[Deleted]

Dovecloud

You think we're just pretty things

Fur fluffed up fully against the chill, Dovecloud thanked StarClan she'd ended up with thick fur. Even on days like today, where the wind was bitterly cold, her thick winter coat did its level best to keep her warm. 

It was just falling short. She was still cold. 

She'd left a message with Cedarlake to get Harestrike to join her at the Crystal Creek. It had long been her favourite place in the entirety of LightningClan territory to just come, let her thoughts flow like the water.

Even though it was currently frozen. 

Tucking her tail over her nose, she lay next to the frozen creek, staring at nothing in particular, giving herself a good stretch before getting properly comfortable while she waited for her mate.

Her thoughts, wandering as they normally did, reflected on the past few moons with Harestrike.

His behaviour had completely changed. He loved her now. It was as if seeing Maplebrook lose her kits - fathered by him - had changed him overnight. Had made him lose his cockiness. Made him grow. Made him mature.

Or maybe the whole sad experience had taught him mostly to cherish who he still had. 

After losing both of his parents, Harestrike had rapidly come to the realisation that all he really had was Dovecloud. 

So the two had reconciled. Their relationship was now better than ever. 

You couldn't be more wrong

45 Moons, Senior Warrior, LightningClan

Fawn || 243

[Fawn]

HARESTRIKE

LightningClan, 43 Moons, Senior Warrior

Washing my hands but the water is wasted,

I tried a darker side and I liked how it tasted.

It was no secret that Cedarlake hated him. So when Dovecloud's former apprentice had appeared out of nowhere with a message from his mate, Harestrike had tensed - expecting confrontation - but it never came. Instead, just word that Dovecloud wanted to meet him at the Crystal Creek.

He didn't bother thanking Cedarlake - in fact, she left before he could even get word in edgewise - and went to bury prey bones before leaving also. She could've told me herself, he griped, a little of their old bickering returning to his mind as he traipsed lightly through the snow. She probably had good reason for sending Cedarlake, but in Harestrike's opinion, he'd rather see Dovecloud's non-hostile face, inviting him for some quality time together, than Cedarlake's narrow-eyed 'I hate you' stare.

Harestrike shook out his tabby and white coat, the feathered semi-long fur fluffed against the sudden rushing chill. Harestrike surveyed the terrain, visibly frowning as he realized he was supposed to tell the difference between Dovecloud's gleaming white coat and the pristine, untouched snow. Using his nose as best he could - hunting had been Thrushwhisker's area of expertise - Harestrike kept his mouth shut, in case calling for Dovecloud would disturb any nearby hunters.

If he did that, he'd never hear the end of it.

Dovecloud's scent touched his nose suddenly, and Harestrike found himself smiling. Grass green eyes narrowed in on the she-cat curled up by the frozen creek, and he dropped into a hunter's crouch. Payback for sending your little lackey to come get me, he grinned, stalking closer and closer.

StarClan, she'd kill him for this.

But Harestrike did it anyway. Careful to keep his claws firmly tucked inside their sheaths (lest she really did try to kill him), the tabby warrior launched himself into the air in a light pounce, landing front-paws first on her tail and haunches. "Ha!" He laughed, a cloudy exhale of frosty air rushing out when he spoke. "That's for sending Cedarlake to come get me. The only she-cat in the Clan that'd poison me if it wouldn't get her exiled."

Will you hold my hand when you know I'm a sinner?

@calico || 368 Words || Notes: xD He's trying to play.

[Deleted]

Dovecloud

You think we're just pretty things

Dovecloud was doing her level best not to dose off, surrounded by snow. She hadn't really thought about her choice of location - Harestrike would struggle to find her. She was sure he'd find a way, though.

She was fed up of Leaf-bare now. She wanted Newleaf to come back. She wanted it to get warmer again. She wanted it to finally be nice.

She loved snow - it made hunting for her a lot easier - but she didn't like it constantly. And this Leaf-bare felt like it had gone on forever.

All of a sudden, there was weight on her rear end.

Yowling, very very loudly - hopefully she hadn't scared away too much prey - she jumped nearly a tail-length in the air... or she would have, if Harestrike wasn't leaning on her with a smug look on his face.

"You scared me, mouse-brain!."

Her frown was quickly replaced by a smile as she saw the funny side of his antics.

"Great tracking skills you have there. I'm so glad you came. I thought we could just spend some time together, away from all of it. What do you think?"

You couldn't be more wrong

45 Moons, Senior Warrior, LightningClan

Fawn ||205

[Fawn]

HARESTRIKE

LightningClan, 46 Moons, Senior Warrior

Washing my hands but the water is wasted,

I tried a darker side and I liked how it tasted.

Dovecloud's howl had been well worth the risk. The tabby tom smugly stepped back, taking in his mate's words while the expression of her shock imprinted on his mind. "Yeah. I need something to do that isn't freezing my paws off chasing rabbits. How's Rabbitpaw's training going, by the way?" Harestrike's social life had declined significantly the past few moons; first, because Eaglescreech outing his affair to Morningfrost had created a shockwave through the Clan. His peers, also fearing Morningfrost's icy wrath, had been curt with him. Curt and sometimes hostile for betraying LightningClan in such a way.

And then Morningfrost and Peregrinewing had died, leaving him alone in a world that didn't know what to do with him. Now cats were curt with him because of the losses he'd suffered, especially Thrushwhisker's. The brothers hadn't been close, but the Clan viewed Thrushwhisker's death as a great tragedy than his parents; his parents had lived full lives and sired litters. Thrushwhisker's potential had been sliced to ribbons.

Except for Dovecloud. She hadn't isolated him like the others. Despite the mistake he'd made and the hurt he'd caused, she'd still curled up beside him in their shared nest. A loyalty he most definitely didn't deserve. Harestrike's expression softened, and he found himself unexpectedly choked up. They weren't the perfect couple, they bickered and their past was full of pettiness and jealousy, but they had endured.

"I'm lucky to have you, Dovecloud," Harestrike's purr resonated from his heart, the tabby tom curling his tail around Dovecloud's fluffy white form. "You've stuck by me from newleaf to leafbare." Never very good at romantic words or gestures, Harestrike cleared his throat, a little embarrassed. "Anyway, wherever you want to go - I'm game."

Will you hold my hand when you know I'm a sinner?

@calico || 288 Words || Notes