[Deleted]

LILYSTREAM
RiverClan || Warrior

Lilystream had never been too bothered by the weather. Being a RainClan cat, she actually quite liked the rain, but today was an exception. With the flood still fresh in her mind, the calico warrior was a little nervous about rain and although it was only light rain, little more than drizzle, she was still cautious.
She still couldn’t quite believe she was a warrior and every morning, waking up in the Warriors’ Den still surprised her. Her vigil had been two nights ago, but Lilystream was surprisingly full of energy. So much so, that she hadn’t actually noticed the rain until she darted out into the clearing.
And now she looked a rather sorry sight. Sitting a few tail-lengths away from the River Stone, she was picking at a small trout, hunger the last thing on her mind. Lilystream planned on going out hunting later, it would just be her second hunt as a warrior.

Any company? Her pale green gaze sought out any cat that may be willing to accompany her on a little hunting expedition through the drizzle. Despite her bright and friendly nature, Lilystream hadn’t actually many cats who she could call her friends. Through her apprenticeship, Violetclaw had kept her training long days, leaving little time to socialise. The silver-furred warrior had a new apprentice, Swanpaw is it?
Lilystream had met the silver tabby apprentice once or time, but had heard she could be a real pain in the tail. Stubborn and proud, not the kind of cat Lilystream would chose as her friend. But someone had to be about.
She pushed aside her half-finished trout, I’ll finish it later, and rose to her paws, shaking the moisture from her pelt. I wonder whether Russethawk’s up for a bit of early morning hunting?

[Fawn]

RUSSETHAWK
Warrior || RainClan || 15 Moons

The most recent changes in rank had yet to settle in completely, Russethawk expression confusion at first upon seeing three familiar looking kittens all snuggled up cozily in the apprentices' den. It wasn't until he realized what had brought him to the apprentices' den in the first place that he recalled their recent advancement to apprenticeship. And I'm a mentor now, Great StarClan! Was that ever going to sink in?

Rather than disturb Rushpaw right away, Russethawk intended to let the smaller tabby tom get some much needed rest - the weather wasn't looking too promising this morning anyhow. Shaking out dense ruddy coat and handsome ruff, the RainClan tom set an easy path for the freshkill pile, the rainy atmosphere making the ground squelch a little underpaw, his pace picking up upon spotting a familiar face.
"Lilystream!" He mewed, heart fluttering against his ribcage; Fish guts. Was he groomed enough? Had he washed behind his ears? Before an uncharacteristic fretfulness could prove to be Russethawk's undoing, he bounced back to his usual self, nudging the she-cat's shoulder in a friendly manner with the side of his muzzle.
"Good morning. What's got you up so early?" Striking up an easy conversation, Russethawk, as always, found talking with his old friend to be an odd mix of relaxing and exhilarating, as if they were relaxing on giant lilypads and while it was very much fun, there was always the danger of embarrassing himself by falling in.

It hadn't really taken him long to figure out his own feelings for Lilystream - ever since they were kittens, crossing the treacherous, iced river and she had fallen in. He still considered that day to have been one of the scariest of his young life - but, Russethawk noted with a feeling of warm pride unfurling in his chest, those days of falling into the ice were long gone and both cats were no longer a bunch of silly kittens who did as they pleased.

When was the last time they had gone hunting together? Russethawk's green eyes glinted, feeling better than he had in moons.
If I can't remember then we're long overdue for some time together.

[Deleted]

LILYSTREAM
RiverClan || Warrior

Lilystream’s pale green gaze instantly danced with happiness when she spotted an old friend padding towards her. Russethawk. The calico warrior’s heart did a little skip and a smile instantly sprung to her face.
”Lilystream!”
Grinning, the newly named warrior almost forgot about the rain. It was only when glancing self-consciously down at her chest that she realised she looked an absolute state. Oh, fish dung. Why now?
After hurriedly smoothing down her sodden pelt, Lilystream attempted to shake the moisture from her patched fur, only to realise that she had just splashed Russethawk. What is with me today?
“Sorry!” she meowed apologetically, rising to her paws and quickly forgetting about the small trout. Trying to force her self-conscious thoughts aside, she beamed at Russethawk for a few moments. Just act normal, Lilystream, just act normal.

