[Abyss]

I know the road is long,but where you are is home.
Wherever you stay, I'll find the way.

Yellow eyes watched as the long grasses of Lightningclan swayed to and fro, brushing against the bark of the changing trees that marked the border. Leaf-fall was coming forth in full force, leaves beginning to change color and a slight chill blowing through the valley. Even the grasslands that Lightningclan called home were beginning to change, their light green hue shifting to more of a yellow-green color. Many animals were starting to build their dens for Leafbare, wishing to encase their homes with the upmost protection from the harsh and cold gusts that Leafbare brought in its wake.

A cool breeze blew through the trees, lightly ruffling the black dappled coat that Leopardheart called his own. The scent of Lightningclan gently wafted across his tongue, sending a slight shiver down his spine. The Treeclan tom couldn't help but wish he had the ability to separate the scents of his clan's quick neighbors, for he would be able to tell if a certain silver tabby was nearby. No matter what he did, he always found his mind being drawn back to her. That shimmering silver coat, those pure black stripes that reminded him of his own, that comforting purr that rumbled through her chest, and those eyes. Those pale green eyes that held more emotion than he could ever describe.

It was hard to believe that in all of the time he had spent thinking about her and reminiscing about their time together, he had only ever actually been around her three times. Despite the little time they had truly spent together, that didn't change his thoughts about her. After their most recent meeting, he found himself debating what he truly felt for her. For quite some time he attempted to convince himself that his thoughts revolved around her because she was his only friend that lived within a clan that wasn't Treeclan. This thought changed once he became a Warrior, which he did find slightly ironic, but he pushed this aside. That night, during his vigil, he found himself coming to terms with what he had told himself wasn't true previously. He had feelings for Windpaw, feelings that he had never experienced in quite the same way before. That "Apprentice crush" he believed he had for her before was so much more than just a crush. During his Warrior ceremony, of course he was proud and thought of his siblings and his mother, but the very next cat to come to mind was Windpaw. What would she think of his new name? Was she made a Warrior yet? What would her name be?

He had come to this spot multiple times since he became a Warrior. The place that he and Windpaw first met. This was the same place that they had been attacked by the fox that gave him the scar he brandished on his back leg. This was where he believed his feelings for her first started, which was why he found himself drawn to this area. Even though the sky was dark, Leopardheart stared into the Lightningclan territory, watching carefully for any movement in the darkness. He could only hope that he would see her face emerge from those grasses.

Leopardheart

Warrior 19 Moons TreeClan

533 Ghost the Undead Goddess Notes

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Windspirit

18 Moons, LightningClan

I hear the wind across the plain,
A sound so strong, that calls my name

Pale green pools illuminated ever so slightly within the darkness of the den. The sounds of snoring bodies was all around her as the pale tabby lay wide away in-between the comforting forms of her sister, Sleetnose, and Sparkjaw. 

She was restless, which wasn't an uncommon thing. The gray tabby was known for her uncanny ability to wander or race off as much as her free spirit desired. It only increased with her new name and position within the clan. The freedom of a warrior rather than the restricted roaming ability as an apprentice. 

Lifting her head, Windspirit gave her ear a flicker. She could feel the element of her namesake practically calling her to, beckoning her to come race alongside it through the open moors of Lightningclan's territory.

That wasn't all though. 

The young warrioress was also missing one of her friends that was not apart of her clan. Though they had only come in contact with each other a pawful of times, Windspirit found herself drawn to Leopardpaw of Treeclan. His presence was comforting, enjoyable even and she enjoyed the time they had spent together. 

Even if one of those times had been absolutely frightening.

She had found herself wishing he had been there the day she earned her warrior name. Would he have earned his along side her and Sleetnose if he were apart of Lightningclan? She wondered if he was still an apprentice or if he too had taken that next step within his clan ranks. 

Lifting herself to her paws and pushing her thoughts to the side for a moment, the slender feline silently made her way through sleeping bodies to exit the warmth of the warrior's den. The coo Leaf-Fall air brushed against her cheek, greeting her as she slipped out into the openness of night. 

