stone they had sniffed out. "Mmm... Your nose fools you, Pricklekit." He murmured absentmindedly, reaching out with a gentle white paw to pick up the lightly-gnawed stone and taking a whiff for himself... and as he suspected, it hardly smelled of fish anymore—but there certainly was a scent there. It regarded the little brown cat with curiosity before passing the stone off to the other kitten that milled about his paws, one he was far more familiar with tagging along. It had certainly seemed to smell something, had sought out that stone in particular... or perhaps the stone smelled stronger than he realized. "Senses are fickle things, and it would serve you well to remember that... something you smell, or see, or hear... well, it may not be the truth in the end." Galepaw glanced over to Salmonkit, studying his expression—if he couldn't smell the strong scent of fish that must clearly be there, then surely the kit could.

The tall lynxpoint cleared his throat once more, gesturing at the stone. "...But in this case, it's just some remnants of a fish long gone. Nothing more than that."

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• @Salmonkit pspsps get in here u got handed a stone small child
• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 10 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[howlingkit]

The world outside of the nursery is one that Melodykit does not venture into often. The quiet kitten, hardly a moon old, struggles still to keep her paws beneath her body, let alone walk on her own. She'd much rather shelter herself with her kin than explore the vastness of camp. However, when some of the tots closer to her age begin to part with the nursery... she finds herself wanting that, too.

Fumbling with her pawsteps, Melodykit deems Pricklekit her guide as the other trots around, choosing curiosity as their own leash. They come upon a stone and heave it up, though seem confused with its heft and density. Melodykit pauses (or, moreso, falls into the dirt beneath her when she can't quite stop her movement,) and watches as Galepaw takes a sniff of the stone, too, before passing it to Salmonkit next.

"Me, too?" the young girl asks, pushing herself to her paws. She trudges forward, as if her legs are both too long and too short to carry her the distance, and dumbly plops herself to sit beside Pricklekit. "Me too?" She asks again, as if it's a fun game to sniff and chew on some old stone.

 

[Juniperpaw Juniperpaw]

Juniperpaw is a diligent, hard-working apprentice whose been in and out of camp all day, retrieving fresh moss and other materials for other clanmates to refresh their bedding with. It's a boring, tedious job, but someone needs to do it, and it's worth it to see her clanmates get to rest well after doing their own labor from sunrise to sundown. Yes, absolutely nothing can distract her from this vital mission, except for a couple of kits being the cutest wittle guys in the whole wide world.

She happens to overhear @pricklekit, @melodykit, and Salmonkit's conversation with @Galepaw, and she stops dead in her tracks, bundle of moss falling from her ajar mouth. She takes a deep breath, willing herself to not squeal aloud. How can Galepaw not be losing his mind? It must be because he's so cool and composed and smart - yes, that is the positive spin that Juniperpaw's very biased perspective takes. The dual-furred she-cat turns, blinking away joyous tears from her glittering gold eyes.

She bounds over to the group, swishing tail betraying her true emotions as she tries to present herself in a composed, mature manner. "Yes, children, exactly what Galepaw said! Take heed, now, he has a very wonderful way of seeing the world." It's said in the way that she's not really quite sure herself what Galepaw meant by all that 'senses being fickle truths' stuff, but it's got to be something very profound, and young kits should learn from very profound minds.

She crouches down to be at eye level with the little ones, honey-colored gaze bouncing mischievously between the three kits. "Rocks aren't fish, and they aren't very good to eat. But you know what smells like fish and tastes yummy? Fish! Have any of you had your first fish yet? Wouldn't now be the perfect time? It'll, hmm, help hone your senses to... the truth?" She glances to Galepaw for validation, then beams back at the trio of kits.

Is it a good idea to offer a fish to young kits who may not have had solid food yet, and can't even tell if a rock is a fish? Maybe, maybe not. The thought does briefly cross Juniperpaw's mind. But she is a kitsitting expert who will be a wonderful mother herself someday (source: herself), so surely this is fine. Worst case scenario, she can help them chew it up, or eat around the bones. The little ones will surely love her for offering such a unique first time experience.

 

[Galerunner Galerunner]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

Sometimes the apprentice forgot himself, forgot that there was a particular sort of kitten boom in the last few moons. He couldn't help but focus on Wavesong's anyhow, as such a... violent introduction to the world would not be forgotten by any for a presumably long, long time. Perhaps that was a good thing, the little things milling about his foot had no idea of the violence that had been laid out by a cat who once walked these same paths... but only so much. They were doomed, he supposed, doomed to repeat a long list of mistakes—and perhaps he should let them. Perhaps he should let them fall from their nests, nothing more than birds with broken wings. It did the same, after all.

His attention was drawn to a little golden kitten, bushy-tailed and bright-eyed as ever. It tilted its head in curiosity, large blue eyes meeting small green ones. They were curious to be sure, and for a moment Gale considered. "Mmm... In just a moment." Gale muttered, eyes sliding to the brown and black kit who currently held the stones. "Patience is a virtue, as they say... Though I fear what you wait for is nothing special, nothing interesting..." All the same, the pale lynxpoint put a small paw on another wayward stone, sliding it in front of Pricklekit and Melodykit. "But that does not mean it should not be explored." A little experiment of his own, a test of Pricklekit's astounding sense of smell, and an indulgence in the yearning of Melodykit.

The tom's attention was once more broken, once more drawn by a familiar split face. Gale nodded in welcome towards Juniperpaw, a sight he had been growing used to as of recent. Her words gave him pause for just a second, and a curious brow shot up in reaction. "As best as I can perceive it, I suppose." He muttered, considering his own perception for just a brief moment. He simply spoke, did not consider, did not debate himself—though perhaos he should. "Fish." He echoed, thinking for a moment as he looked over the trio of kittens. "Yes, I suppose they can try it. Hunger motivates, after all."

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 10 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC