[Fawn]

Two mice dangled by their tails, Skunkspots' ears folded back slightly as their furry little bodies kept bouncing against her chin and muzzle in a way that didn't exactly make her look like a beauty queen. Lacking the natural grace and poise some of her Clanmates had (female and male, Shadowdance moved better than most cats she knew), Skunkspots could make due only with her own self. That was fine, though.

She'd actually managed to rescue an apprentice without breaking any of her bones, breaking any of their bones, or causing an ironic rock slide while trying to save an apprentice who had nearly caused a rock slide. He'd loosened a few stones (which had been dangerous) and Honeypaw & Heronpaw both had nearly been flattened as a result (good job, Specklepaw), but, miraculously, nobody got hurt except her. A few scraped paw pads and a few bruises from loose stones hitting her ears, but she was none the worse for wear.

Maybe there was a StarClan after all?

Skunkspots poked her head into the elders' den, the interior cool and quiet, though there were a few whiffs of mouse bile present that made her whiskers want to curl. Setting the mice down, she called in for her friend and mentor. "Fallenleaf? If you're asleep, I can come back later. Unless, you know, my talking is waking you up... Sorry." Her face scrunched, as if frustrated she couldn't pull the words back inside her mouth after they'd come out.
Just be quiet and wait for her answer!

There was nothing pressing to this visit, really, it just felt as if... too much time had passed between this visit and her last one. Skunkspots wouldn't call herself a great friend (let's not kid ourselves here), but of the few cats in her life that meant a great deal to her, Skunkspots wanted to make sure they knew that she... cared. That they mattered to her. They probably mattered to a lot more cats, but Skunkspots didn't want to be that one sorry sap who had friends and lost them because she was 'too busy' being bad at things to pay any attention to them.

Besides, there was... something she wanted to tell Fallenleaf about. It wasn't really something you asked your brother for advice on. Their last conversation had been nearly suffocating in awkwardness, and she'd had a bout of frustration that she was embarrassed to recall now that the moment was over. No this was a question for a she-cat she trusted, who wouldn't laugh or lie. Of course, getting the answer was half the battle; actually applying it was the hard part.

Might be easier just to give up? Skunkspots gulped, and sank her claws into the bravery she'd felt a little while ago when she'd rescued that apprentice.

Word Count: 467 Words Tags: BlooRey DVD Notes:

31 Moons. Warrior. StoneClan

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:f3e471]Fallenleaf [/smear:f8c56a] ~~~~~~~~~ The air in the elder's den was much cooler now, as Greenleaf began releasing it's hold on the world. In its place, Leaf-fall crept forth, seeking to sink its teeth in before Leafbare inevitably kicked it loose. Fallenleaf enjoyed this weather, as it made being out and about not completely unbearable. The down side to this situation, however, was the stiffness beginning to settle in her joints. Over the course of her first Leafbare with the injury, she'd noticed a significant effect on her ability to perform her warrior duties. She could not go on patrol without first spending time warming the muscle up to avoid agonizing pain risen from stiffness. Though Leafbare wasn't upon them yet, the cream and white elder could feel the effects the shift in weather were having. It wasn't uncommon for Fallenleaf's tail to twitch irritably as she reached out slowly with her foreleg, performing some form of stretch in hopes of dislodging the ache hiding just beneath her skin. For most of the morning, she'd considered going for a walk, trying anything at all to keep her mind of the infernal twinge of her injured muscle. When she'd made the decision to move to the elder's den in Greenleaf, she hadn't expected it to be so boring. Imagine her delight when a familiar voice called her name through the entrance. Unable to hide the smile that cracked her features, the former senior warrior shook her head fondly. What a Skunkspots thing to say. She thought to herself while pulling her body to a stand. Not wanting to be stuck in this foul-smelling den (one of the residents had been targeted by a tick, which Dawnblossom had removed earlier this morning, thank StarClan) any longer, Fallenleaf made a quick limping-dash to the den entrance. "Skunkspots! What perfect timing, I was just thinking about you!" She purred cheerily in greeting. Peering through the entrance, Fallenleaf offered her former apprentice a bright smile before ducking out and touching noses to the younger she-cat. "Those smell delicious, and I certainly hope one of them is for me!" She teased, flicking the black and white warrioress with her tail. She felt a closeness to this particular she-cat, one she didn't have with any of the other apprentices she'd trained in the past. There was something about Skunkspots... Something that made Fallenleaf feel needed. Something that made Fallenleaf feel proud. With a nod of her head, she indicated a general direction away from the elder's den, and the pair began walking. As much as she hated it, her limp was more pronounced today, the cool air and lack of recent exercise contributing to her difficulty. Still, she showed no outward sign of distress; instead, there was only a content happiness at the chance to spend time with her former pupil. "I heard you made a pretty heroic rescue the other day, Skunkspots." She meowed with a friendly glow to her eyes. "I knew you had it in you. I'm proud of you."

