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Post by cranberry on Jun 25, 2008 21:18:21 GMT -5
Lightningstrike paused at the end of the windswept forest clearing, shuddering as the crisp gale rifled through his pelt. Overhead the canopy of trees swayed, warning him to return to camp. But there was some sort of calling that had brought him out to the lush forests right now, in spite of the raging winds - to him, a little piece of solitude was more appealing than the juiciest mouse.
He ran his tongue across his forepaw and swiped it between his ears, vigorously washing his forehead. With a jolt, he reconized the presence of another CelestialClan scent, and leapt to his feet.
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Post by shadewing on Jun 25, 2008 21:30:51 GMT -5
Shadewing padded through the woods carefully. She scented the forest around her, breathing in the deep forest scents. She scented another Celestialclan cat. The grey she-cat paused and took in another breath. "Lightningstrike!" She mewed aloud, the warrior then felt her fur grow hot. The tom's golden eyes seemed to peer right into her soul. "H-hi!" Shadewing mewed. "What are you doing here?" The she-cat struggled to keep her voice steady.
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Post by cranberry on Jun 25, 2008 21:41:36 GMT -5
Lightningstrike opened his mouth awkwardly, then clamped it shut. He opened it again and managed a feeble, "Oh...um, hi Shadewing!" he was trembling, lucky the whipping winds gave him a cover-up. He swallowed and tried to smile. What was going on? He never had this much trouble just talking to his clanmates. There was something dazzling about the odd-eyed she-cat, one eye a shimmering blue color, the other a deep amber.
He was about to say something again, hopefully something more worthwile this time, when a thundering crack split the air and a tree came plummeting down some 20 fox-lengths away. He jumped, already feeling skittish, and his fur stood rigid along his spine and tail.
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Post by shadewing on Jun 25, 2008 21:53:19 GMT -5
Shadewing jumped sideways into Lightningstrike, trembling. "Sorry!" She apologized. The she-cat's grey fur was standing on end, and her eyes were alight with fear. "It's the old rotten oak." She murmured, padding forward to sniff the tree carefully. "Imagine if an apprentice had been climbing that tree when it fell!" Shadewing took a mental note to tell her sister what had happened. Gathering her wits, the grey she-cat turned back to Lightningstrike. "Are you ok?" She mewed, her voice laced with worry.
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Post by cranberry on Jun 25, 2008 22:20:22 GMT -5
Lightningstrike froze still in place. Okay? What was...okay? He stared blankly at the fallen tree for a moment, than, as if someone had flipped a switch, everything clicked back into place "Oh, um..I'm alright. A little shaken up, but..." Shadewing had long since crept forward to examine the tree, but he could still feel the imprint where she had accidentally pressed into his side.. A feeling of warmth tingled throughout his fur, even in the middle of the bitterly cold winds.
He was still shaking, but something compelled him to look braver than he was. "Maybe we should..look around and see if anyone got hurt." he suggested.
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Post by shadewing on Jun 25, 2008 22:31:09 GMT -5
Shadewing nodded. She secretly admired Lightningstrike's quick thinking. All she had though of was sniffing the tree to see if it was the one she thought it was. Her multi-colored eyes glittered with worry and... something else. She couldn't help but remember how natural it had felt to brush fur with Lightningstrike. The she-cat shook her head to clear it. There's no way he feels the same way. She thought to herself. The grey she-cat felt her fur grow hot. "You can lead." Shadewing mewed, her voice a tad unsteady. The wind ruffled her grey pelt. "Strange winds." She mewed. If the she-cat didn't know any better, she would have thought that the winds were pushing her towards Lightningstrike!
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Post by cranberry on Jun 25, 2008 22:49:19 GMT -5
His eyes widened for a moment, surprised Shadewing had so readily accepted his offer. He had never been respected like this. Did she see something in him? Quickly he veiled his expression with one of determination. "Okay." Cautiously, he leapt over the rotten trunk, certain he had pulled it off, when he landed square on patch of slick moss and went sprawling. He blushed furiously, hoping Shadewing was far enough off she hadn't noticed. Hastily he regained his footing, and kept on moving. Some warrior he was...why did he have to be such a klutz?
