take it all (hawk & peach)

[cricketleap.]

CRICKETLEAP
you should've when you could've
you're gonna miss my love, girl

It was a fine day to just be wandering around. There was a soft breeze blowing, making ripples in the grass. The tall, dark pine trees swayed gently in the wind. The lake was full of tiny waves. In the cool breeze it made the air around the cats feel even colder. Greenleaf had ended, and leaf-fall had begun. Most cats didn't like the cold for many reasons. It brought many deaths by the sickness called greencough. Also, cats were so full of tension during leaf-bare because of the snow and disease. The medicine cats and leaders were especially worried during these times, fretting toward their Clan. Cricketleap, the ShadowClan medicine cat, would be unusually unhappy this leaf-bare. It was his first one being a full medicine cat, so it brought even more fear striking at his heart. Foxtrot had taught him well, however. At the mention of his mentor, Cricketleap remembered the memories he had with him. Foxtrot teaching him which herbs were which, warning him of deathberries, telling him what to do when a she-cat was birthing, and then finally making him deal with a she-cat and her new kits by himself. All of those flashed through his mind in a matter of heartbeats, until everything faded. Then Foxtrot's death popped up. His old mentor had been mauled by a dog, although it hadn't been for nothing. He'd saved his Clanmate named Sorrelpaw from a hideous way out of the Clans. The golden tom with black paws had wanted to go down saving lives, just like he did when he was living. This wish was granted. Cricketleap had tried to save him... but he'd died.

Shaking himself out of his past, the gray-and-white tom looked around. He hadn't left the camp for a reason, so once again he was on a random rendezvous. It had been the same situation a couple days ago. He'd went to the clearing in ShadowClan territory, where he had ran into the ThunderClan warrior Swanfrost. The pretty she-cat had innocently claimed that she was lost, but he wasn't that stupid. And he didn't fall for her cooing. Yes, she was beautiful, and those aqua-blue eyes were transfixing. But he wasn't a regular warrior anymore, so it was harder for him to fall in love. Love... Something medicine cats aren't supposed to express. But what have I gotten myself into? I've fallen in love with Peachblossom... I don't think I should have been so mean to here. I... I should apologize to her, then maybe admit my feelings toward her. I think she feels the same way about me. I hope, anyway. But everyone knows I cannot talk to she-cats. This could go bad, Cricketleap thought nervously. Casting a glance over his gray shoulder, the tom padded toward. Suddenly the cool wind seemed even colder. Shivering, Cricketleap lowered himself to the ground and slithered forward like a snake. What was Peachblossom doing? Where was she? The pretty calico she-cat was probably on patrol somewhere. He doubted he'd see her until tonight while the Clan shared fresh-kill. But he didn't want to admit his feelings for her in public. It was too risky. I could get in huge trouble... he remembered. But it's worth it if Peachblossom loves me back. For a moment he wondered if she even liked him. But he shrugged it off.

His paws surprisingly carried him to the lake. The bank was full of sand and gray pebbles. The small rocks felt hard on his softer pads, but the sand was more gentle than the grass near the ShadowClan camp. Everything beneath his toes was baked and hot, but it felt good compared to the air outside. He felt like laying down on the beach and just sleeping a whole moon away. Instead he padded to the water edge. He carefully stuck his front paws into the crystal clear water. It was freezing cold. Jumping out, he shook the coldness off of his numb, white paws. Cricketleap backed away until he reached the hot rocks. But he continued to stare out into the lake, mesmerized by it's beauty. Sometimes he wished he could swim out there and get lost in it's blue waves. Or he wished he could fly, that he had wings and he could go whenever he pleased. But those were kit dreams. They would never work out. What else won't work out in life? he thought grumpily. But even with his not so happy thoughts, green eyes glared into blue, shaking off the world around him.

