everlasting light {lily}

[LYNX ♥]

garnetbone
let me be your everlasting light-
sun where there is none

Of course, the last two moons had positively sped by, each day passing without a moment's notice, and dropping a new experience upon the tom's shoulder each time. While he understood judging only by others that clan life was not always the fast-paced explosion of commotion that he had been living as of late, he was thankful that it was for the time being. The excitement and wonder of each pink dawn that blossomed against the sky's blank tapestry was enough to send chills down his spine just at the thought, for each day since that fateful day of encounter with Hallowstar Garnetbone had met someone new, done something unknown, proved himself to those around him more than he ever knew he could have. It was beautiful, he saw so much poetry in his new, clan-oriented life and it brought a smile to his broad, handsome maw now. The tom simply adored the thought of coming into camp each evening to his very own nest, feeling the heat of others' pelts around him, summoning sweet dreams of new friendship and forgotten lost loves.

Now, stepping through the very skirts of his clan's territory, the albino warrior stopped and pricked his ears. In turn, he picked up the various noises of the forest, muted now in the freshly fallen snow. Before him, button-like hoof-prints of a deer that must have passed during the night sprawled out, crossing gingerly into VertigoClan's land. Pride spread a comforting warmth through his heavyset frame as he realized he could acknowledge each clan's scent instantly now, as he had struggled so fiercely before. No, now the musky, bovine odors of VertigoClan reached his nose with something like familiarity and he felt his hackles fighting the urge to rise. The constant presence of others never far away still sent an itch under his fur, this closeness was something he could never quite grasp.

The sharp screams of a passing bird brought his gaze skyward, ears flat against the nape of his neck. Despite his thick, woolen white coat, Garnetbone uttered a soft "Brr." But the tremors that passed under his skin weren't from the temperature, but a smear of blood on black that flashed across his vision while he gazed at the silver-smudged sky. He cringed, willing the images to disappear forever, but it was his first real battle. Of course he had fought before, but never with that desperation, never with that ferocity, and never before had he claimed a life like that. It was scarring, awful, terrible, but it made him swoon with pride and a giddy joy as well, and in turn this melted away into guilt. Positive feelings after such a traumatic event were unfounded, ridiculous even, and Garnetbone had no right in acknowledging them. Did he? He was confused, conflicted in the midst of conflict. Of course he understood that the murder he committed was exactly what gained him his rightful place in CelestialClan, and that the tom whose life he had taken was a terribly sinful fiend, and the praise in which he earned after Hallowstar watched him fight was enough to induce glee in anycat, but still he knew that fighting would never truly solve problems. It was merely fighting fire with fire.

All he knew for certain now was that he was happy where he was, and that he hoped to never encounter another battle like that. Still, while thinking this, Garnetbone knew that should the opportunity to defend his new home rise once more, he would seize the chance without hesitation. Anything to prove his worth, he gain more respect, to earn more friends. The love of his clanmates was worth any cost. Nevertheless, he was currently embracing the sweet moment of solitude now, away from camp and on break from patrol duties. Jumping so quickly from a life alone to the bustle of clan living was a bit too much at times, thus he found himself silently gazing with his ruby lights into VertigoClan's dense woodland.

ooc// WOW THIS SUCKS anyway yep have at it lillers.

[lily ♫]

Time passed quickly as your clanmates tore away into groups, splitting the entirety of the Clan into odd halves. Lilythorn and Pyrestar were at odds with each other, muttering behind each other's backs and plotting ways to recruit members of the opposite gang to follow them instead. Ever since the death of Lynxstar and the recovery of those strong enough to outlast the sickness, things had been interesting, but drama really wasn't her cup of tea at the moment. Drama was for those that were young and in love, chasing after one another and desperately jumping through hoops to win one's attention. Damn, how she missed it all!

Of course, Flamingarrow could easily begin to dance and put on a metaphorical show for the toms in VertigoClan, but not a single tom plucked at her heart's well-protected strings. Chasmriver had, but she doubted it was anything but passion and lust that they had possessed for each other. There had never been a relationship, not even much of a courtship. Just a mutual punishment and an absence that made his heart grow fonder for the little girl who had always followed him around. And, the worst part was, she'd never stopped, right up until the day he died. But that was moons ago now, and Flamingarrow had moved on, still stopping to mourn the loss of his sister, him, and their shared family. Now, as she looked back on it all, a smile spread across the bright ginger tabby's face. She'd learned a lot and experienced a lot, and she'd have her time to shine one of these days.

