fluorescent adolescent [open]

[LYNX ♥]

well this was... interesting. like the bad kind of interesting, and she didn't like it one bit. it was hard enough functioning sometimes with her clanmates buzzing her in her ear and expecting her to smile all the time. but now? Now her entire home was run through with complete freaking strangers! the she-cat didn't even know what to do with herself knowing that when she would want to curl up in her nest alone she wouldn't be able to get the solitude she favored so much no matter how hard she tried. even out here, supposedly alone in the forest more familiar than the back of her paw she was dodging between scent trails, doing her best not to be caught unawares by some damn tempestclan cat or something, who would wanna strike up a conversation she wouldn't know how to complete. talking with strangers was tough, especially when sometimes all she wanted was a second to herself.

glad she had, at least, made an escape from the over-crowded camp, the tabby trotted almost serenely through the sun-dappled forest. she was trying to make the best of the day of beautiful weather anyway, a pleasant surprise considering the nonstop rain that had hammered the territories for what seemed like moons. now, light filtered down and splashed upon the brown needles scattered over the loamy earth, bringing out the most brilliant greens as only summer had a way of doing. she had coaxed an easy smile onto her features at last, but it was gone in a flash to be replaced with a feeling of misgiving when a bitter scent wafted about her, signalling the presense of another nearby. her lean frame blending well between the pines, she clambered over a pile of stones as her only avoidance maneuver, hoping they wouldn't bother her.

it wasn't even that she hated the company, but the pressure of being expected to carry a decent conversation and function like a normal, happpy-to-share-tongues kind of kitty was simply not her forte, and she did her best to avoid those sorts of situations. hence the nightmare her life had become practically overnight. not to mention they were all looking at her and judging her. am I ugly? the thought popped in before she could stamp it out, and she sighed, sliding down onto her belly among the stones she had found. it wasn't really a major concern of hers, but damn it sucked to have this plethora of strangers getting their first impression, their first taste of one's being, just looking. Her fur had probably been sticking up stupid when they had arrived.

Nectarpaw let out a quiet chuckle all of the sudden, wondering what she was even hiding from, all hunched their behind a rock. gosh, how silly! she stood up and shook the dust out of her fur, not even caring, for a moment, that her pelt was indeed sticking up stupid, and leaped to the top of the rockpile, flopping down and posing majestically, pretending to be a lioness for a second before letting her head rest on her paws, long tail curled almost contently around her lean body.

[aero ❥]

Torrentwake
listen to me now, baby don't make a sound

Like any other Vertigoclan cat he wasn't happy. In a way, he was frankly pissed off. Torrentwake's low tolerance was a stabbing anger, jabbing at him every time he came across a nesting of Zephyr or Tempestclan warriors. Like pests they infested the mountainside - parasites leaching off of his clan until they sucked them dry. If Vertigoclan didn't survive the flood, it wasn't going to be because of the waters. The handsome black and white tom didn't like to share, and now easily almost a hundred cats on one territory was like a hellish nightmare to him. Hell, he couldn't even escape them in his own den! That was why he was out in the pine forest, seeking a place Vertigoclan still held to themselves.

Moving steadily through the trees, the tom couldn't stop from imagining what a flood might be like. He'd experienced flash floods before; here on the mountain they experienced that every new-leaf after the snow melted. He started there, trying to expand the damage, the destruction. The pines broken and washed away. Camp under water. The boulders like stepping stones just above the water's surface. I suppose a little sympathy wouldn't hurt. The warrior thought, feeling a little guilty about his selfishness. But no matter the tragedy of others, his clan came first, and he had to remind himself of that. Scenting the air, it was obvious he still hadn't trekked far enough. Fresh scents of Tempestclan attacked his nostrils. But another scent, too. One he knew well enough. Nectarpaw, his apprentice. She was a lost cause - hopeless as any but nice enough. No, he was just kidding himself. But sometimes he wondered where her mind lingered.

