Run With Me (tom needed)

Azure narrowed her eyes in determination. She was no stranger to trees, but she had to admit she was more comfortable on the ground. She dug her claws into the bark, then ran along the branch. It dipped under her weight and she jumped-- earlier than she should have. Claws outstretched, she snagged the end of a branch in the next tree with her front paws only, leaving her hind legs dangling. She cried out in panic, digging her claws in desperately.

Azure crouched, shaking slightly, on the branch. Her eyes were still wide and her fur was ruffled, though it was clear she was attempting to calm down. "Thank you. For getting me." She looked away. "I guess I belong more on the ground, huh?" She gave a shaky laugh.

Azure got to her paws and began to carefully pick her way down, her confidence gone. "Perhaps." She meowed. "But on the ground you'd never stand a chance against me. I was built for running." She purred, looking over at him, then leaped the last small distance and landed lightly. Now that all four paws were touching dirt, not tree bark, she seemed less shaken.

Azure narrowed her eyes and curled her claws into the ground, an instinctual grip for more traction. "I meant speed, mousebrain." She purred in amusement. Her tone was light, but the look in her eyes said she was more sensitive about cats doubting her skills than she was letting on. First as a loner, then as a Clan cat, and now as a loner again-- It seemed she was always met with doubt, skepticism, too many that said 'you can't do that like me' or simply 'I'm better than you'. Some part of her knew that Ash didn't mean it like that, he was just teasing, but her insecurities hadn't gone away since she'd left the Clan.

Azure looked away. "Stop showing off." She muttered, her meow quiet, as if she hadn't made up her mind on whether or not she'd actually meant for him to hear it. Her claws curled into the ground again. "I think I'm going to hunt." She meowed, louder now. The she-cat found herself missing the taste of rabbit, and that wasn't something you could catch by jumping around in trees.

Azure nodded. "I will." She looked at him one last time, the turned around and trotted into the woods. She opened her mouth, sifting through the scents. There was plenty of prey, but she wasn't hungry for just anything. She kept walking quietly until she found rabbit scent. Then she began to follow it. It got fresher and fresher and she kept silent, making sure she was downwind when she saw it. Yes. She thought to herself. Then she leaped from the undergrowth and gave chase. Rabbits were fast, but she was faster. Even with her aching muscles, it felt good to run after prey again. It felt even better when she'd killed and buried her catch. She may as well find more prey, now that she was out here. Ash could eat some too.

Azure caught another rabbit and a mouse, and decided she probably wouldn't be able to carry much more. So she dug up all her prey and began to pad towards Ash's den, her mouth filled with her catch. She purred to herself. It felt good to run, not out of fear, but because she was catching prey for herself and another cat. The memories of hunting for the Clan saddened her a little, but she couldn't go back to that. She didn't even really want to go back-- too many bad things outweighed the good. She arrived back at Ash's den and nudged her way inside.

Azure put the two rabbits and the mouse down and smiled back when her mouth wasn't full. "That was fun." She meowed, sitting down. The she-cat began to rhythmically groom herself, freeing her fur from the dust and tangles she'd picked up.

Azure looked amused. "Catnip? Isn't that the herb used for greencough?" She padded over to him. "Why were you chewing it?" She glanced at the leaves on the ground.

Azure chuckled softly. "You must have had a lot. Are you hungry? I'm going to eat one of my rabbits." She picked up one of them and settled down to eat it, indicating he could have the other or just the mouse if he wanted.