We Didn't Start The Fire[C]

"What is UP, Ajex?"

Ramone certainly wasn't the type to enter quietly, even if they were meant to be hunting. Ajex had already proved himself a predator foxes, badgers, you name it. He was a connoisseur, if you will, of any and all predators that dared stalked these frostbitten lands. This rough-and-tumble cat had to give him props for the gall to even go after the things on purpose. Bumping their shoulder against the orange cream tom, Ramone gave a crooked grin before meowing, "What are we feeling today? Snake? Dog?" The mere mention of fresh meat set their stomach a-growling.

The territories remained strangely dead, even the forest empty of everything except prey, twolegs, and predators. Clawed and chewed-up ears he hated running into predators, especially with a back leg that still twinged and ached whenever he pushed it too far. A part of him almost laughed. He used to run the moors huffing at the idea of predators, and now he stuck to the trees, longing for a proper surface to climb that anything other than a squirrel couldn't scramble up.

How things changed.

He padded across the snow near his old home-territory's border, paws light and silent, gliding over its surface. He'd practically been born in the snow. If he couldn't keep a silent pawstep on the icy surface, he'd have to call himself a rat and live in a dumpster.
Unlike the badger blundering their way through anything and everything that could make a sound, marring his home well, it used to be with a crashing path a deaf bat could follow.

And then there was this. With the lack of Clan cats, seemed all the loners had crawled out of the woodwork to roll casually on the territories, giggling about how the big bad warriors had all left and it was all theirs now. Well, what could he say, he'd done the same a couple times when a group or two had left a nice nesting spot empty. Still. They could have a little respect.

Ginger was there, too. Fancy seeing a familiar face haunting this place. Deciding to stop by, he padded up, swishing his tail in greeting. "Hey there, kits. Funny place to meet an old scent. And a new one, too," he added, smirking at the unfamiliar pelt. "Seem to be a few of those around. I'm Flamethrower: winner of a thousand scraps, infamous among rogues — new here. And you're...?"

‘Who’s this guy?’ Ramone’s expression didn’t change as they gave this new cat a once-over. They seemed older, at least. Couldn’t get much more information than that. “Can’t say I’ve heard of you,” They glanced at Ajex momentarily as he said, ‘You still remember me, right?’. Sulfuric eyes moved once again to the vibrantly ginger tom. “So you’ll have to tell me all about why you’re so infamous, Flamethrower. After we do a good bit of hunting. Something to do in all this cold.”

Not that Ramone felt cold, what with their long, dense fur. The only thing reminding them of the chill was from the wind against the scar on their forehead. Turning to face Ajex as he spoke, they felt that twin spark of mischievousness. “Badger sounds real good right about now. Real, real good.” A hunter's delight spread across their face, eyes glinting and teeth itching to find their mark. It'd been a little too long since they'd felt that thrill of battle, that excitement that made them feel like they were a hound at heart, not a cat. “It’ll be fun.”

Of course he did. Well, he remembered that he'd met him, anyway. Ajex, yeah, the little mischief maker rogue who had a WindClannish look to him. "Nice names. You know, I knew a Ramone, once... Old, cranky, weird — nothing like you, 'course."

And they were hunting... badger. Weird choice. If they tasted how they smelled, he'd rather try roadkill rat. But he didn't miss that challenge in the ginger's eyes, probably expecting him to turn up his nose, his friend a little standoffish. They wanted to give him a test? Well colour him interested — if he was going to butt in, he might as well make it worth his while. Besides, even with an iffy leg he could still outrun a badger.

Mjolnir always said he was too stupid to avoid challenges. Well, better keep proving her right.

He winked, showing a hint of fang in his smile. "Pretty sure you'll find out why soon, kit. Oh, and badger? Sounds delicious — count me in."