We're not broken, just bent [Tale]

[Moli]

Spottedtail didn't make it far before she stopped, just outside of camp. She didn't want to go too far and scare off all the prey before the started, and it gave Minkfur a chance to catch up to her. She could feel the energy of the forest filling her as the day began. The morning always felt full of life and energy as the prey began to stir with the rising sun. She felt a purr rumble deep within her throat. She felt happy this morning, light and free. She coudln't quite put her paw on why, but she wasn't going to question it, either.

"I was thinking we should try heading toward Snakerocks and ShadowClan first. We never know what they're up to, after all." She kept her tone even and lighthearted. She didn't want to dampen her mood too much, and recent politics were not a light topic.

[talltale]

Minkfur's long legs took long graceful and always silent steps. As a kit he had been a clumsy thing, always tripping over himself but now there wasn't a moment in his life that was not defined by grace. Even his hunting leaps and battle strikes were perfectly balanced and flowing. The tom's ears swiveled on his head as he listened to the sounds of birds, how he wanted to leap up and sprout wings! To soar over the trees and through the air like an owl... how great would that be? At that moment Minkfur decided if he ever had kits he would name one after the great sky hunter and the most wise of animals: an owl. Of course amusing that the queen would co-operate. Pleasing those dear to him was probably on the very top of Minkfur's to-do list.

"Hmm, Snake rocks are dangerous in the mornings." He replied, "The Adders will be out sunning themselves around this time and they'll be out in force. Perhaps we should go the other way first and then circle back around to snake rocks when it is cooler and they are hiding?" He suggested trying to keep all politics out of his opinion. While it was true he agreed that Shadowclan was slippery and unpredictable and not to be trusted but why ruin a lovely day with thoughts of them?

[Moli]

"Oh, you're right," Spottedtail flicked her tail in embarrassment. Here she was, trying to prove her mentor had taught her well, and she had already made a mistake. A pretty obvious one, too.

Oh well. Not too late to fix it! She thought before trotting in the other direction, away from Snakerocks. She stretched her legs, bounding up the rock wall that lead the way out of the hollow where ThunderClan camp resided. She opened her mouth slightly, letting the scents slide over the roof of her mouth. It was so wonderful to have newleaf upon them, with the scent of prey and fresh growth in the air once again after a hard leafbare.

"I love newleaf." She remarked as Minkfur caught up to her. "All of this fresh life is wonderful, don't you think?"

[talltale]

Minkfur purred in amusement, it was obvious she was embarrassed but it was cute. Her personality seemed to keep her from being embarrassed very long and it was a bit of a shame, the tom was almost enjoying the more sheepish side of his companion. "It's alright, you're just not fully awake yet right?" he mused with a knowing smirk plastered on his white maw.

The tom bounded up the slope with effortless long strides probably taking half the strides that the smaller white she-cat was. "I must agree with that reasoning. My fur is not the thickest in the clan and I'm not a fan of being chilled to the bone and hungry." He chuckled, he knew some cats really liked leaf bare, but he had a name for cats like that: crazy. Crazy or Kitty-pet he corrected himself. Kitty-pets liked winter too. He had talked to a few a few times, they all seemed to think that snow was beautiful... They weren't wrong, but it was only beautiful for a few days until the fresh kill pile ran out. "Besides the flowers are all out in new-leaf, their scent filling the air with warmth and fragrance. Nothing more welcoming than the forest in spring." He concluded.

[Moli]

She hissed at his smirk, though it was more of a playful hiss than an angry one. A few snarky thoughts came to mind, but in the end she decided to ignore his jibe. No need to have him take her reply as an opportunity to continue.

When he finished his little speech, she looked over at him, her green eyes admiring. "That's how I feel, too. You know, you're more eloquent than you look." She commented, her whiskers twitching.

"Now, shall we hunt? I think we should go toward the Great Sycamore. The tree cover may be hiding prey." She suggested. She had thought over her suggestion carefully before putting out there - she wasn't an apprentice anymore, but she wanted to prove to Minkfur that she wasn't a completely useless furball. She wanted to impress him. That was unusual - usually she only cared about impressing other cats when it was Tigerstar (or Foxheart, but that was more for showing her up rather than being admirable). But she did want to impress him, and prove that she was a good warrior, too.

