get a grip! {AERON}

[lily ♫]

Early rays streaked across the morning sky, its hue that of the palest blue Orioleflash had ever seen. Seeing it should have been peaceful, a sign of good weather and good fortune, even, but no, the rising of the sun only gace Orioleflash a bad feeling. Fleetfoot was really gone, wasn't he? Her heart was heavy with the absence of her brother. It was odd waking up one day and finding his nest empty, not even his stale scent drifting into her nostrils to comfort her. Gone. But why? And, for that matter, where did he go? Orioleflash would never know, and that's two of the things in life that would forever continue to bother her. Letting her swift paws take her down along the shore line of the lake that had always brought her comfort before, she sat down gently in the soft sand, her saffron eyes glued to the lake's aquamarine surface. "It's so beautiful here.

[/color]" She murmured to herself, stricken by how calm her voice sounded when there was a emotional warfare occuring beneath the surface.

Blinking away the tears that threatened to spill, the she-cat's inner flame felt dim and Orioleflash truly felt alone. Now that Fleetfoot was gone, there was no one to comfort her, to honestly understand where she was coming from, and to simply listen. Not a soul in the entirety of ZephyrClan gave a mouse's tail about her, and certainly that couldn't be changed by now. All the she-cats were offended, holding gruges 'till the end of time, and the toms found her presence all but sickening. 'Oh, Orioleflash, what have you done?' The calico asked herself, not wanting the answer she already knew. Simply because she was herself around her clanmates, they hated her. None of them dared befriend her. Who would want to? Not one of the cats she shared a den with even knew who she really was, and that meant they were in no hurry to encourage their own friends to befriend her. What was the prize? A few acid sharp words, a scowl, and the unsheathing of her claws. Right, okay.

A chilly wind came from behind her, pulling scents from the moor to her, dragging with it the scent of a tom. Runningfox. Just the thought of the tom was as infuriating as encountering him, but at least he seemed to want to know her, right? Shaking her head, Orioleflash's eyes flashed with their own emotions that formed her mask of fire, and the flame within was burning bright again. 'Get a grip![/color]' She nearly yowled to the entirety of the lake but just barely made herself stop in time. She'd been enough of a wretch on the evening patrol the night before that Runningfox would most likely want to avoid her at all costs, so it was just silly thinking that he was seeking her out. 'It's silly just thinking about him![/color]' The femme told herself, unable to stop the thoughts anyway. Lost in a reverie, Orioleflash was comepletely unaware of the cat approaching.

ooc: ohmigod please make her stop feeling sorry for herself. all my cats in vertigo are that way and i want to be able to have someone lively~. xDD SPLASH SOME SENSE INTO HER, BRO[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[aero ❥]

{ R } UNNINGFOX

His ruffled, pale orange fur danced in the breeze as the fiery tabby stripes shined like small flames in the sunlight. His powerful back legs pushed him farther, faster. The blemished earth was still spotty from the past leaf-bare, but he could feel the new blades of grass sprouting from their deep slumber as his paws pounded the blurred ground beneath him. He sped over the territory for absolutely no reason at all; not chasing down a hare or racing to give someone an important piece of information. His parents had gotten it right when they had named him Runningkit.

Now he was Runningfox, a handsome young warrior the cats of Zephyrclan knew as a player. As is father had been, he carried on the tradition. Though he didn't try to best his dad. He didn't give two rabbit-tails how many she-cats he had gotten, if he had come up with better pickup lines, or the beauty of the ones he had womanized. Runningfox was only playing the game to please himself. The slow burn that was seeping throughout his muscles gave him a certain satisfaction - keeping fit and strong was just as important to him as life itself. If he was an overweight elder, he would gladly go out to the moor one day, sacrificing himself as a tasty meal for a fox or other desperate predator. Yes, he would rather die than exist as a feeble inferior.

Slowing to a trot he took the moment to really think about that. No, if he were to die he would want to go out fighting. That was the honorable way, and being remembered as the courageous hero every girl loved would let him rest in peace. His long tail lashed, mind picturing an epic battle he would be proud to die in. And then his death, the thing that ended the fighting and claimed victory to Zephyrclan.

