Our life is our own (Peachblossom)

[hawkstar]

ShadowClan is a clan based on sin, at least, that's what many believe. The cold, dark pine forest with it's marshy areas, and prey consisting of amphibians and reptiles, doesn't appeal to many cats, and to them, it is a place of evil, housing a clan that will spill your blood as easily as they'll make you a treaty. The stereotype for every cat in this clan is that they are blood thirsty, evil, and deadly. It's not a farsighted claim, some cats are this way- but that can be true in any clan, no matter their past or blood lines. Kitty pets can be this way, rogues, dogs, twolegs- it cannot be pinned to one clan alone.

The sleek brown tom pondered this, perched on a fallen log, peering over the border at the neighboring ThunderClan side. It almost sparked resentment in the young warrior. He wasn't the purest cat, no cat was, no cat would ever be. Everyone had ambitions, everyone had hatred, forbidden love, lusts, or just vile, violent thoughts, and yet for all their blood history, every ShadowClan cat was a monster. He flexed his claws into the rotting wood that he was perched on, feeling them sink deep, then quickly retract, the temper that had begun to flare quickly dying. Kit's were told stories of vile ShadowClan before they knew better. They were bred to hate the dark cats- and that would just have to be accepted. He heaved a sigh, flicking his tail and jumping down from the log, the sound of his paws hitting the ground muffled by the layer of pine needled littering the ground. Resentment wouldn't help the tom in any situation- he needed a distraction, and as long as he was out here, he figured, he may as well hunt.

Turning, he scanned the area. ShadowClan didn't specialize in furry mice or feathery birds, but instead, the less appealing spectrum of prey. If he could find a couple of frogs, a lizard, and maybe a small, half starved mouse that had wandered over the border, it would feed a few cats, and in the last days of Greenleaf, prey would be a blessing for the Clan. The feast before the long, cold months of Leaf-fall and leafbare.

[Peachblossom<3]

Act as if what you do makes a difference.

It does.

::Peachblossom::

Hearing a twig snap int the distance, the little calico's ears pricked up in silent curiosity. Picking up her crow to go investigate, her tiny white paws made soft scrunching noises on the fallen leaves. Her flowing tail waved back and forth in a somewhat hypnotising manner.Emerging from the bracken and bramble bushes, she sighed as she realized it was her friend, Hawkstrike. She had been worried it was a tresspasser insead, and that always made her tremble with worry. Her yellow-cream eyes reflected the light of the sun and she smiled, placing her crow on the forest floor. "Hi Hawkstrike! How are you this fine evening?" Normally Peachblossom didn't speak this much, or this enthusiasticlly. But she was in a good mood, and liked Hawkstrike. The she-cat gave the lean brown tom a respectful lick over the ear, and entwined her tail with his. In a friendly manner, of course. The two cats had been friends since they were only kits. She sat, and gave her paws some quick licks, and pulled a thorn out of her left pad. It stung, and she mopped up the blood with her tounge. Ah well, she could cope with the pain. Smiling as bright as the sun itself, her eyes locked with her clanmate's, and they shared an understanding glance. She gestured to her crow and blushed with pride. "As you can see, I got lucky." This wasn't entirely true, however. It was true that she had gotten lucky, considering how plump the black feathered bird was. But it was also well-known throughout the clan how good a hunter the small Shadowclan she-cat truly was.

What Peachblossom was trying to say with those words was hidden well, and only her true friends could understand. She also spoke with her creamy yellow eyes. If you come back to the camp you could share with me. That is what the she-cat was trying to say, and she hoped that Hawk would pick up the hint. A small frog entered her perimiter, and she froze all her bodily functions. With one calico blur, a frog was snagged in her claws. She smiled slyly, yet another good catch. Her clan would definetly thank her for these to wonderful catched. She yawned, for the tiny cat had been hunting all day. She had even lead the hunting patrol! "Thank Starclan for giving this frog's life to our clan." She murmered, eyes closed tight. When she opened them, she stared into Hawkstrike's deep green gaze. A tingling sensation spread through her body and she blushed from nose to tail-tip. Being with her tom friend made her happy as a kit in newleaf. Her warm gaze engulfed the slender tom, and took him into her own little world.

