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Description

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | ( Fire Tribe Camp ) Pheasant Woods }

Dawn light washed through the hollow, softly licking at the volcano's flanks and bathing the sandy ground in mild pinkish light. Cats were moving in the Fire Tribe camp, still weary from sleep, blinking dust from their eyes as they drowsily headed for the fresh-kill pile, or - a little less sleepy - out for a hunting party or boundary patrol.

Wanda poked her head out the Guards' den, her jaws gaping in a huge yawn. Stretching, the Orange-Pink-Fire made a few steps out into the clearing, and over to the entrance. A quick little run would surely warm her up.

On either side of the worn-out path she followed were flowers growing, plants and grass, even in the dusty and sandy grounds of Fire Tribe. The further she got from the territory's heart, the lusher the growing became, until, when she crossed the border into the Neutral Territory, soft ferns brushed her elbows and knees.

This early time of the day had always been one of Wanda's favorites. Ears laid back, she picked up her pace, the still chilly air of early spring morning piercing her chest fur as she hurtled past the first trees of Pheasant Woods, and clearing her throat. She felt the air around her couldn't have been cleaner.

Panting, she finally slowed down when she emerged from the woods into an open space, not big, but big enough to support five cats in there without it being crowded.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

A purr born of content rumbled in Tuari's slight chest as she buried the remains of her breakfast. The young warrior apprentice had decided to leave camp a bit early today - slipping out before the sun rose. She hadn't really had a plan as to what she was going to do after slipping out but after her belly rumbled angrily she hadn't needed to. Catching a few mice was easy, most due to the fact that they were either sluggish or asleep. Tuari had also caught a few extra mice to bring back to camp when she returned.

But, as of now she lounged about in the clearing she'd found. Her head rested atop her paws as she watched ants march back to their homes, small bites of food in their jaws. I wonder what it's like to be an ant. What do they think of cats? Do they think?

The she-cat entertained herself with these questions and more before she eventually grew bored and pushed herself up to a sitting position. "Well ... might as well groom my fur." She mewed to no one in particular, her jaws parting in a yawn as she lazily began to lick her chest fur. Of the many things Tuari was, well groomed tended to not be one of them.

She had just finished her lazy grooming attempt when another cat came padding into the clearing. Tuari's muscles tensed briefly, though it was more from surprise than hostility. The Pink-Orange-Water hadn't heard the newcomer approach, not that that exactly said much as Tuari wasn't always the most observant of cats.

"Good morning." She greeted, getting to her paws and smiling at the newcomer. Interest flickered through her pale gaze when she saw the tattoo located on the other feline's eye. "I've never met a Fire-Triber before." She added a few seconds later, blue eyes meeting blue eyes as Tuari actually looked at the Fire-Triber and not her tattoo.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods

When Wanda came out into the clearing, the cool air had cleared her breathing and she felt fresh as never before. She loved this season with all her heart - no cold snow underpaw, and yet no heat that made it hard and exhausting to run.

Only now, the Orange-Pink-Water noticed a flicker of movement, and raised her head. A few tail-lengths away sat a young she-cat. Wanda blinked at her out of color-blind blue eyes. With the routine of three months in the Tribes she distinguished her Water Tribe tattoo to be Orange-Pink, like her own Fire tattoo was. Wanda was used to guessing a cat's tattoo color by their gray shade. She could only really see hints of color when her tattoo was activated, and even then only on the left eye, which said tattoo framed.

When she made a step forward to greet the Orange-Pink-Water, she tripped over her own toes, and, before she could catch herself, landed chest-first in the lush grass.

Hot with embarrassment, she rose up, shaking grass stems from her coat, which was still kind of muddy, because she was not one who cared a lot about a flawless fur. »Uhum, hi«, she murmured to her. She was about to add something snappy, like 'why are you staring?' or something similar, but sharply bit it back. After all, it had been her fault. She hated this, but she was even more impressed by herself not to lose her temper, being angry about herself. She cleared her throat and stepped forward to meet the Water Triber. »You're up early«, she mewed.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari smiled slightly when the newcomer tripped and fell chest first into the grass. She politely glanced away as the Pink-Orange-Fire stood and dusted herself off. After a few more seconds the warrior apprentice looked back to Wanda. Her ears flicked back at the hostility in the she-cat's blue gaze and for a moment Tuari was offended. It wasn't her fault that the Pink-Orange-Fire apparently didn't know how to walk properly. She opened her maw to let loose a sharp comment but abruptly closed it when Wanda spoke.

