Silence Is Golden; Duct tape Is Silver/ Aiko

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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_{Somehow I found a way to get lost in you.}[/color][/center]

Swiftstrike felt so content, and he closed his eyes, purring. It was cold; he was beginning to feel the chill from the stones creep through his pads. He was oblivious to any of Rainpath's worries, as always, his mind simply centered in what he was doing now. The small breeze lifted his fur, ruffling it. He sighed happily, his breath swirling upward, fog breaking the clear view. He looked back toward Rainpath, trying to find something to say. It wasn't often that the tom was at a loss for words, but he found himself just that.

But, as childlike as he was, he did have a question, one that swam suddenly into his drifting mind. "Would you consider us friends, Rainpath?" he meowed, twisting his head quizzically.[/size]

[ŖáIň]

Her eyes abruptly unhinged, claws unsheathed as she whisked around upon the eyes that so graciously supported her mass, so that she could face him. Her tail faltered and hung rather limp over the granite, an immense flush building up beneath her tepid pelt. The inquiry had a peculiar effect on the she-cat- perhaps she was startled, or dumbfounded. But it was him . On normal circumstances, she would be instantaneously revolted- or terrified, but there was something about this feline, how he simply rinsed trouble from her mind.
"I suppose that's what we are," she stated, soul shaken, purring quietly.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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_{Somehow I found a way to get lost in you.}[/color][/center]

Swiftstrike simply nodded, a surprising reaction for such a hyperactive tom, the answer sending a chill through his body. He had always had an attraction to the she-cat which is why they were where they were. But he felt it much stronger now, as her icy exterior melted to reveal the friendly she-cat beneath. It was surprising; he hadn't felt like this about anyone. The affection he felt for the she-cat was strong, no doubt. When he looked back at her, he found it impossible to look away.

"You're not friends with many cats, are you, Rainpath?" he questioned, his voice low and careful, quiet. He blinked at her, his tail swishing and touching her gently.[/size]

[ŖáIň]

She had met his eyes and flushed once more, meeting his eyes hesitantly and flattening her ears against her head, stunned when he intentionally brought his tail and touched her waist.
She found a peculiar sanctuary with this male. There was no spite, no dark looks casted in her direction, rather just a friendship she had not ever had before.
" You would be the first, " she replied quietly, not meeting his eyes, vilely cursing herself for her actions.
Don't you dare get your hopes up, Rainpath,

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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_{Somehow I found a way to get lost in you.}[/color][/center]

Swiftstrike simply nodded again, not turning his eyes away. He didn't feel awkward, anymore. Just the contrary actually. Rainpath and he were friends. There was nothing he should feel awkward about. He wondered if the she-cat did, however, wondered if she felt out of place, being friends with another cat. He wondered, briefly, if there was a reason behind her being cold and closed off. It took a little bit of work to open her up, but not as much as he thought it would. He wasn't going to get into it, though; she had her reasons. If she felt to share them with him, she would.

So, instead, he simply purred, breaking the silence with the sound. "Well, I'm glad we're friends," he said happily, blinking at her. He nudged her with his shoulder. "And I'm honored that I could be the first!"[/size]

[ŖáIň]

She was a bit shaken in general, the very sereneness of the predicament was incredibly soothing, a harmony of water and sky and the content purrs and mew of her companion. Apart from his statement, another element of the arena made her extremely coy, tail flicking to and fro with an amused glint in her eyes as she scrutinized the tom beside her.
There was no reasoning to it, she merely abounded down from the rocks in a fluid movement, cuffing his ear passing the way down. claws unsheathed only to grapple the ice as she purred at the hold of the boulders, whilst prancing about to and fro in the frost.
" Honored, appalled, " she recited, " Either is alright. " she purred.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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_{Somehow I found a way to get lost in you.}[/color][/center]

Swiftstrike purred, rolling his eyes at her. Tail flicking happily, he followed her down the boulders, his steps much less graceful, as he nearly tumbled on several occasions. Finally, though, he reached her, returning her cuff with one of his own, crouching with his tail lashing in the air behind him. His eyes were wide, sparkling with playfulness as he reached a paw out at her, prodding her several times.

"Honored, indeed," he meowed, his voice full of amusement. "Perhaps I should be appalled, on account of that nasty smack you just gave me." Dramatically, he rolled onto his back, rubbing his head against the ground. "I simply can't go on! I think this is the end!" He moaned dramatically, his tail twitching in the frost. His eyes sparkled as he looked up at her. "I think I see the light!"[/size]

[ŖáIň]

She purred simultaneously, tail flicking to and fro as she peered nervously through the yew and holly redundantly. Her brow furrowed. There was something odd in the air- she could not quite recall it, and she hesitantly heeded through the snow to peer through the tendrils.
She was quiet for a moment, watchful. Her blue eyes were anxious and alarmed, perhaps appalled by the odor that penetrated the earth.
" StarClan forbid you die, " she mewed, pawing at his ear, " Oh, what would I do? Immersed in solitude such as this? I would miss you though, " she teased, alarmingly coy, " Who else would I harass? "

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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_{Somehow I found a way to get lost in you.}[/color][/center]

Swiftstrike laughed, rolling around against the snow covered ground. His black fur was covered in the soft texture, and he sprang back to his paws, shaking the snow from his body. His tail lashed playfully behind him as he lifted a paw, swatting gently at Rainpath's shoulders.

