[Kaliko]

So Nic set up the test drive and didn't put on a helmet either as he got on the motorcycle.

--

Raven went looking for Frei around the time they usually hung out.

[Rinrou]

So Laurel pulled up to Nic, "Should we race to somewhere specific?"

--

Frei was having a stare down with Mr. Whiskers in the kitchen.

[Kaliko]

Nic shrugged.

--

Raven slowly walked over, trying to figure out what was going on.

[Rinrou]

Laurel rolled her eyes a little, "Fine, let's race to that lighthouse we saw on the way in."

--

Frei was trying to feed Mr. Whiskers red meat but the jaguar kitten was having none of it.

[Kaliko]

Nic nodded, starting up the engine.

--

Raven rolled his eyes a little. "Hey Frei," Raven told her as he went to sit next to her.

[Rinrou]

Laurel gunned her engine before shooting off with a laugh.

--

Frei was not losing the staring contest with the kitten. It looked pretty intense.

[Kaliko]

So Nic rode after Laurel, looking for an opportunity to pass her.

--

So Raven waited.

[Rinrou]

Laurel was taking the least crowded way to the lighthouse, thus providing Nic ample opportunity to pass her. She did a decent job of cutting him off though.

--

Finally the kitten hissed, ending the stalemate.

[Kaliko]

Nic wasn't an expert racer, but he knew his way around motorcycles. He didn't give up, continuing to put the pressure on Laurel.

--

"... I guess it's not ready," Raven noted.

[Rinrou]

Laurel's leg went up to kick Nic as he managed to get around her. She was grinning but it wasn't her usual kind smile.

--

"It's old enough," Frei stated in a matter of fact tone. The kitten hissed again.

[Kaliko]

Nic managed to dodge Laurel's kick as he took the lead. He didn't seem to notice the smile as he focused on the task at hand.

--

"Just because it's old enough doesn't always mean its ready," Raven explained.

[Rinrou]

So they continued to fight back and forth for the lead for a while. Then, when Laurel zoomed past Nic for the lead, she glanced over her shoulder still grinned and then frozen. A fraction of a second later she was pulling her bike into a tight U-turn, tires squealing with effort as she shot back down the street. People were scrambling to get out of the way as she took off down a somewhat crowded side-street.

--

Frei stared blankly at Raven. That didn't make any sense to her.

[Kaliko]

Nic glanced over at Laurel, slowing down a little before doing a U-turn and following after her.

--

Raven thought about it a little while before trying another example, "Some things take more time. You've were big enough to go down the waterside by yourself for long before I came. But even after I came it still took some time before you were ready to try it on your own. I know eating meat isn't like going down a water slide, and she'll eventually have to eat meat. But don't force it on her. One day she'll want to eat it, and you won't have to fight her."

[Rinrou]

Like back in the caves, Laruel was very hard to follow. But eventually Nic turned a corner and Laurel was sitting on her bike, hunched over with her head in her hands.

--

Frei blinked, thinking about that for awhile. "But Mr. Whiskers doesn't have trauma associated with meat," she stated.

[Kaliko]

Nic slowed down and stopped his bike next to hers quietly.

--

"... Just because there isn't a trauma, doesn't mean she won't be hesitant," Raven replied.

[Rinrou]

It seemed to take a moment for Laurel to notice Nic. "I think... I'm going insane," she admitted quietly.

--

Frei tilted her head a little before looking back at the cat. The cat tilted it's head back.