dreaming & dazing {dusk}

[Wolfy]

◊◊ Paradisepool

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Frozen in sleep, I dream about hunting. My prey is right in front of me. Poor scrap, he can't even hear me. If only there was a way he could live, but then I wouldn't. It's all about survival. And I'll let you in on a little secret, I'll always survive.[/i]

The shadows of the trees around the she-cat lay on her back as she slithered through them and raced to pounce on an unlucky bit of prey. She bit her sharp fangs down into its neck and killed it with a quick bite. She looked up, blood flowing from her teeth. It was fun to kill, she liked it at least. It gave her a sense of power. What was wrong with that? The huntress prowled the shadowed grounds once more, leaping through streams of water without getting injured on the sharp, slippery stones. She climbed up a tree and leaped gracefully from branch to branch in the high place. She loved the essence of a midnight prowl. No one would ever find her. She was a maniac when it came to fighting and hiding. Why, she was so good, not even the strongest warriors could keep up with her. It was a gift of hers. Placing a paw on the edge of a thin strip of bark, she gazed over the horizon. She could race all the way to the ends of the earth and she'd never get tired. That was how she was. Jealous much?

The she-cat jumped down from the tree and landed delicately on her paws. She heard scratching coming from behind her and she turned her head seductively. "I knew you'd come back. You'll always come back."[/b] she whispered, slinking around to face her opponent. The tom hid in the green, dark ferns and only his eyes gleamed out at her. "Darling, don't you trust me?"[/b] The tom blinked at her before shaking his head no. He took one step out and placed it on the ground. It was too dark for her to see who this tom was, but he was always there. The she-cat let out a slinky shake and the tom's eyes closed on her, letting him blend in with the shadows of the forest once more.

Paradisepool opened her eyes slowly to find herself in the warriors' den around all of the other cats of ZephyrClan. Her white and orange fluffy fur was pricked into different sections and her mossy bog eyes flicked to the entrance of the den and she let out a sniff. She'd find out who that cat was. She always sees him. Paradisepool let out a small cough and stretched her body up to feel her joints popping. The she-cat made her way out of the den, without disturbing anyone else who might be dreaming and emerged into the bright sunlight. She squinted before sitting down to wash her fur back down into place. Every time she saw that tom in her dream, she always saw the same dark, cold, golden eyes. Who in the world could he be? She flicked her long fluffy tail away and began washing her face, drawing her pink tongue over her white paws and around her orange ears. Things were much less complicated when she had nothing to dream about. When she lived in TempestClan as a kit, her main goal was to protect her sister, Islandsplash. Now she hardly ever saw the beautiful orange she-cat. Whatever the cause was, she was sure Islandsplash would be able to take care of herself now.

Scanning her boggy eyes around the clearing she wondered when a cat would join her for her morning routine. She'd been alone too often lately that she'd reduced herself to only dreaming encounters. Even then, her tom didn't speak to her. When would she get another tom wrapped around her tail?

[Dusk]

