Quick pawsteps hurtled through the undergrowth, bright pink paw pads barely touching the earth as if a savage, hungry fox were on their tails. The forest foliage whipped at the duo's pelts, yet neither paid any attention. The blood was pounding in their ears, breath short and labored as their pace sped up if even possible. Strings of light peered in through the open gaps, signifying the exit at the far end of the upcoming bramble patch. A flash of brindle took the lead, overtaking the brown tabby pelt of her challenger. Amber eyes narrowed with confidence, the brindle patterned she-cat bunched her muscles, lowering herself to the ground with each step. Mere tail lengths in front of the brambles, she made the final crouch before springing from the leaf littered earth, soaring over the obstacle with a triumphant yowl as her white paws hit the soft grass on the other side.
From behind her, came a startled screech, followed by the crash of a body hitting something. That said something happened to be the brambles, while the crash was undoubtedly the brown tabby. Hissing and spitting, clawing thorns from her ruffled pelt, the tabby emerged with a hostile glare in her yellow orbs.
"Yeah, thanks a lot for letting me run into that stupid bramble patch," she growled, wincing as a thorn was pulled out, drawing a flicker of crimson.
"Come off it Briarpaw," laughed the brindle patterned feline, amusement flickering in her amber optics. "It was simply a race and your clumsy paws weren't enough to match those of a true winner. Namely, me." Her white chest puffed out in pride, giving her ruffled pelt a few swift licks.
"You come off it, Brindlepaw," spat the tabby. "If you keep filling up that ego, your head's going to explode. Now I guess we'd better go back to camp and explain why we left camp; followed by an earful of Stoatwhisker's endless ranting."
"The morning is still young," Brindlepaw protested lightly, white paws dragging her towards the loud gurgle of the stream that was moving at a particularly swift rate. More quick than usual. "Let's say we were out hunting," she peered over the edge.
"Then we'll go back into the forest and catch something, not waste time out here looking for fish like a RiverClanner," Briarpaw sniffed indignantly, appalled at attempting something so mouse-brained. The brindle lump gave a shrug of her shoulders. "But it's fun. Besides, it's not that hard," she meowed calmly. "Pikepaw showed me how. You have to hold out your paw like this-" her white paw hovered above the surface. "-an then you have to make sure your shadow isn't over the surface-" her lithe frame pulled back slightly. "-and then you strike!" Her paw flashed forward, the power of the motion dragging her full weight forward into the current.
Cold water stinging at her pelt, Brindlepaw surfaced with a loud gasp of shock, amber eyes wide with terror. Briarpaw leaned against the edge, laughing aloud with humor replacing her former rage. "You're right!" she howled with glee. "That is fun!"
"This isn't a joke, Briarpaw!" Brindlepaw snapped wildly, fear in her voice as her paws lashed out helplessly against the strong current. "The current is too strong. Help me out!"
Briarpaw tilted her head to the side, padding daintily on land beside the thrashing figure of her sister. "Hmm, no I don't think I will," she purred, tail flicking.
"You'd leave your own sister out here to drown?" Brindlepaw gasped incredulously, going under for a few seconds and rising into view again with a sharp cough. Briarpaw seemed to be enjoying this. "Well, I suppose one could help out if say, they were treated with something in return."
"Fine, fine!" her sister flailed, struggling to fight the current with the power of her thrashing legs. "What do you want? My place in the gathering? Acing the warrior assessment? Going on patrol with Birchstar?" She spewed out possible answers, hoping her sister would eventually come around and help her out.
"I want your share of tonight and tomorrow's dinner," Briarpaw decided after a long pause of thinking. "Also, could you take my duty of cleaning out the elders' den and checking them for ticks? Much appreciated. Though, it's not like you have much of a choice." She gave a sickeningly sweet smile to which Brindlepaw answered with a yowl, "Alright! My share of food and elder duty! Now get me out of here!"
"Keep your fur on," Briarpaw hissed, gripping a stick within her jaws and thrusting it out in reach of her brindle sister. Another set of pearl white fangs gripped the dead branch and a swift bout of tugging brought Brindlepaw within scruff distance. Briarpaw released the stick and instead sank her fangs into the scruff of her sibling, hoisting her out with a struggled heave. Both flopped on the shore; one soaked and out of breath, the other laughing.
"Dirty trick," Brindlepaw wheezed, coughing out droplets from the stream.
"All good in love and war," Briarpaw teased with a smirk, shifting her position to bump noses. "Sisters?"
"Sisters."
Challenge for Clan of Clouds. Yeah, Briarpaw and Brindlepaw may have a sisterhood bond but trust me, it all goes downhill from here. This is early on in the apprenticeship where they still hold respect for one another, though it's slowly fading. These siblings are the same characters in Bigger They Are, Harder They Fall and that actually describes their full hatred and break-up. It may seem sweet now, just wait...
-Snarky (Ravenpaw of CloudClan)