a wanderers folly (p)

[Falconpaw]

Falconpaw trudged along dandelion hill, trampling over budding dandelions with a focused look on his face. The sun was setting, casting long shadows, and fireflies began to dot the sky--as well as all the other annoying bugs that seemed to surface at twilight. He dusky tabby grunted as a mosquito eater flew right into his face.

The young tom had decided, stupidly, now that he thought about it, to take a walk through the territory and get re-acquainted with the borders on his day off. I really should've asked Mothpaw to come with me... he thought, regretting that he hadn't taken the time to seek out his friend. If she wasn't able to come she would've at least had the sense to talk him out of it. Now he was lost, unable to tell which direction would lead back to camp. 

He halted, ears perking up when he heard Swanfrost's footsets. Is it a fox? he thought, unable to see where the noise was coming from and what was making it. "Is someone there? he called out calmly as he climbed closer to the hill top, stretching out his neck to see if he could spot where the pawsteps were coming from.

[Swanfrost]

Swanfrost had another restless night. It was probably from napping so much, though she would never admit that to herself. She steadily climbed up the decently slopes hill, the dandelion buds brushing against her paws.

She pulled herself up the last bit, sighing heavily in relief. It was basically night after all, and already the glowing bugs had began to come out. Her body was drained enough, not to mention she had just hunted earlier.

Swanfrost had caught the scent of another cat earlier, though decided not to bother him. Although once he began calling out to her, she grinned. Swiftly circling around him, though not close enough to be seen, she made her way so she was down wind. Slowly she approached him, in a neatly perfected hunters crouch, before pouncing. She aimed for his back to knock him over, a loud, un-cat like screech leaving her mouth. Hopefully he would be terrified.

[Falconpaw]

The fur on the back of Falconpaw's spine began to prick. He'd been trained for battle, yes, but he'd never seen a fox and he highly doubted he'd be able to take one on all by himself. As much as it hurt his pride to admit such a thing, he knew his limits. The tom's ears fell flat against his head when he heard an absurd screech come from behind him. He turned on his heels to face the noise, only to be tackled to the ground. He let out a short gasp. Reflexively, he unsheathed his claws and struck upwards, eyes narrowing as he tried to figure out exactly what thew white mass on top of him was. Fur nearly shoved up his nose, he clearly picked up FireClan scent. Wait... FireClan? yes, now that he was able to get a better look his attacker seemed to be a clanmate. The tabby realized he was still lashing out with unsheathed claws, and went still, sheathed his claws and looking up at Swanfrost with uncharacteristic surprise. "Oh, woah, sorry," Falconpaw mewed in his usual monotonous voice, although there was a hint of confusion mixed in. He wasn't too sure what was going on, and was in too much shock to be mad at the she-cat.

[Swanfrost]

Swanfrost wasn't exactly able to dodge his flailing paws from her position, so she took most of the hits. Rolling off him she huffed, shaking out her thin pelt. Perhaps leaping onto her clan mate unannounced wasn't the greatest idea. She looked herself over, noticing how nothing had gone too deep. After all, she was on top of him before, so he didn't have much room to strike out. Swanfrost looked towards him, grinning wildly. "Woah, I didn't expect you to go full out killer on me." She sat down calmly, ignoring the stinging of her wounds for now. "Come on, I totally got you! It was funny!" She insisted, blue eyes gleaming in the moonlight. During the day she was a total grump, and thought she didn't have time for any fun. At night it was a different story.

[Falconpaw]

Falconpaw sat up, long pelt ruffled and skewed in all different directions. He sniffed the air, alarmed as he picked up the salty scent of blood. His gaze immediately went to where he had struck at the she-cat. "Sorry," he mewed again, feeling a bit guilty, but still picking up on the calmness in the warrior's voice--figuring that it meant she hadn't been too badly wounded. "Hope I didn't get you hurt." 

The dusky tabby tipped his head to the side at the she-cat's excitement. Got me? Falconpaw guessed that he had been startled and, maybe, just a little scared as well. He let the corner of his mouth twitch upwards in defeat. "I guess it was kinda funny," he admitted, his voice more expressive than his visage. Falconpaw figured that that she-cat might've had more fun pouncing on a more expressive cat, but the adrenaline that was still pumping through his veins was giving him a tiny rush that he found rather pleasant.

[Swanfrost]

"You didn't hurt me, don't worry about it." Swanfrost waved a paw nonchalantly, grooming her chest fur to flatten it down. He had gotten a few good hits in, but it was nothing she couldn't handle.

Swanfrost tilted her head slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. He was rather odd. She wondered if he was purposefully blocking off most of his expressions,or if it just came naturally to him. "I'm Swanfrost, by the way." She decided to throw out an introduction, considering she had just tackled him to the ground it only seemed fitting.

[Falconpaw]

Falconpaw began to straighten out his disheveled pelt, amber eyes glowing dully, not believing that the she-cat hadn't got at least a little hurt. The dusky tabby knew he had gotten at least a few hits in, there was a white tuft of fur in his back claws to prove it, but he wasn't going to question her judgement; she wasn't a kit she knew her limits, he wasn't going to push her to see the medicine cat if she didn't think she needed too.

"Falconpaw," the fluffy tom replied, offering his own name. He found Swanfrost a bit... eccentric, to say the least, but he didn't really mind. Normal was boring. "So," the apprentice straightened his shoulders, finally getting his long pelt set back into place, "does everyone you meet get such a warm welcome, or am I special?" He quirked one of his ears to the side in place of titling his head, the faintest of a teasing tone in his otherwise emotionless voice.

[Swanfrost]

"Falconpaw." Swanfrost repeated, her tongue tapping the top of her mouth in thought. "Falconpaw." She said it firmer, mostly to herself, staring at him with an intense gaze. She was trying to understand if it suited him or not. She did this with everyone, just..... usually she did it in her head. She was over tired, a little giddy, and really could care less what the apprentice thought of her anyway.

"Don't think so highly of yourself." She scoffed, standing to her full height. Which really wasn't much. Swanfrost circled him, prodding at his side rather dramatically. "Are you always so dead inside, or am I just special?" She mocked him, a playful tone in her voice. It seemed that the more she aged, the more childish she became. Odd.

[Falconpaw]

Falconpaw tipped his head to the side as Swanfrost repeated his name, confused as to what she was doing. It was strange, but he decided to brush it off and not question it. Clearly this warrior was a little weird.

The dusky tabby watched in amusement as Swanfrost circled him like a vulture, not even flinching as she prodded his side. "Oh, no, you're just special," he drawled in a sarcastic tone, snorting a bit in amusement. 

[Swanfrost]

"Aw, I feel so honoured." She stated just as sarcastically, sitting down behind him with a lopsided grin. "So, what brings you out here on this fine night?" She purred, flexing her claws in front of her face.

(Sorry short)