**Tangle <> Shimmer**

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

Shimmer yawned. What a dull day it was - perfect weather, no intruders. She'd already roamed around PastureClan a bit, but she hadn't even run into anyone. She scraped her claws against the rock, staring at the long grasses and delicate flowers of her meadow. She could see the little movements from a long ways away, practicing identifying the patterns of the twitching grass: there was a snake, about a foxlength away, and a mouse scurrying in the opposite direction. Shimmer could see the deliberate movements of the adder, the frantic running of the panicked mouse. Closer, closer the snake wove... and when the two met, the motion changed. Shimmer's gaze moved on and she noticed a group of erratic movements, all clumped together. The only explanation was a pack of rats. She watched the grass' varying motions as the rodents scrambled all over each other, clamoring to get who-knows-what. Oh, if only something would happen!

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The large, dappled shape padded about, yawning. He was so bored. Nothing to do...it was a perfect day. Too perfect. He looked up at the sunny, cloudless sky. He wished something would happen....then something hit his mind. He would roam about the territories. Especially Shimmer's territory. That would show her. She thought she was better than everyone...
He chuckled as he entered her meadow, hoping to meet the tabby-point [?], kittypet-like cat. She was a strange cat...she seemed soft and pretty, but inside was a deadly murderer...just like him.


OOC/sorry for sucky post, I have to reply to TONS of stuff.

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

Shimmer saw the tom before she smelled him; he was a little ways off, coming through the long weeds towards her barren rocky home. The whole place was her land, but the cluster of lifeless rocks was where she ate and slept, the cold heart of her territory. She watched him approach, giving her silver paw a quick lick. She used it to rub her face, similarly colored, once. Her smoke blue eyes narrowed as she watched the other loner. A few paces in front of him, where the grass was sure to block his vision, a blade of grass rustled. Shimmer knew immediately that another adder, one of the many in her land, was slithering along the ground. "You're about to run into a snake," she called. She didn't know why she'd warned him - it would have been interesting to see what followed if she hadn't. But then again, why not gain his trust? It would work better that way, and she trusted her finely tuned instincts.

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Tangle made his way slowly, and pushed through the long weeds without really disturbing much. He approached the cluster of flat rocks that stood in the heart of the territory, Shimmer's 'den'. His fiery eyes glanced up, spotting Shimmer. He ignored her, deciding to wait until he was actually in front of her to greet her.
As she called out a warning, he scoffed. Just as she spoke, his large dappled body nimbly leaped over the patch of grass where the dangerous creature lay slinking through the so-called greenery. He had almost reached Shimmer, but he was wondering why the cruel she-cat had even warned him. She could have let him be bitten...but had decided not to.
His large paws finally stood in front of her nimble shape. Hello. He raised his head, staring into the smoky eyes of the she-cat.

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

"What are you doing here?" Her tone was light and had actual curiosity. Most of that was, in fact, fake - but it was hard to tell. So well did Shimmer act that she occasionally tricked herself into believing the emotions she portrayed. Who was this tom? He was handsome, and she knew she recognized his appearance and scent. She pondered a little...

Finally: a name that went with the tom's face struck her mind. He was Tangle, dangerous and clever. Perhaps he'd seen that snake even before she called out, although she doubted it. It was a sturdy fact that no one could navigate the Black Meadow except Shimmer herself. If anyone else got out alive, it was pure luck and perhaps some skill in battling rats.

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Tangle shrugged. Just visiting. He smiled, exposing sharp white teeth. He sat and wrapped his tail around his paws. Are you surprised I got through? He tipped his head in true curiosity...or so it seemed. He'd detected the same thing in Shimmer's voice...and was sure it was fake, just like his. [[bahahahahaahhahaah evil kitty]]

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

"You seem competent enough," Shimmer noted, smiling. She was flirting with him, and she was pretty sure he was doing the same. Anyone watching would think that the two cats were gentle, happy to meet each other. But from the inside, Shimmer was beginning to see that Tangle was also just pretending, trying to play with her. She had an urge to break the spell, but she didn't. She kept her gaze from acquiring a darker quality, used her perfected self control to stay seemingly innocent. "But come up onto the rocks, you don't want to be sitting down there." She stood lithely and moved over, as if she didn't want to cause him the trouble of settling down anywhere but the stone in front of him. She sat down again, licking her paw a second time. She was the picture of ease and comfort, a trusting kittypet, but underneath her muscles were tensed, waiting for handsome tom's attack. He was like her in many ways - tricky, clever, probably a good fighter. She found herself admiring his ability and quickly stopped. He was better than most cats, sure, but no more skillful than she herself.

