pay attention [Thievingstreak]

it was tiring.

being the loner of the clan. being that one screw up that no one talks to. the one guy in the clan that no one likes and just is there to annoy everyone. yeah, that was Nightclaw. the joke. it was just exhausting to swear his loyalty everyday to his clan, and yet not feel apart of it. no respect, no respect! they never respected him! does personality mean everything? he's--well, usually a good hunter. and he's a good fighter--in practice. but he's always been passionately loyal! doesn't that mean anything? does he mean anything?

this was tiring.

he was on a solid pace between a trot and a run. it hasn't wavered since he left Riverclan camp, and Fourtrees was in sight. he honestly had no perception of time, distance. just his frustrated thoughts and the flurry of ground carrying him to an unknown destination. everything was just a blur around the black tom. the only senses that were still in work was feeling the breeze that brushed past him, and the grass that softened every paw hold. but as focused as he was to keep moving, he felt the wear seep through his muscles and slowing down his paws.

but, he kept going. who know's why. but he did. and he kept going until his pace was slowed down to a complete and pathetic flop to the ground. Nightclaw didn't even care. he just laid there, collecting his breath and letting his poor legs rest. and he just stared up, and watched as the light filtered through the leaves of the giant four trees that surrounded him. his mind was empty for the first time in his life.

[ this is such a gross post i am so sorry ]

There was a sense of urgency to Thievingstreak's pawsteps, and for the life of her, she could not fully understand why. She just had to get away. Although she exuded an air of nonchalance and indifference toward the events of moons past, inside, her emotions were tumultuous and caustic, eating away at the very fiber of her being. Despite the fact that she walked away from that gathering physically unscathed, unlike many cats from that horrifying night, her soul had been forever scarred, and the nightmares would not stop.

Her body flew over moss and grass as she sprinted toward Fourtrees, driven by feelings she could not comprehend. In her heart, she knew if she had taken the time to speak to someone, Thistlespot perhaps for some advice and herbs to calm her racing thoughts, or even one of her fellow warriors, maybe she would have been able to come to terms with all that had happened. As always, however, one idea dominated all others: she needed to be alone.

As she neared Fourtrees, she did not slow her steps, but once she reached the base of the tree, she skidded to a sudden halt. The area was filled with the stale scents of cats, still lingering from the last meeting of the clans -- but there was one that stood out among the rest... and it was fresh. Her nostrils flared as she followed it to its source -- a collapsed and heaving RiverClan tom.

"I know you..." the black she-cat began, still breathing heavily herself. If it had been any other day, or under any other circumstance, she would have been bristling and confrontational, but seeing a fellow warrior in the same state she was, obviously distressed, gave her the slightest feeling of empathy. She was unaccustomed to this sensation and unsure if she liked the warmth rising in her chest, but it was far better than the bone-chilling cold she had struggled with for moons. She remained guarded and her usual sarcastic self, but there was the faintest of smiles tugging at the corners of her maw. "Nightclaw, is it?" Bit early for the next gathering, aren't you?

word count :: 358
tagged :: rain.

[pshhh you're fine <3 I've just been bored on my sick day, don't mind me]

Nightclaw immediately broke out of meditation when an unfamiliar voice accompanied his misery. but he didn't play it off too cool. the abrupt disruption of his focus caused his whole body to jump off the ground with fur bristling, his defensive stance aimed directly at the stranger. and "What?!" was all he could hiss out before analyzing who he was dealing with. in fact, it was a Shadowclan cat. that was definitely the easiest things to pick out with a scent like that. Shadowclan? what would a Shadowclan cat be doing here? then as he processed her words he remembered he was at Fourtrees. and to be honest, he didn't know what was more confusing, finding her here or at Riverclan.

"Technically it's a gathering now if more than one cat is here," he grunted, sitting down in embarrassment at his freak out a second before. he was looking away coolly, but his heart was definitely pounding. and he knew why. she. was. attractive. but whether he was acting aloof to save himself from looking at her more, or because she was from an enemy Clan, he didn't know. but he at least knew one thing. for whatever reason, that cat made him weak when he looked at her. she was gorgeous.

man, his body was itching, though. sitting down just made him feel more heated and restless. he was acutely aware of the attention on him, and Nightclaw was still getting over his clumsy introduction. he raised himself on all paws. "Thievingstreak," he remembered her name. it was easy. she was popular. but the name left a sensation on his tongue. the black tom slowly moved toward her to close the awkward gap between them, but he looked up. his eyes locked onto her's, and that was the end of it. he tripped over his front paws, but yes, he didn't fall! he caught himself! keep walking, keep walking! it was only a small trip, he could recover! but his pace was definitely more rushed and disconnected, and he didn't even try to look at her. instead he stopped as proudly as he could in front of her, eyes narrowed. gruffly he muttered, "Yeah. Uh. Was this your final stop or are you heading somewhere?"

