Open to Join Mudslide Shuffle (10TL20)

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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As one did, Dazzlekit found himself itching to do something. He didn't know what or why he wanted to do something but he did, hence the scene of the red tabby kitten pottering around camp with wide eyes, picking out a target for his next plot.

Closest to him was Emberdust, who had dropped frogs onto the pile. Dazzlekit's nose wrinkled. He hated frogs. Why would Emberdust bring them back! He scurried over to where she had flopped down, standing directly in front of her face while standing as tall as he could.

'Emberdust! You brought back frogs! I am very disappointed' he scolded her with a giggle, trying to keep a stern look, though it probably looked more akin to a scrunched up half laugh. He realised that his face was close to level with hers while she laid on her side, and could see the dirt and mud crusting her pelt before frowning. 'Yucky. Why are you so dirty? Do you not clean yourself?' he asked blankly. There was no 'judgement' in his voice, just questions as he had always been taught to be clean. 

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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 Emberdust’s ear flicked as Dazzlekit’s small voice interrupted her well-earned rest. She cracked open one eye, spying the red tabby kit trying his best to look somber. She stifled a purr of amusement as he scolded her, his tiny attempt at authority more endearing than intimidating.

With a playful huff, Emberdust rolled onto her back, legs flopping into the air, and swatted gently at Dazzlekit’s paws, her eyes bright with mischief. “Disappointed, are you? Well, that’s a first! Frogs are Palestar's favorite!” she teased, letting out a light-hearted chuckle. “Frogs are the finest delicacy around, especially when you’ve been splashing through the mud all day to catch ‘em.”

At his next question, she glanced down at her muddy pelt, making a show of examining the dirt crusted along her fur. “Dirty? Oh, you mean all this?” She rolled back onto her belly, looking at the kit with a grin. “This isn’t dirt; it’s my warrior paint! Helps me blend in with the marsh, and keeps me cool while I’m out there hunting. Besides,” she leaned in closer, as if sharing a secret, “- mud’s just too fun to ignore. You should try it sometime!” Emberdust lifted herself onto her haunches, smile a bit lopsided, letting out a contented sigh. “But I suppose I’ll have to clean up eventually,” she mused, eyes twinkling as she considered her next playful move. “Oh, puddle-jumping! Tell you what, Dazzlekit, why don't you come with me and we'll find the best puddle to clean up in. There was one right outside of camp. ”

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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As Emberdust swatted at his paws, Dazzlekit only managed to dodge just in time with a laugh, though he still felt the warriors paws lightly brush his own. Though after he did his best to copy the warriors funny position, flopping onto his own back, legs splaying into the air. Frogs were Palestar's favourite...? But... that meant Dazzlekit must like them too. He wanted to be just like Palestar, and if she liked frogs then so would he, no matter now much he preferred other foods. 'Uh sorry. I got mixed up. Frogs are actually my favourite too!' he replied quickly, his tail swaying slightly.

Warrior paint? Sounded cool. He thought Emberdust was just dirty, but it seemed as though she was dirty on purpose. 'I want warrior paint!' he said loudly, copying Emberdust by rolling back onto his belly as well. But then she mentioned something about puddle-jumping, and the kits ears visibly perked, eyes widening. Sounded fun!

'Yes lets go!' The kit jumped up onto his paws, much steadier than he was the last moon. He circled Emberdust a few times, almost bouncing on his paws. He had a hard time controlling his energy, and had to do his best not to pounce onto Emberdust out of excitement. 

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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 Emberdust let out a delighted purr as Dazzlekit flopped onto his back, mimicking her pose with the same enthusiasm that bubbled within him. She could see the gears turning in his little head, his declaration about liking frogs bringing a playful sparkle to her eyes. It was endearing how much he wanted to be just like Palestar even if she was a bit more stern than she would have liked.

When he declared his newfound love for frogs, Emberdust chuckled softly. "That's the spirit, Dazzlekit! Let's get you some warrior paint." She praised, her voice warm with encouragement. As soon as Dazzlekit jumped to his paws, excitement practically radiating from him, Emberdust couldn't help but grin. His eagerness was infectious. With a playful flick of her tail, Emberdust rose to her paws, her own excitement building as she imagined another trip outside of camp.

