Warmth is so hard to come by in this season (open)

[☀Dawnfeather☀]

Silver belly fur pointed up at the sky as Talonstep lay basking in the sun by the river. He had slipped out a bit before sunhigh, having already been on a patrol. No snow was falling today, and he had scrapped away what little snow there was so he could lay on a slab of rock. It was cold at first, but soon after the sun's rays kissed it, it warmed enough for him to be comfortable.

Talonstep reflected on recent events. He had only been a warrior for a few moons, but they had been great, and he was slowly finding his place in the clan. He had made friends with many fellow warriors, but he had yet to make a really good friend; no one really seemed interested in him on a romantic level either. He let out a sigh. He wished he could love some one. He wished he could be truly happy with someone.

His ears perked up as he heard the soft crunching of snow nearby. He rolled back over to his paws, neck fur rising and tail puffing up.

[kiba]

"Calm down, it's only me, Sleetstorm," the blue-gray warrior replied. Her short fur was fluffed out to keep her warm. Her blue eyes were curious, yet polite. She smiled slightly as she stared at the tom. "Its cold out here. What are you doing by the river? It's much warmer in the dens back at camp," she replied, walking over. She sat down next to him and wrapped her tail around her paws. She was a pretty she-cat. Her body was lithe and her legs were long. She had tiny paws, but inside them were deadly claws.

Unlike the tom, she hadn't really made many friends. She was often called the traitor of Stormclan, but she had been able to stay. She hadn't really talked to this tom, though. She wondered if he could be a friend. Maybe more? A small pain pierced her heart. Why was it so hard to make friends? Other cats made friends so well and yet, she was the outcast.

[☀Dawnfeather☀]

"Oh." Talonstep replied curtly. He wasn't sure how to act around this she-cat. He had only really talked to her once or twice. He didn't want to say the wrong thing. He had heard of Sleetstorm's origins, but he didn't really mind. He found no fault in any loyal cat, no matter the birth place. "To be honest, I'm sorta avoiding duties." he shrugged sheepishly. "I've been working pretty hard lately. And I figured I'd get some sun. It's suprisingly clear today." He peered at the pale blue winter sky.

"What about you? Why are you out?" He turned back toward Sleetstorm, eyes wide with curiosity. He couldn't help but notice her lithe body, and attractive blue-grey fur. What was that playing in his chest?

[kiba]

She smiled slightly at his reply. Avoiding duties? Stormclan has been working hard lately, although she didn't know why. She knew that there were extra hunting patrols. She blinked at his question. "Well, I was going to hunt by myself, but it seems like that wont happen. I kind of want to relax for a bit, anyways. I was on the dawn patrol this morning and hadn't slept since," she mewed.

She looked at the river. "So... What's your name again? I should know it, but I don't know that many cats unless they're like Blackfeather and speak out at every clan meeting," she replied, thinking about the massive black warrior. She shook her head to clear it.

[☀Dawnfeather☀]

Talonstep swept his tail beside him. "Lay down, then. The sun has warmed this rock up a bit. And I'm close enough to provide some heat if you're too cold." He felt awkward adding that last part. "Er...if you want to lie that close that is."

He was only downtrodden for a second when she didn't remember his name. It would be hard for her to learn them all, when so many didn't even want her in the clan. "Talonstep. Lovely to finally talk to you." a low purr rumbled in his chest. She seemed friendly enough.

[kiba]

She hesitated at the invitation, but then nodded. She curled up next to him. He was right, the sun had heated up the rock, if only a little. Plus he was right there. Their fur was brushing slightly. She was too nervous to get any closer than that. Clearly, she had some trust issues.

"It is nice to finally talk to you. You're not like the others in Stormclan. You don't treat me like I'm different," she replied, her blue eyes moving to look at him. She hadn't realized how handsome he was until now. She hadn't really bothered looking at him, though. She blinked and cursed herself in her mind. She couldn't get too close to someone else. They would just be like the others.

[☀Dawnfeather☀]

His pelt tingled as hers just barely brushed his. Why did he long to scoot just a little bit closer? He grew hot with embarrassment. Do I....Do I like her? He hardly even knew the cat, and he was already acting like a moonstruck rabbit. He rolled his eyes, not facing her so she didn't see.

He was angered a bit about how judgemental his clanmates were. She was a relatively friendly cat, maybe just a little shy. "As far as I'm concerned, you're a strong, loyal warrior. I don't care where you came from, so long as you're here now." Talonstep cocked his head to the side and smiled at her. He admired her bright blue eyes.

but she seemed to be holding back a little, and he wanted her to be comfortable with him. If she wasn't interested in him, she would be a good friend at least. "You know, you can relax. I'm not gonna turn around bite off your tail." he joked, playfully snapping his jaws.

[kiba]

She playfully growled. "Well, I surely hope not," she replied, although she didn't really relax. She turned over so that she was facing him and smiled slightly. She noted he was facing away from her and she saddened slightly. She flicked her tail back and forth, wondering what was up with him all of a sudden.

The grayish-blue she-cat put her head on her paws and stared out into the river again. "So, Talonstrike, were you born in Stormclan?" she asked, glancing at him curiously before looking back out to the rushing water.

[☀Dawnfeather☀]

Talonstep brightened at her playfullness. It was rather cute. He shifted so he faced her as well. He admired her once again while she wasn't looking at him. Oh boy. he thought Is this what I've been hoping for.

Doubt rose in his chest in his chest when she got his name wrong. Maybe she wasn't interested at all. He gazed out at the river too. He replied, almost solomnly. "Yeah. Born and bred." he shrugged, suddenly a bit crestfallen.

[kiba]

Suddenly she lifted her head and her fur grew hot with embarrassment. She looked at him. "I just realized I got your name wrong. I'm sorry. I'm not all that great with names, but I'll get to know it," she replied, moving a bit away so that their fur wasn't touching anymore.

She laid down again and sighed. How mouse-brain can you get? That was very embarrassing and in front of such a handsome and nice tom as well! She pinned her ears to her head and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the world. What was wrong with her? No wonder all of Stormclan didn't like her. She was a mouse-brained cat.

[☀Dawnfeather☀]

"Yeah." he replied quietly. "It's cool." Even so, he wasn't mad at her. Just...disappointed? He shook his head and shifted closer to her, even after she moved away. He smiled at her. "I'm not too upset." he lightly prodded at her again, this time more gently then playful. He leaned down and rasped his tongue lightly over her ear. "We've just met. It's alright if you don't remember," his voice rang genuinly.

[kiba]

She flinched slightly away, but relaxed as he licked her ear. "I'm sorry. I'm not good at talking to others. I'm sorry," she replied, looking at him. She examined him a little and then looked away. "I hope I haven't offended you. I don't really know how to explain it. I guess I'm just an awkward cat," she added.

[☀Dawnfeather☀]

Talonstep let out a mrrow of laughter. "You apologize too much. It's perfectly fine. You act however you feel most comfortable." He looked up at the pale winter sky. "And hey, it's only awkward if you make it awkward." He lightly brushed his tail over her side. He wanted her to be comfortable around him. Why? He wasn't too sure.

[kiba]

She shrugged. "Okay..... Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked, looking at him again. Her eyes were filled with curiosity. Her tail flicked back and forth as she waited for an answer. She could feel the brush of his fur once more. It did make her relax slightly, but she didn't know why.

[☀Dawnfeather☀]

"Why in StarClan's name would I not be?" Did she really expect him to be mean to her? Is that really the kind of treatment she was subjected to? "Hey. Listen here. If anyone's ever mean to you, you let me know." His eyes took on a serious glare. "You should never be treated badly.." He stare turned to one of sincerity.