Giving a quick stretch, Windspirit made her way through the camp quietly and flicked her tail towards the warrior on duty before making her way out onto the moors. Faint scents of prey brushed her nose, and even more was the even lighter scent of Stoneclan as the wind drifted from that direction. 

Though her gray and black striped pelt was short, the cool night air and even chilly wind didn't seem to phase the free spirit as she stood for a moment, leaning into the element in which she as named. A purr softly rose within the she-cat's chest, tail curled over her back as she enjoyed the moment. 

As quick as the wind, the pale tabby suddenly shot off through the tall grasses. Belly low to the ground, claws unsheathed as she took long, bounding strides, tail streaming behind her to aid in balance. It was just a freeing feeling, the ability to race quickly across the ground. The wind whipping around at her side, keeping up with her as she practically flew across the moors. 

Heart hammering within her chest, breaths coming in quick and muscles burning from such a burst of speed, the young tabby slowed her stride into a lazy trot. With no direction in mind when she started, Windspirit was slightly surprised when she was greeted with the strong scent of Treeclan, the Open Woods looming ahead within the darkness.

The slender feline paused, pale eyes scanning as if she expected a familiar handsome golden and black cat to morph out of the shadows just by thinking of him. It was highly unlikely that she'd have the uncanny ability to run into him in such a fashion multiple times in a row, even as much a dreamer as she was. 

And yet, it seemed that Starclan had different ideas as the wind slowly brought a familiar, chest warming chest to her nose. Leopardpaw! Her heart soared within her chest as excitement glittered within those pale pools of hers. Quickening her pace Windspirit moved through the tall grasses and laid her gaze upon the Treeclan tom.

A purr rose quickly and loudly within her chest as she bounded forwards to where he stood on his side of the boarder. Without hesitation, Windspirit quickly pressed against the older feline, nuzzling her nose up underneath his chin as she breathed in his scent, tail wagging happily. 

Abyss Taxx - Sleetnose mentions || 723 Words || Notes

[Abyss]

I know the road is long,but where you are is home.
Wherever you stay, I'll find the way.

Slowly, as time moved forward and little changed, the tom found himself growing disappointed. Though, this had happened multiple times now. Each time that he had come to this place, hoping to see the beautiful face of the she-cat he admired so deeply, he found himself turning and returning to camp when she wouldn’t end up there. He couldn’t expect her to show up just because he did, yet each time that he sat there and waited for her, he still felt a slight sadness as he walked home.

Even now, that feeling started to set in. Of course, that wouldn’t stop him from returning in a few days to try again. Letting out a sigh, he stood up and scanned the grasses one final time, a sliver of hope still clinging to his mind like a leech. But he saw nothing. He let out a quiet sigh, beginning to turn his body to start his trek back. Yet something told him to stop. There was a feeling, something he hadn’t felt before, that told him to wait just a little longer. As he turned back towards the Lightningclan territory, he found that his instinct was right.

Just as he had been dreaming of, a light-colored figure pushed its way through the grasses, light from the half-full moon giving the other feline an almost angelic glow. Even without calling out or even seeing the full set of features, he knew. It was Windpaw.

As the silver she-cat bound her way towards him, he did the same, coming to a stop right at the very edge of the border just as she pushed herself against him. He felt her muzzle slide underneath his chin, which he returned with his head rubbing against hers. Even though a deep purr rumbled through his own chest, he could still feel her more soft purr running through hers, the two purrs coming together as one. He took in the scent that he had been so eager to take in for quite some time now, eyes closing happily.

He longed to remain just like this, his chest pressed against hers and their heads resting together. He even swirled his tail around him and reached forward, just barely managing to wrap around her own. For a brief moment, he pictured what it would be like if he could experience this all the time. The mental image of Windpaw and himself laying together within the Warriors den, tails wrapped around each other, heads together, and fur mixing together all within the same nest caused his purr to only grow louder, taking another small step forward just to press himself even closer to her.

It was also at this time that he remembered one of the reasons he had come to see her. He just barely pulled his head away from her, but then pressed his nose against her cheek closer to her ear, his purr still making his whole body vibrate.