Thankfully, the ruddy-coloured tom didn’t seem put off by her sodden state, "Good morning. What's got you up so early?"
The tortoiseshell-and-white warrior suddenly felt a lot more at ease, “Oh, no particular reason,” she meowed smoothly, “The sun woke me, though it seems as soon as I awoke, it decided to go back to sleep again,”she joked, glancing up at the clouded grey sky. The rain had started to ease a little, the rain drops smaller and further between.
“How come you’re up so early?” the calico she-cat asked, attempting to push the conversation onwards, “Oh, are you taking Rushpaw out? Because if you need to get going, just let me know, I don’t mind.”
From her words, it may have come across that the new warrior didn’t mind if Russethawk needed to scurry off to attend to mentor duties, but deep down, she desperately hoped he didn’t have to, at least not yet. It felt like moons since she’d last spent time with the RainClan warrior.
Hopefully, hopefully he may even have enough time to go out hunting with her?

ooc~ Sorry for taking such a long time to respond! Life's been a bit busy!

[Fawn]

RUSSETHAWK
Warrior || RainClan || 15 Moons

Head tilted back to look where she indicated, the sun indeed hidden away by a thick swathe of bruised looking clouds, the light drizzle looking as though it would intensify before too long. Glancing once more at Lilystream, Russethawk's expression easily formed into a grin of agreement, not even mention of his very first apprentice able to make him hesitate when it came to spending time with his best friend. "I'm going to take him out hunting later, once the rain stops. The river might be too full to fish safely, so I'll wait it out."

A small shadow passed over the emerald green eyes of the handsome russet tom. The last thing he ever wanted was to see someone drown again - least of all someone he was supposed to look after and nurture. Quick to cast aside any thoughts that would disturb him for the rest of the day, Russethawk's front limbs came forward, the rest of his body leaning back into an easy stretch, spine then arching perfectly. "Wanna go fishing with me, Lily? It feels like it's been moons since we've spent any time together - besides, we can make it fun and turn it into a competition or something." Emerald gaze sparkling with the tom's characteristic levels of playfulness, Russethawk was 100% certain any mornings with the she-cat he cared in more ways than he dared elaborate would prove to be time well spent.

Even if they decided to have a leisurely round of fishing, simply taking and catching up with all that had passed since they had each become warriors in their own right, Russethawk would still consider that a worthwhile experience. When one was with friends and having fun, the activity didn't matter - it was the pleasurable company that did.

Spotting Razorfang out of the corners of his eyes, Russethawk's posture stiffened slightly, ears pricking forward with interest as he almost opened his mouth to call out to his former mentor and current older brother figure - but something stopped him. I don't really want him to see me with Lilystream just yet. Truth of the matter was... Now that they were warriors, their close friendship was likely to be viewed as something else entirely; make no mistake, Russethawk would be more than glad to allow their friendship to evolve into something much stronger, but until he was sure that's what Lilystream wanted...

He wasn't going to chance an encounter with Razorfang, not when he didn't want the older tom getting any ideas. Putting on another grin, Russethawk brushed his damp coat against hers, calico fur mixing with deep russet. "Quick, let's get out of here before Razorfang decides to send us on patrol."

[Deleted]

LILYSTREAM
RiverClan || Warrior

"I'm going to take him out hunting later, once the rain stops. The river might be too full to fish safely, so I'll wait it out."
With the russet-furred tom grinning widely at her, Lilystream couldn’t help but return the gesture, pale green eyes alight with happiness. It felt like forever since she’d last spent time with Russethawk, far too long for the young calico warrior.
Lilystream could see why the young warrior didn’t want to take out his apprentice in the current weather condition. As young apprentices, the calico warrior had fallen through the ice and if it hadn’t been for Russethawk, she might have been pulled under the icy current, never to be seen again. Just the thought of what could have happened had the russet-coloured tom not heard her cry for help gave the young warrior the shudders. Lilystream felt she owed him one for that day, more than that in fact, one could say she owed him her life.

