Moss-ball![open]

[shiningheart]

"Get it, get it, get it!" Rainkit chased after the ball of moss that he and Willowkit were playing with, his sister right on his heels. He dived for the small green ball and scooped it up on one paw, throwing it up in the air behind him. He heard Willowkit squeal and turned just in time to see the mossball come down and bounce off her head. Rainkit laughed at her and squeaked, "Ha ha, Willowkit got beaten by a ball of moss!" he laughed, pointing a paw at her.

Willowkit gave a squeaky growl and mewled, "Stop laughing, you're the one that threw it!" Rainkit didn't stop laughing. If anything, it just prompted him to laugh louder. Willowkit glared at him before scooping up the mossball and throwing it at him, smacking the black-and-white tomkit in the face. "Ha, now who got beaten? Briarleaf should have named you Mosskit instead of Rainkit!"

Rainkit hissed playfully and crouched down with his hindside waggling in the air. "Say that again, Willowkit. I dare you."

She acknowledged the challenge by copying his form with her tail lashing excitedly. "You heard me, Mosskit!" she taunted. The two leaped at the same time and collided in the air, tumbling around the empty nursery in a playfight.

[skypaw]

Skypaw padded to the nursery, pausing at the entrance uncertainly. She hadn't spent much time with ThunderClan's newest members, but while she had finished all her duties for the day and was sunning herself outside the apprentice's den when Briarleaf approached her. She wanted to get some fresh air and asked her to watch after her two kits. She would never say no to anything that showed her clanmates trusted her so she readily agreed, but now she wasn't so sure. Her ears perked in surprise as she heard the two kits playful argument and next thing she knew, two kits tumbled on top of her paws. She had to leap back to keep from getting knocked over and was embarrassed to find that she was only a bit bigger than the tom. She had always been small for her age and this just proved it. "Great StarClan, how am I going to take care of kits that are only a few moons younger than me and almost as big?" She thought ruefully.

[shiningheart]

Neither kit realized they had a visitor until they nearly rolled into her. Rainkit noticed her first and, with an impressive display of strength for one so young, shoved his back legs against Willowkit's belly and threw her half-way across the nursery to land softly in the moss. He was already on his paws by the time his sister hit the floor with an 'oomph'. "Hiya Skypaw!" he meowed, scampering over to the older cat. "What'cha up to? You here to change the moss? Can I help?"

Willowkit trotted up to Rainkit's side with a pout. "Meanie! You didn't have to hit me so hard, you know!" Rainkit stuck his tongue out at Willowkit. "Why do you wanna clean out moss anyway? We'll get enough of that when we're apprentices!"

He shrugged his tiny shoulders in answer. "Well, look at it this way. I'll have tons of practice when we finally are apprentices!" Rainkit looked back to Skypaw with widened dark blue eyes. And sides, Skypaw might be glad for the help! Ain't ya, Skypaw?"

[skypaw]

Skypaw couldn't help the astonishment that shone on her face as she watched the two kits. Rainkit would be a great warrior, just like his father. He was already talented and stood out, and his sister's spunk would make her stand out just as much. She purred softly at their bickering, amusement sparkling in her blue eyes.

"Thank you, Rainkit, but that's not why I'm here now. Though, I'll gladly take you up on the offer next time." She mewed dipping her head graciously, still purring softly. She thought over her next words carefully, remembering how annoyed her denmates would get when they were kits and their mothers would send cats to watch after them. "Briarleaf wanted me to play with you two while she went out hunting."

[shiningheart]

Rainkit and Willowkit squeaked in excitement and double-teamed the apprentice, clambering into her back. "Awesome! That means I'm not stuck with my dopey little sister!" Willowkit mewled in protest, which Rainkit laughed at, before he boxed lightly at Skypaw's ears. "And it's awesome that you're here, because now we have someone to throw the moss-ball for us!"

Willowkit turned when he mentioned their toy and ran to grab it, hooking it on to one of her claws and throwing it towards where Rainkit was on Skypaw. "We were playing fine, you mouse-brain! You know that Briarleaf asked her to kitsit, not play!"