Fawn

[Fawn]

How does she DO that? Already, Skunkspots felt a hundred times better than she had before. Fallenleaf was like... like a mother figure, Skunkspots now realized. This made her flush under her pelt, surprised at the discovery over how attached she was to the matronly feline. That's why she found it easier to be around her, easier to talk to her, to confide in her. Picking up the mice again, she followed her former mentor from the stuffy confines of the elders' den, grateful for an excuse to keep her mouth shut as they passed by a few cats lounging in the leaf-fall sun.

Skunkspots' heart somersaulted as she thought she caught a flash of golden-brown fur and inky black splotches as Valiantstride entered the warriors' den. She then proceeded to trip over her own paws and send the two mice flying out ahead. Skunkspots' chin hit the dirt with a loud ooph! from the she-cat, her jaw smarting as she scrambled up, skin practically on fire with embarrassment and hastily went to collect the mice.

Fallenleaf was kind enough to pretend she hadn't noticed--or maybe she just hadn't seen it? it had been over in a few heartbeats--and when she glanced at the older warrior, there was a proud, warm glow in her eyes that even made her smarting jaw hurt a bit less.

Skunkspots smiled, the gesture rare but still sincere. "Thanks. I... I miraculously didn't make matters worse." That was a miracle. It was odd, but, ever since that event, she felt... strangely... more certain of herself? She'd nearly shied away, recoiling from the responsibility Honeypaw had bestowed upon her the second she'd asked for help, but somehow, a part of her seldom seen, urged her to do what was right.

Skunkspots felt more like a warrior in that moment then she had during her ceremony; there was training, and then there was reality, and thank StarClan she hadn't made a complete failure of herself when it really counted. "That, uh, wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about," she mewed, voice awkward and low as she pawed the mice around on the ground, nervous. "I, uh... there's a... He's..."

Unable to bring herself to say the words out loud, Skunkspots awkwardly cleared her throat, scooped up the mice and gestured with a sweeping point of her black tail in the direction of the sky springs. It wouldn't be a long walk, and she knew the ground would be softer on Fallenleaf's paws than going towards the sandy plateau or the barren scrublands.

Fallenleaf's limp hadn't gone unnoticed.

Word Count: 432 Words Tags: BlooRey DVD Notes:

31 Moons. Warrior. StoneClan

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:f3e471]Fallenleaf [/smear:f8c56a] ~~~~~~~~~ Of course, she had noticed Skunkspots'... Mishap. Fallenleaf may have worn the title of elder now, but her ears still functioned perfectly well. She'd heard the commotion, but knowing her former apprentice well, Fallenleaf had gone about her business as though nothing at all had happened. The younger she-cat recovered much more quickly thanks to the lack of acknowledgment of the trip in the first place. Glancing  over at the black and white warrioress, Fallenleaf caught the tail-end of a genuine smile that lit up Skunkspots' face. To see such a thing from the other she-cat truly warmed her heart. She deserves to be happy. She thought to herself, pausing mid-step while the other she-cat seemed to search for something to say. Watchful, pale yellow eyes flicked down to the mice being pummelled by a nervous paw, the elder choosing to remain quiet once more about the obviously nervous gesture. Must be something important on her mind. Fallenleaf mused. She's not usually this nervous. In normal conversation, the singular word might have gone unnoticed. However, given Skunkspots' current behaviour, and Fallenleaf's motherly desire to protect the warrioress in whatever way she might, the word 'he' certainly spiked her interest. Never one to push for answers, the cream and white she-cat gave Skunkspots' the time needed to sort herself out. She didn't even mind when the younger she-cat couldn't seem to finish what she'd begun; Fallenleaf allowed her former apprentice to collect the two mice and lead her out of camp. Noticing the way the black and white warrioress glanced toward her, Fallenleaf couldn't help but laugh silently to herself. It seems you aren't the only one reading your companion, Fallenleaf. The pair travelled in comfortable silence, in the direction of what she recognized to be the Sky Springs. Softer ground. She thought. The walk itself had done her some good, stretching the unused muscles to allow a gait closer to what had been 'normal' in the past. As the beautiful pools of water pulled into view, Fallenleaf grinned at the other she-cat, playfully flicking her with her tail. "Tag." She purred, before bounding forward on three limbs. Keeping the paw of her injured shoulder off the ground more as a precaution than a need, she moved surprisingly quickly, fully enjoying the freedom. She skirted the edge of one of the nearest pools, weaving toward the center of the area before slowing down. Laughing in a manner that could only be called carefree, she let herself sink to her haunches, soft gaze turning on the white and black she-cat as she caught up. Fallenleaf's chosen area was just large enough for the pair of them to lie comfortably without either one falling into nearby water. She waited until Skunkspots had settled down before tapping a paw gently against hers. "Alright, you've spent enough time in your head now. Why don't you tell me a little about him, hm?" Her mew was nothing but supportive as she awaited the big reveal.

