When the shadows stand alone (Honey, open)

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Sometimes a good deed was just that, a good deed. Honeyrain wanted Ashnight to be open with someone and if he was willing to help her then he could take some help in return. Satisfied with Ashnight's acceptance of letting her groom him, Honeyrain moved from his shoulder to his neck. As he asked about her fear she paused in her en devour and thought about it. She had never had a bad encounter...well there was the one time as a kit that she fell into a pond of sorts and lost sight of what was up and down.

"Part of it stems from falling into a pond as a kit. I couldn't breathe and couldn't find my way out. I was very stubborn and didn't like that something bested me. On top of that it's not like climbing. Climbing you can see everything. Or at least get an idea about it." Honeyrain took a big breath of crisp air to calm herself. One, the water talk was starting to creep into her chest, and two, being close to Ashnight made her feel...alive. "With the water you can't see the bottom. You don't know what it's hiding and it can change on a dime when it's in larger amounts than this." By "this" she swept her tail toward the Heated Pool. It was enclosed and forced to stay in one place. Still, she didn't trust it all too much. Turning her amberish gaze to Ashnight she gave him a small smile. "What about you? Any fears?"

[ℓυиαя]

The grey tom almost purred in content as she began grooming his neck but caught himself at the last minute. His ears perked up as she began talking and he listened to her silently as she talked, he was good at that. He had a lot of practice. When she finished Ashnight didn't say anything for a while, was just content in her presence. Finally he said, "Understandable". He paused, many thoughts running through his mind. "I'm not so much scared as careful. I-" he breathed in and then out. "Everything I do I do for a reason, my training, my stealth, my hunting skills, all centered around my injury. I couldn't fight as I should have so I had to come up with something else. Something that worked for me." His tail started moving before he stopped it with a halt. "And I became the best at it because I had to. I think that's how you have to look at swimming." He smiled at her gently, "you'll see".


Damn, he'd never told anybody anything like that before. It was dangerous for someone to know how he worked. but he couldn't make himself care at the moment, he grinned "don't tell anyone I talk kay?"

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She nodded in understanding, not feeling the need to fill the space with empty words. As Ashnight mentioned swimming, Honeyrain looked to the Heated Pool and sighed. "I guess overcoming fears is part of being a warrior." She more said the sentence under her breath. The ex-loner knew what she was signing up for when she entered TalonClan as an apprentice. She wasn't very old but understood the privileges and the sacrifices that she would be gaining.  This must have been one of them. Overcoming fears that would generally hinder a cat in preforming their duties. 

At Ashnight's request the feline laughed. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it! Besides, it's kind of nice to have that to myself." She let a warm purr fill her throat and shook out her pelt, giving a small "Brrr!" The cold was setting into her bones, it was about time to move around in her mind. "Maybe we should hunt a little? Nothing wrong with bringing more food back. And hey, perhaps I can learn some of that silent talk." Honeyrain wasn't against trying something new, however she knew that taking silence as her form of communication wasn't for her. It was admirable, but not her cup of tea.

[ℓυиαя]

The grey tom cocked his head to hear the words muttered under her breath. She was right, it was part of being a warrior, hell, he'd had to do it. Getting into a fight the first time had been terrifying as he had been paranoid his leg would give him a way or would provide a weakness. In the end, his mindset had provided an advantage to him, cool calm confidence and a deadly silence that played mind games with many a warrior. Getting to his feet, Ashnight stretched and shook out his stiff hind leg, making a noise low in his throat to indicate his approval. "That's funny," he said with grin, "I don't peg you as the silent type". Turning into the direction of the light breeze, Ashnight opened his mouth to take in the surrounding scents. "How's your hunting?"

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"Hey!" Laughing Honeyrain shoved on Ashnight's shoulder with her forepaws. "I can be quiet when it's needed." Opening her mouth to scent the air around them she figured they'd have to move into the undergrowth a bit to catch anything worthwhile. Or anything at all for that matter. Walking away from the Heated Pool she chuckled over her shoulder, "Much better than my swimming!" before she crouched under a bush. Slowing her breathing the she-cat held extremely still, listening. She was hoping the warm waters would coax some prey out of hiding. 

Ears twitching this way and that she heard some birds flitting about above them and then heard some rustling to the left of her. A water fowl poked its head from the brush, checking the safety it thought it had. As it withdrew Honeyrain paused, waiting for Ashnight's move before making her own.

[ℓυиαя]

Ashnight found himself relishing her contact more than he had ever relished contact from another - if he ever had. He was generally never there for anyone to brush up on him anyway. Chuckling at her light hearted comment, he shook his head and crept further into the undergrowth after her, ending up a few tail lengths away to her right, crouched beside a tree. Mouth parted, he scented and heard his prey, a thrush searching desperately along the hardened ground, its movement clipped and panicked. Licking his lips, Ashnight crept forward, belly almost touching the ground. This is when he was thankful for leafbare, no crispy leaves on the ground and a solid base that he could stalk upon. Drawing back positioned downwind of the thrush, the grey top leapt and landed squarely on the little bird, feeling it thrash beneath his paws. Killing it with a swift bite to the neck he had to stop himself from devouring it right there, the clan needed it more than he. Lifting his head, he turned around quietly to watch Honeyrain and the waterfowl intently. 


>>hehe Ashrain

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ooc;; haha! oops! fixed xD


ic;; Golden eyes stalked the creatures movements as it made its way slowly from the underbrush. Crawling forward nothing moved except her silent paws. Judging the distance between her and the prey Honeyrain knew what she would have to do in order to succeed. Without a moments hesitation the honey colored feline jumped over the bushes and once her paws hit the ground she was instantly in another graceful arc. Paws outstretched the water fowl didn't have much time to try and escape. Colliding with the creature she rolled and came out on top the bird, teeth clamping on its neck. 

"Got it!" Honeyrain called out quietly and stood, looking for Ashnight. "Should we keep going or head back to camp?" Picking up her prey she had to rely on scent in order to find the tom. Weaving the plants she set her prey next to Ashnight's and gave him a warm smile. It had turned out to be a fairly good evening. 

[ℓυиαя]

Starclan she's beautiful, Ashnight thought to himself as she drew closer to him, her kill still fresh in her mouth, her honey pelt catching the light.  He had heard her words but they took a while to register, his thoughts on other things like how knew she was also close to Deadfoot. Ashnight also held the other tom in high regard, but even so, he would find it hard if Deadfoot was the lucky one. Shaking his head to clear it and his eyes only leaving hers for a brief second, the grey tom cleared his throat. Starclan, what had she just said? Oh thats right. "We should probably head back," he sounded less than happy about that and it was evident in his rough voice. but they probably should, the sun was starting to set and this food would at least feed one or two hungry cats in the clan this evening. but how he wished his time with her didn't have to end. A thought flashed through his head and it slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it. "I've really enjoyed today Honeyrain, I've never wanted to spend time with someone like this before, talk like I want to with you. You make me-" Realising what he'd just said he snapped his mouth shut and looked away from her slowly, annoyed with himself. What was wrong with him, one moment he doesn't talk at all and the next he's expressing feeling?! Starclan...

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The golden feline felt her skin warm as Ashnight looked at her. There was something about his stare that...made her feel light. After she had asked her question it took the tom a moment to respond. Tilting her head to the side in question she almost giggled when he responded, until she actually heard what he had said. As the words came spilling from his mouth, Honeyrain felt her paws tingle. Was he just about to say something that defined what he was feeling? 

"I make you...what?" Her voice was soft, kind. She felt her heart beating a little faster with the anticipation. In that moment, that breath of air, she didn't think about Deadfoot. She wasn't thinking about the kills they each had that needed to go back to camp and she sure as hell wasn't thinking about the clan at all. The warrior found herself needing to hear what he had to say. The need was almost like a gnawing hunger that stayed dulled if you kept yourself busy enough but never truly went away unless it was satisfied. Honeyrain almost held her breath refusing to utter a word and break whatever spell was over Ashnight that made him talk so freely. 

[ℓυиαя]

Hoping she was going to drop the subject and not chase the sentence he had left hanging, Ashnight's face fell. Starclan... why did she have to ask him that voice, the soft kind one he couldn't resist.. Groaning inwardly, Ashnight couldn't help thinking that he was better to keep his mouth shut. Too late now. Shifting his gaze back to the golden coloured she cat, his tail began to flick in an annoyed fashion, angry at himself for being cornered. "I... Foxdung, Honeyrain.." Sheathing and unsheathing his claws in the dirt beneath his paws, the grey tom was tense and uncomfortable, not for being around her but for sharing.... feelings. He shuddered to himself, oh well here went nothing. "Alive. You make me feel alive ok? I don't want to be quiet around you, I don't want to be alone around you." Watching her with glowing eyes he added jokingly on the end to take away from his un-comfortableness, "Plus, you can actually make me talk." his voice while still gruff with non use had warmed up over the afternoon and had melted into a rich timbre. He fidgeted under her gaze, though keeping it to his tail... mostly.

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Honeyrain felt a purr leave her throat before she could stop it. In fact, she never had a notion to even try. Touching Ashnight with her tail she let it linger as she looked away from his gaze. How could she even return that? She did in fact feel awake around Ashnight and felt as if she was walking on air, but she couldn't exactly trust herself. How did she know if she actually liked him? Before she said anything flashes of her brother, Brax looking broken and leveled to nothing, stopped her. She didn't think it would appropriate to say too much right now. She had to be sure Ashnight was actually something to her. 

"Ashnight..." She sounded tender as she returned the tom's gaze. "You make me feel wonderful. Today has been an exceptional day." She didn't close him out but didn't let him come closer either. It wasn't a cold shoulder just a precaution. "Shall we?" Coming to her paws, Honeyrain reached for her prey after briefly touching her nose to his shoulder. Hoping she didn't mess anything up with Ashnight she gave him the most guarded, softest look she possibly could. 

[ℓυиαя]

He watched her withdraw from him, maybe not intentionally but it was there. The way she was trying to politely not hurt his feelings stung him, made him feel pathetic. That's why we don't talk about feelings idiot, she doesn't like you like that and now you've ruined any chance you could have potentially had. The light in his golden eyes faded and he sheathed his claws sharply looking away from her. Her touches burnt his pelt and he shook his head, trying to hide the hurt in his eyes. Settling a mask over his handsome features, Ashnight cleared his throat arruptly and when he met her eyes again they were cool and professional, not unwelcoming but distanced, to protect himself. He'd need it for when she announced Deadfoot as her mate. "Don't try to soften the fall Honeyrain," he said in his usual clipped raw voice. There was a softness there that he couldn't help. He was a mess when it came to her. He'd always look out for her from the shadows even when she chose a mate and settled down. She had a place in his life no one would ever replace. He didn't think she realised that. Picking up his kill, he indicated with his tail that they should head off, no doubt she'd be wanting to head back to Deadfoot. He was one lucky tom. Of course Honeyrain would be the only one to see his emotion on this matter and even she would see no more. She had politely made it clear where she stood and he wouldn't fight her on that. She didn't deserve that, she didn't deserve feeling bad for someone elses feelings. He'd just be his normal self. 

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As Ashnight collected himself and put a wall, a wall she was certain, and then said, "Don't try and soften the fall Honeyrain" .  Wait, what? She was confused by what just happened. She tried explaining she liked him she was just trying to make sure they could both remain happy together. She didn't move when Ashnight turned away back to camp. Her voice stuck thickly in her throat like an un-chewed bite of prey. "W-wait!" Honeyrain wasn't too sure what she was going to say, but she wanted to make sure he would actually stop. This wasn't what she had in mind, not at all! She did in fact like Ashnight...Starclan she was bad at this. Her eyes shone with determination. No. He didn't get to walk off like that. 
"Ashnight!" Yelling at the black tom her tail lashed in anger, cutting through the thickness that had formed around the two. "You don't get to just walk away like that and write me off." Clipped and feeling a fire burn in her chest, Honeyrain made no move to come near him. 

[ℓυиαя]

He stopped at her 'wait' and turned slowly at her angry words. His gold eyes held no fear just curiosity at what she wanted to say and his tail moved in a tick tock movement behind him as he placed his kill back on the hard ground. Taking a deep breath, his calm to her fire, the grey tom spoke softly, his gruff voice patient and imploring. "You think I've written you off? Trust me... that's the last thing I want to do." He watched her carefully, wondering why she was angry. She had tried telling him how she felt and he had gotten the message, loud and clear. "Look I'm sorry if I upset you, I was just giving you space. I don't understand why you're angry."

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"I don't understand why you tell me something like that then when I tell you how I feel you tell me to not soften the fall?" She ran her words together as her heart pounded. What in the world was that about?! It's not like she was rejecting him! "I don't know what confused you, but my being cautious is no need for you to slink off as if I've laughed in your face." Skin burning beneath her pelt, Honeyrain wondered if she'd flown off the handle. She didn't think she was crazy, she was just vulnerableand that scared her. This whole situation scared her. Liking other cats on this level, she was not going to say love. That was too soon, but she did care for Ashnight more than she had cared for another tom. She was certain of that. 

"What in StarClan did you think I meant when I said you made me feel wonderful?" Her voice wasn't as clipped this time. It didn't rise with heated tones and it sure wasn't dismissive. Feeling almost drained from her flash of anger Honeyrain's tail dropped and she let out a small sigh.