[Deleted]

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,
GORGELIGHT[/b][/size][/font]

Sleep, who had once been a happy and constant companion to the young RainClan warrior, had been evasive and shy the past few days. A mysterious she-cat by the name of Echobreeze was plaguing his everyday thoughts even though he knew little about the shy NightClanner except for that -- her clan, her name, and her general coat pattern. Because of the speech troubles between the pair, little had been said besides an introduction and an apology when Gorgelight pushed his way into the petite calico. Other than that, ittle had been said. The moments when his fur brushed hers were forever dancing through his mind. He saw her in his dreams -- tried to speak, and only saw her dart off back into the direction of NightClan camp. And then I wake back up, the RainClanner thought to himself, shaking his head. Even in my dreams, my speech impediment is a problem, the dark red tom thought to himself and sighed, breathing out frosty white air in the cold Leafbare day.

The tom had left RainClan camp in the early hours of this particular Leafbare morning after another frustrating day of tossing and turning without sleep. The tom had done everything to get the NightClan calico out of his head -- including increasing his activity with his apprentice and with his clan to keep himself busy. And yet, she still stuck with him and her stuttering voice seemed the definition of pure beauty and grace. Gorgelight did not know why this cat haunted him so -- but he loved every minute of it.

The warrior also did not know why his big paws began to move towards the NightClan - RainClan border. The tom could make up any excuse in the book about how he scented prey in the direction of the border or thought that a NightClanner was coming into his clan's territory. But, in truth, as the tom arrived at the border, his intentions her quite obvious.

He scented only for Echobreeze.

And he never listens to them

[/color]
He knows that they're the fools[/center]
[/size]

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~~

The calico NightClan cat rose to her paws in the early light of day, as she did every morning. She stretched her slightly body, her soft coat prickling slightly with the stretch. Once satisfied, she slipped out, avoiding the other members of her Clan. She was awake before the launch of the dawn patrol, and the stillness of the camp was a relief to the young warrior. Too much noise succeeded only in causing more trouble for the timid calico. She made her way towards the entrance to the camp, ducking through it and past the cat standing guard. No one asked her questions, ever. No one really saw her anyway.

Her mottled pelt shifted as she began to pad absently through the territory she was supposed to call home. She sighed heavily, her breath coming out in a thick puff of steam as it froze upon contact with the freezing air. She was used to walking with her head down, eyes trained on the snow these past few nights. Where it was white, there was less chance of seeing his image. With every brown tree, she saw his coat. She still remembered it, what it felt like, because it was all a part of her dreams.

She still remembered the spot she’d last seen him, and her paws took her there, as if on instinct. The trees flicked by her as she moved almost silently through the snow. Slowly, it came in to view. The expanse of RainClan territory that stretched past NightClan’s border. The blue, frozen rivers, the white landscape framing those tinted rivers… She wondered what it was like to walk those paths, to walk near the river beds. She sighed softly, her paws pausing at the border once more. She frequently came here. But never further. Every since she’d watched him go, she’d returned here, pulled by some unseen force.

She gave another soft sigh, feeling the slightest exhaustion tugging at her limbs. She turned towards one of the few deciduous trees, clambering up it a little awkwardly until she reached the first branch. Once there, she settled down on it carefully, adjusting herself so she would not fall out of it. Her long tail unfurled and hung down from the branch slightly, swaying softly. Her green eyes gazed upon the territory from this angle, taking in its wonder. Slowly, her eyes drifted closed, and she let herself doze slightly, though the sun was just beginning to rise. It had been a long trek to get here. She might as well reward herself with a sighting of him.

[Deleted]

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,
GORGELIGHT[/b][/size][/font]

Gorgelight's reddish mouth and off-white teeth were exposed as the tom gaped his jaws open to scent for Echobreeze. The tom had not come here often -- but not because this was the first time he had felt compelled to come visit the borders, but because up until this point, the russet tom had been trying very hard to block the calico NightClanner out of his head. Training his apprentice, hunting consistently ... his fellow RainClanners had thought that he was being particularly hard working and was feeling particularly concerned for his clan's well being. In reality, he was trying to stop himself from thinking about someone he should not.