::Peachblossom::

[hawkstar]

Hawkstrike was well aware of the she-cat's approach, pausing and turning to face her as she approached him. She was a good natured cat, and a prime example of how wrong the other clans could be in their assumption of ShadowClan's sheer evil ways. In fact, he has known Peachblossom since she was born. He had been about five moons old when she entered the nursery, and up until he became an apprentice and left to sleep in the apprentice's den, she was one of his good friends, and one of the few he spoke to, aside from his parents and sister. "I'm quite fine, Peachblossom." He meowed as she closed the distance between them, licked his ear, and twined her tail around his. Although he'd admit she was a very pretty cat, and he could also admit he had always seen her in a high manner, Hawkstrike was bad with friendships, relationships of any sort really, so he was constantly formal and mellow, even with his dear friend.

Sitting back on his haunches, he looked to the bird, nodding in approval, quite a catch in his opinion. A slight breeze stirred the black bird's downy feathers, and nearby, the ground was disturbed as a frog leaped out of the foilage- right into the she-cat's path, and with skilled percision, she expertly hooked it with her claws, the blow killing the small amphibian. He suppressed a slight mrrow of amusement at the catch. "Oh Peachblossom, my dear, I think your luck was StarClan blessing you with your hunting skills." He purred in his oh-so-charming way as she finished her little prayer and looked at him, her eyes locking with his, and an indistinguishable look filling them as she watched him. He didn't exactly make an effort to depict it, however, knowing he himself had to hunt as well. It wasn't that Hawkstrike was hollow-headed, or oblivious to this she-cat's feelings for him, he at times believed that he may have felt similar, but he was also aware to her crush on their medicine cat, Cricketleap, and he himself wasn't the best at reciprocating feelings aside from mutual camaraderie that he felt with most of his clan. Clearing his throat, he rose back up to his paws, "It would be lovely to return to camp, but even with the sun setting, I won't be pleased with myself until I can happily say I've beaten your record today and brought back a few morsels of food." He let out a slight chuckle, brushing her flank with his tail as he stood and started toward the trees, "Maybe you could join me, let me in on your secret that makes you such a wonderful hunter."

[Peachblossom<3]

Act as if what you do makes a difference.

It does.

::Peachblossom::

The small she-cat sighed, and laughed her delicate laugh that made everyone she knew smile along with her. She was quite aware how obvious her little crush on the medicine cat had reached the ears of her friend, but that feeling for Cricketleap was fading away faster and faster. A feeling for her friend was developing in it's place, and she wasn't sure how to deal with it. "Maybe you could join me, let me in on your secret that makes you such a wonderful hunter." Peachblossom smiled sweetly and nodded, agreeing to this task. She spoke in a whisper, in case any possible prey was lurking nearby. "Of course, my sweet Hawkie. You have to make sure you are facing toward the wind, so it blows your scent away from your target." She demonstrated by crouched down and she accidentaly placed her paw on Hawkstrike to steady herself. She grew as warm as a cat with fever and smiled into his eyes, her own yellow-green lobes sparkling with love. The little Shadowclanner wondered why she felt this way now for her clanmate, and not back when they were younger. It felt so....different. But it seemed to fit everything perfectly at the same time. Her tail was still entwined with his, and she didn't let go.

She let out a soft purr, which was actually quite strange for her. Hardly anyone ever heard her make the soft humming noise, and it was certianly a sign of deep affection whenever she did. The sleek brown tom seemed generally anxious to catch something, and Peachblossom wondered if he was even thinking about possible sparks between them. I wonder if he is starting to feel the same way...is that even possible? The tiny cat pondered, and blushed even redder. It was embaressing her, and she sat uprights, flicking her tail and began licking her paw anxiously. She decided maybe she should hint at something about her new feelings about him, and the way her feelings were fading about Cricketleap. She didn't want him to think that she still favored the medicine cat, that was anything but true. "So, um...I hear a she-cat has her eye on you...hear anything about it?" Turning away from his luminous green gaze, she narrowed her eyebrows. Peach thought that was the most stupid thing she had ever said in her life! She felt like smaking her face with her paw, but that would come off as strange to her crush. She decided to wait to see what he would say.