"Wanna go fishing with me, Lily? It feels like it's been moons since we've spent any time together - besides, we can make it fun and turn it into a competition or something."
Lilystream’s heart gave a little flutter and she grinned, pale green orbs locking with Russethawk’s emerald green ones, “A competition?” she echoed, eyes flashing with a playful challenge, “Bring it on.”
The young calico warrior wasn’t very well known for her competitive streak, it didn’t surface often, only really in training sessions when she’d been an apprentice and when she was with friends.
Even if they didn’t end up having a little competition or it poured with rain, Lilystream wasn’t that bothered. Just the thought of spending time with the handsome russet warrior brought a smile to her face and made her heart flip about like a fish out of water.
The tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat wasn’t quite sure what had gotten into her. She couldn’t quite remember when she’d started to feel this way around Russethawk, one thing’s for sure was that she’d never felt it before. Sure, Lilystream had other friends and her sister, but spending time with them didn’t give her such a rush as being with the russet-furred warrior did.

The calico she-cat quickly noticed Russethawk’s change in behaviour. Following his gaze, she spotted Razorfang, Ah, his former mentor. Lilystream knew that he was very close to the RainClan deputy, he looked up to him, almost like a brother.
Russethawk seemed as though he was about to call out his former mentor but refrained, the calico she-cat could sense a little tension in his movements.
The slender patched she-cat’s heart flooded with warmth when Russethawk pressed his fur against hers, meowing, "Quick, let's get out of here before Razorfang decides to send us on patrol."
Lilystream nodded, stretching out in the sunlight briefly before rising to her paws and darting ahead in the direction of the camp entrance. Pale green orbs Sparkling with amusement, she meowed over her shoulder playfully, “Come on, slow slug!”

[Fawn]

RUSSETHAWK
Warrior || RainClan || 15 Moons

Russethawk did not want to bring down the mood - the two cats having arrived at a choice fishing location after an energetic sprint through RainClan territory - but his spirits were up and he felt the need to voice aloud his gratitude for this fun little outing of things. "I don't mean to stir up any dark thoughts, but, thanks for agreeing to go fishing with me, Lilystream. With Razorfang acting so distant lately and...the battle, I could really use this chance to just be myself again." By 'the battle' he was obviously referring to the slaughter that had happened in StoneClan's home territory, the rocks stained with the blood of all three Clans, though obviously not equally.

Sandstar's decision to ally against StoneClan with LightningClan had been haunting him ever since he'd come home, a battle-shocked soldier horrified by the terrible violence and bloodshed he'd witnessed there. A medicine cat had died, not to mention elders and even a few queens had been caught up in the ravaging wave of cats who had struck out at StoneClan like the a war hammer. Russethawk was doing his best not to dwell on such morbid, disturbing moments, insisting on blocking out the most traumatizing, focusing on the present rather than the past. Smiling to show that he was coping well so far, Russethawk playfully brushed his pelt against hers, smiling at the pretty calico by his side. It was funny, really. He could remember back when they'd been the same size - a couple of small wannabe apprentices running through the nursery and getting into all sorts of trouble - yet now, the distinction between a male warrior and a female warrior couldn't have been clearer, though Lilystream's name and plush calico fur certainly contributed to it. She was recognizably feminine, while he was everything a male warrior should've been - tall of stature, hard of muscle and with a proud lift of the chin and blaze of the eyes that left little room for doubt that he was a warrior in the truest sense. She was a warrior too, but she was not casting such a powerful aura as to cause others to think of her as a tomboy or some nonsense like that.

