Dim Light (Stormwind)

Even if Graycloud had been in heat (which she wasn’t, but she almost was), she probably would have refused on the grounds of them being in a tree and it therefore not being exactly safe or comfortable.

Glaciertail had an idea for passing the time, of course, but knew it was unlikely to fly unless the other warrior was in heat, which he hadn’t noticed up to this point.

Graycloud grimaced. “No.” She glanced at the trees, which were too far away for them to jump to. It was just their luck they’d chosen one of the only trees isolated from the others.

After a while, Glaciertail glanced back down again to discover that a second fox had joined the first at the base of the tree. He growled a curse under his breath before turning to Graycloud. “We might be here a while… have anything you want to do?”

Graycloud made an understanding noise but otherwise didn’t reply.

“Being up here with Rainstorm would be insufferable,” added the tom, cracking a slight smile, “and if you were Shadowleaf I’d just jump out and take my chances.”

Graycloud frowned, confused.

“Just trying to find something positive in this situation.” Glaciertail Replied, the younger warrior’s hostility not sitting well with him, “And I️ suppose there are worse cats to be stuck with.”

Graycloud twitched under his stare and turned to look at him. “What?”

After the awkward silence between the two had stretched on for a while longer, Glaciertail cast a glance over at Graycloud again, watching the younger warrior for a while.

Graycloud looked up at the sky through the branches.

The tuxedo tom sighed, glancing between his paws to watch the fox below.

Graycloud scowled and looked away from him, gray tabby fur bristling.

“And I️ did.” Replied Glaciertail icily. “Trying to coordinate with a partner to ensure a good outcome is not the same thing as being indecisive.” The tom narrowed his eyes at the She-cat. “A new warrior should be learning from their elders, not disrespecting them.”

Graycloud scowled at him. “Shut up. You’re the senior warrior, you should’ve been the one making the decision.”

“You do realize that indecision like that back there is likely to get you killed, right?” Glaciertail murmured to the She-cat.

Graycloud eventually started to settle, though still clung tightly to the branch.

“No telling how long he’s going to be there,” murmured the tom, settling down on his branch for what could be a long wait as the fox paced around their tree. He realized that the white fluffs had been the fox shedding its winter coat.

Graycloud stared down at the Fox with wide eyes, fur still bristling.

Glaciertail watched the fox continue to snap at them even after they were both well out of range, The tom glancing over at The she-cat crossly. A lot of good all that apprentice experience did you, thought the tom with a disgruntled snort.

Swiftstream glanced behind them warily.

Graycloud hurriedly scrambled up the tree after him, only just whisking her tail away before the fox’s jaws closed on it.

Finally, a large enough tree came up ahead of them, and the tom yowled “Climb!” He scampered up the tree in question, going as high in the branches as he felt he safely could before turning to make sure Graycloud made it up as well.

Riverflight’s ear twitched when he thought he heard someone behind them, but that didn’t make any sense. Their bridge had collapsed, after all.

“I don’t know!” Graycloud shouted, running for dear life.

Swiftstream kept a careful, close attention on their surroundings.

“So what do you want to do then!?” Glaciertail yowled back, his jaws wide open in silent panting as he sprinted to keep ahead of the Fox, who was yipping excitedly as it closed the distance on the two cats with its longer stride.

Riverflight noticed Swiftstream’s clear reluctance to be here but didn’t say anything about it, carrying on.

“I know that, mouse-brain!” Graycloud shouted back. “I’m a new warrior not a new apprentice!”

Swiftstream padded along with him, looking distinctly unenthusiastic.