a "friendly" game of words// avery

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He was angry. No, it wasn't just anger. He was livid. The transgression that happened wasn't forgivable. He couldn't even properly process what had happened. All he knew was he was angry, and he needed revenge. Now, it wasn't like Redpaw wasn't known for his anger. Everyone in SunsetClan knew very well how disturbingly angry the young tom could get. Out of reflex he slashed at the pool, and watched as water and tadpole's came flying out and staining the ground around it. He watched as the tadpoles squirmed, but at the moment he couldn't think of a single reason to help them. Anger had already molded his mind into some sort of monster. He didn't feel like a cat, anymore. He felt like a killer. He felt crazy, as though his sanity was slipping through his claws as easily as the water did.

Earlier, when he ran away from what had happened, he ended up with deep cuts from gorse bushes and the metallic smell of blood hung in the air. When he got like this, he was a danger to himself. He attempted to lick the wounds but it dug the small spines further in, causing him to let out a low growl. It didn't make him feel better. It simply made him more angry. No one understood, but Redpaw had to do things alone. The fact that someone had insisted on helping him do such a simple task, force him do nothing and simply watch as they did it, then return to camp and complain about how he wouldn't help enraged him. Not only had it hurt his pride, but it went against everything that Redpaw was trying to build for himself within the clan. He didn't want to be remembered for something so terrible. He wanted to be a respected warrior. He wanted to be a good friend to everyone. Now no one would trust him to preform a task as simple as hunting for the Clan. It's not like he would have had any amount of real trouble bringing back some food for the Clan. They probably thought he was lazy and dishonest.

"Who does he think he is, acting like my work ethic needs any improvement. I have a better work ethic than some of our warriors! If it's a challange he wants, that's what he's getting. I will not stand to be treated like a kit who doesn't know right from wrong!" he said.

[Avery]

Paws scrabbled in dirt as the young apprentice made hee way through the thick underbrush of her territory.  It had been about a moon and a half since her apprentice ceremony and the tabby was already feeling stronger.  Fallowmist had drilled her every day whether it was hunting or fighting, her mentor kept her mind busy day in and day out. Forcing her to put her endless energy to use. However, Fallowmist had been absent for the last few days and Wildpaw had begun to find ways to entertain herself. Wildpaw was back up to her old tricks,  and this one was no exception.  A low yowling echoed through the trees. 
"Wildpaw!" The crackly old voice called out to her. 

Wildpaw cackled to herself as the meowing quieted as she got further away from camp. To her surprise she found herself nearing the Tadpole Pools.  A place that she hadnt been to since she was a kit. Her paws hardly skimmed the forest floor that gradually turned to smooth rock. Her whisk ers twitched as a cat came into her view. It was Redpaw. The fiery red tom was well-known to her, although she had hardly gotten two words from him when she had tried speaking to him, due to his reputation on being... spirited.

Wildpaw stopped as he ranted about work ethic and other  that she couldn't hear from her position. His red coat bristled in anger as he spat and splashed at the pool in front of him.  Once he paused long enough for her to speak she walked towards him. "I wonder who twisted your whiskers and tied your tail into a knot." Her green eyes were sparkling with mischief as she stopped in front of him. "What are you going on about anyway?  You're scaring the prey away from here to the Pond of Truce. .. and I can't say I blame them!"

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Redpaw turned quickly, as though he was going to lash out. However, once he saw who it was, he attempted to smooth out his fur. He wasn't flirtatious, but the tom was vain. He would do the same in front of any she-cat. He took deep breaths, attempting to calm himself. The last thing he wanted to do was make more enemies. He had enough of them already. However, the words he said next were ground out through clenched teeth. He was trying to subdue himself, but it just wasn't working.

"It was that new apprentice. He asked me to let him do all of the work so he could practice hunting. When we got back he said I was 'lazy' and 'refused to help'," The thought of it all over again made Redpaw's eyes flash in anger. He kept digging his claws into the muddy ground below him. Every twitch of his own muscles reminded him that he had cuts from the gorse bush. He tried to play it off as nothing. His vanity pushed him to look his best in front of any she-cat. However, the small nettles were digging into his skin.

His anger flared up again, and he did the one thing he didn't want to do; lash out at Wildpaw. "What do you care, anyway! You're just like the rest of the Clan. You'll let him convince you that I'm lazy and all my work will worthless! he growled. He didn't stand. The last thing he wanted to do was make Wildpaw believe in any way that he was ready to attack. Despite his anger, he put his Clan and the cats in it first and foremost. It was his anger that got him in trouble most of the time.

[Avery]

Wildpaw watched as the young tom fought internally to reign in his anger. For a few moments she was sympathetic,  knowing first hand how hard that could be. Wildpaw was known for being impatient and restless with her Clanmates. Two traits that were very hard for her to control and had often made her lash out at those around her. Wildpaw was about to offer some words of advice when Redpaw cut her off by describing what had made him so upset. 
"Ah. Yes. I know him, we grew up together. I didnt particularly like him myself as he kept trying to pull the same stunt with me.  but well, after a good scuffle he learned to stop!" Her voice was cheerful as she sat down on her haunches taking advantage of a resting moment and perhaps, if she was lucky, make a new friend.  As Redpaw began to clean his coat she glanced down at her own and wasn't surprised to see it coated with dust and forest debris.  She shrugged, she would clean it later. Wildpaw glanced up just as Redpaws face scrunched into a look of pure fury, one that wouldve stopped any cat in their tracks.

 "Are you a mousebrain?!" She growled as her hackles rose. "Do you let the words of others dictate your thoughts about the characters of your friends? Jeez, if I did that I'd have none and I certainly wouldnt be speaking to you either." Wildpaw stood taking a deep breath before she continued.  "And it wouldnt be because of your work ethic but your attitude. " Wildpaw flicked her tail, her own fur bristling in annoyance at his anger and accusations.  "The rumors are true though.  You're as prickly as a hedgehog Redpaw. "

Ooc: I am off to bed! Fighting a cold and such.  Ill reply tom am!

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"You don't get it. I work just as hard as any warrior. I try to keep my anger under control but that is all they see me for. They don't see the work ethic. They don't see my loyalty. They see a hot-headed tom with too much time on his paws! At least your cheery, and people like you..." he muttered the last part. For a second, he let the tiredness and the hurt cross over his face. He replaced it with a stoic one, and prayed to StarClan that Wildpaw didn't see it. She would think he was weak. He was better than that.

He gave a small chuckle. "If you haven't noticed, Wildpaw, I don't have friends. I have clanmates that I work tirelessly for. but I don't have friends." he wasn't trying to get sympathy. It wasn't like he was trying to make friends. He made that obvious to the entire clan. He believed it made him distracted from what his true duties were. He kept himself distanced. He was already a danger to himself when he got angry. If he had friends or people he had close, he would probably hurt them too.

He had two goals. The first, was to become a respected warrior. He didn't want to be deputy, nor leader. Those were dreams of fools who would never rise in the ranks. The second, was to become anger free. The second was a little less likely. He will probably always be quick tempered. but had he not been, he would have been the idea warrior. "Why are you out here, anyway?