On A Dare... [Open]

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] Snakeheart would be eating her words soon. Viperfang couldn't help but smile as she dragged three adders through snakerocks. She'd been there all day. Her muscles were sore, but her tail brushed the sky as the warrior walked home in victory. The bet was that she couldn't fell one of these slippery serpents, especially since they were all hidden during leaf-bare. StarClan would marvel at the amount of free space in that she-cat's head. What cat didn't know that the adder's hiding places were tunnels directly under these rocks? No matter. Viperfang had won. That was the important thing. She proved to be too quick and too small of a target for these pesky creatures. Now there were three less snakes to worry about. Sure, they had been a ridiculously easy catch, but that wasn't the point. They were still venomous, no matter how slow they were in this season. They were still the most dangerous prey animals in the whole forest. Speaking of dangerous animals... Viperfang was so caught up in her pride that she hadn't noticed a fox had crossed the thunderpath and was starting to make its way toward her. A small she-cat with a mouth full of prey... How could it resist? Viperfang opened her eyes and looked around just in time. She spotted the red fox and fluffed up her fur, making herself look bigger. She didn't stop or speed up, however. The she-cat just kept walking, keeping an eye on her enemy and waiting for it to move. This wasn't to say she wasn't scared, but if she could get it to follow at a distance instead of attack, she could get closer to camp and yowl for help before she had to risk losing her prey. The fox seemed to oblige. It wasn't experienced enough with fighting cats and didn't understand how this one grew so suddenly. It kept its distance, waiting for the right time to attack. 'Oh, StarClan... help...!' Word Count: 323 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

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The scent of fox had drawn her. She wasn't sure it was The Fox she was looking for, but it didn't matter. Any fox scent was enough to send her into a frenzy, and Vixenfang hadn't stopped sprinting since she'd scented it.

Every fox would pay. Every fox would pay for the death of her father. Until she found the one who killed him, that is. And it was a vain task, finding that one fox again. For all she knew, it could be dead.

No, she would get this fox. It was young, and therefore strong, but inexperienced. She would drive it away or kill it. Either way, she'd be making it so that one less fox would be here to harm ThunderClan. If this was the last good act she was able to do for her Clan before she played the part of an atrocious traitor, she would do it.

As she ran, her skinny ginger body stretching out to her full length as she bounded over fallen longs and darted around thick oaks, another scent entered her nostrils, this one more surprising than the fist. Viperfang? What was she doing out here, at Snakerocks? There was little prey here, and the adders were too dangerous to risk messing with.

Yeah, right. "Too dangerous." Never stopped Viperfang before, she thought with false bitterness. She loved that headstrong young warrior. Her first apprentice, and by far her hardest to train, and certainly the most frustrating young cat in existence. One of the cats she would miss when she left ThunderClan forever.

Vixenfang broke free from the forest and raced towards Snakerocks, her bloodlust rising with every pawstep. The fox was near, she could tell. As she rounded a boulder, she came face-to-face with the situation, and Vixenfang skidded to a halt.

There was the fox, standing with its back towards her. What it was facing was Viperfang, who was standing with...WHAT was in her mouth? Adders? Three of them? Oh, that little twerp was going to get it good when Vixenfang got her back to camp. What kind of foolish, headstrong cat went after adders?

"Really, Viperfang?" Vixenfang sighed, sitting her butt on the ground as she glared at the she-cat. "What cat induced you to go after adders?" She wasn't, at the moment, worried about the fox. It was young, as she had predicted, and clearly inexperienced. Inexperienced enough to not realize that, in these parts, where there was one cat, more always followed. No, she and Viperfang could take the fox, and Vixenfang knew she, at least, would not let the crappy animal get away. There was time for a chat.

