Who's Afraid?::Open

[fallenshadow]

Umberblaze's tail flicked. His eyes searched the Twoleg nest, remembering as an apprentice how they would dare one another to go inside. Of course Umberblaze always thought it was ridiculous and tromped inside even without the others egging him on. The place was obviously abandoned what was there to fear? Nothing that would pose a large threat, at least not to Umberblaze.

But then again that could be the old Umberblaze popping back up. The ruddy tom couldn't help but sigh, it seemed no matter how many times he beat down that self righteous cat it kept returning. Perhaps it was time to accept that that cat was always going to be apart of him.

Then again that meant losing and he hated losing, Umberblaze didn't care how much he would have to change, he hatred towards losing would always remain.

So why was he just sitting here having a staring eye contest with a Twoleg nest (which he was losing). Pushing himself up Umberblaze padded towards the nest, after all who's afraid of the big bad twoleg nest?

He was a few paw steps inside before pausing at the sound of another cat's approaching paw steps.

[Lemon Zinger]

Frostfoot had to get out of camp. He just couldn't stand to be there. His thoughts were (as usual) completely on Silentsong. When would he ever be able to see her again. Then he saw Umberblaze ahead and paused. "Oh, hi." He said. He didn't know Umberblaze too well, but was bothered by making friends like some cats. He was going to tear Eagletalon apart one of these days...

[fallenshadow]

Umberblaze released the breath that up til now he hadn't realized he had been holding. Why was he holding it in the first place? Didn't he just go over there was nothing to fear here, ugh this was just getting weird. Relieved (though he would state otherwise) that the newcomer was one of his own clanmates Umberblaze quickly ran the other tom's face through his head quickly coming up with a name, Frostfoot.

Umberblaze liked knowing every cats name both inside and outside of his clan. Else he may look like a fool and by star clan he hated that...too. "Hey Frostfoot," Umberblaze's ear flicked at the sound of a mouse scampering inside the nest, "Didn't hear you,". The ruddy tom took notice that Frostfoot's eyes were slightly distant, as if his mind was on other things. Great, Umberblaze took a breath. "Are you..okay?" he managed to say.

[Lemon Zinger]

((It's foot, not fur, sorry, my mistake))

Frostfoot nodded. "Yeah, I guess. I suppose you heard about the gathering? Well that stupid Windclan cat has it coming." Frostfoot had been admonished for the argument with the other clan cat, but Frostfoot was far from apologetic, insisting that Eagletalon had started it and should be taught a lesson.
Not that he said as much to Thunderstar...

[fallenshadow]

I suppose you heard about the gathering?

Umberblaze's ear flattened against his skull. No, he hadn't heard what happened, perhaps a few whispers about another tom Eaglesomething but Umberblaze didn't look much into it. I guess it was because he didn't care much about gossip, sure it could be intriguing but what good came of it? Unless Umberblaze could be sure that whatever was being said was completely true he didn't think much about it. However here was Frostfoot and apparently he was apart of, well whatever happened.
'
"Actually, no I haven't," he replied, "What happened?"

[Lemon Zinger]

"Well, I was simply trying to meet a Windclan cat and talk to her, and her father practically clawed my ears off. What's the point of a Gathering if we can't even talk to one another?" He asked. Then he realized he was ranting. "Sorry, I didn't mean to it out on you."

[fallenshadow]

"Just trying to talk to her huh?" Umberblaze inquired. He heard more scampering coming from the Twoleg nest. Turning his head to look inside he snorted. Oh it would just take a moment. Flicking an ear at Frostfoot in a sort of apology Umberblaze crouched down and creeped inside of the nest. His paws slid against the foreign ground. There you are, he thought spotting his prey.

Pressing himself down just so his belly fur brushed against the floor Umberblaze lept. He trapped the mouse between his paws the quickly nipped it in the back of its neck. Quickly he picked up his prey and returned to Frostfoot. "Sorry, couldn't help myself," he said once placing the mouse down.

