(Un)Familiarity [p]

[Natalia]

Flower

Natalia wasn't doing too much these days. She hadn't talked with much of anyone lately, aside from that strange Icy girl. She wondered if she should warn Pain of the possible threat to her leadersihp. Hm. Perhaps in the future.

For now, she'd spotted yet another newcomer to Deathclan from her perch in the trees. She spent a lot of her downtime up in the trees. She liked it because most cats wouldn't approach her if she wasn't visible on the ground. Then, she could choose whether to engage them or not. She liked that freedom of choice. She usually said hi to the newbies, though. 

This newbie she was spotting, actually matched the signs of a newbie. Lacked that distinct Deathclan scent, clearly hadn't been around long, plus they were on the younger side like... More or less every newcomer.

"Hey." She called down.

[Flower]

Flower wasn't too entirely sure what he thought about Deathclan yet. The place had many pros associated with it, but at the same time he didn't like the idea of one singular cat being to leader. It was something he thought about a lot since he had recently joined the group. He liked the freedom and the fighting associated with the pseudo clan, but there was still a leader.

Either was Flower wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. The black tom yawned as he walked, looking around for something to do. Perhaps he could go hunting? Or maybe some cat would ambush him and he'd get a good fight out of it. Either one seemed rather fun to do.

His thoughts were interrupted by a tingling feeling of being watched. Flower looked around for a second, trying to spot the eyes that were watching him, but when he didn't see anything on the ground he got confused. Flower stopped his off kilter gait to inspect the bushes and spots near him that might hold a cat. He didn't look up until a voice called out to him.

Flower turned his eyes skyward to see an older she-cat watching him. He blinked for a second before flicking one of his ears. "Hello. How long have you been up there?" He replied before launching himself up onto some of the lower branches of the tree. He began to slowly make his way toward the other's cat position on the tree, not really considering that the action could be unwelcome to some. Flower had decided that he'd prefer to be on the same level as her while speaking rather than shouting up to her in the tree.

[Natalia]

Natalia was surprised at the new kid's decision to try and ascend the tree. Though, judging by his confidence, she figured that the kid had climbed trees before. Wasn't comfortable with it, though, as he lacked the speed Natalia herself had gained through practice.

She cocked a fictional eyebrow. "How long do you think?" She questioned. She'd seen him wandering around, trying to find who was watching him. The kid had obviously known he was being watched, but without Natalia outing herself, he clearly hadn't been able to figure it out. She wondered how in tune this kid was with his own feelings. 

[Flower]

Climbing was something that Flower quite enjoyed, but he always went slower than he probably needed. The possibility of falling made them more cautious than some. As he looked at the she-cat he noticed how natural she looked in the tree. She was probably much more experienced in this than he was. Flower was almost at the same branch as she was on when she asked him how long he thought she had been there.

Flower paused for a second to consider this question before he made the final jump and landed where she was. He settled down nearest to the trunk of the tree and tilted his head slightly. "Hmm, well, I'd have to say at least a minute or two. I don't think you've been watching me for longer than that, but I guess I could be wrong." Flower explained as he thought it through. He scrunched up his face as he thought, trying to work through when he had noticed that somebody was watching him and if he had been having a similar feeling before that.

[Natalia]

Well, that certainly was true. Perhaps it would've been longer if Natalia's range of vision was wider. Even high up in the trees, she could only see so far, with all the other trees in the way and such.

She shrugged in response. "I suppose you could, but I'm fairly certain that you're on the mark. If not right on it, then close enough." She replied. "So. I'm Natalia. Name?" She asked, finding that referring to the tom as 'the kid' in her head was rather tedious and annoying. It'd be nice to replace some of 'the kid's in her head with their name. 

[Flower]

As Flower settled into his spot on the branch he couldn't help but inspect the cat before him. She had scars marring her pelt, which made him suspect that she had been in quite a number of fights. With Deathclan being such a wonderful facilitator for those types of interactions Flower didn't doubt it. It made him want to ask her to fight him, even though he was positive he would lose. He wasn't a wonderful fighter, but he enjoyed it. Either way Flower was snapped from those thoughts by her words.

Her name was Natalia and Flower was at least close to how long she had been watching him. He nodded, more to himself than to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Natalia. I'm Flower." He purred before cocking his head slightly to the side. "Would you want to fight me sometime?" He asked as if it was a normal question.

[Natalia]

Natalia sighed when Flower called her... Miss. She raised a paw and pressed it against her forehead in exasperation. "Please... Just call me Natalia..." She half-groaned. It sounded... So, formal. It didn't really sound like her honestly. She was never really one for manners. In terms of receiving or giving, really.

Then she lowered her paw again and eyed Flower carefully. So... He was that sort of cat? At least he didn't seem the type of jump people, like that Static girl who had left at this point. She sighed. "I'm not usually one for senseless violence, but hey. Sure, kid." 'Best you practice against someone like me, so you're prepared for someone like Thomas.' She added in her mind. She didn't really want to add that part, but... She did want to help this kid out, even if he wasn't really asking for help.

"Anyways, Flower? Strange name for a cat who apparently enjoys the rush of a fight."