Her slight shoulders lifted in a shrug at the other feline's comment. "As are you." She replied with a smile, sitting down and wrapping her tail around her paws. "I was restless. I needed to get out of camp for a bit, clear my head and whatnot. It's been a tiring few days." She mewed in further explanation. "What about you? Why are you up so early?" Tuari's pale eyes filled with innocent curiosity as she waited for her new companion to answer.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods

Wanda sat down on her haunches, as the Orange-Pink-Water replied, cocking her head to one side slightly at the mentioning of being restless.
»Well«, she mewed when her companion had stopped speaking. »I had an early run to take.« She didn't feel this needed more explanation. Sometimes you're just hyper active and you need to stretch your muscles in a warm-up race through the woods. She opened her jaws and let a yawn escape, before she turned back to the Water Tribe she-cat. »Name's Azure, by the way.«
Of course it was not Wanda's true name, but her kit name, and it still felt right to introduce herself by that one. She smiled lightly, raising her gaze and looked directly into the Orange-Pink-Water's eyes. That was a habit of hers, often intimidating, sometimes helpful, and somehow she felt more comfortable seeing her companion's eyes directly. As if she could see deeper into the soul than just by looking at their face. Like she could pre-detect any emotional changes.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari nodded slightly at Wanda's simple explanation. She wanted to question more but something told her that the darkly hued Fire Triber didn't want to explain more. However that simply left Tuari all the more curious. Why didn't the Pink-Orange-Fire want to explain more. Was she running away from someone, something? Was it for training or simply the joy of running? The desire to have her questions answered left Tuari unconsciously kneading the earth with her front paws.

"I'm Cricket." The Snowshoe responded after the Fire Triber, Azure now, said her 'name'. The young she-cat was unsure if her companion had given her her Spirit given name, though she supposed it made no difference either way. A name was a name. Names changed, cats changed - it was irrelevant in the long run.

Tuari met Wanda's gaze steadily, yawning slightly as her eyes held the other feline's darker ones. "Any particular reason we're having a staring contest? I mean, I know that my looks are stunning but really now, must we stare?" If it weren't for the amused twinkle and the grin on Tuari's maw her words could be taken as rude and conceited; as it were they came off as more playful with an underlining of curiosity.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

Curiosity came in waves from the she-cat next to Wanda, and she felt uneasy, knowing she had questions but didn't know which ones. And the Orange-Pink-Water -Cricket - didn't seem up for really asking them. That was something Wanda herself didn't know - when there was something she was interested in, she did ask her questions. She rued it sometimes, afterwards, but it had never stopped her from questioning others.

At the young she-cat's question, Wanda cocked her head slightly to one side, giving an even shrug, but didn't look away before having searched Cricket's light blue gaze once more. »That's if you insist on making it one.«, she meowed evenly, flicking her tail over her paws. »Are you a Primary or Secondary Water?«, she asked, wondering a brief moment whether she was being tactless, but discarded the thought a heartbeat later. Curiosity was not something bad, after all.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari smiled slightly at the Pink-Orange-Fire's reply to her sassy question. She was glad the she-cat hadn't gotten all huffy and offended because then that would have made things awkward. Ruse always did say Tuari acted more like a tom than she did a she-cat, especially in terms of communication. Why this was a bad thing the Snowshoe didn't know - generally speaking tomcats were direct and straightforward when they spoke. They didn't beat around the bush, so to say, as much as she-cats and Tuari found that simple honesty refreshing. Lies were beyond her and she still, at a year old, couldn't understand why someone would want to lie. If you did the action then you should be able to say you did it, was how she viewed the topic.

Pale eyes flickered back into focus at the sound of Wanda's voice and it took a moment for Tuari to process the question, her mind still on the 'lying' topic. "Hmm? Oh. I'm a primary. You? How long have you lived in the Tribes?" The predominately cream she-cat shuffled her paws as her energy levels rose yet again.

Tuari never could sit down and talk for hours on end. She always needed to be moving and acting and doing. As a result small talk was a chore for her. She would prefer to get right down into deep dark secrets - in fact, that was probably the she-cat's most favorite past time. Tuari loved getting to know the things that cats kept hidden. She wanted to open everyone up, take a look inside and see what made them tick, what they hid, what they feared and what they aspired to be. Why was anyone's guess. Some might call it being nosy but Tuari liked to say that she simply had a 'curiosity of life.

Abruptly, the warrior apprentice stood, her body fairly shaking with repressed energy. "How about we walk and talk?" She suggested, briefly meeting Wanda's eyes, claws kneading the ground yet again as she forced herself not to hop about in an effort to release some of her energy.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

»Secondary«, Wanda answered briefly, eyes glittering mischievously at Cricket's questions. »Oh, I've been here long enough to know how crazy you all are«, she answered innocently, flicking a bit of mud playfully at her companion's paws.

Wanda, over this time, grew more and more easy to make friends - when she'd been out, as an exile, she'd been pretty quick-tempered, and sometimes that was still to be seen as showing through the friendliness she'd built up in contact with the Tribe cats. Did she like this new self? Yes. Did she miss the old one? Yes.

She shook off her guessing, and stood ahead of Cricket. »You seem eager to set off«, she mewed, searching the Orange-Pink-Water's eyes again, then smiled. »How about we race? Up to that tree over there?«

Gesturing with her tail, Wanda stood beside her so they would start at the same line. Then she pelted off, ears flat against the frontal wind, paws flying. She wasn't one of her Tribe's fastest cats, but with her rather compact body she was built not for top speed, but instead for stamina. She knew she couldn't win a sprint race, but the tree was quite a few fox-lengths up the clearing, where it half vanished in the darkness. If she was lucky, her companion was fast but not as persistent. In that case she might have a chance to tire her by the time they reached their finish.

