Crossroads [p]

[Natalia]

@hanggemhigh

Natalia had wandered off into the plains. Why? She wasn't entirely sure herself. Maybe she wanted to be closer to where Jude spent probably a little too much time nowadays. But, she wasn't supposed to be there. Patch and Jude were the ones sent there, while she was sort of... Just enjoying Deathclan life. Which was mostly loner life with more social interaction, she imagined. Well, social interaction with a specific type of cat. For whatever reason, Deathclan attracted certain kinds of cats.

She took a deep breath. Alright. She wasn't going to towards the barn.

She was scanning around the plains, when suddenly a shiver traveled along her spine. She flattened her ears, as her suspicious eyes narrowed, as she scrutinized her surroundings harder.

Someone was watching her.

Creepy fox-heart.

[Deleted]

Joey blinked as he hid within the shadows of a bush. There were a few of those dotted around the plains but they weren't very large so he was lucky that his age meant he was pretty small so he could hide with ease. As the young cat looked around the area, his bicoloured eyes landed on another cat. They has ginger fur and we're a she cat, seemingly older than he was. They also had a strange scent, different to what he was used to. Perhaps she was a clan cat... but them what would she be doing out in the plains with the loners and rogues.

Curiously yet also with defense, Joey walked away from the bush and towards the other cat, the fur on his spine standing upwards slightly.

[Natalia]

Natalia couldn't see who it was, but she could smell them. They carried a scent that was expected. Some rogue or loner living out in the plains. Likely weren't that much of a threat. Urgh, she didn't think it made much sense for loners or rogues in general to be battle-happy... But somehow they ended up like that anyways. She hoped this cat wasn't dangerous.

She relaxed slightly as they revealed themselves to be a younger tom. He seemed wary as well, but she wasn't letting her guard down either. She simply readjusted the variables in her mind.

She watched him with careful eyes.

[Deleted]

Joey stayed senter and wide eyed as he continued to give the newcomer a long, unblinking stare. His position stayed stationary- he was waiting for the other cat to move first, not wanting to make himself vulnerable to any attacks.

Joey's ears began to relax backwards into their normal position rather than pointing directly upwards when he saw the ginger tabby relax slightly. He let out a small, indefinable noise that was somewhere between a quiet mew and a hiss as he placed one white paw forwards cautiously towards the stranger. His eyes still remained unblinking.

[Natalia]

God, that unblinking stare was creepy. Natalia wasn't particularly intimidated by it, but thought the younger tom was a bit of a weirdo. 

Though, even as she relaxed, the other cat seemed to do so as well. He seemed to let out some meaningless rumble. Strange. She sighed. "I suppose one of us has to speak up first. Might as well be me."

[Deleted]

Joey finally blinked once, but kept his eyes wide straight afterwards. He felt a little strange around this cat- he had never really feared or acted like this around anyone, he usually just walked up to cats, stole their stuff, made a snarky remark and left. This was honestly strange to him. He hated it.

The tuxedo tom relaxed his facial features a little more when Natalia spoke, feeling a little more comfortable when he heard her voice. Joey still didn't know how he felt about her though, she seemed a little... shady? Maybe? He didn't know quite how to describe it.

Joey nodded, swishing his tail as he walked towards the ginger tabby although he still didn't sit near her just in case she attacked, "State your name." He commanded, "State your name and I'll state mine."

[Natalia]

Natalia was glad to see some sort of response beyond tension and suspicion, though she imagined she greeted most cats with it. At least she no longer threw hostility into the mix. That was mostly thanks to Jude showing her that sometimes... Cats are really worth getting to know.

She had no idea what to make of this tom. First impressions were hardly ever properly accurate. Thus far he seemed to be the sort who was somewhat untrusting, such as herself. There were others she knew of that were similar like Sky and Serenity. 

She sighed her ears flattening as her tail idly waved lower to the ground behind her. "Natalia." She replied curtly. Dear God, he sounded like he was reading off a script. Incredibly stiff, reminded her a bit of that Michael jerk. She sincerely hoped this encounter didn't end with ear tearing. She wasn't afraid of a little fight, but she preferred not to.

[Deleted]

Joey blinked slowly and flicked his nicked ears when the other feline told him their name. He guessed that he could trust them now if he was alright to know their identity. He stepped about two steps closer, beginning to stare again as he observed Natalia, seeing if she had anything valuable with her. He didn't see anything. "I'm Joey." He said shortly, beginning to look around himself.

-Short compared to the rest, sorry-

[Natalia]

((It's okayyyyy

Natalia watched as the newly-named Joey stepped forward. He seemed to be staring at her and it was making her uncomfortable. Gah, she hoped this guy wasn't a total creep planning on making her as uncomfortable as physically possible. Her ears pinned against her head. "Joey?" She questioned incredulously, it being a reflex response to her discomfort.

[Deleted]

Joey's head snapped upwards at the sound of his name, "Yes," He said, focusing on her face as he realised that there was nothing that he could take in the surrounding area. He slowly began to sit down, wrapping his white tipped tail around his white paws with a slightly bored, slightly confused facial expression.

[Natalia]

Natalia watched as Joey began to make himself comfortably. She sighed and sat down herself, though she was slightly more tense than Joey was. "Not much of a talker, are you?"

[Deleted]

"I am quite talkative actually," Joey said, contradicting Natalia's words, "Just I don't know if I trust you yet," He said. Hell, even if he didn't trust her he'd still speak... It might have been something to do with how he still felt slightly intimidated by the tabby- from her multiple scars he could tell that she had survived a few fights that probably weren't like the little scraps he was used to. Then again, that was all just inference.

[Natalia]

Natalia exhaled through her nose. "Well, then. I have to say the feeling's mutual." She replied. She wasn't sure what to make of the younger tom. Though, she didn't believe age was a strong indicator of much. Thus, she would keep watching and listening, see if she could get a read on this guy. "Aside from the talking." She wasn't quiet exactly when she was relaxed, but she wasn't exactly a chatterbox either.

[Deleted]

Joey flicked a black, nicked ear, "So, Natalia, where are you from," He said, only changing the subject slightly. He didn't know if he could trust her yet- she might be from an enemy tribe or clan or group. Actually, that was probably the case with everyone he met these days, but Natalia seemed stronger than the others. Like she would actually defend herself. The others just seemed like wimps who would surrender straight away despite him only being a very young cat.

[Natalia]

Natalia eyed Joey as she considered the question. It could mean where she considered her home now, or where she actually originated. She actually wasn't sure as to the latter, if she was being honest. She simply knew it was in some forest that was neutral territory somewhere. Not very accurate...

Hm. She didn't really want to give up information easily. Especially something approaching personal. "How about you tell me about yourself, first? You tell me something, I'll tell you something."