No Luck [OPEN]

[Echoswift]

The gray tom took quick strides as he made his way towards the cool waters. His head held high, the feline smirked as he peered at his fully formed snout. Echoswift couldn't believe he had already become a warrior and was working his way up in the ranks of the clan. Too bad he couldn't be the deputy or the leader of windclan. But with those ranks, came great responsiblities, even Echo wasn't sure he was ready to take up. Heck, half the time he found himself wasting time grooming or basking out in the warmth of the suns light.

"My, my Echoswift... you have become quite the striking fellow..." he chuckled to himself as he licked down his chest fur, at least he was warmer than most of his clanmates. Too bad it brought steaming hell in the summer and extra work to his appearance. This did not really phase the tom, however. He just enjoyed being a clan cat.

The life of a kittypet would never have quite worked out for him like it may have for his family. In fact, they weren't his family no more... windclan was his true family now. He never knew wild cats could be so devoted and linked together in such ways. He sat down and peered around and across the stream. How different was it in thunderclan, riverclan and even shadowclan. Ma, he needed to pay attention more during gatherings!

"Just a clumsy old fool am I..." Echo laughed at himself again, the truth of the matter was, you couldn't love yourself if you couldn't laugh at your flaws. That and no cat was perfect. Neither was this particular tom. He flicked his tail and twitched his ears, it was a bit too quiet for his liking. Some sort of instinct brought down on the cat to glance behind himself... was somewhere there? Where they watching him? Maybe he was just beinga bit too paranoid. Echoswift shrugged it off, too lazy to bother if he was safe on his own territory.

[( thrushflight )]

T H R U S H F L I G H T ,

The dark warrior desired a quiet, peaceful time and the hunting activities he had partaken in that morning had done everything to fuel that need. He now decided to leave the camp for a little while longer, having only just reached the fresh - kill pile, which lay somewhere around the center. He looked over it once more with pride, gladness filling his heart that there would easily be enough prey to sustain his clan for this day, at least. He knew how rapidly it could change though. One day full, the next, barely a morsel to feed the elders!

With a sigh that was now partially filled with sorrow, he left the clan again, with a dip of his head here, a greeing there. His mind was whirling with possibilities of where he could take himself off to. In the end, it was the weather that decided his course of action. A faintly sunny day reminded him of warmer times, bringing back fond memories of the water and the relief it gave him. Now, he headed for the streams, thinking longingly of the cool waters, which had never before failed to wash away his troubles. Not that - this time - they were anything serious. His long strides took him easily up the rising hills, until he began the downward descent that would lead him to the stream. His ears pricked forward, he caught the sound of another motion.

'What makes you say that, Echoswift?!' The big tom's voice rang loud over the distance still between them. He was a confident character, especially around his clanmates, and did not shy away from the thought of conversing with them. However, his entering statement made him feel a little self - concious, therefore he felt the need to amend himself. 'Sorry, I uh was just coming this way. Couldn't help but overhear that. .' He gave a half - smile, before twisting his head to lick at the fur on his lick; a way to hide his mild embarassment.

'So anyway, what have you been up to?' He did not want to make the other tom think he was prying, so his tone was light as he spoke, with a hint of genuine curiousity. He looked out to the stream as he spoke, reflecting on the morning that had just passed. Ingrained clearly into his thoughts, was the memory of the successful kills. He sent a silent thanks to his warrior ancestors, for blessing him with such luck, as he waited for a response.

[Echoswift]

The other tom almost gave Echoswift a heart attack, luckily for him he heard him approaching so he was a bit more prepared, his fur still sleek and smoothed out down his back. "Mostly wondering where all the memories and moments went really..." he proped himself on his two short hind legs that only his breed of feline could muster. His legs felt more comfortable in this pose anways, and plus he could see much farther this way. His tail flicked back and forth as he cocked his head to one side... still so much time today and nothing left on the tom's mind. He needed something new, something different.

"Heh, no problem Thrushflight. Guess you could say I'm a fool to live so lightly. Things just don't worry me as they do other cats. Probably that bit of kittypet nature left deep inside of me I can't cope with to remove from my personality." Echo wanted to forget ever being born from a softer life, then again if he wanted to avoid it so badly... why did he keep bringing it up? A spark lit up his eyes as he turned to the other tom and smiled softly. "And I don't suppose you're doing anything special lately?"

Flipping a one hundred and eighty degrees on the subject, he felt like talking about something a bit more personal, since he was coming of age now. He wasn't a little kit or apprentice anymore. So then what was he besides a loyal warrior of windclan? He really kept to himself most of his life in the clan, maybe a bit more bonding would do him some good? What subject though? Ah! Perfect!

"Say, you never had a special someone in your lifetime... have ya? I've been thinking about taking it into consideration. I mean, well..." The gray tom sat back on his haunches and averted his gaze. Why was he embarrassed about it now? Blushing he slowly looked the other cat square in the face again, awaiting his possible answer. Would Thrustflight taunt him or worse... laugh at him?