::Peachblossom::

[hawkstar]

His whiskers twitched in amusement as she ran him through the basics, face the wind, make sure it doesn't scent you, simple things that they learned nearly immediately after becoming apprentices- and Hawkstrike wasn't a shabby hunter himself, although he seemed to focus mainly on the warrior expects. He was more of a fighter than a hunter, and would typically be found on the border patrol than the hunting patrol. He felt her tail twine around his again as the two crouched side by side in a mock hunting position, when suddenly, he felt tension run through her body, from ear to tailtip, and she sat upright, and back on her haunches, hastily licking a paw and flicking her tail.

Although he showed no outwardly signs this time, his eyes held some laughter, although it faded quickly. He wasn't one of the more emotional, fun-loving cats like Peachblossom was, but he surely wasn't the brutal murderer the other clans expected from ShadowClan. He flicked his tail and righted himself, one again refocusing on the task at hand. Find prey for the clan, bring it back, finish any underlying tasks, and return to his den to repeat the day over. Was it really that simple? Eat, sleep, work, and sleep again? Not the outgoing type, that was truly it. He hardly would share tongues, or hold conversations longer than it took to convey important messages or tasks. He wasn't anti-social, just quiet and focused.

To his side, Peachblossom spoke up again, mentioning a she-cat that seemed to have her eye on him. He was humble, and not at all vain on himself, but from what he was told, he was a handsome young tom, and it shouldn't have been shocking- not did he show anything of the sort, looking back at her, feigning a puzzled look. "Oh? How interesting- nor is it really expected. Hm." It perplexed him, her obvious affection for him, he would never understand why either- nor could he understand why, as close as he was to her, as much as he understood the brewing of similar feelings, that he couldn't exactly express them. Thankfully, the sound of a bird landing on the marshy ground on the other side of a swath of bramble bushes was able to distract him for the greater good. "I'll be sure to keep an eye on that."He murmured, creeping toward his prey, and sinking into a neat hunting crouch, strong muscles bunching and rippling beneath his dark brown coat, green eyes narrowed in concentration, before he pounced, an explosion of strength barreling him through a gab in the bushes, and nearly perfectly on the birds back, bringing his jaws down to close over it's neck, snapping it, and silencing the black and white magpie before it could even cry out. "Ah finally, something not slimy or scaly for me to bring back."

[Peachblossom<3]

Act as if what you do makes a difference.

It does.

::Peachblossom::

Smiling, happy for her friend when he caught the magpie, she gave her dainty white paw a final lick, and then approached the tom. "I'll be sure to keep an eye on that." He had said, and that only made Peachblossom tremble with excitement and hope. Maybe a spark was egniting between them. Her purr grew louder and more confident as she strided up to him, and noticed a piece of moss dangling from his pelt. Brushing it away with her nose, she began to groom his sleek brown flank affectionatly. "Excellent catch, my sweet Hawkie." She murmered softly, and smiled at her crush. Her eyes locked with his and she blushed, and turned back to grooming him. Her tail was flitting back and forth on the ground like some sort of fluffy viper, and her calico fur shimmered in the light. Her slender belly rumbled quietly with hunger and she giggled. It tickled her pelt when it did that. Picking up her small frog and plump crow, she gestured with a flick of her ear back to camp. Her eyes spoke for her. What do you say we both go back to the camp and share? "Did I mention you look quite handsome tonight?" Wait, did I say that out loud? She studdered, trying to explain herself and failing miserably. She began to walk slowly back to camp, wondering if he would follow her. Her calico flank yet agian rippled with hunger and she blushed even redder with embaressment. The little she-cat was not handling things well that day, and it was annoying her as much as elders an a hot greenleaf day.

