kits were supposed to stay in camp- tucked within the nursery, bored out of their skulls. that was precisely the reason crescentkit had waited until the clearing had been shrouded in the veil of darkness brought on by nightfall and the glow of twilight had been swallowed by the rising moon before slipping past the boundaries and into the undergrowth blanketing the earth. there, he might as well have been invisible, especially since his fur was as darkly pigmented as the shadows stretching over the territory. he gave a swift glance around his surroundings, scanning them through flashing amber orbs like embers aglow in the gloom. i don't think anyone saw me. plus, most of riverclan should be asleep by now. he gave the atmosphere a quick whiff with his obsidian nose. someone had to be on guard duty somewhere, but he couldn't catch their scent among all of the intertwining smells- including the pungent fish odor that seemed to waft over the clan at all times. a layer of dry plant material crunched beneath his pads as he strayed further and further from camp, but he doubted that would give him away as any noise resonating from the tabby would likely be muffled by the sounds of frogs croaking and wind rustling through reeds. a grin upturned the corners of his muzzle as each step of his paws sent a rush of excitement coursing through him like the stream surrounding the camp. i bet peachkit wouldn't believe i sneaked out! he mused inwardly, quickening his pace. honestly, he couldn't believe it himself, but now it seemed like no big deal, really. i'm practically apprentice-aged, anyway, he thought, gazing down at his legs which were marred with ghostly tabby stripes. they had grown considerably in the past moon or so. he didn't even feel like a kit anymore, though maybe all of the adrenaline of being out in the night air was just getting to his head. the warriors probably just want to ruin us younger cats' fun since they have responsibilities and don't get to have any. he decided, rolling his fiery visionaries before coming to a halt as the texture beneath his pads shifted from plush grass and mud to something strangely solid. it's the bridge. i've heard about the older cats talking about it before- so this is it. he noted, stepping across it slowly and with caution at first before breaking into a trot. the stream gurgled below, but he was so pumped full of exhilaration he couldn't possibly be nervous about its watery presence.
he paused, chest heaving from the distance of his journey as he stared into the current with sharp determination in the flecks of his irises. that spot looks shallow. he remarked as his focus traced the waters a little bit downstream. treading the peaty soil of the shoreline, he followed it until he reached his destination, starting by dipping a near-black paw in. he drew it back and flipped a flurry of droplets off- the water was pretty cold at night this time of year. just go. he urged himself, leaping into the stream with a splash without leaving time to hesitate. the waterline swallowed his body up to his chest, and his dusky coat was drenched in river water which no longer seemed chilly to the young tom as his body adjusted to the temperature. the riverbed sort of suctioned itself to his paws, the mud and moss squishing between his toes. he would probably have to wash that off before heading back so no one questioned his whereabouts, he decided. what if they smell the river on me? he wondered, then shook his head. he would think about that later. propelling himself into slightly deeper water, he paddled his way through the stream in a slightly ungraceful manner. "i'm doing it!" he whispered aloud, unable to contain his disbelief.
[ black smoke tabby maine-coon mix with amber eyes ] [ five moons ] [ male ] [ taurus ] [ trad. riverclan ]