[Insidious]

BlooRey DVD

She had been pushing this off for too long.

Her affectionate feelings in regards to her tuxedo furred companion had been ablaze since early apprenticeship, yet here she stood now as a warrior, having failed to face what could be considered the one fear she possessed and see if there was any reason behind her having dwindled away countless hours hung up with this tom in particular. She stalked in constant back-and-fourth motions just beyond the warriors' den, the constant twitching of her tail doing enough to indicate to anyone that passed her by that she was not to be disturbed while in such immense thought. Her mind had been plagued, exceptionally so, as of late with her recent doings involving Nightstep: when the pair had encountered a rather audacious feline within LightningClan's territory, she had been mere seconds away from her pending doom until, to much of Palescreech's surprise, she had managed to put a stop to it. She didn't know exactly how it happened, and to some extent, she wasn't sure if she wanted to. Her mind was so firmly set upon some kind of romantic lace that interfered with Nighstep's mind and dominated his violent thoughts that she was almost unwilling to give him an opportunity to say otherwise. But she simply had to know how he felt about her; she couldn't push it off any longer.

It was with a mixture of relief and sudden terror that she happened to spy Nightstep at the edges of LightningClan's camp, pale blue eyes settling thoughtfully upon the tom as her body shifted toward him. No reason to make this any more uncomfortable than it has to be, Palescreech... she tried to reason with herself, though it was easier said than done to mask the unease that haunted each step that drew her closer to the tom. Once she had gotten into a closer proximity, the she-cat beckoned for his attention, her voice that of a flirtatious purr – even in situations deemed as serious as this, she could not help but act with her sacred traits carried straight from apprenticeship. “Hey Nightstep,” Palescreech settled into an awkward sit at the black-and-white tom's side, her shoulder brushing against his own, a smile – as pleasant as she could manage given the panic flaming just beneath the surface – plastered to her white-gold jaw.

There was no turning back now. Palescreech swallowed her hesitation with an inaudible gulp, this direct invitation for Nightstep to completely destroy her ego screaming at her to follow through with her instincts and let the conversation fleetingly grasp upon a different topic. But she couldn't let herself do that. Not knowing was a slow, agonizing death. It was due to this that she forced herself to spit out the words, pale blue eyes locked intently into his own sharp amber. “Do you have a second to talk?”