She was Lilystream, a beautiful she-cat who had really grown into her fur and her figure as the moons had rolled past. He couldn't help but notice how much they didn't look like kits anymore, how mature they appeared, even if their brains were a little slow to catch up.
"How's your family? It feels like I haven't talked with you at all, lately. Any big changes?" With the loss of his parents, one would think that Russethawk would avoid the subject of family, but now more than ever he was interested in the interactions between his friends and their families, wanting them to cherish the bonds they had, for he of all cats knew that life was short and didn't always go the way you wanted it to.

[Deleted]

LILYSTREAM
RainClan || Warrior

Lilystream’s heart had been fluttering before they even left camp, but after their mad dash, the pretty calico’s heart was leaping about like crazy and she was a little worried it may burst. This was how it should be, spending time with her best friend. She grinned at the handsome russet-furred tom, Wait. Handsome?
But the tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat didn’t have any time to question her thoughts, because Russethawk had started to speak.
"I don't mean to stir up any dark thoughts, but, thanks for agreeing to go fishing with me, Lilystream. With Razorfang acting so distant lately and...the battle, I could really use this chance to just be myself again."
Lilystream gave an understanding nod, she smiled sympathetically at the ruddy-coloured warrior, “Of course,” she meowed, nuzzling him affectionately, “That’s what best friends are for, right?”friends. As much as the long-furred calico loved having Russethawk as a friend, she could help but want to be more than friends. Don’t be silly, Lilystream. You’re just friends, why would someone like Russethawk like you? You’re easily excitable, still have a kit-like mind and play stupid games like ‘fox-tag.’ Well, she might have exaggerated the last bit, the last time she’d played ‘fox-tag’ had been as a new apprentice with Russethawk.

Shaking the thoughts to the back of her mind, the calico warrior studied the warrior beside her. Although he was smiling, Lilystream could see the mixture of shock and sadness in his emerald eyes. Lilystream herself hadn’t been in the battle, she’d been one of the back-up warriors, awaiting the command to attack in case they needed help, but she’d never been called to the front-line.
And judging from what she’d heard about the battle from fellow RainClanners, she was glad she hadn’t had to witness such an event. Lilystream was no fighter, she could fight, she just didn’t like it. The calico warrior believed what they had done, RainClan and LightningClan, driving out StoneClan, was not right, not right at all.
"How's your family? It feels like I haven't talked with you at all, lately. Any big changes?"
Lilystream was surprised at how easily Russethawk was able to talk about family after… After what happened to Snoweye and Brookrun in the flood.
“Oh, they’re good,” she began warily, not wanting to say anything that could upset the handsome russet-furred tom or remind him of what happened to his parents, “Of course there was Hawk-kit, going off to StoneClan. And Tricklepaw’s annoyed at me for being made a warrior before her,”she spoke fondly of her sister, pale green eyes dancing with amusement.
The calico warrior’s attention rested on Russethawk once more. She contemplated bringing up the subject of his parents, but she wasn’t sure whether or not to. Lilystream didn’t want to upset her ruddy-furred companion, but on the other hand, he may want to talk about it to someone?
In the end, the calico she-cat decided to risk it, “What about yours? I mean, I’m so sorry about your parents, but”- Lilystream wasn’t quite sure how to finish that sentence, “I guess what I’m trying to say is, do you want to talk about them?”

[Fawn]

RUSSETHAWK
Warrior || RainClan || 15 Moons

A sad smile ghosted across ruddy features, the emerald spark in his normally upbeat gaze dimming as though it had just rained, a fresh wave of grief passing over the normally so composed, upbeat tom. It wasn't Lilystream's pleasant chatter about her family that had brought on such a brief, distraught moment in Russethawk, it was his best friend's open invitation to talk about it. Despite the hollowness in his chest returning, he drew in a calm, steadying breath.
"I don't know how much there is to say, really." His response was not snappy or a brush off of any kind, simply honest. Tail-tip flicking, Russethawk continued, looking past his pretty calico friend to something in the distance, not properly focusing. "I've talked to Bravebird about it, and Roselight, and Razorfang... I've even sent a few prayers to StarClan to send me a sign that my parents are doing well. I get nightmares, sometimes, but not so much about them anymore."