Her paws padded forward onto the cool ground covered in a light powdery snow. Winter had set in a while ago, but the weather hadn't stricken VertigoClan too harshly yet, especially for their height in relativity to the other Clans. Soft crunches echoed her footsteps, a quiet reminder of her place in reality, among the living and not the dead. Looking up and around her with her vibrant green eyes, she took in the beautiful icicles hanging from the ends of the pine trees' needles - a picturesque sign of VertigoClan territory in mid leaf-bare. Flamingarrow was loyal to her Clan above everything, but if she hadn't lost it once she might not be handling things the way she did now. With all the Pyrestar-Lilythorn drama going on, the female preferred spending time in the territory enjoying her solitude, as to Lily's dismay, she remained at a neutral stance between the two ladies of power. Afterall, Lynxstar had been her mentor, her friend, and confidante during her younger days, and without the lynx-like leader there to guide her, she'd be lost.

Habitually checking the scents clinging to the crisp and clean wintry air as she grew closer and closer to the CelestialClan border, Flamingarrow finally noticed the odd presence of the sickeningly sweet smell of the other Clan mixed with her Clan's homey pine smell. Increasing her speed to a sprint, the young warrior drew closer to the border, careful as the snowy ground grew uneven as she came to the rockslide. A figure, white in color, would have otherwise been invisible if the snow had been a bit thicker, and stood just over the border. "Halt!

[/u]" She cried out, quickening her pace even more, but stopping a good fox-length away. "What brings you onto VertigoClan territory? Is there a patrol coming?[/u]" The female continued, going straight into a business-like behavior. Her green eyes inspected the tom from top to bottom, glancing over his build and muscles, the thickness of his fur, and then pausing on his face which was now turned her way. Her breath caught, she stumbled back a step and down onto her back legs, and her hackles rose along with the fur on the back of her neck. "Who are you?[/u]" She hissed, the matter suddenly becoming more personal as it hit closer to home. The cat before her was nearly the splitting image of Knife. Suddenly the solo female didn't feel so confident as she stood alone with a tom that triggered memories, both good and bad, and she even felt a small tremor go through her body; one of fear and a bit of excitement. Things were certainly going to get interesting for her.[/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[LYNX ♥]

garnetbone
let me be your everlasting light-
your sun when there is none

He simply couldn't help it-- his paws couldn't resist the temptation of wandering further, exploring more, the idea of getting himself lost in the still-green evergreen groves nestled among rocky outcroppings was a delightful treat he knew he would never have without negative repercussions, but why? Something Garnetbone though that perhaps he would never grasp fully was the concept of borders, barring cats of a certain lineage from cats of a different lineage to keep them from hunting on one another's 'land'? However, a squirrel living within a tree marked by VertigoClan cats could-- and would-- make its new home in a tree marked by CelestialClan cats for the next season. It was all relative. Just as the deer, Garnetbone identified it as a stag, had fled Celestial to Vertigo. Couldn't a cat simply do the same?

As he pondered this foreign idea, the enormous scarlet-eyed albino found himself edging further and further over the border, his conscience feeling nothing that would keep him away. In fact, he felt little more than curiosity as to the stag's wayward intentions. How could that fiend even dare? Crossing the border? Ha! Garnetbone chuckled to himself, a little disturbed at the ease in which he was breaking the warrior code already. However, he rationalized, it wasn't as though his intentions were ill. He followed the deer's hoofprints only a few foxlengths over the border when he froze, shock keeping him from darting back to his home. No he better stop and explain, for there was someone-- a single cat, thankfully-- approaching from the heart of VertigoClan and he wouldn't want them to think that any random old CelestialClan cat was trespassing. Surely it was best to explain he was little more than a stupid idiot who couldn't tell left from right because he was new. He understood better than most that clan cats were simply hostile without reason to those who were considered new, so playing stupid would be an easy feat to accomplish.

Still, fear flooded through his thick frame, chilling him to the bone. His deep vermilion eyes widened instinctively, expecting some terribly bear-like specimen of VertigoClan-descended brutality, therefore he experienced quite a shock when he watched a small, while well-built, brilliantly red-furred female approach him. And while hostility rolled off of her thick tabby pelt in waves, Garnetbone felt her icy, piercing green gaze catch and tug on his heart. With it she beckoned him to speak, for he hardly even heard her cruel bark form real words with which he could respond. Instead, he improvised. "Hello lady I-" He stopped short in a moment's notice, for all of a sudden her reaction to him was as noticeable as he felt his to her was. However, hers seemed far less desirable, and oh how he ached to go to her! To brush his thick pelt against her ginger fur and draw his tongue across the fur between her ears! With little more than a typically apprentice-like infatuation, Garnetbone wanted to make her his, and he wanted that now. Suddenly he was Echer again, and she was a damsel in distress. He could finally flee from his loneliness, he could find someone to spend his days with!

