R.e.a.d.y to go? [streampaw]

[•The Speedster•]

That look you gave me...

Spike made his way doown to thhe same area he had been not long ago. The memory of the half riverclan-half skyclan apprentice and him made him shiver. The thought of leaving skyclan for a moon to get the apprentice back to her rightfull home, made him almost sick, but he wouldn't show it.

He waited patiently for the grey she-cat, sitting upon his haunches beside the gurgling river. Spike looked around, his eyes showing nothing. He pictured the pretty grey tabby femme in his mind, and her light green eyes. Then he thought of Bella, had she had kits in her stumach when she died? He will never know, until he reaches starclan of coarse.

He sighed, he really needed this time by himself, just to sit and think. He closed his orbs, and let his legs slide down into a down position. His head lay on his legs, and his ears pricked for any sound or smell. He relaxed, just for that moment, just for the peace. He thought about all his loved ones in his life. His mother, his brothers, Bella... Would he ever love again? Was this small feeling for the dawn colored apprentice just sincerity? Aa weird feeling ran through him, around his heart, through his chest.

The feeling went away when he apened his eyes. He sat up, getting on all four paws. He was ready to leave now. Something had sparked inside him, told him he needed to leave, to help this she-cat. Spike stretched his black bodice, and shook his now dirty fur. His veiw turned behind him, and he jumped. For some reason he was thinking that Streampaw would have been back there. Maybe he was just thinking about the other night. When both of them lay on their back, staring at the setting sun, listening to the gurgling stream. He looked all along the river, to as far as it would go. He sat there peacefully, waiting for Streampaw to arive.

...was it love?

[Lionstar]

A gray tabby apprentice bounded along the shore of the river, hurrying to meet her new travel partner. Pale dawn light glowing over the edge of the gorge matched Streampaw's fur, the clouds even creating her darker gray tabby stripes. Though they were tinged with the golden orange glow of the rising sun. The tabby she-cat spotted her companion and slowed to a trot. The two cats had a long journey ahead of them, and they needed to conserve their energy. "Ready to go?" Streampaw asked cheerfully as she came near Spike.

[•The Speedster•]

It couldn't be...

Spike nodded, his golden orbs flashing a simple stare back at his home. He took a step forward, turning his head back forwards. The pale she-cat was at his side now, and as they walked, they fell into a small rythme. This was almost deja-vu of when he was walking with Bella.

The memory played over and over in his head, almost as if he was reliving it. The brute opened his eyes, he should be focusing on their journey. No one knew they were living, and they didn't get traveling herbs that gave them strength and less hunger lust.

As he walked, he thought about how long he should stay with RiverClan. Maybe just a few days. But of course, he would definately feel bad, and need to sleep. A qaurter moon and a half felt about right. 10 sunrises would give him enough time to spend with Streampaw, and strengthen up. And this time when he left, he would have herbs to help him.

He turned his gaze to the shimmering femme beside him. The reflection of her silver fur in the water semmed oh so perfect. He stumbled over his own paws at the thought

of him falling in love with this cat. And he almost jumped as he slithered sideways, barely touching her fur. The feeling relaxed him, but he didn't want to make Streampaw nervous, so he stepped away.

He continued walking, same step for step as the femme. Getting used to the pace she walked in was efortless, the fact that he had to stay a certain ways away was the isnulable part. He longed for the touch of their fur, the ripple of her banner on his. But he didn't know the reason why. He knew for sure he would never love another fae again, especially so soon.

He wiped his desire away, focusing once again on the journey that lay ahead of them; or at least, he tried to. The thoughts kept coming back to him. But not only about Bella, or Streampaw, but of his family, of how RiverClan would welcome him.

The thoughts faded slowly away as he saw how far they had already gotten. His view was lay upon Streampaw once again, but not on her looks. But on her personality. The cute trot she walked, she was funny, but in her own little way. He felt so sorry for her, he couldn't have just let her go. A first he doubted taking her back, regreted talking to the she-cat the first time he saw her. But not he took it all back. He was happy and relaxed, more than he ever had been before.