“I’m a Warrior now, ” he whispered, his voice surprisingly calm. Normally he would have been much more excited to tell this news to someone, which he was still excited, yet being with the she-cat that crept her way into his mind constantly brought a soothing effect around him. He was curious to see what she would say, if anything. Had she also become a Warrior? Was she even Windpaw anymore? He internally hoped that she would say the same thing, speaking to him with that precious voice that she didn’t often use, yet was so enthralling when she did.

Leopardheart

Warrior 19 Moons TreeClan

592 Ghost the Undead Goddess Notes

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Windspirit

18 Moons, LightningClan

I hear the wind across the plain,
A sound so strong, that calls my name

Her heart soared, like an eagle riding on the drifting winds high above the Moors of Lightningclan. The young feeling couldn't explain or describe the feeling but if she could, it would be similar to something of being complete. Of being whole.

The pale tabby had missed Leopardpaw, his face and his gentle personality, his earthy Treeclan scent. Though they were in different clans, she couldn't help but wish he were there with her under the open skies everyday. Wishing to race along the wind and the grass with him by her side.

During her warrior ceremony, Windspirit had wanted nothing more than for him to be by her side. Possibly even earning his own name with her, under the watchful gazes of Redstar and Owlmind. Would he have shouted her name to Starclan, or whispered if softly in her ear while purring with pride?

She didn't like being away from him, that much was certain as she leaned into his embrace, letting his scent surround her and comfort her. Windspirit couldn't say for certain what exactly she felt when it came to the handsome Bengal from across the border but she knew she didn't want to go through her life without him.

He was important to her.

Stepping back slightly, so pale green could find and hold those darker green pools of his, Windspirit couldn't help the pride and excitement that fluttered through her gaze and her heart at the fact that he too was now a warrior. Though she slightly ignored the pang of sadness she felt at not being there to hear his new name, to softly purr it among the echos of others calling it out loudly.

Tilting her head slightly, the question ever so obvious within her gaze, the pale tabby wanted to know what he was now called. She obviously couldn't go around calling him Leopardpaw anymore, he was a warrior of Treeclan. He deserved it, especially after his heroic save of her the first time they met. If it hadn't been for him, Windspirit would have been fox fodder.

She wanted to know it, impatience crawling at her as she bounced back and forth on her front paws before softly nudging his chest with her nose. Tell me! Her mossy gaze pleaded, wanting to repeat it in similar praise to the day he earned it.

Abyss || 411 Words || Notes

[Abyss]

I know the road is long,but where you are is home.
Wherever you stay, I'll find the way.

Just as he spoke his gentle words in her ear, the silver she-cat pulled away to gaze into his eyes. Just from her eyes alone he could see the excitement and curiosity that she held, which caused his heart to flutter. He had imagined this exact expression. During his vigil, he had pictured what it would be like to tell her, to reveal his new name to her. That twinkle in her eyes that resulted when she was happy, that shine that he adored.

He did slightly open his jaws to tell her, but then he stopped. Her gaze slightly changed. It was still the same, but it took on what seemed like eagerness after just a few moments of his silence. His gaze slowly went from her pale green orbs down to her meadow-born paws, to which he saw what he could only describe as one of the cutest things he had seen. She was bouncing. She almost resembled a kit who had just been told that they were going to be told a super exciting story. That innocence and impatience mixed together was adorable on her. So, just to ever so slightly tease her, he closed his mouth, a warm smile forming on his face. He remained silent for a few seconds more, not telling his name just so he could see this moment continue a little bit longer.

This didn’t last long, though, for she nudged his chest with her nose, clearly insistent that he tell her right then. Silently chuckling, he straightened out his back and lifted his head, his chest somewhat pushing forward and his tail raising behind him. It would seem that he was going to make himself bigger and appear more proud to say his name, but he did something else. He then bent his legs backwards, lowering the front of his body so that his head was level with her chest. He then licked her chest fur a few times, slightly pulling back to look up at her.

