Restless Lion [For Rolo]

[Slug]

ooc: This is mostly for me and Rolo, though others may join as well. :3

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Clouds littered the red and pink sky this brisk morning, the first rays of sunshine peaking through the leaves of the forest below, making a beeline for the small, curled form laying in the center of the sandy Hollow, cascading over each strand of ginger fur, making them glow brilliantly like whisps of fire. As if sensing this new presence, Sandstream face twisted at the warmth that had fallen across his body, then slowly parted his eyes open, amber orbs dimmed from the fog of sleep.

Mming softly, Sandstream unfurled from his curled position and stretched against the sand, claws outstretched as if to grasp something, maw wide open and gaping like a toothy cave. Then like water he rose to his paws, wavering slightly before finally gaining his balance, tail rising in the air like a furry pole. Kneading the manipulative sand, Sandstream scanned his surroundings coolly before Mming again, settling his rump down comfortably onto his makeshift nest.

"I smell you." He spoke, voice soft as the lightest caress, almost a deadpan. Devoid of emotion, Sandstream struggled to fix his drowsy look and replace it with a blank slate, though it seemed to be coming out wrong. The blank slate came out with an edge, sharp and calculating.

Curse mornings and their fickle ways. Sandstream scowled, then wiped the expression from his maw, giving the foliage before him a leveled look. "Are you friend of foe?" He added, voice more firm this time.

[Rolo]

Darkstream wandered through the forest, doing nothing in particular. She had originally set out to go hunting, desperately needing to get away from camp, but she had forgotten that she lacked skill in taking down prey. She had begun stalking 3 mice and 2 voles so far, and the furthest the had gotten was in taking any of them down was getting 2 fox lengths away from one of them. Darkstream had always held a grace about her body, yes, but she still lacked the techniques and practice needed to get her own meal. Not that that mattered anyway, the male she was seducing, as she always was, usually had some food to spare her anyway.

She continued on aimlessly, her footsteps light and her movements fluid. She had not been given her warrior name for nothing, she almost seemed to dance along the floor...

Which is why, when there was a sudden voice from somewhere ahead of her, she gave a slight jump and paused for a moment. The tom's smooth voice, however, made her smile and relax immediately. It held an authority that she found instantly alluring. He sounded... powerful. Of mind or body. She wondered, briefly, what she had managed to stumble across today.

"I'm a friend." She called back lightly, with a chuckle. "I'm not strong enough to be a foe."

She continued onwards, breaking through the undergrowth so she could see the cat and he could see her, "Or maybe I am a foe to you... but I tell you that that isn't something I've decided. I'd rather be a friend." She mewed with an honest laugh.

She always played at being innocent when she met a new cat. She never knew how cats would take her if she was more dark or seductive. Besides, he needed to show this one that she wasn't a threat. After all, though his voice had been soft at first, it had become harder. He could be cautious. She had to soothe his worries.

[Slug]

Sandstream narrowed his eyes at the she-cat that almost seemed to slither through the bushes, each paw step fluid like water. She reminded him too much of a snake. Coiling, preparing... But will only attack if threatened. Sandstream logical side whispered in his ear, calming him. He visibly slouched for a moment, as if defeated, then straightened, eyeing this she-cat up and down. But it was not a predatory, needy leer; he was scanning her build. She didn't look dangerous.

But his old scars reminded him that looks were, indeed, very deceiving.

He stood with ease, sliding into a lazy stance; eyes coolly gazing into the she-cat's own, Sandstream's ginger face was devoid of emotion like earlier before, instincts kicking into gear. Techniques ran through Sandstream's mind as he shot sly glances at all the exits, then sized up the distance between the two of them. "Illogical, she-cat. Every creature is capable of injuring another: you are foe." He deadpanned, eyes dimming slightly as he pondered something.

What was the she-cat pulling? Of course she was a foe. Every creature was. There is no such thing as "friends". The obvious answer to his question was foe. This she-cat lied to him purposely. She wanted something. It was the only logical thing that Sandstream could come up with to answer his own question: Why did she lie? She was trying to get close-- to attack him, of course.