Fawn

[Fawn]

Fallenleaf's playfulness was like a splash of cold water, startling her out of her anxiousness for a few blissful heartbeats. Skunkspots smiled, feeling relief over the very real possibility that... that Fallenleaf would like him. Oh StarClan, what if she insists on meeting him properly? How would she explain that to Valiantstride?
'Hey, uhm, my mentor knows I like you a lot, can you meet her? We're not mates or anything and you probably don't even like me back but... could be fun?'

Skunkspots winced, roused from these thoughts by Fallenleaf's encouraging smile, the scent of the sky springs all around them, the clouds lazy spots that drifted through the pools of water with ease. Flushing furiously under her pelt, Skunkspots was grateful she hadn't started in on one of the mice--she would've choked on it, guaranteed, and then gone to StarClan as the cat with the dumbest death in Clan cat history. Or maybe it would be such a horrendous failure on her part that StarClan wouldn't even take her.

Almost snorting, the loud pounding of her heart threatened to drown out her words. Trying to unstick them from the back of her throat, it helped Skunkspots to stare at her paws, which kneaded the grass in a gesture of worry, not pleasure. Well, not at first.
"His name is Valiantstride. You've, er, seen him around. Probably. Right?" Skunkspots risked an awkward glance at Fallenleaf, who nodded encouragingly.

Right. You can do this. The worst that could happen is she'll fall asleep because you took so long to tell her. Her heart lightened, grateful to have Fallenleaf in her life. And even then she'd apologize and probably make a joke about elders needing their rest.

Taking a deep breath, Skunkspots managed to both blurt out the truth and whisper it at the same time, looking at Fallenleaf with something like sincere panic. "I like him. A lot. It's bad, I know, he probably has plenty of she-cats padding after him. But... But..." But he's nice to me. And he really is handsome. Not that that was all. "He doesn't laugh when I make a rat's tail of myself. He even told me I was good company--can you believe that?" Skunkspots tried to laugh off the giddiness she felt, realizing how real it all was once she said it out loud.

And then came the belly-clenching horror. "Oh StarClan, I really do like him." That was terrifying. LOVE was terrifying, and that was a word she dare not even utter aloud. "I..." Ears flat from so much excess sheepishness she might start bleating, Skunkspots' voice dropped into a murmur. "I... I wanted to ask you how to flirt. I don't know how. That's what you're supposed to do, though, right? When you like someone..."

Fallenleaf didn't have a mate (come to think of it, the subject of romance had never come up between them before, and that's probably because Skunkspots had been twice as awkward during apprenticeship as she was now), but she must have known what this felt like. Or could at least give her some advice. With a small pang of sadness she hadn't felt in a while, Skunkspots mourned never knowing her mother or father. Would they have been close? Would she have been close enough with her mother to ask how she felt about Dad? Had they been happy with each other? Who made the first move?

I hate being a warrior, her inner cynical voice groaned half-heartedly. The world is so much more complicated now.