A darkening of the brave young tom's countenance revealed just how much he'd 'enjoyed' the battle that had driven StoneClan from their home - which was to say, not at all. "Most of my nightmares are about that battle. You're so lucky, Lilystream," tone taking on something that was almost wistful, Russethawk's emerald green gaze registered a tortured, fragmented soul inside of a red, medium-furred body. He wasn't talking about her having parents. "You didn't get to participate in that fight. You didn't get to see it. It was awful. There's no glory in battle - not like that. It was murder, Lilystream, plain and simple murder."

A violent shudder convulsed through Russethawk's body, his expression lessening into a look of worry and left-over fear of the repercussions of their actions against the stone-dwelling Clan. He didn't dare bring up Razorfang's behavior. It was both out of a brotherly love to protect Razorfang's reputation as well as to keep intact Lilystream's sanity that he left out his former mentor's insane act of violence. He took one of Hawkstar's lives. He actually KILLED a Clan leader and would've killed him again if Wolfclaw hadn't shouted for a retreat.

It had been the first time in Russethawk's life that he had truly and deeply feared Razorfang. It had gone beyond a youngster's fear of an older, more experienced cat. Russethawk surmised that he would've felt the same nightmarish desire to scream and flee if he'd come across Demon on RainClan territory. It had been that scary. Even recalling it now put a chill to Russethawk's blood that no amount of hours on the Sun Stones could ever hope to cure.

[Deleted]

LILYSTREAM
RainClan || Warrior

Lilystream studied the Russethawk’s expression for a moment before the handsome ruddy-pelted tom responded. "I don't know how much there is to say, really."
He paused and the calico she-cat gave an understanding nod, but didn’t want to interrupt the russet-furred warrior. It was a sensitive subject, she could tell by the distant look in his eyes, and Lilystream didn’t want to upset him.
"I've talked to Bravebird about it, and Roselight, and Razorfang... I've even sent a few prayers to StarClan to send me a sign that my parents are doing well. I get nightmares, sometimes, but not so much about them anymore."
The pretty calico warrior flicked her tail softly to show she was following. Her pale green orbs met Russethawk’s emerald ones for a moment before they flickered away. Nightmares, Lilystream had never really had a true nightmare, for which she was grateful. In all truth, there was nothing really for the calico she-cat to have nightmares about.

"Most of my nightmares are about that battle. You're so lucky, Lilystream,"…"You didn't get to participate in that fight. You didn't get to see it. It was awful. There's no glory in battle - not like that. It was murder, Lilystream, plain and simple murder."
Lilystream swallowed, pale green eyes stretching wide at the mention of the battle against StoneClan. The tortoiseshell-and-white warrior had been firmly against that battle right from the start. StoneClan had as much as a right as any of the clans to live in the valley, they shouldn’t have been driven out. She didn’t know how Redstar and Sandstar could’ve been so stupid as to decide to do such a thing.
The calico she-cat looked up from her paws to her handsome russet companion, “I still can’t believe Sandstar agreed to such a thing,” she meowed, pale green orbs trailing back down to her paws, “There have always been five clans, even before they came to the valley. What did StoneClan do to deserve being driven out? What did we get from it anyway, a little extra territory?”
The calico warrior desperately wanted to say something to lighten the conversation, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. Her green orbs settled on Russethawk once more. She could sense there was something the brave russet-coloured warrior was hiding from her.
“Are you ok?” the tortoiseshell-and-white warrior’s green eyes searched Russethawk for a moment. She didn’t know whether it was the mention of the battle or his parents that had sent a violent shudder through him. Lilystream inclined her head and studied him for a moment, green eyes deep with concern.