He shook his head. What was he thinking? This was business. He was a trespasser, and oh Hallowstar would be so disappointed when Pyrestar brought this up next Gathering, or when a VertigoClan patrol accused a Celestial one of breaking the code. "My name's Garnetbone," The big white tom meowed, as solemnly as he could manage. "Would you tell me your name if I asked?" He asked mischievously, a twinkle in his blood red gaze and the twitching of his whiskers told it as such. He wanted to go to her, say something smooth, sweep her off her paws, but he couldn't. The tom was stuck where he was, helpless against her divine appearance. She would chase him off, she would haunt him for days, they would see each other at a gathering and she wouldn't remember his name. Dolefully, Garnetbone sighed and backed up a step, "I realize I shouldn't be here, but I'm not hunting. I mean I wasn't hunting- obviously I'm not hunting right now if I'm talking to you.. ha," Awkwardly, he backed another step, gazing after her lovely face pleadingly.

[lily ♫]

Fear and curiosity battled within her as her eyes remained narrow and her expression taut. Images of blood and images of companionship tore through her head, and the female couldn't stop the flashbacks. Mostly just the words of the former alpha of MaliceClan kept echoing in her head, reminding her of the days she'd spent as his prisoner, both when she was young and when he had taken her again after she'd had Chasmriver's kits. Oh Ms. Arrow, I've missed so much, you have kits? Shaking her head, she closed her emerald eyes for a moment and sat there passively before opening them back up and staring into his crismon eyes. "Knife!

[/u]" She whispered airily, glancing away at the bit of ground diagonal from her. Her cheeks hot with shame, she stared at the tom's ivory paws so that some of the visions would leave her.

A smile couldn't help but flicker onto her maw as he called her lady. Knife had always called her girlie, so there was at least a difference in their actions so far. The way he looked at her as if his life depended on it, as she saw when she looked back up at him, gave her the shivers. What was with this tom? He terrified her and would give her nightmares and cause her to keep glancing over her shoulder all the time, but he seemed so instantly interested in her. 'What's so special about me?' She thought, just as he announced his name. Fur still bristling wildly, she was taken aback by the way he asked for her name. Flamingpaw, you are now Flamingarrow. Feel pride in yourself, and leave my sight.

Glancing back at him and holding his crimson gaze for a few seconds, she stood back up, redistributing her weight evenly onto all four paws. "My name's Flamingarrow, what's it to you, Garnetbone?" Even his name was odd, fitting more for a MaliceClan tom than a regular ol' Clan cat. But perhaps he wasn't. Flamingarrow studied him once more, her face crinkling a bit as she looked him over. Sure, the scent of CelestialClan clung to his body, but his build and fur wasn't like any other CelestialClanner she'd seen, or at least, not at gatherings.

"Well, you shouldn't be here anyway, especially since you're from CelestialClan. Even if you're not hunting.[/u]" She answered his excuses for crossing the border, which he really had none of. "You can stay for a bit, I won't tell anyone, but not for too long, alright? I can tell you're not Clanborn, so that can be your excuse. But hey, no sneaking around and absolutely no hunting.[/u]" Your appearance is already enough to give me the chills, she added silently, a slight frown. She couldn't look him straight in the eye, it was simply too much for her. But, she couldn't let him leave either. There was something about his similarities to Knife that she couldn't let him leave. And her curiosity was overpowering her fear.

ooc: actual quotes because that's the way it should be. :J[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[LYNX ♥]

garnetbone
let me be your everlasting light-
your sun when there is none

Knife? Her quiet outburst was unfounded, strange. He wasn't sure how to respond to that, for he was entirely confused on its intention. Was that even what she said? What was that? Obviously this lovely lass was quite on the end of her rope, or she wouldn't be flinging sounds at him was fear and accusation. They were little more than strangers and rivals. He was the trespasser, she the enforcer. Their relationship entailed nothing more than that, so it was odd to Garnetbone that he couldn't help wondering if she could feel the magnetism like he was. Something drew him to her, perhaps only physically. The females of CelestialClan were too vain, too dainty, too pretty for his tastes. He was lonely, scared, bored, and someone had to hold the answer, right? Of course that was rather far-fetched, but Garnetbone knew that something like he was feeling didn't only come from a simple crush.

Instead, he was drawn a step closer to her, then another. Something to help him inhale her pinewood scent, the odor of stone and cold which she surely held. Not sweet, not like roses or lilacs or mountain water such as those from his own class. There was something dangerous in her eyes, but a distinct vulnerability too. The only way Garnetbone could satiate his appetite for her presence was to keep her talking. Flamingarrow. A delightfully exotic name, something he could have never guessed a clan cat would hold. Redfur, maybe. Flareheart. Something. Never Flamingarrow. What was her past? He was itching to know now, it knawed at him in the spite her voice held, and yet she was resigning to his tresspassing instead of chasing him out. Surely she was as intrigued as he! Garnetbone took another step toward the smaller ginger female, his startling eyes taking in her cold gaze warmly.