[Peachblossom<3]

[atrb=background, i54.tinypic.com/34gt6c8.jpg][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 400,true][atrb=style,border-radius:1em; -moz-border-radius:1em;][atrb=cellpadding,20px,true][style=margin-top:15px] [/style] [style=font-family:georgia; color:#d5d5d5; margin-bottom:-10px; margin-top:-12px; letter-spacing:1.2px; text-align:left; text-transform: lowercase; line-height:-0.5em] ACT AS IF EVERYTHING YOU DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE. [/style] [style=height:250px; font-size:10px; text-align:justify; line-height:1em; color:#191919; padding:2px 12px 14px 12px; overflow:auto; background-color:#e1e1e1; opacity:0.7; moz-opacity:0.7; margin-top:-8px] "Starclan! Why must you make the choice so hard!" Peachblossom wailed, facing the stream, half wanting to drown herself in it, half wanting to leap over it and run away from it all. Her feelings were swirling in her chest, her mind, her heart. Named repeated over and over in her head. Cricketleap, Hawkstrike, Cricketleap, Hawkstrike. The tiny calico she-cat felt so strongly for both the toms, and they both meant so much to her. She wished she could just choose who Starclan obviously wanted her to, and that would be the lean brown-furred warrior by the name of Hawkstrike. But it just wasn't as easy as it seemed. Tears rolled down the Shadowclan warrior's calico patterned cheeks as she sobbed, her tears embracing the river like an old friend. The handsome medicine cat also played a role in this major life decision. He was so kind, so...well, it didn't matter to her what he was. Hadn't Starclan already played with her feelings enough in her lifetime? First her mother died, then her father, then her only best friend before Hawkstrike and Badgerfoot came along. Why must the clan in the sky take her life and toss it around like a ball of moss being played with by kits. Is that all she meant to them? Cricketleap, Hawkstrike, Cricketleap, Hawkstrike. On and on went the voiced in her head. Suddenly, bushes ruffled around her, and expertly, almost like she planned it, she swiped her tail over her muzzle,clearing the tears away. Blinking rapidly, she gave the illusion she had not been crying at all. Her milky emerald eyes focused on a large gray and white cat moving toward the stream. Rolling her eyes, she wondered how this situation could get any worse. Now one of the cats she was debating over had arrived, probably to break her heart like a sharp twig. Of course, the cat that had entered her view, was the medicine cat himself. Cricketleap. "Why hello there Cr-Cricketleap! What brings you out here t-today?" Peachblossom studdered, sniffing slightly. Ugh, why does this have to be so hard! I love him, and I love Hawkstrike. Yes love....ugh! WHY ME STARCLAN?! The abnormally small and cut she-cat wanted to cry out in pain, for it felt like she was splitting in two. Her heart was divided in half, and she didn't know how to deal with any more pain. She averted her eyes from the gray and white tom, hoping to forget. But no. It just couldn't be done. Sighing, she lay in the grass near the lake, and buried her face in her paws, weeping silently. Why did everything she love have to end so badly? Gosh, she seemed to be thinking questions left and right, and she felt as if she just was going to give up any second when she realized something. Everything she loved hadn't been taken away from her. She still had Shadowclan, and that was enough for her. Hoping that Cricketleap wouldn't think she was shunning him, she turned back to the lake and cried out her last tears. [/style] [style=font-family:georgia; color:#d5d5d5; margin-bottom:-6px; letter-spacing:1.2px; text-align:right; text-transform: lowercase; border-bottom:1px solid #6f6f6f; margin-top:-16px]IT DOES.[/style] [style=font-size:9px; text-align:justify; line-height:1em; color:#b7b7b7; margin-top:-8px] tagged: I be tagging Hawkstrike!! ^^[yet again xD] words: Eh...536 words. Sorry for such a crappy post xD notes: POST PEOPLE!!! xDD [/style] [style=font-size:9px; text-align:center; line-height:1em; color:#b7b7b7; margin-bottom:-18px]credits to minty[/style]

[/center]

[cricketleap.]

CRICKETLEAP
honey why you crying
is everything okay?