“Leopardheart of Treeclan, at your service, m’lady.” A deep purr rumbled through his chest as he bowed to the lovely she-cat that stood before him. In truth, he wasn’t lying. At that moment, he really was at her service. In that moment, he was hers. Though this technically wasn’t a “free” offer, for he did expect one thing in return for the telling of his new name.

“May I have the pleasure of hearing your new name?” He purred, his own curiosity flooding into his eyes.

Leopardheart

Warrior 19 Moons TreeClan

592 Ghost the Undead Goddess Notes

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Windspirit

18 Moons, LightningClan

I hear the wind across the plain,
A sound so strong, that calls my name

He was messing with her, that much she knew as he watched his jaw moved for a second as if about to tell her before pausing to close his mouth once more. The small smile on his muzzle, the way his eyes watched her as she impatiently bounced on her nimble paws like a kit.

It only caused that gentle purr within her chest to grew louder as he finally gave into her request, bowing and running his prickly tongue over the soft silver fur of her chest. Her heart raced wildly at the soft gesture, beating with emotions that she wasn't sure what they meant, but she knew she wanted to feel that way.

"Leopardheart~"

His new name rolled from her tongue in that soft voice, a praise and a gentleness that showed she adores it. The handsome Bengal's name fit him, chosen perfectly for a tom who in fact, had a glorious and kind heart. Windspirit knew he wore it with pride as she called it out, tail waggy happily behind her.

Moving forwards to once again close the gap between golden and silver, the younger she-cat lovingly pressed her nose to his cheek before playfully licking it and backing up. A new excitement present within those place, expressive pools as it was her turn to stand tall, puff out her chest and curl her slender tail over her back.

Her namesake, ever a constant companion, brushed against her stripped cheek and she leaned into as always. It was only fitting her leader had given her such a name, for she truely did embody the wind within in her soul. She had been standing beside her sister the day it happened, but now she could finally tell Leopardheart.

"Windspirit~" Her tone never changed from earlier, her purr still loud and present within her chest as she spoke her name with pride. Happiness was clear within her green gaze as she continued to watch him with contentment before a smile curled it's way around her maw and she dropped into a mimicking now.

"My dear tom~!" A giggle made its way known as she bounced back to her paws, that kitful playfulness never quite leaving her.

Abyss || 386 Words|| Notes

[Abyss]

I know the road is long,but where you are is home.
Wherever you stay, I'll find the way.

Hearing his name said to him through her gentle voice that she so rarely used caused the tom’s already deep purr to only grew deeper. He had longed to hear her voice for so long now, especially during his ceremony. Once he had received his new name he listened as his clanmates and family called out his new name. His mother and all six of his siblings called to him and congratulated him once the ceremony was over. While he was appreciative and was so grateful for his family to be there, watching as he officially became a Warrior, there was still a part of him that felt empty. He had scanned the camp when everyone began to disperse, seeking out the face that he dreamed of most nights. It was when he didn’t see his love anywhere that he remembered that she was not a Treeclan cat, nor was she one of the cats who had called out his new name.

But his wish had been fulfilled in this moment, getting to hear her beautiful voice laced with her comforting purr say his name. He watched as she took a single step forward to close their distance once more. When he felt her somewhat cold little nose press against his cheek, he slightly leaned in to the gesture, his smile only growing larger. It seemed as though she approved of his new suffix, which was enough to make him prouder than he already was. He then felt her prickly tongue brush across his cheek just once before she pulled away, the excitement returning to her eyes at his question.

As her voice came from her once more, her new name floating from her jaws, the tom’s ears perked. “Windspirit, ” he purred, both repeating the name to himself and saying it to her just as she had done for him. Seeing her stance, the way the wind shifted her fur as she spoke, and the pride within her pale green gaze was all that was needed to prove that she was also proud of her new name. She then did what he had done, bowing down in front of him and using his style of speech to call him her ‘dear tom’. A small chuckle rumbled through his throat at this before the silver tabby jumped back up to her paws, a sense of playful nature emanating from her.