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "Really, Viperfang?" The young warrior's eyes darted around at the sound of that familiar voice, searching for its owner. There she was, sitting not too far away, completely calm. Of course she would be. She was Vixenfang for StarClan's sake! "What cat induced you to go after adders?" "Who else but Snakeheart!" the she-cat replied as she placed her collection of fresh-kill in the snow to keep it fresh, "You're my witness, Vixenfang! Three adders! I won!" With a grin on her face, the warrior turned to face the fox. She arched her back and fluffed out her tail, hissing and spitting at her enemy. Now that she had back up, this fox would know pain if it got too close. The canine was smart. It had spotted the second cat, but was still curious as to what these animals could do. It trotted closer, but stopped when the first cat started acting funny. She certainly looked threatening, despite her size. And if the second one could do the same thing... It wasn't about to deal with two of these things in a fit. After lingering for a moment or two longer, the fox gave up and left the cats to themselves, crossing the thunderpath and leaving ThunderClan's territory all together. It took a moment for Viperfang to calm down. She knew Vixenfang's story and wasn't about to trust that animal not to come back with reinforcements. After a while, she finally let her fur lie flat and gave her chest a few nervous licks. The she-cat returned her attention to the thunderpath and flicked an ear toward her old mentor. "Think we should tell ShadowClan about it at the next gathering... Come here and help me carry these things back to camp." Word Count: 286 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

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Great StarClan, of course it was Snakeheart. She should have guessed. Those two she-cats were always arguing with one another, trying to outdo each other. Vixenfang shook her head in disapproval, though her deep amber eyes sparkled with a bit of humor. Foolhardy or not, it was impressive that Viperfang had caught three adders. Though, if she had been bitten....

The fox approached Viperfang, and the she-cat fluffed up enough to stop the red-brown predator. Oh yes, he was a young fox, indeed. Perhaps the child of The Fox. Vixenfang's eyes narrowed slowly, and she watched with prickling paws as the fox backed away from Viperfang and made a wise choice--trotting away.

She should have let it be, but Vixenfang couldn't help it. With a loud snarl she raced forward, much faster than the fox, and before it crossed the thunderpath she managed to slash her claws at his back legs, coaxing a snarl of pain from the young predator. It ran faster, racing forward just in time to avoid a rumbling monster. Vixenfang stood stock-still, stiff-legged and fur-fluffed, as she watched the ginger fur disappear into ShadowClan's land.

"Think we should tell ShadowClan about it at the next gathering... Come here and help me carry these things back to camp."

Viperfang's words drifted towards her, but they did nothing to relax Vixenfang's tensed muscles. She stared after the fox, her eyes burning holes in the foliage he had slunk away into. Oh, were it not ShadowClan's land, she would go after it. She wouldn't let the creature get away. "Come back here, fox, and I'll kill you," she snarled softly. And then, even more softly, she added, "Come to the moors, and I'll make it hurt."

It was time to stop. The fox was too far away now. Vixenfang relaxed and spun back around to Viperfang. The younger she-cat looked perfectly satisfied with herself, and Vixenfang's eyes narrowed into little slits. "You mousebrained cat!" she snapped, padding forward so that she was nose-to-nose with her first apprentice. Vixenfang didn't mince words. "What would you do if the adders had bitten you? No medicine cat could heal you from that, especially when you're up here all alone! And you would leave ThunderClan, in the middle of leafbare, with RiverClan and ShadowClan growing all hostile, with one less warrior. Think before you go charging off on some dare next time!"

She stopped, panting slightly, fur bristled so that she looked twice her size (even so, she wasn't of an intimidating height). She knew why she was so adamant now. She also knew that she was being a complete, total hypocrite. Viperfang just made a stupid mistake. Vixenfang was plotting to leave ThunderClan, and perhaps take a few more with her. Nothing Viperfang could do would be worse than what Vixenfang had planned.