I shall never love again

[Lionstar]

Streampaw moved along with an easy gait as Spike fell in beside her. She quickly braced herself when Spike fell against her and briefly wondered what had caused the usually very composed tom to trip. As her companion struggled within himself beside her, she glanced over occasionally in concern. She could sort of sense that he was thinking about something, hard. Streampaw kept moving with a nearly blank mind as she semi-concentrated on walking. She was naturally relaxed, yet at the same time, deep inside she was pretty tense.
But as they moved on, Spike relaxed. They had come to the point where there was a decision to make. "Should we go through the mountains or the twolegplace?" the gray tabby apprentice meowed. On the journey to SkyClan's territory, a horse had carried them the whole way and it had only taken a few days. But she knew that on her own paws it would take much longer. And neither of them knew much about the way.

[Man, I wish I were as good a poster as you Speedy! You rock!]

[•The Speedster•]

[ lol I've seen better! But thanks anyway! ]

"When will you stop treating me like a little girl?"

Spike narrowed his eyes, he had taken the twoleg place to come here, and has never before been in the mountains. But he knew already that green-leaf would start being cooler at night, and the mountains would surely be cold. But maybe just maybe it could be shorter. His gaze fell on the closest mountain, and he stopped to measure the distance. It seemed about the same distance, but the mountains rockier and twoleg place more of a maze.

Let's try the mountains. He was surprised at the sound of his voice, and he couldn't place why it sounded so rough. Maybe the thought of Streampaw was overwhelming. The thought of sleeped along side her, the thought of traveling and staying with her, it only made him more anxious.

He stiffened when a strong wind blew in, almost knocking him into the little grey apprentice. His banner berely touched hers, but he quickly pulled it away. She was not his, and there was no way he could fall in love with another cat so soon, especially one he would be leaving. He sighed and stood up to start making his way along the craggy mountains.

He was right, the sierra was cold, and he had to fluff his fur up to stay warm. But he continued on, not even so much of glancing at Streampaw. His paws were getting tired, and scarlet blotches were appearing on the ground in his recent steps. He forced himself to stop, to look up at the apprentice.

Are you okay? He knew the answer was stupid to start out with, but it just showed up out of no where. Spike made his way over to a patch of grass, and as soon as he was there, he plopped down. He winced as his paws cracked from the soreness, and he immediately started to lick them.

That was when the brute looked at her. The outline of her patite bodice against the setting sun. The white fur she held on her shest were tinted with gold when she turned towards the sun. Her face showed no real emotion, or at least he could place what it was.

Spike waited for her answer, but as he did so, he started moving, looking for shelter. There were plenty of crags to hide under, but no real dens. Spike wondered if it was a good idea to bring such a young cat through this death feild. But instead of just giving up, he continued, pushing himself further. A small fern formation was placed beside a dent in the side of the mountain, and the tom wandered over to inspect it.

It looked warm and safe, maybe not the perfect place, but an okey den. He settled down into the ferns, patting his sore paw next to himself for Streampaw to lay down. He nessled deep into the ground, craving warmth and sleep, and especially prey. But hunger could wait, first he had to find out if Streampaw was ok.

"Never. You will always be my little girl."

[Lionstar]

