Silence Is Golden; Duct tape Is Silver/ Aiko

[ŖáIň]

[shadow=red,left,300] R A I N P A T H[/shadow]
It took her a moment to contemplate whether or not she should rake his ears apart, eyes flashing for a tense moment.
But a moment passed, and she became vaguely aware of a warm figure against hers, and a low, inaudible purr came from her jaws.
" Your certainly persistent,

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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

Swiftstrike let himself relax, the fur against his shoulders falling. He purred along with her, feeling very warm and light. He felt like his paws were simply going to come off the ground, that he was simply going to float away, up and out of the forest. It was a wonderful feeling; he closed his eyes and let it fill him, his breath leaving a trail of fog as it escaped his maw.

"Of course I am," he meowed quietly, flicking an ear. "I always make sure my heart wins."[/size]

[ŖáIň]

[glow=red,2,300] R A I N P A T H[/glow]
The cat was bewildered for a moment, eyes at the torrent of the sky as she peered hesitantly at the ashen flurry of ice falling upon her nape. It was certainly cold- his warmth felt quite nice upon her thick, coarse nape.
"I'm sure it always leads you the correct way. she murmured, peering through the snow as she bounded close beside the tomcat, seeking the woodland.
" Swiftstrike, " she began, puzzled for a moment, " You're an intriguing cat. I'm content to call you a friend."
The words were awkward from off her tongue, she had not thought she would hear the strange lettering uttered from her lips. Nevertheless, she was content, warm especially- and looked at the cat expectantly, purring, fur twined with his.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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

For a second, pressed against Rainpath, he forgot where he was. He forgot, for a sliver of a second, of the pains and hardships of leafbare. Just for a second, it was him, her, and this beautiful, snow covered woodland. His eyes slid openly slowly, watching the snow fall from the clouds, watching it twirl around him, watching his breath rise from his mouth as it left his lungs. For a second, he was only happy. Nothing else but happy.

Then, the world was back. But it was still beautiful; he was still happy. He looked down at Rainpath, his black fur blending with hers, and her beautiful blue eyes were striking in that moment, catching the weak rays of the sun. He had never seen the she-cat so happy, and knowing he was the reason why, made his chest swell.

"I've been called worse," he joked, purring. "I can one up that; I'm extremely content to call you a friend." He bent and nuzzled the top of her head, eyes closing again as he took her scent. It surrounded him.[/size]

[ŖáIň]

[glow=red,2,300] R A I N P A T H[/glow]
Rainpath purred extensively, wrapping her tail around his haunches, permitting the tomcat to nuzzle her head.
It was peculiar, but it felt nice, tangled in this disorderly heap of hide that intertwined with her, furthermore molding her side upon his.
" Again, I can state the same." she purred, pawing at the snow fondly.
" Though, " she paused, maw in the air, " 'Friends' don't usually incorporate themselves with me. Until now, at least. she speculated, stumbling as the snow gained thick leverage beneath the frosty treetops.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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

Swiftstrike opened her eyes, looking at her thoughtfully. That he had noticed. As far as he knew, Swiftstrike was the only cat able to break through to Rainpath, her only friend. This saddened him. She was so warm and funny underneath the ice.

"Do you just...not like opening up to people?" he meowed, blinking at her.[/size]

[ŖáIň]

R A I N P A T H
His thirst for knowledge tantalized her mind, and she inclined her muzzle so that she may face him, tail flicking this way and that as she pondered.
"You see, Swiftstrike, I had no one to lean upon. No one to converse with, no one to socialize with- it was a lonely childhood. Empty. Lonely. There was none I could build upon, my mother and father were not there, as they were killed soon after I became an apprentice.
I suppose that was what made me what I am. No weakness would bring no more pain. Death wouldn't weaken me.
But it was before I met you, when I realized how much wasn't there," she murmured quietly.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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

He nodded, and for a moment, Runningbrook's image flickered past his mind, and he felt heavy suddenly. He missed his sister, so much. Swiftstrike wanted nothing more than for his sister to return. ThunderClan was so lonely without her. But now he had Rainpath. He was going to be just fine.