She was a fair hunter, and fast, very fast. Lithe body she probably would never be battle hardy, but Torrentwake trained her hard for such circumstances anyway. It had been a while since their last outing, but he didn't plan to make this one. He considered this an off the job...convenience to chat. Yes that sounded about right. Rounding a thistle of brambles, he caught sight of her among some rocks - her brown tabby pelt splashing color over the grey surface. She looked disheveled, hair sticking up stupidly. Amusing. "Nectarpaw!" Her brilliant green eyes were spectacular, though at the moment a little shell-shocked. The much larger warrior smiled generously, flicking his tail in a quieter greeting. "Sorry if I...startled you." He meowed, hazel eyes surveying the area. He casually leaned against a tree, his thick fur creating cushion against the rough bark. "Didn't know I'd find you out here."

[/blockquote]

[LYNX ♥]

sprawled out in a way that allowed her long legs to teeter over the verge of the boulder she had situated herself upon, nectarpaw did look indeed quite monarchistic, ruling over her little phantom world where no one existed. she wasn't playing pretend anymore though, she was twisting her slender spine in order to reach the base of her tail, where she smoothed down the ragged brown fur with her tongue and let her skinny tail flop down the rocks. moving slightly, and untwisting her corkscrew frame, the apprentice set about to patting down the pale tufts jutting out from her chest before moving on to groom other areas of her coat.

it wasn't long before she pricked her ears involuntarily, a noise behind her startling her out of her calm reverie. fear made her rigid, but a familiar scent washed over her and she settled once more, at ease when the familiarity of the visitor was confirmed when he spoke. rolling onto her back in order to peer at him upside-down, a silly grin adorned her youthful features. it was torrentwake, of course, and she was a tom she was always happy to see, regardless of her situation. he was her guidance most of the time, with her lack of parents and general distance kept between her only remaining kin, lashpaw.

"hi torrentwake," she mewed softly, almost shyly. he looked sorta radiant with his long black and white coat awash with the rare vertigoclan sunlight. his fur was soft, that she knew from battle training, and it certainly looked so at the moment. she sighed and avoided his tawny gaze, choosing instead to stare past him into the forest, as if on the lookout for strangers from those other nasty clans. he was so casual, it made her shiver a bit wistfully as she righted herself on the rock in order to look at him properly. "yeah, I didn't know I'd find me out here either," she answered frankly, "you know me, I'm not a conversationalist. I just wanna be by myself sometimes. it's hard with all those mousebrains running rampant in my home," the tabby muttered sulkily, sounding far more bitter than she had intended. "I'm sure they'll flee from pyrestar sooner or later though," she added with a playful laugh, knowing her leader had quite an unsavory effect on strangers, but it was quite amusing to watch. nectarpaw half-wished she could see the calico sneer at the other leaders, because their expressions would surely be priceless.

wondering if she ought to join her mentor on the ground or not, or if he was planning on making this into a training session (she dearly hoped not), the she-cat decided to remain on neutral ground up on her little makeshift throne. "are you escaping too? you're not half as anti-social as I am, what are you doing out here?"

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[aero ❥]

Torrentwake
listen to me now, baby don't make a sound

Torrentwake watched while the apprentice went about busily fixing her befuddled pelt - smoothly combing one tuft back down at a time. He was familiar with the labor it took to keep a fresh shine to your fur, his especially. Right now he was looking primed and clean, longer hair in all the correct places like they had a certain order. True he was meticulous about his looks, but in all honesty he was a lucky son of a bitch. Rarely did his fur 'act up', he guessed the weight kept it in check. She unfolded, uncurled rather, cheekily grinning from her awkward direction. He flicked his tail as if it were a dismissing wave, roll of his hazel eyes playful. "Hi Torrentwake," The words came quietly, in her common shy manner. For all the intelligence he seemed to possess, Torrentwake still thought she just had the jitters of being an apprentice. Her stunning eyes staring out in the forest, the tom tossing his head to sweep a few straggling hairs out of his eyes, glancing at the woods. They didn't seem like the woods he'd grown up in, the woods he knew. The other clans had brought more than met the eye - they brought a change that ravaged whatever lie in their wake. He felt powerful remorse inside him for Nectarpaw. He wasn't sure what she believed the outcome of all this would be; though he knew things could never be the same. Nectarpaw would never get to experience the life her ancestors did, the true warrior's life here in the valley. She would know something different, all the cats of the future would. And to know an age-old lifestyle would be drowned with the flood filled him with anguish. But he could never hint that to his apprentice, no he was the strong perfect warrior that moved on soundlessly. And he would keep having her see him in such light.