Rain cascaded from the blustering heavens, a sharp wind unforgiving as it ripped through the desolate moor. Bodies covered the ground, rainwater and blood mixing to pool around the fallen felines. They looked small and weak, fur matted to their chilled skin. The living crouched over the lifeless cats, wounded but luckier than those they loomed over. A larger heap of wet orange tabby fur was particularly surrounded, slashed flanks gently rising and falling. His yellow eyes were still bright and warm, not giving into the death that was just an exhale away. "Thank you, R-R-Runningfox..." A she-cat shuddered, words breaking as her beautiful eyes teared. "May Starclan light your path." The group of cats bent their head, touching their noses to his damp fur. His handsome orbs flickered, slowly closing. His last exhale was content, final thought about knowing that he had fulfilled the purpose he was always meant to.

Shaking his head, the warrior's spine tingled with electricity. Why was he thinking about his death like this? Today was a beautiful day - it didn't deserve to be ruined with these unusual gloomy daydreams. Stopping to stretch, his long tail curled as his back arched. Scoping out his surroundings, he found himself surprisingly close to the lake. The water should be warm. He was upwind, therefore unable to scent the air for what was at the sandy shore. Little did he know a pretty calico he had - as of late - had his warm eyes on lurked there.

Paws carrying him to the shore's outer reaches, he opened his mouth to taste the air. Seriously? His eyes widened. Orioleflash... He had been around her quite a bit lately, all the time her rough tongue and pissed off personality doing nothing but lashing out at him at every turn. Every word seemed to trigger a grudge she continued to hold. It was incredibly obvious she wanted strictly nothing to do with his handsome figure and player persona, but Runningfox kept trying. He was persistent and hard-headed, and to tell you the truth her lack of interest made him work for it all the more. She was a beautiful piece of work, not a flaw about her or a single thing he found to be unattractive.

Get a grip lover boy! He scolded internally, shaking his head. This was business. Clearing his throat, he licked his right paw and ran it over his head and face, cleaning himself up. His ruffled body wasn't something that could be fixed in this short time period, so he just ran his tongue over his chest and was ready to seek out the wrathful goddess. Creeping through the undergrowth, he spotted her quickly, small calico figure near the water's edge. Silently padding up behind her, he was a few fox-lengths away as he moved past her to stand mouse tails from the lapping waves.

He pretended not to notice her, maybe she didn't even notice him. Either way he looked into the crystal blue surf, soaking in the tranquility while he could.

[lily ♫]

His scent overwhelmed her, making her fur prickle with apprehension. Tilting her head to the side, exhaling quite loudly with exasperation, the female turned her head to him, keeping the odd diagonal degree in it has her bright saffron lights looked skeptical. "Really, Runningfox? Last I checked, I wasn't blind. Oh, and I can open my mouth and scent things, too, alright?

[/color]" Orioleflash called lightly, eyes rolling up only for a moment, but her tone came out a bit too cheery. What in the name of StarClan was that about? Biting her tongue not to reply with anything rude, she relaxed her shoulders and whipped her neck about in a circle, stretching it out and redirecting her gaze onto the beautiful azure shade of the water stretching out before her.

"The lake's pretty, isn't it?

[/color]"
[/center]
The femme whispered to herself, knowing her words would travel over to Runningfox too, and silently braced herself for any witty comebacks he might have by shutting her eyes and drawing her tail, which had been dancing about behind her, down onto the cool sand. 'Why, Orioleflash, are you actually trying to be nice to someone?[/color]' She mocked herself with a tongue-clucking reprimand inside her mind. Her signature sign of confusion fell down onto her face, the frown she wore having become her trademark expression ever since Runningfox ran right into her life. Opening her eyes, the brilliant light before her sparkled on the water's surface, making her gasp at its undeniable beauty.