Wanda knew that racing her was being a bit childish, but having grown up only among boys her age, it wasn't hard to forget that and have fun. Wanda was truly a cat to live for the moment.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari nodded her head and made a mental note to ask Sooka was Fire Tribe's secondary abilities entailed. A laugh fell from her maw at Wanda's words and she grinned, blue eyes bright. "I like you." She chuckled, flicking a bit of mud back at her companion.

"Just a little bit." Tuari mewed bashfully, "I can never sit still for very long." The warrior apprentice's eyes lit up at the mentions of a race and a wide grin spread across her maw. "That sounds lovely." She didn't bother hiding the excitement in her voice, muscles trembling as she fought the urge bolt.

She trotted over to the line Wanda indicated and let out a woop! of happiness as she saw Wanda take off. Tuari took off after the darkly hued she-cat, her lean build and long legs allowing her to easily catch up to her companion.

Tuari was built for running - having inherited her mother's slender body and long legs while keeping her father's stamina. There were few cats, who weren't in Air - Tribe that is, that could rival her. But Tuari was also known for her rashness and lack of patience. She very rarely used her stamina and preferred simply to sprint and sprint.

As a result Tuari began to slow slightly as they got nearer to the tree. She'd built a decent gap between herself and the Fire Triber but if the other she-cat gave one last push she might be able to overtake the tiring Snowshoe.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

Darting along the forest floor, the gray greenery around her just a blur, Wanda pelted through the bushes and flew across a tangle of brambles that lay in her way.
Only after less than one hundred feet the other she-cat overtook her, now racing in the lead.

Wanda smiled in light amusement as her earlier guess seemed to be true - Cricket was panting already, now that they had about half the way done, while Wanda was still breathing relatively steady.

When the Orange-Pink-Water started slowing slightly, Wanda heaved onward, pelting beside her, head lowered against the buffeting wind. Her target was only a few more fox-lengths off. But Wanda wasn't built for a finish like this.
She fell back a little, just before they reached the tree, just a nose-length, but still easy to notice. Fuck!, Wanda thought, clawing the grass impatiently. She'd always been an ambitious cat, and she didn't like losing.

With a sigh, she shook off her disappointment and laughed at Cricket, eyes glittering. »I like you, too«, she answered to the she-cat's earlier comment. Then she flopped onto the grass, now panting just as much as the Water Triber and stretched out under the sun, now being free of the horizon and rising up into a blue sky. Not a single cloud was up there - it was promising to be a warm day, at least for the standards of early spring.

[ Pink - Orange - Fire / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

A triumphant smile broke out across Tuari's patched maw, eyes twinkling with pride. "Good run." She mewed after taking a moment to catch her breath. Tuari had never been one to rub her victories in others faces and hoped that the Fire Triber would recognize that she was being genuine and not taunting or teasing her.

A soft smile formed across the Water Triber's maw at the other she-cat's words. She made no remark, simply moved to flop down beside her companion. "So, what's life in Fire Tribe like?" She stretched out leisurely, a yawn parting her jaws before the warrior apprentice turned her pale gaze back to the darkly hued Pink-Orange-Fire. "I'm guessing it's the same as everywhere else but are the cats nice? Have you made a lot of friends since moving here? Assuming you did just join." The young she-cat flushed slightly when she realized how fast she was speaking. She had a tendency to do that when curious or nervous and it was a rather irking habit. She hoped that it would go away as she got older.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

Wanda smiled lightly as she watched Cricket flop down next to her, stretching luxuriously, and while neither of them spoke, she hung after her thoughts. What did this she-cat think? What made her tick? Where did she come from? How did she live?

The Orange-Pink-Fire liked knowing her friends better than herself, and at this point she realized she really considered Cricket one, and if someone ever asked she'd name her as a friend.

Being this lost in her own mind, she was slightly startled as Cricket spoke again. »Well«, she mewed, insecure of what to tell about her Tribe. »Well, yeah, it's basically the same as any other place, I suppose. And yes, I did just arrive with the latest exiles who came home after the Tribes settled here. As for friends...« Her voice trailed off, as she didn't want to mention that she had indeed made friends, but only one of them was in Fire Tribe, the little Akarui, a Secondary Pink-Fire. Ironically she had two friends in Air Tribe, considering she had a phobia of electricity, and Primary Air's controlled this. Well, and one friend was of Water Tribe and sat in front of her at this very moment. She wouldn't admit this, though, she was too proud for that, after all.

»Yes, actually I have. What about you, Cricket?« She felt comfortable calling her by the name she'd given her instead of her Tribe's tattoo as she had in the beginning. In general Wanda preferred names over tattoo's to address others with.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]
Tuari could see the thoughts flickering across Wanda's dark eyes and she wondered what exactly it was that her companion was thinking. It was completely illogical but Tuari wished she had the ability to read others minds, to see what it was that they thought but didn't say. Or the reasoning behind the things they did. She wanted to know each and every detail of others lives which was impossible but a secret wish of hers regardless.