When she righted herself he smiled again. "Yeah, I didn't know I'd find me out here either," That makes two of us. "You know me, I'm not a conversationalist. I just wanna be by myself sometimes. it's hard with all those mousebrains running rampant in my home," He had figured that out. She was different than a lot of their clanmates, but that was okay. "If you want to be alone I can go -" He meowed, beginning to stand correct so he could leave, but then let himself fall back against the pine. He shifted, finding a more comfortable position, pelt rippling as he did so. "I'm sure they'll flee from Pyrestar sooner or later though," He joined in with a quiet chuckle as his mind grew dark. They'll flee from the water, and they'll flee from starvation, but not a hellcat of a leader. His seriousness was creeping up on him, and he decided to shake it off. Nectarpaw was good for him - light and silly. The tom was glad he'd stumbled upon her. "Are you escaping too? You're not half as anti-social as I am, what are you doing out here?" She was so frank it shocked him every time. The handsome black and white cat swatted at a lonely stone. "Well," Why did I come out here? "I guess same as you. Not that I mind our clan mates, but when a Tempestclan cat is in the nest next to you in your own den it's kinda hard to stick around camp." He laughed, shaking his head slightly. He stretched, arching his back and flexing his muscles, nearly concealed under his fur but surely there. Padding impassively over to her rock pile he pawed at some dried leaves, clearing himself a spot to lay. "Soon we're going to have their stench all over us." He groaned, dry ground under him reassuring his fears. They were only here because Vertigoclan had escaped the lake's clutches, though rain still flushed the mountainside too often. He blinked into the sunlight that dappled his resting place; hazel eyes lighting up as if someone had struck a match behind them. His coat shined as he nonchalantly propped himself up on an elbow. The attractive male brought his sweeping tail closer to him, watching out for the trail of black ants that busily marched off to and fro between the undergrowth and no doubt a concealed hole.

[LYNX ♥]

he seemed a little restless, and it brought a faint, private smile to her mouth, which quivered and quickly disappeared when he once more glanced her way. did he know he was toying with her delicate girlish feelings or was he just naturally freaking adorable? she would've liked to smack him until he answered her, but she managed to successfully contain her fit of frustration, save for a soft giggle which made her think she might be a little bit hysterical. fucking torrentwake, being so attractive and getting a poor lass all muddled! the thought only made her laugh again, but both of her paws flew to her mouth to cut herself off as she looked at him beginning to reply. he thought she was the weirdest cat in the whole clan for sure- probably the only reason he spent time with her was because he had to. that sort of suited her just fine though. it was like a garentee to see him every day and she didn't even really have to strive to keep his company. he was compliant and sweet anyway- her mentor wouldn't voice any possible distaste about her. she sighed and pricked her ears as he spoke up, "go? oh! no please don't, you know what I meant." she grinned flicking her tail dismissively at this silly notion. she went on briefly, then took to a patient silence while he managed to reply to her volley of statements and questions. well that was nice of him, wasn't it?

she felt inclined to laugh softly at his comment about tempestclan cats, bobbing her head in agreement. "yeah," she murmured her assent, but when he went on to grumbling, she shook her head with enthusiasm, and when she stopped she was dizzy, thinking she might fall off her rockpile. in front of torrentwake? that would not do! so she sat up to reprimand him playfully, "now now! I'm the grumpy one around here, I won't stand for complaining! that's my job," she purred, curling her long tail, "not only will their scent stick to us- in fact that's the least of my problems- they'll be eating all our damn prey and trying to make friends and enemies with all of us!" her unhappy groan mimicked his, then a bright grin took over her youthful features, and she met his gaze again before looking away shyly. she realized she was at a loss for words (it happened often), and didn't know where to take the conversation, so she set it down and lay again, resting her chin on her forepaws, wondering if he would stay and keep her company.