The cold Leafbare air was quite windy on this particular morning and though the skies were clear of clouds, the warrior expected that the clans would be getting bad weather any day now, Gorgelight was thankful for the wind -- as he stood at the border, it was not long before the tom scented Echobreeze. His heart, upon catching her sweet scent, skipped a beat.

The tom pushed his way forwards, moving a little upwind while staying within the RainClan borders. There's no way I am getting myself lost in NightClan territory. Though I hope Echobreeze is here, if her scent is not fresh and I get lost, I will be doomed. I won't be lucky twice, Gorgelight thought to himself, opening his mouth intermittently as he padded to ensure that he not only stayed on his side of the border, but also did not miss the gentle NightClanner.

The tom suddenly stopped in his tracks to scent and found that the scent was very powerful. It is as if ... she is here? Gorgelight thought and suddenly took a sharp, slightly painful inhalation of air as he realized that she was right in front of him, in a tree, dozing. The ruddy tom was not sure what to do. As much as he wished to talk to her, he worried that she might become angry if she was awoken from her sleep. If I could get any sleep, I would be angry to be woken up, Gorgelight thought to himself.

And yet, the tom called the NightClan warrior's name. E-Echo?"

And he never listens to them

[/color]
He knows that they're the fools[/center]
[/size]

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~

She had been half asleep when a familiar scent wafted by her. The wind wasn’t right, so she didn’t recognize it right away, not getting a proper hit on it. She stirred slightly, her dream drifting conspicuously in and out of existence. There was a moment where she remained half awake, just with her eyes firmly closed. However, she soon decided it was nothing, and that the world of her dreams was better, because it had the large russet tom in it, and focused herself on falling back into that dream world. Until something called out her name. Or… Part of her name.

Her green eyes shot open and her head came up rather quickly. She blinked in obvious confusion as she looked around, seeing nothing but trees and the RainClan territory. Until she realized that she should probably look somewhere in the downward direction. Her green eyed gaze flicked downwards, and then she saw him. Her pelt heated up instantly, and she barely managed to stammer out a name. ”G-Gorgel-light?”

She stared down at him, bewildered for a moment. Surely she must have been dreaming. He only every showed up in her dreams, after all. She slowly stood upon her branch, moving to clamber down off of it, so that she stood on the ground once more. She was suddenly small again, yet… She didn’t really mind. Her gaze was too focused on the russet tom before her. She realized that she was still a couple foxlengths back from the boarder, so she gingerly stepped forward, closing some of the distance between them. She stopped when she was about a tail length or two from her side of the border, turning her gaze up slightly to look at him. She opened her mouth, as though to say something. StarClan knew she wanted to say something, and yet… Nothing came out.

Finally, she managed to push a few words through. ”H-Hi… H-How are y-you..?” They were silly words, words she was almost certain he would ignore. Why should he talk to a NightClanner, especially one as tiny and obviously pathetic as she was. Still, she couldn’t stand by and say nothing, not when her heart leapt so violently in her chest at the sight of him.

[Deleted]

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,
GORGELIGHT[/b][/size][/font]

A generously sized smile graced his fuzzy russet maw as his vision was graced with the beautiful calico features of Echobreeze, in a groggy, yet completely awake state. 'G-Gorgel-light?' the NightClanner addressed him and the large tom dipped his head in greeting. If it wasn't for his broken voice, the young tom would seem almost graceful/polite. Instead, the tom felt that he appeared very blunt, curt, and unsure of himself -- even more so than Echobreeze, who also had a stutter.