"That's great!" She mewed happily, glad that the dark furred she-cat had met others she could call friends. When the question was directed back to her she paused, ears flicking back slightly as she thought. "I'd say I have a friend, which is kinda sad but I haven't had a chance to meet anyone else yet, really. And I consider us friends so ... possibly two, if being friends is ok with you?" Tuari's voice was hesitant, rare uncertainty glittering in her sky hued eyes. Normally Tuari didn't give a shit as to whether she had one friend of a dozen but with her just joining the Tribes she felt a bit more vulnerable and desperately wanted the comfort that having friends brought.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

At the Orange-Pink-Water's words, Wanda's blue eyes widened, for just a little moment. So this she-cat did want to befriend her. A warm feeling started to grow in her belly.

»Of course it is!«, she exclaimed, nudging her new Water Tribe friend playfully in the flank. Having someone she really called friend was an amazing feeling - she'd missed that for a while, ever since she'd left her brothers, she hadn't felt at home. Naming Cricket her friend - even a good friend, to be honest. Even though they didn't know for long, they got along great - helped her regain this feeling of comfort she'd been struggling to find.

»Well, there's only one other cat I really consider quite a good friend«, she mewed. »I call him 'Maroon'. A Green-Air, he got that nickname for his red fur.«

She wasn't sure how to start. She felt with this warm feeling of friendly affection towards that awesome Orange-Pink-Water there, she might as well tell her about her disability - but somewhat she didn't find the words. How, after all, do you tell a...-nother cat you're color-blind?

She'd almost thought 'stranger'. Was Cricket a stranger? Well, they didn't know for a long time, really. Was it wrong to consider her a friend?`No, some inner voice told her. But it will need time. Friendship can build very fast, but full, blind trust will take a bit longer... Nevertheless, Cricket was a friend to her. And she really hoped they'd really get that close one day - she longed for a cat to call best friend, or someone she knew she could trust blindly... like she used to with her brothers.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari grinned happily at Wanda's positive response and she playfully pushed back at her new friend. The young she-cat was glad Wanda had agreed to be her friend - she now had someone who she could talk to about what she felt and thought. Though it would take time for them to get to that point the Snowshoe was confident they would make it there, in Wanda she saw a kindred spirit. She held the same fire, the same love of life that Tuari possessed and the Water Triber wondered if she too felt more comfortable around toms.

Tuari's eyes brightened with interest as Wanda spoke of her other friend. "What's he like?" She inquired, a smile forming across her maw as she stretched out even further. She had yet to meet any toms from the Tribes and it bothered her, if she was to be completely honest. For someone as social as Tuari she felt very reclusive and closed off from everything and everyone else. She was shy where she was usually bold and the change was one that she didn't like nor appreciate. The Pink-Orange-Water was positive that as she got more comfortable within the Tribes that she would open up once more and become the social butterfly she had once been known as.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

The young Fire Triber shifted her paws uneasily at the other she-cat's chattery tone. Wanda had never been a very talkative cat and for her it was more fun to go and actually do something instead of hanging around and talking about... wait... boys, actually. An uncomfortable shiver ran down her spine. She usually didn't think of boys that way.

»Well, I'd say he's an ass. He is reckless and he has a huge ego...« Yes. What more is there to say? Wanda'd never seen the point in chatting with other she-cats, one more reason she preferred the company of male friends. Although... it didn't seem that bad - Cricket obviously was truly interested, and at the same time not up for chaining her to this spot the next hours in a conversation.

Shrugging, she added »Have you met any tomcats yet?« Of course she wasn't asking about that kind of meeting, or that kind of relationship towards tomcats. She was merely more interested in boys than girls, anyway.
Wanda was a tomboy indeed, sigh.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Interest and confusion swam in Tuari's pale gaze as Wanda further explained her friend. "So why are you friends with him? He doesn't sound very nice." She mewed, casting a curious glance in her companion's direction. She wasn't judging Wanda's choice of friends but was simply curious as to why she was friends with the Air Triber when it sounded like he wasn't exactly the best of company.

The she-cat shook her head at Wanda's question. "Not yet. I used to have a bunch of tom friends before I joined the Tribes but they all are still loners or exiles. I've yet to really venture out and explore the territory and meet other cats. I hope to meet some toms soon though - they're usually who I hang out with. For some reason she-cats usually don't like me." Her voice softened a bit as she finished speaking, a sliver of sadness reflected in her tone.

"Anyway. Wanna go do something else? I've never been a big fan of sitting around and doing nothing for hours." She mewed with a grin as she got to her paws, glancing at Wanda with sparkling blue eyes. She hoped the Fire Triber didn't mind how energetic she was. Some cats found it irritating but so far it appeared that Tuari and Wanda held many like qualities.