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[atrb=background, i339.photobucket.com/albums/n480/Shardclaw/orangebackground.jpg] All the tom wanted was a few good hours of sleep. Not those restless snatches he'd managed to catch in these past few days. He wanted to just have one night where was allowed to sleep the deepest, dreamless sleep. No subconscious thoughts to flit through his mind and pester him, just wonderful oblivion. One night. All he wanted. No; more than that, actually. He didn't just want this sleep, he needed it. The senior warrior was slowly being run ragged by the current state of the camp. He'd seen little of either of his two old companions as of late, Stormtrick and Ripplesurf were just as busy as himself. In fact, Ripplesurf was probably worse off of the trio; deputyship -and a "cursed" deputyship according to some cats at that - couldn't have been easy in these times of sickness. In spite of the fact that he knew his fellow warrior were enduring just as much stress, the tabby couldn't help but wish for his load to ease off slightly. An older cat could only be driven so hard. At least he wasn't sick. The sickness terrified him to say the least. Sickness had always frightened him, probably a result of seeing so many sick cats as a kit. He just didn't want to end up like those felines, weak and unable to even take care of himself... he'd die in battle first before he let himself dissolve into a helpless elder. Too many thoughts were racing through the warrior's head. 'So much for sleep.' With a quiet sigh the tom forced his eyes open, gaze of saffron staring out from his brown tabby face into the sheltered dark of the den. Usually Havocflare would have slept out in the open, nestled into a comfortable dip in the thick grass of the moor, but his hoped for some proper sleep had led him to hide out in the den so that the first rays of sunlight and camp activity wouldn't disturb some blissful rest. It seemed he was destined not to rest, though. There was someone else moving in the den, although he could only make out basic shapes in the shadows. He heard a small cough, and then the soft footfalls of furred paws moving along the mossy ground. Soon enough their noise faded as the cat walked out and the tabby tom shifted into a sitting position. He gave his fur a quick grooming, not much caring to try and keep his fur looking sleek when he knew it would spike up into it's usual disheveled fashion after a few moments. It didn't hurt to be clean though. And when it came to that he was meticulous. Neatly swiping a stray clump of moss from his pelt, the tom completed his morning ritual grooming and stepped out into the sunlight. It was late enough for the sun to be over the trees, but too early for the cats of the moon-high patrol to be done resting. The camp wasn't yet awake enough to be bustling with activity; the warrior noted that few cats were about as he made his way leisurely towards the fresh-kill pile. Not many at all. Even so, the fresh-kill pile was sadly empty two voles and a finch being the only occupants of the dip. His stomach rumbled pitifully as he stepped away from the pile, but he couldn't take food that should go to the elder's first. Maybe he could find a hunting partner. Turning to look about the camp, he spotted a familiar orange-patched form. "Paradisepool!" he called out in greeting with a slight wave of his tail. The tom trotted towards the she-cat, pausing a tail-length or two away. "How are you this morning?" It wouldn't do to start a conversation with a hunting request when neither of them were yet scheduled for a patrol. He could wait a while, chat a bit before asking.

[Wolfy]

◊◊Paradisepool

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Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

A voice called out to the lovely she-cat and she turned to see who it was. Havocflare. Very nice. She popped her shoulder when she turned around to see him. He was disheveled by fur, but most of the time he was. He was happy for an early morning, why wouldn't he be? And his eyes...golden, dark, almost like...no. He wasn't even close to the cat in her dream. That cat was mysterious and the only cat that seemed immune to her extreme sexiness. Havocflare would fall under her spell...eventually. He had a mere chit-chat call to her. How was she this morning? Well, same as every morning she presumed. It wasn't anything different. The sun came up, patrols, hunting party, eat, sleep, clean, the sun goes down. Then it was dream world. Her world. The world of the huntress.

She flicked her ear and sat down to view the tom, "I'm actually doing quite well this morning. It's a little chilly, but nonetheless, still doing fine. How about you Havocflare? How have you been?"[/b] He would probably say he was doing great, he was doing well, or he was doing fine. He would probably say he wanted her for a patrol or someone else needed her. It was only a matter of time.

All she could see now was those dark, golden eyes. The tom must mean something in her life. Otherwise he would be gone like a swift breeze that meant nothing to her. Just like every other tom in her life.

[Dusk]

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[atrb=background, i339.photobucket.com/albums/n480/Shardclaw/orangebackground.jpg] A quick glance at the bright orb called the sun was all he needed to know there was no need to rush into pressing a hunt on Paradisepool. It was still early morning, the fiery sphere not high above the horizon yet. Nope. No need to rush at all. After all, when was he due for a patrol? The spike-furred tom paused to think. 'Ahh, not until this evening. You've got the whole day ahead of you, Havocflare!' His whiskers twitched slightly at the thought - mostly in amusement. He'd been so worried his day would be full of busy tasks before he'd headed out of the den, and now it seemed there would be plenty of free time on his paws. 'Maybe I'll take Shadedpaw out for some training later, it's about time we make some progress.' With the day better planned out in his head, the warrior returned his focus to the ginger-patched she-cat. Had she already assumed his motive for walking up was more than the urge for an idle chat? Probably, the half-clan feline was plenty intelligent, after all. At least she was kind enough not to tell him to get to the point. He gave a small chuckle as the she-cat inquired after his own day, a rueful note lacing the throaty rattle. "I've been well enough," he mewed with a small shrug. "Only thing I could wish for is Starclan to let me sleep a bit more." The words were spoken lightly, any semblance of a complaint being washed away by the breezy tone. The smile on his muzzle faltered as his saffron gaze settled on the medicine cat's den. "Not much right for me to complain of sleep troubles when others are worse off, though..." Havocflare's words trailed off momentarily. Then, with a rough shake and a deep breath the tom forced himself to stop thinking of the sick cats. He couldn't help but notice the female watching him with an intense look in her eyes. His brow rose in silent questioning. He smirked jokingly. "Something wrong with me?" ooc/ 1. Sorry I took so frikkin long to reply. 2. Sorry it's a bad post, my muse is still annoyingly dead.

