Seconds (open)

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Nightfall sneaked out of the warrior's den with a scowl on his face. He did not want to have to deal with anybody today, but he at least needed to leave the safety of his own den to get some food, as he was growing rather hungry. He had last eaten about about an hour ago, but time goes by fast and there was nothing else for him to do at the moment. He knew about the rule of letting kits and elders eat first, but the rule never specified who could have seconds first.
He plopped down next to the prey pile and without thinking, picked up a bird and began to chew on it. It did not really taste that good and the poor thing had a look of horror stuck permanently on its face, but he had already bitten into it, so whatever. He would prefer to not have to eat something that once had a mother, and in that aspect, he knew he would make for a much better kittypet than a clan cat. But as he gazed across at the FireClan camp, he smiled, because at least here he could have some form of control over his life and not have to be the slave to some twoleg. He was never the kind of cat to appreciate authority, unless of course it was his own.
As he was finishing up his food, though, he saw another cat approaching him. "Oh, by StarClan..." he thought to himself, letting off a near-silent growl. "I do not have the patience to speak to another soul today."

[feather]

Wolfspider himself hadn't actually eaten today yet, and the young warrior hoped there was something good on the fresh-kill pile even if leafbare always made getting food harder for them. Turning his head up when he noticed the other warrior the grey tom couldn't help but wonder what he was doing. "Didn't you just get something to eat earlier?" The one-earred male asked knowing he saw the other tom at the fresh-kill pile not too long ago.

"You don't need more food do you?" Wolfspider asked though his tone made it sound more like a statement instead. The grey tom was very serious about making sure everybody got a fair share even if he was one of the younger warriors.

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Nightfall huffed, not wanting to deal with the consequences of his actions and already somewhat angry that he was being confronted. How would he get himself out of this now? He got up and began to pace rather intimidatingly around the other warrior. Or at least, he wanted to believe he was intimidating, but it all depended on how the other cat perceived him. After he had scanned this cat, getting a good read of him, he looked him dead in the eyes with the most smug and confident expression he could muster.
"I can't get the strength I need to defend FireClan by eating just the bare minimum." He said. "I got to get as much energy as I can in order to build muscle, otherwise I'd be a rather useless warrior." Nightfall was completely and foolishly confident that this excuse would work, as his fragile self esteem and temper depended on it.

[feather]

Wolfspider couldn't help but inwardly smirk at the idea of the other warrior challenging him even if it wasn't as blunt as it could be. He could say one thing his terrible father had showed him was how to be subtly insulting. Though the young warrior normally didn't resort to it he was starting to become more outspoken with his opinions.

"Well I don't think a fat warrior would be much better either. Of course if you're so weak you need more food to keep going I'm sure the Elder's Den is empty enough for you." He stated this time actually giving an outward smirk at the comeback. Perhaps he'd become a bit more sarcastic as a warrior then he'd realized before.

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"You little rat! I'm not fat at all!" Nightfall grumbled. He wasn't fat, he was just... slightly more nourished. "You better watch yourself. You don't know who you're dealing with!" It seems as though Wolfspider had hit him right in his fragile ego. Nightfall puffed up his chest, though he was hardly threatening given his small stature and the fact that the two were arguing over food.
"I happen to be one of the toughest cats around here." he elaborated. He wasn't completely sure of that statement, as he did not have much fighting experience outside of training as an apprentice and picking petty fights with his peers. "It would be foolish of you to cross my path, especially over something petty like this."

[feather]

Wolfspider couldn't help it as he flinched slightly at Nightfall's tone. Apparently he had hit a sensitive issue for the other warrior, and all he had really been doing was joking. "Really you'd attack a clanmate over a joke?" He asked cocking his head slightly. Though he supposed every cat had a limit his own was if anybody insulted his younger brother. Perhaps that was why he hadn't given much thought to how insulting he could be.

"I didn't say you couldn't fight, after all elder's can fight sometimes if they have too." The grey tom stated holding up one of his paws to try and diffuse the situation.