"Alright then, let’s not waste any time!" She meowed, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of the idea. She nudged him gently with her nose as he circled her, steering him toward the camp’s entrance. "But remember, you’ve got to stay by me and keep up! The best puddles are just outside camp, and I know exactly where to find them."

Emberdust bounded forward, leading the way with a spring in her step. She glanced back over her shoulder, making sure Dazzlekit was right behind her, her heart swelling with affection for the spirited kit. It was only a pawful of fox lengths until they were outside the briar wall and she trotted into their territory.

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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Emberdust guided Dazzlekit towards the exit, as he was practically on auto-drive now, walking with too much energy to realise where he was going. 'Okay, I'll stay right beside you, I promise!' Dazzlekit would try to. He really would, but there was a high chance he would get distracted and end up following something, completely loosing Emberdust. The warrior would likely have her work cut out for her. 

He had only been outside camp once before, when he and his brothers had crafted a master plan and ended up catching a snake. This time he felt much less nervous, for he had a warrior by his side, plus he wasn't sneaking out, he had been invited out. He trotted beside Emberdust, trying to keep up with her larger pawsteps meaning he was almost leaping at every step.

Dazzlekit took in the sights of ShadowClan's territory, its shadowy trees blending within the undergrowth where a few flowers sprinkled the ground. It was a new part of territory, as Dazzlekit had gone the other way last time he went out. His excitement only increased, and he tried not to run ahead of the warrior to see as much as he could. 

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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 Emberdust kept a close eye on Dazzlekit as they padded along, her ears perked and alert for any sign of the kit veering off course. She couldn’t help but chuckle as she watched him practically bounce with each step, his excitement as contagious as ever.

As they ventured further into ShadowClan’s territory, Emberdust slowed her pace slightly, matching Dazzlekit’s eager stride. The shadowy trees loomed overhead, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. She could see the kit’s eyes widening as he took in the sights, and she smiled to herself, remembering her own first ventures beyond the camp...

“This is a good spot to start.” She mewed, her voice a touch more serious as they reached a particularly boggy area, where the ground was soft and wet underfoot. “Now, remember what I said about the warrior paint? This is where you get it!” She glanced down at him, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Just jump in and let the mud do the rest. You’ll be camouflaged in no time!”

"Here we go!" With that, Emberdust leaped forward into a thick patch of mud, sending a satisfying splash up around her as she landed. As the cool mud squished between her paws, she threw a lopsided grin towards the kit, ever inviting.

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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Dazzlekit noticed the way the ground slowly became softer underpaw. Slightly unpleasant, but new and enriching. His paws were now cold and soggy but he did his best to hide any disgust, as after all, he was actually having fun. 

He listened intently as Emberdust stopped in front of a cloudy puddle, no longer filled with water but thick mud instead. Emberdust didn't even hesitate to jump in, sending droplets of mud splattering onto the kits face. He jumped back, though was still covered. Clovershine might get mad, but he stiffled a purr that indcated he was nothing but happy at that exact moment. 

Wriggling his back legs, Dazzlekit jumped, bracing himself for the impact with the murky pool. It was cold, and it felt weird, but he saw the mess his own splash had made and giggled, letting his tail drop and get covered by the mud underneath. He had warrior paint now! 

Clumsily padding through the puddle, closer towards Emberdust, Dazzlekit stood tall, puffing out his half mud-covered chest. 'Emberdust! Look! I have warrior paint too now. No one will ever be able to see me coming, and if they do, my warrior-ness will scare them away!' He reached out a paw, lifting it up as high as he could before slapping it right back into the puddle, sending mud flying in all directions. He grinned, turning his face away from Emberdust cheekily. 

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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 Emberdust let out a hearty laugh, thoroughly amused by Dazzlekit's enthusiasm. She watched as the little tom proudly puffed out his chest, half-covered in mud, and couldn’t help but admire his spirit. “Well, look at you!” She exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with approval. “That’s some of the best warrior paint I’ve ever seen, Dazzlekit!"

