and i'm losing my mind [open]

[xx Northern]

This place was nothing like the moorlands where she had been living for the past few moons. Nor was it anythign like the thick forest of pines and evergreens that made up the Ethereal Forest, where she had originally grown up and lived in an abandoned hunting camp. Enormous buildings, much large than the one she had grown up in, stretched out as far as Northern could see. They were houses, this she knew. Their structures were virtually the same as the one she'd grown up in, but slightly bigger and had... more. Tall iron fences surrounded most of them, blocking oneself from entering.

The calico she-cat glanced around. No, this was nothing like her birth home. It was the complete opposite. Intriguing, nonetheless.

However, one thing that bothered Northern as she walked down a narrow passageway between two of the Twoleg buildings, was that the scent of other cats was pudgent in the air. She hadn't meant to wander so far away from the Desolate Moorland, and now that she was there her curiosity was pressing her to go on... but she didn't want to run into any others. That single knowledge that she undoubtedly would was what caused Northern to stop beside the tall brick building, partially hidden by the dark shadows that were thrown by the sides of the house.

[Toadstool.]

With bright, wandering copper-brown eyes; the tiny, lithe brown tabby city dweller padded slowly along the area. It had only been about a moon since she had started to live on her own, due to the untimely demise of her mother.

The she-cat was so used to the scent of cats from the city, so it was natural that, when an odd scent drifted towards the tabby she-cat, her ears pricked with curiosity. A scent she had never smelled, obviously of a cat, was near and filling her nostrils.

And yet, amiss the young cats curiosity, a feeling of defense pricked the she-cat as her fur prickled with territorial senses. Slinking in to the shadows, the she-cat stalked along the sides of the walls of the tall two-leg buildings, watching, waiting for the scent of the odd cat to appear.

[xx Northern]

Northern wasn't sure where to go next. On one hand, she wanted to go out and keep exploring this strange new land On the other, she wanted nothing more than to turn tail and scamper on back to the massive, rolling hills that made up the Desolate Moorland and the place she had called home for moons now.

The sound of a Twoleg voice in the distance - loud and angry-sounding - caused Northern to press her ears against her head. This was nothing like home... she wanted to go back.

Everything was quiet, but somehow Reaction's pawsteps didn't make a sound as she crept toward Northern. There was nothing the calico could do if she was attacked by this stranger. Even if she knew someone was sneaking up behind her and was able to escape, Northern had no way of knowing where to go in the endless maze of Twoleg homes that lined the pathways.

[Toadstool.]

Smirking at the oblivious calico she-cat, the six moon old she-cat leaped from the shadows with a inward battle screech that was not audible to any but her own mind. It was a daring move, for the cat was very young and had little battle training. Especially because she hadn't eaten since in a full day. She was weak, hungry, and obviously irritable.

[xx Northern]

There was nothing that could have aided Northern in hearing Reaction's approach. Despite that she was younger, Reaction had the upper hand. And so Northern was utterly surprised when something solid rammed into her from behind. The strength behind the force sent the calico sprawling to the ground, rolling several feet, until coming to a stop a short distance from where she'd only moments before been.

The twelve moon old's shoulders had hit the hard surface of the alleyway's path when she'd fallen. Even though it'd only been a few seconds since then, Northern could already feel her shoulder becoming tender.

Wincing, Northern hobbled to push herself up from the ground. All the while, her blue and yellow odd eyes remained fixed on Reaction. How could such a small she-cat have hit her that hard? "What was that for?" Northern couldn't help but growl. In any other circumstances that involded interaction with another cat, she'd have made a polite comment and go on her way. This was different. There seemed to be nothing friendly in Reaction's expression and stance.

[Toadstool.]

"Outsider." Spat Reaction, narrowing her copper-brown eyes at the she-cat who she had never seen, never smelt; the odd cat among the norm.

ooc; sorry it is so short, i have to go

[xx Northern]

Outsider...? What did that have anything to do with her being attacked? Did this territory belong to the small she-cat that stood before her now? Surely not. Reaction couldn't be any more than half of Northern's own age. Give or take a few moons.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Northern answered. "But if you don't mind, I'll be on my way." The calico made no move to take a step just yet, not wanting to turn her back only to be attacked again.

[Toadstool.]

Leave? The outsider was going to leave? "Wait, don't do!" She mewled, running so that she was standing directly in front of the calico's face.

[xx Northern]

Northern was startled to find Reaction running back up to her. The calico flinched as she prepared herself for another attack, but when Reaction stopped in front of her, Northern paused. She remained rigid, however, steeling herself for another attack from the younger cat.

"What?" Northern growled, unable to stop a sliver of anger from seeping into her tone. "You want me to stop so you can attack me again?"

[Toadstool.]

With head lowered in apology, Reaction refused to meet the duo coloured gaze of the older cat. "C... Can I come with you?" She asked innocently, using the charm of being a young cat towards her advantage. Hey, if she wasn't the one to hunt all the time, then she was perfectly fine.

[-- WINTER]

Soft pawsteps crunched over broken and scattered leaves, scraping over concrete and rubbing her pads raw. It had been a long time since Winter had dared to set foot in the city. Each step merely increased her nervous shivers; the air around her was warm but she was so cold inside. Broken... just like the leaves.

He was gone now. But that didn't mean she was safe. Had she ever been? Panic filled her pale hazel eyes as she caught the fresh scent of other cats. Pressed up against the brick walls of the building, Winter waited.

[yewrope]

Desolate was eating out of a trash can, enjoying some left over chicken the humans had left out. She couldn't believe how easy food was to come around here. Had she known she would probably have brought her group around here for the hunting. But the point was mute now that she'd been exiled from there. She looked over, grimacing at seeing the little kid pester the older one. Kids. What devils they could play with you.

[xx Northern]

This she-cat... wanted to come with her? Northern felt her entire body stiffen when the meaning of the cat's words registered in her mind. "Why would you want to come along with a complete stranger like myself?" The calico meowed, tone laced with confusion.

There was some rustling, and when Northern looked up, she realized there was another cat nearby, scrounging around in some Twoleg bin. Northern waved a paw in Desolate's direction. "Why not follow her?"

[Toadstool.]

"Because it's better then being alone..." Responded the she-cat, turning her head and looking at the she-cat that Northern had pointed too. She kept quiet on her opinion, for something about the she-cat gave Reaction a bad vibe.

[xx Northern]

Northern snorted indignantly. "You know nothing of being alone, kit." The calico growled, even though she hadn't been alone for very long herself. It had only been a few moons.