sweet dreams are made [o]f this

CRICKETPAW

After making some preparations beforehand, and waiting for the right moment to enact his plan, it was time. Today was the perfect day to get revenge on those who had wronged him. To give some background information, a few apprentices had dared him to climb one of the tallest trees in Shadowclan territory and stay there for as long as possible. However, instead of keeping their promise, which was to stay nearby while he took vigil the branches, the little scoundrels had abandoned him. Once he found this out, and also realized that had a fear of heights in the process, Cricket was understandably pissed. Tansyface had been kind enough to plant an idea in his mind, which was fairly simple, yet effective enough to prove a point. The point being not to mess with him. He had spent the last two days stockpiling mouse bile and freezing overnight, and used part of his morning to pick some meadowsweets, which would hopefully mask the horrid smell until further notice. It took a while for his victims to leave the apprentice's den, presumably on a hunting patrol, but as soon as they were gone Cricket went to work. Hiding the bile underneath their moss bedding and sprinkling some meadowsweets on top of everything, claiming that they were a gift to anyone who asked, the tom quickly abandoned the scene, retreating to the fresh kill pile. As he had originally predicted, it wasn't long before the apprentices came back from their patrol, and green eyes watched with a mixture of glee and anticipation as they headed into the den to rest. A few moments later there was a commotion from inside, and several cats suddenly lunged out into the open, their pelts covered with a mixture of herbs and bile, which after melting had begun to admit a dastardly odor. Even the meadowsweets did little to help their cause. Who did this!? One of them screeched, wildly looking around camp. Show yourself now! I swear to Starclan that I'll throttle you! The idea of being choked didn't appeal to the male, and hiding his smile with a paw, Cricket began to quietly chuckle on his breath. "Serves them right." He murmured, watching the commotion from afar.

CRICKETPAW

Upon feeling something- or rather, someone come into contact with his shoulder, the apprentice would visibly startle. He wasn't all that fond of physical contact, for reasons that he would prefer not to disclose. How he hadn't noticed Nightfright's approach was a mystery, but upon registering her presence, Cricket broke out into a completely innocent looking grin. Yes, it was the look of a man who could do no wrong. Unless provoked, of course. "Huh? Are you insinuating that I did this?" He questioned, blinking his eyelashes. "Why, I couldn't hurt a fly!" In order to accent this, Cricket tilted his head to the side, allowing the sunlight to create a picture perfect halo around his smug features. Though it didn't take long for him to drop the act and burst off into a short fit of laughter. No, the prank had considerably lightened his mood, and he couldn't find it in himself to pretend any longer. "Okay, you're right. I'm the one who put the mouse bile in their nests. Though someone else- I won't say who, gave me the idea of masking it's stench with meadowsweets. But to be fair, they deserved this." The tabby didn't bother to explain why, since the disappointment of being let down was still fresh in his mind. Instead, he would turn his attention to the next person who arrived, responding to their question with a shrug. "I'll admit that I could've taken a... cleaner route, but where's the fun in that? Besides, they'll never live this down! At least, not until they're much older." It was something that he shouldn't be saying in front of a child, as he might 'encourage them to be rebellious' or whatever, but that didn't occur to him at the time. The last person to arrive was Cloverpaw, and taking pride in her words, he tossed the female a wink. "That means a lot coming from you." Was his response, though it was said in a teasing manner. "Let's just hope that they don't start a clan-wide prank war. I would hate for someone innocent to get targeted by a rouge apprentice. Although... I have been stockpiling ideas in case this does, in fact, occur. So don't worry- I'll be prepared."