Description

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | ( Fire Tribe Camp ) Pheasant Woods }

Dawn light washed through the hollow, softly licking at the volcano's flanks and bathing the sandy ground in mild pinkish light. Cats were moving in the Fire Tribe camp, still weary from sleep, blinking dust from their eyes as they drowsily headed for the fresh-kill pile, or - a little less sleepy - out for a hunting party or boundary patrol.

Wanda poked her head out the Guards' den, her jaws gaping in a huge yawn. Stretching, the Orange-Pink-Fire made a few steps out into the clearing, and over to the entrance. A quick little run would surely warm her up.

On either side of the worn-out path she followed were flowers growing, plants and grass, even in the dusty and sandy grounds of Fire Tribe. The further she got from the territory's heart, the lusher the growing became, until, when she crossed the border into the Neutral Territory, soft ferns brushed her elbows and knees.

This early time of the day had always been one of Wanda's favorites. Ears laid back, she picked up her pace, the still chilly air of early spring morning piercing her chest fur as she hurtled past the first trees of Pheasant Woods, and clearing her throat. She felt the air around her couldn't have been cleaner.

Panting, she finally slowed down when she emerged from the woods into an open space, not big, but big enough to support five cats in there without it being crowded.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

A purr born of content rumbled in Tuari's slight chest as she buried the remains of her breakfast. The young warrior apprentice had decided to leave camp a bit early today - slipping out before the sun rose. She hadn't really had a plan as to what she was going to do after slipping out but after her belly rumbled angrily she hadn't needed to. Catching a few mice was easy, most due to the fact that they were either sluggish or asleep. Tuari had also caught a few extra mice to bring back to camp when she returned.

But, as of now she lounged about in the clearing she'd found. Her head rested atop her paws as she watched ants march back to their homes, small bites of food in their jaws. I wonder what it's like to be an ant. What do they think of cats? Do they think?

The she-cat entertained herself with these questions and more before she eventually grew bored and pushed herself up to a sitting position. "Well ... might as well groom my fur." She mewed to no one in particular, her jaws parting in a yawn as she lazily began to lick her chest fur. Of the many things Tuari was, well groomed tended to not be one of them.

She had just finished her lazy grooming attempt when another cat came padding into the clearing. Tuari's muscles tensed briefly, though it was more from surprise than hostility. The Pink-Orange-Water hadn't heard the newcomer approach, not that that exactly said much as Tuari wasn't always the most observant of cats.

"Good morning." She greeted, getting to her paws and smiling at the newcomer. Interest flickered through her pale gaze when she saw the tattoo located on the other feline's eye. "I've never met a Fire-Triber before." She added a few seconds later, blue eyes meeting blue eyes as Tuari actually looked at the Fire-Triber and not her tattoo.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods

When Wanda came out into the clearing, the cool air had cleared her breathing and she felt fresh as never before. She loved this season with all her heart - no cold snow underpaw, and yet no heat that made it hard and exhausting to run.

Only now, the Orange-Pink-Water noticed a flicker of movement, and raised her head. A few tail-lengths away sat a young she-cat. Wanda blinked at her out of color-blind blue eyes. With the routine of three months in the Tribes she distinguished her Water Tribe tattoo to be Orange-Pink, like her own Fire tattoo was. Wanda was used to guessing a cat's tattoo color by their gray shade. She could only really see hints of color when her tattoo was activated, and even then only on the left eye, which said tattoo framed.

When she made a step forward to greet the Orange-Pink-Water, she tripped over her own toes, and, before she could catch herself, landed chest-first in the lush grass.

Hot with embarrassment, she rose up, shaking grass stems from her coat, which was still kind of muddy, because she was not one who cared a lot about a flawless fur. »Uhum, hi«, she murmured to her. She was about to add something snappy, like 'why are you staring?' or something similar, but sharply bit it back. After all, it had been her fault. She hated this, but she was even more impressed by herself not to lose her temper, being angry about herself. She cleared her throat and stepped forward to meet the Water Triber. »You're up early«, she mewed.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari smiled slightly when the newcomer tripped and fell chest first into the grass. She politely glanced away as the Pink-Orange-Fire stood and dusted herself off. After a few more seconds the warrior apprentice looked back to Wanda. Her ears flicked back at the hostility in the she-cat's blue gaze and for a moment Tuari was offended. It wasn't her fault that the Pink-Orange-Fire apparently didn't know how to walk properly. She opened her maw to let loose a sharp comment but abruptly closed it when Wanda spoke.