Giving a light sniff at the air, Sandstream got the sweet scent of a StreamClanner, and resisted scowling. StreamClan and MeadowClan: enemies. He concluded, muscles tightening. "StreamClanner: enemy." He said, voice clipped.

"Question: why lie?"

[Rolo]

Hmm, this cat was unusual. Very unusual... almost a perfect oxymoron. He was strong and demanding, yet defensive and questioning. It was an odd mix to find in a cat... especially one of the male division. It was strangely attractive... his exterior and stance held a battle-scarred-but-triumphant confidence, yet he had an almost kit like quality. She felt as if the poor male was just a kit at heart, a kit lost in the woods without a parent and no sense of what was dangerous and not. It was somewhat endearing.

Darkstream instantly knew that the way forward was neither dark and seductive (she would alarm him) nor sickly sweet innocence (too suspicious). She would need to play this one carefully if she were to get it right.

Darkstream stayed where she was, remaining in a standing position but letting her stance loosen as if she was not bothered by the strong tom. She looked both relaxed yet alert, as a warrior should.

"It is logical, though." She spoke calmly, looking him in the eye, "And it's not a lie. I would not lie to you, it would get me no where."

She let her gaze scan over his body, taking in his large form. She mentally smirked, pleased to find someone so strong without any effort, yet she let her features form into a slight image of fear.

"Though I am from an 'enemy' clan and I possess claws and teeth, it doesn't mean I have any intention of using them." She rolled off matter-of-factly, focusing more on his form than his face, "I wouldn't want to hurt you... I'm against fighting unless it is needed. Too many deaths come of hasty actions and short tempers." She looked back up of his face, looking reasonably subdued.

"Besides, what mousebrain would rush into battle against you? At my size and with my... somewhat frustrating lack of battle skills, I wouldn't last more than a minute."

Her tone had been soft and gentle, her words choice. She had displayed weakness in this cat's area of strength, a strategic move to get him to relax his guard. She had, after all, seen him looking for an exit if she was to attack... him knowing she was against fighting would probably set her at ease. Her tone hadn't been patronising or dark, they had merely held a 'normal' chatty quality that she hoped he would appreciate. Hopefully, she had moved correctly... hopefully her innocence and beauty would finish him off.

[Slug]

Sandstream disliked the way she was suddenly switched her personality around. It bothered him. He'd seen this happen to other cats, how they would just stop, then changed into another person intirely. It was like a disease... so was the she-cat sick? She didn't smell sick, but you didn't have to in order to be sick. 'Split personality, perhaps?' His logical side whispered, curious. Illogical, Sandstream responded. 'She-cat: pretending?' Ah. The was the word he was looking for, pretending.

Well, two could play this game.

He gave a charming smile, relaxing. "If what you say is true, then prove it to me." He calmly demanded, taking a few steps closer to the she-cat, then circling her. Like a shark. A hungry shark. With each step, his claws unsheathed, hidden in the grass, and when he lifted them, the sheathed; repeating this process, Sandstream began to think.

'The she-cat is obviously trying to manipulate you. She wants something from us. Find out what.' Logic hissed, angered by this. Sandstream mutely nodded at the air. Glancing back at the she-cat, he kept his smile and asked "You're a pretty she-cat, so you must have a pretty name, right?" He gave a cheeky grin at that, giving a show of eyeing her up and down, seeming to leer a little.

'What are you doing, fool? You're laying it on too thick!' Logic cried, exasperated. 'It's obvious as broad daylight! Stop flirting and get to the bottom of this.' Logic demanded, seething. 'As you wish...' Sandstream murmured back, then stopped his circling and gave the she-cat a poisonus look, then took a couple of steps back, muscles straining as they prepared to jump. 'Yes. Subdued her and get answers. Now.' Logic hissed eagerly.

And then Sandstream promptly sat down, much to Logic's frustration, who gave a screech of fury. 'No!' Came the cry as Sandstream pushed Logic away. It seemed Logic was getting carried away these days... Sandstream would handle this his own way.

"What is the purpose behind your actions, she-cat?" He demanded, voice cold as ice; Sandstream's face was blank as fresh snow, yet his eyes held authority.