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As he usually did most days, Split grumbled to himself as he walked through the woods alone. The sun was bright, the birds were singing, and Split was fed up with how cheerful the world seemed. Lost in his thoughts he walked out into a clearing and blinked in the harsh sunlight. He looked around, unimpressed and jumped over the stump in the middle on the most direct route out of the clearing. He had almost reached the far edge and disappeared into the trees when another cat came crashing out of the trees beside him. He jumped, not so gracefully, in air and landed off to the side.

Quickly regaining his composure he watched the new cat with narrowed eyes as the other male circled the stump Split had just left, and then perched upon it.

"Why the hurry to sit on a dead tree?" Split spat his question from the edge of the clearing, his dark ear flattened back. He tried not to hiss but it was hard as he did not appreciate being startled. Although he hated being noticed for his coat, he hated not being noticed at all even more.

Being as standoffish as he was, Split always expected to get into a fight with any new cat he met, and this one was no exception. What he wasn't expecting was... whatever this was. Split blinked in confusion for a moment. What was the deal with this cat? Who did he think he was? Good quality stump? Kingdom? Was this cat mad or what?

Having never encountered a loner or clan cat that acted in such a way, Split assumed the tom before him was one of those Kittypets he'd heard of. Obviously this cat had spent too much time around the twolegs and picked up their peculiar habits. Split couldn't come up with any other reason for a cat to be so enthusiastic about a stump and want to build a clan or territory around it.

His better judgment told him to slowly back away from this crazy cat and go about his day but he let the confused quiet question "Kingdom of stumps?" slip from him. He shook his head to clear his mind and regain his composure.

"It's to bright and it's to warm. Oh, and too many dead tree enthusiasts out and about for my tastes." Split replied to the others question, emphasizing the fact he did not understand the importance of a stump.

For a moment, Split just sat staring at the cat before him. Yep, no doubt about it now, this cat was crazy. Mighty Stump? Could a stump even be mighty? Once again, Split shook the confused thoughts from his head. He would not get dragged into this cats stump obsession. A stump was just a stump, just the remainder of a dead tree, and not important.

What was important was what he had just been called. Used to being made fun of, Split was very defensive when called names and almost instantly fluffed up at being called a jester. He had no idea what a jester was but it didn't sound like a compliment, thus he didn't like it.

"What. Is. A jester?" Split asked in an almost hiss, his ears flat, and his fur raised and tail fluffed. How dare this tom nearly run him over for the remains of a tree and then insult him. How dare he act all high and mighty upon a stupid stump. The dual patterned tom didn't hear the rest of what the other male said after the two jester comments. Nothing else was important. If this cat was making fun of him, Split was determined to knock him off of that stump he cared so much for.

Slowly, as the other cat spoke, Split calmed himself and his fur settled a bit. He was still mad but less upset hearing the others reason for calling him a jester. It seemed mostly to be a misunderstanding. Which wasn't surprising as Split believed the cat he was talking to was indeed crazy. This cat was also so full of himself. Why wouldn't he be though? Split had to admit to himself, the other male was nice to look at and seemed strong. Split assumed that his cat had probably not been physically bullied before and would not understand Split's past.

"I do not make jokes." Split said, looking away from the fluffy stump obsessed cat. "I honestly do not view a stump as anything other than part of a dead tree. I'm more of a rock cat myself." With a glare, he looked back to the cat.

"You burst into this clearing not caring that it's already occupied, almost run me over, refuse to hear my words, insult me, and then dismiss my anger. You are what's bothering me." His ears flattened once again. "That high ground just makes it easier for me to strike at your belly and throat. Risking my pelt to teach such an infuriating cat a lesson in humility would be a pleasure."

As King spoke about stumps, Split got a pang of jealousy. He had never even come close to caring about anything as much as the other male cared about stumps. He wished he had that sort of enthusiasm for anything in life. But he got enough attention from his pelt, he didn't need other cats thinking him crazy over silly obsessions.

Split was a bit taken back when King apologized to him. Since he hadn't really been kind in his own words to the new cat, he hadn't expected any sort of apology. Sure, Split didn't like the fact that King wouldn't apologize for the insult, but again he summed that up to just a misunderstanding.

Ugh, Split groaned to himself, annoyed. Why did this big, fluffy, crazy cat have to be so charismatic? This whole encounter had been just a big pain and inconvenience... And yet he didn't want to actually fight or just walk away.

"Split." He replied, his tail twitching side to side in his usual annoyed fashion. There was no way he was going to offer up any apology of his own or verbally acknowledge the fact that twice King had suggested something else was wrong and he was right. His mismatched eyes, narrowed as always, stared at the small bit of King that was visible. How could one cat be so infuriating but also kind and interesting at the same time?

The dual patterned pelted tom waited for the other to say something about his name and coat but the remark never came. Instead, he was offered a hunting partner and a decleration of friendship. For a few moments all Split could do was just blink in surprise. This cat was nothing like all of the others he had ever met. Though he may be crazy, Split was starting to think he was a good kind of crazy.

"That is correct, I've decided to save my lesson for you for another time." Split said, squaring his shoulders. Then he paused to consider King's words again. Again he made an assumption about the cat on the stump. It must be easy for King to make friends if all it took was exchanging names.

"Just because I gave you my name does not mean we're friends." He emphasized the not more harshly than he meant to. Split did not do friends. Not once in his lifetime had he ever had a true friend. It was not something he was just going to give this new cat because they had exchanged names. The thought of such an act made me uneasy.

At King's final request, Split shifted uneasily where he sat at the edge of the clearing. He did not have friends, nor a clan. When he had successfully hunted for himself the first time, he had left his family and didn't really believe he ever had one to begin with. Being on his own for so long, Split didn't know how to hunt with a partner. Should he tell King about his lack of experience or just decline the offer and go his own way as he had always done? The decision weighed one him until finally he cracked.

"I...I've never hunted with another before." He looked down, nearly ashamed of himself and pawed the earth with his claws. Split did not want to see the look the proud male would give him.

At King's mention of friendship, Split looked up at him. He couldn't remember being kind to the stump loving tom since their interaction started and yet King was still here seeking his friendship. Was it possible for him to actually for a friendship with this crazy, royal, stump loving tom?

"As cat's who have met each other." Split said quietly aloud to himself, almost regretfully. Besides the brief misunderstanding, King's company hadn't been completely unwanted. Perhaps a hunt with the fluffy tom would lead them closer to having a friendship. Split weighted his options and finally decided that he wanted to see how this day would play out.

"Fine." Slit said louder so that King could hear him. "I will hunt with you. But only because I'm hungry and was going to hunt anyway." He wasn't sure why he was being so defensive about the situation or why he was so determined to remain aloof but he wasn't going to let his guard down yet.