You must be at least this tall to ride.

The evening sky matched the warm tones of Russetkit's pelt as the sun began its steady journey below the horizon. There was still at least 1 hour of sunlight left, plenty of time for the lanky kit to make a small excursion into WindClan's moors and back to the safety of camp. There was nowhere to get lost here, anyway, reasoned the young tom. Just rolling fields and open plains. And, being so small, he probably wouldn't even be spotted. He could just hide in the grass. Russetkit darted beneath the tall grass, his tail the last visible part of him before he disappeared into the foliage. Chuckling cockily at his 'stealth', he continued to creep in any old direction in search of something. Anything. He was so over talking about the same three topics: apprenticeship, leaders and hunting. Yawn. Out here, he could discover something interesting. A rogue. A dead predator. A forbidden relationship. The guys back home would come clamouring for his stories.

Thinking about all the cool gossip he'd have for all the kits in the nursery that weren't as brave and cool as he was, Russetkit failed to realise that he'd strayed far enough away from camp that he couldn't see it through the grass anymore. He didn't notice this until even later, when he realised that the sun was a lot lower now than it had been when he snuck out. And he hadn't even found anything yet. He tried to stand up on his hind legs and search for home, but he was only tall enough for his ears to poke out. Oh, mousedung. Mom would have his hide when she found out he was missing, and it was getting dangerously close to nightfall. Not knowing which direction he came from and therefore stranded, the kit did the only thing he could; sat down and stayed put. Hopefully a search party or something would be sent for him, and he'd have a story to tell after all.

Whitepaw was grooming Thornpaw's fur as the clan was getting ready to sleep for the night. In the corner of his eye he noticed a little tail go through the entrance. Whitepaw instantly recongnized the small kit as russetkit, fern's son. He gently nudged Thornpaw to follow him as he headed after the kit. His sister would kill him if anything happened to the young kit.

Once they left the entrance, whitepaw finally started to explain to thornpaw. "I saw russetkit leave camp so we are going to get him back before anyone realizes he is gone, I used to sneak out and don't want him to get in trouble like I did." Whitepaw mewed explaining why he didnt tell a warrior.

Thornpaw was glad to be training again he had been sick with white cough for a bit but now was feeling a lot better. He was laying outside the apprentice den, purring loudly as whitepaw groomed him, the rumbling noises loud enough vibrate his chest . He enjoyed the other’s company immensely and could think of no other way he rather spend the evening then with whitepaw at his side . However he was nudged out of his contented feelings by Whitepaw.

“Hmm?... “ he got up and followed him out, tail curling over his back, “ kits... “ he sighed good naturedly, “you think they would know better “ he chuckled knowing full well he had done the same thing as a kit multiple times in fact. “We’ll find him before anyone notices “ he ran his tail over Whitepaw’s side . “Together we can find anything~”

Russetkit yawned. Was there really nobody coming for him? He didn't get it. He was hilarious! People loved talking to him! And yet they weren't bothered to look for him? At this rate, he'd have to head in a random direction and hope it's home. Just then, he heard two faint voices to his left. Finally. "Hey, hare-brains! I'm over here. What took you so long?"

whitepaw purred in agreement before hearing the kits voice. Whitepaw looked around not realizing how far the kit went. The fluffy tom saw little ears pointing out of the grass and sighed. "Why don't you be a little louder, I don't think the predators heard you!" He mewed as he walked towards the kit with a smile on his face.

Whitepaw checked to make sure russetkit was alright before letting Thornpaw check him also, just in case.

Thornpaw purred, fluffing his coat out against the chill of leaf fall, this was not a good time for a kit to be lost. He twitched his ears when he heard a voice and chuckled at Whitepaw’s joke. “He’s rifht you know, you never know what could be hiding out in the y’all grass~” he nosed the kit over, giving them a friendly lick on their ear . “Don’t worry though whitepaw is strong enough to handle any predator” he said with a affection in his eyes .

Russetkit scrunched up his nose, trying to look annoyed, but the permasmile on his face really wasn't doing him any favours. "I can take care of myself, thanks. Besides, they might hear me, but can they see me? You two only spotted me because I yelled." Not exactly a watertight argument, but it was all Russetkit could come up with in rebuttal to these two odd cats.

The older toms really were acting strange. They reminded Russetkit of the queens in the nursery and their mates. All this blushing and side glances. Was this allowed? Why did nobody tell Russetkit? She-cats were boring and dumb, and clearly, these two knew it as well. Or maybe they were just good friends and Russetkit was misreading the situation. Either way. "So... Whitepaw and...?" He looked expectantly at the reddish brown tom, whose name he didn't know.

Whitepaw couldn't help but laugh at the little kit. "My sister must have trouble raising you." he mewed teasing the little kit. When russetkit asked for thornpaw's name whitepaw couldn't help himself. "why, this beauty of a tom is Thornpaw!" he mewed puffing up his very fluffy chest.

Thornpaw felt his fur prickle with heat and couldn’t help but purr, “ thank you Whitepaw, “ he twined his tail with his for a moment getting lost in his eyes before a chilly breeze blew through his fur . “Lets get back to camp it’s getting late “ he mewled, rubbing his head against Whitepaw’s side .

Russetkit raised an eyebrow. Seriously, what was with these two? He got up and got ready to walk. "Well, I guess it's nice to meet you." He had so many questions for the pair, but it really was getting dark and Russetkit's survival instinct just about won over his desire to get into other peoples' business. Another day. Tomorrow, maybe.

Whitepaw smiled at thornpaw before looking back at the kit. "Yes, lets head back before your mother finds out." he mewed with a shiver. His sister could be mean when she wanted to.

Whitepaw nudged russetkit towards the direction of camp while also making sure no predators were near by. The whole way back whitepaw walked side by side next to thornpaw. So close,that their pelts touched every so often.

Thornpaw kept an eye on the kit, making sure he wasn’t going to step on a thorn or rock. He smiled as he felt Whitepaw’s fur brush against his, pressing into his side as they walked . “We aren’t they far from camp just around this rabbit trail” he told them tail held high as the wind swept through his ruddy red fur.