Do it or don't do it-- you'll regret both[Open]

He was starting to understand what Copper meant when she said that he didn't use his head as much as he should. One might have thought that after his little trip into ThunderClan territory, he would learn to keep out of Clan territory, but for reasons unknown to him his paws were bringing him right back to the foul stench that marked the border. Bird pushed past the undergrowth, noting how it was thinner here than in ThunderClan territory. The trees, too, were broader and taller, with branches that stretched up far enough that he was sure if he climbed to the very top he could drink the stars. Shadows crossed his patched pelt, breaking up his outline even more.

The forest was silent for a while as he padded on further and further. There were slight rustling noises that indicated prey, but Bird couldn't quite find them yet. It felt surreal, like a dream, as he crossed across puddles and small creeks, moving from shadow to shadow like a ghost. Soon, there was a flash of feathers, and a rustling of wings beating the air. Bird's eyes adjusted to the darkness, and he saw a thrush not too far away. A decent meal, if he managed to catch it. His paws moved under him, going against his head, and before he knew it his fangs were deep inside the bird's throat. Bird spat out a mouthful of feathers, starring down at the bird. He considered carrying it back to Copper, but his stomach suddenly growled and suddenly it didn't matter that his mother worked her paws off every day to feed him because he was feeding himself now wasn't he? The flesh of the bird was a welcome change from the usual scrawny mouse that was no more than skin and bone. Bird finished his meal faster than he would have liked, and was left with a sense of disatisfaction.

There was the thick scent of another cat that unraveled from the mess of the scents around him to stand before him in the form of a large pale-furred she-cat. Bird instantly began bristling, taking a step back when the she-cat approached. More scents drew closer, hidden by the cover of trees. She asked him a few question, none of which he wanted to answer or knew how to answer. Amber eyes flared defiantly, and Bird straightened up. He knew he wouldn't be able to win a fight with this huge cat, but would she have enough nerve to attack a kit? "SkyClan? Territory?" He asked, tail lashing as he met the she-cat's gaze, "Since when did it matter where cats got their food from as long as they didn't starve?"

"kits too young to hunt for themselves... do you hear yourself?" Bird all but spat the words back at the huge she-cat. As much as he hated to admit it, he was starving, they were all starving. Copper had said many times before that he wasn't supposed to be hunting for himself so young, but he didn't have the time to grow up. He didn't want to blame Copper-- even though much of it was her fault-- but did this cat really have the nerve to tell a starving kit that because other kits were starving he couldn't hunt for himself?

The she-cat remained insistent. Sending that this was one fight he wouldn't win, Bird pinned his ears to the back of his head and turned to slip into the undergrowth. The feeling of being on the losing end sent a bitter tang in his mouth. It wasn't a fight he was going to win, but still. He didn't like to lose, and he didn't like looking like a fool.