Rainkit dived from his position on the apprentice and grabbed the moss-ball in his mouth from the air, tumbling to the earth when he landed lopsidedly. Dropping the moss-ball momentarily, he retorted, "Doesn't mean she can't play too! If I have to stop having fun when I get older, then I'm gonna stay a kit forever!"

[skypaw]

The usually tense muscles under Skypaw's ginger pelt slowly relaxed as allowed the kits to playfully attack her, batting at them lightly back. She flicked her ears back for a moment listening to the soft songs of birds and light breeze that lightly whispered of leaffall, something she wasn't exactly looking forward to experiencing. It was nice to to have jobs like this every once and while, away from the pressures of trying to be faster, stronger, better and away from biased, cruel words like claws tearing through soft ears.

Of course, Willowkit's words brought her back to reality, and the sensitive she-cat inwardly cringed. Great warrior indeed. Her eyes warmed though at Rainkit's words. She wished she was more like that at times. She had rarely played moss ball herself as a kit and even now was fairly solemn. "I think that's a great idea Rainkit," She mewed warmly as she hooked the moss ball with her claws, throwing it into the air.

[shiningheart]

Rainkit was about to answer Skypaw when she threw the moss-ball. Soon his kit-attenttion span made him forget he was ever going to say anything, and both he and Willowkit scampered after their play-thing squealing all the while. Willowkit was closer to where it landed, so she got to it first. She didn't even stop when she got to it, simply grabbed it in her mouth and kept running. Rainkit growled playfully and chased her in circles, trying to get the moss-ball before she could get back to the older she-cat.

Alas, Willowkit skidded to a half in front of Skypaw and grinned proudly. "Ha, I got it this time Rainki- YIPE!" She cut off in a yelp and ran when Rainkit charged at her, snarling playfully. "Wah, the badger's gonna get me!" she cried with a grin, running away. "Help, Skypaw, help! Beat him up with your awesome apprentice skills or something!"

[skypaw]

Skypaw was more than a little fascinated over the kit's actions. What in the name of StarClan could she of missed when she was a kit? They were having so much fun, and she was certain she had never been able to do much of that. She had to hold back a mreow of laughter as she watched the kits fight, blue eyes shining and at Willowkit's meow, jumped up, tail lashing playfully. She wasn't so sure about "her awesome apprentice skills", but she the three battle training sessions she had attended were three more than the kits had. Purring she playfully tackled Rainkit, just bigger than him to have an advantage but small enough not to hurt him and attempted to pin him. "Badgers don't stand a chance with me around!" She joked happily.

[shiningheart]

Rainkit squeaked when Skypaw carried him off of his paws in a tackle. He squirmed when she tried to pin him. With eyes narrowed in playful determination, he battered her best and belly with his front paws and back paws. "Gr!" he pretended to roar, reaching up and batting at her ears. "You shall never defeat me, I am the mighty badger, Dark! I eat bigger things than you for breakfast!"

Willowkit laughed at her brother and shook her head. "What kind of name is that for a big, terrible badger?! You really are a mouse-brain!"

The tiny tom paused in 'battling' Skypaw and glared over the apprentice's shoulder at his sister. Taking very careful aim with his hind paw, he struck out and smacked Willowkit in the nose. "Don't diss my mad naming skills, sis!" he meowed with a pout.

[skypaw]

Skypaw couldn't stop the mreow of laughter that bubbled from the purr in her chest, as she pretended to be thrown off of Rainkit. She landed beside Willowkit, who was still recovering from her "injury" and crouched next to her. "Oh no Willowkit! Looks like we'll have to take on the big, bad badger together!" She shot the younger she-cat a mischievous look, which was more than a little rare for her. Maybe it was the fact that they were so young. She wasn't sure. All she was sure of, was that she was already starting to get comfortable with the two kits.

[shiningheart]

Rainkit didn't hesitate in springing up to his paws once Skypaw rolled off of him. He stared at her with wide eyes when she told Willowkit that they'd gang up on him, and the crazed smile that Willowkit had plastered onto her muzzle wasn't all that comforting. "Uh... Heh heh... I'm just..." he muttered, looking back and forth between the she-cats. Willowkit was lowered into a crouch and was steadily stalking her way toward him, rump waving in the air. "I'm... I'm just gonna... go that way..." he took off in a random direction, screaming comically the entire way.

