On Tiptoe [OPEN]

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It had been almost a moon since Vortex had fled DeathClan territory. The youngling had been living in the alleys of Twolegplace. Although there wasn't a lot of prey and he'd mostly had to scavenge, at least there hadn't been cats chasing him in that place.

After steeling himself, the brown-and-white cat had decided to return. His tail quivered nervously as he stepped across the border. Vortex didn't smell like a DeathClanner anymore, and he knew that he'd most likely be attacked if that didn't change. The skinny young tom sped up to a run and headed for the river, hoping to wash away the scent of Twolegplace before he was challenged.

[Venus]

Venus padded along there border as she picked up a scent that was not a DeathClan scent. Her eyes narrowed as she looked around. She opened her mouth a bit as she took in a deep breath of air getting a good sniff of the unusual scent. She kept low to the ground as she padded slowly toward a white-and-brown tom that stood near the river bank."Well were did you come from?!" She meowed with a snap. A she faced the Youngling.

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Vortex had just arrived at the riverbank when someone spoke behind him. Startled, he bristled and whipped around, claws unsheathing. That was definitely not a friendly tone.

"I live here," the American Shorthair replied. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "I could ask you the same thing. Do you make a habit of sneaking up on cats?"

[Venus]

Venus wrinkled her nose as she spoke up again. "Well I'm sorry it's just that you definitely don't smell like a Deathclanner." She explained as she thought for a second or two. "Well sorry for the complications. Also are you really from around here? If you don't mind me asking." She added quickly. Venus never really recalled seeming him around before, but yet cats come and go.  

[Deleted]

The youngling silently cursed himself for not washing off his foreign scent quickly enough. "Yes," he meowed after a hesitation. He really didn't want to explain himself, but at the same time, he didn't want to get attacked.

"My name is Vortex. I joined DeathClan a few moons ago because I heard that my half-brother had taken power. I've just been gone for a while because I had things to do in other places." Of course, that wasn't entirely true... but Venus didn't need to know the real reason why he had left.

[Venus]

Venus sat down as she watched him. "Well Vortex, I'm Venus nice to meet you." She meowed as she introduced herself respectfully. "Oh I see you have kin here that's why. Well do you know who your half brother is?" She meowed curiously  

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Vortex was surprised to hear Venus introduce herself politely. Perhaps she wasn't hostile after all. Calming down and flattening his fur, he blinked at the calico and sat down as well.

"Yeah, I do. His name is Drought."

[Venus]

Venus's eyes widened when she heard him say Drought. "Well I did not expect that. No offense." She meowed as she flicked her tail over her paws neatly. "So do you intend to speak to him?" She meowed again.  

[Deleted]

He merely shrugged in response. "None taken. It's not exactly well-known that I'm related to the leader," Vortex stated with a slight twitch of his whiskers. Realizing that he'd left his claws unsheathed, the youngling quickly sheathed them.

"Oh, I already spoke to him when I joined DeathClan. Drought actually hadn't known about us being kin. He's got a lot of family to remember, apparently. But he offered me a position in the royalty, which I wasn't going to refuse."

[Venus]

Venus nodded, "Ah so you are now royalty, that's good." She dipped her head politely. "Is it ok if I call you princes." She meowed with a chuckle. He is the brother of Drought anyways so maybe he would become leader one day. 

[Deleted]

Vortex tilted his head in confusion. "What's princes?" he asked. The youngling had never heard the term before. Sure, DeathClan had some weird names for its ranks, but he wasn't familiar with this one.

A tiny rustling noise tickled his ear fur, causing him to glance around. Smells like mouse... I'm starved.

[Venus]

"Well it's like when... Your dad our relative are leaders and your kin and they like die our something happens to them, then you become in charge. You get treated with respect because maybe you'll one day become leader. It's something like that." She meowed. Then she stayed quiet as she watched Votex once again. Then she scented the mouse as well but she didn't bother it was his catch

[Deleted]

He frowned slightly. "I've never heard of that, but I don't think Drought would choose me to be next in line. We're not that close, and besides, DeathClan works differently. When the leader gives up his position, anyone can step up and claim it." Flicking his ears, Vortex turned toward the rustling sound.

Dropping into a crouch, the brown-and-white tom prowled toward a bush. When he was about a fox-length away, he leaped, disappearing briefly into the foliage. There was a sharp squeal, then Vortex emerged from the bush with the rodent between his jaws.

[Venus]

"Ah fine then I'll just stick to your name." She meowed as she watched him disappear then remerge with a mouse in his jaws.  

[Deleted]

The mouse was fairly plump, and although Vortex easily could have eaten the whole thing by himself, he knew that it would probably be a better idea to share.

Padding back over to Venus, he dropped the fresh-kill and sat down. "Want some?"