Thievingstreak had not meant to startle the tom. She was known throughout the Clans as a cat not keen on kindness, but his reaction to her intrusion brought a strange inkling of guilt to the she-cat. Though she was tempted to apologize, she held her tongue -- and her laughter. What a strange, funny warrior. Perhaps her running into him was not so bad after all. It had been moons since she had seen such comedy as this. It was a gathering indeed -- much more pleasant than the monthly meetings of the Clans, at that. "Touché," she cooed at his comment.

Glancing him over with a raised brow, she couldn't help but think that there was something more to this RiverClan warrior than she initially anticipated. The way he looked at her... made her tingle in strange places. There was a definite spark, almost tangibly visible between their eyes. As he moved closer to her, she felt her cheeks flush and her whiskers twitched. When he lost his footing, she shook her head, snapping back to her senses, and her usual demeanor. "I have a limp and a bad eye and I can compose myself better than that."

As Nightclaw gathered himself, she once again found herself stifling a chuckle. "Yes, I'm on my way to Highstones, if you must know," she mumbled in a mocking tone, rolling her eyes. "I'm here because I needed a breather. After everything that's happened I... I needed some time alone." Now that she was here, though, she was almost thankful that she had chosen this night for her outing. Thievingstreak did not want to openly admit this, even to herself, but a small part of her wondered if some level of socialization would be good for her well-being.

word count :: 295
tagged :: rain.

"Highstones?" Nightclaw repeated in disbelief. he still felt all sweaty from Thievingstreak's remarks, but the growing chill cooling down his damp fur brought him back to the conversation. all the way to Highstones? this girl had way more ambition than he could ever have. hell, it was a journey just to get to Fourtrees. but the shocking information got him to look at her. and after spitting out that one-word reply, he just stared. he detailed everything from her eyes to her cheeks, sinking in every feature as if he was given only one chance to look at a map before heading off into unknown land.

he wasn't even apologetic about it, either. no, maybe it was something about that she-cat's gaze, or maybe her nose? that very slight teasing grin? the maturity and confidence that she held herself with? he didn't know. but he just kept staring. finally he took a step closer without breaking eye contact. "Time alone? I don't think that's what you need at all." he told her bluntly. then he grinned. "You don't need to go all the way to Highstones. I think what you need is right here."

the only time he has ever felt any more confident than he did now was when he was angry. anger, for him, was his only way to be dominant and feel like he is in control. but right now was a different story. he didn't know what Thievingstreak would say, nor did he know if he could ever convince her to stay. but something about her pulled him to make her stay. sure, maybe he doesn't know how to be cool. and well, he has one of the most unattractive personalities in, well, any Clan. but even if he had to pretend to be cool, hey, it was worth it.

The shock on his face told Thievingstreak that Nightclaw had taken her seriously when she had stated that she was headed for Highstones. In all honesty, she didn't think she could take another step in either direction -- toward the sacred cave, or back to camp. Her legs, especially her scarred hind, ached miserably from the run, and all she wanted to do was rest. Outwardly, she showed now sign of this though, holding her head high with bright eyes.

"It was a joke," she all but purred, becoming amused with the tom's fumbling mannerisms. It was then, despite her sardonic tone, that he seemed to up his game, closing the distance between them and locking eyes with a self-assurance that made her heart flutter helplessly in her chest, like a trapped butterfly flitting between her ribs.

For the first time in recent memory, Thievingstreak was lost for words. Her mouth hung open for a moment and she could feel -- taste, even -- his warm breath on her face, tinged with the smell of fish that his clan so characteristically hunted. Her head swam, and she herself stumbled as she took a step back. She recovered quickly (faster, she hoped, than he had, so as not to make a complete fool of herself), and stepped forward again. "Those are bold words coming from an almost stranger," the she-cat murmured in a low voice. "Tell me why I should stay. Here. With you." Her voice was wavering as she spoke, but her posture remained steady, her misstep notwithstanding. However charming this tom was, and however long it had been since she had experienced this... sudden... smitten feeling -- if ever -- she could not lose her self-control. Not yet.

word count :: 288
tagged :: rain.

it was working.

he was studying her closely. whether by captivation or nervousness, he didn't know. but it was working. the way her mouth curved barely open, how her voice breathed as it wavered, and he swore he even saw herself unbalance for a moment. it was just feeding his ambition. his desire for her. even if he wanted to look away right now he couldn't. never in his life has he been so determined. it was like a part of him that he had never witnessed before. the part of him that he always wanted to be.

