Post by Dragon on Oct 7, 2009 22:43:38 GMT -5
Seedpelt crouched in the reeds, her warm breath set up whirls of foggy air into the air as she waited. Shadows stretched out before her, lengthening as the day steadily darkened. She could feel her paws go numb from laying low in the shallow mud with her paws immersed in the chilled water. Suppressing a shiver, her amber eyes continued to watch for any movements ahead of her. Not even a twitch of movement in the undergrowth. Fear clutched at her heart, war was descending upon her tomorrow. And if she didn’t see her dear Ratwhisker tonight, she didn’t know the next time she would be able to see him.
With quickening breath, she shifted, the reeds clacking softly together. She promised she would leave if he didn’t appear within the next few moments. The MistClan warrior tensed, but nothing happening. Letting out a heavy sigh of disdain, she turned away to leave.
“Spying?” a voice clucked in disapproval, but amusement was thick in his sly tone of voice. “I expected better of you.” A slim figured popped into view, his fur sleek and wet, and his body trembled slightly as he stood in the autumn cold. On his face was a friendly smile, but it seemed very unused on the beaten, thin face of the severe looking tom cat. The gray cat approached, amber eyes glowing with warmth.
Seedpelt whirled around, instantly recognizing the familiar face. “Oh, Ratwhisker!” She gasped in surprise. She had not at all expected to actually come, the words she had rehersed in her head all but disappeared at the sight of her mate. Over and over she had said the words, and now her mind was blank like the smooth face of a rock. All she could manage was to stumble forward on her numb paws into his damp embrace.
The roguish looking cat purred thickly, the sound muddled as he pressed his face into her golden spotted fur. A low chuckle formed from his throat, and burbled out into the cool air. “I’ve missed you. Though, it’s only been days since we saw each other.” Ratwhisker’s voice was slightly husky, and it carried an edge to it with every word. But his words were true and sincere, though they seemed to carry concern.
The MistClan warrior touched her nose to his; worry flitted across her amber eyes. She could see something was bothering the Deputy. Her tufted ear twitched as her gaze intensified, “What’s wrong?” Seedpelt asked calmly, pressed her flank against his. She could feel him shiver from his wet fur, and slowly she coaxed him under a willow tree where he could dry off.
“It’s nothing.” The SerpentClan tom cat shook his head, as if that would convince everyone this was the truth. But the way he averted his eyes, and couldn’t stop fidgeting said otherwise. He glanced nervously across the river, as if he expected a patrol to burst through the bracken, which he knew was not coming.
Seedpelt’s stare was persistent and demanding, with an idea coming to mind her expression softened. Carefully, she coiled her slim body around his neck, purring seductively into his ear, her whiskers brushing his face. Her face pressed into his neck fur, and she rubbed herself against him, smiling. “You have no need to hide things from me…” She hummed, “I just want to know…”
The warrior went rigid, his eyes locked forward as he fought for words. “Well, uh, umm, well, I guess.” Her warm body felt so nice around his neck, like the soft fur of a newborn fawn. He couldn’t resist telling her everything, but some things could be postponed. Ratwhisker nuzzled her, quivering with excitement. But he regained control of himself, and Seedpelt curled lovingly next to him, a victorious expression on her face. “I guess, with the threat of MistClan attacking us my clan has been on edge.”
Seedpelt frowned, her ears twitching. She rested her head lightly on his back, her breath ruffling his drying fur. “My clan is on edge as well, I think Willowstar’s ego has outrun her paws.” Her amber eyes rolled, while she tucked her paws beneath her white chest. She loved being curled up next to him, she felt safe and welcome in the world. After a moment of quiet thought, her body twisted slightly as she felt a twinge of life inside of her.
“Ratwhisker…” She started but she didn’t know how to follow up such a statement. She had only found out about it earlier in the day. She hadn’t even told her own Healer about the occurrence. No one would ever know who the father was, who was one to judge against her nervous mind? She remembered the moment in pristine clarity; it was almost foolish at the razor edges of the images.
* * *
For the first time in a quarter moon; the sun had actually shown through the thick over cast. The beams of golden light pierced through the slate gray clouds, like beacons of hope in a desolate battle field. Seedpelt had splayed herself across a sun-warmed stone in hope of warming herself enough to make her hunting patrol for pleasurable. Out of her half-closed eyes, she saw Moonfire crawl up on a sun kissed rock and practically collapse on the comfortable stone.
She peered over at the black and white she-cat, stifling a good natured laugh at her clanmate. “Out late, Moonfire? In search of some new gossip?” Seedpelt teased, prodding her friend with the tip of her paw.
“Don’t even talk about gossip!” Moonfire exclaimed, a flare of emotion coming across her usually indifferent features. Her tail lashed swiftly back and forth, annoyance bright in her gray eyes. “No one believes the Shrewstar and Fawnstep story.” A growl came to her voice, “They think I’m crazy and half of them were there to hear it from Fawnstep herself!” She let out an angry breath, her claws sheathing and unsheathing.
