[odessa]

alderstep
he/him
thunderclan
russet tabby w/ white paws, green eyes
---

Alderstep's claws itched for more moss, but he had essentially taken every resource from the bush. A tiny addition to the pile, but something nonetheless. He sat up, tensing his muscles and then relaxing them with a sigh. What was it? Hadn't the tom been a loner of some sort? Alderstep didn't know the whole story. He shimmied out from under the bush. Maybe that was why Rabbitchatter was so different. Alderstep spent a few moments just compressing the moss pile, idly playing with it a bit.

Fine, then. Why was he so grumpy? Why wasn't Rabbitchatter? He sat so that he only had to look a little bit over his shoulder when he looked at the other tom. He could tell in his amber eyes that he truly meant it. That, and the voice, too. "Again, I'm not that younger than you. Why do you say that?" And there he goes again, avoiding the question. Alderstep could really make a game out of it. Though he did wonder why Rabbitchatter treated him like some kind of...kit? A kit grown-up? It was confusing.

Alderstep swallowed and shifted to face Rabbitchatter more. "...you, uh, work. And you get obsessed?" He paused and curled his tail over his paws for warmth. "Then you're mad no one does it like you," Alderstep muttered. He shook his head. "Anyways, is this enough moss?" He gestured to the pile with his paw. He felt stupid for having this conversation. What he said wasn't even the whole truth. But the moss was his only escape. Moss and his nest and hunting. His very favorite things.

@wren