Burrowing Grounds

(You can make a clearing)

Tenma and Banquo both approached the massive tom. Tenma was expressionless and composed, and Banquo was trying to look serious, but joy shined in his eyes. "What are we doing first?" he chirped.

Tenma gave a terse nod, but Banquo blinked in surprise. They were going to fight already? "Alright," he said brightly, trying to mask his confusion. "Claws in or out?"

Banquo felt his fur burning with hot shame. "Yes, Mercutio," he mewed, ears flat against his head in embarrassment. Tenma, as usual, said nothing. She just waited patiently for the fight to start.

The two young cats walked a few paces away from the leader, standing fox-lengths apart from each other. They faced off, circling each other slowly, each trying to decide how to attack the other. Banquo struck first. He charged at Tenma, paws outstretched. He expected Tenma to dodge, but instead she met his attack head-on, paws striking out against his and her fangs bared in a fierce snarl. She batted fiercely at his shoulder, shoving him away. He reeled away, spitting.

This time, she struck first, bowling into the tom's legs and tackling him to the ground. She was strong, and her age made her slightly larger than the tom. But he was the well-fed Heir of the Dusk Syndicate, while she had been living on whatever she could scrounge up. Banquo managed to wrestle free, twisting around to bite down on her scruff, though not hard enough to draw blood. She slammed her shoulder back into his jaw, snaking her head around to bite at his cheek. The two scuffled a bit longer before Tenma finally got the smaller tom pinned down.

Banquo's ears flattened against his head in embarrassment. He couldn't remember ever feeling this mortified. His first chance to impress his father, and this scrawny newcomer showed him up. Tenma looked completely unfazed after the fight, just calmly licking some mussed fur back into place, though Banquo thought he saw a hint of pleasure in her eyes. "I was being easy on her," the young tom blurted out, glaring at the she-cat. "I can beat her." Tenma just blinked back at him.

Banquo growled, glaring at Tenma. I'm going to win this time, he vowed.

They young cats took their positions again. This time, Banquo didn't waste any time before charging at her. He tackled her, screeching. She struck out with her hind legs, pummeling at his belly. The young tom twisted around to bite at her neck, but she fastened her jaws around his foreleg, yanking it back hard. Banquo fell forward, off-balance enough for Tenma to throw him off. While he was still trying to get back on his paws, she lunged, the two tumbling again.

Banquo actually managed to get Tenma pinned at one point, her limbs pinned and reduced to useless thrashing. He was shocked at his victory, but that soon wore off to be replaced by smugness. He flashed a triumphant look at his father.

In that moment, his attention was away from Tenma. She took advantage of his loosened grip and slithered free. Banquo let out a squeak of surprise as he was suddenly tackled by the fierce black she-cat. It didn't take long for her to subdue him again.

The Heir's fur burned with embarrassment. This time, he'd made a proper fool of himself. "It's not like I could kill her," he grumbled, pelt bristling.

Banquo wouldn't meet his father's eyes. Tenma spoke for the first time, offering coolly, "I could show you how." She blinked at him with cool yellow eyes.

She didn't sound condescending at all, but Banquo whirled on her and snapped, "I don't need your help!" The blasted rogue didn't even flinch at the Heir's anger. Tenma just stared coolly at him.