Closing her mouth quickly with a short 'clack' as her teeth smacked into each other, she whipped her head about and stared at the orange tabby and his yellow eyes that were the same as hers. It was odd, finding something that matched her rough exterior to a tee. Comforting almost, but then the female broke the short connection, just as a fish jumped from the water a little ways out. "So what the hell brought you here?[/color] Orioleflash asked, the little taste of decency that Runningfox had been given disappearing as she slipped back inside of herself, into the cat she had grown accustomed to being.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[aero ❥]

{ R } UNNINGFOX

A reply rolled around on his tongue, for once in his life he wasn't sure he wanted to go for it. Well, of course he wanted to go for it, but was it really best? Her tone seemed relatively happy; he didn't want to screw up if she was in a good mood. "Alright." He meowed, short and smooth his vocals were pure velvet. He gently prodded at a rock wedged into the sand, coming off so cool and relaxed he couldn't help but look attractive as his short fur played in the breeze that washed over them. His fiery stripes shimmered as he swayed back and fourth, tail lazily flicking in rhythm with the lapping of the water.

"The lake's pretty, isn't it?"

His warm yellow eyes seemed even brighter in the sunlight, looking out to the vast lake they took everything in slowly. Not as pretty as you. Why did he find himself unable to pull the trigger? Unable to compliment her with all of these perfect replies? It frustrated him deeply. There was so much he wanted to say and the only thing holding him back was himself. "It's beautiful." He sighed, words falling from his lips in such dismay it was hard to believe he had even spoken. Runningfox? Troubled? When mice could sing! He didn't even know why he was upset...Cut the shit already. He scolded, shaking his head. His ears swiveled around in the calico's direction when she gasped, a small smile across his mouth.

Orioleflash suddenly turned towards him, it was like looking into a mirror as their eyes met. Gorgeous. He noticed something else too - how much taller he was. She was petite and small, he was muscular and large. His legs almost doubled her's, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. She was fun sized. It was....cute.
"So what the hell brought you here?" Everything previous shattered into a billion tiny shards, edges sharp and aimed right at him. He took a minute to accept the fact she wasn't going to cut him anymore slack before he answered. "Probably the same thing that brought you here." He meowed casually, padding slowly in a semi circle around her. He wasn't going to tell her the real reason, so why not just dismiss the question.

"Mind if I ask, what did bring you here?" His warm gaze was inquisitive and welcoming, though at the back of his mind that same confused glumness prowled restlessly.

[lily ♫]

Orioleflash's eyes widened as the tom chose not to reply with his usual nonsense. 'How extremely...odd.' She thought, blinking her wide, round saffron eyes at him, throroughly surprised with his behavior. Then again, she wasn't being herself either. Maw opening to whip the tom into shape with her sharp words, the femme's reply was anything but the norm. "Why the chuckle? Are you laughing at how you're..failing at...being yourself?

[/color]" The calico female simply blinked at the pure, blatant stupidity of her own words. Standing up, she shook her tiny rump a bit to rid her pelt of the sand and faced Runningfox head on, shaking her head and lowering her eyes while she did so. Meeting his matching gaze once more, she actually bore a smile as she spoke. "You're simply going to have to forgive me for that one. Seems I'm also out of my element.[/color]" She meowed, the small grin she was bearing actually reaching her eyes and letting them dance with amusement for once.

A heartbeat later, the femme was frowning again, utterly confused. "Wow, did I actually just come within inches of admitting defeat? I must have woken up as Flashoriole, because I'm sure being backwards today.[/color]" The she-cat joked, frown flickering between forced neutrality, refusing to let another smile grace her beautiful maw. As soon as the words escaped her, she whipped about, staring wide-eyed at the lake, embarassed, and heat engulfing her face. 'What..the..hell?[/color]' She managed to gasp out inside, lost for words and emotions.

