How about a contest?

[♫.Starredmyst]

The sun was past its zenith as the young ginger tom padded across the sands. Each pawstep was delicate, almost wincing; Riss didn't want to get himself covered in the grainy stuff, although it was more or less a guarantee that he would be after a quick attempt at fishing. Every so often he glanced backwards, nervously, to make sure his companion was still following.

It was surprisingly warm down by the water. Up by and on the cliff it was practically leafbare already, with the leaves all fallen from the trees and icy cold seeping into the stony spots around camp. But Riss found as he leapt up onto a stone a few tail-lengths out and dabbed a paw out that the water wasn't so bad, nearly as warm as the air around him. He looked back at Snowsong expectantly, waiting for her to come and jump up onto the stone.

"So," he said lightly, tilting his head, "like I was saying before, I think Silv's stupid dare's got me in the mood for a contest. What do you say we see who can catch more fish?"

I'd really like to see if she has a competitive bone in her body, or if she's really completely as docile and reserved as she acts. If I can get her to relax we'll have a lot more fun together, I think.

He really, really hoped Silv wasn't going to get wind of this. She'd have a boatload of witty comments about his trying to make a friend for a change.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong padded up to Risingdawn, and she lightly launched herself onto the stone next to him. Her ears slightly flicked as he asked her if she would like to have a contest. She thought for a short moment, and she hesitated before answering. "I guess it's not a bad idea..."

With that, Snowsong gently turned to the water. She allowed her right fore paw to graze the surface for a second before retracted her paw. She then began to become still. "Just tell me when we start..."

[♫.Starredmyst]

Risingdawn was already scanning the water, leaning forward still as a stone with one paw half hovering over the water's surface. For a moment it seemed he hadn't heard Snowsong's words -- and then sharp teeth flashed in a grin as he saw a flicker of silver.

"Now!" the tom said cheerfully, and his paw flashed out, flipping a fish up and onto the stone. He dispatched it quickly and set it to one side.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong's gaze had been scanning the water as she waited for Risingdawn's response, though she took some of her time. As Risingdawn flipped a fish from the water and dispatched it. For a moment, it seemed that Snowsong was frozen.

But then, a shadow of a fish was smacked by Snowsong's paw. It was in a split second that a fish was launched into the air, and it landed on the ground. Snowsong whisked around, and she swiped her claw over the fish. A gash appeared in a split second, and the fish lay limp.

Snowsong put the fish aside, and then gazed at Risingdawn for a split second before dashing back to the rocks. She swiftly paused at the rocks, and her gaze scanned the water, and her paw was nearly above the water. Though, the shadow only reached the edge of the water.

[♫.Starredmyst]

Risingdawn waited patiently for the next fish to come, glancing over as Snowsong made a catch. Over the next few attempts he caught one and missed two more.

Shouldn't have suggested a contest on something like this, he thought, groaning inwardly as a third fish caught on his paw, was flipped into the air, and somehow managed to wriggle itself so that it landed back in the water. StarClan knows I'm worst at fishing, never mind the bad luck that seems to plague my every pawstep...

He cast a covert glance at Snowsong to see how she was doing. Better than him, probably. He wondered if he ought to let it go, just let her win --

That's not the point, mousebrain! Gotta give her some competition if you want this to be a real contest, and if you're at all interested in her she'd better have a little backbone, all right?

The slant of that thought startled Risingdawn, and he actually let out a small yelp as a fish caught in his paw. Luck was with him, though; he clung on to this one and actually managed to get it out of the water. He wasn't certain what he'd say if Snowsong asked why he made the noise.

Three fish, anyway. I haven't got a chance whether I try or not.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong timed well, and she was able to catch three fish in a while. She was able to swat a couple, but she didn't use enough strength for them to land on the right spot on the land, allowing them to escape.

Snowsong leaned over, and she saw fin. She then saw the shadow of the fish, and it was larger than her other catches. She tensed the muscles in her paw and foreleg, and she swung at the fish. Her paw smacked the fish in the head, and it whisked around in the water from the impact.

Snowsong figured it was going to be header than she calculated, and she tensed her muscles. She then launched herself right at the fish. She hoped that luck was on her side.

Nearly exactly what she hoped, she landed on the backside of the fish. Her forepaws dug into the fish as her hind legs swung in the water to try to swim while battling with the fish.

Snowsong soon managed to ram her legs into the fish's head, slamming its head into a nearby rock. She launched herself onto the rock which she perched at a while ago, and she clamped her jaws on the fish's head. She began to drag it out of the water and dropped it onto the ground.

Snowsong ignored the tiredness that was beginning to seep into her, and she turned back to the water. She lightly shook her coat to get some water off, which sent water droplets soaring to the ground. She then concentrated her gaze completely on the water, waiting for some more fish to come.

[♫.Starredmyst]

Riss glanced up at a loud splash; Snowsong had practically dived into the water to catch a particularly large fish. He stared and missed another fish as she dragged it out -- it was at least half as big as he was.