[Wolfy]

◊◊Paradisepool

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Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

The tom moved over towards her, shaking his pelt in the process. The copper and white she-cat smile when he came closer and let out a small rumble in her throat. Not a purr, nor a growl, but more so a mischievous excited laugh. Sleep more? He mentioned. Oh that would be fun for Paradisepool. Sleeping more meant more time with her wanted cat. The tom would take a good blessing in accepting if Paradisepool had many more chimeras. What fun she would have. The tom would soon be discovered, but looking back up to Havocflare, she couldn't help but looking at how similar his eyes were to the tom in her dreams. It was so odd. Paradisepool's mossy eyes soaked up the resemblance, then thrusted her head away. Although she smirked, "If StarClan gave us everything we wished for, we would have nothing left to find. Besides, sleep comes to those who earn it." She flashed teasingly. Although, what she said was true. If you sat around all day, true sleep would not come. You'd be a waste to the clan. Whatever though, she worked for her sleep and reveries.

The copper and white she-cat drew a paw up and licked it before swiveling it down her ear and to the back of her neck. What would he understand of sweet dreaming? Probably nothing. No one could dream as often as she could. At the Gatherings of the Clans, even Islandsplash did not dream as much as Paradisepool did. But Islandsplash always tried to find her place among cats, it came naturally to Paradisepool though. It always did. But then Havocflare spoke again. Something wrong with him? Oh nothing was wrong with him. The way he moved, spoke, looked, nothing could ever be wrong with him. But he only teased, and it was fair she amused. "Oh no, good tom, there is nothing wrong with you. However, do you seek out faults in the Clan or only in yourself?"[/color] she smirked, wrapping her fluffy tail around her forepaws, her boggy eyes glinting at him under her faint laughter.

[Dusk]

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[atrb=background, i339.photobucket.com/albums/n480/Shardclaw/orangebackground.jpg] The tom was typically able to focus on one thing with ease, and keep his train of thoughts on that single focus as long as he needed. After all, he wasn't some scatter-brained young kit. This morning, though, it was near impossible to keep his mind from roaming even as he spoke with the two-colored she-cat beside him. It was likely due to the fact that his mind refused to function properly while he was running on little sleep, indeed Havocflare kept coming back to the knowledge that his eyelids threatened to droop closed. He was forced to stifle a yawn. 'No need to seem to rude to the nice young lady,' he chastised himself mildly. He fixed an easy going smile on his face, one that would help him appear more attentive than he truly was at the moment. He was still listening; although the height of the sun and the pleasant breeze kept calling for his attention. He gave a quiet snort as the younger warrior gently teased him for his apparent laziness. Another cat might take offense at the possible implications behind the words, but the small tom was too cool-headed to feel anything rude had been spoken. "Alright, I admit that you're right. Gotta work hard before we can complain," he mewed with a quick laugh. He didn't add that he felt he had earned a good night's sleep many times over. No point in starting some sort of argument before it was even noon. Her next question, still spoken with a playful smirk on her face, threw him off. "Ahh... How did one reply to that sort of question? He wasn't even sure he knew the proper answer for himself. Havocflare cocked his head as he contemplated the inquiry. It wasn't as though the clan was at fault for catching some sort of sickness, nor was it any one clan cat's fault. Back in Trenton -although he could hardly remember much of that accursed twolegplace - no loners ever blamed the sick cats for getting themselves ill. Sickness was just something that happened. All the warriors were managing as best they could. No, there was no problem he could find with Zephyrclan or Paintedstar. A small shrug was the best answer he felt he could give Paradisepool. "I don't really know, to tell you the truth." His voice was low as he spoke. He sucked in a small breath, about to choose some other topic and digress from his earlier words, but his stomach gave a particularly loud rumble before he found his voice. Golden eyes widened slightly in surprise, and he looked up with a sheepish grin.

