Open Camp MUSTN'T GET OUR FEET WET ★ LOST?

[SONGKIT SONGKIT]

Despite his excitement fizzling out and being ultimately replaced with nerves upon his first outing, Mama takes him and his siblings out again. All the other kits in the nursery go outside, he's been told, and he's even seen, so it only makes sense that he and his siblings are pulled away from the nursery's depths every so often, too.

Songkit blinks at his widened surroundings, watching from his mother's side as his siblings play with one another. It's not... as bad as his nerves had decided it was in his first moments outside, he soon decides. It's nice, so long as Mama is nearby, so long as his siblings are in sight. But soon, a nameless face greets his mother, and soon, his mother is telling him to stay with his siblings while she steps away. Songkit blinks up at his mother in acknowledgement, his worries bubbling back up as she strays.

He tries to push them away. Tries to focus on his siblings playing. Tries to be brave — should he not be exploring too? Mama would be proud of him, would she not be? He takes a hesitant step forward at the idea, and then another, and another! Soon, Songkit is surrounded by different things, rounding the corner of the nursery's structure. This is... This is fun! He can see why his siblings were so excited, as he sniffs at a fallen leaf.

And then he hears his name in the air. His head lifts, his eyes wide. Mama. Mama's looking for him! He has to get back to her and —

Songkit looks around, and suddenly, his paws are frozen in place. Where is he? Where is his Mama from here? Flutterkit? Pearkit and Mothkit?

" Mama...? " he squeaks, velvet ears pressed against his head. His vision blurs. " Mama...? " What if he's gone forever? What if he never sees his family again? The boy begins to weep, a sniffle after every other breath as he hunkers down behind the nursery's walls.

 

[flowercloud]

Flowercloud barely heard the low cries of Mama. But it is instilled still in her brain that is passes to her from the drifting of wind. Her body lifts- stopping dead in her conversation with a flick of her tail as her ears tilt backwards and her green eyes show nervousness. Why would a kit be crying...? She passes the nursery, and her gaze glances the pawful Rain had been attempting to control, but a quick look, and she realizes that one is missing.

Poor guy... He's just scared. She realizes his hears the sniffling, and she follows the quiet sounds as the deputy pulls around the nursery, her gaze softening. "Hey darlin' it's okay," she purred lowly, looking to the kitten with a gentle gaze and honey sweet voice. "Your mamas just over here, do you wanna follow me?" She asks. "If you want, you can climb on my back. I'll help you.." she offers quietly. "and take a soft breath for me, okay? it'll help your emotions. I would be scared too if I felt lost." She guided the kit, laying on the pine needles and dirt on the ground in case he wanted to be close, or help back to his mom. To be on his level- to help.

flowercloud - 40 moons - skyclan deputy - mentoring fidgetpaw

 

[SONGKIT SONGKIT]

It's not his mother who finds him.

Rather, someone... new. Void of the soft grays he seeks to cling to, Songkit stares up at the golden-furred molly before him with wide eyes brimmed with tears. Not Mama tells him it's okay, speaks to him as gently as his mother might... but this isn't Mama. And the boy cries.

" Mama... " Songkit weeps out once more, as Not Mama promises that she's just over there. The kit can't see her, though, can't know for certain if she really is. He sniffles as the new face continues speaking. Follow, climb, breathe. And oh, she asks so much of him as she settles before him, and Songkit squeaks out another cry. How can he know she tells the truth? How can he know if he can't see stormy plumes past the sunlit tufts in front of him?

" Mama... Mama...! " he wails in an attempt to capture his mother's attention from wherever she may be, though an ounce of bravery shines through as wobbling limbs move toward Not Mama's form.

 

[Rain Rain]

R A I N
​ what a shame we all became ​

Rain was chatting with Maisyleg, a warrior she scarcely knew, unaware of her son's despair only a few tail lengths away. She was so intent on finding her place within the clan, getting to know everyone and worming her way into their good graces that, for a split second, she forgot about her precious kits. Flutterkit was chattering, as always, and she'd just assumed that they were all right behind her.

When the sound of Songkit's cries finally reached her ears, her heart dropped to her paws.

"Song?"

She called, suddenly frantic. She managed a half-nod to Maisyleg, an apology for her abrupt departure, and bounded towards the forlorn sound of her son.

It didn't take long to stumble upon the scene of Songkit crying in front of a crouching Flowercloud. Rain's belly tightens in anxiety. Why was he crying? Had something happened? She didn't know Flowercloud well, but surely she hadn't hurt him? Without pause, Rain threw herself down beside her precious boy and bundled him against her. She nosed him over, looking for any injury, but of course, he was fine - physically. She began to lap at his weeping face, purring fiercely.

"I'm sorry, my baby, I'm right here,"

she murmured, trying to ignore the residual anxiety sparking in her chest. Between laps and soothing words, she shot Flowercloud an apologetic glance.

"Um, thank you. Sorry, he's... I'm- Sorry."

She could only hope the deputy, a mother herself, would understand.

such fragile

✦

broken things

• OOC:
• KEY:
  

  "speech"

  
  

  thoughts

  
  attempted action
  

  "other character's speech"

  
  
• 
  

  sleek grey she-cat with white paws, tailtip, face, and chin
  she/her
  loner
  16 moons
  
  

 

[Teaselfeather Teaselfeather]

TEASELFEATHER

Over hill, over dale, through the valley and vale do not weep, do not wail, I am coming home to you

Teaselfeather watched Songkit with wide, mismatched hues, their head tipping slightly as the little tom wandered beyond the nursery. At first there was delight in the sight, a quiet warmth unfurling in their chest. Exploration was the first language of kittens, after all. But then Songkit's face changed. The wonder crumpled, replaced by fear so stark it tugged at Teaselfeather's heart. His small voice rose, calling for Rain, panic spilling over like water from an overturned leaf. Teaselfeather's ears pricked, paws already carrying them forward just as Flowercloud swept in with all the fierce gentleness of a mother's heart. Soothing words wrapped around the kit, yet the crying continued, grief-sized for someone so small.

Teaselfeather stopped beside them, a soft smile easing onto their muzzle. They remembered that feeling all too well... The world suddenly too wide, too strange, the safety of warm fur and familiar scent just out of reach. Their gaze drifted to Rain, gentle as falling dusk as the other had swept in with a frenzy, checking over her son for injuries. " It is alright... " they murmured, voice low and warm. " He's exploring. Every kit does, sooner or later. "

Their mismatched eyes returned to Songkit, soft. " And when the world feels too big... " they added. " Calling for the one you love will always bring them back to you. "

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