As the fluffy tom regarded Echobreeze with sharp amber eyes, he felt glad that the she-cat had even remembered his name. The couple had only met and chatted for what seemed only like a few moments and though Echobreeze meant a great deal to Gorgelight (for reasons he could not quite place his paw on), the tom did not expect the NightClanner to feel the same.

The russet tom watched, forcing a smile on his face to avoid wincing and showing how bad for the timid calico as she forced herself to speak. If only she could read my thoughts, Gorgelight thought. He knew that because of them had a stutter, his only slightly worse than hers, communication was challenging. Hearing Echobreeze ask how he was, the tom felt his smile become a little more natural on his maw. Her words reminded him that though communication was challenging, it was not impossible. And the RainClanner would fight for the chance to speak to her no matter what.

"I-I ... 'm we ...ll," the tom struggled with his words but felt no embarrassment for his hesitancy in his speech around her. The fact that she also had trouble speaking put the russet tom at ease. "Are y-you ... ok?" the RainClanner asked, peering at the snow and hoping she would get the context that he referenced. At their last meeting, the fluffy tom had accidentally bumped into her and knocked her into the snow. He hoped with all his heart that it hadn't harmed her in any way.

And he never listens to them

[/color]
He knows that they're the fools[/center]
[/size]

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~

Relief swept over her as she heard the tom mention that he was well. She couldn't figure out why it was such a relief to her, it just was. When he managed to stammer out a question to her, the little calico found her paws fiddling with the snow nervously. Still, she felt compelled to answer his question. Normally she was reluctant to speak, but now... She recalled what had happened their last encounter, where she had accidentally been bumped into a bank of snow. It had been a cold experience, that was for sure. She hoped that he didn't hold himself accountable for it. It had been an accident, anyway. And she was fine. Which she should probably tell him.

She slowly looked up at him, and smiled softly, shyly. "I... I'm g-good... N-No harm d-done... I w-went to s-see our medicine c-cat when I g-got back, j-just in case." She wasn't sure why she had told him the last part, she just seemed to not have been able to stop. It was odd for her to talk so much. Normally, she would hardly speak a word. Conversations were something she avoid. In fact, she avoided most contact. But here... Here she wasn't afraid. Her fur heated up slightly as her brain suddenly decided to remind her that Gorgelight was right in front of her. She shook out her little coat, pretending to just be fluffing it out against the cold. In truth, she was trying to get rid of her nerves.

Her tail curled and uncurled repeatedly, something she wasn't exactly aware she was doing. Still, she tipped her head to the side slightly. "E-Ever s-since th-that d-day... I've c-come here. I... I really enjoy the v-view... It's j-just as beautiful everyday..." She whispered, only partially lying, motioning to the territory that stretched behind him. She was just talking again, not sure why, but unable to stop. She turned slightly, looking up at the tree she'd been in. "Th-That.... That's b-been my f-favorite s-spot..." Her voice trailed off as she shuffled her paws nervously once more, silently begging herself to just stop talking.

[/size]

[Deleted]

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,
GORGELIGHT[/b][/size][/font]

The orange and red-brown tabby tom flicked his fluffy tail as he regarded the pretty NightClan she-cat. the smile of his face was very much real as he listened, ears perked and breath somewhat with-held for her response. Gorgelight treasured every moment he could spend with his friend -- hence the smile. But, as the tom waited for Echobreeze to find her voice, he realized that if the results of him bumping into her during their last meeting turned to be harmful to Echobreeze, his smile would quickly fade.

The calico finally spoke -- meowing about how she was fine and had even gone to the NightClan medicine cat, named Smokefur Gorgelight believed, in order to ensure her health. With her drawn out phrases finally at a close, the big tom blew out the air he had been holding with a large woosh. The tom was very relieved with this answer. If any harm had come to Echobreeze, from him or in general, the tom would have been beside himself. Sometimes Gorgelight felt that he was on the edge between being content with life and from becoming a total basket case, unable of speaking his mind to hardly anyone. The russet tom had so many thoughts about life that he longed to speak of. "A-and N...Nigh... NightClan? H-how're they?" the RainClanner asked, but instantly regretted his choice of question. The tom had meant to simply make casual talk and in the midst of his nerves, had accidentally made a small faux-pas. The RainClanner had always been taught that asking about the affairs of other clan cats was prying and to be avoided. With the relationships of the clans being as tense as they were, the russet tom instantly realized this was a bad question to ask. But what was said was said, and he knew without any thought that it could not be taken back.