It was lonely by the lake. He was all by himself, and it seemed like there was no other cat around for many, many paw steps. All he could hear was the gentle whisper of the wind, the lapping of water at the shore, and the sway of pine trees. Nothing. He could hear no voices carried by the breeze, no distant sound of a dog barking, no Twoleg squeaks. Cricketleap was truly - utterly - alone. Green eyes opened wider, and he lifted his head up. The gray-and-white tom closed his eyes once again and screwed them up tight. Why does life have to be so difficult? Even though Foxtrot repeatedly told me never to love, I am still loving. I didn't mean to disobey him. Next time I speak with him, he won't be happy. I can see it now... His mentor's claws extracted from his huge paws, green eyes gleaming with anger and fear for the Clan he left behind. Then the medicine cat could see Foxtrot leaping and sinking his sharpened claws into his neck. With a horrified shudder, Cricketleap allowed his eyes to fling open. What he saw awed and surprised him. Not only was it a ShadowClan cat, but it was a cat he longed to speak with.

It was Peachblossom, with her shining beauty! But she ran over to him with a saddened air, suddenly making the medicine cat melancholy himself. With his ears pressed down on his skull, he murmured gently, "Oh, what is wrong, Peachblossom? Surely nothing can go bad on this fine leaf-fall day?" His voice was so soft, but it was betraying his mood. He decided to push past her question for now. It didn't really matter. All that he cared about now was Peachblossom and trying to make her be her normal self again. With a happy smile, he nudged her shoulder, eyes whispering playfully. But she just stared at him with water-filled eyes. It hurt Cricketleap even more to see her glaring at him, so hurt and crushed. Maybe it was a warrior thing? If a warrior had harmed her in any way, that cat would pay. With a silent growl, Cricketleap turned his attention back to the calico she-cat. She had layed down in the grass near the lake, crying her eyes out. There was nothing he could say or do as he watched his friend feel the pain. Deciding not to question the young warrior, Cricketleap murmured, settling down next to her, "It's okay, honey. I'm here. I would take the pain your feeling for you any day. I don't want you to get hurt." He gave himself a vow just now that he would protect his friend. He wrapped his bushy tail around her's and purred.

He was trying to be helpful toward his friend, the cat that he wanted more than that. But he watched as she lifted her head up and pushed her last tears into the lake. With a grim frown, Cricketleap tore his eyes away from the weeping she-cat and into the forest. What he thought would be a silent day turned into something that he couldn't even dream of. Peachblossom was one of his best friends throughout ShadowClan. He especially didn't want to see her cry. Shifting his eyes back to Peachblossom, he gave her ear a swift, comforting lick. That was all he had in him. Warriors were trained to love... right? Was that why medicine cats weren't supposed to, or couldn't? Maybe since Cricketleap had trained to be a warrior, that magic loving stuff had rubbed off on him. Why couldn't I be just a regular medicine cat? Then I couldn't get in trouble if Peachblossom chooses me to be her mate. That would also cause her to get in trouble, too. Suddenly, he wondered why she was crying so much again. Had something upset her? It couldn't have been me. I would never do anything to hurt her. Not again. "I...I'm sorry, Peachblossom," he began.

[Peachblossom<3]