"Curiosity of course! I'd hate to run into you at a gathering and be totally at a loss. I love the idea of running into you again." Of course that was stepping over the line, but Garnetbone wasn't exactly one for keeping secrets. His almost naive disposition kept him from being afraid to tell the truth, and while he was mature enough to know she would flee if he confessed all the love in the world for her, there was no harm in spilling his wholesome intentions anyway. Surely there was nothing dishonorable in thinking a girl was pretty? He smiled, his features a little bit shy as he peered downward, wondering what she must think of his eyes. Of course! She was unsettled because he looked like a freak, nothing more than that. Still, knowing that didn't quell his questions.

"Why such a show of mercy? I don't think I deserve anything short of being clawed and tattled on, right? Not that I'm complaining. I mean-- thank you. Still I'm just wondering what's going on in your head. Excuse me if I'm a little too forward with you lady. You're right, I'm from Trenton," He paused. "I'm not a pet, but I'm not from these parts either. I can't help it if I come off as an idiot." He met her eyes and flashed a tentative smile.

[lily ♫]

The ginger femme blinked at his comment, unable to keep her face neutral - the surprise showed upon her lovely face. Her fiery green eyes looked to him and away from him again and again; she was tentative with each motion. "I'm not one of those creeps from TempestClan, and I know you've been having problems with them lately. I'm not going to simply run you off my territory. Afterall, you probably don't know any better.

[/u]" She replied, her tone wavering as her gaze did. As he continued speaking to her, she couldn't help but peek entirely at him again. "..I can't help it if I come off as an idiot." She couldn't help but flash him a genuine smile, though it was as shy as she truly felt within. This tom was every singleone of her fears wrapped up inside a coating of sweet humor and kindness. His own smile was enough to make her stomach turn, and the ginger female didn't challenge the emotions coming over her with any special sort of regard. It was odd meeting a tom like this on the border, especially since his albino form seemed so familiar.

"Well, might as well show you the sights, huh? I really shouldn't, but y'know, I could care less right now. Our leader and our deputy are losing their minds![/u]" Flamingarrow meowed, simply making a tny bit of conversation. Turning about so that she was nose to nose with the tom, she opened her mouth to speak, but found her breath caught in her throat. His dumb smile and the way he kept looking at her had an effect over her that she'd never experienced before. Pulling back and turning to her left, she looked away at the covering of snow on the ground, all the fight out of her voice. "I..I..Don't go repeating that to anyone, okay?[/u]" The female responded, turning to look at him again. She couldn't stop glancing at him, trying to show him a bit of...what was it? Flamingarrow wasn't even sure what she was doing.

She was the sassiest gal in VertigoClan, the one who could snap at you one day and then stroll around telling stories or gossip the next. She'd kitted, fallen in love, fought for her life, and so much more. She'd seen everyone she'd loved die and grow ill. Her friends even went a bit crazy over a bit of betrayal and power. Sighing, she realized she had fallen down into a sitting position and stood back up, wary of looking to the tom again. She felt awkward, standing there, with a tom shed known for all of a few minutes, ready to show him the world and find out things about him. She wanted to know what made him look at her like that, and why she felt so uneasy and nervous. She was anxious just to find out what his story was, and if he knew Knife. That terrible creature that had showed compassion to her and taught her a different way of life than her own. Fox dung, it was so confusing! "Well.[/u]" Uttered the female before beginning to make her way toward the highest point of her territory.

ooc: apparently flamingarrow doesn't know what to do when people are nice to her LOL[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[LYNX ♥]

garnetbone
let me be your everlasting light-
your sun when there is none

She spoke, a reply hardly well-thought out, but one he relished in her dark tones regardless, despite the sharp jolt of pain that speared his heart with her words. I know you've been having problems with them... Before he could stop himself, he winced; he shied away from her and her reminder of the wraith that wouldn't cease its incessant haunting, for it seemed he couldn't escape the desperate and furious cries of battle where ever he went. While Echer, Garnetbone, had been in fights before of course, as any old "alley cat" would be, the clan's way of settling disputes was a terrible beast, a plague that sunk its wretched mold into the very depth of his thoughts, long after the conflict was over. It wasn't really over though, was it? How could it be? After all, despite the clan's seemingly satisfied retrospective view of the spar, of course everyone continued to throb with pain whenever they swore to see Jaspersun's vivid pelt on any lone stroll through the forest, and though Garnetbone had never met the young warrior, he ached for the loss nonetheless. Further yet, the next gathering would be a cold thing, more chilling, surely, than the spiteful weather around them, if only due to the tension between the two clans, licking their wounds yet. And he himself! How could he face the powerful black tom he smote? The big alabaster tom felt as though his brow was marked with a reward for his tidy capture and murder.

He was drawn painfully back to the present from his reminiscing when a rather sizable clump of snow dropped suddenly from an overhead branch, exploding upon his back. Garnetbone let out a yelp of surprise and jumped forward in his surprise, nearly bumping noses with the lovely female before him. Looking around and realizing what had just happened, the big tom laughed heartily, showing not an ounce of embarrassment but instead excitement-- winter was always a thrill, despite the chill and sorrow. In any case, he was sure the pain that had been flooding his scarlet gaze had now dissipated, drawing any of her suspicions away from him. Of course I know better His attention finally returned to her reply, and he snorted, opening his maw knowingly.