'E-Ever s-since th-that d-day... I've c-come here. I... I really enjoy the v-view... It's j-just as beautiful everyday...Th-That.... That's b-been my f-favorite s-spot... Echobreeze told him and Gorgelight nodded. It was true, RainClan was very unique and beautiful, no matter the season. In the warmer moons, the streams babbled and the birds chattered constantly by the green moss. In the winter, everthing was a shiny, snowy wonderland. The tom did not question the she-cat's choice of location too much. "A-all the prey ... s-shows up here," Gorgelight mewed, before realizing that, again, he sounded like an idiot. Echobreeze's reasoning was so legitimate. He should've just left the reason for him coming to the borders alone.

And he never listens to them

[/color]
He knows that they're the fools[/center]
[/size]

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~~

The little calico listened to the words he spoke, waiting until he was finished before she reacted. She felt a little bit uncomfortable now, because he had asked how NightClan was. Still, she felt compelled to answer him, as best she could. She took a moment, breathing in the cold air softly, before speaking slowly, hesitantly. "N-NightClan.... NightClan is f-fine... I s-suppose. Although..." Her voice became quieter as she finished. "I wouldn't really know." She didn't let any silence enter, however, instead choosing to speak. "I-I hope R-RainClan is w-well too." She said simply, her soft smile back on her lips.

She then thought about what he had said about the prey. Her green eyes flicked behind him, and she blinked slightly, before she began. "Th-That's... Interesting. I w-wonder if they s-scurry across the b-border, because we h-hardly find prey up here... It remains peacef-ful here." She shuffled her paws awkwardly for the millionth time, before she suddenly blurted out. "I l-like thrushes! W-What's your f-favorite prey to e-eat?"

And then her fur heated up and she ducked her head, ear flicking back in her embarrassment.

[/size]

[Deleted]

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,
GORGELIGHT[/b][/size][/font]

The RainClan tom felt bad instantly as he watched Echobreeze struggle with responding to his question involving NightClan. The calico's struggle, Gorgelight realized easily, was over how to go about answering his awkward, innocent, and stupid question, rather than simply because of her speech troubles. The russet tom, flicking him big tail, feared that Echobreeze would reject him for the question he asked -- like everyone else did. Within his clan, the tom had always felt that the moment he said or did something that was less thought out or ill-received, his relationship with those cats around him would simply be no more. The tom again found his breath trapped in his lungs as he waited for her to speak. Would this always be his relationship with her: him, waiting with baited breath for her to respond to his frequent failures, each time wondering if this was the final straw? The tom wondered if he could ever spring a new leaf.

The tom's hot breath whirred dust into the air as Echobreeze made idle chatter about how things were fine in NightClan and how she hoped things were for RainClan as well. In response, the tom simply bobbed his head up and down thoughtfully. He could chat further about his own clan to make it seem less like he was prying, but in all honestly, at the time, Gorgelight felt so uncomfortable that he wanted to just turn tail and head back into RainClan camp. And yet, something drew him to continue the conversation with Echobreeze.

'Th-That's... Interesting. I w-wonder if they s-scurry across the b-border, because we h-hardly find prey up here... It remains peacef-ful here,' Echobreeze commented on Gorgelight's words and he let out a misplaced laugh. "I ... s-should tell 'em ... t ... to go b-back, home," the tom mewed, nodding in the direction of NightClan. If the prey belonged in NightClan land, then the tom believed that they should be there. He felt bad that the prey was somehow drawn to his side of the border. Not that we have been over run with prey since the rivers froze over, the tom added to himself silently, but refrained from speaking of such things with Echobreeze. It'd be too awkward.