She splashed through the puddle to stand beside him, her own pelt now thoroughly drenched in the thick mud. “And you’re right - no one will ever see you coming! Or they’ll be too busy staring at how fearsome you look with all that warrior paint. You’ll have them running for the hills in no time!”

With a playful swipe of her paw, Emberdust sent a small splash of mud toward Dazzlekit. She flashed a mischievous grin before suddenly darting to the side, crouching low in the mud as if she were stalking an imaginary enemy. “Think you can keep up with me, Dazzlekit? Let’s see how sneaky we can really be! Look - I blend right in!”

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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Pride shone through his as as Emberdust complimented his 'warrior paint'. Emberdust's laugh was just as contagious as his own energy was, and he couldn't help but match it with his higher pitched giggle.

The warrior had sent a splash towards him, just as he had done earlier. Droplets hung from the whiskers that framed his face while he bared his teeth in the fiercest way he could, attempting to show just how scary he could be!

Emberdust's quick dart to the side surprised him, though he quickly tried to match her crouch, tummy touching the puddle cause his face to twist in disgust for a heartbeat. 'I blend in too, and I'm smaller! Look, if I squish myself into the puddle a just look like some dirt' he said, while giving her an example, crouching as low as he could while squeezing his eyes shut so that their glowing amber colour wouldn't stand out. He would to his absolute best to keep up with Emberdust!

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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 Emberdust's eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Dazzlekit's fierce attempt at a snarl, the kit's determination making her heart swell with affection. She could see how much he wanted to prove himself, and she was more than happy to play along, encouraging his playful spirit.

She made a show of squinting her eyes and peering around as if searching for him. "Where did Dazzlekit go? All I see is a pile of mud!" She teased, her tail flicking behind her playfully. "Maybe if I splash this puddle again, he'll reappear!"

With a mischievous glint in her eye, Emberdust scooped up a pawful of mud and playfully flicked it in Dazzlekit's direction, aiming to keep the game going. "But if you get any muddier, even I might lose track of you!"

She settled back into a crouch, her ears twitching as she listened for any sounds from the surrounding marsh. "Alright, mud-warrior." she said in a hushed tone, leaning in closer to Dazzlekit. "Shall we sneak through the territory? Let's find ourselves a clean puddle this time." She'd have to return him to the nursery at one point or another, and that meant he'd have to wash off! Boo!

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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'No, no, don't splash again!' he protested playful, opening his eyes and leaping out from his 'hidden' position. He managed to dodge most of her next splash, though he landed heavily, splashing himself, landing on his flank with an audible 'thud'. Luckily he didn't hurt himself, and his eyes instead shone with joy. When surrounded by this much mud, there was little you could do to avoid it!

Dazzlekit's ears perked as Emberdust leant forward to speak to him, his eyes practically glowing. Emberdust was so cool! Even though Dazzlekit had been aspriring to have Palestar as his mentor for a while now, maybe... Emberdust could be his mentor once he was old enough! 'Yes! Lets go! Do you think I could try lead the way? You can be my special guide on this super secret mission, while I protect you from the baddies!' 

He leapt out of the puddle, ready to try lead the way, though if Emberdust preferred from him to stay safely beside her, he wouldn't mind. He was spending time outside of camp with a warrior and that was all that mattered to him!

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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 Emberdust chuckled as Dazzlekit eagerly leapt out of his hiding spot. The thud of his landing made her wince slightly, but seeing his eyes glowing with excitement reassured her that he was fine. She felt a surge of pride as she watched him, reminded of her own eagerness when she was his age.

Emberdust shook out the excess mud on her pelt, a sticky cocoon that shouldn't be left to dry lest it hinder her movement. "Leading the way is a big responsibility. Why don't we lead together? Just remember, a good leader watches out for their team."

She straightened up, shaking each paw in turn before stretching down in a delighted shudder, her look conspiratorial. "Alright, Dazzlekit, let's make sure we stay hidden from any baddies lurking around."

Emberdust padded alongside him, keeping a close eye on his movements. While she was more than ready to share 'leadership', she stayed alert, ready to step in if needed. But she could see how much this moment meant to him, and she was determined to make it as special as possible. It wasn't very long before her oranges eyes narrowed towards another puddle, a cleaner one, at that, at the edge of the marsh. "Should we go this way?" She encouraged, her tone light and playful. She was his special guide, after all.