[( thrushflight )]

T H R U S H F L I G H T ,

The other tom's relaxed stance and words instantly put Thrushflight at ease. Finally; a friendly, honest conversation. It seemed rare, these days, that some cat was not acting up, though perhaps that was just his view on the world. 'Mmm, I know where you're coming from,' he mused, gaze drifting out across the running waters once more. What a lifetime it had been, really, when one stopped to reflect as this warrior had made him do. He was surprised by the other's laid - back attitude. He, himself, could not honestly admit that he was the same. So he didn't. 'You're lucky, trust me,' he began, a little wistfulness creeping into his voice. 'Worry is a burden, if you ask me. I'm no stranger to it, I must admit. Though, when you really think about it, it's rather petty, the things we tend to stress over. But I'm getting too philosophical!' he announced, changing his position and arching his back. 'What was life as--' He was too late, and his jaws clammed shut. Missed that opportunity, well and good, he thought, though he could sense that he issue Echoswift was bringing up was no light one.

'Not anything different to usual, no, I can't say I am. I say, what a change of subject! Though, as a matter of fact, now you bring it up, I can't say I have. And not by choice either.' He trailed off, feeling a sudden rush of upset that he had not yet found that special someone. After all, he was not a young warrior as such, anymore, standing at thirty - two moons. Still not directly facing his clanmate, he asked of him, 'why? You have somecat in mind?' For some reason, his gaze swung to face the other, a teasing glimmer in his eyes, before he truly caught sight of the other tom's expression. It was genuine. He was genuinely asking something deep of him, and Thrushflight felt a sudden duty to regard him with respect. And if his gaze did not show it, his body language certainly did! The averted eyes, the suspense rising off his pelt. Thrushflight knew that it was time to allow his more sensitive side to show through; as rarely as it surfaced. 'Well what?' he prompted, his level of speech softer, more caring.

[Echoswift]

"Ah, well..." he mused as he laid down on his front paws, getting a bit more comfortable since he felt they weren't going anywhere anytime soon. "Don't really have any she-cat in mind... we seem lesser in that category unless I picked up an apprentice... which seems a bit awkward to me anyways..." He felt a purr rise up in his throat to have someone to confide in. Sure his other friends could talk to him, but he always listened to what they had to say. Not really wanting them to worry about his personal life.

"Not sure who they will be, but I'm sure I will know her when I see her... I think." he laughed lightly again, laughter was such a sweet part of emotions that rarely surfaced in the clans these days. Echoswift took into consideration what Thrushflight had told him, guess it was better than worrying about who to trust and if those you cared about were secretly out to get you or your clanmates...

Echo thought about his next comment before addressing it. "Something tells me, she will not be of windclan... don't know what makes me feel that way. Guess you could just say it's instinctual." the other tom's comment saddened him a bit. He was hoping someone could clear some questions up or give him some advice about picking or finding a mate. "Hell, I guess with my 'free spirited' nature, I bet if I wait... she will find me." the stubby legged tom crouched to stretch as he sat back up to groom his lengthy tail.

"Just need to pay better attention during gatherings I guess...heh. They always seemed too serious for my liking really. I hope you find that someone too Thrushflight." he added in between licks. He truly did mean that comment, ever warrior and honest clanmate deserved to have someone to call their own. "Heck, I don't care if I end up with a spy, as long as I can stay loyal to my friends and my clan... it's all good."

[( thrushflight )]

T H R U S H F L I G H T ,

'Oh, you don't?' Thrushflight felt both reassured and disappointed. He was sure, after that lead up, that the tom was going to confide in something more than that. His embarassed look had certainly indicated it. But at the same time. . he could not help but feel as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was not still, as far as he was aware, the only tom not to have his eyes caught by a she - cat. He felt strangely mature, discussing such matters with another cat. Up until this point, he had only really thought about the matter, to himself, on those rare occasions where sleep evaded him. Yet here, it seemed perfectly natural! 'I agree. An apprentice is out of the question!' He shot a brief smile at the tom, as he spoke, though his words rung true. At thirty - two moons, he really was too old to be thinking of courting an apprentice. As he continued to lay there, he heard a strange rumbling, and his ears shot backward immediately, worried for his safety. It was then that he realized it was simply a building purr. His whiskers twitched, as he discovered the other cat was enjoying his company.His next comment made Thrushflight pause, his paw half - way to his tongue, ready to swipe it over his ear.

'Not of WindClan, eh?' He blinked, a couple of times, in rapid succession. 'I'd never really considered that, I have to say!' Echoswift's words opened up a whole new world of possibility. For an instant, he was swept away, into a daydream of secret meetings, and heartfelt, hidden feelings. But then. . something held him back; his own heart. It just wouldn't do. If he found a cat he truly loved, he would want to be able to spend any waking moment he wished with her. And of course, there was the issue with the warrior code. He wanted to express all this to his companion, however, he felt it would be a little insensitive of him. After all, he had just expressed such an oposed opinion. 'Haha, I'm sure she will,' he mewed, before bending down to groom his own coat, having been somehow inspired by the other warrior. 'What's your type, eh? See, I, for instance, fancy a she - cat whose rather similar to me. Y'know bold. . courageous. . strong - willed, but with a good heart essentially.' Now he was speaking truly from the heart. 'What about you?' he repeated, before continuing; 'a rather easy - going one, I'd reckon?' He wasn't quite sure where this conversation would lead, but he was prepared to let it run it's course.