'I l-like thrushes! W-What's your f-favorite prey to e-eat' Echobreeze blurted out, startling the russet tom slightly. It was an interesting question she posed and honestly, he was glad that it was there as a good conversation starter for the pair. "At ... t-this puh ... p-point ... I'd eat a-anything. B-but I ... like v-voles," Gorgelight meowed and suddenly felt his stomach rumble. The tom was reminded of "why" he had come out to the area in the first place -- to catch some kill and maybe get something for himself to eat while he was at it.

And he never listens to them

[/color]
He knows that they're the fools[/center]
[/size]

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~~

Echobreeze had let out a little giggle as Gorgelight had made the comment about telling the prey to return home. She thought it was funny, and a very clever thing to say. It was obvious in the little purr that escaped her maw. And then the big tom answered her silly question, much to her surprise. "At ... t-this puh ... p-point ... I'd eat a-anything. B-but I ... like v-voles," She nodded at his words, opening her mouth to formulate a reply for him, when suddenly she was cut off by a rumbling sound. She blinked, confused for a moment. What on earth had that been? And then, she figured it out. It had been Gorgelight's stomach. She giggled slightly, her tail flicking happily, a little more at ease.

She tipped her head to the side, but for once it wasn't in confusion. It was simple joy. "It l-looks like StarClan is in a s-state of unrest!" She felt her pelt heat slightly, so she decided she should probably explain herself. "I... I don't remember who it was... B-But when I was younger, someone would t-tell me that... A-And that, in order to return p-peace to StarClan and end the r-rumbles... I had to eat the gracious gift given to us by StarClan, and p-praise them. S-Sorry... That was childish of me." She mewed softly, blinking up at him. It was getting easier and easier to look at Gorgelight for longer periods of time now. She wasn't sure why, but it was true. There was definitely something about the stuttering tom. Something she just couldn't quite pinpoint yet.

[Deleted]

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,
GORGELIGHT[/b][/size][/font]

The glowing amber eyes of the RainClanner watched Echobreeze's petite body get rocked with a soft laugh. Though Gorgelight had caused the calico warrior an awful lot of trouble, he was content that he could at least make the NightClanner laugh. Gorgelight felt that if he couldn't even do that, he wasn't worth her time at all and should just leave her at peace.

The tom felt his fur heat up quickly as he saw her glance around after his belly had rumbled. The RainClanner hadn't realized how loud his stomach had been and felt silly and embarrassed to have made his hunger known. I'm pathetic, the warrior thought to himself for a moment, starting to regret even waking up this morning. 'It l-looks like StarClan is in a s-state of unrest!' Echobreeze meowed in a joking tone and laughed at herself, but he did not laugh -- simply because he did not understand. Gorgelight tilted his head as he watched the NightClanner. Should I ... laugh even though I don't understand? What if she continued talking about it and asked how I knew about it? Then my secret would be found out! But isn't it rude not to say anything? the tom asked himself, his mind whirling and his eyes somewhat unfocused. The russet tom would not have stopped thinking about the proper way to address this problem -- but Echobreeze saved him from her thoughts, beginning to explain herself to the tom. 'I... I don't remember who it was... B-But when I was younger, someone would t-tell me that... A-And that, in order to return p-peace to StarClan and end the r-rumbles... I had to eat the gracious gift given to us by StarClan, and p-praise them. S-Sorry... That was childish of me,' the calico she-cat told him, ending with n apologetic tone. Gorgelight tossed his head. "I-I ... don ... don't k-know that s-story," the tom commented and let out a laugh -- but regretted it, once more hoping that the sensitive she-cat didn't think that he was laughing at her. I am laughing with you, I promise, the warrior thought to himself.