 

[Fawn]

RUSSETHAWK
Warrior || RainClan || 15 Moons

"RainClan needed the territory," mewed Russethawk bitterly, by no means justifying Sandstar's decisions so much a stating the obvious logic behind them. "There were other ways that could've been solved, like hunting in the mountains or something instead of driving StoneClan out all together." There's going to be a price to pay when they return. IF they return. What if StoneClan was truly lost for good? No cat had any idea where their rock-dwelling fifth Clan had disappeared, and not without trying to follow stale scent trails would anyone ever find out. In the dark miasma of his thoughts, the red warrior almost hadn't heard Lilystream's tentative questioning mew.
"What? Oh. Sorry, I'll knock it off, I promise." Forcing a smile, Russethawk's whiskers twitched as a few deep inhales served to calm his frayed nerves, conscious of the concern written all over the pretty calico's face. He couldn't bear to have her look so upset because of him. It meant a lot to be able to discuss his thoughts with someone of the same age as him - Roselight and Razorfang were great council, but they had a perspective on the world that did not match his own that was probably due mostly to experience - but not if it was going to disturb Lilystream so much.

Opting to switch moves, Russethawk let his pelt brush against hers as extra consolation that he had returned to himself, letting the sound of his own purring vibrate in his throat, a calming gesture he could recall his mother doing for him whenever he was upset by something. She would nuzzle him for a few moments and simply purr, the sound as comforting as the fallen she-cat's scent to him. The loud jeer of a blue jay overhead snapped Russethawk's head back, green eyes fixing upon the source of the noise with a small smile.
"Even the birds are sick of my complaints."

It was true that his tattered heart was still trying to stitch itself together after having witnessed such horrors, but just as he'd done with his parents' deaths, he would stubbornly refuse to allow his grief to consume him. Brookrun and Snoweye were both likely to scold their young son if he ever allowed his emotions to devour him in such a negative, soul-shattering way. He needed to focus on the living. Focus on the present, learn from the past, and be prepared for the future. Gaze settling on Lilystream, he paused, feeling his spirits lift a little now that he gave the she-cat by his side the attention she deserved.

It really DID tear at his heart to see her looking so upset over him. As if he were standing on ceremony, the ruddy warrior made a promise to himself, to keep her from worrying about him like this. To keep those beautiful green eyes from filling up with concern and making her smile fade away like an old memory.

Friends may've been there to console each other and stuff, but... She felt a little too special to him to be classified as 'just' a friend.

[Deleted]

LILYSTREAM
RainClan || Warrior

All the while the red warrior spoke, Lilystream listened intently, pale green eyes clouded with concern for her handsome russet friend. Friends, best friends. Neither of the words could quite fit how the young calico she-cat wanted her relationship with Russethawk to be.
As much as she loved having him as her friend, her best friend at that, the way she felt around him just felt too true, too strong to just be friends.
His russet pelt brushing against her patched calico one, Lilystream couldn’t help but feel her mood brighten. Pressing against the slightly older tom, their pelts blending together. Letting out a soft, rumbling purr, the pretty calico warrior, feeling a little braver, nuzzled him softly.
Pulling away from him, she was little nervous at what Russethawk might think of her act of affection. It was the sort of thing her mother had done with her when she’d been uncertain, she just hoped the red-furred warrior was ok with it.

"Even the birds are sick of my complaints."
Lilystream’s eyes grew a little wider at Russethawk’s last comment. Shaking her head, she mewed, her voice soft, “I’m not sick of your complaints,” she edged a little closer to him, “They’re not complaints anyway. I think…” she swallowed, “I think what you did in the battle was brave. I would never have been able to do what you did, I just wouldn’t be able to bring myself to do it.”
The pretty calico feline smiled shyly at her handsome russet companion, “What about we do a bit of fishing now?” her green eyes glittered with playful competitive spirit, beckoning to the nearby pool, “A sort of friendly competition, whoever catches the least has to carry all the prey back to camp, single-pawed.”
With luck, a little competition would cheer the tom right up. Resting her tail tip on his flank, the pretty feline smiled warmly at the russet-pelted tom. She couldn’t help but find herself getting a little lost in his emerald green eyes and after a few moments, she jerked her head back shyly.
Snap out of it, Lilystream! What’s gotten into you, it’s just Russethawk.
But he wasn’t 'just Russethawk', not to Lilystream at least. He was Russethawk, her best friend and that’s all there was too it. If only they were more.

