The Colony I'll match your wager

[Scorpiontear]

Scorpion slunk his way back into the camp, his tall form canceling put the way his black coat blended into the shadows. He proudly carried a rabbit, held slack between his jaws. Despite its small size, clearly a runt of some sort, he was sure that it was more than many had caught today.

In fact, he sought out one feline in particular to brag to. Her condition made it harder for her hunt, but that did not stop him from viewing her as his rival in every aspect.

"I'll bet this is the largest rabbit you've seen all day." He crooned to Ember, a false smile pasted on his face as he set the prey on the ground in front of her. Well, it was not all false. He did enjoy their banter and he especially enjoyed winning against her.

 

[ember]

With every day that passes, Ember's moods seem to tip faster into annoyance. The cold gets through her short fur in the daytime now, she's hungry all the time and yet constantly never wants to eat, Frond seems to be hiding burrs in the nest of their relationship, and Scorpion has taken it upon himself to intensify their rivalry now that she can't fight back. Were she of any lower opinion of Scorpion, Ember might think the dark tom frog-brained for his change in attitude lately. It's not polite to brag to a cat unable to size up to the challenge.

A familiar voice grates on her ears, and Ember rolls blue eyes. What uncanny timing. Her tail flicks as she halts the meticulous grooming of her pelt, turning to face Scorpion with a faintly irritated stare. She'd never admit out loud that she had missed his presence, wondering if his hunt had been successful; it would always be easier to keep up their game, the mental spar they'd been engaged in since their youth.

"You caught it all by yourself?" She meows in return, voice saccharine despite the words forced through gritted teeth. A gasp follows, small and condescending. "I'm surprised you didn't need Sable to hold your paws, Scorpion."

 

[Scorpiontear]

Ember's annoyance was palpable, even without the rolling of her eyes. Her well-groomed coat shone of shadow and flame even in the weak light of the leaf-fall sun. Almost like a living embodiment of her ire.

Her saccharine response grated on Scorpion and his nostrils flared, ears twitching backwards. "I'm not a kit that I need my paw held." He snarled back before regaining his composure. He then looked side to side, a notable lack of her mate or any sign of food. He'd noticed that the she-cat seemed to have a decreased appetite lately, which was not good for her kits especially as prey grew scarcer and scarcer.

His snarl faded into a smirk. "You've hardly gained any weight, is your wife not feeding you enough? Is no prey good enough that you haven't hunted yourself?" He purrs condescendingly, eyeing her pregnant belly to emphasize his backhanded remark. Scorpion then pushed his rabbit forward. "My catch may not be up to your lofty standards, but I'm sure it's better than whatever Frond is bringing you." He inclined his head towards the she-cat in a mocking display of respect. Although his offer was made in insult, he hoped she would take it. There was no reason to endanger herself or her kits further than the season itself would.