For a moment, Leopard seemed frozen in place, staring once again up at her from his still bowed position. His gaze contained a shimmer of both adoration and content as he looked to her, though he didn’t stay this way for long. A sudden urge going through him, he pushed himself forward and up, taking a single step forward and slowly placing his muzzle underneath her chin, pressing against her chest. He nuzzled his head into her fur, his deep purr resonating with hers. “It’s just as beautiful as the owner of the name, ” he purred. He could feel warmth spread through him at the contact, wishing that the two of them could stay right where they were for good. Had they been in the same clan, perhaps that could come true. But alas, their forbidden love couldn’t work that way. For now at least.

Until then, should that ever happen, they were stuck doing just this; meeting secretly at their borders to spend time with one another, basking in each others’ presence before they would have to leave each other once more.

Leopardheart

Warrior 19 Moons TreeClan

582 Ghost the Undead Goddess Notes

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Windspirit

18 Moons, LightningClan

I hear the wind across the plain,
A sound so strong, that calls my name

Her heart practically soared as she heard him call her name in that purr of his. She couldn't understand what it was when it came to him, when she was around him. Just like she couldn't understand why she missed him so much when she was away from him. 

The young warrioress wanted more than anything for Leopardheart to be apart of Lightningclan. She knew her mother, Cloudyfeather would probably adore him. The handsome Bengal was polite and charming and had such a gentle heart. 

There was a sparkle within her pale green pools at his compliment, a warmth growing under the silver stripping of her tabby pelt. It was a different feeling then the one she got when her namesake brushed against her, taunting and calling her to come race along side it. 

Different, but still good. 

The rapid beating of her heart within the cages of her ribs calmed as he once again at their closeness, his nose just under her chin as he nuzzled her. The moment just felt so right, and Windspirit wanted nothing more than to be just be frozen in time forever so she could enjoy this moment.

She didn't want the moon to fade as daylight washed away night, she didn't want to have to return home and curl up in her nest without him by her side. The dreams she had of the two of them only caused the unknown pain within her chest to hurt every morning she awoke back to reality.

Even the ever comforting element of wind seemed to be pushing her back home, knowing that their time together was fleeting. Even if she was a warrior, Windspirit couldn't get caught sneaking back into camp smelling like a foreign clan. Not only could she be in trouble, but she could get Leopardheart in trouble too.

Shifting away from the tom for a moment, Windspirit looked over her shoulder, back towards where the camp waited nestled within the moorland. Her mind was muddled with decisions and desires before she turned back to face the handsome tomcat close to her, those pale pools of hers somewhat sad.

I dont want to have to leave...

The expression was plain as day across her face, her tail softly flickering behind her wishing there was a way to extend the time of night, prolong the morning so she could stay with him longer. Even if she wasn't completly understanding of her feelings towards him, she was sure Leopardheart understood. 

He always seemed to get her, their connection special and treasured.

Abyss || 445 Words || Notes

[Abyss]

I know the road is long,but where you are is home.
Wherever you stay, I'll find the way.

That light yet rapid thumping that he felt against his cheek, face pressed comfortably between the she-cat’s chest and the crook of her neck, caused his own heart to do the opposite. He felt so calm, so relaxed, so content with being right where he was. His nest back in the Warrior’s den was comfortable. Occasionally sleeping next to his mother or one of his siblings was comfortable. Yet where he was now, sitting at the border between his clan and her’s, their chests and heads pressed together, it felt better than all of it. Despite that tiny voice in the back of his mind telling him that this was wrong, that this was against the Warrior code, he couldn’t help it. There was just something about her.

When his companion shifted away from him, he found his thoughts still lost in the clouds as he stared at her. There was something special about her. That silvery white coat, those thin, nearly pure black stripes that covered her from head to tail, the way the wind seemed to follow her like a shadow, those beautiful green eyes. Even the gentle and pure voice that she used so rarely. He felt butterflies flutter through his stomach each time his own yellow eyes landed on her. It was hard for him to believe how much he had come to care about her, even though this was only their fourth time actually meeting in person. Somehow, it felt as though he had known her all of his life. Perhaps that was just all of his dreams of her coming back to make him think they had been together that long.