"Nevertheless, " Garnetbone meowed, "I can be held accountable for my foolery, and also you don't really gotta be from TempestClan to get nasty with another clan. I was sort of starting to think that was the way it had to be, anyway. I've certainly been trained to be quite rude to you and the like." But how could I be rude to a face like that? He almost added sweetly, but caught and reprimanded himself. Subtlety is key, chap! Instead, he simply added a silent, dumb-faced grin to punctuate his words. Girls loved idiots, didn't they? At least, that was certainly another thing he had been trained. However, he was seriously beginning to doubt that particular training, for this situation anyway. While he was certain that all females loved to be right, perhaps they didn't always go for mousebrains. Not this one, anyway, he was certain of that at least, he could simply see it in her, and hear it in her voice.

So close now, Garnetbone freely gazed down into her eyes, and saw endless moons of pain and confusion and every emotion he could imagine, creating a beautiful dance of leaf-green and emerald. No, this was no average she-cat, and could never be treated as such, for she had experienced more than most could even imagine, he saw this now. I knew there was something special about you. He sent his thoughts to her in vain; of course she wouldn't receive them. She probably just thought he was a creep staring a little too hard. But suddenly she was speaking again, and he embraced the sound, falling deeper into this infatuation with every passing moment.

"See the sights?" The CelestialClan warrior repeated rather dimly, then inwardly kicked himself, wishing he could cut the idiot stuff! For some reason, he couldn't quite get a proper grip on his thoughts standing this near to her brilliant red form, feeling the heat of her coat mingling with his.

"They are?" He suddenly felt impulsive questions rising in his throat, but he wasn't here to spy on VertigoClan! Still, Hallowstar would kill to know... What's going on in VertigoClan? And quit asking her stupid questions! Garnetbone sighed and shook his head, his frame jittery with giddy laughter.

"Please excuse me! I'm a little bit slow today I guess," He chuckled rather bluntly, shrugging while an inward battle of curiosity and loyalty exploded vehemently within him to remain hidden from this new acquaintance, "I just- showing me your territory is a rather strange offer to hear from you! That is what you're offering, right?" He backtracked, suddenly feeling the burn of embarrassment wash over him. Maybe 'seeing the sights' was some sort of ridiculous clan lingo for fighting or something-- how was he to know? He felt suddenly as though he understood nothing, was she even speaking his native tongue? Garnetbone abruptly shook his head Get a grip, she's just a she-cat!

Right. Much more calmly, he gently shook his head again, "Anyway, no can do, lady. You see, you're claiming you're not cruel, but how do I know you're not playing my heartstrings to lead me to a trap? I wouldn't stand a chance! I'd best stay close to the border, although I'll admit I'm really reluctant to go home right now." He smiled warmly, acknowledging the fact that he was indeed still coming on a bit strong. Surely she didn't mind? A little crush wasn't harming anyone! The big albino suddenly leaned back and fell upon his haunches rather ungracefully, despite the ability to move like water. He didn't mind being a little clumsy in front of her, maybe she'd think it was cute anyway. He purred softly, and looked at her from his sitting position rather innocently.

"Won't you just stay and keep me company for a few more minutes? I get pretty bored of those CelestialClan cats. All we're supposed to do in camp is preen our pretty fur." He laughed with good-nature, hoping she didn't take the statement for a lack of loyalty to his new kin. He looked at her rather expectantly, loving the agreeable nature she held toward him-- quite the opposite of what he had been at first expecting of her. Still, he saw her potential to snap, and hoped he wouldn't trigger any such negative emotions from the lovely lass.

ooc// WOW THIS IS LONG by no means should you feel the need to reply with an equally long post. xD I just like echer I guess

[lily ♫]

"No, I just thought that I'd take you to a nice secluded spot so I could have all my friends dive down from the tallest of all the pine trees and ambush you.

[/u]" She retorted, her sarcastic humor breaking through. With a short laugh she rolled her eyes, her emerald orbs meeting his crimson orbs. "I'd have thought that by now you'd be able to recognize that when a Clan cat offers something that would otherwise make them vulnerable isn't something too many would refuse. But then again, you'll probably run off and whisper all our secrets right in Hallowstar's ear.[/u]" The firey-hued femme continued, with a slight smirk crossing her maw as she continued rambling on to the charmingly kind CelestialClan warrior.