"You would miss me? How sweet," he meowed, eyes shining. "Harassing or not, I think I would miss you, too." He stopped swatting, his eyes still shining a paw still lifted from the ground. The joy churning in his chest made him purr quietly, the sunlight suddenly catching Rainpath's fur as it peeked at them from behind the clouds, making her black and white fur suddenly very sleek, her eyes bright and full of life, something he just recently started noticing in the she-cat. His expression didn't change, but something in his did. His breath was taken, suddenly realizing just how beautiful Rainpath was.

A hopeless romantic was something Swiftstrike would never think of describing himself as. Quiet the contrary, actually. But, at that moment, he felt he fit that term, a variable in that ever changing equation. She had thawed to him, only him, and the side she showed Swiftstrike -- the playful, teasing soft side -- made him wonder why he didn't try harder before. After all, he'd been attracted to the she-cat for a few moons before deciding to corner her, make her thaw to him. Now, he was falling for both sides; the icy, reserved Rainpath, and the free, happy Rainpath.

He blinked at her, the sun disappearing behind the clouds again. His paw was still in the air, mid swipe. But he still didn't move.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?" he meowed, fearlessly, ready for whatever her response would be.[/size]

[ŖáIň]

Embellished in the morn's air, she peered at the tom with bright and strangely curious eyes, a low purr among her throat.
His words, however, caught her off guard, and her breath was drawn abruptly, ears pinned against her skull for a moment, eyeing him skeptically. She did not know what to say to those words, and she stared idiotically at him for a moment, brittle and still.
Crucial moments sauntered by, frightened by the depth of his words.
For a moment, her head rested on his shoulder, tail twitching to and fro.
" I don't understand. There are plenty of other she-cats out there- like MonarchWing, she's incredibly beautiful." she mused, narrowing her eyes as she stared into his.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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_{Somehow I found a way to get lost in you.}[/color][/center]

At first, Swiftstrike thought he was about to face Rainpath's claws, her ears drawn back so quickly. Several painful heartbeats passed, and Swiftstrike waited, either for words or a physical response. The very tip of his tail twitched impatiently, his eyes searching hers, seeing the sudden, frightened shimmer in them. Still, he waited, each heart beat achingly endless.

Then, suddenly, she was touching him, but not in the way he expected. Instead of sharp claws meeting his ears, Rainpath's head met his shoulder, resting there. For a second, he looked down at her, surprise trickling into his belly. Then, she looked at him, and he froze, his breath catching again.

Other beautiful she-cats? He pictured Monarchwing, lithe and fast. He pictured other she-cats in the clan, going through each one, but none he spent more than a second thought on. His eyes were suddenly firm, and he blinked at her, daring to touch her ever so gently with his tail.

"None of them could ever add up to you," he spoke, confused. Why couldn't she see that? Why didn't she think she was beautiful? Why did she think the other she-cats were any prettier? What couldn't she understand. "I think you're the most beautiful cat in the forest! No, in the world!" His voice was soft, sincere and gentle. He searched her eyes, his heart thudding painfully with each silent moment that passed.[/size]

[ŖáIň]

She abruptly arose to her paws, remotionining hastily at the foot of the rocks, odd-maidish and elderly as she gawked at Swiftstrike. Her heart thudded- no, flung across her torso; she was positive he could hear it, whiskers twitching in a sort of exasperation or disbelief.
He was not lying. She could see that, but his actions confused her. She wished to cringe away and hiss and run, but she was trapped in a spindly thread, only guard pinned ears and scrutiny. This was no joke, like her kin often intended- their taunting mews, her father's dismissive ways. Swiftstrike was not like that.
Eyes darkening, she fiercly trudged through the snow. She was not romantic, not at all, and her ears turned against her head an she gazed at the water.
" I don't understand. You make no sense. " she hissed, obviously frustrated as she searched him, breath clouding his face as she turned her head to face him. " Since when? " she queered, " Bias and sweet-" And Handsome - she wished to add, but bit her tongue, " But no sense.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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_{Somehow I found a way to get lost in you.}[/color][/center]

Swiftstrike only flicked an ear when she pulled away from him, unable to mask the slight hurt flashing across his features. She looked suddenly worn, staring at him from a few tail lengths away. Still, he was confused. What couldn't she see? What was hard to understand about him thinking she was beautiful? Naive and awkward, Swiftstrike had no answers to these questions. He watched her turn from him, ears flat and voice difficult to read. She was struggling with something. But what?

Swiftstrike lashed his tail impatiently, taking a couple of tentative steps forward. "Since when?" he echoed, his eyes flickering. "Rainpath, there's something that's always attracted me to you." The confession hung in the air, making it heavy. But he was feeling lighter, so he continued. "I don't know what it was, but there was something that made me want to talk to you. And, today, you showed me it was worth it." He swung his head, feeling frustrated. He simply couldn't find the right words. "I don't know how to explain it, Rainpath."[/size]

[ŖáIň]

RainPath remained genuinely incremental, eyes meeting the tom's as she hastily slowed her lope.
" Nor do I, " she muttered hoarsely, voice broken by the gently wisp of snow that fell from the sky.
" Its cold, " she frowned, tail twitching slightly, thick fur laden upon her nape sleek as she gawked at the whitening sky.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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_{Somehow I found a way to get lost in you.}[/color][/center]

Swiftstrike blinked; it was cold. And he hadn't noticed it before, but it was beginning to snow harder. The flakes floated around them, breaking the air around them as they fell. He watched it fall for a second before turning back to Rainpath. Throwing caution to the wind, Swiftstrike did as any gentleman cat would do; before she could run away from him, he bounded to her side, pressing his side against hers. He suddenly felt very warm, pressed up against Rainpath. He knew he may be overstepping himself. But he simply didn't care.[/size]