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Nightstep[/smear:6f6f6f]

~~~~~~~~~

The tall, muscled, yet inexplicably lean LightningClan warrior had not exactly accomplished much on this particular day. Sure, he had gone out hunting earlier in the morning, but that summed up just about everything he'd done for the Clan. Admittedly, with the sun having just crossed its peak, Nightstep realized he had spent much of his day talking to his sister. The pretty red tabby had bounded up to him rather worriedly, her expressive, warm amber eyes desperately seeking comfort from her brother. Unable to refuse his sisters, the tuxedo tom had been baited into asking Kindleflare what was on her mind. It was then that Nightstep found himself drowning in a sea of words and mixed feelings. What was it that the ginger she-cat had felt so inclined to ask him? Of all the things he was knowledgeable about, his beloved sister picked the one thing of which he was clueless.

He had spent StarClan knew how long listening to Kindelfare ramble on about how she could convey to someone, whom she 'really, really, REALLY' cared about someone, something that had been weighing on her fragile little heart for so long. Yes, you heard right, Nightstep's sister was in love. Silently wondering which tom had caught Kindleflare's attention, the tuxedo tom listened politely as she went on to describe how she felt every time they walked up to her, every time they spoke to her, even every time they glanced her way. And yet, Kindleflare was dead certain that this other cat barely knew she existed.

Nightstep hated to see his sister in such an open, fragile, confused place. This was perhaps the only reason the tuxedo tom gave it any thought. Had some other she-cat come up and asked him the very same question, he would probably have found the weather more interesting than the topic of conversation. When it came to his two sisters (and one other she-cat, who shall not be named), however, the black and white tom found that he was of similar consistency to putty. It was all rather bizarre, if you asked him.

Opening his jaws, Nightstep's yellow-amber eyes stared into Kindleflare's gold-amber ones, the seriousness of the conversation not lost on either of them. "Kindleflare, I think you know the answer to that question. There is only one way that you can possibly convey your feelings, and that is to tell them. You're a smart, young she-cat, and I'm sure that they see that as well. They can't possibly dismiss your feelings that quickly. And if they do... Well then they weren't worth your time, and you should find someone who is worth it."

When Nightstep finished, Kindleflare blinked at him, as though he had just spoken some foreign language. The tom watched as his sister's ears pivoted backwards slightly, her posture shifting so that she could stare at the ground. Almost timidly, the red tabby she-cat stammered out a reply. "O-Okay... If you... Really think th-that's what I should do.... Thanks Nightstep..." It was right as the tom was about to speak again that a familiar scent drifted to his nose. Hearing a voice he'd grown so accustomed to hearing, the tom almost expected the brush of fur that followed. Turning he head so that he could catch a glimpse of the pale furred she-cat who'd just walked on up to him, Nightstep's ears pricked forward, interested by the question she had to offer.

He paused for a moment, wondering what it was that she found so important, but didn't dwell on it for long. He trusted her opinion. If she thought it was of great necessity, it was of great necessity. With a slight dip of his head, his voice rumbled out, almost... Soft. "Of course, Palescreech." Sharp amber eyes were once more upon his sister. "Kindleflare, if you'll excuse us..." After a moment, he offered her a smile. "Trust me. You'll be fine." And then he rose to his paws, motioning for Palescreech to follow.

His paws took him out of LightningClan's camp, though he didn't venture far. He stayed nearby, simply leading the pale she-cat to a slightly more.. Secluded area. He didn't know what it was that was weighing on his friend's mind, but whatever it was, he figured it would be easier said in something akin to privacy.

What a surprise he was in for.

[Insidious]

BlooRey DVD

There was so much weighing down upon the pale warrior’s shoulders that she had nearly left Kindflare's presence unnoticed, offering the she-cat an apologetic dip of her head and a small smile before turning to follow Nightstep into what she could only presume an area of seclusion. Knowing that he wasn't planning on making her speak on the behalf of these feelings in front of others was relieving, an exhausted huff sounding from the tip of her muzzle as she impatiently stalked in the tuxedo tom's wake. She had been, ever so slowly, managing to relax throughout the duration of their silent walk, the she-cat considering that she had perhaps surfaced the lost bravery in the nick of time. These thoughts were sent tumbling back into the dark pit in which they had been previously lost, however – when Nightstep faced her, his amber gaze locked intently in her own blue, she found herself holding her breath.

Palescreech settled into an awkward sit, her eyes continuously wavering from Nightstep's own fixated stare only to avert back toward him a few seconds afterward. She knew not where to look, though she knew it'd be better if to look at him while addressing him, hoping that if all was to go horribly and he'd fail to respond, she could at least muster up something from his expression. The pale furred warrior gulped, able to feel the shakiness of her tone without even having to use it. Allowing herself to think of the most terrible results from this conversation right before having said conversation hadn't necessarily been a wonderful idea, but it wasn't like she could turn back now and start over tomorrow. Palescreech forced herself to establish firm eye-contact, her eyes portraying the utmost level of seriousness that she felt, though it was no secret that just beneath all of that seriousness... she was frightened.

“It's like this:” Palescreech paused, muffling through the various phrases that she had contemplated earlier when she had been walking back and fourth in front of the warriors' den. At the time they had all seemed fitted, but as of now – Nightstep looking at her, likely wondering why this was taking her so long to spit out – they didn't seem good enough to properly describe how she felt. It wasn't enough to simply say that she liked him or that she cared. Even though she did like him and care for him, she couldn't help but feel that there was something deeper – something she only felt on certain nights when they were alone.

When he wasn't simply that heartless tom trained by Whiteshade, but one that could smile at her and send her heart into an array of skipped beats.

One that wouldn't kill based entirely off of her word.

“When we were younger – just new apprentices in the den – I had always been attached to you... as more than a friend. But I never really thought about it because I didn't think it was possible. We were good friends and I didn't want to sabotage that.” Her tail cautiously twitched, curling over her small paws as if somehow able to offer her comfort and stability until this explanation was over. “At least, I didn't want to sabotage it until we started spending more time together. I tried not to get ahead of myself and make crazy assumptions, but after a while, they started seeming like reality, I guess. Like, for instance, when we encountered that black furred rogue in LightningClan territory a few days ago – I shouldn't have to sum up the details – you stopped because of me.” Her pale blue eyes regarded Nightstep thoughtfully, narrowing a touch to further express the knowledge he may or may not have believed her to possess. She knew that he had planned on killing her, though that wasn't enough to scare her away. She stood before him now – her feelings as in tact as ever before – fully willing to accept him for what he was.

Perhaps it was possible: in every monster there lie a lace of beauty – it simply takes one that is willing to find it.

“I won't ask you to explain why you did what you did, because I honestly don't know if I want an explanation. But there is one thing that I know:” A playful smile danced at the corner of her jaw, tugging it into a grin similar to each she had offered him prior, though this time perhaps more openly affectionate. “I do care about you, Nightstep. I care about you more than you perhaps know – more than I can tell you.”

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Nightstep[/smear:6f6f6f]