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] There was a moment when Viperfang wasn't completely sure that Vixenfang wouldn't follow the fox to seek out her revenge. Yes, she knew the story well enough. Her mentor would take out the entire fox population until she found that one vixen... Thank StarClan she decided to let this one go. However, Viperfang suspected it might be more ill will toward ShadowClan than for safety's sake. Now came the reprimand. Viperfang flattened her ears as the older she-cat approached her, knowing that her eardrums were about to take a lashing. "You mousebrained cat! What would you do if the adders had bitten you? No medicine cat could heal you from that, especially when you're up here all alone! And you would leave ThunderClan, in the middle of leafbare, with RiverClan and ShadowClan growing all hostile, with one less warrior. Think before you go charging off on some dare next time!" Although she knew Vixenfang had only been worried for her safety, the warrior couldn't help but make some remark. After all, they were known for their sharp tongues. Why disappoint any onlookers? "In my defense, leaf-bare is the best time to go after adders. They're slower. And if I did get bitten, the new apprentices wouldn't need to worry about getting paired with me." Fearing a swat from unsheathed claws, the small she-cat jumped back with a laugh and ran to her fresh-kill. She couldn't wait to get her kill back to camp. She'd have to get a few apprentices to remove and burry the heads of the snakes before they would be meal-worthy, but that was part of the beauty of her catch. Watching the young ones work. In truth, Viperfang couldn't wait to get her own hostage to torture. She had learned so much from her dear old mentor and she would love to pass on such invaluable information... However much it hurt the fluffy little kit. Word Count: 314 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

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"In my defense, leaf-bare is the best time to go after adders. They're slower. And if I did get bitten, the new apprentices wouldn't need to worry about getting paired with me."

The cheeky little bugger! Vixenfang was planning on swatting her over the head, but instead released a soft purr of amusement as Viperfang simply leaped back before she got the chance. Oh, the young warrior had learned well during her moons of apprenticeship. The two of them had faced off dozens of times, sometimes with words, other times with claws, but somehow they'd managed to make it through. Maybe things had turned for the better after Vixenfang had saved the young apprentice from drowning. She didn't know.

Still, she was a mousebrain. "If I ever see you with an adder in your mouth again, I'll see to it that you return to the apprentice den for a moon or two," she mewed wickedly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Oh, it was nice to be able to play the deputy card on the insolent young warrior. Yes, yes it was. She eyed the adders with distaste; they weren't ShadowClan, for StarClan's sake! They didn't need to hunt reptiles.

Whatever, it was done. Maybe Elkstar would be impressed. Snakeheart, at least, would have to eat whatever words had coaxed Viperfang into this stupid action. Vixenfang shook her head with amused remorse. She would miss this Clan. The little arguments between Snakeheart and Viperfang. Viperfang herself, and Brackenheart. Enough. There's time for reminiscing later, she decided after a moment.

"Come on, mousebrain," she mewed with a flick of her tail. "Get those nasty snakes and let's get out of here. Before the fox comes back." Hah, as if the fox would ever come back. She glanced toward ShadowClan's territory longingly. Oh, how she wanted to go after that fox!

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "If I ever see you with an adder in your mouth again, I'll see to it that you return to the apprentice den for a moon or two." A purr escaped Viperfang's throat at the thought. She'd almost forgotten that her mentor was deputy! It was like arguing with her reflection every time they talked to each other. A cat could swear they were the same age, the way they rambled on. "It's not like I wouldn't fit in," she relied, "Speaking of Apprentices- When do you think I'll get one?" The question had been meant to be subtle. However, being Viperfang, it was hard to make it so. She was arguably the most blunt she-cat in ThunderClan. Next to her old mentor, of course. "Come on, mousebrain. Get those nasty snakes and let's get out of here. Before the fox comes back." Ha! Indeed. If that fox did come back, it would prove that Viperfang wasn't the mousebrain around here! But the young warrior obeyed, shockingly enough, and started to gather up her kill again. All things considered, she was quite pleased with herself for catching these things. She knew she wasn't the first cat to kill an adder and she wouldn't be the last, but she wasn't too sure anyone else had dared to get more than one. Viperfang had only told herself to get two, but it was just like her to outdo herself. "At least it wasn't a dog," she said aloud before taking the snakes up in her jaws, "Ich wuld'na ben thmartn rhan offh." What the charming your she-cat was trying to say was "It wouldn't have been smart and run off." Perhaps her mentor had been around her enough to translate. After all, she'd spent the whole second six moons of the young warrior's life with her. It was typical of Viperfang to be so... well, unusual. Word Count: 308 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

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"It's not like I wouldn't fit in."