[/justify]

super short sorry I just figured you've waited a long ass time xD

[aero ❥]

Torrentwake
listen to me now, baby don't make a sound

She smiled a lot - like, a lot. But the black and white tom appreciated the fact, and it was kind of contagious. He was vain, truly, to the fact that Nectarpaw was in a sense tortured by him. Ignorant to the way he conducted himself, and how it was so very close to flirting, but not quite. To a grown she-cat his actions and words would be more mature, certainly more down to business and strong. Which might have the female warrior in a state quite like his apprentice, but for different reasons. To toms, well that's when his bad ass routine kicked in. Enough said there. The point was, Torrentwake had a very demanding personality. It demanded attention.

Torrentwake didn't pay close attention to her giggle, nor did he see her cover her mouth. He was entertained by a thrush's song from somewhere in the tress, eyes searching the branches for it. "Oh! No please don't, you know what I meant." The warrior flashed her a crooked grin, only reply a flick of his tail. Of course he'd known, but it'd been a good opportunity to tease her. "Yeah," He watched her shake her head, cocking his own like a dog. What is she doing? For a moment it looked as if she would tumble right off the rocks - but just in time she pulled it together. He sighed with relief. He didn't want to have to dive and save her, worse miss catching her and she cracked her head open. He shivered a little."Now now! I'm the grumpy one around here, I won't stand for complaining! That's my job," He held up a paw in an objection, but let it fall as she continued. "Not only will their scent stick to us- in fact that's the least of my problems- they'll be eating all our damn prey and trying to make friends and enemies with all of us!"
Torrentwake's hazel eyes widened, she spoke with passion and spunk, and with a tone (And language.) he didn't even know was in her. It brought a smile to his maw. He waited a few seconds after politely to make sure she was done.

When it looked as if she had no more to say, (Or didn't know what to say) he decided to speak. "I'd like to say I've never heard anything quite like that from you before, Nectarpaw." He meowed, a handsome, almost mischievous grin on his face as he made sure her name came out smoothly. "But I admire your...vigor. And I agree that the other clans will be somewhat - hell - a pain in the ass but we've got to lead by example I suppose." He said, standing up and patting down any straggling hairs with his tongue. Closing the short space between them, he leaned in, stretching his body to hover over the rocks. His mouth was almost right at her ear. "And, for the record, you don't seem very grumpy." His breath was hot, and as he leaned away - was that a wink? - he bumped her shoulder with his soft head, pulling away and then sitting back in his swaying dapples of sunlight like it had never happened. As if it had been just another of her silly daydreams..

S'all good! & I thought of when the hot teacher at my school was talking to me and he like smiled, put his hand on my arm, and I swear I saw him wink, and then he acted normal again. I almost died. xDD Had to make Torrent do it.

[LYNX ♥]

while she sat there, perched like a queen on a throne atop her rocks -or perhaps more like a ratty little snake stealing at attempts to sunbathe, she thought ruefully- nectarpaw peered about her, much like the tom before her was faintly observant of his surroundings, she must've picked up the habit somewhere long the line from him, though she did miss the thrush that he watched during her passionate counterargument. still, she did manage to spy the darkening sky, which didn't suit her. it was hardly past midday! she thought with dismay, realizing at once this surely meant more rotten weather. or perhaps she was simply imagining the overcast tint to the sky through the heavy foliage of needles above. clinging to that thought, she returned her attention to torrentwake, whom couldn't be left unnoticed by female eyes for long anyway.

she wondered why he reacted so fiercely to her, he seemed.... worried? she narrowed her eyes a bit suspiciously, as a faint frown creased her brow, but she wasn't to worry. nectarpaw wasn't particularly concerned about damaging her reputation around him or anything. she reminded herself again and again she didn't have a chance with him, and despite her dismay over this, it did calm her down. there wasn't pressure to be pretty or sweet or really appealing at all. she could be just as irritating and stupid as she pleased, though she'd rather he think highly of her. it doesn't matter in the long run, was her almost dejected, conclusive thought, though she liked to pretend that the silken black and white patched tom was only a bachelor still because he was waiting for her to become a warrior. she snorted at herself and then snorted again, rather ungracefully, at his reaction. "gosh! I'm ever so sorry!" she purred teasingly, curling her long tail while her eyes twinkled, "I guess you just haven't spent enough time with me off the job then have you? I don't get many chances to be passionate when you're beating me to a pulp battle training or I have to be silent when hunting." she added, as if he needed an explanaition of her apparently shocking behavior. vigor, was he picking on her? he seemed to say that with distaste, and she couldn't help but roll her big green eyes.

