Just another case of deranged fun.

[natalie]

She could hear her leaders now,"Sootpaw! MountainClan territory is a dangerous place! It should not be used for your mindless follies of stupid games! How dense are you?"

And at the same time, she could envision her own cool reply.
"Oh I suppose I am dense. So sorry for wasting your time. I'll never do it again."

Then, Sootpaw imagined their enraged responses of,"Can't you take anything seriously? You will fall one day thanks to your arrogance."

Chucking at the thought, Sootpaw nearly lost her balance as she stood on the craggy edge of a rock, say about ten stories high. Since that's where the mice lay. Or did they? Perhaps Sootpaw was simply out exploring again, ignoring the fact that her clan was low on food.

Sootpaw was beginning to be rather predictable these days, wasn't she?

[Sable]

A pale gray shape limped along the narrow crag, balancing confidently in spite of the stiffness in his limbs, which some could call ancient. In Alderfur's opinion, being old was something no one could avoid, but it had it's fun bits. Like still retaining the ability to leap from a minute ledge onto the body of an unsuspecting hare or other large, delicious prey that was tricky to snare. Or tempting green apprentices with tidbits of glamorous tales. Yes, the tabby tom thought with a small chuckle, Getting old is fun.

[Sable]

(( *is too lazy to edit post* I have to go now -- time to fill my ravenous belleh! I might be on later, though. ))

[natalie]

Hearing a muffled grunt, the she-apprentice whipped around to catch sight of the well-liked elder.
A smile crossed her lips, as she heaved herself up one more rock, and hid in a tiny crevice, hidden in with the shadows. Hoping to give her old friend a scare. Sootpaw waited in silence, forgetting the fact that her fluorescent amber eyes were a bright contrast to her dark hiding spot.

Sootpaw knew Alderfur since she was a kit, and favored him amungst the other warriors and elders because of his quick wit. He always had a story to tell, and she was always eager to listen. Having a history together, Sootpaw revers him in the most respectful manner. Surprising, because Sootpaw didn't usually care for cats older than her. She often found them to be cocky and shrewd.

...

Quite the hypocrite.

[Sable]

Alderfur glanced up with a knowing smile as two or three tiny pebbles trickled down onto his head. He continued walking, his tail twitching in amusement. He could pick up the scent of the smoky apprentice, as well as the subtle excitement that was buzzing through the air. In a teasing meow, he called up, "You should really learn to narrow those blinkers of yours instead of staring as if I were a badger with rabbit ears and a fox's tail!"

[natalie]

Emerging with a giggle, the small she-cat shook the remaining dust from her pelt. Limberly bounding down from rock to rock, Sootpaw met Alderfur's stance and greeted him with a loving nuzzle.

Stepping back to examine him, she cocked her head leftward and offered a tiny grin of amusement.
"Aren't you a little old to be out exploring?"
The cat inquired kindly, smiling softly at the sight of her old friend out in the wild.

[Sable]

Alderfur rolled his eyes and snorted and the small she-cat. "Ha! Me, old? Where'd you get that crazy notion, girl?" He whipped his tail through the air. "M'dear, there is a large, bold line between living as long as I have and getting old. When you're old you complain more than a bored apprentice -- and I mean you, in that matter. And you can't take more than two steps out of your den before claiming that StarClan is coming for you. Besides," he said with a proud grin, "I'm not exploring. I know this territory as well as if I have eyes on both ends. Why, I could run through these rocks twice with three paws and my tail in a knot!"

[natalie]

With a cocky smirk, Sootpaw threw back her head in jesting laughter.
"Well I guess you wouldn't mind a race?"
A quizzical brow arched at the question, challenging the elder to a game of wits, speed, and agility.

With tail slashing through the air in awaited response, Sootpaw drew a step back and promptly placed her rump down on the rock.

ooc;
Sorry. That was disgustingly short.

[Sable]

(( 'Tis okay. I can be even worse sometimes. XD ))
Alderfur returned the smirk. Raising a paw, he gave the dark apprentice a swift bop on the nose. While she was distracted, he gave a mightly leap, yowling, "Last one down the mountain gets to go hare-hunting!" He dashed around a corner, out of sight.
(( See? ))

[natalie]

With a gasp, the apprentice sat there momentarily awe-struck.
Well what can you expect from a cat like Alderfur?
Grinning madly, the apprentice dashed after him, limber legs bringing her closer, his head-start doing well to keep the apprentice at bay.

Swiftly dodging foliage, pointed stones, and other objects that were thrown in her way, Sootpaw was amazed with the elder's speed.
He must have had the speed of a cheetah when he was an apprentice!
Sootpaw exclaimed silently, admiring him as she did her best not to fall behind the old contender.

[Sable]

Raising his head, Alderfur called, "If you back down now, I'll let you collect moss for my nest for only one day instead of two!" Without waiting for a reply, the gray elder sprang up a tall narrow tree, onto the verge of a skinny ledge, and disappeared, dispite the fact that it led straight back to the MountainClan camp.
(( Sorry for the shortness, I'm trying to type a report at the same time here. ))

[natalie]

Tickled by the thought of losing, Sootpaw jolted forth.
"There's no way I'm losing, so there's no need to offer!"
Sootpaw bellowed in response.

Flanks inwardly heaving in, then out, Sootpaw began pedaling with all the strength left she could muster.
Catching a glimpse of the elder leaping through the tree, Sootpaw did the same, speeding after him with uncanny determination.

ooc;
Doesn't bother me.

[Sable]

Alderfur cantered along; as he twitched an ear he could hear Sootpaw pounding along farther behind. He felt a momentary jolt of alarm. The apprentice hadn't been in this area of the territory much, and he knew only too well how easy it was for a cat to dislodge a rock and go tumbling down to a stony death. In his younger years he would have gone careening down the slope, but he knew his bones could no longer take the strain. The elder wouldn't put it past Sootpaw to do the same, but only the most experienced warriors could pull off a stunt like that. Thinking quickly, he reared back on his hind legs, wheeled around, and sailed past Sootpaw, turning down toward a smoother, but still steep, part of the mountain, praying that the dark-furred apprentice would follow.

[natalie]

Watching the elder swivel around onto a different path blessed Sootpaw with the feeling of relief that they didn't have to race down this unfamiliar path.
Quickly rethinking in her cocky, and uncouth manner; Sootpaw realized that the current way she was traveling was probably much quicker than the safer one.

With bad judgment, Sootpaw continued down the beaten path, allowing a toothy grin towards Alderfur.
He underestimates me. I'll show him!
The sudden burst of morale helped to throw Sootpaw down the slope mewing her pleasure of the new territory and unexplored land. The scents, the adrenaline-- oh the lore!

It was during this time that Sootpaw was slightly out of focus. Any longer and she might lose balance...
What to do when an egotistic apprentice is scourging new land? Ah youth.

[Sable]

Alderfur looked over his shoulder, noticing that, as expected, Sootpaw did not follow him. Twisting his head, he could see a dark pelt flashing in and out of his sight. Lashing his tail at her poor decision, he began to run diagonally across the sloping surface so that he would be under and slightly behind Sootpaw. He winced as his legs wobbled. Come on, you creaky old creature! he hissed in his thoughts. Don't give up now! You call yourself a cat? Lengthening his stride, Alderfur shot forward, feeling a small ball of dread form in his belly. There was a sharp curve coming up, he knew, and with the curve, out of sight to an unsuspecting, wild apprentice, the path fell away to a frightening, deep ravine. The thick scar on his chest, hidden by his thick fur, proved just how sharp the rocks at the bottom were.