Nightclaw stepped one step closer. tasting the lingering breath of the she-cat before him empowered him. like a treat to a behaving kid. he lost all fear of Thievingstreak's dominant demeanor, his head dizzy and focused on something else. everything was so natural. every cat he has ever met made him feel uncomfortable, lost. like he was being judged for every move he made. and so much effort was put into every exchange. but this was a completely different world. he wasn't plagued with rumors or opinions, mistakes or history. this cat was seeing him for the first time, and it was a clean slate. he was going to make this count. "Is that a joke too?" he breathed with a light sneer, leaning close to her muzzle. "I feel like those eyes of yours wouldn't be so addicting if you weren't putting a spell on me."

he purred, nuzzling her muzzle quickly before backing off. shrugging he continued from a safe distance, "But if I'm too dangerous of a stranger for you," he toothily grinned.

Thievingstreak visibly squirmed as Nightclaw inched closer to her, whispering at a pitch that only furthered to stir the quivering sensations in her heart -- and elsewhere. She tucked her tail between her legs with what seemed like embarrassment, but her face told a different story. Her eyes were widening, pupils dilated, and she inhaled sharply as her ears flushed a distinct, deep red. He was feeding off of the energy building between them and she was doing the same, such that the space around them was almost electrified with the tension growing between the two cats.

"That... that was not a lie," she said in one slow exhaled breath. "I am no enchantress... just an old warrior with a heavy heart... and somehow, StarClan knows how, you seem to know all the right strings within it to play..."

And then he touched her -- ever so slightly, a gentle nudge against her cheek, and she all but fell over in astonishment. Her legs lost all will to support her weight and she crumpled in a heap, looking up at the RiverClan warrior in stupefied bliss. She lay there for a moment, feeling paralyzed, before the trill of a bird nearby broke her out of the strange daze. "I meant to do that," she grunted, scrambling up on all fours again. "I.. I ran all the way here. It was... a long way, you see. I'm very tired. And you don't seem the dangerous type. At least, not the type to swipe a she-cat while she's... down." She swallowed hard and shifted her weight, admiring his firm jawline as he grinned down at her. Fox dung, why did he have to be so handsome?!

word count :: 284
tagged :: rain.

oh, this was exactly what he wanted. she was responding to him, paying attention. and it couldn't have been any more perfect. she was squirming, just for him. every little thing about this girl right now, from the way her face flushed to the way her body just weighed down visibly with desire. it was driving him crazy, and he wanted more. his fur was tingling with excitement and his tail high and quivering. the more she weakened in his gaze, the more stronger his pawhold on the earth was, the more he would drink in the passion and get drunk with need.

Nightclaw grinned. "Is that your way of saying you're gonna stay?"

and in that moment of physical exchange, he was actually surprised when the Shadowclan cat disappeared from his eyeline. he took a step back, and with softened amused eyes he looked upon his defeated queen, captivated on what seemed to be the loser that he is--or maybe--once was. and the more time Thievingstreak took to get her senses back, the more his grin widened. and as he opened his mouth to say something, she was up again. she was so adorable. "Oh?" he inquired, starting to pace in a close circle around the black female. "Well, I don't think you have to swipe a she-cat when she's down to be dangerous--" and suddenly he knocked her down, easily pinning her. it was bad enough that she had a limp, but the fact that she was, quite literally, weak in the knees for him, the act was almost too easy. and, with his muzzle only a whisker away, he smirked, "I think this is way more dangerous."

Just as the black tom was basking in her infatuation, so too did Thievinstreak equally thirst for more of his recognition. His tail, long and oscillating ever so slightly with a temptation she could almost physically taste. Her mouth was salivating at the thought and she squirmed even more as he circled her. "Yes, I suppose that means I'm staying," she whispered, looking down at her paws.

Then he tackled her, holding her down, and her senses exploded at the touch of his fur against hers. So close, closer than she had ever allowed any cat to be. It was exhilarating -- and the forbiddenness of it fanned the flames of her lust even more. She twisted beneath him to lay on her back, belly exposed, shaking as she stared up at him with seductive eyes. Slowly, tentatively, she wrapped her legs around him and pulled him down with her, willingly submitting to his charms and guile.