but suddenly he was close, too close. not close enough? her breath caught in her throat when she felt him against her ear, her eyes widened significantly. she wanted him to bite her ear gently, obviously, but that wouldn't happen. instead, he murmured something, she didn't even care to ear what, and moved away so nonchalantly. fuck this guy! he winked at her... right? she could tell her eyes were still popping out of her head at him when he smoothly created space between them again, but she didn't care. he was literally killing her she thought, because he had to know her physical attraction to him was out of control. looking down almost sheepishly, and once more gathering her wits about her, nectarpaw saw her forepaws were trembling. she'd be dreaming about that shit for weeks. at once she cast him a scowl, but it melted when she met his topaz gaze. "make any new friends yet, then?" she finally managed to ask, when her composure was good enough to speak with.

[/justify]

[aero ❥]

"I guess you just haven't spent enough time with me off the job then have you? I don't get many chances to be passionate when you're beating me to a pulp battle training or I have to be silent when hunting." The black and white tomcat flicked his tail, acknowledging the truth to her words. He chuckled at her dramatized descriptions, shrugging his broad shoulders with one of those wide grins saying 'Hey, what can I say?'. "I think it was one time I was a little extra hard on you in battle training. I gave you like...75% power. I didn't even go full out." He defended himself, giving a few licks to his longer chest fur. This was easy - the kind of relaxed conversations he normally had with his fellow warriors. This was the male being himself. Nectarpaw was just easy to talk to; a good listener and an entertaining speaker. "Maybe we can have more time like this, once in a while. I've still gotta beef you up - make you the fearless, vicious warrior you're supposed to be." He teased, unable to imagine the smaller she-cat in any form of a brute. The bright hazel depths of his eyes sparkled as they caught the light, illuminating his features for a moment before he moved out of the momentary shaft.

But then something happened. Not the loud, roaring kind of rumble, but a soft and gentle quake from his stomach made the handsome tom stir. In his dapples of light that were growing pale in the cloud cover, Torrentwake knew his sudden hunger was making a silent protest. He had come out here for peace - and a possible hunt. His belly was reminding him of it. Preoccupied with the new found and negligent to so in general, he didn't witness what the ever brief close contact had done to his apprentice. It was as if Starclan or some higher power kept him blinded from his affects. Ignorant as he was, the warrior's mind had wandered to the thought of prey. It took frequent meals to stay looking like he did, you know. When she finally began to speak, he was caught up in his thought process. Their eyes locked - and he could swear he caught the end of a scowl on her face. "Make any new friends yet, then?" Why, yes in fact. Two plump mice and a thrush I caught flying down the swollen stream. He purred inwardly at his sarcasm and pun, but then answered seriously. "I've met quite a few new cats, some of them nice, though I still haven't fancied any. What about you? I've seen plenty of foreign apprentices frolicking about."

[LYNX ♥]

she rolled her eyes a bit over-dramatically, rolling over onto her back and then lolling her tongue out of her mouth, finally closing her eyes in the throws of death. she let a moment pass by, allowing torrentwake to properly mourn for his dead apprentice before her enormous green eyes popped open and blinked, a grin flashing over her slender maw. the lean tabby female stretched out her forelegs and then slowly flopped back, right side up. "a little extra hard, pah! that's how I felt. just now, I showed you how I feel every time. gosh." she was still grinning though, showing her playful side. it was easy for the female to loosen up once she was given the chance, and now she had. torrentwake probably was looking for an out now, she thought a bit dejectedly, knowing she was a source of annoyance when she got going. however, she was pleasantly surprised to find him keeping her company, talking with her like old pals. this was nice, really nice, even despite the fact that he was ruthlessly tugging as her heartstrings with his effortlessly charming demeanor. asshole.

