The Race is On (Anya)

[Icestorm]

Heatherpaw tried to keep her composure waiting for Berrypaw to come. She hadn't really heard him say anything at first. She was thinking too much, telling herself to keep it together. 'What are we waiting for?' Wait, he's coming? Before she could say anything she felt his tail flick her ear, as he ran toward the Willow Tree. "Hey, no fair," she said with a small giggle. Oh its is so on, she thought to herself as she started out for him. The soft breeze against her fur made her feel exhilarated. She let out a small laugh. The soft ground beneath her feet made her feel powerful. She raced after Berrypaw, who was barely a fox-length away. I should be able to catch him at this rate. I should probably just keep pace with him. She smiled to herself. How she loved running.

Tags: Anya

[Anya]

Berrypaw looked back and that was his first mistake. His heartbeat stopped for what seemed like moons, before it raced faster than his paws. She looked beautiful. The sparkle in her eyes, the freedom in her movements -almost as if she was one with the forest. Her smile was captivating and before he realized he was about to trip over a tree root. He stumbled, and tumbled down the dip -sprawled out on the ground. "Mousebrain!" he hissed at himself getting up quickly and shaking the dirt off his pelt.

[Icestorm]

Heatherpaw closed her eyes for only a moment, taking in the sensation of running. When she opened her eyes she noticed Berrypaw looking at her. She smiled to him. What is he doing? If he doesn't look in front of him- her thoughts stopped as she watched him stumble on the ground. She tried to stop to help him, but she had been running at full speed and was heading straight for him. Oh no! She closed her eyes tightly as she prepared to hit him. 

[Anya]

Berrypaw rolled backwards as the she-cat hit him, the pair tumbling down the slope and landing in the clearing beside the Willow Tree. Tiny leaves flew about, catching rides on the breeze as the sunlight filtered through the web-like branches of the tree. Berrypaw open his eyes, which had been previously shut tight.

[Icestorm]

Heatherpaw felt herself hit Berrypaw hard, and then the ground, repeatedly. She knew they were falling now the slope toward the Willow tree. When she finally came to a stop she opened her eyes looking to Berrypaw. She couldn't help herself as she looked into his eyes to let out a laugh. This had been the most fun she had had in moons. She got up quickly with a smile and ran toward the Willow tree. I'm not losing this. She turned to him, "Well come on!"

[Anya]

"Ri-right!" he -not as gracefully as he would have liked, got up and raced after her. He was about to reach the willow tree when Heatherpaw beat him too it. He was surprised and a little annoyed, it was her fault he tripped. Well...his fault for looking...but hers for being...her!

[Icestorm]

Heatherpaw ran around the tree just for good measure of fun. She let out another laugh, she felt like a different cat. "That was fun!" She looked to Berrypaw with a smile. Why does he look like that? Did he get hurt? She looked him over. No he doesn't seem hurt. As she looked him over she could help but notice his looks more. All this time and she hadn't even given it thought, but now. She noticed his size, which was impressive even to her, and his eyes. She shook her head a little bit, clearing her thoughts. He wouldn't think of me like that, so don't do it. You can't even have a normal conversation, she told herself. Feeling a bit awkward again she looked down to her paws. 

[Anya]

Berrypaw shook off his feelings of disappointment. He'll have to face the facts. He can't win it all. He frowned once more at Heatherpaw's expression, what was she thinking?

Is she sad? Upset? Just being modest? He padded over and touched his pink nose to her shoulder. "Congratulations, guess I'm the rotten robins egg." he smiled, before turning towards the Willow Tree.

"Have you tried climbing it before?" he asked. 

[Icestorm]

Heatherpaw stiffened at the touch of  his nose. She wasn't used to others really touching her, other than her sisters and even then it was sparse. "Oh umm, thank you," she smiled to herself looking to him now, "You umm, you know you were doing pretty good though." She followed his gaze to the tree. Climb, this? I don't think so. She nervously looked to Berrypaw shaking her head no. "I umm I've only climbed a couple small oaks trees." She didn't want to admit that she fallen each time, not to him. "Have you?"

[Anya]

"I've been up and down this tree more times than I can count, it's one of my favorite pass times." he had a fondness for this old Willow Tree. It had a place of it's own in his heart. It's the tree that held his every claw mark that came down upon it's bark. The tree that he spent hours finding comfort by.

"Come on," he drew near the trunk, "I'll help you." he turned his green gaze towards her.

[Icestorm]

Heatherpaw looked up the large Willow tree with awe. I can this. If he can do it, so should I. Right? She turned her eyes back to him. This was what she had asked for so she knew there was no backing out, but that didn't mean she didn't want to. She followed his lead closer to the tree. "Umm, okay. What do I uh do first?" She looked up to the tree away from his gaze. She felt like a kit asking such a simple question, but she wanted to get this right. 

[Anya]

"Well," he stood on his powerful hind legs and sunk his claws into the soft bark, "stand like this and pull yourself up slowly." he demonstrated as he climbed up the trunk slowly.

He hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself, but when it came to climbing there were slim chances of that ever happening.

[Icestorm]

Heatherpaw watched him carefully. He made it seemed so easy. Okay. I can do this. She tried to copy what she just watched him do. She sunk her claws into the bark of the tree and pulled. She knew how to do this part well enough, even if it didn't look the best. She pulled herself up again with over confidence, or at least she had tried. Her claws had not gone into the bark like they should have. Mousedung. She tried to straighten herself out as she landed on the ground. She looked up to where she had just been, I couldnt even grab on to the bark. Getting back up, she remembered Berrypaw. Oh, no. What is he going to think of me now? He'll probably think I'm a useless kit. She let out a heavy sigh. And readied herself to climb again. I can do this. She  clung to the tree tightly. She didn't want to let go in fear of falling again.

[Anya]

He winced slightly at her fall and was about to rush down to help her but she seemed to be up and already trying once more. She's not perfect but hey, neither was I. "Try to keep your paws leveled at your shoulders, and pull up and keep your hind paws at your hip level for a good grip. Don't sink your claws in until you're positive that spot will hold." he advised.

He had already reached the lower branches, the small budding flowers tickling his nose.

[Icestorm]

Heatherpaw listened to Berrypaw. "Level paws. Got it," she said more to herself. Why is it I never tried that before? She looked to her back paws re-positioning them just like he had said. She then looked to her front paw and lowered it to her shoulder level, she turned to her other paw and raised it up to her shoulder. Her claws sunk into the tree tightly. She turned to where he had been before, but he wasn't there. Where did he go? She looked above her head. Great he is already up there. Okay lets go. She pulled herself up trying to remember what he had told her. Keep it level. She had been moving at a slow pace, but one that she was comfortable with. Keep it level. "Ahh," she let out a small yell, she had misplaced her claws and had slid down a little before her claws were able to cling to the bark. She was determined to do this. Determined to reach Berrypaw.