"Cruel? Well of course not, just seen my fair trade of drama in this lifetime. More than you'd even want to know. And of course, I'm tugging at all those little heartstrings, I'm the most fine vixen found in these lands. And one of the most sarcastic, because I'm absolutely not serious.[/u]" Flamingarrow kept talking, her off switch moons away, her nerves on edge for more reasons than she could count. Why was he being so damn nice? No one was nice to her. At least a fourth of the clan didn't think she deserved much respect, afterall she'd been raised and taught by the leader of a rival clan, and now she was a mateless and childless mother who led a normal existance. Why, she'd overcome so much that it simply unnerved her clanmates usually, and now this nice tom was unnerving her.

Frowning for a moment, she closed her eyes for a moment, listening to him talk back. His voice was deep,rumbling and resonating, a handsome voice to match his attractive coat. His eyes also set her on edge, but the more she looked up into his scarlet eyes the more she liked what she found within, and Flamingarrow couldn't deny that the tom was the type she could easily grow fond of, but he was a former loner and was from CelestialClan. But then again, the female didn't give a flying mouse's tail.

Her heart skipped half a beat as he spoke. He was reluctant to leave, to go back home to his new kin in CelestialClan. "I can't say I'd enjoy you leaving so soon, Garnetbone. This is the most exciting thing that's happened to me all day. And I do suppose I'll stay here, as long as you continue treating me with such gentlemanly regard.[/u]" Flamingarrow replied politely, her eyes peering at him shyly, her smile true and beautiful. With a laugh that lit up her emerald eyes as if they had suddenly caught fire, she had to use all of her restraint not to lightly paw at him affectionately or even softly headbutt him. He had a silly side too, how nice. "Oh, believe me, VertigoClan's not too much better. We're all crazy here. We're either losing our minds simply because we're confused or we're absolutely head over heels or locked in a terrible rivalry. But I do suppose that beats prissy little snots.[/u]" She sniffed the air lightly, and then her facial expression burst into an appalled face.

"Oh! Not that I meant anything like that, every Clan has its faults! Oh, I'm so sorry![/u]" She cried, standing up straight and tense, shame filling her. She'd dissed the Clan that had taken him in without probably a second thought. "Oh, I just feel terrible now![/u]" The ginger she-cat exclaimed, her eyes wide with a tiny bit of fear. Oh, what if she made him leave by being so rude? "Oh, oh, oh..[/u]" She murmured, looking to the ground and studying the bit of snow scattered about. "If you'll forgive me for such offensive comments, I promise I'll keep standing out here and talking, for it's far more superior than standing around feeling utterly useless in camp.[/u]" Flamingarrow mewed softly, glancing up at his crimson gaze anxiously, not wanting to leave and awfully terrified that she'd offended him.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[LYNX ♥]

garnetbone
let me be your everlasting light-
your sun when there is none

He still felt it resonating within him, the depth of her voice and the endless tunnel that her wide pupils formed there among the shadows cast by the heavy pine forest he had found himself shrouded within, and it struck him still, though he continued to hope it would quickly fade when he grasped the concept of his foolishness, but instead his crush flourished the more she spoke to him, her rough edges cutting him just right, and the pain didn't frustrate him in the least. For, rather than being angry at himself for falling for quickly for a cat he hardly knew, the albino warrior, despite his knewly grown roots in CelestialClan, couldn't help but allow a content purr to escape from his throat, vibrating through his whiskers where a smile formed.

His red eyes shone whilst he gazed down upon, and she spoke up at him, her voice rough and conflicted, and he could identify with these feelings, but couldn't bring himself to dislike them. Rather, he embraced it. After all, a simple border was a petty thing compared to emotions, feelings that blossomed like the prettiest of flowers. After all, a cat could only feel like this so often, couldn't they? Why would anyone waste it in an effort to preserve something to silly like an invisible line dividing two cats? Garnetbone surely couldn't grasp the concept, but felt foolish all the same. It was certainly because he was a former loner, still naive to the terms and conditions of clan life. Nevertheless, he knew what he wanted-- he knew who he wanted.

Swishing his long, feathered white tail from side to side, he gazed into the distant forest while words fell from this VertigoClan female's mouth with astonishing recklessness and foolery. He felt as if he was gripping at an icy slope, was she what she was going through as well? The thrill of meeting someone new and interesting keeping them both from keeping any trace of tact? He grinned at the thought, and turned to meet her eyes as she went on and on and on. She took a breather, and he jumped at the chance to interject, meowing thoughtfully, "Drama? Of what sort? You gotta be kidding me if you think I haven't borne witness to a hefty bit of drama myself. Girls, guys, blood and guts, you know what I mean right? Things get wild in the forest, I guess. But you'd never believe how wild things get in the city." Garnetbone chuckled to himself, shaking his head, "Citycats are all nuts. Not in the same way as clan cats though. I mean, I don't know. It's different. Different strokes for different folks, as they say." He paused for a moment and cocked his head, a light glimmering behind the bloody hue of his optics.