"Now correct me if I'm wrong, but because gatherings are a time of peaceful gatherings between clans there has to be some reason her father reacted the way that he did," Umberblaze said scrapping at the ground.

[Lemon Zinger]

"Nice catch." Frostfoot congratulated. "And I wasn't doing anything really, I was just trying to talk to her, but Eagletalon acted like I was trying to kill her."
Nevermind the fact he loved her, that could go unsaid. And would remain unsaid.

[fallenshadow]

His whiskers twitched. Sure the tom wanted to pry a bit but that would go against his nature. Everyone was entitled to their own secrets he hadn't one himself just yet. Well did the fact that he practically had a suicide mission? Perhaps that was a bit much, he just wanted to throw himself at the first fox he saw. They deserved to die the wretched things trying to kill him before he was even properly trained.

Umberblaze blinked realizing he was subconsciously tearing up the dirt he standing on. "Of course you weren't trying to kill her, Eagletalon must be an overly protective father, I feel bad for the she-cat,"

[Zephyr]

"Why so tense?" Acornscramble stepped out from behind a tree. She beamed amicably at them. "Sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear some of your conversation. You were talking about the Gathering?" Her tail swung excitedly from side to side. She hadn't been selected to go, and she'd been hunting all morning. Otherwise, she would have been the first to ask.

[fallenshadow]

Umberblaze flicked the dirt and grass off of his paws, the ruddy brown now more brown than ruddy. Ugh he hated the taste of earth. He would just find a puddle to clean them off in later. He lifted his head to look at the new comer the corner of his mouth twitched upwards at seeing it was Acornscramble, "Who's tense? Not me," he said dismissively. "We are, I'm trying to figure out what happened," Umberblaze looked at Frostfoot out of the corner of his eye.

[Lemon Zinger]

"Eagletalon was trying to start a fight." Frostfoot spat the name like it was a piece of crowfood. He was still angry about it, and talking only kept his mind on it. "Windclan cats are so irritable." He said, clawing the dirt. A part of him wanted there to be a fight, just so he could have an excuse to dig his claws into the pelt of Eageltalon, but he didn't say as much.

[Zephyr]

"A fight? With who? What happened? Did anyone get hurt? Did StarClan cover the moon? What did Northstar have to say about it?" Acornscramble fired out rapidly. Sometimes her own curiosity got away from her.

[Lemon Zinger]

"Eagletalon just got his fur ruffled over nothing. There wasn't actually a fight, it just got rather close. No Starclan didn't cover the moon." Frostfoot said. "And I'm sure I don't know what Northstar said about it, I don't go traipsing into Windclan's camp after all." The last line wasn't meant to sound harsh, he just wanted to sound bitter. It wasn't yet time for the clan to know the truth.

[Zephyr]

"Well," Acornscramble said, her eyes bright, "it sounds like quite an eventful night! So, what are we doing standing around outside the old Twoleg Nest? We should see what's inside." She started padding toward the nest. "Are you two coming?"

[fallenshadow]

Umberblaze tilted his head to one side, there wasn't a fight that was a good thing, no sense making Starclan upset for no reason."I don't doubt that, but if Eagletalon decides to galavant close to our borders maybe you can settle things then," he meowed. Turning his attention towards Acornscramble he sighed at her eagerness. With a flick of his paw he covered his mouse with the ground he accidently tore up, "Lead the way,"

[Lemon Zinger]

"Let's go!" Frostfoot said, earger to investigate. He'd been inside before of course, but it was always a bit chilling and more than a little spooky. Just reminded Frostfoot why he never wanted to be a kittypet. He'd miss the wide open spaces and the freedom you couldn't find behind the walls of a twolegged den.