Her slight shoulders lifted in a shrug at the other feline's comment. "As are you." She replied with a smile, sitting down and wrapping her tail around her paws. "I was restless. I needed to get out of camp for a bit, clear my head and whatnot. It's been a tiring few days." She mewed in further explanation. "What about you? Why are you up so early?" Tuari's pale eyes filled with innocent curiosity as she waited for her new companion to answer.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods

Wanda sat down on her haunches, as the Orange-Pink-Water replied, cocking her head to one side slightly at the mentioning of being restless.
»Well«, she mewed when her companion had stopped speaking. »I had an early run to take.« She didn't feel this needed more explanation. Sometimes you're just hyper active and you need to stretch your muscles in a warm-up race through the woods. She opened her jaws and let a yawn escape, before she turned back to the Water Tribe she-cat. »Name's Azure, by the way.«
Of course it was not Wanda's true name, but her kit name, and it still felt right to introduce herself by that one. She smiled lightly, raising her gaze and looked directly into the Orange-Pink-Water's eyes. That was a habit of hers, often intimidating, sometimes helpful, and somehow she felt more comfortable seeing her companion's eyes directly. As if she could see deeper into the soul than just by looking at their face. Like she could pre-detect any emotional changes.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari nodded slightly at Wanda's simple explanation. She wanted to question more but something told her that the darkly hued Fire Triber didn't want to explain more. However that simply left Tuari all the more curious. Why didn't the Pink-Orange-Fire want to explain more. Was she running away from someone, something? Was it for training or simply the joy of running? The desire to have her questions answered left Tuari unconsciously kneading the earth with her front paws.

"I'm Cricket." The Snowshoe responded after the Fire Triber, Azure now, said her 'name'. The young she-cat was unsure if her companion had given her her Spirit given name, though she supposed it made no difference either way. A name was a name. Names changed, cats changed - it was irrelevant in the long run.

Tuari met Wanda's gaze steadily, yawning slightly as her eyes held the other feline's darker ones. "Any particular reason we're having a staring contest? I mean, I know that my looks are stunning but really now, must we stare?" If it weren't for the amused twinkle and the grin on Tuari's maw her words could be taken as rude and conceited; as it were they came off as more playful with an underlining of curiosity.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

Curiosity came in waves from the she-cat next to Wanda, and she felt uneasy, knowing she had questions but didn't know which ones. And the Orange-Pink-Water -Cricket - didn't seem up for really asking them. That was something Wanda herself didn't know - when there was something she was interested in, she did ask her questions. She rued it sometimes, afterwards, but it had never stopped her from questioning others.

At the young she-cat's question, Wanda cocked her head slightly to one side, giving an even shrug, but didn't look away before having searched Cricket's light blue gaze once more. »That's if you insist on making it one.«, she meowed evenly, flicking her tail over her paws. »Are you a Primary or Secondary Water?«, she asked, wondering a brief moment whether she was being tactless, but discarded the thought a heartbeat later. Curiosity was not something bad, after all.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari smiled slightly at the Pink-Orange-Fire's reply to her sassy question. She was glad the she-cat hadn't gotten all huffy and offended because then that would have made things awkward. Ruse always did say Tuari acted more like a tom than she did a she-cat, especially in terms of communication. Why this was a bad thing the Snowshoe didn't know - generally speaking tomcats were direct and straightforward when they spoke. They didn't beat around the bush, so to say, as much as she-cats and Tuari found that simple honesty refreshing. Lies were beyond her and she still, at a year old, couldn't understand why someone would want to lie. If you did the action then you should be able to say you did it, was how she viewed the topic.

Pale eyes flickered back into focus at the sound of Wanda's voice and it took a moment for Tuari to process the question, her mind still on the 'lying' topic. "Hmm? Oh. I'm a primary. You? How long have you lived in the Tribes?" The predominately cream she-cat shuffled her paws as her energy levels rose yet again.

Tuari never could sit down and talk for hours on end. She always needed to be moving and acting and doing. As a result small talk was a chore for her. She would prefer to get right down into deep dark secrets - in fact, that was probably the she-cat's most favorite past time. Tuari loved getting to know the things that cats kept hidden. She wanted to open everyone up, take a look inside and see what made them tick, what they hid, what they feared and what they aspired to be. Why was anyone's guess. Some might call it being nosy but Tuari liked to say that she simply had a 'curiosity of life.

Abruptly, the warrior apprentice stood, her body fairly shaking with repressed energy. "How about we walk and talk?" She suggested, briefly meeting Wanda's eyes, claws kneading the ground yet again as she forced herself not to hop about in an effort to release some of her energy.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

»Secondary«, Wanda answered briefly, eyes glittering mischievously at Cricket's questions. »Oh, I've been here long enough to know how crazy you all are«, she answered innocently, flicking a bit of mud playfully at her companion's paws.

Wanda, over this time, grew more and more easy to make friends - when she'd been out, as an exile, she'd been pretty quick-tempered, and sometimes that was still to be seen as showing through the friendliness she'd built up in contact with the Tribe cats. Did she like this new self? Yes. Did she miss the old one? Yes.

She shook off her guessing, and stood ahead of Cricket. »You seem eager to set off«, she mewed, searching the Orange-Pink-Water's eyes again, then smiled. »How about we race? Up to that tree over there?«

Gesturing with her tail, Wanda stood beside her so they would start at the same line. Then she pelted off, ears flat against the frontal wind, paws flying. She wasn't one of her Tribe's fastest cats, but with her rather compact body she was built not for top speed, but instead for stamina. She knew she couldn't win a sprint race, but the tree was quite a few fox-lengths up the clearing, where it half vanished in the darkness. If she was lucky, her companion was fast but not as persistent. In that case she might have a chance to tire her by the time they reached their finish.