It wasn’t until her pale green eyes turned to him that he realized they had been looking away. He pulled himself from his thoughts, blinking quickly for a second to realize he had been spacing out. When he truly focused, he found a sad expression painted on her face. For a moment he didn’t understand why, but his thoughts came back, reminding him that she had turned to look behind her when she pulled away. His own eyes lifted, looking passed her towards the general direction of the Lightningclan camp.

It was still dark, but it wouldn’t last forever, no matter how much they wished it would. Sooner or later, the sun would begin to rise, signalling that their time together was ending. It was a time that they both dreaded when they got the chance to be together.

Momentarily, his eyes turned to the ground, a sadness appearing in them as well. “I know...I don’t want to go back either.”

Had Leopardheart been that sort of cat, he could have made a suggestion in that moment. They wanted to be together. They wanted to see each other every day. They wanted to sleep in a nest together. They always felt sad when having to return to their clans. They could run away. Leave the clans. Go out into the open forest. Go to a place where them being together wasn’t forbidden. If he were completely honest, that thought had occurred to him once or twice. The idea of leaving all of this clan stuff behind and getting to spend his life peacefully with Windspirit at his side had filled his mind multiple times, nearly convincing him to try. But each time he reminded himself otherwise.

He adored Treeclan. He loved living in a clan. He was loyal to his family, to Lionstar, and to Treeclan with his life. The same could be said about Windspirit to her own clan. Both of them lived and breathed for and thanks to their clans. Running away from lives that they loved was something neither would do.

A surge went through the tom’s chest after a time of silence and stillness, making his head lift, eyes locking with hers once more. “I don’t want to ever have to leave you.” He slightly scooched himself forward closer to her, eyes still locked with hers. “I think and dream about you every day.” His tail curled, reaching around him to lightly brush across her flank and neck. “You mean more to me than I could ever say in words.” He started to feel heat rising within his cheeks. “Windspirit...” His face slowly got closer to hers, their cheeks brushing together and his muzzle nearing her ear. “I love you...and...i-if you feel the same way...I would like to be your mate.”

His heart was pounding inside his chest as he lightly pulled away, wanting to see her face. What would she say, if anything? Did she even feel the same way? Had he said it for no reason? Would she say no? His confidence slowly drained as nervousness set in, scared of what would happen if she didn’t actually feel the same.

Leopardheart

Warrior 19 Moons TreeClan

807 Ghost the Undead Goddess Notes

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Windspirit

18 Moons, LightningClan

I hear the wind across the plain,
A sound so strong, that calls my name

The pale tabby blinked once. 

Twice.

She wasn't quite expecting the question from Leopardheart nor was she expecting her heart to practically leap from her chest into her throat at the question that currently rang repeatedly within her ears. 

In all honesty, Windspirit wasn't entirely aware of her own feelings until that exact moment. She listened to the way the handsome tom spoke, how he acted, what exactly he said as each thing practically mirrored how she felt. The young warrior truly felt the love he spoke of.

How long had she without even realizing it?

There was a warmth that quickly made it's way through her slender form, rising from her paws to the tips of her ears and even her dark nose. It made her want to race through the moors with the Treeclan Bengal beside her while the wind licked at their heels.

Without even giving his question a second thought, without worries or doubts, Windspirit quickly moved to press her smaller form up against the tom who had sneakily stolen her heart. The pale tabby nuzzled up against Leopardheart, nose beneath his jaw as his scent surrounded her. 

It was soothing as always and it only made Windspirit want to prolong leaving him to return to her nest before the other cats of Lightningclan began to rise and awaken. Her striped tail happily wagged softly behind her, brushing against the blades of grass beneath her with each movement. 

"I'd love to be your mate..." Her voice was soft and gentle almost like the faint breeze that pressed against her flank almost like it was encouraging or congratulating the dilute feline. Her namesake always around, the element practically ingrained within the swift she-cat.

Abyss || 305 Words || Houston, We have Mates!