Oh, she was right about that. Vixenfang sneered slightly. The only differences between Viperfang and the apprentices were age and ferocity. And cheekiness. And a sharp tongue. She knew Viperfang could frighten off the biggest warrior. If she were to rejoin the apprentices, those poor young cats might end up scarred for life.

"Speaking of Apprentices- When do you think I'll get one?"

I'm so old! Vixenfang thought in surprise as Viperfang's words registered in her mind. Her apprentice was a warrior now, ready for her own apprentice! What a bizarre thought. She always pictured Viperfang as Viperpaw--stubborn, witty, sharp-tongued apprentice. It was hard, even after many moons of Viperfang being a warrior, to imagine that her once-apprentice was competent enough to train another. In her mind, Vixenfang kenw Viperfang was ready, but in her heart she felt as if Viperfang were still a newly-made warrior. It was shocking, realizing that Viperfang had been made a warrior fourteen moons ago. So much time had passed.

"I'll work on that," she replied finally, flicking her tail across Viperfang's face. "Though I pity the poor sap who gets stuck with you as a mentor." She was only partially teasing.

Finally, Viperfang obeyed her and picked up her snakes. Her following words would have been impossible for most to understand, but not Vixenfang. She knew the young warrior too well. "Can't you stop talking even when your mouth is full?" she sighed, swatting at Viperfang's ear with a soft paw. "A dog would have been no problem for a snake-killer like yourself."

((Are you gonna put Snakeheart up for adoption?))

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "I'll work on that. Though I pity the poor sap who gets stuck with you as a mentor." Viperfang's only reply was a wicked grin. She couldn't wait for the torturing to commence. It would be even more fun when she was an elder. Then she could REALLY get away with being so evil to the young cats! She wouldn't have to work as hard at it either. Simply existing would frighten them off. No need to follow their every pawstep and shout at them for kit-worthy mistakes like... well, hunting adders, for one... "Can't you stop talking even when your mouth is full?" "Nho." The young warrior shook her head and ducked to avoid the incoming paw-swipe. Vixenfang was a quick as ever. Her paw raked across the top of her old apprentice's ear. Viperfang was suddenly extremely grateful that her claws had been sheathed. That would have earned her a trip to the Medicine Cat's den for sure. "A dog would have been no problem for a snake-killer like yourself." "Shya rhaight," she answered with a doubting glance to her old mentor as she started toward camp, "Aid bhen uphah chree beephor eu cud shay 'mowth'!" Viperfang growled as she tripped on one of the snake tails that were dragging under her front feet. She stopped to position them better and gripped them all by the middle before continuing. Vixenfang had too much faith in her abilities. Although the warrior would like to believe that she'd fight a dog to the death, she wouldn't even try unless she had an army of cats to help. There was strength in numbers, after all. Why else would cats live in a clan? Word Count: 275 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: And Foxblaze and Dustcloud. :3

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She didn't glance back as Viperfang continued to talk with her mouth full. "Yes you would be up a tree," she purred in amusement as she twitched her tail across Viperfang's nose in an attempt to make her sneeze. "And there I'd be, poor me, fighting off the dog all alone." she snorted and shook her head. "No, I'm with you. I'd be up a tree as well. The only predators I'm interested in killing are foxes."

And how she wished to rid the world of foxes! The moorlands experienced more foxes than even ThunderClan territory, she believed. That would be nice. Hard to raise a Clan, but at least she'd have her fill of foxes. They'd keep her fit and prepared for battle. She'd have a blast.

An odd, nostalgic air was coming upon Vixenfang, and after a few more paces she came to a halt. Her amber eyes swept the territory she knew so well. The territory she had been raised in, had been trained in. Rabbitflight had trained her well. What would he say if he found out she was leaving? He...might actually want to come... she thought, frowning at the idea. She hadn't even thought about him joining WindClan. He certainly had the body...he was the same size as she, only a little bit bigger. Odd....Perhaps she had suppressed thoughts of him because she was afraid to go to him with such information. What would he think of her betrayal?