"Oh gosh, you'll have to excuse me because I really didn't intend to flirt so openly, but you're a fine vixen if I've ever seen one! And by that I mean you're uh, I don't know. Cute? Something like that. All you gotta do to tug this poor lad's heartstrings is give me a look with those eyes!" The tom let loose an easy laugh, hoping she didn't intend to take him too seriously, because all of the sudden he realized what an odd position he was putting himself in. Why are you flirting, Numbnuts? He berated himself inwardly, then simply laughed again, his deep tones rumbling softly. "Really, I am sorry. But what else do you expect me to say to that?" It was true, she had placed him between a rock and hard place there, but Garnetbone, not strangely, didn't mind in the least. Rather dumbstruck by his sudden bout of puppy love, he figured she could place him anywhere she wanted and he'd be cool with that. What a silly thought! Cut that out! I can't! Instead of cramming a paw further into his mouth, Garnetbone forced himself into a moment of brief silence, He hoped he was sending her brainwaves to go on and speak again, and his hoped were granted, and then some.

Her words, that coy smile, it was all too much for him. He managed to keep from shouting with glee, She was flirting back! "Gentlemanly regard huh? Well you just give me a good bite if I slip up then! I'll do my best though, Flamingarrow." The tom saluted with grandeur, using his tail to flourish across his brow almost childishly, and while he gave a silly act for her, he was paying attention to little more than the taste of her name on his tongue. Then all of the sudden, she practically was crumbling beneath her own harsh words, directed at his kin nonetheless!

He almost felt a bit of frustration rising up in his throat like bile when she said it, prissy litttle snots. But he sighed instead, letting his tail drop away from his face and snorting, wondering why she couldn't be perfect for him. But she had been raised in a clan, and clan-raised cats were trained little more than the distain toward other clans he'd become so familiar with, and for that he couldn't blame her. Of course he knew that was the way CelestialClan came off to others! "Calm down!" He yelped as she went on, making a deal and whimpering about her slip-up, "And shush your mouth!" He guffawed, baring his teeth playfully, "I can't help it if you're completely oblivious to the way we handed TempestClan their own tails, now can I? I suppose I'll just have to go ahead and allow you to think we're prissy. Oh well, I mean at least we don't have pine trees stuck up our butts about everything, right?" He purred, not bothering to apologize for his insult to her and her kin. As far as he figured, they were even now, and there was no need to lose his cool over such a silly-- and occasionally truthful-- comment.

He cocked his head then, and twitched his whiskers with curiousity brimming in his eyes. "Useless? Why so? I was under the impression everyone's useful in a clan. I mean right now I'm being pretty useless, but that's my own doing,": The tom laughed, and flicked her nose with his tailtip. Too forward? Yes. He backed a step and sat down, wondering why he wasn't on his own side of the border where he belonged.

[lily ♫]

Her posture was tall and upright as she sat prim and neat for such a tomboyish girl. Her tail swept the snow back and forth as she concentrated on other things as the kind tom spoke. "Oh, believe me, I can tell city cats are nuts.

[/u]" She purred, rolling her eyes with a grin upon her maw after first meeting his crimson gaze. Her emerald lights danced with amusement as she gestured to him with her front right paw, her nose furrowing with a bit of glee. When he mentioned flirting, her face grew hot, and if her fur had been a lighter, paler ginger and much much thinner in these wintry conditions a pinkish glow might have added to her otherwise already firey pelt.

Flamingarrow just had to look away, her sudden shyness returning. Cute? Had any cat ever given her such a compliment in all of her days? Sure, Knife had called her many stupid names and Chasmriver had claimed her as one of his girls, but neither of the toms had meant anything by it. Dragging her paw back and forth in the light dusting of crystal-like water forms, she flicked her gaze back up at him just as he mentioned her eyes.

She couldn't stifle a short, girlish giggle from escaping her mouth, mixing itself with a slight purr. The sheer pleasure that she'd gotten from a stranger's praise was enough to make her heart feel light and for it to skip a few beats here and there. "I'd thank you again and again, but the words wouldn't make up for how lovely ou've made me feel, Mr. Garnetbone. You're not too bad a looker yourself.[/u]" The VertigoClan femme bubbled delightedly, meeting his eyes straight on with a half-smirk half-smile.

"And if you do slip up, I'll do my best to nip gently so as to not harm your kind interior, not to mention cause you pain. I can't even dream of it right this instant.[/u]" Replied the ginger female charmingly, her polite smile sweeter than ever. With a more mysterious smirk slipping across her face, she narrowed her eyes slightly and in a joking tone added, "Perhaps some of us like the feel of prickly pine needles shoved up our rear-ends.[/u]" Her eyes twinkled like the stars did when the moon was hidden behind a cloud - as if they owned the night sky alone with their individual brilliance rather than supporting the one radiant entity like a low note harmony to a soprano singer's top notes and underpainting to an artist's brightest colors and shading.