Getting a grip on her identity, she looked at Runningfox once more, but let her eyes fall down his fiery orange body, inspecting him. "I..I came here..[/color]" Orioleflash started, near stuttering. It was hard admitting any sort of feelings other than anger and repulsion, and it was harder than anything else for Orioleflash to admit that she was sad about something. Clearing her throat before continuing, her frown was a true one, created from grief rather than confusion. "I came here because I miss Fleetfoot.[/color]" She managed, quickly letting the words spill out, her heart suddenly speeding for a few seconds. Thinking about feelings...and admiting them...made Orioleflash feel, well, odd. She'd never really admitted anything to anyone besides Fleetfoot or Pepperbreath before, and here she was, telling Runningfox, the tom that bothered her to no end. "So, I guess you didn't come for the same reason then.[/color] The femme added, turning her head back to the lake again, hiding from whatever was happening inside, outside, and around her.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[aero ❥]

{ R } UNNINGFOX

"Why the chuckle? Are you laughing at how you're..failing at...being yourself?"
Runningfox's smile gradually returned, head shaking in humored disbelief. A remarkable return of nice words from the wrathful goddess? And his amazement continued to mount. "You're simply going to have to forgive me for that one. Seems I'm also out of my element." His tail flicked dismissively, not wanting her to get the idea talking normally was a bad act. "There isn't anything to forgive. And I guess I am failing at being myself," His smile grew. "Funny." Her eyes danced and her face was rich with calm and cheer, making her look even more radiant. Dazzling. He snatched up these rare memories and made sure to securely lock them away, hidden where they would never be lost.

Good thing he did.
Moments later she was frowning again, the pout enticing though he missed and preferred her ravishing smile. "Wow, did I actually just come within inches of admitting defeat? I must have woken up as Flashoriole, because I'm sure being backwards today." His pleasant laugh seemed to skip across the lake, the sound smooth and deep. Was she like this inside? Funny and tolerant, kind even, but desired to withhold it around all others? Her embarrassment was cute, and he took the liberty of inching a few steps closer.

"I..I came here.." The young tom waited politely, noticing she was looking at him. "I came here because I miss Fleetfoot." His heart reached out to her, the disappearance of a brother must be hard. If his own bother had ever went missing...He wouldn't let himself think further than that. He swiftly crossed the space between them, slowing down as he gently brushed up beside her. Their fur touching sent heated chills down his spine, a kind of electricity that wasn't unwelcomed. How long he had wanted to touch her silky fur. Her blacks and pumpkins blended with his pale orange and fiery stripes, the sight thrilling to his warm yellow eyes. "So, I guess you didn't come for the same reason then."

"I guess not." It wasn't a creepy, perverted closeness, but a comforting relaxed one. Breaking away, Runningfox side-stepped to give her some room. I don't want to scare her. (Or piss her off!) The tom's whiskers twitched as he wondered what she would say. Her sweet scent was more pungent, filling the air around him and possibly clinging to his fur. Aiming to obscure what had just happened he started up the conversation again. "I came here because I missed something though." He said this thoughtfully, genuine with his hesitance.

[lily ♫]

How odd it all was, being this natural self around the tom that could claw his way under her skin in just a few short moments. It was odd, sure, but Orioleflash liked it to some extent. Part of her longed for the tom to slip back into himself, to praise her or flirt until her teeth ground together with frustration, or even a bit of short-lived, simple pleasure. Yes, she'd be pleased with a genuine compliment. That would warm her heart up to him, rather than her being repulsed by his stubborn lust. This Runningfox was different, and Orioleflash felt different too. His laugh brought her back to herself, quickly yanked back from her momentary reverie. "I don't think I've ever made someone laugh like that before.

[/color]" The calico choked, suddenly overwhelmed by the way she acted around others.

But then his closeness made her anxiousness inside fade. Partially, anyway. How many moons ago was it that she had fallen in the stream and had wanted one of the toms to press their side into her, warm her, and comfort her? Stormtrick hadn't dared, but Runningfox had been tempted, and Orioleflash would have rejected it. Now, as his closeness tempted her instead, she couldn't help but feel the fluttering of some sort of emotions inside her. Affection, friendly affection, was one of the feelings stirring within her. Would she find a true friend within Runningfox? Or more? The last thought made her shudder, and her golden saffron eyes seeked his own bright yellow gaze as he stepped away. "You can't miss something if it's here.[/color]" Her voice was deeper than normal, and she couldn't stop herself from staring into his gaze and getting lost within it.