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Tangle narrowed his eyes at her request, but shrugged and moved towards her lithe shape, settling down beside the she-cat. He glanced at her, waiting for something to happen. But she looked at ease, perfectly calm. Even comfortable, on the cold, flat gray rocks. But was it real? Or was it a show, just like most other things Shimmer did? Tangle couldn't be sure. He couldn't be sure of anything with Shimmer. She could be planning an attack, she could be waiting for an attack. As he inspected her closely, he noticed her muscles were tensed--it was just the way she was sitting. He chuckled in his mind, but then something ran through it. Something that made him laugh out loud. He'd trick her. Hopefully.
As soon as he could tell she was off-guard, or relatively, [pp, sorry] he dropped into a crouch and hissed, eyes flaming. He made a move to leap towards the she-cat, claws unsheathed.
He knew she'd fall for his fake attack. Probably.

OOC//bahaha!

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

Shimmer noticed immediately and rose to her paws. "Decided to make the first move?" she said, still the picture of calmness. She faced him, her expression challenging. He knew that she was faking, so there was no point. She would let herself be the real Shimmer. Her smile stayed and widened slightly, showing rows of sharp teeth. Her eyes were full of laughter and careful thought, and she was hiding little. She liked being herself; she did it so rarely it was almost a treat. She readied herself for his pounce, crouching down a little so that she'd be able to spring up when he attacked. He was tricky, and good at it, too. Perhaps he had become this way in the same kind of even that she had, a trauma when he was young. She knew that that had been the cause of her own cruelty, although it was odd to think of it that way. She had a desire to ask, which she easily repressed, using the control she had long ago mastered.

OOC: bleh, sorry...

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Tangle relaxed, smirking. Don't worry, I won't hurt you. He hadn't surprised her the first time, obviously, but maybe she had thought he'd really attack her. Ha. He was in a good mood at the moment. Which meant he didn't really feel like spilling blood, especially his own, unless necessary. Calm down, Shimmer. I just wanted a chat. He wrapped his tail around his paws, sheathing his claws.
OOC/sorry it's so short, might modify later, but I have about 220230040560 threads to reply to. =P

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

"About?" Her voice was frosty, but also curious. She let the emotion stay, along with quite a bit of wary distrust. She was not going to be tricked by some full-of-himself tom. Her eyes were round and innocent, but upon closer inspection showed the watchful care with which Shimmer took in every movement around her. She sat down again, as if at his invitation, and then stretched out her paws in front of her, lying comfortably on the cold stone beneath her. She didn't relax her mind, though, readying herself to spring up in less than a second. She looked a strange combination between completely at ease and lithely tense.

OOC: This might take more than one meeting - maybe he goes away and she starts wanting to see him again? And then gets really furious with herself and decides to go kill him?

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OOC//that's good...and I need to make several territories. You can start it when I make Tangle's.

Tangle rolled his eyes. She-cats. They want to know everything about everything. A small glint appeared in the large orbs. I just wanted a chat. Definition of: pointless conversation. Get it? His tail swished at her position--she was making a pitiful attempt at staying at ease. Instead she looked silly--face tense, body relaxed. He almost laughed at loud, but decided against it. Instead he stretched briefly and sat up. Since you're so...stubborn about me not staying, I'll leave. He raised a brow as if waiting for her to answer.

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

"Go ahead and leave, I'm not in the mood to fight." Shimmer said, her tone suddenly switching. Out of the blue, a regal dismissive air appeared, fitting her features well. She somehow was looking down at him, physical height completely ignored. Her whole attitude explained what she thought of the idea of "chatting". She had no interest whatsoever in talking to toms. Especially, for some reason, this one. There was something about him, something that her mind simply refused to tell her. She was used to complete submissiveness from her well-controlled sub-conscious, but right now it was denying her what she wanted. And that was frustrating, so she wanted him to leave. Despite her words, the idea of a fight was growing on her. Her eyes were like a puddle of ice; smoky sapphire and frozen solid. She stood gracefully, but not aggressively. She was doing her better-than-you act, and that required her showing how absolutely not threatened she was. She knew that if they did battle she had a chance of loosing, and preferred that he leave instead of causing her that humiliation.

OOC: I forget - were we planning that he falls in love with her, too, or not? I like the first better, but either was is okay.

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OOC--IDK. Whatever you like.
Sorry for the shortness--have to go study =P

Tangle shrugged. All right. Internally he was disappointed; he'd come here because he was in a good mood and wanted something to do on this perfect, boring day. He glanced one last time at her poised, graceful stance, realizing she was scared, or something along the lines of scared, that they would really fight. You know, Shimmer, that I wouldn't hurt you...at least not now. A sparkle of humor flashed in his dark eyes for a brief second.

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

"How sweet," Shimmer growled dryly, her eyes flashing with more and more annoyance. She wanted to fight, but she knew that it was because inside, he was confusing her. Was he cold hearted and deceitful or not? Some days she would enjoy the challenge of figuring out such a riddle, but he had already gotten her frustrated enough that it just made her want to get the fight over with. The way she unsheathed and sheathed her claws, flexing them again and again, showed that whether he wanted to hurt her or not, she wouldn't let him. She didn't move into a fighting position; she didn't want to start the battle yet.

OOC: I think they would be a 'cute' couple... lol. Don't tell 'em I said that...