[Flower]

Flower noticed quite quickly that she wasn't a big fan of him calling her miss. He supposed that he didn't have to do that. It wouldn't be too hard to just call her Natalia. So he nodded when she asked him to do just that. "Alright then Natalia." He stated, making a conscious effort not to call her Miss Natalia again. She did seem pretty nice though, if only a little strange since she had been just sitting in a tree watching him.

Then she agreed to fight him. Flower smiled and wrapped his white-tipped tail around himself. The senseless violence comment almost caught him off guard though. It confused him every so slightly. Did she really see it as senseless? He figured the sense in it was that it was fun and it prepared you for more serious fights later on. He supposed that was her opinion though.

His name was brought up by her as she mentioned how it was a strange name name for somebody who enjoyed the so called rush of a fight. He giggled slightly. "I chose my own name!" He exclaimed. "And I really don't really think enjoying flowers and enjoying fights are mutually exclusive." He stated with a small flick of his ear. "What do you like to do?" He asked as a sort of following of her figuring out that he liked to fight..

[Natalia]

Natalia noticed that Flower was... Admittedly, predictably happy with her lack of rejection at the idea. Though, he did appear to be a little baffled at her opinion on fighting. However, it didn't seem to be enough to question her on it. Which, honestly she was grateful for. She didn't really feel like defending her beliefs. Of course, she could just be rude and ignore him if he should press... She had no such qualms about doing things like that.

She tilted her head. He'd chosen his name? Hm. She kept her name she'd been born with, personally. She knew Pain changed his name, though. Mostly due to the fact, that seriously... No one names their child something like that. It was... Just obvious to her. 

She shrugged. "Most cats associate flowers with being gentle, peaceful usually. I think different flowers have different meanings, but I don't know them." She shrugged. 

"I like tree climbing." She told him. "I feel very comfortable in the trees. It's easier to avoid cats I don't want to talk to."

[Flower]

Flower noticed how Natalia seemed pleased about something. He couldn't really figure out what it was, but he figured as long as he stayed on her better side then he was doing pretty good. As he explained his name to her she tilted her head a little and Flower realized that it might be strange that he had named himself. He just hated his past life so he got rid of everything that reminded him of it, name included. 

As Natalia explained why she thought it was a strange name Flower kind of chuckled a little. "I guess you're right, but I also don't really consider fighting as always being the opposite of peaceful, if that makes sense." He explained, but furrowed his nonexistent eyebrows as he finished. He was either being really pretentious or just nonsensical and he figured he should probably figure out a better way to voice his stance on fighting. He enjoyed it and thought of it as something interesting to do that could help move past some things.

Either way when Natalia said that she liked climbing and explained why he smiled again. "I quite like climbing too! I don't think I'm nearly as good as you are, but I suppose that I also don't have a lot of cats I want to avoid right now." He stated as if it was some grand cosmic ploy of fate that they would both enjoy climbing. It wasn't.

[Natalia]

Natalia hummed in response. "I suppose from your perspective it might. To me, fighting is usually a sign of conflict. Conflict is the opposite of peace... So, I don't particularly associate fighting with any form of peace, really." She tilted her head to the other side. Though, she wondered what Flower meant. It sounded like a strange belief, one that admittedly was mildly curious about. It sounded like something... New. True, different cats had different beliefs shaped by their different experiences... However, there tended to be patterns. Flower seemed to break the pattern a bit.

Natalia shrugged in response. "Eh. Practice factors into it." She responded casually. She did sort of get the feeling that Flower wasn't nearly as... Reserved as she was. Her very nature asked her to be suspicious of strangers and to withhold her personal secrets. Or, possibly it was just her personality had shifted what it once was to lead to this behavior of her's. 

Regardless, she didn't think it mattered all that much. It was how she was now and that was how things were. She yawned. "So... There's a couple questions that every newbie gets asked at some point or another. So, I might as well ask. What exactly was it that drew you to Deathclan? Admittedly, the reputation has declined... But it lingers."

[Flower]

Natalia was very interesting. Her thoughts on fighting reflected the thoughts of many cats, but Flower jus never saw it that way. Fighting could be in order to gain peace between two groups or, if you were like him, then it could simply be for fun. "I guess I've only been in a pawful of situations where fighting hasn't been for fun. So of course my idea of it is more of a way to pass the time and less of a chaotic thing." He explained, hoping that it made more sense this time.

She made a lot of sense. She stated that it was mostly practice and he nodded. Natalia was older than him so it made sense that she would be better at things that she liked to do. Flower didn't really have many reservations while talking to others, but he never really saw the point, however it seemed like she might be a bit more reserved. He didn't really see the point in bringing this to her attention and instead listened to the question she posed.

"I came because I heard that lots of fighting goes down in this clan and it also grants a lot of freedom within it's ranks. I'm not to fond of the whole one leader thing, but I figure that it's worth it for all the benefits being in the group brings." He explained. Flower then smiled and tilted his head as he observed Natalia. "What brought you here? I'm sure you've probably been asked a thousand times before, but an eye for an eye, or something along those lines." He stated, in reference to him asking the same question to her. It was a complete misuse of the original saying, but Flower didn't really notice.