This wasn't right. Afterall, the orange tabby before her was Runningfox. Runningfox! The deputy's son, the Clan's player, the tom who tried charming every she-cat he ever came in contact with. And Orioleflash was the one who resisted, always. "But I don't think you've found what you're missing.[/color]" She added, breaking the contact and lowering her gaze. No. He wanted the female that resisted, played hard to get, not this she-cat that was ready to start swooning over him. He'd caught her off guard, at a point where she was most vulnerable to him. "So, why don't we go find her?[/color]" Orioleflash mewed, looking up to him once more. She would find herself, the happy medium between the the anger and the calm, the real, blunt and flirty femme that tried to come out but failed. With that, the calico warrior stepped closer to him, taunting, before she headed toward the moors of ZephyrClan that awaited them.

"Coming?

[/color]"[/center]

ooc: ohmigod. this so did not turn out the way i had wanted it to. instead, orioleflash came to life and showed me how she wanted it to go and i allowed her to. this post...is odd. in a good way.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[aero ❥]

{ R } UNNINGFOX

"I don't think I've ever made someone laugh like that before."
It wasn't long after these words something started to burrow under his skin. It was small, insignificant, unnoticeable by his conscious. But it eventually wormed it's way deeper, growing in size as it did so. When he shifted his weight to his left side, it dispersed into multiple tiny entities. The first place he felt it was the pit of his stomach, with a sudden, lurching feeling that unsettled his nerves. When she looked into his eyes, he struggled not to look away. Even her beautiful orbs were not tempting enough to make him want to stare back. (Though they were still terribly tempting.) "You can't miss something if it's here." Was she catching on to what he had meant? And she wasn't angry? But what had I meant? He felt so outside himself.

"But I don't think you've found what you're missing." Those tiny little entities squirmed through him again, pressuring his stomach and targeting next his mind. Oh but I have, The words stuck of his tongue and the pale orange tabby couldn't shake them off. "So, why don't we go find her?" The handsome tom could swear he was dreaming. Who was this beautiful creature that stood beside him, so open and pleasant? And what in all of creation was this thing inside him that was so determined to ruin it all? "Coming?" "Of course." His velvet vocals were back in business, and the purr that echoed his reply was just a slight extra. This was all too good to be true, and the part of himself that cherished it was slowly recoiling as this new feeling was bullying it's way through his body. This is wrong. And just what was so wrong about it? Could someone tell him? Get out before it gets too deep. His instincts were flaring, sirens were sounding in his ears and an S.O.S. pulsing in his head. Following her was him heading into the hot zone, the point of no return. He risked everything he knew if he stayed with her any longer.

Little bad girl. She was so attractive, the part of him that screamed 'abort' was also the part that drove him forward, the player in him that when all else failed just couldn't resist being close to something so beautiful. So he followed her.
Catching up quickly with long strides, he set himself on the course of the moor without further thought. Well, scratch that. He was thinking alright. He was a few paces from Orioleflash but still beside her, looking over every few moments to make sure she wasn't playing a trick on him. "So, Orioleflash," He got a certain satisfaction from saying her name without hesitance or fear she might snap back. "How do we find this...missing piece?" He wasn't sure what else to refer to it as. In all honesty it was a missing piece of herself, yes? It seemed like the wrong question to ask, but he wasn't exactly thinking straight. He was kind of....dazed. Hope she realizes that! If she didn't, well, he looked like an idiot.

In a way, his bedazzlement was kind of cute, and he looked rather dashing as the wind ruffled his short fur, fiery tabby stripes shimmering in the direct sunlight. And his eyes, they were warm and full of bliss, a bright yellow indeed. They sought out the calico's mirror set, examining her as they did so. She walked with a sass even now, and if she wanted to taunt, (Oh her taunting was so seductive.) he would play along because he was feeling carefree again. Maybe he was enjoying this just a little too much, because if it ended too soon he would be sure to crash and burn.