A Meeting to Find Fate

[Pitou]

Tinker laughed. "I guess you're right." She skipped a little to keep her pace with his.

She cocked her head sideways as she looked at him. "Why would that make me leave?"
@Jackson.L

[Jackson.L]

@Ravensong

Ban stopped again. He emitted a sighing growl and rolled his eyes to land on the naïve molly. "Because strays hunt down kittypets for fun." He took a slow threatening step towards her. "Because you don't know what rough is and that's the only thing a stray knows." He took another step, putting his foot down hard. "Because a fight is a strays form of fun." Another step. He gritted his teeth and growled, "Because we don't want your kind, and when we don't want something, we kill it."

He turned to continue padding at his quickened pace, satisfied that he'd put his point across and he could continue going where he was going. Where exactly that was he wasn't sure, but he'd start with finding a meal somewhere. All of this confrontation had only worked his appetite up further.

[Pitou]

Tinker was quiet for a moment, watching him fluidly turn and trot away. Her eyes were stretched wide as she slowly digested everything he said.

Then her smile popped back on her face and she raced after him, slowing as she reached him to match his pace once more.

"Well you haven't killed me so that must count for something," she chirped happily.
@Jackson.L

[Jackson.L]

@Ravensong

Ban's nerves set to fire as soon as he heard her run up and speak again. His shoulders tensed and he nearly screamed as he turned and hissed, "What is wrong with you?! Can't you see I'm trying to go about my own business and I don't need nosy, pampered, annoying kittypets harassing my every move?! It doesn't count for anything, it only counts for you not being worth my time nor my energy. Now if you dont mind, I'd like to find some food."

[Pitou]

Her smile faded slightly but she didn't falter. She shook her head slowly and intoned quietly, "Well I don't think you're as bad as you're trying to put off. Besides," she chirped, bouncing back to her bubbly demeanor. "everybody needs friends and I can help you hunt! I already caught a bird this morning! I bet you're really good at hunting.""
@Jackson.L

[Jackson.L]

@Ravensong

Ban rolled his eyes and grumbled. "Yeah," he commented irritably on her hunting, "I heard." He grudgingly turned to look at her, knowing he'd regret giving her the extra effort. "You realize the point of hunting is to not let them see you, right?" He rolled his neck to face the direction he was walking and added lowly, "Not give them time to alert every scrap of prey in the area of a hungry predator."

[Pitou]

Tinker walked silently, contemplating what the tom had said. She nodded slowly then looked up at Ban, her eyes bright. "You can teach me!"

She bounced in her step and giggled. "Oh it'd be great fun! And I'm sure you're an excellent hunter! You could teach me to hunt like a real stray and then we could both hunt for food and you'd have double the food!" She shrugged. "I don't need the food, my housefolk always have food ready for me."

She was growing near giddy at the thought of her plans. It made all the sense in the world.
@Jackson.L

[Jackson.L]

@Ravensong

Ban was ready to lash out. He felt the rising heat of anger and the fire of battle was tensing his muscles. If he looked at her he was sure he would be unable to hold back. He kept his eyes averted and through gritted teeth he growled, "Life is not a game living as a stray. It's do or die, Snickers, and I don't have time to be training you how to play pretend. Now, Buzz. Off."

[Pitou]

Tinker slowed her trot, her smile gone, watching the scarred brown tom's tail continuing on low to the ground. She swallowed. Quietly she meowed, "I didn't think it was a game. I just thought everybody deserves to have friends."

She put her smile back on her face and, louder, she called after him, "I'll be around, if you change your mind. It's okay to be scared sometimes, but I'll be a good friend. You'll see."

She sighed with a little self-assured smile on her face before turning and trotting back toward home. She had a new resolve to practice hunting without letting her prey be noisy. Is that even possible? It must be, Ban said so. The next time she saw him she'd be able to show him her new hunting skills and prove to him that she could be a good friend.
@Jackson.L