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Post by shadewing on Jun 25, 2008 22:58:43 GMT -5
Shadewing blinked as the tom slipped, but made no comment. It was good to see that he wasn't perfect. Somehow, it made Shadewing like him even more. She leaped over the log in a single bound and shrugged to herself, partially out of guilt. The grey warrior couldn't help it that she had such strong back legs. She certainly didn't mean to show off. "We should warn the queens about that log." She mewed. "Those silly kits could get hurt chasing each other over and around that log."
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Post by cranberry on Jun 25, 2008 23:10:29 GMT -5
Lightningstrike winced, watching the graceful she-cat clear the leap in a single bound. She was too good for him. He had known it all along. His imperfection ate away at his heart, and he kept his head low as he clambered along, being extra careful to avoid the roots and snarls in the terrain. She said something about the log being dangerous for kits, and he tried to think of something clever to respond with. It was no good. He wasn't brave, he wasn't compassionate, he wasn't agile. He was just...himself. "I'll remember to tell them." he nodded in an effort to just say something. The brown and white tabby suddenly realized he hardly even knew where he was going anymore. The winds had miraculously calmed down, and he caught no scent of any other cats. "I think everyone else waited out the storm back at camp...it doesn't look like anyone's in trouble." he sighed, painfully aware his humiliation was showing. "We should probably head back."
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Post by shadewing on Jun 25, 2008 23:17:49 GMT -5
Shadewing tried to pad forward but her paw got caught in a hole in the ground. The usually graceful she-cat stumbled and fell forward. Shadewing shook her head in embarassment. "Yes..." she mewed. "We probably should go back to camp." Shadewing paused and padded closer to Lightningstrike, her tail brushing her flank. "IF," She mewed, "That's what you think we should do." The she-cat's eyes danced nervusly. If Lightningstrike did'nt know she liked him by now, Shadewing didn't know what she could do to get it through to him.
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Post by shadewing on Jun 25, 2008 23:22:35 GMT -5
**brushing HIS flank
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Post by cranberry on Jun 25, 2008 23:26:10 GMT -5
At, first, he wasn't convinced. Great, now she was faking being clumsy just to make him feel better? He wasn't worth that. But as the striking gray she-cat drew closer, her tail brushing against his pelt, he abruptly changed his mind. A wave of peace swept over him, calming his nerves and relieving his anxiety. And as he turned to face her, glancing into her caring eyes - there was no doubt any longer. She was genuine. Genuinely in love.
And so was he.
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Post by shadewing on Jun 25, 2008 23:36:57 GMT -5
Shadewing's eyes glowed with happiness. "It's not just me then?" She purred. The she-cat padded forward and touched Lightningstrike's flank with her nose. Sheer delight welled up in the she-cat's chest. She couldn't wait to tell Rainflower! Then her heart sank slightly. Would it be rude to tell her friend about Lightningstrike? Shadewing didn't want to make her jealous, but then again, she knew Rainflower would be thrilled
for her. Shadewing blinked nervously. 'Now what?' She wondered.
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Post by cranberry on Jun 25, 2008 23:46:56 GMT -5
Lightningstrike purred himself, taking comfort just in hearing the same sound from Shadewing. He hadn't felt this happy in moons - everything around him seemed like a perfect serenade. This was truly bliss.
He lifted his head to face her again. "We probably ought to at least let everyone know we;re okay, don't you think? Unless you don't want to." he blinked, concerned.
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Post by shadewing on Jun 26, 2008 0:02:59 GMT -5
Shadewing nodded, still dazed. "We should." She murmured, almost to herself. The grey she cat padded closer to Lightningstrike and leaned on the tom. She wasn't sure that her paws would support her. Instead, Shadewing was sure that they would float right off the ground. "Is this really happening?" She mewed to Lightningstrike, slightly confused.
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