"W-we ... be ... better h-hunt" Gorgelight choked out, changing the topic.

And he never listens to them

[/color]
He knows that they're the fools[/center]
[/size]

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~~~~

The little calico she-cat ducked her head, giggling softly in her embarrassment. She blinked down at the ground bellow her, drawing little marks in the snow as she sat. When he told her that he was not familiar with that story, she looked up at him reassuringly. "N-Not many people are. I... It m-might have just b-been that one cat... Who I c-can't remember... M-Maybe they used it... To k-keep my mother's m-memory close..." She murmured. She suddenly realized that she was taking this in a direction she shouldn't, not when she hardly knew him. She suddenly worried she would chase him way. It came as a relief when the tom suggested going out hunting. She was about to agree, glad for the distraction, but she suddenly stopped, blinking at him for a moment.

Slowly, her eyes tracked down to the border that separated them. Her ears tipped back slightly and she reached out, gently prodding the invisible division with a forepaw. She suddenly felt... She felt crushed. The thought of hunting with him had sparked something in her little body, an excitement she had not felt since she was a young kit, had lit in her chest. But it was soon extinguished as she remembered their differences. She opened her mouth, trying to figure out what she could say. "I... I'll meet you... B-Back here after the h-hunt?" She suggested softly, before ducking her head again. "I-If you want..."

[/size]

[Deleted]

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,
GORGELIGHT[/b][/size][/font]

The russet tom could almost feel the heat of embarrassment rising off of the other warrior's pelt as he watched her struggle with that fact that she had just betrayed information from her past to him. N-Not many people are. I... It m-might have just b-been that one cat... Who I c-can't remember... M-Maybe they used it... To k-keep my mother's m-memory close..' Echobreeze meowed to him and the tomcat smiled gently. He was glad that the calico had informed him that it might not be common information, but was unsure how to respond to the comment about the NightClanner's mother. Should I ask her about it? I mean, I don't know her well and it might seem like prying again. But would it insensitive for me to ask? The russet tom wondered. "I-i'm soh ... sorry for y-your loss," the RainClanner stuttered, feeling it was an appropriate comment for her words.

The NightClanner quickly changed the subject, commenting on the need to hunt and the boundary separating the pair. 'I... I'll meet you... B-Back here after the h-hunt? I-If you want...' Echobreeze suggested and the tom nodded. It'll have to do. I don't see another way, Gorgelight thought to himself. "M-maybe we ... c-can swwhhh ... s-switch off o-our catch," the tom suggested. He had always wondered watch prey from another clan tasted like and this was the opportunity to do so without it seeming wrong.

And he never listens to them

[/color]
He knows that they're the fools[/center]
[/size]

[BlooRey DVD]