Peachblossom was surprised still at how different she felt so suddenly for her life long friend. She wasn't prepared for this feeling, and was caught off gaurd with it. Twitching her tail, her milky yellow eyes glinted in the sun. She smiled in the direction of Hawkstrike and she began to daydream. We would have such cute kits together...one could be named Cherrykit, another could be named Jaykit. She sighed at the thought. She then, strangly, spoke aloud yet agian. "What do you think of the names Jaykit and Cherrykit? Cute right?" The random question startled even Peach herself! Did she really just say that? It was so unrelated to their past topic, she hoped he wasn't suspicious. Although just the daydream of being mates made her feel as happy as a Starclan cat. She waited for Hawkstrike to come follow her and join her back at camp, and to answer her question as well.

::Peachblossom::

[hawkstar]

As she congratulated him on his catch, he prodded the fat magpie with his paw. "Mm yes, this will make someone happy. Or not. ShadowClan is awfully hard to please." He felt her tongue lapping at his pelt, and stiffened instantly. He wasn't used to being groomed by anyone since he was a kit, and wasn't exactly comfortable with the intimate gesture, but he wouldn't pull away from his old friend, simply waiting for her to cease. When she did, he cleared his throat, dipping his head to lap at his dark chest fur a few times in a slightly nervous gesture. The rumbling of her stomach reminded himself of his own hunger- he hadn't been back to camp or bothered to have eaten since he left to patrol alone at sunhigh.

As she padded off toward camp, he paused, stooped to gather his magpie in his jaws, and followed after her. There was relative silence for a moment before she spoke again, growing a bit hot in his fur, tensing slightly. Kits? He didn't know if he would ever be able to deal with him, he knew he'd make a terrible mother, Peachblossom on the other hand... Oh, what was he thinking? He was polite, a gentleman, and didn't dwaddle in thoughts of personal relationships- only for the greater good of the clan... but kits were for the greater good, couldn't that allow him the food for thought. He knew he'd ponder it later, but for now, thankfully, the mass of still-warm feathers in his mouth kept him from speaking directly, and so he simply nodded and grunted out his muffled agreement. What was the hard im that? Jaykit and Cherrykit did sound like cute names. Although, did ShadowClan do cute? He silently heaved a sigh to himself. They would, one day. No matter who the tom was, Peachblossom would be a mother some day, no doubt, and he figured nothing would stop her from naming her kits what she pleased... but why did that haunt him so? Did he really care who the father would be?

... Yep.

[Peachblossom<3]

Act as if what you do makes a difference.

It does.

The two Shadowclan cats endured an awfully awkward walk back to camp, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Hawk could have rejected Peachblossom right then and there. He could have abandoned her and proceeded back to camp alone. He could have said something to make the small calico offended and depressed. But he didn't. The slim she-cat sighed greatfully once they reached camp, and lay down in a relaxed position in a patch of grass. She was about to bite out of her crow, when she thought better of herself. Easing her way back onto her paws, she padded quietly over to the elders den. When she returned from inside, her catch had dissapeared from her jaws. Picking up her tiny frog, she went over to her favorite place. The nursery. To the three small kits that were playing outside of the den, and plopped the slimy creature in front of them for them to play with. "Now little kits, don't forget to actually eat the food." Peach purred with a glimmer of amusment in both her tone and her eyes. As she bounded gracefully back over to the fresh-kill pile, she realized it was now empty. All the other cats had apparently eaten while they were out hunting. Ah well, at least the elders and kits won't go hungry. She spoke inside her head, and once agian lay down ro rest near her crush. She tried not to show her hunger, and just smiled awkwardly in his direction. Then, as usual, a little voice peeped up inside her mind. Are you really going to let you loose him too? A she-cat much better than you is bound to come and take him from you! She was about to object to that inner voice, when she realized it was...right. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself for the rejection of her life.