[atrb=background, i54.tinypic.com/34gt6c8.jpg][atrb=border,0,true[atrb=width, 400,true][atrb=style,border-radius:1em; -moz-border-radius:1em;][atrb=cellpadding,20px,true][style=margin-top:15px] [/style] [style=font-family:georgia; color:#d5d5d5; margin-bottom:-10px; margin-top:-12px; letter-spacing:1.2px; text-align:left; text-transform: lowercase; line-height:-0.5em] ACT AS IF EVERYTHING YOU DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE. [/style] [style=height:250px; font-size:10px; text-align:justify; line-height:1em; color:#191919; padding:2px 12px 14px 12px; overflow:auto; background-color:#e1e1e1; opacity:0.7; moz-opacity:0.7; margin-top:-8px] "Oh Cricketleap, if only you knew what was troubling me. It isn't you my dear, although it involves you....." Peachblossom wiped a single tear off her fluffy cheek swiftly with her tail, and studdered at she spoke."Starclan can be so cruel, you know that?" The sweet she-cat murmered, and moved to sit beside Cricketleap. Being around him made it even harder for her to decide. He was so nice and serious, Hawkstar was so gentle and charming. She groaned silently, for what kind of a cat had a crush on the medicine cat and the leader? Apparently Peachblossom was that cat. And it annoyed her in a terrible manner that was quite hard to deal with, but she would just have to shove on through. Maybe Starclan would send her a sign that would make the choice for her, after all, they did seem to enjoy playing with her feelings. Or perhaps they would send Cricketleap a sign, he WAS medicine cat. Certianly he would tell her the truth if he had seen a sign. Maybe she should just come out and tell him what was happening, and how hard it was to deal with it. But the sweet she-cat knew of the gray and white tom's dislike for their new leader, and that would just spark of a stream of insults(most likely). Curling her tail around the larger tom, who was a giant compared to how tiny Peachblossom was, she let out a stressed mrrow. Why couldn't she be a normal cat, and like just one tom and be done with it. Certianly her sister was that cat, so why couldn't she be? Cedarstep would know who to choose. Would it be easier just to let go? The slender Shadowclan warrior thought, staring into the crystal waters of the river. Then, without thinking, she plunged herself down into the water. Not being in Riverclan, she couldn't swim. She drifted, limp, down to the bottom of the pool. Her lungs cried for air, but she ignored their needs. The medicine cat probably assumed she fell in, and didn't know that the dive was intentional, and was most likely freaking out on the bank of the river.Her eyes were squeezed shut as her lungs screamed with pain. Is this what it feels like...to die? The pretty she-cat wondered, her tail whipping in the strong current of the water. Suddenly a vision flashed before her eyes, and her long-dead mother appeared before her. "Sweetheart, it isn't your turn to leave this life. Your time to join Starclan will come, but it isn't your hour yet." Peach realized she was standing in a forest, stars shimmering in her pelt. She realized she must be on the way to Starclan, or at least nearby it. "I will die anyway, so why can't it be now? It would save a lot of time, and trouble. I am not worth it anyway. I have no great destiny, nor grand past. And-" The Shadowclan warrior was cut off by a whisper from her mother. "But what you do have is a medicine cat who loves you, and a leader who loves you. What more do you need to keep you going?" Just then, her vision faded and she was feeling waer on her pelt yet again. She tried moving her paws but it was impossible, she was too weak. I guess her mother was wrong...she changed her mind too late. Peachblossom felt the life seeping out....breaths slipping away. One last thought entered her mind. I love you......Hawkleap. [/style] [style=font-family:georgia; color:#d5d5d5; margin-bottom:-6px; letter-spacing:1.2px; text-align:right; text-transform: lowercase; border-bottom:1px solid #6f6f6f; margin-top:-16px]IT DOES.[/style] [style=font-size:9px; text-align:justify; line-height:1em; color:#b7b7b7; margin-top:-8px] tagged: Hawkstrike! Save her!! words: 627 notes: Finished! Just so you know, I meant to mix the two names at the end. It was supposed to be a sign that she said Hawk's name first. And NO, Peachblossom isn't dead. xD [/style] [style=font-size:9px; text-align:center; line-height:1em; color:#b7b7b7; margin-bottom:-18px]credits to minty[/style]

[hawkstar]

Taking care of his Clan was pretty much what had been expected. For now, the prey was still running, and sickness wasn't a common occurrence, but he knew, a few more moons, and both of those would be an issue. There was currently only two apprentice, and no kits- of course, this time of year, it wasn't much to worry, but ShadowClan had a small population, and with the growing tension between the clans that could erupt in fights at any moment, a strong, able-bodied clan was necessary. Lost in his thoughts and worries, Hawkstar had drifted away from the Clan, now heading toward the lake.