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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'Mmmm, okay!' he replied, taking up a position next to the cinnamon torbie she-cat. He padded beside her right side, eyes the greenery next to the path with wide eyes incase anything popped out to get them. He held his tail high as he marched along, looking towards Emberdust every now and then to make sure he was doing the right thing. 

He watched where Emberdust's gaze travelled, seeing the much clearer puddle she was looking at further away. He squinted his eyes, pretending to try decide if it was a good way to go or not. He eventually nodded, looking up to her with his round eyes, 'That sounds like a great idea! I must recommend you as a guide to my brothers some time!' he said, trying, and failing to stifle his laugh. He was supposed to be on an important warrior mission, not laughing! 

Holding in the urge to race ahead, the bright red tom kit instead just walking a little faster so he was the tiniest bit ahead of the warrior. When the reached the puddle, he didn't hesitate like he might have earlier, wiggling on his haunches before diving into the puddle with a squeal of delight. 

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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 Emberdust beamed as she watched Dazzlekit take his role seriously, even if he couldn't quite suppress his laughter. "You’re doing great, Dazzlekit!" Emberdust encouraged, her voice warm with pride. She slowed her pace just enough to let him take the lead, marveling at how quickly he had taken to the role.

When they reached the clearer puddle, Emberdust paused to let Dazzlekit make the decision, pleased when he eagerly dove in with a squeal of delight. She let out a laugh, her heart swelling with affection for the little tom. At least now they both had the opportunity to clean themselves off before heading back to camp. Hopefully Clovershine wouldn't think she overstepped by taking Dazzlekit out by herself.

"My turn!" With a wiggle of her bobbed tail, Emberdust bounced into the water, allowing the puddle to wash away their troublemaking. As she watched him splash around, Emberdust felt a deep sense of satisfaction. If only mentoring was as easy as this!

"Now what? Feel like leading me back to camp? I bet your brothers want to hear all about your adventure."

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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Dazzlekit splashed around beside Emberdust, cleaning himself of the mud and murk in the process. Clovershine might greet a wet kitten later on, but there would be no dirty kittens back at camp! He went to pounce on the warrior's tail, a favourite of his before remembering it was much shorter than the usual. He frowned for a split second before giggling at her silly tail, wagging his own, full length one. Well, full length for a four moon old kit. 

'Yep! I can take us back, I remember the whole way. My brothers are going to be so jealous that I got to go out and they didn't. You have to take me out again, pleasepleaseplease' he begged, trotting out of the puddle and giving himself a shake. He eyed Emberdust, widening his eyes in a 'cute', kitten way that he often tried on his mother when he wanted something from her. Emberdust was the best! One of his favourites already. If she didn't want to spend any more time with him... then Dazzlekit would make sure to get payback! Payback in the way he would make sure to 'attack' her with his warrior skills until she promised to take him out again.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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 Emberdust watched with a fond smile as he pounced at her tail, only to realize it was shorter than most and quickly switch to wagging his own tail instead.

When he begged to be taken out again, his wide, pleading eyes nearly melted her heart. She chuckled, recognizing the look that every kit seemed to master when they wanted something so badly!

"How could I say no to that face?" Egged the tortie point she-cat, giving him a playful nudge with her paw. "Alright, alright. I promise we'll have more adventures together. But only if you keep practicing those warrior skills of yours. We can’t have you losing your edge, now can we?"

She shook off the remaining droplets of water from her fur, casting a playful glance at Dazzlekit. Neither would be totally dry upon their return, but at least they weren't dirty! "And as for payback, you’ll have to catch me first!" With that, she darted ahead a few steps, playfully inviting him to chase her back to camp.

Like a ray from the dazzling sun
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With an enthusiastic squeak, Dazzlekit chased after Emberdust, his smaller legs having no chance of keeping up with her. That didn't stop him from trying though. With his amber eyes pinned onto Emberdust, sparkling droplets flew from his pelt as he followed the warrior back to camp, buzzing with the most happiness he had felt all day. This had been a special moment, one that would take Dazzlekit a very long time to forget.