It was so nice to lose herself within a conversation with a kind, gentle soul. It was something entirely new to her, and she felt silly for being fearful of him at first. "No offense, but your looks put me off at first. But, that's a story for another day. If you'd be a dear and see me again, of course.[/u]" The female spoke the last sentence tentatively, unsure of what he might say, if he'd be offended that she'd so thoroughly enjoyed his company. "I've loved talking with you, Garnetbone.[/u]" She admitted, her eyes avoiding his for a heartbeat before beaming into them steadily, accompanied by her unique little smile.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[LYNX ♥]

garnetbone
let me be your everlasting light-
your sun when there is none

A light peal of laughter erupted from his maw as he threw back, delighted by her very presense, perhaps. It was even better to see her melt into his paws before his very eyes, to watch her walls come tumbling down like a destruction zone as she let him in, like old friends meeting again after many moons of passing. It was a strange sensation, but he would be lying if he said he hadn't felt it before. Of course! It was, perhaps, his one true gift, his niche in the feral world-- getting others to spill, to open up to him at his onslaught of unfounded kindness, though of course it wasn't quite unfounded in this case, as he definitely had a motive, if honorable one, in getting this fiesty lass to want his company. Nevertheless, others clung to him because he was good at being sweet, but Garnetbone surely could never acknowledge this.

"Hey!" He snapped playfully, casting her a 'meaningful' glare as he scowled with an exaggerated pout, "Only I can insult my fellow cityslickers, you know. I've been around 'em! You haven't even got a clue how crazy they get. It's the upwalkers, though. I'm telling you! Living around those fluff-for-brains really does a number on ya, seriously." He broke into a soft giggle, shrugging carelessly, "Not that it's so bad. You deal with every brand of feline in the world outside of clans, and it made me tough! Really! Just not your kind of tough really. A different kind. The kind that's useful in the world outside here more than this silly 'hate thy neighbor' stuff you guys have been preaching to me." He paused, noted that he was literally just babbling to retain her precious attention, then satisfied with this realization, went on with this thought. "I mean really. Look at us! Look how swimmingly we're getting along now! You see I'm a nice kind of fellow, you're a nice kinda lass. What's it matter whose forest we were born in? I know I can't change the warrior code, but I desperately wish I could." He sighed, and he shrugged, then undertsanding he sounded completely insane to someone raised in a clan all her life. "Hold on before you start calling me crazy again," The former-rogue smiled encouragingly, hoping she could stretch her mind to see where he was coming from in all his nattering.

"A border is a completely, one hundred percent intangible thing. That's all. I just, in all my ignorance, don't get why it's gotta be treated like a brick wall made out of, out of, of poison!" Garnetbone cried at last, his tail lashing with the passion of this as it dawned on him that he and this lovely new acquaintence of his could never be more than that-- acquaintences. It hurt him, and he wanted to run off and reconsider his priorities, perhaps find a CelestialClan lady to occupy his mind, because he knew himself well enough now to understand he wouldn't be able to get lovely little Flamingarrow out of his thoughts now that she was there. However, he was snapped back to the short time he did have with her by her sweet voice cutting into his despairing thoughts, where she captured his heart in one fell swoop.

"Awww," He purred, shamelessly smitten. But of course, he was caught completely off guard by her clumsy 'wit'. "You were just the most precious thing until you said that!" He made a sour face, shaking his head in mock disgust, "That actually sounds like the world's worst sensation but I mean, to each their own. He laughed, good-natured as he was, and made a gallant bow, returning her sweet words silently, until he piped up with a dumbstruck "Yeah, me too." He was busy gazing at her pretty and yet delightfully tough features, her visage thrilling him everytime he turned his vivid gaze upon her. "Oh! I mean yeah of course, I've loved meeting you too Flamingarrow. You're really a delight. I can see us being f-friends, you know." In hindsight, it baffled him the way he stumbled over the word 'friend', perhaps because in that moment he was so infatuated that he wanted so much more from her than that, but reality jolted him into realizing that CelestialClan was his home, and anything past friendship with her, even if she was in favor, would never be permitted. Friends it was, then.

"But you know, we ought to be getting back...." The big albino fellow meowed reluctantly, blinking the thick emotion out of his eyes. "I want to see you again though. I know that sounds so forward but gosh, I can't put it any other way. I'm enchanted, you're neat. I mean more than that. You've got stories in your eyes, it makes me wanna learn all about you-- I can tell you've got more tales to tell than most three times your age, and that fascinates me. I-I think I do too." He murmured, looking down and away from her scrutiny. "I sound like a kitten when I say it, but I really just wanna trade stories." He laughed, flicking his tail and finally looking back up at her, cocking his head innocently. Of course he had been openly flirting earlier, but his interest was earnest-- it grew past adoration for her looks, deep into a hunch he had about her. She was something special, a little box of tales that he wanted nothing more than to open up.