[talltale]

Minkfur's maw eased into a warm smile, he was pleased that the she-cat agreed with him, others might think he was too soft hearted to be a warrior but they could think what they wanted of him. He didn't generally care what others thought but the fact that Spottedtail approved of his comments had him on the verge of a purr, his eyes half closed in calm joy.

"That sounds reasonable." He meowed, "Most birds will be headed there for the shade and the fresh-kill pile could use some bigger prey." He commented, not to brag or anything but there were very few birds that Minkfur couldn't catch. His long legs and powerful haunches let him leap higher than most. Besides he was quick and agile, no prey knew what hit them. Of course that wasn't to say he didn't have his faults, Minkfur could never catch voles to save his life. He didn't know what it was about the slippery little buggers but he just couldn't seem to get his claws into them... Thanks to that frustration Minkfur had a tendency not to even eat them anymore.

[Moli]

Holding her tail high with pleasure, with the satisfaction that she had been right, Spottedtail started leading the way toward the Great Sycamore. They weaved through the undergrowth with the ease of ThunderClan cats, Spottedtail taking care not to have too much of a lead. She didn't think she would leave him behind, but she had no desire to accidentally do so.

"They won't know what hit them. You're one of the best bird hunters in the Clan." She recalled the numbers of birds he had brought back to camp on numerous occasions. She had always been impressed with that. While not small, she was no where near as long-limbed as he was. He could probably climb, too. She had half a thought to challenge him to a race up the Great Sycamore, like they might have done if they had been apprentices together, but she didn't want him to think of her as immature. She was a mature warrior!

((It amuses me how hard she's trying to impress him. xP))

[talltale]

Minkfur purred in amusement as Spottedtail seemed to be trying very hard, she really seemed like an eager apprentice today. He knew she wasn't of course, he knew she was a great warrior of her own, but her sweet innocent personality made his day.

"Why thank you, spottedtail." He replied flattered, "I am sure you'll catch just as much prey as I do though. I have never seen you walk back into the camp after a hunting trip empty-pawed." He meowed, and it was true, though carrying a youthful sweet and a little bit naive personality Spottedtail was a good hunter, she never failed to provide for her clan. It was obvious how much she cared about them all. In fact she'd probably make a good mother someday, hopefully a little less overbearing than Goldenflower was. That she cat had no self control, if her kits were in the camp she had to be inspecting them and keeping tabs on them. Even when she wasn't ridding up the kits' tails she was watching them from afar. He supposed he couldn't blame her with such an unloving mate though.

((She's adorable, Minkfur thinks so too x3))

[Moli]

"That is true," Spottedtail replied as modestly as she could, but she clearly looked pleased with herself. She knew that she was a good hunter, and she tried hard to be the best warrior she could. The fact that someone had noticed made her feel good. She had spent moons trying to make Tigerstar notice, but that hadn't worked out. She liked that Minkfur had noticed, though. He was a respected warrior, and nice. She liked going on patrols with him for the simple fact that he was pleasant to talk to and pulled his own weight easily. He seemed to distrust Tigerstar, from what little she had seen of their interactions, but she thought it might just be because he was intimidated. Tigerstar was an intimidating cat, after all.

"How about a little competition? To see who catches the most prey today." She offered, her whiskers twitching in amusement. A bit of a game that would benefit the Clan - that sounded good to her. "Wouldn't want you to slack off because I'm here." She added teasingly.

[talltale]

"A competition huh?" He replied a playful tone lining his words, "I think I could live with that." he purred, he never turned down a chance for friendly competitive games. They were fun and encouraged growth as a warrior and as a cat. He didn't, however, like violent or nasty competitions. Competitions that were taken seriously with an end goal that would detriment the looser. Tigerstar was this kind of competitive and he really needed to meet a cat that would put him in his place. Perhaps one day his own son would accomplish this. Bramblepaw was more than capable of becoming his father's physical rival but the apprentice would need to buck-up a little before he had the nerve to do it.

Wouldn't want you to slack off because I'm here.

"Oh well, that's too bad then, I was hopping that I could just watch you do all the work." He teased, he wasn't a lazy cat but, hey, she didn't need to know that. He was having almost too much fun teasing her, her reactions were always entertaining.