Echobreeze
~~~~~~~

The NightClanner dipped her head slightly to him as he expressed some regret towards the passing of her mother. Part of her wanted to tell him that she hadn't really known her mother, but it might not be appropriate for two cats who didn't exactly know each other. It was odd how she felt as though she knew this tom so much better than she actually did. "M-maybe we ... c-can swwhhh ... s-switch off o-our catch," She blinked curiously at this, before nodding her head to him. "I-I... I would l-like that a l-lot." She told him, smiling brightly at him. This... It would almost be as though they were sharing prey. Her pelt felt warm at the thought of this. She rose to her paws, taking one small step back. "S-See.... See you soon!" She mewed softly as she turned.

Her little frame bunched as she took the first bound away, glancing once more over her shoulder at Gorgelight. She was suddenly determined to catch him something good. Maybe... He had mentioned that he liked voles. She decided she would catch him a vole. That was she knew for sure he would be happy. She darted through the territory, heading towards the best hunting spot. She'd managed to catch a few voles here, she was sure. She slowed her pace, giving herself a moment to catch her breath. She didn't want to scare off all the prey just by breathing. Once satisfied, she began slipping silently through the undergrowth, jaws parted.

The first scent she caught was of a mouse. She tracked it, only to find it had gone underground. She shrugged it off, searching again. Squirrel... She stalked through the undergrowth, doing her best to keep quiet. She was too excited about seeing Gorgelight again to really focus. But she was hunting for Gorgelight. It was no vole, but it would have to do. Closer... Closer... With a bound, she managed to pin the squirrel and kill it quickly. She had had to trek well away from where she had scented the mouse to get the squirrel. She bent to pick it up, when another scent caught her nose. Burying the squirrel hurriedly, telling herself she would come back for it later, Echobreeze slunk forward, hope flaring through her. It couldn't be much further... There!

A vole skittered through the undergrowth, its little breath steaming out of its muzzle. Echobreeze just had to do this just right... Once she felt she was close enough, she leapt. It tried to flee, but she barely caught it by its tail, pulling it back so she could kill it. She thanked StarClan for her kills, picking up the vole and hurriedly making her way back to the area she was to meet Gorgelight.

Her little paws carried her as quickly as she could move, darting through the trees. Slowly, it came into view, and her heart fluttered excitedly. She slowed to a stop, her paws remaining on her side of the boarder. She lay to vole down by a nearby tree, where she could keep an eye on it, but far enough that she wouldn't be accused of stealing prey, should a cat who was not Gorgelight come by. And then she waited, her heart thrumming eagerly.

[/size]

[Deleted]

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him,
They can see that he's just a fool,
And he never gives an answer,
GORGELIGHT[/b][/size][/font]

A small, reserved smile forced its way on the torbie tom's muzzle as he listened to Echobreeze voice her happy agreement. The more they talked, the russet tom noted, the more confident Echobreeze's tones had become. The once stuttering, quiet and hesitant she-cat was blossoming the more the pair spoke. Not only was her stutter gradually being reduced, but the amount she was speaking to him was growing as well. Gorgelight was more than glad that the she-cat was finding him acceptable, non-intimidating company. The tom had felt that because of clan differences and his massive size, the barrier between the two cats would be hard to surpass. The RainClanner wished, that as he got on with Echobreeze, his stutter would disappear as well. The tom knew all too well that his stutter was beyond fear -- it dealt only with '-I... I would l-like that a l-lot, Echobreeze mewed -- the cause of his grin. A lot? Gorgelight thought. If he was a dog, he'd wag his tail. 'S-See.... See you soon!' Echobreeze cried out from where Gorgelight sat before leaving his side. Yes, see you soon, Gorgelight thought and momentary panic struck him in the form of sickness in his belly. What if she wan't really enthusiastic about their plan? What if she thought his words to be too personal and was running back to NightClan forever? What if I never see her beautiful face again? the tom thought and his facial features became strained. Echobreeze cast a single glance back at Gorgelight and electricity itched through his fur, his hackles raised by the heat of joy he felt. She means to return to me! the tom thought, before turning his large, fluffy body back towards the depths of RainClan territory.

