Down in the Valley 1x1 with Ravenshadow17

[Ravenshadow17]

Lightheart sighed when the strangers didn't seem to notice her. She turned her eyes back on the stands filled with fish. Licking her lips, she half limped, half stalked her way across the alley. She felt bad for stealing, but she was so hungry. Just as she approached one of the stalls to grab a fish the two-leg turned around and eyed her. Lightheart froze in fear, her eyes widening. The two-leg was older an female. She seemed to silently judge Lightheart before shrugging, grabbing three fish and dropping them at the she-cat's paws. Lightheart couldn't believer her luck. She grabbed the fish and ran back to the alley, not before sending the two-leg a thankful look. Lightheart returned to her spot and continued to eat. She could already feel her strength returning.

[clouds-move-on]

The groups separated a second later, Chickenpoppy bounding ahead, while Nimblestar hang back slightly, still a bit nervous around all the humans. Get used to it, Nimblestar... They're apart of your life now.

He slunk ahead cautiously, following the lean point cat across the street, he stopped, however, as a strong scent of fish flew past him, and he had to take a few instinctive pawsteps back as Lightheart headed into the alley with her prizes.

"...She's one cat with three fish." He said, as Chickenpopy hurried back to where his friend was. "... Doesn't look like anyone I've seen here before."

"Your too slow." Chickenpoppy said with a pout. "Hurry up! Before that fat black and white cat we saw last time eats the best fish!"

"There's another cat to worry about, down that alley." Nimblestar responded, looking a bit annoyed as he went trotting at a quick pace after the cat. "I don't think she's StreetClan, nor one of the regulars. Let's go see what she's about."

"Eh probably just a stray... Nimblestar! Come on, you don't have to be territorial, this is neutral land!"

Nimblestar didn't listen however, an odd idea forming in his mind that the cat could be harmful. Maybe because Tigertail's attacks on them had come a bit unexpectedly too. They couldn't risk more new strangers coming. And why'd she have three fish? Was there more cats?

Spotting her ahead he quickened his pace, stating almost coldly. "Hey, you!"

[Ravenshadow17]

Lightheart whipped around on instinct, crouching protectively over her food. Her lips pulled back in a snarl.
“What do you want? I’m just having a meal.” She bit back. Lightheart was normaly a friendly cat but her hunger and exhaustion were making her irritable. All she wanted to do was eat, sleep, and move on.
Lightheart took a step towards the strangers only to flinch when she put too much weight on her injured leg. Growling lowly, she tried to play her flinch off as a sign of agression. Not that she was in any state to fight. She hoped that the other cats would back off.

[clouds-move-on]

Nimblestar lashed his tail, taking another step for the cat, not very intimidated. It appeared she was only one cat, and not with a group, but he needed to know for sure. "I'm not here to take your food, but I've never seen you around here." He said- despite it not being as hostile, he still had an edge to his voice.

Chickenpoppy arrived a second after, his ears perked. He quickened his pace to stand next to Nimblestar, and gave him a nudge. "Hwy, she's just one cat, leave her alone."

[Ravenshadow17]

Lightheart relaxed a bit at the notion that her food was safe. She still remained on guard but she took on a far less aggressive stance.
"I wasn't under the impression that I had to report my movements to anyone. Why should where I go bother you?" Lightheart questioned. She hoped that she hadn't stumbled into a claimed territory. She had assumed since it was a two-leg camp that it was neutral ground. She was glad for the second cat's presence though regardless, they seemed far more friendly.

"But if you really are so bothered by my presence it should relief you that I'm just passing through. I'm heading north and I just stopped here to grab some food as I continue my journey." She added. These cats didn't seem too aggressive so Lightheart figured she may as well give them the truth. As she spoke though she was aware of her injured leg throbbing, and had to adjust her stance slightly to alleviate the pain by putting less weight on it. She once again tried to play it off by taking a casual step forward.

[clouds-move-on]

"You don't... but we've had enough problems with newcomers in the past few moons." Nimblestar muttered in response, lifting his head and arching a brow slightly.

Chickenpoppy blinked, noticing something a bit odd about her steps. He gave Nimblestar a slight nudge, which he ignored, and finally mewed. "Hey, is your leg alright?"

[Ravenshadow17]

Lightheart nodded. “I guess that explains the frigid welcome.” She noted smiling softly and relaxing further. It made sense that the local cats would be wary of outsiders if some had been causing trouble.

Lightheart froze when the other cat spoke. She had been sure she had hidden her injury well. She tried to keep her voice indifferent as she responded.
“It’s fine, it’s basically healed.” She claimed. Now as long as the two strangers didn’t get closer the shadows of the alley should prevent them from seeing her barely healed burns.

[clouds-move-on]

"Lemme see, I'm a doctor. I can help!" Chickenpoppy said. He'd been dying to say that ever since Sugarcane told him the 'fancy human word' for healer, and Nimblestar let out a low moan.

"Come on Nimblestar, it won't hurt us to check out her injury." Chickenpoppy said with a smile, which only resulted in Nimblestar sitting down and grunting.

"... Fine, but hurry." Nimblestar said in a whining tone.

[Ravenshadow17]

Lightheart raised a brow. "A doctor, I have no idea what that is." She stated. She had never heard the two-leg word for healer before.

"But if you're trying to say you're a medicine cat.. then fine. Take a look." Lightheart conceded. The tom seemed to be earnest in his desire to help. And to be honest, Lightheart really did need help with her leg. She glanced at the other tom that she now knew was named Nimblestar. She wondered if he was the leader of his group, but given his whining tone, she thought otherwise. She had to stifle a chuckle at this tone.

"I'm Lightheart by the way." She introduced as she approached the two toms. Stepping out of the shadows of the alley she sat down in front of them. She still kept her injured leg slightly hidden. It wasn't a pretty sight, the fur was charred and blackened, and the injury itself had yet to fully heal so the flesh was red and swollen.

[clouds-move-on]

Chickenpoppy was slightly miffed by her not understanding the comment, but was quick to shrug it away. "Yeah... basically a medicine cat." He answered, moving a bit closer to her. As he noticed she was hiding her left, he flicvked his paw slightly, motioning for her to lean it out slightly. "I'm Chickenpoppy, nice to meet you! Could you move it forwards a bit where I can see it?"

Nimblestar's tail could he heard thumping on the pavement as he waited for it to be over. Chickenpoppy shot his friend a look, and he sighed.

"Nimblestar. And we really should be getting back, if she's not doing anything bad then it was a waste of time-"

"Not if we can help her, I know Crimsonsparrow would tell me to help her." Chickenspoppy chimed cheerfully.