~~~~~~~~~

The tuxedo tom had lowered himself into a seated position, his sharp yellow eyes focusing upon his friend as she came to a halt. She looked confused, all her movements far too calculated, as though she wasn't sure what she was doing in those moments. He watched with a faint intrigue as she pulled herself into a seated position, though her sit looked... Off, as though something were poking at her rump making the sit awkward and uncomfortable. Letting his keen eyes slip over her body, he read the body language she was giving off, and knew that this conversation would be unlike any conversation they had had in the past.

Next, he met her stare, though it lasted only a moment. She seemed unable to look at him for more than a fleeting moment, breaking their eye contact, only to restore it heartbeats later. His tail curled slowly around his paws, the very tip of it twitching every now and again in his confusion. He still couldn't seem to properly decipher what it was she was so caught up about. Seeing her this... Frantic? Flustered? It was alien to the tuxedo tom, and even staring at her beauty, he couldn't think of what she might be trying to tell him.

And then her eyes met his, really met them. He could read the seriousness in her gaze, but he could also see past it, to something else... It was hidden deep beneath the look of importance, but there was no denying its presence. He was certain that she was afraid. What it was that was ailing his friend... He couldn't tell. This made him feel a tad bit uneasy, seen in the way his long, muscular body straightened slightly. He wanted nothing more than to ensure that whatever it was that was scaring Palescreech, whatever it was that was causing her fear was annihilated immediately.

For a moment, he recalled the last time the incessant urge to protect her had risen. She'd brought it to a stop, but without a moment's hesitation, Nightstep knew that he would do it over again in a heartbeat. For some reason he couldn't really explain, she meant everything to him. When she started speaking, there wasn't a single piece of his attention that wasn't focused upon her, listening to the words her voice told him. ... No matter how surprising they might be to the tom.

He regarded her evenly, his gaze giving nothing away as slowly the pale furred she-cat dove deeper into her speech. When she smiled at him, he felt something tug at his lips, the slightest of twitch, but it was motionless soon after as the blue-eyed goddess before him finished her speech. For a moment, he pondered the reasoning behind his use of the word goddess. Why it had been the first thing to surface when he'd thought of her, he might never know, but there was one thing he did know. That beauty was currently awaiting a sign from him.

Deliberately, he cleared his throat, fixating his hard stare upon Palescreech. Slowly, he opened his mouth, forming a string of words directed towards the she-cat. They were calculated words, the tom having picked them carefully to try and formulate a sentence that could work in such a situation. He just had a she-cat tell him that she-cat cared about him. Of all the training Whiteshade could have thrown at him, nothing on this planet could have possibly prepared him for this exact moment as he sat face to face with the pale furred she-cat before him.

"Well... I must say that was most... Unexpected, Palescreech." For a moment, he regarded her impassively. Finally, however, he figured that he had toyed with her enough. Letting that charming grin she seemed to like so much wash over his features, he leaned forward slightly, almost purring out the next part. "Though certainly not unwelcome." Shifting back into his straightened position, the LightningClan warrior considered the she-cat for a moment longer, still not quite sure how he could possibly respond to what she had said. Sure, he had said a few things, but he was fairly certain that Palescreech would be looking for a little bit... More.

Taking a steady intake of breath, the tuxedo tom let his eyes close for a moment as he prepared his next words. Honestly, if you had asked him a few moons ago, he never would have thought he would ever had spoken the words he was preparing now. But it seemed as though bizarre things happened to him whenever Palescreech was involved. At this thought, his smile returned, yet again pulling at the very corners of his mouth. Silently, he couldn't help but think to himself; Oh Palescreech... What is it, this power that you seem to hold over me...

"I cannot say that I exactly.. Understand the reasons behind my actions, especially when you are concerned... But I can figure out that you mean something to me, Palescreech. I would say you were almost like part of my family, like one of my sisters... But that isn't quite true. Yes, there is a very strong desire to protect you, just as there is that same desire to shelter my sister's from harm, but there is something different about the way I feel about you." He stopped for a moment, tilting his head slightly to one side as he tried to decipher the thoughts that were flitting through his mind.

Rising slowly to his paws, he took a step towards her, closing the distance between them in no rush at all. He stopped when he stood mere whiskerlengths from her, his head tipped downwards slightly to allow him to gaze into her eyes once more. When he spoke, his voice was soft, quiet, a whisper that was meant for no one but the she-cat whom he held in his sharp gaze. "I suppose, Palescreech, that you might be able to say that I too care about you... More than I could ever let you know."