"Impressive," he commented, lunging hopelessly and missing another fish. Three and a giant fourth to three; it wasn't over just yet.

There was another one! From the shadow he saw beneath the water, it was a big one -- almost as big as the one Snowsong had just caught. Risingdawn froze, tense with anticipation -- lunged out --

-- awfully light for such a big catch --

But then the fish flopped out of the water, proving itself to in fact be about half the size of his other fishes. Riss sighed hopelessly.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong broke her concentration from the fish, and she turned her gaze to Risingdawn. Not so lucky at fishing, is he....? She then caught a flicker of a shadow through the corner of her gaze, and she silently whisked around. There was a shadow of a fish.

Large or small, Snowsong didn't actually care. She lunged out swiftly with her paw. She felt her paw ram into the fish's side. The fish flopped out of the water, and it was aiming to land back into the water.

Snowsong tensed her muscles immediately, and she launched herself at the fish a split second later. She opened her jaws, and she was able to clamp her jaws on the fish's backside, near its tail. The fish struggled madly, thrashing around.

Snowsong kept her grasp, and she bit down even harder. She figured she wasn't going to land on land, so she tensed her muscles more, and she prepared her body to land in the water.

Snowsong soon crashed into the water. A splash sprayed water droplets all into the water. A short moment later, Snowsong launched herself onto the same rock. She threw the fish onto the ground in midair, and she landed slightly awkwardly. Most of her weight went to her left side as she landed, and she ended up falling over. She swiftly got up and shook her coat again.

[♫.Starredmyst]

Ah-ha. There was a fish, a big sucker too. Riss tensed -- leaned forward --

And gave a startled yowl as he was splashed with cold water. The fish flicked away, unharmed, and Risingdawn spun to see what had happened.

There was Snowsong, scrambling to her feet, dripping wet with a fish in her mouth. He stared at her.

"They should name fishing a life-threatening acrobatic in your honor," the tom said blankly, shaking his head and returning to the water. Four and a giant to three and a half-pint. Yeah, he was gonna lose.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong's ears slightly flicked at Risingdawn's comment, and she padded over and rested the fish she just caught into her pile. She then whisked around silently and silently padded over to the rock. She launched herself silently onto the rock, and her gaze scanned the water.

Snowsong froze as she spotted a fish, and she was ready to lunge at it. But she decided to pretend to not notice it. She waited for Risingdawn to try and catch it. It would be easier for her to pretend, since the fish was swimming toward him. She saw another fish behind her, but she didn't move, making sure Risingdawn would be able to catch this fish. If he couldn't, she would likely go after it.

[♫.Starredmyst]

Another fish was swimming by. Riss leaned forward, eyes glittering, careful not to cast a shadow on the water; this one would be his. He didn't notice Snowsong watching him, waiting to see if he could catch it, and was totally confident that this catch would be his glory.

Come on, just a little closer...there! The fish had swum close enough to reach with one paw. Riss lunged --

And, predictably, missed. He'd done a pathetic apprentice act and misjudged where the fish was in the water; it hurriedly flicked off another tail-length away -- closer to Snowsong.

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong's ear flicked a split second after Risingdawn missed, and she tensed her muscles. A split second later, she lashed out with her right fore paw, claws unsheathed. She felt her claws latch onto the fish's side, and she swung her paw out of the water, the fish leading the way out of the water.

The fish landed on the rock next to Snowsong, and she whisked around. She swiftly dispatched it and wrapped her jaws around it. Then, she threw the fish onto the pile she had made with her fish.

Snowsong then turned her gaze to Risingdawn. She wondered if he was still confident, and if he planned on continuing the contest. She kept silent, though she was slightly curious. She also noticed a couple of shadows through the corner of her gaze.

[♫.Starredmyst]

Risingdawn let out an affronted yelp as Snowsong "stole" his fish, then simply stared as the other warrior spun on a dime to catch the other one she'd been watching. His tail flicked irritably, and he sighed in mock sorrow.

"All right. Seven to four. I'm not so arrogant to pretend I can win, and even if I caught the stupid things I couldn't beat you for talent at doing it." His wry smile dispelled any annoyance the words might have portrayed. "So d'you want to keep humiliating me at this now that we've demonstrated what a horrible fisher I am, or shall you name your prize now, O Queen of Fish-Catching?"

[.&&. Snowsong.]

Snowsong's ears flicked slightly at Risingdawn's words and mood. As he asked if she wanted them to continue, she turned her emptying gaze to the water. "The choice is yours..."

Snowsong figured that he would finish the contest. Though, she didn't actually care much for a prize. However, she usually didn't put down a contest, for she guessed others would tease her. Again.

[♫.Starredmyst]

"Alright. I'm calling it quits then. The Clan'll eat well tonight, between mine and Silv's stupidity." Riss flipped a fish into his mouth then bent to pick the others up as well; his next words came out muffled.

"A'right, so you fwin. Name a pfise."