"Viperfang...what do you think when you think about the moors?" she asked absently, sitting down and curling her ginger tail around her forepaws. Why she was asking this, she wasn't sure. She was just interested in what normal warriors thought. What loyal ThunderClanners thought. "Honestly, what do you think about Elkstar's decision?"

((Sorry, random. I'm a bit out of it))

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "Yes you would be up a tree." Viperfang sent the three snakes flying out of her mouth as she sneezed. Vixenfang had caught her off guard with that tail over the nose trick. But she purred in amusement, happy to have a warrior who knew how to translate her language. "And there I'd be, poor me, fighting off the dog all alone." she snorted and shook her head. "No, I'm with you. I'd be up a tree as well. The only predators I'm interested in killing are foxes." 'Don't I know it,' Viperfang thought to herself with a knowing look on her face, her ears angled in precarious angles for no apparent reason other than because she knew it looked funny. The young warrior had paused any thought of making a smart comment when she saw the way her old mentor was looking around the territory. She knew the look. The elders often had the same expression on their faces when they went for walks outside the camp. Why did Vixenfang have that look? She wasn't that old! If she thought she was about to retire, she could forget it! "Viperfang...what do you think when you think about the moors?" The question almost knocked Viperfang over. Well that was unexpected. Why would she want to talk about that? However, from how she was sitting, the she-cat knew she wanted to talk seriously on the matter. "Honestly, what do you think about Elkstar's decision?" Viperfang took up a spot on some exposed pebbles and layed down with her paws under her chest. If it was a conversation she wanted, she'd get it. The warrior was in no particular hurry to get back to camp. She had no apprentice or kits to take care of and no one was starving for snakes. This was the clan deputy, after all. It would be her fault if Elkstar got in a fit because they took so long to get back. "To tell you the truth, I think Elkstar was right to stay out of it. StarClan wouldn't approve of three clans fighting for extra space when no one needs it. But personally, I wouldn't mind placing a paw in that territory. Seeing StarClan clearly anywhere you went hunting, being that much closer to the Moonstone... And I don't think rabbits would be that bad either." It had been a long time since Viperfang had spoken so honestly with any cat. But if she had to open up to some cat, she was glad it was Vixenfang. Word Count: 412 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

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Ah, yes, Viperfang sneezed right on cue. Vixenfang dodged quickly to avoid being hit in the face with a snake, then glanced down at the thing with distaste. She batted the limp body away with a forepaw, tentative even though it was dead. She didn't much like snakes.

The look Viperfang was giving her might have made Vixenfang laugh on any other day. But not right now. She knew she could trust Viperfang to speak her mind, and speak the truth. The two of them were too close to one another to lie. Vixenfang sure hoped it didn't come down to her having to lie. When Viperfang settled down, Vixenfang knew they were in for a talk. A true, honest talk, with no beating around the bushes. She was glad. And slightly nervous.

"To tell you the truth, I think Elkstar was right to stay out of it."

It was the reply she'd expect from a loyal warrior, and Vixenfang began to deflate a bit...until Viperfang continued. The deputy of ThunderClan kept her gaze set on the snakerocks behind Viperfang, rather than the warrior herself, and angled her ears forward to take in every word. She hadn't expected this reaction. She was surprised Viperfang felt this way.

"But personally, I wouldn't mind placing a paw in that territory."

Those words, and every word that followed, put a heavier frown on Vixenfang's face. Not that she wasn't glad to hear Viperfang speaking this way. She was glad there were others who enjoyed the idea of the moorlands. But she was worried. The warrior was speaking her mind, speaking the truth, and Vixenfang knew it would be atrocious for her not to return the favor. But how could she know how Viperfang would react? Viperfang was a loyal warrior. Surely she wouldn't want to hear anything about WindClan returning.