[Zephyr]

(oops, guess I'm supposed to post next)
Seeing that the two toms were following, she picked up her pace and practically ran into the Nest. Once inside, Acornscramble slowed and began to investigate. The floor felt strange under her paws, like it was covered in water without actually being wet. She passed through an opening in the wall of the den and the ground under her became soft. She bent down to sniff it and recoiled at the odor. She continued into the den, wondering at Twolegs and their weirdness.

[Lemon Zinger]

"Hey, whats this?" Frostfoot said, finding a small round object. He didn't dare touch it, but sniffed it. It was blue, a very dark blue, like the night sky, but it had no stars. It was a hard to fathom what the use of it was.

[fallenshadow]

Umberblaze followed the two in not nearly as excited as Acornscramble, cause, well it was just an empty twoleg nest right? Crossing over to Frostfoot he examined the object sniffing it as well his goldenish green eyes flickered up to Frostfoot then back to the object before carefully tapping it with his paw. "Hmm, I don't know," he murmured, he was going to recommend to Frostfoot that he should taste it but seeing as how it belonged to twolegs, that probably wasn't the best course of action.

Looking around Umberblaze padded over to some kind of attachment to the nest's walls. From what he could determine, it looked like panels were connected to its front. Nudging his paw between the panel and the wall he pulled it open. The panel opened with a loud creek. Umberblaze sniffed the interior first to make sure there was nothing inside before padding inside.

"Sure is dark in here,"

Notes; I always hate it when my cats go in my cupboards

[Zephyr]

Acornscramble found her way to another opening. The ground sloped, and ...logs?... made steps downward, into the earth. "Hey, I think I found a cave! What would a Twoleg need a cave for, though?" She padded down into it slowly, sniffing the air periodically to see what was around her. "You're right, Umberblaze, it is really dark around here."

[Lemon Zinger]

"Twoleggeds are foolish, who knows what they think." Frostfoot replied to Acornscramble. He padded over to her and his sharp eyes cut into the gloom. He peered around, seeing if there was anything of use. He felt a chill go up his spine and he jumped down a couple more steps before he lost all his courage. As his landed on one though it made a loud crack. Fortunately it didn't entirely gave way, but the rushing of wings and rush of air told him they had disturbed a next of birds.

(Or bats *shudder*)

[fallenshadow]

Umberblaze sniffed around the dark space. He quickly realized it was very enclosed having almost run into one of its sides. There was a strange smell that he couldn't figure out. His paw nudged something. Whatever it was it was light and something fell out of it. Leaning down he sniffed it again before snorting. It smelled sour. Dragging it back through where he entered Umberblaze could see what it was. Very small bluish green pellets in some kind of black dish. He briefly looked around for Acornscramble or Frostfoot but saw neither of them, that's when he caught sight of the open entrance.

Umberblaze shook his head trying to dislodge the cobwebs that he knew were covering his head. Seeing as how they didn't budge Umberblaze gave up then ran down the steps passing Frostfoot. Hearing the sound of movement Umberblaze looked up. He couldn't see anything but now he wanted to know what was up there. Finding a tall cylindrical device ((Water heater thing)) Umberblaze jumped on top of it. "Come out come out where ever you are," Umberblaze said softly.

[Zephyr]

Hearing nothing, Acornscramble cautiously padded into the cave, avoiding the log that had disturbed the inhabitants. She caught sight of more rotten wood piled along the side of the cave. The light from outside shone down on it, illuminating a portion of the cave. A mouse darted out of the pile, then froze as it caught sight of her. She quickly pounced. The creature scurried away from her outstretched paws and towards the stairs where her Clanmates were waiting. "Prey coming your way!" she yowled, hoping they could catch it before it got too far.

[Lemon Zinger]

Frostfoot leaped and landed on the mouse, killing it with the sheer force of his descent. However, he managed to twist his right forepaw in the process and grunted with mild pain. It wasn't too bad, and certainly wasn't broken, but it might slow him up a bit. He narrowed his eyes in displeasure at the sloppy land, but at least he'd caught the mouse. He looked up where Umberblaze was perched. "See anything?" He called softly.