Word Count: 590 Words Tags: BlooRey DVD Hellion (Valiant mention!) Notes:

31 Moons. Warrior. StoneClan

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:f3e471]Fallenleaf [/smear:f8c56a] ~~~~~~~~~ The cream and white elder had always known Skunkspots to be a little on the awkward side. After all, she'd spent moons training the younger she-cat to be the warrior she was now. It wasn't the fact that Skunkspots was displaying characteristics of awkwardness that intrigued the older she-cat; it was the giddiness hidden just underneath her fumbling words that really snagged Fallenleaf's attention. Once given the name of the tom who had so captivated her former apprentice, Fallenleaf nodded softly, encouraging Skunkspots to continue talking. She could picture the blotched tabby tom now, and if you were to ask her? Skunkspots picked well. Suddenly, it was as though all of Skunkspots feelings were blurted out and piled at Fallenleaf's paws. There was a momentary expression of surprise on her features, the elder unused to such admissions from her former apprentice. That being said, it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Her surprise soon settled to pleasant interest as she allowed the younger she-cat to finish her rush of words. As she mentally tallied some talking points based on the items Skunkspots spoke about, Fallenleaf nearly missed the pleading look sent her way by the black and white warrioress. Reaching out carefully with a forepaw so as not to hurt her damaged shoulder, Fallenleaf rested her paw lightly on Skunkspots in what she hoped would be seen as a comforting gesture. A laugh-like purr rumbled out of her as she smiled warmly. "To begin, I have to say that I agree with Valiantstride. You are good company, Skunkspots, even if you fail to see it that way." Her tail waved behind her slowly, a content rhythm as she retracted her paw from Skunkspots to pull one of the mice closer to her. "And you might be surprised; sometimes, it is the very best warriors, those most deserving, that don't have anyone 'padding' after them, as you said." Offering her companion another gentle smile, a playful look crossed her features. "And flirting, Skunkspots, is something that some individuals choose to do when they fancy another. But there is no set guidelines that demand you flirt with someone in that instance. From what you've told me, I'd speculate that he might just feel the same way about you, Skunkspots; that means you don't have to try and be anyone else just for him. In fact, he might be disappointed to see you change so suddenly." A purr escaped her, pale eyes fixing on Skunkspots'. "Just be yourself, Skunkspots. You can't be wrong if you act like you. I'm sorry if that isn't what you hoped to hear." Inclining her head to the side slightly, she considered the younger she-cat. "Have you asked him about his feelings yet? Or has he mentioned it to you?" She inquired softly, an ear flicking as it was tickled by a gentle breeze.

Fawn

[Fawn]

Fallenleaf gave her a branch, and Skunkspots took a whole tree. I don't HAVE to flirt. Oh thank StarClan, one less thing to make an birdbrain out of myself with. Her pelt flushed hot with relief, and she nearly missed everything else the older she-cat said, so caught up in the rush of tension leaving her body. That's great. But... how do I tell him about my feelings without actually telling him about my feelings? If only there was a clear way of telling Valiantstride how she felt with a guarantee that he would... not avoid her like a piece of crow-food afterward.

"How can I ask him about his feelings?" She snorted in dismay, shaking her head to and fro. "I barely understand my own. I... I like him... I want to believe you when you say he might like me back but--" Skunkspots' face contorted, the picture of anxiety and fear. "I think I'd rather fight a LightningClan patrol than be the one who confesses first. I-I can't." Fallenleaf you know I can't! Saving an apprentice is one thing, and not really a big deal, anycat could've done it, I'm not brave enough to walk up to Valiantstride and just hit him with the truth.

"If it were you, er, if you were me, what would you do?" Skunkspots paused. "Sorry. I just haven't felt like this before. It's scaring me out of my fur, but it also feels sort of nice, too. Does that even make sense?" No, no it doesn't. Stop babbling.

Was Fallenleaf right though? Could Valiantstride actually feel something for her in return? Skunkspots felt such a deep pang of longing for her sister that her stomach ached and her throat tightened. Cricketleap would have bounced right over to Valiantstride and asked him what he thought of her; it would've been embarrassing, and Skunkspots would've wanted to calcify into bedrock and never be seen or heard from again. But... maybe it would've helped clear things up a little.

Skunkspots' tail drooped, lamenting that she never had the chance to talk to Cricketleap about... tom-stuff.