There was a way to find out. Vixenfang tilted her head to one side and regarded Viperfang with interest. "I take it you've never been there before. Would you like to go now? Before long, it won't be neutral ground. This might be your last chance." Indeed, it would be. Once WindClan ruled, they'd keep their borders guarded well. It would be hard to break the other Clans of the habit of hunting on the moors whenever they desired.

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "I take it you've never been there before. Would you like to go now? Before long, it won't be neutral ground. This might be your last chance." Viperfang avoided acting like a kit as best she could. The truth was that she couldn't contain her excitement. She'd never placed a paw out of ThunderClan territory except to go to Fourtrees and Highstones. The only time she'd placed a paw on the moor was when she accompanied the leader to the Moonstone that one time... And that was only a small corner of land before they had to cross the thunderpath. "Could we really go? I'd love to run through that territory just once. It's so open there..." Without realizing it, she'd picked herself up off the pebbles and was snow sitting almost at attention. It was clear that she was probably going to explore that stretch of land wether Vixenfang said she could go there or not. And she was right. There'd probably be battles over the whole moor within the next moon or two. Even without the battles, any cat would bet that both Rookstar and Willowstar would be trying to claim as much of that territory as possible before both sides met each other in the middle. "What about the adders, though? Should we drop them off at camp before we go? Maybe we could sneak out at moonhigh without any cat noticing... Then we wouldn't be missed." Viperfang's excitement was growing by the second. She wasn't sure if she could put off the adventure until moonhigh. The thought of exploring with her mentor instead of going behind her back like she'd done with Snakeheart as apprentices was causing her spine to tingle. She was having trouble keeping her paws still. Word Count: 288 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

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Amusement and surprise radiated through Vixenfang's skinny body, and her whiskers twitched contemplatively. Finally, a cat who shared her eagerness for the moors. Perhaps once they got up there she would lose her excitement and interest. Perhaps the constant wind and sheer openness would cause Viperfang to retreat to ThunderClan territory. Perhaps not.

"We are doing nothing wrong by going to the moors," she said seriously, wanting to get that point across. "There is no reason to sneak out. They belong to no one yet, and we have every right to be hunting there." The dilemma with the adders was no dilemma at all. "Leave them here. No predator in their right mind would take them." She mostly didn't want to miss this opportunity. If they went by camp, they might be shanghaied into a patrol. No, it was best to go now. Maybe they weren't doing anything wrong, but their Clanmates still might not approve.

Rising to her paws, Vixenfang stretched her long but skinny limbs before turning in the direction of the moors. She knew how to get there. Perhaps Viperfang would find her familiarity with the grassy land odd, but she didn't care. Any excuse to go there was fine with her.

"Come on, slowpoke. Race you there," she mewed mischievously before bursting into a sprint. Part of her wanted to move slowly and enjoy her territory, as she would not be enjoying it much longer, but another part of her said "no, there's time for that later." Now was the time to find out Viperfang's loyalties, and to visit her beloved moors.

((bad, sorry, I'm in a hurry. I'm off, I'll reply tomorrow!))

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "We are doing nothing wrong by going to the moors. There is no reason to sneak out. They belong to no one yet, and we have every right to be hunting there." "I know, but that doesn't mean it's not dangerous to go there. We might run into cats from the other clans- What am I saying? Let's go!" At once, Viperfang was up on all four paws, back arched as she stretched her legs to their full height. The fur along her spine was fluffed up in excitement. She could easily be mistaken as a giant kit now. Or one might think that she'd seen the fox again. She made her back and her fur lie flat again, however, and looked into the forest toward the moor. It were certainly be a long walk... "Leave them here. No predator in their right mind would take them." "Unless they were hungry enough," the young she-cat replied as she raked some snow over them. At least it would mask the scent and keep them from spoiling. "Come on, slowpoke. Race you there." "You speak my language," Viperfang snarled jokingly as she gave chase. She would have liked to save her energy for a run across the moor, but the faster they got there, the sooner she could lay her eyes on that amazing territory. Seeing StarClan so clearly was a thought that put even more speed in her paws. She could swear she was flying through the trees. "Last cat back owes ME a mouse!" she called out as she passed her old mentor. Word Count: 256 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None