A Hunt for Two

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

Hazelfrost

There were so many things she hated about leaf-bare, the season of her birth and yet the season Hazelfrost loathed the most. The cold, for one, penetrating through even the most thickest pelts and nipping at sensitive noses. Icy wind that seemed to blind all in its path, stinging at its victims' eyes like claws. The shivers that seemed to accompany every breath a cat took, even when in deep sleep. It seemed as if the only way Hazelfrost could keep warm at night was by tolerating the pressing bulk of her fellows as they curled up to conserve body heat. Hazelfrost had always found that aspect distasteful, but now, as she woke up at dawn, the blue she-cat was thankful for her denmates' body heat.

What a time to be made a warrior, Hazelfrost thought scathingly, flexing her claws as she stretched luxoriously. Greenleaf would of been good, she thought dreamily as she padded towards the den opening. Maybe even newleaf... She paused as she was about to leave, then let her gaze wander to the newly named Falconcry. They hadn't talked in some time. Maybe...Hazelfrost hesitated, then padded over to him. She prodded him with a paw, then whispered, "Falconcry,do you want to go hunting with me?"

[Raccoonstar]

FALCONCRY

Falconcry shivered in his sleep. He had been dreaming about hunting in greenleaf with the newly dubbed Hazelfrost, but the leaf-bare cold had transformed his dream of green grass into one of cold snow and rain. His sleep turned light, and he became aware of all that was around him. He scented Hazelfrost near him, and she prodded his shoulder with her paw. "Falconcry, do you want to go hunting with me?" she asked. Falconcry got up, stretched his muscles, and flicked some water off of his scarred ear.
"Sure. Let's go." Falconcry purred. He padded towards the hunting grounds along with Hazelfrost. Falconcry did not feel any older than he had in his apprentice moons, but he knew that the feeling of maturity would come in due time. Falconcry was oblivious to the fact that it was leaf-bare, and hunting with friends was usually an excuse to say something private. But, as a wise warrior said long ago, "ignorance is bliss." Falconcry searched the wet hutning grounds for movement, any movement, that could signal that prey was scurrying about. He found it after a few minutes that seemed to stretch into hours. He padded silently towards it, craning his neck to see it over a dying weed. A long, but scrawny squirrel. But, it was food nonetheless, so Falconcry pounced and snapped its frail neck. He sighed. "Scrawny little creature, isn't he?" Falconcry stated, his tone showing a hint of annoyance, "At least he's food." He looked at Hazelfrost. She looked as if something was up. "Hey. Something on your mind?" Falconcry asked, expecting an honest answer.

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

Hazelfrost

Hazelfrost smiled weakly, then followed Falconcry out of the den. The camp was in a dreary state, with the fresh-kill pile dwindling and very few warriors lingering around it - most cats that had awoken were on patrol. Her thoughts wandered as they made their way towards the hunting grounds. What would she say? How would she say it? It wasn't like herself to be so distraught. It was almost like she was a different cat, a cat that hung onto anxieties that Hazelfrost had always let go of. Her brow furrowed into a troubled line. She blinked as Falconcry spoke, her lip curling in frustration. She hadn't even noticed Falconcry's pursuit of a squirrel until he had commented on it. Hazelfrost felt her pelt grow hot. "Scrawny little creature, isn't he?" Falconcry commented irritably. "At least he's food"

Yes. Food was important - no cat could live without it. Her eyes steeled. The clan needed prey to survive, and would eventually weaken if she didn't get her act together. Taking a deep breath, Hazelfrost turned her attention to the undergrowth. There was a small rustle and a mouse peeked out from underneath, its eyes bright as berries. Although it was thinner than Falconcry's squirrel, Hazelfrost's fangs glistened as her mouth watered. A few moons before she would of scoffed at such a scrawny morsel, but prey was prey, no matter how small. A pounce and a nip to the neck later, and the mouse was dead at her paws. She frowned at it piteously. It never had a chance. Just like she wouldn't have a chance with Falconcry if she didn't say something.

His voice seemed to come out of nowhere, shattering her thoughts like a shard of broken ice. "Hey. Something on your mind?"

Hazelfrost turned on Falconcry, her eyes flashing with an irritation that contrasted poorly with her following words: "Yes, something's on my mind. When we were apprentices, we agreed to be mates. Remember? We're older now, and I'm starting to have some doubts about us." Her voice quivered slightly as she said this. "Do you love me, Falconcry? Or was our vow a mistake made by two naive kits?"

[Raccoonstar]

FALCONCRY

Falconcry did not even hesitate. "When we were apprentices, I did admit my love to you, Hazelfrost. I feel exactly the same way now as I did then. I still love you with all of my heart, all of my soul, and all of my being. I will always love you in this way. Because you are just the way you are. You are Hazelfrost. And Hazelfrost is who I love." Falconcry stated warmly. He nuzzled her cold flank. "Forever and a moon." He could barely keep himself from tearing up. She had...doubts? Did this mean it was over? He never wanted that. He wanted them to be together. He nuzzled her slightly warmer flank and then backed off a couple pawsteps, as if leaving her space to answer.

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

Hazelfrost

"When we were apprentices, I did admit my love to you, Hazelfrost. I feel exactly the same way now as I did then. I still love you with all of my heart, all of my soul, and all of my being. I will always love you in this way. Because you are just the way you are. You are Hazelfrost. And Hazelfrost is who I love. Forever and a moon."

Falconcry nuzzled her flank, but Hazelfrost just stood there, as still and cold as her now frosty name suggested. Hazelfrost - Raccoonstar had picked well. But - here her stomach clenched, almost as if it was protesting - what if she didn't want to be that way? No, not what if, she knew she didn't want to be that way. Falconcry had made his feelings quite clear, and who was she to break a promise? She did love him. That was why they made the vow, right?

Falconcry pulled away, as if he wanted to give her room to think. But Hazelfrost had already made up her mind. Taking yet another deep breath, Hazelfrost brought her head up to look Falconcry in the eye. "And I love you. But," she continued, a grin flitting across her face, "both of us are going to have to work towards this. Words aren't everything. Are you willing to?"

[Raccoonstar]

FALCONCRY

Was he willing to? Falconcry laughed inwardly at the question. She should know the answer. Falconcry would do anything for her. "I am willing to do anything to keep us together. We were meant to be." Falconcry purred, mirroring Hazelfrost's grin. He had made the vow for a reason. Empty words were not something Falconcry was know for. He returned to her, nuzzling her cold frank, forgetting her cold stance when he had broken away earlier. Hazelfrost...was a perfect name for her. Falconcry...he had a small, apprenitce-maturity part of him that nagged that he would have preferred to be called "Falconheart," but Falconcry was Falconcry. And Raccoonstar had chosen well.


OOC: I would have LOVED for it to be longer, but it would have involved playing for Hazelfrost. And I hate accidentally playing others. It pisses me off (at myself?) and I hate the feeling of being pissed off.