Streampaw followed Spike into the mountains. It was hard climbing over the great boulders and along the thin trails winding between steep walls and long drops. But she trudged on, determined not to grow tired, or, if she did, not to show it. The gray apprentice noticed the bloody pawprints behind her companion just before he stopped. Her green eyes turned to the sun, it's rays falling on her pelt warmly. But she knew that greenleaf would soon be over.
As he lay down in the ferns, she answered his question, "I'm fine." She was more tired than she had ever been in her life, but there was no way she would act like it. She lay down next to Spike, settling into the soft ferns. She closed her eyes, and was instantly asleep.
The next morning, the tabby she-cat awoke before her companion. She pulled away from the sleeping tom, careful so as not to wake him, and stretched stiffly. She raised her muzzle and tasted the air, drawing in the clear scents of the mountains. Straining, she caught the faintest scent of prey. Glancing at her still sleeping companion, she trotted down the path quietly.
Rounding a bend in the path, Streampaw came upon a wider part of the path. Her gaze swept over the area until it fastened on a tiny spot of movement. Immediately, the apprentice fell into a hunter crouch, pulling herself forward on feather-light paws. A mouse poked it's nose around a rock, scuttling out to sniff at something. When the RiverClan she-cat was only a few tail-lengths from her prey, she pounced, trapping the tiny body beneath her paws. As Streampaw gave it the quick killing bite, a shadow passed over her; a screech made each of her hairs stand straight up. Her head whipped around and up, her eyes widening as an eagle bore down on her. She leaped backwards while the eagle dove, barely missing her and grabbing the mouse in it's huge, sharp talons. Rage engulfed Streampaw's fear s the eagle beat it's wings a mere tail-length from her nose, the apprentice's catch in it's talons. With a fierce yowl, the gray tabby leaped forward, bringing her paws down on the eagle's back with her claws unsheathed. Hind feet battered and scratched the eagle's back as teeth sunk into it's neck. The eagle shrieked and tried to fly, rising almost a fox-length into the air before it crashed back down. Streampaw slid off the limp bird, breathing heavily. Pride surged through her as she looked at the huge bird. Grabbing one of the wings, which were almost as long as her whole body, she started pulling it up the path.
Finally, Streampaw reache the make-shift camp. Puffing, she dropped the bird and turned to see what Spike thought of her amazing catch.

[Sorry for the sucky quality and super super super sorry for not posting in forever!!! I've been busy with school, and I keep forgetting when I get on! I'm a horrible admin!!! Bad, Lionstar, bad!!]

[•The Speedster•]

Spike
^the _ebony ^{one with} _yellow ^eyes

Spike awoke imediately when he heard the cry of the eagle. He instinctively rose to his paws and raced towards the sound. The eagle was in sight, but strangely, it was limp. Laying between the paws of the little grey apprentice. Spike's eyes bore out of his sockets, and almost fell to the ground.
He trotted over to Streampaw with amazment showing in his yellow golden optics. "Well done, that's impresive." Nodding his head up and down, he motioned her forward. He started walking back to their den, they would have a nice dawn meal, and be strong to continue on their journey.

.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....~.....

The hawk had been delicious, filling his rumbling tummy to the fullest. Now they were coninuing on their quest to return Streampaw to RiverClan, and so far so good. Spike was growing tired and becoming more worn out by the minute, and his paws were starting to ache.

But he said nothing, and continued on as if nothing was wrong. Streampaw had put this off for a long while, no matter how much she wanted it, and now that they had started, there was no time for making stops. Only nessisary stops will be taken, and a stop now would not be nessisary.

You doing ok? His voice cracked, and he felt like he was catching a cold. With leaf-bare getting closer with every sunrise, it was going to start being freezing. Plus the fact that they are in the mountains, that adds an exxtra amount of coldness to it.

He sighed, and brought himself to a stop. He could hear a stream near, and a stream filled with icy water sounded very refreshing at this moment. His throat was fairly dry, and it felt as if he couldn't swallow.

As the ice cold water flowed down his throat, the fur along his spine rose up as the cold got to him. After taken one more sip, he carried on, his eyes closed half way with sleep trying to take over his body. Night was falling already, and the moon was already showing up.

[Lionstar]