She was about to grant him permission to engage in what she knew they both desperately longed for, but then, suddenly and without warning, she snapped.

This was not what she wanted.

Especially not for... her first time.

What was she thinking?

This was not who she was!

And who was he to think he could take her so quickly, so easily, without a struggle?

She was Thievingstreak!

And Thievingstreak was pissed.

A guttural snarl escaped her throat, and the she-cat planted both legs against his stomach. She heaved with a strength that surprised even her, tossing him off with screech. The act sent a shooting pain down her scarred leg, but the senior warrior shrugged this off. She grit her teeth, rolled over, and rose to her paws again anyway, her head held high and her eyes narrowed in warning, claws unsheathed.

"You are no danger to me. On the contrary, I think you should be the one concerned for your safety." Her fur was bristling, ears pinned back. A flock of blackbirds tore from the depths of Fourtrees, startled by the commotion.

"There is... chemistry here, that is quite obvious," she panted, nursing her bad leg as her anger began to slowly fade -- a process quickened only because of her strange liking for the tom. "But this is happening too fast. I don't know anything about you. You don't know anything about me. If we are to share such an... intimate exchange, I'd rather like to know what I'm getting into before I commit. If I commit." There was little doubt that she wouldn't, eventually, probably sooner rather than later. She was falling for him fast, for reasons she could not explain, but her guard was raised now. It was the least she deserved, and she somewhat regretted not erecting those emotional walls sooner.

word count :: 460
tagged :: rain.

OOC|| I keep editing this thing omg. xD

woah, this was going better than planned!
he almost started to drool when he felt the explosion of sensation disrupt her body. oh, she was doing everything he'd ever want her to do. she was completely exposed, just for him. her body even shook with eagerness as his body hovered teasingly above her. his haunches started wavering restlessly.
just as he was starting to drown in her seductive gaze, his face flushed red when he was suddenly pulled down, completely dumbfounded by her sudden fiesty move. and just as he was about to grab her--

"oof!"

the poor black tom was flung helplessly from his treasure. it was the biggest tease in his life. the warrior was just so confused and caught off guard that at first he just laid there, trying to get his belongings. and with a shake of his head he looked up. looks like their honeymoon was over. she looked like any other Shadowclan warrior now; hissing and proud. it was almost as if she was a different cat.

Nightclaw heaved himself up and gave his pelt a shake as Thievingstreak spoke up. but when she mentioned chemistry he eyed her. and when she finished he forced back a smirk. all she-cats were the same. all about emotion, commitment. he never understood the cherishment of "intimate exchanges" that all females seemed to possess. but he might as well play along. he was too addicted now. to her. he has never found any cat this interesting before. this impressive. this attractive. he had to put his pride aside. for now.

"A little warning next time, thanks," he grunted, rolling his shoulders. "But, what is there to know? only child, the loser of my Clan..." Nightclaw's tail started to lash. "I went out here to not think about myself. What about you? That seems like a more interesting topic."

ooc// its sad how well i understand your pain xD

Despite her (belated) physical objections to his advances, there was still fire in the tom's eyes -- she could almost see it in those flickering verdant orbs of his. Thievingstreak felt something akin to remorse as she watched him collect himself again. He was right. She was a puppet master -- they both were, really, tugging in all the right places, but at this point, she had gained the upper paw. Now that she had a moment to reflect on the events of the past minute or so, she was quite pleased with herself. Tormenting Nightclaw was the most fun she'd had in a long while, and the ebony she-cat was not about to stop. If he wanted some tail, her tail, he would have to work for it!

But... she knew she was walking on eggshells with her last move. Caught off guard, his true nature was beginning to shine through. He lacked the confidence he had presented to her only seconds before, and this uncertainty and doubt was doing a number on her libidinal impulses. Thievingstreak knew she could not tear him down now -- she had to build him back up, slowly, and in doing so, she could hopefully dig a little more deeply into the strange psyche of this cat.

"I disagree about the 'loser' bit," she meowed outright. "I don't think you've heard the stories about me. ShadowClan's resident narcissist, born half-blind, torn up by a fox as a young warrior? My experiences have hardened me to other cats. It takes guts to get under my fur. You did so without hardly any effort at all. You should be proud of yourself." Grinning, she took a few quick steps in his direction and angled her body such that it was sidelong, rubbing him across the chest from her shoulder down her flank. She allowed her tail to nudge up under his chin as she moved past him, brushing the full length of it from base to tip against his throat, before padding back to her original place and facing him again.

word count :: 345
tagged :: rain.