ｔｈｅ ｌｅａｆ－ｂａｒｅ ｂａｌｌ (𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚜 𝚛𝚙) {CLOSED! STALKERS WELCOME}

~ Smokewing flicked her tail and looked up at the sky as snowflakes fell to the ground around her. The she-cat smiled and let out a quite laugh as a few flakes landed on her muzzle. Her smile dropped as her gaze landed on the entrance of Fawnstar's den. She looked down at her paws and closed her eyes with a sigh. The Leaf-Bare Ball is tonight… Maybe, just maybe, I could finally tell Fawnstar how I feel… How I've felt for a long time. Smokewing lifted her head, and padded back into the warriors den, where she curled up in her nest.

Hickorykit sat out in the snow with his fur puffed up to keep him warm, although he was still shivering. Despite not showing it, he was fascinated by the small, white flakes. He'd never seen them before, after all, and they were so different from everything else he'd experienced before. He noticed Smokewing and trailed after her into the warriors' den so he wouldn't be quite so freezing, but still able to watch the snow falling from the sky.

"Hickorykit, what are you doing?" Smokewing mewed, "Shouldn't you be in the nursery? It's too early for you to be up." The gray and white she-cat stood. Why is a kit up this early anyway? He shouldn't be up yet.

"I wanted to see the sky." Hickorykit replied softly, shaking out his fur and shivering a bit more. "There's cold things falling out of it. It's pretty." He curled his tail around himself with a shaky sigh. "What is it?"

"It's snow." Smokewing said, sitting next to Hickorykit. "It comes down every leaf-bare." She let out a purr and flicked her tail at the kit. "It's beautiful, huh?"

Hickorykit nodded quietly and huddled up against Smokewing's side for warmth. "Is it going to stop? Or does it just keep going for all of leaf-bare?" He asked softly.

Smokewing curled her tail around Hickorykit. "It only snows every once in a while, but sometimes it lasts for a long time." She mewed, "Sometimes there are snow storms."

Hickorykit nodded again. "Are they like the thunderstorms?" He asked, turning his gaze up to Smokewing. He didn't show a ton of emotion, but there was a small twinkle of curiosity in his green eyes.

"Sort of. There's no thunder or rain." The she-cat explained, "Just snow and wind. Cats can get lost if they go wandering around in snowstorms, and sometimes they freeze to death." She looked at Hickorykit with a very serious expression. "Don't ever go wandering off during a snowstorm. Understand?"

"Okay, Smokewing." Hickorykit yawned a bit and turned his attention back to the snow, seemingly unconcerned. "The ball is today, right?" He asked. "Everyone's been talking about it."

Smokewing nodded with a smile. "Yes, it is." She replied. "Now, back to the nursery with you."

"I don't wanna go… I wanna stay here with you. It's not like my dad cares where I sleep, anyway…" Hickorykit huddled closer to Smokewing, settling himself between the molly's front paws.

Smokewing stared down at the little tom for a moment before laying down and huddling close. "Alright then. You can stay."

Hickorykit purred softly and cuddled close to Smokewing, his ears flattened back against his head and his tail curled around himself. "G'night…"

(This is so cute! <3)

(He's grompy but he really just wants snuggles 👉👈)

(Maybe I should have Hailflight wake up for cuddles too.)

(Feel free to aha)

(Oki!)

~ Hailflight lifted her head as voices reached her ears. She glanced around the warriors den for a moment before her eyes landed on Smokewing and Hickorykit. The she-cat let out a purr, then stood and made her way to them. "Couldn't sleep?" She mewed, laying next to them and licking Hickorykit's head. "How's my little kitten doing?"

"Mm…" Hickorykit yawned and looked up at Hailflight sleepily. "It's snow outside…" He mumbled. "Wanted to see it. And the other kits are getting annoying, so I stayed here instead…" He nuzzled into Smokewing's fur, still shivering lightly.

(Me too!)

~ Hailflight grabbed Hickorykit and placed him between her paws. "Come here Kitten." She purred, pulling him close and laying her head down. "This is your first snow, huh?"

~ Smokewing watched as Hailflight snuggled close to the kit. She really loves Hickorykit, She thought, Even though she's not his mother, and she's never even had kits. She practically raised him. She looked down at her paws for a moment, I'd like to have kits of my own someday. Smokewing shifted her gaze to the entrance of Fawnstar's den, and rested her head on her paws with a sigh.

Hickorykit nodded and curled up into a ball between Hailflight's paws. He lay his head down, his eyes still trained outside on the snow. There was already a thin layer of white on the ground. "It's really cold outside… it's pretty, though." He murmured softly. He was still trying to hide any strong emotions, but he couldn't hide the glint of awe and excitement in his eyes. Although he was never much one for playing, he couldn't help but want to go out and play in the snow. When the other kits weren't watching, of course.

~ "Yeah, it's really beautiful." Hailflight agreed, "Are you excited about the ball?" She asked, looking down at the kit. "It's your first one, right? You're gonna have a lot of fun Kitten, trust me." She mewed, giving Hickorykit another lick.

"Yeah, it's my first one…" Hickorykit stuck his tongue out a bit at the grooming, but tolerated it anyway. "And it doesn't really sound like my kind of thing, but I'll go anyway…" He yawned and rested his head against Hailflight's chest. "I'll probably just stick close to you guys. I don't think my dad is going…"

(I've gotta go. I'll be back.)
~ Hailflight rolled her eyes. "Of course he's not. He'll go to Gatherings, but I've never seen him go to the ball." She flicked her tail angrily. "Larchclaw is so… Ugh! He gets on my nerves." The she-cat took a breath and looked at Hickorykit. "But hey, I'm here. You're gonna be just fine without Larchclaw."

Hickorykit turned his ears back and looked down at the ground, kneading the moss beneath him a bit. "I don't think he likes me… he always finds some excuse to go off and do something outside of camp when I try to spend time with him…" He said softly.