"I grew up with my sister being very close to me," he meowed softly, flicking his ear. "So, when she disappeared, I felt so alone." He paused, looking back at Rainpath. "I'm glad you've opened up to me." He purred softly, nuzzling her again. "There is a lot to companionship you've missed out on. It's wonderful to know that someone will be there for you."[/size]

[ŖáIň]

R AI N P A T H
For a moment, her mind went blank. Desperate figures trod among her mind, droned only by Swiftstrike's presence. It was peculiar, this swift remembrance of her youth, and for a moment, just a swift moment, she considered to once again clutch to her memory. To close. To seep the weakness away for her's and his sake.
No, she told herself, the second not yet passed, surely you would be a fool to throw this away.
" I'm glad I made that choice as well. She purred, ear flicking as she wrapped her tail around his haunches, " And that someone being you?" she prompted, peering at the male, " Surely you'll become sick of me " she teased

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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

Swiftstrike flicked an ear, amused. "I don't think that's possible," he meowed, blinking warmly at her. His tail flicked and wrapped around her, pulling them closer. He felt warm, their fur tangling together, the snow falling harder now. He thought again of Runningbrook, wondering where she was, if she were safe. He was glad for Rainpath, of course, more glad than he could express, but he still felt his heart clench in pain, in longing to press against his sister once more. He blinked, automatically glancing in the direction of Twolegplace. Where was she?

He shook himself, pushing it all away. He couldn't live in the past. Runningbrook knew what she was doing. She would be back. She had to come back. "I miss her," he confessed quietly, almost silently.[/size]

[ŖáIň]

R A I N P A T H
His words were scarcely audible, for a moment she thought it was a flurry of restless snow, and she inclined her head so she may gaze at him, pity in her cyan eyes.
" I'm sorry. " she mewed feebly, oddly.
She felt helpless. She was foreign to his world, an outsider. She had lost none ut outsiders before.

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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

For a moment, Swiftstrike said nothing, looking back at Rainpath. He studied her a second. Was he envious or filled with pity for her? She was close to no one -- well, no one but him now. Had she ever suffered losing someone? He'd lost his mother to death and his sister to curiosity. He didn't have to think on it long; he pitied Rainpath. It was definitely better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

"It's okay...I'm okay," he meowed, purring softly. He blinked at her, twisting his head. "I think she'll come back." His eyes were warm with weak confidence in his own words. "I think...she'll be back soon." He nodded, as if convincing himself. "Yes. I do."[/size]

[ŖáIň]

Her new was a disconcerted statement of her idle stature, fine and desiring for great quantity of knowledge at his words.
She was never enough. Life proved it's verdict in such odd ways, favoring fate and experience in dastardly ways. She was no longer offended, no longer saddened or standoffish- merely doused with the utter bewilderment of the array of emotions that haunted her cyan eyes, optics studiously gazing at the... friend beside her?
What particular feelings had the Tom unleashed? Affection, certainly, but to what level? What quantity?
Hoarse and numb with the frigid flakes of snow, she inclined her stare hesitantly upon him.
She did not recall meeting her- she was most hesitant to immerse herself in public with more than a pair of accomplices, though she comfortingly, feeling a strange dose of pity for SwiftStrike, as she pressed her nose to his angular cheek.
"I'm sure too, SwiftStrike."

[Aiko]

Swiftstrike

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

Swiftstrike closed his eyes again as Rainpath touched her nose to his cheek. He felt calmer, felt the loneliness fade until it was nearly nonexistent. He slowly opened his eyes, twisting her head to look down at the she-cat beside him. He knew he would always miss Runningbrook; she was his sister, after all. But he knew he would be okay. Looking at Rainpath, her cyan eyes searching his, he felt almost complete again. So many emotions bubbled within him, and he suddenly knew what it was; love. Not the same kind of love he shared with his sister. Dare he admit it? Dare he admit, even to himself, that there was a possibility he was falling in love with the cyan-eyed she-cat?

For a moment, he said nothing, fearful that the new, possible realization would bubble from his heart, take the form of words, and he would suddenly be torn open to her. He stared at her, the battle raging inside him not meeting his eyes. What if he was wrong? Did it matter? He didn't dare speak still, too fearful of the words that may escape. He simply blinking at the pretty she-cat, twisting his head slowly at her.[/size]