He was frowning at thin air when he felt a bump from behind. He glanced back and immediately drew himself up taller, chin lifting with an air of superiority. "Oh, Quietingpaw," he drawled, "it's you." He had insisted it was tradition to call all emissaries -ing because the litter before him had taken the name, and he thought they needed something to mark them as special. "I was just laughing at the idea you new kits must not know where the hidden pond is."

"Looking for it? Of course not, I know where it is," he huffed, shaking out his ruffled golden fur in offense. "That could be it, I suppose, it is rather quiet. But I find it hard to believe you know. You probably found a puddle... or maybe you're just lying because you're embarrassed you don't know." Lioningsnarl clicked his tongue and shook his head disapprovingly. "Ah, well. A shame."

He watched her go bitterly. Did she really know where it was? He wasn’t pathetic and desperate enough to follow her... was he? Before he could decide she turned back to him. “Hmph,” he grunted, considering her proposal. “I really should be getting on with my duties, I’m a very busy cat... but I suppose I can spare a few minutes to check your puddle. Just to be sure it isn’t the actual pond,” he added. Decision made, he hurried to her side.

Lioningsnarl's ears pricked eagerly, but he snorted and looked off, pretending to be disinterested. "Maybe, but it probably looks like a dead fish compared to the real pond. Oh, just wait until you discover that -- if you ever do, of course. It's quite the sight to see." Or so he'd heard. He really was keen on finding out how many of the rumors were true. Even if they weren't he would happily hold his new knowledge over everyone's head. "Only a few cats know the true pond, you know, special ones like me. Maybe when you're a real emissary, Quietingpaw, we'll take you to see it."

Lioningsnarl kept his eyes focused forward and ears slightly back. He had hunted along this stream many times before and would in the future; prey seemed to like the area, perhaps because of the secluded pond nearby that provided for them. He glanced around him once as they walked but ignored the crack entire, finding no reason to closely examine it. The scent of the water reached him and his head tilted slightly, puzzled that the stream's scent had suddenly grown in intensity, like it was bigger and something was slightly different there too. He licked his lips and frowned as he looked around.

"There's something..." he shook his head. "My emissary senses are tingling," he told her, with a sudden flash of urgency and importance, "stay here." Lioningsnarl turned and looked around closely, spotted the gap, and darted through it. He trotted along the trail until suddenly he saw it, and he knew, he knew it had to be the right place. He stared at it for a long moment, stunned, buzzing with energy; he wanted to explore every inch of it, but not while she was waiting.

He headed back out to join her and shrugged casually, trying to hide his very obvious excitement. "Oh, it was nothing. I just thought I saw a sign from StarClan heading toward the pond."

He was quick on her heel, hurrying after her in an instant. He didn't want to lose out or get lose again. "You know, it's cheating if you just follow me back here after I just showed you the way," Lioningsnarl huffed, throwing back his head to let out his magnificent tiny, almost unnoticeable golden mane.

"Hmph," was his only answer, but his chest swelled with pride at her compliment. The pond was exquisite, like he'd always hoped it would be. He left her side and padded quietly to the bank, watching the water lap hypnotically at his paws, the light glimmer off the surface of the waves, the undergrowth encroaching at the edge. It was just like any other pond in many ways, but he had waited so long to see it, he couldn't believe the tiny little details that made it unique, made it impossibly beautiful to him. And it was private, it was secret, he treasured the knowledge like nothing else.

"So," he replied quietly as he stared into the eyes of his reflection, "did you know this was here, all along? Is this that puddle you found?"

The golden tom sighed. "I guess you're smarter than I gave you credit for... Quietingpaw." He paused, thinking a moment. The peaceful pond must have made him weak, because he admitted, "I thought you were right, you know. I just wanted to know for sure. I didn't want you to know I was testing you."

That was almost the truth; close enough, right? Lioningsnarl wasn't soft enough to admit he had no idea where this place was before now. He'd been looking in a completely different section of the territory, closer to the woods.