Fancy Meeting you Here. [P]

[Deleted]

Silentstrike didn't usually go on aimless walks but tonight was an anomaly. The sun had long since set and the moon governed the sky in its place. Branches swayed as a breeze picked up and he let out a sigh. Clan life had been hectic - even for a warrior like him - with all the rebuilding. Many had died in order for the Clans to begin anew and the ghosts of cats long gone clung to his thoughts. They're somewhere better, I suppose.

The forest around him began to thin out and yet he still padded onward. It wasn't until a scent marking hit his nostrils that he stopped. Wait, what? The fishy scent of HazeClan made him wrinkle his nose. His thoughts had made him walk on autopilot apparently and now he was practically on a rival Clan's territory. 

The tabby tom was about to turn around and walk off when he heard a sound nearby. His ears pricked forward in interest. "Who's there?" He called out.

[Pearlstar]

How Pearlstar had ended up so close to the ShadeClan territory was beyond him. His last meeting with Antlerstar had scared him enough that he wanted practically nothing to do with her clan- which, considering their alliance, was odd. But then again, Antlerstar herself was odd, and that was argument enough. At least, it was for Pearl.

As luck would have it (and luck did seem to be against him as of late), of course Pearlstar wasn't alone. He wanted to leave, to pretend that he hadn't sighted a cat so close to the border- after all, it's not like this one would be inclined to necessarily take him seriously. He looked like an apprentice, to begin with. There was no doubt that he was ridiculed by some of the other clans, disregarding Antlerstar's infatuation with him.

But if he fled, how would HazeClan look? He had to be brave, and stand his ground.

"Pearlstar, of HazeClan," he greeted. "Who are you?"

[Deleted]

The tom standing before him was tiny and not to mention young. He couldn't be more than apprentice aged. Why is he leading a Clan?! Silentstrike shook off the thought, his expression carefully neutral.

"Pearlstar, well, what a surprise. I must say I wasn't aware HazeClan took to appointing kits for leader positions." He supposed it was only proper to introduce himself, "I'm Silentstrike of ShadeClan. You know, it is quite dark out shouldn't you be tucked safely away in the Nursery? Oh, sorry I mean leader's den, simple slip of the tongue, my apologies." He held back a smirk. It wasn't fair in the grand scheme of things that a little kitten like Pearlstar had the power to lead a Clan while Silentstrike was stuck with warrior duties.

[Pearlstar]

Pearlstar raised his chin in defiance of Silentstrike, but neither frowned nor smiled. If his eyes betrayed nothing, then he would be safe. The conversation had instantly become a game to him; whoever got angry first lost.

"Ah, you know, Silentstrike," the leader grinned, feigning courtesy. "I don't often have to humor cats- no, my clan is much more mature than that, but I suppose this is an exception. There is a first for everything."

He pursed his lip, before continuing. "Oh, well, you know, some of us don't take as long as others to become good at what we do- pity that envy can turn a cat bitter, isn't it? I believe the proper term is age before beauty, but maybe this time a more suiting phrase would be pearls before swine," Pearlstar finished, the light of his eyes flickering deviously at the wordplay of his name.

[Deleted]

Rage boiled under his skin, the kind that made him want to lash out in anger. It was a challenge, he could read it clear as day in the leader's eyes. It unnerved him that a cat so young was able to withstand his barrage of insults.

"Big vocabulary for one so small. I am so impressed. How clever of you to incorporate your own name in an insult." He took a pause to lick his chest fur, feigning boredom, "I could never be jealous of you. Your Clan is the last one I would ever want to lead, what with all your clanmates stinking of fish. No, I'm perfectly content as a warrior."

[Pearlstar]

"Oh? Your leader has taken a liking to HazeClan. She's only over here every other day," he paused, whiskers twitching in amusement. Pearlstar's eyes glittered- perhaps with the intention of pushing at Silentstrike's buttons, manipulating him to feel the emotions he wanted him to feel. After all, this was a game. It didn't have to be. It could have been a conversation.

Silentstrike had instigated it.

"Like I said," Pearl paused, raising a paw to lick it and draw it over his ear. "Some of us don't take as long developing as others. Maybe it's all that fish that makes us so great. Never know what you're missing out on, huh? Ignorance is bliss- well, not in some cases."

[Deleted]

"Antlerstar is irrelevant to this conversation, though, with your lack of experience mistakes are to be expected." He could take the bait offered to him. He could unsheathe his claws and end this little game. But, he had started it and Silentstrike didn't back down easily.

"You blame your greatness on fish? All fish does is make your breath stink." He wrinkled his nose in disgust, "In fact, I can smell it on you right now. And I would rather become a kittypet than try a morsel of fish." He paused. Why was he babbling on about fish?

"Maturity comes with experience which you have little of." He pointed out, pleased with his logic.

[Pearlstar]

"Unfortunately leadership comes with patience and skills that with all the experience in the world I feel you will still lack," Pearlstar sneered. He ignored the fish comments- they weren't significant to him, and completely disregarded the comment on Antlerstar. Silentstrike had a point. The leader's random infatuation with him didn't make HazeClan any greater of a clan.

"The difference between you and I, what makes me a leader and you a warrior, is not how physically old I am- it's the qualities that I show that you do not. Respect is one of them. You aren't going to get very far in your career at all if you can't learn who is superior to you and who is inferior. I am not of the latter."

[Deleted]

"You feel I lack them or you know? You hardly know me. A few words exchanged between us does not determine my skill set. First get to know me before you fully judge me." He was being a hypocrite and he knew it. It had been him that had judged Pearlstar on appearance after all. Silentstrike's argument was beginning to crumble.

Truth was always harsh. It stung to know he had been showed up by a little youngster. "Perhaps." The word left his throat in a low tone, "But, you earn respect. It is not freely given. And you have not earned mine as of yet."

[Pearlstar]

"I know," Pearlstar replied, lifting his tail in upmost confidence. "I know because you are not the leader, nor you are the deputy. You are not of any high rank- you're hardly in your seniority! Really though if you want to be a senior warrior I could change dem stars."

Pearl narrowed his eyes; his paws were twitching to leave a mark on Silentstrike that he would always remember, but the leader restrained himself.

"And neither you nor your clan have mine. Walk with me, if you feel that this conversation is not through. I have grown weary sitting at your border."

[Deleted]

Silentstrike curled his lip in aggression. "In time I will prove you wrong. Make me a senior. I need wisdom."

He glared at Pearlstar unsure of his angle. Wouldn't he want to flee this little argument? "I see no harm in it. Good luck keeping up with those tiny legs of yours." He stood up, prepared to take the lead.

[Pearlstar]

"Oh, that's funny. Last time I checked in the line of clan hierarchy, the leader comes first will do the right now," he snickered, bounding ahead and slowly dragging his tail across the feline's shoulder teasingly, before whisking it away.

"But, you can have the honor of choosing where to go." he suggested, mockingly.

(Crap posts x-x Sorry, rather busy ^-^)