[Insidious]

It was the first grin he offered her that reprieved her immense fear, knowing that despite his inexpressive features, he was not planning to leave her hanging as he had for long. She almost laughed, the sound being soft and tiresome, blue eyes shifting awkwardly to her paws in equivalence with the closing of Nightstep's eyes. She wasn't sure whether or not she had expected him to continue, though she couldn't deny the sensation of glee that sparked within her mesmerizing gaze as he did, slowly returning her utmost attention to him, pale gold ears pulling forward to further process each individual word.

So even he didn't understand the route of his own actions?

It was not a frown of disappointment that clouded her muzzle, but instead one of intrigue, finding herself overwhelmed by a mild curiousity in regards to this most unusual trait of his. Even though it was most odd of Nightstep, she couldn't claim that it did not, to some extent, please her. It was like being secure in some twisted way. Although she wished not to manipulate the handsome warrior before her, it remained pleasant to know that despite what dangers perhaps lurked around the corner, Nightstep would be more than prepared to defend her. She didn't doubt her own capabilities – she worked so hard as an apprentice under Burningleaf's guidance to ensure that she could take care of herself if need be – but it was simply soothing to know she wasn't required to face the world single-pawed.

Even if the one willing to face it alongside her had increasingly grew to be just like his former devil eyed mentor.

Palescreech had been so consumed by her own thoughts that Nightstep's approach had gone unnoticed, the she-cat not reacting until it was a moment too late. Shock inscribed itself upon her features, her tail twitching not necessarily out of discomfort, but out of a genuine oblivion as to how she was meant to address the tom so visibly close; a tom that now held knowledge of her feelings. Her jaw tightened, her mind seemingly dangling from each word that departed from his mouth like a loose thread. He cared about her too? More than he could ever let her know? Although she was mildly surprised to see that her near-emotionless companion had spoken on the behalf of what she had convinced herself of being nonexistent, there was no mistaking that said surprise was soon after accompanied by happiness. Slowly, her hardened jaw softened, the corners tugging into a grin that matched his own. “You do?” It had been a rhetorical phrase, but due to possessing a slight element of disbelief in regards to the tom's speech, she could not help but ask regardless. Caring not for Nightstep's reply, she rose from her seat, mindful of what little space remained between them, and diminished with it one upon her paws, her head pressing gently into the base of the black-and-white warrior's neck.

This was different than all of the times prior when she had shared such a close proximity with her tuxedo furred companion. All of the others times were thickly clouded in uncertainty, her feelings but a web of her confusion. Now that they had been voiced aloud, however, the uncertainty had up and vanished. After a few elongated moments, Palescreech pulled away to once again match the tom's amber stare. What fear she had formerly possessed for this conversation was no longer present in her icy eyes, newly willing to be nothing but fond for the tom mere whiskerlengths ahead. “I'm --” Palescreech paused, as if shy to announce the words on the tip of her tongue, but she forced them out regardless. “-- I'm happy to hear that.” Perhaps, to anyone else, it wouldn't have seemed like something important to say. But for a reason even foreign to herself, she had found it necessary.

To speak on the behalf of her happiness, in turn, guaranteed that she was not enveloped by fear. Although she didn't know precisely how much her fear tended to effect the tuxedo warrior standing before her, she had the tiniest of inklings. If he wanted her to feel safe, she would tell him exactly how safe she currently felt – about everything: her feelings, her clan, even her future. She knew not what she was getting herself into with the black-and-white tom, cold and malevolent as Whiteshade (though perhaps to a degree less severe), but nevertheless she knew it was what she wanted. Who would have ever thought that she would feel most at home with one that lived and breathed a lust for blood? Certainly not she, but so it seemed the world was full of surprises.