Streampaw padded quietly Spike as they traveled over the mountains. her paws grew tired and scratched with every step step she took over the rocky trail, but she saw spots of blood leaving a trail behind her companion. Her ears twitched as she listened to Spikes cracking voice and her fur also rose with her own drink form the cold mountain stream. As the moon started to rise over the edge of the mountains, she jumped ahead of Spike and blocked the path. "We are stopping for the night," she meowed. The fierce look in her eyes left no room for arguement. She spun around and searched for shelter. A small cleft in the rock kept out the wind, and there seemed to be a few stunted trees and bushes close by.
"You stay here," the apprentice ordered. She knew it was rude to speak to an elder warrior like that, but right now they were only companions; and her companion was more tired and sore than her. She pushed the black tom towards their temporary den and then bounded off, towards the faint smell of prey. The wind had not lied; there was a tiny grove of stunted trees and bushes, and she could just hear the rustlings of prey. She crept forward, already in a hunting crouch, her paws feather-light on the ground. A rabbit snuffled a few fox-lengths ahead. Streampaw adjusted her crouch so she was pulling herself forward from upwind quietly, so it could not smell her. When she was two tail-lengths away, she pounced, pinning the rabbit down and giving it a quick killing bite. She scrapped dirt over it after dragging it under a bush, where it would be safe from hungry eagles. She stalked a mouse, but it escaped her grasp; so did the next mouse she went after. As her hope started to dim, she caught a small squirrel. Judging it to be enough, she retrieved the rabbit and headed back up the trail to the cleft where Spike was waiting. She pushed the prey towards him and settled herself on the cold stone next to him. She waited until he had taken a bite before eating herself. The fresh-kill was scrawny, but the small tabby was already used to eating less.

The next day, Streampaw awoke when the sun stretched its rays into the opening of the make-shift den. Standing, she stretched stiffly, flexing her growing muscles. Trotting outside, she jumped up onto a boulder nearby. She gazed across the mountains that had seemed endless through the whole journey. A dark line at the edge of the gray mass of stone caught her attention. Glancing around, Streampaw jumped onto a ledge, and then another and another. She got as high as she could before turning to once again look across the mountains. Trees! The apprentice's green eyes widened. They were almost out of the mountains! She raced back down the cliff, nearly falling once, and rushed into the cleft. "Spike! Spike, we're almost out of the mountains! I can see trees on the horizon!"

[•The Speedster•]

Spike
^The _ebony ^{one with} _yellow ^eyes

The tire that Spike had felt was over flowing now, and he was almost grateful they were stopping for the night. With his eye lids half way closed, he walked forward, and into the den they had attempted to make. It was nice, or at least for tonight. But he didn't have much time to think after he layed down. Closing his eyes tight, he fell asleep silently.

The morning dawn awoke him, but he lay still in the den, not knowing whether Streampaw was awake. Startled when he heard the excited shreik come from the silver tabby's jaw, he stalked outside, yawning as he did so. But she was right, along the horizon line there were trees, pine and oak. A shriek almost escaped him as well, he was excited and happy for Streampaw that we were getting closer to her home.

That's great! The emotion in his voice was drowned by the drowsiness, and he stumbled clumbsily toward the small femme. Smiling when he saw her own smile, he felt a butterfly cross his stumach. He looked away then, ashamed for this feeling he felt for her. He knew that she would never like him the way he did her. Come, let's get a move on.

He thought about what he should do the whole time they were walking that day. How long should he stay with Streampaw? If he stays too long, her clan might think something was up with him. But if he left early, they might think something happened back at camp before they left, and he was eager to return, or maybe they would think he was homesick. He sighed, all of this was too confusing. He hated making decisions, unless they were easy or small. Does Streampaw even know about how he feels about her? He grunted to himself, hoping his companion hadn't heard it. Looking away, he pretended to cough, as if he just had something lodged in his throat.

[Lionstar]

Streampaw glanced at her companion worriedly as he coughed. It would be bad if he caught a cold, though not surprising, as leafbare crept closer with every sunrise and sundown. Seeing the trees had given the apprentice new energy, but Spike seemed preoccupied with something and still weary. Streampaw remembered the traveling herbs she had eaten what seemed so long ago in SkyClan's camp, and even longer ago in her own camp back in RiverClan once. So the young she-cat took to looking around as they padded over the rocky terrain. Around sun-high, Streampaw suggested they stop for a rest. She dragged some leaves into a sheltered crevice and pushed Spike towards it. Then she turned and bounded off, calling over her shoulder before her companion could protest, "I'm going hunting."
Streampaw eventually was able to catch a scrawny mouse and an even sqrawnier squirrel. She took the prey back and pushed the better prey toward Spike, biting into her piece so he could not protest. Spike seemed to need strength.
Several days passed, Streampaw gaining hope with every pawstep over the rocky mountains, while Spike remained in his strange mood, as though struggling with something in his mind. Finally, after two days, they were at the edge of the forest. It had taken more than half a moon to travel through the mountains, but they had made it. Streampaw yowled in pure delight and bounded forward, tail streaming our behind her, over the ground. She relished the feeling of dirt, much softer than stone, and of dried leaves on her paws. She spotted a mouse and stalked it. She made a perfect pounce and the tiny neck snapped between her teeth.

[/color][/center]

[•The Speedster•]

The black tom's eyes narrowed as he felt cold run up his spine. A breeze stiffled by, bringing in early snow, but they continued on. The dark pine forest, barely the length of 5 thunderpaths away, seemed so much closer than it really was, and he couldn't wait to arive there. He glanced over at his silver companion, and was worried for her and himself. What if they didn't get to the camp in time, and have to sleep in the cold. It wouldn't be good if either of them caught greencough, or the deadly blackcough. He shivered, but this time it wasn't from the cold.

Before he knew it, they were half way to the forest. The sun was at its highest, and it felt good on his cold back. Because of his ebony pelt, he became warmer swifter than Streampaw, and he wished they could trade pelt at this time. She must be cold. he thought, but he didn't stop her, or even try to talk to her, because she was a trooper, and never gave up.

Spike arived at the forest with Streampaw at his side. The long shadows were cast along the ground, and the sun had disapeared behind the clouds, leaving them cold once again. But the black warrior carried on, wanting to get Streampaw to her camp as soon as possible. He thought back to when they had just left, and how they had eaten good that night. Spike realized then how hungry he was. His stumach felt empty, and he had to stop to eat.

Streampaw, I'm sorry, but I really need to stop for a sunhigh meal. He looked at her through sad yellow orbs, but they closed as he disapeared. He was thankful that they were in a forest now, and prey would be easier to catch. He longed for a nice rest and good meal, but knew that wasn't going to happen any time soon. A chipmunk scurried under a fallen tree, and Spike fell into a hunter's crouch. Silently he inched forward, the chipmunk not spotting him once. Its life is over. With a snap to the neck, it was dead.

He dragged it back to were he had stopped, and started on eating it. The warmth felt good in his throat and continued down. Content with his meal, he looked up at the fae, and nodded to her to show he was ready. They moved on, working there way along the outside of the forest. Soon he recognized the river that lead from RiverClan's territory to SkyClan's, and was on the trail.

Flashbacks came again as he walked back the way he had first arived there. Bella and him on his way to the camp, to sickness his love had caught. A chill came down his spine as the memory passed through. He whipped his head around to bring him back to the present. From there he continued on, with Streampaw at his side.

^{Where you go, you know I'll be there}

[Lionstar]

Streampaw padded along next to her companion. The journey over the mountain had been hard, but they had made it. But now they had the rest of the journey to go. How far had it been from the mountains to the forest?

The next few days were spent traveling over fields and small woodlands. Streampaw looked up at the sky, checking the position of the sun to make sure they were in the right direction, every now and then every day. They had to head towards the rising sun. They stopped to hunt wherever they could, but leafbare was fast approaching, and prey was scarce. They ahd to return to the clans quickly. As they passed through wood after wood, field after field, twolegplace after twolegplace, Streampaw's longing for home, for the river that protected and provided for her clan, became stronger.

[u. t. t. e. r. l. y. m. u. s. e. l. e. s. s. TT-TT]

[/color]

[•The Speedster•]

We're almost there. Spike's loud voice cut the awkward silence. But the statement was true, his yellow optics spotted a flowing river, and the all too familiar forest. He didn't turn to see the expression on Streampaw's mask, but he could guess at it. Closing his eyes, Spike imagined the striped grey female apprentice in front of him. He saw happiness, excitement, and strangely enough, depression. The femme must be feeling so happy about being back, she forgot about how much her friends and clan would have missed.