From afar, he heard a splash and paused. What was that? Maybe a frog going into the water, but it nagged him that frogs didn't make that much noise going in. He picked up his pace and soon came to the water's edge, looking around. Nothing was to be seen, although he could scent Cricketleap, and the fading scent of Peachblossom- what were they doing out here? Alone? Cricketleap hadn't mentioned going out with a Warrior- besides, Cricketleap had left after Peachblossom. It put a wary coldness in his gut. Were the two of them secretly seeing one another? He loved Peachblossom, he had been trying to get that across ever since his mother had mentioned when she gave him one of his nine lives, that he never expressed it. Now, it may be too late, for she had originally had a crush on the black and white medicine cat, as wrong as it was, now she was out here with him? She hadn't even spoken to him today. He heaved a sigh. He wasn't cut out for being her mate, maybe. He looked down in the water, and a flash of colour caught his eyes, calico fur... He may have not been a RiverClan cat, but he quickly shoved his head down, groping for her. When that failed, he jumped in.

He allowed himself to sink until he brushed her fur, and grabbed her by the back of her neck, heaving her up so he her head broke the water's surface. Paddling fiercely, he brought her back to the bank, heaving her over the edge, and making sure she was secure before pulling himself out, and spinning around to face her. "Peachblossom? Peachblossom, are you okay?" He asked nervously, shivering as a stark cold cut through his thin, wet fur, chilling him thoroughly. Pushing aside his own cold, however, he began to lick her fur the wrong way, trying to dry her and warm her at the same time, knowing this the best way to do so.

[cricketleap.]

How can it involve me? What did I do wrong this time? His fear for Peachblossom sharpened like claws raking on wood. With a quick gulp, Cricketleap murmured, "You don't have to tell me what's wrong if you don't want to..." He was actually a bit melancholy that his friend couldn't look into him to see that he only meant good. Friends were supposed to confide into each other, right? Plus he was openly curious why the pretty calico she-cat was upset. "But you're... my friend. P-Peachblossom." You and being a medicine cat are the only two things I care about for once. He would have liked to add that, but it probably wouldn't cheer her up. Gently nudging her, he added hesitantly, "Indeed. StarClan can be very cruel. But there is also a very great kindness in them. They give leaders nine lives, and without that, we would go through leaders like their is no tomorrow. They also warn us of the future... and danger to us and our loved ones." His last couple words were aimed toward Peachblossom, but he didn't think she caught them. He felt her smaller tail curl around him, which made a purr rumble in his throat.

But as soon as that happened, Peachblossom literally threw herself into the water. Just plunged down there like a fish. At first he thought she was joking with him, that it was all just a prank. Even still, a thorn sharp stab of fear pierced his heart. "Peachblossom!" he screamed franticly. "Peachblossom!" He cried her name to the skies, but he knew words couldn't help. His sparjling green eyes caught that she had sunken into the dark depths. He waded into the water, shivering as it seeped onto his paws. But it didn't matter. The medicine cat was just about to plunge himself after her when he saw a flash of brown fur. With a shocked growl, he realized it was Hawkstar, ShadowClan's leader. He couldn't even tell him to get out of the way before the green-eyed leader shoved himself into the water and sunk himself, too. Then he saw Hawkstar reappear with Peachblossom clamped firmly in his strong jaws. Thee leader heaved her up onto dry ground. I could have done that! Is he blind?! Does he not see that I love her? Then Hawkstar pelted the she-cat with questions, but Cricketleap was hardly listening.

He sadly walked out of the water, which had been up to his belly, and approached Peachblossom. He tried to wipe the frown off of his face, but he couldn't. "Peachblossom, are you all right?" He gave her wet pelt a comforting lick. "You worried me sick!" He didn't bother to ask her what had possessed her to do that, and instead wondered if she was okay. The gray-and-white tom paused, brows furrowed. "Do you need herbs? Are you shocked... cold? Feeling feverish?" Herbs. Is that the best I can do? Herbs. She'll never love me. Any cat but me would be a better mate for Peachblossom. I'm worthless enough as it is. Feeling sorry for himself and Peachblossom, he circled her with anticipation. All the same, he felt something stir in his chest, something that he never felt toward any cat. Hate.