[Wolfy]

◊◊Paradisepool

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She's got no idea where you been
No idea what you've been doin'.

[/i][/b]

When her deputy answered her, Paradisepool nodded slowly, looking up at him intensely. She hadn't meant for her gaze to be so burning, but she wanted him to notice her. Her beauty. They were alright friends of course, but he could mean so much more if only he'd budge. But Paradisepool was only talking to Havocflare. He couldn't be the cat she saw often enough in her dreams. The only cat that didn't show enough interest in her. That cat would be hers. Her sister, as though there was a connection or they met at Gatherings, Islandsplash, believed that the tom that didn't love Paradisepool enough was the one that would become her mate. Probably because Paradisepool herself didn't believe in such love. Such intensity. Whatever the cause, Paradisepool hardly believed that the tom in her dreams would become her mate.

Seemingly sidetracked, Paradisepool listened to Havocflare speak. He didn't have an answer. That was one of the reasons Paradisepool liked Havocflare, if he didn't have an answer, he didn't have an answer. He wasn't perfect like every other cat in the clan. Pah. Anyways, the russet she-cat almost began speaking before she heard Havocflare's stomach growl. He looked up with a sheepish grin. He was hungry. The russet she-cat blinked her boggy eyes and placed herself down to the ground. She signaled with her long fluffy tail towards the fresh-kill pile. "Eat?" She was amused, she'd admit, but she was a little hungry herself. All this talking was distracting her from the grumbles in her soft stomach too.

[Dusk]

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[atrb=background, i339.photobucket.com/albums/n480/Shardclaw/orangebackground.jpg] 'Why does it seem that stomachs always find the worst moment in time to make themselves known?' Havocflare thought with some embarrassment. In fact, it was rumbling again, but more quietly this time -luckily- so that it couldn't be heard when muffled by his fur. Truthfully, though, he was rather grateful for the distraction which his hunger had provided. Their previous conversation had been moving itself onto strange waters, waters which he didn't like to test quite yet. Now he didn't need to think of some excuse for his changing the topic. The rough-looking warrior wasn't sure he would be able to nudge the conversation in another direction with ease. After all, the red and white she-cat standing before him was plenty intelligent in spite of her half-clan lineage, likely she'd strive to figure out why he'd been so eager to change the subject. As it was, he didn't like lying to others, nor did he think himself particularly good at it. "Ahh, yes! A bite to eat sounds perfect," he mewed as his companion gestured to the small hollow. With a quiet chuckle, Havocflare turned and began to make his way towards the fresh-kill pile; he motioned for Paradisepool to follow. The tom had almost forgotten that only a few small animals had been left when he'd first wandered over to the spot, and now, as he looked down to pick something, the tom realized that some other cats had finished off the last pickings. Eyes widening in mild dismay, the tom pawed curiously at the soil; as if he would find some hare that had been buried and was simply hidden from view. Not so, all he got in return for his "efforts" was a paw stuffed with grit and gravel. A small sigh of irritation escaped between his jaws as he lowered his head in mock defeat. Then, with a laugh, he brought it back up and eyed the younger she-cat. "You discussed earlier how good things come to those who work for it," he began while waving his now dirty paw at the empty hole, "it seems we'll have to work for our first meal of the day." The warrior was grinning slightly again, inwardly laughing at how the situation had worked out. "Would you like to go hunting with me, so we can catch ourselves something and then replenish the pile?" ooc//I dunno if you want to leave it at that or reply and then we close it, your call.

[Wolfy]

I'd like to leave it at that and lets say that Havoc and Paradise go hunting and maybe they become kind of pals in the timeskip?