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:000000]Nightstep[/smear:6f6f6f]

~~~~~~~~~

When his pale furred companion glanced at him questioningly and voicied a question that had him thinking she was perhaps doubting his words, the black and white pelted tom gave a simple dip of his head. His amber eyes blinked with the slowed motion, one that was meant to ease the doubt that was creeping up on Palescreech. He had noted the hardness of her jaw, but thought it best to simply wait until she found it within herself to believe him, and relaxed her jaw on her own. He was, in a sense, relieved to see the loosening of the she-cat's jaw, the whole thing changing until Palescreech wore a grin to match his own on her pretty face.

When the pale warrioress rose to her paws, the distance that had once separated them disappeared. She leaned into him, the soft fur at the top of her head burrowing into the fur at the base of his neck. His smile softened slightly, hidden behind her shoulder as he gave her a gentle nuzzle. The feel of her fur against his muzzle was enough to ease any tension that had remained in his body. If his bloodlust was a disease, there was no question that this she-cat was the remedy.

He would have been content to remain as he was until the end of time. As long as Palescreech was with him, the tuxedo tom knew that nothing could ever bother him again. For a moment, he let his eyes close, basking in the warmth of their embrace. When Palescreech stepped away from him, Nightstep's amber gaze flashed open once more as the strong warrior gazed down slightly to lock gazes with his pale furred deity once more. Slowly, when the tom realized she still had more to say, he let his ears pivot forward to catch a glimpse of her beautiful voice again.

The words she spoke only furthered the content he felt in that moment. His black tail was still behind him as he gazed evenly at Palescreech. He still wore a smile on his features, unable to find it within himself to wipe it away, not when he was looking at his pale furred companion. Letting silence greet her words for a heart beat or two, Nightstep shifted forward slightly to ever so gently touch his black nose to hers. His breath was warm as he whispered, the air dancing over the fur of her chin and chest.

"I'm glad to hear that... All I wish is for you to be happy, Palescreech. Your happiness means more than the world to me..." His voice was low, almost husky as he spoke. He let his nose linger against hers for another moment, letting the words he'd told her sink in before he stepped away, just a single step back. This gave her some room to breathe, but it kept them close. As long as he remained close, he could feel her calming effects upon him.

And I can keep her safe.

[Insidious]

This time, when the pair touched, she was not nearly as caught off guard or nervous of the outcome to follow. Her pale blue eyes fluttered shut, such being a portrayal of her contentedness and relaxation, golden brown ears lightly tugging forward, the notion but a slight, yet thoroughly eager twitch to catch and dangle from his every word. Her eyes did not part once again until she felt the tuxedo warrior pull away, the disappointment momentarily flashing through her expression before being stopped, morphed into one of pleasantry as she remained silent, staring at him thoughtfully. Palescreech managed to dip her head into a small nod of acceptance, words seeming like an unfitted way to truly depict how she felt in regards to this situation, knowingly being more than simply pleased though unable to voice such aloud regardless.

It was only when the silence began to increasingly flourish that Palescreech visibly shifted in position, her icy gaze remaining firm within the sharp amber of her companion's, though otherwise aware of the lack of things she had left to say in response. As much as she cherished this beloved moment, one where Nightstep and herself were able to communicate about what it was that had been plaguing her – and apparently him too – for a long time, so it seemed there was nothing required to continue filling in the formulating blanks. She sighed, perhaps due to an inner sadness toward this realization, though her features still mirroring the same spark of pleasantry that she had been wearing up until now.

Palescreech rose, twisting her body so that she was now facing the way they had came, the tip of her tail flicking Nightstep on the nose – a gesture she had performed plentiful a time throughout their past. She glanced over lithe shoulders, a small smile still visible on the edge of her lip, grateful that her affections for the handsome warrior no longer had to be locked away in secrecy. She was no longer as tense and stressed as she had been during the beginning of what she presumed a horrid conversation destined to shatter and burn the remains of her ego, no, she had fully restored her former traits of pure flirtatious, charming bravery in all things Palescreech involved. “We should head back.” her voice indicated a minor distaste for her own words, though she knew better than to play some obvious attempts at trying to keep their conversation alive. Of course, she knew that in the long-run she didn't need it. Nightstep had surprised her, though no doubt surprised her in a good way, with having reciprocated her feelings. It had been quite the marvelous intake, though it was bitterly addressed that good things were not meant to last forever.

Palescreech took a tiny step forward, still grinning at her black-and-white companion, before returning her attention frontwards, stalking back towards camp with lively strides. “Oh, and Nightstep:” Palescreech suddenly halted, her eyes widening as a sign of new alertness, gaze once again falling upon the features of her fellow warrior. The seriousness was quick to subside, minimizing in favour of informing Nightstep that what was to follow was not something for him to fret over, but instead a warm remark upon the tip of her tongue. “It seems that your world will not encounter sadness for a while now. I'm happy, and I plan on staying that way – you help, of course.” Palescreech held back the giggle threatening to erupt from her throat, glancing forwardly in a fleeting notion as to not give in to the temptation, putting all of her attention into the brisk walk back to camp, though visibly battling with this decision out of a desire to keep her utmost attention upon none other than Nightstep.

OOC: End of thread, perhaps? c: