T-Take a Walk? (Tagged)

[Lionhearted]

Tagged: ℓυиαя [Vineheart] 

The large, poofy dark ginger tabby swallowed. Foxsplash didn't feel nervous, but he was only anticipating what could happen if he approached her. And he was about to. 

Spotting Vineheart, he padded up to her, making sure to place his pawsteps lightly so she wouldn't think of him as loud and careless. "Hey," he said, trying to keep his voice even. "I was uh... wondering if you wanted to go on a walk. Maybe we could hunt along the way, too."

[ℓυиαя]

The sun was bright and Vineheart was glad for once to have her pelt warmed as she crossed the camp on small paws, her fur moving with her lithe gait. Ears swiveled high on her head as she nodded to clanmates passing her, either heading out on patrols, returning from them or heading for a meal from the freshkill pile. A tall, white leopard marked tom walked over to her, flicking his tail in greeting, blue eyes serious. Thornfrost stopped and Vineheart did also, her eyes intent as she listened what he had to say. Not much, just filling her in on his patrol that morning, checking in everything was going well with her new sitting role.

So far, things were going as well as expected with a clan wide Greencough epidemic and their leader absent.

"How are you feeling?" The white tom asked, that serious tone not leaving his voice.

"I'm fine, Thornfrost, honestly. I've already promised you that I will visit Mintpaw if I feel any change," Vineheart reassured calmly, well aware he was just being protective, that he was just looking out for her. He was silent for a while, looking her over, trying to read her face behind the scars that barred her eyes. "Alright then," he finally said just as another voice entered the scene. 

"Hey, I was uh... wondering if you wanted to go on a walk. Maybe we could hunt along the way, too."

Golden eyes left Thornfrost and met with Foxsplash, ears flicking in greeting. Thornfrost too met his eyes with the other tom and he was silent for a while before nodding in greeting. "Foxsplash," Vineheart greeted, eyes warming. "That sounds perfect actually. I think... I think I need a breath of fresh air." Fluffing her tail up behind her, Vineheart nodded to Thornfrost who proceeded to excuse himself and head off across the camp. Vineheart closed the distance between her and the long furred tom then, excited to leave camp for even a little while with good company. 

[Lionhearted]

"So... I know Thornfrost probably just asked you this," Foxsplash said, his voice catching momentarily in his throat. "but how are things going? With everyone getting greencough and all, and Ratstar and Sparrowleaf just leaving..." Thank StarClan I haven't gotten sick yet. "I've heard Fangstar is also idle," he said, speaking of WhisperClan, "and you and Thrushleap must be the two deputies having to run camp. You've got your work cut out for you," he chuckled.

[ℓυиαя]

The deputy walked with the older warrior, her little legs having to move faster in order to keep pace. That was not unusual though, pretty much every tom she hung out with had height on her, and Foxsplash was no different. In all honesty, Vineheart had never spent one on one time with him before, only throwing out the passing greeting or conversation however being the social cat she was, she was always up to get to know others better. 

"So... I know Thornfrost probably just asked you this, but how are things going? With everyone getting greencough and all, and Ratstar and Sparrowleaf just leaving... I've heard Fangstar is also idle, and you and Thrushleap must be the two deputies having to run camp. You've got your work cut out for you."

Of course, that seemed to be the topic of conversation these days, especially with those closest to her. She understood, she really did, about how they just wanted to check in with her and she appreciated the support but sometimes, it was nice to take her mind off things for a while. "I guess, you don't take the deputy position without accepting that one day you will have to lead the clan but this was a surprise for us all." A pause and she looked over at him with a small shake of her head.

How was she doing? Stressed, worried, flattened under the responsibility but regardless of all that she felt ok. The clan had been nothing but supportive and things were ok.

"I'm doing alright, Foxsplash thank you," she said, looking back in front of her once more. "I am well supported so that helps also." Not only that but she had grown in her position and fast. Being made deputy at barely 25 moons did that to a cat. "Anyway, how is everything with you? You're feeling ok?" Golden eyes roved to his once more, a seriousness etched to her tone.

[Lionhearted]

Foxsplash was startled for a moment. It was obvious that Vineheart didn't want to continue the topic of her well-being anymore, and so he decided to switched the subject after a brief reply. If anything, he could be the friend for relief if she ever got stressed and wanted to loosen up a bit. "I'm fine. I'm currently running from the greencough, but it's bound to catch up soon," he said, chuckling lowly. "Well, how are things going in your... outside life? You know... have anytime to check some toms out?"

[ℓυиαя]

"I'm fine. I'm currently running from the greencough, but it's bound to catch up soon," the tom answered with a low laugh.

Weren't they all?

From Vineheart's point of view it was counting down like a timer and she knew also, her time was bound to come soon. Each day she saw more and more of her clanmates become struck with the disease and they were all mostly helpless but to watch it. Lucky for them however, they had Mintpaw who Vineheart respected as a medicine cat. Throughout the outbreak her dedication had not faltered once which put them at least with a fighting chance through this. Something settled back on the deputies shoulders as she considered the epidemic that was ravaging her clan. Even strong warriors such as Sandstrike, Foxsplash and Thornfrost - they were running too. The sickness spared no one and from the way the tom laughed lowly, he was worried too.

"Well, how are things going in your... outside life? You know... have anytime to check some toms out?"

Worry etched golden eyes yet they widened at his change of topic. With everything going on, that was the last question cats were asking her and it took her by surprise. Vineheart couldn't remember the last time she had talked about such things, not since before... Wildpaw had gone missing that was for sure. Even now, moons later, when Vineheart too had lost hope of ever finding her friend, there was a heavy spot in her chest she had gotten used to. If anything, that was a question she would have thought the young tabby would have asked and certainly not a tom cat at that. A small chuckle left her, some of the worry fleeing to be replaced with a cocktail of emotions.

Did she had time to check out toms? Not check out so much as want something she couldn't have. 

"I- uh," another chuckle, one lower this time as she thought about what to say. She didn't know why she was laughing, maybe because she didn't quite know how else to react. "No, not really," she finished, eyeing the tom beside her. No way was she going to confess her feelings to a cat when the tom in question was ignorant to how she felt. Sandstrike was too busy chasing after someone else. Her feathered tail flicked out and touched his flank playfully, pushing the hurt aside for now and instead flipping his question back on him. "How about you, hmm? Have any time to check out the she cats?" Whiskers twitched and the scars on her face seemed to fade, reverting to a gentle expression and a multitude of emotions within deep eyes.

This was... fun and something she certainly hadn't done in a long time.

[Lionhearted]

Foxsplash was startled. Now was definitely not the time to tell her about his crush on her! That would make things awkward, and he didn't want to have to obey Vineheart if their relationship was strained. At least wait until Ratstar comes back, or something. "N-no," he said. "I-I ah... don't really have time, you know? With all the things to be done and stuff, I'm just... whizzing by. This is by far one of the first breaks I've gotten," he babbled. He dared to look back at her gentle expression. "So, um, is there anything exciting going on that you know about? We have to have something that cheers us up through all this miserable sickness, right?"

[ℓυиαя]

"N-no, I-I ah... don't really have time, you know? With all the things to be done and stuff, I'm just....whizzing by. This is by far one of the first breaks I've gotten."

It could have been the way in which he stuttered or the way his words jumbled together as he babbled his reply, but the deputy slowed her paws and looked at him carefully. He wasn't looking at her in this point of time and Vineheart got to really see him. She saw the strong build underneath his long coat, saw the hues of russet brown and the brilliance of his amber eyes. Most of all, she saw a strong tom... nervous? Unsure? Vineheart didn't know.

Head cocked to the side, her whiskers twitched as she looked up at him from where she padded along beside. It could simply be that he was nervous around her in her position. A lot more cats than she originally thought, had trouble treating her as they had used to. Maybe it was because how many of them had acted after her accident. However she didn't peg Foxsplash to be one such cat. Her expression as she watched him was that of a musing cat, the cogs working in her head as she tried to piece together the puzzle that was before her. She was about to ask more when he started talking again and his amber gaze met hers once more.

"So, um, is there anything exciting going on that you know about? We have to have something that cheers us up through all this miserable sickness, right?"

The change in topic stalled her answer as she pushed all thoughts of Foxsplash's crush to the back of her mind and focused on this new question. Had the same thing been asked of Ratstar, the leader might have had a different answer however amidst her friend being missing, the clan falling further into a state of unhealth and the heavy weight on her shoulders, Vineheart - usually the optimist- had nothing to fall back on. Rather than say that however, she stuck to a generic answer as to not bring him down either. "We are lucky to be in the position we are in." Yes, even with two of their high positions absent. "And I know that we are in better standings than many clans around us. That in itself is reason to be optimistic." Vineheart could only imagine the panic going on in WhisperClan right now, with the lack of any cat with medical knowledge and cats dying by the day.

There was a silence and then she continued, with a flick of rounded ears. "You must stay positive Foxsplash, both for yourself and the clan. Many cats respect you and I need strong warriors to keep the clan looking up and not at the ground."

[Lionhearted]

Foxsplash smiled tightly at her words. "You are the leader of the strong warriors, then," he chuckled. Vineheart was a dutiful and skilled cat, and he liked to admire her from afar. but talking to her was harder than he'd ever imagined. Maybe it was because he didn't know her well yet.

Well, I do know she likes Sandstrike. He breathed out through his nostrils, flickering his ears. "We have a gifted medicine cat apprentice," he finally said, unable to think of anything else. "What is the point of Ratstar going on this mission, anyway?" he inquired.

[ℓυиαя]

OOC: My apologies Lionhearted, I thought I had replied D:

Watching him for a brief moment, Vineheart had the compelling feeling that he had more to say to her but then he settled for a simple answer, paired with a tight smile. Though the question of why he had asked her out of here had crossed her mind, it reappeared harder this time, causing her whiskers to twitch and her eyes to remain on him longer than they were originally going to. Vineheart - while pining after another cat - wasn't blind. She saw beside her a strong, handsome warrior and she couldn't help but wonder what he saw when he looked at her. Did he see through the scars that marred her face to the she cat behind them, or was the title she carried too much to see through clearly?

One tom she knew, always had. but he failed to see everything else and with each moon that trickled past, he was still clouded with thoughts and feelings of another. Vineheart knew what she wanted more than anything. Someone to be there for her, someone that trusted and loved spending time with her. She wanted that desperately to be Sandstrike, but she were beginning to lose faith that it would be and was helpless but to watch it happen. When had she seen him last? When had he come to last see if the weight of it all was ok to bear?

Where was he now?

Golden eyes hardened and she finally looked away to in front of her. Foxsplash was not Sandstrike, but he was here when the other wasn't. He was caring for her, checking she was alright, looking out for her in his quiet way. How long was she going to hold on in the hopes that the sandy warrior would see her?

Lost in her thoughts and questions, she started to ask him a question until she realized that he too was speaking.

"We have a gifted medicine cat app-"

"I'm glad you're here, Foxsplash, I-" Ears drew back as she realized she had but him off, and her face softened. "I'm sorry, please continue." There, in those brief moments, she had slipped back into the she cat she had used to be more often. The friendly one that enjoyed the company of others, that was carefree and life loving. A cat that had tried her best with everyone until her confidence had been shot and she had been placed on this pedestal.

[Lionhearted]

OOC: You're fine, no worries!

Reminded me of this quote :3

"I have to admit, an unrequited love is so much better than a real one. I mean, it's perfect...

"No, I'm sorry," the russet tabby muttered, embarrassed for interrupting her. "I was just commenting on how good of a medicine cat apprentice we have." Forget the question; she'd might not answer it directly anyway. 

How did he really feel about her? Did he like in the way she liked Sandstrike? He didn't know the exact chemistry between his two comrades, but he didn't know his own with Vineheart either. There's much more beneath those scars, which each tell a story. He longed to hear all of them, but Foxsplash never had the courage to ask for such things. It sounded more like a request, and he was sure that Vineheart wouldn't want to relive some memories. 

There's good and bad moments in all of us. We just have to learn to let go of the worst ones, and cherish the best. 

He hated to request things. To him, it seemed to put more burden upon others. "Er... I'm sorry if this is taking up your time," he said, the apology spilling out before he could register that he had held it within himself the moment he asked her out. "If you want to get back to your duties, you can. but I'm also sorry for interrupting you. You were saying?" 