Willowkit took after him, laughing madly and her dark green eyes glimmering. "Cut off his route! Don't let him escape!" she cried dramatically to Skypaw, not entirely sure what the apprentice. "We shall slay the evil battle and save the Clan!"

Rainkit let out a loud 'EEP' at the word 'slay' and willed his tiny kit legs to run faster. He knew it was all a game and that neither of them would actually hurt him, but it didn't stop the adrenaline from the chase.

[skypaw]

Skypaw quickly shot off, fast as lightning. She was sure she was one of the fastest cats in the clan and in a moment, had skidded to a halt in front of Rainkit, tail lashing playfully and ears drawn back. She let out a mock growl, eyes glittering with mischief and jumped back and forth to block his escape route. "Now we got ya!" she growled, having to fight hard to keep from laughing. She wished everyday was like this, but she knew it wouldn't be long before the kit's mother returned and she was forced to go back to her apprentice duties. But perhaps, if she got the chance, she would come back and play with the kits whenever she got a chance. It certainly relaxed her.

[Lilybreeze]

*Silverleaf & Moonkit*

Two Silver moon tabbies were laying in a nest in the nursery asleep until the queens ears twhiched a few time at hearing voices out side the nursery entrance. Glowing green eyes slowly opened and looked at the enterance with a yawn as she slowly stood up from her nest. Bright blue eyes were looking up at Silverleaf by this time for Moonkit has heard the same voices that woke her mother up. The queen nudged her kit to her feet and walked out said. Silverleaf could see that Skypaw her adopted kit was playing with Willowkit and Rainkit. Silverleaf chuckled as she watched Skypaw chace after Rainkit with Willowkit.

Moonkit brightened up at the site of her big sister and looked at Silverleaf. The older she cat nodded her head at her young kit as a yes that she may play. Moonkit didn't know what to do though and just sat there for until the others noticed them. Silverleaf laid down with Moonkit beside her and at the moment a little confused. She had given Moonkit the okay to play and yet here she still was. Silverleaf guess that she was just waiting for the others to noticed them.

[shiningheart]

Willowkit was catching up. Rainkit knew it as much as he knew that the sky was blue. Any second now, he would feel her breath on his tail and her paws at his back and he'd be caught. Determination and pride made him absolutely refuse to let that happen. He'd turn and fight if he had to, but he would not let his baby sister win! With a growl, he skidded to a stop and spun around, a paw already raised to bat Willowkit away.

Dark green eyes widened in surprise, and Willowkit didn't stop in time to avoid crashing into him. The paw he held in the air rammed right into her head, and stars exploded behind her eyes. She backed away from her brother, shaking her head to try and make them go away, but everything started spinning. "Ow... That hurt, Rainkit..." she muttered quietly before collapsing onto her side, unconscious.

Rainkit stared at his sister, still tense in case this was a trick. "Stop faking, Willowkit. I didn't hurt you." When she made no reaction, Rainkit stalked close to her and poked her with a paw. "Willowkit?" Again, not a single reaction. Rainkit wailed loudly, still too young to know to check on breathing and heart-beat. He looked at Skypaw, for the moment not really seeing Silverleaf or Moonkit. "I killed Willowkit!" he cried in despair.

[skypaw]

Shock and horror coursed through the young she-cat, her fur bristling slightly at the young kit's proclamation. It only took about a second for her to realize that the small kit certainly couldn't of killed her, and she quickly padded over and pressed her head to Willowkit's tiny body. Her heart beat comfortingly in her small chest and her breathing was fairly even, as if she was sleeping, much to her relief.

"You didn't kill her Rainkit," she mewed soothingly, resting her tail against the younger kit's flank. "But you did knock her out." She was dead. Briarleaf was going to rip her fur out and use it to pad Willowkit's nest, she just knew it. And if she didn't, well, she'd do it herself. She was calm on the outside, but on the inside she was freaking out. Her clanmate had trusted her with a simple task, and of course, she had screwed it up. What if Rainkit really did hurt Willowkit?