Seedpelt just shook her head, used to such outbursts right after a gathering. She had an idea that Moonfire had twisted the truth. “Well, I hope…” Then, she felt something in the core of her belly. It surprised her enough to cause her to tumble off her rock in a fit of clumsiness. She sat up quickly, her fur ruffled and disorderly. For a moment, she forgot where she was.
;
\-
The golden she-cat looked out nervously, a hidden fear shining in her amber eyes. “I… I have to go.” Seedpelt murmured, whipping around she ran out of camp, her fur bristling with anxiety. She had made her way through the sparse woodlands, the willow tendrils stroking her spine. Her breath had picked up a pace, and she gasped for it, a worrying tingling sensation crawled up her spine.
But before, her wild thoughts could get ahead of her, she leaped into a patch of reeds. Her body went rigid before she prepared herself for the long wait.
* * *
“Seedpelt?” The voice pierced her thoughts and she jerked to attention, Ratwhisker looked at her with welcoming eyes. He gave her cheek a soft lick, “Was there something you wanted to tell me?”
She blinked at him, uncertain of what to say for a terrifying moment. But, she bundled up her courage and just blurted it out. “I’m expecting kits.” Seedpelt choked, nervous and uncertain under the gaze of her mate.
His expression didn’t change; it continued to be a straight, scrunched up expression as it was taking a long time for this to contemplate. Seedpelt looked at him with wide, watering eyes. She wanted his acceptance, his consent, something other than the stony silence she was receiving. “Please… say something.” She cried. Had she made him mad? She couldn’t stand his disappointment.
Slowly, Ratwhisker stood. His fur had completely dried out now, fluffed up against the leaf-fall chill. His yellow eyes were alarmingly blank, and unreadable. He turned away from her, only fog curling in way of his breath.
Seedpelt let out a tiny gasp, coming towards him, tears running freely down her face as they had never done before. “Ratwhisker…” But her voice fell short, and she took a step away from her, eyes wide with disdain. He hated her. She knew that was it, the MistClan cat let out a choked sob, gazing at him longingly.
The slim, SerpentClan warrior put his front paws in the water, a growl rising in his throat. “This isn’t the time to bring kits into the forest. This is a time for war.” His last words were hissed, and he plunged into the black waters, swimming strongly across not even pausing to look over his shoulder. As he exited on the other side, he shook himself once before disappearing into the woods around him.
Seedpelt sat there dumbly, stung by his words. She no longer noticed the steady stream of tears running down her face. It was too much to take, and she threw her head back and let out a piercing wail that displayed her grief and sorrow at the rejection. She gazed down at her belly, whimpering before standing up. Her being was in the dirt, and a shining in her eyes was gone.
She turned and stood there for a moment, a bewildered look passing her face. But she walked into the Willow forest without doubt in her paw steps. She knew her way back to camp, and she wasn’t about to waste away grieving about something she could not change. Swallowing her sadness, she braced herself for the chaotic scene of a camp about to go to war.
With quickening breath, she shifted, the reeds clacking softly together. She promised she would leave if he didn’t appear within the next few moments. The MistClan warrior tensed, but nothing happening. Letting out a heavy sigh of disdain, she turned away to leave.
“Spying?” a voice clucked in disapproval, but amusement was thick in his sly tone of voice. “I expected better of you.” A slim figured popped into view, his fur sleek and wet, and his body trembled slightly as he stood in the autumn cold. On his face was a friendly smile, but it seemed very unused on the beaten, thin face of the severe looking tom cat. The gray cat approached, amber eyes glowing with warmth.
Seedpelt whirled around, instantly recognizing the familiar face. “Oh, Ratwhisker!” She gasped in surprise. She had not at all expected to actually come, the words she had rehersed in her head all but disappeared at the sight of her mate. Over and over she had said the words, and now her mind was blank like the smooth face of a rock. All she could manage was to stumble forward on her numb paws into his damp embrace.
The roguish looking cat purred thickly, the sound muddled as he pressed his face into her golden spotted fur. A low chuckle formed from his throat, and burbled out into the cool air. “I’ve missed you. Though, it’s only been days since we saw each other.” Ratwhisker’s voice was slightly husky, and it carried an edge to it with every word. But his words were true and sincere, though they seemed to carry concern.
The MistClan warrior touched her nose to his; worry flitted across her amber eyes. She could see something was bothering the Deputy. Her tufted ear twitched as her gaze intensified, “What’s wrong?” Seedpelt asked calmly, pressed her flank against his. She could feel him shiver from his wet fur, and slowly she coaxed him under a willow tree where he could dry off.
“It’s nothing.” The SerpentClan tom cat shook his head, as if that would convince everyone this was the truth. But the way he averted his eyes, and couldn’t stop fidgeting said otherwise. He glanced nervously across the river, as if he expected a patrol to burst through the bracken, which he knew was not coming.