[Moli]

She purred, happy that he had agreed. Other warriors might have written it off as a silly game, but she thought it actually helped when it came to training. It gave them a goal, and you had to make sure your skills were at their best in order to win. And, even if a cat didn't win, more food would be brought back for the Clan. It was beneficial for every cat, the way that she saw it. Spottedtail thought that Minkfur would be fun to play with, too.

"Lazy mousebrain," She purred. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if you want to sit out, go ahead. It'll make it easier for me to beat you," She laughed, swishing her tail at his shoulder playfully. She knew he was just teasing her. Although... She did like the idea of winning, but taking an easy victory wasn't a fun way to win, either. She knew Minkfur would give her a good competition. He was a great hunter.

Shortly, Spottedtail found herself at the based of the Great Sycamore. The time to start would be soon. She glanced at him. "Whenever you're ready." She said coyly, crouching and swishing her tail playfully.

[talltale]

Minkfur had to agree with his companion's thoughts, he thought friendly competition encouraged cats to be their very best and if they lost it gave them a goal to strive for later. In fact Minkfur would encourage a rivalry between apprentices as long as it stayed reasonable and didn't get out of paw. A rivalry that was harmful to either party was not advantageous and would be discouraged. Minkfur had a very firm moral code and would likely make a good but stern mentor, or father.

The tom smirked and the tip of his tail twitched in uneven beats from side to side out of amusement, "Oh, hey now, watch your mouth there little missy. It's a competition now and I'm no slouch when my reputation as a warrior is on the line! I'll have you know I won my first fighting competition at a gathering when I was only 7 moons old and my opponent was 10 moons!" He retorted fluffing out his chest, he wasn't an overly proud cat who bragged often, but sometimes he enjoyed just throwing his little triumphs out there for others to do with as they pleased.

As they approached the Great Sycamore the tom cast his mis-matched eyes into the maple-leaf-shaped canopy. He could hear and see the fluttering of bird wings. They knew the cats were there, so he'd have to go after rodents until the birds calmed down enough to dare land before the hunter. He nodded in approval, "I'm ready when you are." he replied

[Moli]

Of course he's bragging. Spottedtail purred with amusement, mostly dismissing his words. She knew he would take it seriously, of course, but she expected nothing less from him. A little teasing was just the thing to distract him, and have a bit of fun, perhaps.

"Well, let's see what you can do today, shall we?" Spottedtail retorted lightly, and trotted off into the undergrowth, tasting the scents with her open mouth. She could smell mouse, and vole. It would be a good day for hunting, and she was glad to have a good partner alongside her. The Clan would eat well today.

[talltale]

Minkfur purred at her challenge and trotted out the other way into a little bit of long waving emerald grasses with golden seed tops. There was certainly lots of prey out today, but what to go for? He swiveled his head and ears, scenting and listening.

The brown and white tom had nearly chosen a vole to strike at when his ear caught the sound of wing beats. Faster and faster then they stopped dead. A bird had just landed nearby. Dropping to his belly he flattened his ears and crept forwards. Sure enough there it was. A pigeon.

With silent steps the tom padded ever forwards but all of a sudden he was spotted by a sparrow high in the tree which sounded an alarm call! it was now or never. He launched himself forwards with his long back legs as the pigeon took to the sky, but it was to slow. Minkfur's teeth sunk deep into it's wing and he pulled it down again pinning it with one paw before biting into it's neck to finish it. Satisfied with his early success he returned to the Sycamore to place the pigeon beneath it.

[Moli]

Leaving Minkfur behind, Spottedtail padded forward lightly, keeping her mouth open slightly to let the smells roll over the roof of her mouth. Then she saw a slight rustle, and heard a skitter of movement. She froze, her ears swiveling as she pin-pointed the prey. She could see she was in a good place to pounce, but she had to be quick regardless. There was never a point to dawdling.

The alarm call of the sparrow sent her into action, and she pounced. The mouse squeaked, but she cut it off quickly with a bite to the neck. The cry would have alerted the other prey, but hopefully she wouldn't have to range far. She picked up the bundle and walked back to the sycamore, carrying her catch proudly. She saw Minkfur and placed her own catch down, separate from his so they could keep "score."

"Good catch," She mewed, nodding to his pigeon. "Ready to catch some more?" She got into a playful crouch, a teasing purr in her throat.