Word Count: 344 Words Tags: BlooRey DVD Notes:

31 Moons. Warrior. StoneClan

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:f3e471]Fallenleaf [/smear:f8c56a] ~~~~~~~~~ The StoneClan elder considered her former apprentice for a moment, pale yellow eyes kind as she offered the black and white she-cat a smile. It was obvious to Falllenleaf that this was something truly concerning to Skunkspots; the younger cat had never been confident, but the uncertainty that littered her gaze now far surpassed any previous instances. "It makes perfect sense, Skunkspots." She reassured the other she-cat, nosing her meal to the side slightly, so as to clear a path to the younger cat. With minimal effort (albeit relying more on one of her forepaws than the other), Fallenleaf pushed herself to her paws. Closing the small distance between them, the cream and white she-cat settled next to Skunkspots. Her tail tapped gently on the younger she-cat's flank, the elder tucking her paws neatly beneath her, before she turned her attention on Skunkspots. Her tongue rasped over the other she-cat's pelt, a comforting rhythm as a gentle purr rumbled from her throat. She paused in her actions to answer a pawful of the awkward back she-cat's questions. "If I were you, dear, well I'd simply continue to be you." She mused almost playfully, nudging the other she-cat with her nose. Her tongue rasped over Skunkspots' shoulder, flattening a piece of stray fur that seemed to have been rebelling against the rest of the black and white pelt. "There's nothing wrong with being scared." She assured her, voice steady as though she knew exactly what to say. Although love was something that had avoided her in her eighty-one moons of life, Fallenleaf had watched many of her friends, and even her apprentices fall in love. She smiled softly to herself, returning to grooming the younger she-cat for a brief moment. "If you feel as though you can't be the one to confess first, Skunkspots, then all that is left is to continue to be who you are." Nosing her former apprentice behind the ear, she purred gentle laughter. "Just continue to be the kind, beautiful she-cat that you are. You've entered a waiting game now, and the most important thing in all of this? Never lose sight of who you were before it all began. You are perfect as you are, Skunkspots, and I'm certain he sees that too." And with that, she set back to work grooming the younger she-cat's fur.

Fawn

[Fawn]

For one long, breathless moment, Skunkspots felt as if she would suffocate under the weight of Fallenleaf's words. It was the opposite of everything she had ever told herself; that she was enough. That she was kind. That she was beautiful. That she was enough for the tom she liked and enough to be a proud warrior of the Clan.

Skunkspots struggled to say something, her yellow-green eyes fixed on Fallenleaf as a crashing storm of emotion struck her all at once. Her throat tightened. "I-..." The black and white warrior felt like an apprentice all over again, as if she were standing in Ivywhisker's den, awkwardly telling Fallenleaf about her day, showing her the hunting crouch they'd been working on... Hearing the praise Fallenleaf always so kindly and sincerely gave her.

Skunkspots made a sound like a trodden mouse, and pressed her face into the elder she-cat's fur, taking in deep, reassuring breaths of the scents she had come to associate with family. I wish I saw myself how you saw me, Fallenleaf. I wish everything you tell me wouldn't fly out of my head the second I step outside this den or meet Valiantstride or see Maplepaw coming towards me...

Her insecurities kept winning. Her anxiety kept clawing at her fur like thorns; if Fallenleaf's words were like sunlight that Skunkspots felt warm her pelt, then she couldn't rely on another cat -- even one as amazing as Fallenleaf -- to help her overcome those foes. She had to pick out the thorns herself.

"I think you should meet him," Skunkspots murmured, rubbing her eyes with one white paw. "I want him to know you." Just because you're in the elders' den doesn't mean you can't be a part of my life. Especially something like this.

There was a small feeling of resentment towards Hawkstar for making Fallenleaf an elder so soon. It was as if he were counting down the days till she joined StarClan!

The she-cat's stomach tightened, hoping to StarClan above that Fallenleaf would be with them for many, many moons still. Fixing an embarrassed but affectionate stare upon her old mentor, Skunkspots managed an awkward smile. If Valiantstride doesn't think she's the greatest cat that ever lived, then I don't think I can hang out with such a mousebrain. Skunkspots almost snorted a laugh, feeling anticipation build up at the idea of them finally meeting.

Word Count: 400 Words Tags: BlooRey DVD Hellion Notes: Feel free to wrap up the thread or simply leave it as-is, Bloo! ^^

31 Moons. Warrior. StoneClan