maybe we can have more time like this, once in a while. her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes watered when she fought back a coughing fit. clearing her throat with a brief, noncommital grunt, nectarpaw did her best to keep her cool. "yeah, uh huh." she finally managed to meow, though she was sure she was glowing, or floating, and drifting into the sky because of that. did he mean it? no maybe he was just being polite. cracking jokes, being likeable, it was just his way. he didn't really have to be sincere. she bit her lower lip until it hurt and then laughed, "yeah, you know one day I'll grind your tail into the dust old man!" she played along, flicking her whiskers with amusement. haven't 'fancied' any. was he like sending her some sort of demented freakin' signals here? that was what she was picking up, so hopelessly. before she could open her mouth and educate him about fancying someone, she caught his lovely gaze again and swallowed the reckless remark that was fighting its way out of her. no need to make things awkward. "gross. apprentices. torrentwake you know I'm like almost eleven moons, right? also I'm bad at making friends. like the worst- I thought we've been over my shitty social skills before." nectarpaw snorted, curling and uncurling her ringed brown tail. she stood and stretched out her long, slender striped frame, foolishly hoping she could tantalize him like he did to her. what a powerful feeling that must be, though she couldn't imagine him doing that to her on purpose. nectarpaw stifled another sigh.

[aero ❥]

Cocking his head slightly to follow her direction as she rolled onto the rock, he resembled a dog. Almost instantly he understood what she was doing - but she looked like a possum. They were both uncat-like, and that made him express a mrrow of laughter. Returning to silence, he admired her large eyes as they suddenly opened - reflecting him in their depths. The patched tom rolled his own hazel eyes as she grinned and spoke. "A little extra hard, pah! That's how I felt. Just now, I showed you how I feel every time. Gosh." Gosh, The warrior repeated in his head, wanting to tease her with it but held his tongue. "I didn't know you were so...delicate Nectarpaw. I'll have to treat you like the breeze does a flower; gentle." He scoffed, right ear twitching. "And then the next thing I know you'll probably be smelling like one and sprouting leaves and pedals. And your warrior name will be Nectarflower. See, I'm trying to prevent that." He knew he was being ridiculous, but it was hard not to. Plus, somehow it seemed okay to let loose. "Yeah, uh huh." Her reply to him felt strange, and he narrowed his eyes in concern. Was she alright? She did look a little weird...
Oh well. Like an annoying fly he waved the thought away. "Yeah, you know one day I'll grind your tail into the dust old man!" Torrentwake sneered, tail tip beginning to flick. He took a swipe at her as if she was in reach, unsheathed claws white and about a quarter of an inch long. "You'll never take me alive." Surprising enough he didn't say it with much joyous or sarcasm, but sounded more monotone. Matter of factly.

"Gross. Apprentices. Torrentwake you know I'm like almost eleven moons, right? Also I'm bad at making friends. Like the worst- I thought we've been over my shitty social skills before." The collective tom's tail waved a single lash as in dismissal. "I'm sorry, I forgot how old eleven moons is," He daunted, grinning. He was over two times her age. Way to make me feel ancient. "Well, young cats are easier to make friends with. And bullshit - if you acted like you are right now to everyone you'd have more friends than Tempestclan has enemies." His grin faded to a good-natured smile, one that was honest and encouraging. The tomcat watched her stretch, analyzing her. She'll be truly something one day. He shook his head a little, picturing her fully grown with a mate and kits of her own. It scared him kind of, and he banished the image from his mind. Where would he be then? A senior warrior? A father? Dead? He wanted to savor this moment forever, when they were both young and though it seemed like their world was upside down, without them knowing everything was right and looking up. When she was innocent and he was lively and strong and attractive with everything going for him. This moment when they were care-free and happy. Though she had not caused him to lust after her, Nectarpaw made the warrior appreciate her.

"You know Nectarpaw, it sounds kind of..sappy..so don't take it the wrong way, but no matter what other apprentices I have, I'll always remember you as my favorite." He looked her in the eye, completely serious. For another few minutes he was quiet, letting everything soak in. "Anyway, I'm starving. So you can accompany me for a hunt or stay rooted to that rock like the flower you are. Either way, I'm finding a nice plump wood pigeon." Almost as soon as he had come, he was back to normal and thinking his regular thoughts. Torrentwake was a true man.