Of coarse, he was only imagining it, it may not be true. Sure enough, as he looked back to check if his hypothesis was correct, he saw a deep happiness in her orbs, and thought that he spotted her pick up the pace a bit. The ebony feral smiled to himself, but could only help feeling sad. He didn't want to leave Streampaw, let alone walk home with out her. Well maybe... No. He couldn't stay. Spike knew that Streampaw didn't feel the same about him as he did for her, and he couldn't stay in the forest any longer. The loss of his mother had broken his heart, and how he had ended up in SkyClan was out searching for her. The memory of his oh-so-perfect mother struck a strong greiving in his mind. He felt tears well up around his already reddening opts, and he quickly blinked them away.

They were in the forest now, and they were so close that Spike could only smile as he saw the gleam of sun off the Sunningrocks. He didn't turn to see the fae's new excitement, he could already feel the vibes off her. He quickened the pace, craving the warmth of other cats around him, and a comfortable sleep. The golden-yellow ocular was round with as much excitement as Streampaw's contained. He found himself dropping happy tears to the ground as they approached the river.

Spike had to stop himself from running and shouting in happiness. Even though he knew now that he should waste his energy for such ridiculous ideas, especially when he needed the rest most. But he was just so excited, for Streampaw and himself. He was so caught up in the affair, that he hadn't realized the hunger that was crawling unhappily around in his stumach. Licking his lipse, he faced the river, flicking his banner to let Streampaw know what he was up to. Grateful that the sun was just past sun-high, he began his search for fish. When the sun was high in the air it made it harder to catch fish, for your shadow would always fall over the river, and the fish would realize there was danger around.

Golden scales flashed by, and Spike stuck his paw into the icy water just as fast. The fish flew out of the water, flipping from side to side and searching for water as to where it lived. Quickly, Spike flung it to land and ended its life with a nip to the neck. The fish automatically paralyzed and ly dead on the swamp ground. Spike ate of the taste treat as if he hadn't eaten for a whole moon. Before he had eaten more than half, he searched for the dull pelt that could only be Streampaw's. He spotted her not far off, and luckily she was looking his way. She pointed to her and then to the fish with his muzzle, as if offering the last bits to her.

Take me ^{t h e r e}
Take me with ^{y o u}
I can't be alone ^{t o n i g h t}

_{OOC: I had more muse than I thought! Wow!}

[Lionstar]

Streampaw saw the river and excitement flew through her, making her feel as if she could fly right over the trees, the last stretch of the journey, and right back into her home, the RiverClan camp. She bounded after Spike, perfectly keeping her balance on the slippery rocks of the the riverbank.
Seeing Spike motions after catching a fish, Streampaw meowed, "I can catch my own," and proceeded to flip a fish into the air and onto the bank. She gave it a killing blow with her paw and sank her teeth into the delicious meat. When she had finished eating, the gray apprentice lifted her head and sniffed the air. The morning patrol had long passed, and it would be a while before the evening patrol set out. "Come one, Spike! Let's go to RiverClan's camp!" Streampaw purred.
The tabby she-cat started bounded along the riverbank. But suddenly, she was forced to slide to a stop as a cat jumped straight into her path. A gray tom bared his teeth at Streampaw. As two more cats stepped out to surround Streampaw and Spike, the first cat hissed, "Intruders! What are you doing on RiverClan territory?"
The rain cloud colored fur on Streampaw's tail had fluffed up as the cats stood threateningly around her and her companion. Then she relaxed. "Stonepaw!" The reaction seemed to surprise the cats, and the gray tom blinked in astonishment. "It's me, Streampaw! Don't you remember me?" Streampaw mewed. There was silence for a few heartbeats, except for the gurgling of the river only tail-lengths away. "Streampaw? But you disappeared moons ago! And my name is Stonefall now," Stonefall meowed. "You became a warrior? There's so much I've missed." Streampaw's eyes clouded for a moment before they were bright again. "How is everyone? Is prey running well?" Questions streamed from the young she-cat.

[•The Speedster•]

[lets move this post to the river in riverclan territory, kk? I'll start it.]