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"W- Well, maybe you should be more clear when you're joking... And watch your mouth!" Nightfall grumbled. He changed his stance to a much less aggressive stance, but still had an expression of outward anger. It would take a while to soothe his easily agitated nerves. "You never know when you'll be joking around and you meet a cat who really can't stand jokes. Luckily for you, I'm merciful, kind, and forgiving." He had yet to prove that his last statement was anything near factual, but in his heart he believed it to be true.

"And also luckily for you, I'm a little bit of a jokester myself." The grey tabby said. There was a stupid grin on his face, but his glaring, angry eyes betrayed any sense of levity brought on by the grin. "You see, I was only joking when I ate that bird. It was obviously just a joke! I don't see how you didn't get my very obvious joke. I can go catch ten new birds right now to make up for it if you're really that upset over one bird."

[feather]

"Well that's hardly my fault that some cats can't take a joke." Wolfspider responded with a shrug of his shoulders. Though Nightfall playing off him eating again as a joke sounded like he was mocking him, though he actually did expect something more along those lines to happen anyway. "Oh yes very funny joke. Ha ha silly of me not to catch it right away." The tom stated with a clearly fake laugh.

"Well that sounds like a challenge to me Nightfall. How about we see who can catch more prey." Wolfspider beforing giving it as much thought as he should've. His hunting skills left much to be desired, but he couldn't resist the idea of competing with the other tom cat.

@symmetry

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Nightfall's eyes lit up with excitement. Any opportunity to prove his power over another cat was a good opportunity for him! He didn't even consider the very real possibility of failure and humiliation. Ignoring the tom's fake, mocking laughter, Nightfall responded with a smug expression, his tail twitching just very slightly in excitement. "I'll take up your challenge!" the smugness and self-assuredness on the little grey cat's face was almost unbearable, especially for someone so young. "Whoever catches more prey is the superior warrior!" He got up from where he was sitting and excitedly started to pace around WolfSpider.
"So where shall this little competition take place? Lead the way, mister. I'll give you a head start." He said with far too much confidence.

[feather]

"I say the Hopping Stones would be the best hunting spot, unless you're scared of snakes." Wolfspider stated not giving the other tom any sign he was going to get goaded into losing his temper, more like the exact opposite. "Really maybe you'd need a head start, no shame to admit it. Maybe you should go first you'll need all the advantage you can get after all." The male stated in what would seem pleasant if not for the actually words he was saying.

"I guess actions speak louder then words let's see if you can back up that big talk of yours. Race you there slowpoke." Wolfspider stated taking off into a run with a smirk on his face. He'd never felt so competitive as an apprentice, but now he felt he had something to prove.

@symmetry

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It took a moment for Wolfspider's words to truly hit Nightfall, but by the time they did, the other warrior was already sprinting away. Within a second, Nightfall had broken out into a clumsy sprint. "I do NOT need a head start!!" he yelled as he ran after Wolfspider, almost catching up to him, but still somewhat behind. Running was never his thing... And now that he thought about it, neither was hunting. Whoops. Perhaps he really did need an advantage, but now it was too late to admit it. He was already in over his head, and his ego was too fragile to admit it.

(should we make a new thread in the Hopping Stones for this?)

[feather]

@symmetry (Sure)

Wolfspider couldn't help himself from laughing harder as he ran so far outrunning the other warrior, but that was because he had taken off first, so hardly a surprise. Though while turning his head to look back to see where the other warrior was he barely had time to avoid running into a tree. No way would he have lived that one down considering he was trying to out do Nightfall. Well hopefully his hunting skills would hold out decently enough compared to the other tom's, but he had always been bad at hunting as an apprentice. Mostly this was due to his lack of patience.

He liked to think he had improved on that in recent moons, but he supposed this was a good a time as any to see. Perhaps since he was more focused on winning their competition it would help his motivation somewhat.