Wanda knew that racing her was being a bit childish, but having grown up only among boys her age, it wasn't hard to forget that and have fun. Wanda was truly a cat to live for the moment.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari nodded her head and made a mental note to ask Sooka was Fire Tribe's secondary abilities entailed. A laugh fell from her maw at Wanda's words and she grinned, blue eyes bright. "I like you." She chuckled, flicking a bit of mud back at her companion.

"Just a little bit." Tuari mewed bashfully, "I can never sit still for very long." The warrior apprentice's eyes lit up at the mentions of a race and a wide grin spread across her maw. "That sounds lovely." She didn't bother hiding the excitement in her voice, muscles trembling as she fought the urge bolt.

She trotted over to the line Wanda indicated and let out a woop! of happiness as she saw Wanda take off. Tuari took off after the darkly hued she-cat, her lean build and long legs allowing her to easily catch up to her companion.

Tuari was built for running - having inherited her mother's slender body and long legs while keeping her father's stamina. There were few cats, who weren't in Air - Tribe that is, that could rival her. But Tuari was also known for her rashness and lack of patience. She very rarely used her stamina and preferred simply to sprint and sprint.

As a result Tuari began to slow slightly as they got nearer to the tree. She'd built a decent gap between herself and the Fire Triber but if the other she-cat gave one last push she might be able to overtake the tiring Snowshoe.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

Darting along the forest floor, the gray greenery around her just a blur, Wanda pelted through the bushes and flew across a tangle of brambles that lay in her way.
Only after less than one hundred feet the other she-cat overtook her, now racing in the lead.

Wanda smiled in light amusement as her earlier guess seemed to be true - Cricket was panting already, now that they had about half the way done, while Wanda was still breathing relatively steady.

When the Orange-Pink-Water started slowing slightly, Wanda heaved onward, pelting beside her, head lowered against the buffeting wind. Her target was only a few more fox-lengths off. But Wanda wasn't built for a finish like this.
She fell back a little, just before they reached the tree, just a nose-length, but still easy to notice. Fuck!, Wanda thought, clawing the grass impatiently. She'd always been an ambitious cat, and she didn't like losing.

With a sigh, she shook off her disappointment and laughed at Cricket, eyes glittering. »I like you, too«, she answered to the she-cat's earlier comment. Then she flopped onto the grass, now panting just as much as the Water Triber and stretched out under the sun, now being free of the horizon and rising up into a blue sky. Not a single cloud was up there - it was promising to be a warm day, at least for the standards of early spring.

[ Pink - Orange - Fire / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

A triumphant smile broke out across Tuari's patched maw, eyes twinkling with pride. "Good run." She mewed after taking a moment to catch her breath. Tuari had never been one to rub her victories in others faces and hoped that the Fire Triber would recognize that she was being genuine and not taunting or teasing her.

A soft smile formed across the Water Triber's maw at the other she-cat's words. She made no remark, simply moved to flop down beside her companion. "So, what's life in Fire Tribe like?" She stretched out leisurely, a yawn parting her jaws before the warrior apprentice turned her pale gaze back to the darkly hued Pink-Orange-Fire. "I'm guessing it's the same as everywhere else but are the cats nice? Have you made a lot of friends since moving here? Assuming you did just join." The young she-cat flushed slightly when she realized how fast she was speaking. She had a tendency to do that when curious or nervous and it was a rather irking habit. She hoped that it would go away as she got older.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

Wanda smiled lightly as she watched Cricket flop down next to her, stretching luxuriously, and while neither of them spoke, she hung after her thoughts. What did this she-cat think? What made her tick? Where did she come from? How did she live?

The Orange-Pink-Fire liked knowing her friends better than herself, and at this point she realized she really considered Cricket one, and if someone ever asked she'd name her as a friend.

Being this lost in her own mind, she was slightly startled as Cricket spoke again. »Well«, she mewed, insecure of what to tell about her Tribe. »Well, yeah, it's basically the same as any other place, I suppose. And yes, I did just arrive with the latest exiles who came home after the Tribes settled here. As for friends...« Her voice trailed off, as she didn't want to mention that she had indeed made friends, but only one of them was in Fire Tribe, the little Akarui, a Secondary Pink-Fire. Ironically she had two friends in Air Tribe, considering she had a phobia of electricity, and Primary Air's controlled this. Well, and one friend was of Water Tribe and sat in front of her at this very moment. She wouldn't admit this, though, she was too proud for that, after all.

»Yes, actually I have. What about you, Cricket?« She felt comfortable calling her by the name she'd given her instead of her Tribe's tattoo as she had in the beginning. In general Wanda preferred names over tattoo's to address others with.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]
Tuari could see the thoughts flickering across Wanda's dark eyes and she wondered what exactly it was that her companion was thinking. It was completely illogical but Tuari wished she had the ability to read others minds, to see what it was that they thought but didn't say. Or the reasoning behind the things they did. She wanted to know each and every detail of others lives which was impossible but a secret wish of hers regardless.