[Natalia]

Natalia shrugged. "Your mind might change. Our memories shape us, and as time passes cats tend to change. Sometimes in rather profound ways. Maybe you'll have the integrity to hold tight to those beliefs of your's. Or maybe you'll start thinking a bit more like everyone else." It was possible. She... Vaguely remembered what she was like as a kitten. Such a wide divide lay between her of now and her of then. She wasn't even that old, really. Besides, most of that change hadn't even taken a full seasonal cycle. It was ridiculous how malleable the psyche was.

She sighed. "Well... Less, as of late... Deathclan, once had a fearsome reputation for being strong and for attacking the clans... Successfully at times. It's admittedly declined as of late. Though, I suspect change may come. A pair from the Deathclan of old recently returned and they're... Ah... The more violent sort. I'd be careful around them, if I were you. They might kill you." She warned, a serious look in her eyes. "They didn't seem the type to regret such things." While she herself held little sympathy for her enemies, Flower... He was young. Natalia was of the opinion that kids really should get a chance to live before they got a chance to die. 

".... Not a fan of authority, I gather? Personally, I don't like trusting and following strangers. Though, I know the leader. Personally. He's a decent guy, by our standards. But I do personally encourage free choice." She shrugged. "You don't like what he says? That's fine. I've never been the type to ask anyone to bow down, because I'm not the type to do it, myself."

Then she shrugged. "Honestly... It was on a whim. I didn't have any solid reasons when I came. I know I don't regret it. Also... Eye for an eye refers to revenge, really. As in, you stole my eyes so it's only fair I steal your's."

[Flower]

When Natalia stated that he might change his mind Flower scrunched up his face. Would he end up changing his mind? He wasn't too entirely sure what he thought of that. His ideas on fighting and other things made his life more fun and made it a thousand times easier to forget the past. In the future would he embrace his history and shape his views around that. He stuck out his tongue a little. "Gee I hope not, that sounds really boring. Everybody else should just start thinking more like me. It would solve a lot of problems like that." He meowed with a chuckle. He supposed that if he did end up changing his outlook and views on life then he'd deal with it when it happened. As for right now he wasn't changing too much.

It did sound like Deathclan had went through some changes though. Flower was almost disappointed to hear that the group was less violent than it had once been. That meant that there was less fights to be had, but as she started talking about two old Deathclanners who had shown up he was almost happy that it had changed. He wanted to fight because it was fun, not because if he didn't fight he'd die. "I guess I'd better get better at fighting then. At this moment I wouldn't say I'm particularly the best fighter out there." He stated with a sheepish smile. For how much he liked to fight he wasn't very good at it. That was one of the reasons he wanted to fight so much. Can't get better if you don't try.

"Yeah I'm not a big fan of being told what to do. Deathclan seems like the most organized group I can get without having to specifically listen to one cat's orders. It's not like I'm going to kill the leader... um... I can't remember his name right now, but yeah! I like being independent with other cats around." His explanation kind of made no sense. He enjoyed company, but he didnt enjoy taking orders. It was a pretty easy thing to grasp if he explained it properly.

Flower nodded along as she told him how she came here on a whim. When she pointed out his mistake he felt heat rise to his ears. "Ah whoops. Yeah I hadn't realized that. I guess I shouldn't really use sayings I don't fully understand." He stated as he let out a small chuckle. 

[Natalia]

Natalia gave a wry smile in response to Flower's scrunching. She imagined he didn't like the idea of his beliefs changing. His words only confirmed her suspicions. "Mm... It would, I suppose. I'm afraid that everyone's entitled to their own beliefs and opinions. Even if it makes things harder for the rest of us." She shook her head. "Plus... Wouldn't it be boring if everyone thought like you did? It'd be like talking to yourself every time you struck up conversation, wouldn't it?" She pointed out. Regardless... She knew that change was inevitable. No matter how much you didn't want it to happen. A lot of things in life happened whether you wanted it or not. She never wanted her family to fall apart, yet it did. Life just wasn't fair like that.

She could sense Flower's disappointment about her comments about the docility of Deathclan. Though, his mood seemed to change when she mentioned the possible threat on his life. She figured he viewed fighting as a sort of hobby. Honestly, it was the strangest view on fighting she'd seen. She shrugged. "You're going to have to fight for your life one day, if you plan on sticking around. I'd advise it." She agreed, her expression light, yet serious. Much like her neutral expression, which honestly... Tended to irritate cats for some reason. Perhaps it was the way she spoke, sounding almost perpetually sarcastic, even when she wasn't being sarcastic. Hm.

She hummed in response. "His name is Pain." She answered. "Personally... Having cats around or not doesn't really matter to me. But... I admit, there are a few cats whose company I do enjoy. I don't mind taking orders if I agree with them." She was lying to herself, of course. She actually did crave company, she hid it exceptionally well. Even from herself. Self-delusion was a wonderful thing.

She shrugged. "Eh. It's fine. You're young. Sometimes things you're told don't make sense until you're older. I know that from experience."