"Listen.." She began slowly, and then she let out all her feelings in a rush of words barely audible to anyone except herself and Hawkstrike. "I really like you Hawkstrike and I hope you like me too. Not in a friend way, not that I don't like you in a friend way, but the other way too. I brought up kits because I want to have kits with you. I love you..." She was trembling with worry and fear, and by the time she was finished, relief. All her feelings were out there now, and anyone could know now. Peachblossom flicked her calico tail, and licked her pelt nervously. She rested her head on her paws and closed her luminous green-yellow eyes. She couldn't bare to make eye contact now that she had confessed. She whimpered silently, and gasped for breath. That speech took a lot of energy. What will you do to me now?

::Peachblossom::

[hawkstar]

Upon reaching the camp after a long, agonizingly awkward walk with his old friend, he was relieved to shove himself through the thorny entrance and emerge around his clanmates, all winding down after a long day. He dropped his kill on the pile as other cats came to take food, only pausing to take a glance at Peachblossom. The pretty she cat was ducking from the Elder's den before dropping her frog off for the kits. They were all taken care of and he sighed, once again picking up his magpie and walking over to a mossy patch of ground, laying down with a satisfied sigh, dropping the bird, and taking a moment to relax, his half-lidded eyes watching the clan from where he lay, from the kits playing with the dead amphibian, to Peachblossom eyeing the empty freshkill pile, and forcing a mellow look despite her obvious hunger.

The next thing he was aware of, she had walked over to him, and laid at her side, shooting him a quick, nervous smile, and seeming to have a mental battle before speaking in a hasty voice. She spilled forth her feelings, obviously having a hard time getting them out, but when she finished, she drew back, resting her head on her paws, leaving Hawkstrike more than a little shocked and confused. He cared deeply for his friend to points of love, but he was a protective cat that knew loss, he feared close relationships, and most, his straightforward loyalty to the clan left little to be desired- he didn't even know how to approach a mate-like relationship, he hardly knew how to handle such close friendship. He heaved a sigh and rose to his paws, picking up the still-warm magpie at his side, and dropping it in front of her. "Eat, my friend. The strength is necessary." He gave her an apologetic look, hoping she'd understand his loss on how to handle these things, praying to StarClan she'd know he wasn't rejecting her, but he himself didn't even know how to draw this together, how any of this worked. He licked her ear affectionately, and padded toward the warrior's den, seeing the solace inside, a chance to think.

[Peachblossom<3]

Act as if what you do makes a difference.

It does.

::Peachblossom::

"Eat, my friend. The strength is necessary."

Peachblossom had a feeling that he wasn't quite rejecting her...yet. She gave a little nod and a whimper, as she began to dig into her magpie. A tear or two rolled down her calico cheek as her yellowish-green eyes closed silently. Feathers flew about as a gust of wind whistled through the broadleaf trees. A single black feather landed on her nose, and it looked as if it were to blow off any second but was somehow hanging on. Just like my feelings. The little she-cat thought, and took a miniscule bite of her prey. She began to whisper a delicate song of her very own, delicate to hear and meant for only the ears of Hawkstrike.

"I wanna be a songbird,
And I wanna sit on the tallest branch of the tallest tree,
And I wanna sing lullabies to Earth as she cries,
And I really wanna try and make her laugh.

I wanna be a songbird,
And I wanna watch sunrise,
With my love by my side,
And I wanna grow and I wanna learn,
I wanna fire and I wanna burn,
I wanna rise and I wanna fall,
I wanna run and I wanna crawl,
I wanna be a songbird..."


Her voice trailed off into the trees, and she finished off her magpie with a final nibble, then pushed it over to her crush, a single water drop lingering on her cheek, but she didn't care. The only thing that mattered to her anymore was him. Just him. It surprised her how these sudden feelings could be so strong, and it puzzled her that he didn't know how to express his feelings. Was he rejecting her? Did he like her? Did he...love her? Peachblossom didn't know. But she was anxious to find out, and waited patiently, head buried deep in her paws. Her tail curled around her, and she whimpered a little. Her eyes focused on her friend yet agian, and that only made it worse. Standing up, stretching her aching limbs, she crawled under a shady tree. She needed some time to think, and some time for Hawkstrike to think as well. I love you more than you know...