Seedpelt’s stare was persistent and demanding, with an idea coming to mind her expression softened. Carefully, she coiled her slim body around his neck, purring seductively into his ear, her whiskers brushing his face. Her face pressed into his neck fur, and she rubbed herself against him, smiling. “You have no need to hide things from me…” She hummed, “I just want to know…”
The warrior went rigid, his eyes locked forward as he fought for words. “Well, uh, umm, well, I guess.” Her warm body felt so nice around his neck, like the soft fur of a newborn fawn. He couldn’t resist telling her everything, but some things could be postponed. Ratwhisker nuzzled her, quivering with excitement. But he regained control of himself, and Seedpelt curled lovingly next to him, a victorious expression on her face. “I guess, with the threat of MistClan attacking us my clan has been on edge.”
Seedpelt frowned, her ears twitching. She rested her head lightly on his back, her breath ruffling his drying fur. “My clan is on edge as well, I think Willowstar’s ego has outrun her paws.” Her amber eyes rolled, while she tucked her paws beneath her white chest. She loved being curled up next to him, she felt safe and welcome in the world. After a moment of quiet thought, her body twisted slightly as she felt a twinge of life inside of her.
“Ratwhisker…” She started but she didn’t know how to follow up such a statement. She had only found out about it earlier in the day. She hadn’t even told her own Healer about the occurrence. No one would ever know who the father was, who was one to judge against her nervous mind? She remembered the moment in pristine clarity; it was almost foolish at the razor edges of the images.
* * *
For the first time in a quarter moon; the sun had actually shown through the thick over cast. The beams of golden light pierced through the slate gray clouds, like beacons of hope in a desolate battle field. Seedpelt had splayed herself across a sun-warmed stone in hope of warming herself enough to make her hunting patrol for pleasurable. Out of her half-closed eyes, she saw Moonfire crawl up on a sun kissed rock and practically collapse on the comfortable stone.
She peered over at the black and white she-cat, stifling a good natured laugh at her clanmate. “Out late, Moonfire? In search of some new gossip?” Seedpelt teased, prodding her friend with the tip of her paw.
“Don’t even talk about gossip!” Moonfire exclaimed, a flare of emotion coming across her usually indifferent features. Her tail lashed swiftly back and forth, annoyance bright in her gray eyes. “No one believes the Shrewstar and Fawnstep story.” A growl came to her voice, “They think I’m crazy and half of them were there to hear it from Fawnstep herself!” She let out an angry breath, her claws sheathing and unsheathing.
Seedpelt just shook her head, used to such outbursts right after a gathering. She had an idea that Moonfire had twisted the truth. “Well, I hope…” Then, she felt something in the core of her belly. It surprised her enough to cause her to tumble off her rock in a fit of clumsiness. She sat up quickly, her fur ruffled and disorderly. For a moment, she forgot where she was.
;
\-
The golden she-cat looked out nervously, a hidden fear shining in her amber eyes. “I… I have to go.” Seedpelt murmured, whipping around she ran out of camp, her fur bristling with anxiety. She had made her way through the sparse woodlands, the willow tendrils stroking her spine. Her breath had picked up a pace, and she gasped for it, a worrying tingling sensation crawled up her spine.
But before, her wild thoughts could get ahead of her, she leaped into a patch of reeds. Her body went rigid before she prepared herself for the long wait.
* * *
“Seedpelt?” The voice pierced her thoughts and she jerked to attention, Ratwhisker looked at her with welcoming eyes. He gave her cheek a soft lick, “Was there something you wanted to tell me?”
She blinked at him, uncertain of what to say for a terrifying moment. But, she bundled up her courage and just blurted it out. “I’m expecting kits.” Seedpelt choked, nervous and uncertain under the gaze of her mate.
His expression didn’t change; it continued to be a straight, scrunched up expression as it was taking a long time for this to contemplate. Seedpelt looked at him with wide, watering eyes. She wanted his acceptance, his consent, something other than the stony silence she was receiving. “Please… say something.” She cried. Had she made him mad? She couldn’t stand his disappointment.
Slowly, Ratwhisker stood. His fur had completely dried out now, fluffed up against the leaf-fall chill. His yellow eyes were alarmingly blank, and unreadable. He turned away from her, only fog curling in way of his breath.
Seedpelt let out a tiny gasp, coming towards him, tears running freely down her face as they had never done before. “Ratwhisker…” But her voice fell short, and she took a step away from her, eyes wide with disdain. He hated her. She knew that was it, the MistClan cat let out a choked sob, gazing at him longingly.
The slim, SerpentClan warrior put his front paws in the water, a growl rising in his throat. “This isn’t the time to bring kits into the forest. This is a time for war.” His last words were hissed, and he plunged into the black waters, swimming strongly across not even pausing to look over his shoulder. As he exited on the other side, he shook himself once before disappearing into the woods around him.
Seedpelt sat there dumbly, stung by his words. She no longer noticed the steady stream of tears running down her face. It was too much to take, and she threw her head back and let out a piercing wail that displayed her grief and sorrow at the rejection. She gazed down at her belly, whimpering before standing up. Her being was in the dirt, and a shining in her eyes was gone.
She turned and stood there for a moment, a bewildered look passing her face. But she walked into the Willow forest without doubt in her paw steps. She knew her way back to camp, and she wasn’t about to waste away grieving about something she could not change. Swallowing her sadness, she braced herself for the chaotic scene of a camp about to go to war.