"That's great!" She mewed happily, glad that the dark furred she-cat had met others she could call friends. When the question was directed back to her she paused, ears flicking back slightly as she thought. "I'd say I have a friend, which is kinda sad but I haven't had a chance to meet anyone else yet, really. And I consider us friends so ... possibly two, if being friends is ok with you?" Tuari's voice was hesitant, rare uncertainty glittering in her sky hued eyes. Normally Tuari didn't give a shit as to whether she had one friend of a dozen but with her just joining the Tribes she felt a bit more vulnerable and desperately wanted the comfort that having friends brought.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

At the Orange-Pink-Water's words, Wanda's blue eyes widened, for just a little moment. So this she-cat did want to befriend her. A warm feeling started to grow in her belly.

»Of course it is!«, she exclaimed, nudging her new Water Tribe friend playfully in the flank. Having someone she really called friend was an amazing feeling - she'd missed that for a while, ever since she'd left her brothers, she hadn't felt at home. Naming Cricket her friend - even a good friend, to be honest. Even though they didn't know for long, they got along great - helped her regain this feeling of comfort she'd been struggling to find.

»Well, there's only one other cat I really consider quite a good friend«, she mewed. »I call him 'Maroon'. A Green-Air, he got that nickname for his red fur.«

She wasn't sure how to start. She felt with this warm feeling of friendly affection towards that awesome Orange-Pink-Water there, she might as well tell her about her disability - but somewhat she didn't find the words. How, after all, do you tell a...-nother cat you're color-blind?

She'd almost thought 'stranger'. Was Cricket a stranger? Well, they didn't know for a long time, really. Was it wrong to consider her a friend?`No, some inner voice told her. But it will need time. Friendship can build very fast, but full, blind trust will take a bit longer... Nevertheless, Cricket was a friend to her. And she really hoped they'd really get that close one day - she longed for a cat to call best friend, or someone she knew she could trust blindly... like she used to with her brothers.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Tuari grinned happily at Wanda's positive response and she playfully pushed back at her new friend. The young she-cat was glad Wanda had agreed to be her friend - she now had someone who she could talk to about what she felt and thought. Though it would take time for them to get to that point the Snowshoe was confident they would make it there, in Wanda she saw a kindred spirit. She held the same fire, the same love of life that Tuari possessed and the Water Triber wondered if she too felt more comfortable around toms.

Tuari's eyes brightened with interest as Wanda spoke of her other friend. "What's he like?" She inquired, a smile forming across her maw as she stretched out even further. She had yet to meet any toms from the Tribes and it bothered her, if she was to be completely honest. For someone as social as Tuari she felt very reclusive and closed off from everything and everyone else. She was shy where she was usually bold and the change was one that she didn't like nor appreciate. The Pink-Orange-Water was positive that as she got more comfortable within the Tribes that she would open up once more and become the social butterfly she had once been known as.

{ Orange-Pink-Fire | Wanda | Pheasant Woods }

The young Fire Triber shifted her paws uneasily at the other she-cat's chattery tone. Wanda had never been a very talkative cat and for her it was more fun to go and actually do something instead of hanging around and talking about... wait... boys, actually. An uncomfortable shiver ran down her spine. She usually didn't think of boys that way.

»Well, I'd say he's an ass. He is reckless and he has a huge ego...« Yes. What more is there to say? Wanda'd never seen the point in chatting with other she-cats, one more reason she preferred the company of male friends. Although... it didn't seem that bad - Cricket obviously was truly interested, and at the same time not up for chaining her to this spot the next hours in a conversation.

Shrugging, she added »Have you met any tomcats yet?« Of course she wasn't asking about that kind of meeting, or that kind of relationship towards tomcats. She was merely more interested in boys than girls, anyway.
Wanda was a tomboy indeed, sigh.

[ Pink - Orange - Water / Tuari / Pheasant Woods ]

Interest and confusion swam in Tuari's pale gaze as Wanda further explained her friend. "So why are you friends with him? He doesn't sound very nice." She mewed, casting a curious glance in her companion's direction. She wasn't judging Wanda's choice of friends but was simply curious as to why she was friends with the Air Triber when it sounded like he wasn't exactly the best of company.

The she-cat shook her head at Wanda's question. "Not yet. I used to have a bunch of tom friends before I joined the Tribes but they all are still loners or exiles. I've yet to really venture out and explore the territory and meet other cats. I hope to meet some toms soon though - they're usually who I hang out with. For some reason she-cats usually don't like me." Her voice softened a bit as she finished speaking, a sliver of sadness reflected in her tone.

"Anyway. Wanna go do something else? I've never been a big fan of sitting around and doing nothing for hours." She mewed with a grin as she got to her paws, glancing at Wanda with sparkling blue eyes. She hoped the Fire Triber didn't mind how energetic she was. Some cats found it irritating but so far it appeared that Tuari and Wanda held many like qualities.