 

[Fawn]

RUSSETHAWK
Warrior || RainClan || 15 Moons

It warmed the young tom to the core to hear Lilystream and feel her support when she nuzzled him, making it clear that the pretty calico feline would be there for him regardless of whatever happened. She would still be there, even if he lost himself for a little while, and it would be her paw - one amongst many, he now realized - who would drag him out of the darkness and back into the light where he belonged. Returning the nuzzle, Russethawk purred a little, producing the sound more to soothe himself and express his thanks to her in a way that wouldn't require words, his emerald green eyes lightening at mention of their friendly competition.

"You're on! fishing or land prey?" he teased, nudging her shoulder with his before bounding a little closer to the river, finding that a little light-hearted rivalry between the two of them for the afternoon would be enough to get his mind off of...everything else. Eager to throw himself into the task of totally whooping Lilystream's tail and providing the Clan with plenty to eat, the young warrior began to feel a little more like himself today, not so much in a rush to say he'd 'grown up' to the point where games like these would no longer appeal to him, not in a rush to let any more negative thoughts catch up with him.

Fortunately, despite the light rain, the rivers and streams were still relatively plentiful, and Russethawk spied several sleek plump bodies darting beneath the waters' surface and through the tangle of reeds and cat-tails. Snatching a glance at Lilystream from the corners of his eyes, Russethawk waited until she was distracted to slap and scoop at the water, splashing the pretty calico in a completely immature way to initiate play - and make up for his depressingly abysmal behavior earlier.

[Deleted]

LILYSTREAM
RainClan || Warrior

Lilystream grinned, eyes glimmering with the prospect of a little friendly competition, "Fishing," she challenged the russet-furred tom, bounding after him closer to the riverside.
The calico feline found her pale green orbs mesmerized by the light that danced on the surface of the water as the river babbled past and it wasn't until it was too late that she realised what Russethawk was doing with his paw in the water.
Lilystream suddenly found herself being splashed and she stumbled back a few steps, caught of guard by this sudden move, "Hey!" Shaking the water droplets from her pelt, the pretty calico she-cat let her eyes wander back to her handsome russet companion, "I'll get you for that, just you wait and see," she meowed secretively, pale green orbs dancing with amusement.
The calico RainClanner took another step closer to the water's edge, peering down to see if she could catch a glimpse of a fish, hiding in the shadows. Though, after looking for several heartbeats, she realised that there was nothing there, Oops! Were we really that noisy?
Lilystream glanced over at Russethawk, "Should we head upstream? I think we may have scared the fish off here," she suggested, warm green orbs meeting Russethawk's emerald-green ones. For a few moments she found herself getting a little lost in just admiring the red warrior. Blinking, realising she had been staring at him, the calico she-cat flattened her ears against her head in embarrassment, looking away.

ooc - I can't even put into words how sorry I am about how long I took to reply! My muse went walkies, then I was really busy at home and stuff. Again, I am sooo sorry! Also, sorry for it being such a short post! My muse disappeared half way through. :/

 

[Fawn]

RUSSETHAWK
Warrior || RainClan || 15 Moons

Is she embarrassed because we were loud?

Russethawk had caught the look she'd given him – or at least just the direction she was looking in, and hadn't seen anything unusual about it. It had been the look she'd always given him, right? When he noticed Lilystream's slightly bashful behavior, he'd been puzzled himself, but had let it go. His voice, which had definitely dropped several octaves since that loud, if not slightly squawkish vocals he'd had as a kitten, resonated out of a russet red chest with ease, his mood properly lifted.