The furry tom felt as giddy as an apprentice on the first day leaving camp as his paws bounced along in the snow. Usually, the snow as he treaded would have made his paws numb. But, a force from within -- his own happiness, kept him content. Gorgelight halted for a minute, lower his tail, straightening his back, and pulling his big ears forward to listen to the sounds of the Earth. With all the snow and ice in their territory, the tom had learned quickly that scenting was, for the most part, useless. The wet scent masked all other prey scents. The best way to find out the location was through sound. The simple scuffling of prey paws or the beating of birds' wings were magnified in the otherwise silent world, and the cracking ice let on the sound of the preys' steps.Thrushes ... Echobreeze's favorite food is a thrush, Gorgelight thought to himself and imagined her beside him, telling him so. Her presence always seemed to give the RainClanner confidence to do anything and everything --- but, as he soon recognized, he could not do the impossible, no matter how much strength she gave him. The impossible, Gorgelight understood, was that there were no thrushes to be found, no matter how much the tom could try. It was Leafbare -- any thrush would have flown south for the season with their flock. They aren't there ... no matter what I do, I will always disappoint her, the torbie maine coon thought to himself and found the giddiness escaping from his body, like his body heat, traveling through the air and turning just as cold, just as sad as the rest of nature.

Ears flattened the moment he heard the scuttling sounds of a creature. It isn't much and even though it isn't a thrush, it's better than nothing. I am surprised there is anything living here, at all, Gorgelight thought to himself before creeping forwards in a stalking form. Though the RainClanner had told Echobreeze that a lot of prey seemed to be present in this area, the tom's words were such a lie that they were laughable. RainClan territory, since their main source of prey, in the rivers and streams, was not accessible, was almost lifeless. The cats in his clan, from the elders to the tiniest kitten, were collectively starving in a way so pathetic and frightening to the 30 moon old tom. This was definitively the worst Leafbare he had ever seen.

The tom spotted a snowshoe rabbit sitting, eyes closed and trying to keep warm a few paw steps in front of him. Though the rabbit thought itself safe because its white pelt made it hard to spot in the snow, the rabbit could not trick Gorgelight. His sharp eyesight caught the prey in a moment and the tom smiled. I cannot fail ... though this rabbit is a sitting duck, the tortie thought and forced himself down closeto the ground until his red-brown chest fur dragged across the ground. His swishing tail became still and tucked underneath him. Even Gorgelight's ears pricked themselves back to make him as small as possible. His hunting posture was pretty good for a warrior of his age and it was impressive how the monstrous tom could become so small in an instant. The tom's back legs tensed and his claws unsheathed silently as he watched the white rabbit, still motionless. One instant, the rabbit was alive and thriving, and in the next, Gorgelight surged forward, large paws and claws outstretched, and came upon the rabbit, snapping its back and ending its life instantly.

The RainClanner scooped up the lifeless rabbit's body in his mouth and he felt his mouth watering at the tasty flavors of his kill. The rabbit seemed to be rather plump, Gorgelight realized with a surprise. The torbie took a moment then and there to cast his yellow gaze up to the sky and thank StarClan for his catch. Such a rabbit was rare and it seemed to the tom that the only way such a catch could exist would have been under StarClan's watch. Gorgelight was still and thanking StarClan for only a few moments before he suddenly realized how long he had been gone. The russet tom felt fear enter his heart. What if she had finished her hunt before me and had been waiting for me? what if she thought that I abandoned her, as I did before, and then really did leave? the russet-and-orange tom thought and his heart began to increase rapidly. The RainClanner did not waste another minute away from Echobreeze, nor did he care that he was scaring away half the prey in RainClan as he took off. Gorgelight tromped through the snow, forcing bits of snow and ice from under his large paws and into the air as he made a beeline for Echobreeze.

Once the tom saw the lithe calico form of Echobreeze before him, Gorgelight instantly straightened himself out and attempted to walk with a dignified sense to impress her. The tortie didn't want to seem like a mad, dashing fool, after all. Finally reaching Echobreeze's presence, the tom lowered his neck and unhinged his strong grip on the rabbit he had caught. Gorgelight pushed his prey to him with his nose, ignoring the cold sting of ice as he pushed. It was at this point that he noticed what Echobreeze had caught him. A vole.

The russet tortie was startled by the prey she had caught him and pushed his head up in the air, barely managing to get the rabbit to Echobreeze. The tom felt suddenly very sensitive and pushed his ears tight to his skull. If only I could have caught her a thrush, the russet tom thought to himself and gave a heavy sigh. "T-this ...all ... c-cou ... c-could find" Gorgelight told Echobreeze, his intense emotions showing in his eyes, dark and slightly lowered.

"T-thanks," Gorgelight blurted out, glancing down at the vole she had managed to catch and feeling his fur prickly and uncomfortable.

And he never listens to them

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He knows that they're the fools[/center]
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