...as long as something is never even started, you never have to worry about it ending. It has endless potential."

~Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever

[ℓυиαя]

"No, I'm sorry, I was just commenting on how good of a medicine cat apprentice we have."

Rather than think him in the wrong like some in her position might, Vineheart stayed quiet, wanting him to continue. She had, after all, been the one to interrupt him. For a while it seemed like he wouldn't go on, that he had said all he had intended on saying but soon enough his deep voice started up again. Instead of having a confident tone however, the large tom seemed more uncertain than before.

What was it about her that made him so?

"Er... I'm sorry if this is taking up your time. If you want to get back to your duties, you can. but I'm also sorry for interrupting you. You were saying?" 

Confusion shot through her features and she looked at him once more, skirting around a puddle and continuing on her way. It was disastrous having to clean her fur in the cold of Leafbare. "What do you mean? No, this is good. Perfect actually." A small smile to show she meant it as she trotted along beside him. Did he really think he was being a hindrance? Without him she would still be in camp, her mind and body heavy, her thoughts fast and repetitive.

He was giving her the break she needed and for that...

She were grateful.

"Honestly, Foxsplash.. I'm really glad you are here. Thornfrost can keep an eye on the camp for a while." A little grin. "I think he enjoys it a bit too much." Not only that, but he liked to look out for her. Chances were that if she had said no to the offer of a walk, he would have made her go regardless. Once upon a time, one of those roles would have been filled by someone else but lately, he was either nowhere to be found or he seemed to look right through her. It hurt, badly. but maybe doing things like this more often would help. "Thank you," she continued, quieter now.

[Lionhearted]

"Thank you," she said softly. 

She had said thank you. For a moment, Foxsplash was taken aback by the sheer difference of her answer compared to what he thought she would say. Hm. A small smile graced his face, and he flattened his ears, feeling his fur grow hot. "Well, it was my pleasure," he managed, finding it hard to look at her. "For me, these small moments come by hard, too, to be honest. I'm just glad SunsetClan is running in good paws, and is prospering. We are blessed by StarClan to be where we are, even if it isn't the best time for any of us." 

He sighed. "Isn't leafbare a good mentor? It teaches us how to be strong and disciplined. If we can survive leafbare, I'm confident that we can move through anything." It was what he told his apprentices, and the kits who were uncertain at times. Now, he hoped the words would reach the deputy, if they needed to.

[ℓυиαя]

"Well, it was my pleasure. For me, these small moments come by hard, too, to be honest. I'm just glad SunsetClan is running in good paws, and is prospering. We are blessed by StarClan to be where we are, even if it isn't the best time for any of us." 

From the corner of her eye, she saw his expression succumb to a small smile - the first she had seen during their walk together. It was nice, transforming his features and chasing away the uneasiness she had sensed from him till now. Vineheart felt her body relax, feeling the sun warm her pelt and listened to the large tom as he kept her company.

How was it that the one that knew her the least, knew the most?

"Isn't leafbare a good mentor?" he went on. "It teaches us how to be strong and disciplined. If we can survive leafbare, I'm confident that we can move through anything." 

How right he was. Again. The Deputy nodded, keeping her paws moving in a pace that matched the larger of the two felines. She tried to think of something to say in answer to that, but in all honesty it were perfect, just as it was. It made her feel like what she had been telling herself these past few moons, was actually true. It cemented her thoughts and made her feel like each decision had been in the right direction. Ratstar had always been so certain, so confident. Vineheart was still trying to get there. So instead, she turned her head slightly and smiled - a soft smile.

"You know Foxsplash, you really should smile more."

[Lionhearted]

"You think so?" he said, chuckling. Foxsplash could feel his fur grow hot, and he suddenly felt self-conscious. "I mean, er, thank you. And I think your smile's very nice too." Tilting his head, he looked thoughtful for a moment. "You know, I think everyone could use smiles everyday. I guess it's everyone's duty to ensure that everyone else gets one."

Foxsplash yawned, and then quickly closed his jaws, feeling embarrassed. "Sorry. I think it's getting a bit late. Would you, um, like to share prey together at camp? I think we should get back before cats start to notice your absence."