”Definitely upstream, let's find a place to cross.” Sporting a handsome, white-fanged grin, Russethawk watched some of the water drip off the ends of her whiskers. ”Call me superstitious, but I always seem to have better luck fishing from the other side of the river instead of this one.” A pawful of RainClan cats were like that; it was definitely a preference, some preferring to fish on the right, some preferring the left, and some had habits that were even stranger than the one Russethawk had proposed.

RainClan wasn't an especially superstitious Clan, Russethawk had noted, but they were certainly ones for traditions and rituals, maybe even more-so than NightClan or TreeClan. It certainly explained the squabbling over who was pureblooded RainClan and who wasn't; with so much old aristocracy set in their old ways and old customs, it was hard for the Clan to agree on much these days.

Sauntering up the riverbank with Lilystream at his side, Russethawk drank in the cool, moist air, grateful for every stirring of his pelt from the breeze, the reeds brushing against his legs like rambunctious kits darting past.

Now that's something that brings back memories. Russethawk had found the same set of stones he'd first crossed when he was still Razorfang's apprentice – and had busted his jaw against when he'd slipped; the ruddy warrior was now extremely grateful that Lilystream hadn't been with them that day. He doubted he could've held on to much of his dignity if his tongue was swollen and bore a striking resemblance to a salmon belly. Recalling the chivalry his father Snoweye had tried to instil in him during his earliest moons, Russethawk side-stepped, clearing the path for Lilystream to go first.
”After you.” He smiled – sure they were close friends, but she was still a she-cat, as he was being constantly reminded of, especially today, and manners most certainly applied. Though his concern was probably unfounded, Russethawk still planned to cross slightly behind her – so that he might dart forward and catch her by the scruff should she accidentally slip like he had so many seasons ago.

A slight cut on his chin, hidden by dense fur, would be an immortal token of his previous injury.

OOC: ^^ Hey don't worry about it, Butterfly! Better late than never, plus I was really busy all of July, so no worries.
Sooo I was thinking that maybe Lilystream slips and Russethawk catches her or she falls back against him~? You know, in that totally cute, Disney-ish kind of way. I'm such a sap!

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LILYSTREAM
RainClan || Warrior

At Russethawk’s suggestion to fish from the other side of the river, Lilystream gave an approving nod, a warm smile spreading to her face. The pretty calico she-cat met Russethawk’s gaze for a moment before her pale green orbs drifted to the nearby river.
With Russethawk at her side as they made their way along the riverside, Lilystream couldn’t help but let out a little purr. It was so good just to forget all her worries, to forget all the events of the last few moons; the flood, the driving out of StoneClan, and just spend time with her best friend.

When they reached the stepping stones, Russethawk stepped aside for the calico she-cat to go first, “After you.”
Lilystream’s pale green orbs danced with amusement, the calico she-cat flashed a bright-eyed smile Russethawk’s way before springing lightly onto the first stone. As soon as she set paw on the stone, the pretty calico she-cat found her paws slipping underneath her, failing to find any grip on the mossy stone; slippery from the rain.
Eyes widening with alarm, the tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat unsheathed her claws in an attempt to cling on, but they did nothing to help her situation. Lilystream found herself falling, falling towards the river’s murky depths. It was at that moment that memories of a snowy adventure many moons ago, racing to StarClan’s Claws with Russethawk at her side, then Russetpaw, straying onto the ice without realising, the sudden shrieking of ice breaking as she fell through, swallowed up by the river’s icy waters. She hadn’t been such a good swimmer then, if Russetpaw hadn’t saved her that day, who knows what might’ve happened?

Lilystream was a confident swimmer now, but she hadn’t exactly been hoping for a dip in the river when she’d awoken this morning, especially in front of Russethawk, of all cats; He was the last cat she wanted to see her falling in the river. Of all days, did it have to be today, and in front of Russethawk? Seriously, StarClan.

ooc - xD Totally, that'd be so cute. ^.^