#sunbud

His parents would survive him staying outside, especially as his Ma had been saying he could very well do so for the last moon, if he wanted. His Pa was less enthusiastic about the idea, worrying about so many big and small things it made Sunbud tired, so she had not actually had him stay outside with her or on his own yet. She just made sure he packed some extra food whenever he went off. While Sunbud had not been overly excited at the prospect of sleeping outdoors - he liked his warm, cozy bed, thank you kindly - he was not bothered by the idea either. After all, his three sisters had all done it before him and they were fine. Come to think of it, he barely saw Winterkiss the last two moons, she was always out exploring, coming back with bruises, torn clothes and wild stories of her exploits that he loved hearing. It made their Pa and their older sister Honeynose fret, but their Ma just laughed. She said she had been just like it when she was a child. Clearfrost, who was the eldest of them, just sighed and mended Winterkiss' clothes for her.

Sighing, Sunbud pulled himself out of his thoughts and focused on his work again, weaving the way Clearfrost had taught him. It made robust, neat, and nearly waterproof mats. A bit of wax and they would be, not that he had any. Finishing, Sunbud got up and carried it over to where he had stashed the other ones he had made. There was a huge spruce at the edge of the meadow, and below the thick burrows there was a nice, wide space. It would make a great base for their hut and Sunbud tossed the mat in under the branches, wondering how many more he would have to make before the ground was covered.

"Sunbud!" a clear but hushed voice called and he nearly jumped out of his skin, tearing around with his heart in his throat, hands fumbling for the knife in his belt. "Sunbud? Are you here?"

Relief and joy flooded him when he recognized the voice and he straightened from his half-crouch, waving as he called,

"Amberheart! Over here!"

The boy turned towards him and came running over immediately, and Sunbud wondered at his anxious expression when he got closer.

"I'm sorry, Sunbud, did you wait long?" Amberheart worried and he shook his head. He would have waited all night if necessary.

"I thought you were mad at me."

Amberheart's expression shifted into confusion and surprise and he tilted his head, long hair falling over his face as usual.

"Why would I be mad at you?" he questioned and Sunbud blushed and fidgeted, fingers tangling in the fringed border of his tunic.

"I mean, I did kiss you even though we aren't family or clan? Isn't that weird?" he asked and Amberheart stared at him in stunned silence for a second then rolled his eyes.

"The only one who gives out kisses at home, that I know of, is mother. I don't think we do the same things as your family does, Sunbud. Anyway, hold still," the boy ordered and Sunbud did, nervous. Amberheart stepped forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek then declared, satisfied, "There. Now we're even. What were you doing?"

Sunbud grinned, both at the gesture and with excitement. Lifting the branch of the spruce, he pointed out the grass mats in the dim light and said,

"I was making grass mats! I was thinking we could build a hut or something here. The branches are really thick; look, the ground is dry!"

"Didn't it rain earlier?" Amberheart questioned, crouching down with him to pat the ground, and Sunbud nodded.

"Yeah, at dawn! So, right here, or should we climb up?"

"I would prefer the ground," Amberheart admitted and looked relieved when Sunbud nodded readily.

"Okay! Come on, let's find some dry branches for the walls!"

If you’re wondering, they’re about 7 here, and Amberheart is definitely not supposed to be anywhere near Other Forest. Other Forest cares very little for human rules, and more for the secret voices of their hearts.

Tagging (let me know if you want on or off): @concerningwolves​ @adorhauer​ @weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables​