b(o)red as a fish

[Deleted]

Jude stood near the riverbank, happily watching fish swim by. He'd never seen anything like it. 'I wonder if they can see me...' Getting curious, he hopped on a few stones that took him further across the river. Gaining his balance, he leaned down and stared at the rushing water beneath his paws.

His eyes grew round at the sight of a fish swimming by. He had no intention of catching one, though he did want to touch one just to see what it would feel like. Waiting for another fish to come, Jude readied his paw and waited patiently.

He became so focused on his task that he became unaware of his surroundings. A cat could be standing right behind him and he wouldn't even know it.

[Natalia]

Natalia was dragging her paws along as she headed towards the river.

However, as it came into view... There was another cat there. A young tomcat. She stopped right there in her tracks. She was fairly sure she didn't know him, though she'd seen him around once.

Her ears flattened. Should she leave? He was definitely a Deathclan, if on the newer side. She supposed, meeting him was inevitable. She should talk to him and gauge his ally potential. She approached and lay down by the river a fair distance from him. It wasn't like she was going to be right next to them like they're friends.

She has no friends. She turned her head and fixed her hard, calculating emerald gaze upon the youth. "Who are you." She asked, though it sounded more like a demand.

[Deleted]

"Who are you."

Startled, Jude lost his balance and his front paw slipped off the rock. He fell forward with a loud splash, the bottom of the river not being shallow enough to catch himself. The tom went under, and after a few moments his head poked out of the water. He looked over in Natalia's direction and huffed.

He wasn't the best swimmer, but he could manage. The youngling made his way to the shore just a few tail-lengths from Natalia. He leapt out of the water and shook out his fur like a dog. 'Never doing that again.'

After a few coughs and fur licks he focused his attention back on the DeathClanner. "Jude. Who are you?"

[Natalia]

Natalia was slightly surprised but didn't show it, as the tom was startled into the river.

He seemed to go under, but quickly seemed to recover as his head rose once again above the water's surface. He huffed in her direction. He seemed alright, as he returned to shore. Then he shook out his fur. Natalia held up a paw, to try and shield herself from stray droplets.

The tom coughed a bit and licked his pelt, before finally focusing on her. He stated his name. Jude. Huh. Interesting name. "... The praised one...?" She paused. "... I'm Natalia."

[Deleted]

He frowned slightly when the cat held up a paw to shield herself. He was about to apologize, but then remembered what Dove had said. 'I can't look weak!' Jude gave his fur a few more licks, hoping it would dry out quickly.

He stopped grooming himself once Natalia spoke up. He tilted his head in confusion. 'The praised one? What's she talking about?' "Hello Natalia." He repeated her name, wanting to see how it sounded. He liked it. A small smile came across his muzzle. "You surprised me back there."

[Natalia]

Natalia thought that Jude had something to say, but they seemed to only give a few licks.

He seemed confused about something, but she couldn't imagine what. Did he think her name was weird? Possibly. Her name was a bit... Kittypet-like to some probably.

He smiled unexpectedly and Natalia's ears folded back. Even after meeting Dove and Slate... Jude's friendliness still made her just the slightest bit uncomfortable. "... Sorry." She was pretty sure you were supposed to apologize... That was what most cats do, right?

[Deleted]

"You're fine." He resumed grooming, hoping he hadn't made Natalia feel guilty. He wasn't trying to do that at all- he just wanted to explain why he slipped off. He took a glance up at her. She looked a little unsettled. Why were her ears folded back? 'Maybe I'm making her uncomfortable.'

Jude gave his paw a few licks and swiped his over his face. Maybe he could get his face dry. The rest would just have to air dry... he didn't want to keep cleaning himself in front of a stranger. It seemed a little rude.

Finishing up, he placed his paw down and looked back at the river. He kept his ears perked in case Natalia said anything.

[Natalia]

Natalia shifted uncomfortably.

Jude was looking at her weirdly. She supposed they were making each other uncomfortable. Dang, social interaction was more trouble than it was worth, really. She hated how she preferred life in Deathclan rather than anywhere else.

It was a little weird when Jude began to clean himself right in front of her, thankfully stopping after a short bit. Then he stared at the river. Her eyes moved to the river, before returning to Jude. 

"You're new to Deathclan... Right?"

[Deleted]

He nodded. Would she treat him differently, knowing that he was new? 'I wonder when I won't be considered a newbie anymore.' He sighed. 'I might have to wait for a few more moons. Probably longer.' Jude thought, humming softly to himself. He was a patient cat. He could wait.

The tabby looked over at her. "How long have you been living here?" He wasn't sure if it was a stupid question or not. Were most cats born into DeathClan? Or did they join like he did? 'Guess I'll find out.' He turned his gaze back to the river. Maybe Natalia could give him some pointers on living here.

[Natalia]

Natalia wasn't sure if it really mattered how long you'd been in Deathclan.

At least, if you weren't new or been around for an exceedingly long time like the current leader, Dove. Thus, she didn't really think it mattered for her. 

She flattened her ears. "I don't see how it matters... But I've been living here for a little more than a few moons." She responded. She wondered if Jude thought she was intimidating. It's not like she was trying to be friendly, but she was also a Deathclan member who kinda knew what they were doing, to him.

[Deleted]

"I ask only because you asked if I was new." There was a bit of edge to his voice. He tensed up a little once he noticed her flattened ears in the corner of his eye. 'That's unfair! She asked if I was new and gets all defensive if I give the question back!' The youngling huffed, continuing to watch the river. He was never one to get irritated easily, and he didn't want to start being that way now.

Jude stayed quiet, sitting stiff as a board.

[Natalia]

Natalia was quiet at first.

"... That's fair." She admitted. She noticed how tense Jude appeared to be. Did she suddenly get really intimidating? No, wait. His reply hadn't been the friendliest. He didn't like her response. 

"... I didn't think it mattered because I'm neither new nor... Really experienced. I don't matter much. That's why." She decided that this piece of information was impersonal enough to share with a cat whom she didn't know all too well. She put no value in relationships, but she accepted that some information was acceptable to share with others.

[Deleted]

He blinked. She didn't think she mattered? Everyone mattered. Jude shook his head. "I have to disagree with you there. I think you matter very much. A whole lot, actually." He turned his head to look at her, shooting her a small but charming smile.

He didn't know her that well, but as far as he could tell she was pretty harmless. He'd been on edge about meeting new cats ever since Dove told him there was a large chance of getting attacked. He looked at the she-cat for a few more moments, then turned back to his former position. 'Maybe she could be an ally.'

[Natalia]

Natalia couldn't help but snort at Jude's words.

How could he form such an opinion when he didn't even know her? She supposed he was a cat who saw the best in everyone. She... Didn't really think highly of such cats. Cats just couldn't be trusted properly.

"I think I'll change your mind soon." She claimed. She lashed her tail behind her. She didn't see why she mattered. Well, to anyone. She was a cat who was living their life. Just like so many others. She had never done anything noteworthy in her life. She doubted that would change. She wasn't going to be some great leader or anything that would be known everywhere.

[Deleted]

He closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the crashing river. It was a pretty sound, one he'd never heard before until today. 'I could sit here forever... It's just so peaceful.' He thought, kind of zoning out for a bit.

He flicked an ear once Natalia spoke, indicating that he had heard her. His eyes remained closed. "And why do you say that?"